-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, Qe4KAJtw34vSWkq9NvzeayYK3LKG7fEm9uU119PFKQorr4V+bwNc3RByu+UHuJnM fWtMjsg8g+vijDO2I+wz8Q== 0001157523-06-007694.txt : 20060801 0001157523-06-007694.hdr.sgml : 20060801 20060801153237 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001157523-06-007694 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20060801 ITEM INFORMATION: Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets ITEM INFORMATION: Regulation FD Disclosure ITEM INFORMATION: Financial Statements and Exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20060801 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20060801 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: PROASSURANCE CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001127703 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331] IRS NUMBER: 631261433 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-16533 FILM NUMBER: 06994355 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 100 BROOKWOOD PLACE CITY: BIRMINGHAM STATE: AL ZIP: 35209 BUSINESS PHONE: 2058774400 8-K 1 a5199827.txt PROASSURANCE CORPORATION 8-K SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 1, 2006 ProAssurance Corporation (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware 001-16533 63-1261433 (State of Incorporation) (Commission File No.) (IRS Employer I.D. No.) 100 Brookwood Place, Birmingham, Alabama 35209 (Address of Principal Executive Office ) (Zip code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (205) 877-4400 Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions: | | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) | | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) | | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17CFR 240.14d-2(b)) | | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-(c) under the Exchange Act (17CFR 240.13e-(c)) Item 2.01 Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Asset On August 1, 2006, the ProAssurance Corporation ("ProAssurance") completed its acquisition of Physicians Insurance Company of Wisconsin, Inc. ("PIC Wisconsin") through the merger of PIC Wisconsin and a newly formed subsidiary of ProAssurance pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger between ProAssurance and PIC Wisconsin, dated December 8, 2005 and amended February 14, 2006. In accordance with the terms of the merger agreement, each share of PIC Wisconsin common stock was converted into 102.75 shares of ProAssurance common stock resulting in approximately two million shares of ProAssurance common stock being issued in the transaction. The merger agreement valued PIC Wisconsin shares at $5,000 each. The value of a share of ProAssurance stock, for purposes of determining the exchange ratio, was $48.66 based on the average NYSE closing price for a ten day period that ended with the close of trading on July 31, 2006. The shares of ProAssurance common stock issued in the merger were registered under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-4 declared effective by the SEC on June 6, 200 (SEC File No. 333-131874). The merger is described in greater detail in the proxy statement-prospectus included in the registration statement that was mailed to the shareholders of PIC Wisconsin on or about June 13, 2006. Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure On August 1, 2006 we issued a news release announcing that PIC Wisconsin's merger into ProAssurance was effective at 12:01 AM on that date, that William T. Montei would be resigning as President of PIC Wisconsin, and that David L. Maurer, PIC Wisconsin's Chief Operating Officer, would be assuming responsibility for ongoing operations at PIC. A copy of the news release we issued to announce the effectiveness of the merger and executive changes for PIC Wisconsin is furnished with this report as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated into this Item 7.01 by reference. Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits (a) Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired (b) Pro Forma Financial Information Financial statements of PIC Wisconsin and pro forma financial information are not required to be filed with this report under Rule 3.05(b)(2) and Rule 11.01(b)(1) of Regulation S-X because PIC Wisconsin does not meet the 20% level of significance. (d) Exhibits Exhibit 2.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of December 8, 2005 as amended February 14, 2006 among ProAssurance, PIC Wisconsin and Physicians Merger Company was filed as an exhibit to ProAssurance's Registration Statement on Form S-4 effective June 6, 2006 (Sec File No 333-131874) Exhibit 99.1 - News release dated August 1, 2006 2 We are furnishing Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K in accordance with items 7.01, Regulation FD Disclosure and 8.01, Other Events. The exhibit shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), or otherwise subject to the liability of such section, nor shall such information be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, regardless of the general incorporation language of such filing, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing. SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. Date: August 1, 2006 PROASSURANCE CORPORATION By: /s/ Edward L. Rand, Jr. -------------------------------- Edward L. Rand, Jr. Chief Financial Officer 3 EX-99.1 2 a5199827-ex991.txt PROASSURANCE CORPORATION EXHIBIT 99.1 Exhibit 99.1 ProAssurance Announces Closing of Merger with PIC Wisconsin; PIC Wisconsin Executive Announces Retirement BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 1, 2006--ProAssurance Corporation (NYSE: PRA) announced that the transaction merging Physicians Insurance Company of Wisconsin, Inc. ("PIC Wisconsin") into ProAssurance closed as expected on July 31, 2006. The Articles of Merger call for the transaction to be effective today. PIC Wisconsin will continue to operate as a subsidiary of ProAssurance. The next step in the transaction calls for PIC Wisconsin shareholders to surrender their PIC Wisconsin stock certificate for shares of ProAssurance Common stock. Under the terms of the merger agreement, each share of PIC Wisconsin common stock will be converted into 102.75 shares of ProAssurance common stock, with cash paid in lieu of fractional shares. The merger agreement valued PIC Wisconsin shares at $5,000 each. The value of a share of ProAssurance stock, for purposes of determining the exchange ratio, was determined using the average NYSE closing price for a ten day period that ended with the close of trading on July 31, 2006. Instructions for surrendering PIC Wisconsin shares for conversion will be mailed to PIC Wisconsin shareholders no later than August 14, 2006. ProAssurance expects to issue approximately two million new shares to complete the transaction, and believes it will be immediately accretive to Book Value per Share. PIC Wisconsin Executive Changes Subsequent to the completion of the merger, William T. Montei, the President and CEO of PIC Wisconsin announced his plans to resign effective September 1, 2006. PIC Wisconsin's Chief Operating Officer, David L. Maurer, will assume responsibility for ongoing operations at PIC. Montei said, "The past twenty years have been an extraordinary journey, from an office of two people to one of the finest companies in our industry. We have built a unique culture over the years, with people who truly understand the values and mission of PIC. I'm confident ProAssurance will enhance those qualities and make PIC even more valuable to our policyholders. While ProAssurance offered a very attractive position, my wife, Ellen, and I decided that there was no better time to look for a new adventure." ProAssurance Corporation's Chairman, A. Derrill Crowe, M.D., said, "We wish Bill well in whatever he pursues, knowing that he will bring the same leadership qualities to whatever venture he embarks upon. Despite losing Bill's leadership, we're delighted to be the beneficiaries of the talent and creativity he fostered in his twenty years leading the company." About ProAssurance ProAssurance Corporation is the nation's fourth largest writer of medical professional liability insurance through our principal subsidiaries The Medical Assurance Company, Inc., ProNational Insurance Company, NCRIC, Inc., PIC Wisconsin and Red Mountain Casualty Insurance Company, Inc. We also write professional liability coverage through Woodbrook Casualty Insurance Company, Inc. A.M. Best assigns a rating of "A-" (Excellent) to the ProAssurance Group and our principal professional liability subsidiaries, except NCRIC, Inc., which is rated B++ (Very Good). Standard & Poor's assigns our principal professional liability carriers a rating of "A-" ("Strong"), with the exception of NCRIC, Inc. which is rated "BBB+." Fitch assigns a rating of "A-" to ProAssurance. Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains historical information as well as forward-looking statements that are based upon our estimates and anticipation of future events that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to vary materially from the expected results described in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are identified by words such as, but not limited to, "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "hope" "hopeful", "intend", "may", "optimistic", "preliminary", "project", "should", "will" and other analogous expressions. There are numerous important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Thus, sentences and phrases that we use to convey our view of future events and trends are expressly designated as forward-looking statements as are sections of this news release clearly identified as giving our outlook on future business. Forward-looking statements relating to our business include among other things: statements concerning: liquidity and capital requirements, return on equity, financial ratios, net income, premiums, losses and loss reserves, premium rates and retention of current business, competition and market conditions, the expansion of product lines, the development or acquisition of business in new geographical areas, the availability of acceptable reinsurance, actions by regulators and rating agencies, payment or performance of obligations under indebtedness, payment of dividends, and other matters. In addition, forward-looking statements may also relate to the merger between ProAssurance and PIC Wisconsin, Inc. as well as the goals, plans, objectives, intentions, expectations, financial condition, results of operations, future performance and business of the combined company including, without limitation, statements relating to the benefits of the merger, such as future financial and operating results, cost savings, enhanced revenues and the accretion to reported earnings that may be realized from the merger and statements regarding certain of ProAssurance's and/or PIC Wisconsin's goals and expectations with respect to earnings, earnings per share, revenue, expenses and the growth rate in such items, as well as other measures of economic performance. These forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks, assumptions and uncertainties, including, among other things, the following important factors that could affect the actual outcome of future events: -- General economic conditions, either nationally or in our market area, that are worse than anticipated; -- regulatory and legislative actions or decisions that adversely affect our business plans or operations; -- price competition; -- inflation and changes in the interest rate environment; -- performance of financial markets and/or changes in the securities markets that adversely affect the fair value of our investments or operations; -- changes in laws or government regulations affecting medical professional liability insurance; -- changes to our ratings assigned by rating agencies; -- the effects of health care changes, including managed care; -- uncertainties inherent in the estimate of loss and loss adjustment expense reserves and reinsurance, and changes in the availability, cost, quality, or collectibility of reinsurance; -- significantly increased competition among insurance providers and related pricing weaknesses in some markets; -- our ability to achieve continued growth through expansion into other states or through acquisitions or business combinations; -- changes in accounting policies and practices that may be adopted by our regulatory agencies and the Financial Accounting Standards Board; -- changes in our organization, compensation and benefit plans; and -- any other factors listed or discussed in the reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Factors relating to the proposed transaction with PIC Wisconsin: -- The business of ProAssurance and PIC Wisconsin may not be combined successfully, or such combination may take longer to accomplish than expected; -- the cost savings from the merger may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; and -- operating costs, customer loss and business disruption following the merger, including adverse effects on relationships with employees, may be greater than expected. Our results may differ materially from those we expect and discuss in any forward-looking statements. The principal risk factors that may cause these differences are described in various documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Registration Statement filed on February 15, 2006 and updated on June 2, 2006, as well as our most recent Forms 10K and 10Q. We wish to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made, and wish to advise readers that the factors listed above could affect our financial performance and could cause actual results for future periods to differ materially from any opinions or statements expressed with respect to future periods in any current statements. We do not undertake and specifically decline any obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions that may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events. CONTACT: ProAssurance Corporation Sr. Vice President, Corporate Communications & Investor Relations Frank B. O'Neil, 800-282-6242 or 205-877-4461 foneil@ProAssurance.com -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----