WORCESTER, Mass., April 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Hanover Insurance
Group, Inc. (NYSE: THG) today reported net income for the first quarter of
$63.6 million, or $1.22 per share, compared to $40.5 million, or $0.75 per
share, in the first quarter of last year. Net income in the first quarter of
2006 was primarily impacted by an additional recorded loss on the prior
disposal of our variable life insurance and annuity business in the amount of
$20.1 million or $0.38 per share. In the first quarter of 2007, the impact
from this transaction was only $0.2 million. Income from continuing operations
was $63.8 million for the first quarter, or $1.23 per share, compared to
$60.0 million, or $1.12 per share, in the first quarter of last year.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20051031/NEM023LOGO )
Total Property and Casualty pre-tax segment income was $100.9 million in
the quarter, compared to $91.7 million in the first quarter of last year. The
Personal Lines segment reported pre-tax segment earnings of $47.4 million in
the first quarter of 2007, compared to $49.0 million in the first quarter of
2006, while the Commercial Lines segment reported pre-tax segment earnings of
$49.0 million in the quarter, versus $39.0 million in 2006.
"We are off to a strong start with solid earnings growth," said
Frederick H. Eppinger, chief executive officer of The Hanover Insurance Group,
Inc. "Market conditions were more challenging than we expected, but we
continued to grow net written premium at almost 7% for the quarter while
maintaining solid margins."
Segment Results
The Hanover conducts its business in four operating segments. Property
and casualty operations consist of three operating segments: Personal Lines,
Commercial Lines, and Other Property and Casualty. The Personal Lines segment
markets automobile, homeowners and ancillary coverages to individuals and
families. The Commercial Lines segment offers a suite of products targeted at
the small to mid-size business markets, which include commercial multiple
peril, commercial automobile, workers' compensation and other commercial
coverages. The Other Property and Casualty segment includes a block of run-
off voluntary pools business in which we have not actively participated since
1995; AMGRO, Inc., a premium financing business; Opus Investment Management,
Inc., which provides investment management services to institutions, pension
funds and other organizations; and earnings on holding company assets. The
Life Companies, our fourth operating segment, include the run-off business of
First Allmerica Financial Life Insurance Company (FAFLIC), principally
consisting of traditional life insurance and retirement businesses.
The following table shows pre-tax segment income. It is presented in a
manner consistent with the way management evaluates results and is set forth
in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 131,
"Disclosures About Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information."
Quarter ended
March 31
(In millions)
2007 2006
Property and Casualty:
Personal Lines(1) $47.4 $49.0
Commercial Lines(2) $49.0 $39.0
Other Property and Casualty $4.5 $3.7
Total Property & Casualty $100.9 $91.7
Life Companies ($0.9) ($1.9)
Interest expense on corporate debt ($10.0) ($10.0)
Total pre-tax segment income $90.0 $79.8
Federal income tax expense $29.8 $23.6
Total segment income after taxes (3) $60.2 $56.2
(1) Includes Personal Lines pre-tax net impact of catastrophes of
$7.2 million and $3.7 million for the first quarter of 2007 and 2006,
respectively.
(2) Includes Commercial Lines pre-tax net impact of catastrophes of
$7.1 million and $3.6 million for the first quarter of 2007 and 2006,
respectively.
(3) See reconciliation from segment income to net income at the end of
this document.
Property and Casualty
Property and Casualty segment income was $100.9 million in the first
quarter of 2007, up from $91.7 million in the first quarter of 2006. Earnings
were higher in the quarter due primarily to favorable development of prior-
year loss reserves and growth, partially offset by higher underwriting and
loss adjustment expenses and higher current accident year losses.
Property and Casualty highlights:
-- Net premiums written were $612.0 million in the first quarter of 2007,
compared to $574.0 million in the first quarter of 2006, up 6.6%.
-- Net premiums earned were $584.4 million in the first quarter of 2007,
compared to $540.9 million in the first quarter of 2006.
-- New business net premiums written were $154.8 million in the first
quarter of 2007, representing an increase of 15.4% over the
$134.2 million in the first quarter of 2006.
-- Favorable development of prior-year reserves was $52.0 million in the
first quarter of 2007, compared to favorable development of
$26.5 million in the first quarter of 2006, driven primarily by our
Personal Auto and Workers' Compensation Lines.
The following tables summarize the components of the GAAP combined ratio
for the Property and Casualty segment:
Quarter ended
March 31
2007 2006
Personal Lines losses (excluding catastrophes) 53.0% 53.5%
Personal Lines catastrophe-related losses 1.7% 1.1%
Total Personal Lines losses 54.7% 54.6%
Commercial Lines losses (excluding catastrophes) 37.7% 41.6%
Commercial Lines catastrophe-related losses 2.5% 1.8%
Total Commercial Lines losses 40.2% 43.4%
Total P&C Losses 49.1% 50.4%
Loss adjustment expenses 11.3% 10.1%
Policy acquisition and other underwriting
expenses 33.4% 33.9%
Combined Ratio 93.8% 94.4%
Personal Lines
Personal Lines pre-tax segment income was $47.4 million in the quarter,
compared to $49.0 million in the first quarter of 2006.
In the first quarter of 2007, pre-tax net impact of catastrophes was
$7.2 million, compared to $3.7 million of pre-tax catastrophe losses in the
first quarter of 2006. Excluding catastrophes, segment income was
$54.6 million in the current quarter, compared to $52.7 million in the prior-
year quarter, an increase of $1.9 million, primarily due to higher favorable
development of prior-year loss reserves and higher net investment income
partially offset by higher current accident year losses and higher
underwriting and loss adjustment expenses. Prior-year reserves developed
favorably by $21.5 million in 2007 compared to $7.3 million in the first
quarter of 2006. The improvement in prior-year reserve development is driven
by personal auto liability and relates primarily to our more recent accident
years.
Net investment income was $29.5 million in the first quarter of 2007, up
$2.9 million compared to the first quarter of last year, driven primarily by
increased operating cash flows.
Current accident year loss ratios were higher in the first quarter of 2007
compared to the prior-year quarter. The increase in the current accident year
loss ratio is due to an increase in non-catastrophe, weather related claims
frequency in 2007, as well as the growth related expected increase in the
current accident year loss ratio.
Additionally, underwriting and loss adjustment expenses were $5.3 million
higher in the current quarter as compared to the prior year, primarily due to
higher employee related expenses.
Personal Lines highlights:
-- Net premiums written were $366.3 million in the first quarter of 2007,
compared to $341.6 million in the first quarter of 2006, up 7.2%.
-- Net premiums earned were $360.3 million in the first quarter of 2007,
compared to $339.8 million in the first quarter of 2006.
-- New business net premiums written were $75.2 million in the first
quarter of 2007, representing an increase of 25.3% compared to
$60.0 million in the first quarter of 2006.
-- The Personal Lines GAAP combined ratio was 95.9% in the first quarter,
versus 94.6% in the prior-year quarter.
-- The pre-tax net impact of catastrophes was $7.2 million, or 2.0 points
of the combined ratio for the first quarter of 2007 compared to
$3.7 million or 1.1 points of the combined ratio for the first quarter
of 2006.
-- Favorable development of prior-year reserves was $21.5 million in the
current quarter, compared to favorable development of $7.3 million in
the first quarter of 2006; improving the personal lines combined ratio
by 6.0 points and 2.1 points, respectively.
Commercial Lines
Commercial Lines pre-tax segment income was $49.0 million in the first
quarter on this year, compared to $39.0 million in the first quarter of 2006.
The pre-tax net impact of catastrophes in the first quarter of 2007 was
$7.1 million, compared to $3.6 million for the first quarter of 2006.
Excluding catastrophes, segment income was $56.1 million in the current
quarter, compared to $42.6 million in the prior-year quarter, an increase of
$13.5 million. This increase is primarily due to the favorable development of
prior-year reserves and net earned premium growth partially offset by higher
underwriting and loss adjustment expenses. The favorable development of prior-
year reserves was $30.5 million in the first quarter of 2007, compared to
$19.5 million in the prior-year quarter. The increase in favorable development
of prior year reserves was most significant in workers' compensation and
commercial auto.
Net earned premium growth of 11% in the quarter also contributed to the
increase in first quarter earnings.
Additionally, underwriting and loss adjustment expenses were $1.8 million
higher in the current quarter, as compared to the prior-year quarter, due to
higher employee-related expenses.
Commercial Lines highlights:
-- Net premiums written were $245.7 million in the first quarter of 2007,
compared to $232.4 million in the first quarter of 2006, up 5.7%.
-- Net premiums earned were $224.1 million in the current quarter,
compared to $201.1 million in the prior-year quarter.
-- New business net premiums written were $79.6 million in the first
quarter of 2007, representing an increase of 7.3% compared to
$74.2 million in the first quarter of 2006.
-- The Commercial Lines GAAP combined ratio was 90.8% in the first
quarter, compared to 94.1% in the prior year quarter.
-- The pre-tax net impact of catastrophes was $7.1 million, or 3.2 points
of the combined ratio for the first quarter of 2007, compared to
$3.6 million, or 1.8 points of the combined ratio for the first quarter
of 2006.
-- Favorable development of prior-year reserves was $30.5 million in the
first quarter of 2007, compared to favorable development of $19.5
million in the first quarter of 2006, improving the Commercial Lines
combined ratio by 13.6 points and 9.7 points, respectively.
Other Property & Casualty
Other Property & Casualty pre-tax segment income was $4.5 million in the
quarter, compared to $3.7 million in the prior-year quarter. Other Property &
Casualty includes our run-off voluntary pools, premium financing and
investment management operations.
Life Companies
Continuing Operations:
The continuing operations of the Life Companies consists of the FAFLIC
retained business. The retained business primarily includes various blocks of
traditional life insurance, group retirement business, guaranteed investment
contract (GIC) businesses, and our discontinued group life and health
business, including group life and health voluntary pools, which are all in
run-off.
The Life Companies continuing operations reported a segment loss of
$0.9 million in the first quarter of 2007, compared to a loss of $1.9 million
in the first quarter of 2006, primarily attributable to lower expenses.
Investment Results
Net investment income was $80.2 million for the first quarter of 2007,
compared to $80.3 million in the same period of 2006. Net investment income
for the property and casualty segment increased by $4.2 million, to
$60.7 million, for the first quarter of 2007, compared to the first quarter of
2006. This increase in property and casualty net investment income for the
quarter was driven primarily by increased operating cash flows and a fixed
maturity call premium payment. Offsetting the increase in property and
casualty net investment income was a decrease in net investment income in the
Life Companies of $4.4 million to $19.3 million. The decrease in Life
Companies net investment income was driven by lower average invested assets,
resulting from the maturities of long-term funding agreements and continued
cash outflows from the run-off of the life operations.
First quarter 2007 pre-tax net realized investment gains were
$2.3 million, compared to $5.6 million in the same period of 2006. In the
first quarter 2007, pre-tax net realized gains on sales of fixed maturities of
$2.8 million were partially offset by $0.5 million of capital losses resulting
from impairments on certain fixed maturity securities. In the first quarter of
2006, pre-tax net realized investment gains of $10.4 million were primarily
from sales of investments. These gains were partially offset by $4.8 million
of capital losses resulting from impairments on certain fixed maturity
securities.
Balance Sheet
Shareholders' equity was $2.1 billion, or $40.92 per share at March 31,
2007, compared to $2.0 billion, or $39.10 per share, at December 31, 2006.
Accumulated other comprehensive income book value was $41.33 per share at the
close of the current quarter, compared to $39.88 per share at December 31,
2006.
Earnings Conference Call
The Hanover will host a conference call to discuss the Company's first
quarter results on Tuesday, May 1 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. A PowerPoint
slide presentation will accompany our prepared remarks and has been posted on
our web site. Interested investors and others can listen to the call and
access the presentation through The Hanover's web site, located at
http://www.hanover.com . Web-cast participants should go to the web site 15
minutes early to register, download, and install any necessary audio software.
A re-broadcast of the conference call will be available on this web site two
hours after the call.
Statistical Supplement
The Hanover's first quarter earnings press release and statistical
supplement are also available in the Investors section at
http://www.hanover.com .
Forward-Looking Statements and Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Certain statements in this release or in the above referenced conference
call may be considered to be forward-looking statements as defined in the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Use of the words
"believes," "anticipates," "expects," "projections," "outlook," "should,"
"plan," "guidance" and similar expressions is intended to identify forward-
looking statements. The Company cautions investors that any such forward-
looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual
results could differ materially. Investors are directed to consider the
risks and uncertainties in its business that may affect future performance and
that are discussed in readily available documents, including the Company's
annual report and other documents filed by The Hanover with the Securities and
Exchange Commission and which are also available at www.hanover.com under
"Investors". These uncertainties include the possibility of adverse
catastrophe experiences (including terrorism) and severe weather, the
uncertainties in estimating property and casualty losses (particularly with
respect to products with longer tails and with respect to losses incurred as
the result of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita), the possibility of adverse
judicial decisions, which expand policy coverage beyond its intended scope
(such as recent decisions in Louisiana involving the so-called "flood"
exclusions and so-called "Valued Policy Law"), the ability to increase or
maintain certain property and casualty insurance rates, the impact of new
product introductions (such as the multivariate personal auto product and the
homeowners tiered product), adverse loss development and adverse trends in
mortality and morbidity and medical costs, change in the current favorable
frequency and loss trends generally being experienced industry-wide, the
ability to improve renewal rates and increase new property and casualty policy
counts, investment impairments, heightened competition (including rate
pressure), adverse state and federal legislation or regulation or regulatory
actions (such as recent mandated decrease in rates for Massachusetts personal
automobile insurance and Florida homeowners policies), financial ratings
actions, uncertainties in estimating the FIN 45 liability recorded in
conjunction with certain indemnity obligations to Goldman Sachs in connection
with the sale of the variable life insurance and annuity business (including
with respect to existing and potential litigation and regulatory actions and
the remediation of certain processing errors in connection with tax
reporting), and various other factors.
The Hanover uses non-GAAP financial measures as important measures of the
Company's operating performance, including total segment income, property and
casualty segment income, and measures of segment income and loss ratios
excluding catastrophe losses or reserve development.
Segment income is net income excluding federal income taxes and net
realized investment gains and losses, including gains or losses on certain
derivative instruments, because fluctuations in these gains and losses are
determined by interest rates, financial markets and the timing of sales.
Segment income also excludes net gains and losses on disposals of businesses,
discontinued operations, restructuring costs, extraordinary items, the
cumulative effect of accounting changes and certain other items. Property and
Casualty segment income is the sum of the segment income of the three
operating segments of The Hanover's property and casualty operations:
Personal Lines, Commercial Lines and Other Property and Casualty. The Hanover
believes that measures of total segment income and Property and Casualty
segment income provide investors with a valuable measure of the performance of
the Company's ongoing businesses because they highlight net income
attributable to the core operations of the business.
The Hanover also provides measures of segment income and loss ratios that
exclude the effects of catastrophe losses. A catastrophe is a severe loss,
resulting from natural or manmade events, including risks such as fire,
hurricane, earthquake, windstorm, explosion, terrorism or other similar
events. Each catastrophe has unique characteristics. Catastrophes are not
predictable as to timing or loss amount in advance. The Hanover believes that
a discussion of the effect of catastrophes is meaningful for investors to
understand the variability of periodic earnings and loss ratios.
Net income is the most directly comparable GAAP measure for total segment
income, Property and Casualty segment income and measures of segment income
that exclude the effects of catastrophe losses or reserve development.
Segment income, Property and Casualty segment income and measures of segment
income that exclude the effects of catastrophe losses or reserve development
should not be construed as a substitute for net income determined in
accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of net income to segment income and
Property and Casualty segment income for the quarters ended March 31, 2007 and
2006 is set forth in the table at the end of this document and in the
statistical supplement. Loss ratios calculated in accordance with GAAP are
the most directly comparable GAAP measure for loss ratios calculated excluding
the effects of catastrophe losses. The presentation of loss ratios calculated
excluding the effects of catastrophe losses should not be construed as a
substitute for loss ratios determined in accordance with GAAP.
The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc., based in Worcester, Mass., is the
holding company for a group of insurers that includes The Hanover Insurance
Company, also based in Worcester, Citizens Insurance Company of America,
headquartered in Howell, Michigan, and their affiliates. The Hanover offers a
wide range of property and casualty products and services to individuals,
families and businesses through an extensive network of independent agents,
and has been meeting its obligations to its agent partners and their customers
for more than 150 years. Taken as a group, The Hanover ranks among the top 35
property and casualty insurers in the United States.
Contact Information
Investors: Media:
Sujata Mutalik Michael F. Buckley
E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
1-508-855-3457 1-508-855-3099
THE HANOVER INSURANCE GROUP, INC.
(In millions, except per share data)
Quarter ended
March 31
2007 2006
Net income $63.6 $40.5
Net income per share(1) $1.22 $0.75
Weighted average shares (diluted) 51.9 53.6
The following is a reconciliation from segment income to net income (2):
PER SHARE DATA (DILUTED)(1) Quarter ended
March 31
2007 2006
$ Per Share $ Per Share
Property and Casualty
Personal Lines $47.4 -- $49.0 --
Commercial Lines 49.0 -- 39.0 --
Other Property & Casualty 4.5 -- 3.7 --
Total Property and Casualty 100.9 -- 91.7 --
Life Companies (0.9) -- (1.9) --
Interest expense on corporate
debt (10.0) -- (10.0) --
Total segment income 90.0 $1.73 79.8 $1.49
Federal income tax expense on
P&C segment income (34.1) -- (28.9) --
Federal income tax benefit on
other segment income 4.3 -- 5.3 --
Federal income tax expense on
segment income (29.8) (0.57) (23.6) (0.44)
Total segment income after
federal income taxes 60.2 1.16 56.2 1.05
Federal income tax
settlement 2.4 0.04 - -
Net realized investment
gains, net of
amortization 1.9 0.04 5.8 0.11
Restructuring costs (-) (-) (0.3) (0.01)
Federal income tax expense
on non-segment income (0.7) (0.01) (1.7) (0.03)
Income from continuing
operations, net of taxes 63.8 1.23 60.0 1.12
Loss on disposal of
variable life insurance
and annuity business, net
of taxes (0.2) (0.01) (20.1) (0.38)
Income before cumulative
effect of accounting change 63.6 1.22 39.9 0.74
Cumulative effect of change
in accounting principle, net
of taxes - - 0.6 0.01
Net income $63.6 $1.22 $40.5 $0.75
(1) Basic net income per share was $1.24 and $0.76 for the quarters ended
March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
(2) In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.
131, Disclosure about Segments of an Enterprise and Related
Information, the separate financial information of each segment is
presented consistent with the way results are regularly evaluated by
the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate
resources and in assessing performance.
Management evaluates the results of the aforementioned segments on a pre-
tax basis. Segment income is determined by adjusting net income for net
realized investment gains and losses including certain gains or losses on
derivative instruments, because fluctuations in these gains and losses are
determined by interest rates, financial markets and the timing of sales.
Also, segment income excludes net gains and losses on disposals of businesses,
discontinued operations, restructuring and reorganization costs, extraordinary
items, the cumulative effect of accounting changes and certain other items.
Net income includes the following items by segment:
Quarter ended March 31, 2007
Other
Personal Commercial Property Life
Lines Lines & Casualty Companies Total
(2)
Net realized investment
gains (losses) (1) (0.4) (0.3) 1.0 1.6 1.9
Loss on disposal of
variable life insurance
and annuity business,
net of taxes -- -- -- (0.2) (0.2)
Federal income tax
settlement -- -- -- 2.4 2.4
Quarter ended March 31, 2006
Other
Personal Commercial Property Life
Lines Lines & Casualty Companies Total
(2)
Net realized investment
gains (losses) (1) 2.2 2.2 5.2 (3.8) 5.8
Loss on disposal of
variable life insurance
and annuity business,
net of taxes -- -- -- (20.1) (20.1)
Restructuring costs -- -- -- (0.3) (0.3)
Cumulative effect of
change in accounting
principle, net of taxes 0.2 0.3 -- 0.1 0.6
(1) We manage investment assets for our property and casualty business
based on the requirements of the entire property and casualty group.
We allocate the investment income, expenses and realized gains
(losses) to our Personal Lines, Commercial Lines and Other Property
and Casualty segments based on actuarial information related to the
underlying business.
(2) Includes corporate eliminations.
All figures reported are unaudited.
SOURCE The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc.
Contact: Investors, Sujata Mutalik, +1-508-855-3457,
[email protected] , or Media, Michael F. Buckley, +1-508-855-3099,
[email protected] , both of The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc.