-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, FvCncyzThcCgXEe8NP4ss6CdCoV16xcIwRJ9Y8wrI022cVVvDohPIlr3u24qCOYJ Z0v/7oM2y6qYAHVgET6XSg== 0000950152-09-002534.txt : 20090312 0000950152-09-002534.hdr.sgml : 20090312 20090312155425 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950152-09-002534 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 6 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20081231 FILED AS OF DATE: 20090312 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20090312 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: AMERICAN PHYSICIANS CAPITAL INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001118148 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: HOSPITAL & MEDICAL SERVICE PLANS [6324] IRS NUMBER: 383543910 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MI FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-32057 FILM NUMBER: 09675634 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1301 NORTH HAGADORN ROAD CITY: EAST LANSING STATE: MI ZIP: 48823 BUSINESS PHONE: 5173511150 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1301 NORTH HAGADORN ROAD CITY: EAST LANSING STATE: MI ZIP: 48823 10-K 1 k47551e10vk.htm FORM 10-K FORM 10-K
 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
Form 10-K
 
FOR ANNUAL AND TRANSITION REPORTS PURSUANT TO
SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
     
þ
  ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
    For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2008
o
  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
    For the transition period from          to          
 
Commission File Number: 000-32057
American Physicians Capital, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
     
Michigan   38-3543910
(State or other jurisdiction of
  (IRS employer
incorporation or organization)   identification number)
 
1301 North Hagadorn Road, East Lansing, Michigan 48823
(Address of principal executive offices)(Zip Code)
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:
(517) 351-1150
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Common Stock, no par value
 
     
Title of Each Class
 
Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
 
Common stock, no par value   Nasdaq Global Select Market
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  YES o     NO þ
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act  YES o     NO þ
 
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 o
 
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in a definitive proxy or information statement incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
             
Large accelerated filer o
  Accelerated filer þ   Non-accelerated filer o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
  Smaller reporting company o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act)  YES o     NO þ
 
The aggregate market value of the Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant as of June 30, 2008, based on $48.44 per share (the last sale price for the Common Stock on such date as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market), was approximately $411.4 million. For purposes of this computation only, all executive officers, directors and 10% beneficial owners of the registrant are assumed to be affiliates.
 
As of February 28, 2009 the registrant had 8,745,282 shares of Common Stock outstanding.
 
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
 
Portions of the registrant’s definitive Proxy Statement pertaining to the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the“Proxy Statement”) to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A are incorporated by reference into Part III.
 


 

 
Explanatory Note
 
All of the share and per share data included in this Report on Form 10-K has been retroactively adjusted to reflect a three-for-two stock split, which was effective November 1, 2006. References to the Company, we, our and us are references to American Physicians Capital, Inc. and its subsidiaries unless the context otherwise requires. References to APCapital are references to the holding company, American Physicians Capital, Inc.
 
Item 1.   Business.
 
General
 
American Physicians Capital, Inc. is an insurance holding company that writes medical professional liability insurance through its primary subsidiary American Physicians Assurance Corporation, or American Physicians. Our principal offices are located at 1301 North Hagadorn Road, East Lansing, Michigan, 48823. Our website address is www.apcapital.com. All of our reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are available free of charge at our website promptly after they are filed. In addition, our code of ethics covering directors, officers and other employees, our corporate governance principles and Board committee charters, and insurance company statutory annual statement filings, which contain information regarding the detailed makeup of our investment portfolio are also available on our website. Information contained on our website does not constitute part of this report.
 
APCapital was incorporated in Michigan in July 2000 to facilitate the conversion of American Physicians from a mutual insurance company to a publicly owned stock insurance company. APCapital’s stock began trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market’s National Market under the symbol “ACAP” on December 8, 2000. The conversion became effective, the offerings were closed and American Physicians and its subsidiaries became subsidiaries of APCapital on December 13, 2000.
 
American Physicians, our primary insurance subsidiary, was formed in June 1975 under the sponsorship of the Michigan State Medical Society in response to a medical professional liability insurance crisis in Michigan. Today American Physicians focuses on writing physician medical professional liability coverage in five core states: Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, New Mexico and Kentucky. The Company also writes a small amount of business in contiguous states.


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Medical professional liability direct premiums written in our five core markets represented approximately 98% of the Company’s total direct premiums written in 2008, 2007 and 2006, as shown in the table below.
 
                                                 
    For the Year Ended December 31,  
    2008     2007     2006  
          % of
          % of
          % of
 
          Total           Total           Total  
    (In thousands)  
 
Direct premiums written:
                                               
Michigan
  $ 44,917       35.9%     $ 47,583       35.1%     $ 50,302       32.1%  
Illinois
    33,704       27.0%       35,160       26.0%       48,421       30.9%  
Ohio
    21,053       16.8%       25,751       19.0%       28,292       18.0%  
New Mexico
    18,565       14.8%       19,061       14.1%       20,759       13.2%  
Kentucky
    4,219       3.4%       5,053       3.7%       5,878       3.7%  
All Other
    2,560       2.1%       2,807       2.1%       3,228       2.1%  
                                                 
Total medical professional liability
  $ 125,018       100.0%       135,415       100.0%       156,880       100.0%  
Exited lines of business
          0.0%             0.0%       (14 )     0.0%  
                                                 
Total direct premiums written
  $ 125,018       100.0%     $ 135,415       100.0%     $ 156,866       100.0%  
                                                 
Net premiums earned:
                                               
Medical professional
  $ 124,275       77.1%     $ 138,917       75.9%     $ 149,790       75.2%  
Exited lines of business
    (7 )     0.0%       6       0.0%       (102 )     −0.1%  
                                                 
Total net premiums earned
    124,268       77.1%       138,923       75.9%       149,688       75.1%  
Investment income
    36,864       22.9%       43,506       23.8%       45,253       22.7%  
Realized (losses) gains
    (658 )     −0.4%       (111 )     −0.1%       3,310       1.7%  
Other income
    730       0.4%       815       0.4%       1,031       0.5%  
                                                 
Total revenue
  $ 161,204       100.0%     $ 183,133       100.0%     $ 199,282       100.0%  
                                                 
 
Products and Services.  We underwrite medical professional liability coverage for physicians, their corporations, medical groups, clinics and ancillary healthcare providers. Medical professional liability insurance protects physicians and other health care providers against liabilities arising from the rendering of, or failure to render, professional medical services. We offer claims-made coverage in all states in which we write business, with the exception of New Mexico, and occurrence policies in a limited number of states. Our policies include coverage for the cost of defending claims. Claims-made policies provide coverage to the policyholder for claims reported during the period of coverage. We offer extended reporting endorsements or tails to cover claims reported after the policy expires. Occurrence policies provide coverage to the policyholders for all losses incurred during the policy coverage year regardless of when the claims are reported. Although we generate a majority of our premiums from individual and small group practices, we also insure several major physician groups.
 
We offer separate policy forms for physicians who are sole practitioners and for those who practice as part of a medical group or clinic. The policy issued to sole practitioners includes coverage for professional liability that arises from the medical practice. The medical professional insurance for sole practitioners and for medical groups provides protection against the legal liability of the insureds for injury caused by or as a result of the performance of patient treatment, failure to treat, failure to diagnose and related types of malpractice. We offer two types of policies for medical groups or clinics. Under the first policy type, both the individual physician and the group share the same set of policy limits. Under the second policy type, the individual physician and the group or clinic each purchase separate policy limits. At December 31, 2008, we have approximately 9,050 policies in force in 7 states, with a concentration in our core Midwestern states of Michigan, Ohio, and Illinois, as well as Kentucky and New Mexico.
 
Marketing.  Our marketing philosophy is to sell profitable business in our core states, using a focused, multi-channeled, cost-effective distribution system. In addition to our agency force, we have built our sales and marketing efforts around several strategic business alliances, which primarily include medical society endorsements.


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Our medical professional liability product line is marketed through approximately 48 agencies in six states, with one strategic agency, SCW Agency Group, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Kentucky Medical Agency, collectively referred to as SCW. SCW accounted for approximately 30% of medical professional liability direct premiums written during 2008. This relationship is discussed in more detail in “Item 1- Business-Important Agency Relationship.”
 
The majority of our remaining agents who write our medical professional liability insurance are independent agents. Due to the highly specialized nature of medical professional liability insurance, we are working to build a controlled distribution system to increase the percentage of our business that is produced through captive agents, which makes us less vulnerable to changes in market conditions. In 2008 and 2007, our captive agents generated 45% and 44% of our premiums, respectively, independent agents generated 40% and 42%, respectively, and we produced 15% and 14% of premiums, respectively, on a direct basis without agent involvement. Our top ten agencies produced $81.7 million of direct premiums written, or 65% of total premium writings in 2008.
 
The Michigan State Medical Society, or MSMS, has endorsed American Physicians as its exclusive professional liability carrier of choice for 33 years. We compensate MSMS for marketing our professional medical liability products to MSMS members. American Physicians is also endorsed by the Michigan Osteopathic Association, the New Mexico Medical Society, several specialty societies and numerous physician organizations.
 
Underwriting and Pricing.  Most of our initial underwriting work and customer contact is performed through a centralized process based in our home office. The home office underwriting department has final responsibility for the issuance, establishment and implementation of underwriting standards for all of our underwritten coverages. The local office underwriting staff has the authority to evaluate, approve and issue medical professional liability coverage for individual providers and medical groups with annual premiums that do not exceed present threshold amounts or guidelines imposed by the home office.
 
Through our management and actuarial staff, we regularly establish rates and rating classifications for our physician and medical group insureds based on the loss and loss adjustment expense, or LAE, experience we have developed over the past 33 years, and the loss and LAE experience for the entire medical professional liability market. We have various rating classifications based on practice location, medical specialty and other liability factors. We also utilize various discounts, such as claim-free credits, to encourage low risk physicians to insure with American Physicians.
 
The nature of our business requires that we remain sensitive to the marketplace and the pricing strategies of our competitors. Using the market information as our background, we normally set our prices based on our estimated future costs. From time to time, we may reduce our discounts or apply a premium surcharge to achieve an appropriate return. Pricing flexibility allows us to provide a fair rate commensurate with the assumed liability. If our pricing strategy cannot yield sufficient premium to cover our costs on a particular type of risk, we may determine not to underwrite that risk. It is our philosophy not to sacrifice profitability for premium growth.
 
Claims Management.  Our policies require us to provide a defense for our insureds in any suit involving a medical incident covered by the policy. The defense costs we incur are in addition to the limit of liability under the policy. Medical professional liability claims often involve the evaluation of highly technical medical issues, severe injuries and conflicting expert opinions.
 
Our strategy for handling medical professional liability claims combines a basic philosophy of vigorously defending against non-meritorious claims with an overall commitment to providing outstanding service to our insured physicians. Our claims department is responsible for claims investigation, establishment of appropriate case reserves for loss and loss adjustment expenses, defense planning and coordination, working closely with attorneys engaged by us to defend a claim and negotiation of the settlement or other disposition of a claim. We emphasize early evaluation and aggressive management of claims. A part of our overall claims strategy is to establish regional claims departments in our major markets. This local presence helps to facilitate better defense attorney coordination by allowing us to meet with defense attorneys and policyholders, and to develop claims staff that has experience with the region’s legal environment, which enables us to more accurately establish case reserves.
 
Our insurance subsidiaries are required by applicable insurance laws and regulations to maintain reserves for payment of losses and loss adjustment expenses for reported claims and for claims incurred but not reported, arising


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from policies that have been issued. Generally, these laws and regulations require that we provide for the ultimate cost of those claims without regard to how long it takes to settle them or the time value of money. We are also required to maintain reserves for extended reporting coverage we provide in the event of a physician’s death, disability and retirement, or DDR reserves, which are included in our loss reserves as a component of the incurred but not reported, or IBNR, reserves. The determination of reserves involves actuarial and statistical projections of what we expect to be the cost of the ultimate settlement and administration of such claims based on facts and circumstances then known, estimates of future trends in claims severity, and other variable factors such as inflation and changing judicial theories of liability.
 
Our actuaries utilize standard actuarial techniques to project ultimate losses based on our paid and incurred loss information, as well as drawing from industry data. These projections are done using actual loss dollars and claim counts. We analyze loss trends and claims frequency and severity to determine our “best estimate” of the required reserves. We then record this best estimate in the Company’s financial statements. Our reserve methodology is discussed in greater detail in “Item 7 — Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
 
Statutory accounting principles require reserves to be reported net of reinsurance. Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or GAAP, require reserves to be reported on a gross basis, i.e., before reinsurance, with a corresponding asset established for the reinsurance recoverable. When compared on a net basis, our statutory and GAAP reserves are identical, with the exception of DDR reserves of approximately $13 million and $15 million, at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively, which are required to be carried as unearned premium reserves for statutory accounting purposes.
 
Reinsurance.  In accordance with industry practice, we cede to other insurance companies some of the potential liability under insurance policies we have underwritten. This practice, called reinsurance, helps us reduce our net liability on individual risks, stabilize our underwriting results and increase our underwriting capacity. However, if the reinsurer fails to meet its obligations, we remain liable for policyholder obligations. As payment for sharing a portion of our risk, we are also required to share a part of the premium we receive on the related policies. We determine the amount and scope of reinsurance coverage to purchase each year based upon an evaluation of the risks accepted, consultations with reinsurance brokers and a review of market conditions, including the availability and pricing of reinsurance. Our reinsurance arrangements are generally renegotiated annually.
 
The following table identifies our principal reinsurers, their percentage of our aggregate reinsured risk based upon amounts recoverable and their respective A.M. Best ratings as of December 31, 2008. A.M. Best Company classifies an “A” rating as “Excellent” and an “A+” rating as “Superior.”
 
                                 
                    % of 2008
 
        Amounts
    2008 Total Ceded
    Amounts
 
    A.M. Best
  Recoverable From
    Premiums
    Recoverable From
 
Reinsurer
  Rating   Reinsurers     Written     Reinsurers  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
 
Hannover Ruckversicherungs
    A     $ 30,479     $ 1,357       34.5 %
Munich Reins Amer
    A+       17,397       32       19.7 %
Transatlantic Reinsurance Company
    A       8,406       5       9.5 %
 
The recoverable from Hannover Ruckversicherungs, or Hannover, is secured by assets that Hannover maintains in Master U.S. Reinsurance Trust domiciled in New York. We are not aware of any collectability or credit issues with any of our reinsurers as of December 31, 2008.
 
Capital and Surplus.  To ensure the security of our policyholders, we must maintain an amount of qualifying assets in excess of total liabilities. This excess, or “surplus,” is the principal measure used by state insurance regulators, and rating agencies such as A.M. Best Company, to evaluate our financial strength. Medical professional liability insurers generally attempt to keep this surplus level at least equal to their annual net premiums written. The net premiums written to surplus ratio for our insurance subsidiaries was 0.59:1 at both December 31, 2008 and 2007.


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Competition
 
The medical professional liability insurance industry is highly competitive. We compete with numerous insurance companies and various self-insurance mechanisms. We believe that the principal competitive factors in our insurance business are service, quality, name recognition, breadth and flexibility of coverages, financial stability and, to a lesser degree, price. We believe we compare favorably with many of our competitors based on our excellent service to customers, our close relationship with the medical community, primarily through various medical societies, which affords us a high degree of name recognition, our ability to customize product features and programs to fit the needs of our customers and our long history of financial stability. These factors will vary by state based on the relative strength of our competitors in each market.
 
A.M. Best Company Rating
 
A.M. Best Company, or A.M. Best, rates the financial strength and ability to meet policyholder obligations of our insurance subsidiaries. During 2008, our primary insurance subsidiary, American Physicians, received an upgrade in its A.M. Best rating from B++ to A- Our A.M. Best rating is the fourth highest of 15 rating levels. The A- rating is considered Excellent, and according to A.M. Best, companies rated A- are deemed “secure.” A.M. Best assigns an A- rating to insurers that have, on average, excellent balance sheet strength, operating performance and business profiles when compared to the standards established by A.M. Best, and in A.M. Best’s opinion, have an excellent ability to meet their ongoing obligations to policyholders. An insurance company’s rating is a potential source of competitive advantage or disadvantage in the marketplace.
 
Rating agencies such as A.M. Best evaluate insurance companies based on their financial strength and ability to pay claims, factors that are more relevant to policyholders and potential customers who are purchasing insurance, as well as agents who are advising customers, than investors. Financial strength ratings by rating agencies are not ratings of securities or recommendations to buy, hold, or sell any security.
 
Important Agency Relationship
 
One of the primary agencies through which we write medical professional liability insurance is SCW Agency Group, Inc., or SCW. SCW is principally owned by William B. Cheeseman, our former president and chief executive officer and director. Mr. Cheeseman ceased to be an employee of the Company at the end of 2003 and ceased to be a director in 2004.
 
Commissions SCW receives on premiums it writes for APCapital’s insurance subsidiaries typically account for around 50% of its total revenues. Direct premiums written for us by SCW during 2008, 2007 and 2006 totaled $37.6 million, $43.1 million and $50.5 million respectively, representing 30.0%, 31.9% and 32.2% of the Company’s direct premiums written during such years. Commission expense we incurred related to SCW approximated $2.9 million, $3.3 million and $3.7 million in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The commission rates we have paid to SCW have been the same as the commission rates we paid to our other agents.
 
Effective January 2009, we renewed for another five years our contract with SCW. The agreement provides for American Physicians to be the exclusive medical professional liability carrier SCW represents in the states of Michigan, Illinois and beginning in October 2008, Ohio, subject to limited exceptions, such as a downgrade of our A.M. Best rating. We continue to have the right to appoint other agents in all three of these states. SCW may continue to represent other insurance companies in states other than Michigan, Illinois and Ohio for lines of business other than medical professional liability. The contract provides for SCW to be paid commissions consistent with the marketplace.
 
Insurance Regulatory Matters
 
General.  Insurance companies are subject to supervision and regulation relating to numerous aspects of their business and financial condition in the states in which they transact business. The nature and extent of such regulation varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Our insurance companies are subject to supervision and regulation by the Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation for the State of Michigan, or OFIR, and other state departments of insurance. These regulators establish standards of solvency, license insurers and agents,


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establish guidelines for investments by insurers, review premium rates, review the provisions which insurers must make for current losses and future liabilities, review transactions involving a change in control and require the filing of periodic reports relating to financial condition. In addition, state regulatory examiners, including OFIR, perform periodic financial examinations of insurance companies. Such regulation is generally intended for the protection of policyholders rather than shareholders.
 
American Physicians is licensed to write insurance in a total of 16 states. However, our current focus of operations is on our core states in the Midwest and New Mexico.
 
Holding Company Regulation.  Most states, including Michigan, have enacted legislation that regulates insurance holding company systems such as ours. Each insurance company in a holding company system is required to register with the insurance supervisory agency of its state of domicile and furnish information concerning the operations of companies within the holding company system that may materially affect the operations, management or financial condition of the insurers within the system. These laws permit OFIR or any other relevant insurance departments to examine APCapital’s insurance subsidiaries at any time, to require disclosure of material transactions between APCapital and its insurance subsidiaries, and to require prior approval of sales or purchases of a material amount of assets and the payment of extraordinary dividends. OFIR conducted a financial examination as of December 31, 2006 of each of our three insurance subsidiaries. No adjustments were proposed as a result of the examinations.
 
Holding company laws also limit the amount of dividends payable by insurance subsidiaries to the parent company. Under Michigan law, the maximum dividend that may be paid to APCapital from its insurance subsidiaries during any twelve-month period, without prior approval of OFIR, is the greater of 10% of each insurance company’s statutory surplus, as reported on the most recent annual statement filed with OFIR, or the statutory net income, excluding realized gains, for the period covered by such annual statement. Accordingly, $48.0 million of dividends can be paid in 2009 without prior regulatory approval. However, as dividends totaling $63.0 million were paid in 2008, the $48.0 million that can be paid in 2009 is subject to limitation based on the timing and amount of the dividends that were paid in the preceding 12 months.
 
Change of Control.  The Michigan Insurance Code requires that OFIR receive prior notice of and approve a change of control for APCapital or any of its Michigan-domiciled insurance subsidiaries. The Michigan Insurance Code contains a complete definition of “control.” In simplified terms, a person, corporation, or other entity would obtain “control” of American Physicians or APCapital if they possessed, had a right to acquire possession, or had the power to direct any other person acquiring possession, directly or indirectly, of 10% or more of the voting securities of either company. To obtain approval for a change of control, the proposed acquirer must file an application with OFIR containing detailed information such as the identity and background of the acquirer and its affiliates, the sources of and amount of funds to be used to effect the acquisition, and financial information regarding the proposed acquirer.
 
Risk-Based Capital Requirements.  In addition to other state-imposed insurance laws and regulations, OFIR enforces requirements developed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, or NAIC, that require insurance companies to calculate and report information under a risk-based formula that attempts to measure capital and surplus needs based on the risks in a company’s mix of products and investment portfolio. Under the formula, we first determine our risk-based capital base level by taking into account risks with respect to our assets and underwriting risks relating to our liabilities and obligations. We then compare our “total adjusted capital” to the base level. Our “total adjusted capital” is determined by subtracting our liabilities from our assets in accordance with rules established by OFIR.
 
A ratio of total adjusted capital to risk-based capital of less than 2.0 may give rise to enhanced regulatory scrutiny or even a regulatory takeover of the insurer, depending on the extent to which the ratio is less than 2.0. The risk-based capital ratio for American Physicians has always exceeded 2.0. As of December 31, 2008, American Physicians’ risk-based capital base level was $44.3 million and its total adjusted capital was $194.3 million, for a ratio of 4.4.
 
IRIS Requirements.  The NAIC has also developed a series of 13 financial ratios, referred to as the Insurance Regulatory Information System, or IRIS, for use by state insurance regulators in monitoring the financial condition


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of insurance companies. The NAIC has established an acceptable range of values for each of the IRIS financial ratios. Generally, an insurance company will become the subject of increased scrutiny when four or more of its IRIS ratio results fall outside the range deemed acceptable by the NAIC. The nature of increased regulatory scrutiny resulting from IRIS ratio results outside the acceptable range is subject to the judgment of the applicable state insurance department, but generally will result in accelerated reviews of annual and quarterly filings. In 2008, American Physicians did not generate any IRIS ratios that varied from values within the NAIC’s acceptable range.
 
Guaranty Fund.  We participate in various guaranty associations in the states in which we write business that protect policyholders and claimants against losses due to insolvency of insurers. When an insolvency occurs, the associations are authorized to assess member companies up to the amount of the shortfall of funds, including expenses. Member companies are assessed based on the type and amount of insurance written during the previous calendar year. We make estimated accruals for our portion of the assessments as information becomes available.
 
Employees
 
As of December 31, 2008, we had 162 employees. None of the employees are covered by a collective bargaining unit and we believe that employee relations are good.
 
Uncertainties Relating To Forward-Looking Statements
 
Our reports, filings and other public announcements contain certain statements that describe our management’s beliefs concerning future business conditions and prospects, growth opportunities and the outlook for our business and industry based upon information currently available. Such statements are “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Wherever possible, we have identified these statements with words such as “will,” “should,” “likely,” “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “plans” or similar expressions. Our forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and represent our outlook only as of the date of this report.
 
We claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 for all of our forward-looking statements. While we believe that our forward-looking statements are reasonable, you should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Because these forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions that are subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control or are subject to change, actual results could be materially different. Factors that might cause such a difference include, without limitation, the risks and uncertainties discussed from time to time in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those listed in “Item 1A — Risk Factors” in this report.
 
Other factors not currently anticipated by management may also materially and adversely affect our financial condition, liquidity or results of operations. Except as required by applicable law, we do not undertake, and expressly disclaim, any obligation to publicly update or alter our statements whether as a result of new information, events or circumstances occurring after the date of this report or otherwise.
 
Item 1A.   Risk Factors.
 
An investment in our common stock involves numerous risks and uncertainties. You should carefully consider the following information about these risks. Any of the risks described below could result in a significant or material adverse effect on our future results of operations, cash flows or financial condition. We believe the most significant of these risks and uncertainties are as follows:
 
Increased competition could adversely affect our ability to sell our products at premium rates we deem adequate, which may result in a decrease in premium volume.
 
The medical professional liability insurance business tends to cycle through what are often referred to as “hard” and “soft” markets. A hard market is generally characterized as a period of rapidly raising premium rates, tightened underwriting standards, narrowed coverage and the withdrawal of insurers from certain markets. Soft markets are usually characterized by relatively flat or slow-rising premium rates, less stringent underwriting


7


 

standards, expanded coverage and strong competition among insurers. The medical professional liability insurance market is currently in a soft market. Recent industry wide favorable claim trends and the accompanying competitive pressures they bring could adversely impact our ability to obtain rate increases we deem necessary to adequately cover insured risks, which could ultimately result in a decrease in premium volume as physicians currently insured with us elect to place their coverage elsewhere.
 
Our reserves for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses are based on estimates that may prove to be inadequate to cover our losses.
 
The process of estimating the reserves for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses involves significant judgment and is complex and imprecise due to the number of variables and assumptions inherent in the estimation process. These variables include the effects on ultimate loss payments of internal factors such as changes in claims handling practices and changes in the mix of our products, as well as external factors such as changes in loss frequency and severity trends, economic inflation, judicial trends and legislative and regulatory changes. In addition, medical professional liability claims may take several years to resolve due to typical delays in reporting claims to us, the often lengthy discovery process, and the time necessary to defend the claim. Also, claims with similar characteristics may result in very different ultimate losses depending on the state or region where the claim occurred. All of these factors contribute to the variability in estimating ultimate loss payments, especially since the effects of many of these variables cannot be directly quantified, and may require us to make significant adjustments in our reserves from time to time. Any such adjustments could materially and adversely affect our results of operations for the period with respect to which the adjustment is made. Due to the current volatility of losses in the medical professional liability and workers’ compensation markets, adjustments have occurred in each of the last several years.
 
Market illiquidity and volatility associated with the current financial crisis makes the fair values of our investments increasingly difficult to estimate, and may have other unforeseen consequences that we are currently unable to predict.
 
Investment securities traded in active markets are valued at quoted market prices. All other investment securities are valued based on broker quotes or through the use of various pricing models that require the application of judgment in selecting the appropriate assumptions based on observable or unobservable market data. Volatile and illiquid markets increase the likelihood that investment securities may not behave in historically predictable manners, resulting in fair value estimates that are either over or understated compared with actual amounts that could be realized upon disposition or maturity of the security.
 
In addition, the ultimate effects of the recent market volatility, credit crisis, and overall economic downturn may have unforeseen consequences on the credit quality, liquidity and financial stability of the issuers of securities we hold, or reinsurers with which we do business. As recent market experience indicates, such deteriorations in financial condition can occur rapidly, leaving us unable to react to such a scenario in a prudent manner consistent with our historical practices in dealing with more orderly markets. This in turn could adversely and negatively affect our results of operations, liquidity or financial condition.
 
An interruption or change in current marketing and agency relationships could reduce the amount of premium we are able to write.
 
We currently carry the endorsement of the Michigan State Medical Society, the New Mexico Medical Society, and other such organizations, which we believe provides us with a competitive advantage. If the endorsement of these organizations were to lapse, we could see a reduction in our premium volumes in markets such as Michigan and New Mexico, where such organizations carry influence. In addition, approximately 65% of our medical professional liability direct premiums written are produced by 10 agencies. One agency in particular, the SCW Agency Group, Inc., produced approximately 30% of our medical professional direct premiums written during each of the last three years. An interruption or change in the relationship with any of these agencies could adversely and materially impact the amount of premiums we are able to write.


8


 

If we are unable to obtain or collect on ceded reinsurance, our results of operations and financial condition may be adversely affected.
 
We use reinsurance arrangements to limit and manage the amount of risk we retain and stabilize our underwriting results. The amount and cost of reinsurance available to us is subject, in large part, to prevailing market conditions beyond our control. Our ability to provide insurance at competitive premium rates and coverage limits on a continuing basis depends in large part upon our ability to secure adequate reinsurance in amounts and at rates that are commercially reasonable. Furthermore, we are subject to credit risk with respect to our reinsurers because reinsurance does not relieve us of liability to our insureds for the risks ceded to reinsurers. A significant reinsurer’s inability or refusal to reimburse us under the terms of our reinsurance agreements would result in a charge to income that could materially and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition for the period in which the charge is incurred. The risk of a reinsurer defaulting on its obligations to us is typically greater in times of economic uncertainty, such as are currently being experienced around the world. Accordingly, we cannot be assured that we will continue to be able to obtain affordable reinsurance from creditworthy reinsurers.
 
Our geographic concentration in certain Midwestern states and New Mexico ties our performance to the business, economic, regulatory and legislative conditions in those states.
 
Approximately 98% of our total medical professional liability direct premiums written in 2008 were written in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and New Mexico. Because of this concentration, unfavorable business, economic or regulatory conditions in these states could adversely impact the amount of premiums we are able to write, the costs associated with loss settlement and other expenses.
 
A downgrade in the A.M. Best Company rating of our primary insurance subsidiary could reduce the amount of business we are able to write.
 
Rating agencies, such as A.M. Best Company, rate insurance companies based on financial strength as an indication of a company’s ability to meet policyholder obligations. Our primary insurance subsidiary, American Physicians, has an A.M. Best rating of A- (Excellent). An insurance company’s rating, and in particular its A.M. Best rating, can be a potential source of competitive advantage or disadvantage in the marketplace. Accordingly, a downgrade in our A.M. Best rating could adversely affect our position in the marketplace and could result in a reduction in the amount of business we are able to write.
 
Changes in interest rates could adversely impact our results of operation, cash flows and financial condition.
 
A significant portion of our assets are invested in interest bearing fixed-income securities. In recent years, we have earned our investment income primarily from interest income on these investments. A decrease in prevailing interest rates, as recently experienced, will reduce the return on our investment portfolio as we reinvest the proceeds of securities that mature at rates below those of the securities that mature and our cash and cash equivalent assets earn less interest. The reduced investment income will also reduce our operating cash flows. Conversely, an increase in interest rates would reduce the carrying value of our available-for-sale fixed-income securities as the market value of these securities is typically inversely related to interest rates, which could result in a charge to income if determined to be other than temporary. An increase in short-term interest rates would also increase the interest payments associated with our long-term debt as those obligations pay a variable rate of interest that is in part based on the three-month London Inter-Bank Offered Rate. Any of these consequences may have a material adverse effect on our revenues, cash flows and assets, including the amount of net unrealized appreciation on investments shown on our balance sheet.
 
The unpredictability of court decisions could have a material impact on our operations.
 
The financial position or results of operations of our insurance subsidiaries may also be adversely affected by court decisions that expand insurance coverage beyond the intention of the insurer at the time it originally issued an insurance policy. In addition, a significant jury award, or series of awards, against one or more of our insureds could require us to pay large sums of money in excess of our reserve amounts.


9


 

Our business could be adversely affected by the loss of one or more key employees.
 
We are heavily dependent upon our senior management and the loss of the services of our senior executives could adversely affect our business. Our success has been, and will continue to be, dependent on our ability to retain the services of existing key employees and to attract and retain additional qualified personnel in the future. The loss of the services of key employees or senior managers, or the inability to identify, hire and retain other highly qualified personnel in the future, could adversely affect the quality and profitability of our business operations.
 
The insurance industry is subject to regulatory oversight that may impact the manner in which we operate our business, our ability to obtain future premium rate increases, the type and amount of our investments, the levels of capital and surplus deemed adequate to protect policyholder interests, or the ability of our insurance subsidiaries to pay dividends to the holding company.
 
Our insurance business is subject to extensive regulation by the applicable state agencies in the jurisdictions in which we operate, and especially by OFIR, as our insurance companies are domiciled in that state. These state agencies have broad regulatory powers designed to protect policyholders, not shareholders or other investors. These powers include, but are not limited to, the ability to:
 
  •  place limitations on the types and amounts of our investments,
 
  •  review and approve or deny premium rate increases,
 
  •  set standards of solvency to be met and maintained,
 
  •  review reserve levels,
 
  •  review change in control transactions,
 
  •  limit the ability to pay dividends,
 
  •  prescribe the form and content of, and to examine, our statutory-basis financial statements, and
 
  •  place limitations on our ability to transact business with and between our affiliated insurance companies.
 
Failure to comply with these regulations could result in consequences resulting from a regulatory examination to a regulatory takeover. If we fail to comply with insurance industry regulations, or if those regulations become more burdensome to us, we may not be able to operate profitably or may be more limited in the amount of dividends our insurance subsidiaries can make to APCapital.
 
Our status as an insurance holding company with no direct operations could adversely affect our ability to meet our debt obligations and fund future share repurchases.
 
APCapital is an insurance holding company. As such, it has no ongoing operations and its primary assets are the stock of its insurance subsidiaries. The availability of cash needed by APCapital to meet its obligations on its outstanding debt, repurchase outstanding shares of its common stock and pay its operating expenses is largely dependent upon dividends that it receives from its insurance subsidiaries. The payment of dividends by our insurance subsidiaries is regulated by state insurance laws, which restrict the amount of dividends that can be made without prior approval by OFIR.
 
Legislative or judicial changes in the tort system may have adverse or unintended consequences that could materially and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
 
Changes in laws, at either the national or state level, that limit jury awards for non-economic damages relating to medical malpractice claims, commonly referred to as tort reform, could have unintended adverse consequences for insurers. For example, when tort reform legislation was passed in Illinois, the new law made certain reporting requirements regarding rate filings more burdensome. As a consequence, an increase in claims frequency or severity may adversely affect our results of operations as it may be more difficult to obtain approval from regulators for rate increases we deem necessary.


10


 

Applicable law and various provisions in our articles and bylaws may prevent and discourage unsolicited attempts to acquire APCapital that you may believe are in your best interests or that might result in a substantial profit to you.
 
APCapital is subject to provisions of Michigan corporate and insurance laws that have the effect of impeding a change of control by requiring prior approval of a change of control transaction by the OFIR and the board of directors. In addition, APCapital’s articles of incorporation and bylaws include provisions which: (1) allow for the issuance of “blank check” preferred stock without further shareholder approval; (2) set high vote requirements for certain amendments to the articles of incorporation and bylaws; (3) establish a staggered board; (4) limit the ability of shareholders to call special meetings; and (5) require unanimity for shareholder action taken without a meeting. These provisions may discourage a takeover attempt that you consider to be in your best interests or in which you would receive a substantial premium over the then-current market price. In addition, approval by the OFIR of a change of control transaction may be withheld even if the transaction would be in the shareholders’ best interest if it determines that the transaction would be detrimental to policyholders. As a result you may not have an opportunity to participate in such a transaction.
 
Item 1B.   Unresolved Staff Comments
 
Not applicable.
 
Item 2.   Properties
 
We own our home office in East Lansing, Michigan which comprises approximately 89,000 square feet. In addition, we lease office space as needed in our major markets to provide a local presence. Our leases tend to be five to ten years in length. We currently lease and occupy a total of approximately 10,500 square feet of space in Chicago, Illinois and Albuquerque, New Mexico. We also own a parcel of investment property in East Lansing, Michigan as part of our investment portfolio.
 
Item 3.   Legal Proceedings
 
We are not currently subject to any material litigation. Though we have many routine litigation matters in the ordinary course of our insurance business, we do not expect these cases to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
 
Item 4.   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
 
No matters were submitted to a vote of shareholders during the three months ended December 31, 2008.


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PART II
 
Item 5.   Market For Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and issuer purchases of equity securities
 
The following table sets forth the high and low sale price per share of the common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market and the dividends paid per share for the periods indicated.
 
                         
    Sale Price     Dividends
 
    High     Low     per Share  
 
2008
                       
October 1 — December 31, 2008
  $ 50.23     $ 28.93     $ 0.10  
July 1 — September 30, 2008
    50.49       40.00       0.10  
April 1 — June 30, 2008
    49.90       44.15       0.10  
January 1 — March 31, 2008
    48.31       37.01       0.10  
2007 
                       
October 1 — December 31, 2007
  $ 46.68     $ 37.92     $ 0.10  
July 1 — September 30, 2007
    42.00       31.25       0.10  
April 1 — June 30, 2007
    42.55       37.89        
January 1 — March 31, 2007
    40.88       35.27        
 
Our Board declared a dividend of $0.11 per share payable March 31, 2009. Our current intention is to continue to pay a comparable cash dividend on a quarterly basis for the foreseeable future. However, the payment of future dividends will depend on the availability of cash resources at APCapital, prevailing business conditions, our financial condition and results of operations, and such other factors as are deemed relevant by the Board of Directors. Our ability to pay dividends may be also contingent on the receipt of cash dividends from our subsidiaries. The payment of any dividends from our insurance subsidiaries to APCapital is subject to a number of regulatory conditions described above under “Item 1. Business — Insurance Regulatory Matters.” In addition, under the documents relating to the debentures issued by APCapital, we would not be able to pay dividends during any period during which we delay our obligation to pay interest payments to the related trusts pursuant to our rights under those documents. See Note 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding these debentures.
 
As of January 31, 2009, there were 107 shareholders of record and approximately 6,200 beneficial shareholders of our common stock, based on the records of our transfer agent and securities listing information.
 
The information contained in the Equity Compensation Plan table under Item 12 of this Report is incorporated herein by reference.


12


 

The Company may from time to time repurchase shares of its outstanding common stock. The Company’s repurchase of any of its shares is subject to limitations that may be imposed by applicable laws and regulations and rules of the Nasdaq Global Select Market. The timing of the purchase and the number of shares to be bought at any one time depend on market conditions and the Company’s capital requirements. The following table sets forth our recent repurchase activity.
 
                                         
                Total Number
             
    Total
          of Shares
    Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar
 
    Number of
    Average
    Repurchased as
    Value) of Shares that May Yet Be
 
    Shares
    Price Paid
    Part of Publicly
    Repurchased Under the Plans or Programs  
    Repurchased     per Share     Announced Plans     Discretionary Plan (a)     Rule 10b5-1 Plan(b)  
 
For the month ended October 31, 2008
    230,570     $ 38.37       230,570       21,409,312     $ 17,642,955  
For the month ended November 30, 2008
    334,600     $ 36.68       334,600       21,409,312     $ 5,368,855  
For the month ended December 31, 2008
    223,200     $ 38.34       223,200       21,409,312     $ 26,811,583  
For the three months ended December 31, 2008
    788,370     $ 37.64       788,370       21,409,312     $ 26,811,583  
For the year ended December 31, 2008
    1,333,970     $ 39.88       1,333,970       21,409,312     $ 26,811,583  
 
 
(a) On February 7, 2008, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of additional common shares with a cost of up to $25 million at management’s discretion. The timing of the repurchases and the number of shares to be bought at any time depend on market conditions and the Company’s capital resources and requirements. The discretionary plan has no expiration date and may be terminated or discontinued at any time or from time to time.
 
(b) On October 29, 2007 the Board authorized the repurchase of an additional $20 million of the Company’s commons shares pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 plan in 2008, as well as the rollover of any remaining unused dollars allocated to the 2007 plan. On December 4 and 11, 2008, the Board authorized the repurchase of an additional $10 million and $20 million of the Company’s common shares pursuant to the Rule 10b5-1 plan in 2008, as well as the rollover of any unused authorization into 2009. The Rule 10b5-1 plan share repurchases will continue to be made pursuant to a formula in the plan, and the plan will expire when all of the allocated dollars in the paln have been used or at December 31, 2009. The Company may terminate the Rule 10b5-1 plan at any time.


13


 

 
Item 6.   Selected Financial Data
 
The following selected financial data, other than the selected statutory data, is derived from our Consolidated Financial Statements which were prepared in accordance with GAAP. The data should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements, related Notes and other financial information included elsewhere in this report. The selected statutory data is derived from our annual statements which were prepared in accordance with statutory accounting practices as required by insurance regulatory authorities. See Note 19 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of the principal differences between GAAP and statutory accounting practices. Such information is incorporated herein by reference.
 
                                         
    For the Year Ended December 31,  
    2008     2007     2006     2005     2004  
    (In thousands, except per share data)  
 
Revenue:
                                       
Direct premiums written
  $ 125,018     $ 135,415     $ 156,866     $ 185,511     $ 213,945  
                                         
Net premiums written
  $ 120,117     $ 130,808     $ 146,723     $ 157,382     $ 186,431  
                                         
Net premiums earned
  $ 124,268     $ 138,923     $ 149,688     $ 164,283     $ 200,579  
Investment income
    36,864       43,506       45,253       45,163       47,373  
Net realized (losses) gains
    (658 )     (111 )     3,310       2,033       1,551  
Other income
    730       815       1,031       1,387       1,177  
                                         
Total revenues and other income
    161,204       183,133       199,282       212,866       250,680  
Losses and expenses:
                                       
Losses and loss adjustment expenses
    65,311       69,428       100,458       127,124       177,786  
Underwriting expenses
    27,458       30,141       30,521       33,080       42,681  
Investment expenses
    1,032       910       845       1,411       2,460  
Interest expense
    2,196       3,139       3,057       2,518       1,895  
Amortization expense
                      625       915  
Other expenses
    1,232       1,362       1,398       3,241       5,193  
                                         
Total losses and expenses
    97,229       104,980       136,279       167,999       230,930  
                                         
Income before federal income tax (benefit) expense and minority interest
    63,975       78,153       63,003       44,867       19,750  
Federal income tax expense (benefit)(a)
    18,779       25,362       19,816       (27,952 )     (290 )
                                         
Income before minority interest
    45,196       52,791       43,187       72,819       20,040  
Minority interest in net loss of consolidated subsidiary
                      (453 )     (10 )
                                         
Net income
  $ 45,196     $ 52,791     $ 43,187     $ 72,366     $ 20,030  
                                         
Net income per share — basic
  $ 4.69     $ 4.82     $ 3.59     $ 5.65     $ 1.58  
                                         
Weighted average shares outstanding — basic(b)
    9,628       10,951       12,015       12,807       12,683  
Net income per share — diluted
  $ 4.60     $ 4.73     $ 3.52     $ 5.53     $ 1.53  
                                         
Weighted average shares outstanding — diluted(b)
    9,820       11,163       12,274       13,094       13,082  
Cash dividends paid per share
  $ 0.40     $ 0.20     $     $     $  
                                         
 
 
(a) Federal income tax expense (benefit) includes expense of ($44.1) million and ($6.6) million in 2005 and 2004, respectively, related to the reversal, change in or establishment of a deferred tax valuation allowance.
 
(b) Weighted average shares outstanding and the associated earnings per share amounts, both basic and diluted, have been retroactively adjusted to reflect a three-for-two stock split effective November 1, 2006.
 


14


 

                                         
    At or For the Year Ended December 31,  
    2008     2007     2006     2005     2004  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
 
Balance Sheet Data:
                                       
Total cash and investments
  $ 830,648     $ 858,947     $ 875,276     $ 854,359     $ 858,098  
Total assets
    1,005,823       1,057,462       1,095,815       1,109,328       1,069,899  
Total liabilities
    751,786       793,905       827,005       845,475       865,575  
Total GAAP
    254,037       263,557       268,810       261,212       202,124  
shareholders’ equity
                                       
GAAP Ratios:
                                       
Loss ratio
    52.6 %     50.0 %     67.1 %     77.4 %     88.6 %
Underwriting expense ratio(a)
    22.1       21.7       20.4       20.1       21.3  
Combined ratio
    74.7       71.7       87.5       97.5       109.9  
Statutory Data
                                       
Loss ratio
    53.3 %     49.2 %     67.5 %     77.6 %     88.6 %
Underwriting expense ratio(a)
    24.2       23.7       22.3       22.7       23.8  
Combined ratio
    77.5       72.9       89.8       100.3       112.4  
Surplus
  $ 204,975     $ 221,595     $ 248,929     $ 240,135     $ 210,874  
Ratio of statutory net premiums written to surplus
    0.59 to 1       0.59 to 1       0.59 to 1       0.66 to 1       0.88 to 1  
 
 
(a) The statutory underwriting expense ratio shown in the table is calculated by dividing statutory underwriting expenses, which may differ from GAAP, by net premiums written. The GAAP underwriting expense ratio is calculated by dividing underwriting expenses, determined in accordance with GAAP, by net premiums earned.
 
Item 7.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes thereto included elsewhere in this report. References to “we,” “our” and “us” are references to the Company.
 
The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations contains certain forward-looking statements. See “Item 1 — Business — Uncertainties Relating To Forward-Looking Statements” elsewhere in this report for important information regarding forward-looking statements, which is incorporated herein by reference.
 
Critical Accounting Policies
 
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes. These estimates and assumptions are evaluated on an on-going basis based on historical developments, market conditions, industry trends and other information we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. There can be no assurance that actual results will conform to our estimates and assumptions, and that reported results of operations will not be materially adversely affected by the need to make accounting adjustments to reflect changes in these estimates and assumptions from time to time. Adjustments related to changes in estimates are reflected in the Company’s earnings in the period those estimates changed. The following policies are those we believe to be the most sensitive to estimates and judgments or involve revenue recognition. Our other accounting policies are described in Note 1 to our Consolidated Financial Statements.

15


 

Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses
 
Our Consolidated Financial Statements include estimated reserves for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses related to our various insurance lines of business. Our actuaries utilize standard actuarial techniques to project ultimate losses. These projections are prepared using the Company’s data, including the number of claims reported and paid, and the average severity of reported and paid claims, as well as industry data. This process assumes that past experience, adjusted for the effects of current developments and anticipated trends, is an appropriate basis for predicting future events. Based on these quantitative as well as other qualitative factors, such as a review of current pricing and underwriting initiatives, an evaluation of reinsurance costs and retention levels, and the current reserving practices of the Company’s claims department, we select a “best estimate” of ultimate future losses, and then record this best estimate in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. We receive an annual statement of opinion by an independent consulting actuary concerning the adequacy of our reserves, as required by insurance regulatory authorities.
 
When a claim is reported to us, claims personnel establish a “case reserve” for the estimated amount of the ultimate payment. The process of estimating the case reserves reflects an informed judgment based upon insurance reserving practices appropriate for the relevant line of business and on the experience and knowledge of the estimator regarding the nature and value of the specific claim, the severity of injury or damage, and the policy provisions relating to the type of loss. We also maintain reserves for claims incurred but not reported, commonly referred to as IBNR, to provide for future reporting of already incurred claims and development on reported claims. These two components, case reserves and the reserve for IBNR claims constitute the liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses, and together represent our best estimate of the ultimate cost of settling our claims obligations. The estimation of the ultimate liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses is an inherently uncertain process and does not represent an exact calculation of that liability. Many internal and external factors can influence the estimation process, and even minor changes in assumptions regarding these factors can have a substantial impact on the projection of the ultimate liability.
 
With lines of business like medical professional liability that often have claims with complex and technical facts and circumstances that take many years to investigate and close, the lack of information available to the claims personnel when a claim is first reported often makes establishing accurate case reserves difficult. As the discovery phase of the claim proceeds, better information regarding the nature and severity of the claim becomes available, enabling claims personnel to establish a more accurate, often higher, case reserve for the claim. This process of periodically evaluating and adjusting case reserves results in case reserve development. This case reserve development is one of the factors that our actuaries consider when establishing ultimate loss estimates. Some of the variables that may impact how they view case reserve development and its impact include internal factors such as our underwriting and claims handling practices and changes in the mix of our products and policy limits offered. However, our actuaries also consider other factors such as the frequency and severity of reported and IBNR claims.
 
Loss frequency and severity trends are considered in the estimation of the ultimate liability of losses and loss adjustment expenses. Claim frequency is measured in various ways. The most common measure is the number of claims reported to us and is typically adjusted for the relative exposure, either in terms of the number of insureds or earned premiums. Claim frequency is also measured in terms of the number of claims reported to us on which we make loss payments, also known as indemnity payments, as opposed to claims on which we pay only expenses or close without any payment. Claim frequency impacts not only our projection of the number of IBNR claims associated with our occurrence business, but is also evaluated to determine the cause of changes in frequency. In periods where claims frequency is declining, we consider whether this means that non-meritorious claims are no longer being filed, which would have an impact on the percentage of claims that will ultimately have loss or indemnity payments and which could impact the projection of ultimate losses.
 
Claim severity is often measured on a paid, reported and ultimate basis. Paid severity represents the cost of payments associated with loss settlement and is typically measured as an average of paid losses per claim closed, per claim closed with payment, and per claim closed with a loss settlement payment. Reported severity is usually measured as our average case reserve per open claim. Ultimate severity takes into account not only the severity of losses currently being paid and losses in our open claims inventory, but also a variety of qualitative and quantitative


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factors. One such factor considered by the actuaries with low-frequency, high-severity lines of business such as medical professional liability is a supposition that if fewer claims are reported to us, those claims are likely to have a higher average severity than the average severity of claims associated with a larger population of claims. Implicit in this supposition is an assumption that the claims that are still being reported to us are those of greater merit and potential severity, and the claims that are no longer being reported were the non-meritorious claims that were closed at little or no cost.
 
Other external factors such as economic inflation, judicial trends and legislative and regulatory changes can also have a substantial impact on our reserve estimate assumptions. For example, when tort reform legislation is passed in a state, we estimate its impact on both the frequency and severity of losses. In addition, we evaluate whether or not the legislation will stand if it is legally challenged in the courts.
 
As it often takes several years for medical professional liability claims to be resolved (three to six years on average from the time the loss is reported) the ultimate payment can be difficult to project due to typical delays in reporting claims to us, the often lengthy discovery process, and the time necessary to defend the claim. In the intervening time, changes in the judicial climate in a given jurisdiction can occur, which can impact the ultimate amount of loss settlement. Substantial changes in the economic environment can also occur during this period.
 
Our actuaries also consider the effects of our various reinsurance treaties, and the varying retention levels and co-participations we have on any given year as these will have an impact on the loss reserves we cede to our reinsurers.
 
All of the above factors contribute to the variability inherent in estimating ultimate loss payments, especially since the effects of many of these variables cannot be directly quantified on a prospective basis. In accordance with standard actuarial practices, we use a variety of methods when making our reserve estimate projections. These methods include:
 
  •  paid development;
 
  •  incurred development;
 
  •  average loss; and
 
  •  Bornhuetter-Ferguson.
 
The paid development method estimates ultimate losses by reviewing paid loss patterns and applying them to accident years with further expected changes in paid loss. The incurred development method is similar to the paid development method, but it uses case incurred losses instead of paid losses. Case incurred losses are defined as paid losses plus the claims department’s provision for open claims (case reserves). The average loss method multiplies a projected number of ultimate claims by an estimated ultimate average loss for each accident year to produce ultimate loss estimates. The Bornhuetter-Ferguson method is a combination of the paid or incurred development method and the average loss method.
 
The various reserving methods described above produce a range of possible reserve amounts. The selection of the best estimate reserve within the range requires careful actuarial judgment and analysis of diagnostic statistics such as those described above. In an effort to better explain the inherent uncertainty in our net loss and loss adjustment expense reserves, we have developed a reasonable range of estimates around the net carried reserves as of December 31, 2008. The range is disclosed and explained in “— Financial Condition.”
 
With long-tailed, low-frequency, high-severity lines of business such as medical professional liability, changes in the actuarially projected ultimate loss frequency and severity can have an even greater impact on the balance of recorded reserves than with most other property and casualty insurance lines. While we believe that our estimates of ultimate projected losses are adequate based on information known to us, there can be no assurance that additional significant reserve changes will not be necessary in the future given the many variables inherent in such estimates and the extended period of time that it can take for claim patterns to emerge.
 
The assumptions and methodologies used in estimating and establishing the reserve for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses are continually reviewed and any adjustments are reflected as income or expense in the period in which the adjustment is made. Historically, such adjustments have not exceeded 8% of our recorded net reserves


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as of the beginning of the period, but they can materially affect our results of operations when an adjustment is made. Due to the current volatility of losses in the medical professional liability industry, adjustments were necessary in each of the last several years. See Note 8 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a table showing changes in the loss reserve during each of the last three years, which table is incorporated herein by reference.
 
With the exception of reserves for extended reporting period claims discussed below, we do not discount our reserves to recognize the time value of money.
 
Investments
 
The Company classifies all investment securities as either held-to-maturity or available-for-sale at the date of purchase based on the Company’s ability and intent to hold individual securities until they mature. In addition, on a periodic basis, the Company reviews its fixed-income and equity security portfolio for proper classification as trading, available-for-sale or held-to-maturity. Based on such a review in 2005, we transferred a significant portion of our fixed-income security portfolio from the available-for-sale category to the held-to-maturity category. Securities were transferred at their estimated fair value. Any unrealized gains or losses, net of taxes, at the date of transfer continue to be reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income, and are being amortized over the remaining life of the securities through other comprehensive income.
 
Available-for-sale fixed-income and equity securities are reported at their estimated fair value, with any unrealized gains and losses reported net of any related tax effects, as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income. Any change in the estimated fair value of available-for-sale investment securities during the period is reported as unrealized appreciation or depreciation, net of any related tax effects, in other comprehensive income. Held-to-maturity securities, other than those transferred to the held-to-maturity category as described above, are carried at amortized cost. Investment income includes amortization of premium and accrual of discount for both held-to-maturity and available for sale securities on the yield-to-maturity method if investments are acquired at other than par value.
 
The fair values of our investment securities are determined by following the guidance and hierarchy in SFAS No. 157. If securities are traded in active markets, quoted prices are used to measure fair value (Level 1). If quoted prices are not available, prices are obtained from various independent pricing vendors based on pricing models that consider a variety of observable inputs (Level 2). Benchmark yields, prices for similar securities in active markets and quoted bid or ask prices are just a few of the observable inputs utilized. Prices determined by the model are then compared with prices provided by other pricing vendors and against prior prices to confirm that deviations are within tolerable limits. If the pricing vendors are unable to provide a current price for a security, a fair value is developed using alternative sources based on a variety of less objective assumptions and inputs (Level 3).
 
We currently have only two Level 1 securities in our investment portfolio, which are publicly traded equity securities. We have two Level 3 securities, one of which is valued by a pricing vendor using a pricing model as discussed above. However, due to a lack of comparable values from other pricing vendors with which to validate the fair value of this security, we have elected to classify this security as a Level 3. The other Level 3 security is valued based on cash flows, interest rate and other assumptions made by us, and results in a fair value for the security that approximates its par value. The rest of our fixed-income security portfolio consists of securities deemed to be Level 2, and are valued in accordance with the processes and procedures discussed above and in Note 4 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this report for Level 2 fair values.
 
We periodically review our investment portfolio for any potential credit quality or collection issues and for any securities with respect to which we consider a decline in fair value to be other than temporary. Investments which are considered to be other than temporarily impaired, or OTTI, are written down to their estimated fair value as of the end of the period in which the OTTI was noted and the amount written down is recognized as a current period expense. Subsequent recoveries in the fair value of impaired securities are not reported in income, but rather as unrealized gains, net of tax, in comprehensive income. Inherent in our evaluation of a particular security are


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assumptions and estimates about the operations of the issuer, and its future liquidity and earnings potential. Some of the factors considered in evaluating whether a decline in fair value is other than temporary are:
 
  •  Our ability and intent to retain the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for an anticipated recovery in value;
 
  •  The recoverability of principal and interest related to the security;
 
  •  The duration and extent to which the fair value has been less than cost for equity securities, or amortized cost for fixed maturity securities;
 
  •  The financial condition, near-term and long-term earnings and cash flow prospects of the issuer, including relevant industry conditions and trends, and implications of rating agency actions; and
 
  •  The specific reasons that a security is in a significant unrealized loss position, including market conditions that could affect access to liquidity.
 
During 2008 we recorded an expense of $858,000 related to the impairment of bonds whose decline in fair value was deemed to be other than temporary. These bonds were subsequently sold in 2008, with a gain of $10,000, based on the new cost basis, recognized upon their sale. We recorded no expenses for OTTI charges during 2007.
 
At December 31, 2008 we had approximately $1.4 million of unrealized losses on our available-for-sale investment security portfolio and $1.5 million of unrecognized losses on our held-to-maturity investment security portfolio. Approximately $0.2 million of the held-to-maturity unrecognized losses pertained to securities that had been in an unrecognized loss position for more than twelve months. All unrealized or unrecognized losses at December 31, 2008 were considered to be interest rate related and temporary in nature. For further information regarding the nature and amounts of these unrealized and unrecognized losses, see Note 3 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this report.
 
Reserve for Extended Reporting Period Claims
 
A portion of the coverage that physicians purchase under claims-made policies is for an additional death, disability and retirement, or DDR, insurance benefit. This DDR coverage provides coverage to the physician for any prior incidents occurring during the coverage period that are reported after their death, disability or retirement. The loss exposure associated with this product is known as extended reporting period claims. The reserve for extended reporting period claims coverage is recorded during the term of the original claims-made policy, based on the present value of future estimated benefits, including morbidity and mortality assumptions, less the present value of expected future premiums associated with this DDR coverage. The reserves for these claims fluctuate based on the number of physicians who are eligible for this coverage and their age. Any changes in the DDR reserves are reflected as an expense in the period in which we become aware that an adjustment is necessary. At December 31, 2008 and 2007, our recorded DDR reserves were $13.0 million and $15.0 million, respectively, which include a discount related to the present value calculation of approximately $3.6 million and $4.5 million, respectively.
 
Revenue Recognition
 
Insurance premium income is generally recognized on a daily pro rata basis over the respective terms of the policies in-force, which is generally one year. Certain extended reporting endorsements, often referred to as tail coverage, allow extended reporting of insured events after the termination of the original claims-made policy by modifying the exposure period of the underlying contract. Tail coverage can modify the exposure period for a definite or indefinite period. Premiums associated with tail policies that provide coverage for a definite period are earned over the period additional coverage is provided using the daily pro rata method. Premiums for tail policies that provide additional coverage for an indefinite period are fully earned at the date of issuance. Unearned premiums represent the portion of premiums written which are applicable to the unexpired terms of policies in-force.
 
Reinsurance
 
Reinsurance premiums and losses related to reinsured business are accounted for on bases consistent with those used in accounting for the original policies issued and the terms of the reinsurance contracts. Premiums ceded


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to other companies are reported as a reduction of premium income. Reinsured losses incurred are reported as a reduction of gross losses incurred.
 
Prior to 2006, a portion of the policyholder premium ceded to the reinsurers under our primary professional liability reinsurance contract was “swing-rated,” or experience rated, on a retrospective basis. These swing-rated contracts were subject to a minimum and maximum premium range to be paid to the reinsurers depending upon the extent of losses ultimately paid by the reinsurers. Under these treaties, we paid a provisional premium during the initial policy year, and recorded a liability that represented our best estimate of the additional premium due under the treaty based on the reinsurers’ expected ultimate experience under the treaty. As this estimated liability for future premium payments relied upon our ceded reserve estimates to project the reinsurers’ anticipated ultimate experience under the treaty, changes in our actuarially estimated ceded loss and loss adjustment expense reserves would also have an impact on the estimated liability for additional premiums. At December 31, 2008, we had a liability of $12.0 million recorded for additional premiums under these swing-rated treaties. This represents the maximum amount of additional premiums that could be due under such treaties.
 
Our reinsurance treaties effective on or after January 1, 2006, although no longer swing-rated, do contain profit sharing provisions. In accordance with these provision, if the reinsurers’ experience under the treaties is favorable, that is the treaties are profitable from the reinsurers’ perspective, a percentage of the reinsurers’ profit would be due back to us. Recorded ceded loss experience as of December 31, 2008 does not indicate that any such profit sharing is due back to us.
 
We commuted our 2005 medical professional liability reinsurance treaty agreement effective December 31, 2008. The $16.6 million of consideration under the commutation, consisting of $8.5 million in cash and the reduction of swing-rated premiums payable of $8.1 million, were recorded as a reduction of losses and loss adjustment expenses paid (thereby reducing losses and loss adjustment expenses incurred) in the current year. In connection with the commutation we released the reinsurers from their obligations under the treaty of $16.0 million (thereby increasing losses and loss adjustment expenses incurred). The net effect of the commutation was a decrease in losses and loss adjustment expenses of $633,000.
 
We evaluate each of our ceded reinsurance contracts at inception to determine if there is sufficient risk transfer to allow the contract to be accounted for as reinsurance under current accounting guidance. At December 31, 2008 all ceded contracts are accounted for as risk transferring contracts.
 
We review the financial stability of all of our reinsurers each quarter. This review includes a ratings analysis, as well as the most recent financial information, of each reinsurer participating in a reinsurance contract. At December 31, 2008, there were no known issues with the financial solvency of our reinsurers or their ultimate ability to pay amounts due to us. If we determine that the ultimate ability of a reinsurer is uncertain, we would be required to recognize a reserve and a corresponding expense in the period in which the determination is made. Our reinsurance arrangements are discussed in more detail in “Item 1. Business — Medical Professional Liability Operations” and in “Item 7 — Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Results of Operations — 2008 Compared to 2007” and in Note 10 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this report.
 
Income Taxes
 
We estimate our income tax expense based on the best information available to us at year end. This income tax expense includes a provision for those income taxes that are currently payable, as well as a provision for the deferred impact of certain deductible and taxable temporary differences. In the months subsequent to the calendar year end, we prepare and file our income tax returns and evaluate any differences between the provisions we recorded in the previous year and the actual amounts per the filed tax returns. These “return to provision” differences are recorded as adjustments to income tax expense in the period in which they are identified. Return to provision adjustments for each of the three years ended December 31, 2008 were less than $50,000.
 
Deferred federal income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to the difference between financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities, and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.


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A determination must be made for deferred tax assets regarding whether it is more likely than not that sufficient taxable income will exist in future periods when deductible temporary differences are expected to reverse to enable the Company to realize the benefit of its deferred tax assets. If it is determined that it is more likely than not that sufficient taxable income will not exist, a valuation allowance must be recorded for the portion of deferred tax assets the Company likely will not realize. At December 31, 2008 and 2007 all deferred tax assets were deemed to be recoverable and no valuation allowance was recorded.
 
We record any excess tax benefits related to employee share-based awards as a credit to additional paid in capital in the year that they are currently deductible in the Company’s consolidated tax return.
 
In addition, Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Interpretation No. 48 (“FIN 48”), Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes — an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes, requires management to identify, estimate and disclose positions they have taken where the income tax treatment of the position taken is not 100% certain. Our evaluation of the deductibility or taxability of items included in the Company’s tax returns has not resulted in the identification of any material, uncertain tax positions.
 
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs
 
Deferred policy acquisition costs, or DAC, are those costs that vary with and are primarily related to the production of new or renewal business. Costs such as commissions and premium taxes are 100% related to new or renewal business production. Other costs, such as employee salaries, bonuses and benefits, must be allocated between that portion that pertains to new or renewal business production and that which does not. Such cost estimates are made on a department by department basis and are based on time studies.
 
These policy acquisition costs are deferred and amortized over the period in which the related premiums are earned. Under GAAP, the premiums that will be earned in future periods, to which these deferred costs relate, must produce sufficient profits to offset the future expense that will be recognized from the amortization of the DAC; that is, the DAC must be recoverable. In evaluating the recoverability of DAC, we have made certain assumptions regarding the future amount and timing of costs associated with the business written, such as costs to maintain the policies and the ultimate projected loss and loss adjustment expense payments associated with these policies. In addition, we have considered future investment income, at an assumed 4.0% yield, in determining the recoverability of DAC. Based on our analysis as of December 31, 2008, the DAC of $6.1 million carried on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, included elsewhere in this report, was deemed to be fully recoverable.
 
Overview of APCapital
 
We are an insurance holding company whose financial performance is heavily dependent upon the results of operations of our insurance subsidiaries. Our insurance subsidiaries are property and casualty insurers that write almost exclusively medical professional liability insurance for physicians and other healthcare professionals throughout the United States, but principally in the Midwest and New Mexico. As a property and casualty insurer, our profitability is primarily driven by our underwriting results, which are measured by subtracting incurred loss and loss adjustment expenses and underwriting expenses from net premiums earned. While our underwriting gain (loss) is a key performance indicator of our operations, it is not uncommon for a property and casualty insurer to generate an underwriting loss, yet earn a profit overall, because of the availability of investment income to offset the underwriting loss.
 
An insurance company earns investment income on what is commonly referred to as the “float.” The float is money that we hold, in the form of investments, from premiums that we have collected. While a substantial portion of the premiums we collect will ultimately be used to make claim payments and to pay for claims adjustment expenses, the period that we hold the float prior to paying losses can extend over several years, especially with a long-tailed line of business such as medical professional liability. The key factors that determine the amount of investment income we are able to generate are the rate of return, or yield, on invested assets and the length of time we are able to hold the float. We focus on the after-tax yield of our investments, as significant tax savings can be realized on bonds that pay interest that is exempt from federal income taxes.


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For further information regarding the operations of our medical professional liability insurance business is discussed in detail in “Item 1. Business — Medical Professional Liability Operations.”
 
Description of Ratios and Other Metrics Analyzed
 
We measure our performance using several different ratios and other key metrics. These ratios and other metrics are calculated on a GAAP basis and include:
 
Underwriting Gain or Loss:  This metric measures the overall profitability of our insurance underwriting operations. It is the gain or loss that remains after deducting net loss and loss adjustment expenses and underwriting expenses incurred from net premiums earned. We use this measure to evaluate the underwriting performance of our insurance operations in relation to peer companies.
 
Loss Ratio:  This ratio compares our losses and loss adjustment expenses incurred, net of reinsurance, to our net premiums earned, and indicates how much we expect to pay policyholders for claims and related settlement expenses compared to the amount of premiums we earn. The calendar year loss ratio uses all losses and loss adjustment expenses incurred in the current calendar year (i.e., related to all accident years). The accident year loss ratio, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, uses only those loss and loss adjustment expenses that relate to the current accident year (i.e., excludes the effect of development on prior year loss reserves). We believe the accident year loss ratio is useful in evaluating our current underwriting performance, as it focuses on the relationship between current premiums earned and losses incurred related to the current year. In the case of each loss ratio, calendar year or accident year, the lower the percentage, the more profitable our insurance business is, all else being equal.
 
Underwriting Expense Ratio:  This ratio compares our expenses to obtain new business and renew existing business, plus normal operating expenses, to our net premiums earned. The ratio is used to measure how efficient we are at obtaining business and managing our underwriting operations. The lower the percentage, the more efficient we are, all else being equal. Sometimes, however, a higher underwriting expense ratio can result in better business as more rigorous risk management and underwriting procedures may result in the non-renewal of higher risk accounts, which can in turn improve our loss ratio, and overall profitability. The determination of which expenses should be classified as underwriting expenses can vary from company to company. Accordingly, comparability of underwriting expense ratios among and between various companies may be limited.
 
Combined Ratio:  This ratio equals the sum of our loss ratio and underwriting expense ratio. The lower the percentage, the more profitable our insurance business is. This ratio excludes the effects of investment income. As the underwriting expense ratio is a component of the overall combined ratio, comparability between companies may be limited for the reasons discussed above.
 
Investment Yield:  Investment yield represents the average return on investments as determined by dividing investment income for the period by the average ending monthly investment balance for the period. As we use average month ending balances, the yield for certain individual asset classes that are subject to fluctuations in a given month, such as cash and cash equivalents, may be skewed slightly. However, we believe that when calculated for the cash and invested asset portfolio in its entirety, the overall investment yield is an accurate and reliable measure for evaluating investment performance. We calculate investment yields using pre-tax investment income, which excludes the tax savings benefits of certain tax-exempt securities. Our calculation of investment yields may differ from those employed by other companies.
 
These ratios, when calculated using our reported statutory results, will differ from the GAAP ratios as a result of differences in accounting between the statutory basis of accounting and GAAP. Additionally, the denominator for the underwriting expense ratio for GAAP is net premiums earned, compared to net premiums written for the statutory underwriting expense ratio.
 
In addition to these measures of operating performance, we also use certain measures to monitor our premium writings and price level changes. We measure policy retention by comparing the number of policies that were renewed during a given period with the number of policies that expired. This retention ratio helps us to measure our success at retaining insured accounts. We also monitor our insured physician count, which counts the number of doctor equivalents associated with all policies. For this purpose a corporation or ancillary health care provider on a


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policy is assigned a value of one doctor equivalent. When used in conjunction with the retention ratio, the insured physician count helps us to monitor the overall increase or decrease in insureds that comprise our premium base.
 
As a way of evaluating our capital management strategies we measure and monitor our return on equity, or ROE, in addition to our results of operations. We measure ROE as our net income for the period, annualized if necessary, divided by our total shareholders’ equity as of the beginning of the period. Other companies sometimes calculate ROE by dividing annualized net income by an average of beginning and ending shareholders’ equity. Accordingly, the ROE percentage we provide may not be comparable with those provided by other companies. We use a modified version of ROE as the basis for determining performance-based compensation.
 
We also track the book value per common share outstanding, which is calculated by dividing shareholders’ equity as of the end of the period by the total number of common shares outstanding at that date. Evaluating the relationship between the book value per common share and the cost of a common share in the open market helps us compare our stock value with that of our peers and to determine the relative premium that the market places on our stock and the stock of our peers.
 
Results of Operations
 
The following table sets forth our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 on a consolidated basis. The discussion that follows should be read in connection with the Consolidated Financial Statements, and Notes thereto, included elsewhere in this report.
 
                                                         
                2008 vs. 2007
    Percentage
          2007 vs. 2006
    Percentage
 
    2008     2007     Change     Change (2)     2006     Change     Change (2)  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
 
Direct premiums written
  $ 125,018     $ 135,415     $ (10,397 )     −7.7 %   $ 156,866     $ (21,451 )     −13.7 %
                                                         
Net premiums written
  $ 120,117     $ 130,808     $ (10,691 )     −8.2 %   $ 146,723     $ (15,915 )     −10.8 %
                                                         
Net premiums earned
  $ 124,268     $ 138,923     $ (14,655 )     −10.5 %   $ 149,688     $ (10,765 )     −7.2 %
Losses and loss adjustment expenses Current year losses
    97,490       103,673       (6,183 )     6.0 %     113,338       (9,665 )     8.5 %
Prior year development
    (32,179 )     (34,245 )     2,066       −6.0 %     (12,880 )     (21,365 )     165.9 %
                                                         
Total
    65,311       69,428       (4,117 )     5.9 %     100,458       (31,030 )     30.9 %
Underwriting expenses
    27,458       30,141       (2,683 )     8.9 %     30,521       (380 )     1.2 %
                                                         
Total underwriting gain
    31,499       39,354       (7,855 )     −20.0 %     18,709       20,645       110.3 %
Investment income
    36,864       43,506       (6,642 )     −15.3 %     45,253       (1,747 )     −3.9 %
Net realized (losses) gains
    (658 )     (111 )     (547 )     −492.8 %     3,310       (3,421 )     −103.4 %
Other income
    730       815       (85 )     −10.4 %     1,031       (216 )     −21.0 %
Other expenses(1)
    (4,460 )     (5,411 )     951       17.6 %     (5,300 )     (111 )     −2.1 %
                                                         
Income before taxes and minority interest
    63,975       78,153       (14,178 )     −18.1 %     63,003       15,150       24.0 %
Federal income tax expense
    18,779       25,362       (6,583 )     26.0 %     19,816       5,546       −28.0 %
                                                         
Net income
  $ 45,196     $ 52,791     $ (7,595 )     −14.4 %   $ 43,187     $ 9,604       22.2 %
                                                         
Loss Ratio:
                                                       
Accident year
    78.5 %     74.6 %     −3.9 %             75.7 %     1.1 %        
Prior years
    −25.9 %     −24.6 %     1.3 %             −8.6 %     16.0 %        
Calendar year
    52.6 %     50.0 %     −2.6 %             67.1 %     17.1 %        
Underwriting expense ratio
    22.1 %     21.7 %     −0.4 %             20.4 %     −1.3 %        
Combined ratio
    74.7 %     71.7 %     −3.0 %             87.5 %     15.8 %        
Beginning GAAP Equity
  $ 263,557     $ 268,810     $ (5,253 )           $ 261,212     $ 7,598          
Return on Equity
    17.1 %     19.6 %     −2.5 %             16.5 %     3.1 %        
 
 
(1) Other expenses includes investment expenses, interest expense, amortization expense, general and administrative expenses and other expenses as reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income included elsewhere in this report.
 
(2) The percentage change represents the items change relative to its impact on net income. A positive percentage change indicates a change in that line item representing an increase to net income, while a negative percentage change represents a decrease to net income.


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2008 Compared to 2007.  Net income decreased $7.6 million, or 14.4%, from 2007 to 2008, primarily as a result of decreases in our underwriting gain ($7.9 million) and investment income ($6.6 million), partially offset by a $6.6 million decrease in federal income tax expense. The underwriting gain decrease was largely the result of a 3.9% increase in our accident year loss ratio, $2.1 million less favorable prior year development and a slight increase in our underwriting expense ratio. Our investment income decreased due to the purchase of additional tax-exempt securities, which have a lower pre-tax yield than comparable quality corporate or mortgage-backed securities, and decreases in short-term interest rates throughout 2008. The $6.6 million decrease in federal income tax expense was largely attributable to the $14.2 million decrease in pre-tax investment income. However, the aforementioned purchase of additional tax-exempt investment securities produced additional tax savings as well.
 
Premiums
 
The following table shows our direct premiums written by major geographical market as well as total net premiums written and earned for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007.
 
                                         
                Change        
    2008     2007     Dollar     Percentage        
    (Dollars in thousands)        
 
Medical professional liability:
                                       
Michigan
  $ 44,917     $ 47,583     $ (2,666 )     −5.6 %        
Illinois
    33,704       35,160       (1,456 )     −4.1 %        
Ohio
    21,053       25,751       (4,698 )     −18.2 %        
New Mexico
    18,565       19,061       (496 )     −2.6 %        
Kentucky
    4,219       5,053       (834 )     −16.5 %        
All Other
    2,560       2,807       (247 )     −8.8 %        
                                         
Total direct premiums written
  $ 125,018     $ 135,415     $ (10,397 )     −7.7 %        
                                         
Net premiums written
  $ 120,117     $ 130,808     $ (10,691 )     −8.2 %        
                                         
% net to direct premiums written
    96.1 %     96.6 %             −0.5 %        
                                         
Net premiums earned
  $ 124,268     $ 138,923     $ (14,655 )     −10.5 %        
                                         
 
For the year ended December 31, 2008, direct premiums written were down $10.4 million, or 7.7% compared with 2007. The decrease in direct premiums written for 2008 was almost exclusively the result of premium rate reductions, which averaged 8.2% across all markets in 2008. This compares with a 7.8% decrease in 2007. Our retention ratio in 2008 was 87%, improving from 85% in 2007, and we ended 2008 with 9,068 insureds, down 1.6% from year end 2007.
 
Our average in-force premium decreased 6.1% to approximately $13,400 at December 31, 2008, from $14,300 at December 31, 2007. The decrease in the average in-force premium was primarily the result of the rate decreases discussed above, partially offset by the effect of new policies issued in 2008. New business production increased $2.4 million in 2008 to $10.7 million.
 
The rate decreases instituted over the last two to three years have been in response to favorable claim trends noted in virtually all markets of the medical professional liability industry. As these favorable claim trends appear to be industry wide, other medical professional liability insurers have lowered their rates as well, increasing the overall level of price competition in the industry. We anticipate that the medical professional liability insurance pricing environment will remain highly competitive in 2009, and that if current claim trends hold, additional premium rate decreases are likely. We plan to adhere to our philosophy of underwriting discipline and adequate pricing, and focusing on retaining our quality book of business. This strategy may result in the additional loss of premium volume. However, we remain focused on the overall underwriting results, and not merely top-line revenue growth.
 
The decrease in net premiums written was relatively consistent with the decrease in direct premiums written. The terms of our 2008 reinsurance treaty were very similar to those in the 2007 treaty, both in terms of coverage and premium rates. However, there was a small increase, approximately 0.5%, in the premium rate charged in 2008


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compared with 2007, which accounted for the 0.5% decrease in net premiums written as a percentage of direct premiums written from 2007 to 2008. Our 2009 reinsurance treaty contains terms and rates that are similar to those of the treaty effective in 2008. As such, we anticipate that our net premiums written, as a percentage of direct, would remain at approximately 96%.
 
Net premiums earned decreased 10.5%, compared with the decrease in direct and net premiums written of 7.7% and 8.2%, respectively. The decrease in net premiums earned was greater than premiums written in 2008 due to the time delay between when premiums are written versus earned. Premiums are earned pro rata over the policy term, usually one-year. Therefore, premiums written in 2008 will be earned partially in 2008 and partially in 2009 depending on when the premium was written in 2008. Accordingly, the premiums earned in 2008 related to premiums that were written in 2008 and 2007, whereas premiums earned in 2007 were attributable to premiums written during 2007 and 2006.
 
Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses
 
The following table shows the current year verses prior year composition of our net incurred loss and loss adjustment expenses for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007.
 
                                 
                Change  
    2008     2007     Dollar     Percentage (1)  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
 
Losses and loss adjustment expenses
                               
Current year losses
  $ 97,490     $ 103,673     $ (6,183 )     6.0 %
Prior year development
    (31,546 )     (34,245 )     2,699       −7.9 %
                                 
Subtotal
    65,944       69,428       (3,484 )     5.0 %
Commutation impact on prior year losses
    (633 )           (633 )        
                                 
Total net incurred loss and LAE
  $ 65,311     $ 69,428     $ (4,117 )     5.9 %
                                 
Loss Ratio:
                               
Accident year
    78.5 %     74.6 %             3.9 %
Prior years
    −25.9 %     −24.6 %             −1.3 %
                                 
Calendar year
    52.6 %     50.0 %             2.6 %
                                 
 
 
(1) The percentage change represents the items change relative to its impact on net income. A positive percentage change indicates a change in that line item representing an increase to net income, while a negative percentage change represents a decrease to net income.
 
Net incurred loss and loss adjustment expenses, which we refer to collectively as losses, decreased $4.1 million in 2008. Approximately $0.6 million of this decrease was the result of the commutation of our 2005 medical professional liability reinsurance treaty. As discussed in “-Critical Accounting Policies,” our reinsurance treaties for policy years 2005 and prior were swing-rated. As the swing-rated premiums under the 2005 treaty were accrued at the maximum, we recognized a gain on the commutation as the profit margin required by the reinsurers under the terms of the commutation was slightly less than additional accrued premiums.
 
Absent the gain on the commutation, incurred losses decreased $3.5 million. Of the $3.5 million decrease, $6.2 million pertained to the current accident year, while favorable development on prior accident years’ loss reserves decreased, resulting in a $2.7 million increase in net incurred losses. The decrease in current accident year losses was attributable to the decrease in net earned premium volume, partially offset by a 3.9% increase in the accident year loss ratio to 78.5% for 2008. The increase in the accident year loss ratio was due to the premium rate decreases taken in recent years, partially offset by the continued favorable development on prior years’ loss reserves.
 
Of the $31.5 million of 2008 favorable prior year development, excluding the $0.6 million effect of the 2005 treaty year commutation, $33.4 million was attributable to medical professional liability reserves, partially offset by


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$1.9 million of unfavorable development on workers’ compensation reserves. This compares with $38.2 million of favorable development and $4.2 million of unfavorable development on medical professional liability and workers’ compensation loss reserves, respectively, in 2007.
 
As discussed in “— Critical Accounting Policies,” the effect of changes in claims frequency introduces a great deal of variability in our reserve estimation process. We have a practice of being cautious with the assumptions we make concerning emerging trends in claim frequency and severity and do not immediately reflect the impact that any short-term declines in frequency may have on our ultimate losses. In addition, because the historical claims data we use to project future expected results covers more than 30 years, the impact of recent claims trends is often moderated by the substantial pool of historical data. However, we have now experienced the trend of declining claim frequency and relatively stable paid loss severity for several years in a row, and as a result these trends will begin to be more fully reflected in our reserve assumptions.
 
As a result of the continued better than expected reported claim frequency and relatively stable paid loss severity, we again experienced favorable development on prior years’ medical professional liability loss reserves in 2008. While claim frequency has declined and paid loss severity remained consistent, our average net case reserves, a potential indicator of future paid claim severity, has been increasing over the last several years. The following table shows our reported claim frequency, average net paid loss and average net case reserve per open claim over the last five years. We calculate the average net paid loss by dividing net paid losses for the year by the number of claims closed with a payment, indemnity or expense.
 
                         
                Average
 
    Reported
    Average
    Net Case
 
    Claim
    Net Paid
    Reserve per
 
    Frequency     Loss     Open Claim  
 
2004
    1,786     $ 59,300     $ 117,000  
2005
    1,513       75,900       122,400  
2006
    1,168       59,100       137,900  
2007
    952       67,500       144,800  
2008
    908       72,500       166,500  
 
The adverse development on workers’ compensation prior years’ loss reserves is mostly attributable to increases in the medical portion of indemnity loss reserves on a small number of claims. With lines of business such as workers’ compensation where it can take a long time for claims to ultimately be resolved and settled, it is often difficult to ascertain whether increases in case reserves represent a strengthening of the case reserves or if the increases are indicative of an increase in the ultimate severity of the claims. While we believe that the reserve increases in 2008 represent reserve strengthening, we have taken a reasonably cautious approach with regard to the overall reserve levels, which is the reason for the adverse development in 2008.
 
As noted in the section “— Financial Condition, Reserves for Unpaid Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses,” reserves are inherently uncertain and the ultimate cost to settle claims will likely be more or less than currently anticipated. Actual claim experience will dictate the magnitude and nature, whether favorable or unfavorable, of any future development. Our reserve estimate at December 31, 2008 reflects our best estimate of the future liability as of that date. However, if current trends continue, we believe that the actual claim experience is more likely to emerge favorably than unfavorably.
 
Underwriting Expenses
 
Underwriting expenses decreased $2.7 million, or 8.9%, in 2008. The decrease in underwriting expenses was primarily attributable to the decline in our premium volume and the corresponding decline in those expenses that vary with premium volume. The underwriting expense ratio increased 0.4% to 22.1% in 2008, from 21.7% in 2007. The increase in the underwriting expense ratio was also attributable to our decline in premiums, as we had a lower premium base over which to spread underwriting costs that do not vary with premium volume, such as depreciation, property taxes and other overhead related costs, as well as certain personnel related expenses.
 
We anticipate that our underwriting expense ratio will increase approximately 1% to 2% in 2009 as we launch our new policy and claims system. Many of the costs related to this project have been capitalized over the last


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18 months. With the launch of certain aspects of this new system in the fourth quarter of 2008, and with the remaining portions of the system coming on-line in the first half of 2009, we have begun to amortize those costs that we have capitalized. In addition, salary and benefit costs associated with internal staff who have worked on the development project will no longer be capitalized, which will further increase the underwriting expense ratio. We believe that the new system will allow us to operate our business more efficiently, thus ultimately enabling us to reduce expenses in the future. For further discussion of the amortization expense relating to the system, see “— Property, Equipment and Depreciation” in Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
Investment Income
 
Investment income decreased $6.6 million, or 15.3% in 2008. There were two primary factors driving the decrease in investment income. The first was the decline in short-term interest rates throughout 2008, which accounted for approximately $2.7 million of the decrease. The second factor was our continued purchase of tax-exempt securities in 2008. During 2008, we purchased additional tax exempt securities. These securities replaced higher-yielding, taxable corporate and government agency securities that matured, were called, sold or paid down during 2008. This shift from higher-yielding corporate and government agency securities to lower-yielding tax exempt securities accounted for approximately $3.8 million of the decrease in investment income. Overall our pre-tax investment yield for 2008 was 4.38%, a decrease of 62 basis points compared to a yield of 5.00% for 2007. On a net-of-tax basis, the decline in the investment yield was not as significant, dropping only 26 basis points to 3.31% for 2008, compared with 3.57% for 2007. While investment markets are likely to remain volatile in 2009, we believe our portfolio, with its emphasis on high-quality municipal, corporate and government agency mortgage-backed securities, is well positioned to provide solid returns in 2009.
 
Net realized losses of $0.7 million in 2008 were largely the result of a pre-tax charge of $0.9 million for the impairment of bonds issued by CIT Group. Although we believed that the ultimate collectability of these securities was not at issue, consistent with our philosophy of maintaining a strong, high-quality asset base and thereby protecting the strength of our financial position, we elected to dispose of the securities in question early in the second quarter of 2008 to mitigate any further down-side risk from continued declines in the market value of these securities. As the decision to sell the securities was made prior to the release of our first quarter 2008 results, the impairment charge was recorded in our first quarter 2008 results.
 
Other Expenses
 
Other expenses consisted of the following for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007.
 
                                 
                Change  
    2008     2007     Dollar     Percentage  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
 
Other expenses
                               
Investment expenses
  $ 1,032     $ 910     $ 122       13.4 %
Interest expense
    2,196       3,139       (943 )     −30.0 %
General and administrative expenses
    1,185       1,410       (225 )     −15.9 %
Other
    47       (48 )     95       −198.0 %
                                 
Total
  $ 4,460     $ 5,411     $ (951 )     −17.6 %
                                 
 
Other expenses decreased by approximately $1.0 million. The decrease was primarily attributable to the decrease in short-term interest rates, which reduced the amount of interest expense associated with our long-term debt. We repaid $5.0 million of our outstanding $30.9 million in long-term debt in the third quarter of 2008, which should reduce the amount of interest in subsequent periods by approximately $90,000 per quarter, based on the rates in effect for the fourth quarter of 2008. The decrease in general and administrative expenses was the result of reduced legal and other professional service expenses as we have worked to reduce these fees where possible.


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Federal Income Taxes
 
The effective tax rate for 2008 was 29.4% compared with 32.5% for 2007. The decrease in effective tax rate was mostly the result of the increase allocation of our investment portfolio to tax-exempt securities. See Note 11 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this report for a complete reconciliation of the effective tax rate.
 
2007 Compared to 2006.  Net income increased $9.6 million, or 22.2%, in 2007 compared to 2006, primarily as the result of favorable development on prior years’ loss reserves, which totaled $34.2 million in 2007 compared to $12.9 million in 2006. Partially offsetting the increase in favorable development were declines in realized gains and investment income, and an increase in federal income tax expense. Although net premiums earned decreased $10.8 million, this was largely offset by a $9.7 million decrease in current accident year losses and a $380,000 decrease in underwriting expenses. The decreases in accident year losses and underwriting expenses were largely the result of the lower premium volume. The significant amount of favorable prior year development experienced in 2007 was the result of favorable loss trends experienced throughout 2007.
 
Premiums
 
The following table shows our direct premiums written by major geographical market as well as total net premiums written and earned for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006.
 
                                         
                Change        
    2007     2006     Dollar     Percentage        
    (Dollars in thousands)        
 
Medical professional liability:
                                       
Michigan
  $ 47,583     $ 50,302     $ (2,719 )     −5.4 %        
Illinois
    35,160       48,421       (13,261 )     −27.4 %        
Ohio
    25,751       28,292       (2,541 )     −9.0 %        
New Mexico
    19,061       20,759       (1,698 )     −8.2 %        
Kentucky
    5,053       5,878       (825 )     −14.0 %        
All Other
    2,807       3,228       (421 )     −13.0 %        
                                         
Subtotal
    135,415       156,880       (21,465 )     −13.7 %        
Exited lines of business
          (14 )     14       −100.0 %        
                                         
Total direct premiums written
  $ 135,415     $ 156,866     $ (21,451 )     −13.7 %        
                                         
Net premiums written
  $ 130,808     $ 146,723     $ (15,915 )     −10.8 %        
                                         
% net to direct premiums written
    96.6 %     93.5 %             3.1 %        
                                         
Net premiums earned
  $ 138,923     $ 149,688     $ (10,765 )     −7.2 %        
                                         
 
Direct premiums written decreased 13.7% in 2007. Overall our retention rate in 2007 was good, with 85% of policies that expired renewing. As a result of our retention ratio, our insured physician count decreased only 2.5% to 9,217 at December 31, 2007 from 9,454 at December 31, 2006. However, premium rates decreased an average of 7.8%, and there were minor changes in the composition of our book of business, especially in Illinois where we saw a decrease in the number of insureds representing higher-risk, higher-premium specialties. Although these accounts were largely replaced, they were replaced with policies that had a lower annual premium.
 
Net premiums written did not decrease as significantly as direct premiums written in 2007 as a result of an increase in our loss retention to $1 million in 2007, from $750,000 in 2006. As a result of our increased retention, our ceded premiums written as a percentage of direct premiums written decreased to 3.4% in 2007, from 6.5% in 2006.
 
Premiums are generally earned pro rata over the policy term, usually one-year, and as a result fluctuations in earned premiums typically lag fluctuations in written premium. Accordingly, net premiums earned during 2007 did


28


 

not decline as much as net premiums written as we continued to earn in 2007 some of the higher premium volume that was written in 2006.
 
Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses
 
The decrease in incurred loss and loss adjustment expenses from 2006 to 2007 was primarily attributable to $34.2 million of favorable development on prior years’ loss reserves in 2007, compared with $12.9 million in 2006. In addition, the reduced exposure resulting from the decline in net premiums earned accounted for approximately $8.2 million of the overall $31.0 million decrease. The remaining $1.5 million of the decrease in incurred losses was the result of a 1.1% decrease in the current accident year loss ratio, which decreased in spite of the overall 7.8% premium rate decrease due to the adjustment of the historical loss experience for the significant favorable prior year development recognized in 2007.
 
The favorable prior year development in 2007 was the result of continued positive trends in claim frequency and relative stability in average paid loss severity. Although we had experienced several consecutive years of declining claim frequency prior to 2007, we had been cautious with regard to recognizing its benefit on ultimate loss estimates. However, reported claims decreased an additional 18.5% in 2007 and we began to reflect the decline in claims frequency in our ultimate loss estimates as it appeared the decline was in fact a valid trend and not merely an anomaly.
 
Underwriting Expenses
 
Underwriting expenses decreased $380,000, or 1.2%, in 2007 compared with 2006. The decrease in underwriting expenses was largely attributable to the decline in net premiums earned, which decreased 7.2% in 2007 compared to 2006, partially offset by $668,000 of additional underwriting expense in 2007 for costs incurred in connection with the development of our new policy and claims system. These cost primarily related to activities that could not be capitalized, such as data migration.
 
Investment Income
 
Investment income decreased $1.7 million, or 3.9% in 2007 compared to 2006. The decrease in investment income in 2007 compared to 2006 was due to the same factors that caused the decrease in 2008 from 2007, principally decreasing short-term interest rates and the reinvestment of the proceeds from the maturity or call of higher-yielding corporate, government-sponsored agency and mortgage-backed securities in lower-yielding tax-exempt municipal bonds. Short-term rates did not start decreasing until late in the third quarter of 2007 and the turnover in our long-term bond portfolio was not as significant in 2007 as in 2008, so the impact of these items on 2007 investment income compared with 2006 was not as significant as the impact in 2008 compared to 2007. However, investment income in 2007 also suffered from a decrease in the undistributed earnings of equity method investees, which decreased from $0.8 million in 2006 to less than $0.1 million in 2007. The decrease in income attributable to equity method investees was the result of the sale of our investment in PIC-Florida in 2007 and the absence of gains from the sale of investment real estate property in our real estate LLC investment. The overall pre-tax yield on our cash and invested asset portfolio for 2007 was 5.00%, a decrease of 30 basis points when compared with a 5.30% yield for 2006. On a net-of-tax basis the overall yield for 2007 decreased only 12 basis points to 3.57% from 3.69% for 2006.
 
The net realized losses of $111,000 in 2007 were the result of a few individually insignificant security sales. The net realized gain of $3.3 million reported for the year ended December 31, 2006 was the result of the sale of some of our investment real estate, which resulted in a realized gain of $1.4 million. In addition, the sale of ProAssurance common stock, which we received in exchange for Physicians Insurance Company of Wisconsin, or PICW, stock in connection with ProAssurance’s acquisition of PICW in 2006, resulted in a realized gain of $2.1 million. These realized gains in 2006 were partially offset by approximately $178,000 of impairment charges.


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Other Expenses
 
Other expenses for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 consisted of the following.
 
                                 
                Change  
    2007     2006     Dollar     Percentage  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
 
Other expenses Investment expenses
  $ 910     $ 845     $ 65       7.7%  
Interest expense
    3,139       3,057       82       2.7%  
General and administrative expenses
    1,410       1,298       112       8.6%  
Other
    (48 )     100       (148 )     −148.0%  
                                 
Total
  $ 5,411     $ 5,300     $ 111       2.1%  
                                 
 
The overall increase in other expenses was the result of moderate increases in investment expenses due to increased software license fees, and interest expense as a result of a minor increase in the variable interest rate on our $30.9 million of outstanding debt obligations. General and administrative expenses increased $112,000, primarily as a result of fees and other expenses incurred in connection with the exploration of select merger and acquisition activities. True “other” expenses, which consist of costs related to exit activities, such as termination benefits for our workers’ compensation employees or changes in estimated cash flows relating to sub-leased office space in Chicago, Illinois, actually produced revenue of $48,000 in 2007. This was primarily the result of a reduction in future estimated variable costs associated with leased office space in Chicago, Illinois.
 
Federal Income Taxes
 
The effective tax rate for 2007 was 32.5% compared to 31.5% for 2006. The increase in the effective tax rate, despite an increase in our tax-exempt security interest, was a function of the release of $560,000 of reserves for uncertain tax positions in 2006, which created a tax benefit, as well as an increase in tax expense in 2007 due to an increase in non-deductible expenses. The reserve for uncertain tax positions was released in 2006 upon the realization of a refund related to an amendment of a prior years’ tax return. The increase in non-deductible expenses in 2007 pertains primarily to executive compensation in excess of tax deductible limits.
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
The primary sources of our liquidity, on both a short and long-term basis, are funds provided by insurance premiums collected, net investment income, recoveries from reinsurers, proceeds from the maturity or sale of invested assets and principal receipts from our mortgage-backed securities. The primary uses of cash, on both a short and long-term basis, are losses, loss adjustment expenses, operating expenses, the acquisition of invested assets and fixed assets, reinsurance premiums, interest payments, taxes, the repayment of long-term debt, the payment of cash dividends on APCapital common stock and the repurchase of APCapital’s outstanding common stock.
 
Based on historical trends, market and regulatory conditions and our current business plans, we believe that our existing resources and sources of funds, including possible dividend payments from our insurance subsidiaries to APCapital, will be sufficient to meet our short and long-term liquidity needs. However, these trends, conditions and plans are subject to change, and there can be no assurance that our available funds will be sufficient to meet our liquidity needs in the future. In addition, any acquisition or other extraordinary transaction we may pursue outside of the ordinary course of business could require that we raise additional capital.
 
Parent Company
 
APCapital’s only material assets are cash and the capital stock of American Physicians and its other subsidiaries. APCapital’s cash flow consists primarily of dividends and other permissible payments from its subsidiaries and investment earnings on funds held. The payment of dividends to APCapital by its insurance subsidiaries is subject to certain limitations imposed by applicable law. These limitations are described more fully in Note 19 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Such cross-referenced information is incorporated


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herein by reference. In accordance with these limits, American Physicians could pay “ordinary” dividends to APCapital of approximately $48.0 million in 2009 without prior regulatory approval. However, the $48.0 million that may be paid in 2009 is subject to limitation based on the timing and amount of the dividends that were paid in the preceding 12 months. Accordingly, no dividends may be paid, without prior regulatory approval, until the third quarter of 2009, at which time dividends of $25.0 million may be paid. The remaining $23.0 million in “ordinary” dividend payments are not permitted until December of 2009. At December 31, 2008, APCapital’s cash and cash equivalent resources totaled approximately $39.3 million.
 
We continued the repurchase of shares of our outstanding common stock in 2008. A total of 1,333,970 shares were repurchased in 2008 at a total cost of $53.2 million. See Note 12 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements as well as “Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities” for further details regarding our share repurchase plans. Such cross-referenced information is included herein by reference.
 
In addition to our share repurchases, APCapital paid quarterly cash dividends of $0.10 per share in 2008, which totaled approximately $3.8 million for the year. On February 12, 2009, APCapital’s Board of Directors announced an increase in its quarterly cash dividend to $0.11 per share. The first quarter 2009 dividend is payable on March 31, 2009 to shareholders of record on March 13, 2009, and is expected to result in a total cash payout of approximately $0.9 million.
 
The Board’s current intention is to continue to pay a comparable cash dividend on a quarterly basis for the foreseeable future. However, the payment of future dividends will depend on the availability of cash resources at APCapital, prevailing business and market conditions, our financial condition and results of operations, and such other factors as are deemed relevant by the Board of Directors.
 
We made net federal income tax payments of approximately $15.2 million in 2008. Substantially all of our taxable income is generated by American Physicians. As such, in accordance with inter-company tax allocation agreements, it is primarily American Physicians responsibility to provide the cash resources to fund our tax obligations. APCapital generally has had a net positive cash flow from income taxes as it is reimbursed by its subsidiaries for the tax benefit of the loss it generates in accordance with inter-company tax allocation agreements.
 
At December 31, 2008, we had $25.9 million of long-term debt obligations, which are described in greater detail in Note 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. This debt is the obligation of APCapital and pays a variable interest rate of approximately 4.15% plus the three month LIBOR rate. In May 2008 this debt became callable, in whole or in part, and we repaid $5.0 million of the original outstanding $30.9 million in August 2008. We frequently evaluate our capital management strategies with the intention of providing the most value to APCapital shareholders and making prudent use of APCapital’s cash resources. Any decision to make further repayments would be based on such evaluations, as well as changes in our available cash resources, capital needs and other relevant factors.


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Consolidated
 
Our net cash flow provided by operations was approximately $41.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, compared to $46.0 million provided by operations in 2007 and $56.0 million in 2006. The following table shows the composition of our net cash flows from operations for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006.
 
                         
    2008     2007     2006  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
 
Cash from (for):
                       
Premiums received
  $ 125,294     $ 143,175     $ 162,841  
Investment income collected
    40,384       46,138       43,334  
Loss and loss adjustment expenses paid
    (73,293 )     (85,373 )     (95,690 )
Commissions and other acquisition costs
    (11,451 )     (12,134 )     (13,915 )
Net reinsurance impact
    6,159       2,172       (4,381 )
Income taxes paid
    (15,360 )     (16,852 )     (7,917 )
Salaries and other employee costs
    (18,642 )     (18,448 )     (17,586 )
Other
    (11,689 )     (12,685 )     (10,702 )
                         
Net cash flows from operations
  $ 41,401     $ 45,993     $ 55,984  
                         
 
The decrease in premiums received was the result of the decreases in our direct premiums written primarily due to rate decreases as previously discussed. Loss and loss adjustment expense payments have also been steadily decreasing as our inventory of open claims has decreased over the last several years. Cash from investment income decreased in 2008 compared to 2007 primarily as a result of a decrease in short-term interest rates, as well as an increase in the allocation of our portfolio to tax-exempt securities, which had a lower coupon rate than the investment securities they replaced. Income taxes paid in 2008 were relatively consistent with 2007 as the benefit of minimum tax credits utilized in 2007 was mostly offset by lower taxable income in 2008. Taxes paid in 2006 were less than 2007 or 2008 due partially to lower taxable income and the utilization of our remaining 2003 net operating loss carryforwards. We experienced net positive cash flows related to our reinsurance program in 2007 for the first time in several years. This was primarily due to changes in our reinsurance treaty in 2007 that reduced our premium cessions. The increase in cash from reinsurance of $4.0 million in 2008 compared to 2007 was related to the commutation of our 2005 reinsurance treaty. At December 31, 2008 we had received approximately $4.8 million of the $8.6 million due from reinsurers as a result of the commutation. All other operating cash flow categories have remained relatively consistent and stable over the three year period ended December 31, 2008.
 
We have no material planned expenditures for the acquisition of assets, or other expenditures in 2009 and beyond, other than expenses incurred in the normal course of operations and the remaining costs associated with the development and implementation of a new policy and claims system. The original projected cash outflow associated with the project was expected to be approximately $6.0 million. Through December 31, 2008 the total cost of the project had reached approximately $7.0 million, which represented substantially all of the costs associated with the project.
 
At December 31, 2008, we had $101.6 million of cash and cash equivalents and approximately $222.9 million of available-for-sale fixed-income securities and $19.4 million of available-for-sale equity securities that could be sold to meet short-term cash flow needs. On a long-term basis, fixed-income securities are purchased on a basis intended to provide adequate cash flows from future maturities to meet future policyholder obligations and ongoing operational expenses. As of December 31, 2008, we had approximately $74.5 million, $163.8 million and $88.4 million of held-to-maturity fixed-income securities that mature in the next one to five years, five to ten years and more than ten years, respectively. We also have approximately $150.8 million of mortgage-backed securities that provide periodic principal repayments. See Note 3 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding the anticipated maturities of our fixed-income securities.


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Financial Condition
 
In evaluating our financial condition, three factors are the most critical: first, the availability of adequate statutory capital and surplus to satisfy state regulators and to support our current A.M. Best rating, which currently stands at A- (Excellent); second, the adequacy of our reserves for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses; and lastly the quality of assets our investment portfolio.
 
Statutory Capital and Surplus
 
At December 31, 2008 our statutory capital and surplus, which we refer to collectively as surplus, remained strong at approximately $205.0 million. This surplus level resulted in a net premiums written to surplus ratio of 0.59:1 based on $120.1 million of net premiums written. Surplus at December 31, 2007 was approximately $221.6 million, and our net premiums written to surplus ratio was also 0.59:1. The $16.6 million decrease in surplus in 2008 was due to $63.0 million of dividend payments made by American Physicians to APCapital, as well decreases in deferred income taxes and non-admitted assets totaling $3.5 million. Partially offsetting these decreases was an increase in surplus related to $49.1 million of net income and a $0.9 million increase in unrealized gains, net of tax. The Company’s Risk Based Capital and IRIS Ratios, other measures considered by regulators in evaluating the capital and surplus adequacy of our insurance subsidiaries are discussed under “Item 1. Business — Insurance Regulatory Matters.” Such cross referenced information is incorporated herein by reference.
 
Reserves for Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses
 
The following table shows various claim statistics and reserve averages for our medical professional liability line of business at or for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006.
 
                                         
    At or For The Year Ended December 31,     % Change
    % Change
 
    2008     2007     2006     2008 vs. 2007     2007 vs. 2006  
 
Medical professional liability:
                                       
Number of reported claims
    908       952       1,168       −4.6%       −18.5%  
Number of open claims
    1,418       1,741       2,256       −18.6%       −22.8%  
Number of IBNR claims(1)
    1,482       1,584       1,882       −6.4%       −15.8%  
Average net case reserve per open claim
  $ 166,500     $ 144,800     $ 137,900       15.0%       5.0%  
Average net total reserve per open plus IBNR claim
    186,200       160,400       133,400       16.1%       20.2%  
Average net paid loss per claim closed with payment
    72,500       67,500       59,100       16.7%       14.3%  
 
 
(1) IBNR claim counts are estimates based on actuarial projections.
 
Our open and reported claim counts continued to decrease in 2008. While our claim counts have continued to decrease, our average net case reserve per open claim increased 15% in 2008. Average net case reserves are one measure of the severity of claims currently in our inventory. Our medical professional liability net IBNR reserves have also been increasing over the last several years as a result of assumptions we have made in our actuarial projections regarding future case reserve development and ultimate claim severity. At the same time, the decrease in reported claims has led to a decrease in the number of actuarially projected IBNR claims, resulting in an even greater increase in the average net total reserve per open plus estimated IBNR claim than average net case reserve per open claim. However, this is appropriate from an actuarial standpoint as it is assumed that the ultimate cost of settling the IBNR claims will exceed the cost of settling claims in our current inventory due to loss cost inflation and other factors.


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The following table shows our net case, IBNR and total reserves at December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 for our medical professional liability line of business, as well as our net total reserves for our other lines of business that are in run-off.
 
                                         
                      % Change
    % Change
 
    2008     2007     2006     2008 vs. 2007     2007 vs. 2006  
    (In thousands)              
 
Medical professional liability:
                                       
Net case reserves
  $ 236,093     $ 252,017     $ 311,142       −6.3%       −19.0%  
Net IBNR reserves
    303,856       281,310       241,069       8.0%       16.7%  
                                         
Total net reserves
    539,949       533,327       552,211       1.2%       −3.4%  
Other lines total net reserves
    22,901       26,142       27,855       −12.4%       −6.1%  
                                         
Total net reserves — all lines
  $ 562,850     $ 559,469     $ 580,066       0.6%       −3.6%  
                                         
Medical professional liability as a percentage of total
    95.9 %     95.3 %     95.2 %                
                                         
 
Activity in the net liability for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses, including favorable development on prior accident years’ loss reserves and the reasons therefor, for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 can be found in Note 8 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Such cross-referenced information is included herein by reference.


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The following table shows the development of the net liability for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses from 1998 through 2007. The top line of the table shows the original estimated liabilities at the balance sheet date, including losses incurred but not yet reported. The upper portion of the table shows the cumulative amounts subsequently paid as of successive year ends with respect to the liability. The lower portion of the table shows the re-estimated amount of the previously recorded liability based on experience as of the end of each succeeding year. The estimates change as claims settle and more information becomes known about the ultimate frequency and severity of claims for individual years. The (deficiency) or redundancy exists when the re-estimated liability at each December 31 is greater (or less) than the prior liability estimate. The cumulative (deficiency) or redundancy depicted in the table, for any particular calendar year, represents the aggregate change in the initial estimates over all subsequent calendar years.
 
                                                                                         
    1998     1999     2000     2001     2002     2003     2004     2005     2006     2007     2008  
 
Liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses net of reinsurance recoverable
  $ 371,982     $ 393,582     $ 413,954     $ 505,555     $ 542,026     $ 574,281     $ 590,342     $ 579,747     $ 580,066     $ 559,469     $ 562,850  
Cumulative net paid as of:
                                                                                       
End of year
    85,290       95,471       124,479       161,770       181,658       142,633       130,793       96,971       87,326       58,918          
Two years later
    146,497       182,541       236,653       293,852       295,350       260,178       219,013       176,778       140,198                  
Three Years later
    198,774       251,448       322,226       367,289       381,057       327,830       285,292       225,513                          
Four years later
    231,748       292,766       363,871       420,662       426,928       377,435       329,887                                  
Five Years later
    251,810       312,968       390,450       443,256       455,880       409,304                                          
Six years later
    262,260       326,266       402,808       458,853       476,278                                                  
Seven Years later
    271,563       333,843       411,337       470,469                                                          
Eight years later
    275,451       338,799       417,556                                                                  
Nine Years later
    278,918       342,818                                                                          
Ten Years later
    281,836                                                                                  
Re-estimated Net Liability as of:
                                                                                       
End of year
    350,114       383,004       435,069       511,185       585,469       580,466       585,019       566,867       545,821       527,291          
Two years later
    334,827       373,400       449,871       538,980       590,665       583,246       572,569       538,466       515,836                  
Three Years later
    313,248       374,729       458,846       540,239       592,617       575,222       551,067       515,035                          
Four years later
    303,540       366,818       456,519       541,887       586,472       562,630       531,787                                  
Five Years later
    296,834       359,753       455,208       538,483       576,292       555,111                                          
Six years later
    291,144       359,400       458,062       534,753       577,099                                                  
Seven Years later
    292,253       363,802       456,751       532,240                                                          
Eight years later
    294,327       362,648       454,836                                                                  
Nine Years later
    293,238       361,014                                                                          
Ten Years later
    292,841                                                                                  
Net cumulative (deficiency) redundancy
    79,141       32,568       (40,882 )     (26,685 )     (35,073 )     19,170       58,555       64,712       64,230       32,178          
Gross liability — end of year
    422,987       457,072       483,273       597,046       637,494       672,495       690,825       685,714       688,031       664,118       644,396  
Reinsurance Recoverables
    51,005       63,490       69,319       91,491       95,468       98,214       100,483       105,967       107,965       104,649       81,546  
Net Liability — end of year
    371,982       393,582       413,954       505,555       542,026       574,281       590,342       579,747       580,066       559,469       562,850  
                                                                                         
Gross re-estimated liability — latest
    373,323       440,354       537,739       631,125       676,364       654,667       626,056       611,403       619,793       628,250          
Re-estimated reinsurance recoverables — latest
    80,482       79,340       82,903       98,885       99,265       99,556       94,269       96,368       103,957       100,959          
Net re-estimated liability — latest
    292,841       361,014       454,836       532,240       577,099       555,111       531,787       515,035       515,836       527,291          
                                                                                         
Gross cumulative (deficiency) redundancy
    49,664       16,718       (54,466 )     (34,079 )     (38,870 )     17,828       64,769       74,311       68,238       35,868          
                                                                                         
 
In evaluating the information in the table above, it should be noted that each column includes the effects of changes in amounts for prior periods. The table does not present accident year or policy year development data. Conditions and trends that have affected the development of liabilities in the past may not necessarily occur in the future. Accordingly, it may not be appropriate to extrapolate future redundancies or deficiencies based on this table.
 
The various reserving methods described in “— Critical Accounting Policies, Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses” produce a range of possible reserve amounts. In an effort to better explain the inherent


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uncertainty in our net loss and loss adjustment expense reserves, we have developed a reasonable range of estimates around the net carried reserves as of December 31, 2008, as shown below.
 
                     
Net Loss and LAE Reserves  
Low End
    Recorded
    High End
 
of Range
    Reserves     of Range  
(In thousands)  
 
$ 518,725     $ 562,850     $ 595,004  
 
There are several limitations to interpreting reserve ranges. There are macroeconomic effects that may impact the development of the reserves such as, but not limited to, tort reform, changes in the litigiousness of jurisdictions in which we write business, the influence of legislative actions, and changes in political philosophy. As a result of these factors, as well as the many other quantitative and qualitative factors described in “— Critical Accounting Policies, Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses,” there can be no assurance that reserves will develop within this range.
 
The reserve range is a normal distribution, meaning that reserves are more likely to develop around the center of the range, or carried reserves, and less likely as you approach either the high or low end of the range. However it is meaningful to note the potential variability in the Company’s net income before the effect of income taxes if actual claims experience were to emerge more favorably, the lower end of the range, or less favorably, the higher end of the range, than anticipated. The following table shows the effects on pre-tax net income if the carried reserves as of December 31, 2008 develop at the low or high end of the range.
 
         
    Increase
 
    (Decrease) in
 
    Pre-tax Income  
    (In thousands)  
 
Low end of range
  $ 44,125  
High end of range
  $ (32,154 )
 
Investments
 
Our fixed-income investment security portfolio consists principally of high quality corporate, government-sponsored agency, tax-exempt municipal and mortgage-backed securities. The following table shows the total fixed-income investment portfolio allocation of each of these different types of securities as of December 31, 2008 and 2007.
 
                                 
    December 31, 2008     December 31, 2007  
    Carrying
    % of
    Carrying
    % of
 
    Value(1)     Portfolio     Value(1)     Portfolio  
 
U.S. government obligations
  $ 64,458       9.1 %   $ 145,021       19.1 %
Tax-exempt municipal securities
    384,607       54.6 %     269,013       35.4 %
Corporate securities
    104,764       14.9 %     193,037       25.4 %
Mortgage-backed securities
    150,862       21.4 %     152,892       20.1 %
                                 
Total fixed-income securities
  $ 704,691       100.0 %   $ 759,963       100.0 %
                                 
 
 
(1) Carrying value for available-for-sale securities is fair value, whereas held-to-maturity securities are carried at amortized cost.
 
Our tax-exempt municipal securities are all insured. However, when purchasing municipal and other tax-exempt securities, we do not rely on the insurance, but rather focus on the credit worthiness of the underlying issuing authority. In addition, we purchase only “essential purpose” tax-exempt bonds. Essential purpose bonds are used to fund projects such as schools, water and sewer, road improvements as well as other necessary services. These bonds are general obligations and are backed by the full taxing authority of the city, county or state, and have a very low historical rate of default. Our mortgage-backed securities are all issued by government sponsored enterprises, principally the Federal National Mortgage Association, or Fannie Mae, and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, or Freddie Mac. All of the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgage-backed securities consist


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of “conforming” mortgage loans that were issued prior to April 2005, are guaranteed by the issuing government-sponsored agency and have support tranches designed to promote the predictability of principal repayment cash flows.
 
The following table shows the distribution of our fixed-income security portfolio by Standard & Poors’ credit quality rating at December 31, 2008 and 2007.
 
                                 
    December 31, 2008     December 31, 2007  
    Carrying
    % of
    Carrying
    % of
 
Rating
 
Value(1)
    Total     Value(1)     Total  
 
AAA
  $ 377,392       53.6 %   $ 506,774       66.7 %
AA
    234,543       33.3 %     115,818       15.2 %
A
    63,723       9.0 %     94,078       12.4 %
BBB
    22,812       3.2 %     30,046       4.0 %
                                 
      698,470       99.1 %     746,716       98.3 %
Private Placement
    6,221       0.9 %     13,247       1.7 %
                                 
Total
  $ 704,691       100.0 %   $ 759,963       100.0 %
                                 
Average Rating
    AA+               AA+          
 
 
(1) Carrying value is fair value for available-for-sale securities and amortized cost for held-to-maturity securities.
 
Non-investment grade securities typically bear more credit risk than those of investment grade quality. In addition, we try to limit credit risk by not maintaining fixed-income security investments pertaining to any one issuer, other than U.S. Government and agency backed securities, in excess of $6 million. We also diversify our holdings so that there is not a significant concentration in any one industry or geographical region. For additional information regarding the risks inherent in our investment portfolio see “Item 7A, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.”
 
The increase in other investments to $24.3 million at December 31, 2008 from $11.5 million at December 31, 2007 was primarily attributable to the acquisition of additional equity securities. At December 31, 2008 our available-for-sale equity securities included in other investments had a fair value of approximately $19.4 million. These equity securities represent strategic investments in two insurance companies. These companies were identified as being undervalued and potentially a long-term strategic partner for us. Accordingly, we view these as long-term investments and part of our overall capital strategy. However, as they are marketable securities, they are subject to the volatility inherent in today’s equity markets. At December 31, 2008 both securities were trading above our cost basis. However, subsequent to December 31, 2008 their market values have declined significantly. While we view these as temporary declines and our long-term strategy has not changed, there could be the potential for other than temporary impairment charges in future periods should their market values not recover. See “Item 7A, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” for additional information about the risks inherent in our equity security investments.
 
Other Significant Balance Sheet Items
 
Reinsurance recoverables decreased $20.6 million, or 19.2%, to $86.4 million at December 31, 2008. As noted in “— Results of Operations,” we commuted our 2005 medical professional liability reinsurance treaty effective December 31, 2008. The commutation resulted in a decrease in our ceded loss and loss adjustment reserves of $16.0 million, partially offset by an increase in recoverable on paid losses of $3.8 million due to commutation proceeds that were not collected prior to December 31, 2008.
 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities at December 31, 2008 were $25.5 million, a decrease of $13.3 million compared to December 31, 2007. The decrease was principally due to a decrease in our reinsurance premiums payable balance of $8.6 million. Approximately $8.1 million of the decrease in the reinsurance premium payable balance was attributable to the elimination of the swing-plan premium payable associated with our 2005 reinsurance treaty, which we commuted effective December 31, 2008.


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Shareholders’ equity at December 31, 2008 was $254.0 million, a decrease of $9.6 million, from $263.6 million at December 31, 2007. The decrease was the result of share repurchases totaling $53.2 million and shareholder dividends of $3.8 million. Partially offsetting these decreases in equity were $45.2 million of net income, $1.8 million of increase in unrealized gains, net of tax, and $0.5 million related to share-based payment awards. Our book value per common share outstanding at December 31, 2008 was $28.83 per share, based on 8,811,802 shares outstanding, compared to $26.02 per common share outstanding at December 31, 2007. Total shares outstanding at December 31, 2007 were 10,127,740.
 
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
 
We have formed two subsidiary statutory trusts for the purpose of issuing mandatorily redeemable trust preferred securities, referred to as “trust preferred securities”. The proceeds from the trust preferred securities that were issued were used by the trusts to purchase debentures issued by APCapital, which are shown as long-term debt in the Consolidated Balance Sheets included elsewhere in this report. APCapital used the amounts borrowed pursuant to these debentures to increase its available capital and has subsequently contributed substantially all of the proceeds to American Physicians to increase its statutory surplus. The debentures and the trust preferred securities have terms and maturities that mirror each other. In accordance with the guidance given in Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 46, “Variable Interest Entities,” we have not consolidated these subsidiary trusts. APCapital has guaranteed that amounts paid to the trusts related to the debentures, will subsequently be remitted to the holders of the trust preferred securities. In accordance with the nature of the transactions, the amounts guaranteed by APCapital, are also recorded as liabilities in the Consolidated Financial Statements, as they represent obligations to the trusts, which are in turn obligated to the holders of the trust preferred securities. The obligations are more fully described in Note 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this report, which description is incorporated herein by reference.
 
Contractual Obligations
 
We are contractually obligated in accordance with various loan or borrowing agreements and operating leases as well as to our policyholders for insured events. The following table shows the nature and the timing of our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2008:
 
                                         
    Payments Due by Period  
          Less Than
    1 - 3
    3 - 5
    More Than
 
Contractual Obligations
  Total     1 Year     Years     Years     5 Years  
    (In thousands)  
 
Reserves for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses(1)
  $ 644,396     $ 104,570     $ 179,854     $ 124,443     $ 235,529  
Operating leases
    3,743       876       1,611       1,256        
Real estate assessments
    1,418       262       494       281       380  
Long-term debt(2)
    74,673       1,815       5,445       6,223       61,190  
                                         
Total
  $ 724,230     $ 107,523     $ 187,404     $ 132,203     $ 297,099  
                                         
 
 
(1) The Company’s reserves for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses are an estimate of future cash flows necessary to fulfill insurance obligations based on insured events that have already occurred, but the amount and timing of the cash outflow is uncertain.
 
(2) The long-term debt is more fully described in Note 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Amounts included herein assume annual interest payments based on a 7% interest rate for the first four years and 8% thereafter. The principal is all assumed to be due at its original maturity date in 2033.
 
At December 31, 2008 we had no planned material capital expenditures or other commitments other than those disclosed in the table above. We are, however, contingently liable to fund certain infrastructure improvement assessments associated with our investment in a real estate limited liability company as disclosed in Note 18 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


38


 

Effects of New Accounting Pronouncements
 
See Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this report for information regarding the potential effects of new accounting pronouncements on our results of operations and financial condition. Such cross-referenced information is incorporated herein by reference.
 
Item 7A.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
 
General
 
Market risk is the risk of loss due to adverse changes in market rates and prices. We invest primarily in fixed-income securities, which are interest-sensitive assets. Accordingly, our primary market risk is exposure to changes in interest rates.
 
In addition, our fixed-income securities, both available-for-sale and held-to-maturity, are subject to a degree of credit risk. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer will default on interest or principal payments, or both, which could prohibit us from recovering a portion or all of our original investment.
 
At December 31, 2008 the majority of our investment portfolio was invested in fixed-income security investments, as well as cash and cash equivalents. The fixed-income securities primarily consisted of U.S. government and agency bonds, high-quality corporate bonds, mortgage-backed securities and tax-exempt U.S. municipal bonds.
 
Qualitative Information About Market Risk
 
Investments in our portfolio have varying degrees of risk. The primary market risk exposure associated with our available-for-sale fixed-income security portfolio is interest rate risk, which is limited somewhat by our management of duration. The distribution of maturities and sector concentrations are monitored on a regular basis.
 
In addition, our fixed-income security portfolio is also subject to a degree of credit risk. Credit risk is the risk that amounts due the Company by creditors may not ultimately be collected. At December 31, 2008 all of our fixed-income portfolio, both available-for-sale and held-to-maturity (excluding approximately $6.2 million of private placement issues, which constitutes 0.9% of our portfolio) was considered investment grade. We define investment grade securities as those that have a Standard & Poors’ credit rating of BBB and above. Non-investment grade securities typically bear more credit risk than those of investment grade quality. In addition, we try to limit credit risk by not maintaining fixed-income security investments pertaining to any one issuer, with the exception of U.S. Government and agency backed securities, in excess of $6 million. We also try to diversify our holdings so that there is not a significant concentration in any one industry or geographical region.
 
Our tax-exempt municipal securities are all insured. However, when purchasing municipal and other tax-exempt securities, we do not rely on the insurance, but rather focus on the credit worthiness of the underlying issuing authority. In addition, we purchase only “essential purpose” tax-exempt bonds. Essential purpose bonds are used to fund projects such as schools, water and sewer, road improvements as well as other necessary services. These bonds are general obligations and are backed by the full taxing authority of the city, county or state, and have a very low historical rate of default.
 
Our held-to-maturity portfolio includes approximately $150.8 million of mortgage-backed securities. These securities are all issued by government sponsored enterprises, principally the Federal National Mortgage Association, or Fannie Mae, and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, or Freddie Mac. Because the held-to-maturity mortgage-backed securities are not carried at estimated fair value, changes in interest rates do not affect the carrying amount of these securities. However, principal receipts as a result of prepayments may affect our cash flows, as an increase in interest rates will slow principal payments, and a decrease in interest rates will accelerate principal payments.
 
The fair values of our investment securities are determined by following the guidance and hierarchy in SFAS No. 157. If securities are traded in active markets, quoted prices are used to measure fair value (Level 1). If quoted prices are not available, prices are obtained from various independent pricing vendors based on pricing models that consider a variety of observable inputs (Level 2). Benchmark yields, prices for similar securities in


39


 

active markets and quoted bid or ask prices are just a few of the observable inputs utilized. Prices determined by the model are then compared with prices provided by other pricing vendors and against prior prices to confirm that deviations are within tolerable limits. If the pricing vendors are unable to provide a current price for a security, a fair value is developed using alternative sources based on a variety of less objective assumptions and inputs (Level 3). See Note 4 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding the fair values of our investment securities.
 
We periodically review our investment portfolio for any potential credit quality or collection issues and for any securities with respect to which we consider any decline in market value to be other than temporary. Our policy for recording OTTI write-downs is more fully discussed in “Item 7 - Management’s Discussion and Analysis — Critical Accounting Policies, Investments.” The cross-referenced information is included herein by reference.
 
Quantitative Information About Market Risk
 
Interest Rate Risk
 
At December 31, 2008 our available-for-sale fixed-income security portfolio was valued at $222.9 million and had an average modified duration of 3.43 years, compared to a portfolio valued at $262.3 million with an average modified duration of 3.06 years at December 31, 2007. The following tables show the anticipated effects of a change in interest rates on the fair value and duration of our available-for-sale fixed-income security portfolio at December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007. We have assumed an immediate increase or decrease of 1% or 2% in interest rate for illustrative purposes. You should not consider this assumption or the values shown in the table to be a prediction of actual future results.
 
                                                 
    December 31, 2008     December 31, 2007  
    Portfolio
    Change in
    Modified
    Portfolio
    Change in
    Modified
 
Change in Rates
  Value     Value     Duration     Value     Value     Duration  
    (Dollars in thousands)     (Dollars in thousands)  
 
+2%
  $ 209,579     $ (13,362 )     3.22     $ 248,140     $ (14,161 )     2.74  
+1%
    216,320       (6,621 )     3.16       255,182       (7,119 )     2.82  
0
    222,941               3.43       262,301               3.06  
−1%
    231,609       8,668       3.50       270,958       8,657       3.13  
−2%
    239,957       17,016       3.57       279,652       17,351       3.20  
 
Equity Price Risk
 
At December 31, 2008 the fair value of our available-for-sale equity securities was $19.4 million. These securities are subject to equity price risk, which is the potential for loss in fair value due to a decline in equity prices. The weighted average “Beta” of this group of securities was 0.42 at December 31, 2008. Beta measures the price sensitivity of an equity security, or group of equity securities, to a change in the broader equity market, in this case the S&P 500 Index. If the value of the S&P 500 Index increased by 10%, the fair value of our equity securities would be expected to increase by 4.2% to $20.2 million based on the weighted average Beta. Conversely, a 10% decrease in the S&P 500 Index would result in an expected decrease of 4.2% in the fair value of our equity securities to $18.6 million. The selected hypothetical changes of plus or minus 10% assumed in this illustration is not intended to reflect what could be considered the best or worst case scenarios and are used for illustrative purposes only. In addition, Beta is calculated using historical information and does not take into account future changes in a company’s financial condition, results of operations or liquidity that may have an impact, either positive or negative, on the company’s stock price.


40


 

 
Item 8.   Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
 
Board of Directors and Shareholders:
American Physicians Capital, Inc.
East Lansing, Michigan
 
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of American Physicians Capital, Inc. and Subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2008 and 2007 and the related consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of American Physicians Capital, Inc. and Subsidiaries at December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period December 31, 2008, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
 
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), American Physicians Capital, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) and our report dated March 13, 2009 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
 
BDO SEIDMAN, LLP
 
Grand Rapids, Michigan
March 12, 2009


41


 

AMERICAN PHYSICIANS CAPITAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
December 31, 2008 and 2007
                 
    December 31,  
    2008     2007  
    In thousands, except share data  
 
ASSETS
Investments:
               
Fixed-income securities
               
Available-for-sale, at fair value
  $ 222,941     $ 262,301  
Held-to-maturity, at amortized cost
    481,750       497,662  
Other investments
    24,320       11,487  
                 
Total investments
    729,011       771,450  
Cash and cash equivalents
    101,637       87,498  
Premiums receivable
    34,024       35,542  
Reinsurance recoverable
    86,397       106,961  
Deferred federal income taxes
    18,573       22,439  
Federal income tax recoverable
    550       1,076  
Property and equipment, net
    13,270       13,789  
Other assets
    22,361       18,707  
                 
Total assets
  $ 1,005,823     $ 1,057,462  
                 
 
LIABILITIES
Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses
  $ 644,396     $ 664,117  
Unearned premiums
    55,984       60,080  
Long-term debt
    25,928       30,928  
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
    25,478       38,780  
                 
Total liabilities
    751,786       793,905  
Shareholders’ Equity
               
Common stock, no par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized:
               
8,811,802 and 10,127,740 shares outstanding at December 31, 2008
and 2007, respectively
           
Additional paid-in-capital
           
Retained earnings
    246,173       257,502  
Accumulated other comprehensive income:
               
Net unrealized gains on investments, net of deferred federal income taxes
    7,864       6,055  
                 
Total shareholders’ equity
    254,037       263,557  
                 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 1,005,823     $ 1,057,462  
                 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.


42


 

AMERICAN PHYSICIANS CAPITAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
For the Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2008     2007     2006  
    (In thousands, except per share data)  
 
Revenues and Other Income
                       
Net premiums written
  $ 120,117     $ 130,808     $ 146,723  
Change in unearned premiums
    4,151       8,115       2,965  
                         
Net premiums earned
    124,268       138,923       149,688  
Investment income
    36,864       43,506       45,253  
Net realized (losses) gains
    (658 )     (111 )     3,310  
Other income
    730       815       1,031  
                         
Total revenues and other income
    161,204       183,133       199,282  
Expenses
                       
Losses and loss adjustment expenses
    65,311       69,428       100,458  
Underwriting expenses
    27,458       30,141       30,521  
Investment expenses
    1,032       910       845  
Interest expense
    2,196       3,139       3,057  
General and administrative expenses
    1,185       1,410       1,298  
Other expense (revenue)
    47       (48 )     100  
                         
Total expenses
    97,229       104,980       136,279  
                         
Income before income taxes
    63,975       78,153       63,003  
Federal income tax expense
    18,779       25,362       19,816  
                         
Net income
  $ 45,196     $ 52,791     $ 43,187  
                         
Earnings Per Share:
                       
Net income
                       
Basic
  $ 4.69     $ 4.82     $ 3.59  
Diluted
  $ 4.60     $ 4.73     $ 3.52  
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding:
                       
Basic
    9,628       10,951       12,015  
Diluted
    9,820       11,163       12,274  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.


43


 

AMERICAN PHYSICIANS CAPITAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
For the Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006
 
                                         
                      Accumulated
       
          Additional
          Other
       
    Shares
    Paid-in
    Retained
    Comprehensive
       
    Outstanding(1)     Capital     Earnings     Income     Total  
    (In thousands, except share and per share data)  
 
Balance, December 31, 2005
    12,500,126     $ 74,360     $ 179,748     $ 7,104     $ 261,212  
Comprehensive income
                                       
Net income
                  43,187             43,187  
Other comprehensive loss (Note 5)
                        (2,335 )     (2,335 )
                                         
Total comprehensive income, net of taxes
                                    40,852  
Options exercised
    232,280       2,759                   2,759  
Shares tendered/netted in connection with option exercise
    (99,698 )     (3,913 )                 (3,913 )
Excess tax benefits from share-based awards
            2,137                   2,137  
SFAS No. 123R adoption
            (46 )                 (46 )
Fair value compensation of share-based awards
            571                   571  
Purchase and retirement of common stock
    (1,075,350 )     (34,762 )                 (34,762 )
Forfeiture of restricted stock
    (764 )                        
Shares retired in connection with stock split
    (19 )                        
                                         
Balance, December 31, 2006
    11,556,575     $ 41,106     $ 222,935     $ 4,769     $ 268,810  
Comprehensive income
                                       
Net income
                  52,791             52,791  
Other comprehensive income (Note 5)
                        1,286       1,286  
                                         
Total comprehensive income, net of taxes
                                    54,077  
Options exercised
    81,020       976                   976  
Shares tendered/netted in connection with option exercise
    (37,734 )     (1,654 )                 (1,654 )
Excess tax benefits from share-based awards
            1,031                   1,031  
Cash dividends to shareholders, $0.20 per share
                  (2,097 )           (2,097 )
Fair value compensation of share-based awards
            160                   160  
Purchase and retirement of common stock
    (1,472,121 )     (41,619 )     (16,127 )           (57,746 )
                                         
Balance, December 31, 2007
    10,127,740     $     $ 257,502     $ 6,055     $ 263,557  
Comprehensive income
                                       
Net income
                  45,196             45,196  
Other comprehensive income (Note 5)
                        1,809       1,809  
                                         
Total comprehensive income, net of taxes
                                    47,005  
Options exercised
    19,480       344                   344  
Shares tendered/netted in connection with option exercise
    (1,448 )     (63 )                 (63 )
Excess tax benefits from share-based awards
            164                   164  
Cash dividends to shareholders, $0.40 per share
                  (3,813 )           (3,813 )
Fair value compensation of share-based awards
            44                   44  
Purchase and retirement of common stock
    (1,333,970 )     (489 )     (52,712 )           (53,201 )
                                         
Balance, December 31, 2008
    8,811,802     $     $ 246,173     $ 7,864     $ 254,037  
                                         
 
 
(1) Share amounts have been retroactively adjusted to reflect a three-for-two stock split effective November 1, 2006. See Note 1.
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.


44


 

AMERICAN PHYSICIANS CAPITAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2008     2007     2006  
    (In thousands)  
 
Cash flows from (for) operating activities
                       
Net income
  $ 45,196     $ 52,791     $ 43,187  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from by operating activities Depreciation and amortization
    4,328       3,128       3,010  
Net realized losses (gains)
    658       111       (3,310 )
Loss (Income) on equity method investees
    144       (51 )     (788 )
Deferred federal income taxes
    2,893       9,669       12,202  
Federal income taxes recoverable/payable
    691       (235 )     1,834  
Excess tax benefits from share-based awards
    (164 )     (1,031 )     (2,137 )
Share based compensation
    44       160       571  
Changes in:
                       
Premiums receivable
    1,519       7,526       4,736  
Reinsurance recoverable
    20,565       2,052       (1,460 )
Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses
    (19,722 )     (23,914 )     2,317  
Unearned premiums
    (4,096 )     (10,664 )     (6,890 )
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
    (10,588 )     (730 )     (3,055 )
Other assets
    (67 )     7,181       5,767  
                         
Net cash from operating activities
    41,401       45,993       55,984  
Cash flows from (for) investing activities
                       
Purchases
                       
Available-for-sale — fixed maturities
    (31,305 )     (56,234 )     (126,979 )
Held-to-maturity — fixed maturities
    (96,766 )     (5,312 )     (188,188 )
Other investments
    (10,857 )     (6,848 )     (386 )
Property and equipment
    (4,172 )     (5,070 )     (306 )
Sales and maturities
                       
Available-for-sale — fixed maturities
    69,941       50,339       87,457  
Held-to-maturity — fixed maturities
    110,028       11,049       26,314  
Other investments
    150       2,425       12,268  
Property and equipment
    2       22       6  
Deconsolidation of PIC-Florida
                (2,941 )
Pending securities transactions
                5,383  
                         
Net cash from (for)investing activities
    37,021       (9,629 )     (187,372 )
Cash flows from (for) financing activities
                       
Common stock repurchased
    (53,201 )     (57,746 )     (34,762 )
Excess tax benefits from share-based awards
    164       1,031       2,137  
Taxes paid in connection with net option exercise
          (785 )     (1,714 )
Repayment of long-term debt
    (5,000 )            
Cash dividends paid
    (3,813 )     (2,097 )      
Proceeds from stock options exercised
    281       107       560  
Other
    (2,714 )     2,397       406  
                         
Net cash for financing activities
    (64,283 )     (57,093 )     (33,373 )
                         
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    14,139       (20,729 )     (164,761 )
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
    87,498       108,227       272,988  
                         
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
  $ 101,637     $ 87,498     $ 108,227  
                         
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information
                       
  Federal income taxes of $15,196,000, $15,821,000, and $5,780,000, net, were paid during 2008, 2007
  and 2006, respectively.
  Interest payments of $2,219,000, $2,906,000, and $2,855,000 were made during 2008, 2007
  and 2006, respectively.
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.


45


 

AMERICAN PHYSICIANS CAPITAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
1.   Significant Accounting Policies
 
Basis of consolidation and reporting
 
The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and include the accounts of American Physicians Capital, Inc. (“APCapital”) and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Insurance Corporation of America (“ICA”), APSpecialty Insurance Corporation (“APSpecialty”), Alpha Advisors, Inc. and American Physicians Assurance Corporation (“American Physicians”). APManagement Ltd. and APIndemnity (Bermuda) Ltd. were liquidated effective February 28, 2006 and May 10, 2006, respectively. APCapital and its consolidated subsidiaries are referred to collectively herein as the Company. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.
 
Stock split
 
Effective November 1, 2006, the Company paid a three-for-two stock split of its common shares to shareholders of record as of the close of business on October 11, 2006. All of the share and per-share data, as well as share-based award information included in these Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto, has been retroactively adjusted to reflect the stock split.
 
Use of estimates
 
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
The most significant estimates that are susceptible to significant change in the near-term relate to the determination of the liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses, estimated fair value of investments, income taxes, reinsurance, the reserve for extended reporting period claims, the recoverability of deferred policy acquisition costs and the estimation of the grant date fair value of share-based compensation awards. Although considerable variability is inherent in these estimates, management believes that the current estimates are reasonable in all material respects. The estimates are reviewed regularly and adjusted as necessary. Adjustments related to changes in estimates are reflected in the Company’s results of operations in the period in which those estimates changed.
 
Nature of business and segment reporting
 
The Company is principally engaged in the business of providing medical professional liability insurance to physicians and other health care providers. The Company previously provided workers’ compensation, health and personal and commercial insurance, the results of which were combined and previously reported as the Company’s other insurance lines segment. In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (“SFAS”) No. 131, “Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information,” the Company has determined that it has a single reportable segment, which includes all of the Company’s operations.
 
Medical professional liability coverage is written on both a claims-made and an occurrence basis. Claims-made policies cover claims reported during the year in which the policy is in effect. Occurrence-based policies cover claims arising out of events that have occurred during the year in which the policy was in effect, regardless of when they are reported. Certain extended reporting endorsements, often referred to as tail coverage, allow extended reporting of insured events after the termination of the original claims-made policy by modifying the exposure period of the underlying contract. Premiums associated with these extended reporting endorsements are classified as occurrence. For each of the years in the three year period ended December 31, 2008, approximately 65% of the


46


 

 
AMERICAN PHYSICIANS CAPITAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
1.   Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
 
Company’s medical professional liability direct premiums written represented claims-made policies. Occurrence basis policies and tail coverage accounted for the other 35% of premiums in those years.
 
The Company writes business throughout the United States of America, with an emphasis on markets in the Midwest, specifically the states of Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio, as well as the state of New Mexico. These five states accounted for approximately 98% of the Company’s total medical professional liability direct premiums written for each of the years in the three year period ended December 31, 2008.
 
Cash and Investments
 
Fixed-Income Investment Securities
 
The Company classifies all fixed-income investment securities as either held-to-maturity or available-for-sale at the date of purchase based on the Company’s ability and intent to hold individual securities until they mature. Available-for-sale fixed-income securities are carried at their estimated fair value, with any unrealized gains and losses reported net of any related tax effects, as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income. Any change in the estimated fair value of available-for-sale investment securities during the period is reported as unrealized gains or losses, net of any related tax effects, in other comprehensive income. Held-to-maturity securities are carried at amortized cost.
 
Investment income includes amortization of premium and accrual of discount on the yield-to-maturity method for both available-for-sale and held-to-maturity investments acquired at other than par value. Amortization for loan-backed, or mortgage-backed, securities is adjusted prospectively for changes in pre-payment speed assumptions. Pre-payment speed assumptions are updated at least annually and are based on the average of assumptions obtained from ten leading brokerage firms. Interest income is recognized when earned. Realized gains or losses on sales or maturities of investments are determined on a specific identification basis and are credited or charged to income.
 
The Company’s investments are evaluated for other than temporary impairment (“OTTI”) using both quantitative and qualitative methods that include, but are not limited to (a) an evaluation of the Company’s ability and intent to retain the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for an anticipated recovery in value, (b) the recoverability of principal and interest related to the security, (c) the duration and extent to which the fair value has been less than the amortized cost, (d) the financial condition, near-term and long-term earnings and cash flow prospects of the issuer, including relevant industry conditions and trends, and implications of rating agency actions, and (e) the specific reasons that a security is in a significant unrealized loss position, including market conditions that could affect access to liquidity. A decline in the market value of an available-for-sale or held-to-maturity security below its amortized cost that is deemed to be other than temporary, results in a write-down of the cost basis of that security to fair value.
 
Write-downs for OTTI are recorded as realized losses in the period a security’s decline in market value is first considered other than temporary. The Company does not adjust the cost basis of an OTTI security for subsequent changes in market value unless a further decline in market value is deemed to also be an OTTI. Rather, subsequent changes in the fair value of OTTI securities are considered unrealized gains or losses and included as a component of other comprehensive income. However, in periods subsequent to the recognition of an OTTI on a fixed income security, the security is accounted for as if the security had been purchased on the measurement date of the OTTI. That is, the discount associated with the security, based on the new cost basis, will be accreted over the remaining life of the debt security in a prospective manner based on the amount and timing of future estimated cash flows. See Note 3 for details of charges for OTTI for the three years ended December 31, 2008.


47


 

 
AMERICAN PHYSICIANS CAPITAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
1.   Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
 
Other Investments
 
Other investments on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets consists of investment real estate, investment real estate limited partnerships, non-marketable and marketable equity securities. Investment real estate is carried at the lesser of historical cost or at estimated fair market value based on recent sales or offers for similar properties. Real estate limited partnerships are accounted for using the equity method. Non-marketable equity securities, which include the two business trusts described in Note 9, are also accounted for using the equity method. Marketable equity securities are classified as available-for-sale and carried at their fair value with any unrealized gains and losses reported net of any related tax effects, as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income.
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
Cash equivalents consist principally of commercial paper and money market funds. They are stated at cost, which approximates fair value, and have original maturities of three months or less.
 
Fair Values
 
The fair values of our investment securities are determined by following the guidance and hierarchy in SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements. If securities are traded in active markets, quoted prices are used to measure fair value (Level 1). If quoted prices are not available, prices are obtained from various independent pricing vendors based on pricing models that consider a variety of observable inputs (Level 2). Benchmark yields, prices for similar securities in active markets and quoted bid or ask prices are just a few of the observable inputs utilized. Prices determined by the model are then compared with prices provided by other pricing vendors and against prior prices to confirm that deviations are within tolerable limits. If the pricing vendors are unable to provide a current price for a security, a fair value is developed using alternative sources based on a variety of less objective assumptions and inputs (Level 3). See Note 4 for additional information regarding the fair values of our investment securities.
 
Premiums written and receivable and related credit risk
 
The Company offers quarterly and monthly payment plans for policies with an annual term. Accordingly, premiums receivable include $32.5 million at December 31, 2008 and $33.9 million at December 31, 2007 of premium installments. Receivable balances consist principally of written premiums from physicians in the states of Michigan, Ohio, Illinois and New Mexico. Payment plans are designed so that credit risk associated with receivables is generally offset by the liability for unearned premiums. However, an allowance for doubtful accounts of approximately $50,000 at December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007 has been established and is included in the premium receivable balance, primarily for receivable balances that may not be collectable and have no associated unearned premiums.
 
Deferred policy acquisition costs
 
Deferred policy acquisition costs (“DAC”) (carried on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets in other assets) include commissions, premium taxes and other costs incurred in and that vary with premium generation. These costs are deferred and amortized over the period in which the related premiums are earned, typically one year. After considering future investment income, management has determined that all deferred policy acquisition costs are recoverable as of December 31, 2008. See Note 6 for activity in the deferred acquisition cost asset.


48


 

 
AMERICAN PHYSICIANS CAPITAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
1.   Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
 
Property, equipment and depreciation
 
Property and equipment are carried at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed for assets on a straight-line basis over the following estimated useful lives: building — 40 years, furniture — 10 years, and computer equipment and software — 5 years. Upon the sale or retirement of property and equipment, balances are removed from the respective accounts and any gain or loss on the disposal of the asset is included in income, as a realized gain or loss.
 
Property and equipment at December 31, 2008 and 2007, in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets includes approximately $4.6 million and $4.5 million, respectively, of costs incurred in connection with the development of internal use software. These costs have been capitalized in accordance with American Institute of Certified Public Accountant’s Statement of Position No. 98-1 (“SOP 98-1”), Accounting for Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use. SOP 98-1 requires that costs incurred in the planning and post-implementation stages, as well as costs associated with data migration be expensed as incurred, while costs associated with the acquisition or development of the actual application are capitalized. Once the software is placed into production, the Company will amortize the capitalized costs associated with the development of the software over a five-year period. During the fourth quarter of 2008, the claims module of the software, representing an asset of $3.8 million, was placed in service and reclassified from property and equipment to other assets in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Amortization expense of $189,000 was recorded on the portion of the software placed in service in 2008. The following table shows the expected amortization expense for the next five years for internally developed software placed in service in 2008.
 
                                     
2009
    2010     2011     2012     2013  
(In thousands)  
 
$ 755     $ 755     $ 755     $ 755     $ 567  
 
The $4.6 million of capitalized internally developed software costs at December 31, 2008 is expected to be placed in service in 2009 and will be amortized over five years, which will increase the annual amortization indicated in the table above.
 
Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expense reserves
 
Reserves for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses are estimated using the Company’s claim experience. These estimates are subject to the effects of trends in loss severity and frequency. When a claim is reported to the Company, a “case reserve” is established for the estimated amount of the ultimate claim payment, as well as the expected costs to be paid in connection with the defense or settlement of the claim. These estimates reflect an informed judgment based upon insurance reserving practices appropriate for the relevant type of insurance, and based on the experience and knowledge of the estimator regarding the nature and value of the specific claim, the severity of injury or damage, and the policy provisions relating to the type of loss. Case reserves are periodically reviewed and adjusted as necessary as more information regarding a claim becomes available. Reserves for claims “incurred but not reported” provide for the future reporting of claims already incurred, and development on claims already reported. The reserve for claims incurred but not reported is actuarially estimated based on historical loss trends. With the exception of reserves associated with death, disability and retirement benefits provided under the Company’s claims-made policies (see below), the Company does not discount reserves to recognize the time value of money.
 
The Company’s internal actuaries develop projections of ultimate losses that are used to establish recorded reserves. Management utilizes these actuarial projections, as well as qualitative considerations, to establish a “best estimate” recorded reserve amount. Considerable variability is inherent in such estimates, especially in light of the extended period of time that some medical professional liability claims take to settle and the relative uncertainty of


49


 

 
AMERICAN PHYSICIANS CAPITAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
1.   Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
 
the legal environment in the various markets in which the Company operates. However, management believes that the reserve for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses is adequate.
 
The assumptions and methodologies used in estimating and establishing the reserve for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses are continually reviewed and any adjustments are reflected as income or expense in the period in which the adjustments are made.
 
Reserve for extended reporting period claims
 
Claims-made policies provided by the Company include coverage for extended period reporting claims in the event of the death, disability or retirement (“DDR”) of the insured. This DDR coverage provides coverage to the physician for any prior incidents occurring during the coverage period that are reported after their death, disability or retirement. The loss exposure associated with this product is known as extended reporting period claims. The reserve for extended reporting period claims coverage is recognized during the term of the original claims-made policy and is based on the present value of future estimated benefits, including morbidity and mortality assumptions, less the present value of future premiums associated with this coverage. The amount of this reserve is $13.0 million and $15.0 million at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively, which includes a discount of approximately $3.6 million and $4.5 million at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively, related to the present value calculation. The reserve for DD&R benefits is included in unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Changes in this reserve are charged or credited to income in the period in which the changes first become known.
 
Revenue recognition
 
Insurance premium income is typically recognized on a daily pro rata basis over the respective terms of the policies in-force, which is generally one year. Certain extended reporting endorsements, often referred to as tail coverage allow extended reporting of insured events after the termination of the original claims-made policy by modifying the exposure period of the underlying contract. Tail coverage can modify the exposure period for a definite or indefinite period. Premiums associated with tail policies that provide coverage for a definite period are earned over the period additional coverage is provided using the daily pro rata method. Premiums for tail policies that provide additional coverage for an indefinite period are fully earned at the date of issuance. Unearned premiums represent the portion of premiums written which are applicable to the unexpired terms of policies in-force.
 
Reinsurance
 
Reinsurance premiums and losses related to reinsured business are accounted for on bases consistent with those used in accounting for the original policies issued and the terms of the reinsurance contracts. Reinsurance recoverables and prepaid reinsurance premiums are accounted for in accordance with SFAS No. 113, “Accounting and Reporting for Reinsurance.” Premiums ceded to other companies have been reported as a reduction of premium income. Reinsured losses are reported as a reduction of gross losses incurred. The reserve for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses is presented gross of recoverables from reinsurers, which are included in the amounts recoverable from reinsurers.
 
The Company evaluates each ceded reinsurance contracts at inception to determine if there is sufficient risk transfer to allow the contract to be accounted for as reinsurance under current accounting guidance. At December 31, 2008 all ceded contracts are accounted for as risk transferring contracts.
 
The Company’s reinsurers are reviewed for financial solvency, at least quarterly. This review includes, among other quantitative and qualitative factors, a ratings analysis of each reinsurer participating in a reinsurance contract. At December 31, 2008 and 2007, there were no disputes with reinsurers regarding the recoverability of payment of amounts. See Note 10 for recoverable amounts from individually significant reinsurers.


50


 

 
AMERICAN PHYSICIANS CAPITAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
1.   Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
 
Income taxes
 
Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred federal income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to the differences between financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities, and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.
 
The Company assesses the likelihood that deferred tax assets will be realized based on the availability of future taxable income in the periods when the deferred tax assets are expected to be deducted in the Company’s tax return. If it is deemed more likely than not that all, or a portion, of the Company’s deferred tax assets will not be realized, then a valuation allowance is established for the portion of the deferred tax assets that are deemed not likely to realized. Following this assessment methodology, the Company has determined that a valuation allowance is not necessary as of December 31, 2008 and 2007.
 
See Note 11 for additional information regarding income taxes and the related accounting treatment.
 
The Company records any excess tax benefits related to employee share-based awards as a credit to additional paid in capital in the year that they are currently deductible in the Company’s consolidated tax return.
 
Share-based awards
 
On January 1, 2006, the Company adopted SFAS No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment” using the modified prospective transition method. Accordingly, the Company recorded share-based compensation expense of $44,000, $160,000 and $571,000 for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively, for awards granted prior to, but not vested as of January 1, 2006, adjusted for estimated forfeitures, using the fair value method. Additional information regarding the Company’s share-based award plans can be found in Note 16.
 
2.   Effects of New Accounting Pronouncements
 
On January 12, 2009, The FASB issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) EITF 99-20-1, Amendments to the Impairment Guidance of EITF Issue No. 99-20. FSP 99-20-1 amends the impairment guidance in EITF Issue No. 99-20, Recognition of Interest Income and Impairment on Purchased Beneficial Interests and Beneficial Interests That Continue to Be Held by a Transferor in Securitized Financial Assets, to achieve a more consistent determination of whether an other-than-temporary impairment has occurred. Prior to the issuance of EITF 99-20-1 two models for evaluating other-than-temporary impairments existed. The EITF 99-20 model required the use of market participant assumptions exclusively regarding future cash flows used in fair value estimates, whereas SFAS No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities, allowed management to use its reasonable judgment regarding the probability of future cash flows. The FSP also retains and emphasizes the objective of an other-than-temporary impairment assessment and the related disclosure requirements in SFAS No. 115. FSP EITF 99-20-1 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending after December 15, 2008 on a prospective basis. The adoption of FSP EITF99-20-1 did not have a material effect on its consolidated results of operations, financial position or liquidity as the Company did not hold any of the type of securities to which the EITF 99-20 guidance applied.
 
In May 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 163, “Accounting for Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts, an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 60” Which clarifies how Statement No. 60 applies to financial guarantee insurance contracts issued by insurance companies. SFAS No. 163 addresses the differing views in SFAS No. 60 regarding the recognition and measurement of premium revenues and claim liabilities and enhances the disclosure requirements for financial guarantee insurance contracts. SFAS No. 163 is effective for financial statements issued


51


 

 
AMERICAN PHYSICIANS CAPITAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
2.   Effects of New Accounting Pronouncements (continued)
 
for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The Company does not expect the provisions of SFAS No. 163 to have a material effect on its Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position or liquidity as it does not write financial guarantee insurance.
 
In May 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 162, “The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.” SFAS No. 162 improves financial reporting by providing a consistent framework for selecting accounting principles to be used when preparing GAAP financial statements. This statement assigns a hierarchical rank to the various sources of accounting literature from Level A through Level D. SFAS No. 162 is effective 60 days after the Securities and Exchange Commission’s approval of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s amendments to AU Section 411. The Company does not expect the provision of SFAS No. 162 to have a material effect on its consolidated results of operations, financial position or liquidity.
 
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141R, Business Combinations, a replacement of SFAS No. 141, Business Combinations. SFAS No. 141R provides revised guidance on how an acquirer recognizes and measures in its financial statements, the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any non-controlling interest in the acquiree. In addition, it provides revised guidance on the recognition and measurement of goodwill acquired in the business combination. SFAS No. 141R also provides guidance specific to the recognition, classification, and measurement of assets and liabilities related to insurance and reinsurance contracts acquired in a business combination. SFAS No. 141R applies to business combinations for acquisitions occurring on or after January 1, 2009. The Company does not expect the provisions of SFAS No. 141R to have a material effect on its consolidated results of operations, financial position or liquidity unless a business combination transaction is consummated after January 1, 2009.
 
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements — an amendment of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51. SFAS No. 160 amends Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51 to establish accounting and reporting standards for the non-controlling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. In addition, it clarifies that a non-controlling interest in a subsidiary is an ownership interest in the consolidated entity that should be reported as a component of equity in the consolidated financial statements. SFAS No. 160 is effective on a prospective basis beginning January 1, 2009, except for the presentation and disclosure requirements which are applied on a retrospective basis for all periods presented. The Company does not expect the provisions of SFAS No. 160 to have a material effect on its consolidated results of operations, financial position or liquidity.


52


 

 
AMERICAN PHYSICIANS CAPITAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
3.   Investments
 
The composition of the Company’s available-for-sale investment security portfolio, including unrealized gains and losses at December 31, 2008 and 2007, was:
 
                                 
    2008  
          Gross
    Gross
       
    Amortized
    Unrealized
    Unrealized
    Estimated
 
    Cost/Cost     Gains     Losses     Fair Value  
    (In thousands)  
 
Available-for-sale
                               
U.S. government obligations
  $     $     $     $  
States and political subdivisions
    150,098       5,844       (20 )     155,922  
Corporate securities
    65,381       2,898       (1,339 )     66,940  
Mortgage-backed securities
    99             (20 )     79  
                                 
Total fixed-income securities
    215,578       8,742       (1,379 )     222,941  
Equity securities(1)
    16,515       2,885             19,400  
                                 
Total available-for-sale securities
  $ 232,093     $ 11,627     $ (1,379 )   $ 242,341  
                                 
 
                                 
    2007  
          Gross
    Gross
       
    Amortized
    Unrealized
    Unrealized
    Estimated
 
    Cost/Cost     Gains     Losses     Fair Value  
    (In thousands)  
 
Available-for-sale
                               
U.S. government obligations
  $ 2,500     $ 11     $     $ 2,511  
States and political subdivisions
    132,223       2,938             135,161  
Corporate securities
    121,594       3,084       (174 )     124,504  
Mortgage-backed securities
    119       6             125  
                                 
Total fixed-income securities
    256,436       6,039       (174 )     262,301  
Equity securities(1)
    5,901       615             6,516  
                                 
Total available-for-sale securities
  $ 262,337     $ 6,654     $ (174 )   $ 268,817  
                                 
 
 
(1) Equity securities are included in other investments in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.


53


 

 
AMERICAN PHYSICIANS CAPITAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
3.   Investments (continued)
 
 
The following table shows the carrying value, gross unrecognized holding gains and losses, as well as the estimated fair value of the Company’s held-to-maturity fixed-income security portfolio as of December 31, 2008 and 2007. The carrying value at December 31, 2008 and 2007 includes approximately $1.9 million and $2.8 million of unrealized gains, respectively, as a result of the transfer of certain securities from the available-for-sale to the held-to-maturity category in previous years. These unrealized gains continue to be reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets, and will be amortized over the remaining life of the security through comprehensive income.
 
                                 
    2008  
          Gross
    Gross
       
          Unrecognized
    Unrecognized
       
    Carrying
    Holding
    Holding
    Estimated
 
    Value     Gains     Losses     Fair Value  
    (In thousands)  
 
Held-to-maturity
                               
U.S. government obligations
  $ 64,458     $ 676     $     $ 65,134  
States and political subdivisions
    228,685       4,567       (291 )     232,961  
Corporate securities
    37,824       369       (409 )     37,784  
Mortgage-backed securities
    150,783       1,435       (755 )     151,463  
                                 
Total held-to-maturity fixed-income securities
  $ 481,750     $ 7,047     $ (1,455 )   $ 487,342  
                                 
 
                                 
    2007  
          Gross
    Gross
       
          Unrecognized
    Unrecognized
       
    Carrying
    Holding
    Holding
    Estimated
 
    Value     Gains     Losses     Fair Value  
    (In thousands)  
 
Held-to-maturity
                               
U.S. government obligations
  $ 142,510     $ 778     $ (14 )   $ 143,274  
States and political subdivisions
    133,851       2,160             136,011  
Corporate securities
    68,534       713       (1,283 )     67,964  
Mortgage-backed securities
    152,767       192       (3,597 )     149,362  
                                 
Total held-to-maturity fixed-income securities
  $ 497,662     $ 3,843     $ (4,894 )   $ 496,611  
                                 


54


 

 
AMERICAN PHYSICIANS CAPITAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
3.   Investments (continued)
 
The following tables show the Company’s gross, unrealized in the case of available-for-sale securities, or unrecognized for held-to-maturity securities, investment losses and fair value, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position, at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
 
                                                 
    December 31, 2008  
    Less Than 12 Months     12 Months or More     Total  
          Unrealized or
          Unrealized or
          Unrealized or
 
    Fair
    Unrecognized
    Fair
    Unrecognized
    Fair
    Unrecognized
 
Description of Securities
  Value     Losses     Value     Losses     Value     Losses  
    (In thousands)  
 
Available-for-sale
                                               
States and political subdivisions
  $ 3,168     $ (20 )   $     $     $ 3,168     $ (20 )
Corporate securities
    9,241       (1,359 )                 9,241       (1,359 )
                                                 
Subtotal available-for-sale
    12,409       (1,379 )                 12,409       (1,379 )
Held-to-maturity
                                               
States and political subdivisions
    56,445       (291 )                 56,445       (291 )
Corporate securities
    14,244       (409 )                 14,244       (409 )
Mortgage-backed securities
    27,763       (558 )     10,480       (197 )     38,243       (755 )
                                                 
Subtotal held-to-maturity
    98,452       (1,258 )     10,480       (197 )     108,932       (1,455 )
                                                 
Total temporarily impaired securities
  $ 110,861     $ (2,637 )   $ 10,480     $ (197 )   $ 121,341     $ (2,834 )
                                                 
 


55


 

 
AMERICAN PHYSICIANS CAPITAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
3.   Investments (continued)
 
                                                 
    December 31, 2007  
    Less Than 12 Months     12 Months or More     Total  
          Unrealized or
          Unrealized or
          Unrealized or
 
    Fair
    Unrecognized
    Fair
    Unrecognized
    Fair
    Unrecognized
 
Description of Securities
  Value     Losses     Value     Losses     Value     Losses  
    (In thousands)  
 
Available-for-sale
                                               
Corporate securities
  $ 11,781     $ (141 )   $ 6,088     $ (33 )   $ 17,869     $ (174 )
                                                 
Subtotal available-for-sale
    11,781       (141 )     6,088       (33 )     17,869       (174 )
Held-to-maturity
                                               
U.S. government obligations
                18,002       (14 )     18,002       (14 )
Corporate securities
    13,088       (51 )     18,615       (1,233 )     31,703       (1,284 )
Mortgage-backed securities
    13             80,252       (3,596 )     80,265       (3,596 )
                                                 
Subtotal held-to-maturity
    13,101       (51 )     116,869       (4,843 )     129,970       (4,894 )
                                                 
Total temporarily impaired securities
  $ 24,882     $ (192 )   $ 122,957     $ (4,876 )   $ 147,839     $ (5,068 )
                                                 
 
Those securities in the tables above that are in an unrealized or unrecognized loss position at December 31, 2008 or 2007 were determined to be in that position primarily as a result of changes in prevailing interest rates. All securities in an unrealized or unrecognized loss position at December 31, 2008 or 2007 were considered investment grade. The Company defines investment grade securities as those that have a Standard & Poors’ credit rating of BBB and above. In addition, all mortgage-backed securities held by the Company were issued by U.S. government sponsored agencies, consist of “conforming” mortgage loans that were issued prior to April 2005, are guaranteed by the issuing government-sponsored agency and have support tranches designed to promote the predictability of principal repayment cash flows. Based on the absence of significant negative factors regarding the issuer’s credit-worthiness, combined with the Company’s ability and intent to hold the securities above that are in an unrealized or unrecognized loss position until their maturity, or for a sufficient period of time to allow for the recovery of the securities market value, the decline in their market value is deemed to be temporary in nature.
 
During the first quarter of the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company incurred other than temporary impairment losses of $858,000 due to its decision to sell a bond at a loss early in the second quarter of 2008. There were no other than temporary impairment losses recorded during 2007, and $178,000 during 2006.

56


 

 
AMERICAN PHYSICIANS CAPITAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
3.   Investments (continued)
 
The components of pre-tax investment income and net realized gains for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 were:
 
                         
    2008     2007     2006  
    (In thousands)  
 
Interest income
  $ 36,782     $ 43,275     $ 44,155  
Dividend income
    200       8       428  
Other investment income
    (118 )     223       670  
                         
Total investment income
    36,864       43,506       45,253  
Investment expenses
    (1,032 )     (910 )     (845 )
                         
Net investment income
  $ 35,832     $ 42,596     $ 44,408  
                         
Gross realized gains on disposal
                       
Fixed-income
  $ 200     $ 118     $ 148  
Equity securities
                2,166  
Other invested assets
                1,474  
                         
Total gross realized gains
    200       118       3,788  
Gross realized losses on disposal
                       
Fixed-income
    (860 )     (134 )     (146 )
Equity securities
          (90 )     (7 )
Other invested assets
                (16 )
Property and equipment
    2       (5 )     (131 )
                         
Total gross realized losses
    (858 )     (229 )     (300 )
Other than temporary impairments
                (178 )
                         
Net realized gains
  $ (658 )   $ (111 )   $ 3,310  
                         
 
The estimated fair value of fixed-income securities classified as available-for-sale and the carrying value and estimated fair value of fixed-income securities classified as held-to-maturity at December 31, 2008, by contractual maturity, were:
 
         
    Estimated
 
    Fair Value  
    (In thousands)  
 
Available-for-sale
       
Less than one year
  $ 375  
One to five years
    124,797  
Five to ten years
    90,398  
More than ten years
    7,292  
Mortgage-backed securities
    79  
         
Total available-for-sale
  $ 222,941  
         
 


57


 

 
AMERICAN PHYSICIANS CAPITAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
3.   Investments (continued)
 
                 
    Carrying
    Estimated
 
    Value     Fair Value  
    (In thousands)  
 
Held-to-maturity
               
Less than one year
  $ 4,196     $ 4,207  
One to five years
    74,546       75,661  
Five to ten years
    163,812       166,260  
More than ten years
    88,413       89,750  
Mortgage-backed securities
    150,783       151,464  
                 
Total held-to-maturity
  $ 481,750     $ 487,342  
                 
 
Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. During the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company received no call premiums. Any call premiums would be recorded as investment income in the period in which the security is called.
 
The carrying amount of bonds that were on deposit with various state regulatory authorities as of December 31, 2008 and 2007 was $8.3 million and $8.5 million, respectively.
 
Proceeds on the sales of investments in bonds totaled $11.1 million in 2008, $9.3 million in 2007, and $11.9 million in 2006. Gross gains of $23,000, $118,000, and $0 were realized on the sales of investments in bonds for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Gross losses of $60,000 and $133,000 were realized on the sales of investments in bonds for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. There were no gross losses realized on the sale of investment in bonds for the year ended December 31, 2008. However, as noted previously, the Company recognized an impairment charge of $858,000 in 2008 on bonds as a result of a decision to sell the securities shortly after a reporting date. A gain of $10,000 was ultimately recognized upon the eventual sale of these securities.
 
4.   Fair Value Measurements
 
As discussed in Note 1, effective January 1, 2008, the Company implemented SFAS No. 157 relating to its financial assets and liabilities. SFAS No. 157 establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the use of inputs used in valuation methodologies into the following three levels:
 
  •  Level 1:  Quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the entity has the ability to access as of the measurement date.
 
  •  Level 2:  Significant observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be derived from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.
 
  •  Level 3:  Significant unobservable inputs that reflect a reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability.

58


 

 
AMERICAN PHYSICIANS CAPITAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
4.   Fair Value Measurements (continued)
 
 
The following is a description of the Company’s valuation methodologies used to measure and disclose the fair values of its financial assets and liabilities on a recurring or nonrecurring basis:
 
Valuation of Investments
 
Fair values for the Company’s investment securities are obtained from a variety of independent pricing sources. Prices obtained from the various sources are then subjected to a series of tolerance and validation checks. If securities are traded in active markets, quoted prices are used to measure fair value (Level 1). If quoted prices are not available, prices are obtained from various independent pricing vendors based on pricing models that consider a variety of observable inputs (Level 2). Benchmark yields, prices for similar securities in active markets and quoted bid or ask prices are just a few of the observable inputs utilized. Prices determined by the model are then compared with prices provided by other vendors and against prior prices to ensure that deviations are within tolerable limits. If none of the pricing vendors are able to provide a current price for a security, a fair value must be developed using alternative sources based on a variety of less objective assumptions and inputs (Level 3).
 
Investments Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
 
Available-for-sale fixed-income securities — are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. With the exception of U.S. Treasury securities, very few fixed-income securities are actively traded. Most fixed-income securities, such as government or agency mortgage-backed securities, tax-exempt municipal or state securities and corporate securities, are priced using a vendor’s pricing model and fall within Level 2 of the hierarchy. The Company has a small number of private placement fixed-income securities that may be valued using Level 2 or Level 3 inputs at a given reporting date depending on the timing and availability of observable input data from which pricing vendors can formulate a price based on their models.
 
Available-for-sale equity securities — are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. Our available-for-sale equity security portfolio consists of publicly traded common stocks. As such quoted market prices in active markets are available for these investments, and they are therefore included in the amounts disclosed in Level 1.
 
Our financial assets with changes in fair value measured on a recurring basis at December 31, 2008 were as follows:
 
                                 
Available-for-sale investments:
  Total     Level 1     Level 2     Level 3  
    (In thousands)  
 
Fixed-income securities
  $ 222,941     $     $ 216,722     $ 6,219  
Equity securities (1)
    19,400       19,400              
                                 
Total
  $ 242,341     $ 19,400     $ 216,722     $ 6,219  
                                 
 
 
(1) Included in other investments on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.
 
The Company had no financial liabilities that it measured at fair value at December 31, 2008.


59


 

 
AMERICAN PHYSICIANS CAPITAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
4.   Fair Value Measurements (continued)
 
The changes in the balances of Level 3 financial assets for the year ended December 31, 2008, were as follows:
 
         
    Available-for-Sale
 
    Fixed-Income
 
    Securities  
    (In thousands)  
 
Balance at January 1, 2008
  $ 6,911  
Principal paydowns
    (539 )
Net unrealized depreciation included
       
in other comprehensive income
    (153 )
         
Balance at December 31, 2008
  $ 6,219  
         
 
Investment Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis
 
Held-to-maturity fixed-income securities — are recorded at amortized cost. However, the fair value of held-to-maturity securities is measured periodically, following the processes and procedures above, for purposes of evaluating whether any securities are other-than-temporarily impaired, as well as for purposes of disclosing, at least annually, the unrecognized holding gains and losses associated with the held-to-maturity investment security portfolio. Any other-than-temporarily impaired securities would be reported at the fair value used to measure the impairment in a table of nonrecurring assets and liabilities measured at fair value. At December 31, 2008, the Company did not have any held-to-maturity fixed-income securities that were considered to be other-than-temporarily impaired. Accordingly, there are no disclosures concerning assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis.
 
Other Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis
 
Other non-financial assets that are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis for the purposes of determining impairment include such long-lived assets as property and equipment and investment real estate. The Company’s non-financial liabilities measured at fair value subsequent to initial recognition are limited to those liabilities associated with certain exit costs initiated in previous periods. Due to the nature of these assets and liabilities, inputs used to develop the fair value measurements will generally be based on unobservable inputs and therefore most of these assets and liabilities would be classified as Level 3. However, recent purchase and/or sales activity with regard to real estate investments adjoining the property owned by the Company may qualify such investments for Level 2 classification. The Company will apply the fair value measurement and disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 157 effective January 1, 2009 to these non-financial assets measured on a nonrecurring basis.
 
5.   Other Comprehensive Income
 
SFAS No. 130, “Reporting Comprehensive Income,” requires unrealized gains or losses on the Company’s available-for-sale investment securities arising during the period and the amortization of unrealized gains and losses on the Company’s held-to-maturity securities at the date of transfer to be included in other comprehensive income, net of tax.


60


 

 
AMERICAN PHYSICIANS CAPITAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
5.   Other Comprehensive Income (continued)
 
The following table shows the components of net unrealized gains on investments, net of deferred federal income taxes included in accumulated other comprehensive income in the shareholders’ equity section of the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2008 and 2007:
 
                 
    December 31,  
    2008     2007  
    (In thousands)  
 
Net unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities
  $ 10,248     $ 6,480  
Net unamortized unrealized gains on held-to-maturity securities
    1,850       2,836  
Deferred federal income taxes
    (4,234 )     (3,261 )
                 
Total net unrealized gains, net of deferred federal income taxes
  $ 7,864     $ 6,055  
                 
 
The following table shows net unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale investment securities arising during the period, as well as the amortization of unrealized gains related to held-to-maturity securities, reclassification adjustments, and the related deferred income tax effects included in other comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006.
 
                         
    2008     2007     2006  
    (In thousands)  
 
Unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period:
                       
Available-for-sale:
                       
Fixed maturities
  $ 663     $ 2,350     $ (2,455 )
Equity securities
    2,270       615       1,950  
Held-to-maturity amortization
    (986 )     (945 )     (1,084 )
Reclassification adjustments
    835       (58 )     (1,952 )
                         
Other comprehensive income (loss) before taxes, minority interests and equity method investees
    2,782       1,962       (3,541 )
Deferred federal income taxes
    (973 )     (687 )     1,239  
Minority interests and equity method investees, net of deferred taxes
          11       (33 )
                         
Other comprehensive income (loss)
  $ 1,809     $ 1,286     $ (2,335 )
                         
 
6.   Deferred Acquisition Costs
 
Changes in deferred policy acquisition costs for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006 are summarized as follows:
 
                         
    2008     2007     2006  
    (In thousands)  
 
Balance, January 1
  $ 6,526     $ 7,644     $ 7,877  
Additions
    13,658       14,708       16,927  
Amortization
    (14,110 )     (15,826 )     (17,160 )
                         
Balance, December 31
  $ 6,074     $ 6,526     $ 7,644  
                         
 
Deferred acquisition costs are included in other assets on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.


61


 

 
AMERICAN PHYSICIANS CAPITAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
7.   Property and Equipment, Net
 
At December 31, 2008 and 2007, property and equipment consisted of the following:
 
                 
    December 31,  
    2008     2007  
    (In thousands)  
 
Land
  $ 571     $ 571  
Building (occupied by the Company)
    10,499       10,499  
Computer equipment and software
    12,108       11,865  
Software developed or obatined for internal use
    4,593       4,539  
Furniture and leasehold improvements
    3,727       3,726  
                 
      31,498       31,200  
Accumulated depreciation
    (18,228 )     (17,411 )
                 
    $ 13,270     $ 13,789  
                 
 
Depreciation expense associated with property and equipment for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006, was $915,000, $1.0 million and $1.4 million, respectively.
 
8.   Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses
 
Activity in unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006, was as follows:
 
                         
    2008     2007     2006  
    (In thousands)  
 
Balance, beginning of year
  $ 664,117     $ 688,031     $ 689,857  
Less, reinsurance recoverables
    (104,648 )     (107,965 )     (107,692 )
                         
Net balance, beginning of year
    559,469       580,066       582,165  
Deconsolidation of PIC-Florida
                (2,418 )
Incurred related to
                       
Current year
    97,490       103,673       113,338  
Prior years
    (32,179 )     (34,245 )     (12,880 )
                         
Total incurred
    65,311       69,428       100,458  
                         
Paid related to
                       
Current year
    3,012       2,699       3,168  
Prior years
    58,918       87,326       96,971  
                         
Total paid
    61,930       90,025       100,139  
                         
Net balance, end of year
    562,850       559,469       580,066  
Plus, reinsurance recoverables
    81,546       104,648       107,965  
                         
Balance, end of period
  $ 644,396     $ 664,117     $ 688,031  
                         
Prior year development as a percentage of beginning of the year net reserves
    –5.8 %     –5.9 %     –2.2 %
                         
 
In each of the last three years, claims frequency has declined and has been much lower than originally assumed in the Company’s actuarial projections. At the same time, paid claims severity has remained relatively stable,


62


 

 
AMERICAN PHYSICIANS CAPITAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
8.   Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses (continued)
 
contrary to previous actuarial estimates which anticipated increases in the paid loss severity. This trend of declining claim frequency, combined with the stable severity, has resulted in actual loss development that is significantly less than previous estimates of required reserves. As a result the Company has experienced favorable development in each of the last three years in the liability for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses relating to prior years.
 
Management believes that the estimate of the ultimate liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses at December 31, 2008, is reasonable and reflects the anticipated ultimate loss experience. However, it is possible that the Company’s actual incurred loss and loss adjustment expenses will not conform to the assumptions inherent in the estimation of the liability. Accordingly, it is reasonably possible that the ultimate settlement of losses and the related loss adjustment expenses may vary significantly from the estimated amounts included in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.
 
9.   Long-Term Debt
 
The Company owns two business trusts (the “Trusts”), which were formed for the purpose of issuing, in private placement transactions, $30.0 million of mandatorily redeemable trust preferred securities (“TPS”) and using the proceeds thereof, together with the equity proceeds received from APCapital in the initial formation of the Trusts, to purchase $30.9 million of floating rate junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures (the “Debentures”) from APCapital.
 
The Debentures issued by APCapital mature in 30 years and bear interest at an annual rate equal to the three-month LIBOR plus 4.10% for the first trust issuance, and three-month LIBOR plus 4.20% for the second trust issuance, payable quarterly. In May 2008, these debentures became callable, and APCapital repaid $5.0 million of the outstanding $30.9 million obligation in August 2008. The interest rate is adjusted on a quarterly basis. The average interest rates of 7.2% (Trust I issuance) and 7.6% (Trust II issuance) resulted in interest expense of approximately $2.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. Interest expense for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 was $2.9 million and $2.8 million, respectively. At December 31, 2008 and 2007, accrued interest payable to the trusts was approximately $190,000 and $320,000, respectively. APCapital has guaranteed that the payments made to the Trusts will be distributed by the Trusts to the holders of the TPS. As the amounts that could potentially be payable under the guarantees are recorded as liabilities by the Company, no additional liability related to these guarantees has been accrued.
 
The Debentures are unsecured obligations of the Company and are junior in the right of payment to all future senior indebtedness of the Company. The Company estimates that the fair value of the debentures approximates their carrying, or face value, as a result of the variable rate of interest paid by these securities.
 
10.   Reinsurance
 
Reinsurance arises from the Company seeking to reduce its loss exposure on its higher limit policies. The Company has mainly entered into excess of loss contracts for medical malpractice and workers’ compensation. A reconciliation of direct premiums to net premiums, on both a written and earned basis, for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, is as follows:
 
                                                 
    2008     2007     2006  
    Written     Earned     Written     Earned     Written     Earned  
    (In thousands)  
 
Direct
  $ 125,018     $ 129,114     $ 135,415     $ 146,078     $ 156,866     $ 163,746  
Ceded
    (4,894 )     (4,839 )     (4,619 )     (7,167 )     (10,097 )     (14,022 )
Assumed
    (7 )     (7 )     12       12       (46 )     (36 )
                                                 
Net
  $ 120,117     $ 124,268     $ 130,808     $ 138,923     $ 146,723     $ 149,688  
                                                 


63


 

 
AMERICAN PHYSICIANS CAPITAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
10.   Reinsurance (continued)
 
The net effect of ceded losses and loss adjustment expenses on our net losses and loss adjustment expenses incurred for the year ended December 31, 2008, excluding approximately $633,000 related to the commutation of the Company’s 2005 medical professional liability reinsurance treaty agreement, was an increase of $1.2 million. Losses and loss adjustment expenses incurred are net of ceded losses and loss adjustment expenses of $4.5 million and $10.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
 
The Company’s policy is to enter into reinsurance contracts only with highly rated reinsurers. Reinsurance contracts do not relieve the Company from its obligations to policyholders. If the reinsurance company is unable to meet its obligations under existing reinsurance agreements, the Company remains liable for ceded reserves related to unpaid losses, loss adjustment expenses and unearned premiums.
 
The Company had reinsurance recoverables from the following reinsurers at December 31, 2008 and 2007:
 
                 
    December 31,  
    2008     2007  
    (In thousands)  
 
Hannover Ruckversicherungs
  $ 30,479     $ 41,678  
Munich Reins Amer
    17,397       26,023  
Transatlantic Reinsurance Company
    8,406       8,986  
Aspen Re
    3,684       6,137  
Lloyds of London
    3,878       4,003  
General Reinsurance Corporation
    2,597       2,243  
Montpelier
          2,466  
Others
    21,900       17,314  
                 
    $ 88,341     $ 108,850  
                 
 
Amounts due from reinsurers on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets consisted of the following:
 
                 
    December 31,  
    2008     2007  
    (In thousands)  
 
Reinsurance recoverable
  $ 86,397     $ 106,961  
Prepaid reinsurance premium (included in other assets)
    1,944       1,889  
                 
Amounts recoverable from reinsurers
  $ 88,341     $ 108,850  
                 
 
The Company commuted its 2005 medical professional liability reinsurance treaty agreement during 2008. The Company recognized the $16.6 million consideration under the commutation as a reduction of losses and loss adjustment expenses paid (thereby reducing losses and loss adjustment expenses incurred) in the current year. In connection with the commutation the Company released the reinsurers from their obligations under the treaty of $16.0 million (thereby increasing losses and loss adjustment expenses incurred). The net effect of the commutation was a decrease in losses and loss adjustment expenses of $633,000.


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AMERICAN PHYSICIANS CAPITAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
11.   Income Taxes
 
The provision (benefit) for income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, consists of:
 
                         
    2008     2007     2006  
 
Current provision
  $ 15,887     $ 15,963     $ 7,614  
Deferred provision
    2,892       9,669       12,202  
                         
Total provision (benefit)
  $ 18,779     $ 25,632     $ 19,816  
                         
 
The Company’s income tax reconciliation for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, is as follows:
 
                                                 
    2008     2007     2006  
    (In thousands)  
 
Income before income taxes
  $ 63,975             $ 78,153             $ 63,003          
                                                 
Tax at statutory rate
    22,391       35.0 %     27,354       35.0 %     22,051       35.0 %
Tax effect of:
                                               
Tax exempt interest
    (3,952 )     –6.2 %     (2,773 )     –3.5 %     (2,091 )     –3.3 %
Other items, net
    340       0.5 %     781       1.0 %     (144 )     –0.2 %
                                                 
    $ 18,779       29.4 %   $ 25,362       32.5 %   $ 19,816       31.5 %
                                                 
 
At December 31, 2008 and 2007, the components of the net deferred federal income tax asset were as follows:
 
                 
    2008     2007  
    (In thousands)  
 
Deferred tax assets arising from:
               
Losses and loss adjustment expenses
  $ 18,628     $ 19,548  
Net operating loss carryforwards
    569       889  
Unearned and advanced premiums
    4,971       5,472  
Realized losses on investments
    971       724  
Goodwill
    2,872       3,367  
Other
    1,021       1,031  
                 
Total deferred tax assets
    29,032       31,031  
Deferred tax liabilities arising from:
               
Deferred policy acquisition costs
    2,126       2,284  
Net unrealized gains on securities
    4,234       3,261  
Other
    4,099       3,047  
                 
Total deferred tax liabilities
    10,459       8,592  
                 
Net deferred tax asset
  $ 18,573     $ 22,439  
                 
 
At December 31, 2008, the Company had approximately $1.0 million and $600,000 of net operating loss carryforwards that expire in 2011 and 2010, and are limited to $340,000 and $575,000 annually, respectively. The Company fully utilized its alternative minimum tax credits during 2007.
 
12.   Shareholders’ Equity
 
The Board of Directors has authorized the Company to purchase shares of its outstanding common stock under two separate plans. The Board of Directors has approved a series of authorizations to purchase shares of the


65


 

 
AMERICAN PHYSICIANS CAPITAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
12.   Shareholders’ Equity (continued)
 
Company’s outstanding common stock at the discretion of management (referred to as the “discretionary plan”). At December 31, 2008, approximately $21.4 million of the $25 million authorization made on February 7, 2008 remained available for repurchase under the discretionary plan, subject to limitations that may be imposed by applicable laws and regulations and the rules of the Nasdaq Global Select Market. The timing of the purchases and the number of shares to be bought at any one time depend on market conditions and the Company’s capital resources and requirements. Shares repurchased under these discretionary authorizations during the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, as well as the total number of shares repurchased pursuant to prior authorizations under the discretionary plan are shown in the table below.
 
                                 
    Discretionary Plan  
    Inception
    For the Year Ended December 31,  
    to Date Totals     2008     2007     2006  
    (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)  
 
Number of shares repurchased
    6,987,576       242,400       974,321       325,000  
Cost of shares repurchased
  $ 137,960     $ 10,609     $ 38,795     $ 11,117  
Average cost per share repurchased
  $ 19.74     $ 43.77     $ 39.82     $ 34.21  
 
The Company’s Board has also authorized the repurchase of the Company’s common shares pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 plan. On October 29, 2007, the Board authorized the repurchase of an additional $20 million of the Company’s common shares pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 plan in 2008, as well as the rollover of any remaining unused dollars allocated to the 2007 plan. At December 31, 2007, $19.4 million of the 2007 Rule 10b5-1 authorization remained unused, which means there is a total of $39.4 million available for repurchase under the 2008 Rule 10b5-1 plan. On December 4 and 11, 2008, the Board authorized the repurchase of an additional $10 million and $20 million of the Company’s common shares pursuant to the Rule 10b5-1 plan in 2008, as well as the rollover of any unused authorization into 2009. At December 31, 2008, the Company had $26.8 million of its 2008 Rule 10b5-1 plan authorizations remaining that could be carried over into 2009. The Rule 10b5-1 plan share repurchases are expected to continue until the authorizations are fully utilized, subject to conditions specified in the Rule 10b5-1 plan. However, the Company may terminate the plan at any time.
 
                                 
    Rule 10b5-1 Plan  
    Inception
    For the Year Ended December 31,  
    to Date Totals     2008     2007     2006  
    (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)  
 
Number of shares repurchased
    2,339,720       1,091,570       497,800       750,350  
Cost of shares repurchased
  $ 85,188     $ 42,592     $ 18,952     $ 23,645  
Average cost per share repurchased
  $ 36.41     $ 39.02     $ 38.07     $ 31.51  
 
13.   Fair Value of Financial Instruments
 
SFAS No. 107, “Disclosures About Fair Value of Financial Instruments”, requires disclosure of fair-value information about financial instruments, whether or not recognized in the balance sheet, for which it is practicable to estimate that value. In situations where quoted market prices are not available, fair values are to be based on estimates using present value or other valuation techniques. SFAS No. 107 excludes certain financial instruments and all non-financial instruments from its disclosure requirements.
 
Under SFAS No. 107, the Company’s investment securities, cash and cash equivalents, premiums receivable, reinsurance recoverable on paid losses, and long-term debt constitute financial instruments. With the exception of fixed-income securities classified as held-to-maturity, the carrying amounts of all financial instruments approximated their fair values at December 31, 2008 and 2007. The fair value of fixed-income held-to-maturity securities is disclosed in Note 3.


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AMERICAN PHYSICIANS CAPITAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
14.   Restructuring Charges and Exit Costs
 
Contract Termination Costs
 
The Company has subleased approximately 13,000 square feet of office space in Chicago, Illinois to an unrelated third party. The difference in the cash flows between the Company’s obligations for the subleased space, in accordance with the original lease terms, and the rent the Company will receive from the sublessor over the next five years has been discounted using an interest rate of approximately six-percent to approximate the fair value of the liability incurred in connection with the contract termination. Other costs incurred in connection with the subleased space, such as broker commissions, were also included in the calculation of the original liability.
 
Activity in the liability for contract termination costs for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, was as follows:
 
                         
    2008     2007     2006  
    (In thousands)  
 
Balance, January 1
  $ 899     $ 1,068     $ 1,120  
Payments
    (169 )     (177 )     (181 )
Changes in estimated cash flows
    47       (52 )     61  
Discount accretion
    50       60       68  
                         
Balance, December 31
  $ 827     $ 899     $ 1,068  
                         
 
Certain costs associated with the original lease and subleases are variable. As additional information regarding these variable costs becomes available, the estimated future cash flows are adjusted to reflect the revised estimates. Any changes in the liability for contract termination costs associated with estimated cash flow adjustments are charged or credited to expense in the period the change in estimates is first known.
 
All costs associated with termination benefits and contract terminations are included in the other expenses line item in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income.
 
15.   Employee Benefit Plans
 
The Company offers benefits under certain defined contribution plans. In 2008, 2007 and 2006 the defined contribution plans provide for Company contributions of 5% of employee compensation, as defined in the plan, and a 100% match of employee contributions on the first 3% of contributions and 50% match on the next 2% of contributions. Employer contributions to the plans were approximately $841,000, $855,000, and $831,000 for 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
 
16.   Share-Based Compensation
 
Equity Compensation Plans
 
The Board of Directors and shareholders have authorized the American Physicians Capital, Inc. Stock Compensation Plan (the “Plan”). The Plan provides for the award of stock options and other share-based awards for officers, directors and employees of the Company. These awards must be approved by the compensation committee of the board of directors. The total number of shares of the Company’s common stock authorized for issuance under the Plan is 1,800,000 shares, of which only 10,350 remain available at December 31, 2008 for future grants.
 
Certain executive officers, board members and employees have been granted options to purchase shares of APCapital common stock. All outstanding options vest in annual installments of 33%, 33% and 34% on the first through the third anniversaries, respectively, of the date of grant. All options expire on the tenth anniversary of the grant date.


67


 

 
AMERICAN PHYSICIANS CAPITAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
16.   Share-Based Compensation (continued)
 
Holders of options under the Plan may exercise their outstanding options and pay the exercise price pursuant to a net share settlement feature. This feature allows the option holder to elect to have shares of stock withheld upon exercise to pay the option exercise price and the payment of taxes attributable to the option exercise.
 
The following table summarizes activity in the Company’s equity compensation plans for stock options awards for the year ended December 31, 2008:
 
                                 
                Weighted
       
    Number
    Weighted
    Average
    Aggregate
 
    of
    Average
    Remaining
    Intrinsic
 
    Options     Exercise Price     Term     Value  
                (In years)     (In thousands)  
 
Options outstanding at January 1, 2008
    458,255     $ 17.33                  
Granted during the period
                           
Exercised during the period
    (19,480 )   $ 17.68                  
Canceled during the period
    (765 )   $ 26.50                  
                                 
Options outstanding at December 31, 2008
    438,010     $ 17.29       4.77     $ 13,493  
                                 
Options exercisable at December 31, 2008
    438,010     $ 17.29       4.77     $ 13,493  
                                 
 
The aggregate intrinsic value is calculated as the difference between the exercise price of the underlying awards and the quoted market price of the Company’s common stock for the options that were in-the-money at December 31, 2008. For the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, the total intrinsic value of options exercised was $503,000, $2.5 million, and $5.9 million, respectively, determined as of the date of option exercise.
 
The total fair value, at the date of vesting, of stock options and other share awards vested during the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 was $1.0 million, $2.0 million and $3.5 million, respectively.
 
In 2008 and 2007, the Company recognized pre-tax compensation cost of $44,000 and $160,000, respectively, related to share-based payment arrangements. Such costs are included in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income as either underwriting expense or loss adjustment expense. As of December 31, 2008, the Company had no unrecognized compensation costs related to non-vested share-based payment awards.
 
The Company determines its pool of “windfall” tax benefits accumulated in additional-paid-in-capital following the ’short-cut” method as permitted by FASB Staff Position No. FAS 123(R)-3: Transition Election Related to Accounting for the Tax Effects of Share-Based Payment Awards. During the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, the excess tax benefit realized from the exercise of options and vesting of other share-based awards resulted in increases in additional-paid-in-capital of $164,000, $1.0 million, and $2.1 million, respectively.
 
Impact of the Adoption of SFAS No. 123(R)
 
Prior to the adoption of SFAS No. 123(R), the unrecognized portion of share-based compensation, based on the APB No. 25 intrinsic value method, was reported as a contra account in the shareholders’ equity section of the balance sheet, net of deferred taxes. Upon the adoption of SFAS No. 123(R) in January 2006, the unearned share-based compensation balance of approximately $84,000 was reclassified to additional-paid-in-capital.
 
Valuation Assumptions
 
There were no stock options or other share-based awards granted during any of the three years ended December 31, 2008.


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AMERICAN PHYSICIANS CAPITAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
17.   Earnings Per Share
 
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006:
 
                         
    2008     2007     2006  
    (In thousands, except
 
    per share amounts)  
 
Numerator for basic and diluted income per common share:
                       
Net income
  $ 45,196     $ 52,791     $ 43,187  
                         
Denominator:
                       
Denominator for basic income per common share — weighted average shares outstanding
    9,628       10,951       12,015  
Effect of dilutive stock options and awards
    192       212       259  
                         
Denominator for diluted income per common share - adjusted weighted average shares outstanding
    9,820       11,163       12,274  
                         
Income per common share:
                       
Net income
                       
Basic
  $ 4.69     $ 4.82     $ 3.59  
Diluted
  $ 4.60     $ 4.73     $ 3.52  
 
In accordance with SFAS No. 128, “Earnings per Share,” the diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding includes an incremental adjustment for the assumed exercise of dilutive stock options and non-vested share awards. Stock options are considered dilutive when the average stock price during the period exceeds the exercise price and the assumed conversion of the options, using the treasury stock method as required by SFAS No. 128, produces an increased number of shares outstanding. Stock options with an exercise price that is higher than the average stock price during the period are excluded from the computation as their impact would be anti-dilutive. There were no stock options that were considered to be anti-dilutive, and therefore excluded from the calculation, during any of the three years ended December 31, 2008.
 
18.   Commitments and Contingencies
 
The Company participates in various guaranty associations in the states in which it writes business, which protect policyholders and claimants against losses due to insolvency of insurers. When an insolvency occurs, the associations are authorized to assess member companies up to the amount of the shortfall of funds, including expenses. Member companies are assessed based on the type and amount of insurance written during the previous calendar years. The Company accrues for its portion of assessments in accordance with American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ Statement of Position 97-3, “Accounting by Insurance and Other Enterprises for Insurance-Related Assessments.” Assessments to date are not significant; however, the ultimate liability for future assessments is not known. Accordingly, the Company is unable to predict whether such future assessments will materially affect the financial condition or results of operations of the Company. At December 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company had a recorded liability of $100,000 for amounts assessed by state guarantee associations, as well as the Company’s estimate of its share of any insolvencies not yet assessed.
 
APCapital has issued guarantees in connection with the formation of non-consolidated subsidiary trusts that were formed during 2003 for the purpose of issuing mandatorily redeemable TPS. In accordance with the structure and nature of the transactions, APCapital has guaranteed that amounts paid to the trusts, related to the debentures issued by APCapital that the trusts hold, will be distributed to the holders of the TPS. The amounts payable to the holders of the TPS are recorded as liabilities on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. See Note 9 for further information on the trusts, the TPS, and the debentures issued by APCapital.


69


 

 
AMERICAN PHYSICIANS CAPITAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
18.   Commitments and Contingencies (continued)
 
The Company is obligated under operating leases, which have various expiration dates through October 2013. Minimum future lease payments are as follows: 2009 — $876,000; 2010 — $852,000; 2011 — $759,000; 2012 - $746,000 and 2013 and thereafter — $510,000. Rental expense was $244,000 in 2008, $342,000 in 2007, and $546,000 in 2006. Note that rent expense is consistently less than the reported lease commitments as the lease commitment amounts do not anticipate the payments we receive for subleased office space related to our Chicago, Illinois lease. Sublease rentals under non-cancelable subleases are estimated to be $395,000 in 2009; $406,000 — 2010; $417,000 — 2011; and $794,000 in 2012 and thereafter.
 
In addition to obligations for operating leases, the Company is also obligated to fund certain infrastructure improvement assessments imposed by the City of East Lansing, Michigan in connection with the development of the area surrounding investment real estate owned by the Company. These assessments are due annually in the following amounts: 2009 — $110,000, 2010 — $105,000; and 2011 — $100,000. These, and other assessments, have also been imposed on a real estate LLC that the Company has a 50% ownership stake in. In the event that the cash resources of the LLC are not sufficient to fund the assessment payments, the Company may be called upon to make a capital contribution to the LLC to cover 50% of the assessment payments. In such an event, the amounts that the Company may be required to fund are as follows: 2009 — $262,000; 2010 — $252,000 2011 — $242,000; 2012 — $143,000; and 2013 and thereafter — $517,000.
 
The Company was not subject to any litigation at December 31, 2008 other than routine litigation in the ordinary course of the Company’s business. Management does not expect these cases to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.
 
19.   GAAP and Statutory Reporting
 
American Physicians, APSpecialty and ICA, insurance companies each domiciled in the State of Michigan, are included in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements in accordance with GAAP. These entities are subject to regulation by the State of Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation and file financial statements using statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the state insurance regulators. Prescribed statutory accounting practices include a variety of publications of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”), as well as state laws, regulations and general administrative rules. Permitted statutory accounting practices encompass all accounting practices not so prescribed. Such practices vary in certain respects from GAAP. The principal variances are as follows:
 
  •  Deferred policy acquisition costs are charged against operations as incurred for statutory accounting purposes.
 
  •  Assets designated as “nonadmitted assets” are charged directly to surplus for statutory accounting purposes.
 
  •  Bonds and U.S. government securities are generally carried at amortized cost for statutory accounting purposes.
 
  •  Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses and unearned premiums are reported net of the impact of reinsurance for statutory accounting purposes.
 
  •  Deferred federal income taxes applicable to operations are recorded in income for GAAP, whereas deferred federal income taxes are recorded in surplus for statutory accounting purposes.
 
  •  A valuation allowance is required under GAAP when it is determined that gross deferred tax assets cannot be realized, in whole or in part. For statutory accounting purposes, the valuation allowance is replaced with a more objective admitted asset test, which is intended to serve the same purpose as the GAAP valuation allowance. This more quantitative approach under statutory accounting can sometimes result in differing amounts of deferred tax assets being carried for GAAP and statutory accounting purposes.


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AMERICAN PHYSICIANS CAPITAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
19.   GAAP and Statutory Reporting (continued)
 
 
  •  The reserve associated with DDR coverage benefits is included as a component of unpaid loss and loss adjustment expense reserves for GAAP. Any change in the estimate of the liability associated with such coverage is charged or credited to the incurred loss and loss adjustment expenses in the GAAP Statement of Income. Statutory accounting principles require that the reserve for DDR benefits be included as a component of unearned premium reserves, with any change in the estimated reserve treated as an adjustment to earned premium in the period of change.
 
  •  Subsidiaries that would be required to be consolidated in accordance with GAAP, are accounted for using the equity method with the equity in the earnings of such subsidiaries being credited directly to surplus for statutory accounting purposes.
 
The following table sets forth the reported combined statutory surplus levels at December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006 and the combined statutory net income for the years then ended for the Company’s American Physicians, APSpecialty and ICA insurance subsidiaries. Note that because of the parent/subsidiary relationship between American Physicians and APSpecialty, APSpecialty’s surplus has been eliminated from the combined results to avoid double counting its effect.
 
                         
    2008     2007     2006  
          (In thousands)        
 
Statutory surplus, December 31
  $ 204,975     $ 221,595     $ 248,929  
                         
Statutory net income for the year ended December 31
  $ 49,135     $ 63,725     $ 54,470  
                         
 
The amount of dividends that the Company’s insurance subsidiaries can pay to APCapital in any 12-month period without prior regulatory approval is limited to the greater of statutory net income for the preceding year, excluding net realized gains (losses) on the sale of investments, or 10% of statutory surplus as of the preceding year end on an individual company basis. In accordance with these limits, during 2008 APCapital’s insurance subsidiaries paid it dividends totaling $63.0 million. The insurance subsidiaries could pay dividends to APCapital of approximately $48.0 million in 2009 without prior regulatory approval. However, the $48.0 million that may be paid in 2009 is subject to limitation based on the timing and amount of the dividends that were paid in the preceding 12 months. Accordingly, no dividends may be paid, without prior regulatory approval, until the third quarter of 2009, at which time dividends of $25.0 million may be paid. The remaining $23.0 million in “ordinary” dividend payments are not permitted until December of 2009.


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AMERICAN PHYSICIANS CAPITAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
20.   Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)
 
The unaudited operating results by quarter for 2008 and 2007 are summarized below:
 
                                 
                      Net Income
 
          Income
          Per Common
 
    Total
    Before Federal
    Net
    Share Assuming
 
    Revenues     Income Taxes     Income     Dilution  
    (In thousands, except per share data)  
 
2008
                               
1st Quarter
  $ 41,011     $ 16,580     $ 11,374     $ 1.13  
2nd Quarter
    40,935       15,530       11,043       1.11  
3rd Quarter
    39,563       15,670       11,168       1.13  
4th Quarter
    39,695       16,195       11,611       1.24  
                                 
    $ 161,204     $ 63,975     $ 45,196          
                                 
2007
                               
1st Quarter
  $ 46,420     $ 15,402     $ 10,505     $ 0.90  
2nd Quarter
    46,159       24,303       16,333       1.44  
3rd Quarter
    46,366       19,497       13,281       1.21  
4th Quarter
    44,188       18,951       12,672       1.19  
                                 
    $ 183,133     $ 78,153     $ 52,791          
                                 


72


 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
 
Board of Directors and Shareholders
American Physicians Capital, Inc.
East Lansing, Michigan
 
The audits referred to in our report dated March 13, 2009 relating to the consolidated financial statements of American Physicians Capital, Inc. and Subsidiaries, which is contained in Item 8 of this Form 10-K also included the audits of the financial statement schedules listed in the accompanying index. These financial statement schedules are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statement schedules based on our audits.
 
In our opinion such financial statement schedules, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.
 
BDO Seidman, LLP
 
Grand Rapids, Michigan
March 13, 2009


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SCHEDULE I — CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT
AMERICAN PHYSICIANS CAPITAL, INC. (REGISTRANT ONLY)
 
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
December 31, 2008 and 2007
 
                 
    December 31,  
    2008     2007  
    (In thousands)  
 
ASSETS
Investments in subsidiaries
  $ 238,832     $ 253,058  
Equity securities
    778       928  
Cash and cash equivalents
    39,266       41,434  
Deferred federal income taxes
    216       250  
Federal income taxes recoverable from affiliates
    1,156       1,991  
Other assets
    462       591  
                 
Total assets
  $ 280,710     $ 298,252  
                 
LIABILITIES
Long-term debt
  $ 25,928     $ 30,928  
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
    745       3,767  
                 
Total liabilities
    26,673       34,695  
Shareholders’ Equity
               
Common stock, no par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized, 8,811,802 and
               
10,127,740 shares outstanding at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively
               
Retained earnings
    246,173       257,502  
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of deferred federal income taxes
    7,864       6,055  
                 
Total shareholders’ equity
    254,037       263,557  
                 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 280,710     $ 298,252  
                 
 
These condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the accompanying consolidated financial statements and notes thereto of American Physicians Capital, Inc. and Subsidiaries.


74


 

SCHEDULE I — CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT
AMERICAN PHYSICIANS CAPITAL, INC. (REGISTRANT ONLY)
 
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2008     2007     2006  
    (In thousands)  
 
Revenues
                       
Investment income
  $ 603     $ 1,619     $ 637  
Net realized losses
                (212 )
Other income
          31       1,600  
                         
Total revenues
    603       1,650       2,025  
Expenses
                       
Investment expense
    9       15        
Interest expense
    2,137       3,073       2,986  
General and administrative expenses
    1,185       1,410       1,310  
                         
Total expenses
    3,331       4,498       4,296  
                         
Loss before income taxes and equity in
                       
net income of subsidiaries
    (2,728 )     (2,848 )     (2,271 )
Federal income tax benefit
    (959 )     (1,017 )     (635 )
                         
Loss before equity in net income of subisidiaries
    (1,769 )     (1,831 )     (1,636 )
Equity in net income of subsidiaries
    46,965       54,622       44,823  
                         
Net income
  $ 45,196     $ 52,791     $ 43,187  
                         


75


 

SCHEDULE I — CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT
AMERICAN PHYSICIANS CAPITAL, INC. (REGISTRANT ONLY)
 
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007 AND 2006
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2008     2007     2006  
    (In thousands)  
 
Cash flows from (for) operating activities
                       
Net income
  $ 45,196     $ 52,791     $ 43,187  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in
                       
operating activities:
                       
Equity in undistributed income of subsidiaries
    (46,965 )     (54,622 )     (44,823 )
Dividends from subsidiaries
    63,000       81,950       43,000  
Net realized losses
                212  
Stock based compensation
    44       160       571  
Excess tax benefits from share-based awards
    (164 )     (1,031 )     (2,137 )
Deferred federal income taxes
    34       (53 )     1,545  
Changes in:
                       
Federal or intercompany income taxes recoverable/payable
    1,000       3,356       1,068  
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
    (308 )     (1,177 )     1,303  
Other assets
    128       (344 )     608  
                         
Net cash from operating activities
    61,965       81,030       44,534  
Cash flows from (for) investing activities
                       
Other investments
    150              
Liquidation of APIndemnity
                999  
                         
Net cash from investing activities
    150             999  
Cash flows from (for) financing activities
                       
Common stock repurchased
    (53,201 )     (57,746 )     (34,762 )
Excess tax benefits from share-based awards
    164       1,031       2,137  
Taxes paid in connection with net option exercise
          (785 )      
Repayment of long-term debt
    (5,000 )            
Cash dividends paid
    (3,813 )     (2,097 )     560  
Proceeds from stock options exercised
    281       107       (1,714 )
Other
    (2,714 )     2,397       406  
                         
Net cash for financing activities
    (64,283 )     (57,093 )     (33,373 )
                         
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
    (2,168 )     23,937       12,160  
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
    41,434       17,497       5,337  
                         
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year
  $ 39,266     $ 41,434     $ 17,497  
                         
 
These condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the accompanying consolidated financial statements and notes thereto of American Physicians Capital, Inc. and Subsidiaries.


76


 

SCHEDULE I — CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT
AMERICAN PHYSICIANS CAPITAL, INC. (REGISTRANT ONLY)
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT
 
(1)   Basis of Presentation
 
American Physicians Capital, Inc. (APCapital) is an insurance holding company incorporated under Michigan law on July 6, 2000. APCapital owns all of the issued and outstanding common stock of the following entities either directly or indirectly through one of the entities listed below:
 
American Physicians Assurance Corporation — a stock insurance company incorporated under Michigan law (American Physicians).
 
Insurance Corporation of America — a stock insurance company incorporated under Michigan law (ICA).
 
APSpecialty Insurance Corporation — a stock insurance company incorporated under Michigan law (APSpecialty). APSpecialty is a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Physicians.
 
Alpha Advisors, Inc. — an Illinois corporation that provides investment management services.
 
American Physicians Capital Statutory Trust I — a trust formed in Connecticut for the purpose of issuing mandatorily redeemable trust preferred securities to institutional investors (Note 9).
 
APCapital Trust II — a trust formed in Delaware for the purpose of issuing mandatorily redeemable trust preferred securities to institutional investors (Note 9).
 
APCapital’s subsidiaries, APManagement Ltd and APIndemnity (Bermuda) Ltd., were liquidated effective February 28, 2006 and May 10, 2006, respectively.
 
At December 31, 2008 and 2007, APCapital’s investment in subsidiaries is stated at the initial consolidation value plus any additional capital contribution made to the subsidiaries by APCapital, adjusted for the equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries since the date of acquisition, less any dividends received from the subsidiaries.
 
(2)   Long Term Debt
 
APCapital has issued $30.9 million of floating rate junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures (“Debentures”) to subsidiary trusts. The trusts have issued mandatorily redeemable trust preferred securities that have terms that are essentially the same as the Debentures issued by APCapital, which are the only assets of the trusts. See Note 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a description of the Debentures and the transactions in which they were issued. As of December 31, 2008, the outstanding balance of the debentures was $25.9 million.
 
(3)   Federal Income Taxes
 
The Company files a consolidated federal income tax return with the following entities:
 
     
American Physicians
  ICA
APSpecialty
  Alpha Advisors, Inc.
 
Allocation of taxes among the entities is subject to a written agreement, and is based upon separate return calculations, with current credit for net losses to the extent they can be used in the current year consolidated tax return.
 
(4)   Dividends Received
 
APCapital received the following dividend payments from its American Physicians insurance subsidiary during 2008: $10 million in June, $30 million in September, and $23 million in December.


77


 

 
SCHEDULE I — CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT
AMERICAN PHYSICIANS CAPITAL, INC. (REGISTRANT ONLY)
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT (Continued)
 
APCapital received the following dividends payment from its American Physicians insurance subsidiary during 2007: $13 million in March, $13 million in May, $6 million in July and $46.2 million in August. In addition, APCapital received a $3.8 million dividend payment from ICA in August 2007. Of the $46.2 million and $3.8 million paid by American Physicians and ICA, respectively, in August 2007, $40 million and $2.3 million, respectively, required prior regulatory approval as they exceeded ordinary dividend limits imposed by the State of Michigan.
 
During 2006, American Physicians paid the following dividends to APCapital: $13 million in March 2006, $13 million in May 2006, $6 million in June 2006 and $11 million in December 2006.
 
(5)   Stock Split
 
Effective November 1, 2006, the Company issued a three-for-two stock split of its common shares to shareholders of record as of the close of business on October 11, 2006. All share and per-share data, as well as share-based award information included in these Consolidated Financial Statement and Notes thereto, has been retroactively adjusted to reflect the stock split.
 
(6)   Share Repurchases
 
The Board of Directors of the Company has authorized the Company to purchase shares of its outstanding common stock under two separate plans, the discretionary plan and a Rule 10b5-1 plan. For additional information on share repurchases, see Note 12 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


78


 

 
Item 9.   Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
 
None.
 
Item 9A.   Controls and Procedures
 
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure material information required to be disclosed in the Company’s reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required financial disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, the Company recognized that a control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within a company have been detected.
 
As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s Disclosure Committee and management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(b). Based upon this evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level as of December 31, 2008.
 
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
 
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a — 15(f). The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
 
Under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this evaluation, management concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2008 under the framework in Internal Control — Integrated Framework. BDO Seidman, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as auditors of our consolidated financial statements, has issued an attestation report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008. BDO Seidman, LLP’s report, which expresses an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, appears below.


79


 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
 
Board of Directors and Shareholders
American Physicians Capital, Inc.
East Lansing, Michigan
 
We have audited American Physicians Capital, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria). American Physicians Capital, Inc.’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying “Item 9A, Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting”. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
 
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
 
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
 
In our opinion, American Physicians Capital, Inc. maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, based on the COSO criteria.
 
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of American Physicians Capital, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2008 and 2007 and the related consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008 and our report dated March 12, 2009 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
 
BDO Seidman, LLP
 
Grand Rapids, Michigan
March 12, 2009


80


 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
 
There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the most recently completed fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
Item 9B.   Other Information
 
None.
 
PART III
 
Item 10.   Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
 
The required information will be contained in the Proxy Statement under the captions “Election of Directors,” “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” and “Shareholder Proposals and Nominees,” and other than the Report of the Audit Committee, is incorporated herein by reference.
 
Item 11.   Executive Compensation
 
The required information will be contained in the Proxy Statement under the captions “Compensation of Executive Officers” and “Election of Directors — Director Compensation” and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
Item 12.   Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
 
The required information will be contained in the Proxy Statement under the caption “Common Stock Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
The Company has a Stock Compensation Plan pursuant to which it has granted stock options and other share-based compensation to employees, officers and directors. The Stock Compensation Plan was approved by the shareholder in 2000 prior to the Company’s initial public offering. The following table sets forth, with respect to the Stock Compensation Plan, as of December 31, 2008, (a) the number of shares of common stock to be issued upon the exercise of outstanding options, (b) the weighted average exercise price of outstanding options, and (c) the number of shares remaining available for future issuance. The Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors has stated its intention not to make any further grants under the Stock Compensation Plan.
 
                         
    Equity Compensation Plans  
                Number of Shares
 
                Remaining Available for
 
                Future Issuance Under
 
    Number of Shares to be
    Weighted-Average
    Equity Compensation
 
    Issued Upon Exercise of
    Exercise Price of
    Plans (Excluding Shares
 
    Outstanding Options
    Outstanding Options
    Reflected in Column (a))
 
Plan Category
  (a)     (b)     (c)  
 
Equity compensation plans approved by shareholders:
    438,010     $ 17.29       10,350  
Equity compensation plans not approved by shareholders:
                 
 
Item 13.   Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
 
The required information will be contained in the Proxy Statement under the captions “Certain Relationships and Transactions” and “Elections of Directors” and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
Item 14.   Principal Accounting Fees and Services
 
The required information will be contained in the Proxy Statement under the caption “Independent Accountants” and is incorporated herein by reference.


81


 

 
PART IV
 
Item 15.   Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
 
(a)(1) and (2)
 
Financial Statements:
 
Reports of independent registered public accounting firms
 
Consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2008 and 2007
 
Consolidated statements of income for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006
 
Consolidated statements of shareholders’ equity and comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006
 
Consolidated statements of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006
 
Notes to consolidated financial statements
 
Financial Statement Schedules:
 
II. Condensed financial information of registrant
 
All other schedules for which provision is made in Regulation S-X either (i) are not required under the related instructions or are inapplicable and, therefore, have been omitted, or (ii) the information required is included in the Consolidated Financial Statements or the Notes thereto that are a part hereof.
 
(a)(3) The exhibits included as part of this report are listed in the attached Exhibit Index, which is incorporated herein by reference.


82


 

SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of 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, on March 12, 2009.
 
American Physicians Capital, Inc.
 
  By: 
/s/  R. Kevin Clinton
R. Kevin Clinton
Its: President and Chief Executive Officer
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed by the following persons on March 12, 2009 on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities indicated.
 
         
Signature
 
Title
 
     
/s/  R. Kevin Clinton

R. Kevin Clinton
  President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
(principal executive officer)
     
/s/  Frank H. Freund

Frank H. Freund
  Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer (principal accounting officer)
     
/s/  AppaRao Mukkamala, M.D.

AppaRao Mukkamala, M.D.
  Director and Chairman of the Board
     
/s/  Billy B. Baumann, M.D.

Billy B. Baumann, M.D.
  Director
     
/s/  Spencer L. Schneider, J.D.

Spencer L. Schneider, J.D.
  Director
     
/s/  Joseph Stilwell

Joseph Stilwell
  Director
     
/s/  Larry W. Thomas

Larry W. Thomas
  Director
     
/s/  Stephen H. Haynes, M.D.

Stephen H. Haynes, M.D.
  Director
     
/s/  Mitchell A. Rinek, M.D.

Mitchell A. Rinek, M.D.
  Director


83


 

EXHIBIT INDEX
 
The following documents are filed as exhibits to this report or were filed previously and are incorporated by reference to the filing indicated. Exhibits not required for this report have been omitted. APCapital’s Commission file number is 000-32057.
 
         
Exhibit
   
Number
 
Description
 
  3 .1   Articles of Incorporation (APCapital’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (no. 333-41136), as amended)
  3 .2   Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended October 30, 2008 (APCapital’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 5, 2008)
  4 .1   Indenture relating to Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures Dated as of May 15, 2003 (APCapital’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as amended, for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2003)
  4 .2   Indenture relating to Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Debt Securities Dated as of May 22, 2003 (APCapital’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as amended, for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2003)
  *10 .1   American Physicians Capital, Inc. Stock Compensation Plan (APCapital’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (no. 333-56428))
  10 .14   MSMS/American Physicians Marketing Support Agreement, effective January 1, 2000, and American Physicians (APCapital’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (no. 333-41136), as amended)
  *10 .18   Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement (Directors Version), dated December 5, 2000 (APCapital’s 2000 Annual Report on Form 10-K)
  *10 .19   Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement (Employee Version), dated December 5, 2000 (APCapital’s 2000 Annual Report on Form 10-K)
  10 .26   Amended And Restated Declaration of Trust dated as of May 15, 2003 by and among U.S. Bank National Association, American Physicians Capital, Inc., William B. Cheeseman and Frank H. Freund (APCapital’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as amended, for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2003)
  10 .27   Amended And Restated Declaration of Trust dated as of May 22, 2003 of APCapital Trust II (APCapital’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as amended, for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2003)
  10 .28   Placement Agreement, dated April 25, 2003 between the Company, American Physicians Capital Statutory Trust I, FTN Financial Capital Markets and Keefe Bruyette & Woods, Inc. (APCapital’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as amended, for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2003)
  10 .29   Placement Agreement, dated as of May 13, 2003, with Sandler O’Neill & Partners L.P. (APCapital’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as amended, for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2003)
  10 .30   Guarantee Agreement dated as of May 15, 2003 by and between U.S. Bank National Association and American Physicians Capital, Inc. (APCapital’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as amended, for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2003)
  10 .31   Guarantee Agreement dated as of May 22, 2003 by and between Wilmington Trust Company and American Physicians Capital, Inc. (APCapital’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as amended, for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2003)
  **10 .35   Master Agency Agreement between American Physicians Assurance Corporation and SCW Agency Group, Inc., effective January 1, 2004 (APCapital’s 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended)
  *10 .42   Form of Executive Employment Agreement dated February 23, 2005, by and between American Physicians Assurance Corporation and each of R. Kevin Clinton, Frank H. Freund and Annette E. Flood (APCapital’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 28, 2005)


84


 

         
Exhibit
   
Number
 
Description
 
  *10 .47   Amendment No. 1 to American Physicians Capital, Inc. Stock Compensation Plan (APCapital’s 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K)
  *10 .48   Summary of Incentive Compensation Plan as of March 2007 (APCapital’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 14, 2007)
  *10 .49   Amendment No. 2, dated October 25, 2007 to American Physicians Capital, Inc. Stock Compensation Plan. (APCapital’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2007)
  *10 .50   Form of Amendment No. 1 to Form of Executive Employment Agreement dated February 23, 2005, by and between American Physicians Assurance Corporation and each of R. Kevin Clinton, Frank H. Freund and Annette E. Flood. (APCapital’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2007)
  *10 .51   Amendment No. 1, dated October 1, 2007, to the Incentive Compensation Plan as of March 2007. (APCapital’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2007)
  **10 .52   Amendment No. 1 Master Agency Agreement between American Physicians Assurance Corporation and SCW Agency Group, Inc., effective October 1, 2007. (APCapital’s 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K)
  *10 .53   Summary Amendment No. 2, dated May 9, 2008, to the Incentive Compensation Plan as of March 2007 (APCapital’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 15, 2008)
  10 .54   Letters, dated July 16, 2008 and August 27, 2008, among American Physicians Assurance Corporation and SCW Agency Group, Inc. evidencing agreement to extend term of Master Agency Agreement between American Physicians Assurance Corporation and SCW Agency Group, Inc. (APCapital’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q dated November 8, 2008)
  **10 .55   Adoption of Master Agency Agreement, effective as of November 1, 2008, between American Physicians Assurance Corporation and SCW Agency Group, Inc. amending Master Agency Agreement between American Physicians Assurance Corporation and SCW Agency Group, Inc. (APCapital’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q dated November 8, 2008)
  21 .1   Subsidiaries of APCapital
  23 .1   Consent of BDO Seidman, LLP
  31 .1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
  31 .2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
  32 .1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 and Rule 13a-14(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
 
* Current management contracts or compensatory plans or arrangements.
 
** Portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to APCapital’s request to the Secretary of the Securities and Exchange Commission for confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 24b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

85

EX-21.1 2 k47551exv21w1.htm EX-21.1 EX-21.1
EXHIBIT 21.1
SUBSIDIARIES OF AMERICAN PHYSICIANS CAPITAL, INC.
     
    Jurisdiction of
Name   Incorporation/Organization
 
   
American Physicians Assurance Corporation
  Michigan
 
   
Insurance Corporation of America
  Michigan
 
   
APSpecialty Insurance Corporation
  Michigan
 
   
Alpha Advisors, Inc.
  Illinois
 
   
American Physicians Capital Statutory Trust I
  Connecticut
 
   
APCapital Trust II
  Delaware

EX-23.1 3 k47551exv23w1.htm EX-23.1 EX-23.1
Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
American Physicians Capital, Inc.
East Lansing, Michigan
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-56428 and 333-75720) of our report dated March 12, 2009, relating to the consolidated financial statements, the effectiveness of American Physicians Capital Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting, and schedules of American Physicians Capital Inc. appearing in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.
BDO Seidman, LLP
Grand Rapids, Michigan
March 12, 2009

EX-31.1 4 k47551exv31w1.htm EX-31.1 EX-31.1
Exhibit 31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)
I, R. Kevin Clinton, certify that:
1.   I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of American Physicians Capital, Inc.;
 
2.   Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
 
3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
 
4.   The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
  a.   Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
  b.   Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
 
  c.   Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
 
  d.   Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 


 

5.   The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
  a.   All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
 
  b.   Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Date: March 12, 2009
         
     
  /s/ R. Kevin Clinton    
  R. Kevin Clinton   
  President and Chief Executive Officer
American Physicians Capital, Inc. 
 
 

 

EX-31.2 5 k47551exv31w2.htm EX-31.2 EX-31.2
Exhibit 31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)
I, Frank H. Freund, certify that:
1.   I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of American Physicians Capital, Inc.;
 
2.   Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
 
3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
 
4.   The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
  a.   Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
  b.   Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
 
  c.   Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
 
  d.   Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 


 

5.   The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
  a.   All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
 
  b.   Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Date: March 12, 2009
         
     
  /s/ Frank H. Freund    
  Frank H. Freund   
  Senior Executive Vice President, Treasurer,
and Chief Financial Officer
American Physicians Capital, Inc. 
 
 

 

EX-32.1 6 k47551exv32w1.htm EX-32.1 EX-32.1
Exhibit 32.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
Each of the undersigned hereby certifies in his capacity as an officer of American Physicians Capital, Inc. (the “Company”), for purposes of 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
     (1) The Annual Report of the Company on Form 10-K (the “Report”) for the period ended December 31, 2008, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
     (2) The information contained in such Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
Date: March 12, 2009
     
/s/ R. Kevin Clinton
 
R. Kevin Clinton
   
President and Chief Executive Officer
   
 
   
/s/ Frank H. Freund
   
 
   
Frank H. Freund
Senior Executive Vice President, Treasurer
   
and Chief Financial Officer
   

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