Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

 

x Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2014

OR 

 

¨ Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the transition period from                      to                     

Assurant, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   001-31978   39-1126612

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

One Chase Manhattan Plaza, 41st Floor

New York, New York 10005

(212) 859-7000

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)

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 has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    YES  x    NO  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer   x    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   ¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    YES  ¨    NO  x

The number of shares of the registrant’s Common Stock outstanding at October 30, 2014 was 70,255,038.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

ASSURANT, INC.

QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2014

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Item

Number

       Page
Number
 
   

PART I

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

      

1.

 

Financial Statements of Assurant, Inc.:

  
 

Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited) at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013

     2   
 

Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) for the three and nine months ended September  30, 2014 and 2013

     4   
 

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (unaudited) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

     5   
 

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity (unaudited) from December 31, 2013 through September 30, 2014

     6   
 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) for the nine months ended September  30, 2014 and 2013

     7   
 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

     8   

2.

 

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

     44   

3.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

     65   

4.

 

Controls and Procedures

     65   
  PART II
OTHER INFORMATION
  

1.

 

Legal Proceedings

     66   

1A.

 

Risk Factors

     66   

2.

 

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

     68   

6.

 

Exhibits

     69   
 

Signatures

     70   

Amounts are presented in United States of America (“U.S.”) dollars and all amounts are in thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts.

 

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Table of Contents

Assurant, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited)

At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013

 

 

     September 30, 2014      December 31, 2013  
    

(in thousands except number of shares and per

share amounts)

 

Assets

     

Investments:

     

Fixed maturity securities available for sale, at fair value (amortized cost - $10,482,812 in 2014 and $10,520,310 in 2013)

   $ 11,624,009       $ 11,291,875   

Equity securities available for sale, at fair value (cost - $458,965 in 2014 and $417,535 in 2013)

     521,707         458,358   

Commercial mortgage loans on real estate, at amortized cost

     1,253,424         1,287,032   

Policy loans

     48,979         51,678   

Short-term investments

     465,295         470,458   

Collateral held/pledged under securities agreements

     95,977         95,215   

Other investments

     599,423         589,399   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total investments

     14,608,814         14,244,015   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

     1,411,266         1,717,184   

Premiums and accounts receivable, net

     1,340,200         1,080,171   

Reinsurance recoverables

     6,149,708         5,752,134   

Accrued investment income

     151,108         145,189   

Deferred acquisition costs

     3,277,810         3,128,931   

Property and equipment, at cost less accumulated depreciation

     274,419         253,630   

Goodwill

     816,818         784,561   

Value of business acquired

     47,492         53,549   

Other intangible assets, net

     369,021         354,636   

Other assets

     354,382         258,942   

Assets held in separate accounts

     1,872,091         1,941,747   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 30,673,129       $ 29,714,689   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

See the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements

 

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Table of Contents

Assurant, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited)

At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013

 

 

     September 30, 2014     December 31, 2013  
    

(in thousands except number of shares and per

share amounts)

 

Liabilities

    

Future policy benefits and expenses

   $ 8,813,702      $ 8,646,572   

Unearned premiums

     6,784,089        6,662,672   

Claims and benefits payable

     3,577,964        3,389,371   

Commissions payable

     596,990        429,636   

Reinsurance balances payable

     110,507        106,932   

Funds held under reinsurance

     78,707        76,778   

Deferred gain on disposal of businesses

     88,362        99,311   

Obligation under securities agreements

     95,973        95,206   

Accounts payable and other liabilities

     1,793,509        1,662,348   

Deferred income taxes, net

     323,073        129,148   

Tax payable

     24,594        3,371   

Debt

     1,171,005        1,638,118   

Liabilities related to separate accounts

     1,872,091        1,941,747   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     25,330,566        24,881,210   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 14)

    

Stockholders’ equity

    

Common stock, par value $0.01 per share, 800,000,000 shares authorized, 70,809,613 and 71,828,208 shares outstanding at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively

     1,490        1,482   

Additional paid-in capital

     3,117,645        3,087,533   

Retained earnings

     4,778,645        4,415,875   

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     659,746        426,830   

Treasury stock, at cost; 77,803,252 and 76,039,652 shares at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively

     (3,214,963     (3,098,241
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     5,342,563        4,833,479   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 30,673,129      $ 29,714,689   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements

 

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Table of Contents

Assurant, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited)

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

 

 

     Three Months Ended September 30,     Nine Months Ended September 30,  
     2014      2013     2014     2013  
    

(in thousands except number of shares and

per share amounts)

 

Revenues

         

Net earned premiums

   $ 2,257,809       $ 1,947,431      $ 6,490,005      $ 5,714,293   

Net investment income

     162,009         159,209        497,575        489,118   

Net realized gains (losses) on investments, excluding other-than-temporary impairment losses

     17,744         (2,429     43,612        31,573   

Total other-than-temporary impairment losses

             (1,230     (69     (1,409

Portion of net loss recognized in other comprehensive income, before taxes

             28        39        100   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net other-than-temporary impairment losses recognized in earnings

             (1,202     (30     (1,309

Amortization of deferred gain on disposal of businesses

     3,645         4,074        10,949        12,238   

Fees and other income

     261,281         151,567        716,850        401,126   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

     2,702,488         2,258,650        7,758,961        6,647,039   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Benefits, losses and expenses

         

Policyholder benefits

     1,123,693         933,832        3,281,338        2,708,143   

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs and value of business acquired

     386,709         372,750        1,098,080        1,101,998   

Underwriting, general and administrative expenses

     953,559         737,326        2,681,135        2,168,367   

Interest expense

     13,776         20,771        44,617        57,369   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total benefits, losses and expenses

     2,477,737         2,064,679        7,105,170        6,035,877   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before provision for income taxes

     224,751         193,971        653,791        611,162   

Provision for income taxes

     84,454         65,183        232,639        231,071   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 140,297       $ 128,788      $ 421,152      $ 380,091   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings Per Share

         

Basic

   $ 1.94       $ 1.70      $ 5.80      $ 4.89   

Diluted

   $ 1.92       $ 1.68      $ 5.74      $ 4.84   

Dividends per share

   $ 0.27       $ 0.25      $ 0.79      $ 0.71   

Share Data

         

Weighted average shares outstanding used in basic per share calculations

     72,182,547         75,544,542        72,561,191        77,662,796   

Plus: Dilutive securities

     864,157         915,249        866,171        899,205   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average shares used in diluted per share calculations

     73,046,704         76,459,791        73,427,362        78,562,001   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements

 

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Assurant, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (unaudited)

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

 

 

     Three Months Ended September 30,     Nine Months Ended September 30,  
     2014     2013     2014     2013  
     (in thousands)  

Net income

   $ 140,297      $ 128,788      $ 421,152      $ 380,091   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other comprehensive (loss) income:

        

Change in unrealized gains on securities, net of taxes of $27,439, $21,164, $(129,418) and $220,190, respectively

     (51,617     (43,305     259,350        (431,554

Change in other-than-temporary impairment gains, net of taxes of $48, $(150), $(1,236) and $(1,064), respectively

     (89     279        2,295        1,976   

Change in foreign currency translation, net of taxes of $(10,957), $(1,627), $1,396 and $4,178, respectively

     (54,264     5,578        (34,434     (28,653

Amortization of pension and postretirement unrecognized net periodic benefit cost, net of taxes of $(885), $(1,748), $(3,073) and $(7,610), respectively

     1,644        3,246        5,705        14,134   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other comprehensive (loss) income

     (104,326     (34,202     232,916        (444,097
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total comprehensive income (loss)

   $ 35,971      $ 94,586      $ 654,068      $ (64,006
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements

 

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Table of Contents

Assurant, Inc.

Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity (unaudited)

From December 31, 2013 through September 30, 2014

 

 

     Common
Stock
     Additional
Paid-in
Capital
    Retained
Earnings
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
     Treasury
Stock
    Total  
     (in thousands)  

Balance at December 31, 2013

   $ 1,482       $ 3,087,533      $ 4,415,875      $ 426,830       $ (3,098,241   $ 4,833,479   

Stock plan exercises

     8         (19,290                           (19,282

Stock plan compensation expense

             35,015                              35,015   

Change in tax benefit from share-based payment arrangements

             14,387                              14,387   

Dividends

                    (58,382                    (58,382

Acquisition of common stock

                                   (116,722     (116,722

Net income

                    421,152                       421,152   

Other comprehensive income

                           232,916                232,916   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, September 30, 2014

   $ 1,490       $ 3,117,645      $ 4,778,645      $ 659,746       $ (3,214,963   $ 5,342,563   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

See the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements

 

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Table of Contents

Assurant, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

 

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30,  
     2014     2013  
     (in thousands)  

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 514,664      $ 724,038   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investing activities

    

Sales of:

    

Fixed maturity securities available for sale

     1,288,291        1,814,687   

Equity securities available for sale

     83,488        173,499   

Other invested assets

     60,598        42,312   

Property and equipment and other

     173        154   

Maturities, calls, prepayments, and scheduled redemption of:

    

Fixed maturity securities available for sale

     585,263        695,398   

Commercial mortgage loans on real estate

     119,085        150,920   

Purchases of:

    

Fixed maturity securities available for sale

     (1,877,572     (2,446,127

Equity securities available for sale

     (122,071     (168,097

Commercial mortgage loans on real estate

     (88,531     (109,504

Other invested assets

     (28,402     (37,524

Property and equipment and other

     (58,879     (33,519

Subsidiaries, net of cash transferred (1)

     (88,155     (49,987

Equity interest (2)

     (20,950       

Change in short-term investments

     2,326        (673,579

Change in policy loans

     2,576        823   

Change in collateral held/pledged under securities agreements

     (768     (1,047
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (143,528     (641,591
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Financing activities

    

Issuance of debt

            698,093   

Repayment of debt

     (467,330     (32,310

Change in tax benefit from share-based payment arrangements

     14,387        (1,724

Acquisition of common stock

     (115,866     (299,624

Dividends paid

     (58,382     (55,777

Payment of contingent obligations (3)

     (31,871       

Change in obligation under securities agreements

     768        1,047   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

     (658,294     309,705   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     (18,760     (14,859
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Change in cash and cash equivalents

     (305,918     377,293   

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     1,717,184        909,404   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 1,411,266      $ 1,286,697   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) 2014 includes the acquisitions of StreetLinks, LLC and eMortgage Logic, LLC. 2013 includes the acquisition of Field Asset Services.
(2) Relates to the purchase of equity interest in Iké Asistencia.
(3) Relates to the delayed and contingent liability payments established at the time of acquisition of Lifestyle Services Group. Change in amount paid, in comparison to December 31, 2013 amount disclosed, is mainly due to foreign currency translation.

See the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements

 

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Table of Contents

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

 

1. Nature of Operations

Assurant, Inc. (the “Company”) is a holding company whose subsidiaries provide specialized insurance products and related services in North America, Latin America, Europe and other select worldwide markets.

The Company is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “AIZ”.

Through its operating subsidiaries, the Company provides mobile device protection, debt protection administration, credit-related insurance, warranties and service contracts, pre-funded funeral insurance, lender-placed homeowners insurance, property, appraisal, preservation and valuation services, renters insurance and related products, manufactured housing homeowners insurance, individual health and small employer group health insurance, group dental insurance, group disability insurance, and group life insurance.

2. Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information. Accordingly, these statements do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements.

The interim financial data as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 is unaudited; in the opinion of management, the interim data includes all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to a fair statement of the results for the interim periods. The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all of its wholly owned subsidiaries. All inter-company transactions and balances are eliminated in consolidation.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, and the rules and regulations thereunder (together, the “Affordable Care Act”) introduced new and significant premium stabilization programs in 2014. These programs required the Company to record amounts to our consolidated financial statements based on assumptions and estimates which could materially change as experience develops.

Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2014. The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.

3. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Adopted

On January 1, 2014, the Company adopted the new guidance on presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists. The amendments in this guidance state that an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion thereof, should be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward. An exception to this guidance would be where a net operating loss carryforward or similar tax loss or credit carryforward would not be available under the tax law to settle any additional income taxes that would result from the disallowance of a tax position, or the tax law does not require the entity to use, and the entity does not intend to use, the deferred tax asset for such purpose. In such a case, the unrecognized tax benefit should be presented in the financial statements as a liability and should not be combined with deferred tax assets. The adoption of this new presentation guidance did not impact the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

On January 1, 2014, the Company adopted the other expenses guidance that addresses how health insurers should recognize and classify in their statements of operations fees mandated by the Affordable Care Act. The Affordable Care Act imposes an annual fee on health insurers for each calendar year beginning on or after January 1, 2014. The amendments specify that the liability for the fee should be estimated and recorded in full once the entity provides qualifying health insurance in the applicable calendar year in which the fee is payable with a corresponding deferred cost that is amortized to expense ratably over the calendar year during which it is payable. The Company’s adoption of this guidance impacts the results of our Assurant

 

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Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

 

 

Health and Assurant Employee Benefits segments. During the third quarter of 2014, the final assessment of the annual insurer fee of $25,723 was paid to the federal government. As a result of this payment, the estimated liability for the mandated fees was reduced to $0. For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company recorded $19,292 of amortization expense related to the deferred costs in underwriting, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations, resulting in an ending balance in deferred costs, recorded in other assets on the consolidated balance sheet, of $6,431 as of September 30, 2014.

Not Yet Adopted

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued amended guidance on revenue recognition. The amended guidance affects any entity that either enters into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services or enters into contracts for the transfer of nonfinancial assets unless those contracts are within the scope of other standards. Insurance contracts are within the scope of other standards and therefore are specifically excluded from the scope of the amended revenue recognition guidance. The core principle of the amended guidance is that an entity recognizes revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. To achieve the core principle, the entity applies a five step process outlined in the amended guidance. The amended guidance also includes a cohesive set of disclosure requirements. The amended guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and early adoption is not permitted. Therefore, the Company is required to adopt the guidance on January 1, 2017. An entity can choose to apply the amended guidance using either the full retrospective approach or a modified retrospective approach. The Company is currently evaluating the requirements of the revenue recognition guidance as it relates to its non-insurance contract revenue and the potential impact on the Company’s financial position and results of operations.

4. Acquisitions

As previously disclosed, on December 30, 2013, the Company paid Mex$1,191,499 (U.S.D. $91,420) for a 40% investment in the Mexican operations of Iké Asistencia (“Iké”), an assistance services business with operations in Mexico and other countries in Latin America. In addition, on February 10, 2014, the Company made a previously disclosed payment of Mex$272,541 (U.S.D. $20,950) for 40% of Iké’s Latin American operations. Following the February 10, 2014 payment, the Company owns 40% of the equity interests and outstanding shares of Iké and, under the terms of the agreements, will also have options to acquire the remaining interest in Iké over time.

On March 24, 2014, the Company made the required delayed payment of £3,000 ($4,951) and contingent payment of £16,313 ($26,920) to complete the previously disclosed October 25, 2013 acquisition of Lifestyle Services Group. The contingent payment was made given the stipulated contractual renewal of a key client.

On April 16, 2014, the Company acquired StreetLinks, LLC, a leading independent appraisal management company, from Novation Companies, Inc. The acquisition-date fair value of the consideration transferred totaled $65,905, which consists of an initial cash payment of $60,905 and a contingent payment of $5,000. The contingent consideration arrangement is based on future expected revenue. In connection with the acquisition, the Company recorded $47,970 of customer and technology based intangible assets, all of which are amortizable over a 2 to 12 year period, and $14,738 of goodwill, none of which is tax-deductible. The primary factor contributing to the recognition of goodwill is the future expected growth of this business within Assurant Specialty Property.

On September 3, 2014, the Company acquired eMortgage Logic, LLC, a national provider of residential valuation products and valuation technology services. The acquisition-date fair value totaled $28,263, which primarily consists of an initial cash payment of $17,000 and a contingent payment of $10,231. The contingent consideration arrangement is based on future expected revenue. In connection with the acquisition, the Company recorded $11,270 of customer and technology based intangible assets, all of which are amortizable over a 3 to 11 year period, and $14,058 of goodwill, all of which is tax-deductible. The primary factor contributing to the recognition of goodwill is the future expected growth of this business within Assurant Specialty Property.

 

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Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

 

 

5. Investments

The following tables show the cost or amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses, fair value and other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) of our fixed maturity and equity securities as of the dates indicated:

 

     September 30, 2014  
     Cost or
Amortized
Cost
     Gross
Unrealized
Gains
     Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    Fair Value      OTTI in
AOCI
(a)
 

Fixed maturity securities:

             

United States government and government agencies and authorities

   $ 172,994       $ 5,053       $ (639   $ 177,408       $   

States, municipalities and political subdivisions

     758,072         72,812         (517     830,367           

Foreign governments

     610,000         60,062         (1,706     668,356           

Asset-backed

     4,061         1,729         (32     5,758         1,620   

Commercial mortgage-backed

     56,527         1,534                58,061           

Residential mortgage-backed

     949,236         51,815         (3,446     997,605         19,404   

Corporate

     7,931,922         966,302         (11,770     8,886,454         23,163   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total fixed maturity securities

   $ 10,482,812       $ 1,159,307       $ (18,110   $ 11,624,009       $ 44,187   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Equity securities:

             

Common stocks

   $ 21,129       $ 13,743       $ (49   $ 34,823       $   

Non-redeemable preferred stocks

     437,836         51,485         (2,437     486,884           
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total equity securities

   $ 458,965       $ 65,228       $ (2,486   $ 521,707       $   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
     December 31, 2013  
     Cost or
Amortized
Cost
     Gross
Unrealized
Gains
     Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    Fair Value      OTTI in
AOCI
(a)
 

Fixed maturity securities:

             

United States government and government agencies and authorities

   $ 408,378       $ 4,166       $ (1,888   $ 410,656       $   

States, municipalities and political subdivisions

     774,233         63,543         (2,624     835,152           

Foreign governments

     647,486         35,543         (7,608     675,421           

Asset-backed

     4,320         1,910         (56     6,174         1,773   

Commercial mortgage-backed

     57,594         2,850         (82     60,362           

Residential mortgage-backed

     919,216         41,905         (13,217     947,904         19,525   

Corporate

     7,709,083         684,776         (37,653     8,356,206         19,359   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total fixed maturity securities

   $ 10,520,310       $ 834,693       $ (63,128   $ 11,291,875       $ 40,657   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Equity securities:

             

Common stocks

   $ 17,890       $ 11,352       $ (10   $ 29,232       $   

Non-redeemable preferred stocks

     399,645         38,880         (9,399     429,126           
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total equity securities

   $ 417,535       $ 50,232       $ (9,409   $ 458,358       $   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(a) Represents the amount of OTTI recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”). Amount includes unrealized gains and losses on impaired securities relating to changes in the value of such securities subsequent to the impairment measurement date.

 

10


Table of Contents

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

 

 

Our states, municipalities and political subdivisions holdings are highly diversified across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, with no individual state’s exposure (including both general obligation and revenue securities) exceeding 0.5% of the overall investment portfolio as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the securities include general obligation and revenue bonds issued by states, cities, counties, school districts and similar issuers, including $275,657 and $234,640, respectively, of advance refunded or escrowed-to-maturity bonds (collectively referred to as “pre-refunded bonds”), which are bonds for which an irrevocable trust has been established to fund the remaining payments of principal and interest. As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, revenue bonds account for 51% and 53% of the holdings, respectively. Excluding pre-refunded revenue bonds, the activities supporting the income streams of the Company’s revenue bonds are across a broad range of sectors, primarily highway, water, airport and marina, higher education, specifically pledged tax revenues, and other miscellaneous sources such as bond banks, finance authorities and appropriations.

The Company’s investments in foreign government fixed maturity securities are held mainly in countries and currencies where the Company has policyholder liabilities, which allow the assets and liabilities to be more appropriately matched. At September 30, 2014, approximately 74%, 11% and 5% of the foreign government securities were held in the Canadian government/provincials and the governments of Brazil and Germany, respectively. At December 31, 2013, approximately 70%, 15% and 6% of the foreign government securities were held in the Canadian government/provincials and the governments of Brazil and Germany, respectively. No other country represented more than 3% of our foreign government securities as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.

The Company has European investment exposure in its corporate fixed maturity and equity securities of $1,075,379 with an unrealized gain of $108,088 at September 30, 2014 and $1,082,129 with an unrealized gain of $78,126 at December 31, 2013. Approximately 23% and 25% of the corporate European exposure is held in the financial industry at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. Our largest European country exposure represented approximately 5% and 6% of the fair value of our corporate securities as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. Approximately 5% of the fair value of the corporate European securities are pound and euro-denominated and are not hedged to U.S. dollars, but held to support those foreign-denominated liabilities. Our international investments are managed as part of our overall portfolio with the same approach to risk management and focus on diversification.

The cost or amortized cost and fair value of fixed maturity securities at September 30, 2014 by contractual maturity are shown below. Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because issuers of the securities may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

 

     Cost or
Amortized
Cost
     Fair Value  

Due in one year or less

   $ 339,714       $ 344,017   

Due after one year through five years

     2,437,561         2,571,729   

Due after five years through ten years

     2,690,101         2,832,899   

Due after ten years

     4,005,612         4,813,940   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     9,472,988         10,562,585   

Asset-backed

     4,061         5,758   

Commercial mortgage-backed

     56,527         58,061   

Residential mortgage-backed

     949,236         997,605   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 10,482,812       $ 11,624,009   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

 

 

The following table summarizes the proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities and the gross realized gains and gross realized losses that have been included in earnings as a result of those sales.

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
     Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2014      2013      2014      2013  

Proceeds from sales

   $ 401,627       $ 525,996       $ 1,403,671       $ 2,028,274   

Gross realized gains

     18,109         9,865         49,696         46,290   

Gross realized losses

     1,607         12,339         8,174         23,391   

The following table sets forth the net realized gains (losses), including OTTI, recognized in the statement of operations as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2014     2013     2014     2013  

Net realized gains (losses) related to sales and other:

        

Fixed maturity securities

   $ 17,848      $ (2,232   $ 39,538      $ 20,215   

Equity securities

     (149     82        4,988        4,753   

Other investments

     45        (279     (914     6,605   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total net realized gains (losses) related to sales and other

     17,744        (2,429     43,612        31,573   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net realized losses related to other-than-temporary impairments:

        

Fixed maturity securities

            (660     (30     (767

Other investments

            (542            (542
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total net realized losses related to other-than-temporary impairments

            (1,202     (30     (1,309
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total net realized gains (losses)

   $ 17,744      $ (3,631   $ 43,582      $ 30,264   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other-Than-Temporary Impairments

The Company follows the OTTI guidance which requires entities to separate an OTTI of a debt security into two components when there are credit related losses associated with the impaired debt security for which the Company asserts that it does not have the intent to sell, and it is more likely than not that it will not be required to sell before recovery of its cost basis. Under the OTTI guidance, the amount of the OTTI related to a credit loss is recognized in earnings, and the amount of the OTTI related to other, non-credit factors (e.g., interest rates, market conditions, etc.) is recorded as a component of other comprehensive income. In instances where no credit loss exists but the Company intends to sell the security or it is more likely than not that the Company will have to sell the debt security prior to the anticipated recovery, the decline in market value below amortized cost is recognized as an OTTI in earnings. In periods after the recognition of an OTTI on debt securities, the Company accounts for such securities as if they had been purchased on the measurement date of the OTTI at an amortized cost basis equal to the previous amortized cost basis less the OTTI recognized in earnings. For debt securities for which OTTI was recognized in earnings, the difference between the new amortized cost basis and the cash flows expected to be collected will be accreted or amortized into net investment income.

There was no OTTI for the three months ended September 30, 2014. For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company recorded $69 of OTTI, of which $30 was related to credit losses and recorded as net OTTI losses recognized in earnings, with the remaining $39 related to all other factors and recorded as an unrealized loss component of AOCI. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company recorded $1,230 and $1,409, respectively, of OTTI, of which $1,202 and $1,309, respectively, was related to credit losses and recorded as net OTTI losses recognized in earnings, with the remaining $28 and $100, respectively, related to all other factors and recorded as an unrealized loss component of AOCI.

 

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Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

 

 

The following tables set forth the amount of credit loss impairments recognized within the results of operations on fixed maturity securities held by the Company as of the dates indicated, for which a portion of the OTTI loss was recognized in AOCI, and the corresponding changes in such amounts.

 

     Three Months Ended September 30,  
     2014     2013  

Balance, June 30,

   $ 39,248      $ 93,745   

Reductions for increases in cash flows expected to be collected that are recognized over the remaining life of the security

     (506     (597

Reductions for credit loss impairments previously recognized on securities which matured, paid down, prepaid or were sold during the period

     (1,662     (190
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, September 30,

   $ 37,080      $ 92,958   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     Nine Months Ended September 30,  
     2014     2013  

Balance, January 1,

   $ 45,278      $ 95,589   

Additions for credit loss impairments recognized in the current period on securities previously impaired

     30        107   

Reductions for increases in cash flows expected to be collected that are recognized over the remaining life of the security

     (3,151     (1,465

Reductions for credit loss impairments previously recognized on securities which matured, paid down, prepaid or were sold during the period

     (5,077     (1,273
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, September 30,

   $ 37,080      $ 92,958   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

We regularly monitor our investment portfolio to ensure investments that may be other-than-temporarily impaired are identified in a timely fashion, properly valued, and charged against earnings in the proper period. The determination that a security has incurred an other-than-temporary decline in value requires the judgment of management. Assessment factors include, but are not limited to, the length of time and the extent to which the market value has been less than cost, the financial condition and rating of the issuer, whether any collateral is held, the intent and ability of the Company to retain the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for recovery for equity securities and the intent to sell or whether it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell for fixed maturity securities. Inherently, there are risks and uncertainties involved in making these judgments. Changes in circumstances and critical assumptions such as a continued weak economy, a more pronounced economic downturn or unforeseen events which affect one or more companies, industry sectors, or countries could result in additional impairments in future periods for other-than-temporary declines in value. Any equity security whose price decline is deemed other-than-temporary is written down to its then current market value with the amount of the impairment reported as a realized loss in that period. The impairment of a fixed maturity security that the Company has the intent to sell or that it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell is deemed other-than-temporary and is written down to its market value at the balance sheet date with the amount of the impairment reported as a realized loss in that period. For all other-than-temporarily impaired fixed maturity securities that do not meet either of these two criteria, the Company is required to analyze its ability to recover the amortized cost of the security by calculating the net present value of projected future cash flows. For these other-than-temporarily impaired fixed maturity securities, the net amount recognized in earnings is equal to the difference between the amortized cost of the fixed maturity security and its net present value.

The Company considers different factors to determine the amount of projected future cash flows and discounting methods for corporate debt and residential and commercial mortgage-backed or asset-backed securities. For corporate debt securities, the split between the credit and non-credit losses is driven principally by assumptions regarding the amount and timing of projected future cash flows. The net present value is calculated by discounting the Company’s best estimate of projected future cash flows at the effective interest rate implicit in the security at the date of acquisition. For residential and commercial mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, cash flow estimates, including prepayment assumptions, are based on data from widely accepted third-party data sources or internal estimates. In addition to prepayment assumptions, cash flow estimates vary based on assumptions regarding the underlying collateral including default rates, recoveries and changes in value. The net present value is calculated by discounting the Company’s best estimate of projected future cash flows at the effective interest rate implicit in the fixed maturity security prior to impairment at the balance sheet date. The discounted cash flows become the new amortized cost basis of the fixed maturity security.

 

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Table of Contents

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

 

 

In periods subsequent to the recognition of an OTTI, the Company generally accretes the discount (or amortizes the reduced premium) into net investment income, up to the non-discounted amount of projected future cash flows, resulting from the reduction in cost basis, based upon the amount and timing of the expected future cash flows over the estimated period of cash flows.

The investment category and duration of the Company’s gross unrealized losses on fixed maturity securities and equity securities at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were as follows:

 

     September 30, 2014  
     Less than 12 months     12 Months or More     Total  
     Fair Value      Unrealized
Losses
    Fair Value      Unrealized
Losses
    Fair Value      Unrealized
Losses
 

Fixed maturity securities:

               

United States Government and government agencies and authorities

   $ 37,746       $ (104   $ 24,895       $ (535   $ 62,641       $ (639

States, municipalities and political subdivisions

     7,080         (383     4,565         (134     11,645         (517

Foreign governments

     43,539         (112     46,480         (1,594     90,019         (1,706

Asset-backed

                    1,462         (32     1,462         (32

Residential mortgage-backed

     104,337         (379     124,490         (3,067     228,827         (3,446

Corporate

     720,525         (7,245     196,815         (4,525     917,340         (11,770
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total fixed maturity securities

   $ 913,227       $ (8,223   $ 398,707       $ (9,887   $ 1,311,934       $ (18,110
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Equity securities:

               

Common stock

   $ 1,078       $ (46   $ 193       $ (3   $ 1,271       $ (49

Non-redeemable preferred stocks

     58,042         (756     31,314         (1,681     89,356         (2,437
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total equity securities

   $ 59,120       $ (802   $ 31,507       $ (1,684   $ 90,627       $ (2,486
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     December 31, 2013  
     Less than 12 months     12 Months or More     Total  
     Fair Value      Unrealized
Losses
    Fair Value      Unrealized
Losses
    Fair Value      Unrealized
Losses
 

Fixed maturity securities:

               

United States Government and government agencies and authorities

   $ 52,615       $ (1,464   $ 3,514       $ (424   $ 56,129       $ (1,888

States, municipalities and political subdivisions

     30,145         (2,624                    30,145         (2,624

Foreign governments

     217,708         (7,596     111         (12     217,819         (7,608

Asset-backed

                    1,442         (56     1,442         (56

Commercial mortgage-backed

     5,036         (82                    5,036         (82

Residential mortgage-backed

     407,808         (11,667     31,498         (1,550     439,306         (13,217

Corporate

     1,412,611         (36,848     19,291         (805     1,431,902         (37,653
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total fixed maturity securities

   $ 2,125,923       $ (60,281   $ 55,856       $ (2,847   $ 2,181,779       $ (63,128
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Equity securities:

               

Common stock

   $ 187       $ (10   $       $      $ 187       $ (10

Non-redeemable preferred stocks

     159,723         (8,200     11,807         (1,199     171,530         (9,399
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total equity securities

   $ 159,910       $ (8,210   $ 11,807       $ (1,199   $ 171,717       $ (9,409
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

 

 

Total gross unrealized losses represent approximately 2% and 3% of the aggregate fair value of the related securities at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. Approximately 44% and 94% of these gross unrealized losses have been in a continuous loss position for less than twelve months at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. The total gross unrealized losses are comprised of 477 and 667 individual securities at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. In accordance with its policy described above, the Company concluded that for these securities an adjustment to its results of operations for other-than-temporary impairments of the gross unrealized losses was not warranted at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013. These conclusions were based on a detailed analysis of the underlying credit and expected cash flows of each security. As of September 30, 2014, the gross unrealized losses that have been in a continuous loss position for twelve months or more were concentrated in the Company’s foreign governments, residential mortgage-backed, and corporate fixed maturity securities, and in non-redeemable preferred stocks. Within the Company’s corporate fixed maturity securities, the majority of the loss position relates to securities in the industrial sector. The industrial sector’s gross unrealized losses of twelve months or more were $1,365, or 30%, of the corporate fixed maturity securities total. The non-redeemable preferred stocks are perpetual preferred securities that have characteristics of both debt and equity securities. To evaluate these securities, we apply an impairment model similar to that used for our fixed maturity securities. As of September 30, 2014, the Company did not intend to sell these securities and it was not more likely than not that the Company would be required to sell them and no underlying cash flow issues were noted. Therefore, the Company did not recognize an OTTI on those perpetual preferred securities that had been in a continuous unrealized loss position for twelve months or more. As of September 30, 2014, the Company did not intend to sell the fixed maturity securities and it was not more likely than not that the Company would be required to sell the securities before the anticipated recovery of their amortized cost basis. The gross unrealized losses are primarily attributable to widening credit spreads associated with an underlying shift in overall credit risk premium.

The Company has entered into commercial mortgage loans, collateralized by the underlying real estate, on properties located throughout the U.S. and Canada. At September 30, 2014, approximately 39% of the outstanding principal balance of commercial mortgage loans was concentrated in the states of California, New York, and Utah. Although the Company has a diversified loan portfolio, an economic downturn could have an adverse impact on the ability of its debtors to repay their loans. The outstanding balance of commercial mortgage loans ranges in size from $6 to $15,288 at September 30, 2014 and from $9 to $15,574 at December 31, 2013.

Credit quality indicators for commercial mortgage loans are loan-to-value and debt-service coverage ratios. Loan-to-value and debt-service coverage ratios are measures commonly used to assess the credit quality of commercial mortgage loans. The loan-to-value ratio compares the principal amount of the loan to the fair value of the underlying property collateralizing the loan, and is commonly expressed as a percentage. The debt-service coverage ratio compares a property’s net operating income to its debt-service payments and is commonly expressed as a ratio. The loan-to-value and debt-service coverage ratios are generally updated annually in the third quarter.

 

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Table of Contents

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

 

 

The following summarizes our loan-to-value and average debt-service coverage ratios as of the dates indicated:

 

     September 30, 2014  

Loan-to-Value

   Carrying
Value
    % of  Gross
Mortgage
Loans
    Debt-Service
Coverage  Ratio
 

70% and less

   $ 1,129,193        89.8     2.03   

71 – 80%

     87,488        7.0     1.25   

81 – 95%

     34,694        2.7     0.97   

Greater than 95%

     6,531        0.5     0.43   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

Gross commercial mortgage loans

     1,257,906        100     1.94   
    

 

 

   

Less valuation allowance

     (4,482    
  

 

 

     

Net commercial mortgage loans

   $ 1,253,424       
  

 

 

     
     December 31, 2013  

Loan-to-Value

   Carrying
Value
    % of  Gross
Mortgage
Loans
    Debt-Service
Coverage Ratio
 

70% and less

   $ 1,143,200        88.5     1.97   

71 – 80%

     73,603        5.7     1.44   

81 – 95%

     58,752        4.6     1.19   

Greater than 95%

     15,959        1.2     0.87   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

Gross commercial mortgage loans

     1,291,514        100     1.89   
    

 

 

   

Less valuation allowance

     (4,482    
  

 

 

     

Net commercial mortgage loans

   $ 1,287,032       
  

 

 

     

All commercial mortgage loans that are individually impaired have an established mortgage loan valuation allowance for losses. Changing economic conditions affect our valuation of commercial mortgage loans. Changing vacancies and rents are incorporated into the discounted cash flow analysis that we perform for monitored loans and may contribute to the establishment of (or an increase or decrease in) a commercial mortgage loan valuation allowance for losses. In addition, we continue to monitor the entire commercial mortgage loan portfolio to identify risk. Areas of emphasis are properties that have exposure to specific geographic events, have deteriorating credits or have experienced a reduction in debt-service coverage ratio. Where warranted, we have established or increased a valuation allowance based upon this analysis.

Collateralized Transactions

The Company engages in transactions in which fixed maturity securities, primarily bonds issued by the U.S. government and government agencies and authorities, and U.S. corporations, are loaned to selected broker/dealers. Collateral, greater than or equal to 102% of the fair value of the securities lent, plus accrued interest, is received in the form of cash and cash equivalents held by a custodian bank for the benefit of the Company. The use of cash collateral received is unrestricted. The Company reinvests the cash collateral received, generally in investments of high credit quality that are designated as available-for-sale. The Company monitors the fair value of securities loaned and the collateral received, with additional collateral obtained, as necessary. The Company is subject to the risk of loss to the extent there is a loss on the re-investment of cash collateral.

As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, our collateral held under securities lending agreements, of which its use is unrestricted, was $95,977 and $95,215, respectively, and is included in the consolidated balance sheets under the collateral held/pledged under securities agreements. Our liability to the borrower for collateral received was $95,973 and $95,206, respectively, and is included in the consolidated balance sheets under obligation under securities agreements. The difference between the collateral held and obligations under securities lending is recorded as an unrealized gain (loss) and is included as part of AOCI. There was one security in an unrealized loss position as of September 30, 2014 and it has been in an unrealized loss position for less than 12 months. All securities were in an unrealized gain position as of December 31, 2013. The Company includes the available-for-sale investments purchased with the cash collateral in its evaluation of other-than-temporary impairments.

 

16


Table of Contents

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

 

 

Cash proceeds that the Company receives as collateral for the securities it lends and subsequent repayment of the cash are regarded by the Company as cash flows from financing activities, since the cash received is considered a borrowing. Since the Company reinvests the cash collateral generally in investments that are designated as available-for-sale, the reinvestment is presented as cash flows from investing activities.

6. Fair Value Disclosures

Fair Values, Inputs and Valuation Techniques for Financial Assets and Liabilities Disclosures

The fair value measurements and disclosures guidance defines fair value and establishes a framework for measuring fair value. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In accordance with this guidance, the Company has categorized its recurring basis financial assets and liabilities into a three-level fair value hierarchy based on the priority of the inputs to the valuation technique.

The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls has been determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and considers factors specific to the asset or liability.

The levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:

 

   

Level 1 inputs utilize quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company can access.

 

   

Level 2 inputs utilize other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset. Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar assets in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active and inputs other than quoted prices that are observable in the marketplace for the asset. The observable inputs are used in valuation models to calculate the fair value for the asset.

 

   

Level 3 inputs are unobservable but are significant to the fair value measurement for the asset, and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the asset. These inputs reflect management’s own assumptions about the assumptions a market participant would use in pricing the asset.

A review of fair value hierarchy classifications is conducted on a quarterly basis. Changes in the observability of valuation inputs may result in a reclassification of levels for certain securities within the fair value hierarchy.

The following tables present the Company’s fair value hierarchy for assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013. The amounts presented below for Collateral held/pledged under securities agreements, Other investments, Cash equivalents, Other assets, Assets and Liabilities held in separate accounts and Other liabilities differ from the amounts presented in the consolidated balance sheets because only certain investments or certain assets and liabilities within these line items are measured at estimated fair value. Other investments are comprised of investments in the Assurant Investment Plan, American Security Insurance Company Investment Plan, Assurant Deferred Compensation Plan, a modified coinsurance arrangement and other derivatives. Other liabilities are comprised of investments in the Assurant Investment Plan, contingent consideration related to a business combination and other derivatives. The fair value amount and the majority of the associated levels presented for Other investments and Assets and Liabilities held in separate accounts are received directly from third parties.

 

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Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

 

 

     September 30, 2014  
     Total      Level 1     Level 2     Level 3  

Financial Assets

         

Fixed maturity securities:

         

United States Government and government agencies and authorities

   $ 177,408       $      $ 177,408      $   

State, municipalities and political subdivisions

     830,367                830,367          

Foreign governments

     668,356         705        667,651          

Asset-backed

     5,758                5,758          

Commercial mortgage-backed

     58,061                57,608        453   

Residential mortgage-backed

     997,605                997,605          

Corporate

     8,886,454                8,771,973        114,481   

Equity securities:

         

Common stocks

     34,823         34,139        684          

Non-redeemable preferred stocks

     486,884                482,839        4,045   

Short-term investments

     465,295         392,642  b      72,653  c        

Collateral held/pledged under securities agreements

     74,976         66,971  b      8,005  c        

Other investments

     268,842         58,021  a      208,234  c      2,587  d 

Cash equivalents

     821,233         818,528  b      2,705  c        

Other assets

     1,735                755  f      980  e 

Assets held in separate accounts

     1,820,241         1,639,251  a      180,990  c        
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total financial assets

   $ 15,598,038       $ 3,010,257      $ 12,465,235      $ 122,546   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Financial Liabilities

         

Other liabilities

   $ 86,155       $ 58,021  a    $ 34  f    $ 28,100  f 

Liabilities related to separate accounts

     1,820,241         1,639,251  a      180,990  c        
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total financial liabilities

   $ 1,906,396       $ 1,697,272      $ 181,024      $ 28,100   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

 

 

     December 31, 2013  
     Total      Level 1     Level 2     Level 3  

Financial Assets

         

Fixed maturity securities:

         

United States Government and government agencies and authorities

   $ 410,656       $      $ 410,656      $   

State, municipalities and political subdivisions

     835,152                812,495        22,657   

Foreign governments

     675,421         789        657,775        16,857   

Asset-backed

     6,174                6,174          

Commercial mortgage-backed

     60,362                59,764        598   

Residential mortgage-backed

     947,904                943,737        4,167   

Corporate

     8,356,206                8,240,862        115,344   

Equity securities:

         

Common stocks

     29,232         28,548        684          

Non-redeemable preferred stocks

     429,126                421,616        7,510   

Short-term investments

     470,458         273,518  b      196,940  c        

Collateral held/pledged under securities agreements

     74,212         67,202  b      7,010  c        

Other investments

     246,748         66,659  a      175,918  c      4,171  d 

Cash equivalents

     1,233,701         967,372  b      266,329  c        

Other assets

     3,726                1,235  f      2,491  e 

Assets held in separate accounts

     1,887,988         1,696,811  a      191,177  c        
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total financial assets

   $ 15,667,066       $ 3,100,899      $ 12,392,372      $ 173,795   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Financial Liabilities

         

Other liabilities

   $ 106,992       $ 54,794  a    $ 31,868  g    $ 20,330  f 

Liabilities related to separate accounts

     1,887,988         1,696,811  a      191,177  c        
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total financial liabilities

   $ 1,994,980       $ 1,751,605      $ 223,045      $ 20,330   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  a. Mainly includes mutual funds.
  b. Mainly includes money market funds.
  c. Mainly includes fixed maturity securities.
  d. Mainly includes fixed maturity securities and other derivatives.
  e. Mainly includes the Consumer Price Index Cap Derivatives (“CPI Caps”).
  f. Mainly includes other derivatives.
  g. Mainly includes contingent consideration liability related to a business combination.

There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 financial assets during either period. However, there were transfers between Level 2 and Level 3 financial assets during the periods, which are reflected in the “Transfers in” and “Transfers out” columns below. Transfers between Level 2 and Level 3 most commonly occur from changes in the availability of observable market information and re-evaluation of the observability of pricing inputs. Any remaining unpriced securities are submitted to independent brokers who provide non-binding broker quotes or are priced by other qualified sources.

 

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Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

 

 

The following tables summarize the change in balance sheet carrying value associated with Level 3 financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:

 

     Three Months Ended September 30, 2014  
     Balance,
beginning
of
period
    Total gains
(losses)
(realized/
unrealized)
included in
earnings (1)
    Net unrealized
(losses) gains
included  in
other
comprehensive
income  (2)
    Purchases      Sales     Transfers
in (3)
     Transfers
out (3)
    Balance,
end of
period
 

Financial Assets

                  

Fixed Maturity Securities

                  

Commercial mortgage-backed

   $ 503      $      $ (5   $       $ (45   $       $      $ 453   

Corporate

     116,827        1,684        (1,840     9,637         (3,325     1,515         (10,017     114,481   

Equity Securities

                  

Non-redeemable preferred stocks

     4,099        (1     (53                                   4,045   

Other investments

     2,615        (437     2        439         (32                    2,587   

Other assets

     2,268        (1,288                                          980   

Financial Liabilities

                  

Other liabilities

     (23,160     (4,940                                          (28,100
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total level 3 assets and liabilities

   $ 103,152      $ (4,982   $ (1,896   $ 10,076       $ (3,402   $ 1,515       $ (10,017   $ 94,446   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

 

 

      Three Months Ended September 30, 2013  
     Balance,
beginning  of
period
    Total
(losses)
gains
(realized/
unrealized)
included in
earnings (1)
    Net unrealized
(losses) gains
included  in
other
comprehensive
income  (2)
    Purchases     Sales     Transfers
in (3)
     Transfers
out (3)
    Balance,
end of
period
 

Financial Assets

                 

Fixed Maturity Securities

                 

United States Government and government agencies and authorities

   $ 84      $      $      $      $ (84   $       $      $   

Foreign governments

     21,032        (2     (433                                  20,597   

Commercial mortgage-backed

     683                             (42                    641   

Residential mortgage-backed

     20,326        (18     64               (583             (9,004     10,785   

Corporate

     133,623        109        (2,070            (1,543             (6,965     123,154   

Equity Securities

                 

Non-redeemable preferred stocks

     2,301               289                      3,527                6,117   

Other investments

     10,601        85        693               (636                    10,743   

Other assets

     2,963        (217                                         2,746   

Financial Liabilities

                 

Other liabilities

     (1,590     (589            (1,897                           (4,076
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total level 3 assets and liabilities

   $ 190,023      $ (632   $ (1,457   $ (1,897   $ (2,888   $ 3,527       $ (15,969   $ 170,707   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

 

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014  
     Balance,
beginning  of
period
    Total
(losses)
gains
(realized/
unrealized)
included in
earnings (1)
    Net unrealized
gains (losses)
included  in
other
comprehensive
income  (2)
    Purchases     Sales     Transfers
in  (3)
     Transfers
out  (3)
    Balance,
end  of
period
 

Financial Assets

                 

Fixed Maturity Securities

                 

States, municipalities and political subdivisions

   $ 22,657      $      $      $      $      $       $ (22,657   $   

Foreign governments

     16,857        (2     18                              (16,873       

Commercial mortgage-backed

     598               (14            (131                    453   

Residential mortgage-backed

     4,167                                            (4,167       

Corporate

     115,344        1,739        2,286        19,578        (8,608     1,515         (17,373     114,481   

Equity Securities

                 

Non-redeemable preferred stocks

     7,510        327        (186            (1,830             (1,776     4,045   

Other investments

     4,171        (1,952     11        439        (82                    2,587   

Other assets

     2,491        (1,511                                         980   

Financial Liabilities

                 

Other liabilities

     (20,330     (3,770            (4,000                           (28,100
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total level 3 assets and liabilities

   $ 153,465      $ (5,169   $ 2,115      $ 16,017      $ (10,651   $ 1,515       $ (62,846   $ 94,446   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

 

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013  
     Balance,
beginning  of
period
    Total
(losses)
gains
(realized/
unrealized)
included in
earnings (1)
    Net unrealized
(losses) gains
included  in
other
comprehensive
income  (2)
    Purchases     Sales     Transfers
in (3)
     Transfers
out (3)
    Balance,
end of
period
 

Financial Assets

                 

Fixed Maturity Securities

                 

United States Government and government agencies and authorities

   $ 4,175      $      $ (3   $      $ (4,172   $       $      $   

Foreign governments

     23,097        (4     (2,496                                  20,597   

Commercial mortgage-backed

     1,774        20        (30            (1,123                    641   

Residential mortgage-backed

     8,211        (31     (1,145     29,938        (1,326             (24,862     10,785   

Corporate

     158,003        (390     (4,000     5,325        (25,045     4,997         (15,736     123,154   

Equity Securities

                 

Non-redeemable preferred stocks

     14        12        309        4,308        (2,040     3,527         (13     6,117   

Other investments

     11,327        (813     1,275        8        (1,054                    10,743   

Other assets

     5,886        (3,140                                         2,746   

Financial Liabilities

                 

Other liabilities

     (2,560     381               (1,897                           (4,076
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total level 3 assets and liabilities

   $ 209,927      $ (3,965   $ (6,090   $ 37,682      $ (34,760   $ 8,524       $ (40,611   $ 170,707   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Included as part of net realized gains on investments in the consolidated statement of operations.
(2) Included as part of change in unrealized gains on securities in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.
(3) Transfers are primarily attributable to changes in the availability of observable market information and re-evaluation of the observability of pricing inputs.

Three different valuation techniques can be used in determining fair value for financial assets and liabilities: the market, income or cost approaches. The three valuation techniques described in the fair value measurements and disclosures guidance are consistent with generally accepted valuation methodologies. The market approach valuation techniques use prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities. When possible, quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets are used as of the period-end date (such as for mutual funds and money market funds). Otherwise, valuation techniques consistent with the market approach including matrix pricing and comparables are used. Matrix pricing is a mathematical technique employed principally to value debt securities without relying exclusively on quoted prices for those securities but rather by relying on the securities’ relationship to other benchmark quoted securities. Market approach valuation techniques often use market multiples derived from a set of comparables. Multiples might lie in ranges with a different multiple for each comparable. The selection of where within the range the appropriate multiple falls requires judgment, considering both qualitative and quantitative factors specific to the measurement.

Income approach valuation techniques convert future amounts, such as cash flows or earnings, to a single present amount, or a discounted amount. These techniques rely on current market expectations of future amounts as of the period-end date. Examples of income approach valuation techniques include present value techniques, option-pricing models, binomial or lattice models that incorporate present value techniques and the multi-period excess earnings method.

Cost approach valuation techniques are based upon the amount that would be required to replace the service capacity of an asset at the period-end date, or the current replacement cost. That is, from the perspective of a market participant (seller), the price that would be received for the asset is determined based on the cost to a market participant (buyer) to acquire or construct a substitute asset of comparable utility, adjusted for obsolescence.

 

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Table of Contents

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

 

 

While not all three approaches are applicable to all financial assets or liabilities, where appropriate, one or more valuation techniques may be used. For all the classes of financial assets and liabilities included in the above hierarchy, excluding the CPI Caps and certain privately placed corporate bonds, the market valuation technique is generally used. For certain privately placed corporate bonds, the CPI Caps, and certain derivatives, the income valuation technique is generally used. For the periods ended September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the application of the valuation technique applied to the Company’s classes of financial assets and liabilities has been consistent.

Level 1 Securities

The Company’s investments and liabilities classified as Level 1 as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, consisted of mutual funds and money market funds, foreign government fixed maturities and common stocks that are publicly listed and/or actively traded in an established market.

Level 2 Securities

The Company’s Level 2 securities are valued using various observable market inputs obtained from a pricing service. The pricing service prepares estimates of fair value measurements for our Level 2 securities using proprietary valuation models based on techniques such as matrix pricing which include observable market inputs. The fair value measurements and disclosures guidance defines observable market inputs as the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. The extent of the use of each observable market input for a security depends on the type of security and the market conditions at the balance sheet date. Depending on the security, the priority of the use of observable market inputs may change as some observable market inputs may not be relevant or additional inputs may be necessary. The following observable market inputs (“standard inputs”), listed in the approximate order of priority, are utilized in the pricing evaluation of Level 2 securities: benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, bids, offers and reference data including market research data. Further details for Level 2 investment types follow:

United States Government and government agencies and authorities: U.S. government and government agencies and authorities securities are priced by our pricing service utilizing standard inputs. Included in this category are U.S. Treasury securities which are priced using vendor trading platform data in addition to the standard inputs.

State, municipalities and political subdivisions: State, municipalities and political subdivisions securities are priced by our pricing service utilizing material event notices and new issue data inputs in addition to the standard inputs.

Foreign governments: Foreign government securities are primarily fixed maturity securities denominated in Canadian dollars which are priced by our pricing service utilizing standard inputs. The pricing service also evaluates each security based on relevant market information including relevant credit information, perceived market movements and sector news.

Commercial mortgage-backed, residential mortgage-backed and asset-backed: Commercial mortgage-backed, residential mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities are priced by our pricing service utilizing monthly payment information and collateral performance information in addition to the standard inputs. Additionally, commercial mortgage-backed securities and asset-backed securities utilize new issue data while residential mortgage-backed securities utilize vendor trading platform data.

Corporate: Corporate securities are priced by our pricing service utilizing standard inputs. Non-investment grade securities within this category are priced by our pricing service utilizing observations of equity and credit default swap curves related to the issuer in addition to the standard inputs. Certain privately placed corporate bonds are priced by a non-pricing service source using a model with observable inputs including, but not limited to, the credit rating, credit spreads, sector add-ons, and issuer specific add-ons.

Non-redeemable preferred stocks: Non-redeemable preferred stocks are priced by our pricing service utilizing observations of equity and credit default swap curves related to the issuer in addition to the standard inputs.

 

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Table of Contents

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

 

 

Short-term investments, collateral held/pledged under securities agreements, other investments, cash equivalents, and assets/liabilities held in separate accounts: To price the fixed maturity securities in these categories, the pricing service utilizes the standard inputs.

Other liabilities: The contingent consideration liability related to a business combination is valued at the contractual amount stated in the purchase agreement plus accrued interest. The contractual amount plus interest represents the fair value and is a market observable input due to the fact that the amount is specifically stated in the agreement and there is a short time frame (less than three months) for determining whether the payment will be made or not.

Valuation models used by the pricing service can change period to period, depending on the appropriate observable inputs that are available at the balance sheet date to price a security. When market observable inputs are unavailable to the pricing service, the remaining unpriced securities are submitted to independent brokers who provide non-binding broker quotes or are priced by other qualified sources. If the Company cannot corroborate the non-binding broker quotes with Level 2 inputs, these securities are categorized as Level 3 securities.

Level 3 Securities

The Company’s investments classified as Level 3 as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 consisted of fixed maturity and equity securities and derivatives. All of the Level 3 fixed maturity and equity securities are priced using non-binding broker quotes which cannot be corroborated with Level 2 inputs. Of our total Level 3 fixed maturity and equity securities, $65,811 and $70,244 were priced by a pricing service using single broker quotes due to insufficient information to provide an evaluated price as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. The single broker quotes are provided by market makers or broker-dealers who are recognized as market participants in the markets in which they are providing the quotes. The remaining $53,626 and $97,219 were priced internally using independent and non-binding broker quotes as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. The inputs factoring into the broker quotes include trades in the actual bond being priced, trades of comparable bonds, quality of the issuer, optionality, structure and liquidity. Significant changes in interest rates, issuer credit, liquidity, and overall market conditions would result in a significantly lower or higher broker quote. The prices received from both the pricing service and internally are reviewed for reasonableness by management and if necessary, management works with the pricing service or broker to further understand how they developed their price. Further details on Level 3 derivative investment types follow:

Other investments and other liabilities: Swaptions are priced using a Black-Scholes pricing model incorporating third-party market data, including swap volatility data. Credit default swaps are priced using non-binding quotes provided by market makers or broker-dealers who are recognized as market participants. Inputs factored into the non-binding quotes include trades in the actual credit default swap which is being priced, trades in comparable credit default swaps, quality of the issuer, structure and liquidity. The net option related to the investment in Iké is valued using an income approach; specifically, a Monte Carlo simulation option pricing model. The inputs to the model include, but are not limited to, the projected normalized earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) and free cash flow for the underlying asset, the discount rate, and the volatility of and the correlation between the normalized EBITDA and the value of the underlying asset. Significant increases (decreases) in the projected normalized EBITDA relative to the value of the underlying asset in isolation would result in a significantly higher (lower) fair value.

Other assets: A non-pricing service source prices the CPI Cap derivatives using a model with inputs including, but not limited to, the time to expiration, the notional amount, the strike price, the forward rate, implied volatility and the discount rate.

Management evaluates the following factors in order to determine whether the market for a financial asset is inactive. The factors include, but are not limited to:

 

   

There are few recent transactions,

 

   

Little information is released publicly,

 

   

The available prices vary significantly over time or among market participants,

 

   

The prices are stale (i.e., not current), and

 

   

The magnitude of the bid-ask spread.

Illiquidity did not have a material impact in the fair value determination of the Company’s financial assets.

 

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Table of Contents

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

 

 

The Company generally obtains one price for each financial asset. The Company performs a monthly analysis to assess if the evaluated prices represent a reasonable estimate of their fair value. This process involves quantitative and qualitative analysis and is overseen by investment and accounting professionals. Examples of procedures performed include, but are not limited to, initial and on-going review of pricing service methodologies, review of the prices received from the pricing service, review of pricing statistics and trends, and comparison of prices for certain securities with two different appropriate price sources for reasonableness. Following this analysis, the Company generally uses the best estimate of fair value based upon all available inputs. On infrequent occasions, a non-pricing service source may be more familiar with the market activity for a particular security than the pricing service. In these cases the price used is taken from the non-pricing service source. The pricing service provides information to indicate which securities were priced using market observable inputs so that the Company can properly categorize our financial assets in the fair value hierarchy.

For the net option, the Company will perform a periodic analysis to assess if the evaluated price represents a reasonable estimate of the fair value for the financial liability. This process will involve quantitative and qualitative analysis overseen by finance and accounting professionals. Examples of procedures to be performed include, but are not limited to, initial and on-going review of the pricing methodology and review of the projection for the underlying asset including the probability distribution of possible scenarios.

Disclosures for Non-Financial Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Non-Recurring Basis

The Company also measures the fair value of certain assets on a non-recurring basis, generally on an annual basis, or when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. These assets include commercial mortgage loans, goodwill and finite-lived intangible assets.

The Company utilizes both the income and market valuation approaches to measure the fair value of its reporting units when required. Under the income approach, the Company determined the fair value of the reporting units considering distributable earnings, which were estimated from operating plans. The resulting cash flows were then discounted using a market participant weighted average cost of capital estimated for the reporting units. After discounting the future discrete earnings to their present value, the Company estimated the terminal value attributable to the years beyond the discrete operating plan period. The discounted terminal value was then added to the aggregate discounted distributable earnings from the discrete operating plan period to estimate the fair value of the reporting units. Under the market approach, the Company derived the fair value of the reporting units based on various financial multiples, including but not limited to: price to tangible book value of equity, price to estimated 2014 earnings and price to estimated 2014 earnings, which were estimated based on publicly available data related to comparable guideline companies. In addition, financial multiples were also estimated from publicly available purchase price data for acquisitions of companies operating in the insurance industry. The estimated fair value of the reporting units was more heavily weighted towards the income approach because in the current economic environment the earnings capacity of a business is generally considered the most important factor in the valuation of a business enterprise. This fair value determination was categorized as Level 3 (unobservable) in the fair value hierarchy.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments Disclosures

The financial instruments guidance requires disclosure of fair value information about financial instruments, as defined therein, for which it is practicable to estimate such fair value. Therefore, it requires fair value disclosure for financial instruments that are not recognized or are not carried at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets. However, this guidance excludes certain financial instruments, including those related to insurance contracts and those accounted for under the equity method and joint ventures guidance (such as real estate joint ventures).

For the financial instruments included within the following financial assets and financial liabilities, the carrying value in the consolidated balance sheets equals or approximates fair value. Please refer to the Fair Value Inputs and Valuation Techniques for Financial Assets and Liabilities Disclosures section above for more information on the financial instruments included within the following financial assets and financial liabilities and the methods and assumptions used to estimate fair value:

 

   

Cash and cash equivalents

 

   

Fixed maturity securities

 

   

Equity securities

 

   

Short-term investments

 

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Table of Contents

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

 

 

   

Collateral held/pledged under securities agreements

 

   

Other investments

 

   

Other assets

 

   

Assets held in separate accounts

 

   

Other liabilities

 

   

Liabilities related to separate accounts

In estimating the fair value of the financial instruments that are not recognized or are not carried at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets, the Company used the following methods and assumptions:

Commercial mortgage loans: the fair values of mortgage loans are estimated using discounted cash flow models. The model inputs include mortgage amortization schedules and loan provisions, an internally developed credit spread based on the credit risk associated with the borrower and the U.S. Treasury spot curve. Mortgage loans with similar characteristics are aggregated for purposes of the calculations.

Policy loans: the carrying value of policy loans reported in the consolidated balance sheets approximates fair value.

Policy reserves under investment products: the fair values for the Company’s policy reserves under investment products are determined using discounted cash flow analysis. Key inputs to the valuation include projections of policy cash flows, reserve run-off, market yields and risk margins.

Funds held under reinsurance: the carrying value reported approximates fair value due to the short maturity of the instruments.

Debt: the fair value of debt is based upon matrix pricing performed by the pricing service utilizing the standard inputs.

Obligation under securities agreements: obligation under securities agreements is reported at the amount of cash received from the selected broker/dealers.

 

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Table of Contents

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

 

 

The following tables disclose the carrying value, fair value amount and hierarchy level of the financial instruments that are not recognized or are not carried at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets:

 

     September 30, 2014  
            Fair Value  
     Carrying
Value
     Total      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3  

Financial Assets

              

Commercial mortgage loans on real estate

   $ 1,253,424       $ 1,434,289       $       $       $ 1,434,289   

Policy loans

     48,979         48,979         48,979                   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total financial assets

   $ 1,302,403       $ 1,483,268       $ 48,979       $       $ 1,434,289   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Financial Liabilities

              

Policy reserves under investment products (Individual and group annuities, subject to discretionary withdrawal) (1)

   $ 766,039       $ 787,947       $       $       $ 787,947   

Funds withheld under reinsurance

     78,707         78,707         78,707                   

Debt

     1,171,005         1,273,705                 1,273,705           

Obligations under securities agreements

     95,973         95,973         95,973                   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total financial liabilities

   $ 2,111,724       $ 2,236,332       $ 174,680       $ 1,273,705       $ 787,947   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     December 31, 2013  
            Fair Value  
     Carrying
Value
     Total      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3  

Financial Assets

              

Commercial mortgage loans on real estate

   $ 1,287,032       $ 1,444,974       $       $       $ 1,444,974   

Policy loans

     51,678         51,678         51,678                   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total financial assets

   $ 1,338,710       $ 1,496,652       $ 51,678       $       $ 1,444,974   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Financial Liabilities

              

Policy reserves under investment products (Individual and group annuities, subject to discretionary withdrawal) (1)

   $ 809,628       $ 808,734                       $ 808,734   

Funds withheld under reinsurance

     76,778         76,778         76,778                   

Debt

     1,638,118         1,656,588                 1,656,588           

Obligations under securities agreements

     95,206         95,206         95,206                   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total financial liabilities

   $ 2,619,730       $ 2,637,306       $ 171,984       $ 1,656,588       $ 808,734   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Only the fair value of the Company’s policy reserves for investment-type contracts (those without significant mortality or morbidity risk) are reflected in the table above.

Reinsurance Recoverables Credit Disclosures

A key credit quality indicator for reinsurance is the A.M. Best financial strength ratings of the reinsurer. The A.M. Best ratings are an independent opinion of a reinsurer’s ability to meet ongoing obligations to policyholders. The A.M. Best ratings for new reinsurance agreements where there is material credit exposure are reviewed at the time of execution. The A.M. Best ratings for existing reinsurance agreements are reviewed on a periodic basis, at least annually. The A.M. Best ratings have not changed significantly since December 31, 2013.

An allowance for doubtful accounts for reinsurance recoverables is recorded on the basis of periodic evaluations of balances due from reinsurers (net of collateral), reinsurer solvency, management’s experience and current economic conditions. The Company carries an allowance for doubtful accounts for reinsurance recoverables of $10,820 as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.

 

28


Table of Contents

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

 

 

7. Debt

On March 28, 2013, the Company issued two series of senior notes with an aggregate principal amount of $700,000 (the “2013 Senior Notes”). The Company received net proceeds of $698,093 from this transaction, which represents the principal amount less the discount before offering expenses. The discount of $1,907 is being amortized over the life of the 2013 Senior Notes and is included as part of interest expense on the consolidated statements of operations. The first series is $350,000 in principal amount, bears interest at 2.50% per year and is payable in a single installment due March 15, 2018 and was issued at a 0.18% discount. The second series is $350,000 in principal amount, bears interest at 4.00% per year and is payable in a single installment due March 15, 2023 and was issued at a 0.37% discount. Interest on the 2013 Senior Notes is payable semi-annually on March 15 and September 15 of each year. The 2013 Senior Notes are unsecured obligations and rank equally with all of the Company’s other senior unsecured indebtedness. The Company may redeem each series of the 2013 Senior Notes in whole or in part at any time and from time to time before their maturity at the redemption price set forth in the Indenture. The 2013 Senior Notes are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

The interest expense incurred related to the 2013 Senior Notes was $5,745 and $5,870 for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $17,234 and $11,613 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. There was $948 of accrued interest at both September 30, 2014 and 2013. The Company made interest payments on the 2013 Senior Notes of $11,375 on March 15, 2014 and $11,375 and $10,553 on September 15, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

In February 2004, the Company issued two series of senior notes with an aggregate principal amount of $975,000 (the “2004 Senior Notes”). The Company received proceeds of $971,537 from this transaction, which represents the principal amount less the discount before offering expenses. The discount of $3,463 is being amortized over the life of the 2004 Senior Notes and is included as part of interest expense on the statements of operations. The first series was $500,000 in principal amount, issued at a 0.11% discount, bore interest at 5.63% per year and was repaid on February 18, 2014. The second series is $475,000 in principal amount, bears interest at 6.75% per year and is payable in a single installment due February 15, 2034 and was issued at a 0.61% discount. Interest on the 2004 Senior Notes is payable semi-annually on February 15 and August 15 of each year. The 2004 Senior Notes are unsecured obligations and rank equally with all of the Company’s other senior unsecured indebtedness. The 2004 Senior Notes are not redeemable prior to maturity. All of the holders of the 2004 Senior Notes exchanged their notes in May 2004 for new notes registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

The interest expense incurred related to the 2004 Senior Notes was $8,031 and $14,714 for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $27,383 and $44,795 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. There was $4,008 and $7,523 of accrued interest at September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The Company made interest payments on the 2004 Senior Notes of $30,094 on February 15, 2014 and 2013 and $16,031 and $30,094 on August 15, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Credit Facility

On September 16, 2014, the Company entered into a five-year unsecured $400,000 revolving credit agreement (the “2014 Credit Facility”) with a syndicate of banks arranged by JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. and Wells Fargo, N.A. The 2014 Credit Facility replaces the Company’s prior four-year $350,000 revolving credit facility (the “2011 Credit Facility”), which was entered into on September 21, 2011 and was scheduled to expire in September 2015. The 2011 Credit Facility terminated upon the effectiveness of the 2014 Credit Facility. The 2014 Credit Facility provides for revolving loans and the issuance of multi-bank, syndicated letters of credit and/or letters of credit from a sole issuing bank in an aggregate amount of $400,000 and is available until September 2019, provided the Company is in compliance with all covenants. The 2014 Credit Facility has a sublimit for letters of credit issued thereunder of $50,000. The proceeds of these loans may be used for the Company’s commercial paper program or for general corporate purposes. The Company may increase the total amount available under the 2014 Credit Facility to $525,000 subject to certain conditions. No bank is obligated to provide commitments above their share of the $400,000 facility.

 

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Table of Contents

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

 

 

The Company’s commercial paper program requires the Company to maintain liquidity facilities either in an available amount equal to any outstanding notes from the commercial paper program or in an amount sufficient to maintain the ratings assigned to the notes issued from the commercial paper program. The Company’s subsidiaries do not maintain commercial paper or other borrowing facilities at their level. This program is currently backed up by a $400,000 senior revolving credit facility, of which $395,740 was available at September 30, 2014, due to $4,260 of outstanding letters of credit related to this program.

The Company did not use the commercial paper program during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 and there were no amounts outstanding relating to the commercial paper program at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013. The Company made no borrowings using either the 2011 Credit Facility or the 2014 Credit Facility and no loans are outstanding at September 30, 2014.

The 2014 Credit Facility contains restrictive covenants and requires that the Company maintain certain specified minimum ratios and thresholds. Among others, these covenants include maintaining a maximum debt to capitalization ratio and a minimum consolidated adjusted net worth. At September 30, 2014, the Company was in compliance with all covenants, minimum ratios and thresholds.

 

30


Table of Contents

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

 

 

8. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Certain amounts included in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income are net of reclassification adjustments. The following tables summarize those reclassification adjustments (net of taxes):

 

    Three Months Ended September 30, 2014  
    Foreign
currency
translation
adjustment
    Unrealized
gains on
securities
    OTTI     Pension
under-
funding
    Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income
 

Balance at June 30, 2014

  $ (18,937   $ 837,038      $ 28,811      $ (82,840   $ 764,072   

Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications

    (54,264     (60,219     (1,193            (115,676

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income

           8,602        1,104        1,644        11,350   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net current-period other comprehensive (loss) income

    (54,264     (51,617     (89     1,644        (104,326
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at September 30, 2014

  $ (73,201   $ 785,421      $ 28,722      $ (81,196   $ 659,746   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    Three Months Ended September 30, 2013  
    Foreign
currency
translation
adjustment
    Unrealized
gains on
securities
    OTTI     Pension
under-
funding
    Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income
 

Balance at June 30, 2013

  $ (27,349   $ 593,630      $ 25,558      $ (171,331   $ 420,508   

Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications

    5,578        (45,212     279               (39,355

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income

           1,907               3,246        5,153   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)

    5,578        (43,305     279        3,246        (34,202
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at September 30, 2013

  $ (21,771   $ 550,325      $ 25,837      $ (168,085   $ 386,306   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014  
    Foreign
currency
translation
adjustment
    Unrealized
gains on
securities
    OTTI     Pension
under-
funding
    Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income
 

Balance at December 31, 2013

  $ (38,767   $ 526,071      $ 26,427      $ (86,901   $ 426,830   

Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications

    (34,434     235,940        1,211               202,717   

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income

           23,410        1,084        5,705        30,199   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net current-period other comprehensive (loss) income

    (34,434     259,350        2,295        5,705        232,916   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at September 30, 2014

  $ (73,201   $ 785,421      $ 28,722      $ (81,196   $ 659,746   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

 

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013  
     Foreign
currency
translation
adjustment
    Unrealized
gains on
securities
    OTTI      Pension
under-
funding
    Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income
 

Balance at December 31, 2012

   $ 6,882      $ 981,879      $ 23,861       $ (182,219   $ 830,403   

Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications

     (28,653     (449,116     1,952                (475,817

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income

            17,562        24         14,134        31,720   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net current-period other comprehensive (loss) income

     (28,653     (431,554     1,976         14,134        (444,097
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at September 30, 2013

   $ (21,771   $ 550,325      $ 25,837       $ (168,085   $ 386,306   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

The following tables summarize the reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:

 

Details about accumulated other comprehensive

income components

   Amount reclassified  from
accumulated other
comprehensive income
   

Affected line item in the

statement where net

income is presented

     Three Months Ended September 30,      
     2014     2013      

Unrealized gains on securities

   $ 13,234      $ 2,934     

Net realized gains on investments, excluding other-than- temporary impairment losses

     (4,632     (1,027  

Provision for income taxes

  

 

 

   

 

 

   
   $ 8,602      $ 1,907     

Net of tax

  

 

 

   

 

 

   

OTTI

   $ 1,697      $     

Portion of net loss recognized in other comprehensive income, before taxes

     (593         

Provision for income taxes

  

 

 

   

 

 

   
   $ 1,104      $     

Net of tax

  

 

 

   

 

 

   

Amortization of pension and postretirement unrecognized net periodic benefit cost:

      

Amortization of prior service cost

   $ (24   $ 12     

(1)

Amortization of net loss

     2,553        4,983     

(1)

  

 

 

   

 

 

   
     2,529        4,995     

Total before tax

     (885     (1,749  

Provision for income taxes

  

 

 

   

 

 

   
   $ 1,644      $ 3,246     

Net of tax

  

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total reclassifications for the period

   $ 11,350      $ 5,153     

Net of tax

  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

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Table of Contents

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

 

 

Details about accumulated other comprehensive
income components

   Amount reclassified  from
accumulated other
comprehensive income
   

Affected line item in the

statement where net

income is presented

     Nine Months Ended September 30,      
     2014     2013      

Unrealized gains on securities

   $ 36,015      $ 27,019     

Net realized gains on investments, excluding other-than-temporary impairment losses

     (12,605     (9,457  

Provision for income taxes

  

 

 

   

 

 

   
   $ 23,410      $ 17,562     

Net of tax

  

 

 

   

 

 

   

OTTI

   $ 1,667      $ 37     

Portion of net loss recognized in other comprehensive income, before taxes

     (583     (13  

Provision for income taxes

  

 

 

   

 

 

   
   $ 1,084      $ 24     

Net of tax

  

 

 

   

 

 

   

Amortization of pension and postretirement unrecognized net periodic benefit cost:

      

Amortization of prior service cost

   $ (74   $ (88  

(1)

Amortization of net loss

     8,853        21,833     

(1)

  

 

 

   

 

 

   
     8,779        21,745     

Total before tax

     (3,074     (7,611  

Provision for income taxes

  

 

 

   

 

 

   
   $ 5,705      $ 14,134     

Net of tax

  

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total reclassifications for the period

   $ 30,199      $ 31,720     

Net of tax

  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

(1) These accumulated other comprehensive income components are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost. See Note 12 - Retirement and Other Employee Benefits for additional information.

9. Stock Based Compensation

Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan

In May 2008, the Company’s shareholders approved the Assurant, Inc. Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan (“ALTEIP”), which authorized the granting of up to 3,400,000 new shares of the Company’s common stock to employees, officers and non-employee directors. In May 2010, the Company’s shareholders approved an amended and restated ALTEIP, increasing the number of shares of the Company’s common stock authorized for issuance to 5,300,000 new shares. Under the ALTEIP, the Company may grant awards based on shares of its common stock, including stock options, stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), restricted stock (including performance shares), unrestricted stock, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), performance share units (“PSUs”) and dividend equivalents. All share-based grants are awarded under the ALTEIP.

The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Compensation Committee”) awards PSUs and RSUs annually. RSUs and PSUs are promises to issue actual shares of common stock at the end of a vesting period or performance period. The RSUs granted to employees under the ALTEIP were based on salary grade and performance and vest one-third each year over a three-year period. RSUs granted to non-employee directors also vest one-third each year over a three-year period, however, issuance of vested shares is deferred until separation from Board service. RSUs receive dividend equivalents in cash during the restricted period and do not have voting rights during the restricted period. PSUs accrue dividend equivalents during the performance period based on a target payout, and will be paid in cash at the end of the performance period based on the actual number of shares issued. The fair value of RSUs is estimated using the fair market value of a share of the Company’s common stock at the date of grant. The fair value of PSUs is estimated using the Monte Carlo simulation model and is described in further detail below.

For the PSU portion of an award, the number of shares a participant will receive upon vesting is contingent upon the Company’s performance with respect to selected metrics, identified below, compared against a broad index of insurance companies and assigned a percentile ranking. These rankings are then averaged to determine the composite percentile ranking for the performance period. The payout levels can vary between 0% and 150% (maximum) of the target (100%) ALTEIP award amount based on the Company’s level of performance against the selected metrics.

 

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Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

 

 

PSU Performance Goals. The Compensation Committee established book value per share (“BVPS”) growth excluding AOCI, revenue growth and total stockholder return as the three performance measures for PSU awards. BVPS growth is defined as the year-over-year growth of the Company’s stockholders’ equity excluding AOCI divided by the number of fully diluted total shares outstanding at the end of the period. Revenue growth is defined as the year-over-year change in total revenues as disclosed in the Company’s annual statement of operations. Total stockholder return is defined as appreciation in Company stock plus dividend yield to stockholders. Payouts will be determined by measuring performance against the average performance of companies included in an insurance industry market index.

Since 2009, the Company has used the A.M. Best U.S. Insurance Index to measure its relative performance ranking. In 2014, A.M. Best stopped publishing this index. As of January 1, 2014, the Company is using the S&P Total Market Index to measure the Company’s performance for all new and outstanding PSU awards. Consistent with adjustments made to the A.M. Best U.S. Insurance Index, adjustments will be made to the S&P Total Market Index to exclude companies with revenues of less than $1,000,000 or that are not in the insurance or managed healthcare Global Industry Classification Standard codes. In addition, companies within the Company’s compensation peer group, but not otherwise in the S&P Total Market Index, will be included. The adjusted S&P Total Market Index is substantially similar in composition to the previous A.M. Best U.S. Insurance Index.

Under the ALTEIP, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) is authorized by the Board of Directors to grant common stock, restricted stock and RSUs to employees other than the executive officers of the Company (as defined in Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)). The Board of Directors reviews and ratifies these grants quarterly. Restricted stock and RSUs granted under this program may have different vesting periods.

Restricted Stock Units

RSUs granted to employees and to non-employee directors were 27,347 and 14,916 for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and 358,611 and 481,134 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The compensation expense recorded related to RSUs was $6,197 and $6,936 for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $17,174 and $19,207 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The related total income tax benefit was $2,167 and $2,425 for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $6,001 and $6,714 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The weighted average grant date fair value for RSUs granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 was $65.32 and $44.18, respectively.

As of September 30, 2014, there was $19,197 of unrecognized compensation cost related to outstanding RSUs. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.16 years. The total fair value of RSUs vested during the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 was $1,473 and $982, respectively, and $32,354 and $20,832 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Performance Share Units

No PSUs were granted to employees during the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013. PSUs granted to employees were 380,349 and 408,808 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The compensation expense recorded related to PSUs was $3,460 and $7,839 for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $17,022 and $16,688 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The related total income tax benefit was $1,206 and $2,738 for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $5,942 and $5,832 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The weighted average grant date fair value for PSUs granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 was $64.93 and $44.22, respectively.

As of September 30, 2014, there was $23,107 of unrecognized compensation cost related to outstanding PSUs. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 0.87 years.

The fair value of PSUs with market conditions was estimated on the date of grant using a Monte Carlo simulation model, which utilizes multiple variables that determine the probability of satisfying the market condition stipulated in the award. Expected volatilities for awards issued during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 were based on the historical stock prices of the Company’s stock and peer insurance group. The expected term for grants issued during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 was assumed to equal the average of the vesting period of the PSUs. The risk-free rate was based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant.

 

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Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

 

 

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”), the Company is authorized to issue up to 5,000,000 new shares to employees who are participants in the ESPP. Eligible employees can purchase shares at a 10% discount applied to the lower of the closing price of the common stock on the first or last day of the offering period.

In January 2014, the Company issued 75,709 shares at a discounted price of $46.36 for the offering period of July 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013. In January 2013, the Company issued 107,535 shares at a discounted price of $31.23 for the offering period of July 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012.

In July 2014, the Company issued 65,867 shares at a discounted price of $58.79 for the offering period of January 1, 2014 through June 30, 2014. In July 2013, the Company issued 110,038 shares at a discounted price of $31.93 for the offering period of January 1, 2013 through June 30, 2013.

The compensation expense recorded related to the ESPP was $308 and $300 for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $893 and $798 for the nine months ended 2014 and 2013, respectively.

The fair value of each award under the ESPP was estimated at the beginning of each offering period using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Expected volatilities are based on implied volatilities from traded options on the Company’s stock and the historical volatility of the Company’s stock. The risk-free rate for periods within the contractual life of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. The dividend yield is based on the current annualized dividend and share price as of the grant date.

10. Stock Repurchase

The following table shows the shares repurchased during the periods indicated: 

 

Period in 2014

   Number of
Shares Repurchased
     Average Price
Paid Per Share
     Total Number of  Shares
Repurchased as Part of
Publicly Announced
Programs
 

January

     314,600       $ 66.56         314,600   

February

                       

March

                       

April

     302,000         65.54         302,000   

May

     292,000         67.22         292,000   

June

     283,000         67.68         283,000   

July

                       

August

     386,000         65.07         386,000   

September

     186,000         65.00         186,000   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total

     1,763,600       $ 66.18         1,763,600   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

On November 18, 2013, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the Company to repurchase up to an additional $600,000 of its outstanding common stock, making the total remaining under the total repurchase authorization $752,436 as of that date.

As of December 31, 2013, there was $704,874 remaining under the total repurchase authorization. During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company repurchased 1,763,600 shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock at a cost of $116,686, exclusive of commissions, leaving $588,188 remaining under the total repurchase authorization at September 30, 2014.

 

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Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

 

 

11. Earnings Per Common Share

The following table presents net income, the weighted average common shares used in calculating basic earnings per common share (“EPS”) and those used in calculating diluted EPS for each period presented below.

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2014     2013     2014     2013  

Numerator

        

Net income

   $ 140,297      $ 128,788      $ 421,152      $ 380,091   

Deduct dividends paid

     (19,449     (18,833     (58,382     (55,777
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed earnings

   $ 120,848      $ 109,955      $ 362,770      $ 324,314   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Denominator

        

Weighted average shares outstanding used in basic earnings per share

     72,182,547        75,544,542        72,561,191        77,662,796   

Incremental common shares from:

        

SARs

            53,172               73,307   

PSUs

     864,157        859,572        866,171        823,393   

ESPPs

            2,505               2,505   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average shares used in diluted earnings per share calculations

     73,046,704        76,459,791        73,427,362        78,562,001   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings per common share - Basic

        

Distributed earnings

   $ 0.27      $ 0.25      $ 0.79      $ 0.71   

Undistributed earnings

     1.67        1.45        5.01        4.18   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 1.94      $ 1.70      $ 5.80      $ 4.89   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings per common share - Diluted

        

Distributed earnings

   $ 0.27      $ 0.25      $ 0.79      $ 0.71   

Undistributed earnings

     1.65        1.43        4.95        4.13   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 1.92      $ 1.68      $ 5.74      $ 4.84   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

There were no anti-dilutive SARs or PSUs outstanding that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS under the treasury stock method during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013.

 

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Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

 

 

12. Retirement and Other Employee Benefits

The components of net periodic benefit cost for the Company’s qualified pension benefits plan, nonqualified pension benefits plan and retirement health benefits plan for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

     Qualified Pension
Benefits
    Nonqualified  Pension
Benefits (1)
     Retirement  Health
Benefits
 
     For the Three Months
Ended September 30,
    For the Three  Months
Ended September 30,
     For the Three Months
Ended September 30,
 
     2014     2013     2014      2013      2014     2013  

Service cost

   $ 7,966      $ 7,832      $ 1,139       $ 1,008       $ 494      $ 581   

Interest cost

     9,521        8,867        1,636         1,480         959        911   

Expected return on plan assets

     (12,427     (11,036                     (766     (799

Amortization of prior service cost

            4        218         249         (242     (241

Amortization of net loss (gain)

     1,792        3,801        969         1,182         (208       

Curtailment/settlement charge

                   436                          
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 6,852      $ 9,468      $ 4,398       $ 3,919       $ 237      $ 452   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 
     Qualified  Pension
Benefits
    Nonqualified  Pension
Benefits (1)
     Retirement  Health
Benefits
 
     For the Nine Months
Ended September 30,
    For the Nine Months
Ended September 30,
     For the Nine Months
Ended September 30,
 
     2014     2013     2014      2013      2014     2013  

Service cost

   $ 24,366      $ 26,432      $ 3,139       $ 3,308       $ 1,694      $ 2,281   

Interest cost

     27,821        24,017        4,636         3,880         2,909        2,561   

Expected return on plan assets

     (37,127     (33,186                     (2,316     (2,199

Amortization of prior service cost

            4        618         599         (692     (691

Amortization of net loss (gain)

     6,342        17,451        2,819         4,382         (308       

Curtailment/settlement charge

                   436                          
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 21,402      $ 34,718      $ 11,648       $ 12,169       $ 1,287      $ 1,952   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) The Company’s nonqualified plan is unfunded.

Our qualified pension benefits plan (the “Plan”) was under-funded by $9,867 and over-funded by $18,078 (based on the fair value of Plan assets compared to the projected benefit obligation) at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. This equates to a 99% and 102% funded status at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. The change in funded status is mainly due to a decrease in the discount rate used to determine the projected benefit obligation. During the first nine months of 2014, $22,500 in cash was contributed to the Plan. Additional cash, up to $7,500, is expected to be contributed to the Plan over the remainder of 2014.

13. Segment Information

The Company has five reportable segments, which are defined based on the nature of the products and services offered: Assurant Solutions, Assurant Specialty Property, Assurant Health, Assurant Employee Benefits, and Corporate & Other. Assurant Solutions provides mobile device protection, debt protection administration, credit-related insurance, warranties and service contracts and pre-funded funeral insurance. Assurant Specialty Property provides lender-placed homeowners insurance, property, appraisal, preservation and valuation services, renters insurance and related products and manufactured housing homeowners insurance. Assurant Health provides individual health and small employer group health insurance. Assurant Employee Benefits primarily provides group dental insurance, group disability insurance and group life insurance. Corporate & Other includes activities of the holding company, financing and interest expenses, net realized gains (losses) on investments and interest income earned from short-term investments held. Corporate & Other also includes the amortization of deferred gains associated with the sales of Fortis Financial Group and Long-Term Care through reinsurance agreements.

 

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Table of Contents

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

 

 

The Company evaluates performance of the operating segments based on segment income (loss) after-tax excluding realized gains (losses) on investments. The Company determines reportable segments in a manner consistent with the way the Chief Operating Decision Maker makes operating decisions and assesses performance.

The following tables summarize selected financial information by segment:

 

     Three Months Ended September 30, 2014  
     Solutions      Specialty
Property
     Health     Employee
Benefits
     Corporate  &
Other
    Consolidated  

Revenues

               

Net earned premiums

   $ 812,512       $ 654,889       $ 526,705      $ 263,703       $      $ 2,257,809   

Net investment income

     95,898         24,574         8,312        28,594         4,631        162,009   

Net realized gains on investments

                                    17,744        17,744   

Amortization of deferred gain on disposal of businesses

                                    3,645        3,645   

Fees and other income

     156,807         87,271         10,593        6,305         305        261,281   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

     1,065,217         766,734         545,610        298,602         26,325        2,702,488   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Benefits, losses and expenses

               

Policyholder benefits

     257,000         258,344         430,499        177,850                1,123,693   

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs and value of business acquired

     287,110         90,356         1,511        7,732                386,709   

Underwriting, general and administrative expenses

     442,087         258,589         123,176        92,586         37,121        953,559   

Interest expense

                                    13,776        13,776   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total benefits, losses and expenses

     986,197         607,289         555,186        278,168         50,897        2,477,737   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Segment income (loss) before provision (benefit) for income tax

     79,020         159,445         (9,576     20,434         (24,572     224,751   

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

     27,171         54,716         7,813        7,333         (12,579     84,454   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Segment income (loss) after tax

   $ 51,849       $ 104,729       $ (17,389   $ 13,101       $ (11,993  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

Net income

                $ 140,297   
               

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

 

 

     Three Months Ended September 30, 2013  
     Solutions      Specialty
Property
     Health      Employee
Benefits
     Corporate  &
Other
    Consolidated  

Revenues

                

Net earned premiums

   $ 684,973       $ 612,165       $ 398,000       $ 252,293       $      $ 1,947,431   

Net investment income

     92,845         23,819         9,168         28,516         4,861        159,209   

Net realized losses on investments

                                     (3,631     (3,631

Amortization of deferred gain on disposal of businesses

                                     4,074        4,074   

Fees and other income

     107,908         29,786         7,630         6,032         211        151,567   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

     885,726         665,770         414,798         286,841         5,515        2,258,650   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Benefits, losses and expenses

                

Policyholder benefits

     226,263         228,508         295,534         183,527                933,832   

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs and value of business acquired

     286,343         79,361         266         6,780                372,750   

Underwriting, general and administrative expenses

     325,537         181,172         107,086         87,329         36,202        737,326   

Interest expense

                                     20,771        20,771   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total benefits, losses and expenses

     838,143         489,041         402,886         277,636         56,973        2,064,679   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Segment income (loss) before provision (benefit) for income tax

     47,583         176,729         11,912         9,205         (51,458     193,971   

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

     11,374         61,679         5,351         3,056         (16,277     65,183   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Segment income (loss) after tax

   $ 36,209       $ 115,050       $ 6,561       $ 6,149       $ (35,181  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

Net income

                 $ 128,788   
                

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

 

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014  
     Solutions      Specialty
Property
     Health     Employee
Benefits
     Corporate  &
Other
    Consolidated  

Revenues

               

Net earned premiums

   $ 2,335,498       $ 1,911,589       $ 1,454,726      $ 788,192       $      $ 6,490,005   

Net investment income

     288,146         77,750         27,538        89,649         14,492        497,575   

Net realized gains on investments

                                    43,582        43,582   

Amortization of deferred gain on disposal of businesses

                                    10,949        10,949   

Fees and other income

     461,268         209,035         27,787        18,332         428        716,850   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

     3,084,912         2,198,374         1,510,051        896,173         69,451        7,758,961   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Benefits, losses and expenses

               

Policyholder benefits

     781,908         830,073         1,136,113        533,244                3,281,338   

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs and value of business acquired

     824,023         249,189         1,759        23,109                1,098,080   

Underwriting, general and administrative expenses

     1,238,830         708,837         366,585        274,534         92,349        2,681,135   

Interest expense

                                    44,617        44,617   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total benefits, losses and expenses

     2,844,761         1,788,099         1,504,457        830,887         136,966        7,105,170   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Segment income (loss) before provision (benefit) for income tax

     240,151         410,275         5,594        65,286         (67,515     653,791   

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

     79,300         139,495         32,554        23,838         (42,548     232,639   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Segment income (loss) after tax

   $ 160,851       $ 270,780       $ (26,960   $ 41,448       $ (24,967  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

Net income

                $ 421,152   
               

 

 

 
     As of September 30, 2014  

Segment Assets:

               

Segment assets, excluding goodwill

   $ 14,133,609       $ 4,060,535       $ 1,053,512      $ 2,272,749       $ 8,335,906      $ 29,856,311   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

Goodwill

                  816,818   
               

 

 

 

Total assets

                $ 30,673,129   
               

 

 

 

 

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Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

 

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013  
     Solutions      Specialty
Property
     Health      Employee
Benefits
     Corporate  &
Other
    Consolidated  

Revenues

                

Net earned premiums

   $ 2,056,300       $ 1,727,724       $ 1,172,775       $ 757,494       $      $ 5,714,293   

Net investment income

     282,502         74,723         27,861         88,856         15,176        489,118   

Net realized gains on investments

                                     30,264        30,264   

Amortization of deferred gain on disposal of businesses

                                     12,238        12,238   

Fees and other income

     279,758         82,202         21,061         17,605         500        401,126   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

     2,618,560         1,884,649         1,221,697         863,955         58,178        6,647,039   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Benefits, losses and expenses

                

Policyholder benefits

     647,713         649,554         868,307         541,107         1,462        2,708,143   

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs and value of business acquired

     851,326         229,686         532         20,454                1,101,998   

Underwriting, general and administrative expenses

     969,112         520,307         314,085         266,628         98,235        2,168,367   

Interest expense

                                     57,369        57,369   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total benefits, losses and expenses

     2,468,151         1,399,547         1,182,924         828,189         157,066        6,035,877   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Segment income (loss) before provision (benefit) for income tax

     150,409         485,102         38,773         35,766         (98,888     611,162   

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

     47,902         169,288         33,472         12,060         (31,651     231,071   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Segment income (loss) after tax

   $ 102,507       $ 315,814       $ 5,301       $ 23,706       $ (67,237  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

Net income

                 $ 380,091   
                

 

 

 
     As of December 31, 2013  

Segment Assets:

                

Segment assets, excluding goodwill

   $ 13,321,648       $ 3,858,314       $ 884,077       $ 2,298,698       $ 8,567,391      $ 28,930,128   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

Goodwill

                   784,561   
                

 

 

 

Total assets

                 $ 29,714,689   
                

 

 

 

14. Commitments and Contingencies

In the normal course of business, letters of credit are issued primarily to support reinsurance arrangements in which the Company is the reinsurer. These letters of credit are supported by commitments under which the Company is required to indemnify the financial institution issuing the letter of credit if the letter of credit is drawn. The Company had $17,708 and $17,343 of letters of credit outstanding as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

As previously disclosed, during the first quarter of 2013, the Company and two of its wholly owned subsidiaries in the Assurant Specialty Property segment, American Security Insurance Company (“ASIC”) and American Bankers Insurance Company of Florida (“ABIC”), reached an agreement with the New York Department of Financial Services (the “NYDFS”) regarding the Company’s lender-placed insurance business in the State of New York. Under the terms of the agreement, and without admitting or denying any wrongdoing, ASIC made a $14,000 settlement payment to the NYDFS. In addition, among other things, ASIC and ABIC agreed to modify certain business practices in accordance with requirements that apply to all New York-licensed lender-placed insurers of properties in the state, and filed our new lender-placed program and new rates in New York which were approved in August 2014. The Company also continues to respond to and cooperate with other regulators regarding its lender-placed insurance business.

In addition, as previously disclosed, the Company is involved in a variety of litigation relating to its current and past business operations and may from time to time become involved in other such actions. In particular, the Company is a

 

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Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

 

 

defendant in class actions in a number of jurisdictions regarding its lender-placed insurance programs. These cases allege a variety of claims under a number of legal theories. The plaintiffs seek premium refunds and other relief. The Company continues to defend itself vigorously in these class actions. The Company has accrued an estimated loss for this litigation.

We have participated and may participate in settlements on terms that we consider reasonable given the strength of our defenses. However, the possible loss or range of loss resulting from such litigation and regulatory proceedings, if any, in excess of the amounts accrued is inherently unpredictable and involves significant uncertainty. Consequently, no estimate can be made of any possible loss or range of loss in excess of the above-mentioned accrual.

In July 2007 an Assurant subsidiary acquired Swansure Group, a privately held U.K. company, which owned D&D Homecare Limited (“D&D”). D&D was a packager of mortgages and certain insurance products, including Payment Protection Insurance (“PPI”) policies that, for a period of time, were underwritten by an Assurant subsidiary and sold by various alleged agents, including Carrington Carr Home Finance Limited (“CCHFL”), which is now in administration. In early 2014, as a result of consumer complaints alleging that CCHFL missold certain D&D-packaged PPI policies between August 8, 2003 and November 1, 2004, the U.K. Financial Ombudsman Service (“FOS”) requested that an Assurant subsidiary, Assurant Intermediary Limited (“AIL”), review complaints relating to CCHFL’s sale of such PPI policies. AIL is cooperating with the FOS. The possible loss or range of loss resulting from such litigation and regulatory proceedings, if any, in excess of the amounts accrued is inherently unpredictable and involves significant uncertainty. Consequently, no estimate can be made of any possible loss or range of loss in excess of the above-mentioned accrual.

Although the Company cannot predict the outcome of any action, it is possible that such outcome could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated results of operations or cash flows for an individual reporting period. However, based on currently available information, management does not believe that the pending matters are likely to have a material adverse effect, individually or in the aggregate, on the Company’s financial condition.

15. Income Taxes

During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company converted the Canadian branch operations of certain U.S. companies to foreign corporate entities. This conversion is an election for U.S. tax classification purposes only and requires the Company to record deferred taxes at local tax rates. As a result of this conversion, the Company recorded a one-time benefit of $20,753, which is reflected in the provision for income taxes line item in the consolidated statements of operations.

During the three months ended March 31, 2014, the Company increased its estimated amount of compensation expenses that are non-tax deductible under the Affordable Care Act. Due to this change in estimate, the Company recorded $5,749 of income tax expense in the Assurant Health segment.

16. Catastrophe Bond Program

On January 30, 2012, certain of the Companies’ subsidiaries (“the Subsidiaries”) entered into two reinsurance agreements with Ibis Re II Ltd. (“Ibis Re II”). Ibis Re II is an independent special purpose reinsurance company domiciled in the Cayman Islands. The Ibis Re II agreements provide up to $130,000 of reinsurance coverage for protection against losses over a three-year period from individual hurricane events in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and along the Gulf and Eastern Coasts of the United States. The agreements expire in February 2015. Ibis Re II financed the property catastrophe reinsurance coverage by issuing $130,000 in catastrophe bonds to unrelated investors (the “Series 2012-1 Notes”).

On June 26, 2013, the Subsidiaries entered into three additional reinsurance agreements with Ibis Re II providing up to $185,000 of reinsurance coverage for protection against losses over a three-year period from individual hurricane events in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and along the Gulf and Eastern Coasts of the United States. The agreements expire in June 2016. Ibis Re II financed the property catastrophe reinsurance coverage by issuing $185,000 in catastrophe bonds to unrelated investors (the “Series 2013-1 Notes”).

The $315,000 of coverage represents approximately 18% of the expected first event coverage (net of reimbursements of the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund) purchased by the Company in excess of the Company’s anticipated retention.

Under the terms of these reinsurance agreements, the Subsidiaries are obligated to pay annual reinsurance premiums to Ibis Re II for the reinsurance coverage. The reinsurance agreements with Ibis Re II utilize a dual trigger that is based upon an

 

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Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

 

 

index that is created by applying predetermined percentages to insured industry losses in each state in the covered area as reported by an independent party and the Subsidiaries’ covered losses incurred. Reinsurance contracts that have a separate, pre-identified variable (e.g., a loss-based index) are accounted for as reinsurance if certain conditions are met. In the case of the reinsurance agreements with Ibis Re II, these conditions were met, thus the Company accounted for them as reinsurance in accordance with the guidance for reinsurance contracts.

Amounts payable to the Subsidiaries under the reinsurance agreements will be determined by the index-based losses, which are designed to approximate the Subsidiaries’ actual losses from any covered event. The amount of actual losses and index losses from any covered event may differ. For each covered event, Ibis Re II pays the Subsidiaries the lesser of the covered index-based losses or the Subsidiaries’ actual losses. The principal amount of the catastrophe bonds will be reduced by any amounts paid to the Subsidiaries under the reinsurance agreements. The Subsidiaries have not incurred any losses subject to the reinsurance agreements since their inception.

As of September 30, 2014 and 2013, the Company had not ceded any losses to Ibis Re II.

As with any reinsurance agreement, there is credit risk associated with collecting amounts due from reinsurers. With regard to the Series 2012-1 Notes and Series 2013-1 Notes, the credit risk is mitigated by reinsurance trust accounts for each tranche within each Series. The reinsurance trust accounts have been funded by Ibis Re II with money market funds that invest solely in direct government obligations backed by the U.S. government with maturities of no more than 13 months. The money market funds must have a principal stability rating of at least AAA by Standard & Poor’s.

As a result of an evaluation of the reinsurance agreements with Ibis Re II, the Company concluded that Ibis Re II is a variable interest entity (“VIE”). However, while Ibis Re II is a VIE, the Company concluded that it does not have a significant variable interest in Ibis Re II as the variability in results, caused by the reinsurance agreements, is expected to be absorbed entirely by the bondholders and the Company is not entitled to any residual amounts. Accordingly, the Company is not the primary beneficiary of Ibis Re II and does not consolidate the entities in the Company’s financial statements.

17. Subsequent Events

On October 16, 2014, the Company announced an agreement to sell its general agency business and primary associated insurance carrier, American Reliable Insurance Company (“ARIC”) to Global Indemnity Group, Inc., a subsidiary of Global Indemnity plc, for approximately $114,000 in cash. The business is part of the Assurant Specialty Property segment and offers specialty personal lines and agricultural insurance through general and independent agents. This transaction is anticipated to close in the first quarter of 2015. The sale price is subject to adjustment based on GAAP book value of the business from June 30, 2014 until the closing date of the of the transaction. The initial accounting for this disposition is incomplete primarily due to the timing of the sale date and an allocation of an estimated portion of Assurant Specialty Property’s goodwill. Thus, an estimate of the amount or range of loss cannot be made. As of September 30, 2014, the business had assets, excluding goodwill, of approximately $400,000 (primarily consisting of fixed maturity securities, premiums and accounts receivable and reinsurance recoverables) and liabilities of approximately $285,000 (primarily consisting of unearned premiums, claims and benefits payable and funds held under reinsurance).

On October 31, 2014, the Company acquired CWI Group, a market leading mobile insurance administrator in France, for approximately €56,000 (U.S.D.$71,000), subject to certain conditions with a possible earnout payment based on future performance. The initial accounting for this acquisition is incomplete due to the timing of the acquisition date, thus the estimated range of outcomes for the contingent consideration and the total amount of other intangible assets and goodwill for Assurant Solutions is not yet available.

 

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except number of shares and per-share amounts)

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) addresses the financial condition of Assurant, Inc. and its subsidiaries (which we refer to collectively as “Assurant” or “the Company”) as of September 30, 2014, compared with December 31, 2013, and our results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013. This discussion should be read in conjunction with our MD&A and annual audited consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2013 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and the September 30, 2014 unaudited consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Form 10-Q. The 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Third Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q, and other documents related to the Company are available free of charge through the SEC website at www.sec.gov and through our website at www.assurant.com.

Some statements in this MD&A and elsewhere in this report, particularly those anticipating future financial performance, business prospects, growth and operating strategies and similar matters, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these statements by the use of words such as “will,” “may,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “targets,” “forecasts,” “potential,” “approximately,” or the negative version of those words and other words and terms with a similar meaning. Any forward-looking statements contained in this report are based upon our historical performance and on current plans, estimates and expectations. The inclusion of this forward-looking information should not be regarded as a representation by us or any other person that the future plans, estimates or expectations contemplated by us will be achieved. Our actual results might differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or other developments.

In addition to the factors described under “Critical Factors Affecting Results,” the following risk factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from those currently estimated by management:

 

i. actions by governmental agencies or government sponsored entities or other circumstances, including pending regulatory matters affecting our lender-placed insurance business, that could result in reductions of the premium rates we charge or increases in expenses, including claims, commissions, fines, penalties or other expenses;

 

ii. loss of significant client relationships or business, distribution sources and contracts;

 

iii. the effects of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (the “Affordable Care Act”), and the rules and regulations thereunder, on our health and employee benefits businesses;

 

iv. unfavorable outcomes in litigation and/or regulatory investigations that could negatively affect our business and reputation;

 

v. current or new laws and regulations that could increase our costs and decrease our revenues;

 

vi. significant competitive pressures in our businesses;

 

vii. failure to attract and retain sales representatives or key managers;

 

viii. losses due to natural or man-made catastrophes;

 

ix. a decline in our credit or financial strength ratings (including the risk of ratings downgrades in the insurance industry);

 

x. deterioration in the Company’s market capitalization compared to its book value that could result in an impairment of goodwill;

 

xi. risks related to our international operations, including fluctuations in exchange rates;

 

xii. general global economic, financial market and political conditions (including difficult conditions in financial, capital, credit and currency markets, the global economic slowdown, fluctuations in interest rates or a prolonged period of low interest rates, monetary policies, unemployment and inflationary pressure);

 

xiii. failure to find and integrate suitable acquisitions and new ventures;

 

xiv. cyber security threats and cyber attacks;

 

xv. failure to effectively maintain and modernize our information systems;

 

xvi. data breaches compromising client information and privacy;

 

xvii. failure to predict or manage benefits, claims and other costs;

 

xviii. uncertain tax positions and unexpected tax liabilities;

 

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xix. inadequacy of reserves established for future claims;

 

xx. risks related to outsourcing activities;

 

xxi. unavailability, inadequacy and unaffordable pricing of reinsurance coverage;

 

xxii. diminished value of invested assets in our investment portfolio (due to, among other things, volatility in financial markets; the global economic slowdown; credit, currency and liquidity risk; other than temporary impairments and increases in interest rates);

 

xxiii. insolvency of third parties to whom we have sold or may sell businesses through reinsurance or modified co-insurance;

 

xxiv. inability of reinsurers to meet their obligations;

 

xxv. credit risk of some of our agents in Assurant Specialty Property and Assurant Solutions;

 

xxvi. inability of our subsidiaries to pay sufficient dividends;

 

xxvii. failure to provide for succession of senior management and key executives; and

 

xxviii. cyclicality of the insurance industry.

For a more detailed discussion of the risk factors that could affect our actual results, please refer to “Item 1A—Risk Factors” and “Item 7—MD&A Critical Factors Affecting Results” in our 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

General

We report our results through five segments: Assurant Solutions, Assurant Specialty Property, Assurant Health, Assurant Employee Benefits, and Corporate and Other. The Corporate and Other segment includes activities of the holding company, financing and interest expenses, net realized gains (losses) on investments and investment income earned from short-term investments held. The Corporate and Other segment also includes the amortization of deferred gains associated with the sales of Fortis Financial Group and Long Term Care, through reinsurance agreements as described below.

The following discussion relates to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 (“Third Quarter 2014” and “Nine Months 2014”) and the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 (“Third Quarter 2013” and “Nine Months 2013”).

Executive Summary

Consolidated net income increased $11,509, or 9%, to $140,297 in Third Quarter 2014, compared with $128,788 of net income for Third Quarter 2013. For Nine Months 2014, net income increased $41,061 or 11%, to $421,152 for Nine Months 2014, compared with $380,091 for Nine Months 2013.

Assurant Solutions net income increased $15,640, or 43%, to $51,849 for Third Quarter 2014 from $36,209 for Third Quarter 2013. The increase was primarily driven by improved results in our domestic mobile business which benefitted from growth in covered devices in the U.S., continued favorable domestic loss experience, and additional income from client marketing programs.

Third Quarter 2014 net earned premiums increased 19% and fees and other income increased 45% compared with Third Quarter 2013, primarily due to the growth of our mobile protection programs globally, including our acquisition of Lifestyle Services Group last year and growth at a large service contract client.

Overall, we expect Assurant Solutions’ 2014 net earned premiums and fees to increase compared to 2013, primarily driven by growth in mobile business. The timing of new product introductions, client marketing programs and seasonal trends in mobile may cause fourth quarter results to vary.

Assurant Specialty Property net income decreased $10,321, or 9%, to $104,729 for Third Quarter 2014 from $115,050 for Third Quarter 2013, primarily due to the impact of lower premium rates in the lender-placed insurance business. There were no reportable catastrophes in either Third Quarter 2014 or Third Quarter 2013. Non-catastrophe losses increased due to higher frequency of claims from properties that have moved to foreclosure.

Net earned premiums and fees in this segment increased in Third Quarter 2014 compared with Third Quarter 2013, mainly attributable to the residual benefit of the previously disclosed discontinuation of a client quota share reinsurance agreement and the Field Asset Services and StreetLinks acquisitions. These items were partially offset by lower premium rates.

 

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The Third Quarter 2014 expense ratio increased 640 basis points compared with the Third Quarter 2013. The increase was primarily due to growth in fee-based businesses, which have higher expense ratios than our insurance products. This increase was offset by additional revenue.

In addition, as previously disclosed, a client decided during Third Quarter 2014 to transfer a portion of their lender-placed portfolio resulting in a decrease of approximately 600,000 loans with higher-than-average placement rates. We anticipate the impact of this change will begin in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Overall, we expect Assurant Specialty Property’s 2014 net earned premiums and fees to increase from 2013 driven by growth in targeted areas, including contributions from recent acquisitions, as well as lender-placed insurance. We expect results in our lender-placed insurance business to continue to be affected by catastrophe losses, lower placement and premium rates and the loss of loans mentioned above. In addition, we expect our expense ratio to increase, primarily reflecting a higher mix of fee income business and additional costs to support lender-placed insurance business. We also expect our non-catastrophe loss ratio to remain elevated due to higher claims frequency and lower premium rates.

Assurant Health Third Quarter 2014 results decreased $23,950, or 365%, to a net loss of $17,389 compared with Third Quarter 2013 net income of $6,561. The decrease was primarily attributable to higher than anticipated claims from qualified Affordable Care Act policies as well as a higher effective tax rate, due to non-deductible compensation expenses. Pricing assumptions were made during last year’s open enrollment about the risk pool of consumers buying policies in a guaranteed issue environment. At that time, we believed that existing policyholders who were required to transition to Affordable Care Act plans would be healthier than new enrollees. However, rule changes announced in November 2013 and March 2014 allowed policyholders to extend their existing coverage through 2016. Therefore, Affordable Care Act business had worse morbidity characteristics than we had assumed, and 2014 policy pricing could not be modified.

In January 2015, we will reset pricing for all Affordable Care Act policies. We believe our rate actions, plan design changes and increased scale through our distribution on select public exchanges will drive improved results.

We expect Assurant Health’s full year 2014 net earned premiums and fees to increase compared to 2013, reflecting sales of new individual major medical policies under the Affordable Care Act. Segment results to reflect higher claims experience under the Affordable Care Act plans, additional tax liabilities, due to non-deductible compensation expenses and higher commission expenses on new sales.

At Assurant Employee Benefits, net income increased $6,952, or 113%, to $13,101 for Third Quarter 2014 from $6,149 for Third Quarter 2013. Improved results were primarily attributable to improved disability loss experience.

Third Quarter 2014 voluntary net earned premiums increased 12% compared to Third Quarter 2013, reflecting our strategic focus on this market. During Third Quarter 2014, we renewed our dental network agreement with Aetna for another three years, providing a broader network of dentists for our customers.

We expect Assurant Employee Benefits’ full year 2014 net earned premiums and fees to increase compared to 2013 due to growth in voluntary products. We also expect continued expense reduction actions to offset higher expenditures to support growth in our voluntary business. Results will continue to be affected by employment trends and capital market conditions.

Critical Factors Affecting Results and Liquidity

Our results depend on the appropriateness of our product pricing, underwriting and the accuracy of our methodology for the establishment of reserves for future policyholder benefits and claims, returns on and values of invested assets and our ability to manage our expenses. Factors affecting these items, including unemployment, difficult conditions in financial markets and the global economy, may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition. For more information on these factors, see “Item 1A—Risk Factors” and “Item 7—MD&A Critical Factors Affecting Results” in our 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Management believes the Company will have sufficient liquidity to satisfy its needs over the next twelve months including the ability to pay interest on our debt and dividends on our common stock.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, net cash provided by operating activities, including the effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents, totaled $495,904; net cash used in investing activities totaled $143,528 and net cash used in financing activities totaled $658,294. We had $1,411,266 in cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2014. Please see “—Liquidity and Capital Resources,” below for further details.

 

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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K describes the accounting policies and estimates that are critical to the understanding of our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity. The accounting policies and estimation process described in the 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K were consistently applied to the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for Third Quarter 2014.

The Affordable Care Act introduced new and significant premium stabilization programs in 2014. These programs required the Company to record amounts to our consolidated financial statements based on assumptions and estimates which could materially change as experience develops. Please refer to Assurant Health’s results of operations section further below in this Item 2 for details on these programs and the estimates recorded.

 

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Assurant Consolidated

Overview

The table below presents information regarding our consolidated results of operations:

 

     For the Three Months
Ended September 30,
    For the Nine Months
Ended September 30,
 
     2014      2013     2014      2013  

Revenues:

          

Net earned premiums

   $ 2,257,809       $ 1,947,431      $ 6,490,005       $ 5,714,293   

Net investment income

     162,009         159,209        497,575         489,118   

Net realized gains (losses) on investments

     17,744         (3,631     43,582         30,264   

Amortization of deferred gain on disposal of businesses

     3,645         4,074        10,949         12,238   

Fees and other income

     261,281         151,567        716,850         401,126   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total revenues

     2,702,488         2,258,650        7,758,961         6,647,039   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Benefits, losses and expenses:

          

Policyholder benefits

     1,123,693         933,832        3,281,338         2,708,143   

Selling, underwriting and general expenses (1)

     1,340,268         1,110,076        3,779,215         3,270,365   

Interest expense

     13,776         20,771        44,617         57,369   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total benefits, losses and expenses

     2,477,737         2,064,679        7,105,170         6,035,877   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income before provision for income taxes

     224,751         193,971        653,791         611,162   

Provision for income taxes

     84,454         65,183        232,639         231,071   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 140,297       $ 128,788      $ 421,152       $ 380,091   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Includes amortization of deferred acquisition costs (“DAC”) and value of business acquired (“VOBA”).

The following discussion provides a general overall analysis of how the consolidated results were affected by our four operating segments and our Corporate and Other segment for Third Quarter 2014 and Nine Months 2014 and Third Quarter 2013 and Nine Months 2013. Please see the discussion that follows, for each of these segments, for a more detailed analysis of the fluctuations.

For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2014 Compared to the Three Months Ended September 30, 2013

Net Income

Net income increased $11,509, or 9%, to $140,297 in Third Quarter 2014, compared with $128,788 for Third Quarter 2013. The increase was mainly due to improved results in our Assurant Solutions and Assurant Employee Benefits segments, lower expenses in the Corporate and Other segment as well as an increase in net realized gains on investments. These items were partially offset by lower net income at Assurant Health and Assurant Specialty Property.

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 Compared to the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013

Net Income

Net income increased $41,061, or 11%, to $421,152 for Nine Months 2014, compared with $380,091 for Nine Months 2013. In addition to the items noted above, Nine Months 2014 includes a $20,753 one-time tax benefit related to the conversion of the Canadian branch operations of certain U.S. companies to foreign corporate entities. Please see Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.

 

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Assurant Solutions

Overview

The table below presents information regarding Assurant Solutions’ segment results of operations:

 

     For the Three Months
Ended September 30,
    For the Nine Months
Ended September 30,
 
     2014     2013     2014     2013  

Revenues:

        

Net earned premiums

   $ 812,512      $ 684,973      $ 2,335,498      $ 2,056,300   

Net investment income

     95,898        92,845        288,146        282,502   

Fees and other income

     156,807        107,908        461,268        279,758   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

     1,065,217        885,726        3,084,912        2,618,560   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Benefits, losses and expenses:

        

Policyholder benefits

     257,000        226,263        781,908        647,713   

Selling, underwriting and general expenses

     729,197        611,880        2,062,853        1,820,438   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total benefits, losses and expenses

     986,197        838,143        2,844,761        2,468,151   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Segment income before provision for income taxes

     79,020        47,583        240,151        150,409   

Provision for income taxes

     27,171        11,374        79,300        47,902   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Segment net income

   $ 51,849      $ 36,209      $ 160,851      $ 102,507   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earned premiums:

        

Domestic:

        

Credit

   $ 39,534      $ 41,186      $ 123,329      $ 122,502   

Service contracts

     429,178        341,237        1,197,198        1,010,650   

Other (1)

     20,052        21,860        55,299        63,153   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Domestic

     488,764        404,283        1,375,826        1,196,305   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

International:

        

Credit

     82,255        93,503        248,220        286,243   

Service contracts

     217,601        163,536        639,664        499,730   

Other (1)

     9,100        7,543        24,909        22,823   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total International

     308,956        264,582        912,793        808,796   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Preneed

     14,792        16,108        46,879        51,199   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 812,512      $ 684,973      $ 2,335,498      $ 2,056,300   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fees and other income:

        

Domestic:

        

Debt protection

   $ 7,092      $ 7,511      $ 21,533      $ 21,533   

Service contracts

     95,782        64,928        292,228        141,479   

Other (1)

     1,514        1,253        6,367        5,352   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Domestic

     104,388        73,692        320,128        168,364   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

International

     24,965        13,604        61,310        32,191   

Preneed

     27,454        20,612        79,830        79,203   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 156,807      $ 107,908      $ 461,268      $ 279,758   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross written premiums (2):

        

Domestic:

        

Credit

   $ 75,155      $ 100,969      $ 245,046      $ 285,585   

Service contracts

     844,584        548,033        2,254,152        1,510,389   

Other (1)

     23,751        33,383        65,500        90,273   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Domestic

     943,490        682,385        2,564,698        1,886,247   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

International:

        

Credit

     218,348        238,621        670,472        724,982   

Service contracts

     200,173        187,135        616,928        545,085   

Other (1)

     17,397        12,632        43,885        36,729   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total International

     435,918        438,388        1,331,285        1,306,796   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 1,379,408      $ 1,120,773      $ 3,895,983      $ 3,193,043   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Preneed (face sales)

   $ 237,471      $ 259,500      $ 739,369      $ 745,891   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Combined ratios (3):

        

Domestic

     95.3     99.3     93.5     98.0

International

     99.1     100.8     100.9     101.7

 

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(1) This includes emerging products and run-off product lines.
(2) Gross written premiums does not necessarily translate to an equal amount of subsequent net earned premiums since Assurant Solutions reinsures a portion of its premiums to insurance subsidiaries of its clients.
(3) The combined ratio is equal to total benefits, losses and expenses divided by net earned premiums and fees and other income excluding the preneed business.

For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2014 Compared to the Three Months Ended September 30, 2013

Net Income

Segment net income increased $15,640, or 43%, to $51,849 for Third Quarter 2014 from $36,209 for Third Quarter 2013. The increase was primarily driven by improved results in our domestic mobile business, reflecting growth in mobile subscribers, contributions from ongoing client marketing programs and continued favorable loss experience.

Total Revenues

Total revenues increased $179,491, or 20%, to $1,065,217 for Third Quarter 2014 from $885,726 for Third Quarter 2013. The increase was driven primarily by higher net earned premiums in our domestic and international service contract businesses, reflecting continued growth in mobile subscribers. Fees and other income increased $48,899 primarily driven by mobile programs and from the Lifestyle Services Group (“LSG”) acquisition during the fourth quarter of 2013.

Gross written premiums increased $258,635, or 23%, to $1,379,408 for Third Quarter 2014 from $1,120,773 for Third Quarter 2013. Gross written premiums from our domestic service contract business increased $296,551 driven by growth in mobile subscribers. Gross written premiums from our international service contract business increased $13,038 due to growth in the number of global mobile subscribers, the LSG acquisition and new and existing clients in Latin America. This increase was partially offset by the unfavorable impact of changes in foreign exchange rates, primarily in Latin America.

Preneed face sales decreased $22,029, or 8%, to $237,471 for Third Quarter 2014 from $259,500 for Third Quarter 2013. This decrease was mostly attributable to a change in product offerings and a client’s temporary operational change.

Total Benefits, Losses and Expenses

Total benefits, losses and expenses increased $148,054, or 18%, to $986,197 for Third Quarter 2014 from $838,143 for Third Quarter 2013. Policyholder benefits increased $30,737 primarily related to the LSG acquisition, partially offset by favorable loss experience in our mobile business. Selling, underwriting and general expenses increased $117,317, mostly related to growth in our domestic mobile business and the LSG acquisition.

 

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For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 Compared to the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013

Net Income

Segment net income increased $58,344, or 57%, to $160,851 for Nine Months 2014 from $102,507 for Nine Months 2013. The increase was primarily driven by improved results in our domestic mobile business, reflecting growth in mobile subscribers, contributions from ongoing client marketing programs and continued favorable loss experience.

Total Revenues

Total revenues increased $466,352, or 18%, to $3,084,912 for Nine Months 2014 from $2,618,560 for Nine Months 2013. The increase was driven by higher net earned premiums in our domestic and international service contract businesses, reflecting continued growth in mobile subscribers. Fees and other income increased $181,510 primarily driven by mobile programs and the LSG acquisition.

Gross written premiums increased $702,940, or 22%, to $3,895,983 for Nine Months 2014 from $3,193,043 for Nine Months 2013. Gross written premiums from our domestic service contract business increased $743,763 driven by growth in mobile subscribers. Gross written premiums from our international service contract business increased $71,843 due to growth in mobile subscribers, the LSG acquisition and new and existing clients in Latin America. This increase was partially offset by the unfavorable impact of changes in foreign exchange rates, primarily in Latin America.

Preneed face sales decreased $6,522, or 1%, to $739,369 for Nine Months 2014 from $745,891 for Nine Months 2013. This decrease was mostly attributable to a change in product offerings and a client’s temporary operational change. On June 25, 2014, we extended our exclusive distribution partnership with Service Corporation International, the largest funeral provider in North America, for an additional 10 years, through September 29, 2024.

Total Benefits, Losses and Expenses

Total benefits, losses and expenses increased $376,610, or 15%, to $2,844,761 for Nine Months 2014 from $2,468,151 for Nine Months 2013. Policyholder benefits increased $134,195 primarily related to the LSG acquisition, partially offset by favorable loss experience in our mobile business. Selling, underwriting and general expenses increased $242,415, mostly related to growth in our domestic mobile business and the LSG acquisition.

 

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Assurant Specialty Property

Overview

The table below presents information regarding Assurant Specialty Property’s segment results of operations:

 

     For the Three Months
Ended September 30,
    For the Nine Months
Ended September 30,
 
     2014     2013     2014     2013  

Revenues:

        

Net earned premiums

   $ 654,889      $ 612,165      $ 1,911,589      $ 1,727,724   

Net investment income

     24,574        23,819        77,750        74,723   

Fees and other income

     87,271        29,786        209,035        82,202   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

     766,734        665,770        2,198,374        1,884,649   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Benefits, losses and expenses:

        

Policyholder benefits

     258,344        228,508        830,073        649,554   

Selling, underwriting and general expenses

     348,945        260,533        958,026        749,993   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total benefits, losses and expenses

     607,289        489,041        1,788,099        1,399,547   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Segment income before provision for income taxes

     159,445        176,729        410,275        485,102   

Provision for income taxes

     54,716        61,679        139,495        169,288   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Segment net income

   $ 104,729      $ 115,050      $ 270,780      $ 315,814   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earned premiums:

        

Homeowners (lender-placed and voluntary)

   $ 456,369      $ 435,370      $ 1,341,495      $ 1,210,242   

Manufactured housing (lender-placed and voluntary)

     59,942        56,806        177,824        167,723   

Other (1)

     138,578        119,989        392,270        349,759   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 654,889      $ 612,165      $ 1,911,589      $ 1,727,724   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ratios:

        

Loss ratio (2)

     39.4     37.3     43.4     37.6

Expense ratio (3)

     47.0     40.6     45.2     41.4

Combined ratio (4)

     81.8     76.2     84.3     77.3

 

(1) This primarily includes lender-placed flood, miscellaneous specialty property and multi-family housing insurance products.
(2) The loss ratio is equal to policyholder benefits divided by net earned premiums.
(3) The expense ratio is equal to selling, underwriting and general expenses divided by net earned premiums and fees and other income.
(4) The combined ratio is equal to total benefits, losses and expenses divided by net earned premiums and fees and other income.

Regulatory Matters

As previously disclosed, on March 21, 2013, the Company and two of its wholly owned subsidiaries, American Security Insurance Company (“ASIC”) and American Bankers Insurance Company of Florida (“ABIC”), reached an agreement with the New York Department of Financial Services (the “NYDFS”) regarding the Company’s lender-placed insurance business in the State of New York. Under the terms of the agreement, and without admitting or denying any wrongdoing, ASIC made a $14,000 (non tax-deductible) settlement payment to the NYDFS. In addition, among other things, ASIC and ABIC agreed to modify certain business practices in accordance with requirements that apply to all New York-licensed lender-placed insurers of properties in the state, and filed their new lender-placed program and new rates in New York, which were approved in August 2014. The changes to the program affect annual lender-placed hazard and real estate owned policies issued in the State of New York, which accounted for approximately $91,000 and $101,000 of Assurant Specialty Property’s net earned premiums for Nine Months 2014 and full year 2013, respectively.

On October 7, 2013, the Company reached an agreement with the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation to file for a 10% reduction in lender-placed hazard insurance rates in Florida. The rates have been filed and approved, and were effective for new and renewing policies starting in the first quarter of 2014. As part of the agreement, ASIC eliminated commissions and client quota-share reinsurance arrangements to meet new requirements of lender-placed insurance providers in Florida. ASIC recorded approximately $354,000 and $547,000 of direct earned premiums in Florida for Nine Months 2014 and full year 2013, respectively, for the type of policies that are subject to the rate reduction.

 

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At the federal level, in early 2013, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau published mortgage servicing guidelines that incorporate certain requirements mandated by the Dodd-Frank Act. In addition, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”) issued new mortgage servicer guidelines, which became effective in June 2014, that eliminate lender-placed insurance-related commissions and client quota share arrangements on properties securing government-sponsored entity loans. At the directive of the FHFA, Federal National Mortgage Association and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation each issued bulletins in December 2013 implementing these mortgage servicer guidelines.

Lender-placed insurance products accounted for 72% and 73% of net earned premiums for Nine Months 2014 and full year 2013, respectively. The approximate corresponding contributions to the segment net income in these periods were 78% and 87%, respectively. The portion of total segment net income attributable to lender-placed products may vary substantially over time depending on the frequency, severity and location of catastrophic losses, the cost of catastrophe reinsurance and reinstatement coverage, the variability of claim processing costs and client acquisition costs, and other factors. In addition, we expect placement rates for these products to decline.

For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2014 Compared to the Three Months Ended September 30, 2013

Net Income

Segment net income decreased $10,321, or 9%, to $104,729 for Third Quarter 2014 from $115,050 for Third Quarter 2013 primarily due to the impact of lower premium rates in the lender-placed insurance business. In addition, there were no reportable catastrophes in either Third Quarter 2014 or Third Quarter 2013. Non-catastrophe losses increased due to higher frequency of claims from properties that have moved to foreclosure.

Total Revenues

Total revenues increased $100,964, or 15%, to $766,734 for Third Quarter 2014 from $665,770 for Third Quarter 2013. The increase was primarily due to growth in lender-placed homeowners insurance net earned premiums, as well as fee income from the acquisitions of Field Asset Services and StreetLinks. Growth in lender-placed homeowners insurance is due to the previously disclosed discontinuation of a client quota share reinsurance agreement and is partially offset by the impact of lower premium rates.

Total Benefits, Losses and Expenses

Total benefits, losses and expenses increased $118,248, or 24%, to $607,289 for Third Quarter 2014 from $489,041 for Third Quarter 2013. The loss ratio increased to 39.4% from 37.3% primarily due to the impact of lower premium rates in the lender-placed insurance business and higher non-catastrophe losses. There were no reportable catastrophe losses in Third Quarter 2014 or Third Quarter 2013. Reportable catastrophe losses include only individual catastrophic events that generated losses to the Company in excess of $5,000, pre-tax and net of reinsurance. The expense ratio increased to 47.0% in Third Quarter 2014 from 40.6% in Third Quarter 2013 mainly due to growth in fee-based businesses and lower premium rates in the lender-placed insurance business.

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 Compared to the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013

Net Income

Segment net income decreased $45,034, or 14%, to $270,780 for Nine Months 2014 from $315,814 for Nine Months 2013 primarily due to higher non-catastrophe losses in our lender-placed business. These losses were driven by severe weather and high severity fire claims. In addition, Nine Months 2013 includes a $14,000 (non-tax deductible) regulatory settlement with the NYDFS.

Total Revenues

Total revenues increased $313,725, or 17%, to $2,198,374 for Nine Months 2014 from $1,884,649 for Nine Months 2013. The increase was primarily due to growth in lender-placed homeowners insurance net earned premiums, as well as fee income from the acquisitions of Field Asset Services and StreetLinks. Growth in lender-placed homeowners insurance was primarily due to the previously disclosed discontinuation of a client quota share reinsurance agreement and loan portfolios added in 2013 and was partially offset by the impact of lower premium rates.

 

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Total Benefits, Losses and Expenses

Total benefits, losses and expenses increased $388,552, or 28%, to $1,788,099 for Nine Months 2014 from $1,399,547 for Nine Months 2013. The loss ratio increased to 43.4% for Nine Months 2014 from 37.6% for Nine Months 2013 due to higher non-catastrophe losses from severe weather, high severity fire claims and lower premium rates from the new lender-placed homeowners insurance product. Reportable catastrophe losses for Nine Months 2014 were $28,411 compared to $29,503 in Nine Months 2013. Reportable catastrophe losses include only individual catastrophic events that generated losses to the Company in excess of $5,000, pre-tax and net of reinsurance. The expense ratio increased to 45.2% for Nine Months 2014 from 41.4% for Nine Months 2013 primarily due to growth in fee-based businesses, lower premium rates and additional costs to support our lender-placed insurance business. Nine Months 2013 included a $14,000 (non-tax deductible) regulatory settlement with the NYDFS.

Assurant Health

Overview

The table below presents information regarding Assurant Health’s segment results of operations:

 

     For the Three Months
Ended September 30,
    For the Nine Months
Ended September 30,
 
     2014     2013     2014     2013  

Revenues:

        

Net earned premiums

   $ 526,705      $ 398,000      $ 1,454,726      $ 1,172,775   

Net investment income

     8,312        9,168        27,538        27,861   

Fees and other income

     10,593        7,630        27,787        21,061   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

     545,610        414,798        1,510,051        1,221,697   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Benefits, losses and expenses:

        

Policyholder benefits

     430,499        295,534        1,136,113        868,307   

Selling, underwriting and general expenses

     124,687        107,352        368,344        314,617   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total benefits, losses and expenses

     555,186        402,886        1,504,457        1,182,924   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Segment (loss) income before provision for income taxes

     (9,576     11,912        5,594        38,773   

Provision for income taxes

     7,813        5,351        32,554        33,472   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Segment net (loss) income

   $ (17,389   $ 6,561      $ (26,960   $ 5,301   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earned premiums:

        

Individual

   $ 421,625      $ 294,730      $ 1,148,933      $ 872,385   

Small employer group

     105,080        103,270        305,793        300,390   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 526,705      $ 398,000      $ 1,454,726      $ 1,172,775   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Insured lives by product line:

        

Individual

         839        753   

Small employer group

         124        116   
      

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

         963        869   
      

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ratios:

        

Loss ratio (1)

     81.7     74.3     78.1     74.0

Expense ratio (2)

     23.2     26.5     24.8     26.4

Combined ratio (3)

     103.3     99.3     101.5     99.1

 

(1) The loss ratio is equal to policyholder benefits divided by net earned premiums.
(2) The expense ratio is equal to selling, underwriting and general expenses divided by net earned premiums and fees and other income.
(3) The combined ratio is equal to total benefits, losses and expenses divided by net earned premiums and fees and other income.

 

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The Affordable Care Act

Most provisions of the Affordable Care Act have now taken effect. Given the sweeping nature of the changes arising from the Affordable Care Act, our results of operations and financial position could be materially adversely affected. For more information, see Item 1A, “Risk Factors - Risk related to our industry - Reform of the health insurance industry could materially reduce the profitability of certain of our businesses or render them unprofitable” in our 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Because all individuals now have a guaranteed right to purchase health insurance policies, the Affordable Care Act introduced new and significant premium stabilization programs in 2014: reinsurance, risk adjustment, and risk corridor (together, the “3 Rs”). These programs, discussed in further detail below, are meant to mitigate the potential adverse impact to individual health insurers as a result of Affordable Care Act provisions that became effective January 1, 2014.

Reinsurance

This is a transitional program for 2014-2016, with decreasing impact over the three years. All commercial individual and group medical health plans are required to contribute to the funding of the program. Only individual health plans that are compliant with the essential health benefits of the Affordable Care Act are eligible to receive benefits from the program.

We are required to make contributions, which are recorded quarterly, based on both our Affordable Care Act and non-Affordable Care Act business. Contributions based on our non-Affordable Care Act business are included in selling, underwriting and general expenses and contributions based on our Affordable Care Act business are included as ceded premiums. Recoveries are recorded quarterly as ceded policyholder benefits and reflect the anticipated experience of our Affordable Care Act plans based on our analysis of current and historical claim data.

For the Third Quarter 2014 and Nine Months 2014, we recorded reinsurance contributions of $3,605 and $13,733 and reinsurance recoveries of $64,335 and $144,346, respectively, in our consolidated statements of operations. As of September 30, 2014, we recorded reinsurance contributions payable of $13,733 and reinsurance recoverables of $144,346 on our consolidated balance sheets. Both contributions and recoveries for the 2014 program are scheduled to be settled in 2015.

Risk adjustment

This is a permanent program to transfer funds between health insurers based on the average health risk scores of their Affordable Care Act insured populations. Insurers with below-average risk scores will contribute into the pool. Insurers with above-average risk scores will receive payments out of the pool.

Risk scores are evaluated at the state, market, and legal entity level for Affordable Care Act-compliant policies. Risk adjustment amounts payable and receivable are reflected as adjustments to net earned premiums, and are recorded quarterly based on our current estimated loss experience of our Affordable Care Act business.

Based on the demographics of our Affordable Care Act population, extensive analytical evaluations, current and historical claim data as well as other internal and external data sources, external market studies and other published data, we believe that our average risk scores will be significantly higher than the industry averages.

For Third Quarter 2014 and Nine Months 2014, we recorded net risk adjustment premiums of $51,550 and $113,088, respectively, in our consolidated statements of operations. As of September 30, 2014, we carried net risk adjustment receivables of $113,088 on our consolidated balance sheets. Risk transfer payments and receipts for the 2014 program are scheduled to be settled in 2015.

Risk corridor

This is a temporary risk-sharing program for 2014-2016. Based on ratios of allowable costs to target costs as defined by the Affordable Care Act, health insurers will make payments to the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) or receive funds from HHS. Because Assurant Health is not participating in any insurance marketplaces for 2014, risk corridors have no impact on our 2014 operations. Because the reinsurance and risk-adjustment programs are brand new and historical results are not available, estimates of amounts receivable from them are subject to considerable uncertainty. Actual amounts received may vary substantially from our estimates.

For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2014 Compared to the Three Months Ended September 30, 2013

Net (Loss) Income

Segment results decreased $23,950, or 365%, to a net loss of $17,389 for Third Quarter 2014 from net income of $6,561 for Third Quarter 2013. The decrease was primarily attributable to increased claims from Affordable Care Act qualified policies, reflecting the guaranteed issue requirements and the health profiles of many first-time buyers, as well as a higher effective tax rate related to the Affordable Care Act.

 

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Total Revenues

Total revenues increased $130,812, or 32%, to $545,610 for Third Quarter 2014 from $414,798 for Third Quarter 2013. Net earned premiums from our individual medical business increased $126,895, or 43%, due to growth in individual major medical product sales, including estimated recoveries from the Affordable Care Act’s risk adjustment program.

Total Benefits, Losses and Expenses

Total benefits, losses and expenses increased $152,300, or 38%, to $555,186 for Third Quarter 2014 from $402,886 for Third Quarter 2013. Policyholder benefits increased $134,965, or 46%, while the loss ratio increased to 81.7% from 74.3%. The increases in policyholder benefits and the loss ratio were primarily attributable to higher volumes of business and increased claims on individual major medical policies. Selling, underwriting and general expenses increased $17,335, or 16%, primarily due to commissions on new sales and $4,952 related to the annual fee on health insurers mandated by the Affordable Care Act effective January 1, 2014.

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 Compared to the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013

Net (Loss) Income

Segment results decreased $32,261, or 609%, to a net loss of $26,960 for Nine Months 2014 from net income of $5,301 for Nine Months 2013. The decrease was primarily attributable to increased claims from the new Affordable Care Act qualified policies, reflecting the guaranteed issue requirements and the health profiles of many first-time buyers, as well as a higher effective tax rate related to the Affordable Care Act.

Total Revenues

Total revenues increased $288,354, or 24%, to $1,510,051 for Nine Months 2014 from $1,221,697 for Nine Months 2013. Net earned premiums from our individual medical business increased $276,548, or 32%, due to growth in individual major medical product sales, including estimated recoveries from the Affordable Care Act’s risk adjustment program.

Total Benefits, Losses and Expenses

Total benefits, losses and expenses increased $321,533, or 27%, to $1,504,457 for Nine Months 2014 from $1,182,924 for Nine Months 2013. Policyholder benefits increased $267,806, or 31%, while the loss ratio increased to 78.1% from 74.0%. The increases in policyholder benefits and the loss ratio were primarily attributable to higher volumes of business and increased claims on individual major medical policies. Selling, underwriting and general expenses increased $53,727, or 17%, primarily due to higher commissions on new sales and $14,885 related to the annual fee on health insurers mandated by the Affordable Care Act effective January 1, 2014.

 

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Assurant Employee Benefits

Overview

The table below presents information regarding Assurant Employee Benefits’ segment results of operations:

 

     For the Three Months
Ended September 30,
    For the Nine Months
Ended September 30,
 
     2014     2013     2014     2013  

Revenues:

        

Net earned premiums

   $ 263,703      $ 252,293      $ 788,192      $ 757,494   

Net investment income

     28,594        28,516        89,649        88,856   

Fees and other income

     6,305        6,032        18,332        17,605   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

     298,602        286,841        896,173        863,955   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Benefits, losses and expenses:

        

Policyholder benefits

     177,850        183,527        533,244        541,107   

Selling, underwriting and general expenses

     100,318        94,109        297,643        287,082   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total benefits, losses and expenses

     278,168        277,636        830,887        828,189   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Segment income before provision for income taxes

     20,434        9,205        65,286        35,766   

Provision for income taxes

     7,333        3,056        23,838        12,060   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Segment net income

   $ 13,101      $ 6,149      $ 41,448      $ 23,706   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earned premiums:

        

Group dental

   $ 98,576      $ 95,497      $ 294,091      $ 286,562   

Group disability

     102,242        99,820        307,682        301,295   

Group life

     50,184        47,796        150,267        143,890   

Group supplemental and vision products

     12,701        9,180        36,152        25,747   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 263,703      $ 252,293      $ 788,192      $ 757,494   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Voluntary

   $ 111,179      $ 99,001      $ 328,398      $ 292,621   

Employer-paid and other

     152,524        153,292        459,794        464,873   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 263,703      $ 252,293      $ 788,192      $ 757,494   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ratios:

        

Loss ratio (1)

     67.4     72.7     67.7     71.4

Expense ratio (2)

     37.2     36.4     36.9     37.0

 

(1) The loss ratio is equal to policyholder benefits divided by net earned premiums.
(2) The expense ratio is equal to selling, underwriting and general expenses divided by net earned premiums and fees and other income.

For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2014 Compared to the Three Months Ended September 30, 2013

Net Income

Segment net income increased $6,952, or 113%, to $13,101 for Third Quarter 2014 from $6,149 for Third Quarter 2013. Improved results were primarily attributable to improved disability loss experience.

Total Revenues

Total revenues increased $11,761, or 4%, to $298,602 for Third Quarter 2014 from $286,841 for Third Quarter 2013. Third Quarter 2014 net earned premium increased $11,410 or 5%. The increase in net earned premiums was primarily driven by voluntary products which increased $12,178, or 12%, in Third Quarter 2014 partially offset by declines in employer paid products.

 

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Total Benefits, Losses and Expenses

Total benefits, losses and expenses increased $532, or less than 1%, to $278,168 for Third Quarter 2014 from $277,636 for Third Quarter 2013. The loss ratio decreased to 67.4% from 72.7% primarily driven by favorable disability loss experience. Disability results include the effect of a previously disclosed increase in the reserve discount rate for new long-term disability claims. The expense ratio increased to 37.2% in Third Quarter 2014 compared to 36.4% in Third Quarter 2013 primarily reflecting increased employee-related benefit costs.

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 Compared to the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013

Net Income

Segment net income increased $17,742, or 75%, to $41,448 for Nine Months 2014 from $23,706 for Nine Months 2013. Results for Nine Months 2014 were driven by favorable loss experience in all major product lines. Nine Months 2014 results include an increase in the reserve discount rate primarily for new long-term disability claims.

Total Revenues

Total revenues increased $32,218, or 4%, to $896,173 for Nine Months 2014 from $863,955 for Nine Months 2013. Net earned premiums growth was driven by voluntary products which increased $35,777, or 12%, partially offset by declines in employer paid products.

Total Benefits, Losses and Expenses

Total benefits, losses and expenses increased $2,698, or less than 1%, to $830,887 for Nine Months 2014 from $828,189 for Nine Months 2013. The loss ratio decreased to 67.7% from 71.4% driven by favorable experience in all major product lines. The expense ratio remained relatively consistent at 36.9% for Nine Months 2014 compared with 37.0% for Nine Months 2013.

Assurant Corporate & Other

The table below presents information regarding the Corporate & Other segment’s results of operations:

 

     For the Three Months
Ended September 30,
    For the Nine Months
Ended September 30,
 
     2014     2013     2014     2013  

Revenues:

        

Net investment income

   $ 4,631      $ 4,861      $ 14,492      $ 15,176   

Net realized gains (losses) on investments

     17,744        (3,631     43,582        30,264   

Amortization of deferred gain on disposal of businesses

     3,645        4,074        10,949        12,238   

Fees and other income

     305        211        428        500   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

     26,325        5,515        69,451        58,178   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Benefits, losses and expenses:

        

Policyholder benefits

                          1,462   

Selling, underwriting and general expenses

     37,121        36,202        92,349        98,235   

Interest expense

     13,776        20,771        44,617        57,369   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total benefits, losses and expenses

     50,897        56,973        136,966        157,066   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Segment loss before benefit for income taxes

     (24,572     (51,458     (67,515     (98,888

Benefit for income taxes

     (12,579     (16,277     (42,548     (31,651
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Segment net loss

   $ (11,993   $ (35,181   $ (24,967   $ (67,237
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2014 Compared to the Three Months Ended September 30, 2013

Net Loss

Segment results improved $23,188, or 66%, to net loss of $11,993 for Third Quarter 2014 compared with a net loss of $35,181 for Third Quarter 2013. The improvement was primarily due to a $13,894 (after-tax) change in net realized gains (losses) on investments, lower employee-related benefit costs and impact of expense reduction initiatives.

 

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Total Revenues

Total revenues increased $20,810, or 377%, to $26,325 for Third Quarter 2014 compared with $5,515 for Third Quarter 2013. The increase is primarily related to net realized gains on investments of $17,744 in Third Quarter 2014 compared with net realized losses on investments of $3,631 in Third Quarter 2013.

Total Benefits, Losses and Expenses

Total benefits, losses and expenses decreased $6,076, or 11%, to $50,897 for Third Quarter 2014 compared with $56,973 for Third Quarter 2013. Interest expense declined $6,995 primarily due to repayment of the 2004 Senior Notes with an aggregate principal amount of $500,000 on February 18, 2014. In addition, Third Quarter 2014 had lower selling, underwriting and general expenses compared with Third Quarter 2013 primarily due to lower employee-related benefit costs and expense reduction initiatives. Included in Third Quarter 2014 selling, underwriting and general expenses is $5,737, related to a change in the estimated fair value of the net put option to acquire the remaining interests of Iké Asistencia (“Iké”).

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 Compared to the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013

Net Loss

Segment results improved $42,270, or 63%, to net loss of $24,967 for Nine Months 2014 compared with net loss of $67,237 for Nine Months 2013. The decrease is primarily due to the $20,753 one-time tax benefit related to the conversion of the Canadian branch operations of certain U.S. companies to foreign corporate entities. Also contributing to the improvement was a $8,657 (after-tax) change in net realized gains on investments, lower employee-related benefit costs and impact of expense reduction initiatives.

Total Revenues

Total revenues increased $11,273, or 19%, to $69,451 for Nine Months 2014 compared with $58,178 for Nine Months 2013. The increase is primarily related to an $13,318 increase in net realized gains on investments.

Total Benefits, Losses and Expenses

Total expenses decreased $20,100, or 13%, to $136,966 for Nine Months 2014 compared with $157,066 for Nine Months 2013. Interest expense declined $12,752 primarily due to repayment of the 2004 Senior Notes with an aggregate principal amount of $500,000 on February 18, 2014. In addition, Nine Months 2014 had lower selling, underwriting and general expenses compared with Nine Months 2013 primarily due to lower employee-related benefit costs and impact of expense reduction initiatives. Included in Nine Months 2014 selling, underwriting and general expenses is $5,737, related to a change in the estimated fair value of the net put option to acquire the remaining interests of Iké.

Investments

The Company had total investments of $14,608,814 and $14,244,015 as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. For more information on our investments see Note 5 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this report.

The following table shows the credit quality of our fixed maturity securities portfolio as of the dates indicated:

 

     As of  

Fixed Maturity Securities by Credit Quality (Fair Value)

   September 30, 2014     December 31, 2013  

Aaa / Aa / A

   $ 7,463,125         64.2   $ 7,214,256         63.9

Baa

     3,410,759         29.3     3,316,035         29.4

Ba

     488,339         4.2     523,175         4.6

B and lower

     261,786         2.3     238,409         2.1
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 11,624,009         100.0   $ 11,291,875         100.0
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Major categories of net investment income were as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2014     2013     2014     2013  

Fixed maturity securities

   $ 129,782      $ 130,891      $ 393,302      $ 398,514   

Equity securities

     7,197        6,628        20,772        20,371   

Commercial mortgage loans on real estate

     18,997        18,920        56,034        57,720   

Policy loans

     778        812        2,087        2,544   

Short-term investments

     697        284        1,277        1,374   

Other investments

     6,108        4,440        29,470        16,051   

Cash and cash equivalents

     4,860        3,813        13,981        10,721   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investment income

     168,419        165,788        516,923        507,295   

Investment expenses

     (6,410     (6,579     (19,348     (18,177
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income

   $ 162,009      $ 159,209      $ 497,575      $ 489,118   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income increased $2,800, or 2%, to $162,009 for Third Quarter 2014 compared with $159,209 for Third Quarter 2013. The increase for the period was primarily related to $1,598 in additional investment income from real estate joint venture partnerships. Excluding the investment income from the real estate joint venture partnerships, net investment income remained relatively consistent. Net investment income increased $8,457, or 2%, to $497,575 for Nine Months 2014 compared with $489,118 for Nine Months 2013. The increase for the period was primarily related to $11,410 in additional investment income from real estate joint venture partnerships and $1,760 in additional investment income related to the loss recovery on certain mortgage-backed securities as a result of a trust settlement agreement. Excluding the investment income from the real estate joint venture partnerships and the trust settlement agreement, net investment income decreased $4,713, primarily reflecting lower investment yields.

As of September 30, 2014, the Company owned $189,186 of securities guaranteed by financial guarantee insurance companies. Included in this amount was $177,990 of municipal securities, whose credit rating was A+ with the guarantee, but would have had a rating of A without the guarantee.

The Company has exposure to sub-prime and related mortgages within our fixed maturity securities portfolio. At September 30, 2014, approximately 3% of our residential mortgage-backed holdings had exposure to sub-prime mortgage collateral. This represented approximately 0.3% of the total fixed income portfolio and 2% of the total unrealized gain position. Of the securities with sub-prime exposure, approximately 11% are rated as investment grade. All residential mortgage-backed securities, including those with sub-prime exposure, are reviewed as part of the ongoing other-than-temporary impairment monitoring process.

Collateralized Transactions

The Company engages in transactions in which fixed maturity securities, primarily bonds issued by the U.S. government and government agencies and authorities, and U.S. corporations, are loaned to selected broker/dealers. Collateral, greater than or equal to 102% of the fair value of the securities lent, plus accrued interest, is received in the form of cash and cash equivalents held by a custodian bank for the benefit of the Company. The use of cash collateral received is unrestricted. The Company reinvests the cash collateral received, generally in investments of high credit quality that are designated as available-for-sale. The Company monitors the fair value of securities loaned and the collateral received, with additional collateral obtained, as necessary. The Company is subject to the risk of loss to the extent there is a loss on the re-investment of cash collateral.

As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, our collateral held under securities lending agreements, of which its use is unrestricted, was $95,977 and $95,215, respectively, and is included in the consolidated balance sheets under the collateral held/pledged under securities agreements. Our liability to the borrower for collateral received was $95,973 and $95,206, respectively, and is included in the consolidated balance sheets under obligation under securities agreements. The difference between the collateral held and obligations under securities lending is recorded as an unrealized gain (loss) and is included as part of AOCI. There was one security in an unrealized loss position as of September 30, 2014 and it has been in an unrealized loss position for less than 12 months. All securities were in an unrealized gain position as of December 31, 2013. The Company includes the available-for-sale investments purchased with the cash collateral in its evaluation of other-than-temporary impairments.

 

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Cash proceeds that the Company receives as collateral for the securities it lends and subsequent repayment of the cash are regarded by the Company as cash flows from financing activities, since the cash received is considered a borrowing. Since the Company reinvests the cash collateral generally in investments that are designated as available-for-sale, the reinvestment is presented as cash flows from investing activities.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Regulatory Requirements

Assurant, Inc. is a holding company and, as such, has limited direct operations of its own. Our holding company’s assets consist primarily of the capital stock of our subsidiaries. Accordingly, our holding company’s future cash flows depend upon the availability of dividends and other statutorily permissible payments from our subsidiaries, such as payments under our tax allocation agreement and under management agreements with our subsidiaries. The ability to pay such dividends and to make such other payments will be limited by applicable laws and regulations of the states in which our subsidiaries are domiciled, which subject our subsidiaries to significant regulatory restrictions. The dividend requirements and regulations vary from state to state and by type of insurance provided by the applicable subsidiary. These laws and regulations require, among other things, our insurance subsidiaries to maintain minimum solvency requirements and limit the amount of dividends these subsidiaries can pay to the holding company. For further information on pending amendments to state insurance holding company laws, including the NAIC’s “Solvency Modernization Initiative,” see “Item 1A—Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Industry—Changes in regulation may reduce our profitability and limit our growth” in our 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Along with solvency regulations, the primary driver in determining the amount of capital used for dividends is the level of capital needed to maintain desired financial strength ratings from A.M. Best.

It is possible that regulators or rating agencies could become more conservative in their methodology and criteria, including increasing capital requirements for our insurance subsidiaries which, in turn, could negatively affect our capital resources. On November 18, 2013, A.M. Best affirmed the financial strength ratings of Assurant’s businesses with a stable outlook. At that time, A.M. Best also affirmed Assurant’s debt rating of bbb and revised the outlook from stable to positive. On July 1, 2014, Standard and Poor’s (“S&P”) affirmed the financial strength ratings of Assurant’s businesses with a stable outlook. At that time, S&P also affirmed Assurant’s debt rating of BBB+ and stable outlook. On July 31, 2014, Moody’s Investor Services (“Moody’s”) downgraded the insurance financial strength ratings of two of Assurant’s rated life and health subsidiaries from Baa1 to Baa2 due to the negative impact of provisions of the Affordable Care Act on the subsidiaries’ business profile and earnings prospects. Moody’s also revised the outlook on these two subsidiaries to stable. For further information on our ratings and the risks of ratings downgrades, see “Item 1—Business” and “Item 1A—Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Company—A.M. Best, Moody’s and S&P rate the financial strength of our insurance company subsidiaries, and a decline in these ratings could affect our standing in the insurance industry and cause our sales and earnings to decrease” in our 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K. For 2014, the maximum amount of dividends our U.S. domiciled insurance subsidiaries could pay, under applicable laws and regulations without prior regulatory approval, is approximately $484,000.

Liquidity

As of September 30, 2014, we had $562,472 in holding company capital. We use the term “holding company capital” to represent the portion of cash and other liquid marketable securities held at Assurant, Inc., out of a total of $780,899, that we are not otherwise holding for a specific purpose as of the balance sheet date, but can be used for stock repurchases, stockholder dividends, acquisitions, and other corporate purposes. $250,000 of the $562,472 of holding company capital is intended to serve as a buffer against remote risks (such as large-scale hurricanes). Dividends or returns of capital, net of infusions, made to the holding company from its operating companies were $252,340 for Nine Months 2014. In 2013, dividends, net of infusions, made to the holding company from its operating companies were $607,295. We use these cash inflows primarily to pay expenses, to make interest payments on indebtedness, to make dividend payments to our stockholders, to make subsidiary capital contributions, to fund acquisitions and to repurchase our outstanding shares.

In addition to paying expenses and making interest payments on indebtedness, our capital management strategy provides for several uses for the cash generated by our subsidiaries, including without limitation, returning capital to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends, investing in our businesses to support growth in targeted areas, and making prudent and opportunistic acquisitions. We made share repurchases and paid dividends to our stockholders of $175,104 and $472,308 during Nine Months 2014 and the year ended December 31, 2013, respectively. We expect 2014 net dividends from the operating segments to approximate their earnings subject to the growth of the businesses, rating agency and regulatory capital requirements and investment performance.

The primary sources of funds for our subsidiaries consist of premiums and fees collected, proceeds from the sales and maturity of investments and net investment income. Cash is primarily used to pay insurance claims, agent commissions, operating expenses and taxes. We generally invest our subsidiaries’ excess funds in order to generate investment income.

 

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We conduct periodic asset liability studies to measure the duration of our insurance liabilities, to develop optimal asset portfolio maturity structures for our significant lines of business and ultimately to assess that cash flows are sufficient to meet the timing of cash needs. These studies are conducted in accordance with formal company-wide Asset Liability Management (“ALM”) guidelines.

To complete a study for a particular line of business, models are developed to project asset and liability cash flows and balance sheet items under a large, varied set of plausible economic scenarios. These models consider many factors including the current investment portfolio, the required capital for the related assets and liabilities, our tax position and projected cash flows from both existing and projected new business.

Alternative asset portfolio structures are analyzed for significant lines of business. An investment portfolio maturity structure is then selected from these profiles given our return hurdle and risk preference. Sensitivity testing of significant liability assumptions and new business projections is also performed.

Our liabilities generally have limited policyholder optionality, which means that the timing of payments is relatively insensitive to the interest rate environment. In addition, our investment portfolio is largely comprised of highly liquid fixed maturity securities with a sufficient component of such securities invested that are near maturity which may be sold with minimal risk of loss to meet cash needs. Therefore, we believe we have limited exposure to disintermediation risk.

Generally, our subsidiaries’ premiums, fees and investment income, along with planned asset sales and maturities, provide sufficient cash to pay claims and expenses. However, there may be instances when unexpected cash needs arise in excess of that available from usual operating sources. In such instances, we have several options to raise needed funds, including selling assets from the subsidiaries’ investment portfolios, using holding company cash (if available), issuing commercial paper, or drawing funds from our revolving credit facility. In addition, we have filed an automatically effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC. This registration statement allows us to issue equity, debt or other types of securities through one or more methods of distribution. The terms of any offering would be established at the time of the offering, subject to market conditions. If we decide to make an offering of securities, we will consider the nature of the cash requirement as well as the cost of capital in determining what type of securities we may offer.

We paid dividends of $0.27 per common share on September 9, 2014 to stockholders of record as of August 25, 2014. Any determination to pay future dividends will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will be dependent upon: our subsidiaries’ payment of dividends and/or other statutorily permissible payments to us; our results of operations and cash flows; our financial position and capital requirements; general business conditions; legal, tax, regulatory and contractual restrictions on the payment of dividends; and other factors our Board of Directors deems relevant.

On November 18, 2013, our Board of Directors authorized the Company to repurchase up to an additional $600,000 of its outstanding common stock. As of December 31, 2013, there was $704,874 remaining under the total repurchase authorization. During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, we repurchased 1,763,600 shares of our outstanding common stock at a cost of $116,686, exclusive of commissions. As of September 30, 2014, $588,188 remained under the total repurchase authorization. The timing and the amount of future repurchases will depend on market conditions and other factors.

Management believes the Company will have sufficient liquidity to satisfy its needs over the next twelve months, including the ability to pay interest on our Senior Notes and dividends on our common shares.

Retirement and Other Employee Benefits

Our qualified pension benefits plan (the “Plan”) was under-funded by $9,867 and over-funded by $18,078 (based on the fair value of Plan assets compared to the projected benefit obligation) at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. This equates to a 99% and 102% funded status at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. The change in funded status is mainly due to a decrease in the discount rate used to determine the projected benefit obligation.

In prior years we established a funding policy in which service cost plus 15% of qualified plan deficit will be contributed annually. During Nine Months 2014, we contributed $22,500 in cash to the Plan. Additional cash, up to $7,500, is expected to be contributed to the Plan over the remainder of 2014.

As of January 1, 2014, the Assurant Pension and Executive Pension Plans are no longer offered to new hires. Current employees will not be affected and will continue to accrue benefits under the Assurant Pension and Executive Pension Plans. Employees who are currently eligible but not yet participating will remain eligible to participate in the future once they meet the Assurant Pension and Executive Pension Plan requirements.

 

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Commercial Paper Program

On September 16, 2014, we entered into a five-year unsecured $400,000 revolving credit agreement (“2014 Credit Facility”) with a syndicate of banks arranged by JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. and Wells Fargo, N.A. The 2014 Credit Facility replaces our prior four-year $350,000 revolving credit facility (“2011 Credit Facility”), which was entered into on September 21, 2011 and was scheduled to expire in September 2015. The 2011 Credit Facility terminated upon the effectiveness of the 2014 Credit Facility. The 2014 Credit Facility provides for revolving loans and the issuance of multi-bank, syndicated letters of credit and/or letters of credit from a sole issuing bank in an aggregate amount of $400,000 and is available until September 2019, provided we are in compliance with all covenants. The 2014 Credit Facility has a sublimit for letters of credit issued thereunder of $50,000. The proceeds of these loans may be used for our commercial paper program or for general corporate purposes. The Company may increase the total amount available under the 2014 Credit Facility to $525,000 subject to certain conditions. No bank is obligated to provide commitments above their share of the $400,000 facility.

Our commercial paper program requires us to maintain liquidity facilities either in an available amount equal to any outstanding notes from the program or in an amount sufficient to maintain the ratings assigned to the notes issued from the program. Our commercial paper is rated AMB-2 by A.M. Best, P-2 by Moody’s and A-2 by S&P. Our subsidiaries do not maintain commercial paper or other borrowing facilities. This program is currently backed up by a $400,000 senior revolving credit facility, of which $395,740 was available at September 30, 2014, due to $4,260 of outstanding letters of credit related to this program.

We did not use the commercial paper program during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 or 2013, and there were no amounts outstanding relating to the commercial paper program at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013. The Company made no borrowings using either the 2011 Credit Facility or the 2014 Credit Facility and no loans are outstanding at September 30, 2014.

The 2014 Credit Facility contains restrictive covenants and requires that the Company maintain certain specified minimum ratios and thresholds. Among others, these covenants include maintaining a maximum debt to capitalization ratio and a minimum consolidated adjusted net worth. At September 30, 2014, we were in compliance with all covenants, minimum ratios, and thresholds.

Senior Notes

On March 28, 2013, we issued two series of senior notes with an aggregate principal amount of $700,000 (the “2013 Senior Notes”). The first series is $350,000 in principal amount, bears interest at 2.50% per year and is payable in a single installment due March 15, 2018. The second series is $350,000 in principal amount, bears interest at 4.00% per year and is payable in a single installment due March 15, 2023.

The net proceeds from the sale of the 2013 Senior Notes was $698,093, which represents the principal amount less the discount before offering expenses. The Company used the net proceeds of the 2013 Senior Notes for general corporate purposes, including to repay $500,000 of debt that matured in February 2014.

Interest on our 2013 Senior Notes is payable semi-annually on March 15 and September 15 of each year. The interest expense incurred related to the 2013 Senior Notes was $5,745 and $5,870 for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $17,234 and $11,613 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. There was $948 of accrued interest at both September 30, 2014 and 2013. The 2013 Senior Notes are unsecured obligations and rank equally with all of the Company’s other senior unsecured indebtedness. The Company may redeem each series of the 2013 Senior Notes in whole or in part at any time and from time to time before their maturity at the redemption price set forth in the Indenture.

In addition, as of December 31, 2013, we had two series of senior notes outstanding in an aggregate principal amount of $975,000 (the “2004 Senior Notes”). The first series was $500,000 in principal amount, bore interest at 5.63% per year and was repaid on February 18, 2014. The second series is $475,000 in principal amount, bears interest at 6.75% per year and is due February 15, 2034.

Interest on our 2004 Senior Notes is payable semi-annually on February 15 and August 15 of each year. The interest expense incurred related to the 2004 Senior Notes was $8,031 and $14,714 for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and $27,383 and $44,795 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. There was $4,008 and $7,523 of accrued interest at September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The 2004 Senior Notes are unsecured obligations and rank equally with all of our other senior unsecured indebtedness. The 2004 Senior Notes are not redeemable prior to maturity.

 

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Cash Flows

We monitor cash flows at the consolidated, holding company and subsidiary levels. Cash flow forecasts at the consolidated and subsidiary levels are provided on a monthly basis, and we use trend and variance analyses to project future cash needs, making adjustments to the forecasts when needed.

The table below shows our recent net cash flows:

 

     For the Nine Months
Ended September 30,
 

Net cash provided by (used in):

   2014     2013  

Operating activities (1)

   $ 495,904      $ 709,179   

Investing activities

     (143,528     (641,591

Financing activities

     (658,294     309,705   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net change in cash

   $ (305,918   $ 377,293   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Includes effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents.

We typically generate operating cash inflows from premiums collected from our insurance products and income received from our investments while outflows consist of policy acquisition costs, benefits paid, and operating expenses. These net cash flows are then invested to support the obligations of our insurance products and required capital supporting these products. Our cash flows from operating activities are affected by the timing of premiums, fees, and investment income received and expenses paid.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $495,904 and $709,179 for Nine Months 2014 and Nine Months 2013, respectively. The decrease in cash provided by operating activities was primarily due to changes in the timing of payments and by amounts yet to be recovered under the 3 R’s program, partially offset by increased net written premiums across all segments. For more information on the 3 R’s, please refer to Assurant Health’s Results of Operations section in this Item 2.

Net cash used in investing activities was $143,528 and $641,591 for Nine Months 2014 and Nine Months 2013, respectively. The decrease in cash used in investing activities was primarily due to the change in short-term investments and fewer purchases of fixed maturity securities. These increases were partially offset by lower sales of fixed maturity securities and increased acquisition activity in 2014 compared to 2013.

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities was $(658,294) and $309,705 for Nine Months 2014 and Nine Months 2013, respectively. The cash used in financing activities during Nine Months 2014 was primarily due to the repayment of $467,330 of 2004 Senior Notes, which represents $500,000 in principal less amounts repurchased in 2013 and the payment of a contingent liability related to the acquisition of LSG. The cash provided by financing activities during Nine Months 2013 was primarily due to the issuance of the 2013 Senior Notes. The Company received proceeds of $698,093 from this transaction, which represents the principal amount less the discount before offering expenses.

The table below shows our cash outflows for interest and dividends for the periods indicated:

 

     For the Nine Months
Ended September 30,
 
     2014      2013  

Interest paid on debt

   $ 68,875       $ 70,741   

Common stock dividends

     58,382         55,777   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 127,257       $ 126,518   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Letters of Credit

In the normal course of business, we issue letters of credit primarily to support reinsurance arrangements. These letters of credit are supported by commitments with financial institutions. We had $17,708 and $17,343 of letters of credit outstanding as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

For a discussion of recent accounting pronouncements, see Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Our 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K described our Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk. There were no material changes to the assumptions or risks during Third Quarter 2014.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) as of September 30, 2014. They have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective, and provide reasonable assurance that information the Company is required to disclose in its reports under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported accurately. They also have concluded that information that the Company is required to disclose is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Internal Control over Financial Reporting

During the quarter ended September 30, 2014, we made no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II

OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

The Company is involved in litigation in the ordinary course of business, both as a defendant and as a plaintiff, and may from time to time be subject to a variety of legal and regulatory actions relating to our current and past business operations. See Note 14 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a description of certain matters, which is incorporated herein by reference. Although the Company cannot predict the outcome of litigation, regulatory examinations or investigations, it is possible that the outcome of such matters could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated results of operations or cash flows for an individual reporting period. However, based on currently available information, management does not believe that any pending matter is likely to have a material adverse effect, individually or in the aggregate, on the Company’s financial condition.

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

Certain factors may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and you should carefully consider them. It is not possible to predict or identify all such factors. For discussion of our potential risks or uncertainties, please refer to “Item 1A-Risk Factors” included in our 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Except as set forth in the following updated risk factor, there have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in our 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Our business is subject to risks related to litigation and regulatory actions.

From time to time, we may be subject to a variety of legal and regulatory actions relating to our current and past business operations, including, but not limited to:

 

   

actions by regulatory authorities that may restrict our ability to increase or maintain our premium rates, require us to reduce premium rates, imposes fines or penalties and result in other expenses;

 

   

market conduct examinations, for which we are required to pay the expenses of the regulator as well as our own expenses, and which may result in fines, penalties, or other adverse consequences;

 

   

disputes regarding our lender-placed insurance products including those relating to rates, agent compensation, consumer disclosure, continuous coverage requirements, loan tracking services and other services that we provide to mortgage servicers;

 

   

disputes over coverage or claims adjudication;

 

   

disputes over our treatment of claims, in which states or insureds may allege that we failed to make required payments or to meet prescribed deadlines for adjudicating claims;

 

   

disputes regarding sales practices, disclosures, premium refunds, licensing, regulatory compliance, underwriting and compensation arrangements;

 

   

disputes with agents, brokers or network providers over compensation and termination of contracts and related claims;

 

   

disputes alleging bundling of credit insurance and warranty products with other products provided by financial institutions;

 

   

disputes with tax and insurance authorities regarding our tax liabilities;

 

   

disputes relating to customers’ claims that the customer was not aware of the full cost or existence of the insurance or limitations on insurance coverage; and

 

   

industry-wide investigations regarding business practices including, but not limited to, the use and the marketing of certain types of insurance policies or certificates of insurance.

The premiums we charge are subject to review by regulators. If they consider our loss ratios to be too low, they could require us to reduce our rates. Significant rate reductions could materially reduce our profitability.

On October 7, 2013, American Security Insurance Company (“ASIC”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, reached an agreement with the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (“FOIR”) to file for a 10% reduction in lender-placed hazard insurance rates in that state. These rates became effective for new and renewing policies starting in first quarter 2014. As part of the agreement, ASIC eliminated commissions and client quota-share reinsurance arrangements to meet new requirements of lender-placed insurance providers in Florida. ASIC recorded approximately $354,000 and $547,000 of direct earned premiums in Florida for the nine months ended September 2014 and full year 2013, respectively, for the types of policies that are subject to the rate reduction.

 

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In addition, on March 21, 2013, the Company and two of its wholly owned subsidiaries, ASIC and American Bankers Insurance Company of Florida (“ABIC”), reached an agreement with the New York Department of Financial Services (“NYDFS”) regarding the Company’s lender-placed insurance business in the State of New York. Under the terms of the agreement, and without admitting or denying any wrongdoing, ASIC made a $14,000 (non tax-deductible) settlement payment to the NYDFS. In addition, among other things, ASIC and ABIC agreed to modify certain business practices in accordance with requirements that apply to all New York-licensed lender-placed insurers of properties in the state, and filed their new lender-placed program and new rates in New York. In August 2014, the NYDFS approved the new rates. The changes to the program affect annual lender-placed hazard and real estate owned policies issued in the State of New York, which accounted for approximately $91,000 and $101,000 of Assurant Specialty Property’s net earned premiums for the nine months ended September 2014 and full year 2013, respectively.

In October 2012, ASIC reached an agreement with the California Department of Insurance to reduce premium rates for lender-placed hazard insurance products by 30.5%. The rate reduction reflects factors specific to California such as continued favorable loss experience in the state and different assumptions about future experience compared to our previous rate filing. The new rates in California began to apply to policies newly issued or renewed with effective dates on or after January 19, 2013. ASIC recorded approximately $69,000 and $106,000 of net earned premiums ($68,000 and $99,000 of gross written premium) in California for the type of policies that are subject to the rate reduction for the nine months ended September 2014 and full year 2013, respectively.

Lender-placed insurance products accounted for approximately 72% and 73% of Assurant Specialty Property’s net earned premiums for the nine months ended September 2014 and full year 2013, respectively. The approximate corresponding contributions to segment net income in these periods were 78% and 87%, respectively. The portion of total segment net income attributable to lender-placed products may vary substantially over time depending on the frequency, severity and location of catastrophic losses, the cost of catastrophe reinsurance and reinstatement coverage, the variability of claim processing costs and client acquisition costs, and other factors. In addition, we expect placement rates for these products to decline.

The Company files rates with the state departments of insurance in the ordinary course of business. As previously disclosed, in addition to this routine correspondence, the Company has been engaged in discussions and proceedings with certain state regulators regarding our lender-placed insurance business. The results of such reviews may vary. It is possible that other state departments of insurance and regulatory authorities may choose to initiate or continue to review the appropriateness of the Company’s premium rates for its lender-placed insurance products. If, in the aggregate further reviews by state departments of insurance lead to significant decreases in premium rates for the Company’s lender-placed insurance products, our results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

Further, actions by certain regulators—including but not limited to the NYDFS, FOIR and Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”)—may cause changes to the structure of the lender-placed insurance industry, including the arrangements under which we issue insurance and track coverage on mortgaged properties. These changes could materially adversely affect the results of operations of Assurant Specialty Property and the results of operations and financial condition of the Company.

In addition, the Company is involved in a variety of litigation relating to its current and past business operations and may from time to time become involved in other such actions. In particular, the Company is a defendant in class actions in a number of jurisdictions regarding its lender-placed insurance programs. These cases allege a variety of claims under a number of legal theories. The plaintiffs seek premium refunds and other relief. The Company continues to defend itself vigorously in these class actions and, as appropriate, to enter into settlements.

We participate in settlements on terms that we consider reasonable in light of the strength of our defenses; however, the results of any pending or future litigation and regulatory proceedings are inherently unpredictable and involve significant uncertainty. Unfavorable outcomes in litigation or regulatory proceedings, or significant problems in our relationships with regulators, could materially adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition, our reputation, our ratings, and our ability to continue to do business. They could also expose us to further investigations or litigation. In addition, certain of our clients in the mortgage and credit card and banking industries are the subject of various regulatory investigations and litigation regarding mortgage lending practices, credit insurance, debt-deferment and debt cancelation products, and the sale of ancillary products, which could indirectly affect our businesses.

 

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Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

Repurchase of Equity Securities:

 

Period in 2014

   Total
Number of
Shares Repurchased
     Average Price
Paid Per  Share
     Total Number of  Shares
Repurchased as Part of
Publicly Announced
Programs (1)
     Approximate
Dollar Value  of
Shares that
May Yet  be
Repurchased
Under the
Programs  (1)
 

January 1-31

     314,600       $ 66.56         314,600       $ 683,941   

February 1-28

                             683,941   

March 1-31

                             683,941   

April 1-30

     302,000         65.54         302,000         664,154   

May 1-31

     292,000         67.22         292,000         644,532   

June 1-30

     283,000         67.68         283,000         625,384   

July 1-31

                             625,384   

August 1-31

     386,000         65.07         386,000         600,275   

September 1-30

     186,000         65.00         186,000         588,188   
  

 

 

       

 

 

    

Total

     1,763,600       $ 66.18         1,763,600       $ 588,188   
  

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

(1) Shares purchased pursuant to the November 18, 2013 publicly announced share repurchase authorization of up to $600,000 of outstanding common stock.

 

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Item 6. Exhibits.

Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC, the Company has filed or incorporated by reference certain agreements as exhibits to this quarterly report on Form 10-Q. These agreements may contain representations and warranties by the parties. These representations and warranties have been made solely for the benefit of the other party or parties to such agreements and (i) may have been qualified by disclosures made to such other party or parties, (ii) were made only as of the date of such agreements or such other date(s) as may be specified in such agreements and are subject to more recent developments, which may not be fully reflected in the Company’s public disclosure, (iii) may reflect the allocation of risk among the parties to such agreements and (iv) may apply materiality standards different from what may be viewed as material to investors. Accordingly, these representations and warranties may not describe the Company’s actual state of affairs at the date hereof and should not be relied upon.

The following exhibits either (a) are filed with this report or (b) have previously been filed with the SEC and are incorporated herein by reference to those prior filings. Exhibits are available upon request at the investor relations section of our website at www.assurant.com. Our website is not a part of this report and is not incorporated by reference in this report.

 

10.1    Credit Agreement, dated as of September 16, 2014, among Assurant, Inc., the lenders party thereto, JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as syndication agent.
12.1    Computation of Ratio of Consolidated Earnings to Fixed Charges.
31.1    Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Principal Executive Officer
31.2    Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Principal Financial Officer.
32.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer of Assurant, Inc. pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer of Assurant, Inc. pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101    The following materials from the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2014, formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Operations, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iv) the Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity, (v) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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SIGNATURES

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

 

  ASSURANT, INC.
Date: November 4, 2014   By:  

/s/     ROBERT B. POLLOCK        

  Name:   Robert B. Pollock
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer
Date: November 4, 2014   By:  

/s/    CHRISTOPHER J. PAGANO        

  Name:   Christopher J. Pagano
  Title:   Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

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