Press Release - June 15, 2004
EMC Insurance Group Inc Reports 2004 Second Quarter Reserve Strengthening and Estimated Storm Losses
DES MOINES, Iowa (June 15, 2004) - EMC Insurance Group Inc. (Nasdaq/NM:EMCI) today announced that it will strengthen its bulk loss and settlement expense reserves by approximately $2,940,000 in the second quarter of 2004. This increase in reserves will reduce second quarter earnings by approximately $1,910,000 ($0.17 per share) on an after tax basis. In addition, active storm patterns during the month of May resulted in estimated storm losses of $4,148,000. Storm losses for the first two months of the second quarter of 2004 now total $5,044,000 ($0.28 per share after taxes). For comparative purposes, storm losses for the three months ended June 30, 2003 totaled $10,341,000 ($0.59 per share after tax).
The reserve strengthening is being implemented in response to recently completed actuarial evaluations of the carried reserves for the Company’s property and casualty insurance segment. Based on the results of these evaluations, it was decided that the Company’s carried reserves should be increased in response to a continued upward trend in projected ultimate losses. The adjustment in reserves being implemented in the second quarter of 2004 represents an increase of only 0.8 percent of the total loss and settlement expense reserves carried at March 31, 2004. It should be noted that actuarial evaluations of the Company’s carried reserves are performed on a regularly-scheduled basis and that additional evaluations will be performed during the remainder of the year. The Company’s standard practice is to adjust its carried reserves as necessary in response to these evaluations in an effort to maintain a consistent level of reserve adequacy.
EMC Insurance Group Inc., the publicly-held insurance holding company of EMC Insurance Companies, owns subsidiaries with operations in property and casualty insurance and reinsurance. EMC Insurance Companies is one of the largest property and casualty entities in Iowa and among the top 60 insurance entities nationwide. For more information, visit our website www.emcinsurance.com.
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides issuers the opportunity to make cautionary statements regarding forward-looking statements. Accordingly, any forward-looking statement contained in this report is based on management’s current expectations and actual results of the Company may differ materially from such expectations. The risks and uncertainties that may affect the actual results of the Company include but are not limited to the following: catastrophic events and the occurrence of significant severe weather conditions; state and federal legislation and regulations; rate competition; changes in interest rates and the performance of financial markets; the adequacy of loss and settlement expense reserves, including asbestos and environmental claims; rate agency actions and other risks and uncertainties inherent to the Company’s business. When we use the words “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “estimate” or similar expressions, we intend to identify forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.
EMC Insurance Group Inc., Des Moines
Anita Novak (Investors)
515-280-2515
Lisa Hamilton (Media)
515-362-7589
717 Mulberry Street
Des Moines, IA 50309
