EMC Insurance Group Inc. Reports 2016 Third Quarter and Nine Month Results

Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2016
Net Income Per Share – $0.20
Operating Income Per Share¹ – $0.23
Net Realized Investment Losses Per Share – $0.03
Catastrophe and Storm Losses Per Share – $0.53
GAAP Combined Ratio – 102.9 percent

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
Net Income Per Share – $1.19
Operating Income Per Share¹ – $1.21
Net Realized Investment Losses Per Share – $0.02
Catastrophe and Storm Losses Per Share – $1.41
GAAP Combined Ratio – 99.8 percent

DES MOINES, Iowa, Nov. 04, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EMC Insurance Group Inc. EMCI (the "Company"), today reported net income of $4.1 million ($0.20 per share) for the third quarter ended September 30, 2016, compared to net income of $11.2 million ($0.54 per share) for the third quarter of 2015. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company reported net income of $24.9 million ($1.19 per share), compared to $40.3 million ($1.96 per share) for the same period in 2015.

Operating income¹, which excludes realized investment gains and losses from net income, totaled $4.9 million ($0.23 per share) for the third quarter of 2016, compared to $6.3 million ($0.31 per share) for the third quarter of 2015. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company reported operating income of $25.3 million ($1.21 per share), compared to $32.8 million ($1.59 per share) for the same period in 2015.

The Company's GAAP combined ratio was 102.9 percent in the third quarter of 2016, compared to 101.8 percent in the third quarter of 2015. For the first nine months of 2016, the Company's GAAP combined ratio was 99.8 percent, compared to 97.0 percent in 2015.

"Commercial auto and personal lines continue to depress results," stated President and Chief Executive Officer Bruce G. Kelley. "We expect to see gradual improvement in the performance of these lines during 2017 from our comprehensive Accelerate Commercial Auto Profitability project and our nearly complete personal lines initiative. 

"The new intercompany reinsurance program in place for the property and casualty insurance segment is working as planned. Recoveries under the treaty covering the first half of the year reduced the volatility of our quarterly results caused by catastrophe and storm losses. While no recoveries have been made under the treaty covering the second half of the year, we are near its retention amount and therefore are expecting a minimal amount of catastrophe and storm losses in the fourth quarter," concluded Kelley.

Premiums earned increased 4.4 percent and 2.9 percent for the third quarter and first nine months of 2016. In the property and casualty insurance segment, premiums earned increased 2.3 percent and 1.6 percent for the third quarter and first nine months of 2016. The new semi-annual aggregate catastrophe excess of loss intercompany reinsurance program between the Company's three property and casualty insurance subsidiaries and Employers Mutual Casualty Company (Employers Mutual), the Company's parent organization, reduced premiums earned by $765,000 and $7.1 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2016. Excluding this cost, premiums earned increased 3.0 percent and 3.7 percent. The majority of these increases are attributed to growth in insured exposures, an increase in new business, and small rate level increases on renewal business.

In the reinsurance segment, premiums earned increased 11.8 percent and 7.2 percent for the third quarter and first nine months of 2016. These increases reflect reductions in the total cost of the revised excess of loss reinsurance program with Employers Mutual totaling $246,000 and $2.4 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2016. In 2016, the total cost of the reinsurance program includes the premiums paid to Employers Mutual, as well as the cost of Industry Loss Warranties (ILWs) that have been purchased from external parties to provide increased protection in peak exposure territories. During 2015, the premium paid to Employers Mutual (8 percent of total assumed reinsurance premiums written) included the cost of ILWs purchased by Employers Mutual for its benefit. Excluding the reduction in the cost of the revised reinsurance program, premiums earned increased approximately 11.0 percent and 4.7 percent for the third quarter and first nine months of 2016. The increase for the third quarter was driven by the addition of some new accounts and growth in the pro rata line of business, partially offset by a decline in the marine business attributed to the offshore energy and liability proportional account.  

Catastrophe and storm losses totaled $17.1 million ($0.53 per share after tax) in the third quarter of 2016, compared to $17.8 million ($0.56 per share after tax) in the third quarter of 2015. Catastrophe and storm losses increased $4.9 million in the property and casualty insurance segment, but declined $5.6 million in the reinsurance segment. The property and casualty insurance segment recovered an additional $3.5 million of catastrophe and storm losses from Employers Mutual during the third quarter under the January 1 through June 30 excess of loss reinsurance treaty, bringing the total recovery for first nine months of 2016 to $5.1 million. No recoveries were made under the July 1 through December 31 treaty; however, only $213,000 of retention remains under that treaty, meaning catastrophe and storm losses will be capped at $213,000 in the fourth quarter, unless the $12.0 million limit of protection is exceeded. No recoveries have been made under the reinsurance segment's intercompany reinsurance program during the first nine months of 2016. Third quarter 2016 catastrophe and storm losses accounted for 11.1 percentage points of the combined ratio, which was lower than expected, and well below the Company's most recent 10-year average of 14.3 percentage points for this period. Catastrophe and storm losses accounted for 12.2 percentage points of the combined ratio in the third quarter of 2015.

For the first nine months of 2016, catastrophe and storm losses totaled $45.5 million ($1.41 per share after tax), compared to $40.8 million ($1.29 per share after tax) in 2015. On a segment basis, catastrophe and storm losses amounted to $14.8 million ($0.46 per share after tax) and $34.8 million ($1.08 per share after tax) in the property and casualty insurance segment, and $2.3 million ($0.07 per share after tax) and $10.7 million ($0.33 per share after tax) in the reinsurance segment, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively.

During the third quarter of 2016, management implemented a new reserving methodology for the determination of direct bulk reserves in the property and casualty insurance segment. The new methodology, which is referred to as the accident year ultimate estimate approach, better conforms to industry practices and will provide increased transparency of the drivers of the property and casualty insurance segment's performance. Although the reserves carried at September 30, 2016 were calculated under the new reserving methodology, the explicit drivers of development on prior years' reserves for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 cannot be identified because the reserves carried at December 31, 2015 were calculated under the old reserving methodology, and the implicit accident year ultimate assumptions underlying that methodology are not known. The explicit drivers of development on prior years' reserves will be identifiable beginning in the first quarter of 2017.

The implementation of the new reserving methodology did not have a material impact on total carried reserves for the property and casualty insurance segment at September 30, 2016; however, approximately $5.6 million of incurred but not reported (IBNR) loss reserves and settlement expense reserves were reallocated from prior accident years to the current accident year in multiple lines of business. This reduction in prior accident years' reserves is reported as favorable development; however, this development is "mechanical" in nature, and did not have any impact on earnings because the total amount of carried reserves did not change as a result of this reallocation.

During the third quarter of 2015, approximately $2.4 million of reserves on a two-year contract were reallocated from the current accident year to the prior accident year in the reinsurance segment. The increase in prior accident year reserves is reported as adverse development; however, this development is also "mechanical" in nature and did not have any impact on earnings.

The Company reported $13.2 million ($0.41 per share after tax) of favorable development on prior years' reserves during the third quarter of 2016, compared to $2.2 million ($0.07 per share after tax) in the third quarter of 2015. For the first nine months of 2016, favorable development totaled $29.1 million ($0.90 per share after tax), compared to $20.0 million ($0.63 per share after tax) in 2015. Excluding the "mechanical" development amounts described above, the implied amounts of favorable development that had an impact on earnings would be approximately $7.6 million and $23.5 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2016, compared to $4.6 million and $22.3 million for the same periods in 2015.

Under the previous reserving methodology employed through the second quarter of 2016, development amounts could vary significantly from quarter to quarter and year to year depending on a number of factors, including the number of claims settled and the settlement terms.  With the conversion to the accident year ultimate estimate methodology as of the end of third quarter 2016, calendar year development on prior accident years is determined solely by changes in the prior accident years' ultimate loss and settlement expense ratios.  In transitioning to the new methodology, changes in the assumptions underlying the ultimate ratios previously established for accident years 2015 and prior are difficult to quantify as the implied ultimate ratios under the previous methodology were based on implicit, rather than explicit, actuarial assumptions.  Therefore, comparison of 2016 third quarter and year-to-date development amounts to the 2015 development amounts provides little meaningful information, as the prior accident year reserve allocation method lacked explicit frequency and severity assumptions.   

Large losses are defined as reported current accident year losses greater than $500,000 for the EMC Insurance Companies' pool, excluding catastrophe and storm losses. Under the property and casualty insurance segment's prior reserving methodology, large losses had a direct impact on earnings. Under the new reserving methodology, large losses are taken into consideration when establishing the current accident quarter/year ultimate estimates of losses, but there is no longer a direct relationship between large losses and earnings. As a result, it is no longer meaningful to report large losses separately. The amount of large losses previously reported for the first six months of 2016 has not been carried forward and disclosed for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, because it would not be comparable to the amount reported for the first nine months of 2015.

Net investment income increased 1.5 percent and 5.7 percent to $11.5 million and $35.9 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2016, from $11.3 million and $33.9 million for the same periods in 2015. These increases are primarily attributed to higher amounts of dividend income, and an increase in interest income resulting from a higher average invested balance in fixed maturity securities.

Net realized investment losses totaled $1.2 million ($0.03 per share after tax) and $643,000 ($0.02 per share after tax) for the third quarter and first nine months of 2016, compared to net realized investment gains of $7.5 million ($0.23 per share after tax) and $11.6 million ($0.37 per share after tax) for the same periods in 2015. Included in net realized investment losses reported for the third quarter and first nine months of 2016 are $1.9 million and $5.3 million, respectively, of net realized investment losses attributed to declines in the carrying value of a limited partnership that helps to protect the Company from a sudden and significant decline in the value of its equity portfolio. Included in the net realized investment gains reported for the third quarter and first nine months of 2015 are net realized investment gains of $7.2 million and $3.8 million, respectively, attributed to an increase in the carrying value of this limited partnership that resulted from the sharp decline in the equity markets that occurred in August of 2015.

At September 30, 2016, consolidated assets totaled $1.6 billion, including $1.5 billion in the investment portfolio, and stockholders' equity totaled $562.4 million, an increase of 7.1 percent from December 31, 2015. Book value of the Company's stock increased 5.6 percent to $26.67 per share from $25.26 per share at December 31, 2015, but declined 0.5 percent from June 30, 2016, which reflects a decline in unrealized gains on the investment portfolio. Book value excluding accumulated other comprehensive income increased 2.9 percent to $23.09 per share from $22.45 per share at December 31, 2015, and was relatively flat compared to June 30, 2016.

Based on results for the first nine months of 2016 and projections for the remainder of the year, management is reaffirming its 2016 operating income¹ guidance range of $1.55 to $1.75 per share. The guidance is based on a projected GAAP combined ratio of 99.6 percent for the year and investment income growth in the low- to mid-single digits. The load for catastrophe and storm losses has been reduced to 8.7 points from the previous expectation of 10.2 points; however, the 1.5 point decline in the loss ratio attributable to this reduction was offset by an increase in the core loss ratio.

The Company will hold an earnings teleconference call at noon Eastern time on Friday, November 4, 2016 to allow securities analysts, stockholders and other interested parties the opportunity to hear management discuss the Company's results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, as well as its expectations for the remainder of 2016. Dial-in information for the call is toll-free 1-866-652-5200 (International: 1-412-317-6060).

Members of the news media, investors and the general public are invited to access a live webcast of the conference call via the Company's investor relations page at www.emcins.com/ir. The webcast will be archived and available for replay for approximately 90 days following the earnings call. A transcript of the teleconference will be available on the Company's website shortly after the completion of the teleconference.

About EMCI:
EMC Insurance Group Inc. is a publicly held insurance holding company with operations in property and casualty insurance and reinsurance, which was formed in 1974 and became publicly held in 1982. The Company's common stock trades on the Global Select Market tier of the NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol EMCI. Additional information regarding EMC Insurance Group Inc. may be found at www.emcins.com/ir. EMCI's parent company is Employers Mutual. EMCI and Employers Mutual, together with their subsidiary and affiliated companies, conduct operations under the trade name EMC Insurance Companies.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides issuers the opportunity to make cautionary statements regarding forward-looking statements. Accordingly, any forward-looking statement contained in this report is based on management's current beliefs, assumptions and expectations of the Company's future performance, taking into account all information currently available to management. These beliefs, assumptions and expectations can change as the result of many possible events or factors, not all of which are known to management. If a change occurs, the Company's business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, plans and objectives may vary materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements.

The risks and uncertainties that may affect the actual results of the Company include, but are not limited to, the following:

• catastrophic events and the occurrence of significant severe weather conditions;
• the adequacy of loss and settlement expense reserves;
• state and federal legislation and regulations;
• changes in the property and casualty insurance industry, interest rates or the performance of financial markets and the general economy;
• rating agency actions;
• "other-than-temporary" investment impairment losses; and
• other risks and uncertainties inherent to the Company's business, including those discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Management intends to identify forward-looking statements when using the words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "project," or similar expressions. Undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any obligation to update such statements or to announce publicly the results of any revisions that it may make to any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements.

Definitions of Non-GAAP Information and Reconciliation to Comparable GAAP Measures:
The Company prepares its public financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the Unites States of America (GAAP). Management uses certain non-GAAP financial measures for goal setting, determining employee and senior management awards and compensation, and evaluating performance.

¹Operating income: Operating income is calculated by excluding net realized investment gains/losses (defined as realized investment gains and losses after applicable federal and state income taxes) from net income. While realized investment gains (or losses) are integral to the Company's insurance operations over the long term, the decision to realize investment gains or losses in any particular period is subject to changing market conditions and management's discretion, and is independent of the Company's insurance operations. The Company's calculation of operating income may differ from similar measures used by other companies, so investors should exercise caution when comparing the Company's measure of operating income to the measure of other companies. Management's projected operating income guidance is also considered a non-GAAP financial measure.

Management believes operating income is useful to investors because it illustrates the performance of the Company's normal, ongoing operations, which is important in understanding and evaluating the Company's financial condition and results of operations. While this measure is consistent with measures utilized by investors and analysts to evaluate performance, it is not intended as a substitute for the GAAP financial measure of net income. Therefore, the Company has provided the following reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measure of operating income to the GAAP financial measure of net income.

Statutory data is prepared in accordance with statutory accounting principles as defined by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' (NAIC) Accounting Practices and Procedures Manual. Statutory data is publicly available, and various organizations use it to calculate aggregate industry data, study industry trends and compare insurance companies.

²Premiums written: Under statutory accounting principles, property/casualty premiums written is the cost of insurance coverage, and refers to premiums for all policies sold during a specified reporting period. Management analyzes trends in premiums written to assess business efforts. Premiums earned, used in both statutory and GAAP accounting, is the recognition of the portion of premiums written directly related to the expired portion of an insurance policy for a given reporting period. The unexpired portion of premiums written is referred to as unearned premiums, and represents the portion of premiums written that would be returned to a policyholder upon cancellation of a policy.