ProAssurance Corp. Reports Operating Results (10-Q)

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Nov 03, 2009
ProAssurance Corp. (PRA, Financial) filed Quarterly Report for the period ended 2009-09-30.

Pro Assurance is a leader in developing solutions which serve the liability needs of the evolving needs of the health care industry. ProAssurance is the nation's fourth largest writer of medical professional liability insurance and one of the 100 largest writers of personal auto coverage. Proassurance Corp. has a market cap of $1.66 billion; its shares were traded at around $50.73 with a P/E ratio of 8.2 and P/S ratio of 2.9. Proassurance Corp. had an annual average earning growth of 13.1% over the past 10 years.

Highlight of Business Operations:

We also have other investments, primarily comprised of equity interests in private investment funds (non-public investment partnerships and limited liability companies), $47.4 million of which are accounted for using the equity method and $31.1 million of which are carried at cost. We evaluate these investments for OTTI by considering any declines in fair value below the recorded value. Determining whether there has been a decline in fair value involves assumptions and estimates as there are typically no observable inputs to determine the fair value of these investments.

before the anticipated recovery of its remaining amortized cost basis an impairment is to be separated into (a) the amount of the total impairment related to the credit loss and (b) the amount of total impairment related to all other factors. The credit loss component of the impairment is to be recognized in income of the current period. The non-credit component is to be recognized as a part of other comprehensive income. Transition provisions require a cumulative effect adjustment to reclassify the noncredit component of a previously recognized other-than-temporary impairment from retained earnings to accumulated other comprehensive income if an entity does not intend to sell and it is not more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. We adopted this guidance as of the beginning of the quarter ended June 30, 2009. As of April 1, 2009, our debt securities included non-credit impairment losses previously recognized in earnings of approximately $5.4 million. In accordance with the transition provisions of the revised guidance, we reclassified these credit losses, net of tax, from retained earnings to accumulated comprehensive income as of April 1, 2009 (a $3.5 million increase to retained earnings; a $3.5 million decrease to accumulated other comprehensive income).

On April 1, 2009 we acquired Podiatry Insurance Company of America and subsidiaries (PICA) through a cash sponsored demutualization as a means of expanding our professional liability insurance operations. PICA provides professional liability insurance primarily to podiatric physicians, chiropractors and other healthcare providers throughout the United States and had gross written premium of approximately $96 million in 2008. We purchased all of PICAs outstanding stock created in the demutualization for $135 million in cash, of which $15 million was a surplus contribution to be used to provide renewal premium credits to eligible policyholders over a three year period beginning in 2010.

The principal components of our operating cash flows are the excess of net investment income and premiums collected over net losses paid and operating costs, including income taxes. Timing delays exist between the collection of premiums and the ultimate payment of losses. Premiums are generally collected within the twelve-month period after the policy is written while our claim payments are generally paid over a more extended period of time. Likewise, timing delays exist between the payment of claims and the collection of any associated reinsurance recoveries. Our operating activities, excluding PICA, provided positive cash flows of approximately $8.3 million and $144.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Cash from operating activities in 2009 reflects cash provided by PICA operations (since the date of acquisition, April 1, 2009) of $7.6 million.

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