HMN Horace Mann Educators Corporation

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Feb. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Horace Mann Educators Corporation (NYSE: HMN) today reported net income of $33.2 million (80 cents per share) and $70.5 million ($1.70 per share) for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2011, respectively, compared to net income of $15.2 million (36 cents per share) and $80.9 million ($1.97 per share) for the same periods in 2010.  Included in net income were net realized investment gains of $5.0 million ($3.3 million after tax, or 8 cents per share) and $37.7 million ($24.4 million after tax, or 59 cents per share) for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2011, respectively.  In 2010, net income included net realized investment losses on securities of $1.5 million ($0.9 million after tax, or 3 cents per share) for the fourth quarter and realized gains of $23.8 million ($15.4 million after tax, or 37 cents per share) for the full year.  All per-share amounts are stated on a diluted basis.

"Horace Mann's net income before realized investment gains and losses was 72 cents per share for the fourth quarter, a 33 cent increase compared to the prior year, primarily due to improved property and casualty segment earnings," said Peter H. Heckman, President and Chief Executive Officer.  "The total property and casualty accident year combined ratio excluding catastrophes of 92.5 percent in the current quarter was 7.2 percentage points lower than the same period in 2010, primarily driven by improved property loss experience which was partially offset by an increase in the auto loss ratio.  The full year 2011 property and casualty accident year combined ratio excluding catastrophes of 92.9 percent was 2.9 percentage points lower than prior year, also primarily reflecting improved underlying results in the property line.  While catastrophe losses for full year 2011 reached a record level for Horace Mann, current quarter catastrophe losses were less than the prior year and were comparable to our fourth quarter average for recent years."  Continued Heckman, "Over the last three months, improved earnings in each of our operating segments and the increase in our net unrealized investment gain position resulted in a December 31, 2011 reported book value per share of $27.33, a sequential increase of 3 percent over the prior quarter-end."

"We estimate full-year 2012 net income before realized investment gains and losses of between $1.80 and $2.00 per share.  This projection builds on our solid underlying earnings in 2011 and anticipates an improvement of approximately 8 to 10 points in our property and casualty combined ratio driven by improved underlying results in our property line as well as a substantial decrease in catastrophe losses compared to 2011," said Heckman.  "We expect that our combined annuity and life earnings will be comparable to 2011, with a modest decline in fixed annuity spreads offset by growth in assets under management and an 8 to 10 percent increase in the S&P 500 Index."

Segment Earnings

The property and casualty segment recorded net income of $17.4 million for the quarter, an increase of $11.4 million compared to the same period in 2010.  The fourth quarter 2011 property and casualty combined ratio was 92.5 percent, including 3.4 percentage points due to catastrophe costs, compared to 101.7 percent, which included 6.3 percentage points due to catastrophe costs, in the prior year period.  Favorable prior years' reserve development totaling $4.6 million was recorded in the fourth quarter of 2011, which represented 3.4 percentage points on the combined ratio, compared to $5.9 million, or 4.2 percentage points on the combined ratio, recorded in the fourth quarter of 2010.  Excluding claim settlement expenses, Florida sinkhole losses incurred in the current quarter were minimal, which represented a significant decrease compared to prior quarters.  For full year 2011, the total property and casualty combined ratio was 106.7 percent, an increase of 5.8 percentage points compared to the prior year, including a 6.9 percentage point increase in the impact of catastrophe losses and a 1.8 percentage point smaller benefit from favorable prior years' reserve development.

Annuity segment net income was $10.9 million and $31.4 million for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2011, respectively, increasing $2.0 million, or 22.5 percent, for the quarter and decreasing $0.2 million year to date compared to the respective prior year periods.  Excluding the impacts from the evaluation of deferred policy acquisition costs and the change in guaranteed minimum death benefit reserves, underlying annuity segment earnings increased $2.5 million for the quarter and $3.6 million for the full year.  The interest margin earned on fixed annuity assets increased 21 percent and 12 percent compared to the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2010, respectively, with a full year net interest spread of 202 basis points for the current period, 6 basis points higher than full year 2010.  Charges and fees earned, primarily on variable annuity contracts, also increased compared to both prior year periods.  Total annuity net fund flows continued to be positive, with total accumulated account values increasing 5 percent compared to a year ago.  Total cash value persistency of 94 percent was comparable to a year earlier.

Life segment net income of $5.5 million for the fourth quarter increased $1.0 million compared to the same period in 2010, reflecting improvements in both investment income and mortality costs.  For the full year, life segment net income of $19.0 million decreased $1.2 million from 2010, primarily due to higher mortality costs in 2011.  Life persistency remained strong at 95 percent.

Segment Revenues

Compared to 2010, the company's total premiums written and contract deposits increased 3 percent for both the quarter and full year, driven by the increases in annuity deposit receipts for each period.

Total property and casualty premiums written decreased 1 percent and 2 percent compared to the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2010, with increases in average property and auto premiums per policy more than offset by a reduced level of policies in force.

Annuity deposits received increased 8 percent and 10 percent compared to the fourth quarter and full year 2010, respectively, each reflecting double digit increases in single deposit and rollover receipts, partially offset by modest decreases in scheduled, flexible premium annuity deposit receipts compared to the prior year periods.  Life segment insurance premiums and contract deposits were comparable to the fourth quarter of 2010 and decreased 1 percent compared to full year 2010.

Sales and Distribution

For the three months ended December 31, 2011, true new auto units, units associated with new Horace Mann auto policyholders, increased 26 percent compared to the prior year, resulting in a full year increase of 1 percent.  Total new auto sales units, including a decline in additional vehicles added to existing auto policies, increased 10 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2010 and decreased 2 percent compared to full year 2010.  Total annuity sales increased 17 percent and 21 percent compared to the prior fourth quarter and full year, respectively, building on the positive results produced throughout 2010, led by a 22 percent increase in single premium and rollover deposits accompanied by a 12 percent increase in new scheduled deposit business.  "These sales results for our lead lines of business continue to be encouraging.  The sustained positive growth momentum in annuity new business levels pushed 2011 to a new record, with agent training and marketing programs focused on retirement planning contributing to this result.  In the auto line, state-specific pricing, underwriting and marketing initiatives -- designed to increase new policy sales -- positively impacted our results in both the third and fourth quarters of 2011.  We expect to see continued benefits of these initiatives in 2012 and beyond," said Heckman.

At December 31, 2011, there was a combined total of 745 Exclusive Agencies and Employee Agents, compared to 741 at December 31, 2010 and 716 at December 31, 2009.  "The size of our agency force increased for the third consecutive year in 2011.  With over 85 percent of the agency force now operating in our Agency Business Model, the transformation of our distribution system is largely behind us," said Heckman.

Investments

In 2011, total net investment income increased 8 percent and 6 percent compared to the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2010, respectively.  Pretax net realized investment gains were $5.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2011 and $37.7 million for the full year, with impairment write-downs on securities totaling less than $0.1 million in both periods.

Horace Mann's net unrealized investment gains on fixed maturity and equity securities of $441.1 million at December 31, 2011 increased significantly compared to the $185.6 million net unrealized gain at December 31, 2010.  Net unrealized gains were $428.2 million at September 30, 2011.

Share Repurchases

During December 2011, the company repurchased 154,708 shares of its common stock at an aggregate cost of $2.0 million, or an average price per share of $13.21, under its $50 million share repurchase authorization announced on December 7, 2011.  And during January 2012, the company repurchased an additional 42,255 shares at an aggregate cost of $0.6 million, or an average price per share of $14.29.

Horace Mann -- the largest national multiline insurance company focusing on educators' financial needs -- provides auto and homeowners insurance, retirement annuities, life insurance and other financial solutions.  Founded by Educators for Educators® in 1945, the company is headquartered in Springfield, Ill.  For more information, visit www.horacemann.com.

Statements included in this news release that are not historical in nature are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties.  Horace Mann is not under any obligation to (and expressly disclaims any such obligation to) update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  Please refer to the company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2011 and the company's past and future filings and reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for information concerning the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements.