The Company does not own any real property; however, one of the property and casualty insurance subsidiaries, Dakota Fire, leases from EMC National Life Company (an affiliate of Employers Mutual) office space in which the Bismarck, North Dakota branch office is located. The Company’s home office, which also serves as the home office of Employers Mutual, is located in four office buildings in Des Moines, Iowa, all of which are owned by Employers Mutual. Employers Mutual also owns office buildings in which the Milwaukee and Lansing branch offices operate, and leases office space in 16 other locations where other branch offices and service centers are located.
The term “Company” is used below interchangeably to describe EMC Insurance Group Inc. (Parent Company only) and EMC Insurance Group Inc. and its subsidiaries. The following discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included under Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
The Inter-Company Committees of the boards of directors of the Company and Employers Mutual approved a new inter-company reinsurance program between the Company's insurance subsidiaries in the property and casualty insurance segment and Employers Mutual for calendar year 2016. This reinsurance program is intended to reduce the volatility of the Company's quarterly results caused by excessive catastrophe and storm losses, and provide protection from both the frequency and severity of such losses. The reinsurance program consists of two semi-annual aggregate catastrophe excess of loss treaties. The first treaty was effective from January 1, 2016 through June 30, 2016, and had a retention of $20.0 million and a limit of $24.0 million. The total cost of this treaty was approximately $6.3 million. The second treaty was effective from July 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016, and had a retention of $15.0 million and a limit of $12.0 million. The total cost of this treaty was approximately $1.5 million. All catastrophe and storm losses assumed by the property and casualty insurance subsidiaries (net of applicable reinsurance recoveries from external reinsurance protections purchased by the pool participants) were subject to the terms of these treaties, and there was no co-participation provision.
Reinsurance operations are conducted through EMC Reinsurance Company and accounted for 23 percent of consolidated premiums earned in 2016. The Company’s reinsurance subsidiary is party to a quota share agreement and an inter-company reinsurance program with Employers Mutual. Under the terms of the quota share agreement, the reinsurance subsidiary assumes 100 percent of Employers Mutual’s assumed reinsurance business, subject to certain exceptions. The inter-company reinsurance program in place with Employers Mutual covers both business assumed from Employers Mutual through the quota share agreement, as well as business obtained outside the quota share agreement. The Inter-Company Committees of the boards of directors of the Company and Employers Mutual approved a change in the inter-company reinsurance program between the Company's reinsurance subsidiary and Employers Mutual for calendar year 2016. The 2016 reinsurance program consists of two treaties. The first was a per occurrence catastrophe excess of loss treaty with a retention of $10.0 million, a limit of $10.0 million, 20 percent co-participation, and no reinstatement. The total cost of this treaty was approximately $2.0 million. The second was an annual aggregate catastrophe excess of loss treaty with a retention of $20.0 million, a limit of $100.0 million, and 20 percent co-participation. The total cost of this treaty was approximately $3.1 million. Any losses recovered under the per occurrence treaty inure to the benefit of the aggregate treaty, and only catastrophic events with total losses greater than $500,000 are subject to the terms of the aggregate treaty. Prior to 2016, the reinsurance program with Employers Mutual consisted of a single excess of loss reinsurance agreement. Under the terms of that agreement, the reinsurance subsidiary retained the first $4.0 million of losses per event, and also retained 20.0 percent of any losses between $4.0 million and $10.0 million and 10.0 percent of any losses between $10.0 million and $50.0 million. The cost of the excess of loss reinsurance protection, which included reimbursement for the cost of reinsurance protection purchased by Employers Mutual to protect itself from the assumption of excessive losses in the event of a major catastrophe, was 8.0 percent of the reinsurance subsidiary’s total assumed reinsurance premiums written in 2015 and 2014.
The reinsurance subsidiary does not directly reinsure any of the insurance business written by Employers Mutual or the other pool participants; however, Employers Mutual assumes reinsurance business from the Mutual Reinsurance Bureau underwriting association (MRB), which provides a small amount of reinsurance protection to the members of the EMC Insurance Companies pooling agreement. As a result, the reinsurance subsidiary’s assumed exposures include a small portion of the EMC Insurance Companies’ direct business, after ceded reinsurance protections purchased by MRB are applied. In addition, the reinsurance subsidiary does not reinsure any “involuntary” facility or pool business that Employers Mutual assumes pursuant to state law. The reinsurance subsidiary assumes all foreign currency exchange gain/loss associated with contracts incepting on January 1, 2006 and thereafter that are subject to the quota share agreement. Operations of the quota share agreement and the inter-company reinsurance program give rise to inter-company balances with Employers Mutual, which are generally settled during the month following the end of each quarter. The investment and income tax activities of the reinsurance subsidiary are not subject to the quota share agreement.
The Company closely monitors the activities of state legislatures, the United States Congress and federal and state agencies through its membership in various organizations. In particular, our trade organizations are working to achieve a nationwide data security and breach standard, to promote accident avoidance and accident prevention technology, to oppose legislative or regulatory changes that weaken the private workers' compensation insurance marketplace, to prevent the Federal Insurance Office and other federal and international entities expanding their control of the insurance industry from undermining the consumer-focused state insurance regulatory system, to pass appropriate tax reform legislation, and to continue efforts to obtain an exemption for homeowners’ insurers from disparate impact liability under the Fair Housing Act.
Premium rate levels have improved steadily during the past four years, and management has worked diligently with the sixteen branch offices to stress the importance of achieving modest, but consistent, commercial lines rate level increases whenever possible. These efforts have been successful, as the Company was able to implement high-single-digit rate level increases during 2012 and 2013, and more modest increases during 2014, 2015 and 2016. Rate levels for commercial lines of business are projected to decline on an industry-wide basis in 2017, but management currently expects the Company's overall rate level to remain steady or increase slightly in 2017. Management will continue to work with the branch offices to ensure that all opportunities for additional rate level increases are pursued.
The Company's property and casualty insurance subsidiaries write a large portion of their business in the Midwest, and therefore have exposure to wind, hail, and tornado losses caused by convective storms. Prior to 2013, the Company experienced five consecutive years of above average catastrophe and storm losses, and experienced record levels of catastrophe and storm losses in two of those five years (2008 and 2011). Due to the volatility of catastrophe and storm losses, the Company's net income has historically varied significantly from quarter to quarter and year to year. In an effort to reduce the volatility of the Company's quarterly net income, management implemented a new inter-company reinsurance program between the three insurance subsidiaries in the property and casualty insurance segment and Employers Mutual effective January 1, 2016. In addition, the inter-company reinsurance program between the Company's reinsurance subsidiary and Employers Mutual was modified for 2016. It is expected that these new reinsurance programs will reduce the volatility of the Company's quarterly net income caused by excessive catastrophe and storm losses.
During the third quarter of 2016, management implemented a new reserving methodology for the determination of bulk reserves in the property and casualty insurance segment. The new methodology, which is referred to as the accident year ultimate estimate approach, better conforms to industry practices and will provide increased transparency of the drivers of the property and casualty insurance segment's performance.
The implementation of the new reserving methodology did not have a material impact on total carried reserves for the property and casualty insurance segment; however, approximately $5.6 million of incurred but not reported (IBNR) loss reserves and allocated settlement expense reserves were reallocated from prior accident years to the current accident year in multiple lines of business. This reduction in prior accident year reserves is reported as favorable development; however, this development is "mechanical" in nature, and did not have any impact on earnings because the total amount of carried reserves did not change as a result of this reallocation.
Solvency II came into effect in the European Union (EU) on January 1, 2016. Solvency II requires that in order for insurers and reinsurers outside of the EU to conduct business in the European market, their country of domicile regulatory system must be deemed equivalent. The US regulatory system has not been deemed equivalent at this time.
In the property and casualty insurance segment, the methodology used to establish direct loss and allocated settlement expense reserves changed in 2016. Beginning in September, estimated ultimate loss and allocated settlement expense amounts for most claims are established by accident year and line of business using standard actuarial techniques. At each reporting date, the amounts to be carried for IBNR loss reserves and allocated settlement expense reserves are determined by subtracting the amounts incurred to date (paid amounts plus case loss reserves carried for reported claims) from the estimated ultimate amounts. Under this methodology, changes in the incurred amounts will result in corresponding adjustments to the reserve amounts. Prior to September 2016, case loss reserves (including bulk case loss reserves), IBNR loss reserves and settlement expense reserves were all established independently of each other, and the amounts were added together to determine the total liability for losses and settlement expenses. Under that methodology, adjustments to any of the reserve components did not result in corresponding adjustments to the other reserve components. The implementation of the new reserving methodology did not have a material impact on total carried reserves for the property and casualty insurance segment; however, there was some movement of allocated settlement expense reserves to IBNR loss reserves, and a reallocation of loss and allocated settlement expense reserves by accident year. In connection with this reallocation of reserves by accident year, approximately $5.6 million of IBNR loss and allocated settlement expense reserves were moved from prior accident years to the current accident year in multiple lines of business. This reduction in prior accident years' reserves is reported as favorable development; however, this development is "mechanical in nature", and did not have any impact on earnings because the total amount of carried reserves did not change.
The Company uses standard actuarial methods to produce estimates of ultimate loss ratios by accident year and line of business. Underlying each selection are explicit assumptions regarding the ultimate claim frequency and severity associated with the selected ultimate ratio. As the assumptions are based on estimates made at a specific point in time, it is likely that the ultimate claim frequency and severity experience, and, therefore, the ultimate loss ratio, will vary upwards or downwards from prior estimates. The expected variation will be greater for less mature accident years, and decreases as each accident year ages. This uncertainty is reflected in the unpaid loss estimates underlying the selected estimated ultimate loss ratios, which produce the carried loss reserves. Assuming the unpaid loss estimates are unbiased, the cumulative impact on the Company's results of operations of a one percent variance in the associated carried loss reserves over the lifetime of the underlying claims is shown below. A variance in carried loss reserves would also affect the Company’s financial position in that the Company’s equity would be impacted by an amount equivalent to the change in net income. A one percent variance in the unpaid loss estimates underlying the selected ultimate loss ratio estimates is considered reasonably likely based on the range of actuarial indications developed during the analysis of the property and casualty insurance segment’s carried loss reserves.
Similar to the loss reserving process, the Company uses standard actuarial methods to produce estimates of ultimate ratios by accident year and line of business for allocated settlement expenses. Underlying each selection are explicit assumptions regarding the ultimate claim frequency and settlement expense severity associated with the selected estimated ultimate ratio. As the assumptions are based on estimates made at a specific point in time, it is likely that the ultimate allocated settlement expense ratios will vary upwards or downwards from prior estimates. The expected variation will be greater for less mature accident years, and decreases as each accident year ages. This uncertainty is reflected in the unpaid allocated settlement expense estimates underlying the selected estimated ultimate ratios, which produce the carried allocated settlement expense reserves. Assuming the unpaid allocated settlement expense estimates are unbiased, the cumulative impact on the Company's results of operations of a one percent variance in the associated allocated settlement expense reserves over the lifetime of the underlying claims is shown below. A variance in carried allocated settlement expense reserves would also affect the Company’s financial position in that the Company’s equity would be impacted by an amount equivalent to the change in net income. A one percent variance in the unpaid allocated settlement expense estimates underlying the selected estimated ultimate allocated settlement expense ratios is considered reasonably likely based on the range of actuarial indications developed during the analysis of the property and casualty insurance segment’s carried allocated settlement expense reserves.
The property and casualty insurance subsidiaries have exposure to environmental and asbestos claims arising primarily from the other liability line of business. These exposures are closely monitored by management, and IBNR loss reserves have been established to cover estimated ultimate losses. The loss and settlement expense reserves associated with asbestos claims have been increased each year for the last several years due to continued reporting of new claims at a rate not previously anticipated, as well as updated internal ultimate loss and settlement expense evaluations. In 2016, the loss and settlement expense reserves for asbestos claims were strengthened approximately $3.5 million.
Disputes with ceding companies do not occur often. Employers Mutual performs claims audits and encourages prompt reporting of reinsurance claims. Employers Mutual also reviews claim reports for accuracy, completeness and adequate reserving. Most reinsurance contracts contain arbitration clauses to resolve disputes, but such disputes are generally resolved without arbitration due to the long-term and ongoing relationships that exist with those companies. There were no matters in dispute at December 31, 2016.
The pool participants’ non-asbestos direct product liability claims are considered to be highly uncertain exposures due to the many uncertainties inherent in determining the loss, and the significant periods of time that can elapse between the occurrence of the loss and the ultimate settlement of the claim. The majority of the pool participants’ product liability claims arise from small to medium-sized manufacturers, contractors, petroleum distributors, and mobile home and auto dealerships. No specific claim trends are evident from the pool participants’ manufacturing clients, as the claims activity on these policies is generally isolated and can be severe. Specific product liability coverage is provided to the pool participants’ mobile home and auto dealership policyholders, and the claims from these policies tend to be relatively small. Certain construction defect claims are also reported under product liability coverage. During 2016, 35 of these claims were reported to the pool participants.
Following is a summary of loss and settlement expense reserves and payments associated with asbestos, environmental, products liability and casualty excess reinsurance exposures for 2016, 2015 and 2014:
Following is a summary of the claim activity associated with asbestos, environmental and products liability exposures for 2016, 2015 and 2014:
The Company does not determine a range of estimates for all components of the loss and settlement expense reserve at the time the reserves are established. During each quarter, however, an actuarially determined range of estimates is developed for the major components of the loss and settlement expense reserves as of the preceding quarter-end. All reserves are reviewed with the exception of reserves for involuntary workers’ compensation pools, which are set by the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) and are assumed to be adequate (the impact of potential variability of this segment on overall reserve adequacy is considered immaterial). Shown below are the actuarially determined ranges of reserve estimates as of December 31, 2016 along with the statutory-basis carried reserves, which are displayed net of ceded reinsurance. The GAAP-basis loss and settlement expense reserves contained in the Company’s financial statements are reported gross of ceded reinsurance, and contain a small number of adjustments from the statutory-basis amounts presented here. The last two columns display the estimated after-tax impact on earnings if the reserves were moved to the high end-point or low end-point of the ranges.
Essentially all securities in the Company’s investment portfolios have transparent pricing. All equity securities (with two exceptions) are traded on national exchanges with observable prices. Fixed maturity securities are typically high quality, liquid issues with daily pricing from the Company’s independent pricing source. Prices are validated through a variety of techniques. When performing these validations, the Company uses graduated tolerance levels for determining exceptions. Equity securities and U.S. treasury and government-sponsored agency fixed maturity securities have the highest transparency in pricing, and therefore have the smallest tolerance levels for variance. These are followed by (in order of decreasing transparency/increasing tolerance levels) mortgage-backed, corporate, municipal, and finally high-yield fixed maturity securities. The validations performed include:
Acquisition costs, consisting of commissions, premium taxes, and salary and benefit expenses of employees directly involved in the underwriting of insurance policies that are successfully issued, are deferred and amortized to expense as premium revenue is recognized. Deferred policy acquisition costs and related amortization are calculated separately for the property and casualty insurance segment and the reinsurance segment. The methodology followed in computing deferred policy acquisition costs limits the amount of such deferred costs to the estimated realizable value. In determining estimated realizable value, the computation gives effect to the premium to be earned, related investment income, anticipated losses and settlement expenses, anticipated policyholder dividends, and certain other costs expected to be incurred to administer the insurance policies as the premium is earned. The anticipated losses and settlement expenses are based on the segment’s projected loss and settlement expense ratios for the next twelve months, which include provisions for anticipated catastrophe and storm losses based on historical results adjusted for recent trends. Utilizing these projections, deferred policy acquisition costs for the property and casualty insurance segment and the reinsurance segment were not subject to limitation at December 31, 2016. Based on an analysis performed by management, the actuarial projections of the expected loss and settlement expense ratios for the next twelve months would have needed to increase 17.8 percentage points in the property and casualty insurance segment and 8.5 percentage points in the reinsurance segment before deferred policy acquisition costs would have been subject to limitation. Such increases in the expected loss and settlement expense ratios would likely be driven by many factors, including higher provisions for anticipated catastrophe and storm losses.
The realization of the deferred income tax asset is based upon projections indicating that a sufficient amount of future taxable income will be earned to utilize the tax deductions that will reverse in the future. These projections are based on the Company’s history of producing significant amounts of taxable income, the current premium rate environment for both the property and casualty insurance segment and the reinsurance segment, and initiatives that have been implemented recently to improve performance in the commercial auto and personal lines of business. In addition, management has formulated tax-planning strategies that could be implemented to generate taxable income if needed. Should the projected taxable income and tax planning strategies not provide sufficient taxable income to recover the deferred tax asset, a valuation allowance would be required.
The following table presents the reported amounts of favorable development experienced on prior years’ reserves and the portion of the reported development amounts that resulted from the reallocation of direct bulk reserves from prior accident years to the current accident year in the property and casualty insurance segment (no impact on earnings). In 2016, the reallocation of reserves resulted from the implementation of a new reserving methodology for the determination of bulk reserves. In 2015 and 2014, the reallocation of reserves resulted from revisions to the accident year allocation factors used in the prior reserving methodology. The result is an approximation of the implied amount of favorable development that had an impact on earnings.
1 Large losses are defined as reported current accident year losses greater than $500 for the EMC Insurance Companies' pool, excluding catastrophe and storm losses. Under the property and casualty insurance segment's prior reserving methodology, large losses had a direct impact on earnings. Under the new reserving methodology, large losses are taken into consideration when establishing the current accident year ultimate estimates of losses, but there is no longer a direct relationship between large losses and earnings. As a result, it is no longer meaningful to report large losses separately.
The Company reported net income of $46.2 million ($2.20 per share) in 2016 compared to $50.2 million ($2.43 per share) in 2015. The decrease in net income is primarily due to declines in underwriting profitability and realized investment gains.
Premiums earned increased 3.9 percent to $592.4 million in 2016 from $570.3 million in 2015. Despite increasingly competitive market conditions, both segments reported an increase in premium income. Rate levels for both segments continue to be constrained by a high level of competition, especially for quality accounts with good loss experience. Average rate level increases were just slightly positive in the property and casualty insurance segment in 2016, while the reinsurance segment continued to experience pricing pressure during the January 1, 2016 renewal season, when approximately 70 percent of its business renews; however, the deterioration in pricing did slow considerably from that experienced in 2015. On an overall basis, the new and revised inter-company reinsurance programs between the Company's insurance segments and Employers Mutual reduced premiums earned by $5.6 million in 2016. For 2017, the cost the inter-company reinsurance programs will decline by $730,000.
Premiums earned for the property and casualty insurance segment increased 2.1 percent to $456.5 million in 2016 from $447.2 million in 2015. The premium amount for 2016 reflects $7.8 million ceded to Employers Mutual for the cost of the new inter-company reinsurance program. Excluding this amount, premiums earned increased 3.8 percent, primarily due to growth in insured exposures, new business, and small rate level increases on renewal business. New business premium (representing 14 percent of the pool participants’ direct written premiums) was approximately ten percent higher than in 2015. Commercial lines accounted for most of the increase in new business premium; however, personal lines also reported an increase in new business premium after several years of declining premium. Commercial lines new business continues to be in the desired range of growth, and management is encouraged by the reversal in personal lines, which experienced an approximate 36 percent increase in new business premium. This large increase is based on a relatively small amount of new business premium in 2015; however, it does reflect agents' and policyholders' satisfaction with the new products that were rolled out during 2016. While management continues to seek growth in most territories, it is particularly focused on achieving the strongest growth outside of the core Midwest market, which will help diversify the pool participants' book of business geographically, while staying consistent with the industry and line of business mix of the existing book of business. Renewal business premium increased approximately three percent during 2016. After factoring in the continued implementation of some mandatory rate reductions on workers' compensation business in a few states, the overall rate change on renewal business remained positive, but was less than one percent. Rates are expected to be mixed in 2017, with the largest rate increases expected in the troubled commercial auto line of business. Rate decreases are expected in the workers' compensation and general liability lines of business, and rates on most other lines of business are expected to be flat or increase slightly. During 2016, the overall policy retention rate remained strong at 86.8 percent (commercial lines at 87.0 percent and personal lines at 84.6 percent). These retention rates approximate those reported at the end of 2015.
Catastrophe and storm losses accounted for 7.7 percentage points of the property and casualty insurance segment's loss and settlement expense ratio in 2016, compared to 6.6 percentage points in 2015. The most recent 10-year average for this period is 9.8 percentage points. The property and casualty insurance segment recovered $7.5 million of catastrophe and storm losses under the new inter-company reinsurance program with Employers Mutual in 2016 ($5.0 million under the treaty covering the period from January 1 through June 30, and $2.5 million under the treaty covering the period from July 1 through December 31). Taking the loss recoveries received and the premiums paid to Employers Mutual into consideration, the new inter-company reinsurance program with Employers Mutual reduced the catastrophe and storm loss ratio for 2016 by 0.5 percentage points.
The acquisition expense ratio for the reinsurance segment decreased to 24.3 percent in 2016 from 25.1 percent in 2015. The 2015 ratio reflects a $1.1 million commission adjustment for prior periods reported by a ceding company. A decrease in contingent commission expense on the offshore energy and liability proportional account contributed to the decline in the acquisition expense ratio in 2016. The 2016 ratio also reflects the reduction in the total cost of the revised inter-company reinsurance program with Employers Mutual, which reduced the acquisition expense ratio by 0.2 percentage points.
Net investment income increased 4.2 percent to $47.5 million in 2016 from $45.6 million in 2015. The increase is primarily attributed to a higher amount of dividend income in 2016, but also reflects an increase in investment income from other long-term investments. The Company’s equity portfolio produced dividend income of $6.9 million and $5.6 million in 2016 and 2015, respectively. Current interest rate levels remain below the average book yield of the fixed maturity portfolio, and will therefore likely continue to limit future growth in net investment income. The average coupon rate on the fixed maturity portfolio, excluding interest-only securities, has declined slightly over the past year, coming in at 3.8 percent at December 31, 2016 compared to 3.9 percent at both December 31, 2015 and 2014. The effective duration of the fixed maturity portfolio, excluding interest-only securities, increased to 5.2 at December 31, 2016 from 4.6 at December 31, 2015.
Included in other income are foreign currency exchange gains and losses recognized on the reinsurance segment’s foreign currency denominated reinsurance business. The reinsurance segment had foreign currency exchange gains of $356,000 and $898,000 in 2016 and 2015, respectively.
The property and casualty insurance segment's loss and settlement expense ratios for 2015 and 2014 reflected $13.8 million (3.1 percent of earned premiums) and $8.1 million (1.9 percent of earned premiums), respectively, of reported favorable development on prior years' reserves; however, these amounts included $423,000 and $2.2 million, respectively, of favorable development that resulted solely from changes in the allocation of bulk reserves between the current and prior accident years, and therefore had no impact on net income. Net income was only impacted by changes in the total amount of carried reserves.
The loss and settlement expense ratio for the reinsurance segment decreased to 64.1 percent in 2015 from 73.9 percent in 2014. This decrease reflected a decline in both reported large losses (losses greater than $100,000) and catastrophe and storm losses, as well as a significant increase in the amount of favorable reserve development experienced on prior years' reserves. Results for 2015 included $4.1 million of catastrophe and storm losses from the Tianjin, China explosion, which was net of $400,000 of reinsurance recovery under the excess of loss reinsurance protection provided by Employers Mutual. Approximately $500,000 of this loss was from the MRB book of business and was reflected in the pro rata property line of business, while the remaining $3.6 million of this loss was reflected in the excess of loss property line of business (accounted for approximately 3.5 and 5.6 percentage points of the loss and settlement expense ratios reported for the pro rata property and excess of loss property lines of business, respectively). The elevated loss and settlement expense ratio reported for the excess of loss liability line of business was attributed to an increase in reported losses for contract years 2010 through 2014, and a corresponding increase in the amount of bulk IBNR loss reserves allocated to these relatively immature years of this long-tailed coverage. Two large reductions in carried reserves implemented during 2015 had an impact on the loss and settlement expense ratios reported for two lines of business. First, revised ultimate loss ratio information was received for several contract years from the ceding company for the offshore energy and liability proportional account, which reduced the carried amount of IBNR loss reserves. This reduction in IBNR loss reserves, coupled with the decrease in IBNR loss reserves resulting from the downward adjustment in expected ultimate premiums on this account (see discussion above), produced a small negative amount of incurred losses and settlement expenses in the pro rata marine line of business, and a corresponding negative loss and settlement expense ratio. Second, a large estimated loss reserve that was established on a German account in the fourth quarter of 2014 was taken down because of favorable development contained in an account statement received in 2015. This resulted in a lower than normal loss and settlement expense ratio in the multiline line of business. In addition to the two large reductions in carried reserves noted above, the favorable development experienced on prior years’ reserves reflected a reduction in IBNR loss reserves established for the 2014 contract year that could no longer be justified. Catastrophe and storm losses accounted for 12.0 percentage points of the loss and settlement expense ratio in 2015, which was lower than both the 14.4 percentage points reported in 2014 and the most recent 10-year average of 13.0 percentage points.
The reinsurance segment's loss and settlement expense ratio for 2015 reflected $21.3 million (17.3 percent of earned premiums) of reported favorable development on prior years' reserves; however, this amount included $1.0 million of adverse development that resulted solely from changes in the allocation of bulk reserves between the current and prior accident years, and therefore had no impact on net income. Net income was only impacted by changes in the total amount of carried reserves.
The Company reported net realized investment gains of $6.2 million in 2015 compared to $4.3 million in 2014. Included in these amounts were $1.5 million and $2.8 million in 2015 and 2014, respectively, of realized losses attributed to declines in the carrying value of a limited partnership that the Company first invested in during 2014 to help protect it from a sudden and significant decline in the value of its equity portfolio (an equity tail-risk hedging strategy). The Company recognized "other-than-temporary" impairment losses of $1.5 million and $878,000 during 2015 and 2014, respectively. The vast majority of these impairment losses were recognized on securities held in the Company's equity portfolio.
Included in other income was foreign currency exchange gains and losses recognized on the reinsurance segment’s foreign currency denominated reinsurance business. The reinsurance segment had foreign currency exchange gains of $898,000 and $2.2 million in 2015 and 2014, respectively.
The Company invests for the long term and generally purchases fixed maturity securities with the intent to hold them to maturity. Despite this intent, the Company currently classifies fixed maturity securities as available-for-sale to provide flexibility in the management of its investment portfolio. At December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company had net unrealized holding gains, net of deferred taxes, on its fixed maturity securities available-for-sale of $6.6 million and $20.0 million, respectively. The fluctuation in the fair value of these investments is primarily due to changes in the interest rate environment during this time period, but also reflects fluctuations in risk premium spreads over U.S. Treasuries. Since the Company intends to hold fixed maturity securities to maturity, such fluctuations in the fair value of these investments are not expected to have a material impact on the operations of the Company, as forced liquidations of investments are not anticipated. The Company closely monitors the bond market and makes appropriate adjustments in its portfolio as conditions warrant.
The Company participates in reverse repurchase arrangements, involving the purchase of investment securities from third-party sellers with the agreement that the purchased securities be sold back to the third-party sellers for agreed-upon prices at specified future dates. The third-party sellers are required to pledge collateral with a value greater than the amount of cash received in the transactions. In accordance with GAAP, the investment securities purchased under the reverse repurchase agreements are not reflected in the Company's consolidated balance sheets, but instead a receivable is recorded for the principal amount lent. The Company's receivable under reverse repurchase agreements was $20.0 million and $16.9 million at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
The Company’s cash balance was $307,000 and $224,000 at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
Employers Mutual contributed $9.0 million, $4.0 million and $7.0 million to its qualified pension plan in 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and plans to contribute approximately $9.0 million to the qualified pension plan in 2017. The Company reimbursed Employers Mutual $2.7 million, $1.2 million and $2.2 million for its share of the pension contributions in 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Employers Mutual did not make any contributions to its postretirement benefit plans during 2016, 2015, or 2014, and does not expect to make any contributions in 2017 due to the plan amendment that was announced during 2013.
The Company recorded $1.3 million of “other-than-temporary” investment impairment losses during 2016, compared to $1.5 million during 2015. With the exception of a $209,000 impairment loss recorded in 2016 on a new investment that conveys renewable energy tax credits (included in other long-term investments), these impairment losses were recognized on securities held in the Company's equity portfolio.
The Company does not purchase non-investment grade fixed maturity securities. Any non-investment grade fixed maturity securities held are the result of rating downgrades that occurred subsequent to their purchase. At December 31, 2016, the Company held $3.0 million of non-investment grade fixed maturity securities in a net unrealized gain position of $50,000.
3 Interest expense on long-term debt reflects the interest expense on the surplus notes issued by the Company’s property and casualty insurance subsidiaries to Employers Mutual. The interest rate on the surplus notes is subject to change every five years (rate was decreased to 1.35 percent effective February 1, 2013, with the next review scheduled for 2018). Interest payments on the surplus notes are subject to prior approval of the regulatory authorities of the issuing company’s state of domicile. The balance shown under the heading “More than 5 years” represents estimated interest expense for years six through ten. Since the surplus notes have no maturity date and the interest rate is subject to change every five years, interest expense could be greater than the amounts shown.
The participants in the pooling agreement are subject to guaranty fund assessments by states in which they write business. Guaranty fund assessments are used by states to pay policyholder liabilities of insolvent insurers domiciled in those states. Many states allow assessments to be recovered through premium tax offsets. The Company has accrued estimated guaranty fund assessments of $851,000 and $912,000 as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Premium tax offsets of $1.0 million and $1.1 million, which are related to prior guarantee fund payments and current assessments, have been accrued as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The guaranty fund assessments are expected to be paid over the next two years and the premium tax offsets are expected to be realized within ten years of the payments. The participants in the pooling agreement are also subject to second-injury fund assessments, which are designed to encourage employers to employ workers with pre-existing disabilities. The Company had accrued estimated second-injury fund assessments of $1.9 million and $1.9 million as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The second-injury fund assessment accruals are based on projected loss payments. The periods over which the assessments will be paid is not known.
The main objectives in managing the Company’s investment portfolios are to maximize after-tax investment return while minimizing risk, in order to provide maximum support for the underwriting operations. Investment strategies are developed based upon many factors including the economic environment, business cycle, regulatory requirements, fluctuations in interest rates, underwriting results and consideration of other market risks. Investment decisions are centrally managed by investment professionals and are supervised by the investment committees of the respective boards of directors for each of the Company’s subsidiaries.
The Company monitors interest rate risk through an analysis of interest rate simulations, and adjusts the average duration of its fixed maturity portfolio by investing in either longer or shorter term instruments given the results of interest rate simulations and judgments of cash flow needs. The effective duration of the Company’s fixed maturity portfolio, excluding interest-only securities, at December 31, 2016 was 5.2. Duration extended slightly during the year as interest rates increased.
The valuation of the Company’s marketable equity portfolio is subject to equity price risk. In general, equities have more year-to-year price variability than bonds. However, returns from equity securities have been consistently higher over longer time frames. The Company invests in a diversified portfolio of readily marketable equity securities. A hypothetical 10 percent decrease in the S&P 500 index as of December 31, 2016 would result in a corresponding pre-tax decrease in the fair value of the Company’s equity portfolio of approximately $17.9 million. Management implemented an equity tail-risk hedging strategy during 2014 to protect the Company from significant monthly downside price volatility in the equity markets. The cost of this protection (recorded as a realized investment loss) totaled $6.3 million during 2016. This hedging strategy may be discontinued in the future depending on market conditions and/or the cost of the protection.
Ratings for preferred stocks and fixed maturity securities are assigned by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations ("NRSRO"). NRSRO rating processes seek to evaluate the quality of a security by examining the factors that affect returns to investors. NRSRO ratings are based on quantitative and qualitative factors, as well as the economic, social and political environment in which the issuing entity operates. For further discussion of credit risk and related topics (i.e., “other-than-temporary” impairment losses, unrealized losses in the investment portfolios, and non-investment grade securities held by the Company) see the section entitled "Investment Impairments and Considerations” within this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Prepayment risk refers to changes in prepayment patterns that can shorten or lengthen the expected timing of principal repayments and thus the average life and the effective yield of a security. Such risk exists within the portfolio of mortgage-backed securities. Prepayment risk is monitored regularly through the analysis of interest rate simulations. At December 31, 2016, the effective duration of the mortgage-backed securities, excluding interest-only securities, is 4.9 with an average life of 5.9 years and a yield to worst of 2.8 percent. At December 31, 2015, the effective duration of the mortgage-backed securities, excluding interest-only securities, was 3.6, with an average life of 4.4 years and a yield to worst of 2.9 percent.
Management of EMC Insurance Group Inc. and Subsidiaries is responsible for the preparation, integrity and objectivity of the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements, as well as all other financial information in this report. The Consolidated Financial Statements and the accompanying notes have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and include amounts that are based on management’s estimates and judgments where necessary.
Management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 Framework) (the COSO criteria). Based on this assessment, management believes that, as of December 31, 2016, the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting.
We have audited EMC Insurance Group Inc. and Subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). EMC Insurance Group Inc. and Subsidiaries’ management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of EMC Insurance Group Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2016 of EMC Insurance Group Inc. and Subsidiaries and our report dated March 6, 2017 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of EMC Insurance Group Inc. and Subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2016. Our audits also included the financial statement schedules listed in the Index at Item 15(a). These financial statements and schedules are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and schedules based on our audits.
Premiums written is the amount charged for policies issued during a reporting period. Property and casualty insurance premiums are recognized as revenue ratably over the terms of the respective policies. Unearned premiums are calculated on the daily pro rata method. Both domestic and foreign assumed reinsurance premiums are recognized as revenues ratably over the terms of the related contracts and underlying policies. Amounts paid as ceded reinsurance premiums are reported as prepaid reinsurance premiums and are amortized over the remaining contract period in proportion to the amount of reinsurance protection provided. Reinsurance reinstatement premiums are recognized in the same period as the loss event that gave rise to the reinstatement premiums.
The Company uses independent pricing sources to obtain the estimated fair value of securities. The fair value is based on quoted market prices, where available. In cases where quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based on a variety of valuation techniques depending on the type of investment. The fair values obtained from independent pricing sources are reviewed for reasonableness and any discrepancies are investigated for final valuation (see note 8). The Company uses a practical expedient to measure the pooled separate account investments in Employers Mutual's qualified pension plan at the net asset value per share (see note 12).
The Company regularly monitors its investment portfolio for securities whose fair value is less than the carrying value for indications of “other-than-temporary” impairment. Several factors are used to determine whether the carrying value of an individual security has been “other-than-temporarily” impaired. Such factors include, but are not limited to (1) the security’s value and performance in the context of the overall markets, (2) length of time and extent the security’s fair value has been below carrying value, (3) key corporate events, (4) for fixed maturity securities, the amount of collateral available, and (5) for equity securities, the ability and intent to hold the security until recovery to its cost basis. When an equity security is deemed to be “other-than-temporarily” impaired, the carrying value is reduced to fair value and a realized loss is recognized and charged to income. For fixed maturity securities, if the present value of cash flows expected to be collected is less than the amortized cost of the security, a credit loss is deemed to exist and the security is considered “other-than-temporarily” impaired. The portion of the impairment related to a credit loss is recognized through earnings, and the portion of the impairment related to other factors, if any, is recognized through “other comprehensive income”. Alternatively, if the Company has the intent to sell a fixed maturity security that is in an unrealized loss position, or determines that it will "more likely than not" be required to sell a fixed maturity security that is in an unrealized loss position before recovery of its amortized cost basis, then the carrying value is reduced to fair value and the entire amount of the impairment is recognized through earnings.
The Company has no stock-based compensation plans of its own; however, Employers Mutual has several stock plans that utilize the common stock of the Company. The Company receives the current fair value for all shares issued under these plans. A portion of the compensation expense recognized by Employers Mutual (as the requisite service period for granted options and restricted stock awards is rendered) is allocated to the Company’s property and casualty insurance subsidiaries though their participation in the pooling agreement (see note 2). Because a portion of Employers Mutual’s stock compensation expense is reflected in the Company’s financial statements and issuances of the Company’s stock under Employers Mutual’s stock plans have an impact on the Company’s capital accounts, the disclosures required by the Compensation - Stock Compensation Topic 718 of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards CodificationTM (Codification or ASC) are included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Employers Mutual collects from agents, policyholders and ceding companies all written premiums associated with the insurance business produced by the pool participants and the assumed reinsurance business ceded to the reinsurance subsidiary. Employers Mutual also collects from its reinsurers all losses and settlement expenses recoverable under the reinsurance contracts protecting the pool participants and, starting in 2016, the additional reinsurance protection (see note 2) protecting the reinsurance subsidiary, as well as the fronting business ceded to the reinsurance subsidiary. Employers Mutual settles with the pool participants (monthly) and the reinsurance subsidiary (quarterly) the premiums written from these insurance policies and the paid losses and settlement expenses recoverable under the external reinsurance contracts, providing full credit for the premiums written and the paid losses and settlement expenses recoverable under the external reinsurance contracts generated during the period (not just the collected portion). Due to this arrangement, and since a significant portion of the premium balances are collected over the course of the underlying coverage periods, Employers Mutual carries a substantial receivable balance for insurance and reinsurance premiums in process of collection and, to a lesser extent, paid losses and settlement expenses recoverable from the external reinsurance companies. Any of these receivable amounts that are ultimately deemed to be uncollectible are charged-off by Employers Mutual and the expense is charged to the reinsurance subsidiary or allocated to the pool members on the basis of pool participation. As a result, the Company has off-balance sheet arrangements with an unconsolidated entity that results in credit-risk exposures (Employers Mutual’s insurance and reinsurance premium receivable balances, and paid loss and settlement expense recoverable amounts) that are not reflected in the Company’s financial statements. The average annual expense for such charge-offs allocated to the Company over the past ten years is $362,000. Based on this historical data, this credit-risk exposure is not considered to be material to the Company’s results of operations or financial position and, accordingly, no loss contingency liability has been recorded.
Included in the underlying reinsurance business assumed by the reinsurance subsidiary are reinsurance transactions conducted with foreign cedants denominated in their local functional currencies. In accordance with the terms of the quota share agreement (see note 2), the reinsurance subsidiary assumes all foreign currency exchange gains/losses associated with contracts incepting on January 1, 2006 and thereafter that are subject to the quota share agreement. The reinsurance subsidiary also has foreign currency exchange gains/losses associated with the business assumed outside the quota share agreement. The assets and liabilities resulting from these foreign reinsurance transactions are reported in U.S. dollars based on the foreign currency exchange rates that existed at the balance sheet dates. The foreign currency exchange rate gains/losses reported in the consolidated statements of income that resulted from these foreign reinsurance transactions are reported in U.S. dollars re-measured from the foreign currency exchange rates that existed at the inception of each reinsurance contract. The foreign currency exchange rate gains/losses resulting from these re-measurements to U.S. dollars are reported as a component of other income in the consolidated statements of income.
Goodwill represents the excess of cost over the fair value of net assets of acquired subsidiaries. Goodwill is not amortized, but is instead subject to impairment if the carrying value of the goodwill exceeds the estimated fair value of net assets. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit (including goodwill) exceeds the computed fair value, an impairment loss is recognized through the income statement equal to the excess amount, but not greater than the balance of the goodwill. Goodwill was not deemed to be impaired in 2016, 2015 or 2014.
In January 2016, the FASB updated its guidance related to the Financial Instruments-Overall Subtopic 825-10 of the ASC. The objective of this update is to enhance the reporting model for financial instruments to provide financial statement users with more decision-useful information. The major change in reporting from this update that will impact the Company is a requirement that equity investments (excluding those accounted for under the equity method of accounting or those that are consolidated) be measured at fair value, with changes in fair value recognized in net income. While all of the Company's equity investments are already measured at fair value (with the exception of those that are consolidated and those that are accounted for under the equity method of accounting), the Company currently classifies all of its investments in equity securities as available-for-sale, and as such, the changes in fair value are currently recognized in other comprehensive income rather than net income. This guidance is to be applied to annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, with recognition of a cumulative-effect adjustment to the balance sheet as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. Early adoption is not permitted. The Company will adopt this guidance during the first quarter of 2018. Adoption is not expected to impact consolidated stockholders' equity, but is expected to introduce a material amount of volatility to the Company's operating results.
In June 2016, the FASB issued updated guidance in Financial Instruments-Credit Losses Topic 326 of the ASC. The objective of this update is to provide information about expected credit losses on financial instruments and other commitments to extend credit. Specifically, this updated guidance replaces the current incurred loss impairment methodology, which delays recognition of a loss until it is probable a loss has been incurred, with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses considering a broader range of reasonable and supportable information. This guidance covers financial assets that are not accounted for at fair value through net income, thus will not be applicable to the Company's equity investments upon implementation of the updated guidance described above for the Financial Instruments-Overall Subtopic 825-10. This guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and is to be applied with a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective (modified-retrospective approach). Early adoption is permitted, but only to fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company will adopt this guidance during the first quarter of 2020. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on the Company's consolidated financial condition and operating results.
The purpose of the pooling agreement is to spread the risk of an exposure insured by any of the pool participants among all the companies. The pooling agreement produces a more uniform and stable underwriting result from year to year for all companies in the pool than might be experienced individually. In addition, each company benefits from the capacity of the entire pool, rather than being limited to policy exposures of a size commensurate with its own assets, and from the wide range of policy forms, lines of insurance written, rate filings and commission plans offered by each of the companies.
In connection with the change in the inter-company reinsurance program in 2016, the reinsurance subsidiary began purchasing additional reinsurance protection in peak exposure territories from external parties in which coverage is triggered when losses experienced by the insurance industry from a catastrophic event exceed a specified threshold. Any reinsurance recoveries received from external parties reduces the amount of losses ceded to Employers Mutual under the inter-company reinsurance program. The net cost of the external reinsurance protection was approximately $3.5 million in 2016.
The reinsurance subsidiary does not directly reinsure any of the insurance business written by Employers Mutual or the other pool participants; however, Employers Mutual assumes reinsurance business from the Mutual Reinsurance Bureau underwriting association (MRB), which provides a small amount of reinsurance protection to the members of the EMC Insurance Companies pooling agreement. As a result, the reinsurance subsidiary’s assumed exposures include a small portion of the EMC Insurance Companies’ direct business, after ceded reinsurance protections purchased by MRB are applied. In addition, the reinsurance subsidiary does not reinsure any “involuntary” facility or pool business that Employers Mutual assumes pursuant to state law. The reinsurance subsidiary assumes all foreign currency exchange gain/loss associated with contracts incepting on January 1, 2006 and thereafter that are subject to the quota share agreement. Operations of the quota share agreement and the inter-company reinsurance program, as well as the purchase of the reinsurance protection from external parties, give rise to inter-company balances with Employers Mutual, which are generally settled during the month following the end of each quarter. The investment and income tax activities of the reinsurance subsidiary are not subject to the quota share agreement.
It is customary in the reinsurance business for the assuming company to compensate the ceding company for the acquisition expenses incurred in the generation of the business. Commissions incurred by the reinsurance subsidiary under the quota share agreement with Employers Mutual amounted to $27.4 million, $27.3 million and $25.6 million in 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
The net foreign currency exchange gains assumed by the reinsurance subsidiary from Employers Mutual were $367,000 in 2016, $386,000 in 2015 and $1.0 million in 2014. The total amount of net foreign currency exchange gains assumed by the reinsurance subsidiary, including the business written on a direct basis outside the quota share agreement, were $356,000 in 2016, $898,000 in 2015 and $2.2 million in 2014.
The Company does not have any employees of its own. Employers Mutual performs all operations for all of its subsidiaries and affiliate. Such services include data processing, claims, financial, actuarial, legal, auditing, marketing and underwriting. Employers Mutual allocates a portion of the cost of these services to its subsidiaries that do not participate in the pooling agreement based upon a number of criteria, including usage of the services and the number of transactions. The remaining costs are charged to the pooling agreement and each pool participant shares in the total cost in accordance with its pool participation percentage. Costs allocated to the Company by Employers Mutual for services provided to the holding company and its subsidiaries that do not participate in the pooling agreement amounted to $4.7 million, $3.4 million and $3.5 million in 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Costs allocated to the Company through the operation of the pooling agreement amounted to $92.3 million, $87.4 million and $76.0 million in 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, amounts recoverable from nonaffiliated reinsurers (two in 2016 and three in 2015) totaled $10.4 million and $12.7 million respectively, which represents a significant portion of the total prepaid reinsurance premiums and reinsurance receivables for losses and settlement expenses. Included in these balances are amounts due from the MRB underwriting association, of which the Company (through Employers Mutual) is a member with other unaffiliated reinsurers. All members of MRB have joint and several liability for MRB's obligations. Also included in these balances is the property and casualty insurance subsidiaries’ aggregate pool participation percentage of amounts ceded by Employers Mutual to organizations on a mandatory basis. Credit risk associated with these amounts are minimal, as all companies participating in the organizations are responsible for the liabilities of the organizations on a pro rata basis.
The effect of reinsurance on premiums written and earned, and losses and settlement expenses incurred, for the three years ended December 31, 2016 is presented below. The classification of the assumed and ceded reinsurance amounts between affiliates and nonaffiliates is based on the participants in the underlying reinsurance agreements, and is intended to provide an understanding of the actual source of the reinsurance activities. This presentation differs from the classifications used in the consolidated financial statements, where all amounts flowing through the pooling and quota share agreements and inter-company reinsurance programs with Employers Mutual are reported as “affiliated” balances.
“Ceded to nonaffiliates” for the property and casualty insurance subsidiaries represents their aggregate 30 percent pool participation percentage of 1) the amounts ceded to nonaffiliated reinsurance companies in accordance with the terms of the reinsurance agreements providing protection to the pool and each of its participants, and 2) the amounts ceded on a mandatory basis to state organizations in connection with various programs. For the reinsurance subsidiary, this line includes 1) reinsurance business that is ceded to other insurance companies in connection with “fronting” activities initiated by Employers Mutual, and 2) starting in 2016, amounts ceded to purchase additional reinsurance protection from external parties for the assumed reinsurance business.
During the third quarter of 2016, management implemented a new reserving methodology for the determination of direct bulk reserves in the property and casualty insurance segment. The new methodology, which is referred to as the accident year ultimate estimate approach, better conforms to industry practices and will provide increased transparency of the drivers of the property and casualty insurance segment's performance. In connection with this change in reserving methodology, there was a reallocation of IBNR loss and allocated settlement expense reserves from prior accident years to the current accident year in multiple lines of business. This change resulted in the movement of approximately $5.6 million of reserves from prior accident years to the current accident year that is reported as favorable development; however, this development is "mechanical in nature", and did not have an impact on earnings because the total amount of carried reserves did not change.
For the reinsurance segment, the December 31, 2015 estimate of loss and settlement expense reserves for accident years 2014 and prior decreased $21.3 million from the estimate at December 31, 2014. This decrease represented 10.8 percent of the December 31, 2014 gross carried reserves and was attributed to several factors, including adjustments made in the offshore energy and liability proportional account, a reduction in carried IBNR loss reserves that could no longer be justified and a negative bulk IBNR loss reserve established for the MRB book of business. No changes were made in the key actuarial assumptions utilized to estimate loss and settlement expense reserves during 2015; however, the accident year allocation factors applied to IBNR loss reserves were revised during 2015. This change resulted in the movement of $1.0 million of reserves from the current accident year to prior accident years, and hence, was reported as adverse development on prior years' reserves. Development on prior years’ reserves resulting solely from changes in the allocation of bulk reserves between the current and prior accident years does not have an impact on earnings.
For the property and casualty insurance segment, the December 31, 2014 estimate of loss and settlement expense reserves for accident years 2013 and prior decreased $8.1 million from the estimate at December 31, 2013. This decrease represented 1.9 percent of the December 31, 2013 gross carried reserves and was primarily attributed to better than expected outcomes on claims reported in prior years and favorable development on prior years' settlement expense reserves. No changes were made in the key actuarial assumptions utilized to estimate loss and settlement expense reserves during 2014; however, the accident year allocation factors applied to IBNR loss reserves, bulk case loss reserves and the defense and cost containment portion of settlement expense reserves were revised at December 31, 2014 as part of the annual review. This change resulted in the movement of $2.2 million of reserves from the prior accident years to the current accident year, and hence, was reported as favorable development on prior years' reserves. Development on prior years’ reserves resulting solely from changes in the allocation of bulk reserves between the current and prior accident years does not have an impact on earnings.
For the reinsurance segment, the December 31, 2014 estimate of loss and settlement expense reserves for accident years 2013 and prior decreased $12.7 million from the estimate at December 31, 2013. This decrease represented 6.9 percent of the December 31, 2013 gross carried reserves and was largely attributed to reported losses being lower than what was expected as of December 31, 2014 for accident years 2012 and prior, and a reduction of IBNR loss reserves on older accident years because the amount previously carried was no longer indicated in the actuarial analysis.
Following is information about reported incurred and paid claims development as of December 31, 2016, net of reinsurance, as well as cumulative claim frequency and the amount of IBNR loss reserves carried. The information displayed for assumed reinsurance is restated to reflect all foreign currency denominated transactions on the basis of current (December 31, 2016) exchange rates. The number of reported claims (cumulative claim frequency) for the Company’s direct insurance business represents the total number of claims reported by the participants in the pooling agreement, and is determined on the basis of each unique combination of claimant, specific policy coverage, and type of loss. This is in contrast to all other reported amounts that are stated at the aggregate 30 percent pool participation percentage of the Company's property and casualty insurance subsidiaries. The cumulative claim frequency for the Company’s assumed reinsurance business is not readily available. Consistent with industry practices, bordereauxs on pro rata accounts often exclude claim frequency information, and if it is included, the level of detail provided by the ceding companies can vary significantly. Excess of loss contracts customarily report total losses subject to the treaty without detailed loss listings.
At present, the pool participants are defending approximately 1,856 asbestos bodily injury lawsuits, some of which involve multiple plaintiffs. Most of the lawsuits are subject to express reservation of rights based upon the lack of an injury within the applicable policy periods, because many asbestos lawsuits do not specifically allege dates of asbestos exposure or dates of injury. The pool participants’ policyholders named as defendants in these asbestos lawsuits are typically peripheral defendants who have little or no exposure and are often dismissed from asbestos litigation with nominal or no payment (i.e., small contractors, supply companies, and a furnace manufacturer).
While the Company does not have a significant amount of exposure to asbestos claims, management has been strengthening the reserves carried for these exposures each year to the amount believed to be management's best estimate. In 2016, the loss and settlement expense reserves for asbestos claims were strengthened approximately $3.5 million.
The Company’s insurance subsidiaries are required to file financial statements with state regulatory authorities. The accounting principles used to prepare these statutory financial statements follow prescribed or permitted accounting practices that differ from GAAP. Prescribed statutory accounting principles include state laws, regulations and general administrative rules issued by the state of domicile, as well as a variety of publications and manuals of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Permitted accounting practices encompass all accounting practices not prescribed, but allowed by the state of domicile. The Company’s insurance subsidiaries had no permitted accounting practices during 2016, 2015 or 2014.
The NAIC utilizes a risk-based capital model to help state regulators assess the capital adequacy of insurance companies and identify insurers that are in, or are perceived as approaching, financial difficulty. This model establishes minimum capital needs based on the risks applicable to the operations of the individual insurer. The risk-based capital requirements for property and casualty insurance companies measure three major areas of risk: asset risk, credit risk and underwriting risk. Companies having less statutory surplus than required by the risk-based capital requirements are subject to varying degrees of regulatory scrutiny and intervention, depending on the severity of the inadequacy. At December 31, 2016, the Company’s insurance subsidiaries had total adjusted statutory capital of $526.8 million, which exceeds the minimum risk-based capital requirement of $87.3 million.
The following table displays the net premiums earned for the property and casualty insurance segment and the reinsurance segment for the three years ended December 31, 2016, by line of insurance.
The carrying amounts and the estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 are summarized in the tables below.
The estimated fair values of fixed maturity and equity securities is based on quoted market prices, where available. In cases where quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based on a variety of valuation techniques depending on the type of security.
A small number of the Company’s securities are not priced by the independent pricing service. Two of these are equity securities (one at December 31, 2015) that are reported as Level 3 fair value measurements since no reliable observable inputs are used in their valuations. The largest of these equity security holdings is in a privately placed non-redeemable convertible preferred stock investment in a technology company that Employers Mutual intends to work closely with in its data analytics activities. Due to the recent purchase of this security in November, 2016, this security is currently carried at its acquisition cost, which is presumed to be equivalent to fair value. The other equity security, a much smaller holding, continues to be reported at the fair value obtained from the Securities Valuation Office (SVO) of the NAIC. The SVO establishes a per share price for this security based on an annual review of that company’s financial statements, typically performed during the second quarter. The other securities not priced by the Company’s independent pricing service at December 31, 2016 include nine fixed maturity securities (seven at December 31, 2015). Two of these fixed maturity securities, classified as Level 3 fair value measurements, are corporate securities that convey premium tax benefits and are not publicly traded. The fair values for these securities are based on discounted cash flow analyses. The other fixed maturity securities are classified as Level 2 fair value measurements. The fair values for these fixed maturity securities were obtained from either the SVO, the Company’s investment custodian, or the Company's investment department using similar pricing techniques as the Company's independent pricing service.
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of securities available-for-sale as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 are as follows. All securities are classified as available-for-sale and are carried at fair value.
No individual equity security accounted for a material amount of unrealized losses. Because the Company has the ability and intent to hold these securities for a reasonable amount of time to allow for recovery, it was determined that these securities were not “other-than-temporarily” impaired at December 31, 2016.
The amortized cost and estimated fair values of fixed maturity securities at December 31, 2016, by contractual maturity, are shown below. Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations, with or without call or prepayment penalties.
The actual income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 differed from the “expected” income tax expense for those years (computed by applying the United States federal corporate tax rate of 35 percent to income before income tax expense) as follows:
The Company’s property and casualty insurance subsidiaries have $25.0 million of surplus notes issued to Employers Mutual. Effective February 1, 2013, the interest rate on the surplus notes was reduced to 1.35 percent. Reviews of the interest rate are conducted by the Inter-Company Committees of the boards of directors of the Company and Employers Mutual every five years, with the next review due in 2018. Payments of interest and repayments of principal can only be made out of the applicable subsidiary’s statutory surplus and are subject to prior approval by the insurance commissioner of the respective states of domicile. The surplus notes are subordinate and junior in right of payment to all obligations or liabilities of the applicable insurance subsidiaries. Total interest expense on these surplus notes was $337,000 in 2016, 2015 and 2014. At December 31, 2016, the Company’s property and casualty insurance subsidiaries had received approval for the payment of the 2016 interest expense on the surplus notes.
Net periodic pension benefit cost allocated to the Company amounted to $2.9 million, $1.8 million and $680,000 for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Net periodic postretirement benefit income allocated to the Company for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 amounted to $3.0 million, $3.0 million, and $3.1 million, respectively.
Following is a brief description of the pricing techniques used for the asset classes of Employers Mutual’s qualified pension plan.
The 2003 Plan permitted the issuance of incentive stock options only, while the 2007 Plan permits the issuance of performance shares, performance units, and other stock-based awards, in addition to qualified (incentive) and non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and restricted stock units. Both plans provide for a ten-year time limit for granting awards. No additional options can be granted under the 2003 Plan due to the expiration of the term of the plan. Options granted under the plans generally have a vesting period of five years, with options becoming exercisable in equal annual cumulative increments commencing on the first anniversary of the option grant. Option prices cannot be less than the fair value of the common stock on the date of grant. Restricted stock awards granted under the 2007 Plan generally have a vesting period of four years, with shares vesting in equal annual cumulative increments commencing on the first anniversary of the grant. With the exception of death or permanent disability, any unvested shares of restricted stock are forfeited on termination of employment, including retirement. Holders of unvested shares of restricted stock receive compensation income equal to the amount of any dividends declared on the common stock. During 2016, 2,000 shares of restricted stock were granted to non-employee directors of the Company. These shares of restricted stock vest over a period of three years, or upon a director reaching 75 years of age while an active director.
The Senior Executive Compensation Committee of Employers Mutual’s Board of Directors grants the awards and is the administrator of the plans. The Company’s Compensation Committee must consider and approve all awards granted to the Company’s executive officers. Awards granted to directors are approved by the Company's Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee.
At December 31, 2016, the Company’s portion of the unrecognized compensation cost associated with option awards issued under Employers Mutual’s stock plans that are not currently vested was $7,000, with a 0.17 year weighted-average period over which the compensation expense is expected to be recognized.
The 2003 Plan does not generally generate income tax deductions for the Company because only incentive stock options could be issued under the plan. The Company has recorded a deferred income tax benefit for a portion of the compensation expense associated with the March 2008 grant and for all subsequent grants (all made under the 2007 Plan) because non-qualified options and restricted stock awards were issued. The Company’s portion of the current income tax deduction realized from exercises of non-qualified stock options was $284,000, $121,000 and $152,000 in 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. These actual deductions are generally in excess of the deferred tax benefits recorded in conjunction with the compensation expense (referred to as excess tax benefits), which reduce income tax expense (prior to 2016 were recorded to additional paid in capital). The income tax benefit that results from disqualifying dispositions of stock purchased through the exercise of incentive stock options is deemed immaterial.
During 2016, shares were purchased under the plan at prices ranging from $18.26 to $20.99. Activity under the plan was as follows:
Employers Mutual did not participate in this plan in 2016, 2015 or 2014. Activity under the plan was as follows:
The following tables display amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income and into net income during the three years ended December 31, 2016.
On November 3, 2011, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a $15.0 million stock repurchase program. This program does not have an expiration date. The timing and terms of the purchases are determined by management based on board approved parameters and market conditions, and are conducted in accordance with the applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Common stock repurchased under this program will be retired by the Company. The Company repurchased 17,300 shares of its common stock at an average cost of $22.14 during 2016. No other purchases have been made under this program.