Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 


FORM 10-Q

 


(Mark One)

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2007

or

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from              to             

Commission file number: 1-13754

 


THE HANOVER INSURANCE GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware   04-3263626

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

440 Lincoln Street, Worcester, Massachusetts 01653

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(508) 855-1000

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

 

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

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

Large accelerated filer  x    Accelerated filer  ¨    Non-accelerated filer  ¨

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

APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY

PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PRECEDING FIVE YEARS:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Section 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court. Yes ¨    No ¨

APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date: 51,481,460 shares of common stock outstanding, as of April 30, 2007.

 



Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I.    FINANCIAL INFORMATION   
    Item 1.  

Financial Statements

  
 

Consolidated Statements of Income

   3
 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

   4
 

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity

   5
 

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

   6
 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

   7
 

Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements

   8-20
    Item 2.  

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

   21-46
    Item 3.  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market

   47
    Item 4.  

Controls and Procedures

   47
PART II.    OTHER INFORMATION   
    Item 1.  

Legal Proceedings

   48-49
    Item 1A.  

Risk Factors

   49-51
    Item 2.  

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

   52
    Item 6.  

Exhibits

   52
SIGNATURES    53


Table of Contents

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1 - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

THE HANOVER INSURANCE GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

 

    

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

(In millions, except per share data)

   2007     2006  

REVENUES

    

Premiums

   $ 602.2     $ 559.4  

Net investment income

     80.2       80.3  

Net realized investment gains

     2.3       5.6  

Fees and other income

     13.4       19.3  
                

Total revenues

     698.1       664.6  
                

BENEFITS, LOSSES AND EXPENSES

    

Policy benefits, claims, losses and loss adjustment expenses

     385.5       359.8  

Policy acquisition expenses

     127.2       113.6  

Other operating expenses

     93.5       105.9  
                

Total benefits, losses and expenses

     606.2       579.3  
                

Income before federal income taxes

     91.9       85.3  
                

Federal income tax expense:

    

Current

     22.0       14.2  

Deferred

     6.1       11.1  
                

Total federal income tax expense

     28.1       25.3  
                

Income from continuing operations

     63.8       60.0  

Discontinued operations (See Note 3):

    

Loss on disposal of variable life insurance and annuity business (net of income tax benefit of $0.2 and $4.2)

     (0.2 )     (20.1 )
                

Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     63.6       39.9  

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle (net of income tax expense of $0.3)

     —         0.6  
                

Net income

   $ 63.6     $ 40.5  
                

PER SHARE DATA

    

Basic

    

Income from continuing operations

   $ 1.25     $ 1.13  

Discontinued operations:

    

Loss on disposal of variable life insurance and annuity business (net of income tax benefit of $0.08 in 2006)

     (0.01 )     (0.38 )
                

Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     1.24       0.75  

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     —         0.01  
                

Net income per share

   $ 1.24     $ 0.76  
                

Weighted average shares outstanding

     51.2       53.1  
                

Diluted

    

Income from continuing operations

   $ 1.23     $ 1.12  

Discontinued operations:

    

Loss on disposal of variable life insurance and annuity business (net of income tax benefit of $0.08 in 2006)

     (0.01 )     (0.38 )
                

Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     1.22       0.74  

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     —         0.01  
                

Net income per share

   $ 1.22     $ 0.75  
                

Weighted average shares outstanding

     51.9       53.6  
                

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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THE HANOVER INSURANCE GROUP, INC .

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

(In millions, except per share data)

  

(Unaudited)

March 31,

2007

   

December 31,

2006

 

ASSETS

    

Investments:

    

Fixed maturities, at fair value (amortized cost of $5,663.5 and $5,643.2)

   $ 5,671.4     $ 5,629.0  

Equity securities, at fair value (cost of $11.6)

     18.6       17.2  

Mortgage loans

     56.3       57.1  

Policy loans

     122.0       125.7  

Other long-term investments

     33.3       35.4  
                

Total investments

     5,901.6       5,864.4  
                

Cash and cash equivalents

     218.5       372.7  

Accrued investment income

     74.9       72.3  

Premiums, accounts and notes receivable, net

     620.7       584.7  

Reinsurance receivable on paid and unpaid losses, benefits and unearned premiums

     1,341.9       1,350.5  

Deferred policy acquisition costs

     239.5       233.5  

Deferred federal income taxes

     415.8       385.0  

Goodwill

     121.4       121.4  

Other assets

     324.5       328.5  

Separate account assets

     517.4       543.6  
                

Total assets

   $ 9,776.2     $ 9,856.6  
                

LIABILITIES

    

Policy liabilities and accruals:

    

Future policy benefits

   $ 1,227.0     $ 1,242.3  

Outstanding claims, losses and loss adjustment expenses

     3,237.6       3,247.2  

Unearned premiums

     1,134.1       1,101.4  

Contractholder deposit funds and other policy liabilities

     182.5       194.9  
                

Total policy liabilities and accruals

     5,781.2       5,785.8  
                

Expenses and taxes payable

     773.0       928.0  

Reinsurance premiums payable

     55.7       52.7  

Trust instruments supported by funding obligations

     39.4       38.5  

Long-term debt

     508.8       508.8  

Separate account liabilities

     517.4       543.6  
                

Total liabilities

     7,675.5       7,857.4  
                

Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)

    

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

    

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 20.0 million shares authorized, none issued

     —         —    

Common stock, $0.01 par value, 300.0 million shares authorized, 60.5 million shares issued

     0.6       0.6  

Additional paid-in capital

     1,814.7       1,814.3  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (21.1 )     (39.9 )

Retained earnings

     782.8       712.0  

Treasury stock at cost (9.2 million and 9.4 million shares)

     (476.3 )     (487.8 )
                

Total shareholders' equity

     2,100.7       1,999.2  
                

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

   $ 9,776.2     $ 9,856.6  
                

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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THE HANOVER INSURANCE GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

    

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

(In millions)

   2007     2006  

PREFERRED STOCK

    

Balance at beginning and end of period

   $ —       $ —    
                

COMMON STOCK

    

Balance at beginning and end of period

     0.6       0.6  
                

ADDITIONAL PAID-IN CAPITAL

    

Balance at beginning of period

     1,814.3       1,785.1  

Tax benefit from stock options and other

     0.8       5.9  

Employee and director stock-based awards

     (0.4 )     7.0  
                

Balance at end of period

     1,814.7       1,798.0  
                

ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

    

NET UNREALIZED APPRECIATION (DEPRECIATION) ON INVESTMENTS AND DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS:

    

Balance at beginning of period

     (9.0 )     9.9  

Appreciation (depreciation) during the period:

    

Net appreciation (depreciation) on available-for-sale securities and derivative instruments

     24.1       (67.9 )

(Provision) benefit for deferred federal income taxes

     (4.7 )     1.2  
                
     19.4       (66.7 )
                

Balance at end of period

     10.4       (56.8 )
                

DEFINED BENEFIT PENSION AND POSTRETIREMENT PLANS:

    

Balance at beginning of period

     (30.9 )     (69.4 )

Amortization during the period:

    

Amount recognized as net periodic benefit cost

     (0.9 )     —    

Benefit for deferred federal income taxes

     0.3       —    
                
     (0.6 )     —    
                

Balance at end of period

     (31.5 )     (69.4 )
                

Total accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (21.1 )     (126.2 )
                

RETAINED EARNINGS

    

Balance at beginning of period, before cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax

     712.0       589.8  

Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax

     11.5       —    
                

Balance at beginning of period, as adjusted

     723.5       589.8  

Net income

     63.6       40.5  

Treasury stock issued for less than cost

     (4.3 )     (25.3 )
                

Balance at end of period

     782.8       605.0  
                

TREASURY STOCK

    

Balance at beginning of period

     (487.8 )     (364.7 )

Shares purchased at cost

     —         (125.8 )

Net shares reissued at cost under employee stock-based compensation plans

     11.5       56.1  
                

Balance at end of period

     (476.3 )     (434.4 )
                

Total shareholders' equity

   $ 2,100.7     $ 1,843.0  
                

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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THE HANOVER INSURANCE GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

     (Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 

(In millions)

   2007     2006  

Net income

   $ 63.6     $ 40.5  

Other comprehensive income (loss) :

    

Available-for-sale securities:

    

Net appreciation (depreciation) during the period

     24.3       (69.2 )

(Provision) benefit for deferred federal income taxes

     (4.8 )     1.6  
                

Total available-for-sale securities

     19.5       (67.6 )
                

Derivative instruments:

    

Net (depreciation) appreciation during the period

     (0.2 )     1.3  

Benefit (provision) for deferred federal income taxes

     0.1       (0.4 )
                

Total derivative instruments

     (0.1 )     0.9  
                
     19.4       (66.7 )
                

Pension and postretirement benefits:

    

Amortization recognized as net periodic benefit costs:

    

Net actuarial loss

     0.1       —    

Prior service cost

     (0.6 )     —    

Transition asset

     (0.4 )     —    
                
     (0.9 )     —    

Benefit for deferred federal income taxes

     0.3       —    
                

Total pension and postretirement benefits

     (0.6 )     —    
                

Other comprehensive income (loss)

     18.8       (66.7 )
                

Comprehensive income (loss)

   $ 82.4     $ (26.2 )
                

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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THE HANOVER INSURANCE GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

    

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

(In millions)

   2007     2006  

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

    

Net income

   $ 63.6     $ 40.5  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:

    

Loss on disposal of variable life insurance and annuity business

     0.2       20.1  

Net realized investment gains

     (2.3 )     (5.6 )

Net amortization and depreciation

     4.9       5.7  

Stock-based compensation expense

     4.4       3.5  

Interest credited to contractholder deposit funds and trust instruments supported by funding obligations

     0.6       3.2  

Deferred federal income taxes

     6.1       11.1  

Change in deferred acquisition costs

     (6.0 )     (8.0 )

Change in premiums and notes receivable, net of reinsurance premiums payable

     (14.7 )     (82.1 )

Change in accrued investment income

     (2.6 )     1.3  

Change in policy liabilities and accruals, net

     (3.9 )     (211.5 )

Change in reinsurance receivable

     8.6       166.4  

Change in expenses and taxes payable

     (99.6 )     (78.0 )

Other, net

     0.1       0.6  
                

Net cash used in operating activities

     (40.6 )     (132.8 )
                

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

    

Proceeds from disposals and maturities of available-for-sale fixed maturities

     292.3       299.0  

Proceeds from disposals of equity securities and other investments

     5.9       4.0  

Proceeds from mortgages sold, matured or collected

     0.8       9.1  

Proceeds from collections of installment finance and notes receivable

     104.2       84.7  

Proceeds from sale of variable life insurance and annuity business

     —         26.2  

Purchase of available-for-sale fixed maturities

     (309.5 )     (241.3 )

Purchase of equity securities and other investments

     —         (0.8 )

Capital expenditures

     (2.4 )     (1.9 )

Net receipts related to margin deposits on derivative instruments

     —         3.9  

Disbursements to fund installment finance and notes receivable

     (122.3 )     (87.2 )
                

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

     (31.0 )     95.7  
                

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

    

Withdrawals from contractholder deposit funds

     —         (25.8 )

Exercise of options

     5.7       30.9  

Proceeds from excess tax benefits related to share-based payments

     0.6       4.4  

Change in collateral related to securities lending program

     (88.9 )     (5.9 )

Treasury stock purchased at cost

     —         (117.8 )
                

Net cash used in financing activities

     (82.6 )     (114.2 )
                

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

     (154.2 )     (151.3 )

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     372.7       701.5  
                

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $ 218.5     $ 550.2  
                

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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THE HANOVER INSURANCE GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (“THG” or the “Company”) have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the requirements of Form 10-Q.

The interim consolidated financial statements of THG include the accounts of The Hanover Insurance Company (“Hanover Insurance”) and Citizens Insurance Company of America (“Citizens”), THG’s principal property and casualty companies; First Allmerica Financial Life Insurance Company (“FAFLIC”), THG’s life insurance and annuity subsidiary; and certain other insurance and non-insurance subsidiaries. These legal entities conduct their operations through several business segments discussed in Note 8. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

The accompanying interim consolidated financial statements reflect, in the opinion of the Company's management, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position and results of operations. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2007 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amount of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

2. New Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115 (“Statement No. 159”). Statement No. 159 permits a company to choose, at specified election dates, to measure at fair value certain eligible financial assets and liabilities that are not currently required to be measured at fair value. The specified election dates include, but are not limited to, the date when an entity first recognizes the item, when an entity enters into a firm commitment or when changes in the financial instrument causes it to no longer qualify for fair value accounting under a different accounting standard. An entity may elect the fair value option for eligible items that exist at the effective date. At that date, the difference between the carrying amounts and the fair values of eligible items for which the fair value option is elected should be recognized as a cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. The fair value option may be elected for each entire financial instrument, but need not be applied to all similar instruments. Once the fair value option has been elected, it is irrevocable. Unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected will be reported in earnings. Statement No. 159 is effective as of the beginning of fiscal years that begin after November 15, 2007. The Company is currently assessing the effect of adopting Statement No. 159.

In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 158, Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans – an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R) (“Statement No. 158”). This statement requires an employer to recognize the funded status of its benefit plans in its statement of financial position and to recognize changes in that funded status through comprehensive income in the year in which they occur. The funded status of the plans should be measured as the difference between the fair value of plan assets and the benefit obligation. This statement also requires the recognition, as a component of other comprehensive income, net of taxes, of the gains or losses and prior service costs or credits that arise during the period but are not recognized as a component of net periodic benefit cost pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87, Employers’ Accounting for Pensions (“Statement No. 87”) or Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 106, Employers’ Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions (“Statement No. 106”), as well as the balance of transition assets or obligations remaining from the initial application of Statement No. 87 and Statement No. 106. These balances in accumulated other comprehensive income shall be subsequently recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost pursuant to the recognition and amortization requirements of Statement No. 87 and Statement No. 106. In addition, the statement requires an employer to measure the funded status of its plans as of the date of its year-end statement of financial position. The statement also provides for enhanced disclosures which include, among other items, the estimated amount of actuarial gains or losses, prior services costs or credits, and transition assets or obligations that are

 

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included in accumulated other comprehensive income to be recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost in the next fiscal year. The effective date for a company to recognize the funded status of its plans and the related disclosure requirements is as of the end of its fiscal year ending after December 15, 2006. Retrospective application of this statement is not permitted. The effective date for changing a company’s measurement date for plan assets and benefit obligations to coincide with the date of its statement of financial position will be for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2008. The Company currently measures its funded status as of December 31. THG adopted Statement No. 158 effective December 31, 2006. The impact of adopting Statement No. 158 was not material to the Company’s results of operations or financial position.

In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (“Statement No. 157”). This statement creates a common definition of fair value to be used throughout generally accepted accounting principles. Statement No. 157 will apply whenever another standard requires or permits assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value, with certain exceptions. The standard establishes a hierarchy for determining fair value which emphasizes the use of observable market data whenever available. The statement also requires expanded disclosures which include the extent to which assets and liabilities are measured at fair value, the methods and assumptions used to measure fair value and the effect of fair value measures on earnings. Statement No. 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The difference between the carrying amounts and fair values of those financial instruments held at the date this statement is initially applied should be recognized as a cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings for the fiscal year in which this statement is initially applied. The Company is currently assessing the effect of adopting Statement No. 157.

In June 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (“FIN 48”). The interpretation requires companies to recognize the tax benefits of uncertain tax positions only where the position is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by tax authorities. The amount recognized would be the amount that represents the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being ultimately realized. A liability would be recognized for any benefit claimed, or expected to be claimed, in a tax return in excess of the benefit recorded in the financial statements, along with any interest and penalty on the excess. FIN 48 will require, among other items, a tabular reconciliation of the change during the reporting period, in the aggregate unrecognized tax benefits claimed or expected to be claimed in tax returns and disclosure relating to accrued interest and penalties for unrecognized tax benefits. Additional disclosure will also be required for those uncertain tax positions where it is reasonably possible that the estimate of the tax benefit will change significantly in the next twelve months. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The Company adopted FIN 48 as of January 1, 2007 which resulted in an increase to shareholders’ equity of $11.5 million.

In March 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 156, Accounting for Servicing of Financial Assets – an amendment to FASB Statement No. 140 (“Statement No. 156”). Statement No. 156 amends Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 140, Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities (“Statement No. 140”) to require, among other things, that all separately recognized servicing assets and liabilities be initially measured at fair value, if practicable. It also permits an entity to choose a method for the subsequent measurement of separately recognized servicing assets and liabilities, either the amortization method or the fair value measurement method. The statement is effective as of the beginning of fiscal years that begin after September 15, 2006. The Company adopted Statement No. 156 effective January 1, 2007 with no material impact on its results of operations or financial position.

In September 2005, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (“AICPA”) issued Statement of Position 05-1, Accounting by Insurance Enterprises for Deferred Acquisition Costs in Connection with Modifications or Exchanges of Insurance Contracts (“SOP 05-1”). SOP 05-1 provides guidance on accounting by insurance companies for deferred acquisition costs on internal replacements of insurance and investment contracts other than those described in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 97, Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises for Certain Long-Duration Contracts and for Realized Gains and Losses from the Sale of Investments. This statement is effective for internal replacements occurring in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The Company adopted SOP 05-1 effective January 1, 2007 with no material effect on the Company’s results of operations or financial position.

In December 2004, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment (“Statement No. 123(R)”). This statement requires companies to measure and recognize the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value. Statement No. 123(R) replaces Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation (“Statement No. 123”), and supersedes Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees (“APB Opinion No. 25”). The Company adopted Statement No. 123(R) effective January 1, 2006 using the modified prospective transition method. Prior to the adoption of Statement No. 123(R), the Company accounted for its stock-based compensation in accordance with APB Opinion No. 25; therefore, the Company had not previously recognized compensation expense for employee stock options in net income because the

 

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exercise price equaled the market value of the underlying common stock on the grant date. Upon adoption of Statement No. 123(R), the Company began recognizing expense related to employee stock options and modified its expense calculation associated with restricted shares and restricted share units. The cumulative effect adjustment of adopting Statement No. 123(R), net of tax, was a benefit of $0.6 million. In the fourth quarter 2006, the Company elected to adopt the alternate transition method described in FASB Staff Position No. FAS 123(R)-3, Transition Election Related to Accounting for Tax Effects of Share-based Payment Awards, for the purposes of calculating the pool of excess tax benefits available to absorb tax deficiencies recognized subsequent to the adoption of Statement No. 123(R). Electing the alternative method constitutes a change in accounting principle which requires retrospective application to the 2006 quarterly Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. There was no impact to the Company’s results of operations or financial position as a result of electing the alternative method.

3. Sale of Variable Life Insurance and Annuity Business

On December 30, 2005, the Company sold all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of Allmerica Financial Life Insurance and Annuity Company (“AFLIAC”), a life insurance subsidiary representing approximately 95% of the Company’s run-off variable life insurance and annuity business to The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (“Goldman Sachs”). The transaction also included the reinsurance of 100% of the variable business of FAFLIC. In connection with these transactions, Allmerica Investment Trust agreed to transfer certain assets and liabilities of its funds to certain Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust managed funds through a fund reorganization transaction. Finally, the Company agreed to sell to Goldman Sachs all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of Allmerica Financial Investment Management Service, Inc., its investment advisory subsidiary, concurrently with the consummation of a fund reorganization transaction. The fund reorganization transaction was consummated on January 9, 2006. Total proceeds from this transaction were $318.8 million, of which the Company has received $295.4 million as of March 31, 2007. The remaining $23.4 million will be received in equal installments in 2007 and 2008.

In connection with the sale, the Massachusetts Division of Insurance approved a cash dividend of $48.6 million from FAFLIC, including an $8.6 million ceding commission received related to the reinsurance of 100% of the variable business of FAFLIC, and for the distribution of other non-insurance subsidiaries, from which the holding company received $15.4 million of additional funds. These funds were paid to the holding company in the first quarter 2006.

The Company and Goldman Sachs have made various representations, warranties and covenants in connection with the transaction. The Company has agreed to indemnify Goldman Sachs for the breaches of the Company’s representations, warranties and covenants. THG has also agreed to indemnify Goldman Sachs for certain litigation, regulatory matters and other liabilities relating to the pre-closing activities of the business that was sold. Additionally, the Company provided transition services to Goldman Sachs from December 30, 2005 through December 31, 2006. These services included policy and claims processing, accounting and reporting, and other administrative services.

The Company accounted for the disposal of AFLIAC as a discontinued operation in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-lived Assets. As such, the Company recognized losses of $0.2 million and $20.1 million in the first quarters of 2007 and 2006, respectively, which are presented in the Consolidated Statements of Income as Loss on Disposal of Variable Life Insurance and Annuity Business, a component of discontinued operations.

The loss in 2007 primarily consists of operations conversion costs associated with this variable business. Included in the 2006 charge of $20.1 million was a $15.0 million provision related to the Company’s estimated potential liability for certain contractual indemnities to Goldman Sachs relating to the pre-sale activities of the business sold recorded under FASB Interpretation No. 45, Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Others (“FIN 45”). This provision relates to preliminary estimated expenses, reimbursements, penalties and other costs of remediating certain pre-closing processing errors relating to tax reporting to certain policyholders and others for a subset of the Company’s former variable annuity business. This estimate is based on, among other things, the Company’s review of affected policies, mathematical extrapolations derived from such review, and management’s preliminary view of possible settlement ranges with the Internal Revenue Service and affected policyholders. The Company regularly reviews and updates its FIN 45 liability for legal and regulatory matter indemnities, including with respect to this matter. Although the Company believes its current estimate for its FIN 45 liability is appropriate, there can be no assurance that these estimates will not materially increase in the future. Adjustments to this reserve are recorded in the results of the Company in the period in which they are determined. The remaining charge in the first quarter of 2006 of $5.1 million relates to after-tax net costs incurred for employee severance costs, net costs of transition services, operations conversion expenses and other litigation matters.

 

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4. Federal Income Taxes

Federal income tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 has been computed using estimated effective tax rates. These rates are revised, if necessary, at the end of each successive interim period to reflect the current estimates of the annual effective tax rates.

In the first quarter of 2007, the Company reduced its valuation allowance related to its deferred tax asset by $3.7 million. This decrease resulted from unrealized appreciation of the Company’s investment portfolio, which is reflected in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss in the Shareholders’ Equity section of the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Accordingly, the Company recorded this decrease in the valuation allowance as an adjustment to Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss. At March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, the deferred tax valuation allowance was $165.7 million and $169.4 million, respectively.

The Company or its subsidiaries files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company or its subsidiaries is no longer subject to U.S. federal and state income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 1995. The years 1995 through 2004 are currently under audit by the Internal Revenue Service (“I.R.S.”).

Effective January 1, 2007, the Company adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (“FIN 48”). As a result of the implementation of FIN 48, the Company recognized an $11.5 million decrease in the liability for unrecognized tax benefits, which was reflected as an increase in the January 1, 2007 balance of retained earnings.

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits for the period beginning January 1, 2007 and ending March 31, 2007 is as follows:

 

Balance at January 1, 2007

   $ 82.9

Additions based on tax positions related to the current year

     —  

Additions for tax positions of prior years

     —  

Reductions for tax positions of prior years

     —  

Settlements

     —  
      

Balance at March 31, 2007

   $ 82.9
      

Included in the March 31, 2007 balance are $51.2 million of tax positions for which the ultimate deductibility is highly certain, but for which there is uncertainty about the timing of such deductibility. Because of the impact of deferred tax accounting, other than interest and penalties, a change in the timing of deductions would not impact the annual effective tax rate.

The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in federal income tax expense. During the first quarter of 2007, the Company recognized interest expense of $1.1 million. As of January 1, 2007 and March 31, 2007, the Company had accrued $34.6 million and $35.7 million of interest, respectively. Also, during the first quarter of 2007, the Company recorded a $2.4 million discrete income tax benefit for a settlement with the I.R.S. related to interest claims for 1977 through 1994. This settlement was received in April 2007. The Company has not recognized any penalties associated with unrecognized tax benefits.

The Company expects to settle U.S. income tax issues for the years 1995 through 2001 within the next 12 months. It is expected the settlement of these issues will result in a decrease to the balance of unrecognized tax benefits of approximately $28 million and a decrease in accrued interest of approximately $36 million.

 

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5. Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans

The Company’s defined benefit pension plans, which provided retirement benefits based on a cash balance formula, were frozen as of January 1, 2005; therefore, no further cash balance allocations have been credited for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2005. In addition, certain transition group employees were eligible for a grandfathered benefit based upon service and compensation; such benefits were also frozen at January 1, 2005 levels with an annual transition pension adjustment. The Company has additional unfunded pension plans and postretirement plans to provide benefits to certain full-time employees, former agents, retirees and their dependents.

The components of net periodic benefit cost for pension and other postretirement benefit plans are as follows:

 

     

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
(In millions)    2007     2006     2007     2006  
     Pension Benefits     Postretirement Benefits  

Service cost – benefits earned during the period

   $ —       $ —       $ 0.2     $ 0.1  

Interest cost

     7.3       7.4       1.2       0.9  

Expected return on plan assets

     (8.0 )     (6.9 )     —         —    

Recognized net actuarial loss

     —         3.1       0.2       0.2  

Amortization of transition asset

     (0.4 )     (0.3 )     —         —    

Amortization of prior service cost

     —         0.1       (0.6 )     (1.4 )
                                

Net periodic (benefit) cost

   $ (1.1 )   $ 3.4     $ 1.0     $ (0.2 )
                                

 

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6. Closed Block

Summarized financial information of the Closed Block is as follows for the periods indicated:

 

(In millions)

  

(Unaudited)

March 31,

2007

  

December 31,

2006

 

ASSETS

     

Fixed maturities, at fair value (amortized cost of $503.8 and $492.8)

   $ 505.4    $ 493.0  

Mortgage loans

     23.7      24.0  

Policy loans

     122.0      125.7  

Cash and cash equivalents

     0.5      21.9  

Accrued investment income

     10.1      10.5  

Other assets

     12.2      7.6  
               

Total assets

   $ 673.9    $ 682.7  
               

LIABILITIES

     

Policy liabilities and accruals

   $ 688.3    $ 686.8  

Policyholder dividends

     9.9      22.5  

Other liabilities

     2.5      2.8  
               

Total liabilities

   $ 700.7    $ 712.1  
               

Excess of Closed Block liabilities over assets designated to the

     

Closed Block

   $ 26.8    $ 29.4  

Amounts included in accumulated other comprehensive income:

     

Net unrealized investment losses, net of deferred federal income tax benefit of $0.8

     —        (1.4 )
               

Maximum future earnings to be recognized from Closed Block assets and liabilities

   $ 26.8    $ 28.0  
               
     
     (Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 

(In millions)

   2007    2006  

REVENUES

     

Premiums

   $ 17.6    $ 18.2  

Net investment income

     9.6      10.1  

Net realized investment gains (losses)

     0.3      (0.2 )
               

Total revenues

     27.5      28.1  
               

BENEFITS AND EXPENSES

     

Policy benefits

     26.4      25.7  

Policy acquisition and other operating expenses

     —        0.1  
               

Total benefits and expenses

     26.4      25.8  
               

Contribution from the Closed Block

   $ 1.1    $ 2.3  
               

 

Many expenses related to Closed Block operations are charged to operations outside the Closed Block; accordingly, the contribution from the Closed Block does not represent the actual profitability of the Closed Block operations. Operating costs and expenses outside of the Closed Block are, therefore, disproportionate to the business outside the Closed Block.

 

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7. Other Comprehensive Income

The following table provides a reconciliation of gross unrealized investment gains (losses) to the net balance shown in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income:

 

      (Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 

(In millions)

   2007     2006  

Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on available-for-sale securities:

    

Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during period, net of income tax expense of $5.6 and $0.4 in 2007 and 2006

   $ 21.0     $ (64.0 )

Less: reclassification adjustment for gains included in net income, net of income tax expense of $0.8 and $2.0 in 2007 and 2006

     1.5       3.6  
                

Total available-for-sale securities

     19.5       (67.6 )
                

Unrealized (depreciation) appreciation on derivative instruments:

    

Unrealized holding losses arising during period, net of income tax benefit of $0.2 in 2006

     —         (0.1 )

Less: reclassification adjustment for gains (losses) included in net income, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $(0.1) and $0.6 in 2007 and 2006

     0.1       (1.0 )
                

Total derivative instruments

     (0.1 )     0.9  
                

Other comprehensive income (loss)

   $ 19.4     $ (66.7 )
                

8. Segment Information

The Company’s primary business operations include insurance products and services in three property and casualty operating segments. These segments are Personal Lines, Commercial Lines and Other Property and Casualty. The fourth operating segment, Life Companies, is in run-off. In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 131, Disclosures About Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information (“Statement No. 131”), the separate financial information of each segment is presented consistent with the way results are regularly evaluated by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. A summary of the Company’s reportable segments is included below.

The Property and Casualty group manages its operations principally through three segments: Personal Lines, Commercial Lines and Other Property and Casualty. Personal Lines includes such property and casualty coverages as personal automobile, homeowners and other personal coverages, while Commercial Lines includes such property and casualty coverages as commercial multiple peril, commercial automobile, workers’ compensation, and other commercial policies, such as bonds and inland marine. In addition, the Other Property and Casualty segment consists of: AMGRO, Inc. (“AMGRO”), the Company’s premium financing business; Opus Investment Management, Inc. (“Opus”), which markets investment management services to institutions, pension funds and other organizations; earnings on holding company assets; as well as voluntary pools in which the Company has not actively participated since 1995.

The Life Companies segment consists primarily of a block of traditional life insurance products (principally the Closed Block), the group retirement annuity contract business and the guaranteed investment contract business, as well as certain non-insurance subsidiaries. Assets and liabilities related to the reinsured variable life insurance and annuity business, as well as the discontinued group life and health business, including group life and health voluntary pools, are also reflected in this segment.

The Company reports interest expense related to its corporate debt separately from the earnings of its operating segments. Corporate debt consists of the Company’s junior subordinated debentures and its senior debentures.

Management evaluates the results of the aforementioned segments on a pre-tax basis. Segment income excludes certain items which are included in net income, such as federal income taxes and net realized investment gains and losses, including certain gains or losses on derivative instruments, because fluctuations in these gains and losses are determined by interest rates, financial markets and the timing of sales. Also, segment income excludes net gains and losses on disposals of businesses, discontinued

 

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operations, restructuring costs, extraordinary items, the cumulative effect of accounting changes and certain other items. While these items may be significant components in understanding and assessing the Company’s financial performance, management believes that the presentation of segment income enhances understanding of the Company’s results of operations by highlighting net income attributable to the core operations of the business. However, segment income should not be construed as a substitute for net income determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

Summarized below is financial information with respect to business segments:

 

     

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended

March 31,

 

(In millions)

   2007     2006  

Segment revenues:

    

Property and Casualty:

    

Personal Lines

   $ 393.6     $ 371.3  

Commercial Lines

     255.5       231.1  

Other Property and Casualty Commercial

     11.0       9.7  
                

Total Property and Casualty

     660.1       612.1  

Life Companies

     37.5       48.2  

Intersegment revenues

     (2.0 )     (1.9 )
                

Total segment revenues

     695.6       658.4  

Adjustments to segment revenues:

    

Net realized investment gains

     2.3       5.6  

Other income

     0.2       0.6  
                

Total revenues

   $ 698.1     $ 664.6  
                

Segment income before federal income taxes:

    

Property and Casualty:

    

Personal Lines:

    

GAAP underwriting income

   $ 14.9     $ 18.4  

Net investment income

     29.5       26.6  

Other

     3.0       4.0  
                

Personal Lines segment income

     47.4       49.0  

Commercial Lines:

    

GAAP underwriting income

     20.9       11.8  

Net investment income

     27.3       26.1  

Other

     0.8       1.1  
                

Commercial Lines segment income

     49.0       39.0  

Other Property and Casualty:

    

GAAP underwriting income (loss)

     0.3       (0.3 )

Net investment income

     3.9       3.8  

Other

     0.3       0.2  
                

Other Property and Casualty segment income

     4.5       3.7  
                

Total Property and Casualty

     100.9       91.7  

Life Companies

     (0.9 )     (1.9 )

Interest on corporate debt

     (10.0 )     (10.0 )
                

Segment income before federal income taxes

     90.0       79.8  

Adjustments to segment income:

    

Net realized investment gains, net of deferred acquisition cost amortization

     1.9       5.8  

Restructuring costs

     —         (0.3 )
                

Income from continuing operations before federal income taxes

   $ 91.9     $ 85.3  
                

 

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      Identifiable Assets     Deferred Acquisition Costs

(In millions)

  

(Unaudited)

March 31, 2007

   December 31, 2006    

(Unaudited)

March 31, 2007

   December 31, 2006

Property and Casualty (1)

   $ 7,152.3    $ 7,043.7     $ 234.7    $ 228.4

Life Companies (2)

     2,623.8      2,852.8       4.8      5.1

Intersegment eliminations (3)

     0.1      (39.9 )     —        —  
                            

Total

   $ 9,776.2    $ 9,856.6     $ 239.5    $ 233.5
                            

(1) The Company reviews assets based on the total Property and Casualty Group and does not allocate between the Personal Lines, Commercial Lines and Other Property and Casualty segments.
(2) Includes assets related to the Company’s discontinued group life and health operations.
(3) The 2006 balance reflects a $40.0 million dividend from FAFLIC to the holding company, which was paid in the first quarter of 2007.

Discontinued Operations – Group Life and Health

During 1999, the Company exited its group life and health insurance business, consisting of its Employee Benefit Services (“EBS”) business, its Affinity Group Underwriters business and its accident and health assumed reinsurance pool business. Prior to 1999, these businesses comprised substantially all of the former Corporate Risk Management Services segment. Accordingly, the operating results of the discontinued segment have been reported in accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30, Reporting the Results of Operations – Reporting the Effects of Disposal of a Segment of a Business, and Extraordinary, Unusual and Infrequently Occurring Events and Transactions (“APB Opinion No. 30”). In 1999, the Company recorded a $30.5 million loss, net of taxes, on the disposal of this segment, consisting of after-tax losses from the run-off of the group life and health business of approximately $46.9 million, partially offset by net proceeds from the sale of the EBS business of approximately $16.4 million. Subsequent to the measurement date of June 30, 1999, approximately $25.1 million of the aforementioned $46.9 million loss has been generated from the operations of the discontinued business and net proceeds of $12.5 million were received from the sale of the EBS business.

As permitted by APB Opinion No. 30, the Consolidated Balance Sheets have not been segregated between continuing and discontinued operations. At March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, the discontinued segment had assets of approximately $334.5 million and $342.7 million, respectively, consisting primarily of invested assets and reinsurance recoverables, and liabilities of approximately $406.6 million and $415.4 million, respectively, consisting primarily of policy liabilities.

9. Stock-based Compensation

Compensation cost recorded pursuant to Statement No. 123(R) for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 was $4.4 million and $3.5 million, respectively, and the related tax benefit was $1.5 million and $1.2 million, respectively.

Stock awards issued to employees during the period were as follows:

 

     

(Unaudited)

Three months ended March 31,

      2007    2006
      Number issued    Weighted
average
grant date
fair value
   Number issued   

Weighted
average

grant date
fair value

Stock options

   375,117    $ 13.41    100,000    $ 14.10

Restricted stock and stock units

   144,522    $ 48.35    4,162    $ 44.58

Performance-based restricted stock units

   44,570    $ 48.46    301,926    $ 46.34

 

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10. Earnings Per Share

The following table provides share information used in the calculation of the Company’s basic and diluted earnings per share:

 

      (Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 

(In millions, except per share data)

   2007     2006  

Basic shares used in the calculation of earnings per share

     51.2       53.1  

Dilutive effect of securities:

    

Employee stock options

     0.5       0.5  

Non-vested stock grants

     0.2       —    
                

Diluted shares used in the calculation of earnings per share

     51.9       53.6  
                

Per share effect of dilutive securities on income from continuing operations and net income

   $ (0.02 )   $ (0.01 )
                

Diluted earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 excludes 1.5 million and 1.1 million, respectively, of common shares issuable under the Company’s stock compensation plans, because their effect would be antidilutive.

11. Commitments and Contingencies

LITIGATION

Durand Litigation

On March 12, 2007, a putative class action suit captioned Jennifer A. Durand v. The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc., The Allmerica Financial Cash Balance Pension Plan was filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. The named plaintiff, a former employee who received a lump sum distribution from her Cash Balance Plan (“Plan”) at or about the time of her termination, claims that she and others similarly situated did not receive the appropriate lump sum distribution because in computing the lump sum, the plan understated the accrued benefit in the calculation. The Company is reviewing the complaint and has not yet filed an answer.

Emerald Litigation

On July 24, 2002, an action captioned American National Bank and Trust Company of Chicago, as Trustee f/b/o Emerald Investments Limited Partnership, and Emerald Investments Limited Partnership v. Allmerica Financial Life Insurance and Annuity Company (“Emerald”) was commenced in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division. In 1999, plaintiffs purchased two variable annuity contracts with initial premiums aggregating $5 million. Plaintiffs, who AFLIAC subsequently identified as engaging in frequent transfers of significant sums between sub-accounts that in the Company’s opinion constituted “market timing”, were subject to restrictions upon such trading that AFLIAC imposed in December 2001. Plaintiffs allege that such restrictions constituted a breach of the terms of the annuity contracts. In December 2003, the court granted partial summary judgment to the plaintiffs, holding that at least certain restrictions imposed on their trading activities violated the terms of the annuity contracts.

On May 19, 2004, plaintiffs filed a Brief Statement of Damages in which, without quantifying their damage claim, they outlined a claim for (i) amounts totaling $150,000 for surrender charges imposed on the partial surrender by plaintiffs of the annuity contracts, (ii) loss of trading profits they expected over the remaining term of each annuity contract, and (iii) lost trading profits resulting from AFLIAC’s alleged refusal to process five specific transfers in 2002 because of trading restrictions imposed on market timers. With respect to the lost profits, plaintiffs claim that pursuant to their trading strategy of transferring money from money market accounts to international equity accounts and back again to money market accounts, they have been able to consistently obtain relatively risk free returns of between 35% to 40% annually. Plaintiffs claim that they would have been able to continue to maintain such returns on the account values of their annuity contracts over the remaining terms of the annuity contracts (which are based in part on the lives of the named annuitants). The aggregate account value of plaintiffs’ annuities was approximately $12.8 million in December 2001. On February 1, 2006, the Court issued a ruling which precluded plaintiffs from claiming any damages accruing beyond July 31, 2004.

 

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A jury trial on plaintiffs’ damage claim was held in December 2006, which resulted in an aggregate award to plaintiffs of $1.3 million for lost profits and reimbursement of surrender charges. Plaintiffs’ motion for a new trial was subsequently denied. On March 5, 2007, plaintiffs filed a Notice of Appeal to the United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit.

The Company will continue to vigorously defend this matter, and regards plaintiffs’ claims for lost trading profits as being speculative and, in any case, subject to an obligation to mitigate damages. Further, in the Company’s view, these purported lost profits would not have been earned because of various actions taken by the investment management industry and regulators to deter or eliminate market timing, including the implementation of “fair value” pricing.

The monetary damages sought by plaintiffs, if awarded, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position. Although AFLIAC was sold to Goldman Sachs on December 30, 2005, the Company has agreed to indemnify AFLIAC and Goldman Sachs with respect to this litigation. However, in the Company’s judgment, the outcome is not expected to be material to the Company’s financial position, although it could have a material effect on the results of operations for a particular quarter or annual period.

Hurricane Katrina Litigation

The Company has been named as a defendant in various litigation, including putative class actions, relating to disputes arising from damages which occurred as a result of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. As of March 31, 2007, there were in excess of 200 such cases, six of which were styled as putative class actions. These cases have been filed in both Louisiana state courts and federal district courts. These cases involve, among other claims, disputes as to the amount of reimbursable claims in particular cases, as well as the scope of insurance coverage under homeowners and commercial property policies due to flooding, civil authority actions, loss of landscaping, business interruption and other matters. Certain of these cases claim a breach of duty of good faith or violations of Louisiana insurance claims handling laws or regulations and involve claims for punitive or exemplary damages. Certain of the cases claim that under Louisiana’s so-called “Valued Policy Law,” the insurers must pay the total insured value of a home which is totally destroyed if any portion of such damage was caused by a covered peril, even if the principal cause of the loss was an excluded peril. Other cases challenge the scope or enforceability of the water damage exclusion in the policies.

Several actions pending against various insurers, including THG, were consolidated for purposes of pretrial discovery and motion practice under the caption In re Katrina Canal Breaches Consolidated Litigation, Civil Action No. 05-4182 in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana. On November 27, 2006, the Federal District Court issued an Order in these consolidated cases denying the Company’s motion to dismiss. The Court held that the flood exclusions utilized in the forms of homeowners and commercial lines policies issued by the Company and a number of other insurance carriers were ambiguous because such exclusions did not specify that they applied to flooding caused by negligent acts or omissions as well as to flooding caused by natural incidents such as Acts of God. The plaintiffs in these cases claim, among other things, that the efficient proximate cause of their losses was the third-party negligence of Orleans Levee District in the maintenance of the canal walls or in its failure to warn the plaintiffs and others of the impending water intrusion. The Federal District Court ordered that discovery proceed on the questions of whether there was such negligence and whether such negligence was in fact the efficient proximate cause of such losses.

On February 2, 2007, the United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, issued an Order granting the Company’s and the other defendant’s motion for leave to appeal. On February 28, 2007, the Fifth Circuit issued an Order expediting such appeal. Oral arguments for the appeal have been scheduled for the week of June 6, 2007.

Plaintiffs in several consolidated cases (including Sampia vs. Massachusetts Bay Insurance Company, E.D. La. Civil Action Number 06-0559) have appealed an Order of Federal District Court Judge Vance dated August 6, 2006 rejecting plaintiffs’ contention that the Louisiana Valued Policy Law has the effect of requiring coverage for a total loss proximately caused by a non-covered peril so long as there was any covered loss. This consolidated appeal is currently pending in the United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, in a case captioned Chauvin, et al. vs. State Farm Fire & Casualty Co., No. 06-30946. On April 27, 2007, the Fifth Circuit entered an Order expediting such appeal and scheduled oral arguments for the week of July 9, 2007.

The Company continues to vigorously defend these matters and other cases related to losses incurred in connection with Hurricane Katrina. The Company believes that the flood exclusions at issue are unambiguous and enforceable. However, a final non-appealable order that the Company’s flood exclusions do not exclude losses from flooding caused by third-party negligence and a determination that such negligence was the efficient proximate cause of such flooding, or that such an exclusion is inapplicable where any portion of a loss is attributable to a covered peril, would likely have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, as well as on the Company’s results of operations. The Company has established its loss and loss adjustment reserves on the assumption that the flood exclusion will be found to be enforceable and effective to exclude losses caused by third-party negligence, as well as by Acts of God, and that the application of the Valued Policy Law will not result in the Company having to pay damages for perils not otherwise covered.

Other Matters

The Company has been named a defendant in various other legal proceedings arising in the normal course of business, including one other suit which, like the Emerald case described above, challenges the Company’s imposition of certain restrictions on trading funds invested in separate accounts. The potential outcome of any such proceedings in which the Company has been named a defendant, and the Company’s ultimate liability, if any, from such legal proceedings, is difficult to predict at this time. In the Company’s opinion, based on the advice of legal counsel, the ultimate resolutions of such proceedings will not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, although they could have a material effect on the results of operations for a particular quarter or annual period.

 

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REGULATORY AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

Unfavorable economic conditions may contribute to an increase in the number of insurance companies that are under regulatory supervision. This may result in an increase in mandatory assessments by state guaranty funds, or voluntary payments by solvent insurance companies to cover losses to policyholders of insolvent or rehabilitated companies. Mandatory assessments, which are subject to statutory limits, can be partially recovered through a reduction in future premium taxes in some states. The Company is not able to reasonably estimate the potential impact of any such future assessments or voluntary payments.

On December 13, 2006, the Massachusetts Commissioner of Insurance issued an Order directing the implementation of an assigned risk plan for auto insurers to be phased in beginning April 2007. The proposed assigned risk plan would distribute the Massachusetts residual auto insurance market based on individual policyholder assignments rather than assigning carriers Exclusive Representative Producers. The Company believes this new plan would provide for a more equitable distribution of residual market risks across all carriers in the market and therefore such plan, if implemented, would not adversely affect its results of operations or financial position. In January 2007, however, the Commissioner of Insurance resigned and the then Acting Commissioner issued an Order suspending the implementation of the assigned risk plan until a review could be completed by the newly-elected Governor. On April 19, 2007, the newly appointed Commissioner of Insurance directed the Governing Committee of Commonwealth Automobile Reinsurers to consider amendments to a specific provision contained in the assigned risk plan and to submit any such amendments to the Commissioner for her consideration within 30 days. The Commissioner of Insurance will then render a decision on whether to approve such assigned risk plan. Separately, the Massachusetts Division of Insurance mandated a personal automobile rate decrease of 11.7% for 2007.

Legislation was enacted in Louisiana to extend the time period for Louisiana homeowners who have policy coverage claims arising out of hurricanes Katrina and Rita to take legal action against their insurance companies from the pre-existing 12 month period to 24 months from the date of loss. The Louisiana Supreme Court has determined that the legislation is constitutional. Legislation was also adopted which increased an insurer’s potential exposure if it is determined to have acted in bad faith in the claim adjustment process. Additionally, the State of Louisiana continues to impose regulatory restrictions on the Company’s ability to reduce exposure to areas affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita and to increase or maintain rates on homeowners policies.

In January 2007, the Governor of Florida signed into law significant changes affecting the property and casualty insurance market. The legislation reverses two recently approved rate increases for the residual market property insurer, Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, and mandated that private insurer rates be adjusted to reflect projected savings in reinsurance costs realized through purchases of catastrophe reinsurance from the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund. Insurers are presently prohibited by an Emergency Rule from canceling, non-renewing or raising rates with very limited exceptions, until rate filings reflecting the reduced cost of reinsurance from the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund have been filed with the Office of Insurance Regulation. The newly enacted restrictions also require any company which writes personal automobile business in Florida to write homeowners insurance if it or any of its affiliates write homeowners in any other state.

In addition, the legislation is expected to result in a substantial increase in the size of Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, thereby increasing the potential for significant assessments or other liabilities on insurance companies in the event of catastrophic losses. Such assessments apply to property and non-property lines of business and to commercial as well as to personal lines. In the event of a significant catastrophic event, it is possible that reinsurance purchased from the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund would be uncollectible or that the Company would be unable to recoup such assessments or assessments arising under the Florida Insurance Guaranty Association in the event of the insolvency of other insurance companies doing business in Florida.

The Company is in the process of assessing the potential impact of these actions on its business and its potential responses thereto. In the event Citizens Property Insurance Corporation incurred significant catastrophic losses, the Company could incur assessment expenses which could be material. It is possible that any efforts the Company undertakes to mitigate this exposure could significantly affect premiums and profitability in Florida.

Over the past year other state-sponsored insurers, reinsurers or involuntary pools have increased significantly, particularly those states which have Atlantic or Gulf coast exposures. As a result, the potential assessment exposure of insurers doing business in such states and the attendant collection risks have increased, particularly, in the states of Massachusetts, Louisiana and Florida. It is possible that other states may take action similar to those taken in the state of Florida. At this time the Company is unable to predict the likelihood or impact of any such potential assessments or other actions.

 

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In addition, the Company is involved, from time to time, in investigations and proceedings by governmental and self-regulatory agencies. The potential outcome of any such action, or regulatory proceedings or other legal proceedings in which the Company has been named a defendant, and the Company’s ultimate liability, if any, from such action or legal proceedings, is difficult to predict at this time. In the Company’s opinion, based on the advice of legal counsel, the ultimate resolutions of such proceedings will not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, although they could have a material effect on the results of operations for a particular quarter or annual period.

RESIDUAL MARKETS

The Company is required to participate in residual markets in various states. The results of the residual markets are not subject to the predictability associated with the Company’s own managed business, and are significant to the workers’ compensation line of business, the homeowners line of business and both the personal and commercial automobile lines of business.

 

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PART I

ITEM 2

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF

FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Introduction

   22

Executive Overview

   22

Description of Operating Segments

   22-23

Results of Operations

   23-25

Segment Income

   24

Other Items

   24-25

Segment Results

   26-35

Property and Casualty

   26-34

Life Companies

   34-35

Investment Portfolio

   35-37

Income Taxes

   37

Critical Accounting Estimates

   37-40

Statutory Capital of Insurance Subsidiaries

   40

Liquidity and Capital Resources

   40-41

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

   41

Contingencies and Regulatory Matters

   41-44

Risks and Forward-Looking Statements

   44

Glossary of Selected Insurance Terms

   44-46

 

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Introduction

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is intended to assist readers in understanding the interim consolidated results of operations and financial condition of The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. and subsidiaries (“THG”) and should be read in conjunction with the interim Consolidated Financial Statements and related footnotes included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contained in our 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Our results of operations include the accounts of The Hanover Insurance Company (“Hanover Insurance”) and Citizens Insurance Company of America (“Citizens”), our principal property and casualty companies; First Allmerica Financial Life Insurance Company (“FAFLIC”), our life insurance and annuity company; and certain other insurance and non-insurance subsidiaries.

Executive Overview

We remain focused on our primary strategy of profitably growing both our personal lines and commercial lines of business.

In our personal lines business, we continue to focus on making investments that are intended to help us maintain profitability, build a distinctive position in the market and provide us with profitable growth opportunities. We believe the market will be competitive in personal lines in 2007. New business premium growth continued in the first quarter of 2007. We expect the growth of new business to continue throughout the remainder of 2007. This includes expected growth from Connections™ Auto, our multivariate auto product, which is available in seventeen states and continues to account for most of our new personal automobile business. We have appointed almost 150 new agents in the first quarter of 2007 and expect that our focus on the development of these and additional new relationships with agents in the states where we conduct business will continue. At the same time, part of our strategy is to broaden our portfolio offerings and write “total accounts”, which are accounts that include multiple personal line coverages for the same customer. Accordingly, we introduced a new homeowners product, Connections™ Home, during the first quarter of 2007, which is now available in ten states. Additionally, we are making investments in and looking to grow our umbrella product and other personal lines coverages throughout 2007.

In the commercial lines business, we believe that the market will continue to become more competitive during 2007. More significant price competition could require us to be more disciplined in our underwriting process to ensure that we continue to grow, only if margins are acceptable. In commercial lines, our focus is on improving partnerships with our existing agents while increasing premium levels with our existing partners. We continue to target, through mid-sized agents, small and first-tier middle markets, which encompass clients whose premiums are generally below $200,000. We plan to continue to develop our specialty businesses, particularly bond and inland marine, which on average are expected to offer higher margins over time and enable us to deliver a more complete product portfolio to our agents and policyholders in our target markets. We have experienced significant growth in these specialty lines in the first quarter of 2007 and anticipate further growth in these lines throughout 2007. Our small commercial business will also continue to be a focus for 2007, as we emphasize and introduce enhancements to the product, technology and ease of doing business improvements in 2007. These improvements include expanded underwriting appetite for workers’ compensation and business owners policies, as well as additional coverage features in our business owners policies. Our technology investments are intended to provide our agents with the ability to view a customer’s full account and provide eligibility guidelines as well as other important ease of business improvements for our agents. We believe our specialty capabilities and small commercial opportunities coupled with distinctiveness in the middle market enables us to deliver significant value to our agents and policyholders in our target markets.

During the first quarter of 2007, our property and casualty group’s segment income increased approximately 10% compared to the prior year primarily due to favorable prior accident year loss performance in both Personal Lines and Commercial Lines. Partially offsetting this favorable loss performance were increases in underwriting and loss adjustment expenses (“LAE”). Over the past several years, we have made significant investments and increased expenses in order to, among other things, strengthen our product offerings and service capabilities, improve technology and our operating models, build expertise in our personnel and expand our distribution capabilities. The ability to achieve significant, profitable premium growth in 2007 and later years in order to earn adequate returns on such investments and expenses, and to grow further without proportionate increases in expenses, is key to our current strategy.

Description of Operating Segments

Our primary business operations include insurance products and services in three property and casualty operating segments. These segments are Personal Lines, Commercial Lines and Other Property and Casualty. Our fourth operating segment, Life Companies, is in run-off. We present the separate financial information of each segment consistent with the manner in which our chief operating decision maker evaluates results in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance.

 

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The Property and Casualty group manages its operations principally through three segments: Personal Lines, Commercial Lines and Other Property and Casualty. Personal Lines includes such property and casualty coverages as personal automobile, homeowners and other personal coverages, while Commercial Lines includes such property and casualty coverages as commercial multiple peril, commercial automobile, workers’ compensation and other commercial coverages, such as bonds and inland marine business. In addition, the Other Property and Casualty segment consists of: Amgro, Inc. (“AMGRO”), our premium financing business; Opus Investment Management, Inc. (“Opus”), which markets investment management services to institutions, pension funds and other organizations; and earnings on holding company assets, as well as voluntary pools business in which we have not actively participated since 1995.

Our Life Companies segment consists primarily of a block of traditional life insurance products (principally the Closed Block), our group retirement annuity contract business and our guaranteed investment contract (“GIC”) business, as well as certain non-insurance subsidiaries. Assets and liabilities related to our reinsured variable life insurance and annuity business, as well as our discontinued group life and health business, including group life and health voluntary pools, are reflected in this segment.

We report interest expense related to our corporate debt separately from the earnings of our operating segments. Corporate debt consists of our junior subordinated debentures and our senior debentures.

Results of Operations

Our consolidated net income includes the results of our four operating segments (segment income), which we evaluate on a pre-tax basis, and our interest expense on corporate debt. In addition, segment income excludes certain items which we believe are not indicative of our core operations. The income of our segments excludes items such as federal income taxes and net realized investment gains and losses, including net gains or losses on certain derivative instruments, because fluctuations in these gains and losses are determined by interest rates, financial markets and the timing of sales. Also, segment income excludes net gains and losses on disposals of businesses, discontinued operations, restructuring costs, extraordinary items, the cumulative effect of accounting changes and certain other items. Although the items excluded from segment income may be significant components in understanding and assessing our financial performance, we believe segment income enhances an investor’s understanding of our results of operations by highlighting net income attributable to the core operations of the business. However, segment income should not be construed as a substitute for net income determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”).

Our consolidated net income for the first quarter of 2007 was $63.6 million, compared to $40.5 million for the same period in 2006. The $23.1 million increase in earnings is primarily due the reduction in the loss from the disposal of our variable life insurance and annuity business of $19.9 million. Additionally, our segment results increased $10.2 million primarily attributable to the property and casualty business, which was partially offset by a corresponding increase in federal income taxes on segment income of $6.2 million.

The following table reflects segment income as determined in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 131, Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information, and a reconciliation of total segment income to consolidated net income.

 

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Table of Contents
     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 

(In millions)

   2007     2006  

Segment income before federal income taxes:

    

Property and Casualty

    

Personal Lines

   $ 47.4     $ 49.0  

Commercial Lines

     49.0       39.0  

Other Property and Casualty

     4.5       3.7  
                

Total Property and Casualty

     100.9       91.7  

Life Companies

     (0.9 )     (1.9 )

Interest expense on corporate debt

     (10.0 )     (10.0 )
                

Total segment income before federal income taxes

     90.0       79.8  
                

Federal income tax expense on segment income

     (29.8 )     (23.6 )

Net realized investment gains, net of amortization

     1.9       5.8  

Federal income tax settlement

     2.4       —    

Restructuring costs

     —         (0.3 )

Federal income tax expense on non-segment items

     (0.7 )     (1.7 )
                

Income from continuing operations, net of taxes

     63.8       60.0  

Discontinued operations:

    

Loss from disposal of variable life insurance and annuity business, net of taxes

     (0.2 )     (20.1 )
                

Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     63.6       39.9  

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of taxes

     —         0.6  
                

Net income

   $ 63.6     $ 40.5  
                

Segment Income

Three Months Ended March 31, 2007 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2006

Property and Casualty segment income increased $9.2 million, or 10.0%, to $100.9 million in the first quarter of 2007, compared to $91.7 million in the first quarter of 2006. Catastrophe related activity increased by $7.0 million in the quarter. Excluding the impact of catastrophe related activity, earnings would have increased by $16.2 million. This improvement is primarily attributable to a $25.5 million increase in favorable development of prior years’ reserves in the first quarter of 2007, partially offset by $8.0 million of higher underwriting and LAE and by lower current accident year underwriting results. The increase in underwriting and LAE expenses was primarily due to higher employee related costs. The lower current accident year underwriting results, primarily in Personal Lines, resulted from higher losses.

Life Companies’ segment loss was $0.9 million in the first quarter of 2007 compared to a loss of $1.9 million during the same period in 2006. This improvement was primarily due to lower expenses and to decreased losses from our GIC product resulting from the continued run-off of our life business, partially offset by an increase in mortality in our traditional life business.

Our federal tax expense on segment income was $29.8 million for the first quarter of 2007, compared to $23.6 million for the same period in 2006. This increase is primarily due to higher underwriting income in our property and casualty business.

Other Items

Net realized gains on investments were $1.9 million and $5.8 million in the first quarters of 2007 and 2006, respectively. The net gains in both periods were primarily due to gains recognized from the sale of fixed maturities, partially offset by impairments of fixed maturities. Both the amount of gains recognized from sales of fixed maturities and the amount of impairment losses recognized in the quarter have decreased.

In the first quarter of 2007, we recorded a $2.4 million benefit for a settlement with the Internal Revenue Service related to interest claims for 1977 through 1994.

 

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Table of Contents

In 2005, we sold our variable life insurance and annuity business to The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (“Goldman Sachs”). In the first quarter of 2007, we recorded a loss of $0.2 million related to operations conversion expenses. In the first quarter of 2006, we recorded a $20.1 million loss on the sale, due to both a $15.0 million provision for our estimated potential liability for certain contractual indemnities to Goldman Sachs relating to the pre-sale activities of the business sold, as well as a $5.1 million loss related to costs associated with the transition of this business to Goldman Sachs. The additional $15.0 million provision was recorded under FASB Interpretation No. 45, Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others (“FIN 45”).

Effective January 1, 2006, we adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment (“Statement No. 123(R)”), which resulted in a benefit of $0.6 million. The adjustment was the result of remeasuring the value of certain stock-based awards at grant-date fair value that had previously been measured at intrinsic value.

Net income includes the following items by segment:

 

     Three Months Ended March 31, 2007  
     Property and Casualty             

(In millions)

   Personal
Lines
    Commercial
Lines
    Other
Property and
Casualty (2)
   Life
Companies
    Total  

Net realized investment (losses) gains (1)

   $ (0.4 )   $ (0.3 )   $ 1.0    $ 1.6     $ 1.9  

Federal income tax settlement

     —         —         —        2.4       2.4  

Loss on disposal of variable life insurance and annuity business, net of taxes

     —         —         —        (0.2 )     (0.2 )

 

     Three Months Ended March 31, 2006  
     Property and Casualty             
     Personal
Lines
   Commercial
Lines
   Other
Property and
Casualty (2)
   Life
Companies
    Total  

Net realized investment gains (losses) (1)

   $ 2.2    $ 2.2    $ 5.2    $ (3.8 )   $ 5.8  

Restructuring costs

     —        —        —        (0.3 )     (0.3 )

Loss on disposal of variable life insurance and annuity business, net of taxes

     —        —        —        (20.1 )     (20.1 )

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of taxes

     0.2      0.3      —        0.1       0.6  

(1) We manage investment assets for our property and casualty business based on the requirements of the entire property and casualty group. We allocate the investment income, expenses and realized gains (losses) to our Personal Lines, Commercial Lines and Other Property and Casualty segments based on actuarial information related to the underlying business.
(2) Includes corporate eliminations.

 

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Table of Contents

Segment Results

The following is our discussion and analysis of the results of operations by business segment. The segment results are presented before taxes and other items which we believe are not indicative of core operations, including realized gains and losses.

Property and Casualty

The following table summarizes the results of operations for the Property and Casualty group:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,

(In millions)

   2007    2006

Segment revenues

     

Net premiums written

   $ 612.0    $ 574.0
             

Net premiums earned

   $ 584.4    $ 540.9

Net investment income

     60.7      56.5

Other income

     15.0      14.7
             

Total segment revenues

     660.1      612.1

Losses and operating expenses

     

Losses and loss adjustment expenses

     353.1      327.8

Policy acquisition expenses

     127.0      113.4

Other operating expenses

     79.1      79.2
             

Total losses and operating expenses

     559.2      520.4
             

Segment income

   $ 100.9    $ 91.7
             

Three Months Ended March 31, 2007 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2006

Property and Casualty segment income increased $9.2 million, or 10.0%, to $100.9 million, in the first quarter of 2007, compared to $91.7 million in the first quarter of 2006. Catastrophe related activity increased by $7.0 million in the quarter, to $14.3 million, from $7.3 million in the same period of 2006. Excluding the impact of catastrophe related activity, earnings would have increased by $16.2 million. This increase is primarily attributable to higher favorable development of prior years’ reserves, partially offset by higher underwriting and loss adjustment expenses and lower current accident year underwriting results. Favorable development of prior years’ reserves increased by $25.5 million, to $52.0 million in the first quarter of 2007 from $26.5 million in the same period of 2006. This was partially offset by increased underwriting and LAE expenses of $8.0 million, primarily due to higher employee related costs. Also, earnings were negatively affected by lower current accident year results, primarily in Personal Lines, due to higher losses.

Production and Underwriting Results

We report underwriting results using GAAP. We manage investment assets for our property and casualty business based on the requirements of the entire Property and Casualty group.

The following table summarizes GAAP net premiums written and GAAP loss, LAE, expense and combined ratios for the Personal Lines and Commercial Lines segments. These items are not meaningful for our Other Property and Casualty segment.

 

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     Three Months Ended March 31,
     2007    2006

(In millions, except ratios)

   GAAP Net
Premiums
Written
   GAAP Loss
Ratios
(1)(2)
   Catastrophe
loss ratios (3)
   GAAP Net
Premiums
Written
   GAAP Loss
Ratios
(1)(2)
   Catastrophe
loss ratios (3)

Personal Lines:

                 

Personal automobile

   $ 273.5    56.6    0.1    $ 252.0    59.2    —  

Homeowners

     84.5    51.5    5.3      81.2    48.2    3.7

Other personal

     8.3    39.8    4.1      8.4    9.2    —  
                         

Total Personal Lines

     366.3    54.7    1.7      341.6    54.6    1.1
                         

Commercial Lines:

                 

Workers’ compensation

     34.5    33.6    —        35.5    72.4    —  

Commercial automobile

     51.6    43.8    —        52.0    47.3    0.6

Commercial multiple peril

     91.8    47.2    5.6      92.9    37.2    1.4

Other commercial

     67.8    30.4    1.0      52.0    32.0    5.0
                         

Total Commercial Lines

     245.7    40.3    2.5      232.4    43.5    1.8
                         

Total

   $ 612.0    49.1    2.0    $ 574.0    50.4    1.3
                         
     2007    2006
     GAAP
LAE
Ratio
   GAAP
Expense
Ratio
   GAAP
Combined
Ratio (4)
   GAAP
LAE
Ratio
   GAAP
Expense
Ratio
   GAAP
Combined
Ratio (4)

Personal Lines

     11.6    29.6    95.9      10.4    29.6    94.6

Commercial Lines

     10.8    39.7    90.8      9.4    41.2    94.1

Total

     11.3    33.4    93.8      10.1    33.9    94.4

(1) GAAP loss ratio is a common industry measurement of the results of property and casualty insurance underwriting. This ratio reflects incurred claims compared to premiums earned. Our GAAP loss ratios include catastrophe losses.
(2) Includes policyholders’ dividends.
(3) Catastrophe loss ratio reflects incurred catastrophe claims compared to premiums earned.
(4) GAAP combined ratio is a common industry measurement of the results of property and casualty insurance underwriting. This ratio is the sum of incurred claims, claim expenses and underwriting expenses incurred to premiums earned. Our GAAP combined ratios also include the impact of catastrophes. Federal income taxes, net investment income and other non-underwriting expenses are not reflected in the GAAP combined ratio.

The following table summarizes GAAP underwriting results for the Personal Lines, Commercial Lines and Other Property and Casualty segments and reconciles it to GAAP segment income.

 

     Three Months Ended March 31, 2007     Three Months Ended March 31, 2006  
    

Personal

Lines

    Commercial
Lines
    Other
Property and
Casualty
    Total     Personal
Lines
    Commercial
Lines
    Other
Property and
Casualty
    Total  

GAAP underwriting profit (loss), excluding prior year reserve development and catastrophes

   $ 0.6     $ (2.5 )   $ 0.3     $ (1.6 )   $ 14.8     $ (4.1 )   $ —       $ 10.7  

Prior year reserve development favorable (unfavorable)

     21.5       30.5       —         52.0       7.3       19.5       (0.3 )     26.5  

Pretax catastrophe effect

     (7.2 )     (7.1 )     —         (14.3 )     (3.7 )     (3.6 )     —         (7.3 )
                                                                

GAAP underwriting profit (loss)

     14.9       20.9       0.3       36.1       18.4       11.8       (0.3 )     29.9  

Net investment income

     29.5       27.3       3.9       60.7       26.6       26.1       3.8       56.5  

Fees and other income

     3.8       4.1       7.1       15.0       4.9       3.9       5.9       14.7  

Other operating expenses

     (0.8 )     (3.3 )     (6.8 )     (10.9 )     (0.9 )     (2.8 )     (5.7 )     (9.4 )
                                                                

Segment income

   $ 47.4     $ 49.0     $ 4.5     $ 100.9     $ 49.0     $ 39.0     $ 3.7     $ 91.7  
                                                                

 

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Personal Lines

Personal lines’ net premiums written increased $24.7 million, or 7.2%, to $366.3 million for the first quarter of 2007. This was primarily attributable to an increase in new business written in the personal automobile line due to the continued growth from our Connections Auto product and to the related appointment of new agents.

Policies in force in the personal automobile line of business increased 7.8% as compared to policies in force at the end of the first quarter of 2006, due to new business growth in selected states as a result of the continued growth from our Connections Auto product and the related appointment of new agents. This increase was partially offset by reduced exposures in New Jersey and Massachusetts, where the decline in policies in force is primarily due to the reduction of certain unprofitable agency relationships and certain group business that was not well aligned with our current strategy. Also in Massachusetts, the decline in policies in force was due to a state mandated change in the assignment of agencies for the Massachusetts Commonwealth Automobile Reinsurers pool.

Policies in force in the homeowners line of business decreased 1.7% compared to policies in force at the end of the first quarter of 2006, while decreasing modestly by 0.5% as compared to December 31, 2006. The decrease from prior year primarily reflects declines in Michigan, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. In Michigan, policies in force declined 3.6% compared to the first quarter of 2006, while decreasing 0.8% as compared to December 31, 2006, which we believe is due to the slowing economy of the state effecting new business production. In New Jersey, policies in force declined 12.7% compared to the first quarter of 2006, while decreasing 3.6% as compared to December 31, 2006, primarily due to our exiting certain group business that was not well aligned with our current strategy. In Massachusetts, the decrease was primarily driven by our decision to exit certain unprofitable agency relationships that were also not aligned with our current strategy and, to a lesser extent, by our actions to reduce coastal exposures.

Personal lines’ segment income decreased $1.6 million to $47.4 million for the first quarter of 2007, compared to $49.0 million for the same period in 2006. This was primarily the result of lower underwriting profit, excluding prior year reserve development and catastrophes, and a higher effect of catastrophes in 2007. These items were partially offset by an increase in favorable development on prior years’ loss and LAE reserves and higher net investment income.

Our underwriting profit, excluding prior year reserve development and catastrophes, declined $14.2 million, from $14.8 million in the first quarter of 2006 to $0.6 million in 2007. This decline was primarily due to lower current accident year underwriting results of approximately $9 million due to an increase in non-catastrophe, weather related claims frequency in 2007, as well as an expected increase in current accident year losses due to our growth. Additionally, underwriting and LAE expenses were $5.3 million higher in the current quarter due to higher employee related costs.

Catastrophe related activity increased $3.5 million, from $3.7 million in the first quarter of 2006 to $7.2 million in the first quarter of 2007, primarily due to winter storms in the Midwest and Northeast. In addition, segment income was positively affected by an increase of $14.2 million in favorable development on prior years’ loss and LAE reserves to $21.5 million in the first quarter of 2007 from $7.3 million in 2006. The improvement in prior year reserve development is driven by personal auto liability and relates primarily to the three most recent accident years. Net investment income was $29.5 million for the first quarter of 2007, an increase of $2.9 million compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to increased operating cash flows.

Our ability to maintain and increase Personal Lines net written premiums and to maintain and improve underwriting results is expected to be affected by increasing price competition, our ability to achieve acceptable margins on new business and to retain our existing business, regulatory actions and our plans to continue to reduce coastal exposures. For example, the Massachusetts Commissioner of Insurance has ordered a reduction in net rates of personal automobile insurance of 11.7% beginning April 1, 2007, which follows a reduction of 8.7% in 2006. Also, new business, such as that which we are generating through Connections Auto, generally experiences higher loss ratios than renewal business, and is more difficult to predict. In certain states, we have experienced loss ratios with our Connections Auto personal automobile business which are currently higher than expected, particularly in states in which we have less experience and data. We have initiated several actions to improve our results in new business; however, our ability to maintain or increase earnings and continue to grow could be adversely affected should the loss ratios for new business prove to be higher than our pricing and profitability expectations.

In addition, as discussed under “Contingencies and Regulatory Matters – Other Regulatory Matters”, the state of Florida has taken actions which significantly affect the property and casualty insurance market in that state, including ordering rate reductions for homeowners insurance products and subjecting insurance companies that do business in the state to potentially significant assessments in the event of catastrophic losses that are insured or reinsured by state-sponsored insurance or reinsurance entities. While we have not determined our strategies in response to this action, or similar issues which may arise in other states with coastal exposures, such state actions or our responses thereto could have a significant impact on our underwriting margins and growth prospects.

Commercial Lines

Commercial lines’ net premiums written increased $13.3 million, or 5.7%, to $245.7 million for the first quarter of 2007. This increase is primarily attributable to growth in our other commercial lines business, primarily bonds and inland marine.

 

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Commercial lines’ segment income increased $10.0 million, to $49.0 million in the first quarter of 2007 compared to $39.0 million in 2006. This was primarily the result of more favorable development of prior years’ loss and LAE reserves and improved underwriting results, excluding prior year reserve development and the effect of catastrophes, partially offset by a higher effect of catastrophes in 2007.

Favorable development of prior years’ loss and LAE reserves increased by $11.0 million, from $19.5 million for the first quarter of 2006 to $30.5 million in 2007. This improvement occurred across most lines, particularly the workers’ compensation and commercial automobile lines of business.

Our underwriting loss, excluding prior year reserve development and catastrophes decreased by $1.6 million, from a loss of $4.1 million in the first quarter of 2006 to a loss of $2.5 million in 2007. This was primarily due to an estimated $4 million of improved current accident year results due to earned premium growth in our bond and inland marine lines of business, partially offset by higher current accident year losses in most other commercial lines. This was partially offset by increased underwriting and LAE expenses of $1.8 million primarily attributable to higher employee related costs.

Catastrophe related activity increased $3.5 million, from $3.6 million in the first quarter of 2006 to $7.1 million in the first quarter of 2007, primarily due to winter storms in the Midwest and Northeast.

We have experienced increasing competition in our commercial lines of business. In addition, we believe the industry experienced overall rate decreases during 2006 and into the first quarter of 2007. Our ability to increase Commercial Lines’ net premiums written while maintaining or improving underwriting results is expected to be affected by increased price competition.

Other Property and Casualty

Segment income of the Other Property and Casualty segment increased $0.8 million, to $4.5 million in the first quarter of 2007 from $3.7 million for the same period in 2006, primarily due to improved underwriting results from our voluntary pools.

Investment Results

Net investment income increased $4.2 million, or 7.4%, to $60.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2007. The increase in net investment income reflects an increase in average invested assets due to increased operational cash flows and income from a fixed maturity call premium payment. The average pre-tax yield on fixed maturities was 5.7% for the first quarter of 2007 and 5.6% for the first quarter of 2006.

Reserve for Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses

Overview of Loss Reserve Estimation Process

We maintain reserves for our property and casualty products to provide for our ultimate liability for losses and loss adjustment expenses with respect to reported and unreported claims incurred as of the end of each accounting period. These reserves are estimates, taking into account actuarial projections at a given point in time, of what we expect the ultimate settlement and administration of claims will cost based on facts and circumstances then known, estimates of future trends in claim severity and frequency, judicial theories of liability and policy coverage, and other factors.

We determine the amount of loss and loss adjustment expense reserves (the “loss reserves”) based on an estimation process that is very complex and uses information obtained from both company specific and industry data, as well as general economic information. The estimation process is judgmental, and requires us to continuously monitor and evaluate the life cycle of claims on type-of-business and nature-of-claim bases. Using data obtained from this monitoring, and assumptions about emerging trends, our actuaries develop information about the size of ultimate claims based on historical experience and other available market information. The most significant assumptions used in the actuarial estimation process, which vary by line of business, include determining the expected consistency in the frequency and severity of claims incurred but not yet reported to prior years claims, the trend in loss costs, changes in the timing of the reporting of losses from the loss date to the notification date, and expected costs to settle unpaid claims. This process assumes that past experience, adjusted for the effects of current developments and anticipated trends, is an appropriate basis for predicting future events. On a quarterly basis, our actuaries provide to management a point estimate for each significant line of our direct business to summarize their analysis.

In establishing the appropriate loss reserve balances for any period, management carefully considers these actuarial point estimates, which are the principal bases for establishing our reserve balances, along with a qualitative evaluation of business trends, environmental changes, and numerous other factors. In general, such additional factors may include, but are not limited to, improvement or deterioration of the actuarial indications in the period, the maturity of the accident year, trends observed over the recent past such as changes in the mix of business or the impact of regulatory or litigation developments, the level of volatility

 

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within a particular line of business, and the magnitude of the difference between the actuarial indication and the recorded reserves. Regarding our indirect business from voluntary and involuntary pools, we are provided loss estimates by managers of each pool. We adopt reserve estimates for the pools that consider this information and other facts. At March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, total recorded reserves, including direct reserves and voluntary and involuntary pool reserves, were 5.7% greater than actuarially indicated point estimates.

Management’s Review of Judgments and Key Assumptions

There is greater inherent uncertainty in estimating insurance reserves for certain types of property and casualty insurance lines, particularly workers’ compensation and other liability lines, where a longer period of time may elapse before a definitive determination of ultimate liability and losses may be made. In addition, the technological, judicial, regulatory and political climates involving these types of claims change regularly. There is also greater uncertainty in establishing reserves with respect to new business, particularly new business which is generated with respect to newly introduced product lines, by newly appointed agents or in geographies in which we have less experience in conducting business. In such cases, there is less historical experience or knowledge and less data upon which actuaries can rely. We maintain a practice of significantly limiting the issuance of long-tailed other liability policies, including directors and officers (“D&O”) liability, errors and omissions (“E&O”) liability and medical malpractice liability. The industry has experienced adverse loss trends in these lines of business.

We regularly update our reserve estimates as new information becomes available and further events occur which may impact the resolution of unsettled claims. Reserve adjustments are reflected in the results of operations as adjustments to losses and LAE. Often, these adjustments are recognized in periods subsequent to the period in which the underlying policy was written and the loss event occurred. These types of subsequent adjustments are described separately as “prior year reserve development”. Such development can be either favorable or unfavorable to our financial results and may vary by line of business.

Inflation generally increases the cost of losses covered by insurance contracts. The effect of inflation varies by product. Our property and casualty insurance premiums are established before the amount of losses and LAE and the extent to which inflation may affect such expenses are known. Consequently, we attempt, in establishing rates and reserves, to anticipate the potential impact of inflation and increasing medical costs in the projection of ultimate costs. We have experienced increasing medical costs, including those associated with personal automobile personal injury protection claims, particularly in Michigan, as well as in our workers’ compensation line in most states. This increase is reflected in our reserve estimates, but continued increases could contribute to increased losses and LAE in the future.

We regularly review our reserving techniques, our overall reserving position and our reinsurance. Based on (i) our review of historical data, legislative enactments, judicial decisions, legal developments in impositions of damages and policy coverage, political attitudes and trends in general economic conditions, (ii) our review of per claim information, (iii) our historical loss experience and that of the industry, (iv) the relatively short-term nature of most policies written by us, and (v) our internal estimates of required reserves, we believe that adequate provision has been made for loss reserves. However, establishment of appropriate reserves is an inherently uncertain process and there can be no certainty that current established reserves will prove adequate in light of subsequent actual experience. A significant change to the estimated reserves could have a material impact on our results of operations and financial position. An increase or decrease in reserve estimates would result in a corresponding decrease or increase in financial results. For example, each one percentage point change in the aggregate loss and LAE ratio resulting from a change in reserve estimation is currently projected to have an approximate $22 million impact on property and casualty segment income, based on 2006 full year premiums.

As discussed below, estimated loss and LAE reserves for claims occurring in prior years, excluding development related to Hurricane Katrina, developed favorably by $52.0 million and $26.5 million for the quarters ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, which represents 1.6% and 0.8% of loss reserves held, respectively. Reserves for Hurricane Katrina developed favorably by $3.5 million in the first quarter of 2006.

The major causes of material uncertainty relating to ultimate losses and loss adjustment expenses (“risk factors”) generally vary for each line of business, as well as for each separately analyzed component of the line of business. In some cases, such risk factors are explicit assumptions of the estimation method and in others, they are implicit. For example, a method may explicitly assume that a certain percentage of claims will close each year, but will implicitly assume that the legal interpretation of existing contract language will remain unchanged. Actual results will likely vary from expectations for each of these assumptions, resulting in an ultimate claim liability that is different from that being estimated currently.

Some risk factors will affect more than one line of business. Examples include changes in claim department practices, changes in settlement patterns, regulatory and legislative actions, court actions, timeliness of claim reporting, state mix of claimants, and degree of claimant fraud. The extent of the impact of a risk factor will also vary by components within a line of business.

 

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Individual risk factors are also subject to interactions with other risk factors within line of business components. Thus, risk factors can have offsetting or compounding effects on required reserves.

In 2005, we experienced significant catastrophe losses associated with Hurricane Katrina and established gross loss and LAE reserves of approximately $535 million and incurred a reinstatement premium of $27 million. Our loss estimate for Hurricane Katrina was developed using closed claims data, an analysis of the claims reported to date and estimated values of properties in the affected areas. Wind-speed data, flood maps and intelligence provided by on-the-ground staff and independent adjusters, were used to project anticipated claims and damage projections. Anticipated costs for demand surge (increased costs for construction material and labor due to the increased damage resulting from the hurricane) were also included in the estimate. However, estimating losses following a major catastrophe is an inherently uncertain process, which is made more difficult by the unprecedented nature of this event, including the legal and regulatory uncertainty, difficulty in accessing portions of the affected areas, the complexity of factors contributing to the losses, delays in claim reporting, aggravating circumstances of Hurricane Rita and a slower pace of recovery resulting from the extent of damage sustained in the affected areas.

In 2006, trends in claims activity caused us to reevaluate and increase our estimate of Hurricane Katrina net loss by approximately $59 million on a pre-tax basis, or $48.6 million, net of reinsurance on a pre-tax basis, for the year ended December 31, 2006. In Commercial Lines, the estimate of net losses increased primarily due to the recognition of higher business interruption exposure as more complete information was provided by insureds in response to our initiative to obtain related documentation, the impact of disputes related to wind versus water as cause of loss, the continuation of supplemental payments on previously closed claims caused by the development of latent damages and inflationary pressures on repair costs. In Personal Lines, the estimate of net losses increased by approximately $3 million, primarily due to the continuation of supplemental payments on previously closed claims caused by the development of latent damages and inflationary pressures on repair costs. The estimate of loss adjustment expenses also increased by $8.4 million, driven primarily by an increase in litigation activity leading up to the pre-existing one year limit on a homeowner policyholders’ ability to challenge claims (this period was extended to two years by legislative action) and a change to the Louisiana bad faith law. We are also defendants in various litigation, including putative class actions, which dispute the scope or enforceability of the “flood exclusion”, claim punitive damages or claim a broader scope of policy coverage than our interpretation, all in connection with losses incurred from Hurricane Katrina. The reserves established with respect to Hurricane Katrina assume that we will prevail with respect to these matters (see also Contingencies and Regulatory Matters). Although we believe our current Hurricane Katrina reserves are adequate, there can be no assurance that our ultimate costs associated with this event will not substantially exceed these estimates.

Loss Reserves by Line of Business

We perform actuarial reviews on certain detailed line of business coverages. These individual estimates are summarized into six broader lines of business: personal automobile, homeowners, workers’ compensation, commercial automobile, commercial multiple peril, and other personal and commercial lines.

The process of estimating reserves involves considerable judgment by management and is inherently uncertain. Actuarial point estimates by lines of business are the primary bases for determining ultimate expected losses and LAE and the level of net reserves required; however, other factors are considered as well. In general, such additional factors may include, but are not limited to, improvement or deterioration of the actuarial indications in the period, the maturity of the accident year, trends observed over the recent past such as changes in the mix of business or the impact of regulatory or litigation developments, the amount of data or experience we have with respect to a particular product or geographic area, the level of volatility within a particular line of business, and the magnitude of the difference between the actuarial indication and the recorded reserves. The table below shows our recorded net reserves, net of reinsurance, and the actuarial reserve point estimates by line of business at March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006.

 

     March 31, 2007    December 31, 2006

(In millions)

   Recorded
Net
Reserves
   Actuarial
Point
Estimate
   Recorded
Net
Reserves
   Actuarial
Point
Estimate

Personal Automobile

   $ 696.2    $ 664.8    $ 700.7    $ 670.1

Homeowners

     113.3      110.6      106.4      103.7

Other Personal Lines

     25.6      24.0      26.1      23.5

Workers’ Compensation

     388.7      373.7      398.0      382.2

Commercial Automobile

     163.2      153.9      162.4      152.5

Commercial Multiple Peril

     482.3      442.2      486.6      447.9

Other Commercial Lines

     159.4      141.5      158.3      140.0

Asbestos and Environmental

     24.4      20.5      24.7      20.5

Pools and Other

     209.8      209.8      211.1      211.1
                           

Total

   $ 2,262.9    $ 2,141.0    $ 2,274.3    $ 2,151.5
                           

 

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The principal factors considered by management in addition to the actuarial point estimates in determining the reserves at March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006 vary by line of business. In our Commercial Lines segment, management considered the growth and product mix changes in commercial lines and recent adverse property related frequency trends in certain commercial line coverages. In addition, management also considered the significant growth in our inland marine and bond businesses for which we have limited actuarial data to estimate losses and the product mix change in our bond business towards a greater proportion of contract surety bonds where losses tend to emerge over a longer period of time and are cyclical related to general economic conditions. Moreover, in our Commercial Lines segment, management considered the likelihood of continued adverse development in the workers’ compensation line where losses tend to emerge over long periods of time and rising medical costs, while moderating, have continued to be a concern. In our Personal Lines segment, management considered the significant growth in our new business with the new Connections Auto product and related growth in a number of states where there is additional uncertainty in the ultimate profitability and development of reserves due to the unseasoned nature of our new business and new agency relationships in these markets. Our lack of credible actuarial data to estimate losses in these new geographical areas and agency relationships causes uncertainty in estimating ultimate reserves and requires considerable judgment by management. Also in Personal Lines, management considered the significant improvement in frequency trends the industry has experienced over the past several years in these lines of business which were unanticipated and remain to some extent unexplained. Management also considered the likelihood of future adverse development related to significant catastrophe losses experienced in 2005. Regarding our indirect business from voluntary and involuntary pools, we are provided loss estimates by managers of each pool. We adopt reserve estimates for the pools that consider this information and other factors. At March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, total recorded reserves, including direct reserves and voluntary and involuntary pool reserves, were 5.7% greater than actuarially indicated point estimates.

The table below provides a reconciliation of the gross beginning and ending reserve for unpaid losses and LAE as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 

(In millions)

   2007     2006  

Reserve for losses and LAE, beginning of period

   $ 3,163.9     $ 3,458.7  

Incurred losses and LAE, net of reinsurance recoverable:

    

Provision for insured events of current year

     405.0       357.7  

Decrease in provision for insured events of prior years; favorable development

     (52.0 )     (26.5 )

Hurricane Katrina

     —         (3.5 )
                

Total incurred losses and LAE

     353.0       327.7  
                

Payments, net of reinsurance recoverable:

    

Losses and LAE attributable to insured events of current year

     115.1       98.3  

Losses and LAE attributable to insured events of prior years

     233.6       252.4  

Hurricane Katrina

     15.7       24.6  
                

Total payments

     364.4       375.3  
                

Change in reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses

     4.6       (170.7 )
                

Reserve for losses and LAE, end of period

   $ 3,157.1     $ 3,240.4  
                

The table below summarizes the gross reserve for losses and LAE by line of business.

 

(In millions)

   March 31,
2007
   December 31,
2006

Personal Automobile

   $ 1,256.2    $ 1,256.9

Homeowners and Other

     181.8      174.4
             

Total Personal

     1,438.0      1,431.3

Workers’ Compensation

     616.3      626.7

Commercial Automobile

     232.1      229.4

Commercial Multiple Peril

     576.8      582.8

Other Commercial

     293.9      293.7
             

Total Commercial

     1,719.1      1,732.6
             

Total reserve for losses and LAE

   $ 3,157.1    $ 3,163.9
             

 

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The total reserve for losses and LAE as disclosed in the above table decreased by $6.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2007. The decrease in 2007 was mostly a result of payments to insureds for Hurricane Katrina.

Prior Year Development by Line of Business

When trends emerge that we believe affect the future settlement of claims, we adjust our reserves accordingly. Reserve adjustments are reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Income as adjustments to losses and LAE. Often, we recognize these adjustments in periods subsequent to the period in which the underlying loss event occurred. These types of subsequent adjustments are disclosed and discussed separately as “prior year reserve development”. Such development can be either favorable or unfavorable to our financial results.

The table below summarizes the change in the provision for insured events of prior years, excluding those related to Hurricane Katrina (see Management’s Review of Judgments and Key Assumptions for a further discussion of Hurricane Katrina), by line of business.

 

      Three Months Ended March 31,  

(In millions)

   2007     2006  

Increase (decrease) in loss provision for insured events of prior years:

    

Personal Automobile

   $ (25.6 )   $ (7.7 )

Homeowners and Other

     2.7       0.5  
                

Total Personal

     (22.9 )     (7.2 )

Workers’ Compensation

     (10.0 )     (1.6 )

Commercial Automobile

     (4.5 )     (1.5 )

Commercial Multiple Peril

     (6.4 )     (10.2 )

Other Commercial

     (7.0 )     (3.1 )
                

Total Commercial

     (27.9 )     (16.4 )

Voluntary Pools

     —         0.3  
                

Decrease in loss provision for insured events of prior years

     (50.8 )     (23.3 )

Decrease in LAE provision for insured events of prior years

     (1.2 )     (3.2 )
                

Decrease in total loss and LAE provision for insured events of prior years

   $ (52.0 )   $ (26.5 )
                

Estimated loss reserves for claims occurring in prior years developed favorably by $50.8 million and $23.3 million during the first quarter of 2007 and 2006, respectively. The favorable loss reserve development during the first quarter of 2007 is primarily the result of lower bodily injury claim frequency in the personal automobile line, primarily in the three most recent accident years, and lower severity in the workers’ compensation line, also primarily in the three most recent accident years. In addition, lower frequency of liability claims in the commercial multiple peril line for the 2005 and prior accident years contributed to the favorable development.

The favorable loss reserve development during the first quarter of 2006 is primarily the result of lower claim severity in the most recent accident years in the commercial multiple peril line and other commercial lines. In addition, the personal automobile line experienced decreases in claim frequency of liability-related claims in the 2005 accident year. Partially offsetting these items was adverse development, primarily in the 2005 accident year, in the homeowners line during the first quarter of 2006.

During the first quarter of 2007 and 2006, estimated LAE reserves for claims occurring in prior years developed favorably by $1.2 million and $3.2 million, respectively. Development in the first quarter of 2007 and 2006 was favorably affected by improvement in ultimate loss activity on prior accident years which results in the decrease of ultimate loss adjustment expenses, primarily in the commercial multiple peril and workers’ compensation lines. In the first quarter of 2007, this favorable development was partially offset by adverse development of LAE reserves due to a litigation settlement.

Although we have experienced significant favorable development in both losses and LAE in recent years, there can be no assurance that this level of favorable development will occur in the future. We believe that we will experience less favorable development in the future than we have experienced recently.

 

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Asbestos and Environmental Reserves

Although we do not specifically underwrite policies that include asbestos, environmental damage and toxic tort liability, we may be required to defend such claims. Ending loss and LAE reserves for all direct business written by our property and casualty companies related to asbestos, environmental damage and toxic tort liability, included in the reserve for losses and LAE, were $24.4 million and $24.7 million at March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively, net of reinsurance of $12.4 million and $13.8 million at March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively. The outstanding reserves for direct business asbestos and environmental damage have remained relatively consistent for the last three years. As a result of our historical direct underwriting mix of commercial lines policies toward smaller and middle market risks, past asbestos, environmental damage and toxic tort liability loss experience has remained minimal in relation to our total loss and LAE incurred experience.

In addition, and not included in the numbers above, we have established loss and LAE reserves for assumed reinsurance and pool business with asbestos, environmental damage and toxic tort liability of $56.4 million at March 31, 2007 and $57.0 million at December 31, 2006. These reserves relate to pools in which we have terminated our participation; however, we continue to be subject to claims related to years in which we were a participant. A significant part of our pool reserves relates to our participation in the Excess and Casualty Reinsurance Association (“ECRA”) voluntary pool from 1950 to 1982. In 1982, the pool was dissolved and since that time, the business has been in runoff. Our percentage of the total pool liabilities varied from 1.15% to 6.00% during these years. Our participation in this pool has resulted in average paid losses of approximately $2 million annually over the past ten years. Because of the inherent uncertainty regarding the types of claims in these pools, we cannot provide assurance that our reserves will be sufficient.

We estimate our ultimate liability for asbestos, environmental and toxic tort liability claims, whether resulting from direct business assumed reinsurance or pool business, based upon currently known facts, reasonable assumptions where the facts are not known, current law and methodologies currently available. Although these outstanding claims are not significant, their existence gives rise to uncertainty and are discussed because of the possibility that they may become significant. We believe that, notwithstanding the evolution of case law expanding liability in asbestos and environmental claims, recorded reserves related to these claims are adequate. Nevertheless, the asbestos, environmental and toxic tort liability reserves could be revised if the estimates used in determining the liability are revised, and any such revisions could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations for a particular quarter or annual period or on our financial position.

Life Companies

On December 30, 2005, we sold all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of AFLIAC, a life insurance subsidiary representing approximately 95% of our run-off variable life insurance and annuity business, to Goldman Sachs. The transaction also included the reinsurance of 100% of the variable business of FAFLIC. In connection with these transactions, FAFLIC provided transition services to Goldman Sachs from December 30, 2005 through December 31, 2006.

Description of Life Companies Segment

Our Life Companies segment is discussed in two major components: Continuing Operations and Discontinued Operations. Our Life Companies Continuing Operations business includes the run-off blocks of traditional life insurance products (principally the Closed Block), our group retirement annuity contract business, our discontinued group life and health business, including group life and health voluntary pools, our GIC business and certain non-insurance subsidiaries. Our Discontinued Operations reflects the net costs associated with the aforementioned sale of AFLIAC, including those incurred to provide transition services, employee severance costs, indemnification costs and operations conversion costs.

Continuing Operations

The following table summarizes the results of operations for the Continuing Operations segment for the periods indicated.

 

      Three Months Ended March 31,  

(In millions)

   2007     2006  

Segment revenues

    

Premiums

   $ 17.8     $ 18.5  

Net investment income

     19.3       23.7  

Fees and other income

     0.4       6.0  
                

Total segment revenue

     37.5       48.2  
                

Policy benefits, claims and operating expenses

    

Policy benefits, claims and losses

     32.0       32.2  

Policy acquisition and other operating expenses

     6.4       17.9  
                

Total policy benefits, claims and operating expenses

     38.4       50.1  
                

Segment loss

   $ (0.9 )   $ (1.9 )
                

 

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Three Months Ended March 31, 2007 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2006

Life Companies’ Continuing Operations segment loss was $0.9 million in the first quarter of 2007, compared to a loss of $1.9 million during the same period in 2006. This improvement was primarily due to lower expenses and decreased losses from our GIC product resulting from the continued run-off of our life business. This improvement was partially offset by increased mortality costs in our traditional life business.

Discontinued Operations

Loss on Sale of AFLIAC Variable Life Insurance and Annuity Business

 

      Three Months Ended March 31,

(In millions)

   2007    2006

Loss on sale of AFLIAC variable life insurance and annuity business

   $ 0.2    $ 20.1
             

For the quarter ended March 31, 2007, we recorded a loss of $0.2 million, net of tax, primarily due to conversion costs associated with our variable business. For the quarter ended March 31, 2006, we recorded a loss of $20.1 million, net of tax, primarily due to a charge of $15.0 million for our estimated potential liability for certain contractual indemnities to Goldman Sachs relating to the pre-sale activities of the business sold recorded under FIN 45 and to a charge of $5.1 million related to after-tax net costs incurred for employee severance costs, net costs of transition services, operations conversion expenses and litigation matters.

As of March 31, 2007, our total FIN 45 liability was $32.4 million on a pre-tax basis. Although we believe our current estimate for our FIN 45 liability is appropriate, there can be no assurance that these estimates will not materially increase in the future.

Investment Portfolio

We held general account investment assets diversified across several asset classes, as follows:

 

      March 31, 2007     December 31, 2006  

(In millions, except percentage data)

   Carrying
Value
   % of Total
Carrying
Value
    Carrying
Value
   % of Total
Carrying
Value
 

Fixed maturities (1)

   $ 5,671.4    92.7 %   $ 5,629.0    90.3 %

Equity securities (1)

     18.6    0.3 %     17.2    0.3 %

Mortgages

     56.3    0.9 %     57.1    0.9 %

Policy loans (1)

     122.0    2.0 %     125.7    2.0 %

Cash and cash equivalents (1)

     218.5    3.6 %     372.7    6.0 %

Other long-term investments

     33.3    0.5 %     35.4    0.5 %
                          

Total

   $ 6,120.1    100.0 %   $ 6,237.1    100.0 %
                          

(1) We carry these investments at fair value.

Total investment assets decreased $117.0 million, or 1.9%, to $6.1 billion during the first quarter of 2007, of which cash and cash equivalents decreased $154.2 million partially offset by a $42.4 million increase in fixed maturities. Cash and cash equivalents decreased primarily due to a lower balance of collateral held related to our securities lending program, as well as the timing of fixed maturity purchases. Fixed maturities increased due to purchases resulting from improved operational cash flows in our property and casualty business and market value appreciation. These increases were partially offset by the sale of fixed maturities in the Life Companies to fund the run-off of life operations.

Our fixed maturity portfolio is comprised primarily of investment grade corporate fixed securities, mortgage-backed securities, U.S. government and agency securities, tax-exempt issues of state and local governments, and other issues. Based on ratings by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”), our fixed maturity portfolio held 93.9% of investment grade securities at March 31, 2007 and 94.0% at December 31, 2006.

 

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The following table provides information about the credit quality of our fixed maturities.

 

(In millions, except percentage data)

        March 31, 2007     December 31, 2006  

NAIC Designation

  

Rating Agency

Equivalent
Designation

   Amortized
Cost
   Carrying
Value
   % of Total
Carrying
Value
    Amortized
Cost
   Carrying
Value
   % of Total
Carrying
Value
 

1

   Aaa/Aa/A    $ 4,079.7    $ 4,073.9    71.8 %   $ 4,095.7    $ 4,073.6    72.3 %

2

   Baa      1,250.5      1,250.0    22.1 %     1,221.0      1,216.0    21.6 %

3

   Ba      136.2      139.2    2.4 %     127.0      129.6    2.3 %

4

   B      146.1      153.0    2.7 %     154.6      161.9    2.9 %

5

   Caa and lower      49.8      52.4    0.9 %     43.7      45.0    0.8 %

6

   In or near default      1.2      2.9    0.1 %     1.2      2.9    0.1 %
                                           

Total fixed maturities

      $ 5,663.5    $ 5,671.4    100.0 %   $ 5,643.2    $ 5,629.0    100.0 %
                                           

Although we expect to invest new funds primarily in cash, cash equivalents and investment grade fixed maturities, we expect to invest a portion of funds in equity securities and we may invest a portion in below investment grade fixed maturities. The average yield on fixed maturities was 5.7% for March 31, 2007 and 5.6% for December 31, 2006.

At March 31, 2007, $143.9 million of our fixed maturities were invested in traditional private placement securities, as compared to $121.1 million at December 31, 2006. Fair values of traditional private placement securities are determined by either a third party broker or by internally developed pricing models, including the use of discounted cash flow analyses.

We recognized $0.5 million of realized losses on other-than-temporary impairments of fixed maturities for the first quarter of 2007, as compared to $3.1 million for the first quarter of 2006, principally resulting from our exposure to below investment grade securities. In our determination of other-than-temporary impairments, we consider several factors and circumstances, including the issuer’s overall financial condition; the issuer’s credit and financial strength ratings; the issuer’s financial performance, including earnings trends, dividend payments, and asset quality; a weakening of the general market conditions in the industry or geographic region in which the issuer operates; the length of time in which the fair value of an issuer’s securities remains below our cost; and with respect to fixed maturity investments, any factors that might raise doubt about the issuer’s ability to pay all amounts due according to the contractual terms. We apply these factors to all securities. Other-than-temporary impairments are recorded as a realized loss, which serves to reduce net income and earnings per share. Temporary declines in market value are recorded as unrealized losses, which do not affect net income and earnings per share but reduce other comprehensive income. We cannot provide assurance that the other-than-temporary impairments will, in fact, be adequate to cover future losses or that we will not have substantial additional impairments in the future.

The following table provides information about our fixed maturities that have been continuously in an unrealized loss position.

 

      March 31, 2007    December 31, 2006

(In millions)

   Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   Fair
Value
   Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   Fair
Value

Investment grade fixed maturities:

           

12 months or less

   $ 7.5    $ 893.4    $ 13.2    $ 1,322.1

Greater than 12 months

     43.2      2,109.8      55.4      2,089.5
                           

Total investment grade fixed maturities

     50.7      3,003.2      68.6      3,411.6

Below investment grade fixed maturities:

           

12 months or less

     0.4      41.3      1.3      68.3

Greater than 12 months

     —        7.6      —        —  
                           

Total below investment grade fixed maturities

     0.4      48.9      1.3      68.3
                           

Total fixed maturities

   $ 51.1    $ 3,052.1    $ 69.9    $ 3,479.9
                           

We had $51.1 million of gross unrealized losses on fixed maturities at March 31, 2007, as compared to $69.9 million at December 31, 2006. The decrease in gross unrealized losses of investment grade fixed maturity investments is primarily due to the impact of lower market interest rates. The decrease in gross unrealized losses of below investment grade fixed maturity investments is primarily due to other-than-temporary impairments of fixed maturities during the first quarter of 2007 and improvement in market price levels of below investment grade credit risk at March 31, 2007 compared to December 31, 2006. Obligations of U.S. Treasury, U.S. government and agency securities, states and political subdivisions had associated gross unrealized losses of $8.0 million at March 31, 2007 and $10.9 million at December 31, 2006. At March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, substantially all below investment grade securities with an unrealized loss had been rated by the NAIC, Standard & Poor’s or Moody’s.

 

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We view the gross unrealized losses of fixed maturities and equity securities as being temporary. The risks inherent in our assessment methodology include the risk that, subsequent to the balance sheet date, market factors may differ from our expectations, we may decide to subsequently sell a security for unforeseen business needs, or changes in the credit assessment or equity characteristics from our original assessment may lead us to determine that a sale at the current value would maximize recovery on such investments. To the extent that there are such adverse changes, the unrealized loss would then be realized and we would record a charge to earnings. Although unrealized losses are not reflected in the results of financial operations until they are realized or deemed “other-than-temporary”, the fair value of the underlying investment, which does reflect the unrealized loss, is reflected in our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The following table sets forth gross unrealized losses for fixed maturities by maturity period at March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations, with or without call or prepayment penalties, or we may have the right to put or sell the obligations back to the issuers. Mortgage- backed securities are included in the category representing their ultimate maturity.

 

(In millions)

   March 31,
2007
   December 31,
2006

Due in one year or less

   $ 0.6    $ 0.8

Due after one year through five years

     10.2      13.4

Due after five years through ten years

     20.9      29.9

Due after ten years

     19.4      25.8
             

Total fixed maturities

   $ 51.1    $ 69.9
             

The carrying value of fixed maturity securities on non-accrual status at March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, as well as the effect that non-accruals had on net investment income were not material. Although we did not experience defaults in the first quarter of 2007, any defaults in the fixed maturities portfolio in future periods may negatively affect investment income.

Income Taxes

We file a consolidated United States federal income tax return that includes the holding company and its domestic subsidiaries (including non-insurance operations). We segregate the entities included within the consolidated group into either a life insurance or a non-life insurance company subgroup. The consolidation of these subgroups is subject to certain statutory restrictions on the percentage of eligible non-life tax losses that can be applied to offset life company taxable income.

The provision for federal income taxes from continuing operations was an expense of $28.1 million during the first quarter of 2007 compared to $25.3 million during the same period in 2006. These provisions resulted in consolidated effective federal tax rates of 30.6% and 29.7% for the quarters ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. This increase in the tax rate is primarily due to higher underwriting income in our Property and Casualty business, as well as a reduced level of tax exempt interest in the current year, partially offset by a $2.4 million benefit realized in 2007 for a settlement with the Internal Revenue Service of interest claims for 1977 through 1994.

In the first quarter of 2007, we reduced our valuation allowance related to our deferred tax asset by $3.7 million. This decrease resulted from unrealized appreciation of our investment portfolio, which is reflected in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss in the Shareholders’ Equity section of the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Accordingly, we recorded this decrease in valuation allowance as an adjustment to Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss. At March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, our deferred tax valuation allowance was $165.7 million and $169.4 million, respectively.

Effective January 1, 2007, we adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (“FIN 48”). As a result of the implementation of FIN 48, we recognized an $11.5 million decrease in the liability for unrecognized tax benefits, which was reflected as an increase in the January 1, 2007 balance of retained earnings.

Critical Accounting Estimates

The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon the consolidated financial statements. These statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, which requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amount of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The following critical accounting estimates are those which we believe affect the more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our financial statements. Additional information about our other significant accounting policies and estimates may be found in Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

 

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Property & Casualty Insurance Loss Reserves

We determine the amount of loss and loss adjustment expense reserves (the “loss reserves”), as discussed in “Segment Results – Property and Casualty, Overview of Loss Reserve Estimation Process” based on an estimation process that is very complex and uses information obtained from both company specific and industry data, as well as general economic information. The estimation process is judgmental, and requires us to continuously monitor and evaluate the life cycle of claims on type-of-business and nature-of-claim bases. Using data obtained from this monitoring and assumptions about emerging trends, our actuaries develop information about the size of ultimate claims based on historical experience and other available market information. The most significant assumptions used in the actuarial estimation process, which vary by line of business, include determining the expected consistency in the frequency and severity of claims incurred but not yet reported to prior years claims, the trend in loss costs, changes in the timing of the reporting of losses from the loss date to the notification date and expected costs to settle unpaid claims. This process assumes that past experience, adjusted for the effects of current developments and anticipated trends, is an appropriate basis for predicting future events. On a quarterly basis, our actuaries provide to management a point estimate for each significant line of our direct business to summarize their analysis.

In establishing the appropriate loss reserve balances for any period, management carefully considers these actuarial point estimates, which are the principal bases for establishing our reserve balances, along with a qualitative evaluation of business trends, environmental changes, and numerous other factors. In general, such additional factors may include, but are not limited to, improvement or deterioration of the actuarial indications in the period, the maturity of the accident year, trends observed over the recent past such as changes in the mix of business or the impact of regulatory or litigation developments, the level of volatility within a particular line of business, and the magnitude of the difference between the actuarial indication and the recorded reserves. Specific factors considered by management in determining the reserves at March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006 included the current extent to which growth and product mix changes in our Commercial Lines segment have affected our ultimate loss trends, the significant growth in our Personal Lines new business and related growth in a number of states, the significant improvement in personal lines frequency trends the industry has experienced over the past couple of years which were unanticipated and remain to some extent unexplained, significant growth and product mix changes in our surety bond and inland marine businesses for which we have limited actuarial data to estimate ultimate losses and the likelihood of continued adverse development in the workers’ compensation line where losses tend to emerge over long periods of time and rising medical costs, while moderating, have continued to be a concern. Management also considered the likelihood of future adverse development related to significant catastrophe losses experienced in 2005. Regarding our indirect business from voluntary and involuntary pools, we are provided loss estimates by managers of each pool. We adopt reserve estimates for the pools that consider this information and other facts. At March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, total recorded reserves were 5.7% greater than actuarially indicated point estimates. We exercise judgment in estimating all loss reserves based upon our knowledge of the property and casualty business, review of the outcome of actuarial studies, historical experience and other facts to record an estimate which reflects our expected ultimate loss and loss adjustment expenses. We believe that adequate provision has been made for loss reserves. However, establishment of appropriate reserves is an inherently uncertain process and there can be no certainty that current established reserves will prove adequate in light of subsequent actual experience. A significant change to the estimated reserves could have a material impact on our results of operations and financial position. An increase or decrease in reserve estimates would result in a corresponding decrease or increase in financial results. For example, each one percentage point change in the loss and LAE ratio resulting from a change in reserve estimation is currently projected to have an approximate $22 million impact on property and casualty segment income, based on 2006 full year premiums.

When trends emerge that we believe affect the future settlement of claims, we adjust our reserves accordingly (see Segment Results – Property and Casualty, Management’s Review of Judgments and Key Assumptions for further explanation of factors affecting our reserve estimates, our review process and our process for determining changes to our reserve estimates). Reserve adjustments are reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Income as adjustments to losses and loss adjustment expenses. Often, we recognize these adjustments in periods subsequent to the period in which the underlying loss event occurred. These types of subsequent adjustments are disclosed and discussed separately as “prior year reserve development”. Such development can be either favorable or unfavorable to our financial results. As discussed in “Segment Results – Property and Casualty, Management’s Review of Judgments and Key Assumptions”, estimated loss and LAE reserves for claims occurring in prior years, excluding those related to Hurricane Katrina, developed favorably by $52.0 million and $26.5 million for the quarters ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, which represents 1.6% and 0.8% of loss reserves held, respectively. Also, in the first quarter of 2006, reserves for Hurricane Katrina developed favorably by $3.5 million. See also “Analysis of Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses Reserve Development” in Item 1–Business in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 for guidance related to the annual development of our loss and LAE reserves.

 

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The major causes of material uncertainty relating to ultimate losses and loss adjustment expenses (“risk factors”) generally vary for each line of business, as well as for each separately analyzed component of the line of business. In some cases, such risk factors are explicit assumptions of the estimation method and in others, they are implicit. For example, a method may explicitly assume that a certain percentage of claims will close each year, but will implicitly assume that the legal interpretation of existing contract language will remain unchanged. Actual results will likely vary from expectations for each of these assumptions, resulting in an ultimate claim liability that is different from that being estimated currently. Some risk factors will affect more than one line of business. Examples include changes in claim department practices, changes in settlement patterns, regulatory and legislative actions, court actions, timeliness of claim reporting, state mix of claimants, and degree of claimant fraud. The extent of the impact of a risk factor will also vary by components within a line of business. Individual risk factors are also subject to interactions with other risk factors within line of business components. Thus, risk factors can have offsetting or compounding effects on required reserves.

In 2005, our loss estimate for Hurricane Katrina was developed using an analysis of the claims reported to date and estimated values of properties in the affected areas. Wind-speed data, flood maps and intelligence provided by on-the-ground staff and independent adjusters were used to project anticipated claims and damage projections. Anticipated costs for demand surge (increased costs for construction material and labor due to the increased damage resulting from the hurricane) were also included in the estimate. However, estimating losses following a major catastrophe is an inherently uncertain process, which is made more difficult by the unprecedented nature of this event, including the legal and regulatory uncertainty, difficulty in accessing portions of the affected areas, the complexity of factors contributing to the losses, delays in claim reporting, aggravating circumstances of Hurricane Rita and a slower pace of recovery resulting from the extent of damage sustained in the affected areas.

In 2006, trends in claims activity caused us to re-evaluate and increase our estimate of Hurricane Katrina net loss and loss adjustment reserves. In Commercial Lines, the estimate of net losses increased primarily due to the recognition of higher business interruption exposure as more complete information was provided by insureds in response to our initiative to obtain related documentation, the impact of disputes related to wind versus water as the cause of loss, and the continuation of supplemental payments on previously closed claims caused by the development of latent damages and inflationary pressures on repair costs. In Personal Lines, the estimate of net losses increased primarily due to the continuation of supplemental payments on previously closed claims caused by the development of latent damages and inflationary pressures on repair costs. The estimate of loss adjustment expenses also increased, driven primarily by an increase in litigation activity leading up to the pre-existing one year limit on a homeowner policyholders’ ability to challenge claims (this period was extended to two years by legislative action) and a change to the Louisiana bad faith law. We are also defendants in various litigation, including putative class actions, which dispute the scope or enforceability of the “flood exclusion”, claim punitive damages or claim a broader scope of policy coverage than our interpretation, all in connection with losses incurred from Hurricane Katrina. The reserves established with respect to Hurricane Katrina assume that we will prevail with respect to these matters (see Contingencies and Regulatory Matters). Although we believe our current Hurricane Katrina reserves are adequate, there can be no assurance that our ultimate costs associated with this event will not substantially exceed these estimates.

Property & Casualty Reinsurance Recoverables

We share a significant amount of insurance risk of the primary underlying contracts with various insurance entities through the use of reinsurance contracts. As a result, when we experience loss events that are subject to the reinsurance contract, reinsurance recoveries are recorded. The amount of the reinsurance recoverable can vary based on the size of the individual loss or the aggregate amount of all losses in a particular line, book of business or an aggregate amount associated with a particular accident year. The valuation of losses recoverable depends on whether the underlying loss is a reported loss, or an incurred but not reported loss. For reported losses, we value reinsurance recoverables at the time the underlying loss is recognized, in accordance with contract terms. For incurred but not reported losses, we estimate the amount of reinsurance recoverable based on the terms of the reinsurance contracts and historical reinsurance recovery information and apply that information to the gross loss reserve estimates. The most significant assumption we use is the average size of the individual losses for those claims that have occurred but have not yet been recorded by us. The reinsurance recoverable is based on what we believe are reasonable estimates and is disclosed separately on the financial statements. However, the ultimate amount of the reinsurance recoverable is not known until all losses are settled.

Pension Benefit Obligations

We account for our pension plans in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 158, Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans – an amendment of FASB Statements 87, 88, 106, and 132(R) and Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87, Employers’ Accounting for Pensions. In order to measure the liabilities and expense associated with these plans, we must make various estimates and key assumptions, including discount rates used to value liabilities, assumed rates of return on plan assets, employee turnover rates and anticipated mortality rates. These estimates and assumptions are reviewed at least annually and are based on our historical experience, as well as current facts and circumstances. In addition, we use outside actuaries to assist in measuring the expenses and liabilities associated with this plan.

 

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The discount rate enables us to state expected future cash flows as a present value on the measurement date. We also utilize this discount rate in the determination of our pre-tax pension expense or benefit. A lower discount rate increases the present value of benefit obligations and increases pension expense. We determined our discount rate utilizing the December 31, 2006 Citigroup Pension Discount Curve. At December 31, 2006, based upon our plan assets in relation to this discount curve, we increased our discount rate to 5.88%, from 5.50% at December 31, 2005.

To determine the expected long-term return on plan assets, we consider the historical mean returns by asset class for passive indexed strategies, as well as current and expected asset allocations and adjust for certain factors that we believe will have an impact on future returns. For the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, the expected rate of return on plan assets was 8.25%. Increases in actual returns on plan assets will generally reduce our net actuarial losses that are reflected in our accumulated other comprehensive loss balance in shareholders’ equity.

As a result of an increase in the actual return on assets in 2006, as well as demographic participant changes, and a slight increase in the 2006 year-end discount rate, we expect our pre-tax pension expense to decrease by approximately $18 million in 2007 from an expense of $12.9 million in 2006 to a benefit of $4.6 million in 2007.

Holding all other assumptions constant, sensitivity to changes in our key assumptions are as follows:

Discount Rate – A 25 basis point increase in discount rate would decrease our pension expense in 2007 by $0.2 million and decrease our projected benefit obligation by approximately $13 million. A 25 basis point reduction in the discount rate would increase our pension expense by $2.1 million and increase our projected benefit obligation by approximately $14 million.

Expected Return on Plan Assets – A 25 basis point increase or decrease in the expected return on plan assets would decrease or increase our pension expense in 2007 by $1.0 million.

Statutory Capital of Insurance Subsidiaries

The NAIC prescribes an annual calculation regarding risk based capital (“RBC”). RBC ratios for regulatory purposes, as described in the glossary, are expressed as a percentage of the capital required to be above the Authorized Control Level (the “Regulatory Scale”); however, in the insurance industry RBC ratios are widely expressed as a percentage of the Company Action Level. Set forth below are Total Adjusted Capital, the Company Action Level, the Authorized Control Level and RBC ratios for FAFLIC and Hanover Insurance, as of March 31, 2007, expressed both on the Industry Scale (Total Adjusted Capital divided by the Company Action Level) and Regulatory Scale (Total Adjusted Capital divided by Authorized Control Level):

 

(In millions, except ratios)

   Total
Adjusted
Capital
   Company
Action
Level
   Authorized
Control
Level
   RBC Ratio
Industry
Scale
   RBC Ratio
Regulatory
Scale

Hanover Insurance (1)

   $ 1,516.1    $ 480.0    $ 240.0    316%    632%

FAFLIC

     174.3      40.0      20.0    436%    872%

(1) Hanover Insurance’s Total Adjusted Capital includes $662.0 million related to its subsidiary, Citizens.

The total adjusted statutory capital position of Hanover Insurance improved $52.5 million during the first quarter of 2007, primarily due to improved underwriting results in our property and casualty business. The total adjusted statutory capital position of FAFLIC declined during 2007, from $179.9 million at December 31, 2006 to $174.3 million at March 31, 2007. The decrease in statutory surplus primarily resulted from the timing of certain accrued liabilities and non-admitted expenses as well as litigation costs, partially offset by the recognition of tax attributes.

The improvement of FAFLIC’s RBC ratios reflects lower required risk-based capital primarily due to lower asset and statutory reserve levels as a result of the continued run-off of our life business.

 

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

Net cash used for operating activities was $40.6 million during the first quarter of 2007, as compared to $132.8 million in 2006. The $92.2 million decrease in cash used for operating activities primarily resulted from lower payments in 2007 associated with Hurricane Katrina, to both reinsurers for reinstatement premiums and other funding, and to policyholders for claims. In addition, cash from operations improved in 2007 due to higher underwriting results in our property and casualty business.

Net cash used in investing activities was $31.0 million during the first quarter of 2007 while net cash provided by investing activities was $95.7 million for the same period of 2006. During 2007, cash was used primarily to fund the net activity of our premium financing business. In addition, cash was used to fund net purchases of fixed maturity securities, resulting from improved underwriting results of our property and casualty business, partially offset by the run-off of our Life operations. During 2006, cash was primarily provided by net sales of fixed maturity securities to fund the current and near term maturities of long-term funding agreements and the payment of 2005 contingent commissions.

Net cash used in financing activities was $82.6 million during the first quarter of 2007, compared to $114.2 million for the same period of 2006. In 2007, cash used in financing activities included a net repayment of $89 million related to our securities lending program. Cash was used in 2006 primarily to fund our share repurchase program.

At March 31, 2007, THG, as a holding company, held $327.0 million of cash and fixed maturities. We believe our holding company assets are sufficient to meet our obligations through the remainder of 2007, which currently consist primarily of interest on the senior debentures and junior subordinated debentures, and to pay certain federal income tax liabilities expected to become due in 2007. We also expect that the holding company will be required to make payments in 2007 related to indemnification of liabilities associated with the sale of the variable life insurance and annuity business. However, we currently do not expect that it will be necessary to dividend funds from our insurance subsidiaries in order to fund 2007 holding company obligations.

We expect to continue to generate sufficient positive operating cash to meet all short-term and long-term cash requirements, including the funding of our qualified defined benefit pension plan. Based on current law, we are required to contribute $39.0 million in 2007, of which $16.2 million has been paid through April 2007. We expect to continue to make additional cash contributions to our qualified defined benefit pension plan in future years. As the single employer of THG, the funding of these plans is the responsibility of FAFLIC. Contributions to the qualified defined benefit pension plan do not affect the statutory surplus of FAFLIC.

Our insurance subsidiaries, including FAFLIC, maintain a high degree of liquidity within their respective investment portfolios in fixed maturity investments and short-term investments. We had no commercial paper borrowings as of March 31, 2007, and we do not anticipate utilizing commercial paper in 2007.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We currently do not have any material off-balance sheet arrangements that are reasonably likely to have an effect on our financial position, revenues, expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures, or capital resources.

Contingencies and Regulatory Matters

LITIGATION AND CERTAIN REGULATORY MATTERS

Durand Litigation

On March 12, 2007, a putative class action suit captioned Jennifer A. Durand v. The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc., The Allmerica Financial Cash Balance Pension Plan was filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. The named plaintiff, a former employee who received a lump sum distribution from her Cash Balance Plan (“Plan") at or about the time of her termination, claims that she and others similarly situated did not receive the appropriate lump sum distribution because in computing the lump sum, we understated the accrued benefit in the calculation. We are reviewing the complaint and have not yet filed an answer.

 

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Emerald Litigation

On July 24, 2002, an action captioned American National Bank and Trust Company of Chicago, as Trustee f/b/o Emerald Investments Limited Partnership, and Emerald Investments Limited Partnership v. Allmerica Financial Life Insurance and Annuity Company (“Emerald”) was commenced in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division. In 1999, plaintiffs purchased two variable annuity contracts with initial premiums aggregating $5 million. Plaintiffs, who AFLIAC subsequently identified as engaging in frequent transfers of significant sums between sub-accounts that in our opinion constituted “market timing”, were subject to restrictions upon such trading that AFLIAC imposed in December 2001. Plaintiffs allege that such restrictions constituted a breach of the terms of the annuity contracts. In December 2003, the court granted partial summary judgment to the plaintiffs, holding that at least certain restrictions imposed on their trading activities violated the terms of the annuity contracts.

On May 19, 2004, plaintiffs filed a Brief Statement of Damages in which, without quantifying their damage claim, they outlined a claim for (i) amounts totaling $150,000 for surrender charges imposed on the partial surrender by plaintiffs of the annuity contracts, (ii) loss of trading profits they expected over the remaining term of each annuity contract, and (iii) lost trading profits resulting from AFLIAC’s alleged refusal to process five specific transfers in 2002 because of trading restrictions imposed on market timers. With respect to the lost profits, plaintiffs claim that pursuant to their trading strategy of transferring money from money market accounts to international equity accounts and back again to money market accounts, they have been able to consistently obtain relatively risk free returns of between 35% to 40% annually. Plaintiffs claim that they would have been able to continue to maintain such returns on the account values of their annuity contracts over the remaining terms of the annuity contracts (which are based in part on the lives of the named annuitants). The aggregate account value of plaintiffs’ annuities was approximately $12.8 million in December 2001. On February 1, 2006, the Court issued a ruling which precluded plaintiffs from claiming any damages accruing beyond July 31, 2004.

A jury trial on plaintiffs’ damage claim was held in December 2006, which resulted in an aggregate award to plaintiffs of $1.3 million for lost profits and reimbursement of surrender charges. Plaintiffs’ motion for a new trial was subsequently denied. On March 5, 2007, plaintiffs filed a Notice of Appeal to the United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit.

We will continue to vigorously defend this matter, and regard plaintiffs’ claims for lost trading profits as being speculative and, in any case, subject to an obligation to mitigate damages. Further, in our view, these purported lost profits would not have been earned because of various actions taken by the investment management industry and regulators, to deter or eliminate market timing, including the implementation of “fair value” pricing.

The monetary damages sought by plaintiffs, if awarded, could have a material adverse effect on our financial position. Although AFLIAC was sold to Goldman Sachs on December 30, 2005, we have agreed to indemnify AFLIAC and Goldman Sachs with respect to this litigation. However, in our judgment, the outcome is not expected to be material to our financial position, although it could have a material effect on the results of operations for a particular quarter or annual period.

Hurricane Katrina Litigation

We have been named as a defendant in various litigation, including putative class actions, relating to disputes arising from damages which occurred as a result of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. As of March 31, 2007, there were in excess of 200 such cases, six of which were styled as class actions. These cases have been filed in both Louisiana state courts and federal district courts. These cases involve, among other claims, disputes as to the amount of reimbursable claims in particular cases, as well as the scope of insurance coverage under homeowners and commercial property policies due to flooding, civil authority actions, loss of landscaping, business interruption and other matters. Certain of these cases claim a breach of duty of good faith or violations of Louisiana insurance claims handling laws or regulations and involve claims for punitive or exemplary damages. Certain of the cases claim that under Louisiana’s so-called “Valued Policy Law”, the insurers must pay the total insured value of a home which is totally destroyed if any portion of such damage was caused by a covered peril, even if the principal cause of the loss was an excluded peril. Other cases challenge the scope or enforceability of the water damage exclusion in the policies.

Several actions pending against various insurers, including THG, were consolidated for purposes of pretrial discovery and motion practice under the caption In re Katrina Canal Breaches Consolidated Litigation, Civil Action No. 05-4182 in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana. On November 27, 2006, the Federal District Court issued an Order in these consolidated cases denying our motion to dismiss. The Court held that the flood exclusions utilized in the forms of homeowners and commercial lines policies issued by THG and a number of other insurance carriers were ambiguous because such exclusions did not specify that they applied to flooding caused by negligent acts or omissions as well as to flooding caused by natural incidents such as Acts of God. The plaintiffs in these cases claim, among other things, that the efficient proximate cause of their losses was the third-party negligence of Orleans Levee District in the maintenance of the canal walls or in its failure to warn the plaintiffs and others of the impending water intrusion. The Federal District Court ordered that discovery proceed on the questions of whether there was such negligence and whether such negligence was in fact the efficient proximate cause of such losses.

 

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On February 2, 2007, the United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, issued an Order granting our and the other defendant’s motion for leave to appeal. On February 28, 2007, the Fifth Circuit issued an Order expediting such appeal. Oral arguments for the appeal have been scheduled for the week of June 6, 2007.

Plaintiffs in several consolidated cases (including Sampia vs. Massachusetts Bay Insurance Company, E.D. La. Civil Action Number 06-0559) have appealed an Order of Federal District Court Judge Vance dated August 6, 2006 rejecting plaintiffs’ contention that the Louisiana Valued Policy Law has the effect of requiring coverage for a total loss proximately caused by a non-covered peril so long as there was any covered loss. This consolidated appeal is currently pending in the United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, in a case captioned Chauvin, et al. vs. State Farm Fire & Casualty Co., No. 06-30946. On April 27, 2007, the Fifth Circuit entered an Order expediting such appeal and scheduled oral arguments for the week of July 9, 2007.

We continue to vigorously defend these matters and other cases related to losses incurred in connection with Hurricane Katrina. We believe that the flood exclusions at issue are unambiguous and enforceable. However, a final non-appealable order that our flood exclusions do not exclude losses from flooding caused by third-party negligence and a determination that such negligence was the efficient proximate cause of such flooding or that such an exclusion is inapplicable where any portion of a loss is attributable to a covered peril, would likely have a material adverse effect on our financial position, as well as on our results of operations. We have established our loss and loss adjustment reserves on the assumption that the flood exclusion will be found to be enforceable and effective to exclude losses caused by third-party negligence, as well as by Acts of God, and that the application of the Valued Policy Law will not result in our having to pay damages for perils not otherwise covered.

Other Matters

We have been named a defendant in various other legal proceedings arising in the normal course of business, including one other suit which, like the Emerald case described above, challenges our imposition of certain restrictions on trading funds invested in separate accounts. In addition, we are involved, from time to time, in investigations and proceedings by governmental and self-regulatory agencies. The potential outcome of any such action, or regulatory proceedings or other legal proceedings in which we have been named a defendant, and our ultimate liability, if any, from such action or legal proceedings, is difficult to predict at this time. In our opinion, based on the advice of legal counsel, the ultimate resolutions of such proceedings will not have a material effect on our financial position, although they could have a material effect on the results of operations for a particular quarter or annual period.

OTHER REGULATORY MATTERS

On December 13, 2006, the Massachusetts Commissioner of Insurance issued an Order directing the implementation of an assigned risk plan for auto insurers to be phased in beginning April 2007. The proposed assigned risk plan would distribute the Massachusetts residual auto insurance market based on individual policyholder assignments rather than assigning carriers Exclusive Representative Producers. We believe this new plan would provide for a more equitable distribution of residual market risks across all carriers in the market and therefore such plan, if implemented, would not adversely affect our results of operations or financial position. In January 2007, however, the Commissioner of Insurance resigned and the then Acting Commissioner issued an Order suspending the implementation of the assigned risk plan until a review could be completed by the newly-elected Governor. On April 19, 2007, the newly appointed Commissioner of Insurance directed the Governing Committee of Commonwealth Automobile Reinsurers to consider amendments to a specific provision contained in the assigned risk plan and to submit any such amendments to the Commissioner for her consideration within 30 days. The Commissioner of Insurance will then render a decision on whether to approve such assigned risk plan. Separately, the Massachusetts Division of Insurance mandated a personal automobile rate decrease of 11.7% for 2007.

Legislation was enacted in Louisiana to extend the time period for Louisiana homeowners who have policy coverage claims arising out of hurricanes Katrina and Rita to take legal action against their insurance companies from the pre-existing 12 month period to 24 months from the date of loss. The Louisiana Supreme Court has determined that the legislation is constitutional. Legislation was also adopted which increased an insurer’s potential exposure if it is determined to have acted in bad faith in the claim adjustment process. Additionally, the State of Louisiana continues to impose regulatory restrictions on our ability to reduce exposure to areas affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita and to increase or maintain rates on homeowners policies.

In January 2007, the Governor of Florida signed into law significant changes affecting the property and casualty insurance market. The legislation reverses two recently approved rate increases for the residual market property insurer, Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, and mandated that private insurer rates be adjusted to reflect projected savings in reinsurance costs realized through purchases of catastrophe reinsurance from the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund. Insurers are presently prohibited by an Emergency Rule from canceling, non-renewing or raising rates with very limited exceptions, until rate filings reflecting the reduced cost of reinsurance from the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund have been filed with the Office of Insurance Regulation.

The newly enacted restrictions also require any company which writes personal automobile business in Florida to write homeowners insurance if it or any of its affiliates write homeowners in any other state.

In addition, the legislation is expected to result in a substantial increase in the size of Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, thereby increasing the potential for significant assessments or other liabilities on insurance companies in the event of catastrophic losses. Such assessments apply to property and non-property lines of business and to commercial as well as to personal lines. In the event of a significant catastrophic event, it is possible that reinsurance purchased from the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund would be uncollectible or that we would be unable to recoup such assessments or assessments arising under the Florida Insurance Guaranty Association in the event of the insolvency of other insurance companies doing business in Florida.

 

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We are in the process of assessing the potential impact of these actions on our business and our potential responses thereto. In the event Citizens Property Insurance Corporation incurred significant catastrophic losses, we could incur assessment expenses which could be material. It is possible that any efforts we undertake to mitigate this exposure could significantly affect our premiums and profitability in Florida.

Over the past year other state-sponsored insurers, reinsurers or involuntary pools have increased significantly, particularly those states which have Atlantic or Gulf coast exposures. As a result, the potential assessment exposure of insurers doing business in such states and the attendant collection risks have increased, particularly, in our case, in the states of Massachusetts, Louisiana and Florida. It is possible that other states may take action similar to those taken in the state of Florida. At this time we are unable to predict the likelihood or impact of any such potential assessments or other actions.

Risks and Forward-Looking Statements

Information regarding risk factors and forward-looking information appears in Part II – Item 1A of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in Part I – Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006. This Management’s Discussion and Analysis should be read and interpreted in light of such factors.

Glossary of Selected Insurance Terms

Annuity contracts – An annuity contract is an arrangement whereby an annuitant is guaranteed to receive a series of stipulated amounts commencing either immediately or at some future date. Annuity contracts can be issued to individuals or to groups.

Benefit payments – Payments made to an insured or their beneficiary in accordance with the terms of an insurance policy.

Casualty insurance – Insurance that is primarily concerned with the losses caused by injuries to third persons and their property (other than the policyholder) and the related legal liability of the insured for such losses.

Catastrophe – A single event that causes our property and casualty companies both a significant number of claims (175 or more) and $500,000 or more in insured property damage losses.

Cede; cedent; ceding company – When a party reinsures its liability with another, it “cedes” business and is referred to as the “cedent” or “ceding company”.

Closed Block – Consists of certain individual life insurance participating policies, individual deferred annuity contracts and supplementary contracts not involving life contingencies which were in force as of FAFLIC’s demutualization in 1995. The purpose of this block of business is to protect the policy dividend expectations of such FAFLIC dividend paying policies and contracts. The Closed Block will be in effect until none of the Closed Block policies are in force, unless an earlier date is agreed to by the Massachusetts Commissioner of Insurance.

Combined ratio, GAAP – This ratio is the GAAP equivalent of the statutory ratio that is widely used as a benchmark for determining an insurer’s underwriting performance. A ratio below 100% generally indicates profitable underwriting prior to the consideration of investment income. A combined ratio over 100% generally indicates unprofitable underwriting prior to the consideration of investment income. The combined ratio is the sum of the loss ratio, the loss adjustment expense ratio and the underwriting expense ratio.

Current year underwriting results – A measure of the estimated earnings impact of current premiums offset by estimated loss experience and expenses for the current accident year. This measure includes the estimated increase in revenue associated with higher prices (premiums), including those caused by price inflation and changes in exposure, partially offset by higher volume driven expenses and inflation of loss costs. Volume driven expenses include policy acquisition costs such as commissions paid to property and casualty agents which are typically based on a percentage of premium dollars.

Earned premium – The portion of a premium that is recognized as income, or earned, based on the expired portion of the policy period, that is, the period for which loss coverage has actually been provided. For example, after six months, $50 of a $100 annual premium is considered earned premium. The remaining $50 of annual premium is unearned premium. Net earned premium is earned premium net of reinsurance.

Excess of loss reinsurance – Reinsurance that indemnifies the insured against all or a specific portion of losses under reinsured policies in excess of a specified dollar amount or “retention”.

Expense ratio, GAAP – This ratio reflects underwriting expenses to earned premiums.

 

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Exposure – A measure of the rating units or premium basis of a risk; for example, an exposure of a number of automobiles.

Frequency – The number of claims occurring during a given coverage period.

Guaranteed minimum death benefit (GMDB) – A contract feature which provides annuity contractholders with a guarantee that the benefit received at death will be no less than a prescribed minimum amount. This minimum amount is based on either the net deposits paid into the contract, the net deposits accumulated at a specified rate, the highest historical account value on a contract anniversary, or more typically, the greatest of these values.

Inland marine insurance – A type of coverage developed for shipments that do not involve ocean transport. It covers articles in transit by all forms of land and air transportation as well as bridges, tunnels and other means of transportation and communication. Floater policies that cover expensive personal items such as fine art and jewelry are included in this category.

Loss adjustment expenses (LAE) – Expenses incurred in the adjusting, recording, and settlement of claims. These expenses include both internal company expenses and outside services. Examples of LAE include claims adjustment services, adjuster salaries and fringe benefits, legal fees and court costs, investigation fees and claims processing fees.

Loss adjustment expense (LAE) ratio, GAAP – The ratio of loss adjustment expenses to earned premiums for a given period.

Loss costs – An amount of money paid for a property and casualty claim.

Loss ratio, GAAP– The ratio of losses to premiums earned for a given period.

Loss reserves – Liabilities established by insurers to reflect the estimated cost of claims payments and the related expenses that the insurer will ultimately be required to pay in respect of insurance it has written. Reserves are established for losses and for LAE.

Multivariate product – An insurance product, the pricing for which is based upon the magnitude of, and correlation between, multiple rating factors. In practical application, the term refers to the foundational analytics and methods applied to the product construct.

Peril – A cause of loss.

Property insurance – Insurance that provides coverage for tangible property in the event of loss, damage or loss of use.

Rate – The pricing factor upon which the policyholder’s premium is based.

Rate increase (commercial lines) – Represents the average change in premium on renewal policies caused by the estimated net effect of base rate changes, discretionary pricing, inflation or changes in policy level exposure.

Rate increase (personal lines) – The estimated cumulative premium effect of approved rate actions during the prior policy period applied to a policy’s renewal premium.

Reinstatement premium – A pro-rata reinsurance premium that may be charged for reinstating the amount of reinsurance coverage reduced as the result of a reinsurance loss payment under a catastrophe cover. For example, in 2005 this premium was required to ensure that our property catastrophe occurrence treaty, which was exhausted by Hurricane Katrina, was available again in the event of another large catastrophe loss in 2005.

Reinsurance – An arrangement in which an insurance company, the reinsurer, agrees to indemnify another insurance or reinsurance company, the ceding company, against all or a portion of the insurance or reinsurance risks underwritten by the ceding company under one or more policies. Reinsurance can provide a ceding company with several benefits, including a reduction in net liability on risks and catastrophe protection from large or multiple losses. Reinsurance does not legally discharge the primary insurer from its liability with respect to its obligations to the insured.

 

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Risk based capital (“RBC”) – A method of measuring the minimum amount of capital appropriate for an insurance company to support its overall business operations in consideration of its size and risk profile. The RBC ratio for regulatory purposes is calculated as total adjusted capital divided by required risk based capital. Total adjusted capital for property and casualty companies is capital and surplus. Total adjusted capital for life insurance companies is defined as capital and surplus, plus asset valuation reserve, plus 50% of dividends apportioned for payment. The Company Action Level is the first level at which regulatory involvement is specified based upon the level of capital. Regulators may take action for reasons other than triggering various RBC action levels. The various action levels are summarized as follows:

 

 

The Company Action Level, which equals 200% of the Authorized Control Level, requires a company to prepare and submit a RBC plan to the commissioner of the state of domicile. A RBC plan proposes actions which a company may take in order to bring statutory capital above the Company Action Level. After review, the commissioner will notify the company if the plan is satisfactory.

 

 

The Regulatory Action Level, which equals 150% of the Authorized Control Level, requires the insurer to submit to the commissioner of the state of domicile an RBC plan, or if applicable, a revised RBC plan. After examination or analysis, the commissioner will issue an order specifying corrective actions to be taken.

 

 

The Authorized Control Level authorizes the commissioner of the state of domicile to take whatever regulatory actions considered necessary to protect the best interest of the policyholders and creditors of the insurer.

 

 

The Mandatory Control Level, which equals 70% of the Authorized Control Level, authorizes the commissioner of the state of domicile to take actions necessary to place the company under regulatory control (i.e., rehabilitation or liquidation).

 

 

Life and health companies whose Total Adjusted Capital is between 200% and 250% of the Authorized Control Level are subject to a trend test. The trend test calculates the greater of the decrease in the margin between the current year and the prior year and the average of the past three years.

Separate accounts – An investment account that is maintained separately from an insurer’s general investment portfolio and that allows the insurer to manage the funds placed in variable life insurance policies and variable annuity policies. Policyholders direct the investment of policy funds among the different types of separate accounts available from the insurer.

Severity – A monetary increase in the loss costs associated with the same or similar type of event or coverage.

Statutory accounting principles – Recording transactions and preparing financial statements in accordance with the rules and procedures prescribed or permitted by insurance regulatory authorities including the NAIC, which in general reflect a liquidating, rather than going concern, concept of accounting.

Surrender or withdrawal – Surrenders of life insurance policies and annuity contracts for their entire net cash surrender values and withdrawals of a portion of such values.

Underwriting – The process of selecting risks for insurance and determining in what amounts and on what terms the insurance company will accept risks.

Underwriting expenses – Expenses incurred in connection with the acquisition, pricing and administration of a policy.

Unearned premiums – The portion of a premium representing the unexpired amount of the contract term as of a certain date.

Variable annuity – An annuity which includes a provision for benefit payments to vary according to the investment experience of the separate account in which the amounts paid to provide for this annuity are allocated.

Written premium – The premium assessed for the entire coverage period of a property and casualty policy without regard to how much of the premium has been earned. See also earned premium. Net written premium is written premium net of reinsurance.

 

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ITEM 3

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DICLOSURES

ABOUT MARKET RISK

Our market risks, and the ways we manage them, are summarized in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations as of December 31, 2006, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006. There have been no material changes in the first three months of 2007 to these risks or our management of them.

ITEM 4

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Disclosure Controls and Procedures Evaluation

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we conducted an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined under Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls

Our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, does not expect that our disclosure controls over financial reporting will prevent all error and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the control system’s objectives will be met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Controls can also be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the controls. The design of any system of controls is based in part on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or deterioration in the degree of compliance with policies or procedures. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.

Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Based on our controls evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that (i) the information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms and (ii) material information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). Our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, conducted an evaluation of the internal control over financial reporting, as required by Rule 13a-15(d) of the Exchange Act, to determine whether any changes occurred during the period covered by this quarterly report on Form 10-Q that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that there was no such change during the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2007 that have materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1 – LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Durand Litigation

On March 12, 2007, a putative class action suit captioned Jennifer A. Durand v. The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc., The Allmerica Financial Cash Balance Pension Plan was filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. The named plaintiff, a former employee who received a lump sum distribution from her Cash Balance Plan (“Plan”) at or about the time of her termination, claims that she and others similarly situated did not receive the appropriate lump sum distribution because in computing the lump sum, we understated the accrued benefit in the calculation. We are reviewing the complaint and have not yet filed an answer.

Emerald Litigation

On July 24, 2002, an action captioned American National Bank and Trust Company of Chicago, as Trustee f/b/o Emerald Investments Limited Partnership, and Emerald Investments Limited Partnership v. Allmerica Financial Life Insurance and Annuity Company was commenced in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division. In 1999, plaintiffs purchased two variable annuity contracts with initial premiums aggregating $5 million. Plaintiffs, who AFLIAC subsequently identified as engaging in frequent transfers of significant sums between sub-accounts that in our opinion constituted “market timing”, were subject to restrictions upon such trading that AFLIAC imposed in December 2001. Plaintiffs allege that such restrictions constituted a breach of the terms of the annuity contracts. In December 2003, the court granted partial summary judgment to the plaintiffs, holding that at least certain restrictions imposed on their trading activities violated the terms of the annuity contracts.

On May 19, 2004, plaintiffs filed a Brief Statement of Damages in which, without quantifying their damage claim, they outlined a claim for (i) amounts totaling $150,000 for surrender charges imposed on the partial surrender by plaintiffs of the annuity contracts, (ii) loss of trading profits they expected over the remaining term of each annuity contract, and (iii) lost trading profits resulting from AFLIAC’s alleged refusal to process five specific transfers in 2002 because of trading restrictions imposed on market timers. With respect to the lost profits, plaintiffs claim that pursuant to their trading strategy of transferring money from money market accounts to international equity accounts and back again to money market accounts, they have been able to consistently obtain relatively risk free returns of between 35% to 40% annually. Plaintiffs claim that they would have been able to continue to maintain such returns on the account values of their annuity contracts over the remaining terms of the annuity contracts (which are based in part on the lives of the named annuitants). The aggregate account value of plaintiffs’ annuities was approximately $12.8 million in December 2001. On February 1, 2006, the Court issued a ruling which precluded plaintiffs from claiming any damages accruing beyond July 31, 2004.

A jury trial on plaintiffs’ damage claim was held in December 2006, which resulted in an aggregate award to plaintiffs of $1.3 million for lost profits and reimbursement of surrender charges. Plaintiffs’ motion for a new trial was subsequently denied. On March 5, 2007, plaintiffs filed a Notice of Appeal to the United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit.

We will continue to vigorously defend this matter, and regard plaintiffs’ claims for lost trading profits as being speculative and, in any case, subject to an obligation to mitigate damages. Further, in our view, these purported lost profits would not have been earned because of various actions taken by the investment management industry and regulators, to deter or eliminate market timing, including the implementation of “fair value” pricing.

The monetary damages sought by plaintiffs, if awarded, could have a material adverse effect on our financial position. Although AFLIAC was sold to Goldman Sachs on December 30, 2005, we have agreed to indemnify AFLIAC and Goldman Sachs with respect to this litigation. However, in our judgment, the outcome is not expected to be material to our financial position, although it could have a material effect on the results of operations for a particular quarter or annual period.

Hurricane Katrina Litigation

We have been named as a defendant in various litigation, including putative class actions, relating to disputes arising from damages which occurred as a result of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. As of March 31, 2007, there were in excess of 200 such cases, six of which were styled as class actions. These cases have been filed in both Louisiana state courts and federal district courts. These cases involve, among other claims, disputes as to the amount of reimbursable claims in particular cases, as well as the scope of insurance coverage under homeowners and commercial property policies due to flooding, civil authority actions, loss of landscaping, business interruption and other matters. Certain of these cases claim a breach of duty of good faith or violations of Louisiana insurance claims handling laws or regulations and involve claims for punitive or exemplary damages. Certain of the cases claim that under Louisiana’s so-called “Valued Policy Law”, the insurers must pay the total insured value of a home which is totally destroyed if any portion of such damage was caused by a covered peril, even if the principal cause of the loss was an excluded peril. Other cases challenge the scope or enforceability of the water damage exclusion in the policies.

 

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Several actions pending against various insurers, including us, were consolidated for purposes of pretrial discovery and motion practice under the caption In re Katrina Canal Breaches Consolidated Litigation, Civil Action No. 05-4182 in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana. On November 27, 2006, the Federal District Court issued an Order in these consolidated cases denying our motion to dismiss. The Court held that the flood exclusions utilized in the forms of homeowners and commercial lines policies issued by us and a number of other insurance carriers were ambiguous because such exclusions did not specify that they applied to flooding caused by negligent acts or omissions as well as to flooding caused by natural incidents such as Acts of God. The plaintiffs in these cases claim, among other things, that the efficient proximate cause of their losses was the third-party negligence of Orleans Levee District in the maintenance of the canal walls or in its failure to warn the plaintiffs and others of the impending water intrusion. The Federal District Court ordered that discovery proceed on the questions of whether there was such negligence and whether such negligence was in fact the efficient proximate cause of such losses.

On February 2, 2007, the United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, issued an Order granting our and the other defendant’s motion for leave to appeal. On February 28, 2007, the Fifth Circuit issued an Order expediting such appeal. Oral arguments for the appeal have been scheduled for the week of June 6, 2007.

Plaintiffs in several consolidated cases (including Sampia vs. Massachusetts Bay Insurance Company, E.D. La. Civil Action Number 06-0559) have appealed an Order of Federal District Court Judge Vance dated August 6, 2006 rejecting plaintiffs’ contention that the Louisiana Valued Policy Law has the effect of requiring coverage for a total loss proximately caused by a non-covered peril so long as there was any covered loss. This consolidated appeal is currently pending in the United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, in a case captioned Chauvin, et al. vs. State Farm Fire & Casualty Co., No. 06-30946. On April 27, 2007, the Fifth Circuit entered an Order expediting such appeal and scheduled oral arguments for the week of July 9, 2007.

We continue to vigorously defend these matters and other cases related to losses incurred in connection with Hurricane Katrina. We believe that the flood exclusions at issue are unambiguous and enforceable. However, a final non-appealable order that our flood exclusions do not exclude losses from flooding caused by third-party negligence and a determination that such negligence was the efficient proximate cause of such flooding, or that such an exclusion is inapplicable where any portion of a loss is attributable to a covered peril, would likely have a material adverse effect on our financial position, as well as on our results of operations. We have established our loss and LAE reserves on the assumption that the flood exclusion will be found to be enforceable and effective to exclude losses caused by third-party negligence, as well as by Acts of God, and that the application of the Valued Policy Law will not result in our having to pay damages for perils not otherwise covered.

ITEM 1A –RISK FACTORS

Risks and Forward-Looking Statements

We wish to caution readers that the following important factors, among others, in some cases have affected and in the future could affect our actual results and could cause our actual results for 2007 and beyond to differ materially from historical results and from those expressed in any of our forward-looking statements. When used in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis, the words “believes”, “anticipates”, “expects”, “projections”, “outlook”, “should”, “could”, “plan”, “guidance” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. See “Important Factors Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” filed as Exhibit 99.2 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2006. While any of these factors could affect our business as a whole, we have grouped certain factors by the business segment to which we believe they are most likely to apply.

Risk factors which have changed from those previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K have been marked in bold. The risks identified below reflect additional risks, or provide additional examples of risks, described in “Important Factors Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” filed as Exhibit 99.2 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2006. In order to better understand the risks we face, the following description and updates should be read in conjunction with the disclosure in such Exhibit 99.2.

Risks Relating To Our Property And Casualty Insurance Business

We generate most of our total revenues and earnings through our property and casualty insurance subsidiaries. The results of companies in the property and casualty insurance industry historically have been subject to significant fluctuations and uncertainties. Our profitability could be affected significantly by (i) adverse loss development or loss adjustment expense for events we have insured in either the current or in prior years, including risks indirectly insured through various mandatory market mechanisms or through discontinued pools which are included in the Other Property and Casualty segment (our retained Life Companies business also includes discontinued pools which present similar risks) or the expected decline in the amount of favorable development which has been realized in recent periods; (ii) an inability to retain profitable policies in force and attract profitable policies in our Personal Lines and Commercial Lines segments, whether as the result of an increasingly competitive product pricing environment, the adoption by competitors of strategies to increase agency appointments and commissions, as well as marketing and advertising expenditures or otherwise; (iii) heightened competition, including the recent intensification of price competition and increased marketing efforts by our competitors, the entry of new competitors and the introduction of new products by new and existing competitors, or as the result of consolidation within the financial services industry and the entry of additional financial institutions into the insurance industry; (iv) failure to obtain new customers, retain existing customers or reductions of policies in force by existing customers, whether as a result of recent competition or otherwise; (v) increases in costs, particularly those occurring after the time our products are priced and including construction, automobile, and medical and rehabilitation costs; (vi) restrictions on insurance underwriting; (vii) adverse state and federal legislation or

 

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regulation, including decreases in rates, the inability to obtain further rate increases, limitations on premium levels, increases in minimum capital and reserve requirements, benefit mandates, limitations on the ability to manage care and utilization, requirements to write certain classes of business, limitations on the use of credit scoring, such as the proposal to ban the use of credit scores with respect to personal lines in Michigan and Florida or arising out of the pending report on credit scores to be issued by the U.S Fair Trade Commission or interpretations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act such as are currently under review by the United States Supreme Court (see, for example, Safeco Insurance Company of America v. Charles Burr, et al. No. 06-84), restrictions on the use of certain compensation arrangements with agents and brokers, as well as continued compliance with state and federal regulations; (viii) adverse changes in the ratings obtained from independent rating agencies, such as Moody’s, Standard and Poor’s and A.M. Best, whether due to additional capital requirements or the Company’s underwriting performance or other factors; (ix) industry-wide change resulting from investigations and inquiries relating to compensation arrangements with insurance brokers and agents; (x) disruptions caused by the introduction of new personal lines products, such as our multivariate auto and our new homeowners products, and related technology changes and new personal and commercial lines operating models; and (xi) disruptions caused by the pending implementation of a new claims system for both the personal and commercial automobile lines. Additionally, our profitability could be affected by adverse catastrophe experience, severe weather or other unanticipated significant losses. Further, certain new catastrophe models assume an increased frequency and severity of certain weather events, and financial strength rating agencies are placing increased emphasis on capital and reinsurance adequacy for insurers with certain geographic concentrations of risk. This factor, along with the increased cost of reinsurance, may result in insurers seeking to diversify their geographic exposure which could result in increased regulatory restrictions in those markets where insurers seek to exit or reduce coverage, as well as an increase in competitive pressures in non-coastal markets such as the Midwest. We have significant concentration of exposures in certain areas, including portions of the Northeast and Southeast and derive a material amount of profits from operations in the Midwest.

Specifically, underwriting results and segment income could be adversely affected by further changes in our net loss and LAE estimates related to hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The risks and uncertainties in our business that may affect such estimates and future performance, including the difficulties in arriving at such estimates, should be considered. Estimating losses following any major catastrophe is an inherently uncertain process, which is made more difficult by the unprecedented nature of this event. Factors that add to the complexity in this event include the legal and regulatory uncertainty (including legislative changes in Louisiana to the statute of limitations for reporting certain claims and to sanctions for “bad faith” claims handling, as well as certain legal developments related to flood exclusion language in policy contracts and the interpretation of Louisiana Valued Policy Law), difficulty in accessing portions of the affected areas, the complexity of factors contributing to the losses, delays in claim reporting, the exacerbating circumstances of Hurricane Rita and a slower pace of recovery resulting from the extent of damage sustained in the affected areas due in part to the availability and cost of resources to effect repairs. As a result, there can be no assurance that our ultimate costs associated with this event will not be substantially different from current estimates. In addition, there can be no assurance that, in light of the devastation in the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina, our ability to obtain and retain policyholders will not be adversely affected.

Hurricane Katrina has also contributed to uncertainty regarding the reinsurance marketplace, which also experienced significant losses related to this catastrophe. We anticipate that the cost of and ability to obtain reinsurance coverages similar to our current programs will continue to be adversely affected by these factors. Changes in the reinsurance marketplace in 2006 resulted in the renewal of our property catastrophe occurrence treaty at higher retention levels with slightly higher coverage, as well as the non-renewal of our property catastrophe aggregate treaty. Changes in our reinsurance program, although dependent on the nature and number of catastrophes, may result in our incurring additional losses and ultimately decreased profits in future periods.

Additionally, future operating results as compared to prior years and forward-looking information regarding Personal Lines and Commercial Lines segment information on written and earned premiums, policies in force, underwriting results and segment income currently are expected to be adversely affected by competitive and regulatory pressures affecting rates. In addition, underwriting results and segment income could be adversely affected by changes in the current favorable frequency and loss trends generally being experienced industry-wide. Results in personal lines business may also be adversely affected by pricing decreases and market disruptions (including any caused by the current economic environment in Michigan, proposals in Michigan to reduce rates or expand coverage, or the Michigan Commissioner of Insurance’s proposed ban on the use of credit scores), by unfavorable loss trends that may result in New Jersey due to that state’s supreme court ruling relating to the no-fault tort threshold, and by disruptions caused by judicial and potential legislative and executive branch intervention related to rules proposed by the former Massachusetts Commissioner of Insurance to reform the distribution of losses from the Massachusetts personal automobile residual market, as well as the April 1, 2007 reduction in personal automobile rates.

Also, our personal lines business production and earnings may be unfavorably affected by the introduction of our multivariate auto product should we experience adverse selection because of our pricing, operational difficulties or implementation impediments with independent agents, or the inability to grow new markets after the introduction of new products or the appointment of new agents. In addition, there are increased underwriting risks associated with premium growth and the introduction of new products or programs in both our personal and commercial lines businesses, as well as the appointment of new agencies and the expansion into new geographical areas, and we have experienced increased loss ratios with respect to our new personal automobile business, which is written through our Connections Auto product, particularly in certain states where we have less experience and data.

 

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Additionally, during the past few years we have made, and our current plans are to continue to make, significant investments in our personal lines and commercial lines businesses to, among other things, strengthen our product offerings and service capabilities, improve technology and our operating models, build expertise in our personnel, and expand our distribution capabilities, with the ultimate goal of achieving significant and sustained profitable growth and obtaining favorable returns on these investments. In order for these investment strategies to be profitable, we must achieve both profitable premium growth and the successful implementation of our operating models so that our expenses do not increase proportionately with growth. The ability to grow profitably throughout the property and casualty “cycle” is crucial to our current strategy. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in profitably growing our business, or that we will not alter our current strategy due to changes in our markets or an inability to successfully maintain acceptable margins on new business or for other reasons, in which case written and earned premium, property and casualty segment income and net book value could be adversely affected.

Recent significant increases and expected further increases in the number of participants or insureds in state-sponsored reinsurance pools or FAIR Plans, particularly in the states of Massachusetts, Louisiana and Florida, combined with regulatory restrictions on the ability to adequately price, underwrite, or non-renew business, could expose us to significant exposures and assessment risks.

Risks Relating To Our Life Companies

Our businesses may be affected by (i) adverse actions related to legal and regulatory actions described under “Contingencies and Regulatory Matters” on pages 41 to 44 of Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of this Form 10-Q, including those which are subject to the “FIN 45” reserve described under “Life Companies – Discontinued Operations – Loss on Sale of AFLIAC Variable Life Insurance and Annuity Business” on page 35 of Management’s Discussion and analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of this Form 10-Q; (ii) adverse loss and expense development related to our discontinued assumed accident and health reinsurance pool business or failures of our reinsurers to timely pay their obligations (especially in light of the fact that historically these pools sometimes involved multiple layers of overlapping reinsurers, or so called “spirals”); (iii) possible claims relating to sales practices for insurance and investment products or our historical administration of such products, including with respect to activities of our former agents; (iv) adverse trends in mortality and morbidity; and (v) lower appreciation or decline in value of our managed investments or the investment markets in general.

In particular, we have provided forward-looking information relating to the sale of our variable life insurance and annuity business and its effect on our results of operations and financial position. There are certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated herein. These include (i) the impact of contingent liabilities, including litigation and regulatory matters, assumed or retained by THG in connection with the transaction and the impact of other indemnification obligations owed from THG to Goldman Sachs (including with respect to existing and potential litigation and regulatory actions and the remediation of certain processing errors in connection with tax reporting); and (ii) future statutory operating results of FAFLIC, which will affect its projected statutory adjusted capital and ability to obtain future regulatory approval for dividends.

Risks Relating To Our Business Generally

Other market fluctuations and general economic, market and political conditions also may negatively affect our business and profitability. These conditions include (i) changes in interest rates causing a reduction of investment income or in the market value of interest rate sensitive investments; (ii) higher service, administrative or general expense due to the need for additional advertising, marketing, administrative or management information systems expenditures; (iii) the inability to attract, or the loss or retirement of key executives or other key employees, and increased costs associated with the replacement of key executives or employees; (iv) changes in our liquidity due to changes in asset and liability matching, including the effect of defaults of debt securities; (v) failure of a reinsurer of our policies to pay its liabilities under reinsurance or coinsurance contracts or adverse effects on the cost and availability of reinsurance; (vi) changes in the mix of assets comprising our investment portfolios and changes in general market conditions that may cause the market value of our investment portfolio to fluctuate; (vii) losses resulting from our participation in certain reinsurance pools, including pools in which we no longer participate but may have unquantified potential liabilities relating to asbestos and other matters, or from fronting arrangements where the reinsurer does not meet all of its reinsurance obligations; (viii) defaults or impairments of debt securities held by us; (ix) higher employee benefit costs due to changes in market values of plan assets, interest rates, regulatory requirements or judicial interpretations of benefits (including with respect to our Cash Balance Plan which is the subject of the Durand litigation); (x) the effects of our restructuring actions, including any resulting from our review of operational matters related to our business, including a review of our markets, products, organization, financial capabilities, agency management, regulatory environment, ancillary businesses and service processes; (xi) errors or omissions in connection with the administration of any of our products; (xii) breaches of an information technology security system or other operational disruptions or breaches which result in the loss or compromise of confidential financial, personal, medical or other information about our policyholders, agents or others with whom we do business; and (xiii) interruptions in our ability to conduct business as a result of terrorist actions, catastrophes or other significant events affecting infrastructure, and delays in recovery of our operating capabilities.

 

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ITEM 2 – UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

Period

   Total Number of
Shares Purchased
   Average Price
Paid per Share
   Total Number of
Shares Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Plans or
Programs
   Approximate Dollar
Value of Shares That
May Yet be Purchased
Under the Plans or
Programs

January 1 – 31, 2007

   —      $ —      —      $ —  

February 1 – 28, 2007(1)

   18,928      46.78    —        —  

March 1 – 31, 2007(1)

   1,936      44.86    —        —  
                       

Total

   20,864    $ 46.60    —      $ —  
                       

(1) Shares were repurchased to satisfy statutory minimum tax withholding amounts due from employees upon receipt of stock which resulted from the vesting of their restricted stock units. These restricted stock units were granted in 2004 pursuant to the 1996 Long-term Incentive Compensation Plan.

ITEM 6—EXHIBITS

 

EX – 31.1

   Certification of the Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 78m, 78o(d), as adopted pursuant to section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

EX – 31.2

   Certification of the Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 78m, 78o(d), as adopted pursuant to section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

EX – 32.1

   Certification of the Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

EX – 32.2

   Certification of the Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

  The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc
  Registrant
 

May 9, 2007

 

/s/ Frederick H. Eppinger, Jr.

      Date   Frederick H. Eppinger, Jr.
  President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
May 9, 2007  

/s/ Edward J. Parry, III

      Date

  Edward J. Parry, III
 

Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President,

Principal Accounting Officer and Director

 

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