The Hanover Reports Second Quarter Net Income of $1.19 per Diluted Share; Operating Income(1) of $1.05 per Diluted Share; Combined Ratio of 98.4% including Catastrophe Impact of 5.5 points

WORCESTER, Mass., July 31, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE: THG) today reported net income of $53.4 million, or $1.19 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2013, compared to $20.8 million, or $0.46 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2012.  Operating income was $46.8 million, or $1.05 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2013, compared to $10.0 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, in the second quarter last year.

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Second Quarter Highlights

• Combined ratio of 98.4%, including 5.5 points of catastrophe losses and 2.5 points of net favorable prior-year reserve development
• Net premiums written of $1.24 billion, up 3.8%, primarily driven by growth in Commercial Lines and higher share of premiums retained at Chaucer
• Continued strong price increases in both Commercial and Personal Lines
• Net investment income of $67.9 million
• Repurchased approximately 960,000 shares of common stock for $47 million in the quarter; year-to-date repurchased approximately 1.5 million shares of common stock for $72 million at an average cost of $48.03 per share
• Book value per share, excluding net unrealized gains⁽²⁾, was $53.62 at June 30, 2013, an increase of 3.4% from December 31, 2012; including net unrealized gains, book value per share decreased 2.0% in the same period to $57.41

"We are pleased with our earnings this quarter as each of our businesses generated improved results.  We have made substantial progress on all of our key priorities, and we remain on target to deliver on our strategic and financial goals for the year," said Frederick H. Eppinger, chief executive officer at The Hanover.

"We continued to operate in a strong pricing environment, yielding increases of 8% in Core Commercial and 9% in Personal Lines this quarter. 

"We are also effectively executing on the other levers of our profitability improvement.  In a quarter marked by an elevated level of industry catastrophe activity, we believe our exposure management efforts helped moderate our overall catastrophe losses.  At the same time, we continue to leverage our broad and diversified product portfolio and agency distribution strategy to generate high quality growth in targeted segments," Eppinger said.

"Chaucer delivered strong earnings this quarter.  We continue to be pleased with the earnings diversification Chaucer provides, along with its ability to navigate the current market environment and capture market opportunities as they emerge.

"Our operating income this quarter translated to an annualized ROE of 8% and growth in book value of 2%, excluding net unrealized investment gains. Our business momentum gives us confidence as we advance toward improved shareholder returns," Eppinger said.

Operating Highlights

Commercial Lines

Commercial Lines operating income before taxes was $26.2 million in the second quarter of this year, compared to a loss of $9.4 million in the prior-year quarter.  The Commercial Lines combined ratio was 101.8% in the second quarter of this year, compared to 109.7% in the prior-year quarter.  Catastrophe losses were $15.1 million, or 3.1 points of the current quarter combined ratio, compared to $38.4 million, or 8.5 points, in the prior-year quarter.  Second quarter 2013 results also reflected net unfavorable prior-year reserve development of $0.5 million, or 0.1 points of the combined ratio, compared to net unfavorable development of $14.5 million, or 3.2 points, in the second quarter of 2012.

Commercial Lines current accident year underwriting, excluding catastrophes,⁽⁴⁾ generated a combined ratio of 98.6%, compared to 98.0% in the prior-year quarter.  Rate and underwriting actions drove a current-quarter loss ratio improvement of 0.6 points over the prior-year quarter and an improvement of 1.2 points over full-year 2012.  The improvement in the loss ratio in the second quarter of 2013 was offset by a higher expense ratio when compared to the second quarter of 2012.  The prior-year quarter included a lower level of certain performance-based expenses.

Net premiums written were $521.5 million in the second quarter of 2013, up 5.0% from the prior-year quarter, driven by growth in Core Commercial Lines, including continued renewal price gains.

The following table summarizes premiums and the components of the combined ratio in Commercial Lines:

Personal Lines

Personal Lines operating income before taxes was $19.9 million in the second quarter of 2013, compared to $12.3 million in the prior-year quarter.  The Personal Lines combined ratio was 99.3% in the second quarter of this year, compared to 102.0% in the prior-year quarter.  Catastrophe losses were $32.2 million, or 8.8 points of the second quarter combined ratio in 2013, compared to $32.4 million, or 8.9 points, in the prior-year quarter.  Current quarter results also reflected net unfavorable prior-year reserve development of $2.8 million, or 0.8 points of the combined ratio, compared to net unfavorable reserve development of $7.8 million, or 2.1 points, in the second quarter of 2012.

Personal Lines current accident year underwriting, excluding catastrophes, produced a combined ratio of 89.7%, compared to 91.0% in the prior-year quarter, as a result of rate and other underwriting actions.   

Net written premiums were $370.6 million in the second quarter of 2013, consistent with the prior-year quarter. Continuing rate increases in the auto and homeowners lines were offset by continued and planned exposure management actions related to certain geographic areas.

The following table summarizes premiums and the components of the combined ratio in Personal Lines:

Chaucer

Chaucer's operating income before taxes was $36.9 million in the second quarter of 2013, compared to $29.8 million in the prior-year quarter. The Chaucer combined ratio was 89.6%, compared to 91.9% in the second quarter of 2012.  Catastrophe losses were $12.5 million, or 5.2 points of the combined ratio, compared to $3.3 million, or 1.4 points, in the same period last year.  Current quarter results also reflected net favorable prior-year reserve development of $30.7 million, or 12.9 points of the combined ratio, compared to net favorable reserve development of $5.1 million, or 2.2 points, in the second quarter of 2012. Favorable reserve development in the current quarter was primarily driven by favorable resolution of certain Energy claims, better-than-expected experience in the Casualty and Property lines, and a favorable impact of foreign currency movements.

Chaucer's current accident year underwriting, excluding catastrophes, resulted in a combined ratio of 97.3%, compared to 92.7% in the prior-year quarter.  This was primarily driven by more than four points of expense ratio increase due to foreign currency movements.

Net premiums written were $350.5 million in the second quarter of 2013, up 6.3% over the prior-year quarter, primarily due to additional retained premiums at Syndicate 1084, partially offset by a reduction in estimated premiums in the Energy line.

The following table summarizes premiums and the components of the combined ratio in the Chaucer segment:

Investments

Net investment income was $67.9 million for the second quarter of 2013, compared to $68.5 million in the prior year period. The decrease was primarily due to the impact of lower new money yields, partially offset by higher dividend income. The average pre-tax earned yield on fixed maturities was 3.98% and 4.31% for the quarters ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Net realized investment gains were $13.7 million in the second quarter of 2013, including $1.1 million of impairment charges. In the second quarter of 2012, net realized investment losses were $3.4 million, including $1.6 million of impairment charges.

The company held $7.8 billion in cash and invested assets at June 30, 2013.

Fixed maturities and cash represented 92% of the investment portfolio. Approximately 94% of the company's fixed maturity portfolio is rated investment grade. Net unrealized investment gains on the portfolio decreased $201.0 million during the second quarter of 2013, to $258.9 million at June 30, 2013, from $459.9 million at March 31, 2013. During the first six months of 2013, net unrealized investment gains decreased $183.8 million. The decline in net unrealized investment gains for the quarter and the year resulted from the impact of higher prevailing market interest rates.  

Capitalization and Shareholders' Equity

Book value per share, excluding net unrealized gains, was $53.62 at June 30, 2013, an increase of 3.4% from December 31, 2012; including net unrealized gains, book value per share decreased 2.0% in the same period to $57.41.

During the second quarter of 2013, the company repurchased 960,000 of common shares for approximately $47 million. Year-to-date, the company has repurchased approximately 1.5 million common shares for $72 million, at an average price of $48.03 per share. On July 31, 2013, the company had approximately $143 million of capacity remaining under its $600 million stock repurchase program.

During the quarter, the company also repurchased $40 million par value of 7.625% debt. The company's total capital at June 30, 2013 was $3.4 billion.

Earnings Conference Call

The Hanover will host a conference call to discuss its second quarter results on Thursday, August 1^st, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time.  A PowerPoint slide presentation will accompany the prepared remarks and has been posted on The Hanover Web site.  Interested investors and others can listen to the call and access the presentation through The Hanover's Web site, located at www.hanover.com, in the "About Us-Investors" section. Investors may access the conference call by dialing 866-515-2907; if calling internationally, please dial 617-399-5121; conference code: 83033815. Web-cast participants should go to the web site 15 minutes early to register, download, and install any necessary audio software.  A re-broadcast of the conference call will be available on this Web site approximately two hours after the call.

Financial Supplement

The Hanover's second quarter earnings news release and financial supplement are available in the "About Us-Investors" section of the company's Web site at www.hanover.com.

The following is a reconciliation from operating income (loss) to net income (loss)⁽⁶⁾:

Forward-Looking Statements and Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Forward-looking statements

Certain statements in this release or in the above-referenced conference call may be forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Use of the words "believes," "anticipates," "expects," "projections," "outlook," "should," "could," "confident," "plan," "guidance," "on track to" and similar expressions is intended to identify forward-looking statements.  The company cautions investors that any such forward-looking statements are estimates or projections that involve significant judgment and that neither historical results and trends nor forward-looking statements are guarantees or necessarily indicative of future performance.  Actual results could differ materially.

In particular, statements in this press release or in such conference call regarding underlying improvement in trends driven by rate and other underwriting actions, future margin expansion, the efficacy of business portfolio and exposure management changes, pricing and retention trends, the impact of frequency and severity trends on reserving actions, pricing and underwriting actions, increasing business momentum, the ability to continue to improve our financial performance and capitalize on growth opportunities, the ability to deliver on strategic and financial goals and improve shareholder returns, and statements in the above-referenced conference call regarding expectations and guidance for the remainder of 2013 and for stronger performance in 2014, including with respect to expectations for future reserve development, net written premium, new business growth, retention, the ability to achieve rate increases and maintain or improve ex-catastrophe accident year loss and expense ratios, net investment income, the potential impact of capital actions and business investments, financial strength, the impact of product, account-based and geographic mix changes on future profitability, expectations for our legacy surety business, the impact of seasonality, the impact of various agency and exposure management actions on net premiums written, operating income, catastrophes losses and exposure in certain geographic areas, effective tax rates, weighted shares outstanding, returns on equity, the ability to improve investment yields without increasing risk, the impact of foreign currency fluctuations, and statements regarding expected financial results, combined ratio and profitability of Chaucer Holdings plc ("Chaucer"), the long-term value driven by the diversifying effect  of Chaucer's business, are all forward-looking statements.  Statements regarding the possible impact of the current economic conditions on the company's business and investment portfolio, and with respect to the anticipated pricing environment, are also forward looking statements. 

Investors should consider the risks and uncertainties in the company's business that may affect such estimates and future performance, including (i) the inherent difficulties in arriving at such estimates, particularly with respect to current accident year results and loss reserve development or with respect to lines of business which are more volatile, or with respect to which historical losses are less predictive of future losses, or "longer tail" products, or, with respect to Chaucer, reported premium; (ii) the complexity of estimating losses from large catastrophe events or with respect to emerging issues where circumstances may delay reporting of the existence, nature or extent of losses or where "demand surge," regulatory assessments, litigation, coverage and technical complexities or other factors may significantly impact the ultimate amount of such losses; (iii) the difficulties of estimating the impact of the current financial and economic environment on rates, investment income, the investment portfolio and capital, product demand, losses and competitor actions; (iv) the uncertainties of future rating agency requirements, which could affect the company as well as the company's investment portfolio; (v) inherent volatility with respect to certain businesses, as a result of man-made or natural catastrophes or otherwise; (vi) the impact of the evolving regulatory and legal environment; and (vii) the inherent uncertainties of predicting future loss and pricing trends.

Investors are directed to consider the risks and uncertainties in the company's business that may affect future performance and that are discussed in readily available documents, including the company's annual report and other documents filed by The Hanover with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and which are also available at www.hanover.com under "About Us - Investors." These uncertainties include the possibility of adverse catastrophe experiences (including terrorism) and severe weather; the uncertainty in estimating weather-related losses, and property and casualty losses (particularly with respect to products with longer tails or involving emerging issues and with respect to losses incurred as the result of new lines of business or reinsurance contracts); litigation and the possibility of adverse judicial decisions, including those which expand policy coverage beyond its intended scope; the ability to increase or maintain certain property and casualty insurance rates; the impact of new product introductions and expansion in new geographic areas; the impact of the company's recent or future acquisitions, and expenses incurred as a result of such acquisitions; adverse loss and loss adjustment expense development from prior years and adverse trends in mortality and morbidity and medical costs; changes in frequency and loss trends; the ability to increase renewal rates and new property and casualty policy counts; investment impairments (which may be affected by, among other things, the company's ability and willingness to hold investment assets until they recover in value) and currency, credit and interest rate risk; the impact of competition; the economic environment; adverse state, federal and, with respect to Chaucer, international legislation or regulation or regulatory actions affecting Chaucer or the society and corporation of Lloyd's; financial ratings actions; uncertainties in estimating indemnification liabilities recorded in conjunction with obligations undertaken in connection with the sale of various businesses; and uncertainties in general economic conditions (including inflation, particularly in various sectors such as healthcare) and in investment and financial markets, which, among other things, could result in increased impairments of fixed income investments or the inability to collect from reinsurers and the performance of the discontinued and run-off voluntary pools.

Non-GAAP financial measures

As discussed on page 43 of the Annual Report, The Hanover uses non-GAAP financial measures as important measures of its operating performance, including operating income, operating income before interest expense and taxes, operating income per share, and measures of operating income and loss ratios excluding catastrophe losses and reserve development. Operating income and operating income per share are non-GAAP measures. They are defined as net income excluding the after-tax impact of net realized investment gains (losses) (including gains and losses on certain derivative instruments), gains and losses from the retirement of the company's debt, other non-operating items, and results from discontinued operations, and, in the case of "operating income per share," divided by the average number of diluted shares of common stock.  The definition of other financial measures and terms can be found in the Annual Report on pages 80-82.

Net realized investment gains and losses (including gains or losses on certain derivative instruments) are excluded for purposes of presenting operating income since they are largely determined by interest rates, financial markets and the timing of sales. Operating income also excludes net gains and losses on disposals of businesses, discontinued operations, restructuring costs, extraordinary items, the cumulative effect of accounting changes and certain other items. Operating income is the sum of the segment income from:  Commercial Lines, Personal Lines, Chaucer and Other, after interest expense and taxes. Operating income may also be presented as "operating income before taxes", which is operating income before interest expense and taxes. The Hanover believes that measures of operating income provide investors with a valuable measure of the performance of the company's ongoing businesses because they highlight the portion of net income (losses) attributable to the core operations of the business. 

The Hanover also provides measures of operating income and loss and combined ratios that exclude the effects of catastrophe losses.  A catastrophe is a severe loss, resulting from natural or manmade events, including risks such as fire, hurricane, earthquake, windstorm, explosion, terrorism or other similar events. Each catastrophe has unique characteristics.  Catastrophes are not predictable as to timing or loss amount in advance.  The Hanover believes that a discussion of the effect of catastrophes is meaningful for investors to understand the variability of periodic earnings and loss and combined ratios. 

Reserve development, which can be favorable or unfavorable, represents changes in the company's estimate of the costs to resolve claims from prior years.  The company believes that a discussion of loss and combined ratios excluding reserve development is helpful to investors since it provides insight into both its estimate of current year accident results and the accuracy of prior-year estimates. Calendar year loss ratios determined in accordance with GAAP, excluding reserve development, are sometimes referred to as "accident-year loss ratios".

Income from continuing operations is the most directly comparable GAAP measure for operating income (and operating income before taxes) and measures of operating income that exclude the effects of catastrophe losses or reserve development.  Operating income and measures of operating income that exclude the effects of catastrophe losses or reserve development should not be construed as substitutes for income from continuing operations or net income determined in accordance with GAAP.  A reconciliation of operating income to income from continuing operations and net income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 is set forth in the table on page 7 of this document and in the financial supplement.

Loss and combined ratios calculated in accordance with GAAP are the most directly comparable GAAP measures for loss and combined ratios calculated excluding the effects of catastrophe losses or reserve development.  The presentation of loss and combined ratios calculated excluding the effects of catastrophe losses or reserve development should not be construed as a substitute for loss or combined ratios determined in accordance with GAAP.

Book value per share, excluding net unrealized gains and losses is also a non-GAAP measure. It is calculated as total shareholders' equity excluding the after-tax effect of unrealized investment gains and losses divided by the number of common shares outstanding.

About The Hanover

The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE: THG), based in Worcester, Mass., is one of the top 25 property and casualty insurers in the United States. For more than 160 years, The Hanover has provided a wide range of property and casualty products and services to businesses, individuals, and families. The Hanover distributes its products through a select group of agents and brokers. Through its international member company, Chaucer, The Hanover also underwrites business at Lloyd's of London in several major insurance and reinsurance classes including political risk, marine, aviation and energy. For more information, please visit hanover.com.

Definition of Reported Segments

Continuing operations include four operating segments: Commercial Lines, Personal Lines, Chaucer, and Other Property and Casualty.  The Commercial Lines segment offers a suite of products targeted at the small to mid-size business markets, which include commercial multiple peril, commercial automobile, workers' compensation and other commercial coverages, such as fidelity and surety bonds, and inland marine.  The Personal Lines segment markets automobile, homeowners and ancillary coverages to individuals and families.  The Chaucer reporting segment represents THG's international business written through Lloyd's of London in several major insurance and reinsurance classes, including property, marine and aviation, energy, U.K. motor and casualty. The Other Property and Casualty segment includes Opus Investment Management, Inc., which provides investment management services to institutions, pension funds and other organizations, the operations of the holding company, as well as a block of run-off voluntary pools business, in which we have not actively participated since 1995.

Footnotes

SOURCE The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc.