Reserves are reviewed by internal and independent actuaries for adequacy on a quarterly basis. When reviewing reserves, the Company analyzes historical data and estimates the impact of various factors such as (i) per claim information; (ii) Company and industry historical loss experience; (iii) legislative enactments, judicial decisions, legal developments in the imposition of damages, and changes in political attitudes; and (iv) trends in general economic conditions, including the effects of inflation. This process assumes that past experience, adjusted for the effects of current developments and anticipated trends, is an appropriate basis for predicting future events. There is no precise method, however, for subsequently evaluating the impact of any specific factor on the adequacy of reserves, because the eventual deficiency or redundancy is affected by multiple factors.
On September 30, 2003, an unconsolidated subsidiary trust of the Company issued $10.0 million of mandatory redeemable trust preferred securities (“TPS”) to a trust formed by an institutional investor. The Company’s trust received a total of $9.7 million in net proceeds, after the deduction of approximately $300,000 of commissions paid to the placement agents in the transaction. The gross proceeds from the issuance of the
TPS were used to purchase floating rate junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures (the “Debentures”) issued by the Company. The Debentures have financial terms similar to those of the TPS, which includes the deferral of interest payments at any time or from time to time for a period not exceeding five years, provided there is no event of default. The Debentures mature in 30 years and provide for interest at the three-month LIBOR, plus 4.05%, which started in December 2003. Refer to Note 1 for additional information.
The principal sources of funds, which include both regulated and non-regulated cash flows, for the Company and its subsidiaries are insurance premiums, investment income, proceeds from the maturity and sale of invested assets, risk management fees, and agency commissions. Funds are primarily used for the payment of claims, commissions, salaries and employee benefits, other operating expenses, shareholder dividends, and debt service. The regulated sources of funds are insurance premiums, investment income, and proceeds from the maturity and sale of invested assets. These regulated funds are used for the payment of claims, policy acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses, and taxes relating to the regulated portion of net income. The non-regulated sources of funds are in the form of commission revenue, outside management fees, and intercompany management fees. These non-regulated sources of funds are used to meet debt service, shareholders’ dividends, and other operating expenses of the holding company and non-regulated subsidiaries. The following table illustrates net income (loss), excluding interest, depreciation, and amortization between the Company’s regulated and non-regulated subsidiaries, which reconciles to the Company’s consolidated statement of income and statement of cash flows (in thousands):
The increase in Star’s net written premium in 2003 reflected anticipated growth from premium rate increases, the conversion of existing controlled programs to the Company’s subsidiary’s paper, controlled growth related to select new business, and the renewal rights contract announced in November 2002. In addition, 2002 net written premium reflected the termination of unprofitable business, specifically in the commercial automobile line of business.