10-Q 1 d10q.htm FORM 10-Q Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

 

þ Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2006

OR

 

¨ Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the transition period from                      to                     

Assurant, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   001-31978   39-1126612

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

  (Commission File Number)  

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

One Chase Manhattan Plaza, 41st Floor

New York, New York 10005

(212) 859-7000

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including

area code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)

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  þ    NO  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer  þ                Accelerated filer  ¨                Non-accelerated filer  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

YES  ¨    NO  þ

The number of shares of the registrant’s Common Stock outstanding at May 1, 2006 was 128,986,923.

 



Table of Contents

ASSURANT, INC.

QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 2006

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

    

Item

Number

   Page
Number
  PART I   
  FINANCIAL INFORMATION   

1.

 

Financial Statements

   2
  Assurant, Inc. and Subsidiaries Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2006 (unaudited) and December 31, 2005    2
  Assurant, Inc. and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statement of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005 (unaudited)    4
  Assurant, Inc. and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity from December 31, 2005 through March 31, 2006 (unaudited)    5
  Assurant, Inc. and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005 (unaudited)    6
  Assurant, Inc. and Subsidiaries Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005 (unaudited)    7

2.

  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    18

3.

  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    33

4.

  Controls and Procedures    33
  PART II   
  OTHER INFORMATION   

1.

 

Legal Proceedings

   34

1A.

 

Risk Factors

   34

2.

 

Unregistered Sale of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

   34

5

 

Other Information

   34

6.

 

Exhibits

   35
 

Signatures

   36


Table of Contents

Assurant, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

At March 31, 2006 (unaudited) and December 31, 2005

 

     March 31,
2006
   December 31,
2005
     (in thousands except number of shares)

Assets

     

Investments:

     

Fixed maturities available for sale, at fair value (amortized cost - $8,772,170 in 2006 and $8,668,595 in 2005)

   $ 8,847,534    $ 8,961,778

Equity securities available for sale, at fair value (cost - $744,632 in 2006 and $694,977 in 2005)

     746,031      693,101

Commercial mortgage loans on real estate, at amortized cost

     1,234,185      1,212,006

Policy loans

     60,044      61,043

Short-term investments

     262,182      427,474

Collateral held under securities lending

     543,198      610,662

Other investments

     555,761      549,759
             

Total investments

     12,248,935      12,515,823

Cash and cash equivalents

     650,705      855,569

Premiums and accounts receivable, net

     514,146      454,789

Reinsurance recoverables

     4,075,817      4,447,810

Accrued investment income

     132,268      128,150

Tax receivable

     —        3,868

Deferred income taxes, net

     12,953      —  

Deferred acquisition costs

     2,081,540      2,022,308

Property and equipment, at cost less accumulated depreciation

     268,242      267,720

Goodwill

     804,889      804,864

Value of business acquired

     147,537      151,512

Other assets

     245,559      240,605

Assets held in separate accounts

     3,498,093      3,472,435
             

Total assets

   $ 24,680,684    $ 25,365,453
             

See the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements

 

2


Table of Contents

Assurant, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

At March 31, 2006 (unaudited) and December 31, 2005

 

     March 31,
2006
    December 31,
2005
 
     (in thousands except number of shares)  

Liabilities

    

Future policy benefits and expenses

   $ 6,697,981     $ 6,664,854  

Unearned premiums

     3,906,705       3,851,614  

Claims and benefits payable

     3,559,322       3,875,223  

Commissions payable

     231,977       301,209  

Reinsurance balances payable

     109,039       129,547  

Funds held under reinsurance

     78,819       78,578  

Deferred gain on disposal of businesses

     278,378       287,212  

Obligation under securities lending

     543,198       610,662  

Accounts payable and other liabilities

     1,092,163       1,351,196  

Deferred income taxes, net

     —         47,514  

Income taxes payable

     36,569       —    

Debt

     971,711       971,690  

Mandatorily redeemable preferred stock

     23,160       24,160  

Liabilities related to separate accounts

     3,498,093       3,472,435  
                

Total liabilities

   $ 21,027,115     $ 21,665,894  
                

Commitments and contingencies (note 10)

   $ —       $ —    
                

Stockholders’ equity

    

Common stock, par value $.01 per share, 800,000,000 shares authorized, 142,697,355 and 142,563,829 shares issued, 129,329,491 and 130,591,834 shares outstanding at March 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively

   $ 1,427     $ 1,426  

Additional paid-in capital

     2,880,855       2,880,329  

Retained earnings

     1,158,973       1,006,910  

Unamortized restricted stock compensation (127,601 shares at December 31, 2005)

     —         (2,829 )

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     78,400       219,499  

Treasury stock, at cost; 13,261,194 and 11,844,394 shares at March 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively

     (466,086 )     (405,776 )
                

Total stockholders’ equity

     3,653,569       3,699,559  
                

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 24,680,684     $ 25,365,453  
                

See the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements

 

3


Table of Contents

Assurant, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statement of Operations (Unaudited)

Three Months Ended March 31, 2006 and 2005

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,
     2006     2005
     (in thousands except number
of shares and per share amounts)

Revenues

    

Net earned premiums and other considerations

   $ 1,672,653     $ 1,631,894

Net investment income

     192,562       164,200

Net realized (loss) gain on investments

     (4,452 )     492

Amortization of deferred gain on disposal of businesses

     8,833       11,863

Fees and other income

     60,186       53,905
              

Total revenues

     1,929,782       1,862,354

Benefits, losses and expenses

    

Policyholder benefits

     889,679       943,524

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs and value of business acquired

     285,383       215,445

Underwriting, general and administrative expenses

     497,049       511,348

Interest expense

     15,315       15,314
              

Total benefits, losses and expenses

     1,687,426       1,685,631
              

Income before income taxes and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     242,356       176,723

Income taxes

     81,431       62,325
              

Net income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     160,925       114,398

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     1,547       —  
              

Net Income

   $ 162,472     $ 114,398
              

Earnings per share:

    

Basic

    

Net income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

   $ 1.24     $ 0.82

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     0.01       —  
              

Net income

   $ 1.25     $ 0.82
              

Diluted

    

Net income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

   $ 1.22     $ 0.82

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     0.01       —  
              

Net income

   $ 1.23     $ 0.82
              

Dividends per share

   $ 0.08     $ 0.07
              

Share Data:

    

Weighted average shares outstanding used in per share calculations

     129,998,426       139,736,533

Plus: Dilutive securities

     2,001,880       96,480
              

Weighted average shares used in diluted per share calculations

     132,000,306       139,833,013
              

See the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements

 

4


Table of Contents

Assurant, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity

From December 31, 2005 through March 31, 2006 (unaudited)

 

     Common
Stock
   Additional
Paid-in
Capital
    Retained
Earnings
    Unamortized
Restricted
Stock
Compensation
   

Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income

(Loss)

    Treasury
Stock
    Total    

Shares of
Common

Stock

Issued

     (in thousands except number of shares)

Balance, December 31, 2005

   $ 1,426    $ 2,880,329     $ 1,006,910     $ (2,829 )   $ 219,499     $ (405,776 )   $ 3,699,559     142,563,829

Stock Plan Issuance

     1      (1,109 )     —         2,829       —         —         1,721     133,526

Stock Plan Compensation Expense

     —        1,531       —         —         —         —         1,531     —  

Tax benefit of exercise of stock options

     —        104       —         —         —         —         104    

Dividends

     —        —         (10,409 )     —         —         —         (10,409 )   —  

Acquistion of Treasury Shares

     —        —         —         —         —         (60,310 )     (60,310 )   —  

Comprehensive income:

                 

Net income

     —        —         162,472       —         —         —         162,472     —  

Other comprehensive income:

                 

Net change in unrealized gains on securities

     —        —         —         —         (140,855 )     —         (140,855 )   —  

Foreign currency translation, net of taxes

     —        —         —         —         (244 )     —         (244 )   —  
                       

Total other comprehensive income

                  (141,099 )   —  
                       

Total Comprehensive income:

                  21,373     —  
                                                           

Balance, March 31, 2006

   $ 1,427    $ 2,880,855     $ 1,158,973     $ —       $ 78,400     $ (466,086 )   $ 3,653,569     142,697,355
                                                           

See the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements

 

5


Table of Contents

Assurant, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (unaudited)

Three Months Ended March 31, 2006 and 2005

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2006     2005  
     (in thousands)  

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

   $ (97,569 )   $ 76,703  

Investing activities

    

Sales of:

    

Fixed maturities available for sale

     451,261       400,903  

Equity securities available for sale

     154,782       26,666  

Property and equipment

     1,632       29  

Maturities, prepayments, and scheduled redemption of:

    

Fixed maturities available for sale

     173,480       202,215  

Purchases of:

    

Fixed maturities available for sale

     (767,176 )     (794,752 )

Equity securities available for sale

     (173,320 )     (72,913 )

Property and equipment

     (12,920 )     (13,618 )

Change in commercial mortgage loans on real estate

     (22,211 )     12,509  

Change in short term investments

     165,280       (138,747 )

Change in other invested assets

     (9,188 )     997  

Change in policy loans

     997       698  

Change in collateral held under securities lending

     67,464       (64,990 )
                

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

     30,081       (441,003 )

Financing activities

    

Repayment of mandatorily redeemable preferred stock

     (1,000 )     —    

Issuance of common stock

     1,721       1,700  

Excess tax benefits from stock-based payment arrangements

     104       —    

Purchase of treasury stock

     (60,310 )     (24,602 )

Dividends paid

     (10,409 )     (9,795 )

Change in obligation under securities lending

     (67,464 )     64,990  

Commercial paper issued

     19,982       39,959  

Commercial paper repaid

     (20,000 )     (40,000 )
                

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

     (137,376 )     32,252  

Change in cash and cash equivalents

     (204,864 )     (332,048 )

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     855,569       807,082  
                

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 650,705     $ 475,034  
                

See the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements

 

6


Table of Contents

Assurant, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Three Months Ended March 31, 2006 and 2005

 

1. Nature of Operations

Assurant, Inc. (formerly, Fortis, Inc.) (the “Company”) is a holding company whose subsidiaries provide specialized insurance products and related services in North America and selected international markets. Prior to the Initial Public Offering (the “IPO”) on February 5, 2004, Fortis, Inc. was incorporated in Nevada and was indirectly wholly owned by Fortis N.V. of the Netherlands and Fortis SA/NV of Belgium (collectively, “Fortis”) through their affiliates, including their wholly owned subsidiary, Fortis Insurance N.V.

In connection with the IPO, Fortis, Inc. was merged into Assurant, Inc., a Delaware corporation, which was formed solely for the purpose of the redomestication of Fortis, Inc. After the merger, Assurant, Inc. became the successor to the business, operations and obligations of Fortis, Inc. Assurant, Inc. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AIZ.

Through its operating subsidiaries, the Company provides creditor-placed homeowners insurance, manufactured housing homeowners insurance, debt protection administration, credit insurance, warranties and extended service contracts, individual health and small employer group health insurance, group dental insurance, group disability insurance, group life insurance and pre-funded funeral insurance.

 

2. Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information. Accordingly, these statements do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements.

In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair statement of the financial statements have been included. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2006 presentation.

Dollar amounts are in thousands, except for number of shares and per share amounts.

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all of its wholly owned subsidiaries. All inter-company transactions and balances are eliminated in consolidation.

Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2006 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2006. The accompanying interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.

 

3. Recent Accounting Pronouncements and Change in Accounting Principle

On January 1, 2006, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“FAS”) No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment (“FAS 123R”) which replaces Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, Share-Based Payment and supersedes Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees. FAS 123R requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the financial statements based on their fair values. The pro forma disclosures previously permitted under FAS 123 are no longer an alternative to financial statement recognition. Under FAS 123R, the Company must determine the appropriate fair value model to be used for valuing share-based payments, the amortization method for compensation cost, and the transition method to be used at date of adoption. The Company adopted FAS 123R using the modified prospective method which requires that compensation expense be recorded for all unvested stock options at the beginning of the first quarter of adoption of FAS 123R. The adoption of FAS

 

7


Table of Contents

Assurant, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Three Months Ended March 31, 2006 and 2005

 

123R did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. See Note 5 for further information regarding the adoption of FAS 123R.

On January 1, 2006, the Company adopted FAS No. 154, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections, a replacement of APB Opinion No. 20, Accounting Changes, and Statement No. 3, Reporting Accounting Changes in Interim Financial Statements (“FAS 154”). FAS 154 changes the accounting and reporting of a change in accounting principles. Prior to FAS 154, the majority of voluntary changes in accounting principles were required to be recognized as a cumulative effect adjustment within net income during the period of the change. FAS 154 requires retrospective application to prior period financial statements unless it is impracticable to determine either the period-specific effects or the cumulative effect of the change. The adoption of FAS 154 did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

4. Debt

In February 2004, the Company issued two series of senior notes with an aggregate principal amount of $975,000. The Company received net proceeds from this transaction of $971,537, which represents the principal amount less the discount. The discount will be amortized over the life of the notes.

The interest expense incurred related to the senior notes was $15,047 for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The Company made an interest payment of $30,094 on February 15, 2006.

In March 2004, the Company established a $500,000 commercial paper program, which is available for working capital and other general corporate purposes. This program is backed up by a $500,000 senior revolving credit facility. On February 7, 2006, the Company used $20,000 from the commercial paper program for general corporate purposes, which was repaid on February 14, 2006. There were no amounts relating to the commercial paper program outstanding at March 31, 2006. The Company did not use the revolving credit facility during the three months ended March 31, 2006 and no amounts are currently outstanding.

The revolving credit facility contains restrictive covenants. The terms of the revolving credit facility also require that the Company maintain certain specified minimum ratios and thresholds. The Company is in compliance with all covenants and the Company maintains all specified minimum ratios and thresholds.

 

5. Stock Based Incentive Plans

Prior to January 1, 2006, the Company accounted for stock based compensation plans in accordance with the provisions of Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees (“APB 25”), which required compensation expense for compensatory plans to be recognized based on the intrinsic value of the award. Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payments (“FAS 123R”) using the modified prospective transition method and, therefore, has not restated results for prior periods. Under this transition method, stock-based compensation costs are recognized based on the grant date fair value, in accordance with FAS 123R, for new awards granted after January 1, 2006 as well as any unvested portion of awards granted prior to January 1, 2006. For the three months ended March 31, 2006, the Company recognized compensation costs, net of a 5% per year forfeiture rate, on a pro-rated basis.

FAS 123R requires that a one time cumulative adjustment be made at the adoption date to record an estimate of future forfeitures on outstanding awards. This adjustment is the amount of compensation cost recorded prior to the adoption of FAS 123R related to outstanding awards that are not expected to vest, based on an estimate of forfeitures as of the FAS 123R adoption date. The cumulative adjustment, net of taxes, had a positive impact of $1,547 on the consolidated results of operations of the Company for the three months ended March 31, 2006.

 

8


Table of Contents

Assurant, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Three Months Ended March 31, 2006 and 2005

Also in connection with the adoption of FAS 123R, the Company reclassified $2,829 of Unamortized Restricted Stock Compensation (contra-equity account) outstanding at December 31, 2005 to additional paid in capital. Under FAS 123R, an equity instrument is not recorded to stockholders’ equity until the related compensation expense is recorded over the requisite vesting period of the award. Prior to the adoption of FAS 123R, and in accordance with APB 25, the Company recorded the full fair value of all issued but non-vested Restricted Stock to additional paid in capital with an offsetting amount to Unamortized Restricted Stock Compensation (contra-equity account) which represented the amount of compensation costs not yet recognized for Restricted Stock.

Director’s Compensation Plan

The Company’s Director’s Compensation Plan permits the issuance of up to 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock to Non-Employee Directors. Under this Plan, each Non-Employee Director shall receive annual compensation in the form of both common stock and Stock Appreciation Rights (“SARs”) equal to $60 each. Awards to a Non-Employee Director vest immediately and must be held for 5 years subsequent to the date of grant or settlement, or one year post-resignation. There were no common shares issued or expense recorded related to the Director’s Plan for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005.

Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP)

The 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan provides for the granting of up to 10,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock to employees and officers under the Assurant Long Term Incentive Plan (“ALTIP”), Business Value Rights (“BVR”) and CEO Equity Grants Plan.

The ALTIP authorizes the granting of Restricted Stock and SARs, subject to approval by the Compensation Committee, which is made up of members of the Board of Directors. Restricted Stock grants under the ALTIP are made annually and vest pro ratably over a three year period. Unearned compensation, representing the market value of the shares at the date of issuance, is charged to earnings over the vesting period. SARs grants under the ALTIP are also made annually and have a three year cliff vesting period and a five year contractual life. SARs not exercised prior to the end of the contractual life are automatically exercised on that date.

The BVR plan authorizes the granting of SARs, subject to the approval of the Compensation Committee or their designee. SARs grants under this plan are made annually and have a three year cliff vesting period and a three year contractual life, at the end of which the rights are automatically exercised.

The CEO Equity Grants Plan authorizes the granting of Restricted Stock, limited to 100,000 shares per year, subject to the approval of the CEO as authorized by the Compensation Committee. Restricted Stock grants under this plan have variable vesting schedules and grant dates.

All shares awarded under the LTIP vest and are exercised net of taxes at the option of the participants.

Restricted Stock

A summary of the Company’s outstanding Restricted Stock as of March 31, 2006, and the changes during that period is presented below:

 

     Shares    

Weighted-Average
Grant-Date

Fair Value

Shares outstanding at December 31, 2005

   127,601     $ 32.86

Grants

   2,100       44.64

Vests

   (21,270 )     25.90

Forfeitures

   (1,761 )     32.24
            

Shares outstanding at March 31, 2006

   106,670     $ 34.49
            

 

9


Table of Contents

Assurant, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Three Months Ended March 31, 2006 and 2005

The compensation expense recorded related to Restricted Stock was $611 and $79 for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The related total income tax benefit recognized was $214 and zero for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

As of March 31, 2006, there was $2,312 of unrecognized compensation cost related to outstanding restricted stock. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.3 years. The total fair value of shares vested during the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005 was $551 and $381, respectively.

Stock Appreciation Rights

On April 7, 2005, the company approved an amendment to the Long-Term Incentive Plans. The amendment, which was effective June 30, 2005, amended SARs from rights that paid appreciation to participants in the form of cash to rights that pay appreciation to participants in the form of Company stock.

A summary of the Company’s outstanding SARs as of March 31, 2006, and the changes during that period is presented below:

 

     SARs     Weighted Average
Exercise Price
   Weighted Average
Remaining
Contractual Term
   Aggregate
Intrinsic Value

SARs outstanding, December 31, 2005

   5,981,397     $ 27.40      

Grants

   —         —        

Exercises

   (187,351 )     22.72      

Forfeitures and adjustments

   (39,701 )     31.53      
                  

SARs outstanding, March 31, 2006

   5,754,345     $ 27.52    5.37    $ 125,036
                        

SARs exercisable at March 31, 2006

   3,030,267     $ 24.60    5.36    $ 74,702
                        

The fair value of each SAR outstanding was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Expected volatilities were based on the median historical stock price volatility of a peer group of insurance companies. The expected term for rights granted under the previous plan that were converted on June 30, 2005 assumed to be the optimal term from the employee’s perspective under the Black-Scholes Model. The expected term for grants made subsequent to the June 30, 2005 conversion was assumed to equal the average of the vesting period of the right and the full contractual term of the right. The risk-free rate for periods within the contractual life of the option was based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant.

There were no SARs awards granted during the three months ended March 31, 2006. The compensation expense recorded related to SARs was $2,951 for the three months ended March 31, 2006, and the related income tax benefit recognized for the same period was $1,033. The total intrinsic value of SARs exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2006 was $4,971.

Executive 401K Plan

During the first three months of 2005, the Company purchased 10,300 treasury shares for $350 via a Rabbi Trust which was allocated to the Assurant Stock fund. Effective September 2005, the Assurant Stock Fund was dissolved and the Company’s stock will no longer be offered to participants of the Executive 401K Plan.

 

10


Table of Contents

Assurant, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Three Months Ended March 31, 2006 and 2005

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

The Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”), authorizes the issuance of up to 5,000,000 shares to employees who are participants in the Plan. The ESPP allows eligible employees to contribute, through payroll deductions, up to 15% of their after-tax compensation in each offering period toward the purchase of Company shares. There are two offering periods during the year (January 1 through June 30 and July 1 through December 31) and shares are purchased at the end of each offering period at 90% of the lower of the closing price of Company’s stock on the first or last day of the offering period. Prior to January 1, 2006, participants’ contribution was limited to a maximum of $6 per offering period. The ESPP was amended in November 2005 to increase the maximum contribution to $7.5 per offering period, or $15 per year.

The ESPP is offered to individuals who are scheduled to work at least 20 hours per week and at least five months per year, have been continuously employed for at least six months by the start of the offering period, are not temporary employees (employed less than 12 months), and have not been on a leave of absence for more than 90 days immediately preceding the offering period. Participants must be employed on the last day of the offering period in order to purchase Company shares under the ESPP. The maximum number of shares that can be purchased each offering period is 5,000 shares.

In January 2006, the Company issued 73,992 shares to employees at a price of $32.59 for the offering period of July 1 through December 31, 2005, relating to the ESPP. In January 2005, the Company issued 71,860 shares at a price of $23.67 for the offering period of July 1 through December 31, 2004, relating to the ESPP.

The compensation expense recorded related to the ESPP was $317 for the three months ended March 31, 2006. Prior to the adoption of FAS 123R, the Company accounted for ESPP in accordance with APB 25 as a non-compensatory plan, and accordingly did not record any compensation expense.

The fair value of each award under the ESPP was estimated at the beginning of each offering period using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and the assumptions in the following table. Expected volatilities are based on implied volatilities from traded options on the Company’s stock and the historical volatility of the Company’s stock. The risk-free rate for periods within the contractual life of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant.

 

     For awards issued during the
three months ended
March 31,
 
     2006     2005  

Expected Volatility

   21.09 %   15.90 %

Risk Free Interest Rates

   3.35 %   1.63 %

Dividend Yield

   0.88 %   1.06 %

Expected Life

   0.5     0.5  

 

11


Table of Contents

Assurant, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Three Months Ended March 31, 2006 and 2005

Pro-Forma Disclosure

The following pro forma net income and net income per share amounts were determined as if the Company had accounted for the ESPP Plan under the fair value method of FAS 123 for the three months ended March 31, 2005. This disclosure is not equivalent to the impact of FAS 123R.

 

     For the
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2005
 

Net income as reported

   $ 114,398  

Add: Stock-based employee compensation expense included in reported net income, net of related tax effects

     —    

Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects

     (137 )
        

Pro forma net income

   $ 114,261  
        

Earnings per share as reported:

  

Basic

  

Diluted

   $ 0.82  
   $ 0.82  

Pro forma earnings per share:

  

Basic

  

Diluted

   $ 0.82  
   $ 0.82  

 

6. Stock Repurchase

The following table shows the shares repurchased during the periods indicated:

 

Period in 2006

   Number of
Shares Purchased
   Average Price
Paid Per Share
   Total Number of Shares
Purchased as Part of
Publicly Announced
Program

January

   450,200      44.33    450,200

February

   416,600      44.49    416,600

March

   550,000      46.38    550,000
                

Total

   1,416,800    $ 45.17    1,416,800
                

For the three months ending March 31, 2006, the Company repurchased 1,416,800 shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock at a cost of $64,001 and has $331,378 remaining to purchase shares pursuant to the November 11, 2005 publicly announced repurchase program.

 

12


Table of Contents

Assurant, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Three Months Ended March 31, 2006 and 2005

 

7. Earnings Per Common Share

The following table presents the weighted average common shares used in calculating basic earnings per common share and those used in calculating diluted earnings per common share for each income category presented below.

 

     Three months ended March 31,
     2006    2005
     (in thousands except number of
shares and per share amounts)

Numerator

     

Net income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

   $ 160,925    $ 114,398

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle (Note 5)

     1,547      —  
             

Net income

   $ 162,472    $ 114,398

Denominator

     

Weighted average shares outstanding used in basic per share calculations

     129,998,426      139,736,533

Incremental common shares from assumed:

     

SARs

     1,901,230      —  

Executive 401K plan

     —        24,808

Restricted stock

     51,958      18,586

ESPP

     48,692      53,086
             

Weighted average shares used in diluted per share calculations

     132,000,306      139,833,013
             

Earnings per share:

     

Basic

     

Net income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

   $ 1.24    $ 0.82

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     0.01      —  
             

Net income

   $ 1.25    $ 0.82
             

Diluted

     

Net income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

   $ 1.22    $ 0.82

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     0.01      —  
             

Net income

   $ 1.23    $ 0.82
             

Restricted shares totaling 50 and zero were outstanding for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively, but were anti-dilutive and thus not included in the computation of diluted EPS under the treasury method.

 

13


Table of Contents

Assurant, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Three Months Ended March 31, 2006 and 2005

 

8. Retirement and Other Employee Benefits

The components of net periodic benefit cost for the Company’s qualified pension benefits plan, nonqualified pension benefits plan and retirement health benefits plan for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005 were as follows:

 

     Qualified Pension
Benefits
    Nonqualified
Pension Benefits (1)
   Retirement Health
Benefits
 
     For the three months
ended March 31,
    For the three months
ended March 31,
   For the three months
ended March 31,
 
     2006     2005     2006    2005    2006     2005  

Service cost

   $ 4,900     $ 4,485     $ 450    $ 529    $ 700     $ 566  

Interest cost

     5,275       5,051       1,300      1,244      825       778  

Expected return on plan assets

     (7,025 )     (5,989 )     —        —        (275 )     (146 )

Amortization of prior service cost

     775       764       175      175      325       327  

Amortization of net loss

     2,075       1,639       925      827      —         —    
                                              

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 6,000     $ 5,950     $ 2,850    $ 2,775    $ 1,575     $ 1,525  
                                              

 

(1) The Company’s nonqualified plans are unfunded.

During the first three months of 2006, the Company contributed zero, $1,050 and $375 to the qualified pension benefits plan, nonqualified pension benefits plan and the retirement health benefits plan, respectively. The Company expects to contribute $23,700 to its pension benefit plans and $1,500 to its retirement health benefit plan for the full year 2006.

 

9. Segment Information

The Company has five reportable segments, which are defined based on the nature of the products and services offered: Assurant Solutions, Assurant Health, Assurant Employee Benefits, Assurant Preneed, and Corporate & Other. Assurant Solutions provides credit insurance, including life, disability and unemployment, debt protection administration services, warranties and extended service contracts, creditor-placed homeowners insurance and manufactured housing homeowners insurance. Assurant Health provides individual, short-term and small group health insurance. Assurant Employee Benefits provides employee and employer paid dental, disability, and life insurance products and related services. Assurant Preneed provides life insurance policies and annuity products that provide benefits to fund pre-arranged funerals. Corporate & Other includes activities of the holding company, financing and interest expenses, net realized gains (losses) on investments, interest income earned from short-term investments held and additional costs associated with excess of loss reinsurance programs reinsured and ceded to certain subsidiaries in London market between 1995 and 1997. Corporate & Other also includes the amortization of deferred gains associated with the sales of Fortis Financial Group and Long-Term Care through reinsurance agreements.

The Company evaluates performance of the operating business segments based on segment income after-tax excluding realized gains (losses) on investments. The Company determines reportable segments in a manner consistent with the way the Company organizes for purposes of making operating decisions and assessing performance.

On June 21, 2005, the Company announced its intention to separate Assurant Solutions into two businesses – Assurant Specialty Property and Assurant Solutions. The Company will begin reporting separate segment financial information in the second quarter of 2006 upon completion of the separation of the underlying product lines. In addition, concurrent with the creation of the new Assurant Solutions and Assurant Specialty Property segments, the Company will realign the PreNeed segment under the new Assurant Solutions segment.

 

14


Table of Contents

Assurant, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Three Months Ended March 31, 2006 and 2005

The following tables summarize selected financial information by segment:

 

     Three Months Ended March 31, 2006  
     Solutions    Health    Employee
Benefits
   PreNeed    Corporate &
Other
    Consolidated  

Revenues

                

Net earned premiums and other considerations

   $ 739,185    $ 523,405    $ 326,111    $ 83,952    $ —       $ 1,672,653  

Net investment income

     58,786      24,001      40,839      55,086      13,850       192,562  

Net realized loss on investments

     —        —        —        —        (4,452 )     (4,452 )

Amortization of deferred gain on disposal of businesses

     —        —        —        —        8,833       8,833  

Fees and other income

     43,405      9,726      6,832      223      —         60,186  
                                            

Total revenues

     841,376      557,132      373,782      139,261      18,231       1,929,782  

Benefits, losses and expenses

                

Policyholder benefits

     221,919      325,401      245,439      96,920      —         889,679  

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs and value of business acquired

     250,990      7,099      6,080      21,214      —         285,383  

Underwriting, general and administrative expenses

     221,117      155,613      93,034      10,646      16,639       497,049  

Interest expense

     —        —        —        —        15,315       15,315  
                                            

Total benefits, losses and expenses

     694,026      488,113      344,553      128,780      31,954       1,687,426  

Segment income (loss) before income tax

     147,350      69,019      29,229      10,481      (13,723 )     242,356  

Income taxes

     50,011      23,923      10,044      3,629      (6,176 )     81,431  
                                            

Segment income (loss) after tax

   $ 97,339    $ 45,096    $ 19,185    $ 6,852    $ (7,547 )   $ 160,925  
                                            

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

                   1,547  
                      

Net income

                 $ 162,472  
                      
     As of March 31, 2006  

Segment Assets:

                

Segments assets, excluding goodwill

   $ 7,783,029    $ 1,682,021    $ 2,915,089    $ 4,458,157    $ 7,037,499     $ 23,875,795  
                                      

Goodwill

                   804,889  
                      

Total Assets

                 $ 24,680,684  
                      
     Three Months Ended March 31, 2005  
     Solutions    Health    Employee
Benefits
   PreNeed    Corporate &
Other
    Consolidated  

Revenues

                

Net earned premiums and other considerations

   $ 615,247    $ 549,526    $ 345,922    $ 121,199    $ —       $ 1,631,894  

Net investment income

     48,165      17,705      37,983      53,012      7,335       164,200  

Net realized gains on investments

     —        —        —        —        492       492  

Amortization of deferred gain on disposal of businesses

     —        —        —        —        11,863       11,863  

Fees and other income

     36,103      10,331      6,189      1,179      103       53,905  
                                            

Total revenues

     699,515      577,562      390,094      175,390      19,793       1,862,354  

Benefits, losses and expenses

                

Policyholder benefits

     203,265      345,368      267,738      127,153      —         943,524  

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs and value of business acquired

     175,079      8,923      4,706      26,737      —         215,445  

Underwriting, general and administrative expenses

     239,510      147,840      92,311      10,794      20,893       511,348  

Interest expense

     —        —        —        —        15,314       15,314  
                                            

Total benefits, losses and expenses

     617,854      502,131      364,755      164,684      36,207       1,685,631  

Segment income (loss) before income tax

     81,661      75,431      25,339      10,706      (16,414 )     176,723  

Income taxes

     26,891      25,758      8,960      3,750      (3,034 )     62,325  
                                            

Segment income after tax

   $ 54,770    $ 49,673    $ 16,379    $ 6,956    $ (13,380 )  
                                      

Net income

                 $ 114,398  
                      
     As of December 31, 2005  

Segment Assets:

                

Segments assets, excluding goodwill

   $ 8,400,614    $ 1,635,289    $ 2,930,447    $ 4,444,718    $ 7,149,521     $ 24,560,589  
                                      

Goodwill

                   804,864  
                      

Total Assets

                 $ 25,365,453  
                      

 

15


Table of Contents

Assurant, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Three Months Ended March 31, 2006 and 2005

 

10. Commitments and Contingencies

In the normal course of business, letters of credit are issued primarily to support reinsurance arrangements. These letters of credit are supported by commitments with financial institutions. The Company had $33,626 of letters of credit outstanding as of March 31, 2006.

The Company is regularly involved in litigation in the ordinary course of business, both as a defendant and as a plaintiff. The Company may from time to time be subject to a variety of legal and regulatory actions relating to the Company’s current and past business operations. While the Company cannot predict the outcome of any pending or future litigation, examination or investigation, and although no assurances can be given, the Company does not believe that any pending matter will have a material adverse effect individually or in the aggregate, on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

The Solutions segment is subject to a number of pending actions, primarily in the State of Mississippi, many of which allege that the Company’s credit insurance products were packaged and sold with lenders’ products without buyer consent. The judicial climate in Mississippi is such that the outcome of these cases is extremely unpredictable. The Company has been advised by legal counsel that the Company has meritorious defenses to all claims being asserted against the Company. The Company believes, based on information currently available, that the amounts it has accrued are adequate.

In addition, one of the Company’s subsidiaries, American Reliable Insurance Company (“ARIC”), participated in certain excess of loss reinsurance programs in the London market and, as a result, reinsured certain personal accident, ransom and kidnap insurance risks from 1995 to 1997. ARIC and a foreign affiliate ceded a portion of these risks to retrocessionaires. ARIC ceased reinsuring such business in 1997. However, certain risks continued beyond 1997 due to the nature of the reinsurance contracts written. ARIC and some of the other reinsurers involved in the programs are seeking to avoid certain treaties on various grounds, including material misrepresentation and non-disclosure by the ceding companies and intermediaries involved in the programs. Similarly, some of the retrocessionaires are seeking avoidance of certain treaties with ARIC and the other reinsurers and some reinsureds are seeking collection of disputed balances under some of the treaties. The disputes generally involve multiple layers of reinsurance, and allegations that the reinsurance programs involved interrelated claims “spirals” devised to disproportionately pass claims losses to higher-level reinsurance layers. Many of the companies involved in these programs, including ARIC, are currently involved in negotiations, arbitrations and/or litigation between multiple layers of retrocessionaires, reinsurers, ceding companies and intermediaries, including brokers, in an effort to resolve these disputes.

Many of the disputes involving ARIC and an affiliate, Bankers Insurance Company Limited (BICL), relating to the 1995 and 1997 program years, have been resolved by settlement or arbitration. As a result of the settlements and an arbitration (in which ARIC did not prevail) additional information became available in 2005, and based on management’s best estimate, the Company increased its reserves and recorded a total pre-tax charge of $61,943 for the year ended December 31, 2005. Negotiations, arbitrations and litigation are still ongoing or will be scheduled for the remaining disputes. On February 28, 2006 there was a settlement relating to the 1996 program. Loss accruals previously established relating to the 1996 program were adequate. The Company believes, based on information currently available, that the amounts accrued for currently outstanding disputes are adequate. However, the inherent uncertainty of arbitrations and lawsuits, including the uncertainty of estimating whether any settlements the Company may enter into in the future would be on favorable terms, makes it difficult to predict the outcomes with certainty.

The Company was notified on August 26, 2004 that one of our employees is being investigated by the criminal division of the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) for responses he made to questions he was asked by the IRS relating to an approximately $18,000 tax reserve taken by the Company in 1999. Recently, counsel for the employee was notified by the IRS that the matter was closed in February 2006 with no action taken.

 

16


Table of Contents

Assurant, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Three Months Ended March 31, 2006 and 2005

As part of ongoing, industry-wide investigations, the Company has received various subpoenas and requests from the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York seeking the production of various documents. The areas of inquiry addressed to the Company include “certain loss mitigation products” and documents relating to the use of finite risk insurance. The Company is cooperating fully with these investigations and is complying with these requests.

Based on the Company’s investigation to date into this matter, the Company has concluded that there was a verbal side agreement with respect to one of the Company’s reinsurers under its catastrophic reinsurance program. While management believes that the difference resulting from the appropriate alternative accounting treatment would be immaterial to the Company’s financial position or results of operations, regulators may reach a different conclusion. In 2004 and 2003, premiums ceded to this reinsurer were $2,600 and $1,500, respectively, and losses ceded were $10,000 and $0, respectively. This contract expired in December of 2004 and was not renewed.

The Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors, with the assistance of independent counsel has completed its initial investigation of the matters raised by the subpoenas and continues to respond to inquiries from the regulatory agencies. The Audit Committee has not found any wrongdoing on the part of any current officers of the Company. The Company has enhanced its internal controls regarding reinsurance and these controls are being appropriately monitored to ensure their effectiveness.

 

11. Subsequent Events

On May 1, 2006, the Company acquired 100% of the common stock of Safeco Financial Institution Solutions, Inc. (“Safeco FIS”). At the time of the acquisition, Safeco FIS was the fourth largest provider of creditor-placed homeowners insurance and direct tracking services for mortgage lenders and servicers nationwide. The Company also entered into a reinsurance agreement with certain Safeco Insurance Companies. Safeco FIS will become part of Assurant Solutions Specialty Property business. The Safeco FIS acquisition will add $140,000 of additional annual premium to the Assurant Solutions Specialty Property business.

 

17


Table of Contents
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

(Dollar amounts in thousands except share data)

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations addresses the financial condition of Assurant, Inc. and its subsidiaries (which we refer to collectively as Assurant) as of March 31, 2006, compared with December 31, 2005, and our results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005. This discussion should be read in conjunction with our MD&A and annual audited financial statements as of December 31, 2005 included in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the March 31, 2006 unaudited consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Form 10-Q.

Some of the statements in this MD&A and elsewhere in this report may contain forward-looking statements which reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, future events and financial performance. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking words such as “outlook,” “believes,” “expects,” “potential,” “continues,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “approximately,” “predicts,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “anticipates” or the negative version of those words or other comparable words. Any forward-looking statements contained in this report are based upon our historical performance and on current plans, estimates and expectations. The inclusion of this forward-looking information should not be regarded as a representation by us or any other person that the future plans, estimates or expectations contemplated by us will be achieved. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated in this report. We believe that these factors include but are not limited to those described under the subsection entitled “Risk Factors” in our 2005 Form 10K. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in this report. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or review any forwardlooking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. If one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may vary materially from what we projected. Any forward-looking statements you read in this report reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, results of operations, financial condition, growth strategy and liquidity.

Company Overview

Assurant is a premier provider of specialized insurance products and related services in North America and selected international markets. The four business segments — Assurant Solutions; Assurant Health; Assurant Employee Benefits; and Assurant Preneed — have partnered with clients who are leaders in their industries and have built leadership positions in a number of specialty insurance market segments in the U.S. and selected international markets. The Assurant business segments provide creditor-placed homeowners insurance; manufactured housing homeowners insurance; debt protection administration services; credit insurance including life, disability and unemployment; warranties and extended services contracts; individual, short-term and small employer group health insurance; group dental insurance; group disability insurance; group life insurance; and pre-funded funeral insurance.

Critical Factors Affecting Results

Our results depend on the adequacy of our product pricing, underwriting and the accuracy of our methodology for the establishment of reserves for future policyholder benefits and claims, returns on invested assets and our ability to manage our expenses. Therefore, factors affecting these items may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.

 

18


Table of Contents

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our 2005 Form 10-K described the accounting policies and estimates that are critical to the understanding of our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity. The accounting policies and estimates described in the 2005 Form 10-K were consistently applied to the consolidated interim financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2006.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

See – Financial Statement Footnote 3.

 

19


Table of Contents

Assurant Consolidated

Overview

The tables below present information regarding our consolidated results of operations:

 

     For the Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2006     2005  
     (in thousands)  

Revenues:

    

Net earned premiums and other considerations

   $ 1,672,653     $ 1,631,894  

Net investment income

     192,562       164,200  

Net realized (losses) gains on investments

     (4,452 )     492  

Amortization of deferred gain on disposal of businesses

     8,833       11,863  

Fees and other income

     60,186       53,905  
                

Total revenues

     1,929,782       1,862,354  
                

Benefits, losses and expenses:

    

Policyholder benefits

     (889,679 )     (943,524 )

Selling, underwriting and general expenses (1)

     (782,432 )     (726,793 )

Interest Expense

     (15,315 )     (15,314 )
                

Total benefits, losses and expenses

     (1,687,426 )     (1,685,631 )
                

Income before income tax and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     242,356       176,723  

Income taxes

     (81,431 )     (62,325 )
                

Net Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     160,925       114,398  
                

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     1,547       —    
                

Net Income

   $ 162,472     $ 114,398  
                

(1) Includes amortization of DAC and VOBA and underwriting, general and administrative expenses.

For The Three Months Ended March 31, 2006 Compared to The Three Months Ended March 31, 2005.

Net Income

Net income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle increased by $46,527, or 41%, to $160,925 for the three months March 31, 2006 from $114,398 for the three months ended March 31, 2005. The increase was primarily driven by an increase in our Assurant Specialty Property businesses’ net earned premiums and excellent loss experience in our Specialty Property creditor placed and voluntary homeowners product lines. Our Assurant Solutions consumer protection businesses also contributed with improved underwriting results in our extended service contract and international business. We also benefited from an increase in investment income which included approximately $14,700 (pre-tax) of investment income from a real estate partnership. Lastly, the adoption of FAS 123R on January 1, 2006 reduced our compensation expense related to stock appreciation rights. The $1,547 cumulative effect of change in accounting principle reflects the difference between compensation expense previously recognized, using actual forfeitures, and the compensation expense that would have been recognized using expected forfeitures.

 

20


Table of Contents

Assurant Solutions

Overview

The tables below present information regarding our Assurant Solutions’ segment results of operations:

 

     For the Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2006     2005  
     (in thousands)  

Revenues:

    

Net earned premiums and other considerations

   $ 739,185     $ 615,247  

Net investment income

     58,786       48,165  

Fees and other income

     43,405       36,103  
                

Total revenues

     841,376       699,515  
                

Benefits, losses and expenses:

    

Policyholder benefits

     (221,919 )     (203,265 )

Selling, underwriting and general expenses

     (472,107 )     (414,589 )
                

Total benefits, losses and expenses

     (694,026 )     (617,854 )
                

Segment income before income tax

     147,350       81,661  

Income taxes

     (50,011 )     (26,891 )
                

Segment income after tax

   $ 97,339     $ 54,770  
                

Net earned premiums and other considerations by major product groupings:

    

Specialty Property Solutions(1)

   $ 252,749     $ 201,118  

Consumer Protection Solutions(2)

     486,436       414,129  
                

Total

   $ 739,185     $ 615,247  
                

Gross written premiums for selected product groupings: (3)

    

Domestic Credit

   $ 168,927     $ 190,718  

International Credit

   $ 161,024     $ 162,747  

Domestic Extended Service Contracts (4)

   $ 285,504     $ 253,249  

International Extended Service Contracts (4)

   $ 66,256     $ 47,570  

Specialty Property (1)

   $ 355,092     $ 299,357  

(1) “Specialty Property” includes a variety of specialized property insurance programs that are coupled with differentiated administrative capabilities, such as creditor placed and voluntary homeowners, manufactured housing homeowners and other specialty property products.

 

(2) “Consumer Protection” includes an array of credit insurance programs and extended service contracts.

 

(3) Gross written premium does not necessarily translate to an equal amount of subsequent net earned premium since Assurant Solutions reinsures a portion of its premium to insurance subsidiaries of its clients.

 

(4) Extended Service Contracts includes warranty contracts for products such as personal computers, consumer electronics and appliances.

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2006 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2005.

Net Income

Segment net income increased by $42,569, or 78%, to $97,339 for the three months ended March 31, 2006 from $54,770 for the three months ended March 31, 2005. The increase in segment net income is primarily attributable to an increase in Specialty Property net earned premiums of 26% and excellent loss experience in our creditor placed and voluntary homeowners product lines. Our Consumer Protection businesses also contributed with improved underwriting results in our extended service contract and international businesses. The growth in the businesses has also led to an increase in invested assets from the prior year. This increase, combined with an increase in interest rates and income from a real estate partnership, resulted in a 22% increase in investment income.

 

21


Table of Contents

Total Revenues

Total revenues increased by $141,861 or 20%, to $841,376 for the three months ended March 31, 2006 from $699,515 for the three months ended March 31, 2005. This increase is primarily due to an increase in net earned premiums and other considerations of $123,938. Net earned premiums and other considerations from our Specialty Property businesses increased by $51,631, or 26%, primarily due to an increase in net earned premiums in our creditor placed homeowners insurance business. Net earned premiums and other considerations from our Consumer Protection businesses increased by $72,307, or 17%, primarily due to an increase in net earned premiums in our extended service contract and international businesses, partially offset by the continued decline of our domestic credit insurance business. The increase in revenues was also driven by an increase in net investment income of $10,621. The increase was a result of an increase in the average portfolio yield of 50 basis points to 5.37% for the three months ended March 31, 2006, from 4.87% for the three months ended March 31, 2005, an increase in average invested assets of approximately 11% and approximately $2,500 of investment income from a real estate partnership. The increase in revenues was also driven by a 20% increase in fees and other income of $7,302 primarily due to an increase in fee income from domestic and international extended service contracts.

We experienced growth in most of our core product groupings, with the exception of our domestic credit insurance business and to a lesser extent the international credit business. Gross written premiums in our domestic credit insurance business decreased by $21,791, or 11%, due to the continued decline of this product line. Gross written premiums from our international credit business decreased slightly from prior year. This is primarily due to a change from single premium to monthly premium credit insurance policies written in conjunction with real estate loans in our United Kingdom business. Gross written premiums in our domestic extended service contract business increased by $32,255, or 13%, due to the addition of new clients and growth generated from existing clients. Gross written premiums in our international extended service contract business increased by $18,686, or 39%, primarily due to the continued growth from a Canadian client we signed in 2004. Gross written premiums from our Specialty Property products increased by $55,735, or 19%, primarily due to growth in our creditor placed homeowners insurance business.

Total Benefits, Losses and Expenses

Total benefits, losses and expenses increased by $76,172, or 12%, to $694,026 for the three months ended March 31, 2006 from $617,854 for the three months ended March 31, 2005. This increase was primarily due to an increase in selling, underwriting, and general expenses of $57,518 and an increase in policyholder benefits of $18,654. The increase in policyholder benefits is due to domestic and international growth of our extended service contract business. This was partially offset by excellent loss experience in our creditor placed and voluntary homeowners product lines. Additionally, we were reimbursed approximately $7,800 of loss adjustment expenses from the National Flood Insurance Program for providing processing and adjudication services. This reimbursement reduced policyholder benefits expense. Commissions, taxes, licenses and fees, of which amortization of DAC is a component, increased by $47,766 primarily due to the associated increase in revenues. General expenses increased by $9,752 primarily due to increases directly related to business growth.

 

22


Table of Contents

Assurant Health

Overview

The tables below present information regarding our Assurant Health’s segment results of operations:

 

     For the Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2006     2005  
     (in thousands)  

Revenues:

    

Net earned premiums and other considerations

   $ 523,405     $ 549,526  

Net investment income

     24,001       17,705  

Fees and other income

     9,726       10,331  
                

Total revenues

     557,132       577,562  
                

Benefits, losses and expenses:

    

Policyholder benefits

     (325,401 )     (345,368 )

Selling, underwriting and general expenses

     (162,712 )     (156,763 )
                

Total benefits, losses and expenses

     (488,113 )     (502,131 )
                

Segment income before income tax

     69,019       75,431  

Income taxes

     (23,923 )     (25,758 )
                

Segment income after tax

   $ 45,096     $ 49,673  
                

Net earned premiums and other considerations:

    

Individual markets:

    

Individual medical

   $ 297,338     $ 287,312  

Short term medical

     25,001       25,876  
                

Subtotal

     322,339       313,188  

Small employer group:

     201,066       236,338  
                

Total

   $ 523,405     $ 549,526  
                

Membership by product line:

    

Individual markets:

    

Individual medical

     636       671  

Short term medical

     100       116  
                

Subtotal

     736       787  

Small employer group:

     239       308  
                

Total

     975       1,095  
                

Ratios:

    

Loss ratio (1)

     62.2 %     62.8 %

Expense ratio (2)

     30.5 %     28.0 %

Combined ratio (3)

     91.6 %     89.7 %

(1) The loss ratio is equal to policyholder benefits divided by net earned premiums and other considerations.

 

(2) The expense ratio is equal to selling, underwriting and general expenses divided by net earned premiums and other considerations and fees and other income.

 

(3) The combined ratio is equal to total benefits, losses and expenses divided by net earned premiums and other considerations and fees and other income.

 

23


Table of Contents

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2006 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2005.

Net Income

Segment net income decreased by $4,577, or 9%, to $45,096 for the three months ended March 31, 2006 from $49,673 for the three months ended March 31, 2005. The decrease in segment income was primarily attributable to an overall decline in membership due to continued increased competition and our strict adherence to underwriting guidelines, as well as an increase in expenses due to increased spending on initiatives aimed at growing the individual markets business. The decrease in net income was partially offset by an increase in investment income from a real estate partnership.

Total Revenues

Total revenues decreased by $20,430, or 4%, to $557,132 for the three months ended March 31, 2006 from $577,562 for the three months ended March 31, 2005. Net earned premiums and other considerations from our individual markets business increased by $9,150, or 3%, primarily due to premium rate increases, partially offset by a decline in members. Net earned premiums and other considerations from our small employer group business decreased by $35,272, or 15%, due to a decline in members, partially offset by premium rate increases. Both individual markets and the small employer group business continue to experience decreases in new business due to increased competition in their respective markets and our strict adherence to underwriting guidelines. In addition, net investment income increased by $6,296 primarily due to approximately $7,400 of investment income from a real estate partnership.

Total Benefits, Losses and Expenses

Total benefits, losses and expenses decreased by $14,018, or 3%, to $488,113 for the three months ended March 31, 2006 from $502,131 for the three months ended March 31, 2005. Policyholder benefits decreased by $19,967, or 6%, and the benefit loss ratio decreased by 60 basis points, from 62.8% to 62.2%. The modest improvement in the benefit loss ratio was due primarily to favorable claims experience in the small employer group business. Selling, underwriting and general expenses increased by $5,949, or 4%. The expense ratio increased by 250 basis points, from 28.0% to 30.5%. The increase in the expense ratio was primarily due to increased spending on initiatives aimed at growing the individual markets business, partially offset by decreased commission expense due to a decline in first year business in both individual markets and small employer group business.

 

24


Table of Contents

Assurant Employee Benefits

Overview

The tables below present information regarding our Assurant Employee Benefits’ segment results of operations:

 

     For the Three Months
Ended March 31,
 
     2006     2005  
     (in thousands)  

Revenues:

    

Net earned premiums and other considerations

   $ 326,111     $ 345,922  

Net investment income

     40,839       37,983  

Fees and other income

     6,832       6,189  
                

Total revenues

     373,782       390,094  
                

Benefits, losses and expenses:

    

Policyholder benefits

     (245,439 )     (267,738 )

Selling, underwriting and general expenses

     (99,114 )     (97,017 )
                

Total benefits, losses and expenses

     (344,553 )     (364,755 )
                

Segment income before income tax

     29,229       25,339  

Income taxes

     (10,044 )     (8,960 )
                

Segment income after tax

   $ 19,185     $ 16,379  
                

Ratios:

    

Loss ratio (1)

     75.3 %     77.4 %

Expense ratio (2)

     29.8 %     27.6 %

Net earned premiums and other considerations

    

By major product grouping:

    

Group dental

   $ 111,393     $ 128,242  

Group disability single premiums for closed blocks (3)

     33,920       26,700  

All Other group disability

     121,586       124,777  

Group life

     59,212       66,203  
                

Total

   $ 326,111     $ 345,922  
                

(1) The loss ratio is equal to policyholder benefits divided by net earned premiums and other considerations.

 

(2) The expense ratio is equal to selling, underwriting and general expenses divided by net earned premiums and other considerations and fees and other income.

 

(3) This represents single premium on closed blocks of group disability business.

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2006 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2005.

Net Income

Segment net income increased by $2,806, or 17%, to $19,185 for the three months ended March 31, 2006 from $16,379 for the three months ended March 31, 2005. The increase in segment income was primarily driven by improved group disability claim closures, improved experience in our Disability Risk Management Services (DRMS) distribution channel and improved group dental experience. The improvement in loss ratios is partially offset by the decrease in revenues.

Total Revenues

Total revenues decreased by $16,312, or 4%, to $373,782 for the three months ended March 31, 2006 from $390,094 for the three months ended March 31, 2005. Net earned premiums and other considerations decreased $19,811, or 6%, from the prior year, primarily due to lower persistency and decreased sales as we increase our focus to support the business’ small case strategy. The decrease in revenues was partially offset by an increase in investment income of $2,856, or 8%. This was due to an increase in the average portfolio yield of 35 basis points to 6.47% for the three months ended March 31, 2006, from 6.12% for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and an increase in average invested assets of 2%.

 

25


Table of Contents

Total Benefits, Losses and Expenses

Total benefits, losses and expenses decreased by $20,202, or 6%, to $344,553 for the three months ended March 31, 2006 from $364,755 for the three months ended March 31, 2005. The loss ratio decreased 210 basis points, from 77.4% to 75.3%, primarily due to improved group disability claim closures, improved experience in our DRMS channel and improved group dental experience. The expense ratio increased 220 basis points, from 27.6% to 29.8%. The increase in the expense ratio is due to an increase in selling, underwriting and general expenses of $2,097, or 2%. In the prior year, we had a non-recurring reduction in short-term incentive compensation expenses. Excluding the prior year non-recurring reduction, selling, underwriting and general expenses have decreased primarily due to more effective expense management.

Assurant PreNeed

Overview

The tables below present information regarding our Assurant PreNeed’s segment results of operations:

 

     For the Three Months
Ended March 31,
 
     2006     2005  
     (in thousands)  

Revenues:

    

Net earned premiums and other considerations

   $ 83,952     $ 121,199  

Net investment income

     55,086       53,012  

Fees and other income

     223       1,179  
                

Total revenues

     139,261       175,390  
                

Benefits, losses and expenses:

    

Policyholder benefits

     (96,920 )     (127,153 )

Selling, underwriting and general expenses

     (31,860 )     (37,531 )
                

Total benefits, losses and expenses

     (128,780 )     (164,684 )
                

Segment income before income tax

     10,481       10,706  

Income taxes

     (3,629 )     (3,750 )
                

Segment income after tax

   $ 6,852     $ 6,956  
                

Net earned premiums and other considerations by channel

    

AMLIC (1)

   $ 60,248     $ 64,589  

Independent-United States

     15,953       50,859  

Independent-Canada

     7,751       5,751  
                

Total

   $ 83,952     $ 121,199  
                

(1) American Memorial Life Insurance Company

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2006 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2005.

Net Income

Segment net income decreased by $104, or 1%, to $6,852 for the three months ended March 31, 2006 from $6,956 for the three months ended March 31, 2005. This decrease was primarily due to an increase in the Consumer Price Index (“CPI”) which increased policyholder benefits and decreased the value of our CPI cap. The decrease is partially offset by an increase in investment income.

 

26


Table of Contents

Total Revenues

Total revenues decreased by $36,129, or 21%, to $139,261 for the three months ended March 31, 2006 from $175,390 for the three months ended March 31, 2005. Net earned premiums and other considerations decreased by $37,247, or 31%, primarily due to a reduction in the Independent—United States channel net earned premiums and other considerations of $34,906 related to the sale of the Independent – United States channel distribution in November 2005. The AMLIC channel net earned premiums declined by $4,341 as a result of changes made by SCI in prior years to their sales force structure. The Canada channel net earned premiums increased by $2,000 due to the expansion into Quebec and growth in sales through corporate owned funeral homes. In addition, fees and other income decreased primarily due to a decrease in the value of our CPI Cap. The overall decrease in revenues was partially offset by an increase in investment income of $2,074.

Total Benefits, Losses and Expenses

Total benefits, losses and expenses decreased by $35,904, or 22%, to $128,780 for the three months ended March 31, 2006 from $164,684 for the three months ended March 31, 2005. Policyholder benefits decreased by $30,233, or 24% primarily due to the sale of the Independent - United States channel distribution in November 2005. These decreases were partially offset by higher crediting paid on CPI indexed products. Selling, underwriting and general expenses decreased by $5,671 primarily due to lower expenses due to the sale of the Independent – United States channel distribution.

Assurant Corporate & Other

Overview

The Corporate & Other segment includes activities of the holding company, financing expenses, net realized gains (losses) on investments, interest income earned from short-term investments held and interest income from excess surplus of insurance subsidiaries not allocated to other segments. The Corporate & Other segment also includes the amortization of deferred gains associated with the sales of the Fortis Financial Group (FFG) and Long Term Care (LTC) businesses.

The tables below present information regarding Corporate & Other’s segment results of operations:

 

     For the Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2006     2005  
     (in thousands)  

Revenues:

    

Net investment income

   $ 13,850     $ 7,335  

Net realized (losses) gains on investments

     (4,452 )     492  

Amortization of deferred gain on disposal of businesses

     8,833       11,863  

Fees and other income

     —         103  
                

Total revenues

     18,231       19,793  
                

Benefits, losses and expenses:

    

Selling, underwriting and general expenses

     (16,639 )     (20,893 )

Interest expense

     (15,315 )     (15,314 )
                

Total benefits, losses and expenses

     (31,954 )     (36,207 )
                

Segment loss before income tax

     (13,723 )     (16,414 )

Income taxes

     6,176       3,034  
                

Segment loss after tax

   $ (7,547 )   $ (13,380 )
                

 

27


Table of Contents

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2006 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2005.

Net Loss

Segment net loss improved by $5,833, or 44%, to ($7,547) for the three months ended March 31, 2006 from ($13,380) for the three months ended March 31, 2005. The improvement was primarily due to additional investment income from a real estate partnership and a reduction in stock appreciation rights (SARs) expense related to the adoption of FAS 123R on January 1, 2006. These improvements were partially offset by additional realized losses on fixed income securities, as a result of rising interest rates and declining fixed maturity investment values.

Total Revenues

Total revenues decreased by $1,562, or 8%, to $18,231 for the three months ended March 31, 2006 from $19,793 for the three months ended March 31, 2005. Revenues declined mainly due to an increase in realized losses on investments and a decrease in the amortization of deferred gain on disposal of businesses. The amortization of deferred gain on disposal of businesses continues to decline in correlation with the runoff of the businesses sold. These declines were partially offset by an increase of $6,515 in investment income. This increase was primarily due to approximately $4,900 of investment income from a real estate partnership.

Total Benefits, Losses and Expenses

Total benefits, losses and expenses decreased by $4,253, or 12%, to $31,954 for the three months ended March 31, 2006 from $36,207 for the three months ended March 31, 2005. This decline was primarily due to a decrease in SARs expense of approximately $7,800 due to the adoption of FAS 123R.

 

28


Table of Contents

Investments

The following table shows the carrying value of our investments by type of security as of the dates indicated:

 

    

As of March 31,

2006

   

As of December 31,

2005

 
     (in thousands)  

Fixed maturities

   $ 8,847,534    76 %   $ 8,961,778    75 %

Equity securities

     746,031    6       693,101    6  

Commercial mortgage loans on real estate

     1,234,185    10       1,212,006    10  

Policy loans

     60,044    1       61,043    1  

Short-term investments

     262,182    2       427,474    3  

Other investments

     555,761    5       549,759    5  
                          

Total investments (excluding collateral held under securities lending)

   $ 11,705,737    100 %   $ 11,905,161    100 %
                          

Of our fixed maturity securities shown above, 67% and 66% (based on total fair value) were invested in securities rated “A” or better as of March 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively.

The following table provides the cumulative net unrealized gains (pre-tax) on fixed maturity securities and equity securities as of the dates indicated:

 

    

As of

March 31,

2006

  

As of

December 31,

2005

 
     (in thousands)  

Fixed maturities:

     

Amortized cost

   $ 8,772,170    $ 8,668,595  

Net unrealized gains

     75,364      293,183  
               

Fair value

   $ 8,847,534    $ 8,961,778  
               

Equities:

     

Cost

   $ 744,632    $ 694,977  

Net unrealized gains/(loss)

     1,399      (1,876 )
               

Fair value

   $ 746,031    $ 693,101  
               

Net unrealized gains on fixed maturity securities decreased by $217,819, or 74%, from December 31, 2005 to March 31, 2006. The decrease in net unrealized gains on fixed maturities was primarily due to a 46 basis point increase in the 10 year treasury yields.

Net unrealized gains on equity securities increased by $3,275, or 175%, from December 31, 2005 to March 31, 2006. The increase in net unrealized gains on equity securities was primarily due to a 1% increase in the market value of preferred securities from December 31, 2005 to March 31, 2006 in the Merrill Lynch Preferred Stock Hybrid Securities Index.

Net investment income increased by $28,362, or 17%, to $192,562 for the three months ended March 31, 2006 from $164,200 for the three months ended March 31, 2005. The increase was primarily due to an increase in investment income from a real estate partnership of approximately $14,700, an increase in invested assets, an increase in the short-term rate and investment yields. The average portfolio yield increased by 71 basis points to 6.22% for the three months ended March 31, 2006, from 5.51% for the three months ended March 31, 2005. The average invested assets increased by approximately 3% for the same periods year over year.

 

29


Table of Contents

The investment category of the Company’s gross unrealized losses on fixed maturities and equity securities at March 31, 2006 and the length of time the securities have been in an unrealized loss position were as follows (in thousands):

 

     Less than 12 months     12 Months or More     Total  
    

Fair

Value

   Unrealized
Losses
    Fair
Value
   Unrealized
Losses
   

Fair

Value

   Unrealized
Losses
 

Fixed maturities

               

Bonds

   $ 432,033    $ (131,915 )   $ 35,202    $ (7,053 )   $ 467,235    $ (138,968 )
                                             

Equity securities

               

Common Stock

   $ 65    $ (46 )   $ —      $ —       $ 65    $ (46 )

Non-redeemable preferred stocks

     421,934      (11,972 )     34,380      (1,870 )     456,314      (13,842 )
                                             

Total equity securities

   $ 421,999    $ (12,018 )   $ 34,380    $ (1,870 )   $ 456,379    $ (13,888 )
                                             

The total unrealized loss represents less than 17% of the aggregate fair value of the related securities. Approximately 94% of these unrealized losses have been in a continuous loss position for less than twelve months. The total unrealized losses are comprised of 1,541 individual securities with 85% of the individual securities having an unrealized loss of less than $200. The total unrealized losses on securities that were in a continuous unrealized loss position for greater than six months but less than 12 months were approximately $2,331, with no security with a fair value greater than $1,000 having a market value below 90% of book value.

As part of our ongoing monitoring process, we regularly review our investment portfolio to ensure that investments that may be other-than-temporarily impaired are identified on a timely basis and that any impairment is charged against earnings in the proper period. We have reviewed these securities and did not record any additional other than temporary impairments for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Due to issuers’ continued satisfaction of the securities’ obligations in accordance with their contractual terms and their continued expectations to do so, as well as our evaluation of the fundamentals of the issuers’ financial condition, we believe that the prices of the securities in an unrealized loss position as of March 31, 2006 in the sectors discussed above were temporarily depressed primarily as a result of the prevailing level of interest rates at the time the securities were purchased. We have the intent and ability to hold these securities until the date of recovery.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Assurant, Inc. is a holding company, and as such, has limited direct operations of its own. Our holding company assets consist primarily of the capital stock of our subsidiaries. Accordingly, our future cash flows depend upon the availability of dividends and other statutorily permissible payments from our subsidiaries, such as payments under our tax allocation agreement and under management agreements with our subsidiaries. The ability to pay such dividends and to make such other payments will be limited by applicable laws and regulations of the states in which our subsidiaries are domiciled, which subject our subsidiaries to significant regulatory restrictions. The dividend requirements and regulations vary from state to state and by type of insurance provided by the applicable subsidiary. These laws and regulations require, among other things, our insurance subsidiaries to maintain minimum solvency requirements and limit the amount of dividends these subsidiaries can pay to the holding company. Solvency regulations, capital requirements and rating agencies are some of the factors used in determining the amount of capital used for dividends. For 2006, the maximum amount of distributions our subsidiaries could pay, under applicable laws and regulations without prior regulatory approval for our statutory subsidiaries, is approximately $292,300.

Dividends paid by our subsidiaries were zero and $530,094 for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and for the year ended December 31, 2005, respectively. We use these cash inflows primarily to pay expenses, to make interest payments on indebtedness, to make dividend payments to our stockholders, and to repurchase our outstanding shares.

 

30


Table of Contents

The primary sources of funds for our subsidiaries consist of premiums and fees collected, the proceeds from the sales and maturity of investments and investment income. Cash is primarily used to pay insurance claims, agent commissions, operating expenses and taxes. We generally invest our subsidiaries’ excess funds in order to generate income.

We conduct periodic asset liability studies to measure the duration of our insurance liabilities, to develop optimal asset portfolio maturity structures for our significant lines of business and ultimately to assess that cash flows are sufficient to meet the timing of cash needs. These studies are conducted in accordance with formal company-wide Asset Liability Management (“ALM”) guidelines.

To complete a study for a particular line of business, models are developed to project asset and liability cash flows and balance sheet items under a large, varied set of plausible economic scenarios. These models consider many factors including the current investment portfolio, the required capital for the related assets and liabilities, our tax position and projected cash flows from both existing and projected new business.

Alternative asset portfolio structures are analyzed for significant lines of business. An investment portfolio maturity structure is then selected from these profiles given our return hurdle and risk preference. Sensitivity testing of significant liability assumptions and new business projections is also performed.

Given our ALM asset allocation processes and the nature of the products we offer, we have minimal exposure to disintermediation risk. Our liabilities have limited policyholder optionality which results in policyholder behavior that is mainly insensitive to the interest rate environment. In addition, our investment portfolio is largely comprised of highly liquid fixed income securities with a sufficient component of such securities invested that are near maturity which may be sold with minimal risk of loss to meet cash needs.

Generally, our subsidiaries’ premiums, fees and investment income, along with planned asset sales and maturities, provide sufficient cash to pay claims and expenses. However, there are instances where unexpected cash needs arise in excess of that available from usual operating sources. In such instances, we have several options to raise needed funds including selling assets from the subsidiaries’ investment portfolios, using holding company cash (if available), issuing commercial paper and drawing funds from our revolving credit facility. We consider the permanence of the cash need as well as the cost of each source of funds in determining which option to utilize.

We paid dividends of $0.08 per common share on March 7, 2006 to stockholders of record as of February 21, 2006. Any determination to pay future dividends will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will be dependent upon: our subsidiaries’ payment of dividends and/or other statutorily permissible payments to us; our results of operations and cash flows; our financial position and capital requirements; general business conditions; any legal, tax, regulatory and contractual restrictions on the payment of dividends; and any other factors our board of directors deems relevant.

We sponsor a pension and a retirement health benefit plan covering our employees who meet specified eligibility requirements. The reported expense and liability associated with these plans requires an extensive use of assumptions which include the discount rate, expected return on plan assets and rate of future compensation increases. We determine these assumptions based upon currently available market and industry data, historical performance of the plan and its assets, and consultation with an independent consulting actuarial firm to aid us in selecting appropriate assumptions and valuing our related liabilities. The actuarial assumptions used in the calculation of our aggregate projected benefit obligation may vary and include an expectation of long-term market appreciation in equity markets which is not changed by minor short-term market fluctuations, but does change when large interim deviations occur. The assumptions we use may differ materially from actual results due to changing market and economic conditions, higher or lower withdrawal rates or longer or shorter life spans of the participants.

Our qualified pension plan was under-funded by $40,612 at December 31, 2005. We established a funding policy in which service cost plus 15% of plan deficit will be contributed annually. During the first three months of 2006, we contributed zero, $1,050 and $375 to the qualified pension benefits plan, nonqualified pension benefits plan and the retirement health benefits plan, respectively. We expect to contribute $23,700 to the pension benefit plans and $1,500 to the retirement health benefit plan for the full year 2006.

 

31


Table of Contents

        The Company maintains a $500,000 commercial paper program, which is available for working capital and other general corporate purposes. Our commercial paper program is rated AMB-2, by AM Best, P-2 by Moody’s and A2 by S&P. Our subsidiaries do not maintain commercial paper or other borrowing facilities at their level. This program is backed up by a $500,000 senior revolving credit facility with a syndicate of banks arranged by J.P. Morgan Securities, Inc. (successor by merger to Banc One Capital Markets, Inc.) and Citigroup Global Market, Inc., which was established on January 30, 2004. In April 2005, we amended and restated our $500,000 senior revolving credit facility with a syndicate of banks arranged by Citibank and JP Morgan Chase Bank. The amended and restated credit facility is unsecured and is available until April 2010, so long as the Company is in compliance with all the covenants. This facility is also available for general corporate purposes, but to the extent used thereto, would be unavailable to back up the commercial paper program.

On February 7, 2006, the Company used $20,000 from the commercial paper program for general corporate purposes, which was repaid on February 14, 2006. There were no amounts relating to the commercial paper program outstanding at March 31, 2006. We did not use the revolving credit facility during the three months ended March 31, 2006 and no amounts are outstanding.

The revolving credit facility contains restrictive covenants. The terms of the revolving credit facility also require that we maintain certain specified minimum ratios or thresholds. We are in compliance with all covenants and we maintain all specified minimum ratios and thresholds.

On February 18, 2004, we issued two series of senior notes in an aggregate principal amount of $975,000. The first series is $500,000 in principal amount, bears interest at 5.625% per year and is payable in a single installment due February 15, 2014. The second series is $475,000 in principal amount, bears interest at 6.750% per year and is payable in a single installment due February 15, 2034. Our senior notes are rated bbb by A.M. Best, Baa1 by Moody’s and BBB+ by S&P.

Interest on our senior notes is payable semi-annually on February 15 and August 15 of each year. The senior notes are our unsecured obligations and rank equally with all of our other senior unsecured indebtedness. The senior notes are not redeemable prior to maturity.

In management’s opinion, our subsidiaries’ cash flow from operations together with our income and gains from our investment portfolio will provide sufficient liquidity to meet our needs in the ordinary course of business.

Cash Flows

We monitor cash flows at both the consolidated and subsidiary levels. Cash flow forecasts at the consolidated and subsidiary levels are provided on a monthly basis, and we use trend and variance analyses to project future cash needs.

The table below shows our recent net cash flows:

 

     For The Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2006     2005  
     (in thousands)  

Net cash provided by (used in):

    

Operating activities

   $ (97,699 )   $ 76,703  

Investing activities

     30,081       (441,003 )

Financing activities

     (137,246 )     32,252  
                

Net change in cash

   $ (204,864 )   $ (332,048 )
                

The key changes of the net cash outflow of $204,864 for the three months ended March 31, 2006 were net purchases of fixed maturity securities of $315,915 and a decrease of $252,549 in accounts payable, offset by maturities of fixed maturity securities of $173,480 and change in short term investments of $165,280.

The key changes of the net cash outflow of $332,048 for the three months ended March 31, 2005 were net purchases of fixed maturity securities of $401,038, maturities of fixed maturity securities of $202,215, and change in short term investments of $138,747.

The table below shows our cash outflows for distributions and dividends for the periods indicated:

 

     For the Three Months Ended
March 31,

Security

   2006    2005
     (in thousands)

Mandatorily redeemable preferred stock dividends and interest paid

   $ 31,094    $ 30,341

Common Stock dividends

     10,409      9,795
             

Total

   $ 41,503    $ 40,136
             

 

32


Table of Contents

Letters of Credit

In the normal course of business, letters of credit are issued to support reinsurance arrangements and other corporate initiatives. These letters of credit are supported by commitments with financial institutions. We had $33,626 and $65,607 of letters of credit outstanding as of March 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

Our 2005 Form 10-K described our Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk. There were no material changes to the assumptions or risks during the three months ended March 31, 2006.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have evaluated the effectiveness of the company’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act of 1934, as of March 31, 2006. This included an evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures applicable to the period covered by and existing through the filing of this periodic report. Based on that review, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to provide reasonable assurance that information the Company is required to disclose in its reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported accurately.

Internal Controls over Financial Reporting

No material weaknesses were identified at March 31, 2006. During the quarter ending March 31, 2006, we have made no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

33


Table of Contents

PART II

OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

As previously disclosed in our 2005 Form 10K, we were notified on August 26, 2004 that one of our employees was being investigated by the criminal division of the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) for responses he made to questions he was asked by the IRS relating to an approximately $18,000 tax reserve taken by us in 1999. Recently, counsel for the employee was notified by the IRS that the matter was closed in February 2006 with no action taken.

Also as disclosed in our 2005 Form 10K, as part of ongoing, industry-wide investigations, we have received various subpoenas and requests from the United States Securities Exchange Commission and the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York seeking the production of various documents in connection with various investigations into certain loss mitigation products and the use of finite reinsurance. We are cooperating fully with these investigations and are complying with these requests.

Item 1A – Risk Factors.

Our 2005 Form 10-K described our Risk Factors. There have been no material changes to the Risk Factors during the three months ended March 31, 2006.

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

 

Period

   Total Number
of Shares
Purchased
   Average Price
Paid per Share
   Total Number
of Shares
Purchased as
Part of
Publicly
Announced
Programs (1)
   Maximum
Approximate
Dollar Value
that may yet
be used to
Purchase
Shares
under the
Programs (1)

January 1, 2006 – January 31, 2006

   450,200      44.33    450,200    $ 375,784

February 1, 2006 – February 28, 2006

   416,600      44.49    416,600      357,249

March 1, 2006 – March 31, 2006

   550,000      46.38    550,000      331,378

Total

   1,416,800    $ 45.17    1,416,800   

 

1 Shares purchased pursuant to the November 11, 2005 publicly announced repurchase program.

 

Item 5. Other Information.

In our Annual Proxy Statement, filed on April 13, 2006 (the “Proxy Statement”), in the section entitled “COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION—Compensation of Chief Executive Officer”, on p. 25 we reported that on April 30, 2006, 4,042 shares of Mr. Clayton’s restricted stock, awarded prior to 2006, would vest on a pro-rata basis. In fact, 5,829 shares of Mr. Clayton’s restricted stock, awarded prior to 2006, vested on April 30 and were issued to him on May 1. The discrepancy resulted from a calculation error relating to the pro-rata vesting of restricted stock upon retirement, as provided for in the Assurant Long Term Incentive Plan.

Additionally, in the section entitled “COMPENSATION OF NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS—Option/SAR Grants in Last Fiscal Year” on p. 14 of the Proxy Statement, the columns in the “Option/SAR Grants Table” entitled “Potential Realizable Value at Assumed Annual Rates of Stock Price Appreciation for Option Term” listed only the amount of realizable value in year five (not the aggregate potential realizable value over five years). The data in the rest of the table is accurate. The revised “Option/SAR Grants Table” below contains the correct calculations in the columns entitled “Potential Realizable Value at Assumed Annual Rates of Stock Price Appreciation for Option Term”.

 

34


Table of Contents

Option/SAR Grants in Last Fiscal Year

The table below sets forth individual grants of stock options and freestanding Stock Appreciation Rights (“SARs” or “rights”) (including options and SARs that subsequently have been transferred) made during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 to each of the named executive officers of Assurant.

Option/SAR Grants Table

 

     Individual Grants        

Potential

Realizable Value at Assumed
Annual Rates of Stock Price
Appreciation

for Option Term

Name

  

Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options/SARs
Granted

(#) (1)

   

Percentage
of Total
Options/SARs

Granted to
Employees in
Fiscal Year

  

Exercise of
Base Price

($/Sh)

   Expiration
Date
   5% ($)    10% ($)

J. Kerry Clayton

   150,653     10.55%    $ 35.64    06/30/2010    $ 1,483,431    $ 3,277,995

Robert Pollock

   88,659     6.21%    $ 35.64    06/30/2010    $ 872,996    $ 1,929,094

Philip Bruce

   51,889     3.63%    $ 35.64    06/30/2010    $ 510,934    $ 1,129,031

Camacho

   7,000 (2)   0.49%    $ 38.08    08/12/2010    $ 73,646    $ 162,738

Lesley Silvester

   47,757     3.34%    $ 35.64    06/30/2010    $ 470,248    $ 1,039,124

Donald Hamm

   39,914     2.8%    $ 35.64    06/30/2010    $ 393,020    $ 868,472

(1) SARs granted under the ALTIP become exercisable as of December 31 of the second calendar year following the calendar year in which the award was granted, and are subject to accelerated vesting pursuant to the terms of the ALTIP.
(2) This additional grant was made to Mr. Camacho in connection with his promotion to Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in July 2005.

 

Item 6. Exhibits.

The following exhibits either (a) are filed with this report or (b) have previously been filed with the SEC and are incorporated herein by reference to those prior filings. Exhibits are available upon request at the investor relations section of our website at www.assurant.com.

 

Exhibit

Number

  

Exhibit Description

10.1    Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement.
31.1    Rule 13a-15(f)/15d-15(f) Certification of Principal Executive Officer.
31.2    Rule 13a-15(f)/15d-15(f) Certification of Principal Financial Officer.
32.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer of Assurant, Inc. pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer of Assurant, Inc. pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

35


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

   

ASSURANT, INC.

Date: May 10, 2006    

By:

 

/s/ Robert B. Pollock

       

Name:

  Robert B. Pollock
       

Title:

  President and Chief Executive Officer
Date: May 10, 2006    

By:

 

/s/ P. Bruce Camacho

       

Name:

  P. Bruce Camacho
       

Title:

  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

36