EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 800457
Filing Year: 2023
Filename: 800457_10-K_2023_0001140361-23-010291.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Item 1.
Business.
Introduction
Donegal Group Inc., or DGI, is an insurance holding company whose insurance subsidiaries and affiliates offer property and casualty insurance in 24 Mid-Atlantic, Midwestern, New England, Southern and Southwestern states. DGI has no significant business operations and is separate and distinct from its insurance subsidiaries. As used in this Form 10-K Report, the terms “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Donegal Group Inc. and its insurance subsidiaries. Our Class A common stock and our Class B common stock trade on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbols “DGICA” and “DGICB,” respectively.
Donegal Mutual Insurance Company, or Donegal Mutual, organized us as an insurance holding company on August 26, 1986. At December 31, 2022, Donegal Mutual held approximately 43% of our outstanding Class A common stock and approximately 84% of our outstanding Class B common stock. Donegal Mutual’s ownership provides Donegal Mutual with approximately 71% of the combined voting power of our outstanding shares of Class A common stock and our outstanding shares of Class B common stock. Our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual have interrelated operations due to an intercompany pooling agreement and other intercompany agreements and transactions we describe in Note 3 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. While maintaining the separate corporate existence of each company, our insurance subsidiaries conduct business together with Donegal Mutual and its insurance subsidiaries as the Donegal Insurance Group. The Donegal Insurance Group is not a legal entity, is not an insurance company and does not issue or administer insurance policies. Rather, it is a trade name that refers to the group of insurance companies that are affiliated with Donegal Mutual.
At December 31, 2022, we had three segments: our investment function, our commercial lines of insurance and our personal lines of insurance. We set forth financial information about these segments in Note 19 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. The commercial lines products of our insurance subsidiaries consist primarily of commercial automobile, commercial multi-peril and workers’ compensation policies. The personal lines products of our insurance subsidiaries consist primarily of homeowners and private passenger automobile policies.
Our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual provide their policyholders with a selection of insurance products and pursue profitability by adhering to a strict underwriting discipline. Our insurance subsidiaries derive a substantial portion of their insurance business from smaller to mid-sized regional communities. We believe this focus provides our insurance subsidiaries with competitive advantages in terms of local market knowledge, marketing, underwriting, claims servicing and policyholder service. At the same time, we believe our insurance subsidiaries have cost advantages over many smaller regional insurers that result from economies of scale our insurance subsidiaries realize through centralized accounting, administrative, data processing, investment and other services.
We believe we have a substantial opportunity, as a well-capitalized regional insurance holding company with a solid business strategy, to grow profitably and compete effectively with larger national property and casualty insurers. Our downstream holding company structure, with Donegal Mutual holding approximately 71% of the combined voting power of our common stock, has proven its effectiveness and success over the 36 years of our existence. Over that time period, we have grown significantly in terms of revenue and financial strength, and the Donegal Insurance Group has developed an excellent reputation as a regional group of property and casualty insurers.
We have been an effective consolidator of smaller “main street” property and casualty insurance companies. While we are currently placing less emphasis on pursuing acquisitions due to several ongoing major initiatives to enhance our technology infrastructure as well as our analytical and processing capabilities, we expect to continue to acquire other insurance companies to expand our business in a given region over time. Since 1998, we and Donegal Mutual have completed seven transactions involving acquisitions of property and casualty insurance companies or participation in the business of property and casualty insurance companies through Donegal Mutual’s entry into quota-share reinsurance agreements with them.
Index
Donegal Mutual completed the merger of Mountain States Mutual Casualty Company, or Mountain States, with and into Donegal Mutual effective May 25, 2017. Donegal Mutual was the surviving company in the merger, and Mountain States’ insurance subsidiaries, Mountain States Indemnity Company and Mountain States Commercial Insurance Company (collectively, the "Mountain States insurance subsidiaries"), became insurance subsidiaries of Donegal Mutual upon completion of the merger. Upon completion of the merger, Donegal Mutual assumed all of the policy obligations of Mountain States and began to market its products together with the Mountain States insurance subsidiaries as the Mountain States Insurance Group in four Southwestern states. Donegal Mutual also entered into a 100% quota-share reinsurance agreement with the Mountain States insurance subsidiaries on the merger date. Beginning with policies effective in 2021, Donegal Mutual began to place the business of the Mountain States Insurance Group into the underwriting pool we describe in “History and Organizational Structure.” As a result, our consolidated financial results through December 31, 2020 excluded the results of the Mountain States Insurance Group operations in those Southwestern states.
Available Information
You may obtain our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, including this Form 10-K Report, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, our current reports on Form 8-K, our proxy statement and our other filings pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act, without charge by viewing our website at www.donegalgroup.com. You may also view our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and the charters of the executive committee, the audit committee, the compensation committee and the nominating committee of our board of directors on our website. Upon request to our corporate secretary, we will also provide printed copies of any of these documents to you without charge. We have provided the address of our website solely for the information of investors. We do not intend the reference to our website address to be an active link or to otherwise incorporate the contents of our website into this Form 10-K Report. In addition to our website, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) maintains an Internet site at www.sec.gov that contains our reports, proxy and information statements and other information that we electronically file with, or furnish to, the SEC.
History and Organizational Structure
In the mid-1980’s, Donegal Mutual, as a mutual insurance company, recognized the desirability of developing additional sources of capital and surplus so it could remain competitive, expand its business and ensure its long-term viability. Accordingly, Donegal Mutual determined that the implementation of a downstream holding company structure was a viable business strategy to accomplish that objective. Thus, in 1986, Donegal Mutual formed us as a downstream holding company, and we incorporated in the state of Delaware as Donegal Group Inc. After Donegal Mutual formed us, we in turn formed Atlantic States as our wholly owned property and casualty insurance company subsidiary.
In connection with the formation of Atlantic States and the establishment of our downstream insurance holding company system, Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States entered into a proportional reinsurance agreement, or pooling agreement. Under the pooling agreement, Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States contribute substantially all of their respective premiums, losses and loss expenses to the underwriting pool, and the underwriting pool, acting through Donegal Mutual, then allocates 80% of the pooled business to Atlantic States. Thus, Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States share the underwriting results of the pooled business in proportion to their respective participation in the underwriting pool.
The member companies of the Donegal Insurance Group, which include our insurance subsidiaries, share a combined business plan to enhance market penetration and underwriting profitability objectives. We believe Donegal Mutual’s majority interest in the combined voting power of our Class A common stock and of our Class B common stock fosters our ability to implement our business philosophies, enjoy management continuity, maintain superior employee relations and provide a stable environment within which we can grow our businesses.
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The products the member companies of the Donegal Insurance Group offer are generally complementary, which permits the Donegal Insurance Group to offer a broad range of products in a given market and to expand the Donegal Insurance Group’s ability to service an entire personal lines or commercial lines account. Distinctions within the products the member companies of the Donegal Insurance Group offer generally relate to specific risk profiles within similar classes of business, such as preferred tier products versus standard tier products. The member companies of the Donegal Insurance Group do not allocate all of the standard risk gradients to one company. As a result, the underwriting profitability of the business the individual companies write directly will vary. However, the underwriting pool homogenizes the risk characteristics of all business that Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States write directly and all business that Donegal Mutual assumes from its affiliates and places into the underwriting pool. The business Atlantic States derives from the underwriting pool represents a significant percentage of our total consolidated revenues.
As the capital of Atlantic States and our other insurance subsidiaries has increased, the underwriting capacity of our insurance subsidiaries has increased proportionately. The size of the underwriting pool has also increased substantially. Therefore, as we originally planned in the mid-1980s, Atlantic States has successfully raised the capital necessary to support the growth of its direct business as well as to accept increases in its allocation of business from the underwriting pool. The portion of the underwriting pool allocated to Atlantic States has increased from an initial allocation of 35% in 1986 to an 80% allocation since March 1, 2008. We do not anticipate any further change in the pooling agreement between Atlantic States and Donegal Mutual, including any change in the percentage participation of Atlantic States in the underwriting pool.
In addition to Atlantic States, our insurance subsidiaries are Southern Insurance Company of Virginia, or Southern, The Peninsula Insurance Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, Peninsula Indemnity Company, or collectively, Peninsula, and Michigan Insurance Company, or MICO. Donegal Mutual has a 100% quota-share reinsurance agreement with Southern Mutual Insurance Company, or Southern Mutual, and Donegal Mutual places its assumed business from Southern Mutual into the underwriting pool. Donegal Mutual wholly owns and has a 100% quota-share reinsurance agreement with the Mountain States insurance subsidiaries. Beginning with policies effective in 2021, Donegal Mutual places its assumed business from the Mountain States insurance subsidiaries into the underwriting pool.
The following chart depicts our organizational structure, including all of our property and casualty insurance subsidiaries and affiliates:
(1) Because of the different relative voting power of our Class A common stock and our Class B common stock, our public stockholders hold approximately 29% of the combined voting power of our Class A common stock and our Class B common stock and Donegal Mutual holds approximately 71% of the combined voting power of our Class A common stock and our Class B common stock.
Index
Relationship with Donegal Mutual
Donegal Mutual provides facilities, management and other services to us and our insurance subsidiaries. In addition, Donegal Mutual purchases and maintains the information technology systems that support the business of Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries. Donegal Mutual allocates certain related expenses to Atlantic States in accordance with the relative participation of Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States in the pooling agreement. Our insurance subsidiaries other than Atlantic States reimburse Donegal Mutual for allocated costs of services Donegal Mutual provides on their behalf based on their proportion of the total direct premiums written of the Donegal Insurance Group and other metrics. Allocated expenses from Donegal Mutual for services it provided to Atlantic States and our other insurance subsidiaries totaled $199.2 million, $186.6 million and $153.9 million for 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. To enhance process efficiencies, Donegal Mutual paid certain expenses directly in 2022 and 2021 that our insurance subsidiaries paid directly in 2020, resulting in higher allocations of expenses from Donegal Mutual to our insurance subsidiaries and lower direct expense payments by our insurance subsidiaries in 2022 and 2021 compared to 2020.
Donegal Mutual is the employer of record for all personnel who provide services for our insurance subsidiaries. Donegal Mutual strives to maintain a culture that is based on integrity and respect, with an environment designed to facilitate excellent service to the agents and customers of the Donegal Insurance Group. At December 31, 2022, Donegal Mutual had 876 employees, of which 458 were based in its Marietta, Pennsylvania headquarters and 418 were based in regional offices or were permanent remote employees. There were 866 full-time employees and 10 part-time employees. Many of Donegal Mutual's employees work remotely from their homes or follow a hybrid schedule that includes working several days in their assigned office to allow for enhanced collaboration and interaction with other employees. Donegal Mutual targets employee compensation that is competitive and consistent with an employee's position, knowledge, experience and skill level. Donegal Mutual provides annual wage increases that are based on merit. Donegal Mutual provides an annual cash incentive plan for all of its employees that provides an opportunity for Donegal Mutual's employees to earn a bonus as a percentage of their annual wages that varies based on the level of underwriting profit Donegal Insurance Group achieves for a calendar year. In addition, Donegal Mutual provides to its full-time employees a comprehensive employee benefits program, including medical, dental and vision insurance, paid time off, and a 401(k) retirement plan that includes company matching provisions. Donegal Mutual also provides substantial training, development and wellness programs and resources to its employees.
Our insurance subsidiaries have a catastrophe reinsurance agreement with Donegal Mutual, pursuant to which Donegal Mutual provides coverage for losses related to any catastrophic occurrence over a set retention of $3.0 million ($2.0 million for 2022, 2021 and 2020) for each participating insurance subsidiary, with a combined retention of $6.0 million ($5.0 million for 2022, 2021 and 2020) for a catastrophe involving a combination of participating insurance subsidiaries, up to the amount Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries retain under catastrophe reinsurance agreements with unaffiliated reinsurers. The purpose of the catastrophe reinsurance agreement is to lessen the effects of an accumulation of losses arising from one event to levels that are appropriate given each subsidiary’s size, underwriting profile and surplus.
Donegal Mutual had a quota-share reinsurance agreement with MICO for policies effective through December 31, 2021. The purpose of the quota-share reinsurance agreement with MICO was to transfer to Donegal Mutual 25% of the premiums and losses related to MICO’s business. Donegal Mutual placed its assumed business from MICO into the underwriting pool. Donegal Mutual and MICO terminated this reinsurance agreement on a run-off basis effective January 1, 2022. As a result, MICO retains 100% of its net premiums and losses beginning with policies effective as of that date.
Donegal Mutual had a quota-share reinsurance agreement with Peninsula for policies effective through December 31, 2021. The purpose of the quota-share reinsurance agreement with Peninsula was to transfer to Donegal Mutual 100% of the premiums and losses related to the workers’ compensation product line of Peninsula in certain states. Donegal Mutual placed its assumed business from Peninsula into the underwriting pool. Donegal Mutual and Peninsula terminated this reinsurance agreement on a run-off basis effective January 1, 2022. As a result, Peninsula retains 100% of its net workers’ compensation premiums and losses beginning with policies effective as of that date.
Index
We and Donegal Mutual have maintained a coordinating committee since our formation in 1986. The coordinating committee consists of two members of our board of directors, neither of whom is a member of Donegal Mutual’s board of directors, and two members of Donegal Mutual’s board of directors, neither of whom is a member of our board of directors. The purpose of the coordinating committee is to establish and maintain a process for an ongoing evaluation of the transactions between Donegal Mutual, our insurance subsidiaries and us. The coordinating committee considers the fairness of each intercompany transaction to Donegal Mutual and its policyholders and to us and our stockholders.
A new agreement or any change to a previously approved agreement must receive coordinating committee approval. The approval process for a new agreement between Donegal Mutual and us or one of our insurance subsidiaries or a change in such an agreement is as follows:
•
both of our members on the coordinating committee must determine that the new agreement or the change in an existing agreement is fair and equitable to us and in the best interests of our stockholders;
•
both of Donegal Mutual’s members on the coordinating committee must determine that the new agreement or the change in an existing agreement is fair and equitable to Donegal Mutual and in the best interests of its policyholders;
•
our board of directors must approve the new agreement or the change in an existing agreement; and
•
Donegal Mutual’s board of directors must approve the new agreement or the change in an existing agreement.
The coordinating committee also meets annually to review each existing agreement between Donegal Mutual and us or our insurance subsidiaries, including all reinsurance agreements between Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries. The purpose of this annual review is to examine the results of the agreements over the past year and, in the case of reinsurance agreements, over several years and to determine if the results of the existing agreements remain fair and equitable to us and our stockholders and fair and equitable to Donegal Mutual and its policyholders or if Donegal Mutual and we should mutually agree to certain adjustments to the terms of the agreements. In the case of reinsurance agreements, the annual adjustments typically relate to the reinsurance premiums and loss retention amounts. These agreements are ongoing in nature and will continue in effect throughout 2023 in the ordinary course of our business.
Our members on the coordinating committee, as of the date of this Form 10-K Report, are Barry C. Huber and Richard D. Wampler, II. Donegal Mutual’s members on the coordinating committee as of such date are Michael W. Brubaker and Cyril J. Greenya. We refer to our proxy statement for our annual meeting of stockholders to be held on April 20, 2023 for further information about the members of the coordinating committee.
We believe our relationships with Donegal Mutual offer us and our insurance subsidiaries a number of competitive advantages, including the following:
•
enabling our stable management, the consistent underwriting discipline of our insurance subsidiaries, external growth, long-term profitability and financial strength;
•
creating operational and expense synergies from the combination of resources and integrated operations of the Donegal Insurance Group;
•
producing more stable and uniform underwriting results for our insurance subsidiaries over extended periods of time than we could achieve without our relationship with Donegal Mutual;
•
providing opportunities for growth because of the ability of Donegal Mutual to affiliate and enter into reinsurance agreements with, or otherwise acquire control of, mutual insurance companies and place the business it assumes into the underwriting pool; and
•
providing Atlantic States with a significantly larger underwriting capacity because of the underwriting pool Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States have maintained since 1986.
Index
In the first quarter of 2023, our board of directors and the board of directors of Donegal Mutual each undertook a review of the relationships between Donegal Mutual and DGI and determined that continuing the current relationships and the current corporate structure of Donegal Mutual and DGI is in the best interests of DGI and its various constituencies.
Business Strategy
We and Donegal Mutual are focused on several primary strategies, including achieving sustained excellent financial performance, strategically modernizing our operations and processes to transform our business, capitalizing on opportunities to grow profitably and delivering a superior experience to our agents and policyholders. Our strategies are designed to provide value to the policyholders of Donegal Mutual and our respective insurance subsidiaries and, ultimately, to provide value to our stockholders. The annual net premiums earned of our insurance subsidiaries have increased from $301.5 million in 2006 to $822.5 million in 2022, a compound annual growth rate of 6.5%.
The combined ratio of our insurance subsidiaries and that of the United States property and casualty insurance industry as computed using United States generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, and statutory accounting principles, or SAP, for the years 2018 through 2022 are shown in the following table:
Our GAAP combined ratio
103.3
%
101.0
%
96.0
%
99.5
%
110.1
%
Our SAP combined ratio
103.3
100.8
95.4
98.7
109.4
Industry SAP combined ratio (1)
104.0
99.6
98.4
98.9
99.2
(1)
As reported (projected for 2022) by A.M. Best Company.
We and Donegal Mutual believe we can continue to expand our insurance operations over time through organic growth and acquisitions of, or affiliations with, other insurance companies. We and Donegal Mutual have enhanced the performance of companies we have acquired, while leveraging the acquired companies’ core strengths and local market knowledge to expand their operations. Our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual also seek to increase their premium base by making quality independent agency appointments, enhancing their competitive position within each agency, introducing new and enhanced insurance products and developing and maintaining automated systems to improve service, communications and efficiency.
A detailed review of our business strategies follows:
•
Achieving sustained excellent financial performance.
Our insurance subsidiaries seek to achieve consistent underwriting profitability. Underwriting profitability is a fundamental component of our long-term financial strength because it allows our insurance subsidiaries to generate profits without relying exclusively on their investment income for profitability. Our insurance subsidiaries seek to enhance their underwriting results by:
•
carefully selecting the product lines they underwrite;
•
carefully selecting the individual risks they underwrite;
•
utilizing data analytics and predictive modeling tools to inform risk selection and pricing decisions;
•
managing their property exposures in catastrophe-prone areas; and
•
evaluating their claims history on a regular basis to ensure the adequacy of their underwriting guidelines and product pricing.
Index
Our insurance subsidiaries maintain discipline in their pricing by effecting rate increases to sustain or improve their underwriting results without unduly affecting their customer retention. In addition to appropriate pricing, our insurance subsidiaries seek to ensure that their premium rates are adequate relative to the amount of risk they insure. Our insurance subsidiaries review loss trends on a regular basis to identify changes in the frequency and severity of their claims and to assess the adequacy of their rates and underwriting standards. Our insurance subsidiaries also carefully monitor and audit the information they use to price their policies for the purpose of enabling them to receive an adequate level of premiums for the risk they assume. For example, our insurance subsidiaries audit the payroll data of their workers’ compensation customers to verify that the assumptions used to price a particular policy were accurate. By implementing appropriate rate increases and understanding the risks our insurance subsidiaries agree to insure, our insurance subsidiaries seek to achieve consistent underwriting profitability.
Our insurance subsidiaries monitor the performance of the product lines they underwrite and the geographies in which they offer their insurance products. Our insurance subsidiaries take specific actions to remediate underperforming product lines or geographies that include pricing increases, underwriting adjustments, reunderwriting initiatives as well as discontinuing a given product or withdrawing from a geography when our insurance subsidiaries determine they cannot reasonably expect to generate targeted profitability over time.
Our insurance subsidiaries have no material exposures to asbestos or environmental liabilities. Our insurance subsidiaries seek to provide more than one policy to a given personal lines or commercial lines customer because this “account selling” strategy diversifies their risk and has historically improved their underwriting results. Our insurance subsidiaries also use reinsurance to manage their exposure and limit their maximum net loss from large single risks or risks in concentrated areas.
Our insurance subsidiaries maintain stringent expense controls under direct supervision of their senior management. We centralize the processing and administrative activities of our insurance subsidiaries to realize operating synergies and better expense control. Our insurance subsidiaries utilize technology to automate much of their underwriting, claims and billing processes and to facilitate agency and policyholder communications on an efficient, timely and cost-effective basis. Our insurance subsidiaries have increased their annual premium per employee, a measure of efficiency that our insurance subsidiaries use to evaluate their operations, from approximately $470,000 in 1999 to approximately $1.1 million in 2022.
Return on invested assets is an important element of the financial results of our insurance subsidiaries. The investment strategy of our insurance subsidiaries is to generate an appropriate amount of after-tax income on invested assets while limiting the potential impact of equity market volatility and minimizing credit risk through investments in high-quality securities. As a result, our insurance subsidiaries seek to invest a high percentage of their assets in diversified, highly rated and marketable fixed-maturity instruments. The fixed-maturity portfolios of our insurance subsidiaries consist of both taxable and tax-exempt securities. Our insurance subsidiaries maintain a portion of their portfolios in short-term securities to provide liquidity for the payment of claims and operation of their respective businesses. Our insurance subsidiaries maintain a small percentage (2.7% at December 31, 2022) of their portfolios in equity securities that have a history of paying cash dividends or that our insurance subsidiaries expect will appreciate in value over time.
•
Strategically modernizing our operations and processes to transform our business.
In 2018, Donegal Mutual initiated a multi-year systems modernization project to replace its remaining legacy systems, streamline business processes and workflows and enhance data analytics and modeling capabilities. In February 2020, Donegal Mutual implemented the first release of new systems related to the project, and our insurance subsidiaries began to issue workers’ compensation policies from the new systems in the second quarter of 2020. In August 2021, Donegal Mutual implemented the second release of new systems related to the project, including a new agency portal and the rating, underwriting and policy issuance capabilities necessary to support the launch of new personal lines products, and our insurance subsidiaries began to issue new personal lines products from the new systems in the fourth quarter of 2021. Over the next several years, Donegal Mutual expects to implement new systems for the remaining lines of business the Donegal Insurance Group offers currently. The next release of new systems related to the project will include three commercial lines of business with enhanced straight-through-processing capabilities. This release is scheduled for implementation beginning in the first half of 2023.
Index
We have an enterprise analytics department that is focused on integrating data and analytics into strategy and decision-making at all levels of our organization. The enterprise analytics team is responsible for core functions of rate-making, predictive analytics, data management and business intelligence. These responsibilities include the development and expansion of risk-based pricing segmentation, analytical innovation, predictive modeling solutions, formal data strategies, performance monitoring and enhanced reporting mechanisms. We developed and began executing a pricing and analytics roadmap that will continue to deliver data-driven insights to our underwriters. This roadmap includes ongoing development and enhancement of quality tools that allow us to operationalize pricing and underwriting predictive models, integrate internal and external data for better-informed pricing and underwriting decisions and enhance the automation and precision of our rate indication methodology. Our enterprise analytics team is continuing to develop new tools and solutions that are enhancing our product portfolio management capabilities, competitive intelligence, pricing sophistication and utilization of data to monitor and manage our operations. The team also generates reporting and analyses that enable us to draw business insights from data that drive actions to improve performance.
We are expanding our focus on process excellence, including the formalization of a structure to readily identify opportunities for operational efficiencies and to build a multi-year roadmap for addressing those opportunities. We are also expanding our data management personnel and capabilities to continually ensure the data upon which we rely for our business decisions and financial reporting is complete, accurate and secure. We have assigned an innovation task force the responsibility to research emerging technologies and identify potential technology solutions that might assist us in further modernizing our operations.
•
Capitalizing on opportunities to grow profitably.
Continued expansion of our insurance subsidiaries within their existing markets will be a key source of their continued premium growth, and maintaining an effective network of independent agencies is integral to this expansion. Our insurance subsidiaries seek to be among the top three insurers within each of the independent agencies for the lines of business our insurance subsidiaries write by providing a consistent, competitive and stable market for their products. We believe that the consistency of the product offerings of our insurance subsidiaries enables our insurance subsidiaries to compete effectively for independent agents with other insurers whose product offerings may fluctuate based on industry conditions. Our insurance subsidiaries offer a competitive compensation program to their independent agents that rewards them for producing profitable growth and maintaining profitable books of business with our insurance subsidiaries.
Our insurance subsidiaries execute a combined annual business plan with Donegal Mutual and its insurance subsidiaries. Within the past several years, we enhanced the annual planning process to ensure that we are directing efforts and resources toward geographic regions, market segments, product lines and classes of business that will give us the best opportunities to achieve sustained growth and profitability. As part of the planning process, we perform a detailed analysis of internal and external data with respect to each state within our operating regions. We assess state-specific marketing dynamics and opportunities, including an evaluation of the historical experience of our insurance subsidiaries. We then assign a strategic posture for each state and develop action plans to execute state-specific strategies for growth or reduction of premiums, agency distribution and enhanced profit generation over the next several years.
In recent years, the consolidation of independent agencies has accelerated, resulting in the acquisition of independent agencies from which our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual currently receive business by national cluster groups and aggregators. We have a national accounts team that is responsible for the management and expansion of our relationships with these national agency groups. The national accounts team serves as a centralized point of contact for these groups and works directly with our regional sales and marketing teams to support and develop relationships with independent agents affiliated with national agency groups. We believe our relationships with existing and emerging national agency groups will continue to expand and that these groups represent a significant opportunity for profitable future growth.
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•
Delivering a superior experience to our agents and policyholders.
Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries strive to maintain technology comparable to that of their larger competitors. “Ease of doing business” is an increasingly important component of an insurer’s value to an independent agency. Our insurance subsidiaries provide fully automated underwriting and policy issuance portals that substantially ease data entry and facilitate the quoting and issuance of policies for the independent agents of our insurance subsidiaries. As a result, applications of the independent agents for our insurance subsidiaries can result in policy issuance without further re-entry of information. These systems also interface with the agency management systems of the independent agents of our insurance subsidiaries. In addition, we are employing new agency relationship management solutions to expand the abilities of our insurance subsidiaries to manage their agency relationships and enhance their agency communications and interactions.
Our insurance subsidiaries also provide their independent agents with ongoing support to enable them to better attract and service customers, including:
•
training programs;
•
marketing support;
•
availability of a personal lines service center that provides comprehensive service for our policyholders; and
•
accessibility to and regular interactions with marketing and underwriting personnel and senior management of our insurance subsidiaries.
We plan to introduce a new commercial lines service center in late 2023, which will represent an optional service enhancement for agencies who prefer that we interact directly with their customers for mid-term policy coverage changes and other service requests.
Our insurance subsidiaries appoint independent agencies with a strong underwriting and growth track record. We believe that our insurance subsidiaries will drive continued long-term growth by carefully selecting, motivating and supporting their independent agencies.
We believe that excellent policyholder service is important in attracting new policyholders and retaining existing policyholders. Our insurance subsidiaries work closely with their independent agents to provide a consistently responsive level of claims service, underwriting and customer support. Our insurance subsidiaries seek to respond expeditiously and effectively to address customer and independent agent inquiries in a number of ways, including:
•
availability of a customer call center, secure website and mobile application for claims reporting;
•
availability of a secure website and mobile application for access to policy information and documents, payment processing and other features;
•
timely replies to information requests and policy submissions; and
•
prompt responses to, and processing of, claims.
Our insurance subsidiaries periodically conduct policyholder surveys to evaluate the effectiveness of their service to policyholders. The management of our insurance subsidiaries meets on a regular basis with the personnel of the independent insurance agents our insurance subsidiaries appoint to seek service improvement recommendations, react to service issues and better understand local market conditions.
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•
Acquiring property and casualty insurance companies to augment the organic growth of our insurance subsidiaries.
We have been an effective consolidator of smaller “main street” property and casualty insurance companies. While we are currently placing less emphasis on pursuing acquisitions due to several ongoing major initiatives to enhance our technology infrastructure as well as our analytical and processing capabilities, we expect to continue to acquire other insurance companies to expand our business in a given region over time.
Since 1998, we and Donegal Mutual have completed seven transactions involving acquisitions of property and casualty insurance companies or participation in the business of property and casualty insurance companies through Donegal Mutual’s entry into quota-share reinsurance agreements with them. We and Donegal Mutual intend to continue our growth by pursuing affiliations and acquisitions that meet our criteria. Our primary criteria are:
•
location in regions where our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual are currently conducting business or that offer an attractive opportunity to conduct profitable business;
•
a mix of business similar to the mix of business of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual;
•
annual premium volume between $50.0 million to $100.0 million; and
•
fair and reasonable transaction terms.
We believe that our relationship with Donegal Mutual assists us in pursuing affiliations with, and subsequent acquisitions of, mutual insurance companies because, through Donegal Mutual, we understand the concerns and issues that mutual insurance companies face. In particular, Donegal Mutual has had success affiliating with underperforming mutual insurance companies that were operating at a competitive disadvantage due to lack of economies of scale compared to other industry participants, and we have either acquired them following their conversion to a stock company or benefited from their underwriting results as a result of Donegal Mutual’s entry into a 100% quota-share reinsurance agreement with them and placement of that assumed business into the pooling agreement. We evaluate a number of areas for operational synergies when considering acquisitions, including product underwriting, expenses, the cost of reinsurance and technology.
We believe that our ability to make direct acquisitions of stock insurance companies and to make indirect acquisitions of mutual insurance companies through Donegal Mutual provides us with flexibility that is a competitive advantage in making acquisitions. We also believe our historic record demonstrates our ability to acquire control of an underperforming insurance company utilizing a number of different acquisition structures and affiliation strategies, re-underwrite its book of business, reduce its cost structure and return it to sustained profitability.
While Donegal Mutual and we generally engage in preliminary discussions with potential direct or indirect acquisition candidates from time to time, neither Donegal Mutual nor we make any public disclosure regarding a proposed acquisition until Donegal Mutual or we have entered into a definitive acquisition agreement.
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The following table highlights our and Donegal Mutual’s history of insurance company acquisitions and affiliations since 1998:
Company Name
State of Domicile
Year Control Acquired
Method of Acquisition/Affiliation
Southern Heritage Insurance Company (1)
Georgia
Purchase of stock by us in 1998.
Le Mars Mutual Insurance Company of Iowa and then Le Mars Insurance Company (1)
Iowa
Surplus note investment by Donegal Mutual in 2002; conversion to stock company in 2004; acquisition of stock by us in 2004.
Peninsula Insurance Group
Maryland
Purchase of stock by us in 2004.
Sheboygan Falls Mutual Insurance Company and then Sheboygan Falls Insurance Company (1)
Wisconsin
Contribution note investment by Donegal Mutual in 2007; conversion to stock company in 2008; acquisition of stock by us in 2008.
Southern Mutual Insurance Company (2)
Georgia
Surplus note investment by Donegal Mutual and quota-share reinsurance in 2009.
Michigan Insurance Company
Michigan
Purchase of stock by us in 2010.
Mountain States Mutual Casualty Company(3)
New Mexico
Merger with and into Donegal Mutual in 2017.
(1)
To reduce administrative and compliance costs and expenses, these subsidiaries subsequently merged into one of our existing insurance subsidiaries.
(2)
Control acquired by Donegal Mutual.
(3)
Donegal Mutual completed the merger of Mountain States with and into Donegal Mutual effective May 25, 2017. Donegal Mutual was the surviving company in the merger, and Mountain States insurance subsidiaries became insurance subsidiaries of Donegal Mutual upon completion of the merger. Donegal Mutual also entered into a 100% quota-share reinsurance agreement with the Mountain States insurance subsidiaries on the merger date. Beginning with policies effective in 2021, Donegal Mutual places the business of the Mountain States Insurance Group into the underwriting pool.
Competition
The property and casualty insurance industry is highly competitive on the basis of both price and service. Numerous companies compete for business in the geographic areas where our insurance subsidiaries operate. Many of these other insurance companies are substantially larger and have greater financial resources than those of our insurance subsidiaries. In addition, because our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual market their respective insurance products exclusively through independent insurance agencies, most of which represent more than one insurance company, our insurance subsidiaries face competition within agencies, as well as competition to retain qualified independent agents. Insurance companies that are substantially larger than our insurance subsidiaries are likely to benefit from certain cost synergies, and insurance companies that market their products directly to end consumers are likely to incur lower relative acquisition costs compared to those of our insurance subsidiaries.
Products and Underwriting
We report the results of our insurance operations in two segments: commercial lines of insurance and personal lines of insurance. The commercial lines our insurance subsidiaries write consist primarily of commercial automobile, commercial multi-peril and workers’ compensation insurance. The personal lines our insurance subsidiaries write consist primarily of private passenger automobile and homeowners insurance. We describe these lines of insurance in greater detail below:
Index
Commercial
•
Commercial automobile - policies that provide protection against liability for bodily injury and property damage arising from automobile accidents and protection against loss from damage to automobiles owned by the insured.
•
Commercial multi-peril - policies that provide protection to businesses against many perils, usually combining liability and physical damage coverages.
•
Workers’ compensation - policies employers purchase to provide benefits to employees for injuries sustained during employment. The workers’ compensation laws of each state determine the extent of the coverage we provide.
Personal
•
Private passenger automobile - policies that provide protection against liability for bodily injury and property damage arising from automobile accidents and protection against loss from damage to automobiles owned by the insured.
•
Homeowners - policies that provide coverage for damage to residences and their contents from a broad range of perils, including fire, lightning, windstorm and theft. These policies also cover liability of the insured arising from injury to other persons or their property while on the insured’s property and under other specified conditions.
In recent years, we have taken actions to shift our business mix to a higher proportion of commercial business, where we believe we will continue to have opportunities to achieve profitable, sustainable long-term growth. We are executing state-specific strategies that include accelerating growth in states where we see opportunities for profitable growth and reducing exposures in states we have targeted for profit improvement. While we expect to place greater emphasis on commercial growth for the foreseeable future, we desire to maintain a profitable book of personal business to provide enhanced stability across our product portfolio and increase our brand value to our independent agents. We commenced a phased rollout of new personal lines products in the fourth quarter of 2021. These products feature various coverage enhancements, modernized rating methodology, enhanced pricing segmentation, application of predictive analytical models and utilization of third-party data to augment pricing and risk selection. We implemented a new personal lines agency portal and the rating, underwriting and policy issuance capabilities necessary to support the launch in the ten states where Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries offer personal lines. The portal and systems are now live in nine of the ten states in which our insurance subsidiaries offer personal lines, and we plan to complete the rollout of the new personal lines products in the remaining state in the first half of 2023. Due to ongoing inflationary pressures on loss costs, we will carefully manage personal lines premium growth in 2023, and our insurance subsidiaries plan to continue implementing premium rate increases throughout the year.
The following table sets forth the net premiums written of our insurance subsidiaries by line of insurance for the periods indicated:
Year Ended December 31,
(dollars in thousands)
Amount
%
Amount
%
Amount
%
Commercial lines:
Automobile
$
167,774
19.9
%
$
161,947
20.1
%
$
135,294
18.2
%
Workers’ compensation
111,892
13.3
113,256
14.1
109,960
14.8
Commercial multi-peril
200,045
23.7
188,242
23.4
147,993
19.9
Other
40,086
4.7
38,340
4.8
32,739
4.5
Total commercial lines
519,797
61.6
501,785
62.4
425,986
57.4
Personal lines:
Automobile
181,129
21.5
170,578
21.2
184,602
24.9
Homeowners
120,087
14.2
109,974
13.7
111,886
15.1
Other
22,517
2.7
21,930
2.7
19,666
2.6
Total personal lines
323,733
38.4
302,482
37.6
316,154
42.6
Total business
$
843,530
100.0
%
$
804,267
100.0
%
$
742,140
100.0
%
Index
The commercial lines and personal lines underwriting departments of our insurance subsidiaries evaluate and select those risks that they believe will enable our insurance subsidiaries to achieve an underwriting profit. Within each of the underwriting departments, our insurance subsidiaries have dedicated product development and management teams responsible for the development of quality products at competitive prices to promote growth and profitability as well as the enhancement of our current products to meet targeted customer needs.
In order to achieve underwriting profitability on a consistent basis, our insurance subsidiaries:
•
assess and select primarily standard and preferred risks;
•
adhere to disciplined underwriting guidelines;
•
seek to price risks appropriately based on exposure, risk characteristics, utilization of predictive models and application of underwriting judgment and
•
utilize various types of risk management and loss control services.
Our insurance subsidiaries also review their existing portfolio of insured accounts to determine whether certain risks or classes of business continue to meet their underwriting guidelines and margin expectations. If a given account or class of business no longer meets those underwriting guidelines or margin expectations, our insurance subsidiaries will take appropriate action regarding that account or class of business, including raising premium rates or non-renewing policies to the extent applicable laws and regulations permit.
As part of the effort of our insurance subsidiaries to maintain acceptable underwriting results, they conduct annual reviews of agencies that have failed to meet their underwriting profitability criteria. The review process includes an analysis of the underwriting and re-underwriting practices of the agency, the completeness and accuracy of the applications the agency submits, the adequacy of the training of the agency’s staff and the agency’s record of adherence to the underwriting guidelines and service standards of our insurance subsidiaries. Based on the results of this review process, the marketing and underwriting personnel of our insurance subsidiaries develop, together with the agency, a plan to improve its underwriting profitability. Our insurance subsidiaries monitor the agency’s compliance with the plan and take other measures as required in the judgment of our insurance subsidiaries, including the termination, to the extent applicable laws and regulations permit, of agencies that are unable to achieve acceptable underwriting profitability.
Distribution
Our insurance subsidiaries market their products primarily in the Mid-Atlantic, Midwestern, New England, Southern and Southwestern regions through approximately 2,300 independent insurance agencies. At December 31, 2022, the Donegal Insurance Group actively wrote business in 24 states (Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin). Beginning with policies effective in 2021, Donegal Mutual includes the business it writes directly and assumes from the Mountain States insurance subsidiaries in four Southwestern states (Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Utah) in the pooling agreement between Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States. This business had no impact on our results of operations prior to 2021. We believe the relationships of our insurance subsidiaries with their independent agents are valuable in identifying, obtaining and retaining profitable business. Our insurance subsidiaries maintain a stringent agency selection procedure that emphasizes appointing agencies with proven marketing strategies for the development of profitable business, and our insurance subsidiaries only appoint agencies with a strong underwriting history and potential growth capabilities. Our insurance subsidiaries also regularly evaluate the independent agencies that represent them based on their profitability and performance in relation to the objectives of our insurance subsidiaries. Our insurance subsidiaries seek to be among the top three insurers within each of their agencies for the lines of business our insurance subsidiaries write.
Index
The following table sets forth the percentage of direct premiums our insurance subsidiaries write, including 80% of the direct premiums Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States include in the underwriting pool, in each of the states where they conducted a significant portion of their business in 2022:
Pennsylvania
35.1 %
Michigan
15.8
Maryland
8.6
Delaware
6.4
Virginia
5.9
Georgia
4.6
Wisconsin
3.5
Ohio
3.5
Indiana
2.6
North Carolina
2.3
Iowa
1.8
Tennessee
1.7
Other
8.2
Total
100.0 %
Our insurance subsidiaries employ a number of policies and procedures that we believe enable them to attract, retain and motivate their independent agents. We believe that the consistency of the product offerings of our insurance subsidiaries enables our insurance subsidiaries to compete effectively for independent agents with other insurers whose product offerings may fluctuate based upon industry conditions. Our multi-year systems modernization project is further enhancing the ability of our insurance subsidiaries to conduct business with their independent agents and to develop and implement new products. Our insurance subsidiaries have a competitive compensation program for their independent agents that includes base commissions, growth incentive plans and a profit-sharing plan, consistent with applicable state laws and regulations, under which the independent agents may earn additional commissions based upon the volume of premiums produced and the profitability of the business our insurance subsidiaries receive from that agency. We have an agency stock purchase plan that allows our independent agents to purchase our Class A common stock at a discount to market prices to further align the interests of our independent agents with the interests of our stockholders.
Our insurance subsidiaries encourage their independent agents to focus on “account selling,” or serving all of a particular insured’s property and casualty insurance needs, which our insurance subsidiaries believe generally results in more favorable loss experience than covering a single risk for an individual insured.
Technology
Donegal Mutual owns and manages the technology that our insurance subsidiaries utilize on a daily basis. The technology is comprised of highly integrated agency-facing and back-end processing systems that operate within an advanced, modernized infrastructure that provides high service levels for performance, reliability, security and availability. Donegal Mutual maintains disaster recovery and backup systems and tests these systems on a regular basis. Our insurance subsidiaries bear their proportionate share of information services expenses based on their respective percentage of the total net premiums written of the Donegal Insurance Group.
The business strategy and ultimate success of our insurance subsidiaries depends on the effectiveness of efficient and integrated business systems and technology infrastructure. These systems enable our insurance subsidiaries to provide quality service to agents and policyholders by processing business in a timely and dependable manner, communicate and share data with agents and provide a variety of methods for the payment of premiums. These systems also allow for the accumulation and analysis of data and information for the management of our insurance subsidiaries. Donegal Mutual is currently in the midst of a multi-year effort to modernize certain of its key infrastructure and applications systems we describe in more detail under “Business - Business Strategy - Strategically modernizing our operations and processes to transform our business.”
Index
The modernized proficiency of these integrated technology systems facilitates high service levels for the agents and policyholders of our insurance subsidiaries, increased efficiencies in processing the business of our insurance subsidiaries and lower operating costs. Key components of these technology systems include agency interface systems, automated policy management systems, a claims processing system and a billing administration system. The agency interface systems provide our insurance subsidiaries with a comprehensive single source to facilitate data sharing both to and from agents’ systems and also provides agents with an integrated means of processing new business. The automated policy management systems provide agents with the ability to generate underwritten quotes and automatically issue policies that meet the underwriting guidelines of our insurance subsidiaries with limited or no intervention by their personnel. The claims processing system allows our insurance subsidiaries to process claims efficiently and in an automated environment. The billing administration system allows our insurance subsidiaries to process premium billing and collection efficiently and in an automated environment.
We believe Donegal Mutual's agency-facing technology systems compare well against those of many national property and casualty insurance carriers in terms of feature capabilities and service levels. Donegal Mutual maintains a regular interactive forum with its independent agents to be proactive in identifying opportunities for continued automation and technology enhancements.
Claims
The management of claims is a critical component of the philosophy of our insurance subsidiaries to achieve underwriting profitability on a consistent basis and is fundamental to the successful operations of our insurance subsidiaries and their dedication to excellent service. Our senior claims management oversees the claims processing units of each of our insurance subsidiaries to assure consistency in the claims settlement process. The field office staff of our insurance subsidiaries receives support from home office technical, litigation, material damage, subrogation and medical audit personnel.
The claims departments of our insurance subsidiaries rigorously manage claims to assure that they settle legitimate claims quickly and fairly and that they identify questionable claims for defense. In the majority of cases, the personnel of our insurance subsidiaries, who have significant experience in the property and casualty insurance industry and know the service philosophy of our insurance subsidiaries, adjust claims. Our insurance subsidiaries provide various means of claims reporting on a 24-hours a day, seven-days a week basis, including toll-free numbers and electronic reporting through our website and mobile application. Our insurance subsidiaries strive to respond to notifications of claims promptly, generally within the day reported. Our insurance subsidiaries believe that, by responding promptly to claims, they provide quality customer service and minimize the ultimate cost of the claims. Our insurance subsidiaries engage independent adjusters as needed to handle claims in areas in which the volume of claims is not sufficient to justify the hiring of internal claims adjusters by our insurance subsidiaries. Our insurance subsidiaries also employ independent adjusters and private investigators, structural experts and outside legal counsel to supplement their internal staff and to assist in the investigation of claims. Our insurance subsidiaries have a special investigative unit primarily staffed by former law enforcement officers that attempts to identify and prevent fraud and abuse and to investigate questionable claims.
The management of the claims departments of our insurance subsidiaries develops and implements policies and procedures for the establishment of adequate claim reserves. Our insurance subsidiaries employ an actuarial staff that regularly reviews their reserves for incurred but not reported claims. The management and staff of the claims departments resolve policy coverage issues, manage and process reinsurance recoveries and handle salvage and subrogation matters. The litigation and personal injury sections of our insurance subsidiaries manage all claims litigation. Branch office claims above certain thresholds require home office review and settlement authorization. Our insurance subsidiaries provide their claims adjusters reserving and settlement authority based upon their experience and demonstrated abilities. Larger or more complicated claims require consultation and approval of senior claims department management.
Index
Liabilities for Losses and Loss Expenses
Liabilities for losses and loss expenses are estimates at a given point in time of the amounts an insurer expects to pay with respect to incurred policyholder claims based on facts and circumstances the insurer knows at that point in time. For example, legislative, judicial and regulatory actions may expand coverage definitions, retroactively mandate coverage or otherwise require our insurance subsidiaries to pay losses for damages that their policies explicitly excluded or did not intend to cover. At the time of establishing its estimates, an insurer recognizes that its ultimate liability for losses and loss expenses will exceed or be less than such estimates. Our insurance subsidiaries base their estimates of liabilities for losses and loss expenses on assumptions as to future loss trends, expected claims severity, judicial theories of liability and other factors. However, during the loss adjustment period, our insurance subsidiaries may learn additional facts regarding individual claims, and, consequently, it often becomes necessary for our insurance subsidiaries to refine and adjust their estimates for these liabilities. We reflect any adjustments to the liabilities for losses and loss expenses of our insurance subsidiaries in our consolidated results of operations in the period in which our insurance subsidiaries make adjustments to their estimates.
Our insurance subsidiaries maintain liabilities for the payment of losses and loss expenses with respect to both reported and unreported claims. Our insurance subsidiaries establish these liabilities for the purpose of covering the ultimate costs of settling all losses, including investigation and litigation costs. Our insurance subsidiaries base the amount of their liability for reported losses primarily upon a case-by-case evaluation of the type of risk involved, knowledge of the circumstances surrounding each claim and the insurance policy provisions relating to the type of loss the policyholder incurred. Our insurance subsidiaries determine the amount of their liability for unreported claims and loss expenses on the basis of historical information by line of insurance. Our insurance subsidiaries account for inflation in the reserving function through analysis of costs and trends and reviews of historical reserving results. Our insurance subsidiaries monitor their liabilities closely and recompute them periodically using new information on reported claims and a variety of statistical techniques. Our insurance subsidiaries do not discount their liabilities for losses and loss expenses.
Reserve estimates can change over time because of unexpected changes in assumptions related to our insurance subsidiaries’ external environment and, to a lesser extent, assumptions related to our insurance subsidiaries’ internal operations. For example, our insurance subsidiaries have experienced an increase in claims severity and a lengthening of the claim settlement periods on bodily injury claims during the past several years. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic and related government mandates and restrictions resulted in various changes from historical claims reporting and settlement trends during 2020 and resulted in significant increases in loss costs in 2021 and 2022 due to a number of factors, including supply chain disruption, higher new and used automobile values, increases in the cost of replacement automobile parts and rising labor rates. These trend changes give rise to greater uncertainty as to the pattern of future loss settlements. Related uncertainties regarding future trends include social inflation, availability and cost of replacement automobile parts and building materials, availability of skilled labor, the rate of plaintiff attorney involvement in claims and the cost of medical technologies and procedures. Assumptions related to our insurance subsidiaries’ external environment include the absence of significant changes in tort law and the legal environment that increase liability exposure, consistency in judicial interpretations of insurance coverage and policy provisions and the rate of loss cost inflation. Internal assumptions include consistency in the recording of premium and loss statistics, consistency in the recording of claims, payment and case reserving methodology, accurate measurement of the impact of rate changes and changes in policy provisions, consistency in the quality and characteristics of business written within a given line of business and consistency in reinsurance coverage and collectability of reinsured losses, among other items. To the extent our insurance subsidiaries determine that underlying factors impacting their assumptions have changed, our insurance subsidiaries make adjustments in their reserves that they consider appropriate for such changes. Accordingly, our insurance subsidiaries’ ultimate liability for unpaid losses and loss expenses will likely differ from the amount recorded at December 31, 2022. For every 1% change in our insurance subsidiaries’ loss and loss expense reserves, net of reinsurance recoverable, the effect on our pre-tax results of operations would be approximately $6.7 million.
Index
The establishment of appropriate liabilities is an inherently uncertain process and we can provide no assurance that our insurance subsidiaries’ ultimate liability will not exceed our insurance subsidiaries’ loss and loss expense reserves and have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. Furthermore, we cannot predict the timing, frequency and extent of adjustments to our insurance subsidiaries’ estimated future liabilities, because the historical conditions and events that serve as a basis for our insurance subsidiaries’ estimates of ultimate claim costs may change. As is the case for substantially all property and casualty insurance companies, our insurance subsidiaries have found it necessary in the past to increase their estimated future liabilities for losses and loss expenses in certain periods and, in other periods, their estimated future liabilities for losses and loss expenses have exceeded their actual liabilities for losses and loss expenses. Changes in our insurance subsidiaries’ estimates of their liability for losses and loss expenses generally reflect actual payments and their evaluation of information received subsequent to the prior reporting period. Our insurance subsidiaries recognized a decrease in their liability for losses and loss expenses of prior years of $44.8 million, $31.2 million and $12.9 million in 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Our insurance subsidiaries made no significant changes in their reserving philosophy or claims management personnel, and they have made no significant offsetting changes in estimates that increased or decreased their loss and loss expense reserves in those years. The 2022 development represented 7.2% of the December 31, 2021 net carried reserves and resulted primarily from lower-than-expected loss emergence in the personal automobile and commercial automobile lines of business for accident years prior to 2022. The majority of the 2022 development related to decreases in the liability for losses and loss expenses of prior years for Atlantic States and MICO. The 2021 development represented 5.6% of the December 31, 2020 net carried reserves and resulted primarily from lower-than-expected loss emergence in the personal automobile, workers’ compensation and commercial automobile lines of business for accident years prior to 2021. The majority of the 2021 development related to decreases in the liability for losses and loss expenses of prior years for Atlantic States and MICO. The 2020 development represented 2.6% of the December 31, 2019 net carried reserves and resulted primarily from lower-than-expected severity in the workers’ compensation and personal automobile lines of business, partially offset by higher-than-expected severity in the commercial automobile and commercial multi-peril lines of business, for accident years prior to 2020. The majority of the 2020 development related to decreases in the liability for losses and loss expenses of prior years for Atlantic States and MICO.
Excluding the impact of severe weather events and the COVID-19 pandemic, our insurance subsidiaries have noted stable amounts in the number of claims incurred and the number of claims outstanding at period ends relative to their premium base in recent years across most of their lines of business. However, the amount of the average claim outstanding has increased gradually over the past several years due to various factors such as rising inflation and increased litigation trends. We have also experienced a general slowing of settlement rates in litigated claims and lengthening of repair completion times for property and automobile claims. Our insurance subsidiaries could have to make further adjustments to their estimates in the future. However, on the basis of our insurance subsidiaries’ internal procedures, which analyze, among other things, their prior assumptions, their experience with similar cases and historical trends such as reserving patterns, loss payments, pending levels of unpaid claims and product mix, as well as court decisions, economic conditions and public attitudes, we believe that our insurance subsidiaries have made adequate provision for their liability for losses and loss expenses.
Atlantic States’ participation in the underwriting pool with Donegal Mutual exposes Atlantic States to adverse loss development on the business that Donegal Mutual contributes to the underwriting pool. However, pooled business represents the predominant percentage of the net underwriting activity of both companies, and Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States share proportionately any adverse risk development relating to the pooled business. The business in the underwriting pool is homogeneous, and each company has a pro-rata share of the entire underwriting pool. Since the predominant percentage of the business of Atlantic States and Donegal Mutual is pooled and the results shared by each company according to its participation level under the terms of the pooling agreement, the intent of the underwriting pool is to produce a more uniform and stable underwriting result from year to year for each company than either would experience individually and to spread the risk of loss between the companies.
Differences between liabilities reported in our financial statements prepared on a GAAP basis and our insurance subsidiaries’ financial statements prepared on a SAP basis result from anticipating salvage and subrogation recoveries for GAAP but not for SAP. These differences amounted to $28.7 million, $23.5 million and $21.0 million at December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Index
The following table sets forth a reconciliation of the beginning and ending GAAP net liability of our insurance subsidiaries for unpaid losses and loss expenses for the periods indicated:
Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands)
Gross liability for unpaid losses and loss expenses at beginning of year
$
1,077,620
$
962,007
$
869,674
Less reinsurance recoverable
451,261
404,818
362,768
Net liability for unpaid losses and loss expenses at beginning of year
626,359
557,189
506,906
Provision for net losses and loss expenses for claims incurred in the
current year
608,900
551,918
472,709
Change in provision for estimated net losses and loss expenses for claims
incurred in prior years
(44,821
)
(31,208
)
(12,945
)
Total incurred
564,079
520,710
459,764
Net losses and loss expense payments for claims incurred during:
The current year
302,272
269,317
236,984
Prior years
218,304
182,223
172,497
Total paid
520,576
451,540
409,481
Net liability for unpaid losses and loss expenses at end of year
669,862
626,359
557,189
Plus reinsurance recoverable
451,184
451,261
404,818
Gross liability for unpaid losses and loss expenses at end of year
$
1,121,046
$
1,077,620
$
962,007
The following table sets forth the development of the liability for net unpaid losses and loss expenses of our insurance subsidiaries from 2012 to 2022. Loss data in the table includes business Atlantic States received from the underwriting pool.
“Net liability at end of year for unpaid losses and loss expenses” sets forth the estimated liability for net unpaid losses and loss expenses recorded at the balance sheet date for each of the indicated years. This liability represents the estimated amount of net losses and loss expenses for claims arising in the current and all prior years that are unpaid at the balance sheet date, including losses incurred but not reported.
The “Net liability re-estimated as of” portion of the table shows the re-estimated amount of the previously recorded liability based on experience for each succeeding year. The estimate increases or decreases as payments are made and more information becomes known about the severity of the remaining unpaid claims. For example, the 2012 liability has developed a deficiency after ten years because we expect the re-estimated net losses and loss expenses to be $24.7 million more than the estimated liability we initially established in 2012 of $250.9 million.
The “Cumulative deficiency (excess)” shows the cumulative deficiency or excess at December 31, 2022 of the liability estimate shown on the top line of the corresponding column. A deficiency in liability means that the liability established in prior years was less than the amount of actual payments and currently re-estimated remaining unpaid liability. An excess in liability means that the liability established in prior years exceeded the amount of actual payments and currently re-estimated unpaid liability remaining.
The “Cumulative amount of liability paid through” portion of the table shows the cumulative net losses and loss expense payments made in succeeding years for net losses incurred prior to the balance sheet date. For example, the 2012 column indicates that at December 31, 2022 payments equal to $268.4 million of the currently re-estimated ultimate liability for net losses and loss expenses of $275.6 million had been made.
Index
Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands)
Net liability at end of
year for unpaid
losses and loss
expenses
$
250,936
$
265,605
$
292,301
$
322,054
$
347,518
$
383,401
$
475,398
$
506,906
$
557,189
$
626,359
$
669,862
Net liability re-
estimated as of:
One year later
261,294
280,074
299,501
325,043
354,139
419,032
462,466
493,961
525,981
581,538
Two years later
268,877
281,782
299,919
329,115
375,741
413,535
450,862
479,927
498,724
Three years later
270,473
281,666
304,855
338,118
376,060
404,902
440,168
463,441
Four years later
270,794
284,429
307,840
339,228
372,230
398,560
432,027
Five years later
271,954
285,130
310,354
338,020
370,960
396,695
Six years later
272,553
287,439
310,380
338,200
372,346
Seven years later
274,111
287,063
311,594
339,625
Eight years later
274,472
288,298
313,354
Nine years later
275,385
289,066
Ten years later
275,638
Cumulative
deficiency
(excess)
24,702
23,461
21,053
17,571
24,828
13,294
(43,371
)
(43,465
)
(58,465
)
(44,821
)
Cumulative amount
of liability paid
through:
One year later
$
126,677
$
131,766
$
131,779
$
149,746
$
163,005
$
175,883
$
195,956
$
172,497
$
182,223
$
218,304
Two years later
191,208
194,169
206,637
228,506
250,678
276,331
275,993
276,069
297,860
Three years later
225,956
233,371
251,654
274,235
306,338
317,447
335,310
343,912
Four years later
245,094
255,451
274,248
300,715
324,628
342,583
371,231
Five years later
254,502
265,841
287,178
309,630
337,946
362,061
Six years later
259,437
272,431
292,327
315,105
349,496
Seven years later
263,386
275,357
295,106
321,777
Eight years later
265,026
277,315
300,306
Nine years later
266,433
279,928
Ten years later
268,446
Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands)
Gross liability at end
of year
$
538,258
$
578,205
$
606,665
$
676,672
$
814,665
$
869,674
$
962,007
$
1,077,620
$
1,121,046
Reinsurance
recoverable
245,957
256,151
259,147
293,271
339,266
362,768
404,818
451,261
451,184
Net liability at end of
year
292,301
322,054
347,518
383,401
475,398
506,906
557,189
626,359
669,862
Gross re-estimated
liability
564,561
594,072
628,241
679,800
755,701
792,676
872,833
933,712
Re-estimated
recoverable
251,207
254,447
255,895
283,105
323,674
329,235
374,109
352,174
Net re-estimated
liability
313,354
339,625
372,346
396,695
432,027
463,441
498,724
581,538
Gross cumulative
deficiency
(excess)
26,303
15,867
21,576
3,128
(58,964
)
(76,998
)
(89,174
)
(143,908
)
Index
Third-Party Reinsurance
Our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual purchase certain third-party reinsurance on a combined basis. Our insurance subsidiaries use several different reinsurers, all of which, consistent with the requirements of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual, have an A.M. Best rating of A- (Excellent) or better or, with respect to foreign reinsurers, have a financial condition that, in the opinion of our management, is equivalent to a company with at least an A- (Excellent) rating from A.M. Best.
The external reinsurance our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual purchased for 2022 included:
•
excess of loss reinsurance, under which Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries recovered losses over a set retention of $2.0 million ($3.0 million retention for all losses except for workers' compensation for 2023); and
•
catastrophe reinsurance, under which Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries recovered 100% of an accumulation of many losses resulting from a single event, including natural disasters, over a set retention of $15.0 million up to aggregate losses of $185.0 million per occurrence (over a set retention of $25.0 million up to aggregate losses of $175.0 million per occurrence for 2023).
For property insurance, our insurance subsidiaries had excess of loss reinsurance that provided for coverage of $38.0 million per loss over a set retention of $2.0 million ($37.0 million per loss over a set retention of $3.0 million for 2023). For liability insurance, our insurance subsidiaries had excess of loss reinsurance that provided for coverage of $73.0 million per occurrence over a set retention of $2.0 million ($72.0 million per occurrence over a set retention of $3.0 million for 2023). For workers’ compensation insurance, our insurance subsidiaries had excess of loss reinsurance that provided for coverage of $18.0 million on any one life over a set retention of $2.0 million (no change for 2023).
Our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual also purchased facultative reinsurance to cover certain exposures, including property exposures that exceeded the limits provided by their respective treaty reinsurance.
Investments
At December 31, 2022, 100.0% of all debt securities our insurance subsidiaries held had an investment-grade rating. The investment portfolios of our insurance subsidiaries did not contain any mortgage loans or any non-performing assets at December 31, 2022.
The following table shows the composition of the debt securities (at carrying value) in the investment portfolios of our insurance subsidiaries, excluding short-term investments, by rating at December 31, 2022:
(dollars in thousands)
December 31, 2022
Rating(1)
Amount
Percent
U.S. Treasury and U.S. agency securities(2)
$
396,191
32.7
%
Aaa or AAA
25,010
2.1
Aa or AA
343,138
28.3
A
200,629
16.6
BBB
247,263
20.3
Total
$
1,212,231
100.0
%
(1)
Ratings assigned by Moody’s Investors Services, Inc. or Standard & Poor’s Corporation.
(2)
Includes mortgage-backed securities of $229.3 million.
Our insurance subsidiaries invest in both taxable and tax-exempt securities as part of their strategy to maximize after-tax income. Tax-exempt securities made up approximately 19.9%, 21.1% and 22.9% of the fixed-maturity securities in the combined investment portfolios of our insurance subsidiaries at December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
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The following table shows the classification of our investments and the investments of our insurance subsidiaries at December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020 (at carrying value):
December 31,
Percent of
Percent of
Percent of
(dollars in thousands)
Amount
Total
Amount
Total
Amount
Total
Fixed maturities(1):
Held to maturity:
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of
U.S. government corporations and
agencies
$
103,362
7.9
%
$
89,268
7.0
%
$
77,435
6.3
%
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
382,097
29.3
371,436
29.1
312,319
25.6
Corporate securities
190,949
14.6
191,147
15.0
173,270
14.2
Mortgage-backed securities
12,031
1.0
16,254
1.2
23,585
1.9
Total held to maturity
688,439
52.8
668,105
52.3
586,609
48.0
Available for sale:
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of
U.S. government corporations and
agencies
63,521
4.9
32,185
2.5
47,815
3.9
Obligations of states and political
subdivisions
40,156
3.1
57,378
4.5
68,965
5.7
Corporate securities
202,838
15.5
221,611
17.4
212,708
17.4
Mortgage-backed securities
217,277
16.6
221,455
17.3
225,648
18.5
Total available for sale
523,792
40.1
532,629
41.7
555,136
45.5
Total fixed maturities
1,212,231
92.9
1,200,734
94.0
1,141,745
93.5
Equity securities(2)
35,105
2.7
63,420
5.0
58,556
4.8
Short-term investments(3)
57,321
4.4
12,692
1.0
20,901
1.7
Total investments
$
1,304,657
100.0
%
$
1,276,846
100.0
%
$
1,221,202
100.0
%
(1)
We refer to Notes 1 and 4 to our Consolidated Financial Statements. We value those fixed maturities we classify as held to maturity at amortized cost; we value those fixed maturities we classify as available for sale at fair value. The total fair value of fixed maturities we classified as held to maturity was $598.0 million at December 31, 2022, $697.4 million at December 31, 2021 and $632.6 million at December 31, 2020. The amortized cost of fixed maturities we classified as available for sale was $571.9 million at December 31, 2022, $523.3 million at December 31, 2021 and $535.0 million at December 31, 2020.
(2)
We value equity securities at fair value. The total cost of equity securities was $30.8 million at December 31, 2022, $43.3 million at December 31, 2021 and $42.4 million at December 31, 2020
(3)
We value short-term investments at cost, which approximates fair value.
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The following table sets forth the maturities (at carrying value) in the fixed maturity portfolio of our insurance subsidiaries at December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020:
December 31,
Percent
of
Percent
of
Percent
of
(dollars in thousands)
Amount
Total
Amount
Total
Amount
Total
Due in(1):
One year or less
$
39,094
3.2
%
$
48,771
4.1
%
$
73,166
6.4
%
Over one year through three years
107,689
8.9
93,100
7.7
85,805
7.5
Over three years through five years
133,068
11.0
120,038
10.0
111,258
9.8
Over five years through ten years
357,114
29.5
362,266
30.2
341,947
30.0
Over ten years through fifteen years
191,118
15.8
165,327
13.8
139,604
12.2
Over fifteen years
154,840
12.7
173,523
14.4
140,732
12.3
Mortgage-backed securities
229,308
18.9
237,709
19.8
249,233
21.8
$
1,212,231
100.0
%
$
1,200,734
100.0
%
$
1,141,745
100.0
%
(1)
Based on stated maturity dates with no prepayment assumptions. Actual maturities will differ because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
As shown above, our insurance subsidiaries held investments in mortgage-backed securities having a carrying value of $229.3 million at December 31, 2022. The mortgage-backed securities consist primarily of investments in governmental agency balloon pools with stated maturities between one and 35 years. The stated maturities of these investments limit the exposure of our insurance subsidiaries to extension risk in the event that interest rates rise and prepayments decline. Our insurance subsidiaries perform an analysis of the underlying loans when evaluating a mortgage-backed security for purchase, and they select those securities that they believe will provide a return that properly reflects the prepayment risk associated with the underlying loans.
The following table sets forth the investment results of our insurance subsidiaries for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020:
Year Ended December 31,
(dollars in thousands)
Invested assets(1)
$
1,290,752
$
1,249,024
$
1,165,878
Investment income(2)
34,016
31,126
29,504
Average yield
2.6
%
2.5
%
2.5
%
Average tax-equivalent yield
2.7
2.6
2.7
(1)
Average of the aggregate invested amounts at the beginning and end of the period.
(2)
Investment income is net of investment expenses and does not include investment gains or losses or provision for income taxes.
A.M. Best Rating
Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries have an A.M. Best rating of A (Excellent), based upon the respective current financial condition and historical statutory results of operations of Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries. We believe that the A.M. Best rating of Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries is an important factor in their marketing of their products to their agents and customers. A.M. Best’s ratings are industry ratings based on a comparative analysis of the financial condition and operating performance of insurance companies. A.M. Best’s classifications are A++ and A+ (Superior), A and A- (Excellent), B++ and B+ (Good), B and B- (Fair), C++ and C+ (Marginal), C and C- (Weak), D (Poor), E (Under Regulatory Supervision), F (Liquidation) and S (Suspended). A.M. Best bases its ratings upon factors relevant to the payment of claims of policyholders and are not directed toward the protection of investors in insurance companies. According to A.M. Best, the “Excellent” rating that the Donegal Insurance Group maintains is assigned to those companies that, in A.M. Best’s opinion, have an excellent ability to meet their ongoing insurance obligations.
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Regulation
The supervision and regulation of insurance companies consists primarily of the laws and regulations of the various states in which the insurance companies transact business, with the primary regulatory authority being the insurance regulatory authorities in the state of domicile of the insurance company. Such supervision and regulation relate to numerous aspects of an insurance company’s business and financial condition. The primary purpose of such supervision and regulation is the protection of policyholders. The authority of the state insurance departments includes the establishment of standards of solvency that insurers must meet and maintain, the licensing of insurers and insurance agents to do business, the nature of, and limitations on, investments, premium rates for property and casualty insurance, the provisions that insurers must make for current losses and future liabilities, the deposit of securities for the benefit of policyholders, the approval of policy forms, notice requirements for the cancellation of policies and the approval of certain changes in control. State insurance departments also conduct periodic examinations of the affairs of insurance companies and require the filing of annual and other reports relating to the financial condition of insurance companies.
In addition to state-imposed insurance laws and regulations, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, or the NAIC, maintains a risk-based capital system, or RBC, for assessing the adequacy of the statutory capital and surplus of insurance companies that augments the states’ current fixed dollar minimum capital requirements for insurance companies. At December 31, 2022, our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual each exceeded the minimum levels of statutory capital the RBC rules require by a substantial margin.
Generally, every state has guaranty fund laws under which insurers licensed to do business in that state can be assessed on the basis of premiums written by the insurer in that state in order to fund policyholder liabilities of insolvent insurance companies. Under these laws in general, an insurer is subject to assessment, depending upon its market share of a given line of business, to assist in the payment of policyholder claims against insolvent insurers. Our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual have made accruals for their portion of assessments related to such insolvencies based upon the most current information furnished by the guaranty associations.
We are part of an insurance holding company system of which Donegal Mutual is the ultimate controlling person. All of the states in which our insurance companies and Donegal Mutual maintain a domicile have legislation that regulates insurance holding company systems. Each insurance company in the insurance holding company system must register with the insurance supervisory agency of its state of domicile and furnish information concerning the operations of companies within the insurance holding company system that may materially affect the operations, management or financial condition of the insurers within the system. Pursuant to these laws, the respective insurance departments in which our subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual maintain a domicile may examine our insurance subsidiaries or Donegal Mutual at any time, require disclosure of material transactions by the holding company with another member of the insurance holding company system and require prior notice or prior approval of certain transactions, such as “extraordinary dividends” from the insurance subsidiaries to the holding company. We have insurance subsidiaries domiciled in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
The Pennsylvania Insurance Holding Companies Act, which generally applies to Donegal Mutual, us and our insurance subsidiaries, requires that all transactions within an insurance holding company system to which an insurer is a party must be fair and reasonable and that any charges or fees for services performed must be reasonable. Any management agreement, service agreement, cost sharing arrangement and material reinsurance agreement must be filed with the Pennsylvania Insurance Department, or the Department, and is subject to the Department’s review. We have filed with the Department the pooling agreement between Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States that established the underwriting pool and all material agreements between Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries.
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Approval of the applicable insurance commissioner is also required prior to consummation of transactions affecting the control of an insurer. In virtually all states, including the states where our insurance subsidiaries are domiciled, the acquisition of 10% or more of the outstanding capital stock of an insurer or its holding company or the intent to acquire such an interest creates a rebuttable presumption of a change in control. Pursuant to an order issued in April 2003, the Department approved Donegal Mutual’s ownership of up to 70% of our outstanding Class A common stock and Donegal Mutual’s ownership of up to 100% of our outstanding Class B common stock.
Our insurance subsidiaries have the legal obligation under state insurance laws to participate in involuntary insurance programs for automobile insurance, as well as other property and casualty insurance lines, in the states in which they conduct business. These programs include joint underwriting associations, assigned risk plans, fair access to insurance requirements plans, reinsurance facilities, windstorm plans and tornado plans. Legislation establishing these programs requires all companies that write lines covered by these programs to provide coverage, either directly or through reinsurance, for insureds who are unable to obtain insurance in the voluntary market. The legislation creating these programs usually allocates a pro rata portion of risks attributable to such insureds to each company on the basis of the direct premiums it has written in that state or the number of automobiles it insures in that state. Generally, state law requires participation in these programs as a condition to obtaining a certificate of authority. Our loss ratio on insurance we write under these involuntary programs has traditionally been significantly greater than our loss ratio on insurance we voluntarily write in those states.
Regulatory requirements, including RBC requirements, may impact our insurance subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends. The amount of statutory capital and surplus necessary for our insurance subsidiaries to satisfy regulatory requirements, including RBC requirements, was not significant in relation to our insurance subsidiaries’ statutory capital and surplus at December 31, 2022. Generally, the maximum amount that one of our insurance subsidiaries may pay to us as ordinary dividends during any year after notice to, but without prior approval of, the insurance commissioner of its domiciliary state is limited to a stated percentage of that subsidiary’s statutory capital and surplus at December 31 of the preceding fiscal year or the net income of that subsidiary for its preceding fiscal year. Our insurance subsidiaries did not pay any dividends to us in 2022. Our insurance subsidiaries paid dividends to us of $5.0 million and $14.0 million in 2021 and 2020, respectively. At December 31, 2022, the amount of ordinary dividends our insurance subsidiaries could pay to us during 2023, without the prior approval of their respective domiciliary insurance commissioners, is shown in the following table.
Name of Insurance Subsidiary
Ordinary Dividend Amount
Atlantic States
$
26,357,936
MICO
7,544,187
Peninsula
6,009,019
Southern
6,446,312
Total
$
46,357,454
Donegal Mutual Insurance Company
Donegal Mutual organized as a mutual fire insurance company in Pennsylvania in 1889. At December 31, 2022, Donegal Mutual had admitted assets of $726.4 million and policyholders’ surplus of $346.9 million. At December 31, 2022, Donegal Mutual had total liabilities of $379.5 million, including reserves for net losses and loss expenses of $186.5 million and unearned premiums of $70.0 million. Donegal Mutual’s investment portfolio of $466.2 million at December 31, 2022 consisted primarily of investment-grade bonds of $224.9 million and its investment in our Class A common stock and our Class B common stock. At December 31, 2022, Donegal Mutual owned 11,578,470 shares, or approximately 43%, of our Class A common stock, which Donegal Mutual carried on its books at $152.7 million, and 4,708,571 shares, or approximately 84%, of our Class B common stock, which Donegal Mutual carried on its books at $62.1 million. We present Donegal Mutual’s financial information in accordance with SAP as the NAIC Accounting Practices and Procedures Manual requires. Donegal Mutual does not, nor is it required to, prepare financial statements in accordance with GAAP.
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Information about Our Executive Officers
The following table sets forth information regarding the executive officers of Donegal Mutual and the Registrant as of the date of this Form 10-K Report:
Name
Age
Position
Kevin G. Burke
President and Chief Executive Officer of us since 2015; President and Chief Executive Officer of Donegal Mutual since 2018; Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Donegal Mutual from 2014 to 2018; Senior Vice President of Human Resources of Donegal Mutual and us from 2005 to 2014; other positions from 2000 to 2005.
Jeffrey D. Miller
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Donegal Mutual and us since 2014; Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Donegal Mutual and us from 2005 to 2014; other positions from 1993 to 2005.
Kristi S. Altshuler
Senior Vice President and Chief Analytics Officer of us since 2020; Senior Vice President and Chief Analytics Officer of Donegal Mutual since 2019; Director of Willis Towers Watson from 2018 to 2019; Director of Pricing Innovation of USAA from 2014 to 2018; other positions at USAA from 2001 to 2014.
W. Daniel DeLamater
Senior Vice President of us since 2022; Senior Vice President and Head of Field Operations & National Accounts of Donegal Mutual since 2022; Senior Vice President of National Accounts for Donegal Mutual from 2020 to 2022; President of Southern Mutual Insurance Company since 2016; other positions at Southern Mutual Insurance Company from 2000 to 2016.
William A. Folmar
Senior Vice President of Claims of Donegal Mutual and Senior Vice President of us since 2019; Vice President of Claims of Donegal Mutual from 2010 to 2019; other positions from 1998 to 2010.
Jeffery T. Hay
Senior Vice President and Chief Underwriting Officer of Donegal Mutual and Senior Vice President of us since 2021; Senior Director of Willis Towers Watson from 2018 to 2021; Head of Personal Lines Product Management of The Hartford from 2015 to 2018; other positions at The Hartford from 2005 to 2015.
Christina M. Hoffman
Senior Vice President and Chief Risk Officer of Donegal Mutual and us since 2019; Senior Vice President of Internal Audit of Donegal Mutual and Senior Vice President of us from 2013 to 2019; Vice President of Internal Audit of Donegal Mutual and Vice President of us from 2009 to 2013.
Matthew T. Hudnall
Senior Vice President of Commercial Lines of Donegal Mutual and Senior Vice President of us since 2022; Senior Vice President of Underwriting of Preferred Mutual from 2021 to 2022; Vice President of Small Commercial Underwriting of Hanover Insurance Group from 2016 to 2021; Vice President of Casualty Underwriting at Hanover Insurance Group from 2013 to 2016.
Robert R. Long, Jr.
Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Donegal Mutual and us since 2018; Vice President and House Counsel of Donegal Mutual from 2012 to 2018; other positions from 2010 to 2012.
Sanjay Pandey
Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Donegal Mutual and us since 2013; other positions from 2000 to 2013.
David W. Sponic
Senior Vice President of Personal Lines of Donegal Mutual and Senior Vice President of us since 2022; Vice President of Personal Lines of Donegal Mutual from 2008 to 2022; other positions from 1990 to 2008.
V. Anthony Viozzi
Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of Donegal Mutual and us since 2012; Vice President of Investments of Donegal Mutual and us from 2007 to 2012.
Daniel J. Wagner
Senior Vice President and Treasurer of Donegal Mutual and us since 2005; other positions from 1987 to 2005.
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Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This Form 10-K Report and the documents we incorporate by reference in this Form 10-K Report contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include certain discussions relating to underwriting, premium and investment income volumes, business strategies, reserves, profitability and business relationships and our other business activities during 2022 and beyond. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “objective,” “project,” “predict,” “potential,” “goal” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views about future events and our current assumptions, and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause our results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those we anticipate or imply by our forward-looking statements. We cannot control or predict many of the factors that could determine our future financial condition or results of operations. Such factors may include those we describe under “Risk Factors.” The forward-looking statements contained in this Form 10-K Report reflect our views and assumptions only as of the date of this Form 10-K Report. Except as required by law, we do not intend to update, and we assume no responsibility for updating, any forward-looking statements we have made. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.
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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Item 1A.
Risk Factors.
Risk Factors
Risks Relating to the Property and Casualty Insurance Industry
Industry trends, such as increasing loss severity due to higher rates of litigation against the insurance industry and individual insurers, the willingness of courts to expand covered causes of loss, rising jury awards, escalating medical, automobile and property repair costs and other factors may contribute to increased costs and result in ultimate loss settlements that exceed the reserves of our insurance subsidiaries.
Loss severity in the property and casualty insurance industry has increased in recent years, principally driven by factors such as distracted driving, larger court judgments, higher jury awards and increasing medical and automobile and property repair costs, including increases due to inflation and supply chain disruption. In addition, many classes of complainants have brought legal actions and proceedings that tend to increase the size of judgments. The propensity of policyholders and third-party claimants to litigate and the willingness of courts to expand causes of loss and the size of awards, to eliminate exclusions and to increase coverage limits may result in ultimate settlements of current and future losses that exceed the loss reserves of our insurance subsidiaries.
Our insurance subsidiaries are subject to catastrophe losses and losses from other severe weather events, which are unpredictable and may adversely affect our results of operations, liquidity and financial condition.
The underwriting results of our insurance subsidiaries are subject to weather and other conditions that may adversely affect our financial condition, liquidity or results of operations. Because the occurrence and severity of catastrophes are inherently unpredictable and may vary significantly from year to year and region to region, our historical results of operations may not be indicative of our future results of operations. Our property and casualty insurance operations expose us to claims arising from catastrophic events affecting multiple policyholders. Such catastrophic events consist of various natural disasters, including, but not limited to, hurricanes, tropical storms, tornadoes, windstorms, hailstorms, fires and wildfires, flooding, landslides, earthquakes, severe winter weather events and man-made disasters such as terrorist attacks, explosions and infrastructure failures. Historically, our insurance subsidiaries have experienced weather-related losses from hurricanes and tropical storms in Mid-Atlantic and Southern states, tornadoes and hailstorms in Mid-Atlantic, Midwestern and Southern states and severe winter weather events in Mid-Atlantic, Midwestern and New England states.
Losses from catastrophic events are a function of both the extent of our insurance subsidiaries’ exposures, the frequency and severity of the events themselves and the level of reinsurance coverage our insurance subsidiaries purchase. The increased frequency and severity of weather-related catastrophes and other losses, such as from wildfires and flooding, incurred by the industry in recent years may be indicative of changing weather patterns due to climate change. Should those patterns continue to emerge, increased weather-related catastrophes in the states in which our insurance subsidiaries operate would lead to higher overall losses that they may be unable to offset through pricing actions.
Our insurance subsidiaries seek to reduce their exposure to catastrophe losses through their underwriting strategies and their purchase of catastrophe reinsurance. Nevertheless, reinsurance may prove inadequate under certain circumstances. While the emerging science regarding climate change and its connection to extreme weather events continues to be studied, climate change, to the extent it produces rising temperatures and changes in weather patterns, could affect the frequency and severity of weather events and other losses and thus impact the affordability and availability of catastrophe reinsurance coverage for our insurance subsidiaries. Our insurance subsidiaries' ability to appropriately manage catastrophe risk depends partially on catastrophe models, which may be affected by inaccurate or incomplete data, the uncertainty of the frequency and severity of future events and the uncertain impact of changing climate conditions that tend to occur gradually over time.
Changing climate conditions could lead to new or revised regulations with which our insurance subsidiaries would have to comply. Such regulations could impact the ability of our insurance subsidiaries to manage their exposures in areas impacted by increased weather activity, require our insurance companies to alter the terms and conditions of their policies or impact the ability of our insurance subsidiaries to obtain sufficient pricing increases to offset higher loss activity.
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Our insurance subsidiaries must establish premium rates and loss and loss expense reserves from forecasts of the ultimate costs they expect will arise from risks underwritten during the policy period, and the profitability of our insurance subsidiaries could be adversely affected if their premium rates or reserves are insufficient to satisfy their ultimate costs.
One of the distinguishing features of the property and casualty insurance industry is that it prices its products before it knows its costs, since insurers generally establish their premium rates before they know the amount of losses they will incur. Accordingly, our insurance subsidiaries establish premium rates from forecasts of the ultimate costs they expect to arise from risks they have underwritten during the policy period. Proposed increases in premium rates are subject to regulatory approval on a state-by-state basis, and there is a lag between the time that our insurance subsidiaries file for such approval and the date upon which our insurance subsidiaries can implement any such approved premium rate increase across their book of business for a product in a particular state. The premium rates our insurance subsidiaries charge may not be sufficient to cover the ultimate losses they incur. Further, our insurance subsidiaries must establish reserves for losses and loss expenses as balance sheet liabilities based upon estimates involving actuarial and statistical projections at a given time of what our insurance subsidiaries expect their ultimate liability to be. Significant periods of time often elapse between the occurrence of an insured loss, the reporting of the loss and the settlement of that loss. It is possible that our insurance subsidiaries’ ultimate liability could exceed these estimates because of the future development of known losses, the existence of losses that have occurred but are currently unreported and larger than historical settlements of pending and unreported claims. The process of estimating reserves is inherently judgmental and can be influenced by a number of factors, including the following:
•
trends in claim frequency and severity;
•
changes in operations;
•
emerging economic and social trends;
•
economic and social inflation; and
•
changes in the regulatory and litigation environments.
If our insurance subsidiaries determine that their reserves are insufficient to cover their ultimate liability, they will increase their reserves. An increase in reserves results in an increase in losses and a reduction in net income for the period in which our insurance subsidiaries recognize a deficiency in reserves. Accordingly, an increase in reserves may adversely impact the business, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations of our insurance subsidiaries.
The financial results of our insurance subsidiaries depend primarily on their ability to underwrite risks effectively and to charge adequate rates to policyholders.
The financial condition, cash flows and results of operations of our insurance subsidiaries depend on their ability to underwrite and set rates accurately for a full spectrum of risks across a number of lines of insurance. Rate adequacy is necessary to generate sufficient premium to pay losses, loss adjustment expenses and underwriting expenses and to realize a profit.
The ability to underwrite and set rates effectively is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those related to:
Index
•
the availability of sufficient, reliable data;
•
the ability to conduct a complete and accurate analysis of available data;
•
the ability to recognize in a timely manner changes in trends and to project both the severity and frequency of losses with reasonable accuracy;
•
uncertainties generally inherent in estimates and assumptions;
•
the ability to project changes in certain operating expense levels with reasonable certainty;
•
the development, selection and application of appropriate rating formulae or other pricing methodologies;
•
the effective development, governance and appropriate use of modeling tools to assist with correctly and consistently achieving the intended results in underwriting and pricing;
•
the ability to innovate with new pricing strategies and the success of those innovations upon implementation;
•
the ability to secure regulatory approval of premium rates on an adequate and timely basis;
•
the ability to predict policyholder retention accurately;
•
unanticipated court decisions, legislation or regulatory action;
•
unanticipated changes in our claim settlement practices;
•
changes in driving patterns for auto exposures;
•
changes in weather patterns for property exposures;
•
changes in the medical sector of the economy that impact bodily injury loss costs;
•
changes in new and used car prices, auto repair costs and auto parts prices, including the increasing integration of sophisticated technology-related components;
•
the impact of emerging technologies, including driver assistance technologies and autonomous vehicles, on pricing, insurance coverages and loss costs;
•
the impact of inflation and other factors on the cost and availability of construction materials and labor;
•
the ability to monitor property concentration in catastrophe-prone areas, such as hurricane, earthquake and wind/hail regions; and
•
the general state of the economy in the states in which our insurance subsidiaries operate.
Such risks may result in our insurance subsidiaries basing their premium rates on inadequate or inaccurate data or inappropriate assumptions or methodologies and may cause our estimates of future changes in the frequency or severity of claims to be incorrect. As a result, our insurance subsidiaries could underprice risks, which would negatively affect our margins, or our insurance subsidiaries could overprice risks, which could reduce their premium volume and competitiveness. In either event, underpricing or overpricing risks could adversely impact our operating results, financial condition and cash flows.
Index
The pace of innovation within the insurance industry is rapidly increasing, and our insurance subsidiaries may be unable to effectively implement new technologies and anticipate changes in customer preferences and insurance needs, which could put our insurance subsidiaries at a competitive disadvantage and adversely affect their future profitability.
Innovation, recent technological developments, changing customer demographics and preferences, societal shifts and emerging technologies are greatly impacting the insurance industry. Our insurance subsidiaries compete with much larger insurers that are focused on implementing technology and innovative solutions to select and price risks, enhance the experience of their customers and improve their operations. If our insurance subsidiaries are unable to anticipate changes in customer expectations and keep pace with the technological changes their competitors implement, our insurance subsidiaries may not be able to attract and maintain quality accounts, adequately price risks or operate as efficiently as their competitors. In addition, emerging technologies such as electric and autonomous vehicles, driver-assistance and accident avoidance features on vehicles, sensor technology and other forms of automation may reduce the future need for, or decrease the future pricing of, the insurance products our insurance subsidiaries offer.
Loss or significant restriction of the use of credit scoring in the pricing and underwriting of the personal lines insurance products by our insurance subsidiaries could adversely affect their future profitability.
Our insurance subsidiaries use credit scoring as a factor in making risk selection and pricing decisions for personal lines insurance products where allowed by state law. There is increasing regulatory debate as to whether use of credit scoring unfairly discriminates against people with low incomes, minority groups and the elderly. Consumer groups and regulators often call for the prohibition or restriction on the use of credit scoring in underwriting and pricing. Laws or regulations that significantly curtail the use of credit scoring in the underwriting process could reduce the future profitability of our insurance subsidiaries.
Changes in applicable insurance laws or regulations or changes in the way insurance regulators administer those laws or regulations could adversely affect the operating environment of our insurance subsidiaries and increase their exposure to loss or put them at a competitive disadvantage.
Property and casualty insurers are subject to extensive supervision in their domiciliary states and in the states in which they do business. This regulatory oversight includes matters relating to:
•
licensing and examination;
•
approval of premium rates;
•
market conduct;
•
policy forms;
•
limitations on the nature and amount of certain investments;
•
claims practices;
•
mandated participation in involuntary markets and guaranty funds;
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reserve adequacy;
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insurer solvency;
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transactions between affiliates;
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the amount of dividends that insurers may pay; and
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restrictions on underwriting standards.
Such regulation and supervision are primarily for the benefit and protection of policyholders rather than stockholders.
The NAIC and state insurance regulators re-examine existing laws and regulations from time to time, specifically focusing on areas such as:
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insurance company investments;
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issues relating to the solvency of insurance companies;
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risk-based capital guidelines;
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restrictions on the terms and conditions included in insurance policies;
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certain methods of accounting;
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reserves for unearned premiums, losses and other purposes;
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the values at which insurance companies may carry investment securities and the definition of other-than-temporary impairment of investment securities; and
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interpretations of existing laws and the development of new laws.
Changes in state laws and regulations, as well as changes in the way state regulators view related-party transactions in particular, could change the operating environment of our insurance subsidiaries and have an adverse effect on their business.
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Insurance companies are subject to assessments, based on their market share in a given line of business, to assist in the payment of unpaid claims and related costs of insolvent insurance companies. Such assessments could adversely affect the financial condition of our insurance subsidiaries.
Our insurance subsidiaries are subject to assessments pursuant to the guaranty fund laws of the various states in which they conduct business. Generally, under these laws, our insurance subsidiaries can be assessed, depending upon the market share of our insurance subsidiaries in a given line of insurance business, to assist in the payment of unpaid claims and related costs of insolvent insurance companies in those states. We cannot predict the number and magnitude of future insurance company failures in the states in which our insurance subsidiaries conduct business, but future assessments could adversely affect the business, financial condition and results of operations of our insurance subsidiaries.
Risks Relating to Us and Our Business
The emergence of COVID-19 has affected the business operations of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual, and economic disruption related to COVID-19 or a future pandemic may adversely affect our revenues, profitability, results of operations, cash flows, liquidity and financial condition.
During 2020 and 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in significant disruptions in economic activity throughout our operating regions. We cannot predict at this time the ultimate impact that the economic and financial disruption related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic or any other future pandemic will have on us. Risks related to COVID-19 or a future pandemic include, but are not limited to, the following:
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the business operations or a specific operational function of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual could be disrupted by the illness of significant numbers of their employees and remedial efforts that would be required upon discovery of exposure to a communicable illness within their facilities;
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the business operations of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual are dependent upon technology systems for which regular physical access is required to maintain critical operational capabilities, and the business operations of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual would be adversely impacted by government mandates requiring closure of facilities where those technology systems are located or restricting physical access to such facilities;
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the revenues of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual may decrease as a result of reduced demand for their insurance products as economic disruption adversely impacts current and potential insurance customers;
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our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual may incur an increase in their losses and loss expenses in certain lines of business as a result of a pandemic and related economic disruption, and such losses and loss expenses may exceed the reserves our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual have established or may establish in the future;
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our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual may incur increased costs related to legal disputes over policy coverages or exclusions and their defense against litigation related to a pandemic;
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legislative, judicial and regulatory actions may expand coverage definitions, retroactively mandate coverage or otherwise require our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual to pay losses for damages that their policies explicitly excluded or did not intend to cover;
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legislative, judicial and regulatory actions may require our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual to reduce or refund premiums, suspend cancellation of policies for non-payment of premiums or otherwise grant extended grace periods and time allowances for the payment of premium balances due to them;
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our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual may not be able to collect premium balances due to them, resulting in reduced operating cash flows and an increase in premium write-offs that would increase their operating expenses;
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our insurance subsidiaries may suffer declines in the market values of their investments as a result of financial market volatility related to pandemic concerns and related economic disruption; and
•
economic disruption related to a pandemic could result in significant declines in the credit quality of issuers, ratings downgrades or changes in financial market conditions and regulatory changes that might adversely impact the value of the fixed-maturity investments that our insurance subsidiaries own.
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Donegal Mutual is our controlling stockholder. Donegal Mutual and its directors and executive officers have potential conflicts of interest between the best interests of our stockholders and the best interests of the policyholders of Donegal Mutual.
Donegal Mutual controls the election of all of the members of our board of directors. Six of the eleven members of our board of directors are also directors of Donegal Mutual. Donegal Mutual and we share the same executive officers. These common directors and executive officers have a fiduciary duty to our stockholders and also have a fiduciary duty to the policyholders of Donegal Mutual. Among the potential conflicts of interest that could arise from these separate fiduciary duties are the following:
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we and Donegal Mutual periodically review the percentage participation of Atlantic States and Donegal Mutual in the underwriting pool that Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States have maintained since 1986;
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our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual annually review and then establish the terms of certain reinsurance agreements between our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual;
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we and Donegal Mutual allocate certain shared expenses among ourselves and our insurance subsidiaries in accordance with various inter-company expense-sharing agreements; and
•
we and our insurance subsidiaries may enter into other transactions or contractual relationships with Donegal Mutual.
Donegal Mutual has sufficient voting power to determine the outcome of substantially all matters submitted to our stockholders for approval.
Each share of our Class A common stock has one-tenth of a vote per share and generally votes as a single class with our Class B common stock. Each share of our Class B common stock has one vote per share and generally votes as a single class with our Class A common stock. Donegal Mutual has the right to vote approximately 71% of the combined voting power of our Class A common stock and our Class B common stock and has sufficient voting control to and has acted to:
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elect all of the members of our board of directors, who determine our management and policies; and
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control the outcome of any corporate transaction or other matter submitted to a vote of our stockholders for approval, including mergers or other acquisition proposals and the sale of all or substantially all of our assets, in each case regardless of how all of our stockholders other than Donegal Mutual vote their shares.
The interests of Donegal Mutual in maintaining this greater-than-majority voting control of us may have an adverse effect on the price of our Class A common stock and the price of our Class B common stock because of the absence of any potential “takeover” premium and may, therefore, be inconsistent with the interests of our stockholders other than Donegal Mutual.
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Donegal Mutual’s majority voting control of us, certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation and by-laws and certain provisions of Delaware law make it remote that anyone could acquire actual control of us unless Donegal Mutual were in favor of another person’s acquisition of control of us.
Donegal Mutual’s majority voting control of us, certain anti-takeover provisions in our certificate of incorporation and by-laws and certain provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or the DGCL, could delay or prevent the removal of members of our board of directors and could make a merger, tender offer or proxy contest involving us more expensive as well as unlikely to succeed, even if such events were in the best interests of our stockholders other than Donegal Mutual. These factors could also discourage a third party from attempting to acquire control of us. In particular, our certificate of incorporation and by-laws include the following anti-takeover provisions:
•
our board of directors is classified into three classes, so that our stockholders elect only one-third of the members of our board of directors each year;
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our stockholders may remove our directors only for cause;
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our stockholders may not take stockholder action except at an annual or special meeting of our stockholders;
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the request of stockholders holding at least 20% of the combined voting power of our Class A common stock and our Class B common stock is required for a stockholder to call a special meeting of our stockholders;
•
our by-laws require that stockholders provide advance notice to us to nominate candidates for election to our board of directors or to propose any other item of stockholder business at a stockholders’ meeting;
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we do not permit cumulative voting rights in the election of our directors;
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our certificate of incorporation does not provide for preemptive rights in connection with any issuance of securities by us; and
•
our board of directors may issue, without stockholder approval unless otherwise required by law, preferred stock with such terms as our board of directors may determine.
We have authorized preferred stock that we could issue without stockholder approval to make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us.
We have 2.0 million authorized shares of preferred stock that we could issue in one or more series without further stockholder approval, unless the DGCL or the rules of the NASDAQ Global Select Market otherwise require, and upon such terms and conditions, and having such rights, privileges and preferences, as our board of directors may determine. Our potential issuance of preferred stock may make it more difficult for a third party to acquire control of us.
Because we are an insurance holding company, no person can acquire or seek to acquire a 10% or greater interest in us without first obtaining approval of the insurance commissioners of the states of domicile of each of our insurance subsidiaries.
We own insurance subsidiaries domiciled in the states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Virginia, and Donegal Mutual owns or controls insurance companies domiciled in Georgia and New Mexico. The insurance laws of each of these states provide that no person can acquire or seek to acquire a 10% or greater interest in us without first filing specified information with the insurance commissioners of those states and obtaining the prior approval of the proposed acquisition of a 10% or greater interest in us by each of the state insurance commissioners based on statutory standards designed to protect the safety and soundness of us and our insurance subsidiaries.
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Our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual currently conduct business in a limited number of states, with a concentration of business in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia and Georgia. Any single catastrophe occurrence or other condition affecting losses in these states could adversely affect the results of operations of our insurance subsidiaries.
Our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual conduct business in 24 states located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic, Midwestern, New England, Southern and Southwestern states. A substantial portion of their business consists of private passenger and commercial automobile, homeowners, commercial multi-peril and workers’ compensation insurance in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia and Georgia. While our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual actively manage their respective exposure to catastrophes through their underwriting processes and the purchase of reinsurance, a single catastrophic occurrence, destructive weather pattern, general economic trend, terrorist attack, regulatory development or other condition affecting one or more of the states in which our insurance subsidiaries conduct substantial business could materially adversely affect their business, financial condition and results of operations. Common catastrophic events include hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, wind and hailstorms, fires and wildfires, explosions and severe winter storms.
If the independent agents who market the products of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual do not maintain their current levels of premium writing with us and Donegal Mutual, fail to comply with established underwriting guidelines of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual or otherwise inappropriately market the products of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual, the business, financial condition and results of operations of our insurance subsidiaries could be adversely affected.
Our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual market their insurance products solely through a network of approximately 2,300 independent insurance agencies. This agency distribution system is one of the most important components of the competitive profile of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual. As a result, our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual depend to a material extent upon their independent agents, each of whom has the authority to bind one or more of our insurance subsidiaries or Donegal Mutual to insurance coverage. To the extent that such independent agents’ marketing efforts fail to result in the maintenance of their current levels of volume and quality or they bind our insurance subsidiaries or Donegal Mutual to unacceptable insurance risks, fail to comply with the established underwriting guidelines of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual or otherwise inappropriately market the products of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual, the business, financial condition and results of operations of our insurance subsidiaries could suffer.
The business of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual may not continue to grow and may be materially adversely affected if our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual cannot retain existing, and attract new, independent agents or if insurance consumers increase their use of insurance distribution channels other than independent agents.
The ability of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual to retain existing, and to attract new, independent agents is essential to the continued growth of the business of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual. If independent agents find it easier to do business with the competitors of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual, our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual could find it difficult to retain their existing business or to attract new business. While our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual believe they maintain good relationships with the independent agents they have appointed, our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual cannot be certain that these independent agents will continue to sell the products of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual to the consumers these independent agents represent. Some of the factors that could adversely affect the ability of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual to retain existing, and attract new, independent agents include:
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the significant competition among insurance companies to attract independent agents;
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the labor-intensive and time-consuming process of selecting new independent agents;
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the insistence of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual that independent agents adhere to certain standards;
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the ability of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual to pay competitive and attractive commissions, bonuses and other incentives to independent agents; and
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the ongoing consolidation of independent agencies, which may result in the acquisition of independent agencies from which our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual currently receive business by larger entities with which our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual do not have business relationships.
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While our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual sell insurance to policyholders solely through their network of independent agencies, many competitors of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual sell insurance through a variety of delivery methods, including independent agencies, captive agencies and direct sales. To the extent that current and potential policyholders change their distribution channel preference, the business, financial condition and results of operations of our insurance subsidiaries may be adversely affected.
Dividends from our insurance subsidiaries are the primary source of funds for the payment of our operating expenses and dividends to our stockholders; however, there are regulatory restrictions and business considerations that may limit the amount of dividends our insurance subsidiaries may pay to us.
As a holding company, we rely primarily on dividends from our insurance subsidiaries as a source of funds to meet our corporate obligations and to pay dividends to our stockholders. The amount of dividends our insurance subsidiaries can pay to us is subject to regulatory restrictions and depends on the amount of surplus our insurance subsidiaries maintain. From time to time, the NAIC and various state insurance regulators consider modifying the method of determining the amount of dividends that an insurance company may pay without prior regulatory approval. The maximum amount of ordinary dividends that our insurance subsidiaries can pay to us in 2023 without prior regulatory approval is approximately $46.4 million. Other business and regulatory considerations, such as the impact of dividends on surplus that could affect the ratings of our insurance subsidiaries, competitive conditions, RBC requirements, the investment results of our insurance subsidiaries and the amount of premiums that our insurance subsidiaries write could also adversely impact the ability of our insurance subsidiaries to pay dividends to us.
If A.M. Best downgrades the rating it has assigned to Donegal Mutual or any of our insurance subsidiaries, it would adversely affect their competitive position.
Industry ratings are a factor in establishing and maintaining the competitive position of insurance companies. A.M. Best, an industry-accepted source of insurance company financial strength ratings, rates Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries. A.M. Best ratings provide an independent opinion of an insurance company’s financial health and its ability to meet its obligations to its policyholders. We believe that the financial strength rating of A.M. Best is material to the operations of Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries. For example, certain lenders require customers to purchase insurance from an insurance carrier that has received an A.M. Best rating that exceeds a certain level. Currently, Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries each have an A (Excellent) rating from A.M. Best. In March 2022, A.M. Best affirmed its A (Excellent) ratings of Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries. However, if A.M. Best were to downgrade the rating of Donegal Mutual or any of our insurance subsidiaries, it would adversely affect the competitive position of Donegal Mutual or that insurance subsidiary and make it more difficult for it to market its products and retain its existing policyholders.
The growth and profitability of our insurance subsidiaries depend, in part, on the effective maintenance and ongoing development of Donegal Mutual’s information technology systems, and the allocation of related costs to our insurance subsidiaries may adversely impact their profitability.
Our insurance subsidiaries utilize Donegal Mutual’s information technology systems to conduct their insurance business, including policy quoting and issuance, claims processing, processing of incoming premium payments and other important functions. As a result, the ability of our insurance subsidiaries to grow their business and conduct profitable operations depends on Donegal Mutual’s ability to maintain its existing information technology systems and to develop new technology systems that will support the business of Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries in a cost-efficient manner and provide information technology capabilities equivalent to those of our competitors. The allocation among our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual of the costs of developing and maintaining Donegal Mutual’s information technology systems may adversely impact our insurance subsidiaries’ expense ratio and underwriting profitability, and such costs may exceed Donegal Mutual’s and our expectations.
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Donegal Mutual is currently in the midst of a multi-year effort to modernize certain of its key infrastructure and applications systems, and the allocation of related costs to our insurance subsidiaries has resulted in an increase to their expense ratio. These new systems are intended to provide various benefits to the member companies of the Donegal Insurance Group, including streamlined workflows and business processes, service enhancements for their agents and policyholders, opportunities to implement new product models and innovative business solutions, greater utilization of data analytics and operational efficiencies. Our insurance subsidiaries began to issue workers’ compensation policies from the new systems in the second quarter of 2020 and began to issue personal lines policies from the new systems, including a new personal lines agency portal, in the fourth quarter of 2021. Over the next several years, Donegal Mutual expects to implement new systems for the remaining lines of business that the Donegal Insurance Group offers currently, including three commercial lines of business with enhanced straight-through-processing capabilities beginning in the first half of 2023. Even with Donegal Mutual's and our best planning and efforts and the involvement of third-party experts, Donegal Mutual may not complete the implementation of these new systems within its planned timeframes or budget. Further, Donegal Mutual’s information technology systems may not deliver the benefits Donegal Mutual and we expect and may fail to keep pace with our competitors’ information technology systems. As a result, Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries may not have the ability to grow their business and meet their profitability objectives.
Our strategy to grow in part through acquisitions of other insurance companies exposes us to risks that could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
The affiliation with, and acquisition of, other insurance companies involves risks that could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. The risks associated with these affiliations and acquisitions include:
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the potential inadequacy of reserves for losses and loss expenses of the other insurer;
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the need to supplement management of the other insurer with additional experienced personnel;
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conditions imposed by regulatory agencies that make the realization of cost-savings through integration of the operations of the other insurer with our operations more difficult;
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our management's lack of familiarity with the geography, demographics and distribution systems in the markets the other insurer serves that cause the other insurer to fail to meet the growth and profitability objectives we anticipated at the time of the acquisition or affiliation;
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the need of the other insurer for additional capital that we did not anticipate at the time of the acquisition or affiliation; and
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the use of more of our management’s time in improving the operations of the other insurer than we originally anticipated.
If we cannot obtain sufficient capital to fund the organic growth of our insurance subsidiaries and to make acquisitions, we may not be able to expand our business.
Our strategy is to expand our business through the organic growth of our insurance subsidiaries and through our strategic acquisitions of regional insurance companies. Our insurance subsidiaries may require additional capital in the future to support this strategy. If we cannot obtain sufficient capital on satisfactory terms and conditions, we may not be able to expand the business of our insurance subsidiaries or to make future acquisitions. Our ability to obtain additional financing will depend on a number of factors, many of which are beyond our control. For example, we may not be able to obtain additional debt or equity financing because we or our insurance subsidiaries may already have substantial debt at the time, because we or our insurance subsidiaries do not have sufficient cash flow to service or repay our existing or additional debt or because financial institutions are not making financing available. In addition, any equity capital we obtain in the future could be dilutive to our existing stockholders.
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Competition within the property and casualty insurance industry may adversely impact the revenues and profit margins of our insurance subsidiaries.
The property and casualty insurance industry is intensely competitive. Competition can be based on many factors, including:
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the perceived financial strength of the insurer;
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premium rates;
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policy terms and conditions;
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policyholder service;
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reputation; and
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experience.
Our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual compete with many regional and national property and casualty insurance companies, including direct sellers of insurance products, insurers having their own agency organizations and other insurers represented by independent agents. Many of these insurers have greater capital than our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual, have substantially greater financial, technical and operating resources, have substantially greater exposure and access to potential customers and have equal or higher ratings from A.M. Best than our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual. In addition, our competitors may become increasingly better capitalized in the future as the property and casualty insurance industry continues to consolidate.
The greater capitalization of many of the competitors of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual enables them to operate with lower profit margins and, therefore, allows them to market their products more aggressively, to take advantage more quickly of new marketing opportunities and to offer lower premium rates. In addition to established insurers, our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual compete with a growing number of start-ups, some of which have received substantial infusions of capital, that seek to disrupt traditional business platforms and distribution channels. Our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual may not be able to maintain their current competitive position in the markets in which they operate if their competitors offer prices for their products that are lower than the prices our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual are prepared to offer. Moreover, if these competitors lower the price of their products and our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual meet their pricing, the profit margins and revenues of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual may decrease and their ratios of claims and expenses to premiums may increase. All of these factors could materially adversely affect the financial condition and results of operations of our insurance subsidiaries and their A.M. Best ratings.
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The investment portfolios of our insurance subsidiaries consist primarily of fixed-income securities; therefore, the investment income and the fair value of the investment portfolios of our insurance subsidiaries could decrease as a result of a number of factors.
Our insurance subsidiaries invest the premiums they receive from their policyholders and maintain investment portfolios that consist primarily of fixed-income securities. The effective management of these investment portfolios is an important component of the profitability of our insurance subsidiaries. Our insurance subsidiaries derive a significant portion of their operating income from the income they receive on their invested assets. A number of factors may affect the quality and/or yield of their investment portfolios, including the general economic and business environment, government monetary policy, changes in the credit quality of the issuers of the fixed-income securities our insurance subsidiaries own, changes in market conditions and regulatory changes. The fixed-income securities our insurance subsidiaries own consist primarily of securities issued by domestic entities that are backed by either the credit or collateral of the underlying issuer. Factors such as an economic downturn, disruption in the credit market or the availability of credit, a regulatory change pertaining to a particular issuer’s industry, a significant deterioration in the cash flows of the issuer or a change in the issuer’s marketplace may adversely affect the ability of our insurance subsidiaries to collect principal and interest from the issuer in which they invest.
The investments of our insurance subsidiaries are also subject to risk resulting from interest rate fluctuations. As we experienced when market interest rates increased significantly in 2022, increasing interest rates or a widening in the spread between interest rates available on U.S. Treasury securities and corporate debt or asset-backed securities will typically have an adverse impact on the market values of fixed-rate securities. If interest rates decline, our insurance subsidiaries will generally have a lower overall rate of return on investments of cash their operations generate. In addition, in the event of the call or maturity of investments in a low interest rate environment, our insurance subsidiaries may not be able to reinvest the proceeds in securities with comparable interest rates. Changes in interest rates may reduce both the profitability and the return on the invested capital of our insurance subsidiaries.
We and our insurance subsidiaries depend on key personnel. The loss of any member of our executive management or the senior management of our insurance subsidiaries could negatively affect the continuation of our business strategies and achievement of our growth objectives.
The loss of, or failure to attract, key personnel could significantly impede our financial plans, growth, marketing and other objectives and those of our insurance subsidiaries. The continued success of our insurance subsidiaries depends to a substantial extent on the ability and experience of their senior management. Our insurance subsidiaries and we believe that our future success is dependent on our ability to attract and retain additional skilled and qualified personnel and to expand, train and manage our employees. We and Donegal Mutual have employment agreements with our senior officers, including all of our named executive officers.
The reinsurance agreements on which our insurance subsidiaries rely do not relieve our insurance subsidiaries from their primary liability to their policyholders, and our insurance subsidiaries face a risk of non-payment from their reinsurers as well as the non-availability of reinsurance in the future.
Our insurance subsidiaries rely on reinsurance agreements to limit their maximum net loss from large single catastrophic risks or excess of loss risks in areas where our insurance subsidiaries may have a concentration of policyholders. Reinsurance also enables our insurance subsidiaries to increase their capacity to write insurance because it has the effect of leveraging the surplus of our insurance subsidiaries. Although the reinsurance our insurance subsidiaries maintain provides that the reinsurer is liable to them for any reinsured losses, the reinsurance agreements do not generally relieve our insurance subsidiaries from their primary liability to their policyholders if the reinsurer fails to pay the reinsurance claims of our insurance subsidiaries. To the extent that a reinsurer is unable to pay losses for which it is liable to our insurance subsidiaries, our insurance subsidiaries remain liable for such losses. At December 31, 2022, our insurance subsidiaries had approximately $148.3 million of reinsurance receivables from third-party reinsurers relating to paid and unpaid losses. Any insolvency or inability of these reinsurers to make timely payments to our insurance subsidiaries under the terms of their reinsurance agreements would adversely affect the results of operations of our insurance subsidiaries.
Michigan law requires MICO to provide certain medical benefits under the personal injury protection, or PIP, coverage of the personal automobile and commercial automobile policies it writes in the state of Michigan. Michigan law also requires MICO to be a member of the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association, or MCCA, in order to write automobile insurance. The MCCA receives funding through assessments that its members collect from policyholders in the state and provides reinsurance for PIP claims that exceed a set retention. At December 31, 2022, MICO had approximately $60.7 million of reinsurance receivables from MCCA relating to paid and unpaid losses. The MCCA has generated significant operating deficits in past years. While the MCCA generated an increase in surplus in recent years, the MCCA board approved the return of a significant portion of its accumulated surplus to policyholders in the form of cash refunds in early 2022. Although we currently consider the risk to be remote, should the MCCA be unable to fulfill its payment obligations to MICO in the future, MICO’s financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
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In addition, our insurance subsidiaries face a risk of the non-availability of reinsurance or an increase in reinsurance costs that could adversely affect their ability to write business or their results of operations. Market conditions beyond the control of our insurance subsidiaries, such as the amount of surplus in the reinsurance market and the frequency and severity of natural and man-made catastrophes, affect both the availability and the cost of the reinsurance our insurance subsidiaries purchase. If our insurance subsidiaries cannot maintain their current level of reinsurance or purchase new reinsurance protection in amounts that our insurance subsidiaries consider sufficient, our insurance subsidiaries would either have to accept an increase in their net risk retention or reduce their insurance writings, either of which could adversely affect them. For example, due to increased reinsurance pricing and reduced reinsurance market capacity, our insurance subsidiaries increased their net retentions under several of their reinsurance programs for 2023.
The disruption or failure of Donegal Mutual’s information technology systems or the compromise of the security of those systems that results in the theft or misuse of confidential information could materially impact adversely the business of Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries.
Our insurance subsidiaries’ business operations depend significantly upon the availability and successful operation of Donegal Mutual’s information technology systems. In addition, in the normal course of their operations, Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries collect, utilize and maintain confidential information regarding individuals and businesses. While Donegal Mutual has established various security measures to protect its information technology systems and confidential data, unanticipated computer viruses, malware, ransomware, power outages, unauthorized access or other cyberattacks could disrupt those systems or result in the misappropriation or loss of confidential data. Donegal Mutual could experience technology system failures or other outages that would impact the availability of its information technology systems. Donegal Mutual has experienced brief disruptions of systems in the past, including those systems that allow underwriting and processing of new policies. Disruption in the availability of Donegal Mutual’s information technology systems could affect the ability of Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries to underwrite and process their policies timely, process and settle claims promptly and provide expected levels of customer service to agents and policyholders.
While Donegal Mutual has identified threats to the security of its information technology systems, Donegal Mutual and we are unaware of any significant breach of the security measures Donegal Mutual maintains. A significant breach of the security of Donegal Mutual’s information technology systems that results in the misappropriation or misuse of confidential information could damage the business reputation of Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries and could expose Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries to litigation. The financial impact to Donegal Mutual, us and our insurance subsidiaries of a significant breach could be material.
Risks Relating to Our Common Stock
The price of our common stock may be adversely affected by its low trading volume.
Our Class A common stock and our Class B common stock have limited liquidity. Reported average daily trading volume for our Class A common stock and our Class B common stock for the year ended December 31, 2022 was approximately 73,246 shares and approximately 1,289 shares, respectively. This limited liquidity could subject our shares of Class A common stock and our shares of Class B common stock to greater price volatility.
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Donegal Mutual’s majority voting control of our stock, anti-takeover provisions of our certificate of incorporation and by-laws and certain state laws make it unlikely anyone could acquire control of us unless Donegal Mutual were in favor of the acquisition of control.
Donegal Mutual’s ownership of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock, certain anti-takeover provisions of our certificate of incorporation and by-laws, certain provisions of Delaware law and the insurance laws and regulations of Georgia, Michigan, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Virginia could delay or prevent the removal of members of our board of directors and could make it more difficult for a merger, tender offer or proxy contest involving us to succeed, even if our stockholders other than Donegal Mutual believed any of such events would be beneficial to them. These factors could also discourage a third party from attempting to acquire control of us. The classification of our board of directors could also have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in our control.
In addition, we have 2,000,000 authorized shares of preferred stock that we could issue in one or more series without stockholder approval, to the extent applicable law permits, and upon such terms and conditions, and having such rights, privileges and preferences, as our board of directors may determine. Our ability to issue preferred stock could make it difficult for a third party to acquire us. We have no current plans to issue any preferred stock.
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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Item 1B.
Unresolved Staff Comments.
We have no unresolved written comments from the Securities and Exchange Commission staff regarding our filings under the Exchange Act.

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Item 2.
Properties.
We and our insurance subsidiaries share administrative headquarters with Donegal Mutual in a building in Marietta, Pennsylvania that Donegal Mutual owns. Donegal Mutual allocates to our insurance subsidiaries their proportionate share of building-related expenses under a services allocation agreement. The Marietta headquarters has approximately 270,000 square feet of office space. Southern owns a facility of approximately 10,000 square feet in Glen Allen, Virginia.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Item 3.
Legal Proceedings.
Our insurance subsidiaries are parties to routine litigation that arises in the ordinary course of their insurance business. We believe that the resolution of these lawsuits will not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition or results of operations of our insurance subsidiaries. However, regardless of outcome, litigation and related matters could have an adverse impact on us and our insurance subsidiaries due to defense and settlement costs, diversion of management resources, negative publicity, reputational harm and other factors.

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
Item 4.
Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
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PART II

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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
Item 5.
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
Our Class A common stock and Class B common stock trade on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbols “DGICA” and “DGICB,” respectively.
At the close of business on March 1, 2023, we had approximately 1,792 holders of record of our Class A common stock and approximately 225 holders of record of our Class B common stock.
We declared dividends of $0.66 per share on our Class A common stock and $0.59 per share on our Class B common stock in 2022, compared to $0.64 per share on our Class A common stock and $0.57 per share on our Class B common stock in 2021.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
Between October 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022, Donegal Mutual purchased shares of our Class A common stock as set forth in the table below:
Period
(a) Total Number of
Shares (or Units)
Purchased
(b) Average Price Paid per Share (or Unit)
(c) Total Number of
Shares (or Units)
Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs
(d) Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar
Value) of Shares (or Units) that May Yet Be
Purchased Under the
Plans or Programs
Month #1
October 1-31, 2022
Class A - None
Class B - None
Class A - None
Class B - None
Class A - None
Class B - None
Month #2
November 1-30, 2022
Class A - 157,148
Class B - None
Class A - $15.24
Class B - None
Class A - 157,148
Class B - None
(1)
Month #3
December 1-31, 2022
Class A - 102,360
Class B - None
Class A - $14.97
Class B - None
Class A - 102,360
Class B - None
(1)
Total
Class A - 259,508
Class B - None
Class A - $15.13
Class B -None
Class A - 259,508
Class B - None
(1)
Donegal Mutual purchased these shares pursuant to its disclosure on April 29, 2022 that it will, at its discretion, purchase shares of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock at market prices prevailing from time to time in the open market subject to the provisions of SEC Rule 10b-18 and in privately negotiated transactions. Such disclosure did not stipulate a maximum number of shares that may be purchased under this program.
Index
Stock Performance Chart.
The following graph provides an indicator of cumulative total stockholder returns on our Class A common stock and our Class B common stock for the period beginning on December 31, 2017 and ending on December 31, 2022, compared to the Russell 2000 Index and a peer group comprised of six property and casualty insurance companies over the same period. The peer group consists of Cincinnati Financial Corp., Hanover Insurance Group Inc., Horace Mann Educators Corp., Kemper Corp., Selective Insurance Group Inc. and United Fire Group Inc. The graph shows the change in value of an initial $100 investment on December 31, 2017, assuming reinvestment of all dividends.
Donegal Group Inc. Class A
$100.00
$81.96
$92.74
$91.80
$97.30
$101.23
Donegal Group Inc. Class B
100.00
80.44
90.43
87.32
103.58
130.35
Russell 2000
100.00
88.99
111.70
134.00
153.85
122.41
Peer Group
100.00
105.40
132.70
119.87
140.13
135.46
Research Data Group prepared the foregoing performance graph and data. The performance graph and accompanying data shall not be deemed "filed" as part of this Form 10-K Report for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section and should not be deemed incorporated by reference into any other filing we make under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent we specifically incorporate the performance graph and accompanying data by reference into such filing.

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Item 6.
[Reserved]
Index

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Item 7.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Overview
Donegal Mutual Insurance Company (“Donegal Mutual”) organized us as an insurance holding company on August 26, 1986. See “Business - History and Organizational Structure” for more information. Our insurance subsidiaries, Atlantic States Insurance Company (“Atlantic States”), Southern Insurance Company of Virginia (“Southern”), The Peninsula Insurance Company and Peninsula Indemnity Company (collectively, “Peninsula”), and Michigan Insurance Company (“MICO”) and their affiliates write commercial and personal lines of property and casualty coverages exclusively through a network of independent insurance agents in certain Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, New England, Southern and Southwestern states. The commercial lines products of our insurance subsidiaries consist primarily of commercial automobile, commercial multi-peril and workers’ compensation policies. The personal lines products of our insurance subsidiaries consist primarily of homeowners and private passenger automobile policies.
At December 31, 2022, Donegal Mutual held approximately 43% of our outstanding Class A common stock and approximately 84% of our outstanding Class B common stock. This ownership provides Donegal Mutual with approximately 71% of the combined voting power of our outstanding shares of Class A common stock and our outstanding shares of Class B common stock.
Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States have participated in a proportional reinsurance agreement, or pooling agreement, since 1986. Under the pooling agreement, Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States contribute substantially all of their respective premiums, losses and loss expenses to the underwriting pool, and the underwriting pool, acting through Donegal Mutual, then allocates 80% of the pooled business to Atlantic States. Thus, Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States share the underwriting results of the pooled business in proportion to their respective participation in the underwriting pool. The operations of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual are interrelated due to the pooling agreement and other factors. While maintaining the separate corporate existence of each company, our insurance subsidiaries conduct business together with Donegal Mutual and its insurance subsidiaries as the Donegal Insurance Group. The Donegal Insurance Group is not a legal entity, is not an insurance company and does not issue or administer insurance policies. Rather, it is a trade name that refers to the group of insurance companies that are affiliated with Donegal Mutual. See “Business - Relationship with Donegal Mutual” for more information regarding the pooling agreement and other transactions with our affiliates.
Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries operate together as the Donegal Insurance Group and share a combined business plan designed to achieve market penetration and underwriting profitability objectives. The products our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual offer are generally complementary, thereby allowing Donegal Insurance Group to offer a broader range of products to a given market and to expand Donegal Insurance Group’s ability to service an entire personal lines or commercial lines account. Distinctions within the products of Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries generally relate to specific risk profiles targeted within similar classes of business, such as preferred tier products compared to standard tier products, but we do not allocate all of the standard risk gradients to one company. Therefore, the underwriting profitability of the business the individual companies write directly will vary. However, because the pool homogenizes the risk characteristics of the predominant percentage of the business Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States write directly and each company shares the underwriting results according to each company’s participation percentage, each company realizes its percentage share of the underwriting results of the pool.
Donegal Mutual completed the merger of Mountain States Mutual Casualty Company, or Mountain States, with and into Donegal Mutual effective May 25, 2017. Donegal Mutual was the surviving company in the merger, and Mountain States’ insurance subsidiaries, Mountain States Indemnity Company and Mountain States Commercial Insurance Company (collectively, the “Mountain States insurance subsidiaries”), became insurance subsidiaries of Donegal Mutual upon completion of the merger. Upon completion of the merger, Donegal Mutual assumed all of the policy obligations of Mountain States and began to market its products together with the Mountain States insurance subsidiaries as the Mountain States Insurance Group in four Southwestern states. Donegal Mutual also entered into a 100% quota-share reinsurance agreement with the Mountain States insurance subsidiaries on the merger date. Beginning with policies effective in 2021, Donegal Mutual began to place the business of the Mountain States Insurance Group into the underwriting pool. As a result, our consolidated financial results through December 31, 2020 excluded the results of the Mountain States Insurance Group operations in those Southwestern states.
Index
In July 2013, our board of directors authorized a share repurchase program pursuant to which we have the authority to purchase up to 500,000 additional shares of our Class A common stock at prices prevailing from time to time in the open market subject to the provisions of the SEC Rule 10b-18 and in privately negotiated transactions. We did not purchase any shares of our Class A common stock under this program during 2022 or 2021. We have purchased a total of 57,658 shares of our Class A common stock under this program from its inception through December 31, 2022.
On April 29, 2022, Donegal Mutual disclosed that it will, at its discretion, purchase shares of our Class A common stock and our Class B common stock at market prices prevailing from time to time in the open market subject to the provisions of SEC Rule 10b-18 and in privately negotiated transactions. Such disclosure did not stipulate a maximum number of shares that may be purchased under this program. During 2022, Donegal Mutual purchased 1,035,778 shares of our Class A common stock and 54,231 shares of our Class B common stock.
In accordance with Section 12b-2 of the Exchange Act, we are no longer a “smaller reporting company” as of December 31, 2022. However, under Item 10(f)(2)(i) of Regulation S-K, we are permitted to avail ourselves of the scaled disclosure requirements available to smaller reporting companies in this Form 10-K Report. Having ceased to be a smaller reporting company, we will no longer be able to avail ourselves of such scaled disclosure beginning with our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ending March 31, 2023. We have historically not availed ourselves of most aspects of such scaled disclosure and do not expect any material increase in financial or legal expenses for additional disclosure requirements as a result of the change in status.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
We combine our financial statements with those of our insurance subsidiaries and present them on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
Our insurance subsidiaries make estimates and assumptions that can have a significant effect on amounts and disclosures we report in our financial statements. The most significant estimates relate to the reserves of our insurance subsidiaries for property and casualty insurance unpaid losses and loss expenses. While we believe our estimates and the estimates of our insurance subsidiaries are appropriate, the ultimate amounts may differ from the estimates we provided. We regularly review our methods for making these estimates, and we reflect any adjustment we consider necessary in our results of operations for the period in which we make an adjustment.
Liability for Losses and Loss Expenses
Liabilities for losses and loss expenses are estimates at a given point in time of the amounts an insurer expects to pay with respect to incurred policyholder claims based on facts and circumstances the insurer knows at that point in time. For example, legislative, judicial and regulatory actions may expand coverage definitions, retroactively mandate coverage or otherwise require our insurance subsidiaries to pay losses for damages that their policies explicitly excluded or did not intend to cover. At the time of establishing its estimates, an insurer recognizes that its ultimate liability for losses and loss expenses will exceed or be less than such estimates. Our insurance subsidiaries base their estimates of liabilities for losses and loss expenses on assumptions as to future loss trends, expected claims severity, judicial theories of liability and other factors. However, during the loss adjustment period, our insurance subsidiaries may learn additional facts regarding individual claims, and, consequently, it often becomes necessary for our insurance subsidiaries to refine and adjust their estimates for these liabilities. We reflect any adjustments to the liabilities for losses and loss expenses of our insurance subsidiaries in our consolidated results of operations in the period in which our insurance subsidiaries make adjustments to their estimates.
Index
Our insurance subsidiaries maintain liabilities for the payment of losses and loss expenses with respect to both reported and unreported claims. Our insurance subsidiaries establish these liabilities for the purpose of covering the ultimate costs of settling all losses, including investigation and litigation costs. Our insurance subsidiaries base the amount of their liability for reported losses primarily upon a case-by-case evaluation of the type of risk involved, knowledge of the circumstances surrounding each claim and the insurance policy provisions relating to the type of loss the policyholder incurred. Our insurance subsidiaries determine the amount of their liability for unreported claims and loss expenses on the basis of historical information by line of insurance. Our insurance subsidiaries account for inflation in the reserving function through analysis of costs and trends and reviews of historical reserving results. Our insurance subsidiaries monitor their liabilities closely and recompute them periodically using new information on reported claims and a variety of statistical techniques. Our insurance subsidiaries do not discount their liabilities for losses and loss expenses.
Reserve estimates can change over time because of unexpected changes in assumptions related to our insurance subsidiaries’ external environment and, to a lesser extent, assumptions related to our insurance subsidiaries’ internal operations. For example, our insurance subsidiaries have experienced an increase in claims severity and a lengthening of the claim settlement periods on bodily injury claims during the past several years. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic and related government mandates and restrictions resulted in various changes from historical claims reporting and settlement trends during 2020 and resulted in significant increases in loss costs in 2021 and 2022 due to a number of factors, including supply chain disruption, higher new and used automobile values, increases in the cost of replacement automobile parts and rising labor rates. These trend changes give rise to greater uncertainty as to the pattern of future loss settlements. Related uncertainties regarding future trends include social inflation, availability and cost of replacement automobile parts and building materials, availability of skilled labor, the rate of plaintiff attorney involvement in claims and the cost of medical technologies and procedures. Assumptions related to our insurance subsidiaries’ external environment include the absence of significant changes in tort law and the legal environment that increase liability exposure, consistency in judicial interpretations of insurance coverage and policy provisions and the rate of loss cost inflation. Internal assumptions include consistency in the recording of premium and loss statistics, consistency in the recording of claims, payment and case reserving methodology, accurate measurement of the impact of rate changes and changes in policy provisions, consistency in the quality and characteristics of business written within a given line of business and consistency in reinsurance coverage and collectability of reinsured losses, among other items. To the extent our insurance subsidiaries determine that underlying factors impacting their assumptions have changed, our insurance subsidiaries make adjustments in their reserves that they consider appropriate for such changes. Accordingly, our insurance subsidiaries’ ultimate liability for unpaid losses and loss expenses will likely differ from the amount recorded at December 31, 2022. For every 1% change in our insurance subsidiaries’ loss and loss expense reserves, net of reinsurance recoverable, the effect on our pre-tax results of operations would be approximately $6.7 million.
The establishment of appropriate liabilities is an inherently uncertain process and we can provide no assurance that our insurance subsidiaries’ ultimate liability will not exceed our insurance subsidiaries’ loss and loss expense reserves and have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. Furthermore, we cannot predict the timing, frequency and extent of adjustments to our insurance subsidiaries’ estimated future liabilities, because the historical conditions and events that serve as a basis for our insurance subsidiaries’ estimates of ultimate claim costs may change. As is the case for substantially all property and casualty insurance companies, our insurance subsidiaries have found it necessary in the past to increase their estimated future liabilities for losses and loss expenses in certain periods and, in other periods, their estimated future liabilities for losses and loss expenses have exceeded their actual liabilities for losses and loss expenses. Changes in our insurance subsidiaries’ estimates of their liability for losses and loss expenses generally reflect actual payments and their evaluation of information received subsequent to the prior reporting period.
Our insurance subsidiaries recognized a decrease in their liability for losses and loss expenses of prior years of $44.8 million, $31.2 million and $12.9 million in 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Our insurance subsidiaries made no significant changes in their reserving philosophy or claims management personnel, and they have made no significant offsetting changes in estimates that increased or decreased their loss and loss expense reserves in those years. The 2022 development represented 7.2% of the December 31, 2021 net carried reserves and resulted primarily from lower-than-expected loss emergence in the personal automobile and commercial automobile lines of business for accident years prior to 2022. The majority of the 2022 development related to decreases in the liability for losses and loss expenses of prior years for Atlantic States and MICO. The 2021 development represented 5.6% of the December 31, 2020 net carried reserves and resulted primarily from lower-than-expected loss emergence in the personal automobile, workers’ compensation and commercial automobile lines of business for accident years prior to 2021. The majority of the 2021 development related to decreases in the liability for losses and loss expenses of prior years for Atlantic States and MICO. The 2020 development represented 2.6% of the December 31, 2019 net carried reserves and resulted primarily from lower-than-expected severity in the workers’ compensation and personal automobile lines of business, partially offset by higher-than-expected severity in the commercial automobile and commercial multi-peril lines of business, for accident years prior to 2020. The majority of the 2020 development related to decreases in the liability for losses and loss expenses of prior years for Atlantic States and MICO.
Index
Excluding the impact of severe weather events and the COVID-19 pandemic, our insurance subsidiaries have noted stable amounts in the number of claims incurred and the number of claims outstanding at period ends relative to their premium base in recent years across most of their lines of business. However, the amount of the average claim outstanding has increased gradually over the past several years due to various factors such as rising medical loss costs and increased litigation trends. We have also experienced a general slowing of settlement rates in litigated claims. Our insurance subsidiaries could have to make further adjustments to their estimates in the future. However, on the basis of our insurance subsidiaries’ internal procedures, which analyze, among other things, their prior assumptions, their experience with similar cases and historical trends such as reserving patterns, loss payments, pending levels of unpaid claims and product mix, as well as court decisions, economic conditions and public attitudes, we believe that our insurance subsidiaries have made adequate provision for their liability for losses and loss expenses.
Atlantic States’ participation in the pool with Donegal Mutual exposes Atlantic States to adverse loss development on the business of Donegal Mutual that the pool includes. However, pooled business represents the predominant percentage of the net underwriting activity of both companies, and Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States share proportionately any adverse risk development relating to the pooled business. The business in the pool is homogeneous and each company has a pro-rata share of the entire pool. Since the predominant percentage of the business of Atlantic States and Donegal Mutual is pooled and the results shared by each company according to its participation level under the terms of the pooling agreement, the intent of the underwriting pool is to produce a more uniform and stable underwriting result from year to year for each company than either would experience individually and to spread the risk of loss between the companies.
Index
Our insurance subsidiaries’ liability for losses and loss expenses by major line of business at December 31, 2022 and 2021 consisted of the following:
(in thousands)
Commercial lines:
Automobile
$
174,833
$
172,302
Workers’ compensation
120,539
122,398
Commercial multi-peril
203,567
168,445
Other
23,071
18,530
Total commercial lines
522,010
481,675
Personal lines:
Automobile
108,715
109,915
Homeowners
28,481
26,169
Other
10,656
8,600
Total personal lines
147,852
144,684
Total commercial and personal lines
669,862
626,359
Plus reinsurance recoverable
451,184
451,261
Total liability for losses and loss expenses
$
1,121,046
$
1,077,620
We have evaluated the effect on our insurance subsidiaries’ loss and loss expense reserves and our stockholders’ equity in the event of reasonably likely changes in the variables we consider in establishing loss and loss expense reserves. We established the range of reasonably likely changes based on a review of changes in accident year development by line of business and applied it to our insurance subsidiaries’ loss reserves as a whole. The selected range does not necessarily indicate what could be the potential best or worst case or the most-likely scenario. The following table sets forth the effect on our insurance subsidiaries’ loss and loss expense reserves and our stockholders’ equity in the event of reasonably likely changes in the variables considered in establishing loss and loss expense reserves:
Change in Loss and Loss
Expense Reserves Net of
Reinsurance
Adjusted Loss and Loss
Expense Reserves Net of
Reinsurance at
December 31, 2022
Percentage Change in
Equity at December 31,
2022(1)
Adjusted Loss and Loss
Expense Reserves Net of
Reinsurance at
December 31, 2021
Percentage Change in
Equity at
December 31, 2021(1)
(dollars in thousands)
-10.0%
$602,876
10.9%
$563,723
9.3%
-7.5
619,622
8.2
579,382
7.0
-5.0
636,369
5.5
595,041
4.7
-2.5
653,115
2.7
610,700
2.3
Base
669,862
-
626,359
-
2.5
686,609
-2.7
642,018
-2.3
5.0
703,355
-5.5
657,677
-4.7
7.5
720,102
-8.2
673,336
-7.0
10.0
736,848
-10.9
688,995
-9.3
(1) Net of income tax effect.
Index
Our insurance subsidiaries base their reserves for unpaid losses and loss expenses on current trends in loss and loss expense development and reflect their best estimates for future amounts needed to pay losses and loss expenses with respect to incurred events currently known to them plus incurred but not reported (“IBNR”) claims. Our insurance subsidiaries develop their reserve estimates based on an assessment of known facts and circumstances, review of historical loss settlement patterns, estimates of trends in claims severity, frequency, legal and regulatory changes and other assumptions. Our insurance subsidiaries consistently apply actuarial loss reserving techniques and assumptions, which rely on historical information as adjusted to reflect current conditions, including consideration of recent case reserve activity. Our insurance subsidiaries use the point estimate their actuaries select. For
the year ended December 31, 2022, the actuaries developed a range from a low of $621.6 million to a high of $721.6 million and selected a point estimate of $669.9 million. The actuaries’ range of estimates for commercial lines in 2022 was $486.4 million to $560.5 million, and the actuaries selected a point estimate of $522.0 million. The actuaries’ range of estimates for personal lines in 2022 was $135.2 million to $161.1 million, and the actuaries selected a point estimate of $147.9 million. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the actuaries developed a range from a low of $575.7 million to a high of $681.5 million and selected a point estimate of $626.4 million. The actuaries’ range of estimates for commercial lines in 2021 was $442.8 million to $524.0 million, and the actuaries selected a point estimate of $481.7 million. The actuaries’ range of estimates for personal lines in 2021 was $132.9 million to $157.5 million, and the actuaries selected a point estimate of $144.7 million.
Our insurance subsidiaries seek to enhance their underwriting results by carefully selecting the product lines they underwrite. For personal lines products, our insurance subsidiaries insure standard and preferred risks in private passenger automobile and homeowners lines. For commercial lines products, the commercial risks that our insurance subsidiaries primarily insure are business offices, wholesalers, service providers, contractors, artisans and light manufacturing operations. Our insurance subsidiaries have limited exposure to asbestos and other environmental liabilities. Through the consistent application of this disciplined underwriting philosophy, our insurance subsidiaries have avoided many of the “long-tail” issues other insurance companies have faced. We consider workers’ compensation to be a “long-tail” line of business, in that workers’ compensation claims tend to be settled over a longer time frame than those in the other lines of business of our insurance subsidiaries.
The following table presents 2022 and 2021 claim count and payment amount information for workers’ compensation. Workers’ compensation losses primarily consist of indemnity and medical costs for injured workers.
For the Year Ended December 31,
(dollars in thousands)
Number of claims pending, beginning of period
3,336
2,898
Number of claims reported
6,683
6,883
Number of claims settled or dismissed
6,653
6,445
Number of claims pending, end of period
3,366
3,336
Losses paid
$
55,809
$
50,664
Loss expenses paid
12,062
10,067
Management Evaluation of Operating Results
Despite challenging insurance market conditions and increasing property and casualty loss severity trends that affected our results in recent years, we believe that our focused business strategy, including our insurance subsidiaries’ ongoing implementation of premium rate increases and refinements to their disciplined underwriting practices, have positioned us well for 2023 and beyond.
Because our insurance subsidiaries do not prepare GAAP financial statements, we evaluate the performance of our commercial lines and personal lines segments utilizing statutory accounting practices (“SAP”), which include financial measures that reflect the growth trends and underwriting results of our insurance subsidiaries.
Index
We use the following financial data to monitor and evaluate our operating results:
Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands)
Net premiums written:
Commercial lines:
Automobile
$
167,774
$
161,947
$
135,294
Workers’ compensation
111,892
113,256
109,960
Commercial multi-peril
200,045
188,242
147,993
Other
40,086
38,340
32,739
Total commercial lines
519,797
501,785
425,986
Personal lines:
Automobile
181,129
170,578
184,602
Homeowners
120,087
109,974
111,886
Other
22,517
21,930
19,666
Total personal lines
323,733
302,482
316,154
Total net premiums written
$
843,530
$
804,267
$
742,140
Components of combined ratio:
Loss ratio
68.6
%
67.1
%
62.0
%
Expense ratio
34.1
33.3
33.0
Dividend ratio
0.6
0.6
1.0
Combined ratio
103.3
%
101.0
%
96.0
%
Revenues:
Net premiums earned:
Commercial lines
$
510,153
$
468,433
$
412,877
Personal lines
312,337
307,582
329,163
Total net premiums earned
822,490
776,015
742,040
Net investment income
34,016
31,126
29,504
Investment (losses) gains
(10,185
)
6,477
2,778
Other
1,900
2,848
3,497
Total revenues
$
848,221
$
816,466
$
777,819
Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands)
Components of net (loss) income:
Underwriting (loss) income:
Commercial lines
$
(22,665
)
$
(35,174
)
$
(858
)
Personal lines
(13,506
)
17,235
31,764
SAP underwriting (loss) income
(36,171
)
(17,939
)
30,906
GAAP adjustments
8,667
9,945
(959
)
GAAP underwriting (loss) income
(27,504
)
(7,994
)
29,947
Net investment income
34,016
31,126
29,504
Investment (losses) gains
(10,185
)
6,477
2,778
Other
1,043
(Loss) income before income tax (benefit) expense
(3,638
)
30,339
63,272
Income tax (benefit) expense
(1,679
)
5,085
10,457
Net (loss) income
$
(1,959
)
$
25,254
$
52,815
Index
Non-GAAP Information
We prepare our consolidated financial statements on the basis of GAAP. Our insurance subsidiaries prepare financial statements based on SAP. SAP financial measures are considered non-GAAP financial measures under applicable SEC rules because the SAP financial measures include or exclude certain items that the most comparable GAAP financial measures do not ordinarily include or exclude. Our calculation of non-GAAP financial measures may differ from similar measures other companies use. As a result, investors should exercise caution when comparing our non-GAAP financial measures to the non-GAAP financial measures other companies use. The SAP financial measures we utilize are net premiums written and statutory combined ratio.
Net Premiums Written
We define net premiums written as the amount of full-term premiums our insurance subsidiaries record for policies effective within a given period less premiums our insurance subsidiaries cede to reinsurers. Net premiums earned is the most comparable GAAP financial measure to net premiums written. Net premiums earned represent the sum of the amount of net premiums written and the change in net unearned premiums during a given period. Our insurance subsidiaries earn premiums and recognize them as revenue over the terms of their policies, which are one year or less in duration. Therefore, increases or decreases in net premiums earned generally reflect increases or decreases in net premiums written in the preceding 12-month period compared to the comparable period one year earlier.
The following table provides a reconciliation of our net premiums earned to our net premiums written for 2022, 2021 and 2020:
Year Ended December 31,
Net premiums earned
$
822,489,450
$
776,015,201
$
742,040,339
Change in net unearned premiums
21,039,149
28,251,308
99,554
Net premiums written
$
843,528,599
$
804,266,509
$
742,139,893
The increase in the change in net unearned premiums for 2021 compared to 2020 primarily reflects the inclusion of the business of the Mountain States Insurance Group in the underwriting pool beginning with policies effective in 2021.
Statutory Combined Ratio
The combined ratio is a standard measurement of underwriting profitability for an insurance company. The combined ratio does not reflect investment income, net investment gains or losses, federal income taxes or other non-operating income or expense. A combined ratio of less than 100% generally indicates underwriting profitability.
The statutory combined ratio is a non-GAAP financial measure that is based upon amounts determined under SAP. We calculate our statutory combined ratio as the sum of:
•
the statutory loss ratio, which is the ratio of calendar-year net incurred losses and loss expenses to net premiums earned;
•
the statutory expense ratio, which is the ratio of expenses incurred for net commissions, premium taxes and underwriting expenses to net premiums written; and
•
the statutory dividend ratio, which is the ratio of dividends to holders of workers’ compensation policies to net premiums earned.
The calculation of our statutory combined ratio differs from the calculation of our GAAP combined ratio. In calculating our GAAP combined ratio, we do not deduct installment payment fees from incurred expenses, and we base the expense ratio on net premiums earned instead of net premiums written. Differences between our GAAP loss ratio and our statutory loss ratio result from anticipating salvage and subrogation recoveries for our GAAP loss ratio but not for our statutory loss ratio.
Index
The following table presents comparative details with respect to our GAAP and statutory combined ratios for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020:
Year Ended December 31,
GAAP Combined Ratios (Total Lines)
Loss ratio (non-weather)
60.9
%
61.3
%
55.1
%
Loss ratio (weather-related)
7.7
5.8
6.9
Expense ratio
34.1
33.3
33.0
Dividend ratio
0.6
0.6
1.0
Combined ratio
103.3
%
101.0
%
96.0
%
Statutory Combined Ratios
Commercial lines:
Automobile
98.0
%
108.6
%
112.7
%
Workers’ compensation
97.3
94.6
86.3
Commercial multi-peril
116.9
114.1
98.4
Other
80.8
77.5
74.0
Total commercial lines
103.7
104.9
97.8
Personal lines:
Automobile
103.8
94.4
91.3
Homeowners
111.0
102.9
97.2
Other
52.1
49.3
74.9
Total personal lines
102.8
94.4
92.4
Total commercial and personal lines
103.3
100.8
95.4
Index
Results of Operations
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2022 COMPARED TO YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2021
Net Premiums Earned
Our insurance subsidiaries’ net premiums earned increased to $822.5 million for 2022, an increase of $46.5 million, or 6.0%, compared to 2021, primarily reflecting solid premium retention and renewal premium increases. Our insurance subsidiaries earn premiums and recognize them as income over the terms of the policies they issue. Such terms are generally one year or less in duration. Therefore, increases or decreases in net premiums earned generally reflect increases or decreases in net premiums written in the preceding twelve-month period compared to the same period one year earlier.
Net Premiums Written
Our insurance subsidiaries’ 2022 net premiums written increased 4.9% to $843.5 million, compared to $804.3 million for 2021. Commercial lines net premiums written increased $18.0 million, or 3.6%, for 2022 compared to 2021. We attribute the increase in commercial lines net premiums written primarily to modest new business writings, strong premium retention and a continuation of renewal premium increases in lines other than workers’ compensation, offset partially by planned attrition in regions we have targeted for profit improvement. Personal lines net premiums written increased $21.3 million, or 7.0%, for 2022 compared to 2021. We attribute the increase in personal lines net premiums written primarily to renewal premium increases, strong policy retention and new business writings in certain states where we have introduced an updated suite of products.
Index
Investment Income
For 2022, our net investment income increased 9.3% to $34.0 million, compared to $31.1 million for 2021, due primarily to higher average reinvestment yields and higher average invested assets for 2022 compared to 2021.
Net Investment (Losses) Gains
Our net investment losses for 2022 were $10.2 million. Our net investment gains for 2021 were $6.5 million. The net investment (losses) gains for 2022 and 2021 were primarily related to (decreases) increases in unrealized (losses) gains within our equity securities portfolio. We did not recognize any impairment losses during 2022 or 2021.
Losses and Loss Expenses
Our insurance subsidiaries’ loss ratio, which is the ratio of incurred losses and loss expenses to premiums earned, was 68.6% for 2022, compared to 67.1% for 2021. Our insurance subsidiaries’ commercial lines loss ratio decreased to 67.1% for 2022, compared to 68.6% for 2021. This decrease resulted primarily from the commercial automobile loss ratio decreasing to 64.2% for 2022, compared to 75.0% for 2021. The personal lines loss ratio increased to 71.0% for 2022, compared to 64.8% for 2021. The personal automobile loss ratio increased to 72.1% for 2022, compared to 65.6% for 2021, primarily due to an increase in automobile claim severity due to the ongoing impact of supply chain disruption and labor shortages on the costs of repair and replacement vehicles. The homeowners loss ratio increased to 76.1% for 2022, compared to 69.6% for 2021, primarily due to increased average claim severity due to the ongoing impact of supply chain disruption and labor shortages on repair and replacement costs for homes. Our insurance subsidiaries experienced favorable loss reserve development of approximately $44.8 million, or 5.4 percentage points of the loss ratio, during 2022 in their reserves for prior accident years, compared to approximately $31.2 million, or 4.0 percentage points of the loss ratio, during 2021. The favorable loss reserve development in 2022 resulted primarily from lower-than-expected loss emergence in the personal automobile and commercial automobile lines of business for accident years prior to 2022. Weather-related losses of $63.5 million, or 7.7 percentage points of the loss ratio, for 2022 increased from $45.3 million, or 5.8 percentage points of the loss ratio, for 2021, with the increase primarily impacting the commercial multi-peril line of business. Large fire losses, which we define as individual fire losses in excess of $50,000, were $53.5 million, or 6.5 percentage points of the loss ratio, for 2022, compared to $45.6 million, or 5.9 percentage points of the loss ratio, for 2021. The increase was related to increased average claim severity of both commercial property and home fires in 2022 compared to 2021, which we attribute in part to inflationary repair cost increases.
Underwriting Expenses
Our insurance subsidiaries’ expense ratio, which is the ratio of policy acquisition and other underwriting expenses to premiums earned, was 34.1% for 2022, compared to 33.3% for 2021. We attribute the modest increase to higher technology system-related expenses for 2022 compared to 2021, offset somewhat by lower commercial growth incentive costs for our agents and decreased underwriting-based incentive costs for our employees for 2022 compared to 2021. The increase in technology systems-related expenses for 2022 was primarily due to an increased allocation of costs from Donegal Mutual to our insurance subsidiaries following the successful implementation of the second phase of our ongoing systems modernization project in August 2021.
Index
Policyholder Dividends
Our insurance subsidiaries pay policyholder dividends primarily on workers' compensation policies on a sliding scale based on the profitability of a given policy.
Combined Ratio
Our insurance subsidiaries’ combined ratio was 103.3% and 101.0% for 2022 and 2021, respectively. The combined ratio represents the sum of the loss ratio, the expense ratio and the dividend ratio, which is the ratio of workers’ compensation policy dividends incurred to premiums earned. We attribute the increase in our combined ratio primarily to the increase in the loss ratio.
Interest Expense
Our interest expense for 2022 decreased to $620,558, compared to $895,605 for 2021. We attribute the decrease to lower average borrowings under our lines of credit during 2022 compared to 2021.
Index
Income Taxes
Our income tax benefit was $1.7 million for 2022, compared to income tax expense of $5.1 million for 2021. Our effective tax rate for 2021 was 16.8%.
Net (Loss) Income and (Loss) Earnings Per Share
Our net loss for 2022 was $2.0 million, or $.06 per share of Class A common stock and $.07 per share of Class B common stock, compared to net income for 2021 of $25.3 million, or $0.83 per share of Class A common stock on a diluted basis and $0.74 per share of Class B common stock. We had 27.1 million and 25.8 million Class A shares outstanding at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. We had 5.6 million Class B shares outstanding for both periods. There are no outstanding securities that dilute our shares of Class B common stock.
Book Value Per Share
Our stockholders’ equity decreased by $47.4 million during 2022, primarily due to $45.4 million of after-tax unrealized losses within our available-for-sale fixed-maturity portfolio, resulting in a decrease in our book value per share to $14.79 at December 31, 2022, compared to $16.95 a year earlier.
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2021 COMPARED TO YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020
Net Premiums Earned
Our insurance subsidiaries’ net premiums earned increased to $776.0 million for 2021, an increase of $34.0 million, or 4.6%, compared to 2020, primarily reflecting the inclusion of the business of the Mountain States Insurance Group in the underwriting pool beginning with policies effective in 2021, as well solid premium retention and renewal premium increases. Our insurance subsidiaries earn premiums and recognize them as income over the terms of the policies they issue. Such terms are generally one year or less in duration. Therefore, increases or decreases in net premiums earned generally reflect increases or decreases in net premiums written in the preceding twelve-month period compared to the same period one year earlier.
Net Premiums Written
Our insurance subsidiaries’ 2021 net premiums written increased 8.4% to $804.3 million, compared to $742.1 million for 2020. Commercial lines net premiums written increased $75.8 million, or 17.8%, for 2021 compared to 2020. We attribute the increase in commercial lines net premiums written primarily to the inclusion of the business of the Mountain States Insurance Group in the underwriting pool beginning with policies effective in 2021, as well as solid premium retention and renewal premium increases. Personal lines net premiums written decreased $13.7 million, or 4.3%, for 2021 compared to 2020. We attribute the decrease in personal lines net premiums written primarily to net attrition as a result of measures our insurance subsidiaries implemented to improve underwriting profitability, partially offset by the impact of premium rate increases.
Investment Income
For 2021, our net investment income increased to $31.1 million, compared to $29.5 million for 2020, due primarily to higher average invested assets for 2021 compared to 2020.
Net Investment Gains
Our net investment gains for 2021 and 2020 were $6.5 million and $2.8 million, respectively. The net investment gains for 2021 and 2020 were primarily related to increases in unrealized gains within our equity securities portfolio. We did not recognize any impairment losses during 2021 or 2020.
Index
Losses and Loss Expenses
Our insurance subsidiaries’ loss ratio, which is the ratio of incurred losses and loss expenses to premiums earned, was 67.1% for 2021, compared to 62.0% for 2020. Our insurance subsidiaries’ commercial lines loss ratio increased to 68.6% for 2021, compared to 63.9% for 2020. This increase resulted primarily from the workers’ compensation loss ratio increasing to 57.7% for 2021, compared to 51.1% for 2020, and the commercial multi-peril loss ratio increasing to 76.9% for 2021, compared to 65.9% for 2020. The personal lines loss ratio increased to 64.8% for 2021, compared to 59.5% for 2020. The personal automobile loss ratio increased to 65.6% for 2021, compared to 60.1% for 2020, primarily due to an increase in automobile claim frequency as driving activity generally returned to pre-pandemic levels. The homeowners loss ratio increased to 69.6% for 2021, compared to 61.8% for 2020. Our insurance subsidiaries experienced favorable loss reserve development of approximately $31.2 million, or 4.0 percentage points of the loss ratio, during 2021 in their reserves for prior accident years, compared to favorable loss reserve development of approximately $12.9 million, or 1.7 percentage points of the loss ratio, during 2020. The favorable loss reserve development in 2021 resulted primarily from lower-than-expected loss emergence in the personal automobile, workers’ compensation and commercial automobile lines of business for accident years prior to 2021. Weather-related losses of $45.3 million, or 5.8 percentage points of the loss ratio, for 2021 decreased from $51.4 million, or 6.9 percentage points of the loss ratio, for 2020, with the decrease primarily impacting the commercial multi-peril line of business. Large fire losses, which we define as individual fire losses in excess of $50,000, were $45.6 million, or 5.9 percentage points of the loss ratio, for 2021, compared to $22.8 million, or 3.1 percentage points of the loss ratio, for 2020. The significant increase was related to a higher incidence of both commercial property and home fires in 2021 compared to 2020.
Underwriting Expenses
Our insurance subsidiaries’ expense ratio, which is the ratio of policy acquisition and other underwriting expenses to premiums earned, was 33.3% for 2021, compared to 33.0% for 2020. We attribute the modest increase to higher technology system-related expenses for 2021 compared to 2020, offset somewhat by lower commercial growth incentive costs for our agents and decreased underwriting-based incentive costs for our agents and employees for 2021 compared to 2020. The increase in technology systems-related expenses for 2021 was primarily due to an increased allocation of costs from Donegal Mutual to our insurance subsidiaries following the successful implementation of the second phase of our ongoing systems modernization project in August 2021.
Policyholder Dividends
Our insurance subsidiaries pay policyholder dividends primarily on workers' compensation policies on a sliding scale based on the profitability of a given policy. We attribute the decrease in dividends incurred for 2021 compared to 2020 to a modest decline in the profitability of the workers' compensation line of business over the respective periods to which the dividends applied.
Combined Ratio
Our insurance subsidiaries’ combined ratio was 101.0% and 96.0% for 2021 and 2020, respectively. The combined ratio represents the sum of the loss ratio, the expense ratio and the dividend ratio, which is the ratio of workers’ compensation policy dividends incurred to premiums earned. We attribute the increase in our combined ratio primarily to the increase in the loss ratio.
Interest Expense
Our interest expense for 2021 decreased to $895,605, compared to $1.2 million for 2020. We attribute the decrease to lower average borrowings under our lines of credit during 2021 compared to 2020.
Index
Income Taxes
Our income tax expense was $5.1 million for 2021, compared to $10.5 million for 2020. Our effective tax rate for 2021 was 16.8%, compared to 16.5% for 2020. Our income tax expense for 2020 included a $1.6 million income tax benefit related to the carryback of 2018 net operating losses to past tax years with higher statutory income tax rates than are currently in effect, as allowed under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act that was enacted in March 2020.
Net Income and Earnings Per Share
Our net income for 2021 was $25.3 million, or $0.83 per share of Class A common stock on a diluted basis and $0.74 per share of Class B common stock, compared to net income for 2020 of $52.8 million, or $1.83 per share of Class A common stock on a diluted basis and $1.65 per share of Class B common stock. We had 25.8 million and 24.6 million Class A shares outstanding at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. We had 5.6 million Class B shares outstanding for both periods. There are no outstanding securities that dilute our shares of Class B common stock.
Index
Book Value Per Share
Our stockholders’ equity increased by $13.3 million during 2021 as a result of our net income, offset somewhat by a reduction of net unrealized gains within our available-for-sale fixed maturity investments. Our book value per share decreased to $16.95 at December 31, 2021, compared to $17.13 a year earlier, primarily as a result of an increase in the number of Class A shares outstanding during the year.
Financial Condition
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Liquidity is a measure of an entity’s ability to secure enough cash to meet its contractual obligations and operating needs as they arise. Our major sources of funds from operations are the net cash flows generated from our insurance subsidiaries’ underwriting results, investment income and maturing investments.
We have historically generated sufficient net positive cash flow from our operations to fund our commitments and build our investment portfolio, thereby increasing future investment returns. The pooling agreement with Donegal Mutual historically has been cash flow positive because of the profitability of the underwriting pool. Because we settle the pool monthly, our cash flows are substantially similar to the cash flows that would result from the underwriting of direct business. We maintain a high degree of liquidity in our investment portfolio in the form of marketable fixed maturities, equity securities and short-term investments. We structure our fixed-maturity investment portfolio following a “laddering” approach so that projected cash flows from investment income and principal maturities are evenly distributed from a timing perspective. This laddering approach provides an additional measure of liquidity to meet our obligations and the obligations of our insurance subsidiaries should an unexpected variation occur in the future. Net cash flows provided by operating activities in 2022, 2021 and 2020 were $67.1 million, $76.7 million and $101.1 million, respectively.
At December 31, 2022, we had no outstanding borrowings under our line of credit with M&T and had the ability to borrow up to $20.0 million at interest rates equal to the then-current LIBOR rate plus 2.00%. At December 31, 2022, Atlantic States had a $35.0 million outstanding advance with the FHLB of Pittsburgh that carries a fixed interest rate of 1.74% and is due in August 2024. In March 2020, Atlantic States issued $50.0 million of debt to the FHLB of Pittsburgh in exchange for a cash advance in the same amount for contingent liquidity funding in light of uncertainty surrounding the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Atlantic States repaid this advance when it became due in March 2021. In September 2021, upon receipt of approval from the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services, MICO repaid in full the $5.0 million surplus note held previously by Donegal Mutual, along with accrued interest of $178,082. We discuss in Note 9 - Borrowings our estimate of the timing of the amounts payable for the borrowings under our lines of credit based on their contractual maturities.
We estimate the timing of claim payments associated with the liabilities for losses and loss expenses of our insurance subsidiaries based on historical experience and expectations of future payment patterns. Amounts Atlantic States assumes pursuant to the pooling agreement with Donegal Mutual represent a substantial portion of our insurance subsidiaries’ gross liabilities for losses and loss expenses, and amounts Atlantic States cedes pursuant to the pooling agreement represent a substantial portion of our insurance subsidiaries’ reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses and loss expenses. We include cash settlement of Atlantic States’ assumed liabilities from the pool in monthly settlements of pooled activity, as we net amounts ceded to and assumed from the pool. Although Donegal Mutual and we do not anticipate any changes in the pool participation levels in the foreseeable future, any such change would be prospective in nature and therefore would not impact the timing of expected payments by Atlantic States for its percentage share of pooled losses occurring in periods prior to the effective date of such change.
Index
The cash dividends we declared to our stockholders totaled $20.9 million, $19.6 million and $17.3 million in 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. There are no regulatory restrictions on our payment of dividends to our stockholders, although there are restrictions under applicable state laws on the payment of dividends from our insurance subsidiaries to us. Our insurance subsidiaries are required by law to maintain certain minimum surplus on a statutory basis and are subject to regulations under which their payment of dividends from statutory surplus is restricted and may require prior approval of their domiciliary insurance regulatory authorities. Our insurance subsidiaries are also subject to risk-based capital (“RBC”) requirements. The amount of statutory capital and surplus necessary for our insurance subsidiaries to satisfy regulatory requirements, including the RBC requirements, was not significant in relation to our insurance subsidiaries’ statutory capital and surplus at December 31, 2022. Amounts available for distribution to us as dividends from our insurance subsidiaries without prior approval of insurance regulatory authorities in 2023 are approximately $26.4 million from Atlantic States, $6.5 million from Southern, $6.0 million from Peninsula and $7.5 million from MICO, or a total of approximately $46.4 million.
Investments
At December 31, 2022 and 2021, our investment portfolio of primarily investment-grade bonds, common stock, short-term investments and cash totaled $1.3 billion, representing 58.2% and 59.2%, respectively, of our total assets. See “Business - Investments” for more information.
December 31,
Percent of
Percent of
(dollars in thousands)
Amount
Total
Amount
Total
Fixed maturities:
Total held to maturity
$
688,439
52.8
%
$
668,105
52.3
%
Total available for sale
523,792
40.1
532,629
41.7
Total fixed maturities
1,212,231
92.9
1,200,734
94.0
Equity securities
35,105
2.7
63,420
5.0
Short-term investments
57,321
4.4
12,692
1.0
Total investments
$
1,304,657
100.0
%
$
1,276,846
100.0
%
The carrying value of our fixed maturity investments represented 92.9% and 94.0% of our total invested assets at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Our fixed maturity investments consisted of high-quality marketable bonds, of which 100.0% were rated at investment-grade levels at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
At December 31, 2022, the net unrealized loss on our available-for-sale fixed maturity investments, net of deferred taxes, amounted to $38.0 million, compared to a net unrealized gain of $7.4 million at December 31, 2021.
Impact of Inflation
Our insurance subsidiaries establish their property and casualty insurance premium rates before they know the amount of losses and loss settlement expenses or the extent to which inflation may impact such expenses. Consequently, our insurance subsidiaries attempt, in establishing rates, to anticipate the potential future impact of inflation. Our insurance subsidiaries account for inflation in the reserving function through analysis of costs and trends and reviews of historical reserving results.
Impact of Changing Climate Conditions
Insured losses from severe weather events could significantly impact the underwriting results of our insurance subsidiaries. Losses from catastrophic events are a function of both the extent of our insurance subsidiaries’ exposures, the frequency and severity of the events themselves and the level of reinsurance coverage our insurance subsidiaries purchase. The increased frequency and severity of weather-related catastrophes and other losses, such as from wildfires and flooding, incurred by the industry in recent years may be indicative of changing weather patterns due to climate change. Should those patterns continue to emerge, increased weather-related catastrophes in the states in which our insurance subsidiaries operate would lead to higher overall losses that they may be unable to offset through pricing actions.
Index
Our insurance subsidiaries seek to reduce their exposure to catastrophe losses through their underwriting strategies and their purchase of catastrophe reinsurance. While the emerging science regarding climate change and its connection to extreme weather events continues to be studied, climate change, to the extent it produces rising temperatures and changes in weather patterns, could affect the frequency and severity of weather events and other losses and thus impact the affordability and availability of catastrophe reinsurance coverage for our insurance subsidiaries. Our insurance subsidiaries’ ability to appropriately manage catastrophe risk depends partially on catastrophe models, which rely on historical data that might not be representative of the frequency and severity of future events. Such models might also be unable to anticipate the uncertain impact of changing climate conditions that tend to occur gradually over time. Because the policies of our insurance subsidiaries renew not less frequently than annually, our insurance subsidiaries have the ability to respond to the impact of changing climate conditions through adjustments to their underwriting standards, pricing, and policy terms and conditions, subject to applicable regulatory approvals.
Changing climate conditions could lead to new or revised regulations with which our insurance subsidiaries would have to comply. Such regulations could impact the ability of our insurance subsidiaries to manage their exposures in areas impacted by increased weather activity, require our insurance companies to alter the terms and conditions of their policies or impact the ability of our insurance subsidiaries to obtain sufficient pricing increases to offset higher loss activity.
Impact of New Accounting Standards
In September 2016, the FASB issued guidance that amends previous guidance on the impairment of financial instruments by adding an impairment model that requires an entity to recognize expected credit losses as an allowance rather than impairments as credit losses are incurred. The intent of this guidance is to reduce complexity and result in a more timely recognition of expected credit losses. In November 2019, the FASB issued guidance that delays the effective date for “smaller reporting companies,” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K, to annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2022 from December 15, 2019. We are a smaller reporting company and our adoption of this guidance on January 1, 2023 will result in an after-tax adjustment to retained earnings estimated between $1.5 million and $2.5 million. We do not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a significant impact on our results of operations or cash flows.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of Regulation S-K.

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Item 7A.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
We are exposed to the impact of interest rate changes, to changes in fair values of investments and to credit risk.
In the normal course of business, we employ established policies and procedures to manage our exposure to changes in interest rates, fluctuations in the fair market value of our debt and equity securities and credit risk. We seek to mitigate these risks by various actions we describe below.
Interest Rate Risk
Our exposure to market risk for a change in interest rates is concentrated in our investment portfolio. We monitor this exposure through periodic reviews of our asset and liability positions. We regularly monitor estimates of cash flows and the impact of interest rate fluctuations relating to our investment portfolio. Generally, we do not hedge our exposure to interest rate risk because we have the capacity to, and do, hold fixed-maturity investments to maturity.
Index
Principal cash flows and related weighted-average interest rates by stated maturity dates for the financial instruments we held at December 31, 2022 that are sensitive to interest rates are as follows:
(in thousands)
Principal Cash Flows
Weighted-Average Interest Rate
Fixed-maturity and short-term investments:
$
96,897
3.54
%
46,799
3.98
63,851
4.00
70,116
4.00
73,460
3.83
Thereafter
967,145
3.04
Total
$
1,318,268
Fair value
$
1,179,158
Debt:
$
35,000
1.74
%
Total
$
35,000
Fair value
$
35,000
Actual cash flows from investments may differ from those depicted above as a result of calls and prepayments.
Equity Price Risk
Our portfolio of equity securities, which we carry on our consolidated balance sheets at estimated fair value, has exposure to price risk, which is the risk of potential loss in estimated fair value resulting from an adverse change in prices. Our objective is to mitigate this risk and to earn competitive relative returns by investing in a diverse portfolio of high-quality, liquid securities.
Credit Risk
Our objective is to earn competitive returns by investing in a diversified portfolio of securities. Our portfolio of fixed maturity securities and, to a lesser extent, short-term investments is subject to credit risk. We define this risk as the potential loss in fair value resulting from adverse changes in the borrower’s ability to repay the debt. We manage this risk by performing an analysis of prospective investments and through regular reviews of our portfolio by our investment personnel. We also limit the amount of our total investment portfolio that we invest in any one security.
Our insurance subsidiaries provide property and liability insurance coverages through independent insurance agencies located throughout their operating areas. Our insurance subsidiaries bill the majority of this business directly to the insured, although our insurance subsidiaries bill a portion of their commercial business through their agents, to whom they extend credit in the normal course of business.
Because the pooling agreement does not relieve Atlantic States of primary liability as the originating insurer, Atlantic States is subject to a concentration of credit risk arising from the business Atlantic States cedes to Donegal Mutual. Our insurance subsidiaries maintain reinsurance agreements with Donegal Mutual and with a number of other major unaffiliated authorized reinsurers.
Index

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedule
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (KPMG LLP, PCAOB ID 185)
Schedule:
Schedule III - Supplementary Insurance Information
Index
Donegal Group Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
December 31,
Assets
Investments
Fixed maturities
Held to maturity, at amortized cost (fair value $598,044,681 and $697,400,964)
$
688,439,360
$
668,104,568
Available for sale, at fair value (amortized cost $571,912,727 and $523,293,046)
523,791,931
532,629,015
Equity securities, at fair value
35,104,840
63,419,973
Short-term investments, at cost, which approximates fair value
57,321,111
12,692,341
Total investments
1,304,657,242
1,276,845,897
Cash
25,123,332
57,709,375
Accrued investment income
8,861,292
8,214,971
Premiums receivable
173,846,294
168,862,580
Reinsurance receivable
456,522,223
455,411,009
Deferred policy acquisition costs
73,170,230
68,028,373
Deferred tax asset, net
21,603,017
6,685,619
Prepaid reinsurance premiums
160,591,399
176,935,842
Property and equipment, net
2,755,105
2,956,930
Accounts receivable - securities
1,842
2,252
Federal income taxes recoverable
8,510,897
5,290,938
Receivable from Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association
-
18,112,800
Due from affiliate
-
1,922,717
Goodwill
5,625,354
5,625,354
Other intangible assets
958,010
958,010
Other
1,123,098
1,612,732
Total assets
$
2,243,349,335
$
2,255,175,399
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Liabilities
Losses and loss expenses
$
1,121,045,758
$
1,077,620,301
Unearned premiums
577,653,130
572,958,422
Accrued expenses
4,226,390
4,028,659
Reinsurance balances payable
3,495,824
3,946,105
Borrowings under lines of credit
35,000,000
35,000,000
Cash dividends declared to stockholders
5,296,990
4,915,268
Cash refunds due to Michigan policyholders
-
18,112,800
Due to affiliate
5,173,289
-
Other
7,864,942
7,557,757
Total liabilities
1,759,756,323
1,724,139,312
Stockholders’ Equity
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 2,000,000 shares; none issued
-
-
Class A common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 50,000,000 shares, issued 30,120,263 and 28,756,203 shares and outstanding 27,117,675 and 25,753,615 shares
301,203
287,562
Class B common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 10,000,000 shares, issued 5,649,240 shares and outstanding 5,576,775 shares
56,492
56,492
Additional paid-in capital
325,601,647
304,889,481
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income
(41,703,747
)
3,283,551
Retained earnings
240,563,774
263,745,358
Treasury stock, at cost
(41,226,357
)
(41,226,357
)
Total stockholders’ equity
483,593,012
531,036,087
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
2,243,349,335
$
2,255,175,399
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
Index
Donegal Group Inc.
Consolidated Statements of (Loss) Income and Comprehensive (Loss) Income
Years Ended December 31,
Statements of (Loss) Income
Revenues
Net premiums earned (includes affiliated reinsurance of $232,105,306,
$212,591,341 and $192,861,276 - see note 3)
$
822,489,450
$
776,015,201
$
742,040,339
Investment income, net of investment expenses
34,016,112
31,125,631
29,504,466
Installment payment fees
1,516,330
2,416,873
3,063,097
Lease income
383,451
430,800
434,089
Net investment (losses) gains (includes ($979,972), $382,602 and $572,106 accumulated other comprehensive income reclassification)
(10,184,797
)
6,477,286
2,777,919
Total revenues
848,220,546
816,465,791
777,819,910
Expenses
Net losses and loss expenses (includes affiliated reinsurance of $177,849,040, $131,367,599 and $87,374,791 - see note 3)
564,078,993
520,709,542
459,764,293
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
142,430,000
128,733,000
119,072,000
Other underwriting expenses
137,923,739
129,367,893
125,862,651
Policyholder dividends
5,560,407
5,198,515
7,394,310
Interest
620,558
895,605
1,196,406
Other, net
1,244,948
1,222,728
1,257,747
Total expenses
851,858,645
786,127,283
714,547,407
(Loss) income before income tax (benefit) expense
(3,638,099
)
30,338,508
63,272,503
Income tax (benefit) expense (includes ($205,794), $80,346 and $120,142 income tax (benefit) expense from reclassification items)
(1,678,694
)
5,084,334
10,457,251
Net (loss) income
$
(1,959,405
)
$
25,254,174
$
52,815,252
Basic (loss) earnings per common share:
Class A common stock
$
(0.06
)
$
0.83
$
1.84
Class B common stock
$
(0.07
)
$
0.74
$
1.65
Diluted (loss) earnings per common share:
Class A common stock
$
(0.06
)
$
0.83
$
1.83
Class B common stock
$
(0.07
)
$
0.74
$
1.65
Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income
Net (loss) income
$
(1,959,405
)
$
25,254,174
$
52,815,252
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax
Unrealized (loss) gain on securities:
Unrealized holding (loss) gain arising during the period, net of income tax (benefit) expense of ($12,164,443), ($2,008,078) and $2,944,892
(45,761,476
)
(7,544,805
)
11,078,406
Reclassification adjustment for losses (gains) included in net (loss) income, net of income tax (benefit) expense of ($205,794), $80,346 and $120,142
774,178
(302,256
)
(451,964
)
Other comprehensive (loss) income
(44,987,298
)
(7,847,061
)
10,626,442
Comprehensive (loss) income
$
(46,946,703
)
$
17,407,113
$
63,441,694
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
Index
Donegal Group Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
Common Stock
Class A Shares
Class B Shares
Class A Amount
Class B Amount
Additional Paid-In Capital
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Retained Earnings
Treasury Stock
Total Stockholders’ Equity
Balance, January 1, 2020
26,203,935
5,649,240
$
262,040
$
56,492
$
268,151,601
$
504,170
$
223,267,573
$
(41,226,357
)
$
451,015,519
Issuance of common stock (stock compensation plans)
153,233
1,532
2,057,504
2,059,036
Stock-based compensation
1,294,606
12,946
18,582,085
18,595,031
Net income
52,815,252
52,815,252
Cash dividends
(17,337,160
)
(17,337,160
)
Grant of stock options
358,377
(358,377
)
-
Other comprehensive income
10,626,442
10,626,442
Balance, December 31, 2020
27,651,774
5,649,240
$
276,518
$
56,492
$
289,149,567
$
11,130,612
$
258,387,288
$
(41,226,357
)
$
517,774,120
Issuance of common stock (stock compensation plans)
157,783
1,578
2,161,142
2,162,720
Stock-based compensation
946,646
9,466
13,260,855
13,270,321
Net income
25,254,174
25,254,174
Cash dividends
(19,578,187
)
(19,578,187
)
Grant of stock options
317,917
(317,917
)
-
Other comprehensive loss
(7,847,061
)
(7,847,061
)
Balance, December 31, 2021
28,756,203
5,649,240
$
287,562
$
56,492
$
304,889,481
$
3,283,551
$
263,745,358
$
(41,226,357
)
$
531,036,087
Issuance of common stock (stock compensation plans)
161,254
1,613
2,122,277
2,123,890
Stock-based compensation
1,202,806
12,028
18,252,148
18,264,176
Net loss
(1,959,405
)
(1,959,405
)
Cash dividends
(20,884,438
)
(20,884,438
)
Grant of stock options
337,741
(337,741
)
-
Other comprehensive loss
(44,987,298
)
(44,987,298
)
Balance, December 31, 2022
30,120,263
5,649,240
$
301,203
$
56,492
$
325,601,647
$
(41,703,747
)
$
240,563,774
$
(41,226,357
)
$
483,593,012
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
Index
Donegal Group Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Years Ended December 31,
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net (loss) income
$
(1,959,405
)
$
25,254,174
$
52,815,252
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization and other non-cash items
4,841,559
5,837,809
6,721,621
Net investment losses (gains)
10,184,797
(6,477,286
)
(2,777,919
)
Changes in Assets and Liabilities:
Losses and loss expenses
43,425,457
115,612,864
92,333,588
Unearned premiums
4,694,708
35,768,824
27,042,113
Accrued expenses
197,731
(25,086,539
)
661,454
Premiums receivable
(4,983,714
)
733,752
(3,863,383
)
Deferred policy acquisition costs
(5,141,857
)
(8,871,415
)
127,901
Deferred income taxes
(2,958,735
)
1,095,306
6,448
Reinsurance receivable
(1,111,214
)
(46,502,159
)
(41,887,382
)
Accrued investment income
(646,321
)
(278,092
)
(870,850
)
Amounts due to affiliate
7,096,006
(12,216,212
)
224,324
Reinsurance balances payable
(450,281
)
712,582
1,117,439
Prepaid reinsurance premiums
16,344,443
(7,517,509
)
(26,942,566
)
Current income taxes
(3,219,959
)
(2,201,569
)
(3,174,200
)
Other, net
796,805
867,438
(399,440
)
Net adjustments
69,069,425
51,477,794
48,319,148
Net cash provided by operating activities
67,110,020
76,731,968
101,134,400
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Purchases of fixed maturities:
Held to maturity
(74,902,605
)
(125,630,220
)
(157,048,527
)
Available for sale
(151,994,462
)
(163,593,018
)
(176,500,255
)
Purchases of equity securities
(15,862,888
)
(25,354,790
)
(6,964,092
)
Sales of fixed maturities:
Available for sale
24,381,244
6,281,963
22,172,930
Maturity of fixed maturities:
Held to maturity
53,747,886
44,211,076
47,448,424
Available for sale
75,759,806
165,867,395
172,084,542
Sales of equity securities
34,973,196
26,585,663
6,091,288
Net sales (purchases) of property and equipment
28,290
1,224,806
(89,702
)
Net (purchases) sales of short-term investments
(44,628,770
)
8,207,814
(6,869,933
)
Net cash used in investing activities
(98,498,303
)
(62,199,311
)
(99,675,325
)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Issuance of common stock
19,304,956
14,181,702
19,292,324
Cash dividends paid
(20,502,716
)
(19,099,220
)
(16,976,093
)
Payments on subordinated debentures
-
(5,000,000
)
-
Payments on lines of credit
-
(50,000,000
)
-
Borrowings under lines of credit
-
-
50,000,000
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
(1,197,760
)
(59,917,518
)
52,316,231
Net (decrease) increase in cash
(32,586,043
)
(45,384,861
)
53,775,306
Cash at beginning of year
57,709,375
103,094,236
49,318,930
Cash at end of year
$
25,123,332
$
57,709,375
$
103,094,236
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
Index
Donegal Group Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Organization and Business
Donegal Mutual Insurance Company (“Donegal Mutual”) organized us as an insurance holding company on August 26, 1986. Our insurance subsidiaries, Atlantic States Insurance Company (“Atlantic States”), Southern Insurance Company of Virginia (“Southern”), the Peninsula Insurance Group (“Peninsula”), which consists of Peninsula Indemnity Company and The Peninsula Insurance Company and Michigan Insurance Company (“MICO”), and affiliates write personal and commercial lines of property and casualty coverages exclusively through a network of independent insurance agents in certain Mid-Atlantic, Midwestern, New England, Southern and Southwestern states.
At December 31, 2022, we had three segments: our investment function, our commercial lines of insurance and our personal lines of insurance. The commercial lines products of our insurance subsidiaries consist primarily of commercial automobile, commercial multi-peril and workers’ compensation policies. The personal lines products of our insurance subsidiaries consist primarily of homeowners and private passenger automobile policies.
At December 31, 2022, Donegal Mutual held approximately 43% of our outstanding Class A common stock and approximately 84% of our outstanding Class B common stock. This ownership provides Donegal Mutual with approximately 71% of the total voting power of our common stock. Our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual have interrelated operations due to a pooling agreement and other intercompany agreements and transactions. While each company maintains its separate corporate existence, our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual conduct business together as the Donegal Insurance Group. As such, Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries share the same business philosophy, the same management, the same employees and the same facilities and offer the same types of insurance products.
Atlantic States, our largest subsidiary, participates in a proportional reinsurance agreement, or pooling agreement, with Donegal Mutual. Under the pooling agreement, Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States contribute substantially all of their respective premiums, losses and loss expenses to the underwriting pool, and the underwriting pool, acting through Donegal Mutual, then allocates 80% of the pooled business to Atlantic States. Thus, Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States share the underwriting results of the pooled business in proportion to their respective participation in the underwriting pool.
In addition, Donegal Mutual has a 100% quota-share reinsurance agreement with Southern Mutual Insurance Company, or Southern Mutual. Donegal Mutual places its assumed business from Southern Mutual into the underwriting pool.
Donegal Mutual completed the merger of Mountain States Mutual Casualty Company, or Mountain States, with and into Donegal Mutual effective May 25, 2017. Donegal Mutual was the surviving company in the merger, and Mountain States’ insurance subsidiaries, Mountain States Indemnity Company and Mountain States Commercial Insurance Company (collectively, the “Mountain States insurance subsidiaries”), became insurance subsidiaries of Donegal Mutual upon completion of the merger. Upon completion of the merger, Donegal Mutual assumed all of the policy obligations of Mountain States and began to market its products together with the Mountain States insurance subsidiaries as the Mountain States Insurance Group in four Southwestern states. Donegal Mutual also entered into a 100% quota-share reinsurance agreement with the Mountain States insurance subsidiaries on the merger date. Beginning with policies effective in 2021, Donegal Mutual began to place the business of the Mountain States Insurance Group into the underwriting pool. As a result, our consolidated financial results through December 31, 2020 excluded the results of the Mountain States Insurance Group operations in those Southwestern states.
Index
The same executive management and underwriting personnel administer products, classes of business underwritten, pricing practices and underwriting standards of Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries. In addition, as the Donegal Insurance Group, Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries share a combined business plan to achieve market penetration and underwriting profitability objectives. The products our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual market are generally complementary, thereby allowing the Donegal Insurance Group to offer a broader range of products to a given market and to expand the Donegal Insurance Group’s ability to service an entire personal lines or commercial lines account. Distinctions within the products of Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries generally relate to specific risk profiles targeted within similar classes of business, such as preferred tier versus standard tier products, but we do not allocate all of the standard risk gradients to one company. Therefore, the underwriting profitability of the business the individual companies write directly will vary. However, the underwriting pool homogenizes the risk characteristics of all business that Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States write directly. The business Atlantic States derives from the underwriting pool represents a significant percentage of our total consolidated revenues. We refer to Note 3 - Transactions with Affiliates for more information regarding the pooling agreement.
Basis of Consolidation
Our consolidated financial statements, which we have prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), include our accounts and those of our wholly owned subsidiaries. We have eliminated all significant inter-company accounts and transactions in consolidation. The terms “we,” “us,” “our” or the “Company” as we use them in the notes to our consolidated financial statements refer to the consolidated entity.
Use of Estimates
In preparing our consolidated financial statements, our management makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the balance sheet and revenues and expenses for the period then ended. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.
We make estimates and assumptions that could have a significant effect on amounts and disclosures we report in our consolidated financial statements. The most significant estimates relate to our insurance subsidiaries’ reserves for property and casualty insurance unpaid losses and loss expenses. While we believe our estimates and the estimates of our insurance subsidiaries are appropriate, the ultimate amounts may differ from the estimates provided. We regularly review our methods for making these estimates as well as the continuing appropriateness of the estimated amounts, and we reflect any adjustment we consider necessary in our current results of operations.
Reclassification
We have made certain reclassifications in our prior period financial statements to conform to the current year presentation.
Investments
We classify our debt securities into the following categories:
Held to Maturity - Debt securities that we have the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity; reported at amortized cost.
Available for Sale - Debt securities not classified as held to maturity; reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses excluded from income and reported as a separate component of stockholders’ equity (net of tax effects).
Short-term investments are carried at amortized cost, which approximates fair value.
Index
We make estimates concerning the valuation of our investments and the recognition of other-than-temporary declines in the value of our investments. For equity securities, we measure investments at fair value and recognize changes in fair value in our results of operations. With respect to a debt security that is in an unrealized loss position, we first assess if we intend to sell the debt security. If we determine we intend to sell the debt security, we recognize the impairment loss in our results of operations. If we do not intend to sell the debt security, we determine whether it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the debt security prior to recovery. If we determine it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the debt security prior to recovery, we recognize an impairment loss in our results of operations. If we determine it is more likely than not that we will not be required to sell the debt security prior to recovery, we then evaluate whether a credit loss has occurred. We determine whether a credit loss has occurred by comparing the amortized cost of the debt security to the present value of the cash flows we expect to collect. If we expect a cash flow shortfall, we consider that a credit loss has occurred. If we determine that a credit loss has occurred, we consider the impairment to be other than temporary. We then recognize the amount of the impairment loss related to the credit loss in our results of operations, and we recognize the remaining portion of the impairment loss in our other comprehensive income, net of applicable taxes. In addition, we may write down securities in an unrealized loss position based on a number of other factors, including when the fair value of an investment is significantly below its cost, when the financial condition of the issuer of a security has deteriorated, the occurrence of industry, company or geographic events that have negatively impacted the value of a security and rating agency downgrades.
We amortize premiums and discounts on debt securities over the life of the security as an adjustment to yield using the effective interest method. We compute investment gains and losses using the specific identification method.
We amortize premiums and discounts for mortgage-backed debt securities using anticipated prepayments.
Fair Values of Financial Instruments
We use the following methods and assumptions in estimating our fair value disclosures:
Investments - We present our investments in available-for-sale fixed maturity and equity securities at estimated fair value. The estimated fair value of a security may differ from the amount that we could realize if we sold the security in a forced transaction. In addition, the valuation of fixed maturity investments is more subjective when markets are less liquid, increasing the potential that the estimated fair value does not reflect the price at which an actual transaction would occur. We utilize nationally recognized independent pricing services to estimate fair values for our fixed maturity and equity investments. We generally obtain two prices per security. The pricing services utilize market quotations for fixed maturity and equity securities that have quoted prices in active markets. For fixed maturity securities that generally do not trade on a daily basis, the pricing services prepare estimates of fair value measurements based predominantly on observable market inputs. The pricing services do not use broker quotes in determining the fair values of our investments. Our investment personnel review the estimates of fair value the pricing services provide to determine if the estimates we obtain are representative of fair values based upon the general knowledge of our investment personnel of the market, their research findings related to unusual fluctuations in value and their comparison of such values to execution prices for similar securities. Our investment personnel monitor the market and are familiar with current trading ranges for similar securities and the pricing of specific investments. Our investment personnel review all pricing estimates that we receive from the pricing services against their expectations with respect to pricing based on fair market curves, security ratings, coupon rates, security type and recent trading activity. Our investment personnel review documentation with respect to the pricing services’ pricing methodology that they obtain periodically to determine if the primary pricing sources, market inputs and pricing frequency for various security types are reasonable. We refer to Note 5 - Fair Value Measurements for more information regarding our methods and assumptions in estimating fair values.
Cash and Short-Term Investments - The carrying amounts we report in the balance sheet for these instruments approximate their fair values.
Premiums and Reinsurance Receivables and Payables - The carrying amounts we report in the balance sheet for these instruments related to premiums and paid losses and loss expenses approximate their fair values.
Revenue Recognition
Our insurance subsidiaries recognize insurance premiums as income over the terms of the policies they issue. Our insurance subsidiaries calculate unearned premiums on a daily pro-rata basis.
Index
Policy Acquisition Costs
We defer our insurance subsidiaries’ policy acquisition costs, consisting primarily of commissions, premium taxes and certain other underwriting costs, reduced by ceding commissions, related directly to the successful acquisition of new or renewal insurance contracts. We amortize these deferred policy acquisition costs over the period in which our insurance subsidiaries earn the premiums. The method we follow in computing deferred policy acquisition costs limits the amount of such deferred costs to their estimated realizable value, which gives effect to the premium to be earned, related investment income, losses and loss expenses and certain other costs we expect to incur as our insurance subsidiaries earn the premium. Estimates in the calculation of policy acquisition costs have not shown material variability because of uncertainties in applying accounting principles or as a result of sensitivities to changes in key assumptions.
Property and Equipment
We report property and equipment at depreciated cost that we compute using the straight-line method based upon estimated useful lives of the assets.
Losses and Loss Expenses
Liabilities for losses and loss expenses are estimates at a given point in time of the amounts an insurer expects to pay with respect to incurred policyholder claims based on facts and circumstances the insurer knows at that point in time. For example, legislative, judicial and regulatory actions may expand coverage definitions, retroactively mandate coverage or otherwise require our insurance subsidiaries to pay losses for damages that their policies explicitly excluded or did not intend to cover. At the time of establishing its estimates, an insurer recognizes that its ultimate liability for losses and loss expenses will exceed or be less than such estimates. Our insurance subsidiaries base their estimates of liabilities for losses and loss expenses on assumptions as to future loss trends, expected claims severity, judicial theories of liability and other factors. However, during the loss adjustment period, our insurance subsidiaries may learn additional facts regarding individual claims, and, consequently, it often becomes necessary for our insurance subsidiaries to refine and adjust their estimates for these liabilities. We reflect any adjustments to the liabilities for losses and loss expenses of our insurance subsidiaries in our consolidated results of operations in the period in which our insurance subsidiaries make adjustments to their estimates.
Our insurance subsidiaries maintain liabilities for the payment of losses and loss expenses with respect to both reported and unreported claims. Our insurance subsidiaries establish these liabilities for the purpose of covering the ultimate costs of settling all losses, including investigation and litigation costs. Our insurance subsidiaries base the amount of their liability for reported losses primarily upon a case-by-case evaluation of the type of risk involved, knowledge of the circumstances surrounding each claim and the insurance policy provisions relating to the type of loss the policyholder incurred. Our insurance subsidiaries determine the amount of their liability for unreported claims and loss expenses on the basis of historical information by line of insurance. Our insurance subsidiaries account for inflation in the reserving function through analysis of costs and trends and reviews of historical reserving results. Our insurance subsidiaries monitor their liabilities closely and recompute them periodically using new information on reported claims and a variety of statistical techniques. Our insurance subsidiaries do not discount their liabilities for losses and loss expenses.
Index
Reserve estimates can change over time because of unexpected changes in assumptions related to our insurance subsidiaries’ external environment and, to a lesser extent, assumptions related to our insurance subsidiaries’ internal operations. For example, our insurance subsidiaries have experienced an increase in claims severity and a lengthening of the claim settlement periods on bodily injury claims during the past several years. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic and related government mandates and restrictions resulted in various changes from historical claims reporting and settlement trends during 2020 and resulted in significant increases in loss costs in 2021 and 2022 due to a number of factors, including supply chain disruption, higher new and used automobile values, increases in the cost of replacement automobile parts and rising labor rates. These trend changes give rise to greater uncertainty as to the pattern of future loss settlements. Related uncertainties regarding future trends include social inflation, availability and cost of replacement automobile parts and building materials, availability of skilled labor, the rate of plaintiff attorney involvement in claims and the cost of medical technologies and procedures. Assumptions related to our insurance subsidiaries’ external environment include the absence of significant changes in tort law and the legal environment that increase liability exposure, consistency in judicial interpretations of insurance coverage and policy provisions and the rate of loss cost inflation. Internal assumptions include consistency in the recording of premium and loss statistics, consistency in the recording of claims, payment and case reserving methodology, accurate measurement of the impact of rate changes and changes in policy provisions, consistency in the quality and characteristics of business written within a given line of business and consistency in reinsurance coverage and collectability of reinsured losses, among other items. To the extent our insurance subsidiaries determine that underlying factors impacting their assumptions have changed, our insurance subsidiaries make adjustments in their reserves that they consider appropriate for such changes. Accordingly, our insurance subsidiaries’ ultimate liability for unpaid losses and loss expenses will likely differ from the amount recorded.
Our insurance subsidiaries seek to enhance their underwriting results by carefully selecting the product lines they underwrite. Our insurance subsidiaries’ personal lines products primarily include standard and preferred risks in private passenger automobile and homeowners lines. Our insurance subsidiaries’ commercial lines products primarily include business offices, wholesalers, service providers, contractors, artisans and light manufacturing operations. Our insurance subsidiaries have limited exposure to asbestos and other environmental liabilities.
Income Taxes
We currently file a consolidated federal income tax return that includes us and our insurance subsidiaries.
We account for income taxes using the asset and liability method. The objective of the asset and liability method is to establish deferred tax assets and liabilities for the temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of our assets and liabilities at enacted tax rates we expect to be in effect when we realize or settle such amounts.
Credit Risk
Our objective is to earn competitive returns by investing in a diversified portfolio of securities. Our portfolio of fixed maturity securities and, to a lesser extent, short-term investments is subject to credit risk. We define this risk as the potential loss in fair value resulting from adverse changes in the borrower’s ability to repay its debt to us. We manage this risk by performing an analysis of prospective investments and through regular reviews of our portfolio by our investment personnel. We also limit the amount of our total investment portfolio that we invest in any one security.
Our insurance subsidiaries provide property and liability insurance coverages through independent insurance agencies located throughout their operating areas. Our insurance subsidiaries bill the majority of this business directly to their policyholders, although our insurance subsidiaries bill a portion of their commercial business through their agents, to whom they extend credit in the normal course of business.
Our insurance subsidiaries have reinsurance agreements with Donegal Mutual and with a number of major unaffiliated reinsurers.
Reinsurance Accounting and Reporting
Our insurance subsidiaries rely upon reinsurance agreements to limit their maximum net loss from large single risks or risks in concentrated areas and to increase their capacity to write insurance. Reinsurance does not relieve our insurance subsidiaries from liability to their respective policyholders. To the extent that a reinsurer cannot pay losses for which it is liable under the terms of a reinsurance agreement with one or more of our insurance subsidiaries, our insurance subsidiaries retain continued liability for such losses. However, in an effort to reduce the risk of non-payment, our insurance subsidiaries require all of their reinsurers to have an A.M. Best rating of A- or better or, with respect to foreign reinsurers, to have a financial condition that, in the opinion of our management, is equivalent to a company with an A.M. Best rating of A- or better. We refer to Note 10 - Reinsurance for more information regarding the reinsurance agreements of our insurance subsidiaries.
Index
Stock-Based Compensation
We measure all share-based payments to our directors and the directors and employees of our subsidiaries and affiliates, including grants of stock options, using a fair-value-based method and record such expense in our results of operations. In determining the expense we record for stock options we grant to our directors and the directors and employees of our subsidiaries and affiliates, we estimate the fair value of each option award on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The significant assumptions we utilize in applying the Black-Scholes option pricing model are the risk-free interest rate, expected term, dividend yield and expected volatility.
In 2022, 2021 and 2020, we realized $360,452, $438,850 and $302,901, respectively, in tax benefits upon the exercise of stock options.
Earnings Per Share
We calculate basic earnings per share by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share reflects the dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock.
We have two classes of common stock, which we refer to as Class A common stock and Class B common stock. Our Class A common stock is entitled to the declaration and payment of cash dividends that are at least 10% higher than those we declare and pay on our Class B common stock. Accordingly, we use the two-class method for the computation of earnings per common share. The two-class method is an earnings allocation formula that determines earnings per share separately for each class of common stock based on dividends declared and an allocation of remaining undistributed earnings using a participation percentage that reflects the dividend rights of each class.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the underlying fair value of acquired entities. When completing acquisitions, we seek also to identify separately identifiable intangible assets that we have acquired. We assess goodwill and intangible assets with an indefinite useful life for impairment annually. We also assess goodwill and other intangible assets for impairment upon the occurrence of certain events. In making our assessment, we consider a number of factors including operating results, business plans, economic projections, anticipated future cash flows and current market data. Inherent uncertainties exist with respect to these factors and to our judgment in applying them when we make our assessment. Impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets could result from changes in economic and operating conditions in future periods.
2 - Impact of New Accounting Standards
In September 2016, the FASB issued guidance that amends previous guidance on the impairment of financial instruments by adding an impairment model that requires an entity to recognize expected credit losses as an allowance rather than impairments as credit losses are incurred. The intent of this guidance is to reduce complexity and result in a more timely recognition of expected credit losses. In November 2019, the FASB issued guidance that delays the effective date for “smaller reporting companies,” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K, to annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2022 from December 15, 2019. We are a smaller reporting company and our adoption of this guidance on January 1, 2023 will result in an after-tax adjustment to retained earnings estimated between $1.5 million and $2.5 million. We do not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a significant impact on our results of operations or cash flows.
Index
3 - Transactions with Affiliates
Our insurance subsidiaries conduct business and have various agreements with Donegal Mutual that we describe in the following subparagraphs:
a. Reinsurance Pooling and Other Reinsurance Arrangements
Atlantic States, our largest insurance subsidiary, and Donegal Mutual have a pooling agreement under which both companies contribute substantially all of their direct written business to the pool and receive an allocated percentage of the pooled underwriting results, excluding certain reinsurance Donegal Mutual assumes from our insurance subsidiaries. Beginning with policies effective in 2021, Donegal Mutual began to place the business of the Mountain States Insurance Group into the underwriting pool. In addition, Donegal Mutual has a 100% quota-share reinsurance agreement with Southern Mutual Insurance Company, or Southern Mutual, and Donegal Mutual places its assumed business from Southern Mutual into the underwriting pool. Atlantic States has an 80% share of the results of the pool, and Donegal Mutual has a 20% share of the results of the pool. The intent of the pooling agreement is to produce more uniform and stable underwriting results from year to year for each pool participant than they would experience individually and to spread the risk of loss between the participants based on each participant’s relative amount of surplus and relative access to capital. Each participant in the pool has at its disposal the capacity of the entire pool, rather than being limited to policy exposures of a size commensurate with its own capital and surplus.
The following amounts represent reinsurance Atlantic States ceded to the pool during 2022, 2021 and 2020:
Premiums earned
$
314,321,443
$
305,729,418
$
266,400,636
Losses and loss expenses
202,228,589
222,737,225
181,205,743
Prepaid reinsurance premiums
154,472,615
152,323,262
146,387,565
Liability for losses and loss expenses
277,641,902
274,033,812
232,540,607
The following amounts represent reinsurance Atlantic States assumed from the pool during 2022, 2021 and 2020:
Premiums earned
$
578,216,706
$
573,891,394
$
514,172,448
Losses and loss expenses
395,794,813
383,455,320
309,315,497
Unearned premiums
280,031,908
289,976,879
262,004,199
Liability for losses and loss expenses
496,849,769
455,564,733
377,530,215
Donegal Mutual and MICO had a quota-share reinsurance agreement under which Donegal Mutual assumed 25% of the premiums and losses related to the business of MICO for policies effective through December 31, 2021. Donegal Mutual and MICO terminated this reinsurance agreement on a run-off basis effective January 1, 2022. Donegal Mutual and Peninsula had a quota-share reinsurance agreement under which Donegal Mutual assumed 100% of the premiums and losses related to the workers’ compensation product line of Peninsula in certain states for policies effective through December 31, 2021. Donegal Mutual and Peninsula terminated this reinsurance agreement on a run-off basis effective January 1, 2022. Donegal Mutual places its assumed business from MICO and Peninsula into the underwriting pool.
Index
The following amounts represent reinsurance ceded to Donegal Mutual pursuant to these quota-share reinsurance agreements during 2022, 2021 and 2020:
Premiums earned
$
17,989,939
$
37,996,474
$
39,315,398
Losses and loss expenses
5,194,974
20,037,608
15,471,037
Prepaid reinsurance premiums
-
18,548,821
17,155,909
Liability for losses and loss expenses
22,642,908
36,659,853
35,306,627
Each of our insurance subsidiaries had a catastrophe reinsurance agreement with Donegal Mutual that provided coverage under any one catastrophic occurrence above a set retention of $2,000,000, with a combined retention of $5,000,000 for a catastrophe involving a combination of our insurance subsidiaries, up to the amount Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries retained under catastrophe reinsurance agreements with unaffiliated reinsurers.
The following amounts represent reinsurance that our insurance subsidiaries ceded to Donegal Mutual pursuant to these reinsurance agreements during 2022, 2021 and 2020:
Premiums earned
$
13,800,018
$
17,574,161
$
15,595,138
Losses and loss expenses
10,517,709
9,309,624
25,259,527
Liability for losses and loss expenses
1,271,006
1,658,057
3,812,339
The following amounts represent the effect of affiliated reinsurance transactions on net premiums our insurance subsidiaries earned during 2022, 2021 and 2020:
Assumed
$
578,216,706
$
573,891,394
$
514,172,448
Ceded
(346,111,400
)
(361,300,053
)
(321,311,172
)
Net
$
232,105,306
$
212,591,341
$
192,861,276
The following amounts represent the effect of affiliated reinsurance transactions on net losses and loss expenses our insurance subsidiaries incurred during 2022, 2021 and 2020:
Assumed
$
395,790,312
$
383,452,056
$
309,311,098
Ceded
(217,941,272
)
(252,084,457
)
(221,936,307
)
Net
$
177,849,040
$
131,367,599
$
87,374,791
b. Expense Sharing
Donegal Mutual provides facilities, management and other services to us and our insurance subsidiaries. In addition, Donegal Mutual purchases and maintains the information technology systems that support the business of Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries. Donegal Mutual allocates certain related expenses to Atlantic States in relation to the relative participation of Atlantic States and Donegal Mutual in the pooling agreement. Our insurance subsidiaries other than Atlantic States reimburse Donegal Mutual for allocated costs of services Donegal Mutual provides on their behalf based on their proportion of the total direct premiums written of the Donegal Insurance Group and other metrics. Donegal Mutual allocates costs related to its development and maintenance of information technology systems over the estimated useful life of those systems (generally five years) and charges a proportionate share of those costs to our insurance subsidiaries based on their percentage of the total net premiums written of the Donegal Insurance Group. Allocated expenses from Donegal Mutual for services it provided to our insurance subsidiaries totaled $199,177,393, $186,568,897 and $153,941,121 for 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. To enhance process efficiencies, Donegal Mutual paid certain expenses directly in 2022 and 2021 that our insurance subsidiaries paid directly in 2020, resulting in higher allocations of expenses from Donegal Mutual to our insurance subsidiaries and lower direct expense payments by our insurance subsidiaries in 2022 and 2021 compared to 2020.
Index
Donegal Mutual is currently in the midst of a multi-year effort to modernize certain of its key technology infrastructure and application systems. Donegal Mutual placed the first and second releases of new systems into service in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Donegal Mutual allocated $7.6 million, $5.1 million and $2.8 million of related costs to our insurance subsidiaries in 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Donegal Mutual will allocate to our insurance subsidiaries their proportionate share of the remaining $25.7 million of its costs for the first and second releases over the next four years. Donegal Mutual incurred an additional $18.1 million of deferred costs related to releases under development that were not yet ready for their intended use at December 31, 2022.
Our management believes that the allocation methods Donegal Mutual utilizes are reasonable. In addition, Donegal Mutual and we maintain a coordinating committee that consists of two members of our board of directors, neither of whom is a member of Donegal Mutual’s board of directors, and two members of Donegal Mutual’s board of directors, neither of whom is a member of our board of directors. The purpose of the coordinating committee is to maintain a process for an ongoing evaluation of the fairness of the terms of all transactions between Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries.
We include in our consolidated balance sheet the net amount of intercompany balances due to or from Donegal Mutual. During 2021, Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries aligned the timing of monthly settlements of various intercompany balances, including affiliated reinsurance transactions, expenses Donegal Mutual allocates to our insurance subsidiaries, premiums Donegal Mutual collects on behalf of our insurance subsidiaries, and losses and loss expenses Donegal Mutual pays on behalf of our insurance subsidiaries.
c. Lease Agreement
We lease office equipment with terms ranging from 3 to 10 years to Donegal Mutual under a lease agreement dated January 1, 2011.
Index
4 - Investments
The amortized cost and estimated fair values of our fixed maturities at December 31, 2022 and 2021 are as follows:
Held to Maturity
Amortized
Cost
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Estimated Fair
Value
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies
$
103,362,028
$
$
10,566,154
$
92,796,730
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
382,097,461
1,809,879
60,494,134
323,413,206
Corporate securities
190,948,922
-
20,510,543
170,438,379
Mortgage-backed securities
12,030,949
-
634,583
11,396,366
Totals
$
688,439,360
$
1,810,735
$
92,205,414
$
598,044,681
Available for Sale
Amortized
Cost
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Estimated Fair
Value
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies
$
68,537,456
$
108,683
$
5,124,827
$
63,521,312
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
45,448,157
33,994
5,326,367
40,155,784
Corporate securities
218,040,945
8,315
15,211,215
202,838,045
Mortgage-backed securities
239,886,169
155,278
22,764,657
217,276,790
Totals
$
571,912,727
$
306,270
$
48,427,066
$
523,791,931
Index
Held to Maturity
Amortized
Cost
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Estimated Fair
Value
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies
$
89,267,988
$
1,922,976
$
1,015,040
$
90,175,924
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
371,435,776
17,856,745
948,113
388,344,408
Corporate securities
191,147,051
11,576,693
772,809
201,950,935
Mortgage-backed securities
16,253,753
675,944
-
16,929,697
Totals
$
668,104,568
$
32,032,358
$
2,735,962
$
697,400,964
Available for Sale
Amortized
Cost
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Estimated Fair
Value
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies
$
32,501,080
$
144,377
$
460,831
$
32,184,626
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
55,458,687
2,002,035
82,631
57,378,091
Corporate securities
215,668,644
6,817,036
874,405
221,611,275
Mortgage-backed securities
219,664,635
3,000,806
1,210,418
221,455,023
Totals
$
523,293,046
$
11,964,254
$
2,628,285
$
532,629,015
At December 31, 2022, our holdings of obligations of states and political subdivisions included general obligation bonds with an aggregate fair value of $240.7 million and an amortized cost of $283.5 million. Our holdings also included special revenue bonds with an aggregate fair value of $122.9 million and an amortized cost of $144.0 million. With respect to both categories of bonds, we held no securities of any issuer that comprised more than 10% of that category at December 31, 2022. Education bonds and water and sewer utility bonds represented 48% and 35%, respectively, of our total investments in special revenue bonds based on their carrying values at December 31, 2022. Many of the issuers of the special revenue bonds we held at December 31, 2022 have the authority to impose ad valorem taxes. In that respect, many of the special revenue bonds we held are similar to general obligation bonds.
At December 31, 2021, our holdings of obligations of states and political subdivisions included general obligation bonds with an aggregate fair value of $284.9 million and an amortized cost of $272.7 million. Our holdings also included special revenue bonds with an aggregate fair value of $160.8 million and an amortized cost of $154.2 million. With respect to both categories of bonds, we held no securities of any issuer that comprised more than 10% of that category at December 31, 2021. Education bonds and water and sewer utility bonds represented 48% and 35%, respectively, of our total investments in special revenue bonds based on their carrying values at December 31, 2021. Many of the issuers of the special revenue bonds we held at December 31, 2021 have the authority to impose ad valorem taxes. In that respect, many of the special revenue bonds we held are similar to general obligation bonds.
We have segregated within accumulated other comprehensive income the net unrealized losses of $15.1 million arising prior to the November 30, 2013 reclassification date for fixed maturities reclassified from available for sale to held to maturity. We are amortizing this balance over the remaining life of the related securities as an adjustment of yield in a manner consistent with the accretion of discount on the same fixed maturities. We recorded amortization of $510,819, $897,073 and $1.4 million in other comprehensive income in 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. At December 31, 2022 and 2021, net unrealized losses of $4.7 million and $5.2 million, respectively, remained within accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income.
Index
We set forth below the amortized cost and estimated fair value of fixed maturities at December 31, 2022 by contractual maturity. 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.
Amortized Cost
Estimated Fair
Value
Held to maturity
Due in one year or less
$
24,608,278
$
24,736,944
Due after one year through five years
86,581,717
83,910,606
Due after five years through ten years
245,818,039
218,039,676
Due after ten years
319,400,377
259,961,089
Mortgage-backed securities
12,030,949
11,396,366
Total held to maturity
$
688,439,360
$
598,044,681
Available for sale
Due in one year or less
$
14,601,260
$
14,485,681
Due after one year through five years
163,170,354
154,175,256
Due after five years through ten years
123,462,268
111,296,437
Due after ten years
30,792,676
26,557,767
Mortgage-backed securities
239,886,169
217,276,790
Total available for sale
$
571,912,727
$
523,791,931
The cost and estimated fair values of our equity securities at December 31, 2022 were as follows:
Cost
Gross Gains
Gross Losses
Estimated Fair
Value
Equity securities
$
30,770,633
$
5,666,467
$
1,332,260
$
35,104,840
The cost and estimated fair values of our equity securities at December 31, 2021 were as follows:
Cost
Gross Gains
Gross Losses
Estimated Fair
Value
Equity securities
$
43,262,577
$
20,413,667
$
256,271
$
63,419,973
The amortized cost of fixed maturities on deposit with various regulatory authorities at December 31, 2022 and 2021 amounted to $9,473,047 and $8,852,886, respectively.
We derived net investment income, consisting primarily of interest and dividends, from the following sources:
Fixed maturities
$
34,945,437
$
32,343,878
$
30,750,231
Equity securities
897,429
1,437,948
1,386,343
Short-term investments
817,428
321,117
427,392
Other
29,250
29,250
29,250
Investment income
36,689,544
34,132,193
32,593,216
Investment expenses
(2,673,432
)
(3,006,562
)
(3,088,750
)
Net investment income
$
34,016,112
$
31,125,631
$
29,504,466
Index
We present below gross gains and losses from investments and the change in the difference between fair value and cost of investments:
Gross realized gains:
Fixed maturities
$
1,149,761
$
676,724
$
818,350
Equity securities
1,765,923
1,430,465
106,075
Real estate
477,287
-
-
3,392,971
2,107,189
924,425
Gross realized losses:
Fixed maturities
2,129,736
294,126
246,243
Equity securities
4,113,526
462,335
3,555,304
6,243,262
756,461
3,801,547
Net realized (losses) gains
(2,850,291
)
1,350,728
(2,877,122
)
Gross unrealized gains on equity securities
258,532
5,627,949
8,426,806
Gross unrealized losses on equity securities
(7,593,038
)
(501,391
)
(2,771,765
)
Net investment (losses) gains
$
(10,184,797
)
$
6,477,286
$
2,777,919
Change in difference between fair value and cost of investments:
Fixed maturities
$
(177,147,840
)
$
(27,576,934
)
$
33,876,212
Equity securities
15,823,189
4,010,973
4,088,003
Totals
$
(161,324,651
)
$
(23,565,961
)
$
37,964,215
We held fixed maturities with unrealized losses representing declines that we considered temporary at December 31, 2022 as follows:
Less than 12 months
12 months or longer
Fair Value
Unrealized Losses
Fair Value
Unrealized Losses
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies
$
90,245,322
$
5,326,954
$
47,237,638
$
10,364,027
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
261,464,427
49,327,324
47,945,038
16,493,177
Corporate securities
298,706,256
22,272,711
72,959,284
13,449,047
Mortgage-backed securities
143,885,626
10,940,722
69,878,986
12,458,518
Totals
$
794,301,631
$
87,867,711
$
238,020,946
$
52,764,769
We held fixed maturities with unrealized losses representing declines that we considered temporary at December 31, 2021 as follows:
Less than 12 months
12 months or longer
Fair Value
Unrealized Losses
Fair Value
Unrealized Losses
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies
$
27,691,051
$
412,055
$
28,426,248
$
1,063,816
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
56,654,480
899,139
7,090,499
131,605
Corporate securities
92,736,747
1,609,931
1,462,717
37,283
Mortgage-backed securities
90,006,234
1,128,197
2,361,232
82,221
Totals
$
267,088,512
$
4,049,322
$
39,340,696
$
1,314,925
Index
We make estimates concerning the valuation of our investments and the recognition of other-than-temporary declines in the value of our investments. For equity securities, we measure investments at fair value, and we recognize changes in fair value in our results of operations. With respect to a debt security that is in an unrealized loss position, we first assess if we intend to sell the debt security. If we determine we intend to sell the debt security, we recognize the impairment loss in our results of operations. If we do not intend to sell the debt security, we determine whether it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the debt security prior to recovery. If we determine it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the debt security prior to recovery, we recognize an impairment loss in our results of operations. If we determine it is more likely than not that we will not be required to sell the debt security prior to recovery, we then evaluate whether a credit loss has occurred. We determine whether a credit loss has occurred by comparing the amortized cost of the debt security to the present value of the cash flows we expect to collect. If we expect a cash flow shortfall, we consider that a credit loss has occurred. If we determine that a credit loss has occurred, we consider the impairment to be other than temporary. We then recognize the amount of the impairment loss related to the credit loss in our results of operations, and we recognize the remaining portion of the impairment loss in our other comprehensive income, net of applicable taxes. In addition, we may write down securities in an unrealized loss position based on a number of other factors, including when the fair value of an investment is significantly below its cost, when the financial condition of the issuer of a security has deteriorated, the occurrence of industry, company or geographic events that have negatively impacted the value of a security and rating agency downgrades. We held 882 debt securities that were in an unrealized loss position at December 31, 2022. Based upon our analysis of general market conditions and underlying factors impacting these debt securities, we considered these declines in value to be temporary.
We did not recognize any impairment losses in 2022, 2021 or 2020. We had no sales or transfers from our held to maturity portfolio in 2022, 2021 or 2020. We had no derivative instruments or hedging activities during 2022, 2021 or 2020.
5 - Fair Value Measurements
We account for financial assets using a framework that establishes a hierarchy that ranks the quality and reliability of inputs, or assumptions, used in the determination of fair value, and we classify financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value in one of the following three categories:
Level 1 - quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities;
Level 2 - directly or indirectly observable inputs other than Level 1 quoted prices; and
Level 3 - unobservable inputs not corroborated by market data.
For investments that have quoted market prices in active markets, we use the quoted market price as fair value and include these investments in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. We classify publicly traded equity securities as Level 1. When quoted market prices in active markets are not available, we base fair values on quoted market prices of comparable instruments or price estimates we obtain from independent pricing services. We classify our fixed maturity investments and non-publicly traded equity securities as Level 2. Our fixed maturity investments consist of U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies, obligations of states and political subdivisions, corporate securities and mortgage-backed securities.
We present our investments in available-for-sale fixed maturity and equity securities at estimated fair value. The estimated fair value of a security may differ from the amount that we could realize if we sold the security in a forced transaction. In addition, the valuation of fixed maturity investments is more subjective when markets are less liquid, increasing the potential that the estimated fair value does not reflect the price at which an actual transaction would occur. We utilize nationally recognized independent pricing services to estimate fair values or obtain market quotations for substantially all of our fixed maturity and equity investments. We generally obtain two prices per security. The pricing services utilize market quotations for fixed maturity and equity securities that have quoted prices in active markets. For fixed maturity securities that generally do not trade on a daily basis, the pricing services prepare estimates of fair value measurements based predominantly on observable market inputs. The pricing services do not use broker quotes in determining the fair values of our investments. Our investment personnel review the estimates of fair value the pricing services provide to determine if the estimates we obtain are representative of fair values based upon the general knowledge of the market of our investment personnel, their research findings related to unusual fluctuations in value and their comparison of such values to execution prices for similar securities. Our investment personnel monitor the market and are familiar with current trading ranges for similar securities and pricing of specific investments. Our investment personnel review all pricing estimates that we receive from the pricing services against their expectations with respect to pricing based on fair market curves, security ratings, coupon rates, security type and recent trading activity. Our investment personnel review documentation with respect to the pricing services’ pricing methodology that they obtain periodically to determine if the primary pricing sources, market inputs and pricing frequency for various security types are reasonable. At December 31, 2022, we received two estimates per security from the pricing services, and we priced substantially all of our Level 1 and Level 2 investments using those prices. In our review of the estimates the pricing services provided at December 31, 2022, we did not identify any material discrepancies, and we did not make any adjustments to the estimates the pricing services provided.
Index
We present our cash and short-term investments at estimated fair value. The carrying values in our balance sheet for premium receivables, reinsurance receivables related to paid losses and loss expenses and reinsurance balances payable approximate their fair values. The carrying amounts reported in the balance sheet for our borrowings under lines of credit approximate their fair values. We classify these items as Level 3.
We evaluate our assets and liabilities on a regular basis to determine the appropriate level at which to classify them for each reporting period. Based on our review of the methodology and summary of inputs the pricing services use, we have concluded that our Level 1 and Level 2 investments were classified properly at December 31, 2022 and 2021.
The following table presents our fair value measurements for our investments in available-for-sale fixed maturity and equity securities at December 31, 2022:
Fair Value Measurements Using
Fair Value
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
for Identical
Assets (Level 1)
Significant
Other Observable
Inputs (Level 2)
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs (Level 3)
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies
$
63,521,312
$
-
$
63,521,312
$
-
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
40,155,784
-
40,155,784
-
Corporate securities
202,838,045
-
202,838,045
-
Mortgage-backed securities
217,276,790
-
217,276,790
-
Equity securities
35,104,840
32,820,452
2,284,388
-
Total investments in the fair value hierarchy
$
558,896,771
$
32,820,452
$
526,076,319
$
-
The following table presents our fair value measurements for our investments in available-for-sale fixed maturity and equity securities at December 31, 2021:
Fair Value Measurements Using
Fair Value
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
for Identical
Assets (Level 1)
Significant
Other Observable
Inputs (Level 2)
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs (Level 3)
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies
$
32,184,626
$
-
$
32,184,626
$
-
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
57,378,091
-
57,378,091
-
Corporate securities
221,611,275
-
221,611,275
-
Mortgage-backed securities
221,455,023
-
221,455,023
-
Equity securities
63,419,973
61,130,385
2,289,588
-
Total investments in the fair value hierarchy
$
596,048,988
$
61,130,385
$
534,918,603
$
-
Index
6 - Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs
Changes in our insurance subsidiaries’ deferred policy acquisition costs are as follows:
Balance, January 1
$
68,028,373
$
59,156,958
$
59,284,859
Acquisition costs deferred
147,571,857
137,604,415
118,944,099
Amortization charged to earnings
(142,430,000
)
(128,733,000
)
(119,072,000
)
Balance, December 31
$
73,170,230
$
68,028,373
$
59,156,958
Index
7 - Property and Equipment
Property and equipment at December 31, 2022 and 2021 consisted of the following:
Estimated
Useful Life
Office equipment
$
8,245,030
$
8,382,877
3-15 years
Automobiles
42,794
322,703
5 years
Real estate
2,575,207
2,575,207
5-50 years
Software
1,386,936
1,386,936
5 years
12,249,967
12,667,723
Accumulated depreciation
(9,494,862
)
(9,710,793
)
$
2,755,105
$
2,956,930
Depreciation expense for 2022, 2021 and 2020 amounted to $173,535, $208,641 and $257,397, respectively.
8 - Liability for Losses and Loss Expenses
The establishment of an appropriate liability for losses and loss expenses is an inherently uncertain process, and we can provide no assurance that our insurance subsidiaries’ ultimate liability will not exceed their loss and loss expense reserves and have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. For example, legislative, judicial and regulatory actions may expand coverage definitions, retroactively mandate coverage or otherwise require our insurance subsidiaries to pay losses for damages that their policies explicitly excluded or did not intend to cover. Furthermore, we cannot predict the timing, frequency and extent of adjustments to our insurance subsidiaries’ estimated future liabilities, because the historical conditions and events that serve as a basis for our insurance subsidiaries’ estimates of ultimate claim costs may change. As is the case for substantially all property and casualty insurance companies, our insurance subsidiaries have found it necessary in the past to increase their estimated future liabilities for losses and loss expenses in certain periods, and, in other periods, their estimates have exceeded their actual liabilities. Changes in our insurance subsidiaries’ estimate of their liability for losses and loss expenses generally reflect actual payments and their evaluation of information received since the prior reporting date.
We summarize activity in our insurance subsidiaries’ liability for losses and loss expenses as follows:
Balance at January 1
$
1,077,620,301
$
962,007,437
$
869,673,849
Less reinsurance recoverable
(451,261,306
)
(404,818,480
)
(362,768,427
)
Net balance at January 1
626,358,995
557,188,957
506,905,422
Incurred related to:
Current year
608,900,206
551,917,571
472,709,060
Prior years
(44,821,213
)
(31,208,029
)
(12,944,767
)
Total incurred
564,078,993
520,709,542
459,764,293
Paid related to:
Current year
302,272,322
269,316,762
236,984,291
Prior years
218,304,130
182,222,742
172,496,467
Total paid
520,576,452
451,539,504
409,480,758
Net balance at December 31
669,861,536
626,358,995
557,188,957
Plus reinsurance recoverable
451,184,222
451,261,306
404,818,480
Balance at December 31
$
1,121,045,758
$
1,077,620,301
$
962,007,437
Our insurance subsidiaries recognized a decrease in their liability for losses and loss expenses of prior years of $44.8 million, $31.2 million and $12.9 million in 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Our insurance subsidiaries made no significant changes in their reserving philosophy or claims management personnel, and they have made no significant offsetting changes in estimates that increased or decreased their loss and loss expense reserves in those years. The 2022 development represented 7.2% of the December 31, 2021 net carried reserves and resulted primarily from lower-than-expected loss emergence in the personal automobile and commercial automobile lines of business for accident years prior to 2022. The majority of the 2022 development related to decreases in the liability for losses and loss expenses of prior years for Atlantic States and MICO. The 2021 development represented 5.6% of the December 31, 2020 net carried reserves and resulted primarily from lower-than-expected loss emergence in the personal automobile, workers’ compensation and commercial automobile lines of business for accident years prior to 2021. The majority of the 2021 development related to decreases in the liability for losses and loss expenses of prior years for Atlantic States and MICO. The 2020 development represented 2.6% of the December 31, 2019 net carried reserves and resulted primarily from lower-than-expected severity in the workers’ compensation and personal automobile lines of business, partially offset by higher-than-expected severity in the commercial automobile and commercial multi-peril lines of business, for accident years prior to 2020. The majority of the 2020 development related to decreases in the liability for losses and loss expenses of prior years for Atlantic States and MICO.
Index
Short-duration contracts are contracts for which our insurance subsidiaries receive premiums that they recognize as revenue over the period of the contract in proportion to the amount of insurance protection our insurance subsidiaries provide. Our insurance subsidiaries consider the policies they issue to be short-duration contracts. We consider our insurance subsidiaries’ material lines of business to be personal automobile, homeowners, commercial automobile, commercial multi-peril and workers’ compensation.
Our insurance subsidiaries determine incurred but not reported (“IBNR”) reserves by subtracting the cumulative loss and loss expense amounts our insurance subsidiaries have paid and the case reserves our insurance subsidiaries have established at the balance sheet date from their actuaries’ estimate of the ultimate cost of losses and loss expenses. Accordingly, our insurance subsidiaries’ IBNR reserves include their actuaries’ projections of the cost of unreported claims as well as their actuaries’ projected development of case reserves on known claims and reopened claims. Our insurance subsidiaries’ methodology for estimating IBNR reserves has been in place for many years, and their actuaries made no significant changes to that methodology during 2022.
The actuaries for our insurance subsidiaries generally prepare an initial estimate for ultimate losses and loss expenses for the current accident year by multiplying earned premium by an “a priori,” or expected, loss ratio for each line of business our insurance subsidiaries write. Expected loss ratios represent the actuaries’ expectation of losses at the time our insurance subsidiaries price and write their policies, before the emergence of any actual claims experience. The actuaries determine an expected loss ratio by analyzing historical experience and adjusting for loss cost trends, loss frequency and severity trends, premium rate level changes, reported and paid loss emergence patterns and other known or observed factors.
The actuaries use a variety of actuarial methods to estimate the ultimate cost of losses and loss expenses. These methods include paid loss development, incurred loss development and the Bornhuetter-Ferguson method from which the actuaries select loss development factor assumptions. The actuaries base their selection of a point estimate on a judgmental weighting of estimates each of these methods produce.
The actuaries consider loss frequency and severity trends when they develop expected loss ratios and point estimates. Loss frequency is a measure of the number of claims per unit of insured exposure, and loss severity is a measure of the average size of claims. Factors that affect loss frequency include changes in weather patterns or economic activity. Factors that affect loss severity include changes in policy limits, reinsurance retentions, inflation rates and judicial interpretations.
Our insurance subsidiaries create a claim file when they receive notice of an actual demand for payment, an event that may lead to a demand for payment or when they otherwise determine that a demand for payment could potentially lead to a future demand for payment on another coverage under the same policy or another policy they have issued. In recent years, our insurance subsidiaries have noted an increase in the period of time between the occurrence of a casualty loss event and the date on which they receive notice of a liability claim. Changes in the length of time between the loss occurrence date and the claim reporting date affect the actuaries’ ability to accurately predict loss frequency and the amount of IBNR reserves our insurance subsidiaries require.
Index
Our insurance subsidiaries generally create a claim file for a policy at the claimant level by type of coverage and generally recognize one count for each claim event. In certain lines of business where it is common for multiple parties to claim damages arising from a single claim event, our insurance subsidiaries recognize one count for each claimant involved in the event. Atlantic States recognizes one count for each claim event, or claimant involved in a multiple-party claim event, related to losses Atlantic States assumes through its participation in its pooling agreement with Donegal Mutual. Our insurance subsidiaries accumulate the claim counts and report them by line of business. For purposes of the claim development tables we present below, our insurance subsidiaries count claims on policies they issue even if they eventually close such claims without making a loss payment. Claims our insurance subsidiaries close without making a loss payment typically generate loss expenses. The methods our insurance subsidiaries have used to summarize claim counts have not changed significantly over the time periods we report in the tables below.
The following tables present information about incurred and paid claims development as of December 31, 2022, net of reinsurance, as well as cumulative claim frequency and the total of IBNR reserves plus expected development on reported claims that our insurance subsidiaries included within their net incurred claims amounts. The tables include unaudited information about incurred and paid claims development for the years ended December 31, 2013 through 2021, which we present as supplementary information.
Index
Personal Automobile
At December 31, 2022
Incurred Claims and Allocated Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance
For the Year Ended December 31,
Accident Year
Total IBNR Plus Expected Development on Reported Claims
Cumulative Number of Reported Claims
Unaudited
(dollars and reported claims in thousands)
$
124,965
$
130,737
$
131,594
$
132,643
$
132,604
$
132,934
$
132,853
$
132,690
$
132,787
$
132,735
$
124,426
124,806
124,210
126,200
126,779
126,734
126,861
126,977
127,108
137,569
139,333
139,181
142,493
142,408
142,073
142,010
141,965
150,216
153,937
157,516
157,943
156,935
156,436
156,227
166,690
127,728
175,939
174,784
173,730
173,032
186,580
183,358
181,558
180,787
179,732
1,695
161,056
157,689
156,300
154,805
2,559
111,483
103,585
100,339
3,324
119,364
118,752
6,432
126,203
19,934
Total
$
1,410,898
Personal Automobile
Cumulative Paid Claims and Allocated Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance
For the Year Ended December 31,
Accident Year
Unaudited
(in thousands)
$
84,241
$
109,051
$
120,118
$
125,946
$
130,026
$
131,326
$
131,642
$
132,215
$
132,300
$
132,420
85,377
104,736
114,893
120,491
123,815
124,926
125,619
125,762
126,701
93,611
116,303
128,395
135,027
139,121
140,028
140,892
141,172
102,433
129,507
143,321
151,159
153,521
154,769
155,521
111,964
142,372
159,879
166,099
169,190
170,895
115,585
150,175
163,036
169,651
173,922
103,101
127,187
141,004
146,667
66,084
81,783
89,736
76,477
93,998
83,616
Total
1,314,648
All outstanding liabilities before 2013, net of reinsurance
Liabilities for claims and claims adjustment expenses, net of reinsurance
$
97,163
Index
Homeowners
At December 31, 2022
Incurred Claims and Allocated Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance
For the Year Ended December 31,
Accident Year
Total IBNR Plus Expected Development on Reported Claims
Cumulative Number of Reported Claims
Unaudited
(dollars and reported claims in thousands)
$
50,887
$
51,121
$
51,122
$
50,874
$
50,988
$
50,971
$
51,008
$
51,064
$
51,053
$
51,021
$
-
56,916
58,378
57,680
57,332
57,288
57,402
57,367
57,371
57,353
-
63,359
63,925
63,053
63,071
63,099
62,993
63,043
63,036
62,443
64,064
63,735
63,355
63,279
63,409
63,472
79,283
79,911
79,305
79,247
79,065
78,815
81,965
83,385
82,905
82,566
82,058
73,294
73,554
73,234
72,168
61,633
62,718
61,595
67,677
66,996
1,455
82,433
7,556
Total
$
678,947
Homeowners
Cumulative Paid Claims and Allocated Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance
For the Year Ended December 31,
Accident Year
Unaudited
(in thousands)
$
40,949
$
49,410
$
50,210
$
50,478
$
51,043
$
50,902
$
50,967
$
50,965
$
50,955
$
50,923
45,823
56,255
56,990
57,195
56,995
57,243
57,336
57,339
57,318
51,885
61,542
62,204
62,590
62,844
62,943
62,936
62,938
50,125
61,145
62,760
63,144
63,162
63,217
63,266
67,077
77,663
78,006
78,127
78,454
78,528
70,385
79,892
80,905
81,464
81,568
58,074
69,145
70,416
70,884
51,226
60,348
60,809
52,161
63,920
63,107
Total
653,261
All outstanding liabilities before 2013, net of reinsurance
Liabilities for claims and claims adjustment expenses, net of reinsurance
$
25,905
Index
Commercial Automobile
At December 31, 2022
Incurred Claims and Allocated Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance
For the Year Ended December 31,
Accident Year
Total IBNR Plus Expected Development on Reported Claims
Cumulative Number of Reported Claims
Unaudited
(dollars and reported claims in thousands)
$
32,902
$
33,749
$
34,751
$
35,240
$
36,404
$
36,435
$
36,569
$
36,181
$
36,165
$
36,133
$
42,760
44,544
47,326
48,213
49,284
49,168
49,308
49,291
49,285
46,526
48,323
51,412
54,259
54,517
54,619
53,793
53,477
54,302
57,353
65,905
67,127
66,894
66,085
65,922
61,484
67,927
67,697
67,249
65,310
64,631
79,307
81,396
82,313
83,043
82,226
88,864
91,245
90,290
86,140
3,066
90,367
87,766
85,016
5,973
109,824
99,231
16,504
115,287
38,312
Total
$
737,348
Commercial Automobile
Cumulative Paid Claims and Allocated Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance
For the Year Ended December 31,
Accident Year
Unaudited
(in thousands)
$
16,306
$
23,557
$
26,879
$
31,053
$
34,083
$
36,004
$
36,106
$
36,092
$
36,087
$
36,081
22,707
31,089
39,436
44,374
47,290
48,418
48,603
48,714
48,757
23,875
35,342
41,678
48,261
51,605
51,992
52,728
53,052
27,033
38,237
48,837
57,237
60,485
64,421
65,076
28,707
40,213
49,703
57,128
59,889
62,187
33,862
47,941
57,451
69,487
74,421
36,948
53,026
63,575
72,139
31,884
46,459
60,665
39,851
56,101
46,242
Total
574,721
All outstanding liabilities before 2013, net of reinsurance
Liabilities for claims and claims adjustment expenses, net of reinsurance
$
162,683
Index
Commercial Multi-Peril
At December 31, 2022
Incurred Claims and Allocated Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance
For the Year Ended December 31,
Accident Year
Total IBNR Plus Expected Development on Reported Claims
Cumulative Number of Reported Claims
Unaudited
(dollars and reported claims in thousands)
$
35,683
$
35,679
$
37,292
$
37,205
$
37,981
$
37,365
$
37,453
$
37,495
$
37,630
$
37,598
$
-
48,204
50,135
51,843
52,336
53,294
53,116
52,926
52,933
53,502
-
42,070
43,874
44,728
45,104
45,873
45,366
45,420
45,595
-
43,005
46,988
48,267
48,871
48,732
48,823
48,802
56,185
56,043
56,517
54,812
55,076
54,244
66,265
66,470
67,749
67,810
65,911
1,632
71,865
73,836
76,326
75,821
4,491
83,195
79,910
76,490
8,388
116,827
117,574
22,939
142,395
44,828
Total
$
717,932
Commercial Multi-Peril
Cumulative Paid Claims and Allocated Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance
For the Year Ended December 31,
Accident Year
Unaudited
(in thousands)
$
19,875
$
26,216
$
29,159
$
33,614
$
35,104
$
36,321
$
37,333
$
37,436
$
37,488
$
37,575
27,920
35,520
40,936
47,021
50,017
51,615
52,103
52,252
52,875
21,837
29,419
34,323
39,162
42,849
44,090
44,439
44,764
19,660
29,402
34,612
41,193
43,435
44,944
47,432
27,399
36,926
42,691
46,361
49,488
51,494
30,597
42,296
48,050
54,913
59,118
28,210
41,266
47,522
55,951
34,729
46,193
52,646
46,768
69,735
57,641
Total
529,231
All outstanding liabilities before 2013, net of reinsurance
Liabilities for claims and claims adjustment expenses, net of reinsurance
$
189,400
Index
Workers’ Compensation
At December 31, 2022
Incurred Claims and Allocated Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance
For the Year Ended December 31,
Accident Year
Total IBNR Plus Expected Development on Reported Claims
Cumulative Number of Reported Claims
Unaudited
(dollars and reported claims in thousands)
$
46,325
$
47,027
$
44,289
$
42,828
$
42,327
$
42,555
$
42,651
$
42,341
$
42,427
$
43,059
$
51,508
51,553
49,288
48,537
47,540
47,693
47,849
47,620
47,794
53,332
49,615
45,991
44,986
43,006
42,597
42,225
42,043
58,814
49,802
47,883
44,969
44,098
43,559
43,484
60,450
56,351
52,687
51,464
49,557
48,802
1,105
62,197
55,291
52,514
47,912
47,007
1,470
60,998
59,624
57,728
56,480
1,897
57,172
57,850
57,384
2,990
67,035
65,530
6,505
67,046
21,062
Total
$
518,629
Workers’ Compensation
Cumulative Paid Claims and Allocated Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance
For the Year Ended December 31,
Accident Year
Unaudited
(in thousands)
$
13,052
$
26,043
$
32,783
$
36,351
$
38,877
$
39,617
$
40,361
$
40,827
$
41,209
$
41,599
13,932
28,513
36,284
40,393
42,465
43,866
44,403
44,671
45,314
13,071
27,531
34,192
36,929
37,936
38,596
39,096
39,478
14,709
30,344
37,178
40,570
41,208
41,543
41,809
15,581
31,990
39,684
42,954
44,242
45,174
17,644
31,928
37,072
41,611
43,279
16,939
33,009
41,740
47,121
14,591
32,817
44,089
20,931
42,633
18,643
Total
409,139
All outstanding liabilities before 2013, net of reinsurance
4,843
Liabilities for claims and claims adjustment expenses, net of reinsurance
$
114,333
Index
The following table presents a reconciliation of the net incurred and paid claims development tables to the liability for claims and claims adjustment expenses in our consolidated balance sheet:
At December 31,
(in thousands)
Net outstanding liabilities:
Personal automobile
$
97,163
Homeowners
25,905
Commercial automobile
162,683
Commercial multi-peril
189,400
Workers’ compensation
114,333
Other
30,510
619,994
Reinsurance recoverable:
Personal automobile
$
104,349
Homeowners
14,712
Commercial automobile
101,574
Commercial multi-peril
108,853
Workers’ compensation
90,454
Other
7,808
427,750
Unallocated loss adjustment expenses
$
73,302
Gross liability for unpaid losses and loss expenses
$
1,121,046
The following table presents supplementary information about average historical claims duration as of December 31, 2022:
Average Annual Percentage Payout of Incurred Claims by Age, Net of Reinsurance
Years
Personal automobile
65.4
%
16.7
%
8.5
%
4.2
%
2.4
%
0.9
%
0.5
%
0.2
%
0.4
%
0.1
%
Homeowners
81.0
15.6
1.3
0.5
0.3
0.1
0.1
-
-
-
Commercial automobile
42.3
18.1
13.7
11.8
6.0
3.6
0.8
0.3
-
-
Commercial multi-peril
45.3
17.2
9.4
10.8
5.7
3.1
2.4
0.4
0.7
0.2
Workers’ compensation
30.9
32.0
15.7
8.2
3.4
1.8
1.2
0.9
1.1
0.9
9 - Borrowings
Lines of Credit
In August 2020, we entered into a credit agreement with Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company (“M&T”) that related to a $20.0 million unsecured demand line of credit. The line of credit has no expiration date, no annual fees and no covenants. At December 31, 2022, we had no outstanding borrowings from M&T and had the ability to borrow up to $20.0 million at interest rates equal to the then-current LIBOR rate plus 2.00%.
Index
Atlantic States is a member of the FHLB of Pittsburgh. Through its membership, Atlantic States has the ability to issue debt to the FHLB of Pittsburgh in exchange for cash advances. Atlantic States has a fixed-rate cash advance of $35.0 million that was outstanding at December 31, 2022. The cash advance carries a fixed interest rate of 1.74% and is due in August 2024. In March 2020, Atlantic States issued $50.0 million of debt to the FHLB of Pittsburgh in exchange for a cash advance in the same amount that carried a fixed interest rate of 0.83%. Atlantic States obtained this contingent liquidity funding in light of uncertainty surrounding the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Atlantic States repaid this advance when it became due in March 2021. The table below presents the amount of FHLB of Pittsburgh stock Atlantic States purchased, collateral pledged and assets related to Atlantic States’ membership in the FHLB of Pittsburgh at December 31, 2022.
FHLB stock purchased and owned as part of the agreement
$
1,573,300
Collateral pledged, at par (carrying value $42,471,534)
46,378,384
Borrowing capacity currently available
4,620,984
Subordinated Debentures
In September 2021, upon receipt of approval from the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services, MICO repaid in full the $5.0 million surplus note held previously by Donegal Mutual, along with accrued interest of $178,082.
10 - Reinsurance
Unaffiliated Reinsurers
Our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual participate in a consolidated third-party reinsurance program, for which the coverage and parameters are common to all of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual. The program utilizes several different reinsurers, all of which have an A.M. Best rating of A- (Excellent) or better or, with respect to foreign reinsurers, have a financial condition that, in the opinion of our management, is equivalent to a company with at least an A- rating from A.M. Best. The following information describes the external reinsurance Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries had in place for 2022:
•
excess of loss reinsurance, under which Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries recovered losses over a set retention of $2.0 million; and
•
catastrophe reinsurance, under which Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries recovered 100% of an accumulation of many losses resulting from a single event, including natural disasters, over a set retention of $15.0 million up to aggregate losses of $185.0 million per occurrence.
As many as 29 reinsurers provided coverage for 2022 on any one treaty with no reinsurer taking more than 17.5% of any one treaty. The amount of coverage provided under each of these types of reinsurance depended upon the amount, nature, size and location of the risks being reinsured.
In order to write automobile insurance in the State of Michigan, MICO is required to be a member of the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (“MCCA”). The MCCA provides reinsurance to MICO for personal automobile and commercial automobile personal injury claims in the state of Michigan over a set retention. In November 2021, the MCCA approved the return of approximately $3.0 billion of its estimated surplus to its member insurance companies and provided guidance to those companies with respect to the payment of refunds to Michigan policyholders in the first half of 2022. We recorded a receivable from the MCCA and a corresponding payable for cash refunds due to Michigan policyholders in the amount of $18.1 million on our balance sheet as of December 31, 2021. In March 2022, we received such payment from the MCCA and subsequently paid the refunds due to our Michigan policyholders.
In addition to the pooling agreement and third-party reinsurance, our insurance subsidiaries had a catastrophe reinsurance agreement with Donegal Mutual, under which each of our insurance subsidiaries recovered 100% of an accumulation of multiple losses resulting from a single event, including natural disasters, over a set retention of $2.0 million up to aggregate losses of $13.0 million per occurrence. The agreement also provided additional coverage for an accumulation of losses from a single event including a combination of our insurance subsidiaries over a combined retention of $5.0 million.
Index
Our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual also purchased facultative reinsurance to cover certain exposures, including property exposures in excess of the covered limits of their respective treaty reinsurance.
The following amounts represent ceded reinsurance transactions with unaffiliated reinsurers during 2022, 2021 and 2020:
Premiums written
$
37,002,702
$
38,173,733
$
34,165,635
Premiums earned
36,947,675
37,984,833
35,358,765
Losses and loss expenses
31,096,016
29,999,528
9,835,268
Prepaid reinsurance premiums
6,118,784
6,063,759
5,874,859
Liability for losses and loss expenses
149,628,406
138,909,584
133,158,907
Total Reinsurance
The following amounts represent total ceded reinsurance transactions with both affiliated and unaffiliated reinsurers during 2022, 2021 and 2020:
Premiums earned
$
383,059,075
$
399,284,886
$
356,669,937
Losses and loss expenses
249,037,288
282,083,985
231,771,575
Prepaid reinsurance premiums
160,591,399
176,935,842
169,418,333
Liability for losses and loss expenses
451,184,222
451,261,306
404,818,480
The following amounts represent the effect of reinsurance on premiums written for 2022, 2021 and 2020:
Direct
$
641,971,207
$
609,204,706
$
586,681,839
Assumed
568,272,026
601,864,198
539,070,557
Ceded
(366,714,634
)
(406,802,395
)
(383,612,503
)
Net premiums written
$
843,528,599
$
804,266,509
$
742,139,893
The following amounts represent the effect of reinsurance on premiums earned for 2022, 2021 and 2020:
Direct
$
627,331,528
$
601,408,581
$
584,537,580
Assumed
578,216,997
573,891,506
514,172,696
Ceded
(383,059,075
)
(399,284,886
)
(356,669,937
)
Net premiums earned
$
822,489,450
$
776,015,201
$
742,040,339
Percentage of assumed premiums earned to net premiums earned
70.3
%
74.0
%
69.3
%
11 - Income Taxes
Our provision for income tax (benefit) expense for 2022, 2021 and 2020 consisted of the following:
Current federal income tax
$
1,280,041
$
3,998,431
$
10,450,803
Deferred federal income tax
(2,958,735
)
1,085,903
6,448
Income tax (benefit) expense
$
(1,678,694
)
$
5,084,334
$
10,457,251
Index
Our effective tax rate is different from the amount computed at the statutory federal rate of 21%. The reasons for such difference and the related tax effects are as follows:
(Loss) income before income tax (benefit) expense
$
(3,638,099
)
$
30,338,508
$
63,272,503
Computed “expected” taxes
(764,001
)
6,371,087
13,287,226
Tax-exempt interest
(1,446,102
)
(1,491,154
)
(1,468,806
)
Proration
384,944
401,717
395,663
Dividends received deduction
(93,675
)
(115,713
)
(113,845
)
Net operating loss carryback
-
-
(1,640,084
)
Tax benefit on exercise of options
(360,452
)
(438,850
)
(302,901
)
Other, net
600,592
357,247
299,998
Income tax (benefit) expense
$
(1,678,694
)
$
5,084,334
$
10,457,251
The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of our deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities at December 31, 2022 and 2021 are as follows:
Deferred tax assets:
Unearned premium
$
17,560,126
$
16,674,502
Loss reserves
9,712,582
9,568,677
Net unrealized losses
11,088,307
-
Net operating loss carryforward
-
25,174
Net state operating loss carryforward - DGI Parent
8,068,185
7,865,563
Other
1,472,110
1,859,687
Total gross deferred tax assets
47,901,310
35,993,603
Less valuation allowance
(8,068,185
)
(7,865,563
)
Net deferred tax assets
39,833,125
28,128,040
Deferred tax liabilities:
Deferred policy acquisition costs
15,365,749
14,285,958
Loss reserve transition adjustment
856,267
1,148,529
Other
2,008,092
6,007,934
Total gross deferred tax liabilities
18,230,108
21,442,421
Net deferred tax asset
$
21,603,017
$
6,685,619
Our income tax expense for 2020 included a $1.6 million income tax benefit related to the carryback of 2018 net operating losses to past tax years with higher statutory income tax rates than are currently in effect, as allowed under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act that was enacted in March 2020.
We provide a valuation allowance when we believe it is more likely than not that we will not realize some portion of a deferred tax asset. At December 31, 2022 and 2021, we established a valuation allowance of $8.1 million and $7.9 million, respectively, for our net state operating loss carryforward. We determined that we were not required to establish a valuation allowance for the other net deferred tax assets of $39.8 million and $28.1 million at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, since it is more likely than not that we will realize these deferred tax assets through reversals of existing temporary differences, future taxable income and our implementation of tax-planning strategies.
Tax years 2016 through 2022 remained open for examination by tax authorities at December 31, 2022. Federal income taxes recoverable at December 31, 2022 and 2021 included refunds of $2.3 million due to us for tax years prior to 2021.
Index
12 - Stockholders’ Equity
Each share of our Class A common stock outstanding at the time of the declaration of any dividend or other distribution payable in cash upon the shares of our Class B common stock is entitled to a dividend or distribution payable at the same time and to stockholders of record on the same date in an amount at least 10% greater than any dividend declared upon each share of our Class B common stock. In the event of our merger or consolidation with or into another entity, the holders of our Class A common stock and the holders of our Class B common stock are entitled to receive the same per share consideration in such merger or consolidation. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, any assets available to common stockholders will be distributed pro-rata to the holders of our Class A common stock and our Class B common stock after payment of all of our obligations.
On July 18, 2013, our board of directors authorized a share repurchase program pursuant to which we have the authority to purchase up to 500,000 additional shares of our Class A common stock at prices prevailing from time to time in the open market subject to the provisions of the SEC Rule 10b-18 and in privately negotiated transactions. We did not purchase any shares of our Class A common stock under this program during 2022, 2021 or 2020. We have purchased a total of 57,658 shares of our Class A common stock under this program from its inception through December 31, 2022.
At December 31, 2022 and 2021, our treasury stock consisted of 3,002,588 and 72,465 shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock, respectively.
13 - Stock Compensation Plans
Equity Incentive Plans
Since 1996, we have maintained an Equity Incentive Plan for Employees. During 2019, we adopted a plan that made a total of 4,500,000 shares of Class A common stock available for issuance to employees of our subsidiaries and affiliates. The plan provides for the granting of awards by our board of directors in the form of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock or any combination of the above. The plan provides that stock options may become exercisable up to five years from their date of grant, with an option price not less than fair market value on the date preceding the date of grant. We have not granted any stock appreciation rights.
Since 1996, we have maintained an Equity Incentive Plan for Directors. During 2019, we adopted a plan that made 500,000 shares of Class A common stock available for issuance to our directors and the directors of our subsidiaries and affiliates. We may make awards in the form of stock options. The plan also provides for the issuance of 500 shares of restricted stock on the first business day of January in each year to each of our directors and each director of Donegal Mutual who does not serve as one of our directors. We issued 8,500 shares of restricted stock on January 4, 2022 under our director plan. We issued 10,000 shares of restricted stock on January 4, 2021 under our director plan. We issued 8,500 shares of restricted stock on January 2, 2020 under our director plan.
No further shares are available for future option grants for plans in effect prior to 2019.
We measure all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, using a fair-value-based method and record such expense in our results of operations. In determining the expense we record for stock options granted to directors and employees of our subsidiaries and affiliates, we estimate the fair value of each option award on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The significant assumptions we utilize in applying the Black-Scholes option pricing model are the risk-free interest rate, expected term, dividend yield and expected volatility. The risk-free interest rate is the implied yield currently available on U.S. Treasury zero coupon issues with a remaining term equal to the expected term used as the assumption in the model. We base the expected term of an option award on our historical experience for similar awards. We determine the dividend yield by dividing the per share dividend by the grant date stock price. We base the expected volatility on the volatility of our stock price over a historical period comparable to the expected term.
Index
The weighted-average grant date fair value of options we granted during 2022 was $1.48. We calculated this fair value based upon a risk-free interest rate of 3.91%, an expected life of three years, an expected volatility of 22% and an expected dividend yield of 5%.
The weighted-average grant date fair value of options we granted during 2021 was $1.21. We calculated this fair value based upon a risk-free interest rate of 0.91%, an expected life of three years, an expected volatility of 20% and an expected dividend yield of 4%.
The weighted-average grant date fair value of options we granted during 2020 was $1.15. We calculated this fair value based upon a risk-free interest rate of 0.20%, an expected life of three years, an expected volatility of 20% and an expected dividend yield of 4%.
We charged compensation expense for our stock compensation plans against income before income taxes of $818,853, $965,701 and $1.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively, with a corresponding income tax benefit of $171,959, $202,797 and $229,698. At December 31, 2022 and 2021, our total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested share-based compensation granted under our stock compensation plans was $1.7 million and $1.5 million, respectively. We expect to recognize this cost over a weighted average period of 2.1 years.
During 2022, we received cash from option exercises under all stock compensation plans of $17.4 million. We realized actual tax benefits for the tax deductions from option exercises of share-based compensation of $360,452 for 2022. During 2021, we received cash from option exercises under all stock compensation plans of $12.3 million. We realized actual tax benefits for the tax deductions from option exercises of share-based compensation of $438,850 for 2021. During 2020, we received cash from option exercises under all stock compensation plans of $17.5 million. We realized actual tax benefits for the tax deductions from option exercises of share-based compensation of $302,901 for 2020.
Index
Information regarding activity in our stock option plans follows:
Number of Options
Weighted-Average Exercise
Price Per Share
Outstanding at December 31, 2019
10,435,990
$
15.09
Granted - 2020
935,099
14.45
Exercised - 2020
(1,294,606
)
13.52
Forfeited - 2020
(303,908
)
15.23
Expired - 2020
(78,223 )
13.64
Outstanding at December 31, 2020
9,694,352
15.24
Granted - 2021
906,500
14.39
Exercised - 2021
(946,646
)
13.00
Forfeited - 2021
(404,664
)
15.69
Expired - 2021
(1,139,816 )
16.40
Outstanding at December 31, 2021
8,109,726
15.22
Granted - 2022
956,600
14.08
Exercised - 2022
(1,202,806
)
14.50
Forfeited - 2022
(545,618
)
15.35
Expired - 2022
(935,723
)
16.81
Outstanding at December 31, 2022
6,382,179
$
14.94
Exercisable at:
December 31, 2020
7,786,934
$
15.42
December 31, 2021
6,297,849
$
15.43
December 31, 2022
4,627,630
$
15.21
Shares available for future option grants at December 31, 2022 totaled 1.4 million shares under all plans.
The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at December 31, 2022:
Grant Date
Exercise Price
Number of Options Outstanding
Weighted-Average
Remaining
Contractual Life
Number of Options Exercisable
December 19, 2013
15.90
1,492,596
1.0 years
1,492,596
December 18, 2014
15.80
979,839
2.0 years
979,839
December 20, 2018
13.69
497,470
1.0 years
497,470
December 19, 2019
14.98
868,050
2.0 years
868,050
December 17, 2020
14.43
755,424
3.0 years
503,611
January 4, 2021
14.07
10,000
3.0 years
6,667
December 16, 2021
14.39
825,200
4.0 years
275,064
February 9, 2022
14.15
3,000
4.1 years
1,000
April 18, 2022
13.28
10,000
4.3 years
3,333
December 15, 2022
14.09
940,600
5.0 years
-
Total
6,382,179
4,627,630
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Since 1996, we have maintained an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. During 2011, we adopted a plan that made 300,000 shares of our Class A common stock available for issuance, which we amended in 2019 to make 500,000 shares of our Class A common stock available for issuance. The 2011 plan expired during 2021. During 2021, we adopted a new plan that made 500,000 shares of our Class A common stock available for issuance and extends over a 10-year period. The plan provides for shares to be offered to all eligible employees at a purchase price equal to the lesser of 85% of the fair market value of our Class A common stock on the last day before the first day of each enrollment period (June 1 and December 1 of each year) under the plan or 85% of the fair market value of our Class A common stock on the last day of each subscription period (June 30 and December 31 of each year).
Index
A summary of plan activity follows:
Shares Issued
Price
Shares
January 1, 2020
12.28
20,424
July 1, 2020
12.09
22,662
January 1, 2021
11.96
23,336
July 1, 2021
11.88
24,619
January 1, 2022
12.15
24,907
July 1, 2022
11.56
23,454
On January 1, 2023, we issued 26,545 shares at a price of $12.07 per share under this plan.
Agency Stock Purchase Plan
Since 1996, we have maintained an Agency Stock Purchase Plan. During 2018, we adopted a plan that made 350,000 shares of our Class A common stock available for issuance to agents of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual. During 2021, we amended the 2018 plan to make 400,000 shares of our Class A common stock available for issuance. The 2018 plan expired in 2021. During 2021, we adopted a new plan that made 500,000 shares of our Class A common stock available for issuance to agents of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual. The plan permits an agent to invest up to $12,000 per subscription period (April 1 to September 30 and October 1 to March 31 of each year) under various methods. We issue stock at the end of each subscription period at a price equal to 90% of the average market price during the last ten trading days of each subscription period. During 2022, 2021 and 2020, we issued 104,393, 99,828 and 101,647 shares, respectively, under this plan. The expense we recognized under this plan was not material.
14 - Statutory Net Income, Capital and Surplus and Dividend Restrictions
The following table presents selected information, as filed with state insurance regulatory authorities, for our insurance subsidiaries as determined in accordance with accounting practices prescribed or permitted by such insurance regulatory authorities:
Index
Atlantic States:
Statutory capital and surplus
$
263,579,356
$
278,883,189
$
279,796,696
Statutory unassigned surplus
158,056,862
174,073,348
175,777,393
Statutory net (loss) income
(3,124,687
)
(7,417,845
)
20,735,871
Southern:
Statutory capital and surplus
64,463,124
64,238,221
57,142,228
Statutory unassigned surplus
7,523,951
7,330,382
300,409
Statutory net (loss) income
(410,561
)
6,927,576
4,350,677
Peninsula:
Statutory capital and surplus
52,234,684
47,867,789
49,285,069
Statutory unassigned surplus
33,925,484
29,558,589
30,975,869
Statutory net income
4,192,697
3,536,404
10,955,796
MICO:
Statutory capital and surplus
75,441,871
75,197,207
72,183,575
Statutory unassigned surplus
53,422,483
53,201,571
45,247,698
Statutory net (loss) income
(233,391
)
7,704,417
12,240,173
Our principal source of cash for payment of dividends is dividends from our insurance subsidiaries. State insurance laws require our insurance subsidiaries to maintain certain minimum capital and surplus amounts on a statutory basis. Our insurance subsidiaries are subject to regulations that restrict the payment of dividends from statutory surplus and may require prior approval of their domiciliary insurance regulatory authorities. Our insurance subsidiaries are also subject to risk-based capital (“RBC”) requirements that may further impact their ability to pay dividends. Our insurance subsidiaries’ statutory capital and surplus at December 31, 2022 exceeded the amount of statutory capital and surplus necessary to satisfy regulatory requirements, including the RBC requirements, by a significant margin. Amounts available for distribution to us as dividends from our insurance subsidiaries without prior approval of insurance regulatory authorities in 2023 are approximately $26.4 million from Atlantic States, $6.5 million from Southern, $6.0 million from Peninsula and $7.5 million from MICO, or a total of approximately $46.4 million.
15 - Reconciliation of Statutory Filings to Amounts Reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements
Our insurance subsidiaries must file financial statements with state insurance regulatory authorities using accounting principles and practices prescribed or permitted by those authorities. We refer to these accounting principles and practices as statutory accounting principles (“SAP”). Accounting principles used to prepare these SAP financial statements differ from those used to prepare financial statements on the basis of GAAP.
Index
Reconciliations of statutory net income and capital and surplus, as determined using SAP, to the net (loss) income and stockholders’ equity amounts included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements are as follows:
Year Ended December 31,
Statutory net income of insurance subsidiaries
$
424,058
$
10,750,552
$
48,282,517
Increases (decreases):
Deferred policy acquisition costs
5,141,857
8,871,415
(127,901
)
Deferred federal income taxes
2,958,735
(1,085,903
)
(6,448
)
Salvage and subrogation recoverable
5,195,800
2,551,800
713,400
Consolidating eliminations and adjustments
(14,791,466
)
(18,769
)
(9,516,984
)
Parent-only net (loss) income
(888,389
)
4,185,079
13,470,668
Net (loss) income
$
(1,959,405
)
$
25,254,174
$
52,815,252
December 31,
Statutory capital and surplus of insurance subsidiaries
$
455,719,035
$
466,186,406
$
458,407,568
Increases (decreases):
Deferred policy acquisition costs
73,170,230
68,028,373
59,156,958
Deferred federal income taxes
(23,794,084
)
(21,294,388
)
(18,586,428
)
Salvage and subrogation recoverable
28,706,200
23,510,400
20,958,600
Non-admitted assets and other adjustments, net
712,623
929,862
1,315,378
Fixed maturities
(49,367,986
)
5,958,434
15,309,610
Parent-only equity and other adjustments
(1,553,006
)
(12,283,000
)
(18,787,566
)
Stockholders’ equity
$
483,593,012
$
531,036,087
$
517,774,120
16 - Supplementary Cash Flow Information
The following table reflects net income taxes and interest we paid during 2022, 2021 and 2020:
Income taxes
$
4,500,000
$
6,200,000
$
12,800,000
Interest
623,947
1,150,211
1,191,800
17 - Earnings Per Share
We have two classes of common stock, which we refer to as Class A common stock and Class B common stock. Our Class A common stock is entitled to be paid cash dividends that are at least 10% higher than the cash dividends we pay on our Class B common stock. Accordingly, we use the two-class method for the computation of earnings per common share. The two-class method is an earnings allocation formula that determines earnings per share separately for each class of common stock based on dividends declared and an allocation of remaining undistributed earnings using a participation percentage reflecting the dividend rights of each class.
Index
We present below a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators we used in the basic and diluted per share computations for our Class A common stock:
Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands)
Basic (loss) earnings per share:
Numerator:
Allocation of net (loss) income
$
(1,571
)
$
21,131
$
43,609
Denominator:
Weighted-average shares outstanding
26,409
25,388
23,707
Basic (loss) earnings per share
$
(0.06
)
$
0.83
$
1.84
Diluted (loss) earnings per share:
Numerator:
Allocation of net (loss) income
$
(1,571
)
$
21,131
$
43,609
Denominator:
Number of shares used in basic computation
26,409
25,388
23,707
Weighted-average effect of dilutive securities
Add: Director and employee stock options
-
Number of shares used in per share computations
26,409
25,534
23,887
Diluted (loss) earnings per share
$
(0.06
)
$
0.83
$
1.83
We used the following information in the basic and diluted per share computations for our Class B common stock:
Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands)
Basic and diluted (loss) earnings per share:
Numerator:
Allocation of net (loss) income
$
(388
)
$
4,123
$
9,206
Denominator:
Weighted-average shares outstanding
5,577
5,577
5,577
Basic and diluted (loss) earnings per share
$
(0.07
)
$
0.74
$
1.65
We did not include any effect of dilutive securities in the computation of diluted loss per share for 2022 because we sustained a net loss for the period.
Index
18 - Condensed Financial Information of Parent Company
Condensed Balance Sheets
(in thousands)
December 31,
Assets
Investment in subsidiaries/affiliates (equity method)
$
509,513
$
554,804
Short-term investments
7,325
Cash
3,288
14,375
Property and equipment
Other
4,589
2,455
Total assets
$
525,301
$
572,359
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Liabilities
Cash dividends declared to stockholders
$
5,297
$
4,915
Notes payable to subsidiary
35,000
35,000
Other
1,411
1,408
Total liabilities
41,708
41,323
Stockholders’ equity
483,593
531,036
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
525,301
$
572,359
Condensed Statements of (Loss) Income and Comprehensive (Loss) Income
(in thousands)
Year Ended December 31,
Statements of (Loss) Income
Revenues
Dividends from subsidiaries
$
-
$
5,000
$
14,000
Realized investment gains
-
-
-
Other
Total revenues
5,481
14,463
Expenses
Operating expenses
1,245
1,223
1,258
Interest
Total expenses
2,032
2,010
2,052
(Loss) income before income tax benefit and equity in undistributed net (loss) income of subsidiaries
(1,506
)
3,471
12,411
Income tax benefit
(618
)
(714
)
(1,059
)
(Loss) income before equity in undistributed net (loss) income of subsidiaries
(888
)
4,185
13,470
Equity in undistributed net (loss) income of subsidiaries
(1,071
)
21,069
39,345
Net (loss) income
$
(1,959
)
$
25,254
$
52,815
Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income
Net (loss) income
$
(1,959
)
$
25,254
$
52,815
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax
Unrealized (loss) gain - subsidiaries
(44,988
)
(7,847
)
10,627
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax
(44,988
)
(7,847
)
10,627
Comprehensive (loss) income
$
(46,947
)
$
17,407
$
63,442
Index
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
Year Ended December 31,
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net (loss) income
$
(1,959
)
$
25,254
$
52,815
Adjustments:
Equity in undistributed net loss (income) of subsidiaries
1,071
(21,069
)
(39,345
)
Other
(1,972
)
(536
)
(5,615
)
Net adjustments
(901
)
(21,605
)
(44,960
)
Net cash (used) provided
(2,860
)
3,649
7,855
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net (purchases) sale of short-term investments
(7,316
)
-
2,493
Net purchase of property and equipment
-
(13
)
(18
)
Investment in subsidiaries
(768
)
(916
)
(1,037
)
Other
(28 )
-
-
Net cash (used) received
(8,112
)
(929
)
1,438
Cash flows from financing activities:
Cash dividends paid
(20,503
)
(19,099
)
(16,976
)
Issuance of common stock
20,388
15,433
20,654
Net cash (used) received
(115
)
(3,666
)
3,678
Net change in cash
(11,087
)
(946
)
12,971
Cash at beginning of year
14,375
15,321
2,350
Cash at end of year
$
3,288
$
14,375
$
15,321
19 - Segment Information
We have three reportable segments, which consist of our investment function, our commercial lines of insurance and our personal lines of insurance. Using independent agents, our insurance subsidiaries market commercial lines of insurance to small and medium-sized businesses and personal lines of insurance to individuals.
We evaluate the performance of the commercial lines and personal lines primarily based upon our insurance subsidiaries’ underwriting results as determined under SAP for our total business.
We do not allocate assets to the commercial and personal lines and review the two segments in total for purposes of decision-making. We operate only in the United States, and no single customer or agent provides 10 percent or more of our revenues.
Index
Financial data by segment is as follows:
(in thousands)
Revenues:
Premiums earned:
Commercial lines
$
510,153
$
468,433
$
412,877
Personal lines
312,337
307,582
329,163
GAAP premiums earned
822,490
776,015
742,040
Net investment income
34,016
31,126
29,504
Investment (losses) gains
(10,185
)
6,477
2,778
Other
1,900
2,848
3,497
Total revenues
$
848,221
$
816,466
$
777,819
(in thousands)
(Loss) income before income taxes:
Underwriting (loss) income:
Commercial lines
$
(22,665
)
$
(35,174
)
$
(858
)
Personal lines
(13,506
)
17,235
31,764
SAP underwriting (loss) income
(36,171
)
(17,939
)
30,906
GAAP adjustments
8,667
9,945
(959
)
GAAP underwriting (loss) income
(27,504
)
(7,994
)
29,947
Net investment income
34,016
31,126
29,504
Investment (losses) gains
(10,185
)
6,477
2,778
Other
1,043
(Loss) income before income taxes
$
(3,638
)
$
30,339
$
63,272
20 - Guaranty Fund and Other Insurance-Related Assessments
Our insurance subsidiaries’ liabilities for guaranty fund and other insurance-related assessments were $1.9 million and $1.7 million at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. These liabilities included $663,883 and $602,523 related to surcharges collected by our insurance subsidiaries on behalf of regulatory authorities for 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Index
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and Board of Directors of Donegal Group Inc.:
Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Donegal Group Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the related consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2022, and the related notes and financial statement schedule III (collectively, the consolidated financial statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2022, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, and our report dated March 6, 2023 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of a critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Estimate of Liabilities for Losses and Loss Expenses
As discussed in Notes 1 and 8 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company estimates the liabilities for losses and loss expenses (reserves) through an internal reserve analysis that relies upon generally accepted actuarial practices. The Company develops reserve estimates by line of business and, as experience emerges and other information develops, the reserve estimates are assessed in aggregate and adjusted as necessary. As of December 31, 2022, the Company recorded a liability of $1.121 billion for reserves.
Index
We identified the evaluation of the estimate of reserves as a critical audit matter. The evaluation of the Company’s estimate of reserves involved a high degree of auditor judgment due to the inherent uncertainties in the use of actuarial methods and assumptions, which considered internal and external factors. Assumptions included the selection of loss development factors, a priori ratios, and the weighting of actuarial methods when more than one was used. Evaluating the actuarial methods and assumptions required specialized skills and auditor judgment.
The following are the primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter. We evaluated, with the involvement of actuarial professionals, when appropriate, the design and tested the operating effectiveness of certain internal controls related to the Company’s reserving process. These included controls related to the Company’s actuarial analyses and determination of the Company’s estimate of recorded reserves. We involved actuarial professionals with specialized skills and knowledge, who assisted in:
•
evaluating the Company’s actuarial methods by comparing them to generally accepted actuarial practices
•
developing an independent estimate of reserves for certain lines of business using methods consistent with generally accepted actuarial practices by independently forming assumptions of loss development factors, a priori ratios, and the weighting of actuarial methods when more than one was used, considering internal and external factors
•
assessing the Company's internal actuarial analysis for certain lines of business by reviewing the assumptions and actuarial methods used, which included the selection of loss development factors, a priori ratios, and the weighting of actuarial methods when more than one was used, considering internal and external factors
•
developing a range of reserves and comparing to the Company’s recorded reserves and assessing movement of the Company’s recorded reserves within that range.
We or our predecessor firms have served as the Company’s auditor since 1986.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
March 6, 2023
Index

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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
Item 9.
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
None.

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ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Item 9A.
Controls and Procedures.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) at December 31, 2022 covered by this Form 10-K Report. Based on such evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, at December 31, 2022, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in recording, processing, summarizing and reporting, on a timely basis, information we are required to disclose in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act and our disclosure controls and procedures are also effective to ensure that information we disclose in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as that term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, our management has conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework and criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the “COSO
Framework”). Based on our evaluation under the COSO Framework, our management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective at December 31, 2022.
The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting at December 31, 2022 has been audited by KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in its report, which is included in this Form 10-K Report.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Donegal Mutual implemented a new application system that Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries began to utilize during 2021 for the allocation of expenses and, beginning in 2022, for reinsurance premiums and commissions. The new application system provides for further automation of, and enhanced internal controls over these processes. The implementation of the new system is part of a multi-year accounting systems and process modernization initiative Donegal Mutual is implementing to achieve various benefits for Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries, including streamlined financial reporting workflows and a more efficient control environment.
Such changes resulted in changes to procedures related to our financial reporting. Prior to the implementation of the new systems, we identified and designed new internal controls that we incorporated into our internal controls over financial reporting. Following the implementation, we validated these new controls according to our established processes. We did not implement these changes in internal controls to respond to any actual or perceived significant deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting.

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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 9B.
Other Information.
None.
Index
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and Board of Directors
Donegal Group Inc.:
Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We have audited Donegal Group Inc. and subsidiaries’ (the Company) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the related consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2022, and the related notes and financial statement schedule III (collectively, the consolidated financial statements), and our report dated March 6, 2023 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s 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 are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
March 6, 2023
Index
PART III

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ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Item 10.
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
Other than the information we provide below and the information regarding executive officers included in Part I of this Form 10-K Report, we incorporate the response to this Item 10 by reference to our proxy statement we will file with the SEC on or about March 17, 2023 relating to our annual meeting of stockholders that we will hold on April 20, 2023, or our Proxy Statement.
We incorporate the full text of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics by reference to Exhibit 14 to this Form 10-K Report.

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Item 11.
Executive Compensation.
We incorporate the response to this Item 11 by reference to our Proxy Statement. Neither the Report of our Compensation Committee nor the Report of our Audit Committee included in our Proxy Statement shall constitute or be deemed to constitute a filing with the SEC under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or be deemed to have been incorporated by reference into any filing we make under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except to the extent we specifically incorporate the Report of Our Compensation Committee or the Report of Our Audit Committee by reference.

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
Item 12.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
We incorporate the response to this Item 12 by reference to our Proxy Statement.

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Item 13.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
We incorporate the response to this Item 13 by reference to our Proxy Statement.

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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Item 14.
Principal Accounting Fees and Services.
We incorporate the response to this Item 14 by reference to our Proxy Statement.
Index
PART IV

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Item 15.
Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.
(a)
Financial statements, financial statement schedule and exhibits filed:
(i)
Consolidated Financial Statements
Page
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Donegal Group Inc. and Subsidiaries:
Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2022 and 2021
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Report and Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
(Filed as Exhibit 23.1)
(b)
Financial Statement Schedule
Schedule III - Supplementary Insurance Information
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Filed herewith
We have omitted all other schedules since they are not required, not applicable or the information is included in the financial statements or notes to the financial statements.
(c)
Exhibits
Exhibit No.
Description of Exhibits
Reference
3.1
Certificate of Incorporation of Donegal Group Inc., as amended.
(i)
3.2
Second Amended and Restated By-laws of Donegal Group Inc.
(q)
3.3
State of Delaware Certificate of Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office
(r)
4.1
Description of Donegal Group Inc’s Securities Registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act.
(m)
Management Contracts and Compensatory Plans or Arrangements
10.1
Donegal Group Inc. 2013 Equity Incentive Plan for Employees.
(g)
10.2
Donegal Group Inc. 2013 Equity Incentive Plan for Directors.
(g)
10.3
Employment Agreement dated as of October 1, 2020 among Donegal Mutual Insurance Company, Donegal Group Inc. and Kevin G. Burke.
(l)
10.4
Employment Agreement dated as of October 1, 2020 among Donegal Mutual Insurance Company, Donegal Group Inc. and Jeffrey D. Miller.
(l)
10.5
Form of Employment Agreement dated as of October 1, 2020 among Donegal Mutual Insurance Company, Donegal Group Inc. and Our Executive Officers Other Than Kevin G. Burke and Jeffrey D. Miller.
Filed herewith
Index
10.6
Donegal Mutual Insurance Company 401(k) Plan.
(a)
10.7
Amendment No. 1 effective January 1, 2000 to Donegal Mutual Insurance Company 401(k) Plan.
(a)
10.8
Amendment No. 2 effective January 6, 2000 to Donegal Mutual Insurance Company 401(k) Plan.
(b)
10.9
Amendment No. 3 effective July 23, 2001 to Donegal Mutual Insurance Company 401(k) Plan.
(b)
10.10
Amendment No. 4 effective January 1, 2002 to Donegal Mutual Insurance Company 401(k) Plan.
(b)
10.11
Amendment No. 5 effective December 31, 2001 to Donegal Mutual Insurance Company 401(k) Plan.
(b)
10.12
Amendment No. 6 effective July 1, 2002 to Donegal Mutual Insurance Company 401(k) Plan.
(c)
10.13
Donegal Group Inc. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan for Employees.
(h)
10.14
Donegal Group Inc. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan for Directors.
(h)
10.15
Donegal Group Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan for Employees.
(j)
10.16
Donegal Group Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan for Directors.
(j)
10.17
Donegal Group Inc. Cash Incentive Bonus Plan for 2020.
(k)
10.18
Donegal Group Inc. 2020 Long-Term Executive Incentive Plan.
(k)
10.19
Donegal Group Inc. Cash Incentive Bonus Plan for 2021.
(m)
10.20
Donegal Group Inc. 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
(n)
10.21
Donegal Group Inc. Cash Incentive Bonus Plan for 2022.
(p)
10.22
Donegal Group Inc. Cash Incentive Bonus Plan for 2023.
Filed herewith
10.23
Donegal Group Inc. 2023 Long-Term Executive Incentive Plan.
Filed herewith
Other Material Contracts
10.24
Amended and Restated Proportional Reinsurance Agreement dated March 1, 2010 between Donegal Mutual Insurance Company and Atlantic States Insurance Company.
(e)
10.25
Amended and Restated Tax Sharing Agreement dated December 1, 2010 among Donegal Group Inc., Atlantic States Insurance Company, Southern Insurance Company of Virginia, Le Mars Insurance Company, The Peninsula Insurance Company, Peninsula Indemnity Company and Michigan Insurance Company.
(f)
10.26
Amended and Restated Services Allocation Agreement dated September 1, 2021 among Donegal Mutual Insurance Company, Donegal Group Inc., Atlantic States Insurance Company, Southern Insurance Company of Virginia, The Peninsula Insurance Company, Peninsula Indemnity Company and Michigan Insurance Company.
(p)
10.27
Quota-share Reinsurance Agreement dated December 1, 2010 between Donegal Mutual Insurance Company and Michigan Insurance Company.
(f)
10.28
Donegal Group Inc. 2021 Agency Stock Purchase Plan.
(o)
10.29
Discretionary Loan Agreement between Donegal Group Inc. and M&T Bank dated August 1, 2020.
(m)
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.
(d)
Subsidiaries of Registrant.
Filed herewith
23.1
Report and Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
Filed herewith
31.1
Rule 13a-14(a)/15(d)-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer.
Filed herewith
Index
31.2
Rule 13a-14(a)/15(d)-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer.
Filed herewith
32.1
Section 1350 Certification of Chief Executive Officer.
Filed herewith
32.2
Section 1350 Certification of Chief Financial Officer.
Filed herewith
Exhibit 101.INS
XBRL Instance Document
Filed herewith
Exhibit 101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
Filed herewith
Exhibit 101.PRE
XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase Document
Filed herewith
Exhibit 101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase Document
Filed herewith
Exhibit 101.LAB
XBRL Taxonomy Label Linkbase Document
Filed herewith
Exhibit 101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
Filed herewith
(a)
We incorporate such exhibit by reference to the like-described exhibit in Registrant’s Form 10-K Report for the year ended December 31, 1999.
(b)
We incorporate such exhibit by reference to the like-described exhibit in Registrant’s Form 10-K Report for the year ended December 31, 2001.
(c)
We incorporate such exhibit by reference to the like-described exhibit in Registrant’s Form 10-K Report for the year ended December 31, 2002.
(d)
We incorporate such exhibit by reference to the like-described exhibit in Registrant’s Form 10-K Report for the year ended December 31, 2003.
(e)
We incorporate such exhibit by reference to the like-described exhibit in Registrant’s Form 10-K Report for the year ended December 31, 2009.
(f)
We incorporate such exhibit by reference to the like-described exhibit in Registrant’s Form 10-K Report for the year ended December 31, 2010.
(g)
We incorporate such exhibit by reference to the like-described exhibit in Registrant’s Form 8-K Report dated April 22, 2013.
(h)
We incorporate such exhibit by reference to the copy of such plan in Registrant’s definitive proxy statement for its Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on April 16, 2015 filed on March 16, 2015.
(i)
We incorporate such exhibit by reference to the like-described exhibit in Registrant’s Form 10-Q Report for the quarter ended June 30, 2019.
(j)
We incorporate such exhibit by reference to the copy of such plan in Registrant’s definitive proxy statement for its Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on April 18, 2019 filed on March 18, 2019.
(k)
We incorporate such exhibit by reference to the like-described exhibit in Registrant’s Form 10-K Report for the year ended December 31, 2019.
(l)
We incorporate such exhibit by reference to the like-described exhibit in Registrant's Form 8-K Report dated October 1, 2020.
(m)
We incorporate such exhibit by reference to the like-described exhibit in Registrant’s Form 10-K Report for the year ended December 31, 2020.
(n)
We incorporate such exhibit by reference to the copy of such plan in Registrant’s definitive proxy statement for its Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on April 15, 2021 filed on March 15, 2021.
(o)
We incorporate such exhibit by reference to the like-described exhibit in Registrant’s Form S-3 Registration Statement filed on September 30, 2021.
(p)
We incorporate such exhibit by reference to the like-described exhibit in Registrant’s Form 10-K Report for the year ended December 31, 2021.
(q)
We incorporate such exhibit by reference to the like-described exhibit in Registrant’s Form 8-K Report dated July 22, 2022.
(r)
We incorporate such exhibit by reference to the like-described exhibit in Registrant’s Form 8-K Report dated August 10, 2022.