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): July 12, 2016

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))

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Item 7.01 REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE

On July 12, 2016 we issued a news release highlighting ProAssurance’s recognition as a member of the Ward’s 50 for 2016. This marks the tenth straight year ProAssurance has been included on the list, which selects the top performing property/casualty insurance companies in the US from a potential list of nearly 3,000 candidates. We are providing a copy of the release as an exhibit in this Current Report on Form 8K.

Item 9.01 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

99.1 News Release issued on July 12, 2016, highlighting ProAssurance’s section as a member of the Ward’s 50 for 2016.

We are furnishing Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K in accordance with Item 7.01, Regulation FD Disclosure. This 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: July 12, 2016
	PROASSURANCE CORPORATION
	by: /s/ Frank B. O’Neil
	Frank B. O’Neil Senior Vice-President

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EX-99.1

NEWS RELEASE

For More Information:

Frank B. O’Neil, IRC

Sr. Vice President, Corporate Communications & Investor Relations

800-282-6242 • 205-877-4461 • foneil@ProAssurance.com

ProAssurance is a Ward’s 50 Company for the Tenth Straight Year

BIRMINGHAM, AL, July 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ ProAssurance Corporation (NYSE:PRA) has again been named to the prestigious Ward’s 50. This marks the tenth straight year that The Ward Group recognized ProAssurance’s outstanding performance and named it one of America’s 50 finest property-casualty insurance companies.

This year The Ward Group screened nearly 3,000 insurers for financial stability, asset quality and capital position, revenue growth, underwriting results, financial returns, and operational excellence. Only companies that survive the rigorous evaluation process are recognized by their inclusion in the Ward’s 50.

ProAssurance’s Chief Executive Officer, W. Stancil Starnes, said, “Being named to the Ward’s 50 in each of the past ten years is a singular achievement for ProAssurance and our employees who dedicate every day to delivering on the promise of ‘Treated Fairly’—providing our insureds and agent partners with an unmatched level of service and security. This recognition is especially meaningful for us, as it recognizes the high level of financial performance we have achieved despite a challenging operating and financial environment. We believe it also speaks to our successful track record of creating meaningful value for our investors.”

“Ward Group recognizes ProAssurance for achieving outstanding financial results in the areas of safety, consistency, and performance,” said Jeffrey J. Rieder, partner and head of Ward Group. “From 2011 through 2015, ProAssurance demonstrated its ability to consistently generate outstanding results.”

The Ward’s 50 companies again outperformed the overall property-casualty industry during the 2011-2015 measuring period used in selecting this year’s list. As an example, the five-year average combined ratio for the 2016 Ward’s 50 was 94.1% compared to 100.3% for the industry. Further, the average return on equity for this year’s Ward’s 50 was 10.5%, more than two points higher than the property casualty industry as a whole, and the average growth in policyholder surplus or shareholder’s equity for the 2016 Ward’s 50 was 29.5%, compared to the industry’s 23.2% growth.

About ProAssurance

ProAssurance Corporation is an industry-leading specialty insurer with extensive expertise in healthcare professional liability, products liability for medical technology and life sciences, legal professional liability, and workers’ compensation insurance. The company is recognized as one of the top performing insurance companies in America by virtue of our inclusion in the Ward’s 50 for the past ten years. ProAssurance Group is rated “A+” (Superior) by A.M. Best; ProAssurance and its operating subsidiaries are rated “A” (Strong) by Fitch Ratings.

For the latest on ProAssurance and its industry leading suite of products and services, cutting edge risk management and practice enhancement programs follow @ProAssurance on Twitter or LinkedIn. ProAssurance’s YouTube channel regularly presents thought provoking, insightful videos that communicate effective practice management, patient safety and risk management strategies.

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