**UNITED STATES**

**SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION**

**Washington, D.C. 20549**

 

**FORM 10-Q**

 

| (Mark One) |   |
|------------|--------|
|       | x      | **QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF** |
|       |   | **THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934** |
|       |   |   |
|       |   | **For the Quarterly Period Ended****March 31, 2007** |
|       |
| **or**     |
|       | o      | **TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF** |
|       |   | **THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934** |
|       |   |   |
|       |   | **For the Transition Period from ______________ to ______________** |

 

**COMMISSION FILE NO. 000-51480**

 

**JAMES RIVER GROUP, INC.**

*(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)*

 

| **Delaware**                                                                           |     | **05-0539572**                            |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------|-------------------------------------------|
| *(State or Other Jurisdiction of*

*Incorporation or Organization)*                    | * * | *(I.R.S. Employer*

*Identification No.)* |
|                                                                                   |     |                                      |
| **300 Meadowmont Village Circle, Suite 333**

**Chapel Hill, North Carolina**          |     | **27517**                                 |
| *(Address of Principal Executive Offices)***                                           | * * | *(Zip Code)***                            |
| * *                                                                               | * * | * *                                  |
| **(919) 883-4171****                                                                   |
| *(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)***                          |
| * *                                                                               | * * | * *                                  |
|                                                                                   |
| *(Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year, If Changed Since Last Report)*** |

 

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**o

 

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

 

| **Large Accelerated Filer**o | **Accelerated Filer**x | **Non-Accelerated Filer**o |
|------------------------------|------------------------|----------------------------|

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). 

**Yes**o**No**x

 

On April 25, 2007, 15,136,208 shares of the registrant’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, were outstanding.

 

 

 

 

| **INDEX**    |
|--------------|
|         |   |   |   |   |
|         |   |   |   |   |
| **PART I.**  |   | **FINANCIAL INFORMATION** |   | **Page** |
|         |   |   |   |   |
|         | Item 1. | Financial Statements: |   |   |
|         |   |   |   |   |
|         |   | Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets |   | 1 |
|         |   |   |   |   |
|         |   | Condensed Consolidated Income Statements |   | 3 |
|         |   |   |   |   |
|         |   | Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows |   | 4 |
|         |   |   |   |   |
|         |   | Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements |   | 5 |
|         |   |   |   |   |
|         | Item 2. | Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |   | 11 |
|         |   |   |   |   |
|         | Item 3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk |   | 24 |
|         |   |   |   |   |
|         | Item 4. | Controls and Procedures |   | 25 |
|         |   |   |   |   |
| **PART II.** |   | **OTHER INFORMATION** |   |   |
|         |   |   |   |   |
|         | Item 2. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds |   | 25 |
|         |   |   |   |   |
|         | Item 6. | Exhibits |   | 26 |
|         |   |   |   |   |
|         |   | Signatures |   | 28 |

 

 

 

**PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION**

 

**Item 1. Financial Statements.**

 

**Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets**

 

|                                                                                                                       |     | **(Unaudited) March 31,****2007** |     | **December 31, 2006** |   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------|-----------------------------------|----------|-----------------------|--------|
| * *                                                                                                                   | * * | *(in thousands)***                | * * |
|                                                                                                                       |     |                              |     |                  |   |   |   |
| **Assets**                                                                                                                 |     |                              |     |                  |   |   |   |
| Investments available-for-sale, at fair value:                                                                             |     |                              |     |                  |   |   |   |
| Fixed maturity securities (amortized cost: 2007 –       $520,427; 2006 – $488,232) |     | $                                 | 519,122  |                  | $      | 486,016  |   |
| Equity securities (cost: 2007 – $16,919; 2006 –       $8,536)                      |     |                              | 17,080   |                  |   | 8,703 |   |
| Total investments available-for-sale                                                                                       |     |                              | 536,202  |                  |   | 494,719 |   |
|                                                                                                                       |     |                              |     |                  |   |   |   |
| Cash and cash equivalents                                                                                                  |     |                              | 33,281   |                  |   | 40,319 |   |
| Accrued investment income                                                                                                  |     |                              | 5,580    |                  |   | 5,471 |   |
| Premiums receivable and agents’ balances                                                                              |     |                              | 34,128   |                  |   | 34,862 |   |
| Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses                                                                                   |     |                              | 91,926   |                  |   | 90,495 |   |
| Reinsurance recoverable on paid losses                                                                                     |     |                              | 3,522    |                  |   | 7,041 |   |
| Prepaid reinsurance premiums                                                                                               |     |                              | 31,071   |                  |   | 31,626 |   |
| Deferred policy acquisition costs                                                                                          |     |                              | 15,730   |                  |   | 15,005 |   |
| Deferred tax assets                                                                                                        |     |                              | 14,001   |                  |   | 13,016 |   |
| Other assets                                                                                                               |     |                              | 9,035    |                  |   | 9,167 |   |
| Total assets                                                                                                               |     | $                                 | 774,476  |                  | $      | 741,721 |   |

 

*See accompanying notes.*

 

 

1

 

 

 

**Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (continued)**

 

|                                                                                                                                                                                                    |     | **(Unaudited) March 31, 2007**            |     | **December 31, 2006** |   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------|-------------------------------------------|----------|-----------------------|--------|
| * *                                                                                                                                                                                                | * * | *(in thousands, except for share data)*** | * * |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                    |     |                                      |     |                  |   |   |   |
| **Liabilities and stockholders’ equity**                                                                                                                                                           |     |                                      |     |                  |   |   |   |
| Liabilities:                                                                                                                                                                                            |     |                                      |     |                  |   |   |   |
| Reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses                                                                                                                                                         |     | $                                         | 324,356  |                  | $      | 300,294 |   |
| Unearned premiums                                                                                                                                                                                       |     |                                      | 133,690  |                  |   | 131,286 |   |
| Payables to reinsurers                                                                                                                                                                                  |     |                                      | 4,839    |                  |   | 5,672 |   |
| Senior debt                                                                                                                                                                                             |     |                                      | 15,000   |                  |   | 15,000 |   |
| Junior subordinated debt                                                                                                                                                                                |     |                                      | 43,300   |                  |   | 43,300 |   |
| Funds held                                                                                                                                                                                              |     |                                      | 13,778   |                  |   | 15,567 |   |
| Accrued expenses                                                                                                                                                                                        |     |                                      | 7,296    |                  |   | 11,510 |   |
| Federal income taxes payable                                                                                                                                                                            |     |                                      | 5,582    |                  |   | 613 |   |
| Other liabilities                                                                                                                                                                                       |     |                                      | 3,213    |                  |   | 4,087 |   |
| Total liabilities                                                                                                                                                                                       |     |                                      | 551,054  |                  |   | 527,329 |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                    |     |                                      |     |                  |   |   |   |
| Commitments and contingencies                                                                                                                                                                           |     |                                      |     |                  |   |   |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                    |     |                                      |     |                  |   |   |   |
| Stockholders’ equity:                                                                                                                                                                              |     |                                      |     |                  |   |   |   |
| Common Stock – $0.01 par value; 100,000,000 shares    authorized; 2007:  15,136,208 shares issued and outstanding;    2006: 15,117,308 shares issued and outstanding |     |                                      | 151      |                  |   | 151 |   |
| Common stock warrants                                                                                                                                                                                   |     |                                      | 524      |                  |   | 524 |   |
| Additional paid-in capital                                                                                                                                                                              |     |                                      | 176,022  |                  |   | 175,437 |   |
| Convertible preferred stock – $0.01 par value; 5,000,000 shares    authorized and no shares outstanding                                                                             |     |                                      | –   |                  |   | – |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                    |     |                                      | 176,697  |                  |   | 176,112 |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                    |     |                                      |     |                  |   |   |   |
| Notes receivable from employees                                                                                                                                                                         |     |                                      | (535     | )                     |   | (535 | ) |
| Retained earnings                                                                                                                                                                                       |     |                                      | 48,004   |                  |   | 40,147 |   |
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss                                                                                                                                                                    |     |                                      | (744     | )                     |   | (1,332 | ) |
| Total stockholders’ equity                                                                                                                                                                         |     |                                      | 223,422  |                  |   | 214,392 |   |
| Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity                                                                                                                                                         |     | $                                         | 774,476  |                  | $      | 741,721 |   |

 

*See accompanying notes.*

 

2

 

 

 

**Condensed Consolidated Income Statements (Unaudited)**

 

|                                         |     | **Three Months Ended March 31,**          |     |
|----------------------------------------------|----------|-------------------------------------------|----------|
|                                         |     | **2007**                                  |     | **2006** |   |
| * *                                     | * * | *(in thousands, except for share data)*** | * * |
|                                         |     |                                      |     |   |   |   |   |
| **Revenues**                                 |     |                                      |     |   |   |   |   |
| Gross written premiums                       |     | $                                         | 80,088   |   | $ | 68,165 |   |
| Ceded written premiums                       |     |                                      | (16,218  | ) |   | (14,477 | ) |
| Net written premiums                         |     |                                      | 63,870   |   |   | 53,688 |   |
| Change in net unearned premiums              |     |                                      | (3,621   | ) |   | (5,599 | ) |
| Net earned premiums                          |     |                                      | 60,249   |   |   | 48,089 |   |
|                                         |     |                                      |     |   |   |   |   |
| Net investment income                        |     |                                      | 5,771    |   |   | 3,993 |   |
| Net realized investment losses               |     |                                      | (8       | ) |   | (35 | ) |
| Other income                                 |     |                                      | 70       |   |   | 42 |   |
| Total revenues                               |     |                                      | 66,082   |   |   | 52,089 |   |
|                                         |     |                                      |     |   |   |   |   |
| **Expenses**                                 |     |                                      |     |   |   |   |   |
| Losses and loss adjustment expenses          |     |                                      | 34,268   |   |   | 29,217 |   |
| Other operating expenses                     |     |                                      | 15,909   |   |   | 12,025 |   |
| Interest expense                             |     |                                      | 1,284    |   |   | 777 |   |
| Total expenses                               |     |                                      | 51,461   |   |   | 42,019 |   |
| Income before taxes                          |     |                                      | 14,621   |   |   | 10,070 |   |
| Federal income tax expense                   |     |                                      | 4,494    |   |   | 3,241 |   |
| **Net income**                               |     | $                                         | 10,127   |   | $ | 6,829 |   |
|                                         |     |                                      |     |   |   |   |   |
| **Earnings per share:**                      |     |                                      |     |   |   |   |   |
| Basic                                        |     | $                                         | 0.67     |   | $ | 0.45 |   |
| Diluted                                      |     | $                                         | 0.63     |   | $ | 0.43 |   |
| **Cash dividends declared per common share** |     | $                                         | 0.15     |   | $ | 0.00 |   |

 

*See accompanying notes.*

 

3

 

 

 

**Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)**

 

|                                                  |     | **Three Months Ended March 31,** |     |
|-------------------------------------------------------|----------|----------------------------------|----------|
|                                                  |     | **2007**                         |     | **2006** |   |
|                                                  | * * | *(in thousands)***               | * * |
| **Operating activities**                              |     |                             |     |   |   |   |   |
| Net cash provided by operating activities             |     | $                                | 36,782   |   | $ | 46,036 |   |
|                                                  |     |                             |     |   |   |   |   |
| **Investing activities**                              |     |                             |     |   |   |   |   |
| Securities available-for-sale:                        |     |                             |     |   |   |   |   |
| Purchases – fixed maturity securities            |     |                             | (52,057  | ) |   | (62,848 | ) |
| Purchases – equity securities                    |     |                             | (8,754   | ) |   | – |   |
| Maturities and calls – fixed maturity securities |     |                             | 11,278   |   |   | 6,112 |   |
| Sales – fixed maturity securities                |     |                             | 8,086    |   |   | 7,248 |   |
| Sales – equity securities                        |     |                             | 367      |   |   | – |   |
| Net payable to (receivable from) securities brokers   |     |                             | (450     | ) |   | 11,223 |   |
| Purchases of property and equipment                   |     |                             | (340     | ) |   | (87 | ) |
| Net cash used in investing activities                 |     |                             | (41,870  | ) |   | (38,352 | ) |
|                                                  |     |                             |     |   |   |   |   |
| **Financing activities**                              |     |                             |     |   |   |   |   |
| Proceeds from issuance of Common Stock                |     |                             | 194      |   |   | 173 |   |
| Excess tax benefits from stock option exercises       |     |                             | 126      |   |   | 75 |   |
| Dividends paid to common stockholders                 |     |                             | (2,270   | ) |   | – |   |
| Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities   |     |                             | (1,950   | ) |   | 248 |   |
|                                                  |     |                             |     |   |   |   |   |
| Change in cash and cash equivalents                   |     |                             | (7,038   | ) |   | 7,932 |   |
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period      |     |                             | 40,319   |   |   | 41,029 |   |
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of period            |     | $                                | 33,281   |   | $ | 48,961 |   |

 

*See accompanying notes.*

 

4

 

 

 

**Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements**

**(Unaudited)**

 

**March 31, 2007**

 

| **1.** | **Accounting Policies and Basis of Presentation** |
|--------|---------------------------------------------------|

 

**Basis of Presentation**

 

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements and notes have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and do not contain all of the information and footnotes required by United States generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. Readers are urged to review the Company’s 2006 audited consolidated financial statements contained in Form 10-K for a more complete description of the Company’s business and accounting policies. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the condensed consolidated financial statements have been included. Such adjustments consist only of normal recurring items. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results of operations for the full year. The consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2006was derived from the Company’s audited annual consolidated financial statements.

 

Significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

 

**Estimates and Assumptions**

 

Preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying disclosures. Those estimates are inherently subject to change, and actual results may ultimately differ from those estimates.

 

**New Accounting Standards**

 

In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, *Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109* (“FIN 48”).  FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertain tax positions. The interpretation prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return.  The Company adopted FIN 48 on January 1, 2007, and adoption of FIN 48 had no effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

 

In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement No. 157, *Fair Value Measurements* (“Statement 157”).  Statement 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles and expands disclosures about fair value measurements.  Statement 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 with earlier application encouraged.  The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting Statement 157 on its financial statements.

 

In February 2007, the FASB issued Statement No. 159, *The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Liabilities,* (“Statement 159”).  Statement 159 permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value with changes in fair value included in current earnings.  The election is made on specified election dates, can be made on an instrument by instrument basis, and is irrevocable.  Statement 159 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007.  The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting Statement 159 on its financial statements.

 

 

5

 

 

 

**Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements**

**(Unaudited) (continued)**

 

 

| **2.** | **Stock Based Compensation** |
|--------|------------------------------|

 

The Company recognized $265,000 and $223,000, respectively, of other operating expenses for stock based compensation and $93,000 and $78,000 of related tax benefits, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and March 31, 2006.  As of March 31, 2007, there were $2.8 million of estimated unrecognized compensation costs related to non-vested option awards expected to be charged to earnings over a weighted-average period of 2.6 years.

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2007, the Company granted 17,500 options at a weighted-average fair value on the date of grant of $11.00 per share.  The Company used a Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model in determining the fair value of the options granted. The Company did not grant any stock options during the three months ended March 31, 2006.  The following table summarizes the assumptions used to estimate the fair value of the Company’s share-based awards issued during the three months ended March 31, 2007:

 

| Weighted-average expected life  |   | 7 years |
|---------------------------------|--------|---------|
| Expected stock price volatility |   | 35.00%  |
| Risk-free interest rate         |   | 4.67%   |
| Dividend yield                  |   | 2.00%   |

 

 

For all awards, the expected life is based on the midpoint between the vesting period and the contractual term of the award. Stock price volatility was estimated based on stock price volatility data for similar property/casualty companies in the period following their respective initial public offerings. The risk-free interest rate assumption is based on the seven-year U.S. Treasury rate at the date of grant.  The dividend yield assumption is based upon the rate of expected future dividend payments over the life of the options at the time that the options were granted.

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2007, the Company received cash from stock option exercises of $194,000.  The Company issued 18,900 shares of Common Stock in connection with these stock option exercises.  The intrinsic value (the difference between the fair value of the options at exercise and the strike price) of options exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2007 was $360,000, and the related income tax benefit was $126,000.

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2006, the Company received cash from stock option exercises of $173,000. The intrinsic value of options exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2006 was $217,000 and the related income tax benefit totaled $75,000.

 

6

 

 

 

**Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements**

**(Unaudited) (continued)**

 

| **3.** | **Earnings Per Share** |
|--------|------------------------|

 

|                                                                                                                                                                          |     | **Three Months Ended March 31,**          |       |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------|-------------------------------------------|------------|
|                                                                                                                                                                          |     | **2007**                                  |       | **2006** |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                          | * * | *(in thousands, except for share data)*** | * *   |
|                                                                                                                                                                          |     |                                      |       |   |   |   |   |
| Net income – *numerator for basic and diluted*   *earnings per* *share*                                                                              |     | $                                         | 10,127     |   | $ | 6,829 |   |
| Weighted – average common shares outstanding    – *denominator for basic earnings per share*                                                         |     |                                      | 15,124,368 |   |   | 15,075,771 |   |
| Dilutive potential common shares:                                                                                                                                             |     |                                      |       |   |   |   |   |
| Options                                                                                                                                                                       |     |                                      | 931,976    |   |   | 734,763 |   |
| Warrants                                                                                                                                                                      |     |                                      | 100,112    |   |   | 83,659 |   |
| Weighted – average common shares and dilutive    potential common shares outstanding –    *denominator for diluted earning per share* |     |                                      | 16,156,456 |   |   | 15,894,193 |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                          |     |                                      |       |   |   |   |   |
| Earnings per share:                                                                                                                                                           |     |                                      |       |   |   |   |   |
| Basic                                                                                                                                                                         |     | $                                         | 0.67       |   | $ | 0.45 |   |
| Diluted                                                                                                                                                                       |     | $                                         | 0.63       |   | $ | 0.43 |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                          |     |                                      |       |   |   |   |   |
| Anti-dilutive securities excluded from diluted    earnings per share:                                                                                          |     |                                      |       |   |   |   |   |
| Warrants and options                                                                                                                                                          |     |                                      | 17,500     |   |   | 449,479 |   |

 

| **4.** | **Income Taxes** |
|--------|------------------|

 

| Income tax expense differs from the amounts computed by applying the Federal statutory income tax rate to income before income taxes primarily due to interest income on tax-advantaged state and municipal securities.  The Company did not have any unrecognized tax benefits at March 31, 2007 or January 1, 2007, the date FIN 48 was adopted.  Tax year 2003 and all subsequent tax years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

 

 

7

 

 

 

**Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements**

**(Unaudited) (continued)**

 

 

| **5.** | **Reserve for Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses** |
|--------|-----------------------------------------------------|

 

A $3.0 million reserve redundancy developed in the three months ended March 31, 2007 on the reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses held on direct business at December 31, 2006.  Of this development, $2.1 million of favorable development occurred in the Excess and Surplus Insurance casualty lines primarily related to the 2005 and 2004 accident years.  Favorable development on prior accident years for direct business for the Workers’ Compensation Insurance line in the three months ended March 31, 2007 was $927,000, with $749,000 coming from the 2006 accident year.

 

A $2.3 million redundancy developed in the three months ended March 31, 2006 on the prior accident year reserves on direct business.  Of this development, $1.5 million of favorable development occurred in the Excess and Surplus Insurance casualty lines, with $1.2 million coming from the 2004 accident year.  Favorable development in the Excess and Surplus Insurance property lines was $626,000 primarily related to the 2005 accident year.  Favorable development on direct business for the Workers’ Compensation Insurance line’s prior accident year results was $223,000 primarily related to the 2005 accident year.

 

| **6.** | **Comprehensive Income** |
|--------|--------------------------|

 

The following table summarizes the components of comprehensive income:

 

|  

                                                                       |     | **Three Months Ended March 31,** |     |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------|----------------------------------|----------|
|                                                                                |     | **2007**                         |     | **2006** |   |
| * *                                                                            | * * | *(in thousands)***               | * * |
|                                                                                |     |                             |     |   |   |   |   |
| Unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period,    before taxes |     | $                                | 897      |   | $ | (4,515 | ) |
| Income taxes                                                                        |     |                             | (314     | ) |   | 1,581 |   |
| Unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period,    net of taxes |     |                             | 583      |   |   | (2,934 | ) |
| Less reclassification adjustment:                                                   |     |                             |     |   |   |   |   |
| Net losses realized in net income                                                   |     |                             | (8       | ) |   | (35 | ) |
| Income taxes                                                                        |     |                             | 3        |   |   | 12 |   |
| Reclassification adjustment for losses realized in net income                       |     |                             | (5       | ) |   | (23 | ) |
| Other comprehensive income (loss)                                                   |     |                             | 588      |   |   | (2,911 | ) |
| Net income                                                                          |     |                             | 10,127   |   |   | 6,829 |   |
| Comprehensive income                                                                |     | $                                | 10,715   |   | $ | 3,918 |   |

 

| **7.** | **Contingent Liabilities** |
|--------|----------------------------|

 

The Company is a party to various lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of its operations. The Company believes that the ultimate resolution of these matters will not materially impact its financial position or results of operations.

 

8

 

 

 

**Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements**

**(Unaudited) (continued)**

 

 

| **8.** | **Segment Information** |
|--------|-------------------------|

 

The Company has three reportable segments: the Excess and Surplus Insurance segment, the Workers’ Compensation Insurance segment and the Corporate and Other segment. Segment profit (loss) is measured by underwriting profit (loss), which is generally defined as net earned premiums less loss and loss adjustment expenses and other operating expenses of the insurance segments. Segment results are reported prior to the effects of the intercompany reinsurance pooling agreement between the Company’s insurance subsidiaries. The following table summarizes segment results:

 

|                                             |     | **Excess and Surplus Insurance** |     | **Workers’ Compensation Insurance** |   | **Corporate and Other** |   | **Total** |   |
|--------------------------------------------------|----------|----------------------------------|----------|------------------------------------------|--------|-------------------------|--------|-----------|--------|
| * *                                         | * * | *(in thousands)***               | * * |
| **Three Months Ended March 31, 2007**            |     |                             |     |                                     |   |                    |   |      |   |   |   |   |   |
| Gross written premiums                           |     | $                                | 65,479   |                                     | $      | 14,609                  |   | $         | – |   | $ | 80,088 |   |
| Net earned premiums                              |     |                             | 47,389   |                                     |   | 12,860                  |   |      | – |   |   | 60,249 |   |
| Segment revenues                                 |     |                             | 52,069   |                                     |   | 13,853                  |   |      | 160    |   |   | 66,082 |   |
| Underwriting profit of insurance segments        |     |                             | 8,172    |                                     |   | 2,845                   |   |      | – |   |   | 11,017 |   |
| Net investment income                            |     |                             | 4,688    |                                     |   | 976                     |   |      | 107    |   |   | 5,771 |   |
| Interest expense                                 |     |                             | –   |                                     |   | –                  |   |      | 1,284  |   |   | 1,284 |   |
| Segment assets                                   |     |                             | 653,999  |                                     |   | 104,521                 |   |      | 15,956 |   |   | 774,476 |   |
|                                             |     |                             |     |                                     |   |                    |   |      |   |   |   |   |   |
| **Three Months Ended March 31, 2006**            |     |                             |     |                                     |   |                    |   |      |   |   |   |   |   |
| Gross written premiums                           |     | $                                | 57,768   |                                     | $      | 10,397                  |   | $         | – |   | $ | 68,165 |   |
| Net earned premiums                              |     |                             | 39,584   |                                     |   | 8,505                   |   |      | – |   |   | 48,089 |   |
| Segment revenues                                 |     |                             | 42,628   |                                     |   | 9,114                   |   |      | 347    |   |   | 52,089 |   |
| Underwriting profit (loss) of insurance segments |     |                             | 8,131    |                                     |   | (643                    | )      |      | – |   |   | 7,488 |   |
| Net investment income                            |     |                             | 3,079    |                                     |   | 598                     |   |      | 316    |   |   | 3,993 |   |
| Interest expense                                 |     |                             | –   |                                     |   | –                  |   |      | 777    |   |   | 777 |   |
| Segment assets                                   |     |                             | 531,206  |                                     |   | 70,977                  |   |      | 34,761 |   |   | 636,944 |   |

 

 

9

 

 

 

**Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements**

**(Unaudited) (continued)**

 

| **8.** | **Segment Information (continued)** |
|--------|-------------------------------------|

 

The following table reconciles the underwriting profit (loss) of the insurance segments by individual segment to consolidated income before taxes:

 

 

|                                                                          |     | **Three Months Ended March 31,** |     |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------|----------------------------------|----------|
|                                                                          |     | **2007**                         |     | **2006** |   |
| * *                                                                      | * * | *(in thousands)***               | * * |
|                                                                          |     |                             |     |   |   |   |   |
| Underwriting profit (loss) of insurance segments:                             |     |                             |     |   |   |   |   |
| Excess and Surplus Insurance                                                  |     | $                                | 8,172    |   | $ | 8,131 |   |
| Workers’ Compensation Insurance                                          |     |                             | 2,845    |   |   | (643 | ) |
| Total underwriting profit of insurance segments                               |     |                             | 11,017   |   |   | 7,488 |   |
| Other operating expenses of the Corporate and    Other segment |     |                             | (945     | ) |   | (641 | ) |
| Underwriting profit                                                           |     |                             | 10,072   |   |   | 6,847 |   |
| Net investment income                                                         |     |                             | 5,771    |   |   | 3,993 |   |
| Net realized investment losses                                                |     |                             | (8       | ) |   | (35 | ) |
| Other income                                                                  |     |                             | 70       |   |   | 42 |   |
| Interest expense                                                              |     |                             | (1,284   | ) |   | (777 | ) |
| Consolidated income before taxes                                              |     | $                                | 14,621   |   | $ | 10,070 |   |

 

| **9.** | **Other Operating Expenses** |
|--------|------------------------------|

 

Other operating expenses consist of the following:

 

|                                                                                        |     | **Three Months Ended March 31,** |     |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------|----------------------------------|----------|
|                                                                                        |     | **2007**                         |     | **2006** |   |
| * *                                                                                    | * * | *(in thousands)***               | * * |
|                                                                                        |     |                             |     |   |   |   |   |
| Other underwriting expenses of the insurance segments                                       |     | $                                | 5,854    |   | $ | 3,707 |   |
| Amortization of policy acquisition costs                                                    |     |                             | 9,110    |   |   | 7,677 |   |
| Other operating expenses of the Corporate and                  Other segment |     |                             | 945      |   |   | 641 |   |
| Total                                                                                       |     | $                                | 15,909   |   | $ | 12,025 |   |

 

 

10

 

 

 

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

 

**OVERVIEW**

 

James River Group, Inc. is an insurance holding company that owns and manages property/casualty insurance companies focused on specialty insurance niches. We seek to:

 

| **•** | earn a profit from underwriting; and                  |
|------------|-------------------------------------------------------|
| **•** | produce a return on average equity of 15% or greater. |

 

Earning a profit from underwriting means that we intend for the premiums we earn in any period to be sufficient to pay all of the losses and loss adjustment expenses we incur during the period as well as all of the expenses associated with our operations. We use underwriting profit or loss as a basis for evaluating our underwriting performance.  Our strategy is to operate at a lower expense ratio than many of our competitors; focus our efforts on the specialty insurance market where profits have historically been better than in the standard market; underwrite each risk individually in order to apply our expertise to each risk we underwrite; to use technology to provide our employees and managers with timely and accurate information about our business; and to actively manage claims in accordance with the terms of our insurance contracts.  Our underwriting profit for the three months ended March 31, 2007 was$10.1 million, an increase over the underwriting profit of $6.8 million reported for the same period last year.

 

We calculate return on equity by dividing net income by average stockholders’ equity for the period on an annualized basis. Our overall financial goal is to produce an annual return on equity of at least 15.0%. Our annualized return on average equity was 18.5% for the quarter ended March 31, 2007, an increase over the return for the same period in 2006 which was 15.3%.

 

We are organized into three reportable segments, which are separately managed business units:

 

| **•** | The Excess and Surplus Insurance segment offers commercial excess and surplus lines liability and property insurance in 48 states and the District of Columbia through James River Insurance Company (James River Insurance);                           |
|------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| **•** | The Workers’ Compensation Insurance segment offers workers’ compensation coverage primarily for the residential construction industry in North Carolina and, in 2007, Virginia through Stonewood Insurance Company (Stonewood Insurance); and |
| **•** | The Corporate and Other segment consists of management and treasury activities of our holding company and interest expense associated with our debt.                                                                                                    |

 

James River Insurance and Stonewood Insurance each have a financial strength rating of “A-” (Excellent) from A.M. Best.

 

11

 

 

 

**RESULTS OF OPERATIONS**

 

The following table compares the components of net income for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006:

 

|                                |   | **Three Months Ended March 31,** |     |     |
|-------------------------------------|--------|----------------------------------|----------|----------|
|                                |   | **2007**                         |     | **2006** |   | **% Change** |   |   |
|                                |   | *($ in thousands)***             | * * | * * |
|                                |   |                             |     |     |   |   |   | * * | * * | * * |
| Gross written premiums              |   | $                                | 80,088   |     | $ | 68,165 |   | *17.5%*** | * * | * * |
| Net retention (a)                   |   |                             | 79.7     | %        |   | 78.8 | % | * * | * * | * * |
| Net written premiums                |   | $                                | 63,870   |     | $ | 53,688 |   | *19.0%*** | * * | * * |
|                                |   |                             |     |     |   |   |   | * * | * * | * * |
| Net earned premiums                 |   | $                                | 60,249   |     | $ | 48,089 |   | *25.3%*** | * * | * * |
| Losses and loss adjustment expenses |   |                             | 34,268   |     |   | 29,217 |   | *17.3%*** | * * | * * |
| Other operating expenses            |   |                             | 15,909   |     |   | 12,025 |   | *32.3%*** | * * | * * |
| Underwriting profit (b)             |   |                             | 10,072   |     |   | 6,847 |   | *47.1%*** | * * | * * |
| Net investment income               |   |                             | 5,771    |     |   | 3,993 |   | *44.5%*** | * * | * * |
| Net realized investment losses      |   |                             | (8       | )        |   | (35 | ) | *(77.1)%*** | * * | * * |
| Other income                        |   |                             | 70       |     |   | 42 |   | *66.7%*** | * * | * * |
| Interest expense                    |   |                             | (1,284   | )        |   | (777 | ) | *65.3%*** | * * | * * |
| Federal income tax expense          |   |                             | (4,494   | )        |   | (3,241 | ) | *38.7%*** | * * | * * |
| Net income                          |   | $                                | 10,127   |     | $ | 6,829 |   | *48.3%*** | * * | * * |
| Ratios:                             |   |                             |     |     |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| Loss ratio                          |   |                             | 56.9     | %        |   | 60.8 | % | – |   |   |
| Expense ratio                       |   |                             | 26.4     | %        |   | 25.0 | % | – |   |   |
| Combined ratio                      |   |                             | 83.3     | %        |   | 85.8 | % | – |   |   |

 

| (a)  Net retention is defined as the ratio of net written premiums to gross written premiums. |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| (b)  See “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures” for further detail.                  |

 

Net income was $10.1 million, or $0.63 per diluted share, for the three months ended March 31, 2007, compared to $6.8 million, or $0.43 per diluted share, for the three months ended March 31, 2006. Weighted-average diluted shares outstanding were 16.2 million and 15.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

 

Our combined ratio for the three months ended March 31, 2007 was 83.3%. The combined ratio is a measure of underwriting performance and represents the relationship of incurred losses, loss adjustment expenses and other operating expenses to net earned premiums. A combined ratio of less than 100% indicates an underwriting profit, while a combined ratio greater than 100% reflects an underwriting loss. The combined ratio for the quarter included $3.0 million, or 4.9 percentage points, of net favorable reserve development on direct business written by the Company on prior accident years including $2.1 million from the Excess and Surplus Insurance segment’s casualty business and $927,000 from the Workers’ Compensation Insurance segment offset by $111,000 of adverse development from the Excess and Surplus Insurance segment’s property business. 

 

Included in the change in our combined ratio, our expense ratio increased from 25.0% for the three month period ended March 31, 2006 to 26.4% for the three month period ended March 31, 2007.  This increase was primarily attributable to the timing of compensation-related items.  

 

In the prior year, the combined ratio for the three months ended March 31, 2006 was 85.8%. It included $2.3 million or 4.8 percentage points of favorable reserve development arising on direct business written by the Company from prior accident years.  This favorable development arose as follows: $1.5 million of favorable development from the Excess and Surplus Insurance segment’s casualty business, $626,000 of favorable development from the Excess and Surplus Insurance segment’s property business and $223,000 of favorable development for the Workers’ Compensation Insurance segment.

 

12

 

 

 

There is an intercompany reinsurance pooling agreement in place between James River Insurance and Stonewood Insurance to best employ our capital at each of our insurance company subsidiaries.  We report all segment information in this ‘‘Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations’’ prior to the effects of this intercompany reinsurance pooling agreement because we evaluate the operating performance of our reportable segments on a pre-pooling basis.

 

***Premiums***

 

The following table summarizes the growth in premium volume by component and business segment:**

 

|                                 |     | **Three Months Ended March 31,** |     |
|--------------------------------------|----------|----------------------------------|----------|
|                                 |     | **2007**                         |     | **2006** |   | **% Change** |   |
| * *                             | * * | *($ in thousands)***             | * * |
|                                 |     |                             |     |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| Gross written premiums:              |     |                             |     |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| Excess and Surplus Insurance         |     | $                                | 65,479   |   | $ | 57,768 |   | *13.3%*** |   |
| Workers’ Compensation Insurance |     |                             | 14,609   |   |   | 10,397 |   | *40.5%*** |   |
|                                 |     | $                                | 80,088   |   | $ | 68,165 |   | *17.5%*** |   |
|                                 |     |                             |     |   |   |   |   | * * |   |
| Net written premiums:                |     |                             |     |   |   |   |   | * * |   |
| Excess and Surplus Insurance         |     | $                                | 49,623   |   | $ | 44,576 |   | *11.3%*** |   |
| Workers’ Compensation Insurance |     |                             | 14,247   |   |   | 9,112 |   | *56.4%*** |   |
|                                 |     | $                                | 63,870   |   | $ | 53,688 |   | *19.0%*** |   |
|                                 |     |                             |     |   |   |   |   | * * |   |
| Net earned premiums:                 |     |                             |     |   |   |   |   | * * |   |
| Excess and Surplus Insurance         |     | $                                | 47,389   |   | $ | 39,584 |   | *19.7%*** |   |
| Workers’ Compensation Insurance |     |                             | 12,860   |   |   | 8,505 |   | *51.2%*** |   |
|                                 |     | $                                | 60,249   |   | $ | 48,089 |   | *25.3%*** |   |

 

The excess and surplus insurance industry has been facing a softening market where price competition from other carriers as well as the standard insurance market has begun to intensify.  Despite this, the 13.3% increase in gross written premiums for the first quarter of 2007 for the Excess and Surplus Insurance segment as noted above reflects an increase in renewal business as well as penetration and growth in its broker network.  The number of brokers submitting business to the Excess and Surplus Insurance segment grew 20.6% from 199 for the three months ended March 31, 2006 to 240 for the three months ended March 31, 2007. 

 

Gross written premiums for the Workers’ Compensation Insurance segment for the three months ended March 31, 2007 increased significantly over the quarter ended March 31, 2006.  This is attributable to a 23.6% increase in submissions on new business coupled with an increase in renewals over the prior year.  During 2007, the Workers’ Compensation Insurance segment began to write policies in Virginia (although the total gross written premiums during the quarter from Virginia was only $10,000).  The increase in premiums noted above resulted from increased penetration with existing agents as well as a 10.8% increase in new agents (the number of agencies in the Workers’ Compensation Insurance network increased from 139 at March 31, 2006 to 154 at March 31, 2007).  Additionally, gross written premiums for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 included $792,000 and $588,000, respectively, ofassumed premiums from our allocation from the North Carolina involuntary worker’s compensation pool.

 

The ratio of net written premiums to gross written premiums is referred to as our net retention.  For the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, our net retention was 79.7% and 78.8%, respectively. The net retention for the Excess and Surplus Insurance segment was 75.8% and 77.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.  The net retention for the Worker’s Compensation Insurance segment was 97.5% and 87.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.  The increase in net retention in the Workers’ Compensation Insurance segment is attributable, in part, to a change in the Company’s reinsurance program where it has increased its retention from $750,000 to $1.0 million per occurrence effective January 1, 2007.  The remainder of the increase is attributable to the recording of reinsurance deposit payments.

 

13

 

 

 

Premiums are earned ratably over the terms of our insurance policies, generally twelve months, and net earned premiums were affected by the significant growth in written premiums over the prior year.

 

***Underwriting Results***

 

The following table compares our combined ratios by segment**:**

 

|                                 |   | **Three Months Ended March 31,** |   |
|--------------------------------------|--------|----------------------------------|--------|
|                                 |   | **2007**                         |   | **2006** |   |
|                                 |   |                             |   |   |   |
| Excess and Surplus Insurance         |   | 82.8%                       |   | 79.5%  |   |
| Workers’ Compensation Insurance |   | 77.9%                       |   | 107.6%  |   |
| Total                                |   | 83.3%                       |   | 85.8%  |   |

 

*Excess and Surplus Insurance*

 

Underwriting results for the Excess and Surplus Insurance segment are as follows:

 

|                                |   | **Three Months Ended March 31,** |   |     |   |
|-------------------------------------|--------|----------------------------------|--------|----------|--------|
|                                |   | **2007**                         |   | **2006** |   | **% Change** |   |
|                                |   | *($ in thousands)***             |   |     |   |
|                                |   |                             |   |     |   |   |   |   |   |
| Gross written premiums              |   | $                                | 65,479 |     | $      | 57,768 |   | 13.3%  |   |
| Net written premiums                |   | $                                | 49,623 |     | $      | 44,576 |   | 11.3%  |   |
|                                |   |                             |   |     |   |   |   |   |   |
| Net earned premiums                 |   | $                                | 47,389 |     | $      | 39,584 |   | 19.7%  |   |
|                                |   |                             |   |     |   |   |   |   |   |
| Losses and loss adjustment expenses |   |                             | 27,903 |     |   | 22,367 |   | 24.8%  |   |
| Underwriting expenses               |   |                             | 11,314 |     |   | 9,086 |   | 24.5%  |   |
| Underwriting profit (1)             |   | $                                | 8,172  |     | $      | 8,131 |   | 0.5%  |   |
|                                |   |                             |   |     |   |   |   |   |   |
| Ratios:                             |   |                             |   |     |   |   |   |   |   |
| Loss ratio                          |   |                             | 58.9%  |     |   | 56.5% |   | – |   |
| Expense ratio                       |   |                             | 23.9%  |     |   | 23.0% |   | – |   |
| Combined ratio                      |   |                             | 82.8%  |     |   | 79.5% |   | – |   |

 

| (1)  See – “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures.” |
|------------------------------------------------------------------|

 

The combined ratio for the Excess and Surplus Insurance segment for the three months ended March 31, 2007 was 82.8%, comprised of a loss ratio of 58.9% and an expense ratio of 23.9%. This included $2.0 million, or 4.3 percentage points, of net favorable reserve development in our loss estimates consisting of $2.1 million arising from casualty business offset by $111,000 of adverse development from property business. This compares to the prior year’s first quarter combined ratio of 79.5%, comprised of a loss ratio of 56.5% and an expense ratio of 23.0%. The prior year’s combined ratio included $2.1 million, or 5.3 percentage points, of favorable development consisting of $1.5 million of favorable development on casualty business and $626,000 on property business. 

 

As a result of the items discussed above, our underwriting profit increased from $8.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2006 to $8.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007.

 

14

 

 

 

Underwriting results by major line of business within the Excess and Surplus Insurance segment are as follows:

 

|                                |     | **Three Months Ended March 31, 2007** |     |
|-------------------------------------|----------|---------------------------------------|----------|
|                                |     | **Casualty Lines**                    |     | **Property Lines** |   | **Total** |   |
| * *                            | * * | *($ in thousands)***                  | * * |
|                                |     |                                  |     |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| Net earned premiums                 |     | $                                     | 46,886   |   | $ | 503 |   | $ | 47,389 |   |
| Losses and loss adjustment expenses |     | $                                     | 26,982   |   | $ | 921 |   | $ | 27,903 |   |
| Loss ratio                          |     |                                  | 57.5     | % |   | 183.1 | % |   | 58.9 | % |

 

|                                |     | **Three Months Ended March 31, 2006** |     |
|-------------------------------------|----------|---------------------------------------|----------|
|                                |     | **Casualty Lines**                    |     | **Property Lines** |   | **Total** |   |
| * *                            | * * | *($ in thousands)***                  | * * |
|                                |     |                                  |     |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| Net earned premiums                 |     | $                                     | 37,702   |   | $ | 1,882 |   | $ | 39,584 |   |
| Losses and loss adjustment expenses |     | $                                     | 21,309   |   | $ | 1,058 |   | $ | 22,367 |   |
| Loss ratio                          |     |                                  | 56.5     | % |   | 56.2 | % |   | 56.5 | % |

 

The loss ratio for property lines for the three months ended March 31, 2007 reflects loss activity in the 2007 accident year which had a more prominent effect on the loss ratio due to the low earned premium volume noted above.

 

*Workers’ Compensation Insurance*

 

Underwriting results for the Workers’ Compensation Insurance segment are as follows:

 

|                                |   | **Three Months Ended March 31,** |   |     |   |
|-------------------------------------|--------|----------------------------------|--------|----------|--------|
|                                |   | **2007**                         |   | **2006** |   | **% Change** |   |
|                                |   | *($ in thousands)***             |   |     |   |
|                                |   |                             |   |     |   |   |   |   |   |
| Gross written premiums              |   | $                                | 14,609 |     | $      | 10,397 |   | 40.5%   |   |
| Net written premiums                |   | $                                | 14,247 |     | $      | 9,112 |   | 56.4%   |   |
|                                |   |                             |   |     |   |   |   |   |   |
| Net earned premiums                 |   | $                                | 12,860 |     | $      | 8,505 |   | 51.2%   |   |
|                                |   |                             |   |     |   |   |   |   |   |
| Losses and loss adjustment expenses |   |                             | 6,365  |     |   | 6,850 |   | (7.1%)  |   |
| Underwriting expenses               |   |                             | 3,650  |     |   | 2,298 |   | 58.8%   |   |
| Underwriting profit (loss)(1)       |   | $                                | 2,845  |     | $      | (643 | ) | –  |   |
|                                |   |                             |   |     |   |   |   |   |   |
| Ratios:                             |   |                             |   |     |   |   |   |   |   |
| Loss ratio                          |   |                             | 49.5%  |     |   | 80.5 | % | –  |   |
| Expense ratio                       |   |                             | 28.4%  |     |   | 27.0 | % | –  |   |
| Combined ratio                      |   |                             | 77.9%  |     |   | 107.6 | % | –  |   |

 

| (1)  See – “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures.” |
|------------------------------------------------------------------|

 

The combined ratio for the Workers’ Compensation Insurance segment for the three months ended March 31, 2007 was 77.9%, comprised of a loss ratio of 49.5% and an expense ratio of 28.4%. The loss ratio included $927,000, or 7.2 percentage points, of favorable reserve development on prior accident years for direct business written by the Company.  For the first quarter of 2006, the Workers’ Compensation Insurance segment had a combined ratio of 107.6%, comprised of a loss ratio of 80.5% and an expense ratio of 27.0%. The loss ratio for the first quarter of the 

 

15

 

 

 

prior year included $223,000, or 2.6 percentage points, of favorable development from prior accident years for direct business written by the Company**.**The results for the quarter ended March 31, 2007 benefited from very low claims frequency and severity as well as the increased premiums previously noted.  This was in contrast to the first quarter of 2006, where the Workers’ Compensation Insurance segment had uncharacteristically high loss activity.  This was evidenced by a loss ratio of 80.5% in the first quarter compared to 68.2% for the full year of 2006.

 

As a result of the items discussed above, our underwriting profit (loss) increased from a loss of $643,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2006 to a profit of $2.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007.

 

***Reserves***

 

The Company’s gross reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses at March 31, 2007 was $324.4 million. Of this amount, 75.1% relates to amounts that are incurred but not reported (IBNR). The Company’s gross reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses by segment are summarized as follows:

 

|                                 |   | **Gross Reserves at March 31, 2007** |   |
|--------------------------------------|--------|--------------------------------------|--------|
|                                 |   | **Case**                             |   | **IBNR** |   | **Total** |   |
|                                 |   | *(in thousands)***                   |   |
| Excess and Surplus Insurance         |   |                                 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| Casualty Lines                       |   | $                                    | 48,876 |   | $ | 204,567 |   | $ | 253,443 |   |
| Property Lines                       |   |                                 | 18,352 |   |   | 15,019 |   |   | 33,371 |   |
| Workers’ Compensation Insurance |   |                                 | 13,685 |   |   | 23,857 |   |   | 37,542 |   |
| Total                                |   | $                                    | 80,913 |   | $ | 243,443 |   | $ | 324,356 |   |

 

At March 31, 2007, the amount of net reserves related to IBNR was 79.1% of the total net reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses. The Company’s net reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses by segment are summarized as follows:

 

|                                 |   | **Net Reserves at March 31, 2007** |   |
|--------------------------------------|--------|------------------------------------|--------|
|                                 |   | **Case**                           |   | **IBNR** |   | **Total** |   |
|                                 |   | *(in thousands)***                 |   |
| Excess and Surplus Insurance         |   |                               |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| Casualty Lines                       |   | $                                  | 29,282 |   | $ | 159,011 |   | $ | 188,293 |   |
| Property Lines                       |   |                               | 5,769  |   |   | 5,232 |   |   | 11,001 |   |
| Workers’ Compensation Insurance |   |                               | 13,535 |   |   | 19,601 |   |   | 33,136 |   |
| Total                                |   | $                                  | 48,586 |   | $ | 183,844 |   | $ | 232,430 |   |

****

***Other Operating Expenses***

 

Other operating expenses for the Company include both the underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses of the Excess and Surplus Insurance segment and the Workers’ Compensation Insurance segment as well as the expenses of the Corporate and Other segment.

 

*Corporate and Other Segment*

 

Other operating expenses for the Corporate and Other segment include personnel costs associated with holding company employees, directors’ fees, professional fees and various other corporate expenses. A majority of these costs are reimbursed by our subsidiaries. The amount of the reimbursement is included primarily as underwriting expenses in the results of our insurance subsidiaries. The amounts of other operating expenses of the Corporate and Other segment represent the expenses of the holding company that were not reimbursed by our subsidiaries, including costs associated with potential acquisitions and other strategic initiatives. These costs may vary from period-to-period based on the status of these initiatives.

 

16

 

 

 

The total operating expenses of the Corporate and Other segment were $945,000 and $641,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The increase in other operating expenses of the Corporate and Other segment over the prior period was primarily attributable to an increase in compensation and other related costs for the three months ended March 31, 2007.

 

***Investing Results***

 

Net investment income for the three months ended March 31, 2007 was $5.8 million, up 44.5% from $4.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2006. The increase in net investment income reflects the significant growth in our cash and invested assets from $432.9 million at March 31, 2006 to $569.5 million at March 31, 2007 and an increase in our average investment yield. The growth in our invested assets is a result of an increase in our net written premiums, as well as the net proceeds from our offering of $20.6 million junior subordinated debt in June 2006. The following table summarizes our investment returns:

 

|                                  |   | **Three Months Ended March 31,** |   |
|---------------------------------------|--------|----------------------------------|--------|
|                                  |   | **2007**                         |   | **2006** |   |
|                                  |   |                             |   |   |   |
| Annualized gross investment yield on: |   |                             |   |   |   |
| Average cash and invested assets      |   | 4.4%                        |   | 4.2%  |   |
| Average fixed maturity securities     |   | 4.4%                        |   | 4.2%  |   |
| Annualized tax equivalent yield on:   |   |                             |   |   |   |
| Average fixed maturity securities     |   | 5.2%                        |   | 4.7%  |   |

 

Our cash and invested assets consist of fixed maturity securities, equity securities and cash and cash equivalents. Our fixed maturity and equity securities are classified as available-for-sale and are carried at fair value with unrealized gains and losses on these securities reported, net of tax, as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). The average duration of our fixed maturity security portfolio at March 31, 2007 is approximately 4.5 years.

 

The amortized cost and fair value of our investments in available-for-sale securities were as follows:

 

|                                                                                                                                               |   | **March 31, 2007**         |    | **December 31, 2006** |   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|----------------------------|---------|-----------------------|--------|
|                                                                                                                                               |   | **Cost or Amortized Cost** |    | **Fair Value**        |   | **% of****Total****Fair Value** |   | **Cost or Amortized****Cost** |   | **Fair Value** |   | **% of****Total****Fair Value** |   |
|                                                                                                                                               |   | *($ in thousands)***       |    |
| Fixed maturity securities:                                                                                                                         |   |                       |    |                  |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| State and municipal                                                                                                                                |   | $                          | 212,450 |                  | $      | 213,598 |   | *39.8%* ** |   | $ | 198,627 |   | $ | 200,264 |   | *40.5%* ** |   |
| Mortgage-backed                                                                                                                                    |   |                       | 101,839 |                  |   | 101,362 |   | *18.9%* ** |   |   | 92,673 |   |   | 91,760 |   | *18.5%* ** |   |
| Corporate                                                                                                                                          |   |                       | 90,487  |                  |   | 89,316 |   | *16.7%* ** |   |   | 88,561 |   |   | 86,895 |   | *17.6%* ** |   |
| Asset-backed                                                                                                                                       |   |                       | 66,598  |                  |   | 66,509 |   | *12.4%* ** |   |   | 59,226 |   |   | 58,889 |   | *11.9%* ** |   |
| Obligations of U.S.       government corporations       and agencies                   |   |                       | 25,957  |                  |   | 25,672 |   | *4.8%* ** |   |   | 25,954 |   |   | 25,568 |   | *5.2%* ** |   |
| U.S. Treasury securities and       obligations guaranteed by       the U.S. Government |   |                       | 23,096  |                  |   | 22,665 |   | *4.2%* ** |   |   | 23,191 |   |   | 22,640 |   | *4.5%* ** |   |
| Total fixed maturity securities                                                                                                                    |   |                       | 520,427 |                  |   | 519,122 |   | *96.8%* ** |   |   | 488,232 |   |   | 486,016 |   | *98.2%* ** |   |
| Equity securities                                                                                                                                  |   |                       | 16,919  |                  |   | 17,080 |   | *3.2%* ** |   |   | 8,536 |   |   | 8,703 |   | *1.8%* ** |   |
| Total investments                                                                                                                                  |   | $                          | 537,346 |                  | $      | 536,202 |   | *100.0%* ** |   | $ | 496,768 |   | $ | 494,719 |   | *100.0%* ** |   |

 

 

17

 

 

 

The amortized cost and fair value of our investments in fixed maturity securities summarized by contractual maturity were as follows:

 

|                               |   | **March 31, 2007**    |    |
|------------------------------------|--------|-----------------------|---------|
|                               |   | **Amortized****Cost** |    | **Fair****Value** |   | **% of****Total****Fair Value** |   |
|                               |   | *($ in thousands)***  |    |
| Due in:                            |   |                  |    |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| One year or less                   |   | $                     | 23,837  |   | $ | 23,658 |   | *4.6%*** |   |
| After one year through five years  |   |                  | 87,089  |   |   | 85,693 |   | *16.5%*** |   |
| After five years through ten years |   |                  | 85,787  |   |   | 85,070 |   | *16.4%*** |   |
| After ten years                    |   |                  | 155,277 |   |   | 156,830 |   | *30.2%*** |   |
| Mortgage-backed                    |   |                  | 101,839 |   |   | 101,362 |   | *19.5%*** |   |
| Asset-backed                       |   |                  | 66,598  |   |   | 66,509 |   | *12.8%*** |   |
| Total                              |   | $                     | 520,427 |   | $ | 519,122 |   | *100.0%*** |   |

 

At March 31, 2007, our fixed maturity security portfolio had an unrealized loss of $1.3 million, representing 0.3% of the amortized cost of the portfolio. The majority of the unrealized losses on fixed maturity securities at March 31, 2007 are interest rate related. Each security in our portfolio had a fair value that was greater than 92.0% of its amortized cost at March 31, 2007. None of the fixed maturity securities with unrealized losses has ever missed or been delinquent on a scheduled principal or interest payment. At March 31, 2007, 97.1% of our fixed maturity security portfolio was rated ‘‘A-’’ or better by Standard & Poor’s or received an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized rating agency.

 

We have concluded that none of the available-for-sale securities with unrealized losses at March 31, 2007 has experienced an other-than-temporary impairment. We considered our intent and ability to hold the securities for a sufficient time to allow for a recovery in value in this determination.

 

The balance of our cash and cash equivalents was $33.3 million at March 31, 2007. The percentage of cash and cash equivalents to cash and invested assets was 5.8% at March 31, 2007 compared to 7.5% at December 31, 2006. At March 31, 2007, cash and invested assets per share was $37.62 compared to $35.39 at December 31, 2006.

 

In the fourth quarter of 2006, we began to invest in equity securities, principally in various market indices.  Over time, up to 10.0% of cash and invested assets may be invested in equity securities.  At March 31, 2007, the balance of equity securities of $17.1 million represented 3.0% of the total cash and invested assets.

 

***Interest Expense***

 

Interest expense totaled $1.3 million and $777,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Interest expense relates to $15.0 million of senior debt and $43.3 million of junior subordinated debt. Interest on these notes accrues at floating rates, and the increase in interest expense reflects increases in the overall rate environment over the past 12 months as well as the issuance of the additional $20.6 million of junior subordinated debt in June 2006.

 

***Income Taxes***

 

For the three month periods ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, income tax expense differs from the amount computed by applying the Federal statutory income tax rate to income before taxes primarily due to interest income on tax-advantaged state and municipal securities.  Our effective tax rates were 30.7% and 32.2%, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006.  State and municipal securities represented 41.1% of our fixed maturity security portfolio at March 31, 2007 compared to 29.1% at March 31, 2006.

 

The Company did not have any unrecognized tax benefits at March 31, 2007.  Tax year 2003 and all subsequent tax years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service.

 

18

 

 

 

**LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES**

 

**Sources and Uses of Funds**

 

We are organized as a holding company with all of our operations being conducted by our wholly-owned insurance subsidiaries. Accordingly, our holding company receives cash through loans from banks, issuance of equity and debt securities (including our initial public offering in August 2005 and our junior subordinated debt issuance in June 2006), corporate service fees or dividends received from our insurance subsidiaries, payments from our subsidiaries pursuant to our consolidated tax allocation agreement and other transactions.

 

The payment to us of dividends by our subsidiaries is limited by statute. In general, these restrictions require that dividends be paid out of earned surplus and limit the aggregate amount of dividends or other distributions that our subsidiaries may declare or pay within any twelve-month period without advance regulatory approval. The maximum amount of dividends available to us from our insurance subsidiaries during 2007 without regulatory approval is $32.7 million. However, insurance regulators have broad powers to prevent the reduction of statutory surplus to inadequate levels and could refuse to permit the payment of dividends under any applicable formula.

 

At March 31, 2007, cash and invested assets at our holding company totaled $12.6 million.

 

Our net written premium to surplus ratio (defined as annualized net written premiums to statutory surplus) is reviewed by management as well as our rating agency as a measure of leverage and efficiency of deployed capital. As we have a relatively limited operating history, the rating agency’s metrics require us to have a lower premium to surplus ratio than that of some of our competitors. For the three months ended March 31, 2007, our annualized net written premium to surplus ratio was 1.1 to 1.0.

 

**Cash Flows**

 

Our sources of operating funds consist primarily of premiums written, investment income and proceeds from offerings of debt and equity securities. We use operating cash flows primarily to pay operating expenses, losses and loss adjustment expenses and income taxes.

 

|                                             |     | **Three Months Ended March 31,** |     |
|--------------------------------------------------|----------|----------------------------------|----------|
|                                             |     | **2007**                         |     | **2006** |   |
| * *                                         | * * | *(in thousands)***               | * * |
| Cash and cash equivalents provided by (used in): |     |                             |     |   |   |   |   |
| Operating activities                             |     | $                                | 36,782   |   | $ | 46,036 |   |
| Investing activities                             |     |                             | (41,870  | ) |   | (38,352 | ) |
| Financing activities                             |     |                             | (1,950   | ) |   | 248 |   |
| Change in cash and cash equivalents              |     | $                                | (7,038   | ) | $ | 7,932 |   |

 

The decrease in net cash provided by operating activities for the quarter ended March 31, 2007 is due primarily to a decrease in reinsurance recoveries on paid losses (since the first quarter of 2006 had significant recoveries on reinsurance from hurricane-related losses paid by the Company in 2005), a decrease in accrued expenses from December 31, 2006 to March 31, 2007 and a decrease in the change in premiums receivable and agents’ balances  attributable to the quarter-over-quarter change in gross written premiums (i.e. the change in gross written premiums from the fourth quarter of 2005 to the first quarter of 2006 was a decrease of $3.4 million, while the change from the fourth quarter of 2006 to the first quarter of 2007 was a decrease of only $1.0 million).

 

Cash used in financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2007 relates primarily to the $2.3 million of common stock dividends paid on March 30, 2007.

 

**Senior Debt and Junior Subordinated Debt**

 

In May 2004, we issued $15.0 million of senior debt due April 29, 2034, with net proceeds to us of $14.5 million. The senior debt is not redeemable by the holder or subject to sinking fund requirements. Interest accrues quarterly and is payable in arrears at a floating rate per annum equal to three-month LIBOR plus 3.85%. The senior debt is 

 

19

 

 

redeemable prior to its stated maturity at our option in whole or in part, on or after May 15, 2009. The terms of the senior debt contain certain covenants, which, among other things, restrict our assuming senior indebtedness secured by our Common Stock or our subsidiaries’ capital stock or issuing shares of our subsidiaries’ capital stock. We are in compliance with all such covenants at March 31, 2007.

 

We have sold trust preferred securities through three Delaware statutory trusts sponsored and wholly-owned by us. Each trust used the net proceeds from the sale of its trust preferred securities to purchase our floating rate junior subordinated debt. The following table summarizes the nature and terms of the junior subordinated debt and trust preferred securities outstanding at March 31, 2007:

 

|   |   | **James River****Capital Trust I** |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | **James River****Capital Trust II** |   | **James River****Capital Trust III** |   |
|--------|--------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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|   |   | *($ in thousands)*                 |  
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Issue date

 

 

May 26, 2004

 

 

December 15, 2004

 

 

June 15, 2006

 

 
Principal amount of trust preferred securities

 

$

7,000

 

$

15,000

 

$

20,000

 

 
Principal amount of junior subordinated debt

 

$

7,217

 

$

15,464

 

$

20,619

 

 
Maturity date of junior subordinated debt,    unless accelerated earlier

 

 

May 24, 2034

 

 

December 15, 2034

 

 

June 15, 2036

 

 
Trust common stock

 

$

217

 

$

464

 

$

619

 

 
Interest rate, per annum

 

 

Three-Month LIBOR plus 4.0%

 

 

Three-Month LIBOR plus 3.4%

 

 

Three-Month LIBOR plus 3.0%

 

 
Redeemable at 100% of principal amount at    our option on or after

 

 

May 24, 2009

 

 

December 15, 2009

 

 

June 15, 2011

 

 
 

We have provided a full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of payment of the obligations of each of the trusts under the trust preferred securities. The indentures for the junior subordinated debt contain certain covenants with which we are in compliance as of March 31, 2007.

 

At March 31, 2007, the ratio of total debt outstanding to total capitalization (defined as total debt outstanding plus total stockholders’ equity) was 20.7%. We use capital to support our premium growth and having debt as part of our capital structure allows us to generate higher earnings per share and book value per share results than we could by using equity alone. Our target debt to total capitalization ratio is 35.0% or less.

 

**Reinsurance**

 

We enter into reinsurance contracts to limit our exposure to potential losses arising from large risks and to provide additional capacity for growth. Our reinsurance is contracted under excess of loss and quota share reinsurance contracts. In excess of loss reinsurance, the reinsurer agrees to assume all or a portion of the ceding company’s losses in excess of a specified amount. In excess of loss reinsurance, the premium payable to the reinsurer is negotiated by the parties based on their assessment of the amount of risk being ceded to the reinsurer because the reinsurer does not share proportionately in the ceding company’s losses. In quota share reinsurance, the reinsurer agrees to assume a specified percentage of the ceding company’s losses arising out of a defined class of business in exchange for a corresponding percentage of premiums.  For the three months ended March 31, 2007 and2006, our net retention was 79.7% and 78.8%, respectively.

 

 

20

 

 

 

The following is a summary of our casualty reinsurance in place at March 31, 2007:

 

**Line of Business**

 

**Company Retention**

 

 

 

Primary Casualty

 

Up to $1.2 million per occurrence

Excess Casualty

 

$500,000 per occurrence (1)

Workers’ Compensation

 

$1.0 million per occurrence and losses above $20.0 million per occurrence and above $10.0 million on any one life

 

(1)

For policies with an occurrence limit of $1.0 million or higher, the quota share percentage is set such that our retention is $500,000.  For all excess casualty policy limits in excess of $5.0 million, we purchase facultative reinsurance.  For policies where we also write an underlying primary casualty policy, the quota share reinsurance reduces our excess casualty retention to $100,000, which when added to our retention on the primary casualty coverage, results in a total retention of $1.1 million on that risk.  

 

The following is a summary of our property reinsurance in place as of March 31, 2007:

 

**Line of Business**

 

**Company Retention**

 

 

 

Primary Property

 

Up to 25% of the first $5.0 million per risk (1)(2)

Excess Property 

 

25% of the first $5.0 million per risk (1)

 

(1)

Per risk limits in excess of $5.0 million are reinsured through facultative reinsurance or run-off coverage of the Company’s $10.0 million excess of $5.0 million reinsurance program in place prior to the June 1, 2006 property reinsurance renewal.

(2)

$250,000 for non-catastrophe losses.

 

Additionally, we have a property reinsurance treaty that covers our per occurrence exposure to terrorism as provided under the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002.  This treaty covers $3.0 million in excess of $2.0 million per risk.

 

We use catastrophe–modeling software to analyze the risk of severe losses from hurricanes and earthquakes.  We model our portfolio of insurance policies in force each month and track our accumulations of exposed values geographically to manage our concentration in any one area.  In the fourth quarter of 2005, we began reducing our exposure to hurricane losses by not writing any new or renewal primary property insurance with wind coverage within 100 miles of the Southeast and Gulf coasts of the United States or within 30 miles of the Northeast coast of the United States.  We have reduced the concentration of exposed limits in any 50 mile area to $50.0 million or less on new and renewal policies.

 

We measure exposure to potential catastrophe losses in terms of probable maximum loss, which is an estimate of the amount we would expect to pay in any one catastrophe event over a specified period of time (i.e. a return period).  We manage this potential loss by purchasing catastrophe reinsurance coverage.

 

Effective June 1, 2006, we purchased catastrophe reinsurance of $17.5 million in excess of our $2.5 million per event retention.  This coverage has one reinstatement in the event we exhaust any of the coverage.  Additionally, our property quota share reinsurance treaty effectively provides coverage for a single occurrence up to 100% of ceded premium, which is estimated at $21.3 million for the period June 1, 2006 through May 31, 2007.  Our property quota share reinsurance treaty is not subject to any reinstatement premiums or an aggregate cap on ceded losses.  The combination of our property catastrophe and quota share reinsurance treaties provides coverage for a single occurrence of up to approximately $39 million.  Based upon our computer modeling, a $39 million gross catastrophe loss is expected to exceed our 500 year return period.  In the event of a $39 million gross property catastrophe lossto the Company, we estimate our net after tax cost at approximately $2.8 million, including reinstatement premiums.  In addition to our retention, we would retain any losses in excess of our reinsurance coverage limits.

 

Reinsurance contracts do not relieve us from our obligations to policyholders. The failure of a reinsurer to honor its obligations could result in losses to us, and therefore, we establish allowances for amounts considered uncollectible. At March 31, 2007, there was no allowance for uncollectible reinsurance recoverables. James River Insurance and Stonewood Insurance generally target reinsurers with A.M. Best financial strength ratings of ‘‘A-’’ (Excellent) or better.

 

21

 

 

 

At March 31, 2007, we had reinsurance recoverables on unpaid losses of $91.9 million and reinsurance recoverables on paid losses of $3.5 million. Included in reinsurance recoverables on paid and unpaid losses at March 31, 2007 are $10.5 million of recoverables related to Hurricane Katrina and $8.3 million related to Hurricane Wilma. All but $2.3 million of our total recoverables on paid and unpaid losses at March 31, 2007 were from reinsurers rated ‘‘A-’’ or better by A.M. Best, or were collateralized. 

 

**NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS**

 

In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, *Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109* (FIN 48).  FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertain tax positions.  The interpretation prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return.  We adopted FIN 48 on January 1, 2007, and adoption of FIN 48 had no effect on our financial position or results of operations.

 

**RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS**

 

In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement No. 157, *Fair Value Measurement* (Statement 157).  Statement 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles and expands disclosures about fair value measurements.  Statement 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 with earlier application encouraged.  We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting Statement 157 on our financial statements.

 

In February 2007, the FASB issued Statement No. 159, *The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Liabilities*, (“Statement 159”).  Statement 159 permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value with changes in fair value included in current earnings.  The election is made on specified election dates, can be made on an instrument by instrument basis, and is irrevocable. Statement 159 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007.  We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting Statement 159 on our financial statements.

 

**CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES**

 

Critical accounting estimates are defined as those estimates that are both important to the portrayal of our financial position and results of operations and that require us to exercise significant judgment. We use significant judgment concerning future results and developments in applying these critical accounting estimates and in preparing our consolidated financial statements. These judgments and estimates affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosure of material contingent assets and liabilities. We evaluate our estimates regularly using information that we believe to be relevant. These reviews include evaluating the adequacy of reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses, evaluating the investment portfolio for other-than-temporary declines in estimated fair value, analyzing the recoverability of deferred tax assets and estimating the compensationexpense associated with share-based awards.  Actual results may differ materially from the estimates and assumptions used in preparing the consolidated financial statements.

 

**Stock Based Compensation**

 

In December 2004, the FASB issued Statement 123(R), which is a revision of Statement No. 123, *Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation*.  We adopted Statement 123(R) using the modified prospective method on January 1, 2006.

 

Prior to May 3, 2005 (the date that we filed our Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission), we used the Minimum Value method to calculate the pro forma disclosures required by Statement 123.  We continue to account for the portion of awards granted prior to May 3, 2005 that have not been modified, cancelled or repurchased subsequent to that date using the intrinsic value method prescribed in APB Opinion No. 25 and its related interpretive guidance.  When we adopted Statement 123(R), we began recognizing the expense associated with awards issued on or after May 3, 2005 and for awards modified, repurchased or cancelled on or after that date in the income statement over the award’s vesting period using the modified prospective method.  Compensation expense amounts related to options are recognized on a straight-line basis over each award’s vesting period in our income statement.  Werecognized $265,000 and $223,000 of other operating expenses for stock based 

 

22

 

 

compensation for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.  As of March 31, 2007, there were $2.8 million of estimated unrecognized compensation costs related to non-vested option awards expected to be charged to earnings over a weighted-average period of 2.6 years.

 

We use a Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model in determining the fair value of option grants.  The following table summarizes the assumptions used to estimate the fair value of our share-based awards issued during the three months ended March 31, 2007:

 

Risk-free interest rate

4.67%

Dividend yield

2.00%

Expected stock price volatility

35.00%

Weighted-average expected life

7 years

 

The expected life is based on the midpoint between the vesting period and the contractual term of the award.  The stock price volatility assumption is a significant variable in estimating the value of an option.  Stock price volatility is a measure of the amount by which stock price has fluctuated or is expected to fluctuate in a period.  In the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model, a higher volatility assumption results in a higher value for the option and a lower volatility assumption results in a lower option value. Stock price volatility is estimated based on stock price volatility data for similar property/casualty companies in the period following their respective initial public offerings since our own historical stock price information is limited to the period subsequent to our initial public offering in August 2005.  The risk-free interest rate assumption is based on the seven-year U.S.Treasury rate at the date of the grant.  The dividend yield assumption is based upon the rate of expected future dividend payments over the life of the options at the time the options were granted.

 

Readers are urged to review ‘‘Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates’’ and Note 1 to the audited consolidated financial statements contained in our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a more complete description of our critical accounting policies and estimates.

 

**RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURES**

 

The following table reconciles the underwriting profit (loss) by individual insurance segment and of the whole Company to consolidated income before taxes. We believe that these measures are useful to investors in evaluating the performance of our Company and its insurance segments because our objective is to consistently earn underwriting profits. We evaluate the performance of our insurance segments and allocate resources based primarily on underwriting profit (loss) of insurance segments. Our definition of underwriting profit (loss) of insurance segments and underwriting profit (loss) may not be comparable to the definition of underwriting profit (loss) for other companies.

 

 

 

**Three Months Ended March 31,**

 

 

 

**2007**

 

**2006**

 

* *

* *

*(in thousands)***

* *

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Underwriting profit (loss) of the insurance segments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Excess and Surplus Insurance

 

$

8,172

 

$

8,131

 

Workers’ Compensation Insurance

 

 

2,845

 

 

(643

)

Total underwriting profit of insurance segments

 

 

11,017

 

 

7,488

 

Other operating expenses of the Corporate and Other    segment

 

 

(945

)

 

(641

)

Underwriting profit (loss)

 

 

10,072

 

 

6,847

 

Net investment income

 

 

5,771

 

 

3,993

 

Net realized investment losses

 

 

(8

)

 

(35

)

Other income

 

 

70

 

 

42

 

Interest expense

 

 

(1,284

)

 

(777

)

Consolidated income before taxes

 

$

14,621

 

$

10,070

 

 

 

23

 

 

 

**OUTLOOK FOR 2007**

 

For 2007, we anticipate achieving an annual return on average equity of at least 15% and growth in gross written premiums of between 10% and 20%.

 

*“SAFE HARBOR” STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM* *ACT OF 1995: This Form 10-Q contains ‘‘forward-looking’’ statements within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including among others those concerning: expectations regarding our business and growth strategies; the basis for our reserve estimates; the adequacy of our reserves; our expected cost associated with a catastrophe loss; our outlook for 2007; and our belief that our reinsurance recoverables are collectible. Such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include such factors as: effects of increased competition; effects of the cyclical nature of our business; effects of developmentsin the financial or capital markets; changes in availability, cost or quality of reinsurance; losses of key personnel or the inability to recruit qualified personnel; payment of claims by reinsurers on time or at all; effects of severe weather conditions and other catastrophes; effects of war or terrorism; changes in relationships with agencies, brokers and agents; changes in rating agency policies or practices; declines in financial ratings; changes in regulations or laws applicable to our insurance subsidiaries; changes in legal theories of liability under our insurance policies; accuracy of assumptions underlying our reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses and our catastrophe model; actual losses incurred by policyholders as a result of hurricanes and risks described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006.*

 

**Item 3.**

**Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.**

 

Market risk is the potential economic loss principally arising from adverse changes in the fair value of financial instruments. The major components of market risk affecting us are credit risk and interest rate risk. Our market risks at March 31, 2007 have not materially changed from those identified in our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006.

 

**Credit Risk**

 

Credit risk is the potential economic loss principally arising from adverse changes in the financial condition of a specific debt issuer or a reinsurer.

 

We address the risk associated with debt issuers by investing in fixed maturity securities that are investment grade, which are those securities rated “BBB-” or higher by Standard & Poor’s, or an equivalent rating by another nationally recognized rating agency. We monitor the financial condition of all of the issuers of fixed maturity securities in our portfolio. Our outside investment managers assist us in this process. We utilize a ratings changes report, a security watch list and a schedule of securities in unrealized loss positions as part of this process. If a security is rated investment grade at the time that we purchase it and then is downgraded to below investment grade while we hold it, we evaluate the security for impairment, and after discussing the security with our investment managers, make a decision to either dispose of the security or continue to hold it. Finally, weemploy stringent diversification rules that limit our credit exposure to any single issuer or business sector.

 

We address the risk associated with reinsurers by generally targeting reinsurers with A.M. Best financial strength ratings of  “A-” (Excellent) or better. In an effort to minimize our exposure to the insolvency of our reinsurers, our Security Committee, consisting of our Chief Financial Officer and our corporate actuary, evaluates the acceptability and reviews the financial condition of each reinsurer annually. In addition, our Security Committee continually monitors rating downgrades involving any of our reinsurers. At March 31, 2007, all but $2.3 million of our reinsurance recoverables are either from companies with A.M. Best ratings of “A-” (Excellent) or better, or are collateralized. 

 

**Interest Rate Risk**

 

Interest rate risk is the risk that we may incur economic losses due to adverse changes in interest rates. The primary market risk to the investment portfolio is interest rate risk associated with investments in fixed maturity securities. Fluctuations in interest rates have a direct impact on the market valuation of these securities. We manage our exposure to interest rate risk through an asset/liability matching process. In the management of this risk, the characteristics of duration, credit and variability of cash flows are critical elements. These risks are assessed 

 

24

 

 

regularly and balanced within the context of our liability and capital position. Our outside investment managers assist us in this process. We also have interest rate risk relating to our senior debt and junior subordinated debt, since interest accrues at a floating rate.

 

**Item 4.**

**Controls and Procedures.**

 

*Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures*

 

We carried out an evaluation as of the end of the period covered by this report, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of that date. Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports filed or submitted by us under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and ExchangeCommission’s rules and forms.

 

*Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting*

 

There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected or is reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting.

 

**PART II**- **OTHER INFORMATION**

 

**Item 2.**

**Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.**

(b)  Use of Proceeds from Initial Public Offering

 

On May 3, 2005, we filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the Securities Exchange Commission for an initial public offering of common stock. The offering was made through an underwriting syndicate led by Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., and co-managers Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc., Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Co., Inc. and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC. Our registration statement was declared effective on August 8, 2005.  On August 9, 2005, we affected a ten-for-one split of our Common Stock to shareholders of record on that date.  Immediately prior to the closing of the initial public offering on August 12, 2005, all of our outstanding Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, including shares representing accrued but unpaid dividends, were converted into 9,956,413 shares of Common Stock. In addition, on that date we amended and restated ourcertificate of incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock to 100,000,000 and decrease the number of authorized shares of preferred stock to 5,000,000. Gross proceeds from the sale of 4,444,000 shares of Common Stock, at an initial public offering price per share of $18.00, totaled $80.0 million. Costs associated with the initial public offering included $5.6 million of underwriting costs and $995,000 of other issuance costs, resulting in net proceeds from the sale of $73.4 million.

 

On August 26, 2005, the underwriters of the initial public offering exercised their over-allotment option in which an additional 666,600 shares of Common Stock were issued and sold at the $18.00 initial public offering price per share. Gross proceeds from this transaction were $12.0 million and underwriting costs were $840,000, resulting in net proceeds from the sale of $11.2 million and bringing the total net proceeds of the offering to $84.6 million.

 

Through December 31, 2006, we had contributed $77.5 million of the proceeds from the offering to the capital of our insurance subsidiaries, and we used an additional $5.6 million for the payment of interest on our senior debt and trust preferred securities.  During the quarter ended March 31, 2007, we used an additional $1.3 million for the payment of interest on our senior debt and trust preferred securities.

 

 

25

 

 

 

**Item 6. Exhibits.**

 

**Number**

 

**Exhibit**

3.1

 

Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 12, 2005 (File No. 000-51480)). 

3.2

 

Form of Third Amended and Restated By-Laws (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 12, 2005 (File No. 000-51480)).

4.1

 

Specimen Stock Certificate, representing James River Group, Inc. common stock, par value $0.0l per share (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-124605)).            

4.2

 

Form of Warrant relating to Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-124605)).

4.3

 

Registration Rights Agreement dated January 21, 2003, by and among James River Group, Inc. and certain stockholders as named therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-124605)).

4.4

 

Indenture dated as of May 26, 2004, by and between James River Group, Inc. and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee, relating to Floating Rate Senior Debentures Due 2034 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.8 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-124605)).

4.5

 

Indenture dated as of May 26, 2004, by and between James River Group, Inc. and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee, relating to Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Debentures Due 2034 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.9 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-124605)).

4.6

 

Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of James River Capital Trust I dated as of May 26, 2004, by and among James River Group, Inc., the Trustees (as defined therein) and the holders, from time to time, of undivided beneficial interests in James River Capital Trust I (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.10 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-124605)).

4.7

 

Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement dated as of May 26, 2004, by James River Group, Inc., as Guarantor, and Wilmington Trust Company, as Preferred Guarantee Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders (as defined therein) of James River Capital Trust I (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.11 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-124605)).

4.8

 

Indenture dated December 15, 2004, by and between James River Group, Inc. and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee, relating to Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures Due 2034 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.12 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-124605)).

4.9

 

Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of James River Capital Trust II****dated as of December 15, 2004, by and among James River Group, Inc., the Trustees (as defined therein), the Administrators (as named therein), and the holders, from time to time, of undivided beneficial interests in the James River Capital Trust II (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.13 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-124605)).

 

 

26

 

 

 

 

4.10

 

Guarantee Agreement dated as of December 15, 2004, by James River Group, Inc., as Guarantor, and Wilmington Trust Company, as Guarantee Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders (as defined therein) from time to time of the capital securities of James River Capital Trust II (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.14 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-124605)).

4.11

 

Indenture dated June 15, 2006, by and between James River Group, Inc. and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee, relating to Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures Due 2036.**

4.12

 

Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of James River Capital Trust III dated as of June 15, 2006, by and among James River Group, Inc., the Trustees (as defined therein), the Administrators (as named therein) and the holders, from time to time, of undivided beneficial interests in the James River Capital Trust III.**

4.13

 

Guarantee Agreement dated as of June 15, 2006, by James River Group, Inc., as Guarantor, and Wilmington Trust Company, as Guarantee Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders (as defined therein) from time to time of the capital securities of James River Capital Trust III.**

11

 

Statement re computation of per share earnings is included in Note 3 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 1, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”, of this report on Form 10-Q.

31.1

 

Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2

 

Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.1

 

Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.2

 

Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

**

Exhibit not included pursuant to Item 601 (b)(4)(iii) and (v) of Regulation S-K.  The Company will provide a copy to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.

 

 

27

 

 

 

**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.

 

 

 

James River Group, Inc.

 

April 30, 2007

 

/s/ Gregg T. Davis

 

Gregg T. DavisExecutive Vice President –Finance and Treasurer

 

 

 

28

 

 

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