EMC Insurance Group Inc. Reports 2016 Fourth Quarter and Year-End Results, and Announces 2017 Non-GAAP Operating Income1 Guidance and Participation…

EMC Insurance Group Inc. Reports 2016 Fourth Quarter and Year-End Results, and Announces 2017 Non-GAAP Operating Income1 Guidance and Participation By Management at Industry Conferences

DES MOINES, Iowa, Feb. 10 -- EMC Insurance Group, a publicly held insurance holding company, issued the following news release:

EMC Insurance Group Inc. (NASDAQ:EMCI) (the "Company"), today reported net income of $21.3 million ($1.01 per share) for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2016, compared to net income of $9.9 million ($0.48 per share) for the fourth quarter of 2015. For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company reported net income of $46.2 million ($2.20 per share), compared to $50.2 million ($2.43 per share) for the same period in 2015.

Non-GAAP operating income, which excludes realized investment gains/losses from net income, totaled $18.2 million ($0.86 per share) for the fourth quarter of 2016, compared to $13.4 million ($0.65 per share) for the fourth quarter of 2015. For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company reported non-GAAP operating income of $43.6 million ($2.07 per share), compared to $46.2 million ($2.24 per share) for the same period in 2015.

The Company's GAAP combined ratio was 91.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2016, compared to 94.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2015. For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company's GAAP combined ratio was 97.7 percent, compared to 96.3 percent in 2015.

"We are pleased to report our lowest fourth quarter GAAP combined ratio since 2005," stated President and Chief Executive Officer Bruce G. Kelley. "The property and casualty insurance segment performed better than expected, which allowed us to exceed expectations."

"Our new intercompany reinsurance program for the property and casualty insurance segment performed as expected given the quarterly amount of catastrophe and storm losses that were reported. For 2017, we anticipate more consistency in our quarterly results as the intercompany reinsurance programs for both the property and casualty insurance segment and the reinsurance segment were renewed."

Management is projecting 2017 non-GAAP operating income will be within a range of $1.35 to $1.55 per share. This guidance is based on a projected GAAP combined ratio of 100.3 percent for the year and investment income flat to down slightly. The projected GAAP combined ratio has a load of 9.4 points for catastrophe and storm losses, up from the relatively low 8.1 points experienced in 2016. Net realized investment gains/losses resulting from the sale of assets are not predictable due to changing market conditions and the discretionary nature of such events. As a result, management is unable to accurately project the Company's annual net income, and therefore utilizes non-GAAP operating income in the Company's projected annual guidance.

Kelley continued, "The 2017 guidance reflects management's expectation for further rate softening and increased competition, which will continue to pressure margins in both segments. As we continue to gain traction from the commercial auto and personal lines initiatives we have underway, we remain optimistic that we will begin to see gradual improvement in the performance of these lines of business during 2017."

Premiums earned increased 7.0 percent and 3.9 percent for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2016. In the property and casualty insurance segment, premiums earned increased 3.4 percent and 2.1 percent for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2016. The new intercompany reinsurance program between the Company's three property and casualty insurance subsidiaries and Employers Mutual Casualty Company (Employers Mutual), the Company's parent organization, reduced premiums earned by $765,000 and $7.8 million for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2016. Excluding the cost of this program, premiums earned increased 4.1 percent and 3.8 percent, respectively. The majority of these increases are attributed to growth in insured exposures, an increase in new business, an increase in retained policies in the commercial lines of business, and small rate level increases on renewal business.

In the reinsurance segment, premiums earned increased 22.1 percent and 10.5 percent for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2016. These increases reflect changes in the total cost of the revised intercompany reinsurance program with Employers Mutual, as well as a $7.2 million negative premium adjustment recorded in the fourth quarter of 2015. Excluding these factors, premiums earned decreased approximately 3.0 percent for the fourth quarter, but increased approximately 2.6 percent for the year ended December 31, 2016. The decrease for the fourth quarter was driven by a decline in pro rata business, which was partially offset by an increase in excess of loss business.

The total cost of the reinsurance segment's revised intercompany reinsurance program increased $134,000 for the fourth quarter, but declined $2.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. In 2016, the total cost of the intercompany reinsurance program includes the premiums paid to Employers Mutual, as well as the cost of Industry Loss Warranties (ILWs) that were purchased from external parties to provide increased protection in peak exposure territories. During 2015, the premium paid to Employers Mutual (8 percent of total assumed reinsurance premiums written) included the cost of ILWs purchased by Employers Mutual for its benefit.

Catastrophe and storm losses totaled $2.4 million ($0.07 per share after tax) in the fourth quarter of 2016, compared to $3.6 million ($0.11 per share after tax) in the fourth quarter of 2015. Catastrophe and storm losses were capped at $512,000 in the property and casualty insurance segment because the retention amount under the July 1 to December 31 treaty was reached. Fourth quarter 2016 catastrophe and storm losses accounted for 1.6 percentage points of the combined ratio, which was below the Company's most recent 10-year average of 3.1 percentage points for this period and the 2.6 percentage points experienced in the fourth quarter of 2015.

For the year ended December 31, 2016, catastrophe and storm losses totaled $47.9 million ($1.48 per share after tax), compared to $44.4 million ($1.40 per share after tax) in 2015. The property and casualty insurance segment recovered $7.5 million of catastrophe and storm losses from Employers Mutual under the intercompany reinsurance program during 2016. No recoveries were made under the reinsurance segment's intercompany reinsurance program during 2016.

The Company reported $11.8 million ($0.36 per share after tax) of favorable development on prior years' reserves during the fourth quarter of 2016, compared to $15.2 million ($0.47 per share after tax) in the fourth quarter of 2015. Included in the reported amount for the fourth quarter of 2015 is $1.9 million of favorable "mechanical" development resulting from a change in the allocation of bulk reserves between the current and prior accident years. For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company reported favorable development of $40.9 million ($1.27 per share after tax), compared to $35.1 million ($1.11 per share after tax) in 2015. Included in the reported amount for 2016 is $5.6 million of favorable "mechanical" development resulting from the change in the property and casualty insurance segment's reserving methodology, and included in the 2015 amount is $0.6 million of adverse "mechanical" development resulting from a change in the allocation of bulk reserves between the current and prior accident years. Excluding the "mechanical" development amounts, which do not have any impact on earnings, the implied amounts of favorable development that had an impact on earnings would be approximately $11.8 million and $35.3 million for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2016, compared to $13.3 million and $35.7 million for the same periods in 2015.

On a segment basis, fourth quarter 2016 favorable development totaled $7.8 million in the property and casualty insurance segment and $4.0 million in the reinsurance segment. The favorable development in the property and casualty insurance segment was primarily driven by moderate reductions in the ultimate loss ratios for several accident years in the workers' compensation line of business and a reduction in settlement expense reserves. The favorable development in the reinsurance segment was primarily driven by a reduction in carried reserves primarily associated with the 2015 accident year.

Large losses are defined as reported current accident year losses greater than $500,000 for the EMC Insurance Companies' pool, excluding catastrophe and storm losses. Under the property and casualty insurance segment's prior reserving methodology, large losses had a direct impact on earnings. Under the new reserving methodology, large losses are taken into consideration when establishing the current accident quarter/year ultimate estimates of losses, but there is no longer a direct relationship between large losses and earnings. As a result, beginning in the third quarter of 2016, large losses are no longer being reported separately.

Net investment income totaled $11.6 million for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2016, which is consistent with the fourth quarter of 2015. Net investment income increased 4.2 percent to $47.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, from $45.6 million for the same period in 2015. This increase primarily reflects growth in dividend income and income from other invested assets portfolio.

Net realized investment gains totaled $4.7 million ($0.15 per share after tax) and $4.1 million ($0.13 per share after tax) for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2016, compared to net realized investment losses of $5.4 million ($0.17 per share after tax) and net realized investment gains of $6.2 million ($0.19 per share after tax) for the same periods in 2015. Included in net realized investment gains reported for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2016 are $1.2 million and $6.5 million, respectively, of net realized investment losses attributed to declines in the carrying value of a limited partnership that helps protect the Company from a sudden and significant decline in the value of its equity portfolio. Included in the net realized investment gains/losses reported for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2015 are net realized investment losses of $5.3 million and $1.5 million, respectively, attributed to declines in the carrying value of this limited partnership.

Income tax expense totaled $7.9 million and $17.0 million for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2016, compared to $4.0 million and $21.5 million for the same periods. The effective tax rate was 27.1 percent and 26.9 percent for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2016, compared to 28.9 percent and 30.0 percent for the same periods in 2015. In the fourth quarter of 2016, the Company benefited from an investment in a limited liability company that is designed to provide a return on investment through the receipt of renewable energy tax credits. The tax credits reduced the income tax expense, resulting in an increase in net income of approximately $1.3 million. Without these credits, the effective tax rate would have been 31.9 percent and 29.1 percent for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2016.

At December 31, 2016, consolidated assets totaled $1.6 billion, including $1.5 billion in the investment portfolio, and stockholders' equity totaled $553.3 million, an increase of 5.4 percent from December 31, 2015. Book value of the Company's stock increased 3.2 percent to $26.07 per share from $25.26 per share at December 31, 2015, but declined 2.2 percent from September 30, 2016, due to a decline in the market value of the investment portfolio caused by an increase in interest rates. Book value excluding accumulated other comprehensive income increased 6.5 percent to $23.90 per share from $22.45 per share at December 31, 2015, and increased 3.5% from $23.09 on September 30, 2016. These increases were primarily driven by net income for the periods represented.

The Company will hold an earnings teleconference call at noon Eastern time on Friday, February 10, 2017, to allow securities analysts, stockholders and other interested parties the opportunity to hear management discuss the Company's results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2016, as well as its expectations for 2017. Dial-in information for the call is toll-free 1-866-652-5200 (International: 1-412-317-6060).

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

Participation by Management at Industry Conferences

On March 8, 2017, Mark E. Reese, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer will participate in meetings with institutional investors at the RBC Capital Markets Financial Institutions Conference in New York. The conference will take place at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel, located at 455 Madison Avenue, New York, NY.

Additionally, on Tuesday, March 21, 2017, Bruce G. Kelley and Kevin J. Hovick, Executive Vice President & COO, will present at the 21st Annual New York Society of Security Analysts (NYSSA) Insurance Conference in New York. The presentation will occur at 11:20 a.m. Eastern time at the offices of the NYSSA, located at 1540 Broadway, New York, NY. Interested persons may access the presentation slides on the Company's investor relations website at http://www.emcins.com/ir/Presentations.aspx on the day of the presentation. A live webcast of the event will not be available to the general public.

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