Form 10-K
Table of Contents

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

 

 

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

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007

OR

 

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

For the transition period from              to             

Commission file number 1-10890

HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   37-0911756

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

1 Horace Mann Plaza, Springfield, Illinois 62715-0001

(Address of principal executive offices, including Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: 217-789-2500

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Name of each exchange on

    which registered    

Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share   New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    Yes  ¨    No  x

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 if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ¨

Indicate by check mark the registrant’s filer status, as such terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act.

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company, as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act. Yes  ¨  No  x

The aggregate market value of the registrant’s Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant based on the closing price of the registrant’s Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange and the shares outstanding on June 30, 2007, was $919.2 million.

As of February 19, 2008, 40,633,237 shares of the registrant’s Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, were outstanding, net of 20,241,747 shares of treasury stock.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Certain portions of the registrant’s Proxy Statement for the 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference into Part II Item 5 and Part III Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 of Form 10-K as specified in those Items and will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after December 31, 2007.

 

 


Table of Contents

HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION

FORM 10-K

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2007

INDEX

 

Part

  

Item

        Page

I

   1.    Business    1
      Forward-looking Information    1
      Overview and Available Information    1
      History    2
      Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Data    3
      Corporate Strategy and Marketing    4
      Property and Casualty Segment    7
      Annuity Segment    15
      Life Segment    17
      Competition    18
      Investments    19
      Cash Flow    22
      Regulation    22
      Employees    24
   1A.    Risk Factors    25
   1B.    Unresolved Staff Comments    35
   2.    Properties    35
   3.    Legal Proceedings    36
   4.    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    36

II

   5.    Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities    36
   6.    Selected Financial Data    38
   7.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    38
   7A.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    38
   8.    Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data    39
   9.    Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure    39
   9A.    Controls and Procedures    39
   9B.    Other Information    40

III

   10.    Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance    40
   11.    Executive Compensation    40
   12.    Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters    41
   13.    Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence    41
   14.    Principal Accounting Fees and Services    41

IV

   15.    Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules    41
      Signatures    47
      Index to Financial Information    F-1


Table of Contents

PART I

 

ITEM 1. Business

Forward-looking Information

It is important to note that the Company’s actual results could differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements is contained in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Forward-looking Information”.

Overview and Available Information

Horace Mann Educators Corporation (“HMEC”; and together with its subsidiaries, the “Company” or “Horace Mann”) is an insurance holding company incorporated in Delaware. Through its subsidiaries, HMEC markets and underwrites personal lines of property and casualty (primarily private passenger automobile and homeowners) insurance, retirement annuities (primarily tax-qualified products) and life insurance in the United States of America (“U.S.”). HMEC’s principal insurance subsidiaries are Horace Mann Life Insurance Company (“HMLIC”), Horace Mann Insurance Company (“HMIC”) and Teachers Insurance Company (“TIC”), and each of which is an Illinois corporation; Horace Mann Property & Casualty Insurance Company (“HMPCIC”), a California corporation; and Horace Mann Lloyds (“HM Lloyds”), an insurance company domiciled in Texas.

The Company markets its products primarily to K-12 educators and other employees of public schools and their families. The Company’s nearly one million customers typically have moderate annual incomes, with many belonging to two-income households. Their financial planning tends to focus on retirement, security, savings and primary insurance needs. Management believes that Horace Mann is the largest national multiline insurance company focused on the nation’s educators as its primary market.

The Company markets and services its products primarily through an exclusive sales force of full-time agents employed by the Company and trained to sell multiline products. The Company’s agents sell Horace Mann’s products and limited additional third-party vendor products authorized by the Company. Many of the Company’s agents are former educators or individuals with close ties to the educational community who utilize their contacts within, and knowledge of, the target market. Compensation for agents includes an incentive element based upon the profitability of the business they write. This exclusive agent sales force is supplemented by an independent agent distribution channel for the Company’s annuity products.

The Company’s insurance premiums written and contract deposits for the year ended December 31, 2007 were $974.7 million and net income was $82.8 million. The Company’s total assets were $6.3 billion at December 31, 2007. The property and casualty segment accounted for 55% of the Company’s insurance premiums written and contract deposits for the year ended December 31, 2007; the annuity and life insurance segments together accounted for 45% of insurance premiums written and contract deposits for the year ended December 31, 2007 (35% and 10%, respectively).

 

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The Company is one of the largest participants in the 403(b) tax-qualified annuity market, measured by 403(b) net written premium on a statutory accounting basis. The Company’s 403(b) tax-qualified annuities are annuities purchased voluntarily by individuals employed by public school systems or other tax-exempt organizations. The Company has approved 403(b) payroll reduction capabilities in over one-third of the 16,000 school districts in the U.S.

The Company’s investment portfolio had an aggregate fair value of $4.2 billion at December 31, 2007. Investments consist principally of investment grade, publicly traded fixed income securities.

The Company’s annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements, and all amendments to those reports are available free of charge through the Investor Relations section of the Company’s Internet Web site, www.horacemann.com, as soon as reasonably practicable after such reports are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The EDGAR filings of such reports are also available at the SEC’s Web site, www.sec.gov.

Also available in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s Web site are its corporate governance principles, code of conduct and code of ethics as well as the charters of the Board’s Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Executive Committee, Investment and Finance Committee, and Nominating and Governance Committee.

Louis G. Lower II, Chief Executive Officer of HMEC, timely submitted the Annual Section 12(a) CEO Certification to the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) on June 11, 2007 without any qualifications. The Company filed with the SEC, as exhibits to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, the CEO and CFO certifications required under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

History

The Company’s business was founded in Springfield, Illinois in 1945 by two school teachers to sell automobile insurance to other teachers within the State of Illinois. The Company expanded its business to other states and broadened its product line to include life insurance in 1949, 403(b) tax-qualified retirement annuities in 1961 and homeowners insurance in 1965. In November 1991, HMEC completed an initial public offering of its common stock (the “IPO”). The common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “HMN”.

 

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SELECTED HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

The following consolidated statement of operations and balance sheet data have been derived from the consolidated financial statements of the Company, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The consolidated financial statements of the Company for each of the years in the five-year period ended December 31, 2007 have been audited by KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm. The following selected historical consolidated financial data should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements of HMEC and its subsidiaries and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”.

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
   2007     2006     2005    2004    2003  
   (Dollars in millions, except per share data)  

Statement of Operations Data:

            

Insurance premiums and contract charges earned

   $ 654.3     $ 653.9     $ 664.9    $ 674.7    $ 643.5  

Net investment income

     223.8       209.0       194.6      191.4      184.7  

Realized investment gains (losses)

     (3.4 )     10.9       9.8      12.2      25.5  

Total revenues

     887.0       885.8       880.2      883.2      855.8  

Amortization of intangible assets (1)

     5.4       6.1       5.1      6.0      5.0  

Interest expense

     14.1       13.1       8.9      6.8      6.3  

Income before income taxes

     117.1       140.3       94.0      69.7      19.2  

Net income (2)

     82.8       98.7       77.3      56.3      19.0  

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (3)

     1.8x       2.0x       1.8x      1.6x      1.2x  

Per Share Data (4):

            

Net income per share:

            

Basic

   $ 1.92     $ 2.29     $ 1.80    $ 1.32    $ 0.44  

Diluted

   $ 1.86     $ 2.19     $ 1.67    $ 1.25    $ 0.44  

Shares of Common Stock (in millions):

            

Weighted average - basic

     43.1       43.0       42.9      42.8      42.7  

Weighted average - diluted

     44.6       45.8       47.9      47.3      42.9  

Ending outstanding

     42.2       43.1       43.0      42.8      42.7  

Cash dividends per share

   $ 0.42     $ 0.42     $ 0.42    $ 0.42    $ 0.42  

Book value per share

   $ 16.41     $ 15.25     $ 13.51    $ 13.45    $ 12.42  

Balance Sheet Data, at Year End:

            

Total investments

   $ 4,180.3     $ 4,302.2     $ 3,996.5    $ 3,657.2    $ 3,385.7  

Total assets

     6,259.3       6,329.7       5,840.6      5,371.9      4,953.2  

Total policy liabilities

     3,383.3       3,301.4       3,172.1      3,010.6      2,787.0  

Short-term debt

     —         —         —        25.0      25.0  

Long-term debt

     199.5       232.0       190.9      144.7      144.7  

Total shareholders’ equity

     693.3       657.1       580.6      576.2      530.5  

Segment Information (5):

            

Insurance premiums written and contract deposits

            

Property and casualty

   $ 535.2     $ 539.8     $ 546.9    $ 562.3    $ 546.5  

Annuity

     337.1       325.7       320.1      327.0      296.6  

Life

     102.4       103.9       105.6      109.1      112.4  

Total

     974.7       969.4       972.6      998.4      955.5  

Net income (loss)

            

Property and casualty

   $ 61.2     $ 74.3     $ 45.0    $ 27.6    $ (17.8 )

Annuity

     17.6       13.2       15.1      12.6      14.4  

Life

     17.3       14.5       13.4      14.8      13.4  

Corporate and other (2) (6)

     (13.3 )     (3.3 )     3.8      1.3      9.0  

Total

     82.8       98.7       77.3      56.3      19.0  

 

  (1) Amortization of intangible assets is comprised of amortization of acquired value of insurance in force and is the result of purchase accounting adjustments related to the 1989 acquisition of the Company.

 

  (2) In 2005, the Company’s federal income tax expense reflected a reduction of $9.1 million from the closing of tax years 1996 through 2001 with favorable resolution of the contingent tax liabilities related to those prior tax years.

 

  (3) For the purpose of determining the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, “earnings” consist of income before income taxes and fixed charges, and “fixed charges” consist of interest expense (including amortization of debt issuance cost) and interest credited to policyholders on interest-sensitive contracts.

 

  (4) Basic earnings per share is computed based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share is computed based on the weighted average number of shares and common stock equivalents outstanding. The Company’s common stock equivalents relate to outstanding common stock options, Director Stock Plan units, Employee Stock Plan units and restricted stock units. The Company’s Senior Convertible Notes, which were issued in May 2002, are considered potentially dilutive securities and are included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share, to the extent dilutive, per Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) issue 04-8, “The Effect of Contingently Convertible Instruments on Diluted Earnings per Share”. In May 2007, the Company redeemed all remaining Senior Convertible Notes.

 

  (5) Information regarding assets by segment at December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 is contained in “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Note 13 — Segment Information” listed on page F-1 of this report.

 

  (6) The corporate and other segment primarily includes interest expense on debt and the impact of realized investment gains and losses, debt retirement costs and gains and certain public company expenses.

 

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Corporate Strategy and Marketing

The Horace Mann Value Proposition

The Horace Mann Value Proposition articulates the Company’s overarching strategy and business purpose: Provide lifelong financial well-being for educators and their families through personalized service, advice, and a full range of tailored insurance and financial products.

Target Market

Management believes that Horace Mann is the largest national multiline insurance company focused on the nation’s educators as its primary market. The Company’s target market consists primarily of K-12 educators and other employees of public schools and their families located throughout the U.S. The U.S. Department of Education estimates that there are approximately 3.6 million elementary and secondary teachers in public and private schools in the U.S. The Company also markets its products to other education-related customers, including school administrators, education support personnel, private school teachers, community college personnel and customer referrals.

Exclusive Agency Force

A cornerstone of the Company’s marketing strategy is its exclusive sales force of full-time employee agents trained to sell multiline products. As of December 31, 2007, the Company employed 790 full-time agents, approximately 75% of which are licensed by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), formerly the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (“NASD”), to sell variable annuities and variable universal life policies. Many of the Company’s agents were previously teachers, other members of the education profession or persons with close ties to the educational community. The Company’s exclusive agents are under contract to market only the Company’s products and limited additional third-party vendor products authorized by the Company. Collectively, the Company’s principal insurance subsidiaries are licensed to write business in 49 states and the District of Columbia.

In 2006, the Company began the transition from a single-person agent operation to its new Agency Business Model (“ABM”), with agents in outside offices with support personnel and licensed producers, designed to remove current capacity constraints and increase productivity. The first Agency Business School session was conducted in October 2006, beginning the formal roll-out of this model. From October 2006 through December 31, 2007, 196 of the agents at December 31, 2007 and all field sales management completed this training. At the time of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, management anticipates conducting additional schools in 2008 and beyond for those agents who meet the Company’s qualifications and demonstrate they are able to successfully migrate into the ABM model. On an ongoing basis, the Company will also provide follow-up training and support to those agents who have completed the school, to further embed repeatable processes and fully maximize the potential of ABM. Property and casualty initiatives to support that transition and drive business growth include expanding to more states the Company’s Educator Segmentation Model — a more precise approach to pricing automobile business — and its Product Management Organization — focusing on localized approaches to pricing, underwriting and marketing. The Company is also developing a new property and casualty policy administration system with an automated point-of-sale front end. Annuity and life initiatives to support the transition to ABM include the roll out of a new lineup of Horace Mann manufactured and branded products, as described in “Annuity Segment” and “Life Segment”.

 

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Broadening Distribution Options

In 2001, to complement and extend the reach of the Company’s agency force and to more fully utilize its approved payroll deduction slots in school systems across the country which are assigned to Horace Mann, the Company began building a network of independent agents to distribute the Company’s 403(b) tax-qualified annuity products. In addition to serving educators in areas where the Company does not have exclusive agents, the independent agents complement the annuity capabilities of the Company’s agents in under-penetrated areas. At December 31, 2007, there were 903 independent agents approved to market the Company’s annuity products throughout the U.S. During 2007, collected contract deposits from this distribution channel were approximately $43 million.

Geographic Composition of Business

The Company’s business is geographically diversified. For the year ended December 31, 2007, based on direct insurance premiums and contract deposits for all product lines, the top five states and their portion of total direct insurance premiums and contract deposits were Illinois, 7.9%; Florida, 7.2%; North Carolina, 6.6%; California, 6.5%; and Minnesota, 5.3%.

HMEC’s property and casualty subsidiaries write business in 48 states and the District of Columbia. The following table sets forth the Company’s top ten property and casualty states based on total direct premiums in 2007:

Property and Casualty Segment Top Ten States

(Dollars in millions)

 

     Property and Casualty
Segment
 
   Direct
Premiums (1)
   Percent
  of Total  
 

State

     

Florida

   $ 56.3    10.1 %

California

     48.2    8.6  

North Carolina

     38.8    7.0  

Minnesota

     37.4    6.7  

Texas

     29.7    5.3  

Louisiana

     26.9    4.8  

Pennsylvania

     24.3    4.3  

South Carolina

     24.3    4.3  

Georgia

     17.8    3.2  

Maine

     17.4    3.1  
             

Total of top ten states

     321.1    57.4  

All other areas

     238.2    42.6  
             

Total direct premiums

   $ 559.3    100.0 %
             

 

(1) Defined as earned premiums before reinsurance and is determined under statutory accounting principles.

 

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HMEC’s principal life insurance subsidiary writes business in 48 states and the District of Columbia. The following table sets forth the Company’s top ten combined life and annuity states based on total direct premiums and contract deposits in 2007:

Combined Life and Annuity Segments Top Ten States

(Dollars in millions)

 

     Direct
Premiums
and
Contract
Deposits (1)
   Percent
of Total
 

State

     

Illinois

   $ 67.1    15.1 %

Virginia

     28.9    6.5  

North Carolina

     27.2    6.1  

South Carolina

     20.6    4.6  

Tennessee

     18.2    4.1  

Texas

     17.8    4.0  

California

     17.1    3.8  

Indiana

     16.2    3.6  

Florida

     15.8    3.5  

Minnesota

     15.4    3.5  
             

Total of top ten states

     244.3    54.8  

All other areas

     201.6    45.2  
             

Total direct premiums

   $ 445.9    100.0 %
             

 

(1) Defined as collected premiums before reinsurance and is determined under statutory accounting principles.

National, State and Local Education Associations

The Company has had a long relationship with the National Education Association (“NEA”), the nation’s largest confederation of state and local teachers’ associations, and many of the state and local education associations affiliated with the NEA. The NEA has approximately 2.8 million members. The Company maintains a special advisory board, primarily composed of leaders of state education associations, that meets with Company management at least annually. The NEA and its affiliated state and local associations sponsor various insurance products and services of the Company and its competitors. The Company does not pay the NEA or any affiliated associations any consideration in exchange for sponsorship of Company products. The Company does pay for certain special functions and advertising that appears in NEA and state education association publications.

From 1984 to September 1993 and from September 1996 to August 2007, the NEA purchased from the Company educator excess professional liability insurance for all of its members. The NEA’s contract to purchase this insurance from the Company expired in August 2007. Premiums from this product represented less than 1% of all insurance premiums written and contract deposits of the Company in 2006.

The Company also has established relationships with a number of other educator groups, such as school administrator and principal associations, throughout the U.S. The Company pays for certain special functions and advertising that appears in publications of these organizations.

 

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Property and Casualty Segment

The property and casualty segment represented 55% of the Company’s total insurance premiums written and contract deposits in 2007.

The primary property and casualty product offered by the Company is private passenger automobile insurance, which in 2007 represented 38% of the Company’s total insurance premiums written and contract deposits and 68% of property and casualty net written premiums. As of December 31, 2007, the Company had approximately 535,000 voluntary automobile policies in force with annual premiums of approximately $364 million. The Company’s automobile business is primarily preferred risk, defined as a household whose drivers have had no recent accidents and no more than one recent moving violation.

In 2007, homeowners insurance represented 17% of the Company’s total insurance premiums written and contract deposits and 31% of property and casualty net written premiums. As of December 31, 2007, the Company had approximately 266,000 homeowners policies in force with annual premiums of approximately $190 million. The Company insures primarily residential homes.

Through 2006, educator excess professional liability insurance represented less than 1% of the Company’s total insurance premiums written and contract deposits and less than 2% of property and casualty written premiums. The NEA’s contract to purchase this insurance from the Company expired in August 2007. See “Corporate Strategy and Marketing — National, State and Local Education Associations”. The Company’s underwriting results from educator excess professional liability insurance have generally represented amounts which were not a material portion of net income for the Company or for the property and casualty segment.

The Company has programs in a majority of states to provide higher-risk automobile and homeowners coverages, with third-party vendors underwriting and bearing the risk of such insurance and the Company receiving commissions on the sales. As an example, in Florida the Company has partnered with three companies to place certain homeowners business to help control the Company’s coastal risk exposure.

 

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Selected Historical Financial Information For Property and Casualty Segment

The following table sets forth certain financial information with respect to the property and casualty segment for the periods indicated.

Property and Casualty Segment

Selected Historical Financial Information

(Dollars in millions)

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
   2007     2006     2005  

Operations Data:

      

Insurance premiums written (1)

   $ 535.2     $ 539.8     $ 546.9  

Insurance premiums earned (1)

     535.1       537.7       549.6  

Net investment income

     38.0       35.3       33.2  

Income before income taxes

     84.7       104.8       58.0  

Net income

     61.2       74.3       45.0  

Catastrophe costs, pretax (2)

     23.6       19.8       69.2  

Operating Statistics:

      

Loss and loss adjustment expense ratio

     67.4 %     63.3 %     72.4 %

Expense ratio

     24.5 %     24.3 %     23.2 %

Combined loss and expense ratio

     91.9 %     87.6 %     95.6 %

Effect of catastrophe costs on the combined ratio (2)

     4.4 %     3.6 %     12.3 %

Automobile and Homeowners (Voluntary):

      

Insurance premiums written

      

Automobile

   $ 365.3     $ 368.0     $ 381.1  

Homeowners (1)

     165.3       158.6       154.1  

Total (1)

     530.6       526.6       535.2  

Insurance premiums earned

      

Automobile

     364.6       368.5       386.0  

Homeowners (1)

     160.5       156.5       152.8  

Total (1)

     525.1       525.0       538.8  

Policies in force (in thousands)

      

Automobile

     535       533       531  

Homeowners

     266       266       266  

Total

     801       799       797  

 

(1) As a result of catastrophes in the third quarter of 2005, the Company incurred additional ceded written and earned premiums to reinstate its property and casualty catastrophe reinsurance coverage of $9.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2005.

 

(2) These measures are used by the Company’s management to evaluate performance against historical results and establish targets on a consolidated basis. These measures are components of net income but are considered non-GAAP financial measures under applicable SEC rules because they are not displayed as separate line items in the Consolidated Statement of Operations and require inclusion or exclusion of certain items not ordinarily included or excluded in a GAAP financial measure. In the opinion of the Company’s management, a discussion of these measures is meaningful to provide investors with an understanding of the significant factors that comprise the Company’s periodic results of operations.

 

   

Catastrophe costs—The sum of catastrophe losses and property and casualty catastrophe reinsurance reinstatement premiums.

 

   

Catastrophe losses—In categorizing property and casualty claims as being from a catastrophe, the Company utilizes the designations of the Property Claims Service, a subsidiary of Insurance Services Office, Inc. (“ISO”), and additionally beginning in 2007, includes losses from all such events that meet the definition of covered loss in the Company’s primary catastrophe excess of loss reinsurance contract, and reports loss and loss adjustment expense amounts net of reinsurance recoverables. A catastrophe is a severe loss resulting from natural and man-made events within a particular territory, including risks such as hurricane, fire, earthquake, windstorm, explosion, terrorism and other similar events, that causes $25 million or more in insured property and casualty losses for the industry and affects a significant number of property and casualty insurers and policyholders. Each catastrophe has unique characteristics. Catastrophes are not predictable as to timing or amount in advance. Their effects are not included in earnings or claim and claim adjustment expense reserves prior to occurrence. In the opinion of the Company’s management, a discussion of the impact of catastrophes is meaningful for investors to understand the variability in periodic earnings.

 

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Catastrophe Costs

The level of catastrophe costs can fluctuate significantly from year to year. Catastrophe costs before federal income tax benefits for the Company and the property and casualty industry for the ten years ended December 31, 2007 were as follows:

Catastrophe Costs

(Dollars in millions)

 

     The
Company (1)
   Property and
Casualty
Industry (2)

Year Ended December 31,

     

2007

   $ 23.6    $ 6,500.0

2006

     19.8      9,000.0

2005

     69.2      61,900.0

2004

     75.5      27,500.0

2003

     33.2      12,900.0

2002

     11.9      5,900.0

2001

     11.2      26,500.0

2000

     16.2      4,600.0

1999

     19.6      8,300.0

1998

     28.4      10,100.0

 

(1) Net of reinsurance and before federal income tax benefits. Includes allocated loss adjustment expenses and reinsurance reinstatement premiums. The Company’s individually significant catastrophe losses net of reinsurance were as follows:

 

2007 -

  $4.7 million, August wind/hail/tornadoes; $4.5 million, October California wildfires; $3.5 million, June wind/hail/tornadoes.

2006 -

  $5.0 million, August wind/hail/tornadoes; $3.9 million, April wind/hail/tornadoes.

2005 -

  $23.7 million, Hurricane Katrina; $15.0 million, Hurricane Wilma; $10.8 million, Hurricane Rita; $6.5 million, September Minnesota tornadoes; $5.0 million, Hurricane Dennis.

2004 -

  $19.9 million, Hurricane Charley; $11.9 million, Hurricane Frances; $19.2 million, Hurricane Ivan; $18.2 million, Hurricane Jeanne.

2003 -

  $12.0 million, California wildfires; $9.6 million, May hail/tornadoes/wind; $5.0 million, Hurricane Isabel; $2.7 million, early April winter storms.

2002 -

  $4.2 million, Hurricane Lili; $1.7 million, April Eastern states hail, tornadoes, wind and heavy rain; $1.2 million, Eastern states winter storms.

2001 -

  $3.7 million, June Midwest wind/hail/tornadoes; $2.3 million, April tornadoes; $2.2 million, Tropical Storm Allison.

2000 -

  $5.0 million, May tornadoes; $2.7 million, December winter storms.

1999 -

  $5.4 million, Hurricane Floyd; $3.1 million, May tornadoes primarily in Oklahoma.

1998 -

  $7.9 million, May Minnesota hailstorm; $2.9 million, May Upper Midwest hailstorm; $2.0 million, June Midwest wind/hail; $1.6 million, Hurricane Georges.

 

(2) Source: ISO news releases dated January 14, 2008 (for 2007 data) and January 16, 2007 (for 1998 through 2006 data). These amounts represent anticipated insured losses from catastrophes for personal and commercial property items, business interruption, terrorism, workers compensation and additional living expenses and exclude all loss adjustment expenses and are before federal income tax benefits.

 

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Fluctuations from year to year in the level of catastrophe losses impact a property and casualty insurance company’s loss and loss adjustment expenses incurred and paid. For comparison purposes, the following table provides amounts for the Company excluding catastrophe losses:

Impact of Catastrophe Losses (1)

(Dollars in millions)

 

     Year Ended December 31,
   2007    2006    2005

Claims and claim expense incurred (2)

   $ 360.4    $ 340.6    $ 398.0

Amount attributable to catastrophes

     23.6      19.2      59.3
                    

Excluding catastrophes (2)

   $ 336.8    $ 321.4    $ 338.7
                    

Claims and claim expense payments

   $ 365.5    $ 356.3    $ 396.2

Amount attributable to catastrophes

     22.3      12.1      50.9
                    

Excluding catastrophes

   $ 343.2    $ 344.2    $ 345.3
                    

 

(1) Net of reinsurance and before federal income tax benefits. Includes allocated loss adjustment expenses.

 

(2) Includes the impact of development of prior years’ reserves as quantified in “Property and Casualty Reserves”.

Property and Casualty Reserves

Property and casualty unpaid claims and claim settlement expenses (“loss reserves”) represent management’s estimate of ultimate unpaid costs of losses and settlement expenses for claims that have been reported and claims that have been incurred but not yet reported. The Company calculates and records a single best reserve estimate as of each balance sheet date in conformity with generally accepted actuarial standards. For additional information regarding the process used to estimate property and casualty reserves and the risk factors involved see “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Note 3 — Property and Casualty Unpaid Claims and Claim Expenses” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Critical Accounting Policies — Liabilities for Property and Casualty Claims and Claim Settlement Expenses”.

All of the Company’s property and casualty reserves for unpaid claims and claim settlement expenses are carried at the full value of estimated liabilities and are not discounted for interest expected to be earned on reserves. Due to the nature of the Company’s personal lines business, the Company has no exposure to claims for toxic waste cleanup, other environmental remediation or asbestos-related illnesses other than claims under homeowners insurance policies for environmentally related items such as mold.

 

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The following table is a summary reconciliation of the beginning and ending property and casualty insurance claims and claim expense reserves for each of the last three years. The table presents reserves on a net (after reinsurance) basis. The total net property and casualty insurance claims and claim expense incurred amounts are reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Operations listed on page F-1 of this report. The end of the year gross reserve (before reinsurance) balances are reflected in the Consolidated Balance Sheets also listed on page F-1 of this report.

Reconciliation of Property and Casualty Claims and Claim Expense Reserves

(Dollars in millions)

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
   2007     2006     2005  

Gross reserves, beginning of year (1)

   $ 317.8     $ 342.7     $ 335.0  

Less reinsurance recoverables

     22.4       31.6       25.7  
                        

Net reserves, beginning of year (2)

     295.4       311.1       309.3  
                        

Incurred claims and claim expenses:

      

Claims occurring in the current year

     380.4       359.8       411.1  

Decrease in estimated reserves for claims occurring in prior years (3)

     (20.0 )     (19.2 )     (13.1 )
                        

Total claims and claim expenses incurred (4)

     360.4       340.6       398.0  
                        

Claims and claim expense payments for claims occurring during:

      

Current year

     236.2       221.0       252.3  

Prior years

     129.3       135.3       143.9  
                        

Total claims and claim expense payments

     365.5       356.3       396.2  
                        

Net reserves, end of year (2)

     290.3       295.4       311.1  

Plus reinsurance recoverables

     15.9       22.4       31.6  
                        

Reported gross reserves, end of year (1)

   $ 306.2     $ 317.8     $ 342.7  
                        

 

(1) Unpaid claims and claim expenses as reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, listed on page F-1 of this report, also include life, annuity, and group accident and health reserves of $9.2 million, $8.9 million, $8.1 million and $7.4 million at December 31, 2007, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively, in addition to property and casualty reserves.

 

(2) Reserves net of anticipated reinsurance recoverables.

 

(3) Shows the amounts by which the Company decreased its reserves in each of the periods indicated for claims occurring in previous periods to reflect subsequent information on such claims and changes in their projected final settlement costs. For discussion of the reserve development recorded by the Company in 2007, 2006 and 2005, see “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Note 3 — Property and Casualty Unpaid Claims and Claim Expenses” listed on page F-1 of this report.

 

(4) Benefits, claims and settlement expenses as reported in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, listed on page F-1 of this report, also include life, annuity and group accident and health amounts of $48.1 million, $48.1 million and $44.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively, in addition to the property and casualty amounts.

The claim reserve development table below illustrates the change over time in the Net Reserves (defined in footnote 1 to the table above) established for property and casualty insurance claims and claim expenses at the end of various calendar years. The first section shows the reserves as originally reported at the end of the stated year. The second section, reading down, shows the cumulative amounts of claims for which settlements have been made in cash as of the end of successive years with respect to that reserve liability. The third section, reading down, shows retroactive reestimates of the original recorded reserve as of the end of each successive year which is the result of the Company’s learning additional facts that pertain to the unsettled claims. The fourth section compares the latest reestimated reserve to the reserve originally established, and indicates whether or not the original reserve was adequate or inadequate to cover the estimated costs of unsettled claims. The table also presents the gross reestimated liability as of the end of the latest reestimation period, with separate disclosure of the related reestimated reinsurance recoverable. The claim reserve development table is cumulative and, therefore, ending balances should not be added since the amount at the end of each calendar year includes activity for both the current and prior years.

 

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In evaluating the information in the table below, it should be noted that each amount includes the effects of all changes in amounts of prior periods. For example, if a claim determined in 2006 to be $150 thousand was first reserved in 1997 at $100 thousand, the $50 thousand deficiency (actual claim minus original estimate) would be included in the cumulative deficiency in each of the years 1997-2005 shown below. This table presents development data by calendar year and does not relate the data to the year in which the accident actually occurred. Conditions and trends that have affected the development of these reserves in the past will not necessarily recur in the future. It may not be appropriate to use this cumulative history in the projection of future performance.

Property and Casualty

Claims and Claims Expense Reserve Development

(Dollars in millions)

 

     December 31,
   1997     1998     1999     2000     2001     2002     2003     2004     2005     2006     2007

Gross reserves for property and casualty claims and claim expenses

   $ 289.1     $ 275.6     $ 271.2     $ 272.1     $ 275.7     $ 275.7     $ 304.3     $ 335.0     $ 342.7     $ 317.8     $ 306.2

Deduct: Reinsurance recoverables

     41.3       55.9       64.4       49.1       34.1       44.7       20.6       25.7       31.6       22.4       15.9
                                                                                      

Net Reserves for property and casualty claims and claim expenses (1)

     247.8       219.7       206.8       223.0       241.6       231.0       283.7       309.3       311.1       295.4       290.3

Paid cumulative as of:

                      

One year later

     127.0       129.3       135.9       139.0       153.4       160.4       145.2       143.9       138.3       129.8    

Two years later

     174.9       185.7       191.6       202.6       226.0       222.3       209.5       202.5       196.5      

Three years later

     205.0       215.4       225.4       243.3       258.4       258.6       244.1       236.6        

Four years later

     219.5       232.1       246.9       256.1       276.3       278.7       264.1          

Five years later

     227.7       243.3       252.7       264.1       286.5       291.4            

Six years later

     234.2       245.1       257.6       268.6       294.2              

Seven years later

     235.0       249.0       259.8       273.6                

Eight years later

     237.3       249.6       264.1                  

Nine years later

     237.6       252.2                    

Ten years later

     240.1                      

Net Reserves reestimated as of (1):

                      

End of year

     247.8       219.7       206.8       223.0       241.6       231.0       283.7       309.3       311.1       295.4       290.3

One year later

     222.9       215.1       229.5       239.5       265.6       287.3       287.5       296.2       291.8       275.4    

Two years later

     217.8       237.9       248.3       260.5       294.7       297.1       283.1       282.7       279.7      

Three years later

     233.4       245.4       256.0       277.0       301.3       297.9       283.5       278.2        

Four years later

     235.5       248.0       266.9       280.2       298.5       301.8       281.3          

Five years later

     237.2       254.7       269.3       277.9       301.8       300.6            

Six years later

     241.2       257.8       268.1       279.9       299.4              

Seven years later

     245.1       257.1       269.2       276.6                

Eight years later

     245.0       257.8       265.9                  

Nine years later

     245.2       253.1                    

Ten years later

     240.7                      

Net Reserve redundancy (deficiency) – initial net reserves in excess of (less than) reestimated reserves:

                      

Amount (2)

   $ 7.1     $ (33.4 )   $ (59.1 )   $ (53.6 )   $ (57.8 )   $ (69.6 )   $ 2.4     $ 31.1     $ 31.4     $ 20.0    

Percent

     2.9 %     -15.2 %     -28.6 %     -24.0 %     -23.9 %     -30.1 %     0.8 %     10.1 %     10.1 %     6.8 %  

Gross reestimated liability - latest

   $ 276.2     $ 301.1     $ 315.3     $ 328.0     $ 354.5     $ 359.9     $ 322.4     $ 324.7     $ 339.3     $ 300.4    

Reestimated reinsurance recoverables - latest

     35.5       48.0       49.4       51.4       55.1       59.3       41.1       46.5       59.6       25.0    
                                                                                  

Net Reserve reestimated - latest (1)

   $ 240.7     $ 253.1     $ 265.9     $ 276.6     $ 299.4     $ 300.6     $ 281.3     $ 278.2     $ 279.7     $ 275.4    

Gross cumulative excess (deficiency) (2)

   $ 12.9     $ (25.5 )   $ (44.1 )   $ (55.9 )   $ (78.8 )   $ (84.2 )   $ (18.1 )   $ 10.3     $ 3.4     $ 17.4    

 

(1) Reserves net of anticipated reinsurance recoverables (“Net Reserves”). Net Reserves is a measure used by the Company’s management to evaluate the overall adequacy of the property and casualty loss reserves and management believes it provides an alternative view of the Company’s anticipated liabilities after reflecting expected recoveries from its reinsurers. This is considered a non-GAAP financial measure under applicable SEC rules because it is not displayed as a separate item in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. For balance sheet reporting, GAAP does not permit the Company to offset expected reinsurance recoveries against liabilities, yet management believes it is useful to investors to take these expected recoveries into account. These adjustments only affect the classification of these items in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and there is no impact on the Company’s benefits, claims and settlement expenses incurred as reported in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

(2) For discussion of the reserve development, see “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Note 3 — Property and Casualty Unpaid Claims and Claim Expenses” listed on page F-1 of this report.

 

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Property and Casualty Reinsurance

All reinsurance is obtained through contracts which generally are renewed each calendar year. Although reinsurance does not legally discharge the Company from primary liability for the full amount of its policies, it does make the assuming reinsurer liable to the extent of the reinsurance ceded. Historically, the Company’s losses from uncollectible reinsurance recoverables have been insignificant due to the Company’s emphasis on the credit worthiness of its reinsurers. Past due reinsurance recoverables as of December 31, 2007 were insignificant.

Through 2007, the Company maintained both catastrophe excess of loss and catastrophe aggregate reinsurance coverage. The excess of loss coverage consisted of two contracts in addition to coverage with the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (“FHCF”). The primary contract (“first event”) provided 95% coverage of catastrophe losses above a retention of $25.0 million per occurrence up to $130.0 million per occurrence. This contract consisted of three layers, each of which provided for one mandatory reinstatement. The layers were $25.0 million excess of $25.0 million, $40.0 million excess of $50.0 million, and $40.0 million excess of $90.0 million. The other excess of loss contract (“second and third events”) provided 95% coverage of catastrophe losses above a retention of $15.0 million per occurrence up to $25.0 million per occurrence, after the Company retained $25.0 million of losses from an initial (first) event. This contract also provided for one mandatory reinstatement. Coverage for any event under this contract was conditional on the size of the industry loss associated with that event being less than $20.1 billion. In addition, the Company’s predominant insurance subsidiary for property and casualty business written in Florida reinsured 90% of hurricane losses in that state above an estimated retention of $14.7 million up to $87.2 million with the FHCF, based on the FHCF’s financial resources. The FHCF contract is a one-year contract, effective June 1, 2007. The Company’s FHCF coverage reflects the acquisition of additional coverage made available to the industry by the FHCF for the 2007-2008 contract period which resulted in changes to attachment points under the Company’s primary reinsurance contract. Additional coverage made available by the FHCF to the industry in future contract periods could increase the likelihood of assessments in periods following significant hurricane losses. The catastrophe aggregate contract provided 95% coverage of the Company’s 2007 catastrophe losses from events declared as catastrophic events by Property Claim Service (“PCS”), a subsidiary of ISO, capped at $10.0 million per occurrence, above an annual retention of $21.0 million, up to an annual limit of $40.0 million.

Effective January 1, 2008, the Company purchased catastrophe excess of loss coverage. The excess of loss coverage consists of three contracts in addition to the FHCF. The primary contract (“first event”) provides 95% coverage of catastrophe losses above a retention of $25.0 million per occurrence up to $150.0 million per occurrence. This contract consists of three layers, each of which provide for one mandatory reinstatement. The layers are $25.0 million excess of $25.0 million, $40.0 million excess of $50.0 million, and $60.0 million excess of $90.0 million. The second excess of loss contract (“second event”) provides 95% coverage of catastrophe losses above a retention of $15.0 million per occurrence up to $25.0 million per occurrence, after the Company retains $25.0 million of losses from an initial (first) event. The third excess of loss contract (“third event”) provides 95% coverage of catastrophe losses above a retention of $15.0 million per occurrence up to $25.0 million per occurrence and after the second excess of loss contract described above is exhausted. Neither the second nor the third excess of loss contract provide for a reinstatement. The FHCF limits described above continue through June 1, 2008, at which time a new annual contract will begin. The Company did not purchase catastrophe aggregate reinsurance coverage for 2008.

 

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The Company has not joined the California Earthquake Authority (“CEA”). The Company’s exposure to losses from earthquakes is managed through its underwriting standards, its earthquake policy coverage limits and deductible levels, and the geographic distribution of its business, as well as its reinsurance program. After reviewing the exposure to earthquake losses from the Company’s own policies and from its participation in the CEA, management believes it is in the Company’s best economic interest to offer earthquake coverage directly to its homeowners policyholders.

For liability coverages, including the educator excess professional liability policy, in 2007 the Company reinsured each loss above a retention of $700,000 up to $20 million. For property coverages in 2007, the Company reinsured each loss above a retention of $700,000 up to $2.5 million, including catastrophe losses that in the aggregate are less than the retention levels above. Effective January 1, 2008, the retention for liability coverages is $700,000 and the retention for property coverages is $750,000, with no change to the maximum limits.

The following table identifies the Company’s most significant reinsurers under the catastrophe first event excess of loss reinsurance program, their percentage participation in this program and their ratings by A.M. Best Company (“A.M. Best”) and Standard & Poor’s Corporation (“S&P” or “Standard & Poor’s”) as of January 1, 2008. No other single reinsurer’s percentage participation in 2008 or 2007 exceeds 5%. For 2007, the Company’s catastrophe second and third event excess of loss reinsurance coverage was provided equally by Renaissance Reinsurance Ltd. (“Renaissance”), a subsidiary of RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd., and DaVinci Reinsurance Ltd. (“DaVinci”). Renaissance has ratings of A and A+ from A.M. Best and S&P, respectively. DaVinci is rated A by both A.M. Best and S&P. For 2008, the Company’s catastrophe second event and third event excess of loss reinsurance is each provided by four reinsurers, although not the same four for both contracts, all rated A- or above by A.M. Best. For 2007, the Company’s catastrophe aggregate reinsurance coverage was placed entirely with General Reinsurance Corporation, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., having ratings of A++ and AAA from A.M. Best and S&P, respectively.

Property Catastrophe First Event Excess of Loss Reinsurance Participants In Excess of 5%

 

A.M. Best
Rating

   S&P
Rating
  

Reinsurer

  

Parent

   Participation  
            2008     2007  

    A+

   AA    Tokio Millennium Re Ltd.    Millea Holdings Inc.    17 %   7 %

    A-

   NR    Flagstone Reinsurance Limited    Flagstone Reinsurance Holdings Limited    12 %   9 %

    A+

   AA-    Swiss Re Underwriters Agency, Inc.    Swiss Reinsurance Company, Zurich    8 %   15 %

    A

   A    AXIS Specialty Limited    AXIS Capital Holdings Limited    8 %   11 %

    A

   A    Aspen Insurance Limited    Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited    6 %   *  

    A-

   A-    Paris Re, France    Paris Re Holdings, Limited    6 %   0 %

    A-

   NR    New Castle Reinsurance Company, Ltd.    Citadel Investment Group, L.L.C.    *     10 %

    A

   AA-    AXA Re    AXA    0 %   9 %

    A

   NR    Platinum Underwriters Bermuda, Ltd.    Platinum Underwriters Holdings, Ltd.    *     5 %

 

* Less than 5%
NR Not rated.

For 2008, property catastrophe reinsurers representing 100% of the Company’s total reinsured catastrophe coverage were rated “A- (Excellent)” or above by A.M. Best or AA by S&P.

 

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Annuity Segment

Beginning in 1961, educators in the Company’s target market benefit from the provisions of Section 403(b) of the Internal Revenue Code. This section of the Code allows public school employees and employees of other tax-exempt organizations, such as not-for-profit private schools, to reduce their pretax income by making periodic contributions to an individual qualified retirement plan. (Also see “Regulation — Regulation at Federal Level”.) The Company entered the educators retirement annuity market in 1961 and is one of the largest participants in the 403(b) tax-qualified annuity market, measured by 403(b) net written premium on a statutory accounting basis. The Company has approved 403(b) payroll reduction capabilities in over one-third of the 16,000 school districts in the U.S. Approximately 63% of the Company’s new annuity contract deposits in 2007 were for 403(b) tax-qualified annuities; approximately 74% of accumulated annuity value on deposit is 403(b) tax-qualified. In 2007, annuities represented 35% of the Company’s total insurance premiums written and contract deposits.

The Company markets tax-qualified annuities utilizing both fixed account only and combination contracts. The combination contract allows the contractholder to allocate funds to both fixed and variable alternatives. Under the fixed account option, both the principal and a rate of return are guaranteed. Contractholders of this product can change at any time their allocation of deposits between the guaranteed interest rate fixed account and available variable investment options.

In March 2006, the Company introduced new Horace Mann manufactured and branded annuity products. The Goal Planning Annuity (“GPA”) offers educators a variable annuity product with a fixed interest account option and two optional riders that enhance the death benefit feature of the product. Developed in partnership with Wilshire Associates, the Company’s funds advisor, GPA provides educators the opportunity to invest with fund families such as T. Rowe Price, Fidelity, Alliance, Davis, Ariel Capital Management and Putnam, among others. By utilizing tools that provide assistance in determining needs and making asset allocation decisions, educators are able to choose the investment mix that meets their personal risk tolerance and retirement goals. Expanding Horizon is a fixed interest rate annuity contract for more conservative investors. This product offers educators a competitive rate of interest on their retirement dollars and the choice of bonuses to optimize their benefits at retirement. In addition to these new products, in May 2006 the Company added 12 additional investment options to its variable annuity products. This included seven lifecycle funds, with assets allocated among multiple investment classes within each fund based on its specific target date.

In August 2007, the Company completed development of group variable and fixed annuity products that are anticipated to allow greater flexibility in tailoring 403(b) annuity programs as the Company assists its school district partners in complying with the new IRS regulations that take effect in 2009. The first sales of these new group annuity products occurred in January 2008.

As of December 31, 2007, the Company’s 60 variable account options included funds managed by some of the best-known names in the mutual fund industry, such as Wilshire, Fidelity, JPMorgan, T. Rowe Price, Neuberger Berman, AllianceBernstein, Rainier, Davis, Credit Suisse, BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, Dreyfus, Franklin Templeton, Ariel, Wells Fargo, Royce, Lord Abbett, Putnam, Cohen & Steers and Delaware, offering the Company’s customers multiple investment options to address their personal investment objectives and risk

 

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tolerance. Total accumulated fixed and variable annuity cash value on deposit at December 31, 2007 was $3.7 billion.

In 2003, to assist agents in delivering the Value Proposition, the Company entered into a third-party vendor agreement with American Funds Distributors, Inc. (“AFD”) to market their retail mutual funds. In addition to retail mutual funds accounts, the Company’s agents can also offer a 529 college savings program and Coverdell Education Savings Accounts through this marketing alliance. In 2005, the Company further expanded its product offerings to include fixed indexed annuities and single premium immediate annuities through additional marketing alliances. These third-party vendors underwrite these accounts or contracts and the Company receives commissions on the sales of these products.

Selected Historical Financial Information For Annuity Segment

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the Company’s annuity products for the periods indicated.

Annuity Segment

Selected Historical Financial Information

(Dollars in millions, unless otherwise indicated)

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
   2007     2006     2005  

Operations Data:

      

Contract deposits:

      

Variable

   $ 149.9     $ 138.5     $ 137.8  

Fixed

     187.2       187.2       182.3  

Total

     337.1       325.7       320.1  

Contract charges earned

     21.8       19.7       17.9  

Net investment income

     128.9       119.9       112.9  

Net interest margin (without realized investment gains and losses)

     38.9       33.4       31.4  

Income before income taxes

     25.9       17.9       16.3  

Net income

     17.6       13.2       15.1  

Operating Statistics:

      

Fixed:

      

Accumulated value

   $ 2,151.9     $ 2,085.5     $ 1,961.7  

Accumulated value persistency

     91.6 %     93.7 %     94.5 %

Variable:

      

Accumulated value

   $ 1,562.2     $ 1,494.6     $ 1,333.7  

Accumulated value persistency

     90.9 %     91.5 %     91.5 %

Number of contracts in force

     166,980       164,842       162,417  

Average accumulated cash value (in dollars)

   $ 22,243     $ 21,719     $ 20,290  

Average annual deposit by contractholders (in dollars)

   $ 2,427     $ 2,474     $ 2,436  

Annuity contracts terminated due to surrender, death, maturity or other:

      

Number of contracts

     9,578       8,634       7,938  

Amount

   $ 345.0     $ 274.8     $ 243.6  

Fixed accumulated cash value grouped by applicable surrender charge:

      

0%

   $ 700.1     $ 682.4     $ 530.8  

Greater than 0% but less than 5%

     157.4       133.0       78.3  

5% and greater but less than 10%

     1,165.2       1,147.7       1,226.7  

10% and greater

     15.6       11.5       18.8  

Supplementary contracts with life contingencies not subject to discretionary withdrawal

     113.6       110.9       107.1  
                        

Total

   $ 2,151.9     $ 2,085.5     $ 1,961.7  
                        

 

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Life Segment

The Company entered the individual life insurance business in 1949 with traditional term and whole life insurance products. In 2006, the Company introduced new Horace Mann manufactured and branded products to better address the financial planning needs of educators. In February 2006, the Company introduced Life by Design, a new portfolio of life insurance products. The Life by Design portfolio features new individual and joint whole life, and individual and joint term products, including 10-, 20- and 30-year level term policies. The Life by Design policies have premiums that are guaranteed for the duration of the contract and offer lower minimum face amounts. After December 31, 2006, the Company no longer issues new policies for its “Experience Life” product, a flexible, adjustable-premium life insurance contract that includes availability of an interest-bearing account.

The Company’s traditional term, whole life and group life business in force consists of approximately 152,000 policies, representing approximately $8.7 billion of life insurance in force, with annual insurance premiums and contract deposits of approximately $42.0 million as of December 31, 2007. In addition, the Company also had in force approximately 74,000 Experience Life policies, representing approximately $4.9 billion of life insurance in force, with annual insurance premiums and contract deposits of approximately $58.4 million.

In 2007, the life segment represented 10% of the Company’s total insurance premiums written and contract deposits, including less than 1 percentage point attributable to the Company’s group life and group disability income business.

During 2007, the average face amount of ordinary life insurance policies issued by the Company was $164,708 and the average face amount of all ordinary life insurance policies in force at December 31, 2007 was $70,973.

The maximum individual life insurance risk retained by the Company is $200,000 on any individual life, while either $100,000 or $125,000 is retained on each group life policy depending on the type of coverage. With the exception of two reinsurers whose ratings were “B+ (Very Good)” and who provided immaterial amounts of reinsurance coverage, the excess of the amounts retained are reinsured with life reinsurers that are rated “A- (Excellent)” or above by A.M. Best. The Company also maintains a life catastrophe reinsurance program. The Company reinsures 100% of the catastrophe risk in excess of $1 million up to $15 million per occurrence, with one reinstatement. In 2007 and 2008, the Company’s catastrophe risk reinsurance program covers acts of terrorism and includes nuclear, biological and chemical explosions but excludes other acts of war.

In 2000, the Company instituted a program to offer long-term care and variable universal life policies with two third-party vendors underwriting such insurance. In 2003, the Company expanded its third-party vendor offerings with the addition of fixed interest rate universal life insurance. Under these programs, the third-party vendors underwrite and bear the risk of these insurance policies and the Company receives a commission on the sale of that business.

 

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Selected Historical Financial Information For Life Segment

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the Company’s life products for the periods indicated.

Life Segment

Selected Historical Financial Information

(Dollars in millions, unless otherwise indicated)

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
   2007     2006     2005  

Operations Data:

      

Insurance premiums and contract deposits

   $ 102.4     $ 103.9     $ 105.6  

Insurance premiums and contract charges earned

     97.4       96.5       97.4  

Net investment income

     57.0       53.4       49.3  

Income before income taxes

     26.6       22.3       22.3  

Net income

     17.3       14.5       13.4  

Operating Statistics:

      

Life insurance in force:

      

Ordinary life

   $ 12,093     $ 11,862     $ 11,588  

Group life

     1,484       1,538       1,554  
                        

Total

   $ 13,577     $ 13,400     $ 13,142  
                        

Number of policies in force:

      

Ordinary life

     170,388       173,443       176,780  

Group life

     56,114       58,866       60,674  
                        

Total

     226,502       232,309       237,454  
                        

Average face amount in force (in dollars):

      

Ordinary life

   $ 70,973     $ 68,391     $ 65,550  

Group life

     26,446       26,127       25,612  

Total

     59,942       57,682       55,345  

Lapse ratio (ordinary life insurance in force)

     5.8 %     5.7 %     6.5 %

Ordinary life insurance terminated due to death, surrender, lapse or other:

      

Face amount of insurance surrendered or lapsed

   $ 659.4     $ 669.8     $ 733.4  

Number of policies

     5,690       6,278       6,941  

Amount of death claims opened

   $ 34.8     $ 35.5     $ 33.7  

Number of death claims opened

     1,344       1,305       1,310  

Competition

The Company operates in a highly competitive environment. The insurance industry consists of a large number of insurance companies, some of which have substantially greater financial resources, more diversified product lines, greater economies of scale and/or lower-cost marketing approaches such as direct marketing, mail, Internet and telemarketing, compared to the Company.

The Company competes in its target market with a number of national providers of personal automobile, homeowners and life insurance such as State Farm, Allstate, Farmers and Nationwide as well as several regional companies. The Company also competes for automobile business with other companies such as American International Group (“AIG”), GEICO, Progressive and USAA, many of which feature direct marketing distribution.

Among the major national providers of annuities to educators, Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company (“VALIC”), a subsidiary of AIG, is one of the Company’s major tax-qualified annuity competitors, as are ING US Financial Services, Lincoln Financial Group, MetLife and Security Benefit. Mutual fund families, independent agent companies and financial planners also compete in this marketplace.

 

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The market for tax-deferred annuity products will likely be impacted by the new Internal Revenue Service Section 403(b) regulations, which will make the 403(b) market more similar to the 401(k) market than it has been in the past. While this may drive some competitors out of the 403(b) market, it may make the 403(b) market more attractive to some of the larger 401(k) providers, including both insurance and mutual fund companies, that had not previously been active competitors in the 403(b) market.

Investments

The Company’s investments are selected to balance the objectives of protecting principal, minimizing exposure to interest rate risk and providing a high current yield. These objectives are implemented through a portfolio that emphasizes investment grade, publicly traded fixed income securities. When impairment of the value of an investment is considered other than temporary, the decrease in value is recorded as a charge to the results of operations and a new cost basis is established. At December 31, 2007, fixed income securities represented 94.4% of investments excluding securities lending collateral. Of the fixed income investment portfolio, 94.9% was investment grade and nearly 100% was publicly traded. At December 31, 2007, the average quality and average option-adjusted duration of the total fixed income portfolio were AA- and 5.5 years, respectively. At December 31, 2007, investments in non-investment grade securities represented 4.9% of total investments. There are no significant investments in mortgage loans, real estate, foreign securities, privately placed securities, or common stocks.

The Company has separate investment strategies and guidelines for its property and casualty assets and for its life and annuity assets, which recognize different characteristics of the associated insurance liabilities, as well as different tax and regulatory environments. The Company manages interest rate exposure for its portfolios through asset/liability management techniques which attempt to coordinate the duration of the assets with the duration of the insurance policy liabilities. Duration of assets and liabilities will generally differ only because of opportunities to significantly increase yields or because policy values are not interest-sensitive, as is the case in the property and casualty segment.

The investments of each insurance subsidiary must comply with the insurance laws of such insurance subsidiary’s domiciliary state. These laws prescribe the type and amount of investments that may be purchased and held by insurance companies. In general, these laws permit investments, within specified limits and subject to certain qualifications, in federal, state and municipal obligations, corporate bonds, mortgage-backed bonds, other asset-backed bonds, preferred stocks, common stocks, real estate mortgages and real estate.

 

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The following table sets forth the carrying values and amortized cost of the Company’s investment portfolio as of December 31, 2007:

Investment Portfolio

(Dollars in millions)

 

     Percentage
of Total
Carrying
Value
    Carrying Value    Amortized
Cost
     Total    Life and
Annuity
   Property and
Casualty
  

Publicly Traded Fixed Maturity Securities, Equity Securities and Cash Equivalents:

             

U.S. government and agency obligations (1):

             

Mortgage-backed securities

   21.8 %   $ 911.4    $ 868.6    $ 42.8    $ 910.4

Other

   5.9       246.5      232.7      13.8      244.0

Investment grade corporate and public utility bonds

   39.1       1,633.9      1,557.9      76.0      1,626.9

Municipal bonds

   12.9       541.1      25.9      515.2      535.1

Other mortgage-backed securities

   6.6       276.3      260.5      15.8      283.4

Non-investment grade corporate and public utility bonds (2)

   4.9       206.0      135.9      70.1      210.1

Foreign government bonds

   0.4       15.9      14.7      1.2      14.4

Investment grade redeemable preferred stock

   1.0       41.3      38.2      3.1      45.3

Non-investment grade redeemable preferred stocks (2)

   —         —        —        —        —  

Equity securities:

             

Investment grade non-redeemable preferred stocks

   1.9       80.6      46.1      34.5      86.8

Non-investment grade non-redeemable preferred stocks (2)

   0.1       2.7      2.0      0.7      3.6

Common stocks

   0.1       3.2      2.7      0.5      3.7

Short-term investments (3)

   1.0       41.2      33.5      7.7      41.2

Short-term investments, loaned securities collateral (3)

   1.8       76.7      76.7      —        76.8
                                 

Total publicly traded securities

   97.5       4,076.8      3,295.4      781.4      4,081.7
                                 

Other Investments:

             

Private placements, investment grade (4)

   —         0.6      0.6      —        0.6

Private placements, non- investment grade (2) (4)

   —         0.1      0.1      —        0.1

Mortgage loans (5)

   0.1       3.1      3.1      —        3.1

Policy loans

   2.4       99.7      99.7      —        99.7
                                 

Total other investments

   2.5       103.5      103.5      —        103.5
                                 

Total investments (6)

   100.0 %   $ 4,180.3    $ 3,398.9    $ 781.4    $ 4,185.2
                                 

 

(1) Includes $109.3 million fair value of investments guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government and $1,048.6 million fair value of federally sponsored agency securities which are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.

 

(2) A non-investment grade rating is assigned to a security when it is acquired, primarily on the basis of the Standard & Poor’s Corporation (“Standard & Poor’s” or “S&P”) rating for such security, or if there is no S&P rating, the Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) rating for such security, or if there is no S&P or Moody’s rating, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ (the “NAIC”) rating for such security. The rating agencies monitor securities, and their issuers, regularly and make changes to the ratings as necessary. The Company incorporates rating changes on a monthly basis.

 

(3) Short-term investments mature within one year of being acquired and are carried at cost, which approximates fair value. Short-term investments represent $44.6 million in money market funds rated “AAA” and $73.3 million in asset backed bonds maturing during 2008. The Company loans fixed income securities to third parties, primarily major brokerage firms. The Company separately maintains a minimum of 100% of the market value of the loaned securities as collateral for each loan.

 

(4) Fair values for private placements are estimated by the Company with the assistance of its investment advisors.

 

(5) Mortgage loans are carried at amortized cost or unpaid principal balance.

 

(6) Approximately 10% of the Company’s investment portfolio, having a carrying value of $419.8 million as of December 31, 2007, consisted of securities with some form of credit support, such as insurance. Of the securities with credit support as of December 31, 2007, municipal bonds represented $355.9 million carrying value. All of the securities with credit support have the highest investment grade rating.

 

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Fixed Maturity Securities and Equity Securities

The following table sets forth the composition of the Company’s fixed maturity securities portfolio by rating as of December 31, 2007:

Rating of Fixed Maturity Securities and Equity Securities(1)

(Dollars in millions)

 

     Percent
of Total
Carrying
Value
    Carrying
Value
   Amortized
Cost

Fixed maturity securities

       

AAA

   47.0 %   $ 1,818.4    $ 1,805.6

AA

   9.4       364.6      370.2

A

   19.5       754.8      762.9

BBB

   19.0       736.9      729.5

BB

   1.7       66.6      67.1

B

   3.3       127.3      130.7

CCC or lower

   0.1       3.5      3.6

Not rated (2)

   —         0.9      0.7
                   

Total fixed maturity securities

   100.0 %   $ 3,873.0    $ 3,870.3
                   

Equity securities

       

AAA

   —         —        —  

AA

   17.6 %   $ 15.2    $ 17.0

A

   61.3       53.0      56.3

BBB

   16.3       14.1      16.1

BB

   1.1       1.0      1.0

B

   —         —        —  

CCC or lower

   —         —        —  

Not rated (3)

   3.7       3.2      3.7
                   

Total equity securities

   100.0 %   $ 86.5    $ 94.1
                   

 

 

(1) Ratings are as assigned primarily by S&P when available, with remaining ratings as assigned on an equivalent basis by Moody’s. Ratings for publicly traded securities are determined when the securities are acquired and are updated monthly to reflect any changes in ratings.

 

(2) Included in this category is $0.7 million fair value of private placement securities not rated by either S&P or Moody’s. The NAIC has rated 93.7% of these private placement securities as investment grade.

 

(3) This category includes common stocks that are not rated by either S&P or Moody’s.

At December 31, 2007, 35.3% of the Company’s fixed maturity securities portfolio was expected to mature within the next 5 years. Mortgage-backed securities, including mortgage-backed securities of U.S. governmental agencies, represented 28.4% of the total investment portfolio at December 31, 2007. These securities typically have average lives shorter than their stated maturities due to unscheduled prepayments on the underlying mortgages. Mortgages are prepaid for a variety of reasons, including sales of existing homes, interest rate changes over time that encourage homeowners to refinance their mortgages and defaults by homeowners on mortgages that are then paid by guarantors.

For financial reporting purposes, the Company has classified the entire fixed maturity portfolio as “available for sale”. Fixed maturities to be held for indefinite periods of time and not intended to be held to maturity are classified as available for sale and carried at fair value. The net adjustment for unrealized gains and losses on securities available for sale is recorded as a separate component of shareholders’ equity, net of applicable deferred tax asset or liability and the related impact on deferred policy acquisition costs and value of acquired insurance in force associated with interest-sensitive life and annuity contracts. Fixed maturities held for indefinite periods of time include securities that management intends to use as part of its asset/liability management strategy and that may be sold in response to changes in interest rates, resultant prepayment risk and other related factors.

 

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Cash Flow

As a holding company, HMEC conducts its principal operations through its subsidiaries. Payment by HMEC of principal and interest with respect to HMEC’s indebtedness, and payment by HMEC of dividends to its shareholders, are dependent upon the ability of its insurance subsidiaries to pay cash dividends or make other cash payments to HMEC, including tax payments pursuant to tax sharing agreements. Restrictions on the subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends or to make other cash payments to HMEC may materially affect HMEC’s ability to pay principal and interest on its indebtedness and dividends on its common stock.

The ability of the insurance subsidiaries to pay cash dividends to HMEC is subject to state insurance department regulations which generally permit dividends to be paid for any 12 month period in amounts equal to the greater of (i) net income for the preceding calendar year or (ii) 10% of surplus, determined in conformity with statutory accounting principles, as of the preceding December 31st. Any dividend in excess of these levels requires the prior approval of the Director or Commissioner of the state insurance department of the state in which the dividend paying insurance subsidiary is domiciled. The aggregate amount of dividends that may be paid in 2008 from all of HMEC’s insurance subsidiaries without prior regulatory approval is approximately $93 million.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if insurance regulators otherwise determine that payment of a dividend or any other payment to an affiliate would be detrimental to an insurance subsidiary’s policyholders or creditors, because of the financial condition of the insurance subsidiary or otherwise, the regulators may block dividends or other payments to affiliates that would otherwise be permitted without prior approval.

Regulation

General Regulation at State Level

As an insurance holding company, HMEC is subject to extensive regulation by the states in which its insurance subsidiaries are domiciled or transact business. In addition, the laws of the various states establish regulatory agencies with broad administrative powers to grant and revoke licenses to transact business, regulate trade practices, license agents, require statutory financial statements, and prescribe the type and amount of investments permitted.

The NAIC has adopted risk-based capital guidelines to evaluate the adequacy of statutory capital and surplus in relation to an insurance company’s risks. State insurance regulations prohibit insurance companies from making any public statements or representations with regard to their risk-based capital levels. Based on current guidelines, the risk-based capital statutory requirements are not expected to have a negative regulatory impact on the Company’s insurance subsidiaries.

 

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Assessments Against Insurers

Under insurance insolvency or guaranty laws in most states in which the Company operates, insurers doing business therein can be assessed for policyholder losses related to insolvencies of other insurance companies. The amount and timing of any future assessments on the Company under these laws cannot be reasonably estimated and are beyond the control of the Company. Most of these laws do provide, however, that an assessment may be excused or deferred if it would threaten an insurer’s financial strength, and many assessments paid by the Company pursuant to these laws may be used as credits for a portion of the Company’s premium taxes in certain states. For the three years ended December 31, 2007, the Company’s assessments, net of the related premium tax credits, were not significant.

In 2005, the Citizens Property Insurance Corporation of Florida (“Florida Citizens”) assessed the Company $1.8 million and the Louisiana Citizens Fair and Coastal Plan (“Louisiana Citizens”) assessed the Company $1.3 million. This $3.1 million reflected additional assessments related to hurricanes which occurred in 2005 and 2004 and contributed to the net loss reported from participation in mandatory insurance facilities in 2005. In 2006, the Company also paid an additional assessment of $0.6 million to Florida Citizens. The Company in turn is assessing its policyholders in the respective states and received $0.5 million and $2.9 million in recoupments of these amounts in 2007 and 2006, respectively. The 2007 and 2006 recoupments and assessment are reflected in the respective net gains reported above. See also “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Results of Operations for the Three Years Ended December 31, 2007 — Insurance Premiums and Contract Charges”.

Mandatory Insurance Facilities

The Company is required to participate in various mandatory insurance facilities in proportion to the amount of the Company’s direct writings in the applicable state.

In 2007, the Company reflected a net gain from participation in such mandatory pools and underwriting associations of $2.3 million before federal income taxes. In 2006, the Company reflected a pretax net gain of $3.5 million, primarily as a result of recoveries on assessments following hurricanes in 2005 and 2004. Participation produced a net pretax loss of $2.4 million in 2005.

Regulation at Federal Level

Although the federal government generally does not directly regulate the insurance industry, federal initiatives often impact the insurance business. Current and proposed federal measures which may significantly affect insurance and annuity business include employee benefits regulation, controls on the costs of medical care, medical entitlement programs such as Medicare, structure of retirement plans and accounts, changes to the insurance industry anti-trust exemption, and minimum solvency requirements. Other federal regulation such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and USA PATRIOT Act, including its anti-money laundering regulations, also impact the Company’s business.

The variable annuities underwritten by HMLIC are regulated by the SEC. Horace Mann Investors, Inc., the broker-dealer subsidiary of HMEC, also is regulated by the SEC, FINRA, the Municipal Securities Rule-making Board (“MSRB”) and various state securities regulators.

 

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Federal income taxation of the build-up of cash value within a life insurance policy or an annuity contract could have a materially adverse impact on the Company’s ability to market and sell such products. Various legislation to this effect has been proposed in the past, but has not been enacted. Although no such legislative proposals are known to exist at this time, such proposals may be made again in the future.

Changes in other federal and state laws and regulations could also affect the relative tax and other advantages of the Company’s life and annuity products to customers. For instance, on July 26, 2007, final new Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Section 403(b) regulations were published in the Federal Register. The new regulations alter the nature of 403(b) arrangements to an employer sponsored plan, compared to the historical view of 403(b) arrangements being individual plans funded by salary reduction. The effective date of the new regulations is generally January 1, 2009 with limited exceptions. Beginning with that date, contributions to Section 403(b) tax-qualified arrangements, including annuities, will need to be made pursuant to a written plan which includes all of the terms and conditions for eligibility, limitations and benefits under the plan, and which may incorporate other documents by reference including annuity contracts issued by approved product providers. Other highlights of the new regulations include modified distribution and transfer rules and the incorporation of numerous positions previously taken by the IRS since last issuing formal comprehensive Section 403(b) regulations in 1964. The Company, and many other providers of 403(b) arrangements, will need to adapt its products and services offered to better meet the changing needs of the school district sponsors of those arrangements and modify its administrative systems to support these changes. The lead time to the effective date, combined with preparations made by the Company since the new regulations were first proposed in late 2004, should permit ample time to assist the key school districts where Horace Mann has Section 403(b) payroll slots with the development of their written plans and to implement the new products and services required to enable the Company to continue to effectively serve this market.

One immediate impact of the new Section 403(b) regulations is that previous rules governing a participant’s ability to exchange, without incurring income tax liability, one 403(b) annuity or funding agreement for another were changed effective September 25, 2007. New rules require that exchanges be limited to the product providers authorized in the sponsor’s written plan or that have entered into an information sharing agreement with the sponsor. Many school district sponsors have been willing to enter into these information sharing agreements to allow participants the right to exchange contracts while their written plans are being completed; other districts have chosen to temporarily suspend their participants’ right to make such exchanges until they are more comfortable in their understanding of the new requirements or their written plans are complete. During this period of transition, new sales related to 403(b) exchanges could be adversely impacted for the Company and industry as a whole; conversely, any reduction in exchanges should provide an increase in retention ratios.

In recent years, the state insurance regulatory framework has come under public scrutiny and members of Congress have discussed proposals to provide for optional federal chartering of insurance companies. At the time of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, there are pending proposals which may be subject to congressional hearings in 2008.

Employees

At December 31, 2007, the Company had approximately 2,300 employees, including 790 full-time agents. The Company has no collective bargaining agreement with any employees.

 

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ITEM 1A. Risk Factors

The following are certain risk factors that could affect the Company’s business, financial results and results of operations. In addition, refer to the risk factors disclosed in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Forward-looking Information”, listed on page F-1 of this report for certain important factors that may cause our financial condition and results of operations to differ materially from current expectations. The risks that the Company has highlighted in these two sections of this report are not the only ones that the Company faces. In this discussion, the Company is also referred to as “our”, “we” and “us”.

The Company’s business involves various risks and uncertainties which are based on the lines of business the Company writes as well as more global risks associated with the general business and insurance industry environments.

The insurance industry is highly regulated.

We are subject to extensive regulation and supervision in the jurisdictions in which we do business. Each jurisdiction has a unique and complex set of laws and regulations. Furthermore, certain federal laws impose additional requirements on businesses, including insurers. Regulation generally is designed to protect the interests of policyholders, as opposed to stockholders and non-policyholder creditors. Such regulations, among other things, impose restrictions on the amount and type of investments our subsidiaries may hold. Certain states also regulate the rates insurers may charge for certain property and casualty products. Legislation and voter initiatives have expanded, in some instances, the states’ regulation of rates and have increased data reporting requirements. Consumer-related pressures to roll back rates, even if not enacted by legislation or upheld upon judicial appeal, may affect our ability to obtain timely rate increases or operate at desired levels of profitability. Changes in insurance regulations, including those affecting the ability of our insurance subsidiaries to distribute cash to us and those affecting the ability of our insurance subsidiaries to write profitable property and casualty insurance policies in one or more states, may adversely affect the financial condition and results of operations of our insurance subsidiaries. Our ability to comply with these laws and regulations, at a reasonable cost, and to obtain necessary regulatory action in a timely manner, is and will continue to be critical to our success.

Examples of governmental regulation that has adversely affected the operations of our insurance subsidiaries include:

 

   

the adoption in several states of legislation and other regulatory action intended to reduce the premiums paid for automobile and homeowners insurance by residents of those states;

 

   

restrictions on a company’s ability to achieve pricing adequacy and/or reduce their volume of business in catastrophe prone areas; and

 

   

requirements that insurance companies:

 

   

pay assessments to support associations that fund state-sponsored insurance operations, or

 

   

involuntarily issue policies for high-risk automobile drivers.

Regulation that could adversely affect our insurance subsidiaries also includes statutory surplus and risk-based capital requirements. Maintaining appropriate levels of surplus, as measured by statutory accounting principles, is considered important by state insurance regulatory authorities and the private agencies that rate insurers’ claims-paying abilities and

 

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financial strength. The failure of an insurance subsidiary to maintain levels of statutory surplus that are sufficient for the amount of its insurance written could result in increased regulatory scrutiny, action by state regulatory authorities or a downgrade by rating agencies.

Similarly, the NAIC has adopted a system of assessing minimum capital adequacy that is applicable to our insurance subsidiaries. This system, known as risk-based capital, is used to identify companies that may merit further regulatory action by analyzing the adequacy of the insurer’s surplus in relation to statutory requirements.

Because state legislatures remain concerned about the availability and affordability of property and casualty insurance and the protection of policyholders, our insurance subsidiaries expect that they will continue to face efforts by those legislatures to expand regulations to address these concerns. Resulting new legislation could adversely affect the financial condition and results of operations of our insurance subsidiaries.

In the event of the insolvency, liquidation or other reorganization of any of our insurance subsidiaries, our creditors and stockholders would have no right to proceed against any such insurance subsidiary or to cause the liquidation or bankruptcy of any such insurance subsidiary under federal or state bankruptcy laws. The insurance laws of the domiciliary state would govern such proceedings and the relevant insurance commissioner would act as liquidator or rehabilitator for the insurance subsidiary. Creditors and policyholders of any such insurance subsidiary would be entitled to payment in full from the assets of the insurance subsidiary before we, as a stockholder, would be entitled to receive any distribution.

The financial position of our insurance subsidiaries also may be affected by court decisions that expand insurance coverage beyond the intention of the insurer at the time it originally issued an insurance policy.

The insurance industry is highly cyclical.

The results of companies in the insurance industry historically have been subject to significant fluctuations due to competition, economic conditions, interest rates and other factors. In particular, companies in the property and casualty insurance segment of the industry historically have experienced pricing and profitability cycles. With respect to these cycles, the factors having the greatest impact include intense price competition, less restrictive underwriting standards, aggressive marketing and increased advertising, which have resulted in higher industry-wide combined loss and expense ratios.

The personal lines insurance and annuity markets are highly competitive and our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected by competitive forces.

We operate in a highly competitive environment and compete with numerous insurance companies, as well as mutual fund families, independent agent companies and financial planners. In some instances and geographic locations, competitors have specifically targeted the educator marketplace with specialized products and programs. We compete in our target market with a number of national providers of personal automobile and homeowners insurance and life insurance and annuities.

 

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The insurance industry consists of a large number of insurance companies, some of which have substantially greater financial resources, more diversified product lines, greater economies of scale and/or lower-cost marketing approaches, such as direct marketing, mail, Internet and telemarketing, compared to us. In our target market, we believe that the principal competitive factors in the sale of property and casualty insurance products are price, service, name recognition and education association sponsorships. We believe that the principal competitive factors in the sale of life insurance and annuity products are product features, perceived stability of the insurer, service, name recognition, price and education association sponsorships.

Particularly in the property and casualty business, our insurance subsidiaries have experienced, and expect to experience in the future, periods of intense competition during which they may be unable to increase policyholders and revenues without adversely impacting profit margins. The inability of an insurance subsidiary to compete successfully in the property and casualty business would adversely affect its financial condition and results of operations and its resulting ability to distribute cash to us.

In our annuity business, the new Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Section 403(b) regulations, which generally take effect January 1, 2009, will make the 403(b) market more similar to the 401(k) market than it has been in the past. While this may drive some competitors out of this market, it may make the 403(b) market more attractive to some of the larger 401(k) providers, including both insurance and mutual fund companies, that had not previously been active competitors in this business. The inability of an insurance subsidiary to compete successfully in these markets would adversely affect its financial condition and results of operations and its resulting ability to distribute cash to us.

Economic and other factors affecting our niche market could adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations.

Horace Mann’s strategic objective is to become the company of choice in meeting the insurance and financial services needs of the educational community. With K-12 educators, administrators, and support personnel representing a significant percentage of our business, the financial condition and results of operations of our subsidiaries could be more prone than many of our competitors to the effects of economic forces and other issues affecting the educator market including, but not limited to, state budget deficits and cut-backs and adverse changes in state tax revenues.

Litigation may harm our financial strength or reduce our profitability.

Companies in the insurance industry have been subject to substantial litigation resulting from claims, disputes and other matters. Most recently, they have faced expensive claims, including class action lawsuits, alleging, among other things, improper sales practices and improper claims settlement procedures. Negotiated settlements of certain such actions have had a material adverse effect on many insurance companies. The resolution of such claims against any of our insurance subsidiaries, including the potential adverse effect on our reputation and charges against the earnings of our insurance subsidiaries as a result of legal defense costs, a settlement agreement or an adverse finding or findings against our insurance subsidiaries in such a claim, could materially adversely affect the financial condition and results of operations of our insurance subsidiaries.

 

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A reduction or elimination of the tax advantages of life and annuity products and/or a change in the tax benefits of various government-authorized retirement programs, such as 403(b) annuities and IRAs, could make our products less attractive to clients and adversely affect our operating results.

A significant part of our annuity business involves fixed and variable 403(b) tax-qualified annuities, which are annuities purchased voluntarily by individuals employed by public school systems or other tax-exempt organizations. While the recent changes in IRS regulations governing 403(b) plans did not change the relative tax advantages of 403(b) annuities, our financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected by changes in federal and state laws and regulations that do affect the relative tax and other advantages of our life and annuity products to clients or the tax benefits of programs utilized by our clients. See also “Business — Regulation at Federal Level”.

Current federal income tax laws generally permit the tax-deferred accumulation of earnings on the premiums paid by the holders of annuities and life insurance products. Taxes, if any, are payable on income attributable to a distribution under the contract for the year in which the distribution is made. From time to time, Congress has considered legislation that would reduce or eliminate the benefit of such deferral of taxation on the accretion of value with life insurance and non-qualified annuity contracts. Enactment of this legislation, including a simplified “flat tax” income structure with an exemption from taxation for investment income, could result in fewer sales of our life insurance and annuity products.

Our property and casualty loss reserves may not be adequate.

Our property and casualty insurance subsidiaries maintain loss reserves to provide for their estimated ultimate liability for losses and loss adjustment expenses with respect to reported and unreported claims incurred as of the end of each accounting period. If these loss reserves prove inadequate, we will record a loss measured by the amount of the shortfall and, as a result, the financial condition and results of operations of our insurance subsidiaries will be adversely affected, potentially affecting their ability to distribute cash to us.

Reserves do not represent an exact calculation of liability. Reserves represent estimates, generally involving actuarial projections at a given time, of what our insurance subsidiaries expect the ultimate settlement and adjustment of claims will cost, net of salvage and subrogation. Estimates are based on assessments of known facts and circumstances, assumptions related to the ultimate cost to settle such claims, estimates of future trends in claims severity and frequency, changing judicial theories of liability and other factors. These variables are affected by both internal and external events, including changes in claims handling procedures, economic inflation, unpredictability of court decisions, plaintiffs’ expanded theories of liability, risks inherent in major litigation and legislative changes. Many of these items are not directly quantifiable, particularly on a prospective basis. Significant reporting lags may exist between the occurrence of an insured event and the time it is actually reported. Our insurance subsidiaries adjust their reserve estimates regularly as experience develops and further claims are reported and settled.

Due to the inherent uncertainty in estimating reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses, we cannot be certain that the ultimate liability will not exceed amounts reserved, with a resulting adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

 

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Deviations from assumptions regarding future persistency, mortality, morbidity, interest spreads and market appreciation used in calculating life and annuity reserves and deferred policy acquisition expense amounts could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.

The processes of calculating reserve and deferred policy acquisition expense amounts for our life and annuity businesses involve the use of a number of assumptions, including those related to persistency (how long a contract stays with the company), mortality (the relative incidence of death over a given period of time), morbidity (the relative incidence of disability resulting from disease or physical impairment), interest spreads (the interest rates expected to be received on investments less the rate of interest credited to contractholders) and market appreciation (the rate of growth in market value of the underlying variable annuity subaccounts due to price appreciation). We periodically review the adequacy of these reserves and deferred policy acquisition expenses on an aggregate basis and, if future experience differs significantly from assumptions, adjustments to reserves and deferred policy acquisition expenses may be required which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Any downgrade in or decline in outlook for our claims-paying, financial strength or credit ratings could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

Claims-paying and financial strength ratings have become an increasingly important factor in establishing the competitive position of insurance companies. In the evolving 403(b) annuity market, school districts and benefit consultants have been placing increased emphasis on the relative financial strength ratings of competing companies. Each rating agency reviews its ratings periodically and from time to time may modify its rating criteria including, among other factors, its expectations regarding capital adequacy, profitability and revenue growth. A downgrade in the ratings or adverse change in the ratings outlook of any of our insurance subsidiaries by a major rating agency could result in a substantial loss of business for that subsidiary if school districts, policyholders or independent agents move their business to other companies having higher claims-paying and financial strength ratings than we do. This loss of business could have a material adverse effect on the financial condition and results of operations of that subsidiary.

A downgrade in our holding company debt rating could also adversely impact our cost and flexibility of borrowing which could have an adverse impact on our liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.

Reduction of the statutory surplus of our insurance subsidiaries could adversely affect their ability to write insurance business.

Insurance companies write business based, in part, upon guidelines including a ratio of premiums to surplus for property and casualty insurance companies and a ratio of reserves to surplus for life insurance companies. If our insurance subsidiaries cannot maintain profitability in the future, they may be required to draw on their surplus in order to pay dividends to us to enable us to meet our financial obligations. As their surplus is reduced by the payment of dividends, continuing losses or both, our insurance subsidiaries’ ability to write business and maintain acceptable financial strength ratings could also be reduced. This could have a material adverse effect upon the business volume and profitability of our insurance subsidiaries.

 

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If we are not able to effectively develop and expand our agency operations, including our agent force and their licensed producers and support staff, our financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.

Our success in marketing and selling our products is largely dependent upon the efforts of our full-time, exclusive agent sales force and the success of their agency operations. As we expand our business, we may need to expand our agencies to market our products. If we are unable to hire or appoint additional agents, fail to retain our current agents or are unable to increase the productivity of our agency operations, sales of our products would likely decline and our financial condition and results of operations would be adversely affected.

In 2006, we began transitioning from a single-person agent operation to our new Agency Business Model, with agents in outside offices with support personnel and licensed producers, designed to remove capacity constraints and increase productivity. If we and our agency force are unable to successfully implement this approach to expanding our points of distribution and further increasing the productivity of our agents, our financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.

If we are not able to maintain and secure 1) payroll reduction authorizations and 2) product sponsorships and other relationships with the educational community, our financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.

One of the keys to the successful sale of our 403(b) tax-qualified annuity products is our ability to obtain payroll reduction authorization from school districts. In 2007, the IRS issued new regulations regarding Section 403(b) arrangements, including annuities. The regulations alter the nature of 403(b) arrangements in an employer-sponsored plan. This is a potentially significant change from the historical view of 403(b) arrangements being individual plans funded by salary reduction. This could prompt school district sponsors of 403(b) arrangements to reconsider the companies permitted to offer products to fund such arrangements within their district, and potentially reduce the number of authorized providers. Such actions present the threat of losing certain current payroll reduction authorizations and sponsorships, and the potential for lost sales and resulting revenues in those school districts, as well as the opportunity to increase penetration in school districts where we remain as one of a reduced number of approved providers. Under these new regulations, our ability to maintain and grow our share of the 403(b) market will depend on our ability to successfully adapt our products, services offered, and administrative systems, which could potentially increase our cost of doing business in this market. School districts and benefit consultants have been placing additional emphasis on the relative financial strength ratings of competing companies, which may put us at a competitive disadvantage relative to other more highly-rated insurance companies. The effective date of the new regulations is January 1, 2009 with limited exceptions. See also “Business — Regulation at Federal Level”.

Our ability to maintain and obtain product sponsorships from local, state and national education associations is important to our marketing strategy. Horace Mann has had a long relationship with the NEA, the nation’s largest confederation of state and local teachers’ associations, and many of the state and local education associations affiliated with the NEA. In addition to these organizations, we have established relationships with various other educator, principal and school administrator groups. These contacts and endorsements help to establish our brand name and presence in the educational community and to enhance our access to educators.

 

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Catastrophic events can have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Underwriting results of property and casualty insurers are subject to weather and other conditions prevailing in an accident year. While one year may be relatively free of major weather or other disasters, another year may have numerous such events causing results for such a year to be materially worse than for other years.

Our property and casualty insurance subsidiaries have experienced, and we anticipate that in the future they will continue to experience, catastrophe losses. A catastrophic event or a series of multiple catastrophic events could have a material adverse effect on the financial condition and results of operations of our insurance subsidiaries.

Various events can cause catastrophes, including hurricanes, windstorms, earthquakes, hail, terrorism, explosions, severe winter weather and wildfires. The frequency and severity of these catastrophes are inherently unpredictable. The extent of losses from a catastrophe is a function of both the total amount of insured exposures in the area affected by the event and the severity of the event. Although catastrophes can cause losses in a variety of property and casualty lines, most of the catastrophe-related claims of our insurance subsidiaries are related to homeowners’ coverages. Our ability to provide accurate estimates of ultimate catastrophe costs is based on several factors, including:

 

   

the proximity of the catastrophe occurrence date to the date of our estimate;

 

   

potential inflation of property repair costs in the affected area;

 

   

the occurrence of multiple catastrophes in a geographic area over a relatively short period of time; and

 

   

the outcome of litigation which may be filed against the Company by policyholders, state attorneys general and other parties relative to loss coverage disputes and loss settlement payments.

Based on 2007 direct premiums earned, approximately 57% of the total annual premiums for our property and casualty business were for policies issued in the ten largest states in which our insurance subsidiaries write property and casualty coverage. Included in this top ten group are certain states which are considered to be more prone to catastrophe occurrences: Florida, California, North Carolina, Texas, Louisiana, South Carolina and Georgia.

As an ongoing practice, but particularly following the significant catastrophic claims from hurricanes in 2005 and 2004, we attempt to manage our exposure to catastrophes. Reductions in property and casualty business written in catastrophe-prone areas may have a negative impact on near-term business growth and results of operations.

In addition to the potential impact on our property and casualty subsidiaries, our life subsidiary could experience claims of a catastrophic magnitude from events such as pandemics; terrorism; nuclear, biological or chemical explosions; or other acts of war.

 

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Our insurance subsidiaries seek to reduce their exposure to catastrophe losses through their underwriting strategies and the purchase of catastrophe reinsurance. Nevertheless, reinsurance may prove inadequate if:

 

   

a major catastrophic loss exceeds the reinsurance limit;

 

   

a series of major catastrophic events in a single year exhaust the reinsurance coverage; or

 

   

an insurance subsidiary incurs multiple, smaller catastrophic losses which, individually, do not exceed the subsidiary’s loss retention level.

Uncollectible reinsurance, as well as reinsurance availability and pricing, can have a material adverse effect upon our business volume and profitability.

Reinsurance is a contract by which one insurer, called a reinsurer, agrees to cover a portion of the losses incurred by a second insurer in the event a claim is made under a policy issued by the second insurer. Our insurance subsidiaries obtain reinsurance to help manage their exposure to property, casualty and life insurance risks. Although a reinsurer is liable to our insurance subsidiaries according to the terms of its reinsurance policy, the insurance subsidiaries remain primarily liable as the direct insurers on all risks reinsured. As a result, reinsurance does not eliminate the obligation of our insurance subsidiaries to pay all claims, and each insurance subsidiary is subject to the risk that one or more of its reinsurers will be unable or unwilling to honor its obligations.

Although we limit participation in our reinsurance programs to reinsurers with high financial strength ratings, our insurance subsidiaries cannot guarantee that their reinsurers will pay in a timely fashion, if at all. Reinsurers may become financially unsound by the time that they are called upon to pay amounts due, which may not occur for many years. In the case of the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (“FHCF”), financial deficits may require additional assessments against participating insurers. Additional coverage made available by the FHCF to the insurance industry, as was done for the 2007 contract period, could increase the likelihood of future assessments in periods following significant hurricane losses.

Additionally, the availability and cost of reinsurance are subject to prevailing market conditions beyond our control. For example, the significant level of losses from hurricanes in 2005 and 2004 and the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 have had a significant adverse pricing impact on the reinsurance market.

If one of our insurance subsidiaries is unable to obtain adequate reinsurance at reasonable rates, that insurance subsidiary would have to increase its risk exposure and/or reduce the level of its underwriting commitments, which could have a material adverse effect upon the business volume and profitability of the subsidiary. Alternately, the insurance subsidiary could elect to pay the higher than reasonable rates for reinsurance coverage, which could have a material adverse effect upon its profitability until policy premium rates could be raised, in some cases subject to approval by state regulators, to incorporate this additional cost.

Losses due to defaults by others could reduce our profitability or negatively affect the value of our investments.

Third parties that owe us money, securities or other assets may not pay or perform their obligations. These parties may include the issuers whose securities we hold, borrowers under mortgage loans, customers, trading counterparties, counterparties under swaps and other

 

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derivative contracts, reinsurers, clearing agents, exchanges, clearing houses and other financial intermediaries. These parties may default on their obligations to us due to bankruptcy, lack of liquidity, downturns in the economy or real estate values, operational failure or other reasons.

The default of a major market participant could disrupt the securities markets or clearance and settlement systems in the U.S. or abroad. A failure of a major market participant could cause some clearance and settlement systems to assess members of that system, including our broker-dealer subsidiary, or could lead to a chain of defaults that could adversely affect us. A default of a major market participant could disrupt various markets, which could in turn cause market declines or volatility and negatively impact our financial condition and results of operations.

If our investment strategy is not successful, we could suffer unexpected losses.

The success of our investment strategy is crucial to the success of our business. Specifically, our fixed income portfolio is subject to a number of risks including:

 

   

market value risk, which is the risk that our invested assets will decrease in value due to a change in the yields realized on our assets and prevailing market yields for similar assets, an unfavorable change in the liquidity of the investment or an unfavorable change in the financial prospects or a downgrade in the credit rating of the issuer of the investment;

 

   

credit risk, which is the risk that the value of certain investments becomes impaired due to deterioration in financial condition of one or more issuers of those instruments and, ultimately, the risk of permanent loss in the event of default by an issuer;

 

   

market fundamentals risk, which is the risk that there are changes in the market that can have an unfavorable impact on securities valuation such as availability of credit in the capital markets, re-pricing of credit risk, reduced market liquidity, and increased market volatility;

 

   

reinvestment risk, which is the risk that interest rates will decline and funds reinvested will earn less than expected;

 

   

concentration risk, which is the risk that the portfolio may be too heavily concentrated in the securities of one or more issuers, sectors or industries, which could result in a significant decrease in the value of the portfolio in the event of deterioration in the financial condition of those issuers or the market value of their securities; and

 

   

liquidity risk, which is the risk that liabilities are surrendered or mature sooner than anticipated requiring us to sell assets at an undesirable time to provide for policyholder surrenders, withdrawals or claims.

We attempt to mitigate these risks through product pricing, product features and the establishment of policy reserves, but we cannot provide assurance that assets will be properly matched to meet anticipated liabilities or that our investments will provide sufficient returns to enable us to satisfy our guaranteed fixed benefit obligations.

From time to time, we could also enter into foreign currency, interest rate, credit derivative and other hedging transactions in an effort to manage risks. We cannot provide assurance that we will successfully structure those derivatives and hedges so as to effectively manage these risks. If our calculations are incorrect, or if we do not properly structure our derivatives or hedges, we may have unexpected losses and our assets may not be adequate to meet our needed reserves, which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

 

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The result of any investment activity is determined to a significant degree by general economic conditions, which may adversely affect the markets for interest rate sensitive securities, including the level and volatility of interest rates and the extent and timing of investor participation in these markets. Unexpected volatility or illiquidity in the markets in which we hold positions could adversely affect us.

Declining financial markets could also cause the value of the investments in our defined benefit pension plan to decrease, resulting in additional pension expense and an increase in required contributions to the defined benefit pension plan.

Our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected by declining financial market conditions.

Conditions in the U.S. and international financial markets affect the sale and profitability of our annuity products. In general, sales of variable annuities decrease when financial markets are declining over an extended period of time. Therefore, weak financial market performance may adversely affect sales of our variable annuity products to potential customers, may cause current customers to withdraw or reduce the amounts invested in our variable annuity products and may reduce the market value of existing customers’ investments in our variable annuity products, in turn reducing the amount of variable annuity fee revenues generated. In addition, some of our variable annuity contracts offer guaranteed minimum death benefits features, which provide for a benefit if the annuitant dies and the contract value is less than a specified amount. A decline in the financial markets could cause the contract value to fall below this specified amount, increasing our exposure to losses from variable annuity products featuring guaranteed minimum death benefits. Declining financial markets may also impact the valuations of deferred policy acquisition costs and value of acquired insurance in force.

Interest rate fluctuations could negatively affect the income we derive from the difference between the interest rates we earn on our investments and the interest we pay under our annuity contracts.

Significant changes in interest rates expose us to the risk of not earning income or experiencing losses based on the differences between the interest rates earned on our investments and the credited interest rates paid on our outstanding annuity contracts. Significant changes in interest rates may affect:

 

   

the unrealized gains and losses in our investment portfolio and the related after-tax effect on our shareholders’ equity and total capital;

 

   

the book yield of our investment portfolio; and

 

   

the ability of our insurance subsidiaries to maintain appropriate interest rate spreads over the fixed rates guaranteed in their life and annuity products.

 

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Both rising and declining interest rates can negatively affect the income we derive from these interest rate spreads. During periods of falling interest rates, our investment earnings will be lower because new investments in fixed maturity securities will likely bear lower interest rates. We may not be able to fully offset the decline in investment earnings with lower crediting rates on our annuity contracts. During periods of rising interest rates, there may be competitive pressure to increase the crediting rates on our annuity contracts. We may not, however, have the ability immediately to acquire investments with interest rates sufficient to offset an increase in crediting rates under our annuity contracts. Although we develop and maintain asset/liability management programs and procedures designed to reduce the volatility of our income when interest rates are rising or falling, changes in interest rates can affect our interest rate spreads.

Changes in interest rates may also affect our business in other ways. For example, a rapidly changing interest rate environment may result in less competitive crediting rates on certain of our fixed-rate products which could make those products less attractive, leading to lower sales and/or increases in the level of life insurance and annuity product surrenders and withdrawals. Interest rate fluctuations may also impact the valuations of deferred policy acquisition costs and value of acquired insurance in force.

Successful execution of our growth strategy is highly dependent on effective implementation of new technology solutions.

Our ability to effectively execute our growth strategy and leverage potential economies of scale is dependent on our ability to provide the requisite technology components of that strategy. While we have effectively upgraded our infrastructure technologies with improvements in our data center, a new communications platform and advanced disaster recovery capabilities, our ability to build upon this foundation and replace dated, single-function legacy systems with fully functional, flexible, maintainable and user-friendly technology solutions, including current efforts underway to replace major components of our property and casualty administrative system, will be necessary to achieve our plans. The inherent difficulty in implementing large technology solutions, coupled with the Company’s lack of experience in these types of endeavors, presents increased risk to delivering these technology solutions in a timely and cost-effective manner.

 

ITEM 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

None.

 

ITEM 2. Properties

HMEC’s home office property at 1 Horace Mann Plaza in Springfield, Illinois, consists of an office building totaling approximately 200,000 square feet which is owned by the Company. The Company also owns buildings with an aggregate of approximately 24,000 square feet at other locations in Springfield. The Company leases buildings in Springfield with an aggregate of approximately 91,000 square feet. In addition, the Company leases office space in other states related to claims and agency offices which are smaller in size. These properties, which are utilized by all of the Company’s operating segments, are adequate and suitable for the Company’s current and anticipated future needs.

 

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ITEM 3. Legal Proceedings

The Company is not currently party to any material pending legal proceedings other than routine litigation incidental to its business.

 

ITEM 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

None.

PART II

 

ITEM 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Market Information and Dividends

HMEC’s common stock began trading on the NYSE in November 1991 under the symbol of HMN at a price of $9 per share. The following table sets forth the high and low sales prices of the common stock on the NYSE Composite Tape and the cash dividends paid per share of common stock during the periods indicated.

 

     Market Price    Dividend
Paid

Fiscal Period

   High    Low   

2007:

        

Fourth Quarter

   $ 23.23    $ 16.08    $ 0.105

Third Quarter

     22.11      17.61      0.105

Second Quarter

     22.88      20.24      0.105

First Quarter

     22.18      19.21      0.105

2006:

        

Fourth Quarter

   $ 21.01    $ 17.75    $ 0.105

Third Quarter

     19.70      16.36      0.105

Second Quarter

     18.70      16.05      0.105

First Quarter

     20.28      18.05      0.105

The payment of dividends in the future is subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend upon general business conditions, legal restrictions and other factors the Board of Directors of HMEC may deem to be relevant. See also “Business — Cash Flow”.

 

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Stock Price Performance Graph

The graph below compares cumulative total return* of Horace Mann Educators Corporation, the S&P 500 Insurance Index and the S&P 500 Index. The graph assumes $100 invested on December 31, 2002 in HMEC, the S&P 500 Insurance Index and the S&P 500 Index.

LOGO

 

     12/02    12/03    12/04    12/05    12/06    12/07

HMEC

   $ 100    $ 94    $ 131    $ 133    $ 145    $ 139

S&P 500 Insurance Index

   $ 100    $ 121    $ 130    $ 148    $ 164    $ 154

S&P 500 Index

   $ 100    $ 128    $ 142    $ 149    $ 172    $ 182

 

* The S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Insurance Index, as published by Standard and Poor’s Corporation (“S&P”), assume an annual reinvestment of dividends in calculating total return. Horace Mann Educators Corporation assumes reinvestment of dividends when paid.

Holders and Shares Issued

As of February 19, 2008, the approximate number of holders of HMEC’s common stock was 3,500.

During 2007, options were exercised for the issuance of 240,352 shares, 0.6% of the Company’s common stock shares outstanding at December 31, 2006. The Company received $4.5 million as a result of these option exercises, including related federal income tax benefits.

The equity compensation plan information required by Item 201(d) of Regulation S-K is incorporated by reference to the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

 

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Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

As previously disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, $96.3 million remained authorized for future repurchases of Horace Mann Educators Corporation’s Common Stock, par value $0.001, under the May 1999 authorization by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”). At that time, the Company’s last repurchase of its common shares was in July 2000. As disclosed in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 14, 2007, on September 12, 2007, the Board authorized a new share repurchase program allowing repurchases up to $50.0 million and ended the May 1999 authorization. The new share repurchase program authorizes the repurchase of common shares in open market or privately negotiated transactions, from time to time, depending on market conditions. During the three months ended December 31, 2007, the Company repurchased shares of HMEC common stock as follows:

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

Period

   Total Number of
Shares Purchased
   Average Price Paid
Per Share
   Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of Publicly
Announced Plans or
Programs
   Maximum Number
(or Approximate Dollar
Value) of Shares
That May Yet Be
Purchased Under The
Plans or Programs

October 1 – October 31

   —        —      —      $ 50.0 million

November 1 – November 30

   519,200    $ 18.23    519,200    $ 40.5 million

December 1 – December 31

   592,400    $ 19.05    592,400    $ 29.3 million
               

Total

   1,111,600    $ 18.66    1,111,600    $ 29.3 million
               

Including additional shares of HMEC’s common stock repurchased through February 19, 2008, the Company completed the $50.0 million authorization described above, resulting in a total of 2,738,376 shares repurchased at an average cost of $18.28 per share.

 

ITEM 6. Selected Financial Data

The information required by Item 301 of Regulation S-K is contained in the table in Item 1 — “Business — Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Data”.

 

ITEM 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The information required by Item 303 of Regulation S-K is listed on page F-1 of this report.

 

ITEM 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The information required by Item 305 of Regulation S-K is contained in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” listed on page F-1 of this report.

 

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ITEM 8. Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

The Company’s consolidated financial statements, financial statement schedules, the report of its independent registered public accounting firm and the selected quarterly financial data required by Item 302 of Regulation S-K are listed on page F-1 of this report.

 

ITEM 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

None.

 

ITEM 9A. Controls and Procedures

a.) Management’s Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined under Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Based on this evaluation, our chief executive officer and our chief financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2007, the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

b.) Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Management of Horace Mann is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act. Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:

 

  (i) Pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company;

 

  (ii) Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and

 

  (iii) Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.

 

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Management of Horace Mann conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, using the criteria set forth in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Based on this evaluation, management, including our chief executive officer and our chief financial officer, determined that, as of December 31, 2007, the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting.

c.) Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

The information required by Item 308(b) of Regulation S-K is contained in the “Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” listed on page F-1 of this report.

d). Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Company’s last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

ITEM 9B. Other Information

None.

PART III

 

ITEM 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

The information required by Items 401, 405, 407(d)(4) and 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K is incorporated by reference to the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

Horace Mann Educators Corporation has adopted a code of ethics that applies to its principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer and all other employees of the Company. In addition, the Board of Directors of Horace Mann Educators Corporation has adopted the code of ethics for its Board members as it applies to each Board member’s business conduct on behalf of the Company. The code of ethics is posted on the Company’s Web site, www.horacemann.com, under “Investor Relations — Corporate Governance”.

 

ITEM 11. Executive Compensation

The information required by Items 402, 407(e)(4) and 407(e)(5) of Regulation S-K is incorporated by reference to the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

 

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Table of Contents
ITEM 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

The information required by Items 201(d) and 403 of Regulation S-K is incorporated by reference to the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

 

ITEM 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

The information required by Items 404 and 407(a) of Regulation S-K is incorporated by reference to the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

 

ITEM 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services

The information required by Item 9(e) of Schedule 14A is incorporated by reference to the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

PART IV

 

ITEM 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

(a)(1) The following consolidated financial statements of the Company are contained in the Index to Financial Information on Page F-1 of this report:

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2007 and 2006.

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005.

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005.

(a)(2) The following financial statement schedules of the Company are contained in the Index to Financial Information on page F-1 of this report:

Schedule I—Summary of Investments—Other than Investments in Related Parties.

Schedule II—Condensed Financial Information of Registrant.

Schedules III and VI Combined—Supplementary Insurance Information and Supplemental Information Concerning Property and Casualty Insurance Operations.

Schedule IV—Reinsurance.

 

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(a)(3) The following items are filed as Exhibits. Management contracts and compensatory plans are indicated by an asterisk (*).

 

Exhibit

No.

  

Description

(3) Articles of incorporation and bylaws:

3.1

   Restated Certificate of Incorporation of HMEC, filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on June 24, 2003, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to HMEC’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on August 14, 2003.

3.2

   Form of Certificate for shares of Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share, of HMEC, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to HMEC’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 33-53118) filed with the SEC on October 9, 1992.

3.3

   Bylaws of HMEC, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to HMEC’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003, filed with the SEC on August 14, 2003.

(4) Instruments defining the rights of security holders, including indentures:

4.1

   Indenture, dated as of June 9, 2005, between HMEC and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as trustee, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to HMEC’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 6, 2005, filed with the SEC on June 9, 2005.

4.1(a)

   First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 9, 2005, between HMEC and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as trustee, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to HMEC’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 6, 2005, filed with the SEC on June 9, 2005.

4.1(b)

   Form of HMEC 6.05% Senior Notes Due 2015 (included in Exhibit 4.1(a)).

4.1(c)

   Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 21, 2006, between HMEC and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as trustee, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to HMEC’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 18, 2006, filed with the SEC on April 21, 2006.

4.1(d)

   Form of HMEC 6.85% Senior Notes due April 15, 2016 (included in Exhibit 4.1(c)).

4.2

   Certificate of Designations for HMEC Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to HMEC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, filed with the SEC on March 16, 2006.

 

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Exhibit

No.

  

Description

(10) Material contracts:

10.1

   Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of December 19, 2006 among HMEC, certain financial institutions named therein and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to HMEC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, filed with the SEC on March 1, 2007.

10.2*

   Horace Mann Educators Corporation Deferred Equity Compensation Plan for Directors, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to HMEC’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1996, filed with the SEC on November 14, 1996.

10.3*

   Horace Mann Educators Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan for Employees, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to HMEC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997, filed with the SEC on March 30, 1998.

10.4*

   Amended and Restated Horace Mann Educators Corporation 1991 Stock Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to HMEC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, filed with the SEC on March 30, 2000.

10.4(a)*

   Amendment to Amended and Restated Horace Mann Educators Corporation 1991 Stock Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1(a) to HMEC’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2000, filed with the SEC on August 11, 2000.

10.4(b)*

   Specimen Employee Stock Option Agreement under the Horace Mann Educators Corporation 1991 Stock Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5(a) to HMEC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, filed with the SEC on March 30, 2000.

10.4(c)*

   Specimen Director Stock Option Agreement under the Horace Mann Educators Corporation 1991 Stock Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5(b) to HMEC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, filed with the SEC on March 30, 2000.

10.5*

   Horace Mann Educators Corporation 2001 Stock Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to HMEC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001, filed with the SEC on March 29, 2002.

10.5(a)*

   Specimen Employee Stock Option Agreement under the Horace Mann Educators Corporation 2001 Stock Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6(a) to HMEC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001, filed with the SEC on March 29, 2002.

 

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Exhibit
No.

  

Description

10.5(b)*

   Specimen Director Stock Option Agreement under the Horace Mann Educators Corporation 2001 Stock Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6(b) to HMEC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001, filed with the SEC on March 29, 2002.

10.6*

   Horace Mann Educators Corporation Amended and Restated 2002 Incentive Compensation Plan (“2002 Incentive Compensation Plan”), incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to HMEC’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2005, filed with the SEC on August 9, 2005.

10.6(a)*

   Specimen Employee Stock Option Agreement under the 2002 Incentive Compensation Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2(a) to HMEC’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002, filed with the SEC on August 14, 2002.

10.6(b)*

   Specimen Regular Employee Stock Option Agreement under the 2002 Incentive Compensation Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2(b) to HMEC’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002, filed with the SEC on August 14, 2002.

10.6(c)*

   Specimen Director Stock Option Agreement under the 2002 Incentive Compensation Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2(c) to HMEC’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002, filed with the SEC on August 14, 2002.

10.6(d)*

   Specimen Employee Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the 2002 Incentive Compensation Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6(d) to HMEC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, filed with the SEC on March 16, 2006.

10.6(e)*

   Specimen Non-employee Director Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the 2002 Incentive Compensation Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6(e) to HMEC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, filed with the SEC on March 16, 2006.

10.6(f)*

   Specimen Restricted Stock Unit Deferral Election Form under the 2002 Incentive Compensation Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6(f) to HMEC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, filed with the SEC on March 16, 2006.

10.6(g)*

   Specimen Modification to Stock Options outstanding as of June 30, 2004, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2(d) to HMEC’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004, filed with the SEC on August 9, 2004.

 

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Table of Contents

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

10.7*

   Horace Mann Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan, 2002 Restatement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to HMEC’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2002, filed with the SEC on May 15, 2002.

10.8*

   Horace Mann Executive Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan, 2002 Restatement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to HMEC’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2002, filed with the SEC on May 15, 2002.

10.9*

   Horace Mann Nonqualified Supplemental Money Purchase Pension Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to HMEC’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2002, filed with the SEC on May 15, 2002.

10.10*

   Summary of HMEC Non-Employee Director Compensation.

10.11*

   Summary of HMEC Named Executive Officer Annualized Salary, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to HMEC’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 22, 2007, filed with the SEC on May 25, 2007.

10.12*

   Severance Agreements between HMEC and certain officers of HMEC, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to HMEC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001, filed with the SEC on March 29, 2002.

10.12(a)*

   Revised Schedule to Severance Agreements between HMEC and certain officers of HMEC, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12(a) to HMEC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, filed with the SEC on March 1, 2007.

10.13*

   Change in Control Agreement between HMEC, Horace Mann Service Corporation (“HMSC”) and certain officers of HMEC and/or HMSC, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to HMEC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2005.

10.13(a)*

   Schedule to Change in Control Agreements between HMEC, HMSC and certain officers of HMEC and/or HMSC.

10.14*

   Employment Agreement between HMEC and Louis G. Lower II as of December 31, 1999, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to HMEC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, filed with the SEC on March 30, 2000.

 

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Exhibit
No.

  

Description

(11)

   Statement regarding computation of per share earnings.

(12)

   Statement regarding computation of ratios.

(21)

   Subsidiaries of HMEC.

(23)

   Consent of KPMG LLP.

(31)

   Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.1

  

Certification by Louis G. Lower II, Chief Executive Officer of HMEC.

31.2

  

Certification by Peter H. Heckman, Chief Financial Officer of HMEC.

(32)

   Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.1

  

Certification by Louis G. Lower II, Chief Executive Officer of HMEC.

32.2

  

Certification by Peter H. Heckman, Chief Financial Officer of HMEC.

(99)

   Additional exhibits

99.1

  

Glossary of Selected Terms.

(b)

  

See list of exhibits in this Item 15.

(c)

  

See list of financial statement schedules in this Item 15.

Copies of Form 10-K, Exhibits to Form 10-K, Horace Mann Educators Corporation’s Code of Ethics and charters of the committees of the Board of Directors are available through the Investor Relations section of the Company’s Internet Web site, www.horacemann.com. Copies also may be obtained by writing to Investor Relations, Horace Mann Educators Corporation, 1 Horace Mann Plaza, C-120, Springfield, Illinois 62715-0001.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Horace Mann Educators Corporation has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION

/s/    Louis G. Lower II

Louis G. Lower II
President and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of Horace Mann Educators Corporation and in the capacities and on the date indicated.

 

Principal Executive Officer:     Directors:
/s/    Louis G. Lower II     /s/    Joseph J. Melone

Louis G. Lower II

President,

Chief Executive Officer and a Director

   

Joseph J. Melone, Chairman of the

Board of Directors

    /s/    Mary H. Futrell
    Mary H. Futrell, Director
    /s/    Stephen J. Hasenmiller
Principal Financial Officer:     Stephen J. Hasenmiller, Director
/s/    Peter H. Heckman     /s/    Jeffrey L. Morby

Peter H. Heckman

Executive Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

    Jeffrey L. Morby, Director
    /s/    Charles A. Parker
    Charles A. Parker, Director
Principal Accounting Officer:     /s/    Gabriel L. Shaheen
    Gabriel L. Shaheen, Director
/s/    Bret A. Conklin     /s/    Roger J. Steinbecker

Bret A. Conklin

Senior Vice President and Controller

    Roger J. Steinbecker, Director
    /s/    Charles R. Wright
    Charles R. Wright, Director

Dated: February 28, 2008

 

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Table of Contents

H ORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION

INDEX TO FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

     Page

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

   F-  2

Report of Management Responsibility for Financial Statements

   F-34

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   F-35

Consolidated Balance Sheets

   F-37

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income

   F-38

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity

   F-39

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

   F-40

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

  

Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

   F-41

Note 2 - Investments

   F-52

Note 3 - Property and Casualty Unpaid Claims and Claim Expenses

   F-56

Note 4 - Debt

   F-60

Note 5 - Shareholders’ Equity and Stock Options

   F-63

Note 6 - Income Taxes

   F-66

Note 7 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments

   F-69

Note 8 - Statutory Surplus and Subsidiary Dividend Restrictions

   F-71

Note 9 - Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits

   F-73

Note 10 - Catastrophes and Reinsurance

   F-80

Note 11 - Contingencies and Commitments

   F-83

Note 12 - Supplementary Data on Cash Flows

   F-84

Note 13 - Segment Information

   F-84

Note 14 - Unaudited Selected Quarterly Financial Data

   F-86

Financial Statement Schedules:

  

Schedule I - Summary of Investments - Other than Investments in Related Parties

   F-87

Schedule II - Condensed Financial Information of Registrant

   F-88

Schedule III and VI Combined - Supplementary Insurance Information and Supplemental Information Concerning Property and Casualty Insurance Operations

   F-92

Schedule IV - Reinsurance

   F-93

 

F-1


Table of Contents

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF

FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

(Dollars in millions, except per share data)

Forward-looking Information

Statements made in the following discussion that state the Company’s or management’s intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectations or predictions of future events or the Company’s future financial performance are forward-looking statements and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Horace Mann is not under any obligation to (and expressly disclaims any such obligation to) update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. It is important to note that the Company’s actual results could differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements due to, among other risks and uncertainties inherent in the Company’s business, the following important factors:

 

   

Changes in the composition of the Company’s assets and liabilities which may result from occurrences such as acquisitions, divestitures, impairment in asset values or changes in estimates of insurance reserves.

 

   

Fluctuations in the fair value of securities in the Company’s investment portfolio and the related after-tax effect on the Company’s shareholders’ equity and total capital through either realized or unrealized investment losses. In addition, the impact of fluctuations in the financial markets on the Company’s defined benefit pension plan assets and the related after-tax effect on the Company’s operating expenses, shareholders’ equity and total capital.

 

   

The impact of fluctuations in the financial markets on the Company’s variable annuity fee revenues, valuations of deferred policy acquisition costs and value of acquired insurance in force, and the level of guaranteed minimum death benefit reserves.

 

   

The impact of fluctuations in the capital markets on the Company’s ability to refinance outstanding indebtedness or repurchase shares of the Company’s common stock.

 

   

Defaults on interest or dividend payments in the Company’s investment portfolio due to credit issues and the resulting impact on investment income.

 

   

Prevailing interest rate levels, including the impact of interest rates on (i) unrealized gains and losses in the Company’s investment portfolio and the related after-tax effect on the Company’s shareholders’ equity and total capital, (ii) the book yield of the Company’s investment portfolio, (iii) the Company’s ability to maintain appropriate interest rate spreads over the fixed rates guaranteed in the Company’s life and annuity products and (iv) valuations of deferred policy acquisition costs and value of acquired insurance in force.

 

   

The cyclicality of the insurance industry and the related effects of changes in price competition and industry-wide underwriting results.

 

   

The frequency and severity of catastrophes such as hurricanes, earthquakes, storms and wildfires and the ability of the Company to provide accurate estimates of ultimate catastrophe costs in its consolidated financial statements in light of such factors as: the proximity of the catastrophe occurrence date to the date of the consolidated financial statements; potential inflation of property repair costs in the affected area; the occurrence of multiple catastrophes in a geographic area over a relatively short period of time; the outcome of litigation which may be filed against the Company by policyholders, state attorneys general and other parties relative to loss coverage disputes and loss settlement payments; and the ability of state insurance facilities to assess participating insurers when financial deficits occur.

 

F-2


Table of Contents
   

The Company’s risk exposure to catastrophe-prone areas. Based on 2007 property and casualty direct earned premiums, the Company’s ten largest states represented 57% of the segment total. Included in this top ten group are certain states which are considered more prone to catastrophe occurrences: Florida, California, North Carolina, Texas, Louisiana, South Carolina and Georgia.

 

   

The potential near-term, adverse impact of underwriting actions to mitigate the Company’s risk exposure to catastrophe-prone areas on premium, policy and earnings growth.

 

   

The ability of the Company to maintain a favorable catastrophe reinsurance program considering both availability and cost; and the collectibility of reinsurance receivables.

 

   

Adverse development of property and casualty loss and loss adjustment expense reserve experience and its impact on estimated claims and claim settlement expenses for losses occurring in prior years.

 

   

Adverse changes in business persistency, policyholder mortality and morbidity rates, interest spreads and market appreciation and the resulting impact on both estimated reserves and the valuations of deferred policy acquisition costs and value of acquired insurance in force.

 

   

Changes in insurance regulations, including (i) those affecting the ability of the Company’s insurance subsidiaries to distribute cash to the holding company and (ii) those impacting the Company’s ability to profitably write property and casualty insurance policies in one or more states.

 

   

Changes in federal income tax laws and changes resulting from federal tax audits affecting corporate tax rates or taxable income.

 

   

Changes in federal and state laws and regulations, which affect the relative tax and other advantages of the Company’s life and annuity products to customers, including, but not limited to, changes in IRS regulations governing Section 403(b) plans.

 

   

The resolution of legal proceedings and related matters including the potential adverse impact on the Company’s reputation and charges against the Company’s earnings resulting from legal defense costs, a settlement agreement and/or an adverse finding or findings against the Company from the proceedings.

 

   

The Company’s ability to maintain favorable claims-paying ability, financial strength and debt ratings.

 

   

The Company’s ability to profitably expand its property and casualty business in highly competitive environments.

 

   

The competitive impact of the new Section 403(b) tax-qualified annuity regulations, including 1) their potential to lead plan sponsors to restrict the number of providers and 2) the possible entry into the 403(b) market of larger competitors experienced in 401(k) plans.

 

   

The Company’s ability to develop and expand its agency operations, including its agent force and their licensed producers and support staff, as well as the Company’s ability to maintain and secure sponsorships by local, state and national education associations.

 

   

The Company’s dated and complex information systems, which are difficult to upgrade and more prone to error than advanced technology systems.

 

   

Disruptions of the general business climate, investments, capital markets and consumer attitudes caused by pandemics or geopolitical acts such as terrorism, war or other similar events.

 

F-3


Table of Contents

Executive Summary

Horace Mann Educators Corporation (“HMEC”; and together with its subsidiaries, the “Company” or “Horace Mann”) is an insurance holding company. Through its subsidiaries, HMEC markets and underwrites personal lines of property and casualty insurance, retirement annuities and life insurance in the U.S. The Company markets its products primarily to K-12 educators and other employees of public schools and their families.

For 2007, the Company’s net income decreased $15.9 million compared to 2006, including a $9.3 million reduction in after tax realized investment gains. Consistent with management’s expectations and industry experience, the increase in property and casualty average loss costs per policy exceeded the increase in average premium per policy for the current accident period, which adversely impacted the combined ratio and net income. Compared to 2006, results in 2007 were positively impacted by a comparable level of favorable development of prior years’ property and casualty non-catastrophe reserves but were negatively impacted by the increased cost of the Company’s catastrophe reinsurance program. In 2007, catastrophe costs increased compared to 2006. Including all of these factors, the property and casualty combined ratio was 91.9% for 2007 compared to 87.6% for 2006. Annuity segment net income increased $4.4 million, or 33% compared to 2006, driven by double-digit growth in both the interest margin and contract charges earned. Life segment net income increased $2.8 million, or 19%, compared to a year earlier, reflecting growth in investment income and favorable mortality experience.

Premiums written and contract deposits increased 1% in 2007 compared to the prior year. As described in “Results of Operations for the Three Years Ended December 31, 2007 — Insurance Premiums and Contract Charges”, the third quarter 2007 expiration of an educator excess professional liability policy represented an $8.6 million decrease in premiums compared to 2006. Also, the additional costs associated with the Company’s property and casualty catastrophe reinsurance program in 2007 represented a $2.3 million decrease in premiums written compared to 2006. Property and casualty premiums written reflected a slight decrease as a result of these two unfavorable items along with a decrease in average automobile premium per policy partially offset by growth in average homeowners premium per policy and a slight increase in total policies in force. New automobile sales units in 2007 were comparable to 2006. This sales level, along with continued improvements in policy retention, resulted in increases in voluntary automobile policies in force compared to December 31, 2006. The automobile policies in force growth was driven primarily by an increase in educator policies. Annuity contract deposits for 2007 increased 4% compared to a year earlier, and life segment insurance premiums and contract deposits decreased 1% compared to 2006.

For the Company, and for the property and casualty insurance industry, catastrophe costs were significant in 2005 as reflected in the Company’s net income for that year. Net income in 2005 also reflected improvements in non-catastrophe underwriting results for the property and casualty segment which continued into 2006.

 

F-4


Table of Contents

Critical Accounting Policies

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires the Company’s management to make estimates and assumptions based on information available at the time the consolidated financial statements are prepared. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of the Company’s consolidated assets, liabilities, shareholders’ equity and net income. Certain accounting estimates are particularly sensitive because of their significance to the Company’s consolidated financial statements and because of the possibility that subsequent events and available information may differ markedly from management’s judgements at the time the consolidated financial statements were prepared. Management has discussed with the Audit Committee the quality, not just the acceptability, of the Company’s accounting principles as applied in its financial reporting. The discussions generally included such matters as the consistency of the Company’s accounting policies and their application, and the clarity and completeness of the Company’s consolidated financial statements, which include related disclosures. For the Company, the areas most subject to significant management judgements include: liabilities for property and casualty claims and claim settlement expenses, liabilities for future policy benefits, deferred policy acquisition costs, value of acquired insurance in force for annuity and interest-sensitive life products, valuation of investments and valuation of assets and liabilities related to the defined benefit pension plan.

Liabilities for Property and Casualty Claims and Claim Settlement Expenses

Underwriting results of the property and casualty segment are significantly influenced by estimates of the Company’s ultimate liability for insured events. There is a high degree of uncertainty inherent in the estimates of ultimate losses underlying the liability for unpaid claims and claim settlement expenses. This inherent uncertainty is particularly significant for liability-related exposures due to the extended period, often many years, that transpires between a loss event, receipt of related claims data from policyholders and ultimate settlement of the claim. Reserves for property and casualty claims include provisions for payments to be made on reported claims (“case reserves”), claims incurred but not yet reported (“IBNR”) and associated settlement expenses (together “loss reserves”). The process by which these reserves are established requires reliance upon estimates based on known facts and on interpretations of circumstances, including the Company’s experience with similar cases and historical trends involving claim payments and related patterns, pending levels of unpaid claims and product mix, as well as other factors including court decisions, economic conditions and public attitudes.

Reserves are reestimated quarterly. Changes to reserves are recorded in the period in which development factor changes result in reserve reestimates. Detailed discussion of the process utilized to estimate loss reserves, risk factors considered and the impact of adjustments recorded during recent years is included in “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Note 3 — Property and Casualty Unpaid Claims and Claim Expenses” listed on page F-1 of this report. Due to the nature of the Company’s personal lines business, the Company has no exposure to claims for toxic waste cleanup, other environmental remediation or asbestos-related illnesses other than claims under homeowners insurance policies for environmentally related items such as mold.

 

F-5


Table of Contents

Based on the Company’s products and coverages, historical experience, and modeling of various actuarial methodologies used to develop reserve estimates, the Company estimates that the potential variability of the property and casualty loss reserves, excluding the unprecedented hurricane losses experienced in 2005 and 2004, within a reasonable probability of other possible outcomes, may be approximately plus or minus 6%, which equates to plus or minus approximately $12 million based on 2007 net income. Although this evaluation reflects the most likely outcomes, it is possible the final outcome may fall below or above these estimates.

There are a number of assumptions involved in the determination of the Company’s property and casualty loss reserves. Among the key factors affecting recorded loss reserves for both long-tail and short-tail related coverages, claim severity and claim frequency are of particular significance. Management estimates that a 2% change in claim severity or claim frequency for the most recent 36-month period is a reasonably likely scenario based on recent experience and would result in a change in the estimated loss reserves of between $6.0 million and $10.0 million for long-tail liability related exposures (automobile liability coverages) and between $3.0 million and $4.0 million for short-tail liability related exposures (homeowners and automobile physical damage coverages). Actual results may change, depending on the magnitude and direction of the deviation.

The Company’s loss and loss adjustment expense actuarial analysis is discussed with management. As part of this discussion, the indicated point estimate of the IBNR loss reserve by line of business (coverage) is reviewed. The Company actuaries also discuss any indicated changes to the underlying assumptions used to calculate the indicated point estimate. Review of the variance between the indicated reserves from these changes in assumptions and the previously carried reserves takes place. After discussion of these analyses and all relevant risk factors, management determines whether the reserve balances require adjustment. The Company’s best estimate of loss reserves may change depending on a revision in the underlying assumptions.

The Company’s liabilities for property and casualty unpaid claims and claim settlement expenses were as follows:

 

     December 31, 2007    December 31, 2006
   Case
Reserves
   IBNR
Reserves
   Total (1)    Case
Reserves
   IBNR
Reserves
   Total (1)

Automobile liability

   $ 77.3    $ 135.4    $ 212.7    $ 80.9    $ 140.2    $ 221.1

Automobile other

     6.7      0.8      7.5      5.7      2.3      8.0

Homeowners

     14.0      36.2      50.2      11.3      41.7      53.0

All other

     3.5      32.3      35.8      3.7      32.0      35.7
                                         

Total

   $ 101.5    $ 204.7    $ 306.2    $ 101.6    $ 216.2    $ 317.8
                                         

 

(1) These amounts are gross, before reduction for ceded reinsurance reserves.

The facts and circumstances leading to the Company’s reestimate of reserves relate to revisions of the development factors used to predict how losses are likely to develop from the end of a reporting period until all claims have been paid. Reestimates occur because actual loss amounts are different than those predicted by the estimated development factors used in prior reserve estimates. At December 31, 2007, the impact of a reserve reestimation resulting in a 1% increase in net reserves would be a decrease of approximately $2 million in net income. A reserve reestimation resulting in a 1% decrease in net reserves would increase net income by approximately $2 million.

 

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Favorable reserve reestimates increased net income in 2007 by approximately $13.0 million, reflecting the emergence of favorable voluntary automobile severity trends in accident years 2005 and prior and favorable frequency trends in homeowners for accident year 2006. The lower than expected claims emergence and resultant lower expected loss ratios caused the Company to lower its reserve estimate.

Information regarding the Company’s property and casualty claims and claims settlement expense reserve development table as of December 31, 2007 is located in “Business — Property and Casualty Segment — Property and Casualty Reserves”.

Liabilities for Future Policy Benefits

Liabilities for future benefits on life and annuity policies are established in amounts adequate to meet the estimated future obligations on policies in force. Liabilities for future policy benefits on certain life insurance policies are computed using the net level premium method and are based on assumptions as to future investment yield, mortality and withdrawals. Mortality and withdrawal assumptions for all policies have been based on actuarial tables which are consistent with the Company’s own experience. In the event actual experience is worse than the assumptions, additional reserves may be required. This would result in a charge to income for the period in which the increase in reserves occurred. Liabilities for future benefits on annuity contracts and certain long-duration life insurance contracts are carried at accumulated policyholder values without reduction for potential surrender or withdrawal charges.

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Value of Acquired Insurance in Force for Annuity and Interest-Sensitive Life Products

Policy acquisition costs, consisting of commissions, policy issuance and other costs, which vary with and are primarily related to the production of business, are capitalized and amortized on a basis consistent with the type of insurance coverage. For all investment (annuity) contracts, acquisition costs, and also the value of annuity business acquired in the 1989 acquisition of the Company (“Annuity VIF”), are amortized over 20 years in proportion to estimated gross profits. Capitalized acquisition costs for interest-sensitive life contracts are also amortized over 20 years in proportion to estimated gross profits.

The most significant assumptions that are involved in the estimation of annuity gross profits include interest rate spreads, future financial market performance, business surrender/lapse rates, expenses and the impact of realized investment gains and losses. For the variable deposit portion of the annuity segment, the Company amortizes policy acquisition costs and the Annuity VIF utilizing a future financial market performance assumption of a 10% reversion to the mean approach with a 200 basis point corridor around the mean. At December 31, 2007, the ratio of capitalized annuity policy acquisition costs and the Annuity VIF asset to the total annuity accumulated cash value was approximately 4%.

In the event actual experience differs significantly from assumptions or assumptions are significantly revised, the Company may be required to record a material charge or credit to amortization expense for the period in which the adjustment is made. As noted above, there are key assumptions involved in the valuation of capitalized policy acquisition costs and the Annuity VIF. In terms of the sensitivity of this amortization to two of the more significant assumptions, assuming all other assumptions are met, (1) a 10 basis point deviation in the annual targeted interest rate spread assumption would currently impact amortization between

 

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$0.25 million and $0.35 million and (2) a 1% deviation from the targeted financial market performance for the underlying mutual funds of the Company’s variable annuities would currently impact amortization between $0.15 million and $0.25 million. These results may change depending on the magnitude and direction of the deviations but represent a range of reasonably likely experience for the noted assumptions. Detailed discussion of the impact of adjustments to the amortization of capitalized acquisition costs and Annuity VIF is included in “Results of Operations for the Three Years Ended December 31, 2007 — Amortization of Policy Acquisition Expenses and Intangible Assets”.

Valuation of Investments

Market valuations for the fixed maturity securities portfolio are based on prices provided by the Company’s custodian bank and its investment managers. Both the custodian bank and the investment managers use a variety of pricing sources to determine market valuations. Each designate specific pricing services or indexes for each sector of the market based upon the provider’s expertise. Broker-dealers are also used to price certain types of securities. The broker-dealers’ valuation methodology is sometimes matrix-based, using indicative evaluation measures and adjustments for specific security characteristics and market sentiment. The Company analyzes market valuations received to verify reasonableness. The Company’s fixed maturity securities portfolio is highly liquid, which allows for a high percentage of the portfolio to be priced through pricing services. Approximately 90% of the portfolio was priced through pricing services or index priced as of December 31, 2007. The remainder of the portfolio was priced by broker-dealers.

The Company’s methodology of assessing other-than-temporary impairments is based on security-specific facts and circumstances as of the date of the reporting period. Based on these facts, if management believes it is probable that amounts due will not be collected according to the contractual terms of a debt security, or if the Company does not have the ability and intent to hold a debt security with an unrealized loss until it matures or recovers in value, an other-than-temporary impairment shall be considered to have occurred. As a general rule, if the fair value of a debt security has fallen below 80% of book value for more than six months, this security will be reviewed for an other-than-temporary impairment. Additionally, if events become known that call into question whether the security issuer has the ability to honor its contractual commitments, whether or not such security has been trading above an 80% fair value to book value relationship, such security holding will be evaluated to determine whether or not such security has suffered an other-than-temporary decline in value.

The Company reviews the fair value of all investments in its portfolio on a monthly basis to assess whether an other-than-temporary decline in value has occurred. These reviews, in conjunction with the Company’s investment managers’ monthly credit reports and relevant factors such as (1) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, (2) the Company’s ability and intent to retain the investment long enough to allow for the anticipated recovery in fair value, (3) the stock price trend of the issuer, (4) the market leadership position of the issuer, (5) the debt ratings of the issuer and (6) the cash flows of the issuer, are all considered in the impairment assessment. A write-down of an investment is recorded when a decline in the fair value of that investment is deemed to be other-than-temporary, with a realized investment loss charged to income for the period.

 

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A decline in fair value below amortized cost is not assumed to be other-than-temporary for fixed maturity investments with unrealized losses due to changes in interest rates, spread widening or market illiquidity where there exists a reasonable expectation that fair value will recover in a reasonable timeframe versus historical cost and the Company has the intent and ability to hold the investment until maturity or a market recovery is realized. An other-than-temporary impairment loss will be recognized based upon all relevant facts and circumstances for each investment, as appropriate.

Valuation of Assets and Liabilities Related to the Defined Benefit Pension Plan

Effective April 1, 2002, participants stopped accruing benefits under the defined benefit pension plan but continue to retain the benefits they had accrued to that date.

The Company’s cost estimates for its defined benefit pension plan are determined annually based on assumptions which include the discount rate, expected return on plan assets, anticipated retirement rate and estimated lump sum distributions. A discount rate of 6.05% was used by the Company for estimating accumulated benefits under the plan at December 31, 2007, which was based on the average yield for long-term, high grade securities having maturities generally consistent with the defined benefit pension payout period. To set its discount rate, the Company looks to leading indicators, including the Citigroup Pension Discount Curve. The expected annual return on plan assets assumed by the Company at December 31, 2007 was 7.5%. The assumption for the long-term rate of return on plan assets was determined by considering actual investment experience during the lifetime of the plan, balanced with reasonable expectations of future growth considering the various classes of assets and percentage allocation for each asset class. Management believes that it has adopted reasonable assumptions for investment returns, discount rates and other key factors used in the estimation of pension costs and asset values.

To the extent that actual experience differs from the Company’s assumptions, subsequent adjustments may be required, with the effects of those adjustments charged or credited to income and/or shareholders’ equity for the period in which the adjustments are made. Generally, a change of 50 basis points in the discount rate would inversely impact pension expense and accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) by approximately $0.1 million and $1.5 million, respectively. In addition, for every $1 million increase (decrease) in the value of pension plan assets, there is a comparable increase (decrease) in AOCI.

Results of Operations for the Three Years Ended December 31, 2007

Insurance Premiums and Contract Charges

Insurance Premiums Written and Contract Deposits

(Includes annuity and life contract deposits)

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
   Change From
Prior Year
    Year Ended
December 31,
   2007    2006    Percent     Amount     2005

Property & casualty

            

Automobile and property (voluntary)

   $ 530.6    $ 526.6    0.8 %   $ 4.0     $ 535.2

Involuntary and other property & casualty

     4.6      13.2    -65.2 %     (8.6 )     11.7
                              

Total property & casualty

     535.2      539.8    -0.9 %     (4.6 )     546.9

Annuity deposits

     337.1      325.7    3.5 %     11.4       320.1

Life

     102.4      103.9    -1.4 %     (1.5 )     105.6
                              

Total

   $ 974.7    $ 969.4    0.5 %   $ 5.3     $ 972.6
                              

 

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Insurance Premiums and Contract Charges Earned

(Excludes annuity and life contract deposits)

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
   Change From
Prior Year
    Year Ended
December 31,
   2007    2006    Percent     Amount     2005

Property & casualty

            

Automobile and property (voluntary)

   $ 525.1    $ 525.0    0.0 %   $ 0.1     $ 538.8

Involuntary and other property & casualty

     10.0      12.7    -21.3 %     (2.7 )     10.8
                              

Total property & casualty

     535.1      537.7    -0.5 %     (2.6 )     549.6

Annuity

     21.8      19.7    10.7 %     2.1       17.9

Life

     97.4      96.5    0.9 %     0.9       97.4
                              

Total

   $ 654.3    $ 653.9    0.1 %   $ 0.4     $ 664.9
                              

For 2007, the Company’s premiums written and contract deposits increased 0.5% compared to 2006, primarily reflecting growth in annuity deposits received partially offset by the decrease in other property and casualty premiums as described below. The additional costs associated with the Company’s property and casualty catastrophe reinsurance program represented a $2.3 million decrease to premiums for 2007. For 2006, the Company’s premiums written and contract deposits decreased 0.3% compared to 2005. In 2006, the additional costs associated with the Company’s enhanced property and casualty catastrophe reinsurance program represented a $10.8 million decrease to that year’s premiums, compared to 2005, which offset growth in annuity deposits received. Voluntary property and casualty business represents policies sold through the Company’s marketing organization and issued under the Company’s underwriting guidelines. Involuntary property and casualty business consists of allocations of business from state mandatory insurance facilities and assigned risk business.

The Company’s exclusive agent force totaled 790 at December 31, 2007, reflecting a decrease of 6.8% compared to 848 agents at December 31, 2006. At December 31, 2005, the Company had 855 agents. Of the current period-end total, 221 agents were in their first 24 months with the Company, down 15.0% compared to December 31, 2006. The number of experienced agents in the agent force, 569, decreased 3.2% compared to December 31, 2006. At the time of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, management anticipates that over the next several quarters the agent count will decline modestly during the Company’s transition to its new Agency Business Model, with an increase in total points of distribution resulting from the growing number of licensed producers supporting agents who adopt the new model.

In 2006, the Company began the transition from a single-person agent operation to its new Agency Business Model, with agents in outside offices with support personnel and licensed producers, designed to remove current capacity constraints and increase productivity. The first Agency Business School session was conducted in October 2006, beginning the formal roll-out of this model. From October 2006 through December 31, 2007, 196 of the agents at December 31, 2007 and all field sales management completed this training. See additional description in “Business — Corporate Strategy and Marketing — Exclusive Agency Force”.

New automobile sales units in 2007 were comparable to the prior year. New homeowners sales units decreased 2.5% compared to 2006. Homeowners, and consequently auto, new business growth in 2007 has been negatively impacted by underwriting restrictions in Florida, reducing the 2007 growth rates for automobile and homeowners new sales units by approximately 2 percentage points and 7 percentage points, respectively. Annuity new business declined 10.2% compared to 2006, primarily reflecting a lower level of rollover deposits and sales of fixed indexed partner products. In 2006, annuity sales benefited from

 

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increased opportunities for rollover deposits in six states that had initiated programs allowing educators to privatize a portion of their state retirement funds. Life new business decreased 3.6% compared to 2006. For 2007, total new business sales decreased 7.6% compared to 2006. In total, exclusive agent sales for 2007 decreased 6.5% compared to 2006, reflecting the lower number of agents in the current period as well as a decrease in average overall productivity per agent, driven by a lower level of annuity sales and also impacted by the homeowners underwriting restrictions in Florida. Average agent productivity is measured as new sales premiums from the exclusive agent force per the average number of exclusive agents for the period.

Total voluntary automobile and homeowners premium written increased 0.8%, or $4.0 million, in 2007, including the $2.3 million reduction due to the higher cost of catastrophe reinsurance in 2007. The automobile average written premium per policy decreased while the homeowners average premium increased in 2007 compared to 2006, with the change in average premium for both lines adversely impacted by the improved quality of the books of business. At December 31, 2007, there were 535,000 voluntary automobile and 266,000 homeowners policies in force, for a total of 801,000 policies, compared to a total of 799,000 policies at December 31, 2006 and 797,000 at December 31, 2005.

Based on policies in force, the total property and casualty 12-month retention rate for new and renewal policies was 86% at December 31, 2007 and 2006 and 85% at December 31, 2005. For 2007, approved rate increases for the Company’s automobile and homeowners business were minimal, similar to rate actions in 2006.

Voluntary automobile premium written decreased 0.7% ($2.7 million) compared to 2006. In 2006, voluntary automobile premium written decreased 3.4% ($13.1 million) compared to 2005. In 2007, the growth in automobile policies in force offset approximately one-half of the decline in premiums written attributable to the decrease in average written premium per policy. Average written premium per policy and average earned premium per policy both decreased 3% compared to 2006. Average written premium per policy and average earned premium per policy also both decreased 3% in 2006, compared to 2005. Automobile policies in force at December 31, 2007 increased by 2,000 compared to December 31, 2006 which had increased by 2,000 compared to December 31, 2005, with the growth reflecting a steady increase in educator policies throughout the period.

Voluntary homeowners premium written increased 4.2% ($6.7 million) compared to 2006 including the higher amount of catastrophe reinsurance premiums described above. Homeowners premium written increased 2.9% ($4.5 million) compared to 2005 including catastrophe reinsurance costs which were greater in 2006. Homeowners average written premium per policy increased 6% in 2007 and 3% in 2006, while average earned premium per policy increased 4% in 2007 and 3% in 2006. Homeowners policies in force at December 31, 2007 were equal to December 31, 2006, as growth in the number of educator policies was offset by expected reductions, primarily in non-educator policies, due to the Company’s pricing and underwriting actions, including actions in catastrophe-prone coastal areas. The Company continues to evaluate and implement actions to further mitigate its risk exposure in hurricane-prone areas. Such actions could include, but are not limited to, non-renewal of homeowners policies, restricted agent geographic placement, limitations on agent new business sales, further tightening of underwriting standards and increased utilization of third-party vendor marketing alliances.

 

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The primary component of involuntary and other property and casualty premiums, which represented less than 2% of total property and casualty premiums for full year 2006, has been educator excess professional liability insurance purchased by the National Education Association (“NEA”) for all of its members. The NEA’s five-year contract to purchase this insurance from the Company expired on August 31, 2007 and represented approximately $8.6 million of premiums written in 2006, with approximately $0.7 million, or 1/12, of that premium earned each month during the September 2006 through August 2007 coverage period. The Company’s underwriting results from educator excess professional liability insurance have generally represented amounts which were not a material portion of net income for the Company or for the property and casualty segment.

Annuity deposits received increased 3.5% in 2007 and 1.7% in 2006, compared to the respective prior years. In 2007, scheduled annuity deposits increased 15.3% while single premium and rollover deposits decreased 12.1%, impacted by the industry-wide effect on 403(b) transfers of the transition to the new Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Section 403(b) regulations. In 2007, new deposits to variable accounts increased 8.2%, or $11.4 million, while new deposits to fixed accounts were equal to the prior year. In 2006, new deposits to fixed accounts increased 2.7%, or $4.9 million, compared to 2005, and new deposits to variable accounts increased 0.5%, or $0.7 million. In addition to external contractholder deposits, annuity new deposits include contributions and transfers for the 401(k) group annuity contract by the Company’s employees.

The Company utilizes a nationwide network of independent agents who comprise a supplemental distribution channel for the Company’s 403(b) tax-qualified annuity products. The independent agent distribution channel included 903 authorized agents at December 31, 2007. During 2007, this channel generated $32.9 million in annualized new annuity sales for the Company compared to $38.7 million in 2006 and $35.4 in 2005. The decrease in 2007 was anticipated as management narrowed the focus of this channel to 403(b) and other tax-qualified business.

Total annuity accumulated cash value of $3.7 billion at December 31, 2007 increased 3.7% compared to a year earlier, reflecting the increase from new deposits received, continued favorable retention and modestly improved financial market performance over the 12 months. Total annuity accumulated cash value of $3.6 billion at December 31, 2006 increased 8.6% compared to year-end 2005, reflecting the increase from new business, continued favorable retention and improved financial market performance over the 12 months. At December 31, 2007, the number of annuity contracts outstanding of 167,000 increased 1.2%, or 2,000 contracts, compared to December 31, 2006 and increased 3.1%, or 5,000 contracts, compared to December 31, 2005.

Variable annuity accumulated balances were 4.5% higher at December 31, 2007 than at December 31, 2006 and annuity segment contract charges earned increased 10.7%, or $2.1 million, compared to 2006. Variable annuity accumulated balances were 12.1% higher at December 31, 2006 than at December 31, 2005 and annuity segment contract charges earned increased 10.1%, or $1.8 million, compared to the prior year.

 

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Life segment premiums and contract deposits declined 1.4%, or $1.5 million, compared to 2006. Life segment premiums and contract deposits declined 1.6%, or $1.7 million, in 2006. The ordinary life insurance in force lapse ratio was 5.8% for the 12 months ended December 31, 2007 compared to 5.7% and 6.5% for the 12 months ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

In 2006, the Company introduced new Horace Mann manufactured and branded products to better address the financial planning needs of educators. In February 2006, the Company introduced Life by Design, a new portfolio of life insurance products. In March 2006, the Company introduced new fixed and variable annuity products and in May 2006, the Company added 12 additional investment options to its variable annuity products. See additional description of these products in “Business — Life Segment” and “Business — Annuity Segment”.

Net Investment Income

Pretax investment income of $223.8 million for 2007 increased 7.1%, or $14.8 million, (6.9%, or $9.8 million, after tax) compared to 2006. Pretax investment income of $209.0 million for 2006 increased 7.4%, or $14.4 million, (6.9%, or $9.2 million, after tax) compared to 2005. For both comparisons, the increase reflects growth in the size of the investment portfolio and a modest increase in the portfolio yield. Average invested assets (excluding securities lending collateral) increased 4.6% over the past 12 months. The average pretax yield on the investment portfolio was 5.53% (3.76% after tax) for 2007, compared to a pretax yield of 5.40% (3.68% after tax) and 5.35% (3.66% after tax) for 2006 and 2005, respectively.

Net Realized Investment Gains and Losses

Net realized investment losses (pretax) were $3.4 million for 2007 compared to net realized investment gains of $10.9 million in 2006 and $9.8 in 2005. The net gains and losses in all periods were realized from ongoing investment portfolio management activity and recording of impairment charges.

The Company recorded impairment charges of $8.5 million, $0.1 million and $0.1 million in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. In the fourth quarter of 2007, the Company recorded impairment charges of $5.9 million, $3.8 million of which was attributable to the Company’s one sub-prime residential mortgage-backed security, 2006 vintage, having a fair value of $1.1 million at December 31, 2007. The remaining $2.1 million of the impairment charge in the quarter was attributable to non-mortgage related securities, primarily corporate high yield bonds and preferred stocks, which the Company intended to sell. In the third quarter of 2007, the Company recorded impairment charges of $0.3 million related to fixed income securities from one issuer in the paper sector, and a portion of these securities were subsequently sold in October 2007. In the second quarter of 2007, the Company recorded impairment charges of $2.3 million from the home builder sector of its fixed income security portfolio, and these securities were subsequently sold in July 2007. In 2006, the $0.1 million impairment charge was recorded in the third quarter and related to one issuer, and the security was sold later in 2006 at the impaired value. In 2005, the impairment charge of $1.8 million related to securities from one automobile industry issuer. Net realized investment losses in 2007 included gains of $2.9 million from sales of securities for which impairment charges were recorded in 2002, while net realized investment gains in 2006 included $0.3 million from sales of securities for which impairment charges were recorded in the fourth quarter of 2005. Gains realized in 2005 included $1.9 million from sales of securities for which impairment charges were recorded in

 

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2003. Net realized investment losses and gains in 2007 and 2006 also included $0.3 million and $5.1 million, respectively, of litigation proceeds on previously impaired WorldCom, Inc. debt securities.

The table below presents the Company’s fixed maturity securities and equity securities portfolios as of December 31, 2007 by major asset class, including the ten largest sectors of the Company’s corporate bond holdings and the sectors of the equity securities holdings.

 

     Number of
Issuers
   Fair
Value
   Amortized
Cost
   Pretax
Unrealized
Gain (Loss)
 

Fixed Maturity Securities

           

Corporate

           

Banking and Finance

   49    $ 308.0    $ 314.3    $ (6.3 )

Energy

   50      265.3      263.1      2.2  

Utilities

   27      190.2      190.5      (0.3 )

Telecommunications

   23      185.8      180.7      5.1  

Health Care

   34      148.9      149.6      (0.7 )

Insurance

   20      82.6      82.7      (0.1 )

Transportation

   13      75.2      76.2      (1.0 )

Automobiles

   12      64.6      63.3      1.3  

Metal and Mining

   12      61.9      63.2      (1.3 )

Food, Beverage and Tobacco

   15      61.3      61.5      (0.2 )

All Other Corporates (1)

   145      437.9      437.8      0.1  
                           

Total corporate

   400      1,881.7      1,882.9      (1.2 )

Mortgage-backed securities

           

U.S. government and federally sponsored agencies

   429      911.4      910.4      1.0  

Other

   50      185.5      188.7      (3.2 )

Municipal bonds

   173      541.1      535.1      6.0  

Government bonds

           

U.S.

   8      246.5      244.0      2.5  

Foreign

   6      15.9      14.4      1.5  

Collateralized debt obligations (2)

   7      17.2      21.0      (3.8 )

Asset-backed securities

   17      73.7      73.8      (0.1 )
                           

Total fixed maturity securities

   1,090    $ 3,873.0    $ 3,870.3    $ 2.7  
                           

Equity Securities

           

Non-redeemable preferred stocks

           

Banking and Finance

   26    $ 54.4    $ 58.8    $ (4.4 )

U.S. federally sponsored agencies

   2      11.6      12.9      (1.3 )

Insurance

   7      8.5      9.1      (0.6 )

Real estate

   8      4.8      5.5      (0.7 )

Utilities

   3      4.0      4.1      (0.1 )

Common stocks

           

Cable

   3      2.8      3.7      (0.9 )

Technology and other

   2      0.4      *      0.4  
                           

Total equity securities

   51    $ 86.5    $ 94.1    $ (7.6 )
                           

Total

   1,141    $ 3,959.5    $ 3,964.4    $ (4.9 )
                           

 

* Less than $0.1 million.
(1) The All Other Corporates category contains 18 additional industry classifications. Broadcasting and media; defense; cable; technology; real estate; and retail represented $288.0 million of fair value at December 31, 2007, with the remaining 12 classifications each representing less than $34 million.

 

(2) $16.1 million of the fair value of the collateralized debt obligation securities was rated investment grade by Standard and Poor’s Corporation and/or Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. at December 31, 2007.

 

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At December 31, 2007, the Company’s diversified fixed maturity securities portfolio consisted of 1,437 investment positions, issued by 1,090 entities, and totaled approximately $3.9 billion in fair value. This portfolio was 94.9% investment grade, based on fair value, with an average quality rating of AA-. At December 31, 2007, the Company had limited exposure to subprime and “Alt-A” mortgage loans. As disclosed above, the Company had one subprime mortgage loan with a fair value of $1.1 million at December 31, 2007. The characteristics of the Company’s sub-prime mortgage loan, a collateralized debt obligation, include the following: low average Fair Isaac Credit Organization (“FICO”) score (less than 650), high weighted average coupon relative to other mortgage-backed securities of similar loan age and issue date, high prepayment penalties, and a high percentage of hybrid loans or negative amortizing loans. The “Alt-A” mortgage loan exposure was a total fair value of approximately $8.4 million, with an unrealized loss of approximately $0.1 million at December 31, 2007, of which $4.6 million was acquired in 2003, $0.8 million was acquired in 2004 and $3.0 million was acquired in the fourth quarter of 2007. The characteristics of the Company’s “Alt-A” mortgage loans include the following: low average FICO score (less than 680), borrowers meet Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac standards for credit scores but might not meet standard guidelines for documentation requirements, property type, and debt ratio or loan-to-value ratio. At the time of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, management does not anticipate any additional other-than-temporary impairments of these securities.

At December 31, 2007, the Company had $541.1 million fair value invested in municipal bonds, primarily in the portfolios of the property and casualty insurance subsidiaries, with an unrealized gain of $6.0 million. The overall credit quality of these securities was AAA, with approximately 65% of the value insured at December 31, 2007. This represents approximately 8% of the Company’s total investment portfolio that is guaranteed by the mono-line credit insurers. When selecting securities, the Company focuses primarily on the quality of the underlying security and does not place significant reliance on the additional insurance benefit. Excluding the effect of insurance, the credit quality of the underlying municipal bond portfolio was AA at December 31, 2007.

 

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At December 31, 2007, the total portfolio had $60.5 million pretax of gross unrealized losses related to 733 positions. At December 31, 2006, the portfolio had $43.8 million pretax of total gross unrealized losses related to 538 positions. The following table provides information regarding fixed maturity securities and equity securities that had an unrealized loss at December 31, 2007, including the length of time that the securities have continuously been in an unrealized loss position.

Investment Positions With Unrealized Losses Segmented by Quality

and Period of Continuous Unrealized Loss

As of December 31, 2007

 

     Number of
Positions
   Fair
Value
   Amortized
Cost
   Pretax
Unrealized
Loss
 

Fixed Maturity Securities

           

Investment grade

           

6 Months or less

   103    $ 284.6    $ 288.5    $ (3.9 )

7 through 12 months

   101      379.6      399.4      (19.8 )

13 through 24 months

   41      155.9      161.9      (6.0 )

25 through 36 months

   137      643.5      655.7      (12.2 )

37 through 48 months

   35      150.7      152.6      (1.9 )

Greater than 48 months

   11      53.0      55.1      (2.1 )
                           

Total

   428    $ 1,667.3    $ 1,713.2    $ (45.9 )
                           

Non-investment grade

           

6 Months or less

   75    $ 37.9    $ 39.0    $ (1.1 )

7 through 12 months

   101      68.4      71.7      (3.3 )

13 through 24 months

   27      14.7      15.7      (1.0 )

25 through 36 months

   29      14.0      14.7      (0.7 )

37 through 48 months

   6      1.4      1.4      *  

Greater than 48 months

   —        —        —        —    
                           

Total

   238    $ 136.4    $ 142.5    $ (6.1 )
                           

Not rated, all greater than 48 months

   4    $ 0.6    $ 0.6      *  
                           

Total fixed maturity securities

   670    $ 1,804.3    $ 1,856.3    $ (52.0 )
                           

Equity Securities

           

Investment grade

           

6 Months or less

   58    $ 55.9    $ 61.1    $ (5.2 )

7 through 12 months

   —        —        —        —    

13 through 24 months

   1      4.1      4.5      (0.4 )

25 through 36 months

   —        —        —        —    

37 through 48 months

   —        —        —        —    

Greater than 48 months

   1      1.8      2.7      (0.9 )
                           

Total

   60    $ 61.8    $ 68.3    $ (6.5 )
                           

Non-investment grade, all 6 months or less

   1    $ 1.6    $ 2.5    $ (0.9 )
                           

Not rated

           

6 Months or less

   1    $ 0.5    $ 0.7    $ (0.2 )

7 through 12 months

   1      1.7      2.6      (0.9 )

Greater than 12 months

   —        —        —        —    
                           

Total

   2    $ 2.2    $ 3.3    $ (1.1 )
                           

Total equity securities

   63    $ 65.6    $ 74.1    $ (8.5 )
                           

Total fixed maturity securities and equity securities

   733    $ 1,869.9    $ 1,930.4    $ (60.5 )
                           

 

* Less than $0.1 million.

 

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Of the investment positions (fixed maturity securities and equity securities) with unrealized losses, no single issuer had a pretax unrealized loss greater than $2.2 million. Five securities were trading below 80% of book value at December 31, 2007. Three of these securities are structured securities which were priced below 80% due to the illiquidity of the market. The other two securities are equities. The Company views the decrease in value of all of the securities with unrealized losses at December 31, 2007 — which was largely driven by changes in interest rates, spread widening and market illiquidity — as temporary, expects recovery in fair value in a reasonable timeframe, anticipates continued payments under the terms of the securities, and has the intent and ability to hold these securities until maturity or a recovery in fair value occurs. Therefore, no impairment of these securities was recorded at December 31, 2007. Future changes in circumstances related to these and other securities could require subsequent recognition of other-than-temporary impairment losses. The Company’s investment guidelines generally limit single corporate issuer concentrations to 1.0% of invested assets for “AA” or “AAA” rated securities, 0.75% of invested assets for “A” rated securities, 0.5% of invested assets for “BBB” rated securities, and 0.2% of invested assets for non-investment grade securities.

Benefits, Claims and Settlement Expenses

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
   Change From
Prior Year
    Year Ended
December 31,
   2007    2006    Percent     Amount     2005

Property and casualty

   $ 360.4    $ 340.6    5.8 %   $ 19.8     $ 398.0

Annuity

     0.2      1.1    -81.8 %     (0.9 )     0.8

Life

     47.9      47.0    1.9 %     0.9       43.9
                              

Total

   $ 408.5    $ 388.7    5.1 %   $ 19.8     $ 442.7
                              

Property and casualty catastrophe losses, included above (1)

   $ 23.6    $ 19.2    22.9 %   $ 4.4     $ 59.3
                              

 

(1) See footnote (2) to the table below.

 

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Table of Contents

Property and Casualty Claims and Claim Expenses (“losses”)

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
   2007     2006     2005  

Incurred claims and claim expenses:

      

Claims occurring in the current year

   $ 380.4     $ 359.8     $ 411.1  

Decrease in estimated reserves for claims occurring in prior years (1) (2)

     (20.0 )     (19.2 )     (13.1 )
                        

Total claims and claim expenses incurred

   $ 360.4     $ 340.6     $ 398.0  
                        

Property and casualty loss ratio:

      

Total

     67.4 %     63.3 %     72.4 %

Effect of catastrophe costs, included above (2)

     4.4 %     3.6 %     11.9 %

 

  (1) Shows the amounts by which the Company decreased its reserves in each of the periods indicated for claims occurring in previous periods to reflect subsequent information on such claims and changes in their projected final settlement costs.

 

  (2) (Favorable)/unfavorable development of prior years’ reserves was recorded as follows:

 

     2007     2006     2005  

Three months ended

      

March 31

   $ (5.5 )   $ (4.0 )   $ —    

June 30

     (5.6 )     (8.1 )     (1.6 )

September 30

     (3.7 )     (5.1 )     (6.2 )

December 31

     (5.2 )     (2.0 )     (5.3 )
                        

Total full year

   $ (20.0 )   $ (19.2 )   $ (13.1 )
                        

Property and casualty catastrophe losses were incurred as follows:

      

Three months ended

      

March 31

   $ 2.5     $ 3.0     $ 1.6  

June 30

     4.9       8.4       2.4  

September 30

     10.3       7.2       35.5  

December 31

     5.9       0.6       19.8  
                        

Total full year

   $ 23.6     $ 19.2     $ 59.3  
                        

The year ended December 31, 2006 included development of prior years’ reserves for catastrophe losses, recorded in the second quarter, in captions related to catastrophe losses/costs as well as captions related to prior years’ reserve development as follows: total property and casualty, unfavorable development of $1.4 million; voluntary automobile, favorable development of $1.5 million; and total property, unfavorable development of $2.9 million.

In 2007, the Company’s benefits, claims and settlement expenses increased compared to 2006, including a decrease in estimated reserves for property and casualty claims occurring in prior years, more than offset by a modest increase in property and automobile claim frequencies for the current accident period, consistent with industry experience, and an increase in catastrophe losses. In 2006, the Company’s benefits, claims and settlement expenses decreased compared to 2005, primarily reflecting a decrease in catastrophe losses, the decrease in estimated reserves for property and casualty claims occurring in prior years and favorable 2006 accident year voluntary automobile claim frequency. While 2005 catastrophe losses reflected a significant impact from hurricanes, 2007 and 2006 reflected higher non-hurricane catastrophe losses, including Minnesota hail storms in 2006, California wildfires in 2007, and non-hurricane wind damage in both years. In 2007, the current period favorable development of prior years’ reserves of $20.0 million was the result of actual and remaining projected losses for prior years, primarily accident years 2006 and 2005, being below the level anticipated in the December 31, 2006 loss reserve estimate for both the voluntary automobile and homeowners lines of business. The favorable development was driven primarily by emerging claim trends related to voluntary automobile claim severity and homeowners claim frequency. Favorable development of prior years’ property and casualty reserves totaled $19.2 million and $13.1 million in 2006 and 2005, respectively. Catastrophe losses in 2006 included $1.4 million of adverse development of prior years’ catastrophe loss reserves, primarily due to increases in ultimate net settlement cost related to two third quarter 2005 events: a severe hail storm in Minnesota and Hurricane Katrina.

 

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For 2007, the voluntary automobile loss ratio of 69.7% increased by 4.4 percentage points compared to 2006, including a 1.4 percentage point increase due to the lower level of favorable development of prior years’ non-catastrophe reserves in 2007 and a 0.4 percentage point increase compared to the favorable prior years’ catastrophe reserve development recorded in 2006. The homeowners loss ratio of 60.4% for 2007 increased 4.8 percentage points compared to 2006, primarily reflecting the increase in 2007 accident year claim frequencies and the higher level of catastrophe costs partially offset by the higher level of favorable development of prior years’ reserves recorded in 2007. Catastrophe costs represented 13.6 percentage points of the homeowners loss ratio for 2007 compared to 11.2 percentage points for 2006 — including adverse development of prior years’ catastrophe reserves in 2006 — an increase of 2.4 percentage points. The $2.3 million increase in ceded premium in 2007 related to the Company’s catastrophe reinsurance program added approximately 0.8 percentage point to the homeowners loss ratio for 2007. For 2005, the voluntary automobile loss ratio was 68.2% and the homeowners loss ratio was 80.5%, including 37.9 percentage points due to catastrophe costs.

For the annuity segment, benefits for 2007 decreased $0.9 million compared to 2006 and the 2006 amount was comparable to 2005. The Company’s guaranteed minimum death benefits (“GMDB”) reserve was less than $0.1 million at December 31, 2007, compared to $0.7 million at both December 31, 2006 and 2005. The decrease at December 31, 2007 was primarily the result of a reserve refinement.

For the life segment, benefits were comparable in 2007 and 2006 after increasing in 2006 compared to 2005, reflecting higher mortality costs in 2006. Life mortality experience was favorable in 2007.

Interest Credited to Policyholders

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
   Change From
Prior Year
   Year Ended
December 31,
   2007    2006    Percent     Amount    2005

Annuity

   $ 90.0    $ 86.5    4.0 %   $ 3.5    $ 81.5

Life

     37.2      36.0    3.3 %     1.2      34.4
                             

Total

   $ 127.2    $ 122.5    3.8 %   $ 4.7    $ 115.9
                             

Compared to 2006, the 2007 increase in annuity segment interest credited reflected a 4.7% increase in average accumulated fixed deposits, partially offset by a 3 basis point decline in the average annual interest rate credited to 4.34%. Compared to 2005, the 2006 increase in annuity segment interest credited reflected a 6.8% increase in average accumulated fixed deposits, partially offset by a 3 basis point decline in the average annual interest rate credited to 4.37%. Life insurance interest credited increased in both 2007 and 2006 as a result of the growth in interest-sensitive life insurance reserves.

The net interest spread on fixed annuity account value on deposit measures the difference between the rate of income earned on the underlying invested assets and the rate of interest which policyholders are credited on their account values. Fixed annuity crediting rates were lowered in recent years to reflect the decline in the rate of income on invested assets caused by lower investment rates on new and reinvested funds. The net interest spreads for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 were 143 basis points, 126 basis points and 128 basis points, respectively.

 

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As of December 31, 2007, fixed annuity account values totaled $2.2 billion, including $1.9 billion of deferred annuities. Approximately 18% of the deferred annuity account values had minimum guaranteed interest rates of 3% or lower while approximately 71% of account values had minimum guaranteed rates of 4.5% or greater. For $1.6 billion of the deferred annuity account values, the credited interest rate was equal to the minimum guaranteed rate. The annuity net interest spread increased 17 basis points compared to 2006, due to improvements in the Company’s investment portfolio yield and continued slight decreases in interest crediting rates. Compared to 2005, the annuity net interest spread decreased by 2 basis points in 2006.

Operating Expenses

In 2007, operating expenses decreased 1.5%, or $2.1 million, compared to 2006. A significant portion of the variance amounts between periods was due to the Company’s expense control initiatives, which helped mitigate the impact of increased strategic investments in distribution and technology initiatives in 2007, and a litigation settlement charge in 2006. In 2006, operating expenses decreased 1.6%, or $2.1 million, compared to 2005, primarily reflecting benefits from the Company’s expense control initiatives. The property and casualty expense ratio of 24.5% for 2007 increased 0.2 percentage point compared to 2006, including the effect on this ratio of a reduced level of premiums earned. The property and casualty expense ratio was 23.2% in 2005.

Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment”, which requires companies to recognize compensation cost for share-based compensation plans, determined based on the fair value at the grant dates. The Company recognized $1.1 million and $0.7 million in expense for 2007 and 2006, respectively, as a result of the vesting of stock options during the respective periods.

Amortization of Policy Acquisition Expenses and Intangible Assets

For 2007, the combined amortization of policy acquisition expenses and intangible assets was $81.1 million compared to $80.1 million recorded in 2006 and $76.6 million recorded in 2005.

Amortized policy acquisition expenses were $75.7 million for 2007 compared to $74.0 million and $71.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The December 31, 2007 valuation of annuity deferred policy acquisition costs resulted in an increase in amortization of $1.2 million compared to a $0.5 million increase in amortization resulting from a similar valuation at December 31, 2006. For the life segment, the December 31, 2007 and 2006 valuations of deferred policy acquisition costs resulted in increases in amortization of $0.2 million and $0.6 million, respectively. The December 31, 2005 valuations of annuity and life deferred policy acquisition costs resulted in an increase of $1.8 and a decrease of $0.7 million, respectively. The remaining increases in amortized policy acquisition costs were due to scheduled amortization of capitalized costs.

Amortization of intangible assets was $5.4 million, $6.1 million and $5.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The December 31, 2007 valuation of Annuity VIF resulted in a $0.2 million increase in amortization compared to a $0.7 million increase at December 31, 2006 and a $0.2 million decrease at December 31, 2005.

 

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Income Tax Expense

The effective income tax rate on the Company’s pretax income, including net realized investment gains, was 29.3%, 29.7% and 17.8% for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Income from investments in tax-advantaged securities reduced the effective income tax rate 6.4, 5.6 and 8.0 percentage points for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

In 2005, the Company’s federal income tax expense reflected a reduction of $9.1 million as a result of closing tax years 1996 through 2001 with favorable resolution of the contingent tax liabilities. The Company also received interest on income tax refunds of $1.4 million, which was recorded by the Company as pretax income in the second quarter of 2005. No similar reductions to federal income tax expense were recorded in 2007 or 2006.

The Company records liabilities for uncertain tax filing positions where it is more-likely-than-not that the position will not be sustainable upon audit by taxing authorities. These liabilities are reevaluated routinely and are adjusted appropriately based upon changes in facts or law. The Company has no unrecorded liabilities from uncertain tax filing positions.

At December 31, 2007, the Company had income tax returns for the 2002 through 2006 tax years still open and subject to adjustment upon examination by taxing authorities. The Company is currently under examination by the Internal Revenue Service for tax years 2002, 2004 and 2005. The Company has recorded $5.3 million of uncertain tax position liabilities including interest related to all open tax years.

Net Income

For 2007, the Company’s net income decreased $15.9 million compared to 2006, including a $9.3 million reduction in after tax realized investment gains. Consistent with management’s expectations and industry experience, the increase in property and casualty average loss costs per policy exceeded the increase in average premium per policy for the current accident period, which adversely impacted the combined ratio and net income. Compared to 2006, results in 2007 were positively impacted by a comparable level of favorable development of prior years’ property and casualty non-catastrophe reserves but were negatively impacted by the increased cost of the Company’s catastrophe reinsurance program. In 2007, catastrophe costs increased compared to 2006. Including all of these factors, the property and casualty combined ratio was 91.9% for 2007 compared to 87.6% for 2006. Annuity segment net income increased $4.4 million, or 33% compared to 2006, driven by double-digit growth in both the interest margin and contract charges earned. Life segment net income increased $2.8 million, or 19%, compared to a year earlier, reflecting growth in investment income and favorable mortality experience.

For 2006, the Company’s net income significantly exceeded the prior year primarily due to lower catastrophe losses for 2006 compared to the significant level experienced in 2005. Net income in 2005 benefited by approximately $10.1 million from a reduction in contingent tax liabilities and interest on income tax refunds, with no similar items in 2006. In 2006, earnings from the property and casualty segment continued to benefit from underwriting and pricing actions taken in recent years, ongoing improvements in claims processes, cost containment initiatives, and low non-catastrophe claim frequencies, somewhat offset by the increased costs of the Company’s enhanced catastrophe reinsurance program. Net income in 2006 also

 

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benefited from a higher amount of favorable development of prior years’ property and casualty claim reserves compared to 2005. The property and casualty combined ratio was 87.6% for 2006 compared to 95.6% for 2005. Annuity segment net income decreased compared to 2005, while life segment net income improved over the same period.

For 2005, the Company’s net income was significantly affected by catastrophe costs, which were somewhat offset by favorable non-catastrophe property and casualty results driven by tightened underwriting standards and pricing actions taken in recent years, ongoing improvements in claims processes, cost containment initiatives and generally favorable non-catastrophe claims frequency trends. Net income in 2005 also benefited from favorable development of prior years’ property and casualty claim reserves and the favorable resolution of tax liabilities for prior years, as described above.

Net income by segment and net income per share were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
    Change From
Prior Year
    Year Ended
December 31,
 
   2007     2006     Percent     Amount     2005  

Analysis of net income (loss) by segment:

          

Property and casualty

   $ 61.2     $ 74.3     -17.6 %   $ (13.1 )   $ 45.0  

Annuity

     17.6       13.2     33.3 %     4.4       15.1  

Life

     17.3       14.5     19.3 %     2.8       13.4  

Corporate and other (1)

     (13.3 )     (3.3 )   N.M.       (10.0 )     3.8  
                                  

Net income

   $ 82.8     $ 98.7     -16.1 %   $ (15.9 )   $ 77.3  
                                  

Effect of catastrophe costs, after tax, included above

   $ (15.3 )   $ (12.9 )   18.6 %   $ (2.4 )   $ (45.0 )
                                  

Diluted:

          

Net income per share

   $ 1.86     $ 2.19     -15.1 %   $ (0.33 )   $ 1.67  
                                  

Weighted average number of shares and equivalent shares (in millions)

     44.6       45.8     -2.6 %     (1.2 )     47.9  

Property and casualty combined ratio:

          

Total

     91.9 %     87.6 %   N.M.       4.3 %     95.6 %

Effect of catastrophe costs, included above

     4.4 %     3.6 %   N.M.       0.8 %     12.3 %

 

N.M.- Not meaningful.

  (1) The corporate and other segment includes interest expense on debt, realized investment gains and losses, certain public company expenses and other corporate level items. The Company does not allocate the impact of corporate level transactions to the insurance segments, consistent with the basis for management’s evaluation of the results of those segments.

For the three years ended December 31, 2007, the changes in net income for the property and casualty, annuity and life segments are described above.

For the corporate and other segment, the 2007 decline in net income compared to 2006 was due primarily to net realized investment losses in 2007, compared to net realized investment gains in 2006, and an increase in debt interest expense. The decline in net income for the corporate and other segment in 2006 was due primarily to the $5.5 million reduction in federal income tax expense in 2005 from the elimination of the contingent tax liability for the 1996 through 2001 tax years as well as the 2006 increase in debt interest expense.

Return on shareholders’ equity based on net income was 12%, 17% and 13% for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 

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Effective January 1, 2007, the Company adopted American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (“AICPA”) Statement of Position (“SOP”) 05-1, “Accounting by Insurance Enterprises for Deferred Acquisition Costs in Connection With Modifications or Exchanges of Insurance Contracts” and Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Interpretation (“FIN”) No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes — an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” which did not have a material effect on the results of operation or financial position of the Company.

At the time of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, based on the underlying results for the full year 2007, management estimates that 2008 full year net income before realized investment gains and losses will be within a range of $1.70 to $1.90 per diluted share. This projection anticipates (1) a modest increase in property and casualty combined ratios, pressured by recent, industry-wide claims frequency trends, (2) a moderate decline in annuity and life profit margins, following a year of strong, double-digit earnings growth in 2007 and in anticipation of continued volatility in the financial markets, (3) a reduced level of cost savings in 2008 from postretirement benefit plan changes made in 2006, and (4) the completion of the Company’s current $50 million share repurchase authorization in the first quarter of 2008. As described in “Critical Accounting Policies”, certain of the Company’s significant accounting measurements require the use of estimates and assumptions. As additional information becomes available, adjustments may be required. Those adjustments are charged or credited to income for the period in which the adjustments are made and may impact actual results compared to management’s current estimate. A projection of net income including realized investment gains and losses is not accessible on a forward-looking basis because it is not possible to provide a reliable forecast of realized investment gains and losses, which can vary substantially from one period to another and may have a significant impact on net income.

Liquidity and Financial Resources

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

At December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, the Company did not have any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or for other contractually narrow or limited purposes. As such, the Company is not exposed to any financing, liquidity, market or credit risk that could arise if the Company had engaged in such relationships.

Investments

Information regarding the Company’s investment portfolio, which is comprised primarily of investment grade, fixed income securities, is located in “Results of Operations for the Three Years Ended December 31, 2007 — Net Realized Investment Gains and Losses”, “Business — Investments” and in the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Note 2 — Investments” listed on page F-1 of this report.

Cash Flow

The short-term liquidity requirements of the Company, within a 12-month operating cycle, are for the timely payment of claims and benefits to policyholders, operating expenses, interest payments and federal income taxes. Cash flow generated from operations has been, and is expected to be, adequate to meet the Company’s operating cash needs in the next 12 months.

 

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Cash flow in excess of operational needs has been used to fund business growth, retire short-term debt, pay dividends to shareholders and repurchase shares of the Company’s common stock. Long-term liquidity requirements, beyond one year, are principally for the payment of future insurance policy claims and benefits and retirement of long-term debt.

Operating Activities

As a holding company, HMEC conducts its principal operations in the personal lines segment of the property and casualty and life insurance industries through its subsidiaries. HMEC’s insurance subsidiaries generate cash flow from premium and investment income, generally well in excess of their immediate needs for policy obligations, operating expenses and other cash requirements. Cash provided by operating activities primarily reflects net cash generated by the insurance subsidiaries. For 2007, net cash provided by operating activities increased compared to 2006, primarily reflecting an increase in investment income collected.

Payment of principal and interest on debt, dividends to shareholders and parent company operating expenses are dependent upon the ability of the insurance subsidiaries to pay cash dividends or make other cash payments to HMEC, including tax payments pursuant to tax sharing agreements. Payments for the share repurchase program also have this dependency. The insurance subsidiaries are subject to various regulatory restrictions which limit the amount of annual dividends or other distributions, including loans or cash advances, available to HMEC without prior approval of the insurance regulatory authorities. Dividends which may be paid by the insurance subsidiaries to HMEC during 2008 without prior approval are approximately $93 million. Although regulatory restrictions exist, dividend availability from subsidiaries has been, and is expected to be, adequate for HMEC’s capital needs.

Investing Activities

HMEC’s insurance subsidiaries maintain significant investments in fixed maturity securities to meet future contractual obligations to policyholders. In conjunction with its management of liquidity and other asset/liability management objectives, the Company, from time to time, will sell fixed maturity securities prior to maturity and reinvest the proceeds in other investments with different interest rates, maturities or credit characteristics. Accordingly, the Company has classified the entire fixed maturity securities and equity securities portfolios as “available for sale”.

Financing Activities

Financing activities include primarily payment of dividends, the receipt and withdrawal of funds by annuity contractholders, repurchases of the Company’s common stock, fluctuations in bank overdraft balances, and borrowings, repayments and repurchases related to its debt facilities.

On May 14, 2007, pursuant to provisions of the indenture, the Company redeemed all of its outstanding 1.425% Senior Convertible Notes (“Senior Convertible Notes”), $68.6 million aggregate principal amount, utilizing a portion of the proceeds from the issuance of the Senior Notes due 2016, issuance of which occurred in 2006. The aggregate cost of the redemption was $32.6 million.

 

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During 2007, the Company repurchased 1,111,600 shares of its common stock, or 2.6% of the outstanding shares on December 31, 2006, at an aggregate cost of $20.7 million, or an average cost of $18.66 per share, under its stock repurchase program, which is further described in “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Note 5 — Shareholders’ Equity and Stock Options”. The repurchase of shares was financed through use of cash. As of December 31, 2007, $29.3 million remained authorized for future share repurchases. See also “Liquidity and Financial Resources — Capital Resources”.

For the year ended December 31, 2007, receipts from annuity contracts increased 3.5% compared to 2006. Annuity contract benefits and withdrawals increased $45.4 million, or 30.3%, compared to 2006. Cash value retentions for variable and fixed annuity options were 90.9% and 91.6%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2007. Net transfers to variable annuity accumulated cash values increased $24.1 million, or 20.0%, compared to 2006.

Contractual Obligations

 

     Payments Due By Period As of December 31, 2007
   Total    Less Than
1 Year
(2008)(1)
   1 - 3 Years
(2009 and
2010)
   3 - 5 Years
(2011 and
2012)
   More Than
5 Years
(2013 and
beyond)

Fixed annuities and fixed option of variable annuities (1)

   $ 3,556.4    $ 141.8    $ 308.7    $ 321.2    $ 2,784.7

Supplemental contracts (1)

     324.7      39.0      62.6      47.4      175.7

Life insurance policies (1)

     2,225.2      75.2      157.7      159.0      1,833.3

Property and casualty claims and claim adjustment expenses (1)

     306.2      164.4      109.1      25.8      6.9

Short-term Debt Obligations (2):

              

Bank Credit Facility (expires December 19, 2011)

     —        —        —        —        —  

Long-Term Debt Obligations (2):

              

Senior Notes Due June 15, 2015

     109.0      4.5      9.1      9.1      86.3

Senior Notes Due April 15, 2016

     197.8      8.6      17.1      17.1      155.0

Operating lease obligations (3)

     5.7      2.8      2.8      0.1      —  

Purchase obligations

     4.7      4.7      —        —        —  
                                  

Total

   $ 6,729.7    $ 441.0    $ 667.1    $ 579.7    $ 5,041.9
                                  

 

(1) This information represents estimates of both the amounts to be paid to policyholders and the timing of such payments.

 

(2) Includes principal and interest.

 

(3) The Company has entered into various operating lease agreements, primarily for real estate (agency and claims offices across the country and portions of the home office complex) and also for computer equipment and copy machines.

 

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Estimated Future Policy Benefit and Claim Payments—Life and Annuity Segments

The following table duplicates information above and summarizes the Company’s life and annuity contractual obligations and commitments as of December 31, 2007 expected to be paid in the periods presented. Payment amounts reflect the Company’s estimate of undiscounted cash flows related to these obligations and commitments. Balance sheet amounts were determined in accordance with GAAP and in many cases differ significantly from the summation of undiscounted cash flows. The most significant difference relates to future policy benefits related to life insurance, which includes discounting.

 

     Estimated Payments by Period As of December 31, 2007
   Total    Less Than
1 Year
(2008)
   1 - 3 Years
(2009 and
2010)
   3 - 5 Years
(2011 and
2012)
   More Than
5 Years
(2013 and
beyond)

Fixed annuities and fixed option of variable annuities

   $ 3,556.4    $ 141.8    $ 308.7    $ 321.2    $ 2,784.7

Supplemental contracts

     324.7      39.0      62.6      47.4      175.7

Life insurance

     2,225.2      75.2      157.7      159.0      1,833.3
                                  

Total

   $ 6,106.3    $ 256.0    $ 529.0    $ 527.6    $ 4,793.7
                                  

A significant portion of policy contract benefits to be paid do not have stated contractual maturity dates and may not result in any ultimate payment obligation. Amounts reported herein represent estimated undiscounted cash flows out of the Company’s general account related to death, surrender, annuity and other benefit payments under policy contracts in force at December 31, 2007. Separate account payments are not reflected herein due to the matched nature of these obligations and the fact that the contract owners maintain the investment risk of such deposits. Estimated payment amounts reported herein were developed based on review of historical results experienced by the Company and the related contractual provisions. Significant assumptions incorporated in the reported amounts include: future policy lapse rates (including the impact of customer decisions to make future premium payments to keep the related policies in force), coverage levels remaining unchanged from those provided under contracts in force at December 31, 2007, future interest crediting rates, and the estimated timing of payments. Actual amounts will vary, potentially in a significant manner, from the amounts indicated due to deviations between assumptions and actual results and the addition of new business in future periods.

Assumptions for future interest crediting levels have been made based on processes consistent with the Company’s past practices, which are at the discretion of the Company, subject to guaranteed minimum crediting rates in many cases and/or subject to contractually obligated rates for specified periods of time. Many of the contracts with potentially accelerated timing of payments are subject to surrender charges which are generally calculated as a percentage of account values withdrawn and are assessed at declining rates during the first five to ten years after contract issuance. Amounts disclosed herein include an estimate of those accelerated payments, net of applicable surrender charges. See “Note 1 — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies — Future Policy Benefits, Interest-sensitive Life Contract Liabilities and Annuity Contract Liabilities” listed on page F-1 of this report for a description of the Company’s method for establishing life and annuity reserves in accordance with GAAP.

 

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For annuity estimated payments, certain assumptions have been made about distribution and surrender patterns in the amounts reported. Actual payouts may differ significantly from those projected. For example, actual retirement patterns may result in earlier or later withdrawal of contract funds, which could cause the timing of the obligations reported to vary significantly. In addition, contractual surrender provisions exist on an immaterial portion of these contracts that could decrease and/or accelerate those obligations presented.

Estimated Claims and Claim Related Payments—Property and Casualty Segment

The table below duplicates information above and presents the amount and estimated future timing of claims and claim related payments for property and casualty insurance. Both the total liability and the estimated payments are based on actuarial projection techniques, at a given accounting date. These estimates include assumptions of the ultimate settlement and administrative costs based on the Company’s assessment of facts and circumstances then known, review of historical settlement patterns, estimates of trends in claims severity, frequency and other factors. Variables in the reserve estimation process can be affected by both internal and external events, such as changes in claims handling procedures, economic inflation, legal trends and legislative changes. Many of these items are not directly quantifiable, particularly on a prospective basis. Additionally, there may be significant reporting lags between the occurrence of a claim and the time it is actually reported to the Company. The future cash flows related to the items contained in the table below required estimation of both amount (including severity considerations) and timing. Amount and timing are frequently estimated separately. An estimation of both amount and timing of future cash flows related to claims and claim related payments is generally reliable only in the aggregate with some unavoidable estimation uncertainty.

The following table includes estimated future claims and claims related payments at December 31, 2007. The amounts reported in the table are presented on a nominal basis, have not been discounted and represent the estimated timing of future payments for both reported and unreported claims incurred and related claim adjustment expenses.

 

     Estimated Payments by Period As of December 31, 2007
   Total    Less Than
1 Year
(2008)
   1 - 3 Years
(2009 and
2010)
   3 - 5 Years
(2011 and
2012)
   More Than
5 Years
(2013 and
beyond)

Claims and claim adjustment expenses

   $ 306.2    $ 164.4    $ 109.1    $ 25.8    $ 6.9

Capital Resources

The Company has determined the amount of capital which is needed to adequately fund and support business growth, primarily based on risk-based capital formulas including those developed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”). Historically, the Company’s insurance subsidiaries have generated capital in excess of such needed capital. These excess amounts have been paid to HMEC through dividends. HMEC has then utilized these dividends and its access to the capital markets to service and retire long-term debt, pay dividends to its shareholders, fund growth initiatives, repurchase shares of its common stock and for other corporate purposes. Management anticipates that the Company’s sources of capital will continue to generate capital in excess of the needs for business growth, debt interest payments and shareholder dividends.

 

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The total capital of the Company was $892.8 million at December 31, 2007, including $199.5 million of long-term debt and no short-term debt outstanding. Total debt represented 22.3% of total capital excluding unrealized investment gains and losses (also 22.3% including unrealized investment gains and losses) at December 31, 2007, which was below the Company’s long-term target of 25%.

Shareholders’ equity was $693.3 million at December 31, 2007, including a net unrealized loss in the Company’s investment portfolio of $2.6 million after taxes and the related impact on deferred policy acquisition costs and the value of acquired insurance in force associated with annuity and interest-sensitive life policies. The market value of the Company’s common stock and the market value per share were $800.0 million and $18.94, respectively, at December 31, 2007. Book value per share was $16.41 at December 31, 2007 ($16.47 excluding investment fair value adjustments).

In September 2007, HMEC’s Board of Directors authorized a new $50 million share repurchase program and ended the May 1999 authorization. The new program authorizes the repurchase of common shares in open market or privately negotiated transactions, from time to time, depending on market conditions. As of December 31, 2007, 1,111,600 shares, or 2.6% of the outstanding shares on December 31, 2006, were repurchased under the new program, at an aggregate cost of $20.7 million, or an average cost of $18.66 per share. See also “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Note 5 — Share Repurchase Program and Treasury Shares”. Including additional shares repurchased through February 19, 2008, the Company completed the $50.0 million authorized by the new program, resulting in a total of 2,738,376 shares repurchased at an average cost of $18.28 per share.

As of December 31, 2007, the Company had outstanding $75.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.05% Senior Notes (“Senior Notes due 2015”), which will mature on June 15, 2015, issued at a discount resulting in an effective yield of 6.1%. Interest on the Senior Notes due 2015 is payable semi-annually at a rate of 6.05%. Detailed information regarding the redemption terms of the Senior Notes due 2015 is contained in the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Note 4 — Debt” listed on page F-1 of this report.

The Senior Notes due 2015 have an investment grade rating from Standard & Poor’s Corporation (“S&P”) (BBB), Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) (Baa3), and A.M. Best Company, Inc. (“A.M. Best”) (bbb-). See also “Financial Ratings”. The Senior Notes due 2015 are traded in the open market (HMN 6.05).

As of December 31, 2007, the Company had outstanding $125.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.85% Senior Notes (“Senior Notes due 2016”), which will mature on April 15, 2016, issued at a discount of 0.305% resulting in an effective yield of 6.893%. Interest on the Senior Notes due 2016 is payable semi-annually at a rate of 6.85%. Detailed information regarding the redemption terms of the Senior Notes due 2016 is contained in “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Note 4 — Debt” listed on page F-1 of this report.

The Senior Notes due 2016 have an investment grade rating from S&P (BBB), Moody’s (Baa3), and A.M. Best (bbb-). See also “Financial Ratings”. The Senior Notes due 2016 are traded in the open market (HMN 6.85).

 

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As of December 31, 2007, the Company had no balance outstanding under its Bank Credit Facility. The Bank Credit Facility provides for unsecured borrowings of up to $125.0 million and expires on December 19, 2011. Interest accrues at varying spreads relative to corporate or Eurodollar base rates and is payable monthly or quarterly depending on the applicable base rate. The unused portion of the Bank Credit Facility is subject to a variable commitment fee, which was 0.125% on an annual basis at December 31, 2007.

To provide additional capital management flexibility, the Company filed a “universal shelf” registration on Form S-3 with the SEC in December 2003. The registration statement, which registers the offer and sale by the Company from time to time of up to $300 million of various securities, which may include debt securities, preferred stock, common stock and/or depositary shares, was declared effective on December 30, 2003. Unless fully utilized or withdrawn by the Company earlier, this registration statement will remain effective through December 1, 2008. The $75.0 million face amount of Senior Notes due 2015 and $125.0 million face amount of Senior Notes due 2016 were issued utilizing this registration statement. No other securities associated with the registration statement have been issued as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The Company’s ratio of earnings to fixed charges (with fixed charges including interest credited to policyholders on interest-sensitive contracts) for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 was 1.8x, 2.0x and 1.8x, respectively. See also “Exhibit 12 — Statement Regarding Computation of Ratios”. The Company’s ratio of earnings before interest expense to interest expense was 9.3x, 11.7x and 11.6x for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

Total shareholder dividends were $18.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2007. In March, May, September and December 2007, the Board of Directors announced regular quarterly dividends of $0.105 per share.

Information regarding the reinsurance program for the Company’s property and casualty segment is located in “Business — Property and Casualty Segment — Property and Casualty Reinsurance”.

Information regarding the reinsurance program for the Company’s life segment is located in “Business — Life Segment”.

 

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Financial Ratings

The Company’s principal insurance subsidiaries are rated by S&P, Moody’s and A.M. Best. These rating agencies have also assigned ratings to the Company’s long-term debt securities.

Assigned ratings as of February 19, 2008 were as follows (the insurance financial strength ratings for the Company’s property and casualty insurance subsidiaries and the Company’s principal life insurance subsidiary are the same):

 

     Insurance Financial
Strength Ratings
(Outlook)
    Debt Ratings
(Outlook)
 

As of February 19 , 2008

          

S&P (1)

   A    (stable )   BBB    (stable )

Moody’s (1)

   A3    (stable )   Baa3    (stable )

A.M. Best

   A-    (stable )   bbb-    (stable )

 

(1) This agency has not yet rated Horace Mann Lloyds.

The ratings above were unchanged from the disclosure in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2006.

Market Value Risk

Market value risk, the Company’s primary market risk exposure, is the risk that the Company’s invested assets will decrease in value. This decrease in value may be due to (1) a change in the yields realized on the Company’s assets and prevailing market yields for similar assets, (2) an unfavorable change in the liquidity of the investment, (3) an unfavorable change in the financial prospects of the issuer of the investment, or (4) a downgrade in the credit rating of the issuer of the investment. See also “Results of Operations for the Three Years Ended December 31, 2007 — Net Realized Investment Gains and Losses”.

Significant changes in interest rates expose the Company to the risk of experiencing losses or earning a reduced level of income based on the difference between the interest rates earned on the Company’s investments and the credited interest rates on the Company’s insurance liabilities. See also “Results of Operations for the Three Years Ended December 31, 2007 — Interest Credited to Policyholders”.

The Company seeks to manage its market value risk by coordinating the projected cash inflows of assets with the projected cash outflows of liabilities. For all its assets and liabilities, the Company seeks to maintain reasonable durations, consistent with the maximization of income without sacrificing investment quality, while providing for liquidity and diversification. The investment risk associated with variable annuity deposits and the underlying mutual funds is assumed by those contractholders, and not by the Company. Certain fees that the Company earns from variable annuity deposits are based on the market value of the funds deposited.

 

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Through active investment management, the Company invests available funds with the objective of funding future obligations to policyholders, subject to appropriate risk considerations, and maximizing shareholder value. This objective is met through investments that (1) have similar characteristics to the liabilities they support; (2) are diversified among industries, issuers and geographic locations; and (3) are predominately investment-grade fixed maturity securities classified as available for sale. No derivatives are used to manage the exposure to interest rate risk in the investment portfolios. At December 31, 2007, approximately 20% of the fixed investment portfolio represented investments supporting the property and casualty operations and approximately 80% supported the life and annuity business. For discussions regarding the Company’s investments see “Results of Operations for the Three Years Ended December 31, 2007 — Net Realized Investment Gains and Losses” and “Business — Investments”.

The Company’s life and annuity earnings are affected by the spreads between interest yields on investments and rates credited or accruing on life and fixed annuity insurance liabilities. Although substantially all credited rates on fixed annuities may be changed annually (subject to minimum guaranteed rates), competitive pricing and other factors, including the impact on the level of surrenders and withdrawals, may limit the Company’s ability to adjust or to maintain crediting rates at levels necessary to avoid narrowing of spreads under certain market conditions. See also “Results of Operations for the Three Years Ended December 31, 2007 — Interest Credited to Policyholders”.

Using financial modeling and other techniques, the Company regularly evaluates the appropriateness of investments relative to the characteristics of the liabilities that they support. Simulations of cash flows generated from existing business under various interest rate scenarios measure the potential gain or loss in fair value of interest-rate sensitive assets and liabilities. Such estimates are used to closely match the duration of assets to the duration of liabilities. The overall duration of liabilities of the Company’s multiline insurance operations combines the characteristics of its long duration interest-sensitive life and annuity liabilities with its short duration non-interest-sensitive property and casualty liabilities. Overall, at December 31, 2007, the duration of both the fixed income securities portfolio and the Company’s insurance liabilities was estimated to be approximately 5 years.

The life and annuity operations participate in the cash flow testing procedures imposed by statutory insurance regulations, the purpose of which is to insure that such liabilities are adequate to meet the Company’s obligations under a variety of interest rate scenarios. Based on these procedures, the Company’s assets and the investment income expected to be received on such assets are adequate to meet the insurance policy obligations and expenses of the Company’s insurance activities in all but the most extreme circumstances.

The Company periodically evaluates its sensitivity to interest rate risk. Based on commonly used models, the Company projects the impact of interest rate changes, assuming a wide range of factors, including duration and prepayment, on the fair value of assets and liabilities. Fair value is estimated based on the net present value of cash flows or duration estimates. At December 31, 2007, assuming an immediate decrease of 100 basis points in interest rates, the net fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities would increase by approximately $16 million after tax, or 2% of shareholders’ equity. A 100 basis point increase would decrease the fair value of assets and liabilities by approximately $42 million after tax, or 6% of shareholders’ equity. At December 31, 2006, assuming an immediate decrease of 100 basis points in interest rates, the net fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities would increase by approximately $17 million after tax, or 3% of shareholders’ equity. A 100 basis

 

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point increase would decrease the fair value of assets and liabilities by approximately $42 million after tax, or 6% of shareholders’ equity. In each case, these changes in interest rates assume a parallel shift in the yield curve.

While the Company believes that these assumed market rate changes are reasonably possible, actual results may differ, particularly as a result of any management actions that would be taken to mitigate such hypothetical losses in fair value of shareholders’ equity. Based on the Company’s overall exposure to interest rate risk, the Company believes that these changes in interest rates would not materially affect its consolidated near-term financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Recent Accounting Changes

SFAS No. 159

In February 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS” or “FAS”) No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115”. This standard is effective as of the beginning of an entity’s first fiscal year that begins after November 15, 2007, which for the Company is January 1, 2008. SFAS No. 159 permits all entities to choose to elect, at specified election dates, to measure eligible financial instruments, as defined in SFAS No. 159, at fair value. Changes in unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected would be reported in earnings at each subsequent reporting date and upfront costs and fees related to those items would be reported in earnings as incurred and not deferred. At adoption, for those financial assets and financial liabilities which management has elected to carry at fair value, an entity would report the effect of the first remeasurement to fair value as a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. Management does not anticipate electing to measure any additional eligible financial assets or financial liabilities at fair value and as a result, this SFAS is not expected to have an effect on the results of operations or financial position of the Company.

SFAS No. 157

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements”. This standard is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Generally, the provisions of this statement are to be applied prospectively as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in accordance with GAAP and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This pronouncement does not require any new fair value measurements and its adoption will not affect the results of operations or financial position of the Company. The Company will implement the expanded disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 157 beginning in 2008. In February 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) No. FAS 157-2, “Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157”, to partially defer the effective date of SFAS No. 157 for one year for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities that are disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a non-recurring basis. The FSP does not defer the recognition and disclosure requirements for financial or nonfinancial assets and liabilities that are measured at least annually.

 

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The Pension Protection Act of 2006

In the third quarter of 2006, the federal government enacted the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (the “Act”) which changes the manner in which pension funding is determined. The new rules are effective for funding beginning in 2008. Management does not expect the Act to have a material impact on the Company’s funding activity.

The Company’s funding policy for the defined benefit pension plan is to contribute amounts which are actuarially determined to provide the plan with sufficient assets to meet future benefit payments consistent with the funding requirements of federal laws and regulations. There was no minimum funding requirement for the defined benefit pension plan as of December 31, 2007. The Company’s obligations have not changed as a result of these developments.

Other Matters

Ariel Capital Management, Inc., HMEC’s largest shareholder with 15.2% of the common shares outstanding per their SEC filing on Form 13G as of December 31, 2007, is the investment adviser for two of the mutual funds offered to the Company’s annuity customers.

Effects of Inflation and Changes in Interest Rates

The Company’s operating results are affected significantly in at least three ways by changes in interest rates and inflation. First, inflation directly affects property and casualty claims costs. Second, the investment income earned on the Company’s investment portfolio and the fair value of the investment portfolio are related to the yields available in the fixed-income markets. An increase in interest rates will decrease the fair value of the investment portfolio, but will increase investment income as investments mature and proceeds are reinvested at higher rates. Third, as interest rates increase, competitors will typically increase crediting rates on annuity and interest-sensitive life products, and may lower premium rates on property and casualty lines to reflect the higher yields available in the market. The risk of interest rate fluctuation is managed through asset/liability management techniques, including cash flow analysis.

 

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REPORT OF MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Horace Mann Educators Corporation

The consolidated balance sheets of Horace Mann Educators Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 have been prepared by management, who is responsible for their integrity and reliability. The statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and include some amounts that are based upon management’s best estimates and judgements. Management has discussed with the Audit Committee the quality, not just the acceptability, of the Company’s accounting principles as applied in its financial reporting. The discussions generally included such matters as the consistency of the Company’s accounting policies and their application, and the clarity and completeness of the Company’s consolidated financial statements, which include related disclosures. The financial information contained elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K is consistent with that contained in the consolidated financial statements.

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining a system of internal control designed to provide reasonable assurance as to the integrity and reliability of financial reporting. The concept of reasonable assurance is based on the recognition that there are inherent limitations in all systems of internal control, and that the cost of such systems should not exceed the benefits derived therefrom. A professional staff of internal auditors reviews on an ongoing basis the related internal control system design, the accounting policies and procedures supporting this system and compliance therewith. Management believes this system of internal control effectively meets its objective of reliable financial reporting. See also “Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting” included in “Item 9A. Controls and Procedures” listed in the Index to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

In connection with their annual audits, the independent registered public accounting firm performs an audit, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), which includes the consideration of the system of internal control to the extent necessary to form an independent opinion on the fairness of presentation of the consolidated financial statements prepared by management.

The Board of Directors, through its Audit Committee composed solely of independent directors, is responsible for overseeing the integrity and reliability of the Company’s accounting and financial reporting practices and the effectiveness of its system of internal controls. The independent registered public accounting firm and internal auditors meet regularly with this committee, and have access to this committee with and without management present, to discuss the results of their audit work.

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors and Shareholders

Horace Mann Educators Corporation:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Horace Mann Educators Corporation and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2007. In connection with our audits of the consolidated financial statements, we also have audited financial statement schedules I to IV and VI. We also have audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company’s management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting (Item 9A.b.). Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedules, and an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

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Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2007, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the related financial statement schedules, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company adopted American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (“AICPA”) Statement of Position (“SOP”) 05-1, Accounting by Insurance Enterprises for Deferred Acquisition Costs in Connection with Modifications or Exchanges of Insurance Contracts, effective January 1, 2007. As discussed in Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company adopted FASB Interpretation (“FIN”) No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – an interpretation of FASB Statement No 109, effective January 1, 2007. As discussed in Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 158, Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, as of December 31, 2006.

Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

 

/s/ KPMG LLP
KPMG LLP

Chicago, Illinois

February 28, 2008

 

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HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

As of December 31, 2007 and 2006

(Dollars in thousands)

 

     2007     2006  
ASSETS  

Investments

    

Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value

    

Fixed maturities (amortized cost 2007, $3,795,665; 2006, $3,511,034)

   $ 3,798,343     $ 3,530,658  

Fixed maturity securities on loan (amortized cost 2007, $74,599; 2006, $291,144)

     74,658       289,524  
                

Total fixed maturities

     3,873,001       3,820,182  

Equity securities, available for sale, at fair value (amortized cost 2007, $94,083; 2006, $19,018)

     86,548       20,029  

Short-term and other investments

     143,990       162,283  

Short-term investments, loaned securities collateral

     76,711       299,722  
                

Total investments

     4,180,250       4,302,216  

Cash

     13,209       13,438  

Accrued investment income and premiums receivable

     101,427       107,590  

Deferred policy acquisition costs

     261,789       249,377  

Goodwill

     47,396       47,396  

Value of acquired insurance in force

     5,380       10,523  

Other assets

     87,652       104,533  

Separate Account (variable annuity) assets

     1,562,210       1,494,614  
                

Total assets

   $ 6,259,313     $ 6,329,687  
                
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY     

Policy liabilities

    

Fixed annuity contract liabilities

   $ 2,014,211     $ 1,944,675  

Interest-sensitive life contract liabilities

     663,087       641,252  

Unpaid claims and claim expenses

     315,382       326,661  

Future policy benefits

     188,117       185,747  

Unearned premiums

     202,527       203,017  
                

Total policy liabilities

     3,383,324       3,301,352  

Other policyholder funds

     138,470       142,832  

Liability for securities lending agreements

     76,850       298,494  

Other liabilities

     205,696       203,332  

Short-term debt

     —         —    

Long-term debt

     199,485       231,982  

Separate Account (variable annuity) liabilities

     1,562,210       1,494,614  
                

Total liabilities

     5,566,035       5,672,606  
                

Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, authorized 1,000,000 shares; none issued

     —         —    

Common stock, $0.001 par value, authorized 75,000,000 shares; issued, 2007, 60,855,455; 2006, 60,594,626

     61       61  

Additional paid-in capital

     353,841       347,873  

Retained earnings

     698,539       634,110  

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes:

    

Net unrealized gains and losses on fixed maturities and equity securities

     (2,621 )     11,070  

Net funded status of pension and other postretirement benefit obligations

     (3,217 )     (3,456 )

Treasury stock, at cost, 2007, 18,614,971 shares; 2006,17,503,371 shares

     (353,325 )     (332,577 )
                

Total shareholders’ equity

     693,278       657,081  
                

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 6,259,313     $ 6,329,687  
                

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
   2007     2006     2005  

Revenues

      

Insurance premiums and contract charges earned

   $ 654,257     $ 653,922     $ 664,939  

Net investment income

     223,762       209,009       194,632  

Net realized investment gains (losses)

     (3,418 )     10,876       9,841  

Other income

     12,404       12,035       10,899  
                        

Total revenues

     887,005       885,842       880,311  
                        

Benefits, losses and expenses

      

Benefits, claims and settlement expenses

     408,490       388,735       442,717  

Interest credited

     127,247       122,478       115,861  

Policy acquisition expenses amortized

     75,659       73,998       71,463  

Operating expenses

     139,099       141,117       142,204  

Amortization of intangible assets

     5,379       6,078       5,141  

Interest expense

     14,060       13,143       8,881  
                        

Total benefits, losses and expenses

     769,934       745,549       786,267  
                        

Income before income taxes

     117,071       140,293       94,044  

Income tax expense

     34,283       41,585       16,771  
                        

Net income

   $ 82,788     $ 98,708     $ 77,273  
                        

Earnings per share

      

Basic

   $ 1.92     $ 2.29     $ 1.80  
                        

Diluted

   $ 1.86     $ 2.19     $ 1.67  
                        

Weighted average number of shares and equivalent shares

      

Basic

     43,145,163       43,011,980       42,912,630  

Diluted

     44,610,496       45,773,167       47,884,739  

Comprehensive income

      

Net income

   $ 82,788     $ 98,708     $ 77,273  

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes:

      

Change in net unrealized gains and losses on fixed maturities and equity securities

     (13,691 )     (17,376 )     (57,426 )

Change in net funded status of pension and other postretirement benefit obligations

     239       (3,456 )     —    

Change in minimum pension liability adjustment

     —         14,301       691  
                        

Other comprehensive loss

     (13,452 )     (6,531 )     (56,735 )
                        

Total

   $ 69,336     $ 92,177     $ 20,538  
                        

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
   2007     2006     2005  

Common stock

      

Beginning balance

   $ 61     $ 60     $ 60  

Options exercised, 2007, 240,352 shares; 2006, 114,400 shares; 2005, 124,624 shares

     —         1       —    

Conversion of Director Stock Plan units, 2007, 18,362 shares; 2006, 761 shares; 2005, 761 shares

     —         —         —    

Conversion of restricted stock units, 2007, 2,115 shares; 2006, 4,066 shares; 2005, 0 shares

     —         —         —    
                        

Ending balance

     61       61       60  
                        

Additional paid-in capital

      

Beginning balance

     347,873       345,251       343,178  

Options exercised and conversion of Director Stock Plan units and restricted stock units

     4,866       1,966       2,073  

Share-based compensation expense

     1,102       656       —    
                        

Ending balance

     353,841       347,873       345,251  
                        

Retained earnings

      

Beginning balance

     634,110       553,712       494,665  

Net income

     82,788       98,708       77,273  

Cash dividends, $0.42 per share

     (18,359 )     (18,310 )     (18,226 )
                        

Ending balance

     698,539       634,110       553,712  
                        

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes:

      

Beginning balance

     7,614       14,145       70,880  

Change in net unrealized gains and losses on fixed maturities and equity securities

     (13,691 )     (17,376 )     (57,426 )

Change in net funded status of pension and other postretirement benefit obligations

     239       (3,456 )     —    

Change in minimum pension liability adjustment

     —         14,301       691  
                        

Ending balance

     (5,838 )     7,614       14,145  
                        

Treasury stock, at cost

      

Beginning balance, 17,503,371 shares

     (332,577 )     (332,577 )     (332,577 )

Purchase of 1,111,600 shares in 2007

     (20,748 )     —         —    
                        

Ending balance, 2007,18,614,971 shares; 2006 and 2005, 17,503,371 shares

     (353,325 )     (332,577 )     (332,577 )
                        

Shareholders’ equity at end of period

   $ 693,278     $ 657,081     $ 580,591  
                        

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Dollars in thousands)

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
   2007     2006     2005  

Cash flows - operating activities

      

Premiums collected

   $ 664,133     $ 660,223     $ 683,505  

Policyholder benefits paid

     (449,519 )     (437,006 )     (482,753 )

Policy acquisition and other operating expenses paid

     (212,115 )     (216,760 )     (221,790 )

Federal income taxes recovered (paid)

     (15,016 )     (15,409 )     1,096  

Investment income collected

     225,877       208,356       192,373  

Interest expense paid

     (13,772 )     (11,150 )     (8,275 )

Contribution to defined benefit pension plan trust fund

     —         (6,450 )     (4,514 )

Other

     2,057       4,002       5,524  
                        

Net cash provided by operating activities

     201,645       185,806       165,166  
                        

Cash flows - investing activities

      

Fixed maturities

      

Purchases

     (1,389,677 )     (961,646 )     (984,433 )

Sales

     776,421       525,990       467,653  

Maturities, paydowns, calls and redemptions

     538,989       285,858       258,637  

Net cash (used in) provided by short-term and other investments

     (56,203 )     (81,209 )     16,856  
                        

Net cash used in investing activities

     (130,470 )     (231,007 )     (241,287 )
                        

Cash flows - financing activities

      

Dividends paid to shareholders

     (18,359 )     (18,310 )     (18,226 )

Purchase of treasury stock

     (20,748 )     —         —    

Exercise of stock options

     4,477       1,874       2,055  

Principal repayments on Bank Credit Facility

     —         —         (25,000 )

Proceeds from issuance of Senior Notes due 2016

     —         123,485       —    

Proceeds from issuance of Senior Notes due 2015

     —         —         74,245  

Repurchase of Senior Convertible Notes

     (32,563 )     (82,846 )     —    

Repurchase of Senior Notes due 2006

     —         —         (29,077 )

Annuity contracts, variable and fixed

      

Deposits

     337,148       325,691       320,063  

Benefits and withdrawals

     (195,102 )     (149,750 )     (126,536 )

Net transfer to Separate Account (variable annuity) assets

     (144,545 )     (120,401 )     (123,120 )

Life policy accounts

      

Deposits

     1,333       1,629       2,226  

Withdrawals and surrenders

     (6,347 )     (6,816 )     (6,683 )

Change in bank overdrafts

     3,302       (15,917 )     6,174  
                        

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     (71,404 )     58,639       76,121  
                        

Net increase (decrease) in cash

     (229 )     13,438       —    

Cash at beginning of period

     13,438       —         —    
                        

Cash at end of period

   $ 13,209     $ 13,438     $ —    
                        

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

NOTE 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States (“U.S.”) generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), specifically Regulation S-X and the instructions to Form 10-K. The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect (1) the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, (2) disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and (3) the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Horace Mann Educators Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (“HMEC”; and together with its subsidiaries, the “Company” or “Horace Mann”). HMEC and its subsidiaries have common management, share office facilities and are parties to several intercompany service agreements for management, administrative, data processing, agent commissions, agency services, utilization of personnel and investment advisory services. Under these agreements, costs have been allocated among the companies in conformity with GAAP consistently applied. In addition, certain of the subsidiaries have entered into intercompany reinsurance agreements. HMEC and its subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return, and there are related tax sharing agreements. The tax sharing agreements provide that tax on income is charged to the subsidiaries as if they were filing separate federal income tax returns and the subsidiaries receive the benefits of any losses or tax credits to the extent utilized in the consolidated return. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The subsidiaries of HMEC market and underwrite tax-qualified retirement annuities and private passenger automobile, homeowners, and life insurance products, primarily to K-12 educators and other employees of public schools and their families. The Company’s principal operating subsidiaries are Horace Mann Life Insurance Company, Horace Mann Insurance Company, Teachers Insurance Company, Horace Mann Property & Casualty Insurance Company and Horace Mann Lloyds.

 

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Table of Contents

NOTE 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies-(Continued)

Investments

The Company invests primarily in fixed maturity securities. This category includes primarily bonds and notes, but also includes redeemable preferred stocks. These securities are classified as available for sale and carried at fair value. The net adjustment for unrealized gains and losses on all securities available for sale, carried at fair value, is recorded as a separate component of shareholders’ equity, net of applicable deferred tax asset or liability and the related impact on deferred policy acquisition costs and value of acquired insurance in force associated with interest-sensitive life and annuity contracts that would have occurred if the securities had been sold at their aggregate fair value and the proceeds reinvested at current yields.

Equity securities are classified as available for sale and carried at fair value. This category includes primarily nonredeemable preferred stocks and also common stocks.

Short-term and other investments are comprised of policy loans, carried at unpaid principal balances; short-term fixed interest securities, carried at cost which approximates fair value; and mortgage loans, carried at unpaid principal less a valuation allowance for estimated uncollectible amounts.

Interest income is recognized as earned. Investment income reflects amortization of premiums and accrual of discounts on an effective-yield basis.

Realized gains and losses arising from the sale (recorded on a trade date basis) or impairment of securities are determined based upon specific identification of securities. The Company reviews the fair value of all investments in its portfolio on a monthly basis to assess whether an other-than-temporary decline in value has occurred. These reviews, in conjunction with the Company’s investment managers’ monthly credit reports and relevant factors such as (1) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, (2) the Company’s ability and intent to retain the investment long enough to allow for the anticipated recovery in fair value, (3) the stock price trend of the issuer, (4) the market leadership position of the issuer, (5) the debt ratings of the issuer and (6) the cash flows of the issuer, are all considered in the impairment assessment. A write-down of an investment is recorded when a decline in the fair value of that investment is deemed to be other-than-temporary, with a realized investment loss charged to income for the period.

The Company’s methodology of assessing other-than-temporary impairments is based on security-specific facts and circumstances as of the date of the reporting period. Based on these facts, if management believes it is probable that amounts due will not be collected according to the contractual terms of a debt security, or if the Company does not have the ability and intent to hold a security with an unrealized loss until it matures or recovers in value, an other-than-temporary impairment shall be considered to have occurred. As a general rule, if the fair value of a debt security has fallen below 80% of book value for more than six months, this security will be reviewed for an other-than-temporary impairment. Additionally, if events become known that call into question whether the security issuer has the ability to honor its contractual commitments, whether or not such security has been trading above an 80% fair value to book value relationship, such security holding will be evaluated to determine whether or not such security has suffered an other-than-temporary decline in value.

 

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NOTE 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies-(Continued)

A decline in fair value below amortized cost is not assumed to be other-than-temporary for fixed maturity investments with unrealized losses due to changes in interest rates, spread widening or market illiquidity where there exists a reasonable expectation that fair value will recover in a reasonable timeframe versus historical cost and the Company has the intent and ability to hold the investment until maturity or a market recovery is realized. Management believes that its intent and ability to hold a fixed maturity investment with a continuous material unrealized loss due to market conditions or industry-related events for a period of time sufficient to allow a market recovery or to maturity is a decisive factor when considering an impairment loss. In the event that the Company’s intent or ability to hold a fixed maturity investment with a continuous unrealized loss for a period of time sufficient to allow a market recovery or to maturity were to change, an evaluation for other-than-temporary impairment is performed. An other-than-temporary impairment loss will be recognized based upon all relevant facts and circumstances for each investment, as appropriate, in accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 59, “Accounting for Non-Current Marketable Equity Securities”, and Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS” or “FAS”) No. 115, “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities”, and related guidance.

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs

Policy acquisition costs, consisting of commissions, policy issuance and other costs, which vary with and are primarily related to the production of business, are capitalized and amortized on a basis consistent with the type of insurance coverage. For all investment (annuity) contracts, acquisition costs are amortized over 20 years in proportion to estimated gross profits. Capitalized acquisition costs for interest-sensitive life contracts are amortized over 20 years in proportion to estimated gross profits. For other individual life contracts, acquisition costs are amortized in proportion to anticipated premiums over the terms of the insurance policies (10, 15, 20 and 30 years). For property and casualty policies, acquisition costs are amortized over the terms of the insurance policies (six and twelve months). The Company periodically reviews the assumptions and estimates used in capitalizing policy acquisition costs and also periodically reviews its estimations of gross profits. The most significant assumptions that are involved in the estimation of annuity gross profits include interest rate spreads, future financial market performance, business surrender/lapse rates, expenses and the impact of realized investment gains and losses. In the event actual experience differs significantly from assumptions or assumptions are significantly revised, the Company may be required to record a material charge or credit to amortization expense for the period in which the adjustment is made.

Deferred policy acquisition costs for interest-sensitive life and investment contracts are adjusted for the impact on estimated future gross profits as if net unrealized investment gains and losses had been realized at the balance sheet date. The impact of this adjustment is included in net unrealized gains and losses within shareholders’ equity.

Deferred policy acquisition costs are reviewed for recoverability from future income, including investment income, and costs which are deemed unrecoverable are expensed in the period in which the determination is made. No such costs have been deemed unrecoverable during the periods reported.

 

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NOTE 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies-(Continued)

Effective January 1, 2007, the Company adopted American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (“AICPA”) Statement of Position (“SOP”) 05-1, “Accounting by Insurance Enterprises for Deferred Acquisition Costs in Connection With Modifications or Exchanges of Insurance Contracts” and did not utilize the alternative application guidance outlined in paragraphs 18 and 19 of SOP 05-1. Adoption of SOP 05-1 did not have a material effect on the results of operations or financial position of the Company.

SOP 05-1 provides guidance on accounting for deferred policy acquisition costs (“DAC”) on internal replacements of insurance and investment contracts other than those specifically described in SFAS No. 97, “Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises for Certain Long-Duration Contracts and for Realized Gains and Losses from the Sale of Investments”. SOP 05-1 defines an internal replacement as a modification in product benefits, features, rights or coverages that occurs by the exchange of a contract for a new contract, or by amendment, endorsement or rider to a contract, or by the election of a feature or coverage within a contract. Modifications that result in a replacement contract that is substantially unchanged from the replaced contract are accounted for as a continuation of the replaced contract. When modifications represent a substantial change compared to the replaced contract, the transaction is accounted for as an extinguishment of the replaced contract, and unamortized DAC and unearned revenue liabilities from the replaced contract are written off. For the year ended December 31, 2007, internal replacements of traditional non-interest-sensitive life insurance contracts which represented substantial changes compared to the replaced contracts resulted in $207 of additional DAC amortization for the year.

Value of Acquired Insurance In Force and Goodwill

When the Company was acquired in 1989, intangible assets were recorded in the application of purchase accounting to recognize the value of acquired insurance in force and goodwill. In addition, goodwill was recorded in 1994 related to the purchase of Horace Mann Property & Casualty Insurance Company. The value of acquired insurance in force is being amortized over the following periods, utilizing the indicated methods for life and annuity, respectively, as follows: 20 years, in proportion to coverage provided; 20 years, in proportion to estimated gross profits.

Effective January 1, 2002, the Company adopted SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”. The Company’s value of acquired insurance in force is an intangible asset with a definite life and will continue to be amortized under the provisions of SFAS No. 142. Goodwill will remain on the consolidated balance sheet and will not be amortized. SFAS No. 142 established a new method of testing goodwill for impairment. On an annual basis, and when there is reason to suspect that its value may have been diminished or impaired, the goodwill asset must be tested for impairment. The amount of goodwill determined to be impaired will be expensed to current operations. During each year from 2002 through 2007, the Company completed the required testing under SFAS No. 142; no impairment charges were necessary as a result of such assessments.

 

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NOTE 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies-(Continued)

The allocation of goodwill by segment is as follows:

 

Annuity

   $ 28,025

Life

     9,911

Property and casualty

     9,460
      

Total

   $ 47,396
      

For the amortization of the value of acquired insurance in force, the Company periodically reviews its estimates of gross profits. The most significant assumptions that are involved in the estimation of gross profits include interest rate spreads, future financial market performance, business surrender/lapse rates, expenses and the impact of realized investment gains and losses. In the event actual experience differs significantly from assumptions or assumptions are significantly revised, the Company may be required to record a material charge or credit to amortization expense for the period in which the adjustment is made.

The value of acquired insurance in force for investment contracts is adjusted for the impact on estimated future gross profits as if net unrealized investment gains and losses had been realized at the balance sheet date. The impact of this adjustment is included in net unrealized gains and losses within shareholders’ equity.

The balances of value of acquired insurance in force by segment at December 31, 2007 and 2006 were as follows:

 

     December 31, 2007     December 31, 2006  
   Cost    Accumulated
Amortization
   Net
Balance
    Cost    Accumulated
Amortization
   Net
Balance
 

Life

   $ 48,746    $ 47,231    $ 1,515     $ 48,746    $ 45,893    $ 2,853  

Annuity

     87,553      83,516      4,037       87,553      79,475      8,078  
                                            

Subtotal

   $ 136,299    $ 130,747      5,552     $ 136,299    $ 125,368      10,931  
                                            

Impact of unrealized investment gains and losses

           (172 )           (408 )
                            

Total

         $ 5,380           $ 10,523  
                            

Expected amortization of the December 31, 2007 balances of value of acquired insurance in force by segment over the next five years is as follows:

 

      Year Ended December 31,
   2008    2009    2010    2011    2012

Expected amortization of value of acquired insurance in force

              

Life

   $ 1,292    $ 223    $  —      $  —      $  —  

Annuity

     4,037      —         —         —         —  
                                  

Total

   $ 5,329    $ 223    $  —      $  —      $  —  
                                  

 

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NOTE 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies-(Continued)

By segment, the amount of interest accrued on the unamortized balance of value of acquired insurance in force and the interest accrual rates were as follows:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
   2007     2006     2005  

Interest accrued on the unamortized balance of value of acquired insurance in force

      

Life

   $ 175     $ 284     $ 398  

Annuity

     287       494       722  
                        

Total

   $ 462     $ 778     $ 1,120  
                        

Interest accrual rate

      

Life

     8.0 %     8.0 %     8.0 %

Annuity

     5.1 %     5.2 %     5.1 %

The accumulated amortization of intangibles as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 was $179,724 and $174,345, respectively.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and are included in Other Assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Depreciation and amortization are calculated on the straight-line method based on the estimated useful lives of the assets. The estimated useful lives of property and equipment by asset type are generally as follows: real estate, identified by specific property, 20-45 years; furniture, 10 years; telephones, 5 years; vehicles, 4 years; and data processing hardware and software and personal computers, 2 to 5 years or 10 years.

 

     December 31,
   2007    2006

Property and equipment

   $ 96,311    $ 90,384

Less: accumulated depreciation

     58,584      57,726
             

Total

   $ 37,727    $ 32,658
             

Separate Account (Variable Annuity) Assets and Liabilities

Separate account (variable annuity) assets, carried at fair value, and liabilities represent variable annuity funds invested in various mutual funds. The investment income, gains and losses of these accounts accrue directly to the policyholders and are not included in the operations of the Company. The Company’s contract charges earned include fees charged to the separate accounts, including mortality charges, risk charges, policy administration fees, investment management fees and surrender charges.

 

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Table of Contents

NOTE 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies-(Continued)

Future Policy Benefits, Interest-sensitive Life Contract Liabilities and Annuity Contract Liabilities

Liabilities for future benefits on life and annuity policies are established in amounts adequate to meet the estimated future obligations on policies in force. Liabilities for future policy benefits on certain life insurance policies are computed using the net level premium method and are based on assumptions as to future investment yield, mortality and withdrawals. As a result of the application of purchase accounting, future policy benefits for direct individual life insurance policies issued through August 29, 1989 were revalued using interest rates of 9% graded to 8% over 10 years. For policies issued from August 30, 1989 through December 31, 1992, future policy benefits are computed using an interest rate of 6.5%. An interest rate of 5.5% is used to compute future policy benefits for policies issued after December 31, 1992. The Life by Design product portfolio introduced in February 2006 uses an interest rate of 5% for future policy benefits. Mortality and withdrawal assumptions for all policies have been based on actuarial tables which are consistent with the Company’s own experience. In the event actual experience is worse than the assumptions, additional reserves may be required. This would result in a charge to income for the period in which the increase in reserves occurred. Liabilities for future benefits on annuity contracts and certain long-duration life insurance contracts are carried at accumulated policyholder values without reduction for potential surrender or withdrawal charges. The liability also includes provisions for the unearned portion of certain policy charges.

A guaranteed minimum death benefit (“GMDB”) generally provides a benefit if the annuitant dies and the contract value is less than a contractually defined amount. The Company has established a GMDB reserve on variable annuity contracts. Contractually defined amounts vary from contract to contract based on the date the contract was entered into as well as the GMDB feature elected by the contractholder. The Company regularly monitors the GMDB reserve considering fluctuations in the financial markets. At December 31, 2007 and 2006, the GMDB reserve was $14 and $693, respectively, with the decrease primarily the result of a reserve refinement. The Company has a relatively low exposure to GMDB because approximately 23% of contract values have no guarantee; approximately 71% have only a return of premium guarantee; and only approximately 6% have a guarantee of premium roll-up at an annual interest rate of 3% or 5%. The aggregate in-the-money death benefits under the GMDB provision totaled $19,272 and $19,165 at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

 

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NOTE 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies-(Continued)

Unpaid Claims and Claim Expenses

Liabilities for property and casualty unpaid claims and claim expenses include provisions for payments to be made on reported claims, claims incurred but not yet reported and associated settlement expenses. All of the Company’s reserves for property and casualty unpaid claims and claim expenses are carried at the full value of estimated liabilities and are not discounted for interest expected to be earned on reserves. Estimated amounts of salvage and subrogation on unpaid property and casualty claims are deducted from the liability for unpaid claims. Due to the nature of the Company’s personal lines business, the Company has no exposure to claims for toxic waste cleanup, other environmental remediation or asbestos-related illnesses other than claims under homeowners insurance policies for environmentally related items such as mold.

Insurance Premiums and Contract Charges Earned

Property and casualty insurance premiums are recognized as revenue ratably over the related contract periods in proportion to the risks insured. The unexpired portions of these property and casualty premiums are recorded as unearned premiums, using the monthly pro rata method.

Premiums and contract charges for interest-sensitive life and investment (annuity) contracts consist of charges for the cost of insurance, policy administration and withdrawals. Premiums for long-term traditional life policies are recognized as revenues when due over the premium-paying period. Annuity and interest-sensitive life contract deposits represent funds deposited by policyholders and are not included in the Company’s premiums or contract charges earned.

Stock Based Compensation

The Company grants stock options to executive officers, other employees and directors. The exercise price of the option is equal to the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Additional information regarding the Company’s stock-based compensation plans is contained in Note 5 — Shareholders’ Equity and Stock Options. Prior to January 1, 2006, the Company accounted for stock option grants using the intrinsic value based method in accordance with Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees”, and accordingly, recognized no compensation expense for the stock option grants which had an exercise price equal to market price on the date of grant resulting in an intrinsic value of $0.

Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted SFAS No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment”, which requires companies to recognize compensation cost for share-based compensation plans, determined based on the fair value at the grant dates. The Company adopted SFAS No. 123(R) using the modified prospective method.

 

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NOTE 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies-(Continued)

Net income and net income per share recognizing the compensation cost of share-based compensation plans were as follows:

 

     Year Ended December 31,
   2007    2006    2005

Net income

        

As reported

   $ 82,788    $ 98,708    $ 77,273

Add: Share-based compensation expense, after tax, included in reported net income

     1,102      656      —  

Deduct: Share-based compensation expense, after tax, determined under the fair value based method for all awards (1) (2)

     1,102      656      46
                    

Adjusted (2)

   $ 82,788    $ 98,708    $ 77,227
                    

Net income per share – basic

        

As reported

   $ 1.92    $ 2.29    $ 1.80

Adjusted (2)

   $ 1.92    $ 2.29    $ 1.80

Net income per share – diluted

        

As reported

   $ 1.86    $ 2.19    $ 1.67

Adjusted (2)

   $ 1.86    $ 2.19    $ 1.67

 

(1) There were 276,280 options granted in 2007 having a weighted average grant date fair value of $5.49. The fair value of options granted was estimated on the dates of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions: risk-free interest rate of 4.7%; expected dividend yield of 2.2%; expected life of 5.4 years; and expected volatility (based on historical volatility) of 27.8%. The weighted average fair value of nonvested options outstanding on December 31, 2007 was $5.11. Total unrecognized compensation expense relating to the nonvested options outstanding as of December 31, 2007 was approximately $1,900, which will be recognized over the remainder of the vesting period currently scheduled to be completed in February 2011. Expense is reflected on a straight-line basis over the vesting period for the entire award.

 

(2) For 2005, this represents the pro forma result as if the Company had previously adopted SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation”.

HMEC’s Board of Directors approved the acceleration of vesting of all outstanding stock options effective June 30, 2004 in an effort to recognize employees’ significant contributions to increasing shareholder value and improving underlying Company operating trends. The Board placed certain restrictions on the transfer of shares obtained by this vesting acceleration for members of the Board of Directors and 10 of HMEC’s key executive officers. At June 30, 2004, the majority of the options vested were out-of-the-money. The accelerated vesting did not have a material effect on the Company’s operating expenses.

Income Taxes

The Company uses the liability method for calculating deferred federal income taxes. Income tax provisions are generally based on income reported for financial statement purposes. The provisions for federal income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 include amounts currently payable and deferred income taxes resulting from the cumulative differences in the Company’s assets and liabilities, determined on a tax return versus financial statement basis.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities include provisions for unrealized investment gains and losses as well as the net funded status of pension and other postretirement benefit obligations and minimum pension liability adjustments with the changes for each period included in the respective components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in shareholders’ equity.

 

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NOTE 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies-(Continued)

Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share is computed based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share is computed based on the weighted average number of common shares and common stock equivalents outstanding, to the extent dilutive. The common stock equivalents relate to outstanding common stock options, Director Stock Plan units, Employee Stock Plan units and Incentive Compensation Plan restricted common stock units. In addition, the Company’s Senior Convertible Notes were common stock equivalents under the FASB’s Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) consensus on issue 04-8, “The Effect of Contingently Convertible Instruments on Diluted Earnings per Share”. As further disclosed in “Note 4 — Debt”, HMEC redeemed its remaining outstanding Senior Convertible Notes on May 14, 2007.

The computations of net income per share on both basic and diluted bases, including reconciliations of the numerators and denominators, were as follows:

 

     Year Ended December 31,
   2007    2006    2005

Basic - assumes no dilution:

        

Net income for the period

   $ 82,788    $ 98,708    $ 77,273
                    

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period (in thousands)

     43,145      43,012      42,913
                    

Net income per share – basic

   $ 1.92    $ 2.29    $ 1.80
                    

Diluted - assumes full dilution:

        

Net income for the period

   $ 82,788    $ 98,708    $ 77,273

Interest expense, net of tax, on dilutive Senior Convertible Notes

     279      1,336      2,737
                    

Adjusted net income for the period

   $ 83,067    $ 100,044    $ 80,010
                    

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period (in thousands)

     43,145      43,012      42,913

Weighted average number of common equivalent shares to reflect the dilutive effect of common stock equivalent securities (in thousands):

        

Stock options

     233      114      136

Common stock units related to Deferred Equity Compensation Plan for Directors

     228      214      192

Common stock units related to Deferred Compensation Plan for Employees

     219      150      146

Restricted common stock units related to Incentive Compensation Plan

     342      253      155

Weighted average number of common equivalent shares to reflect the dilutive effect of Senior Convertible Notes (in thousands)

     444      2,030      4,343
                    

Total common and common equivalent shares adjusted to calculate diluted earnings per share (in thousands)

     44,611      45,773      47,885
                    

Net income per share – diluted

   $ 1.86    $ 2.19    $ 1.67
                    

Options to purchase 1,242,400 shares of common stock at $20.80 to $33.87 per share were granted in 1998 through 2002 but were not included in the computation of 2007 diluted earnings per share because the options’ exercise price was greater than the average market price of the common shares during 2007. The options, which expire in 2008 through 2012, were still outstanding at December 31, 2007.

 

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NOTE 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies-(Continued)

Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income represents the change in shareholders’ equity during a reporting period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-shareholder sources. For the Company, comprehensive income is equal to net income plus or minus the change in net unrealized gains and losses on fixed maturities and equity securities, the change in net funded status of pension and other postretirement benefit obligations and, in 2006 and prior years, the change in the minimum pension liability adjustment for the period as shown in the Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity.

In December 2006, the Company adopted SFAS No. 158, “Employer’s Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans”. SFAS No. 158 requires the recognition in the balance sheet of the funded status of defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax.

The components of comprehensive income were as follows:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
   2007     2006     2005  

Net income

   $ 82,788     $ 98,708     $ 77,273  
                        

Other comprehensive income (loss):

      

Change in net unrealized gains and losses on fixed maturities and equity securities

      

Net unrealized holding gains and losses on fixed maturities and equity securities arising during period

     (24,516 )     (15,856 )     (78,497 )

Less: reclassification adjustment for gains (losses) included in income before income tax

     (3,453 )     10,876       9,851  
                        

Total, before tax

     (21,063 )     (26,732 )     (88,348 )

Income tax benefit

     (7,372 )     (9,356 )     (30,922 )
                        

Total, net of tax

     (13,691 )     (17,376 )     (57,426 )
                        

Change in net funded status of pension and other postretirement benefit obligations

      

Before tax

     368       (5,317 )     —    

Income tax expense (benefit)

     129       (1,861 )     —    
                        

Total, net of tax

     239       (3,456 )     —    
                        

Change in minimum pension liability adjustment

      

Before tax

     —         22,001       1,063  

Income tax expense

     —         7,700       372  
                        

Total, net of tax

     —         14,301       691  
                        

Total comprehensive income

   $ 69,336     $ 92,177     $ 20,538  
                        

Statements of Cash Flows

For purposes of the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, cash constitutes cash on deposit at banks.

Reclassification

The Company has reclassified the presentation of certain prior period information to conform with the 2007 presentation.

 

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NOTE 2 - Investments

Net Investment Income

The components of net investment income for the following periods were:

 

     Year Ended December 31,
   2007    2006    2005

Fixed maturities

   $ 213,426    $ 202,354    $ 191,289

Short-term and other investments

     14,780      10,673      8,076
                    

Total investment income

     228,206      213,027      199,365

Less investment expenses

     4,444      4,018      4,733
                    

Net investment income

   $ 223,762    $ 209,009    $ 194,632
                    

Realized Investment Gains (Losses)

Realized investment gains (losses) for the following periods were:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
   2007     2006    2005  

Fixed maturities

   $ (2,441 )   $ 10,876    $ 9,851  

Short-term and other investments

     (977 )     —        (10 )
                       

Realized investment gains (losses)

   $ (3,418 )   $ 10,876    $ 9,841  
                       

In 2007, the Company recorded investment impairment charges of $8,471. In the three months ended December 31, 2007, $5,867 of impairment charges were recorded for the fixed maturity securities portfolio as follows: $3,778 from the Company’s one sub-prime residential mortgage-backed security, $1,082 from preferred stocks and $1,007 from corporate high-yield bonds. Certain of these securities were subsequently sold in January 2008. In the three months ended September 30, 2007, the Company recorded impairment charges of $285 from the paper sector of its fixed maturity securities portfolio, and certain of these securities were subsequently sold in October 2007. In the three months ended June 30, 2007, the Company recorded impairment charges of $2,319 from the home builder sector of its fixed maturity securities portfolio, and these securities were subsequently sold in July 2007. There were no other impairment charges recorded in 2007. In 2006, the Company recorded an impairment of $139 related to fixed income securities from one issuer. In 2005, the Company recorded a fixed income security impairment of $1,849 related to securities from one automobile industry issuer.

 

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NOTE 2 - Investments-(Continued)

Fixed Maturity Securities (“fixed maturities”)

At December 31, 2007 and 2006, the fair value and gross unrealized losses of fixed maturity securities in an unrealized loss position were as follows:

 

     12 months or less    More than 12 months    Total
   Fair Value    Unrealized
Losses
   Fair Value    Unrealized
Losses
   Fair Value    Unrealized
Losses

As of December 31, 2007

                 

U.S. government and federally sponsored agency obligations

                 

Mortgage-backed securities

   $ 72,311    $ 185    $ 380,995    $ 5,353    $ 453,306    $ 5,538

Other

     64,423      40      25,730      85      90,153      125

Municipal bonds

     87,593      1,379      56,253      741      143,846      2,120

Foreign government bonds

     —        —        3,911      35      3,911      35

Corporate bonds

     398,575      17,454      520,356      16,218      918,931      33,672

Other mortgage-backed securities

     147,594      9,019      46,602      1,512      194,196      10,531
                                         

Totals

   $ 770,496    $ 28,077    $ 1,033,847    $ 23,944    $ 1,804,343    $ 52,021
                                         

As of December 31, 2006

                 

U.S. government and federally sponsored agency obligations

                 

Mortgage-backed securities

   $ 40,617    $ 281    $ 508,887    $ 12,208    $ 549,504    $ 12,489

Other

     76,575      41      139,848      1,884      216,423      1,925

Municipal bonds

     41,612      174      102,341      1,709      143,953      1,883

Foreign government bonds

     —        —        9,025      206      9,025      206

Corporate bonds

     330,826      4,696      697,987      20,732      1,028,813      25,428

Other mortgage-backed securities

     28,134      93      100,443      1,759      128,577      1,852
                                         

Totals

   $ 517,764    $ 5,285    $ 1,558,531    $ 38,498    $ 2,076,295    $ 43,783
                                         

At December 31, 2007, the gross unrealized loss position in the fixed maturity securities portfolio was $52,021 (670 positions and 1% of the portfolio). Fixed maturity securities with an investment grade rating represented 88% of the unrealized loss. The largest single unrealized loss was $2,192 on a preferred stock of JPMorgan Chase. The fixed maturity securities portfolio included 290 securities that have been in an unrealized loss position for greater than 12 months, totaling $23,944 (of which $6,837 was from securities purchased in 2003 when interest rates were at record lows). The Company views the decrease in value of all of the securities with unrealized losses at December 31, 2007 — which was largely driven by changes in interest rates, spread widening and market illiquidity — as temporary, expects recovery in fair value in a reasonable timeframe, anticipates continued payments under the terms of the securities, and has the intent and ability to hold these securities until maturity or a recovery in fair value occurs. Therefore, no impairment of these securities was recorded at December 31, 2007.

 

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NOTE 2 - Investments-(Continued)

The amortized cost, unrealized investment gains and losses, and fair values of all fixed maturities in the portfolio as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 were as follows:

 

     Amortized
Cost
   Unrealized
Gains
   Unrealized
Losses
   Fair
Value

As of December 31, 2007

           

U.S. government and federally sponsored agency obligations (1)

           

Mortgage-backed securities

   $ 910,406    $ 6,564    $ 5,538    $ 911,432

Other

     243,964      2,644      125      246,483

Municipal bonds

     535,069      8,146      2,120      541,095

Foreign government bonds

     14,422      1,487      35      15,874

Corporate bonds

     1,882,871      32,478      33,672      1,881,677

Other mortgage-backed securities

     283,532      3,439      10,531      276,440
                           

Totals

   $ 3,870,264    $ 54,758    $ 52,021    $ 3,873,001
                           

As of December 31, 2006

           

U.S. government and federally sponsored agency obligations (1)

           

Mortgage-backed securities

   $ 791,058    $ 2,534    $ 12,489    $ 781,103

Other

     245,213      473      1,925      243,761

Municipal bonds

     546,837      8,192      1,883      553,146

Foreign government bonds

     28,634      2,087      206      30,515

Corporate bonds

     1,987,136      46,212      25,428      2,007,920

Other mortgage-backed securities

     203,300      2,289      1,852      203,737
                           

Totals

   $ 3,802,178    $ 61,787    $ 43,783    $ 3,820,182
                           

 

(1) Fair value includes securities issued by Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”) of $714,720 and $698,006; Federal Home Loan Mortgage Association (“FHLMA”) of $332,811 and $204,135; and Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”) of $38,816 and $31,201 as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

The Company’s investment portfolio includes no derivative financial instruments (futures, forwards, swaps, option contracts or other financial instruments with similar characteristics).

Maturities/Sales Of Investments

The amortized cost and fair value of the Company’s fixed maturity securities portfolio at December 31, 2007, by estimated expected maturity, are shown below. Estimated expected maturities differ from contractual maturities, reflecting assumptions regarding borrowers’ utilization of the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. Estimated expected maturities consider broker dealer survey values and are verified for consistency with the interest rate and economic environments.

 

     December 31, 2007  
   Amortized
Cost
   Fair
Value
   Percent of
Total Fair
Value
 

Due in 1 year or less

   $ 265,090    $ 265,277    6.8 %

Due after 1 year through 5 years

     1,103,339      1,104,119    28.5 %

Due after 5 years through 10 years

     1,297,125      1,298,042    33.6 %

Due after 10 years through 20 years

     437,733      438,043    11.3 %

Due after 20 years

     766,977      767,520    19.8 %
                    

Total

   $ 3,870,264    $ 3,873,001    100.0 %
                    

The average option-adjusted duration for the Company’s fixed maturity securities was 5.5 years at December 31, 2007.

 

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NOTE 2 - Investments-(Continued)

Proceeds from sales of fixed maturities and gross gains and gross losses realized as a result of those sales for each year were:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
   2007     2006     2005  

Proceeds

   $ 776,421     $ 525,990     $ 467,653  

Gross gains realized

     12,630       10,771       18,778  

Gross losses realized

     (10,589 )     (6,175 )     (8,511 )

Unrealized Gains and Losses on Fixed Maturities

Net unrealized gains and losses are computed as the difference between fair value and amortized cost for fixed maturities. A summary of the net change in unrealized investment gains and losses on fixed maturities, less applicable income taxes, is as follows:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
   2007     2006     2005  

Net unrealized gains on fixed maturities

      

Beginning of period

   $ 18,004     $ 48,018     $ 142,001  

End of period

     2,737       18,004       48,018  
                        

Decrease for the period

     (15,267 )     (30,014 )     (93,983 )

Income tax benefits

     (5,343 )     (10,505 )     (32,894 )
                        

Decrease in net unrealized gains on fixed maturities before the valuation impact on deferred policy acquisition costs and value of acquired insurance in force

   $ (9,924 )   $ (19,509 )   $ (61,089 )
                        

Securities Lending

The Company loans fixed income securities to third parties, primarily major brokerage firms. As of December 31, 2007 and 2006, fixed maturities with a fair value of $74,658 and $289,524, respectively, were on loan. Loans of securities are required at all times to be secured by collateral from borrowers at least equal to 100% of the fair value of the securities loaned. The Company maintains effective control over the loaned securities and therefore reports them as Fixed Maturity Securities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Securities lending collateral is classified as short-term investments with a corresponding liability in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Investment in Entities Exceeding 10% of Shareholders’ Equity

At December 31, 2007 and 2006, there were no investments which exceeded 10% of total shareholders’ equity in entities other than obligations of the U.S. Government and federally sponsored government agencies and authorities.

Deposits

At December 31, 2007, securities with a carrying value of $18,911 were on deposit with governmental agencies as required by law in various states in which the insurance subsidiaries of HMEC conduct business.

 

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NOTE 3 - Property and Casualty Unpaid Claims and Claim Expenses

The following table sets forth an analysis of property and casualty unpaid claims and claim expenses and provides a reconciliation of beginning and ending reserves for the periods indicated.

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
   2007     2006     2005  

Gross reserves, beginning of year (1)

   $ 317,730     $ 342,661     $ 335,000  

Less reinsurance recoverables

     22,352       31,604       25,722  
                        

Net reserves, beginning of year (2)

     295,378       311,057       309,278  
                        

Incurred claims and claim expenses:

      

Claims occurring in the current year

     380,399       359,840       411,122  

Decrease in estimated reserves for claims occurring in prior years (3)

     (19,968 )     (19,210 )     (13,100 )
                        

Total claims and claim expenses incurred (4)

     360,431       340,630       398,022  
                        

Claims and claim expense payments for claims occurring during:

      

Current year

     236,176       220,962       252,311  

Prior years

     129,373       135,347       143,932  
                        

Total claims and claim expense payments

     365,549       356,309       396,243  
                        

Net reserves, end of year (2)

     290,260       295,378       311,057  

Plus reinsurance recoverables

     15,930       22,352       31,604  
                        

Gross reserves, end of year (1)

   $ 306,190     $ 317,730     $ 342,661  
                        

 

(1) Unpaid claims and claim expenses as reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets also include life, annuity, and group accident and health reserves of $9,192, $8,931, $8,100 and $7,445 at December 31, 2007, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively, in addition to property and casualty reserves.

 

(2) Reserves net of anticipated reinsurance recoverables.

 

(3) Shows the amounts by which the Company decreased its reserves in each of the periods indicated for claims occurring in previous periods to reflect subsequent information on such claims and changes in their projected final settlement costs. Also refer to the paragraphs below for additional information regarding the reserve development recorded in 2007, 2006 and 2005.

 

(4) Benefits, claims and settlement expenses as reported in the Consolidated Statements of Operations also include life, annuity, and group accident and health amounts of $48,059, $48,105 and $44,695 for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively, in addition to the property and casualty amounts.

Underwriting results of the property and casualty segment are significantly influenced by estimates of the Company’s ultimate liability for insured events. There is a high degree of uncertainty inherent in the estimates of ultimate losses underlying the liability for unpaid claims and claim settlement expenses. This inherent uncertainty is particularly significant for liability-related exposures due to the extended period, often many years, that transpires between a loss event, receipt of related claims data from policyholders and ultimate settlement of the claim. Reserves for property and casualty claims include provisions for payments to be made on reported claims (“case reserves”), claims incurred but not yet reported (“IBNR”) and associated settlement expenses (together “loss reserves”). The process by which these reserves are established requires reliance upon estimates based on known facts and on interpretations of circumstances, including the Company’s experience with similar cases and historical trends involving claim payments and related patterns, pending levels of unpaid claims and product mix, as well as other factors including court decisions, economic conditions and public attitudes.

 

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NOTE 3 - Property and Casualty Unpaid Claims and Claim Expenses-(Continued)

The Company believes the property and casualty loss reserves are appropriately established based on available facts, laws, and regulations. The Company calculates and records a single best reserve estimate as of each balance sheet date, in conformity with generally accepted actuarial standards, for each line of business and its components (coverages and perils) for reported losses and for IBNR losses and as a result believes no other estimate is better than the recorded amount. Due to uncertainties involved, the ultimate cost of losses may vary materially from recorded amounts.

The Company continually updates loss estimates using both quantitative and qualitative information from its reserving actuaries and information derived from other sources. Adjustments may be required as information develops which varies from experience, or, in some cases, augments data which previously were not considered sufficient for use in determining liabilities. The effects of these adjustments may be significant and are charged or credited to income in the period in which the adjustments are made.

Numerous risk factors will affect more than one product line. One of these factors is changes in claim department practices, including claim closure rates, number of claims closed without payment, the use of outside claims adjusters and the level of needed case reserve estimated by the adjuster. Other risk factors include changes in claim frequency, changes in claim severity, regulatory and legislative actions, court actions, changes in economic conditions and trends (e.g. medical costs, labor rates and the cost of materials), the occurrence of unusually large or frequent catastrophic loss events, timeliness of claim reporting, the state in which the claim occurred and degree of claimant fraud. The extent of the impact of a risk factor will also vary by coverages within a product line. Individual risk factors are also subject to interactions with other risk factors within product line coverages.

While all product lines are exposed to these risks, there are some loss types or product lines for which the financial effect will be more significant. For instance, the use of outside adjusters for large catastrophe losses adds a level of risk to this loss type not present when employee adjusters handle claims. Also, given the relatively large proportion (approximately 70% at December 31, 2007) of the Company’s reserves that are in the longer-tail automobile liability coverages, regulatory and court actions and changes in economic conditions and trends could be expected to impact this product line more extensively than others.

Reserves are established for claims as they occur for each line of business based on estimates of the ultimate cost to settle the claims. The actual loss results are compared to prior estimates and differences are recorded as reestimates. The primary actuarial techniques (development of paid loss dollars, development of reported loss dollars, methods based on expected loss ratios and methods utilizing frequency and severity of claims) used to estimate reserves and provide for losses are applied to actual paid losses and reported losses (paid losses plus individual case reserves set by claim adjusters) for an accident year or a calendar year to create an estimate of how losses are likely to develop over time. An accident year refers to classifying claims based on the year in which the claim occurred. A calendar year refers to classifying claims based on the year in which the claims are reported. Both classifications are used to prepare estimates of required reserves for payments to be made in the future. For estimating short-tail coverage reserves (e.g. homeowners and automobile physical damage), which comprise approximately 30% of the Company’s total loss reserves at

 

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NOTE 3 - Property and Casualty Unpaid Claims and Claim Expenses-(Continued)

 

December 31, 2007, the primary actuarial technique utilized is the development of paid loss dollars due to the relatively quick claim settlement period. As it relates to estimating long-tail coverage reserves (e.g. automobile liability), which comprise approximately 70% of the Company’s total loss reserves at December 31, 2007, the primary actuarial technique utilized is the development of reported loss dollars due to the relatively long claim settlement period.

In all of the loss estimation techniques referred to above, a ratio (development factor) is calculated which compares current results to results in the prior period for each accident year. Various development factors, based on historical results, are multiplied by the current experience to estimate the development of losses of each accident year from the current time period into the next time period. The development factors for the next time period for each accident year are compounded over the remaining calendar years to calculate an estimate of ultimate losses for each accident year. Occasionally, unusual aberrations in loss patterns are caused by factors such as changes in claim reporting, settlement patterns, unusually large losses, process changes, legal or regulatory environment changes, and other influences. In these instances, analyses of alternate development factor selections are performed to evaluate the effect of these factors, and actuarial judgment is applied to make appropriate development factor assumptions needed to develop a best estimate of ultimate losses. Paid losses are then subtracted from estimated ultimate losses to determine the indicated loss reserves. The difference between indicated reserves and recorded reserves is the amount of reserve reestimate.

Reserves are reestimated quarterly. When new development factors are calculated from actual losses, and they differ from estimated development factors used in previous reserve estimates, assumptions about losses and required reserves are revised based on the new development factors. Changes to reserves are recorded in the period in which development factor changes result in reserve reestimates.

Numerous actuarial estimates of the types described above are prepared each quarter to monitor losses for each line of business (coverages and perils) and for reported losses and IBNR. Often, several different estimates are prepared for each detailed component, incorporating alternative analyses of changing claim settlement patterns and other influences on losses, from which the Company selects the best estimate for each component, occasionally incorporating additional analyses and actuarial judgment, as described above. These estimates also incorporate the historical impact of inflation into reserve estimates, the implicit assumption being that a multi-year average development factor represents an adequate provision. Based on the Company’s review of these estimates, as well as the review of the independent reserve studies, the best estimate of required reserves for each line of business and its components (coverages and perils) is determined by management and is recorded for each accident year, and the required reserves for each component are summed to create the reserve balances carried on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

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NOTE 3 - Property and Casualty Unpaid Claims and Claim Expenses-(Continued)

Based on the Company’s products and coverages, historical experience and modeling of various actuarial methodologies used to develop reserve estimates, the Company estimates that the potential variability of the property and casualty loss reserves, excluding the unprecedented hurricane losses experienced in 2005 and 2004, within a reasonable probability of other possible outcomes, may be approximately plus or minus 6%, which equates to plus or minus approximately $12,000 based on 2007 net income. Although this evaluation reflects the most likely outcomes, it is possible the final outcome may fall below or above these estimates.

Net favorable development of total reserves for property and casualty claims occurring in prior years was $19,968 in 2007 reflecting the emergence of favorable voluntary automobile severity trends in accident years 2005 and prior and favorable frequency trends in homeowners for accident year 2006. Net favorable development of total reserves for property and casualty claims occurring in prior years was $19,210 in 2006 reflecting emergence of favorable claim trends, primarily for accident years 2005 and 2004, for the voluntary automobile line of business related primarily to claim frequencies, which were more favorable than previously estimated. Net favorable development of total reserves for property and casualty claims occurring in prior years was $13,100 in 2005 reflecting favorable loss emergence trends in both the voluntary automobile and property lines of business. The favorable loss emergence trends included claim frequencies which were more favorable than previously estimated as well as declining claim severities which were the result of improved claims handling processes.

The Company completes a detailed study of property and casualty reserves based on information available at the end of each quarter and year. Trends of reported losses (paid amounts and case reserves on claims reported to the Company) for each accident year are reviewed and ultimate loss costs for those accident years are estimated. The Company engages an independent property and casualty actuarial consulting firm to prepare an independent study of the Company’s property and casualty reserves at December 31 of each year, supplemented by other analyses throughout the year. The result of the independent actuarial study at December 31, 2007 was consistent with management’s analyses and selected estimates and did not result in any adjustments to the Company’s recorded property and casualty reserves.

Based on an assessment of the relative weight given to emerging trends resulting from recent business process changes, pricing, underwriting and claims handling, at both December 31, 2007 and 2006 the Company recorded property and casualty reserves toward the higher end (upper quartile) of a reasonable range of reserve estimates, due primarily to reserves related to the automobile liability coverages.

At the time each of the reserve analyses were performed, the Company believed that each estimate was based upon sound and correct methodology and such methodology was appropriately applied and that there were no trends which indicated the likelihood of future loss reserve development. The financial impact of the net reserve development was therefore accounted for in the period that the development was determined.

No other unusual adjustments were made in the determination of the liabilities during the periods covered by these consolidated financial statements. Management believes that, based on data currently available, it has reasonably estimated the Company’s ultimate losses.

 

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NOTE 4 - Debt

Indebtedness and scheduled maturities at December 31, 2007 and 2006 consisted of the following:

 

     Effective
Interest
Rates
    Final
Maturity
   December 31,
        2007    2006

Short-term debt:

          

Bank Credit Facility

   Variable     2011    $ —      $ —  

Long-term debt:

          

6.05% Senior Notes, Face amount of $75,000 less unaccrued discount of $198 and $226

   6.1 %   2015      74,802      74,774

6.85% Senior Notes, Face amount of $125,000 less unaccrued discount of $317 and $355

   6.9 %   2016      124,683      124,645

1.425% Senior Convertible Notes, Face amount of $68,553 less unaccrued discount of $35,990

   3.0 %   2032      —        32,563
                  

Total

        $ 199,485    $ 231,982
                  

Credit Agreement with Financial Institutions (“Bank Credit Facility”)

On May 31, 2005, HMEC entered into a new Bank Credit Agreement (the “Current Bank Credit Facility”). As amended and restated on December 19, 2006, the Current Bank Credit Facility agreement provides for unsecured borrowings of up to $125,000 and expires on December 19, 2011. Interest accrues at varying spreads relative to corporate or Eurodollar base rates and is payable monthly or quarterly depending on the applicable base rate. The unused portion of the Current Bank Credit Facility is subject to a variable commitment fee, which was 0.125% on an annual basis at December 31, 2007. In March and April 2006, the Company borrowed a total of $74,000 and subsequently repaid this balance in full on April 21, 2006, utilizing a portion of the proceeds from the issuance of the Senior Notes due 2016, described below. On May 31, 2005, the Company borrowed $25,000 and subsequently repaid this balance in full on June 13, 2005, utilizing a portion of the proceeds from the issuance of the Senior Notes due 2015, described below.

On May 29, 2002, HMEC entered into a Bank Credit Agreement that was amended effective June 1, 2004, increasing the commitment amount to $35,000, and May 3, 2005, extending the commitment termination date to June 30, 2005 from the previous termination date of May 31, 2005 (the “Previous Bank Credit Agreement”). The Previous Bank Credit Agreement was terminated on May 31, 2005, when the Company entered into the Current Bank Credit Facility. The $25,000 balance outstanding under the Previous Bank Credit Agreement was repaid in full on May 31, 2005, utilizing the borrowing under the Current Bank Credit Facility, described above.

 

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NOTE 4 - Debt-(Continued)

6.05% Senior Notes due 2015 (“Senior Notes due 2015”)

On June 9, 2005, the Company issued $75,000 aggregate principal amount of senior notes at an effective yield of 6.1%, which will mature on June 15, 2015. Interest on the Senior Notes due 2015 is payable semi-annually at a rate of 6.05%. The Senior Notes due 2015 are redeemable in whole or in part, at any time, at the Company’s option, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of their principal amount or (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted, on a semi-annual basis, at the Treasury yield (as defined in the indenture) plus 30 basis points, plus, in either of the above cases, accrued interest to the date of redemption.

The net proceeds from the sale of the Senior Notes due 2015 were used to (1) repay the Current Bank Credit Facility, (2) redeem the Senior Notes due 2006, described below, and (3) make a capital contribution to HMEC’s primary life insurance subsidiary to substantially offset the early recapture of the Company’s life reinsurance agreement with the United States branch of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada.

6.85% Senior Notes due 2016 (“Senior Notes due 2016”)

On April 21, 2006, the Company issued $125,000 aggregate principal amount of 6.85% senior notes, which will mature on April 15, 2016, issued at a discount of 0.305% resulting in an effective yield of 6.893%. Interest on the Senior Notes due 2016 is payable semi-annually at a rate of 6.85%. The Senior Notes due 2016 are redeemable in whole or in part, at any time, at the Company’s option, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the notes being redeemed or (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted, on a semi-annual basis, at the Treasury yield (as defined in the indenture) plus 30 basis points, plus, in either of the above cases, accrued interest to the date of redemption.

A portion of the net proceeds from the issuance of the Senior Notes due 2016 was used to repay in full the $74,000 balance then outstanding on the Bank Credit Facility. As described below, an additional $9,419 of the net proceeds was used in July 2006 for repurchases of Senior Convertible Notes. Remaining net proceeds were used to redeem the remaining outstanding Senior Convertible Notes on May 14, 2007, as described below, and for general corporate purposes.

1.425% Senior Convertible Notes (“Senior Convertible Notes”)

In March, April and July 2006, the Company repurchased $175,947 aggregate principal amount, $83,575 carrying value, of the outstanding Senior Convertible Notes at an aggregate cost of $82,846. The March and April 2006 repurchases were initially funded utilizing the Company’s Bank Credit Facility and the July 2006 repurchase was funded with a portion of the cash proceeds from the issuance of the Senior Notes due 2016.

 

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NOTE 4 - Debt-(Continued)

On May 14, 2007, pursuant to provisions of the indenture, HMEC redeemed its remaining outstanding Senior Convertible Notes ($68,553 aggregate principal amount; $32,563 carrying value) at $475.00 per $1,000.00 principal amount. The $32,563 aggregate cost was funded with a portion of the remaining cash proceeds from HMEC’s April 2006 issuance of 6.85% Senior Notes Due 2016. None of the Senior Convertible Notes were converted into shares of HMEC’s common stock. No early termination penalties were incurred as a result of this redemption.

The $231,947 aggregate principal amount of Senior Convertible Notes which HMEC previously held in brokerage accounts and the $68,553 aggregate principal amount of Senior Convertible Notes redeemed on May 14, 2007 have been canceled.

6 5/8% Senior Notes due 2006 (“Senior Notes due 2006”)

On June 30, 2005, the Company redeemed all of its outstanding Senior Notes due 2006, $28,600 aggregate principal amount, utilizing a portion of the proceeds from the issuance of the Senior Notes due 2015, described above. The aggregate cost of the repurchase was $29,107.

Universal Shelf Registration

To provide additional capital management flexibility, the Company filed a “universal shelf” registration on Form S-3 with the SEC in December 2003. The registration statement, which registers the offer and sale by the Company from time to time of up to $300,000 of various securities, which may include debt securities, preferred stock, common stock and/or depositary shares, was declared effective on December 30, 2003. Unless fully utilized or withdrawn by the Company earlier, this registration statement will remain effective through December 1, 2008. The $75,000 aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes due 2015 and $125,000 aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes due 2016 were issued utilizing this registration statement, leaving up to $100,000 aggregate principal amount that could be issued. No other securities associated with the registration statement have been issued as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Debt Retirement Gain/Charges

The redemption of the remaining outstanding Senior Convertible Notes on May 14, 2007 resulted in neither a gain nor a loss.

The repurchases of the Senior Convertible Notes during the year ended December 31, 2006 resulted in a pretax gain for the period of $159, which was reported as a component of interest expense for this period.

The repurchase of the Senior Notes due 2006 resulted in a pretax charge to income for the year ended December 31, 2005 of $507, which was reported as a component of interest expense for this period.

 

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NOTE 4 - Debt-(Continued)

Covenants

The Company is in compliance with all of the financial covenants contained in the Senior Notes due 2015 indenture and the Senior Notes due 2016 indenture and the Bank Credit Facility Agreement, consisting primarily of relationships of (1) debt to capital, (2) insurance subsidiaries’ insurance financial strength ratings issued by A.M. Best Company, Inc. and (3) net worth, as defined in the financial covenants.

NOTE 5 - Shareholders’ Equity and Stock Options

Share Repurchase Program and Treasury Shares Held (Common Stock)

As disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, $96,343 remained authorized for future repurchases of Horace Mann Educators Corporation’s Common Stock, par value $0.001, under the May 1999 authorization by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”). At that time, the Company’s last repurchase of its common shares was in July 2000. On September 12, 2007, the Board authorized a new share repurchase program allowing repurchases up to $50,000 and ended the May 1999 authorization. The new share repurchase program authorizes the repurchase of common shares in open market or privately negotiated transactions, from time to time, depending on market conditions.

From September 12, 2007, through December 31, 2007, the Company repurchased 1,111,600 shares of its common stock, or 2.6% of the outstanding shares on December 31, 2006, at an aggregate cost of $20,748, or an average cost of $18.66 per share, under its new share repurchase program. The repurchase of shares was financed through use of cash.

At December 31, 2007, the Company held 18,614,971 shares in treasury. As of December 31, 2007, $29,252 remained authorized for future share repurchases.

Authorization of Preferred Stock

In 1996, the shareholders of HMEC approved authorization of 1,000,000 shares of $0.001 par value preferred stock. The Board of Directors is authorized to (1) direct the issuance of the preferred stock in one or more series, (2) fix the dividend rate, conversion or exchange rights, redemption price and liquidation preference, of any series of the preferred stock, (3) fix the number of shares for any series and (4) increase or decrease the number of shares of any series. No shares of preferred stock were outstanding at December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005.

 

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NOTE 5 - Shareholders’ Equity and Stock Options-(Continued)

Director Stock Plan

In 1996, the shareholders of HMEC approved the Deferred Equity Compensation Plan (“Director Stock Plan”) for directors of the Company and reserved 600,000 shares for issuance pursuant to the Director Stock Plan. Shares of the Company’s common stock issued under the Director Stock Plan may be either authorized and unissued shares or shares that have been reacquired by the Company. As of December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, 227,757, 214,238 and 191,521 units, respectively, were outstanding under this plan representing an equal number of common shares to be issued in the future. The outstanding units of currently serving directors accrue dividends at the same rate as dividends paid to HMEC’s shareholders; outstanding units of retired directors do not accrue dividends. These dividends are reinvested into additional common stock units.

Employee Stock Plan

In 1997, the Board of Directors of HMEC approved the Deferred Compensation Plan for Employees (“Employee Stock Plan”). Shares of the Company’s common stock issued under the Employee Stock Plan may be either authorized and unissued shares or shares that have been reacquired by the Company. As of December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, 219,030, 149,396 and 146,218 units, respectively, were outstanding under this plan representing an equal number of common shares to be issued in the future. The Employee Stock Plan allows distributions to be either in common shares or cash. Through December 31, 2007, all distributions under the Employee Stock Plan have been in cash. The outstanding units accrue dividends at the same rate as dividends paid to HMEC’s shareholders. These dividends are reinvested into additional common stock units.

Stock Options and Restricted Common Stock Units

The shareholders of HMEC approved the 1991 Stock Incentive Plan (the “1991 Plan”), the 2001 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2001 Plan”), and the 2002 Incentive Compensation Plan and the Amended and Restated 2002 Incentive Compensation Plan (together, the “2002 Plan”) and reserved a total of 9,000,000 shares of common stock for issuance under these plans. Under the 1991 Plan, the 2001 Plan and the 2002 Plan, options to purchase shares of HMEC common stock may be granted to executive officers, other employees and directors. The options become exercisable in installments based on service generally beginning in the first year from the date of grant and generally become fully vested 4 to 5 years from the date of grant. The options generally expire 7 to 10 years from the date of grant. The exercise price of the option is equal to the market price of HMEC’s common stock on the date of grant resulting in a grant date intrinsic value of $0. Shares issued upon exercise of options may be either new shares or treasury shares; however, the Company has historically issued new shares.

Beginning in 2005, restricted common stock units also were issued under the 2002 Plan. As of December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, 341,801, 252,867 and 190,157 units, respectively, were outstanding representing an equal number of common shares to be issued in the future. The outstanding units accrue dividends at the same rate as dividends paid to HMEC’s shareholders. These dividends are reinvested into additional restricted common stock units.

 

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NOTE 5 - Shareholders’ Equity and Stock Options-(Continued)

Changes in outstanding options and shares available for grant under the 1991 Plan, the 2001 Plan and the 2002 Plan were as follows:

 

      Weighted Average
Option Price

per Share
   Range of
Option Prices
per Share
   Options  
         Outstanding     Vested and
Exercisable
    Available
for Grant
 

At December 31, 2004

   $19.01    $13.88-$33.87    4,236,154     4,221,154     2,388,806  
                        

Granted

   $18.77    $17.00-$19.04    555,750     11,000     (555,750 )

Vested

   $18.58    $16.96-$18.86    —       20,650     —    

Exercised

   $15.04    $13.88-$18.86    (124,624 )   (124,624 )   —    

Forfeited

   $20.37    $13.88-$33.87    (121,230 )   (121,230 )   121,230  
                        

At December 31, 2005

   $19.05    $13.88-$33.87    4,546,050     4,006,950     1,954,286  
                        

Granted

   $17.72    $16.66-$18.17    17,250     —       (17,250 )

Vested

   $18.74    $16.96-$19.04    —       152,541     —    

Exercised

   $14.61    $13.88-$17.56    (114,400 )   (114,400 )   —    

Forfeited

   $23.13    $13.88-$33.87    (144,650 )   (144,650 )   144,650  
                        

At December 31, 2006

   $19.00    $13.88-$33.87    4,304,250     3,900,441     2,081,686  
                        

Granted

   $20.13    $19.16-$20.23    276,280     —       (276,280 )

Vested

   $18.76    $16.66-$20.23    —       149,155     —    

Exercised

   $17.27    $13.88-$20.80    (240,352 )   (240,352 )   —    

Forfeited

   $24.69    $15.32-$33.87    (79,998 )   (79,998 )   79,998  

Expired

   $22.42    $22.42    (19,500 )   (19,500 )   19,500  
                        

At December 31, 2007

   $19.05    $13.88-$33.87    4,240,680     3,709,746     1,904,904 *
                    

Cumulative common stock shares issued for restricted common stock units

             (6,181 )

Restricted common stock units outstanding at December 31, 2007

             (341,801 )
                

Available for grant at December 31, 2007

             1,556,922  
                

 

* The Company’s stock options and restricted common stock units are subject to a common pool of authorized shares. Common stock shares issued and issuable for the restricted common stock units outstanding at December 31, 2007 would also draw on this available for grant balance.

 

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NOTE 5 - Shareholders’ Equity and Stock Options-(Continued)

The weighted average grant date fair values were $5.49, $5.16 and $3.75 for options granted in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The weighted average prices of vested and exercisable options as of December 31, 2006 and 2005 were $19.04 and $19.09, respectively.

For options outstanding at December 31, 2007, information segregated by ranges of exercise prices was as follows:

 

          Total Outstanding Options    Vested and Exercisable Options
     Range of
Option Prices
per Share
   Options    Weighted
Average
Option Price
per Share
   Weighted
Average
Remaining
Term
   Options    Weighted
Average
Option Price
per Share
   Weighted
Average
Remaining
Term
   $ 13.88-$20.80    3,966,680    $ 18.63    3.0 years    3,435,746    $ 18.50    2.6 years
   $ 21.64-$29.21    211,700    $ 22.72    2.8 years    211,700    $ 22.72    2.8 years
     $33.87    62,300    $ 33.87    0.3 years    62,300    $ 33.87    0.3 years
                        

Total

   $ 13.88-$33.87    4,240,680    $ 19.05    3.0 years    3,709,746    $ 19.00    2.6 years
                        

As of December 31, 2007, based on a closing stock price of $18.94 per share, the aggregate intrinsic (in-the-money) values of vested options and all options outstanding were $3,597 and $3,659, respectively.

NOTE 6 - Income Taxes

The federal income tax assets and liabilities included in Other Assets and Other Liabilities, respectively, in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 were as follows:

 

      December 31,  
   2007     2006  

Federal income tax (asset) liability

    

Current

   $ (130 )   $ (9,217 )

Deferred

     45,542       42,931  

 

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NOTE 6- Income Taxes-(Continued)

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for all future tax consequences attributable to “temporary differences” between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. There are no deferred tax liabilities that have not been recognized. The “temporary differences” that give rise to the deferred tax balances at December 31, 2007 and 2006 were as follows:

 

      December 31,
   2007    2006

Deferred tax assets

     

Discounting of unpaid claims and claim expenses tax reserves

   $ 6,651    $ 5,986

Unearned premium reserve reduction

     16,756      16,968

Postretirement benefits other than pension

     6,351      9,117

Other comprehensive income – unrealized losses on securities

     1,727      —  

Alternative minimum tax credit carryforward

     —        3,837

Impaired securities

     2,054      1,625

Other comprehensive income – net funded status of pension and other postretirement benefit obligations

     1,733      1,861

Compensation accruals

     7,852      7,380

Other, net

     2,054      1,749
             

Total gross deferred tax assets

     45,178      48,523
             

Deferred tax liabilities

     

Other comprehensive income – unrealized gains on securities

     —        6,655

Life insurance future policy benefit reserve revaluation

     3,544      1,209

Intangible assets

     5,436      6,880

Deferred policy acquisition costs

     81,740      76,710
             

Total gross deferred tax liabilities

     90,720      91,454
             

Net deferred tax liability

   $ 45,542    $ 42,931
             

Based on the Company’s historical earnings, future expectations of adjusted taxable income, as well as reversing gross deferred tax liabilities, the Company believes it is more likely than not that gross deferred tax assets will be fully realized and that a valuation allowance with respect to the realization of the total gross deferred tax assets is not necessary.

At December 31, 2007, the Company did not have any loss carryforwards or credits.

The components of federal income tax expense (benefit) were as follows:

 

      Year Ended December 31,  
   2007    2006    2005  

Current

   $ 24,429    $ 23,453    $ (16,212 )

Deferred

     9,854      18,132      32,983  
                      

Total tax expense

   $ 34,283    $ 41,585    $ 16,771  
                      

Income tax expense for the following periods differed from the expected tax computed by applying the federal corporate tax rate of 35% to income before income taxes as follows:

 

      Year Ended December 31,  
   2007     2006     2005  

Expected federal tax on income

   $ 40,975     $ 49,102     $ 32,916  

Add (deduct) tax effects of:

      

Tax-exempt interest

     (6,265 )     (6,180 )     (6,258 )

Dividend received deduction

     (1,265 )     (1,728 )     (1,275 )

Resolution of contingent tax liabilities

     —         —         (9,176 )

Other, net

     838       391       564  
                        

Income tax expense provided on income

   $ 34,283     $ 41,585     $ 16,771  
                        

 

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NOTE 6 - Income Taxes-(Continued)

At December 31, 2007, the Company had federal income tax returns for the 2002 through 2006 tax years still open and subject to examination by all major taxing authorities. The Company is currently under examination by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) for tax years 2002, 2004 and 2005.

In 2005, the Company recorded reductions in federal income tax expense of $9,176 due to favorable resolution of contingent tax liabilities related to reinsurance premiums and separate account dividends received deductions ($5,567 in the corporate and other segment and $3,609 in the annuity segment) and recorded $1,394 of pretax income representing interest on federal income tax refunds received ($937 in the annuity segment and $457 in the other segments). In April 2005, the Company received refunds for tax years 1996 through 2001 from the IRS totaling $8,087, an amount consistent with the Company’s tax refund accruals related to those years. As a result of the receipt of IRS refunds for tax years 1996 and 1997, which were then deemed to be closed, the contingent tax liability related to those two years was eliminated, which resulted in a decrease in federal income tax expense of $2,734 in the second quarter of 2005. The remaining refunds received related to tax years 1998 through 2001, which were deemed to be closed on September 15, 2005 due to the expiration of the statute of limitations, resulting in an additional reduction in the contingent tax liability related to those four years of $6,442 that was recorded in the third quarter of 2005.

Effective January 1, 2007, the Company adopted FASB Interpretation (“FIN”) No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes — an Interpretation of FASB Statement No 109”. Adoption of FIN 48 did not have a material effect on the results of operations or financial position of the Company. FIN 48 provides recognition of tax benefits from tax return positions only if it is more likely than not the position will be sustainable, upon examination, on its technical merits and any relevant administrative practices or precedents. As a result, the Company now applies a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold for all tax uncertainties. There were no differences between the amounts previously recognized for uncertain tax positions and the amounts determined under FIN 48, including changes in accrued interest and penalties.

The Company records liabilities for uncertain tax filing positions where it is more-likely-than-not that the position will not be sustainable upon audit by taxing authorities. These liabilities are reevaluated routinely and are adjusted appropriately, based upon changes in facts or law. The Company has no unrecorded liabilities from uncertain tax filing positions.

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:

 

Balance at adoption on January 1, 2007

   $ 3,914

Additions based on tax positions related to the current year

     427

Additions for tax positions for prior years

     26

Reductions for tax positions for prior years

     —  

Settlements

     —  

Lapses on Statutes of Limitations

     —  
      

Balance as of December 31, 2007

   $ 4,367
      

 

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NOTE 6 - Income Taxes-(Continued)

All of the liability for unrecognized tax benefits would affect the effective tax rate if recognized. There are no positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly increase or decrease within the next 12 months.

The Company classifies all interest and penalties as income tax expense. The 2007 expense for interest and penalties was $306 ($199 net of tax benefits); for 2006 and 2005, this amount was $192 ($125 net of tax) and $275 ($179 net of tax), respectively. The Company has recorded $883 and $577 in liabilities for tax related interest and penalties on its Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

NOTE 7 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company is required under GAAP to disclose estimated fair values for certain financial instruments. Fair values of the Company’s insurance contracts other than annuity contracts are not required to be disclosed. However, the fair values of liabilities under all insurance contracts are taken into consideration in the Company’s overall management of interest rate risk through the matching of investment maturities with amounts due under insurance contracts. The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of financial instruments.

Investments - Fixed maturity investments include bonds, notes and redeemable preferred stocks. These securities are classified as available for sale and carried at fair value. Market valuations for the fixed maturity securities portfolio are based on prices provided by the Company’s custodian bank and its investment managers. Both the custodian bank and the investment managers use a variety of pricing sources to determine market valuations. Each designate specific pricing services or indexes for each sector of the market based upon the provider’s expertise. Broker-dealers are also used to price certain types of securities. The broker-dealers’ valuation methodology is sometimes matrix-based, using indicative evaluation measures and adjustments for specific security characteristics and market sentiment. The Company analyzes market valuations received to verify reasonableness. The Company’s fixed maturity securities portfolio is highly liquid, which allows for a high percentage of the portfolio to be priced through pricing services. Approximately 90% of the portfolio was priced through pricing services or index priced as of December 31, 2007. The remainder of the portfolio was priced by broker-dealers. Equity securities include nonredeemable preferred stocks and common stocks. These securities are classified as available for sale and carried at fair value. The fair value of equity securities is based on quoted market prices. Short-term and other investments are comprised of policy loans, short-term fixed interest securities and mortgage loans. The fair value of policy loans is based on estimates using discounted cash flow analysis and current interest rates being offered for new loans. Short-term fixed income securities are carried at cost, which approximates fair value. The fair value of mortgage loans is estimated by discounting the future cash flows using the current rates at which similar loans would be made to borrowers with similar credit ratings and the same remaining maturities.

 

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NOTE 7 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments-(Continued)

Annuity Contract Liabilities and Policyholder Account Balances on Interest-sensitive Life Contracts - The fair values of annuity contract liabilities and policyholder account balances on interest-sensitive life contracts are equal to the discounted estimated future cash flows (using the Company’s current interest rates for similar products including consideration of minimum guaranteed interest rates) including an adjustment for risk that the timing or amount of cash flows will vary from management’s estimate.

Other Policyholder Funds - Other policyholder funds are liabilities related to supplementary contracts without life contingencies and dividend accumulations which represent deposits that do not have defined maturities. The carrying value of these funds is used as a reasonable estimate of fair value.

Long-term Debt - The fair value of long-term debt is estimated based on quoted market prices of publicly traded issues.

The carrying amounts and fair values of financial instruments at December 31, 2007 and 2006 consisted of the following:

 

      December 31,
   2007    2006
   Carrying
Amount
   Fair
Value
   Carrying
Amount
   Fair
Value

Financial Assets

           

Investments

           

Fixed maturities

   $ 3,873,001    $ 3,873,001    $ 3,820,182    $ 3,820,182

Equity securities

     86,548      86,548      20,029      20,029

Short-term and other investments

     143,990      147,011      162,283      165,703

Short-term investments, loaned securities collateral

     76,711      76,711      299,722      299,722
                           

Total investments

     4,180,250      4,183,271      4,302,216      4,305,636

Financial Liabilities

           

Policyholder account balances on interest-sensitive life contracts

     80,751      73,848      82,572      75,773

Annuity contract liabilities

     2,014,211      1,768,074      1,944,675      1,715,715

Other policyholder funds

     138,470      138,470      142,832      142,832

Short-term debt

     —        —        —        —  

Long-term debt

     199,485      198,625      231,982      232,429

Fair value assumptions are based upon subjective estimates of market conditions and perceived risks of financial instruments at a certain point in time. The disclosed fair values do not reflect any premium or discount that could result from offering for sale at one time an entire holding of a particular financial instrument. In addition, potential taxes and other expenses that would be incurred in an actual sale or settlement are not reflected in amounts disclosed.

 

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NOTE 8 - Statutory Surplus and Subsidiary Dividend Restrictions

The insurance departments of various states in which the insurance subsidiaries of HMEC are domiciled recognize as net income and surplus those amounts determined in conformity with statutory accounting principles prescribed or permitted by the insurance departments, which differ in certain respects from GAAP.

Reconciliations of statutory capital and surplus and net income, as determined using statutory accounting principles, to the amounts included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements are as follows:

 

     (Unaudited)
December 31,
 
   2007     2006  

Statutory capital and surplus of insurance subsidiaries

   $ 604,635     $ 572,311  

Increase (decrease) due to:

    

Deferred policy acquisition costs

     261,789       249,377  

Difference in policyholder reserves

     39,501       34,157  

Goodwill

     47,396       47,396  

Value of acquired insurance in force

     5,380       10,523  

Liability for postretirement benefits, other than pensions

     (10,871 )     (24,068 )

Investment fair value adjustments on fixed maturities

     4,464       18,004  

Difference in investment reserves

     50,457       51,252  

Federal income tax liability

     (69,317 )     (70,173 )

Net funded status of pension and other postretirement benefit obligations

     (4,950 )     (5,317 )

Non-admitted assets and other, net

     (912 )     1,644  

Shareholders’ equity (deficit) of parent company and non-insurance subsidiaries

     (34,809 )     3,957  

Parent company short-term and long-term debt

     (199,485 )     (231,982 )
                

Shareholders’ equity as reported herein

   $ 693,278     $ 657,081  
                

 

      (Unaudited)
Year Ended December 31,
 
   2007     2006     2005  

Statutory net income of insurance subsidiaries

   $ 88,839     $ 110,557     $ 76,852  

Net loss of non-insurance companies

     (284 )     (233 )     (1,662 )

Interest expense

     (14,060 )     (13,143 )     (8,881 )

Tax benefit of interest expense and other parent company current tax adjustments

     5,707       4,365       8,666  
                        

Combined net income

     80,202       101,546       74,975  

Increase (decrease) due to:

      

Deferred policy acquisition costs

     10,791       14,483       17,873  

Policyholder benefits

     12,201       9,205       (424,864 )

Reserve adjustment on life reinsurance ceded

     —         —         447,384  

Federal income tax expense

     (9,854 )     (18,132 )     (31,460 )

Amortization of intangible assets

     (5,379 )     (6,078 )     (5,141 )

Investment reserves

     (171 )     1,597       3,482  

Other adjustments, net

     (5,002 )     (3,913 )     (4,976 )
                        

Net income as reported herein

   $ 82,788     $ 98,708     $ 77,273  
                        

 

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NOTE 8 - Statutory Surplus and Subsidiary Dividend Restrictions-(Continued)

The Company has principal insurance subsidiaries domiciled in Illinois, California and Texas. The statutory financial statements of these subsidiaries are prepared in accordance with accounting principles prescribed or permitted by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (Division of Insurance), the California Department of Insurance and the Texas Department of Insurance, as applicable. Prescribed statutory accounting principles include a variety of publications of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”), as well as state laws, regulations and general administrative rules.

The Company’s insurance subsidiaries are subject to various regulatory restrictions which limit the amount of annual dividends or other distributions, including loans or cash advances, available to HMEC without prior approval of the insurance regulatory authorities. The aggregate amount of dividends that may be paid by the insurance subsidiaries to HMEC during 2008 without prior approval is approximately $93,000.

The NAIC has adopted risk-based capital guidelines to evaluate the adequacy of statutory capital and surplus in relation to risks assumed in investments, reserving policies, and volume and types of insurance business written. State insurance regulations prohibit insurance companies from making any public statements or representations with regard to their risk-based capital levels. Based on current guidelines, the risk-based capital statutory requirements are not expected to have a negative regulatory impact on the Company’s insurance subsidiaries. At December 31, 2007 and 2006, statutory capital and surplus of each of the Company’s insurance subsidiaries was above required levels.

In the third quarter of 2005, a portion of the proceeds from the issuance of the Senior Notes due 2015 was utilized to make a capital contribution to HMEC’s primary life insurance subsidiary, Horace Mann Life Insurance Company (“HMLIC”), to substantially offset the early recapture of the reinsurance agreement with the United States branch of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, described below. This agreement was terminated effective July 1, 2005 for a minimal recapture fee. At the time of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Company has no financial reinsurance agreements in effect.

On December 31, 2003, HMLIC entered into a reinsurance agreement with the United States branch of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (“SLACC”) which replaced the 2002 agreement with Sun Life Reinsurance Company Limited, a member of the Sun Life Financial Group. Under the terms of the December 31, 2003 agreement, which was written to be in place for a five year period, HMLIC ceded to SLACC, on a combination coinsurance and modified coinsurance basis, a 75% quota share of HMLIC’s in force interest-sensitive life block of business issued prior to January 1, 2002. SLACC assumed its proportional share of all risks attendant to the business reinsured such as mortality, persistency and investment risk, reducing HMLIC’s liabilities under statutory accounting principles to the extent of the ceded commission. The initial ceded commission received by HMLIC was $50,000 and resulted in a $32,500 after-tax increase in HMLIC’s statutory surplus. These transactions improved the statutory operating leverage and risk-based capital ratio of HMLIC in 2004, 2003 and 2002, but did not impact reported GAAP capitalization. The agreement provided that HMLIC could recapture the agreement without penalty after giving 30 days written notice.

 

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NOTE 9 - Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits

The Company has the following retirement plans: a defined contribution plan; a 401(k) plan; a defined benefit plan for employees hired on or before December 31, 1998; and certain employees participate in a supplemental defined contribution plan or a supplemental defined benefit plan or both.

After completing the first year of employment, all employees participate in the defined contribution plan. Under this plan, the Company makes contributions to each participant’s account based on eligible compensation and years of service. Contribution percentages are currently as follows: (1) employees hired on or after April 1, 1997, 5% of eligible compensation; (2) employees hired prior to April 1, 1997 with less than 15 years of service, 6% of eligible compensation; and (3) employees hired prior to April 1, 1997 with 15 or more years of service, 7% of eligible compensation. Through December 31, 2006, participants were 100% vested in this plan after 5 years of service. Effective January 1, 2007, participants are 100% vested in this plan after 3 years of service.

All employees of the Company participate in a 401(k) plan. Beginning January 1, 2002, the Company automatically contributes 3% of eligible compensation to each employee’s account, which is 100% vested at the time of the contribution. In addition, employees may voluntarily contribute up to 20% of their eligible compensation into their account.

Effective April 1, 2002, participants stopped accruing benefits under the defined benefit and supplemental defined benefit plans but continue to retain the benefits they had accrued to date. Amounts earned under the defined benefit and supplemental defined benefit plans are based on years of service and the highest 36 consecutive months of earnings while under the plan (through March 31, 2002). Participants were 100% vested in these defined benefit plans effective April 1, 2007.

The Company’s policy with respect to funding the defined benefit plan is to contribute to the plan trust amounts which are actuarially determined to provide the plan with sufficient assets to meet future benefit payments consistent with the funding requirements of federal laws and regulations. For the defined contribution, 401(k) and defined benefit plans, investments have been set aside in separate trust funds. The supplemental retirement plans are unfunded, non-qualified plans.

Employees whose compensation exceeds the limits covered under the qualified plans participate in an unfunded, non-qualified defined contribution plan. The Company accrues an amount for each participant based on their compensation, years of service and account balance. Participants are 100% vested in this plan after 5 years of service.

Total expense recorded for the qualified and non-qualified defined contribution, 401(k), defined benefit and supplemental retirement plans was $13,089, $14,823 and $14,647 for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 

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NOTE 9 - Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits-(Continued)

Qualified Defined Contribution Plan, 401(k) Plan and Non-qualified Defined Contribution Plan

Pension benefits under the qualified defined contribution plan are fully funded. Contributions to employees’ accounts under this plan were expensed in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. Investments for this plan are set aside in a trust fund and none of the trust fund assets for the plan have been invested in shares of HMEC’s common stock.

The 401(k) plan is fully funded. Contributions to employees’ accounts under this plan were expensed in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. Investments for this plan are set aside through an annuity contract underwritten by the Company’s principal life insurance subsidiary. The annuity contract includes a fixed return account option and several variable return account options, with the account options selected by the individual plan participants for both the Company and participant portions contributed. One of the variable return account options invests in shares of HMEC common stock.

The non-qualified defined contribution plan is an unfunded plan. Contributions to employees’ accounts under the non-qualified defined contribution plan are equal to cash payments to retirees for the period.

Contributions to employees’ accounts under the qualified defined contribution plan, the 401(k) plan and the non-qualified defined contribution plan, as well as total assets of the plans, were as follows:

 

      Year Ended December 31,
   2007    2006    2005

Qualified defined contribution plan:

        

Contributions to employees’ accounts

   $ 6,824    $ 6,832    $ 6,205

Total assets at the end of the year

     139,570      133,532      126,666

401(k) plan:

        

Contributions to employees’ accounts

     3,817      3,752      3,758

Total assets at the end of the year

     127,099      121,425      110,183

Non-qualified defined contribution plan:

        

Contributions to employees’ accounts

     —        17      260

Total assets at the end of the year

     —        —        —  

Defined Benefit Plan and Supplemental Retirement Plans

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans”, effective for years ending after December 15, 2006. As a result of adopting this standard on December 31, 2006, the Company’s shareholders’ equity and book value per share increased by approximately $7,000 and 16 cents, respectively, related to the defined benefit pension plan and postretirement benefit plan, and also incorporating the previously disclosed changes to its retiree health care benefit plan. The changes to the retiree health care benefit plan decreased the Company’s postretirement benefit obligations, which are included in Other Liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, by approximately $10,000 at December 31, 2006. SFAS No. 158 requires recognition in the balance sheet of the funded status of defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans, including all previously unrecognized actuarial gains and losses and unamortized prior service cost, as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax. There was no impact on results of operations or cash flow.

 

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NOTE 9 - Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits-(Continued)

The following tables summarize the funding status of the defined benefit and supplemental retirement pension plans and identify (1) the assumptions used to determine the projected benefit obligation and (2) the components of net pension cost for the defined benefit plan and supplemental retirement plans for the following periods:

 

      Defined Benefit Plan     Supplemental
Retirement Plans
 
   December 31,     December 31,  
   2007     2006     2005     2007     2006     2005  
   After
SFAS 158
    After
SFAS 158
          After
SFAS 158
    After
SFAS 158
       

Change in benefit obligation:

            

Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year

   $ 45,164     $ 48,559     $ 49,504     $ 16,215     $ 16,454     $ 16,508  

Service cost

     —         —         —         (43 )     (42 )     (41 )

Interest cost

     2,364       2,476       2,642       895       907       917  

Actuarial loss (gain)

     (2,461 )     (540 )     1,592       (664 )     5       363  

Benefits paid

     (1,531 )     (1,566 )     (1,597 )     (1,124 )     (1,109 )     (1,293 )

Settlements

     (2,620 )     (3,765 )     (3,582 )     —         —         —    
                                                

Projected benefit obligation at end of year

   $ 40,916     $ 45,164     $ 48,559     $ 15,279     $ 16,215     $ 16,454  
                                                

Change in plan assets:

            

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year

   $ 41,775     $ 36,188     $ 34,884     $ —       $ —       $ —    

Actual return on plan assets

     2,444       4,468       1,969       —         —         —    

Employer contributions

     —         6,450       4,514       1,124       1,109       1,293  

Benefits paid

     (1,531 )     (1,566 )     (1,597 )     (1,124 )     (1,109 )     (1,293 )

Settlements

     (2,620 )     (3,765 )     (3,582 )     —         —         —    
                                                

Fair value of plan assets at end of year

   $ 40,068     $ 41,775     $ 36,188     $ —       $ —       $ —    
                                                

Funded status

   $ (848 )   $ (3,389 )   $ (12,371 )   $ (15,279 )   $ (16,215 )   $ (16,454 )

Unrecognized net actuarial loss

     *       *       17,578       *       *       4,361  
                        

Prepaid (accrued) benefit expense

     7,572       9,022       5,207       (12,973 )     (12,689 )     (12,093 )

Additional liability to recognize unfunded accumulated benefit obligation

     *       *       (17,578 )     *       *       (4,423 )
                        

Total benefit cost

     *       *     $ (12,371 )     *       *     $ (16,516 )
                        

Amounts recognized in balance sheet (2006 represents the initial adoption of SFAS No. 158):

            

Other liabilities

   $ (848 )   $ (3,389 )     *     $ (15,279 )   $ (16,215 )     *  
                                    

Total amount recognized in balance sheet

   $ (848 )   $ (3,389 )     *     $ (15,279 )   $ (16,215 )     *  
                                    

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) (2006 represents the initial adoption of SFAS No. 158):

            

Net actuarial loss

   $ 8,420     $ 12,411       *     $ 2,306     $ 3,526       *  
                                    

Total amount recognized in AOCI

   $ 8,420     $ 12,411       *     $ 2,306     $ 3,526       *  
                                    

Information for pension plans with an accumulated benefit obligation greater than plan assets:

            

Projected benefit obligation

   $ 40,916     $ 45,164     $ 48,559     $ 15,279     $ 16,215     $ 16,454  

Accumulated benefit obligation

     40,916       45,164       48,559       15,279       16,215       16,454  

Fair value of plan assets

     40,068       41,775       36,188       —         —         —    

 

* Not applicable.

 

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NOTE 9 - Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits-(Continued)

The decreases in the Company’s 2007 and 2006 AOCI for the defined benefit plan of $3,991 and $5,167, respectively, were primarily attributable to improvements in asset performance and decreases in settlements. In addition, the 2007 AOCI was favorably impacted by the increase in the discount rate used to determine the benefit obligations as of December 31, 2007. These changes were recorded to a separate component of shareholders’ equity.

 

      Defined Benefit Plan     Supplemental
Retirement Plans
 
   Year Ended December 31,     Year Ended December 31,  
   2007     2006     2005     2007     2006     2005  
   After
SFAS 158
    After
SFAS 158
          After
SFAS 158
    After
SFAS 158
       

Components of net periodic pension (income) expense:

 

Service cost

   $ —       $ —       $ —       $ (43 )   $ (42 )   $ (41 )

Interest cost

     2,364       2,476       2,642       895       907       917  

Expected return on plan assets

     (2,742 )     (2,586 )     (2,504 )     —         —         —    

Recognized net actuarial loss

     1,290       1,580       1,616       556       841       626  

Settlement loss

     539       1,164       1,297       —         —         —    
                                                

Net periodic pension expense

   $ 1,451     $ 2,634     $ 3,051     $ 1,408     $ 1,706     $ 1,502  
                                                

Changes in plan assets and benefit obligations included in other comprehensive income:

            

Net actuarial gain

   $ (2,701 )     *       *     $ (663 )     *       *  

Amortization of prior actuarial loss

     (1,290 )     *       *       (556 )     *       *  
                        

Total recognized in other comprehensive income

   $ (3,991 )       $ (1,219 )    
                        

Weighted-average assumptions used to determine expense:

            

Discount rate

     5.65 %     5.53 %     5.75 %     5.75 %     5.50 %     5.75 %

Expected return on plan assets

     7.50 %     7.50 %     7.50 %     *       *       *  

Annual rate of salary increase

     *       *       *       *       *       *  

Weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit
obligations as of December 31:

            

Discount rate

     6.05 %     5.65 %     5.50 %     6.20 %     5.75 %     5.50 %

Expected return on plan assets

     7.50 %     7.50 %     7.50 %     *       *       *  

Annual rate of salary increase

     *       *       *       *       *       *  

 

* Not applicable.

The assumption for the long-term rate of return on plan assets was determined by considering actual investment experience during the lifetime of the plan, balanced with reasonable expectations of future growth considering the various classes of assets and percentage allocation for each asset class.

 

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NOTE 9 - Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits-(Continued)

The allocation by asset category of the Company’s defined benefit pension plan assets at December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 (the measurement dates) were as follows:

 

      December 31,  
   2007     2006     2005  

Asset category

      

Equity securities (1)

   69.5 %   60.2 %   69.0 %

Debt securities

   30.1     25.9     29.8  

Cash and short-term investments

   0.4     13.9     1.2  
                  

Total

   100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %
                  

 

(1) None of the trust fund assets for the defined benefit pension plan have been invested in shares of HMEC’s common stock.

The Company has an investment policy for the defined benefit pension plan that aligns the assets within the plan’s trust to an approximate 70% equity and 30% stable value funds allocation. Management believes this allocation will produce the targeted long-term rate of return on assets necessary for payment of future benefit obligations, while providing adequate liquidity for payments to current beneficiaries. Assets are reviewed against the defined benefit pension plan’s investment policy and the trustee has been directed to adjust invested assets at least quarterly to maintain the target allocation percentages.

The Company does not expect to make a contribution to the defined benefit plan and expects to contribute $1,140 to the supplemental retirement plans in 2008. In addition, the Company expects amortization of net losses of $692 and $287 for the defined benefit plan and the supplemental retirement plans, respectively, to be included in net periodic pension expense in 2008.

Postretirement Benefits Other than Pensions

In addition to providing pension benefits, the Company also provides certain health care and life insurance benefits to retired employees and their eligible dependents. Effective January 1, 2001, the eligibility requirement was age 55 and 20 years of service. Employees hired on or after January 1, 2001 are not eligible for postretirement medical benefits. Effective January 1, 2004, only employees who were at least age 50 with at least 15 years of service by December 31, 2003 are eligible to participate in this program. Postretirement benefits other than pensions of active and retired employees are accrued as expense over the employees’ service years.

Effective January 1, 2007, the Company eliminated the previous health care benefits for retirees 65 years of age and over and established a Health Reimbursement Account (“HRA”) for each eligible participant. Health care benefits for eligible retirees under 65 years of age will continue to be provided as a bridge to Medicare eligibility. Eligible participants will receive a one-time credit of $10 to their HRA account to use for covered expenses incurred on or after age 65. As of December 31, 2006, HRA accounts were established for eligible participants and totaled $7,310. As of December 31, 2007, the balance of the HRA accounts was $6,055. Also, the new plan does not provide life insurance benefits to individuals who retired after December 31, 1993.

 

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NOTE 9 - Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits-(Continued)

As a result of the changes in the plan for other postretirement benefits, the Company recorded a reduction in its expenses of $4,550 and $2,277 in 2007 and 2006, respectively, and anticipates a reduction in its expenses of approximately $2,390 in 2008.

The following table presents the funded status of postretirement benefits other than pensions of active and retired employees (including employees on disability more than 2 years) as of December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 (the measurement dates) reconciled with amounts recognized in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets:

 

      December 31,  
   2007     2006     2005  
   After
SFAS 158
    After
SFAS 158
       

Change in accumulated postretirement benefit obligations:

      

Accumulated postretirement benefit obligations at beginning of year

   $ 6,138     $ 23,364     $ 32,314  

Changes during fiscal year

      

Service cost

     8       25       81  

Interest cost

     291       729       1,507  

Medicare prescription reimbursements

     39       142       —    

Plan amendments

     —         (6,125 )     —    

Post 65 liability transfer

     —         (7,310 )     —    

Benefits paid

     (1,376 )     (1,811 )     (1,773 )

Actuarial gain

     (5 )     (2,876 )     (8,765 )
                        

Accumulated postretirement benefit obligations at end of year

   $ 5,095     $ 6,138     $ 23,364  
                        

Unfunded status

   $ (5,095 )   $ (6,138 )   $ (23,364 )

Unrecognized prior service cost

     *       *       (2,152 )

Unrecognized net gain from past experience different from that assumed

     *       *       (2,498 )
            

Accrued postretirement benefit cost

     *       *     $ (28,014 )
            

Amounts recognized in balance sheet (2006 represents the initial adoption of SFAS No.158):

      

Other liabilities

   $ (5,095 )   $ (6,138 )     *  
                  

Total amount recognized in balance sheet

   $ (5,095 )   $ (6,138 )     *  
                  

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) (2006 represents the initial adoption of SFAS No. 158):

      

Prior service credit

   $ (1,902 )   $ (5,912 )     *  

Net actuarial gain

     (3,874 )     (4,708 )     *  
                  

Total amount recognized in AOCI

   $ (5,776 )   $ (10,620 )     *  
                  

 

* Not applicable.

 

      Year Ended December 31,  
   2007     2006     2005  
   After
SFAS 158
    After
SFAS 158
       

Components of net periodic benefit cost (benefit):

      

Service cost

   $ 8     $ 25     $ 81  

Interest cost

     291       729       1,507  

Amortization of prior service cost

     (4,010 )     (2,364 )     (718 )

Amortization of prior losses

     (839 )     (667 )     —    
                        

Net periodic benefit cost (benefit)

   $ (4,550 )   $ (2,277 )   $ 870  
                        

 

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NOTE 9 - Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits-(Continued)

The Company expects to contribute $730 to the postretirement benefit plans other than pensions in 2008. In addition, the Company expects amortization of net gains and losses and prior service costs of $609 and $1,902, respectively, included in net periodic pension expense in 2008.

Sensitivity Analysis for Postretirement Benefits Other than Pensions

A one percentage point change in the assumed health care cost trend rate for each year would change the accumulated postretirement benefit obligations as follows:

 

      December 31,  
   2007     2006     2005  

Accumulated postretirement benefit obligations

      

Effect of a one percentage point increase

   $ 98     $ 149     $ 231  

Effect of a one percentage point decrease

     (92 )     (141 )     (200 )

Service and interest cost components of the net periodic postretirement benefit expense

      

Effect of a one percentage point increase

   $ 6     $ 8     $ 39  

Effect of a one percentage point decrease

     (5 )     (7 )     (35 )

Weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations as of December 31:

      

Discount rate

     5.65 %     5.50 %     5.50 %

Healthcare cost trend rate

     10.00 %     11.00 %     11.00 %

Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline (ultimate trend rate)

     5.50 %     5.50 %     5.50 %

Year the rate is assumed to reach the ultimate trend rate

     2013       2013       2012  

Expected return on plan assets

     *       *       *  

Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost for the years ended December 31:

      

Discount rate

     5.50 %     5.74 %     5.75 %

Healthcare cost trend rate

     11.00 %     11.00 %     12.00 %

Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline (ultimate trend rate)

     5.50 %     5.50 %     5.50 %

Year the rate is assumed to reach the ultimate trend rate

     2013       2012       2012  

Expected return on plan assets

     *       *       *  

 

* Not applicable.

The discount rates at December 31, 2007 were based on the average yield for long-term, high-grade securities available during the benefit payout period. To set its discount rate, the Company looks to leading indicators, including the Citigroup Pension Discount Curve.

In May 2004, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) No. FAS 106-2, providing guidance on the accounting for the effects of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (“the Act”) for employers that sponsor postretirement health care plans that provide prescription drug benefits. The Company determined that the retiree prescription drug benefits provided by its plan were actuarially equivalent to the Medicare Part D benefit under the Act, and was thus eligible for the federal retiree drug subsidy in 2006. As a result of this eligibility, the Company’s accumulated postretirement benefit obligations and net periodic cost for 2005 were reduced by $5,967 and $101, respectively. Due to the Company’s changes to its retiree health care benefit plan, as described above, the Company was not eligible for the federal retiree drug subsidy effective January 1, 2007.

 

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NOTE 9 - Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits-(Continued)

Estimated Future Benefit Payments

The Company’s defined benefit and supplemental defined benefit plans are subject to settlement accounting. Assumptions for both the number of individuals retiring in a calendar year and their elections regarding lump sum distributions are significant factors impacting the payout patterns for these plans. Therefore, actual results could vary from the estimates below. Estimated future benefit payments at December 31, 2007 are as follows:

 

      2008    2009    2010    2011    2012    2013-2017

Pension plans:

                 

Defined benefit plan

   $ 6,076    $ 4,062    $ 4,179    $ 3,797    $ 3,378    $ 16,839

Supplemental retirement plans

     1,140      1,148      1,149      1,248      1,244      6,069

Other postretirement benefits

     1,530      1,501      1,505      1,501      1,406      4,211

NOTE 10 - Catastrophes and Reinsurance

In the normal course of business, the Company’s insurance subsidiaries assume and cede reinsurance with other insurers. Reinsurance is ceded primarily to limit losses from large exposures and to permit recovery of a portion of direct losses; however, such a transfer does not relieve the originating insurance company of contingent liability.

The Company is a national underwriter and therefore has exposure to catastrophic losses in certain coastal states and other regions throughout the U.S. Catastrophes can be caused by various events including hurricanes, windstorms, earthquakes, hail, severe winter weather and wildfires, and the frequency and severity of catastrophes are inherently unpredictable. The financial impact from catastrophic losses results from both the total amount of insured exposure in the area affected by the catastrophe as well as the severity of the event. The Company seeks to reduce its exposure to catastrophe losses through the geographic diversification of its insurance coverage, deductibles, maximum coverage limits and the purchase of catastrophe reinsurance.

The Company’s net catastrophe losses incurred of approximately $23,538 for the year ended December 31, 2007 reflected losses in October from wildfires in California and wind/hail/tornado events in June and August as well as other smaller weather events. The Company’s net catastrophe losses incurred of approximately $19,223 for the year ended December 31, 2006 reflected wind/hail/tornado events in April and August as well as other smaller weather events. The Company’s net catastrophe losses incurred of approximately $59,293 for the year ended December 31, 2005 primarily reflected losses from Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita, Minnesota storms, Hurricane Dennis and Hurricane Wilma which totaled $52,025.

The total amounts of reinsurance recoverable on unpaid insurance reserves classified as assets and reported in Other Assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets were as follows:

 

      December 31,
   2007    2006

Reinsurance recoverables on reserves and unpaid claims

     

Life and health

   $ 8,092    $ 8,593

Property and casualty

     

State insurance facilities

     3,749      4,593

Other insurance companies

     12,181      17,759
             

Total

   $ 24,022    $ 30,945
             

 

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NOTE 10 - Catastrophes and Reinsurance-(Continued)

The Company recognizes the cost of reinsurance premiums over the contract periods for such premiums in proportion to the insurance protection provided. Amounts recoverable from reinsurers for unpaid claims and claim settlement expenses, including estimated amounts for unsettled claims, claims incurred but not yet reported and policy benefits, are estimated in a manner consistent with the insurance liability associated with the policy. The effects of reinsurance on premiums written and contract deposits; premiums and contract charges earned; and benefits, claims and settlement expenses were as follows:

 

      Gross
Amount
   Ceded to
Other
Companies
   Assumed
from Other
Companies
   Net

Year ended December 31, 2007

           

Premiums written and contract deposits

   $ 1,007,566    $ 39,993    $ 7,172    $ 974,745

Premiums and contract charges earned

     686,414      39,584      7,427      654,257

Benefits, claims and settlement expenses

     415,653      9,450      2,287      408,490

Year ended December 31, 2006

           

Premiums written and contract deposits

     998,823      38,362      8,918      969,379

Premiums and contract charges earned

     682,791      37,893      9,024      653,922

Benefits, claims and settlement expenses

     419,271      34,411      3,875      388,735

Year ended December 31, 2005

           

Premiums written and contract deposits

     997,852      35,969      10,759      972,642

Premiums and contract charges earned

     688,532      36,338      12,745      664,939

Benefits, claims and settlement expenses

     516,363      85,781      12,135      442,717

Gross and ceded benefits, claims and settlement expenses for the year ended December 31, 2005 reflect the impact of property and casualty losses from Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita, Minnesota storms, Hurricane Dennis and Hurricane Wilma. Ceded premiums written and earned for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 included approximately $30, $600 and $10,000, respectively, of catastrophe reinsurance reinstatement premium.

There were no losses from uncollectible reinsurance recoverables in the three years ended December 31, 2007. Past due reinsurance recoverables as of December 31, 2007 were not material.

 

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NOTE 10 - Catastrophes and Reinsurance-(Continued)

Through 2007, the Company maintained both catastrophe excess of loss and catastrophe aggregate reinsurance coverage. The excess of loss coverage consisted of two contracts in addition to the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (“FHCF”). The primary contract (“first event”) provided 95% coverage of catastrophe losses above a retention of $25,000 per occurrence up to $130,000 per occurrence. This contract consisted of three layers, each of which provided for one mandatory reinstatement. The layers were $25,000 excess of $25,000, $40,000 excess of $50,000, and $40,000 excess of $90,000. The other excess of loss contract (“second and third events”) provided 95% coverage of catastrophe losses above a retention of $15,000 per occurrence up to $25,000 per occurrence, after the Company retained $25,000 of losses from an initial (first) event. This contract also provided for one mandatory reinstatement. Coverage for any event under this contract was conditional on the size of the industry loss associated with that event being less than $20,100,000. In addition, the Company’s predominant insurance subsidiary for property and casualty business written in Florida reinsured 90% of hurricane losses in that state above an estimated retention of $14,700 up to $87,200 million with the FHCF, based on the FHCF’s financial resources. The FHCF contract is a one-year contract, effective June 1, 2007. The Company’s FHCF coverage reflects the acquisition of additional coverage made available to the industry by the FHCF for the 2007-2008 contract period which resulted in changes to attachment points under the Company’s primary reinsurance contract. Additional coverage made available by the FHCF to the industry in future contract periods could increase the likelihood of assessments in periods following significant hurricane losses. The catastrophe aggregate contract provided 95% coverage of the Company’s 2007 catastrophe losses from events declared as catastrophic events by Property Claim Service (“PCS”), a subsidiary of Insurance Services Office, Inc., capped at $10,000 per occurrence, above an annual retention of $21,000, up to an annual limit of $40,000.

For liability coverages, including the educator excess professional liability policy, in 2007 the Company reinsured each loss above a retention of $700 up to $20,000. For property coverages, in 2007 the Company reinsured each loss above a retention of $700 up to $2,500, including catastrophe losses that in the aggregate were less than the retention levels above.

The maximum individual life insurance risk retained by the Company is $200 on any individual life and a maximum of $100 or $125 is retained on each group life policy depending on the type of coverage. Excess amounts are reinsured. The Company also maintains a life catastrophe reinsurance program. The Company reinsures 100% of the catastrophe risk in excess of $1,000 up to $15,000 per occurrence with one reinstatement effective January 1, 2004. Effective January 1, 2007, the Company’s new life catastrophe risk reinsurance program covers acts of terrorism and includes nuclear, biological and chemical explosions but excludes other acts of war. The 2006 program covered acts of terrorism but excluded nuclear, biological and chemical explosions as well as other acts of war.

 

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NOTE 11 - Contingencies and Commitments

Lawsuits and Legal Proceedings

Companies in the insurance industry have been subject to substantial litigation resulting from claims, disputes and other matters. Most recently, they have faced expensive claims, including class action lawsuits, alleging, among other things, improper sales practices and improper claims settlement procedures. Negotiated settlements of certain such actions have had a material adverse effect on many insurance companies.

There are various lawsuits and legal proceedings against the Company. Management and legal counsel are of the opinion that the ultimate disposition of such litigation will have no material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position.

Assessments for Insolvencies of Unaffiliated Insurance Companies

The Company is also contingently liable for possible assessments under regulatory requirements pertaining to potential insolvencies of unaffiliated insurance companies. Liabilities, which are established based upon regulatory guidance, have generally been insignificant.

Leases

The Company has entered into various operating lease agreements, primarily for real estate (agency and claims offices across the country and portions of the home office complex) and also for computer equipment. Rental expenses were $4,766, $7,901 and $10,766 for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Future minimum lease payments under leases expiring subsequent to December 31, 2007 are as follows:

 

      As of December 31, 2007
   2008    2009    2010    2011    2012    2013-2017

Minimum operating lease payments

   $ 2,797    $ 1,946    $ 834    $ 80    —      —  

 

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NOTE 12 - Supplementary Data on Cash Flows

A reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities as presented in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows is as follows:

 

      Year Ended December 31,  
   2007     2006     2005  

Cash flows from operating activities

      

Net income

   $ 82,788     $ 98,708     $ 77,273  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

      

Realized investment (gains) losses

     3,418       (10,876 )     (9,841 )

Depreciation and amortization

     12,778       11,927       10,243  

Increase in insurance liabilities

     92,046       84,304       92,426  

(Increase) decrease in premium receivables

     4,048       (3,796 )     3,648  

Increase in deferred policy acquisition costs

     (9,761 )     (15,747 )     (24,054 )

(Increase) decrease in reinsurance recoverable

     1,806       5,600       (7,098 )

Increase in federal income tax liabilities

     19,070       31,813       18,058  

Other

     (4,548 )     (16,127 )     4,511  
                        

Total adjustments

     118,857       87,098       87,893  
                        

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 201,645     $ 185,806     $ 165,166  
                        

The Company’s repurchases of debt in 2006 and 2005 resulted in non-cash financing (gains) charges of $(339) and $30, respectively.

NOTE 13 - Segment Information

The Company conducts and manages its business through four segments. The three operating segments, representing the major lines of insurance business, are: property and casualty insurance, principally personal lines automobile and homeowners products; annuity products, principally individual, tax-qualified fixed and variable deposits; and life insurance. The Company does not allocate the impact of corporate level transactions to the insurance segments, consistent with the basis for management’s evaluation of the results of those segments, but classifies those items in the fourth segment, corporate and other. In addition to ongoing transactions such as debt service, realized investment gains and losses and certain public company expenses, within the past five years such items have included debt retirement costs/gains and restructuring charges.

The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in “Note 1 — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies”. The Company accounts for intersegment transactions, primarily the allocation of agent and overhead costs from the corporate and other segment to the property and casualty, annuity and life segments, on a direct cost basis.

 

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NOTE 13 - Segment Information-(Continued)

Summarized financial information for these segments is as follows:

 

      Year Ended December 31,  
   2007     2006     2005  

Insurance premiums and contract charges earned

      

Property and casualty

   $ 535,109     $ 537,726     $ 549,587  

Annuity

     21,760       19,683       17,904  

Life

     97,388       96,513       97,448  
                        

Total

   $ 654,257     $ 653,922     $ 664,939  
                        

Net investment income

      

Property and casualty

   $ 38,002     $ 35,266     $ 33,236  

Annuity

     128,904       119,936       112,908  

Life

     57,029       53,364       49,334  

Corporate and other

     926       1,559       287  

Intersegment eliminations

     (1,099 )     (1,116 )     (1,133 )
                        

Total

   $ 223,762     $ 209,009     $ 194,632  
                        

Net income (loss)

      

Property and casualty

   $ 61,234     $ 74,307     $ 45,026  

Annuity

     17,560       13,186       15,081  

Life

     17,275       14,518       13,403  

Corporate and other

     (13,281 )     (3,303 )     3,763  
                        

Total

   $ 82,788     $ 98,708     $ 77,273  
                        
      December 31,  
   2007     2006     2005  

Assets

      

Property and casualty

   $ 908,209     $ 903,015     $ 895,467  

Annuity

     4,086,619       4,094,491       3,809,648  

Life

     1,199,147       1,232,722       1,080,451  

Corporate and other

     102,250       126,166       79,813  

Intersegment eliminations

     (36,912 )     (26,707 )     (24,772 )
                        

Total

   $ 6,259,313     $ 6,329,687     $ 5,840,607  
                        

Additional significant financial information for these segments is as follows:

 

      Year Ended December 31,  
   2007     2006     2005  

Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs

      

Property and casualty

   $ 58,583     $ 58,487     $ 57,202  

Annuity

     7,310       5,795       6,340  

Life

     9,766       9,716       7,921  
                        

Total

   $ 75,659     $ 73,998     $ 71,463  
                        

Amortization of intangible assets

      

Value of acquired insurance in force

      

Annuity

   $ 4,041     $ 4,684     $ 3,681  

Life

     1,338       1,394       1,460  
                        

Total

   $ 5,379     $ 6,078     $ 5,141  
                        

Income tax expense (benefit)

      

Property and casualty

   $ 23,437     $ 30,526     $ 12,996  

Annuity

     8,366       4,705       1,201  

Life

     9,321       7,779       8,926  

Corporate and other

     (6,841 )     (1,425 )     (6,352 )
                        

Total

   $ 34,283     $ 41,585     $ 16,771  
                        

 

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NOTE 14 - Unaudited Selected Quarterly Financial Data

Selected quarterly financial data is presented below.

 

      Three Months Ended
   December 31,    September 30,    June 30,    March 31,
2007            

Insurance premiums written and contract deposits

   $ 239,246    $ 254,422    $ 250,799    $ 230,278

Total revenues

     221,545      221,874      221,531      222,055

Net income

     18,032      18,322      23,166      23,268

Per share information

           

Basic

           

Net income

   $ 0.42    $ 0.42    $ 0.54    $ 0.54

Shares of common stock - weighted average (a)

     42,953      43,288      43,223      43,118

Diluted

           

Net income

   $ 0.41    $ 0.41    $ 0.52    $ 0.52

Shares of common stock and equivalent shares - weighted average (a)

     43,924      44,268      44,924      45,396
2006            

Insurance premiums written and contract deposits

   $ 245,510    $ 252,238    $ 244,603    $ 227,029

Total revenues

     229,970      218,882      219,064      217,926

Net income

     28,655      19,307      27,500      23,246

Per share information

           

Basic

           

Net income

   $ 0.67    $ 0.45    $ 0.64    $ 0.54

Shares of common stock - weighted average (a)

     43,055      43,006      42,999      42,987

Diluted

           

Net income

   $ 0.64    $ 0.43    $ 0.61    $ 0.50

Shares of common stock and equivalent shares - weighted average (a)

     45,118      45,002      45,250      47,814
2005            

Insurance premiums written and contract deposits

   $ 242,717    $ 248,873    $ 247,302    $ 233,750

Total revenues

     223,276      209,171      225,555      222,309

Net income

     16,097      1,021      33,507      26,648

Per share information

           

Basic

           

Net income

   $ 0.37    $ 0.02    $ 0.78    $ 0.62

Shares of common stock - weighted average (a)

     42,965      42,933      42,886      42,865

Diluted

           

Net income

   $ 0.35    $ 0.02    $ 0.72    $ 0.57

Shares of common stock and equivalent shares - weighted average (a)

     47,988      43,686      47,832      47,643

 

(a) Rounded to thousands.

For 2005, the Company’s third quarter net income was significantly affected by after tax net catastrophe costs incurred (primarily attributable to hurricanes) of $28,900. In addition, revenues for the third quarter were lower than all other quarters in 2005 due to property and casualty catastrophe reinsurance reinstatement premiums ceded in the third quarter of $8,900 compared to $500, $500 and $0, for the fourth, second and first quarters, respectively.

 

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SCHEDULE I

HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION

SUMMARY OF INVESTMENTS-OTHER THAN INVESTMENTS IN RELATED PARTIES

December 31, 2007

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Type of Investments

   Cost(1)    Fair
Value
   Amount
shown in
Balance
Sheet

Fixed maturities:

        

U.S. Government and federally sponsored agency obligations

   $ 1,154,370    $ 1,157,915    $ 1,157,915

States, municipalities and political subdivisions

     535,069      541,095      541,095

Foreign government bonds

     14,422      15,874      15,874

Public utilities

     194,612      194,247      194,247

Other corporate bonds

     1,971,791      1,963,870      1,963,870
                    

Total fixed maturity securities

     3,870,264      3,873,001      3,873,001
                    

Equity securities:

        

Non-redeemable preferred stocks

     90,362      83,327      83,327

Common stocks

     3,721      3,221      3,221
                    

Total equity securities

     94,083      86,548      86,548
                    

Mortgage loans

     3,072      XXX      3,072

Short-term investments

     41,206      XXX      41,206

Short-term investments, loaned securities collateral

     76,848      XXX      76,711

Policy loans

     99,712      XXX      99,712
                

Total investments

   $ 4,185,185      XXX    $ 4,180,250
                

 

(1) Bonds at original cost reduced by repayments and adjusted for amortization of premiums or accrual of discounts and impairment in value of specifically identified investments.

See accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

 

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SCHEDULE II

HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION

(Parent Company Only)

CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT

BALANCE SHEETS

As of December 31, 2007 and 2006

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

 

      December 31,  
   2007     2006  
ASSETS     

Investments and cash

   $ 247     $ 32,311  

Investment in subsidiaries

     849,242       812,557  

Other assets

     49,273       49,596  
                

Total assets

   $ 898,762     $ 894,464  
                
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY             

Short-term debt

   $ —       $ —    

Long-term debt

     199,485       231,982  

Other liabilities

     5,999       5,401  
                

Total liabilities

     205,484       237,383  
                

Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, authorized 1,000,000 shares; none issued

     —         —    

Common stock, $0.001 par value, authorized 75,000,000 shares; issued, 2007, 60,855,455; 2006, 60,594,626

     61       61  

Additional paid-in capital

     353,841       347,873  

Retained earnings

     698,539       634,110  

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes:

    

Net unrealized gains and losses on fixed maturities and equity securities

     (2,621 )     11,070  

Net funded status of pension and other postretirement benefit obligations

     (3,217 )     (3,456 )

Treasury stock, at cost, 2007, 18,614,971 shares; 2006, 17,503,371 shares

     (353,325 )     (332,577 )
                

Total shareholders’ equity

     693,278       657,081  
                

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 898,762     $ 894,464  
                

See accompanying note to condensed financial statements.

See accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

 

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SCHEDULE II

HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION

(Parent Company Only)

CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Dollars in thousands)

 

      Year Ended December 31,  
   2007     2006     2005  

Revenues

      

Net investment income

   $ 925     $ 1,557     $ 288  

Realized investment gains

     33       —         —    
                        

Total revenues

     958       1,557       288  
                        

Expenses

      

Interest

     14,060       13,143       8,881  

Other

     2,542       2,935       2,872  
                        

Total expenses

     16,602       16,078       11,753  
                        

Loss before income taxes and equity in net earnings of subsidiaries

     (15,644 )     (14,521 )     (11,465 )

Income tax benefit

     (5,090 )     (5,284 )     (3,890 )
                        

Loss before equity in net earnings of subsidiaries

     (10,554 )     (9,237 )     (7,575 )

Equity in net earnings of subsidiaries

     93,342       107,945       84,848  
                        

Net income

   $ 82,788     $ 98,708     $ 77,273  
                        

See accompanying note to condensed financial statements.

See accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

 

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SCHEDULE II

HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION

(Parent Company Only)

CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Dollars in thousands)

 

      Year Ended December 31,  
   2007     2006     2005  

Cash flows – operating activities

      

Interest expense paid

   $ (13,772 )   $ (11,150 )   $ (8,275 )

Federal income taxes recovered

     5,551       5,080       4,095  

Cash dividends received from subsidiaries

     40,500       31,700       23,000  

Contribution to defined benefit pension plan trust fund

     —         (6,450 )     (4,514 )

Other, net

     2,850       (11,059 )     21,666  
                        

Net cash provided by operating activities

     35,129       8,121       35,972  
                        

Cash flows—investing activities

      

Net (increase) decrease in investments

     32,089       (31,986 )     7  

Capital contributions to subsidiaries

     —         —         (21,000 )
                        

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

     32,089       (31,986 )     (20,993 )
                        

Cash flows—financing activities

      

Dividends paid to shareholders

     (18,359 )     (18,310 )     (18,226 )

Purchase of treasury stock

     (20,748 )     —         —    

Exercise of stock options

     4,477       1,874       2,055  

Principal payments on Bank Credit Facility

     —         —         (25,000 )

Proceeds from issuance of Senior Notes due 2016

     —         123,485       —    

Proceeds from issuance of Senior Notes due 2015

     —         —         74,245  

Repurchase of Senior Convertible Notes

     (32,563 )     (82,846 )     —    

Repurchase of Senior Notes due 2006

     —         —         (29,077 )

Change in bank overdrafts

     —         (190 )     (18,976 )
                        

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     (67,193 )     24,013       (14,979 )
                        

Net increase in cash

     25       148       —    

Cash at beginning of period

     148       —         —    
                        

Cash at end of period

   $ 173     $ 148     $ —    
                        

See accompanying note to condensed financial statements.

See accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

 

F-90


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SCHEDULE II

HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION

(Parent Company Only)

CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT

NOTE TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The accompanying condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the accompanying notes thereto.

 

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SCHEDULE III & VI (COMBINED)

HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION

SCHEDULE III: SUPPLEMENTARY INSURANCE INFORMATION

SCHEDULE VI: SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION CONCERNING PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE OPERATIONS

(Dollars in thousands)

 

        Column identification for                             H             
                Schedule III:  A      B      C         D      E      F      G       H        I      J         K
                Schedule VI:  A      B      C      D      E         F      G            I         J      K

Segment

   Deferred
policy
acquisition
costs
   Future
policy
benefits,
claims

and
claims
expenses
   Discount,
if any,
deducted
in
previous
column
   Unearned
premiums
   Other
policy
claims

and
benefits
payable
   Premium
revenue/
premium
earned
   Net
investment
income
    Benefits,
claims

and
settlement
expenses
   Claims and
claims
adjustment
expense incurred
related to
    Amortization
of deferred
policy
acquisition
costs
   Other
operating
expenses
   Paid
claims and
claims
adjustment
expense
   Premiums
written
                          Current
year
   Prior
years
            

Year Ended December 31, 2007

                                       

Property and casualty

   $ 20,624    $ 306,191    $ 0    $ 195,635    $ —      $ 535,109    $ 38,002     $ 360,431    $ 380,399    $ (19,968 )   $ 58,583    $ 72,343    $ 365,549    $ 535,217

Annuity

     146,177      2,018,024      xxx      —        133,863      21,760      128,904       90,172      xxx      xxx       7,310      32,974      xxx      xxx

Life

     94,988      856,582      xxx      6,892      4,607      97,388      57,029       85,134      xxx      xxx       9,766      36,601      xxx      xxx

Other, including consolidating eliminations

     N/A      —        xxx      N/A      N/A      —        (173 )     —        xxx      xxx       —        16,620      xxx      xxx
                                                                             

Total

   $ 261,789    $ 3,180,797      xxx    $ 202,527    $ 138,470    $ 654,257    $ 223,762     $ 535,737      xxx      xxx     $ 75,659    $ 158,538      xxx      xxx
                                                                             

Year Ended December 31, 2006

                                       

Property and casualty

   $ 21,407    $ 317,729    $ 0    $ 195,527    $ —      $ 537,726    $ 35,266     $ 340,630    $ 359,840    $ (19,210 )   $ 58,487    $ 72,254    $ 356,309    $ 539,747

Annuity

     131,850      1,948,075      xxx      —        137,434      19,683      119,936       87,512      xxx      xxx       5,795      33,808      xxx      xxx

Life

     96,120      832,531      xxx      7,490      5,398      96,513      53,364       83,071      xxx      xxx       9,716      38,153      xxx      xxx

Other, including consolidating eliminations

     N/A      —        xxx      N/A      N/A      —        443       —        xxx      xxx       —        16,123      xxx      xxx
                                                                             

Total

   $ 249,377    $ 3,098,335      xxx    $ 203,017    $ 142,832    $ 653,922    $ 209,009     $ 511,213      xxx      xxx     $ 73,998    $ 160,338      xxx      xxx
                                                                             

Year Ended December 31, 2005

                                       

Property and casualty

   $ 20,962    $ 342,662    $ 0    $ 193,506    $ —      $ 549,587    $ 33,236     $ 398,022    $ 411,122    $ (13,100 )   $ 57,202    $ 70,541    $ 396,243    $ 546,949

Annuity

     116,311      1,821,828      xxx      —        139,880      17,904      112,908       82,292      xxx      xxx       6,340      32,467      xxx      xxx

Life

     96,357      805,973      xxx      8,088      6,198      97,448      49,334       78,264      xxx      xxx       7,921      41,487      xxx      xxx

Other, including consolidating eliminations

     N/A      —        xxx      N/A      N/A      —        (846 )     —        xxx      xxx       —        11,731      xxx      xxx
                                                                             

Total

   $ 233,630    $ 2,970,463      xxx    $ 201,594    $ 146,078    $ 664,939    $ 194,632     $ 558,578      xxx      xxx     $ 71,463    $ 156,226      xxx      xxx
                                                                             

 

N/A    Not applicable.

See accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

 

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Table of Contents

SCHEDULE IV

HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION

REINSURANCE

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Column A

   Column B    Column C    Column D    Column E    Column F  
      Gross
Amount
   Ceded to
Other
Companies
   Assumed
from Other
Companies
   Net    Percentage
of Amount
Assumed to Net
 

Year ended December 31, 2007

              

Life insurance in force

   $ 13,576,538    $ 1,800,836      —      $ 11,775,702    —    

Premiums

              

Property and casualty

   $ 562,061    $ 34,379    $ 7,427    $ 535,109    1.4 %

Annuity

     21,760      —        —        21,760    —    

Life

     102,593      5,205      —        97,388    —    
                              

Total premiums

   $ 686,414    $ 39,584    $ 7,427    $ 654,257    1.1 %
                              

Year ended December 31, 2006

              

Life insurance in force

   $ 13,400,292    $ 1,710,141      —      $ 11,690,151    —    

Premiums

              

Property and casualty

   $ 561,228    $ 32,526    $ 9,024    $ 537,726    1.7 %

Annuity

     19,683      —        —        19,683    —    

Life

     101,880      5,367      —        96,513    —    
                              

Total premiums

   $ 682,791    $ 37,893    $ 9,024    $ 653,922    1.4 %
                              

Year ended December 31, 2005

              

Life insurance in force

   $ 13,142,164    $ 1,553,610      —      $ 11,588,554    —    

Premiums

              

Property and casualty

   $ 568,274    $ 31,432    $ 12,745    $ 549,587    2.3 %

Annuity

     17,904      —        —        17,904    —    

Life

     102,354      4,906      —        97,448    —    
                              

Total premiums

   $ 688,532    $ 36,338    $ 12,745    $ 664,939    1.9 %
                              

 

NOTE: Premiums above include insurance premiums earned and contract charges earned.

See accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

 

F-93


Table of Contents

 

HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION

EXHIBITS

To

FORM 10-K

For the Year Ended December 31, 2007

VOLUME 1 OF 1

 

 


Table of Contents

The following items are filed as Exhibits to Horace Mann Educators Corporation’s (“HMEC”) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. Management contracts and compensatory plans are indicated by an asterisk (*).

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit

No.

       

Description

(3)   Articles of incorporation and bylaws:
  3.1    Restated Certificate of Incorporation of HMEC, filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on June 24, 2003, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to HMEC’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on August 14, 2003.
  3.2    Form of Certificate for shares of Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share, of HMEC, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to HMEC’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 33-53118) filed with the SEC on October 9, 1992.
  3.3    Bylaws of HMEC, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to HMEC’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003, filed with the SEC on August 14, 2003.
(4)   Instruments defining the rights of security holders, including indentures:
  4.1    Indenture, dated as of June 9, 2005, between HMEC and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as trustee, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to HMEC’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 6, 2005, filed with the SEC on June 9, 2005.
  4.1(a)    First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 9, 2005, between HMEC and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as trustee, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to HMEC’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 6, 2005, filed with the SEC on June 9, 2005.
  4.1(b)    Form of HMEC 6.05% Senior Notes Due 2015 (included in Exhibit 4.1(a)).
  4.1(c)    Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 21, 2006, between HMEC and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as trustee, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to HMEC’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 18, 2006, filed with the SEC on April 21, 2006.


Table of Contents

Exhibit

No.

       

Description

  4.1(d)    Form of HMEC 6.85% Senior Notes due April 15, 2016 (included in Exhibit 4.1(c)).
  4.2    Certificate of Designations for HMEC Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to HMEC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, filed with the SEC on March 16, 2006.
(10)   Material contracts:
  10.1    Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of December 19, 2006 among HMEC, certain financial institutions named therein and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to HMEC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, filed with the SEC on March 1, 2007.
  10.2*    Horace Mann Educators Corporation Deferred Equity Compensation Plan for Directors, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to HMEC’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1996, filed with the SEC on November 14, 1996.
  10.3*    Horace Mann Educators Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan for Employees, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to HMEC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997, filed with the SEC on March 30, 1998.
  10.4*    Amended and Restated Horace Mann Educators Corporation 1991 Stock Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to HMEC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, filed with the SEC on March 30, 2000.
  10.4(a)*    Amendment to Amended and Restated Horace Mann Educators Corporation 1991 Stock Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1(a) to HMEC’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2000, filed with the SEC on August 11, 2000.
  10.4(b)*    Specimen Employee Stock Option Agreement under the Horace Mann Educators Corporation 1991 Stock Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5(a) to HMEC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, filed with the SEC on March 30, 2000.
  10.4(c)*    Specimen Director Stock Option Agreement under the Horace Mann Educators Corporation 1991 Stock Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5(b) to HMEC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, filed with the SEC on March 30, 2000.


Table of Contents

Exhibit

No.

       

Description

  10.5*    Horace Mann Educators Corporation 2001 Stock Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to HMEC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001, filed with the SEC on March 29, 2002.
  10.5(a)*    Specimen Employee Stock Option Agreement under the Horace Mann Educators Corporation 2001 Stock Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6(a) to HMEC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001, filed with the SEC on March 29, 2002.
  10.5(b)*    Specimen Director Stock Option Agreement under the Horace Mann Educators Corporation 2001 Stock Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6(b) to HMEC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001, filed with the SEC on March 29, 2002.
  10.6*    Horace Mann Educators Corporation Amended and Restated 2002 Incentive Compensation Plan (“2002 Incentive Compensation Plan”), incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to HMEC’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2005, filed with the SEC on August 9, 2005.
  10.6(a)*    Specimen Employee Stock Option Agreement under the 2002 Incentive Compensation Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2(a) to HMEC’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002, filed with the SEC on August 14, 2002.
  10.6(b)*    Specimen Regular Employee Stock Option Agreement under the 2002 Incentive Compensation Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2(b) to HMEC’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002, filed with the SEC on August 14, 2002.
  10.6(c)*    Specimen Director Stock Option Agreement under the 2002 Incentive Compensation Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2(c) to HMEC’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002, filed with the SEC on August 14, 2002.
  10.6(d)*    Specimen Employee Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the 2002 Incentive Compensation Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6(d) to HMEC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, filed with the SEC on March 16, 2006.
  10.6(e)*    Specimen Non-employee Director Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the 2002 Incentive Compensation Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6(e) to HMEC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, filed with the SEC on March 16, 2006.


Table of Contents

Exhibit

No.

       

Description

  10.6(f)*    Specimen Restricted Stock Unit Deferral Election Form under the 2002 Incentive Compensation Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6(f) to HMEC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, filed with the SEC on March 16, 2006.
  10.6(g)*    Specimen Modification to Stock Options outstanding as of June 30, 2004, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2(d) to HMEC’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004, filed with the SEC on August 9, 2004.
  10.7*    Horace Mann Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan, 2002 Restatement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to HMEC’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2002, filed with the SEC on May 15, 2002.
  10.8*    Horace Mann Executive Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan, 2002 Restatement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to HMEC’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2002, filed with the SEC on May 15, 2002.
  10.9*    Horace Mann Nonqualified Supplemental Money Purchase Pension Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to HMEC’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2002, filed with the SEC on May 15, 2002.
  10.10*    Summary of HMEC Non-Employee Director Compensation.
  10.11*    Summary of HMEC Named Executive Officer Annualized Salary, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to HMEC’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 22, 2007, filed with the SEC on May 25, 2007.
  10.12*    Severance Agreements between HMEC and certain officers of HMEC, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to HMEC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001, filed with the SEC on March 29, 2002.
  10.12(a)*    Revised Schedule to Severance Agreements between HMEC and certain officers of HMEC, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12(a) to HMEC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, filed with the SEC on March 1, 2007.
  10.13*    Change in Control Agreement between HMEC, Horace Mann Service Corporation (“HMSC”) and certain officers of HMEC and/or HMSC, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to HMEC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2005.


Table of Contents

Exhibit

No.

       

Description

  10.13(a)*    Schedule to Change in Control Agreements between HMEC, HMSC and certain officers of HMEC and/or HMSC.
  10.14*    Employment Agreement between HMEC and Louis G. Lower II as of December 31, 1999, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to HMEC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, filed with the SEC on March 30, 2000.
(11)   Statement regarding computation of per share earnings.
(12)   Statement regarding computation of ratios.
(21)   Subsidiaries of HMEC.
(23)   Consent of KPMG LLP.
(31)   Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
  31.1    Certification by Louis G. Lower II, Chief Executive Officer of HMEC.
  31.2    Certification by Peter H. Heckman, Chief Financial Officer of HMEC.
(32)   Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
  32.1    Certification by Louis G. Lower II, Chief Executive Officer of HMEC.
  32.2    Certification by Peter H. Heckman, Chief Financial Officer of HMEC.
(99)   Additional exhibits
  99.1    Glossary of Selected Terms.