Horace Mann Reports Results for Fourth Quarter

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Feb. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Horace Mann Educators Corporation (NYSE: HMN) today reported net income of $15.2 million (36 cents per share) and $80.9 million ($1.97 per share) for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2010, compared to $22.2 million (54 cents per share) and $73.5 million ($1.81 per share) for the same periods in 2009.  Included in net income were net realized losses on securities of $1.5 million ($0.9 million after tax, or 3 cents per share) for the fourth quarter of 2010 and realized gains of $23.8 million ($15.4 million after tax, or 37 cents per share) for the full year.  In the same periods in 2009, net income included net realized investment gains of $4.6 million ($3.2 million after tax, or 7 cents per share) and $26.3 million ($17.2 million after tax, or 42 cents per share), respectively.  All per-share amounts are stated on a diluted basis.

"Horace Mann's increased net unrealized investment gain position compared to a year ago, coupled with strong underlying operating results in our auto, annuity and life lines of business in 2010, resulted in a year-end reported book value per share of $22.19, an increase of 21 percent over the last twelve months," said Peter H. Heckman, President and Chief Executive Officer.  "Net income before realized investment gains and losses was 39 cents per share for the fourth quarter, an 8 cent decrease compared to a year ago, as unfavorable results in the property line more than offset improved earnings in auto and annuity," continued Heckman.  "Primarily due to a significant level of catastrophe losses, as well as an increase in Florida sinkhole claims, our property and casualty earnings decreased compared to the fourth quarter of the prior year.  The accident year combined ratio excluding catastrophes was 99.7 percent in the current quarter, which was 2.6 percentage points higher than the same period last year and reflected increases in both the property and auto lines.  Our overall results reflected the benefits of Horace Mann's multiline business model, as net income from our combined annuity and life segments increased notably in the fourth quarter compared to prior year."  As previously disclosed, the company's fourth quarter 2010 expenses included approximately $1.8 million pretax, or 3 cents per share, related to the accelerated accrual of certain pension benefits, incentive compensation and other stock-based awards earned by the previous CEO who retired in the quarter.

"As mentioned earlier, Horace Mann delivered strong underlying operating results for the full year.  Net income before realized investment gains and losses of $1.60 per share increased 15 percent compared to 2009," said Heckman.  "As we expected, earnings from our annuity and life segments reflected significant improvement as they benefitted from increases in interest margins.  The property and casualty segment combined ratio of 100.9 percent increased only 1.4 percentage points compared to the prior year, as favorable auto results partially offset the impact of notably higher property catastrophe and sinkhole losses.  For the full year, the 95.8 percent accident year combined ratio excluding catastrophes was comparable to 2009."

"Looking forward to 2011, we estimate full-year net income before realized investment gains and losses of between $1.75 and $1.95 per share," Heckman said.  "This projection builds on our solid results in 2010 and anticipates an improvement of approximately 3 points in our property and casualty combined ratio driven by the property line, with catastrophe losses returning to historical levels and a significant reduction in Florida sinkhole losses, partially offset by a reduced amount of favorable development of prior years' auto reserves.  We expect that our combined annuity and life earnings will be comparable to the strong levels delivered in 2010, including the assumption of an 8 to 10 percent increase in the S&P 500 Index."

Segment Earnings

The property and casualty segment recorded net income of $6.0 million for the quarter, a decrease of $4.2 million compared to the same period in 2009.  Pretax catastrophe costs in the current quarter of $8.7 million increased $7.5 million compared to the minimal $1.2 million incurred in the fourth quarter of 2009.  The fourth quarter 2010 property and casualty combined ratio was 101.7 percent, including 6.3 percentage points due to catastrophe costs, compared to 95.6 percent, including 0.9 percentage points due to catastrophe costs, in the prior year period.  Favorable prior years' reserve development totaling $5.9 million was recorded in the fourth quarter, which represented 4.2 percentage points on the combined ratio, compared to $3.4 million, or 2.4 percentage points on the combined ratio, recorded in the fourth quarter of 2009.  Excluding claim settlement expenses, Florida sinkhole losses incurred in the current quarter and for the full year of $5.2 million and $20.1 million, respectively, exceeded the $4.2 million and $12.0 million incurred in the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2009.  The higher level of sinkhole losses increased the 2010 property loss ratio approximately 2 percentage points for the quarter and 4 percentage points for the full year, compared to 2009.  For the total property and casualty segment, the higher sinkhole losses increased the combined ratio approximately 1 percentage point for both the quarter and full year.  "Throughout 2010, the elevated level of catastrophe and sinkhole losses was a challenge to our property and casualty earnings.  One of the key initiatives to address this -- our Florida risk mitigation plan, which is primarily focused on non-renewals -- remains ahead of schedule," said Heckman.  For the full year, the property and casualty combined ratio was 100.9 percent for 2010, compared to 99.5 percent for the prior year, and net income was $27.0 million, compared to $30.0 million for full year 2009.

Annuity segment net income was $8.9 million and $31.6 million for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2010, increasing $2.5 million and $10.4 million, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2009.  The current quarter included a reduction in amortization as a result of the evaluation of deferred policy acquisition costs of $3.3 million compared to a reduction of $0.5 million due to the evaluation in the prior year.  The interest margin earned on fixed annuity assets increased 6 percent and 24 percent compared to the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2009, with full year net interest spreads of 1.96 percent for the current year improving 27 basis points compared to 2009.  Charges and fees earned in the quarter, primarily on variable annuity contracts, increased slightly compared to prior year.  Total annuity net fund flows continued to be positive in the current period, as they were throughout 2008 and 2009, with total accumulated account values increasing 11 percent compared to year-end 2009.  Total cash value persistency of 94 percent was comparable to a year earlier.

Life segment net income of $4.5 million for the fourth quarter decreased $1.0 million compared to the same period in 2009, primarily due to higher mortality costs in the current period.  For the full year, net income of $20.2 million increased $1.8 million compared to 2009, as growth in investment income more than offset higher mortality costs.  Life persistency remained strong at 95 percent.

Segment Revenues

Compared to 2009, the company's total premiums written and contract deposits increased 9 percent and 5 percent for the quarter and full year, respectively, driven by the increase in annuity deposit receipts.

Total property and casualty premiums written decreased 1 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2009 and increased 1 percent for the full year.  Each of these changes included increases in average property and auto premiums per policy, as well as reductions in policies in force.

Building on the growth from the last quarter, annuity deposits received increased 31 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2009, reflecting single deposit and rollover receipts that more than doubled compared to the prior year and scheduled, flexible premium annuity deposit receipts that decreased 8 percent compared to a year ago.  For the full year, total annuity deposit receipts increased 13 percent compared to 2009, also driven by growth in single deposit and rollover receipts which more than offset the 1 percent decrease in flexible annuity deposit receipts.  Life segment insurance premiums and contract deposits decreased approximately 1 percent compared to both the three and twelve months of the prior year.

Sales and Distribution

For the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2010, total new auto sales units decreased 14 percent and 8 percent, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2009, primarily reflecting decreases in true new auto sales of 21 percent and 10 percent, respectively.  Driven by increases in single premium and rollover deposits, total annuity sales increased 65 percent in the fourth quarter and 15 percent for the full year, which was on top of the 31 percent growth in the twelve months ended December 31, 2009.  Total new life production decreased 4 percent and 8 percent compared to the prior year quarter and full year, primarily due to decreases in sales of third-party vendor products.

At December 31, 2010, there was a combined total of 741 Exclusive Agencies and Employee Agents, compared to 716 at December 31, 2009 and 670 at December 31, 2008.   "The size of our distribution force increased again during the quarter, resulting in a second consecutive year of growth in the total number of agencies and agents," said Heckman.  "The transformation of our agency force is also continuing, with approximately 80 percent of the agencies operating in our Agency Business Model -- with an outside office and one or more licensed producers -- and over 60 percent operating under our Exclusive Agent agreement at December 31, 2010."

Investment Gains and Losses

In the fourth quarter of 2010, pretax net realized investment losses were $1.5 million.  The company realized $14.7 million of gross gains on sales of securities during the quarter, more than offset by $15.2 million of realized losses on security disposals, primarily related to commercial mortgage-backed securities risk reduction actions, and $1.0 million of credit-related impairment write-downs on securities.

Horace Mann's net unrealized investment gains on fixed maturity and equity securities of $185.6 million at December 31, 2010 improved significantly compared to the net unrealized gains of $36.1 million at December 31, 2009 but moderated compared to the September 30, 2010 level, primarily reflecting the increase in interest rates during the fourth quarter.

Horace Mann -- the largest national multiline insurance company focusing on educators' financial needs -- provides auto and homeowners insurance, retirement annuities, life insurance and other financial solutions.  Founded by Educators for Educators® in 1945, the company is headquartered in Springfield, Ill.  For more information, visit www.horacemann.com.

Statements included in this news release that are not historical in nature are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties.  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.  Please refer to the company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2010 and the company's past and future filings and reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for information concerning the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Horace Mann Educators Corporation