EX-99 2 sel3rdqrt.txt EXHIBIT 99.1 - PRESS RELEASE Exhibit 99.1 [SELECTIVE GRAPHIC OMITTED] Selective Insurance 40 Wantage Avenue Branchville, New Jersey 07890 www.selective.com For release on Oct. 25, 2005 at 4:15 p.m. EST Media Contact: Sharon Cooper 973-948-1324, sharon.cooper@selective.com --------------------------- Investor Contact: Jennifer DiBerardino 973-948-1364, jennifer.diberardino@selective.com ---------------------------------- Selective Insurance Group Reports Third Quarter 2005 Earnings GAAP combined ratio improves to 95% Commercial net premiums written up 11% Net income $1.25 per diluted share; Record operating income of $1.16 per diluted share Dividend increased 16% Branchville, NJ - Oct. 25, 2005 - Selective Insurance Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: SIGI), today reported its financial results for the third quarter ended Sept. 30, 2005. Compared with the third quarter of 2004: - Net income increased 39%, to $39.3 million, or $1.25 per diluted share; - Operating income(1) increased 34% to $36.4 million, establishing a new quarterly record of $1.16 per diluted share; - The GAAP combined ratio improved 3.1 points to 95.0% o The commercial lines GAAP combined ratio improved 3.9 points to 93.8%; o The personal lines GAAP combined ratio increased 1.8 points to 101.9%; - The statutory combined ratio improved 1.9 points to 94.3%; - Net premiums written (NPW) increased 8% to $383.4 million - Commercial lines NPW increased 11% to $330.7 million; - Personal lines NPW declined 11% to $52.7 million; and - Total revenue was up 9% to $430.6 million. --------------- (1) Operating income differs from net income by the exclusion of realized gains or losses on investment sales and the cumulative effect of change in accounting principle. It is used as an important financial measure by management, analysts and investors, because the realization of investment gains and losses in any given period is largely discretionary as to timing and could distort the analysis of trends; however, it is not intended as a substitute for net income prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). A reconciliation of operating income to net income is provided in the attached GAAP Highlights and Reconciliation to Comparable GAAP measures. Statutory data is prepared in accordance with statutory accounting rules as defined by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Accounting Practices and Procedures Manual and, therefore, is not reconciled to GAAP. Weather-related catastrophe losses accounted for only 0.1 points of the GAAP and statutory combined ratios for the third quarter of 2005, or $0.3 million, after-tax, compared to 3.6 points, or $7.9 million, after-tax, for the third quarter of 2004. Gregory E. Murphy, Selective Insurance Group Chairman, President and CEO, stated: "This was an excellent quarter, fueled by Selective's powerful combination of financial stability, broad commercial lines appetite, cutting edge technology and a field model that is virtually unmatched in the industry. Our strong results were driven by double-digit premium growth in the commercial lines operation, a 15% increase in operating cash flow to $162 million, and a 16% increase in after-tax investment income from our investment portfolio which now stands at $3.1 billion. Overall premium growth reached 8% for the quarter and 6% through nine months - about three times higher than industry-wide A.M. Best growth estimates." Murphy added: "As a result of the continued strong performance in our insurance, investment and diversified operations throughout 2005, the Board of Directors increased the quarterly cash dividend to shareholders by 16%, to $0.22 per share. The dividend is payable Dec. 1, 2005, to stockholders of record on Nov. 15, 2005. In addition, we repurchased 265,000 shares of Selective stock during the quarter at an average price per share of $48.94. These capital management efforts are part of an overall program designed to increase shareholder returns, while managing our total capital to allow for future growth opportunities." The Diversified Insurance Services operation contributed $0.13 in earnings per diluted share for the quarter. Revenue at these fee-based businesses was up 13%, to $31.3 million, compared to third quarter 2004. Return on revenue was 13.1%, compared to 11.3% in the third quarter of 2004. At Sept. 30, 2005, Selective's consolidated assets reached $4.3 billion; stockholders' equity was $953.4 million; and book value per share was up 12% to $33.79, compared to third quarter 2004. For the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2005, the Company reported net income of $107.5 million, or $3.41 per diluted share. Operating income(1) was $100.8 million, or $3.20 per diluted share. For the comparable period last year, the Company reported net income of $84.7 million, or $2.70 per diluted share, and operating income of $80.1 million, or $2.56 per diluted share. Selective's GAAP combined ratio improved to 95.4% for the first nine months of 2005, compared to 97.2% for the nine-month period ended Sept. 30, 2004. For the same period, the statutory combined ratio improved to 94.2% in 2005, compared to 95.6% in 2004. The supplemental investor packet, including financial information that is not part of this press release, is available on the Investors page of Selective's public website at www.selective.com. Selective's quarterly analyst conference call will be simulcast at 8:30 a.m. EST, on Oct. 26, 2005, at www.selective.com. The webcast will be available for rebroadcast until the close of business on Nov. 25, 2005. Selective Insurance Group, Inc., headquartered in Branchville, New Jersey, is a holding company for six property and casualty insurance companies that offer primary and alternative market insurance for commercial and personal risks. The insurance companies are rated "A+" (Superior) by A.M. Best. Through other subsidiaries, the company offers medical claim management services; human resources benefits and administration services; risk management products and services; and flood insurance policy, administration and claim services. Selective maintains a website at www.selective.com. In this press release, Selective and its management discuss and make statements based on currently available information regarding their intentions, beliefs, current expectations, and projections regarding Selective's future operations and performance. Such statements are "forward-looking" statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which provides a safe harbor under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are often identified by words such as "may," "will," "could," "would," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "target," "project," "intend," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "pro forma," "seek," "likely," or "continue," or other comparable terminology and their negatives. Selective and its management assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements due to changes in underlying factors, new information, future developments or otherwise. Selective and its management caution investors that such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Risks and uncertainties are inherent in Selective's future performance. Factors that could cause Selective's actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, include, among other things, those discussed or identified from time to time in our public filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and those associated with: o the frequency and severity of catastrophic events, including hurricanes, tornadoes, windstorms, earthquakes, hail, severe winter weather, fires, explosions and terrorism; o adverse economic, market or regulatory conditions; o the concentration of our business in a number of East Coast and Midwestern states; o the adequacy of our loss reserves; o the cost and availability of reinsurance; o our ability to collect on reinsurance and the solvency of our reinsurers; o uncertainties related to insurance rate increases and business retention; o changes in insurance regulations that impact our ability to write and/or cease writing insurance policies in one or more states particularly changes in New Jersey automobile insurance laws and regulations; o our ability to maintain favorable ratings from A.M. Best, S&P, Moody's and Fitch; o fluctuations in interest rates and the performance of the financial markets which may affect our investment income; and o our entry into new markets and businesses. Selective's SEC filings can be accessed through the Investors and Corporate Governance sections of the Company's website, www.selective.com, or through the SEC's EDGAR Database at www.sec.gov (Selective EDGAR CIK No. 0000230557). Selective Insurance Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: SIGI)* GAAP Highlights and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures to Comparable GAAP Measures (in thousands, except per share data) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 months ended September 30: 2005 2004 ---------------------------- ---- ---- Net premiums written $ 383,402 356,451 Net premiums earned 361,062 337,074 Net investment income 32,755 29,146 Diversified insurance services revenue 31,318 27,648 Total revenues 430,567 396,187 Operating income 36,431 27,268 Capital gain, after-tax 2,846 1,060 ------------ ---------- Net income $ 39,277 28,328 ============ ========== Statutory combined ratio 94.3% 96.2% GAAP combined ratio 95.0% 98.1% Operating income per diluted share $ 1.16 0.87 Net income per diluted share 1.25 0.90 Weighted average diluted shares 32,131 32,398 Book value per share $ 33.79 30.04 9 months ended September 30: 2005 2004 ---------------------------- ---- ---- Net premiums written $ 1,149,801 1,080,963 Net premiums earned 1,054,254 978,366 Net investment income 97,864 87,268 Diversified insurance services revenue 88,766 78,274 Total revenues 1,253,231 1,153,444 Operating income 100,762 80,095 Capital gain, after-tax 6,198 4,635 Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of tax 495 - ------------ ---------- Net income $ 107,455 84,730 ============ ========== Statutory combined ratio 94.2% 95.6% GAAP combined ratio 95.4% 97.2% Operating income per diluted share $ 3.20 2.56 Net income per diluted share 3.41 2.70 Weighted average diluted shares 32,235 32,340 Book value per share $ 33.79 30.04 *All amounts included in this release exclude inter-company transactions. ###