Form 10-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

 


 

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission file number: 001-18298

 


UNITRIN, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware   95-4255452

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

One East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois   60601
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(312) 661-4600

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, $0.10 par value per share

Preferred Share Purchase Rights

pursuant to Rights Agreement

 

New York Stock Exchange

New York Stock Exchange

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  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Yes  ¨    No  x

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   x     No  ¨

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 definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. Large accelerated filer  x Accelerated filer  ¨ Non-accelerated filer  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

As of June 30, 2006, the aggregate market value of the registrant’s common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $2.7 billion based on the closing sale price as reported on the New York Stock Exchange. Solely for purposes of this calculation, all executive officers and directors of the registrant are considered affiliates.

Registrant had 67,003,267 shares of common stock outstanding as of February 1, 2007.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 2, 2007 are incorporated by reference into Part III.

 


 


PART I

 

Item 1. Business.

Unitrin, Inc. (“Unitrin” or the “Company”) was incorporated in Delaware in 1990. Unitrin’s subsidiaries serve the basic financial needs of individuals, families and small businesses by providing property and casualty insurance, life and health insurance, and consumer finance services.

The Company files annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, amendments to those reports, and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The public can obtain copies of these materials by visiting the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington DC 20549, or by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330, or by accessing the SEC’s website at sec.gov, where the SEC maintains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding the Company and other issuers that file electronically with the SEC. In addition, as soon as reasonably practicable after such materials are filed with or furnished to the SEC, the Company makes copies available to the public free of charge through its website at unitrin.com.

(a) GENERAL DEVELOPMENT OF BUSINESS

Unitrin Stock Repurchases

During 2006, Unitrin repurchased approximately 2.0 million shares of its common stock at an aggregate cost of approximately $90 million in open market transactions. Subject to market conditions and other factors, the Company may, from time to time, repurchase additional shares of the Company common stock, in the market or in privately negotiated transactions, pursuant to the outstanding repurchase authorization of Unitrin’s Board of Directors. In November 2006, the Board of Directors expanded the Company’s authority to repurchase the Company’s common stock by an aggregate of 6.0 million shares (in addition to approximately 0.8 million shares remaining under its prior authorization). At December 31, 2006, approximately 6.5 million shares of Unitrin common stock remained under such authorization.

(b) BUSINESS SEGMENT FINANCIAL DATA

Financial information about Unitrin’s business segments for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004 is contained in the following portions of this 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K of Unitrin, Inc. and is incorporated herein by reference: (i) Note 17, “Business Segments,” to the Financial Statements; and (ii) MD&A.

(c) DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

The Company is engaged, through its subsidiaries, in the property and casualty insurance, life and health insurance and consumer finance businesses. The Company conducts its operations through six operating segments: Kemper Auto and Home, Unitrin Specialty, Unitrin Direct, Unitrin Business Insurance, Life and Health Insurance and Consumer Finance.

Unitrin’s subsidiaries employ more than 8,000 full-time associates of which approximately 1,240 are employed in the Kemper Auto and Home segment, 715 in the Unitrin Specialty segment, 530 in the Unitrin Direct segment, 410 in the Unitrin Business Insurance segment, 4,000 in the Life and Health Insurance segment, 940 in the Consumer Finance segment and the remainder in various corporate and other staff functions.

Property and Casualty Insurance Business

Unitrin’s property and casualty insurance business operations are conducted through the following segments: Kemper Auto and Home, Unitrin Specialty, Unitrin Direct and Unitrin Business Insurance. In addition, the Life and Health Insurance segment’s career agents also sell property insurance to its customers. The Unitrin companies operating in these segments provide automobile, homeowners, commercial multi-peril, fire, casualty, workers compensation, general liability and other types of property and casualty insurance to individuals and businesses. Automobile insurance accounted for 54%, 55% and 55% of Unitrin’s consolidated insurance premiums earned for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Automobile insurance accounted for 44%, 45% and 45% of Unitrin’s consolidated revenues for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Homeowners insurance accounted for 16%, 15% and 15% of Unitrin’s consolidated insurance premiums earned for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Homeowners insurance accounted for 13%, 12% and 12% of Unitrin’s consolidated revenues for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

 

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Property insurance indemnifies an insured with an interest in physical property for loss of, or damage to, such property or the loss of its income-producing abilities. Casualty insurance primarily covers liability for damage to property of, or injury to, a person or entity other than the insured. In most cases casualty insurance also obligates the insurance company to provide a defense for the insured in litigation arising out of events covered by the policy.

All of Unitrin’s property and casualty insurance segments, except Unitrin Direct, distribute their products through independent agents who are paid commissions for their services. Unitrin Direct distributes its products directly to consumers.

Kemper Auto and Home

Kemper Auto and Home, based in Jacksonville, Florida, conducts business in 39 states geographically dispersed throughout the United States. In 2006, the following states provided three-fifths of the premium revenues included in this segment: New York (18%), Texas (14%), California (14%) and North Carolina (13%).

Kemper Auto and Home primarily sells preferred and standard risk automobile and homeowners insurance. Kemper Auto and Home products accounted for approximately 49% of the aggregate insurance premium revenues of Unitrin’s property and casualty insurance business in 2006. Kemper Auto and Home’s products are marketed by approximately 3,000 independent insurance agents. These personal lines products are designed and priced for those individuals who have demonstrated favorable risk characteristics and loss history. Typical customers include middle to upper income individuals and families.

Unitrin Specialty

Unitrin Specialty, based in Dallas, conducts business in 23 states, principally in the midwest, southwest and western United States. In 2006, the following states provided more than two-thirds of the premium revenues in this segment: California (28%), Texas (27%), Washington (6%), Oregon (4%) and Louisiana (4%).

Unitrin Specialty provides nonstandard personal and commercial automobile insurance. Unitrin Specialty products accounted for approximately 23% of the aggregate insurance premium revenues of Unitrin’s property and casualty insurance business in 2006. Nonstandard automobile insurance is provided for individuals and businesses that have had difficulty obtaining standard or preferred risk insurance, usually because of their driving records or claims or premium payment history. Unitrin Specialty products are marketed through approximately 7,500 independent agents and brokers.

Unitrin Direct

Unitrin Direct markets auto insurance primarily through direct mail, web insurance portals, “click-throughs,” its own website and television advertising. Unitrin Direct actively sells automobile insurance in 22 states geographically dispersed throughout the United States. In 2006, the following states provided more than two-thirds of the premium revenues in this segment: California (21%), Florida (20%), Michigan (10%), Pennsylvania (9%) and New York (8%). Unitrin Direct insurance products accounted for approximately 12% of the aggregate insurance premium revenues of Unitrin’s property and casualty insurance business in 2006.

Unitrin Direct writes a broad spectrum of auto insurance risks ranging from preferred to non-standard private passenger auto customers, and competes with companies that sell insurance directly to the consumer, as well as companies that sell through agents.

Unitrin Business Insurance

The Unitrin Business Insurance segment consists of the commercial lines operations of Unitrin’s former Multi Lines Insurance segment. The Unitrin Business Insurance segment includes certain commercial reinsurance programs of the former Multi Lines Insurance segment which the Unitrin Business Insurance segment intends to exit in 2007. Unitrin Business Insurance, based in Dallas, conducts its primary business in 30 states, with a geographic emphasis in the south, northwest and midwest. In 2006, the following states provided approximately two-thirds of the premium revenues in this segment, excluding its commercial reinsurance business: Texas (39%), Louisiana (9%), Illinois (6%), Washington (5%), Wisconsin (5%) and Arkansas (5%).

 

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Unitrin Business Insurance primarily sells the following types of commercial insurance: automobile, general liability, fire, multi-peril and workers compensation insurance. Unitrin Business Insurance products accounted for approximately 10% of the aggregate insurance premium revenues of Unitrin’s property and casualty insurance business in 2006. Unitrin Business Insurance products are marketed by more than 1,000 independent insurance agents. These commercial products are designed and priced for those businesses that have demonstrated favorable risk characteristics and loss history.

Property and Casualty Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves

Property and casualty insurance reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses (“LAE”) are reported using the Company’s estimate of its ultimate liability for losses and LAE for claims that occurred prior to the end of any given accounting period but have not yet been paid. The Company had $1,432.6 million and $1,531.5 million of gross loss and LAE reserves at December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves by business segment at December 31, 2006 and 2005 were:

 

Dollars in Millions

   2006    2005

Kemper Auto and Home

   $ 534.1    $ 553.6

Unitrin Specialty

     293.4      295.8

Unitrin Direct

     106.8      99.4

Unitrin Business Insurance

     397.9      419.7

Life and Health Insurance

     6.9      31.2

Unallocated Ceded Reserves

     93.5      131.8
             

Total Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves

   $ 1,432.6    $ 1,531.5
             

Certain reserves acquired in connection with a business acquisition from SCOR Reinsurance Company (“SCOR”) in 2002 (the “Unallocated Ceded Reserves”) are reinsured by an insurance subsidiary of SCOR (See Note 6, “Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements). The Company does not allocate these reserves to its business segments.

In estimating reserves, the Company’s actuaries exercise professional judgment and must consider, and are influenced by, many variables that are difficult to quantify. Accordingly, the process of estimating and establishing reserves for losses and LAE for property and casualty insurance is inherently uncertain and the actual ultimate net cost of a claim may vary materially from the estimated amounts reserved. The reserving process is particularly imprecise for claims involving asbestos, environmental matters, construction defect and other emerging and/or long-tailed exposures which may not be discovered or reported until years after the insurance policy period has ended.

The Company’s actuaries generally estimate reserves at least quarterly for most product lines and/or coverage levels using accident quarters or accident months spanning 10 or more years depending on the size of the product line and/or coverage level or emerging issues relating to them. The Company’s actuaries use a variety of generally accepted actuarial loss reserving estimation methodologies including, but not limited to, the following:

 

    Incurred Loss Development Methodology;

 

    Paid Loss Development Methodology;

 

    Bornhuetter-Ferguson Incurred Loss Methodology;

 

    Bornhuetter-Ferguson Paid Loss Methodology; and

 

    Frequency and Severity Methodology.

The Company’s actuaries generally review the results of at least four of these estimation methodologies, two based on paid data and two based on incurred data, to initially estimate loss and LAE reserves and to determine if a change in prior estimates is required. In some cases, the methodologies produce a cluster of estimates with a tight band of indicated possible outcomes. In other cases, however, the methodologies produce conflicting results and wider bands of indicated possible outcomes. However, such bands do not necessarily constitute a range of outcomes, nor does management or the Company’s actuaries calculate a range of outcomes.

At a minimum, the Company analyzes 45 product and/or coverage levels, for over 40 separate prior accident quarters for both losses and LAE using many of the loss reserving methodologies identified above. In all, there are over 10,000 combinations of accident quarters, coverage levels, and generally accepted actuarial estimation methodologies used to estimate the Company’s unpaid losses and LAE. In some cases, the Company’s actuaries make adjustments to these loss reserving methodologies or use additional generally accepted actuarial estimation methodologies to estimate ultimate losses and LAE.

For each accident quarter, the point estimate selected by the Company’s actuaries is not necessarily one of the points produced by any particular one of the methodologies utilized, but often is another point that takes into consideration each of the points produced by the

 

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several loss reserving methodologies used. In some cases, for a particular product, the current accident quarter may not have enough paid claims data to rely upon, leading the Company’s actuaries to conclude that the incurred loss development methodology provides a better estimate than the paid loss development methodology. Therefore, the Company’s actuaries may give more weight to the incurred loss methodology for that particular accident quarter. As an accident quarter ages for that same product, the actuary may gain more confidence in the paid loss methodology and begin to give more weight to the paid loss methodology. The Company’s actuaries’ quarterly selections are summed by product and/or coverage levels to create the actuarial indication of the ultimate losses. More often than not, the actuarial indication for a particular product line and accident quarter is most heavily weighted towards the incurred loss development methodology, particularly for short-tail lines such as personal automobile. Historically, the incurred loss development methodology has been more reliable in predicting ultimate losses for these lines, especially in the more recent accident quarters, when compared with the paid loss development methodology. In the event of a wide variation among results generated by the different projection methodologies, the Company’s actuaries further analyze the data using additional techniques.

In estimating reserves, the Company’s actuaries exercise professional judgment and must consider, and are influenced by, many variables that are difficult to quantify, such as:

 

    Changes in the level of minimum case reserves, and the automatic aging of those minimum case reserves;

 

    Changes to claims practices including, but not limited to, changes in the reporting and impact of large losses, adequacy of case reserves, implementation of new systems for handling claims, turnover of claims department staffs, timing and depth of the audit review of claims handling procedures;

 

    Changes in underwriting practices;

 

    Changes in the mix of business by class and policy limit within product line;

 

    Growth in new lines of business;

 

    Changes in the attachment points of the Company’s reinsurance programs;

 

    Medical costs including, but not limited to, the ability to assess the extent of injuries and the impact of inflation;

 

    Repair costs including, but not limited to, the impact of inflation and the availability of labor and materials;

 

    Changes in the judicial environment including, but not limited to, the interpretation of policy provisions, the impact of jury awards and changes in case law; and

 

    Changes in state regulatory requirements.

A change in any one or more of the foregoing factors is likely to result in a projected ultimate net claim loss and LAE that is different from the previously estimated reserve and/or previous frequency and severity trends. Such changes in estimates may be material.

For example, the Company’s actuaries review frequency (number of claims per policy or exposure), severity (dollars of loss per claim) and average premium (dollars of premium per exposure). Actual frequency and severity experienced will vary depending on changes in mix by class of insured risk. Similarly, the actual frequency and rate of recovery from reinsurance will vary depending on changes in the attachment point for reinsurance. In particular, in periods of high growth or expansion into new markets, there may be additional uncertainty in estimating the ultimate losses and LAE. The contributing factors of this potential risk are changes in the Company’s mix by policy limit and mix of business by state or jurisdiction.

Actuaries use historical experience and trends as predictors of how losses and LAE will emerge over time. However, historical experience may not necessarily be indicative of how actual losses and LAE will emerge. Changes in reserve adequacy, changes in minimum case reserves and changes in internal claims handling could impact the timing and recognition of incurred claims and produce an estimate that is either too high or too low if not adjusted for by the actuary. For example, if, due to changes in claims handling, actual claims are settled more rapidly than they were settled historically, the estimate produced by the paid loss development methodology would tend to be overstated if the actuary did not identify and adjust for the impact of the changes in claims handling. Similarly, if, due to changes in claims handling, actual claim reserves are set at levels higher than past experience, the estimate produced by the incurred loss development methodology would tend to be overstated if the actuary did not identify and adjust for the impact of the changes in claims handling.

The final step in the quarterly loss and LAE reserving process involves a comprehensive review of the actuarial indications by the Company’s senior actuary and senior management who apply their collective judgment and determine the appropriate estimated level of reserves to record. Numerous factors are considered in this determination process, including, but not limited to, the assessed reliability of key loss trends and assumptions that may be significantly influencing the current actuarial indications, changes in claim handling practices or other changes that affect the timing of payment or development patterns, the maturity of the accident year, pertinent trends observed over the recent past, the level of volatility within a particular line of business, the improvement or deterioration of actuarial indications in the current period as compared to prior periods, and the amount of reserves related to third party pools for which the Company does not have access to the underlying data and, accordingly, relies on calculations provided by such pools. Total recorded reserves have been consistently higher than the actuarial indication of reserves. Total recorded reserves for

 

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losses and LAE were 3.9%, 3.7% and 3.6% higher than the actuarial indication of reserves at December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Total recorded reserves as a percentage of the actuarial indication of reserves increased in 2006 due primarily to the decrease in Unallocated Ceded Reserves and reserves for losses and LAE from Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. The recorded reserves for the Unallocated Ceded Reserves and these hurricanes were equal to the actuarial indications.

The Company’s goal is to ensure its total reserves for property and casualty insurance losses and LAE are adequate to cover all costs, while sustaining minimal variation from the time reserves for losses and LAE are initially estimated until losses and LAE are fully developed. Changes in the Company’s estimates of these losses and LAE over time, also referred to as “development,” will occur and may be material. Favorable development is recognized when the Company decreases its estimate of previously reported losses and LAE and results in an increase in net income in the period recognized, whereas adverse development is recognized when the Company increases its estimate of previously reported losses and LAE and results in a decrease in net income. The Company recognized favorable development of $91.6 million, $92.1 million and $39.0 million before tax for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

Development by the Company’s business segments for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, was:

 

     Favorable (Adverse) Development

Dollars in Millions

   2006     2005     2004

Kemper Auto and Home

   $ 68.2     $ 65.4     $ 28.7

Unitrin Specialty

     8.9       8.8       1.4

Unitrin Direct

     (4.5 )     4.7       2.1

Unitrin Business Insurance

     25.8       14.5       6.6

Life and Health Insurance

     (6.8 )     (1.3 )     0.2
                      

Total Favorable Development, Net

   $ 91.6     $ 92.1     $ 39.0
                      

Development in the Company’s Kemper Auto and Home segment and Unitrin Business Insurance segment together comprised a substantial portion of the Company’s favorable development in 2006 and 2005. Additional information regarding this development follows.

Kemper Auto and Home Development

In June of 2002, the Company acquired the personal lines property and casualty insurance business of the Kemper Insurance Companies (“KIC”) in a renewal rights transaction. Pursuant to the agreements among the parties, KIC retained all liabilities for policies issued by KIC prior to the closing, while the Company is entitled to premiums written for substantially all personal lines property and casualty insurance policies issued or renewed after the closing and is liable for losses and LAE incurred thereon. Accordingly, the results for the Kemper Auto and Home segment for 2003 and 2002, including, but not limited to, the earned premiums and losses and LAE, are not necessarily indicative of a full year on a going-forward-basis. The Kemper Auto and Home segment did not complete a full calendar year underwriting cycle after the acquisition date until 2004. Accordingly, the Company’s results for 2002 and 2003 did not represent 100% of the acquired business. For example, for the 2002 calendar year, the Company’s share of earned premiums for the KIC personal lines business was approximately 20% of the entire KIC personal lines business. For the 2003 calendar year, the Company’s share of earned premiums was approximately 90% of the entire KIC personal lines business.

The Company’s actuaries use various generally accepted actuarial incurred and paid loss development methodologies to estimate unpaid losses and LAE. The key assumption in these estimation methodologies is that patterns observed in prior periods are indicative of how losses and LAE are expected to develop in the future and that such historical data can be used to predict and estimate ultimate losses and LAE. Initially, the Company’s actuaries had to rely solely on the historical data of KIC (the “KIC Data”) to predict how losses for business written by the Company after the acquisition would develop. As Kemper Auto and Home continued to renew policies, the paid loss and incurred loss data related to the Company’s share of the entire KIC personal lines business gradually increased. Immediately after the acquisition, the Company began accumulating incurred and paid loss and LAE data for its share of the KIC personal lines business (the “Unitrin Data”). In 2003 and throughout 2004, the Company’s actuaries began to review the Unitrin Data and began comparing development factors for it with the development factors for the KIC Data. These initial reviews indicated that the Unitrin Data was producing lower development factors than the factors produced by the KIC Data. However, the amount of Unitrin Data available for analysis was still limited, and the Company’s actuaries could not be confident that the observed changes in development were anything but random fluctuations and, therefore, placed less weight on the most recent development patterns.

Since the acquisition, the Company’s actuaries have gained increasing confidence that the development patterns from the Unitrin Data were not only different from the KIC Data, but that these patterns were also sustainable. As the Company’s actuaries gave more weight, and continued to give more weight each quarter, to the improved development patterns from the Unitrin Data in the selection of their incremental development factors throughout 2004 and 2005 and into 2006, Kemper Auto and Home has recognized favorable development each quarter as appropriate.

 

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The lower development factors for the Unitrin Data primarily resulted from improvements in the claim handling procedures on this book of business. In 2002, Kemper Auto and Home began to place special emphasis on reporting claims directly to the Company. Prior to that time, a policyholder’s agent usually was the primary contact to report a claim. In July of 2002, approximately one-third of all claims were reported directly to Kemper Auto and Home compared to approximately two-thirds at the end of both 2005 and 2006. Direct reporting of losses has enabled the Company not only to reduce claim cycle times, but also to better respond to and control loss costs. Kemper Auto and Home has also focused on reducing the number of days from when a loss is reported until the related claim is closed, while also controlling the overall loss and LAE costs. Specifically, Kemper Auto and Home has implemented several claims handling loss mitigation programs, including:

 

    Increased its utilization of alternative dispute resolution processes, such as mediation and arbitration, to facilitate settlements and reduce defense and legal costs;

 

    Increased its in-house legal expertise to better manage the litigation processes and expenses, including managing the external lawyers with whom Kemper Auto and Home contracts to defend claims; and,

 

    Increased its emphasis on attempting to settle third-party claims earlier in the claims process in an effort to reduce the ultimate claim and LAE payouts.

In 2005, the personal lines claims function of the Company’s former Multi Lines Insurance (“MLI”) segment was combined into the Kemper Auto and Home segment’s claims function. In September 2005, Kemper Auto and Home converted all open MLI personal lines claims (the “MLI Data”) to its claims system and began including new claims from the MLI business in its claim system. These changes are likely to impact the development patterns for both the MLI Data and the Unitrin Data.

Although the Company’s actuaries were aware of, and gave consideration to, the changes in the Company’s claims handling processes, including the merging of the kemper and MLI claims functions, it takes several years to ascertain whether such changes in claims handling will ultimately result in lower ultimate paid losses and LAE. Accordingly, the effects of the improvements and the changes in the claims handling processes have emerged and have been recognized over several quarterly periods as the Company’s actuaries have become more convinced that lower losses and LAE have in fact been realized. However, the Company cannot make any assurances that all such improvements and effects have fully emerged or will continue to emerge.

Unitrin Business Insurance Development

The Company attributes favorable development in its Unitrin Business Insurance segment primarily to changes in its claims handling processes and the re-underwriting of its underlying book of business over the past several years. In addition, favorable development for the year ended December 31, 2006 includes development of $2.2 million related to the favorable settlement of three specific claims.

Unitrin Business Insurance improved its claims handling by placing increased emphasis on earlier identification of the full value of a claim, especially case reserves for larger claims. As part of this effort, a large loss unit was created in its home office to handle all significant claims. In addition, Unitrin Business Insurance initiated several claims handling cost cutting measures, such as using third-party analytic software for legal expense and bodily injury review, outsourcing workers’ compensation bill review, utilizing preferred vendors for damage repair and pursuing subrogation more aggressively. The combined effects of these claims handling initiatives were case reserves in the earlier evaluation periods that more closely matched the ultimate payments.

Unitrin Business Insurance began aggressively re-underwriting its book of business in 2002 and substantially completed its re-underwriting activities in the first quarter of 2004. Emphasis was placed on removing highly volatile, unprofitable, and undesirable risks from Unitrin Business Insurance’s book of business, which resulted in a significant reduction in the number of policies in force. Improvements in the quality of the book reduced the number and severity of claims in more recent quarters, resulting in better-than-expected development of loss and LAE reserves.

 

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Although the Company’s actuaries were aware of, and gave consideration to, the changes in the Company’s claims handling processes and the re-underwriting in estimating unpaid losses and LAE for Unitrin Business Insurance, it takes several years to ascertain whether such changes in claims handling and re-underwriting will ultimately result in lower ultimate paid losses and LAE. Accordingly, the improvements have emerged and have been recognized over several quarterly periods as the Company’s actuaries have become more convinced that lower losses and LAE have in fact been realized. Due to the long-tail nature of some of Unitrin Business Insurance’s liabilities, it may take 10 or more years to fully determine the impact of these actions. Accordingly, the Company cannot make any assurances that all such improvements have fully emerged or will continue to emerge.

The Unitrin Business Insurance segment has exposure to construction defect losses through general liability and commercial multiperil coverages it provided to contractors. Construction defect claims arise from allegedly defective work performed in the construction of buildings and the alleged resulting loss of economic value of those structures. The majority of the Unitrin Business Insurance segment’s construction defect losses is concentrated in a limited number of western states, including California, and was primarily written by the Company’s Valley Insurance Company and Valley Property & Casualty Insurance Company subsidiaries (the “Valley Companies”). The Company acquired the Valley Companies in 1999, at which time the Valley Companies substantially limited their exposure to contractors on a going-forward basis in the western United States. As a result, the Company is tracking construction defect activity throughout the United States to forecast any emerging trends. There can be no assurance that such a trend will not emerge in non-western states in which the Company may have significant general liability insurance risks. The process of estimating reserves for these claims is particularly difficult due to the potentially long period of time between the loss date and the date the loss is actually reported, as well as changes in the regulatory and legal environment and involvement of multiple plaintiffs, defendants and insurers.

Loss and LAE reserves for the Valley Companies’ construction defect losses were $28.1 million and $32.4 million at December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Information on construction defect claim activity is contained in the MD&A under the caption “Critical Accounting Estimates”.

The Company’s commercial lines business is focused on the small commercial market. The Company has typically not written policies insuring large manufacturers. Accordingly, the Company’s exposure to asbestos and environmental losses is limited. Total asbestos and environmental reserves in the Unitrin Business Insurance segment were approximately $18 million and $19 million at December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

The following table illustrates the change over time in the Company’s estimate of reserves for losses and LAE. The first section shows the amount of reserves reported in the Company’s consolidated financial statements as originally reported at the end of each calendar year. The second section, reading down, shows the cumulative amount of payments made through the end of each successive year with respect to that reserve liability. The third section, reading down, shows a reestimation of the original reserve shown in the first section. In the third section, the original reserve is reestimated using information that has become known in subsequent years and as trends become more apparent. The last section compares the latest reestimate with the original estimate. Conditions and trends that affected development in the past may not necessarily repeat in the future. Accordingly, it may not be appropriate to extrapolate reserve deficiencies or redundancies based on this table.

 

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Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserve Development

(Dollars in Millions)

 

     December 31,
     1996     1997     1998     1999     2000     2001     2002     2003     2004     2005     2006
(Dollars in Millions)                                                                 

Gross Reserve for Unpaid Losses and LAE

   $ 457     $ 468     $ 448     $ 521     $ 541     $ 700     $ 975     $ 1,426     $ 1,511     $ 1,531     $ 1,433

Deduct:

                      

Reinsurance Recoverables

     36       19       16       35       36       62       92       325       229       209       138
                                                                                      

Net Reserve for Unpaid Losses and LAE

   $ 421     $ 449     $ 432     $ 486     $ 505     $ 638     $ 883     $ 1,101     $ 1,282     $ 1,322     $ 1,295
                                                                                      

Cumulative Amount Paid, Net of Reinsurance as of :

                      

One Year Later

   $ 212     $ 171     $ 191     $ 229     $ 274     $ 341     $ 402     $ 405     $ 487     $ 508    

Two Years Later

     257       266       288       336       393       483       578       621       707      

Three Years Later

     295       317       339       404       477       568       682       788        

Four Years Later

     318       347       368       456       523       617       731          

Five Years Later

     333       361       386       486       556       647            

Six Years Later

     343       374       400       508       576              

Seven Years Later

     350       381       409       523                

Eight Years Later

     355       387       421                  

Nine Years Later

     359       396                    

Ten Years Later

     366                      

Reestimate of Net Reserve for Unpaid Losses and LAE as of :

                      

End of Year

   $ 421     $ 449     $ 432     $ 486     $ 505     $ 638     $ 883     $ 1,101     $ 1,282     $ 1,322     $ 1,295

One Year Later

     405       432       419       485       564       720       886       1,062       1,190       1,230    

Two Years Later

     359       382       408       495       612       722       879       1,026       1,131      

Three Years Later

     353       393       427       533       619       724       872       1,006        

Four Years Later

     365       408       441       544       623       725       857          

Five Years Later

     380       418       448       548       624       719            

Six Years Later

     388       423       453       549       623              

Seven Years Later

     391       426       453       548                

Eight Years Later

     394       427       452                  

Nine Years Later

     395       425                    

Ten Years Later

     392                      

Initial Net Reserve for Unpaid Loses and LAE in Excess Of (Less Than) Reestimated Net Reserve for Unpaid Losses and LAE:

                      
                                                                                  

Amount of Reestimate

   $ 29     $ 24     $ (20 )   $ (62 )   $ (118 )   $ (81 )   $ 26     $ 95     $ 151     $ 92    
                                                                                  

Reestimate as a Percentage of Initial Net Reserve for Unpaid Losses and LAE

     6.9 %     5.3 %     -4.6 %     -12.8 %     -23.4 %     -12.7 %     2.9 %     8.6 %     11.8 %     6.9 %  
                                                                                  

Latest Reestimate of:

                      

Gross Reserve for Unpaid Losses and LAE

   $ 422     $ 455     $ 479     $ 645     $ 730     $ 823     $ 960     $ 1,338     $ 1,358     $ 1,445    

Recoverable for Reinsurance

     30       30       27       97       107       104       103       332       227       215    
                                                                                  

Net Reserve for Unpaid Losses and LAE

   $ 392     $ 425     $ 452     $ 548     $ 623     $ 719     $ 857     $ 1,006     $ 1,131     $ 1,230    
                                                                                  

Cumulative (Increase) Decrease to Reestimation of Gross Reserve for Unpaid Losses and LAE:

   $ 35     $ 13     $ (31 )   $ (124 )   $ (189 )   $ (123 )   $ 15     $ 88     $ 153     $ 86    

 

8


The Company acquired Union Automobile Indemnity Company in 1997. Accordingly, reserves for this business, which has since been renamed Unitrin Direct Insurance Company, are included in the table for 1997 and forward. The Company acquired Valley Group Inc. and its subsidiaries (“VGI”) in 1999. Accordingly, reserves for VGI are included in the table for 1999 and forward. Under the agreement governing the acquisition of VGI, the Company was entitled to recover from the seller 90% of the unfavorable development of VGI’s pre-acquisition loss and LAE reserves, subject to a maximum recovery of $50 million. Reserve development shown in the preceding table for the years 1999 to 2004 is net of changes in the Company’s estimated recovery, which was received in 2004. Reserves increased in 2002 and 2003 partly due to the Company’s acquisition of the personal lines business of the Kemper Insurance Companies. At the end of 2002, the Company also acquired two insurance companies from SCOR Reinsurance Company. Reinsurance recoverable in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 includes a recoverable from a subsidiary of SCOR Reinsurance Company under an indemnity reinsurance agreement whereby the subsidiary assumed the pre-acquisition liabilities of the two insurance companies acquired by the Company.

Reserve estimates increase or decrease as more information becomes known about individual claims and as changes in conditions and claims trends become more apparent. In 2006, the Company reduced its property and casualty insurance reserves by $91.6 million to record favorable development of losses and LAE from prior accident years. Personal lines insurance losses and LAE and commercial lines insurance losses and LAE developed favorable by $63.6 million and $28.0 million, respectively, in 2006. The reserve reductions were primarily due to the emergence of more favorable loss trends than expected for the 2005 and 2004 accident years, partially due to the improvements in the Company’s claims handling procedures. In 2005, the Company reduced its property and casualty insurance reserves by $92.1 million to record favorable development of losses and LAE from prior accident years. Personal lines insurance losses and LAE and commercial lines insurance losses and LAE developed favorably by $73.1 million and $19.0 million, respectively, in 2005. The reserve reductions were primarily due to the emergence of more favorable loss trends than expected for the 2004 and 2003 accident years, partially due to improvements in the Company’s claims handling procedures. In 2004, the Company reduced its property and casualty insurance reserves by $39.0 million to record favorable development of losses and LAE from prior accident years. Personal lines insurance losses and LAE and commercial lines insurance losses and LAE developed favorably by $29.7 million and $9.3 million, respectively, in 2004. The reserve reductions were primarily due to favorable development of the 2003 accident year. During 2001 and 2002, the Company increased its property and casualty insurance reserves to reflect adverse development due to developing loss trends primarily related to construction defect, mold, automobile liability and product liability loss exposures in its commercial lines of business as well as personal automobile liability.

The Company does not discount reserves. There are no significant differences between the Company’s property and casualty reserves carried on a statutory basis and those computed in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, except that such reserves for statutory reporting purposes are recorded net of reinsurance in the statutory financial statements.

Catastrophe Losses

Total catastrophe losses and LAE, net of reinsurance recoveries, were $59.8 million before tax, for the year ended December 31, 2006. Catastrophes and storms are inherent risks of the property and casualty insurance business. These catastrophic events and natural disasters include hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, hailstorms, wildfires, high winds and winter storms. Such events result in insured losses that are, and will continue to be, a material factor in the results of operations and financial position of Unitrin’s property and casualty insurance companies. Further, because the level of insured losses that could occur in any one year cannot accurately be predicted, these losses contribute to material year-to-year fluctuations in the results of the operations and financial position of these companies. Specific types of catastrophic events are more likely to occur at certain times within the year than others. This factor adds an element of seasonality to property and casualty insurance claims. The occurrence and severity of catastrophic events are difficult to accurately predict in any year. However, some geographic locations are more susceptible to these events than others. Management has endeavored to control its direct insurance exposures in certain regions that are prone to naturally occurring catastrophic events through a combination of geographic diversification, restrictions on the amount and location of new business production in such regions, and reinsurance.

The process of estimating and establishing reserves for catastrophe losses is inherently uncertain and the actual ultimate cost of a claim, net of actual reinsurance recoveries, may vary materially from the estimated amount reserved. The Company’s estimates of direct catastrophe losses are generally based on inspections by claims adjusters and historical loss development experience for areas that have not been inspected or for claims that have not yet been reported. The Company’s estimates of direct catastrophe losses are based on the coverages provided by its insurance policies. The Company’s homeowners insurance policies do not provide coverage for losses caused by floods, but generally provide coverage for physical damage caused by wind or wind driven rain. Accordingly, the Company’s estimates of direct losses for homeowners insurance do not include losses caused by flood. Depending on the policy, automobile insurance may provide coverage for losses caused by flood. Estimates of the number of and severity of claims ultimately reported are influenced by many variables including, but not limited to, repair or reconstruction costs and determination of cause of

 

9


loss, that are difficult to quantify and will influence the final amount of claim settlements. All these factors, coupled with the impact of the availability of labor and material on costs, require significant judgment in the reserve setting process. A change in any one or more of these factors is likely to result in an ultimate net claim cost different from the estimated reserve. The Company’s estimates of indirect losses from residual market assessments are based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, actual or estimated assessments provided by or received from the assessing entity, insurance industry estimates of losses, and estimates of the Company’s market share in the assessable states. Actual assessments may differ materially from these estimated amounts.

Reinsurance

In order to limit their exposures to catastrophic events, the Company maintains three separate catastrophe reinsurance programs for its property and casualty insurance businesses. The annual program covering the Company’s Unitrin Direct, Unitrin Specialty and Unitrin Business Insurance segments provided, effective January 1, 2006, reinsurance coverage of 100% of reinsured catastrophe losses of $36 million above retention of $4 million. The aggregate annual premium, excluding reinstatement premium, for the 2006 annual program covering these segments is $1.9 million. The annual program covering the property insurance operations of the Company’s Life and Health Insurance segment provided, effective January 1, 2006, reinsurance coverage of 100% of reinsured catastrophe losses of $90 million above retention of $10 million. The aggregate annual premium, excluding reinstatement premium, for the 2006 annual program covering this segment is $6.1 million.

The Company has renewed, effective July 1, 2006, the annual program covering the Company’s Kemper Auto and Home segment on terms that are substantially different from the prior annual program. Under Kemper Auto and Home’s new program, the first layer provides reinsurance coverage of approximately 65% of reinsured catastrophe losses of $30 million above retention of $40 million. The second layer provides reinsurance coverage of approximately 88% of reinsured catastrophe losses of $80 million above retention of $70 million. The third layer provides reinsurance coverage of approximately 80% of reinsured catastrophe losses of $100 million above retention of $150 million.

Coverage for each reinsurance program is provided in three layers. In addition, in the event that the Company incurs catastrophe losses covered by any of its three catastrophe reinsurance programs that exceed the retention for a particular program, each of the programs requires one reinstatement of such coverage. In such an instance, the Company is required to pay a reinstatement premium to the reinsurers to reinstate the full amount of reinsurance available under such program. The reinstatement premium is a percentage of the original premium based on the ratio of the losses exceeding the Company’s retention to the reinsurers’ coverage limit. In addition to these programs, the Kemper Auto and Home segment and the Life and Health Insurance segment purchase reinsurance from the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (the “FHCF”) for hurricane losses in the state of Florida at retentions lower than those described above.

The Company renewed the catastrophe reinsurance for two of its three programs on January 1, 2007. For the Unitrin Direct, Unitrin Specialty and Unitrin Business Insurance program, the 2007 retention and coverage limits are the same as the 2006 retention and coverage limits. The cost for the 2007 reinsurance program increased to $2.6 million from the $1.9 million cost of the 2006 program. For the property insurance operations of the Company’s Life and Health Insurance segment the annual reinsurance program for 2007 was changed to provide 100% coverage of $120 million above a retention of $10 million. The cost for the 2007 reinsurance program increased to $9.3 million from the $6.1 million cost of the 2006 program. The program covering the Company’s Kemper Auto and Home segment renews on July 1, 2007.

Additional information on the Company’s catastrophe reinsurance programs is contained in the MD&A under the caption “Catastrophes” and in Note 18, “Catastrophe Reinsurance,” to the Financial Statements.

In addition to the catastrophe loss exposures caused by natural events described above, Unitrin’s property and casualty insurance companies are exposed to losses from catastrophic events that are not the result of acts of nature, such as acts of terrorism, the nature and level of which in any period are very difficult to predict. While there were no reported losses experienced by Unitrin’s property and casualty insurance companies in relation to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the companies have reinsurance coverage to address certain exposures to potential future terrorist attacks. The reinsurance coverage for certified events, as designated by the federal government, is from the Terrorist Risk Insurance Act and the coverage for non-certified events is available in the catastrophe reinsurance program for Unitrin’s property and casualty insurance companies. However, certain perils, such as biological, chemical, nuclear pollution or contamination, are excluded from the Company’s reinsurance coverage for non-certified events.

In addition to the catastrophe reinsurance program described above, Unitrin’s property and casualty insurance companies utilize other reinsurance arrangements to limit their maximum loss, provide greater diversification of risk and minimize exposures on larger risks.

 

10


Under the various reinsurance arrangements, Unitrin’s property and casualty insurance companies are indemnified by reinsurers for certain losses incurred under insurance policies issued by the companies. As indemnity reinsurance does not discharge an insurer from its direct obligations to policyholders on risks insured, Unitrin’s property and casualty insurance companies remain contingently liable. However, so long as the reinsurers meet their obligations, the net liability for Unitrin’s property and casualty insurance companies is limited to the amount of risk that they retain. Unitrin’s property and casualty insurance companies purchase their reinsurance only from reinsurers rated A- or better by A. M. Best Company at the time of purchase.

For further discussion of the reinsurance program, see Notes 6, “Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves,” 18, “Catastrophe Reinsurance,” and 19, “Other Reinsurance,” to the Financial Statements.

Pricing

Pricing levels for property and casualty insurance are influenced by many factors, including the frequency and severity of claims, state regulation and legislation, competition, general business and economic conditions including market rates of interest, inflation, expense levels, and judicial decisions. In addition, many state regulators require consideration of investment income when approving or setting rates, which reduces underwriting margins. See MD&A regarding Kemper Auto and Home, Unitrin Specialty, Unitrin Direct and Unitrin Business Insurance.

Competition

Based on the most recent annual data published by A.M. Best Company (“A.M. Best”) as of the end of 2005, there were approximately 970 property and casualty insurance groups in the United States, made up of approximately 2,400 companies. Unitrin’s property and casualty insurance companies ranked among the 60 largest property and casualty insurance groups in the United States, measured by net premiums written (40th), policyholders’ surplus (60th) and admitted assets (60th).

In 2005, the industry’s estimated net premiums written were more than $438 billion, of which 78% were accounted for by 50 groups of companies. Unitrin’s property and casualty insurance companies wrote less than 1% of the industry’s estimated 2005 premium volume.

Property and casualty insurance is a highly competitive business, particularly with respect to personal automobile insurance. Unitrin’s property and casualty insurance companies compete on the basis of, among other measures, (i) using appropriate pricing, (ii) maintaining underwriting discipline, (iii) selling to selected markets, (iv) utilizing technological innovations for the marketing and sale of insurance, (v) controlling expenses, (vi) maintaining adequate ratings from A.M. Best and other ratings agencies, (vii) providing quality services to agents and policyholders, and (viii) making strategic acquisitions of suitable property and casualty insurers.

Life and Health Insurance Business

Unitrin’s Life and Health Insurance segment consists of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, United Insurance Company of America (“United”), The Reliable Life Insurance Company (“Reliable”), Union National Life Insurance Company (“Union National Life”), United Casualty Insurance Company of America (“United Casualty”), Union National Fire Insurance Company (“Union National Fire”) and Reserve National Insurance Company (“Reserve National”). As discussed below, United, Reliable, Union National Life, United Casualty and Union National Fire (Unitrin’s “Career Agency Companies”) distribute their products through a network of employee, or “career,” agents. Reserve National distributes its products through a network of exclusive independent agents. Both these career agents and independent agents are paid commissions for their services. In 2006, the following states provided more than two-thirds of the Life and Health Insurance segment’s premium revenues: Texas (25%), Louisiana (11%), Mississippi (6%), Florida (5%), Illinois (4%), Missouri (4%), North Carolina (4%), California (4%) and South Carolina (4%). Ordinary life insurance accounted for 16% of Unitrin’s consolidated insurance premiums earned for each of the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004. Ordinary life insurance accounted for 13% of Unitrin’s consolidated revenues for each of the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004.

Career Agency Companies

The Career Agency Companies, based in St. Louis, focus on providing individual life and health insurance products to customers of modest incomes who desire basic protection for themselves and their families. Their leading product is ordinary life insurance, including permanent and term insurance. Face amounts of these policies are lower than those of policies typically sold by other companies in the industry to higher income customers. Premiums average approximately $15 per policy per month. Permanent policies are offered primarily on a non-participating, guaranteed-cost basis. Approximately 80% of the Life and Health Insurance segment’s premium revenues are generated by the Career Agency Companies.

 

11


The Career Agency Companies employ nearly 2,400 career agents to distribute their products in 25 states. These career agents are full-time employees who call on customers in their homes to sell insurance products, provide services related to policies in force and collect premiums, typically monthly. Property insurance products written by United Casualty and Union National Fire are also distributed by the segment’s career agents.

Customers of the Career Agency Companies generally are families with annual incomes of less than $25,000. According to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, in 2005, there were approximately 30 million households in the United States with less than $25,000 of annual income, representing over 26% of all U.S. households.

Reserve National

Reserve National, based in Oklahoma City, is licensed in 31 states throughout the south, southwest and midwest, and specializes in the sale of accident and health insurance products and Medicare Supplement insurance, primarily to individuals living in rural areas where health maintenance organizations and preferred provider organizations are less prevalent.

Reserve National has approximately 250 independent agents appointed to market and distribute its products. These agents typically represent only Reserve National.

Reinsurance

Consistent with insurance industry practice, Unitrin’s life and health insurance companies utilize reinsurance arrangements to limit their maximum loss, provide greater diversification of risk and minimize exposures on larger risks. Included among the segment’s reinsurance arrangements is excess of loss reinsurance coverage specifically designed to protect against losses arising from catastrophic events under the property insurance policies distributed by the Career Agency Companies’ agents and written by United Casualty, Union National Fire and affiliates, Capitol County Mutual Fire Insurance Company and its subsidiary, Old Reliable Casualty Company. The annual catastrophe reinsurance program for 2006 provided these companies with reinsurance coverage of $90 million above their retention of $10 million (See the above discussion of “Reinsurance” under “Property and Casualty Insurance Business” beginning on page 10 for additional information pertaining to the Life and Health Insurance segment’s catastrophe reinsurance program).

Lapse Ratio

The lapse ratio is a measure reflecting a life insurer’s loss of existing business. For a given year, this ratio is commonly computed as the total face amount of individual life insurance policies lapsed, surrendered, expired and decreased during such year, less policies increased and revived during such year, divided by the total face amount of policies at the beginning of the year plus the face amount of policies issued and reinsurance assumed in the prior year. The Life and Health Insurance segment’s lapse ratio for individual life insurance was 10% for each of the years 2006, 2005 and 2004.

The customer base served by the Career Agency Companies and competing life insurance companies tends to have a higher incidence of lapse than other demographic segments of the population. Thus, to maintain or increase the level of its business, the Career Agency Companies must continue to write a high volume of new policies.

Pricing

Premiums for life and health insurance products are based on assumptions with respect to mortality, morbidity, investment yields, expenses, and lapses and are also affected by state laws and regulations, as well as competition. Pricing assumptions are based on the experience of Unitrin’s life and health insurance subsidiaries, as well as the industry in general, depending upon the factor being considered. The actual profit or loss produced by a product will vary from the anticipated profit if the actual experience differs from the assumptions used in pricing the product.

Premiums for policies sold by the Career Agency Companies are set at levels designed to cover the relatively high cost of “in home” servicing of such policies. As a result of such higher expenses, incurred claims as a percentage of earned premiums tend to be lower for companies utilizing this method of distribution than the insurance industry average.

Premiums for Medicare Supplement and other accident and health policies must take into account the rising costs of medical care. The annual rate of medical cost inflation has historically been higher than the general rate of inflation, necessitating frequent rate increases, most of which are subject to approval by state regulatory agencies.

 

12


Competition

Based on the most recent data published by A.M. Best as of the end of 2005, there were approximately 450 life and health insurance company groups in the United States, made up of approximately 2,000 companies. The Unitrin Life and Health Insurance segment ranked in the top quartile of life and health insurance company groups, as measured by admitted assets (94th), net premiums written (90th) and capital and surplus (99th).

Unitrin’s life and health insurance subsidiaries generally compete by using appropriate pricing, selling to selected markets, controlling expenses, maintaining adequate ratings from A.M. Best, and providing competitive services to agents and policyholders.

Consumer Finance Business

Fireside Bank (“Fireside”), based in Pleasanton, California, is engaged in the consumer finance business. Fireside is organized under California law as an industrial bank and its deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”). Fireside’s principal business is the financing of used automobiles through the purchase of retail installment contracts from automobile dealers. The borrowers under these contracts typically have marginal credit histories.

As of December 31, 2006, Fireside had 26 branches in California and loan production offices in Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Oregon and Washington. In addition, Fireside markets in Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah. In January 2007, Fireside opened a loan production office in New Mexico. Fireside is one of the largest non-prime automobile finance sources in California. Fireside does business with over 5,000 automobile dealers. Fireside has over 146,000 contracts and loans outstanding totaling in excess of $1 billion.

Strong underwriting and collection practices are key elements to successful operating performance in the non-prime automobile finance business. Over 75% of Fireside’s general and administrative expenses are devoted to underwriting and collection activities. Fireside individually underwrites each credit application and historically has declined to extend credit to more than two-thirds of its credit applicants. See the discussion of Fireside’s loan loss reserves under the headings “Consumer Finance” and “Critical Accounting Estimates” in the MD&A and Notes 1, “Basis of Presentation and Significant Estimates,” 2, “Summary of Accounting Policies,” and 5, “Consumer Finance Receivables and Certifications of Deposits,” to the Financial Statements. Fireside competes for contracts primarily on the basis of timely service to its automobile dealer customers and by offering competitive terms. Principal competitors include banks, finance companies, credit unions and “captive” credit subsidiaries of automobile manufacturers.

Fireside’s financing activities are funded primarily by FDIC-insured certificates of deposit. Fireside competes for funds primarily with other banks, credit unions and savings and loan associations.

Investments

The quality, nature, and amount of the various types of investments which can be made by insurance companies are regulated by state laws. Depending on the state, these laws permit investments in qualified assets, including but not limited to municipal, state and federal government obligations, corporate bonds, real estate, preferred and common stocks, investment partnerships, limited liability companies and mortgages, where the value of the underlying real estate exceeds the amount of the loan.

Unitrin employs a total return investment strategy while maintaining liquidity to meet both its short and long-term insurance obligations primarily through the combination of investment-grade fixed maturity investments and equity securities. The emphasis is on income-producing fixed maturity investments and equity securities with the potential for long-term price appreciation. See the discussions of Unitrin’s investments under the headings “Critical Accounting Estimates,” “Investee,” “Investment Results,” “Corporate Investments,” “Liquidity and Capital Resources” and “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk,” in the MD&A and Notes 3, “Investments Other Than Investee,” 4, “Investments in Investee,” and 13, “Income from Investments,” to the Financial Statements.

 

13


Regulation

Insurance Regulation

Unitrin is subject to the insurance holding company laws of a number of states. Certain dividends and distributions by an insurance subsidiary are subject to approval by the insurance regulators of the state of incorporation of such subsidiary. Other significant transactions between an insurance subsidiary and its holding company or other subsidiaries of the holding company may require approval by insurance regulators in the state of incorporation of each of the insurance subsidiaries participating in such transactions.

Unitrin’s insurance subsidiaries are subject to extensive regulation in the states in which they do business. Such regulation pertains to a variety of matters, including policy forms, premium rate plans, licensing of agents, licenses to transact business, trade practices, investments and solvency. The majority of Unitrin’s insurance operations are in states requiring prior approval by regulators before proposed rates for property, casualty, or health insurance policies may be implemented. However, rates proposed for life insurance generally become effective immediately upon filing with a state, even though the same state may require prior rate approval for other types of insurance. Insurance regulatory authorities perform periodic examinations of an insurer’s market conduct and other affairs.

Insurance companies are required to report their financial condition and results in accordance with statutory accounting principles prescribed or permitted by state insurance regulators in conjunction with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (the “NAIC”). State insurance regulators also prescribe the form and content of statutory financial statements, perform periodic financial examinations of insurers, set minimum reserve and loss ratio requirements, establish standards for the types and amounts of investments and require minimum capital and surplus levels. Such statutory capital and surplus requirements include risk-based capital (“RBC”) rules promulgated by the NAIC. These RBC standards are intended to assess the level of risk inherent in an insurance company’s business and consider items such as asset risk, credit risk, underwriting risk and other business risks relevant to its operations. In accordance with RBC formulas, a company’s RBC requirements are calculated and compared to its total adjusted capital to determine whether regulatory intervention is warranted. At December 31, 2006, the total adjusted capital of each of Unitrin’s insurance subsidiaries exceeded the minimum levels required under RBC rules.

Unitrin’s insurance subsidiaries are required under the guaranty fund laws of most states in which they transact business to pay assessments up to prescribed limits to fund policyholder losses or liabilities of insolvent insurance companies. Unitrin’s insurance subsidiaries also are required to participate in various involuntary pools or assigned risk pools, principally involving workers compensation, windstorms and high risk drivers. In most states, the involuntary pool participation of Unitrin’s insurance subsidiaries is in proportion to their voluntary writings of related lines of business in such states.

In addition to the regulatory requirements described above, a number of legislative and regulatory measures pending or enacted in recent years may significantly affect the insurance business in a variety of ways. These measures include, among other things, tort reform, consumer privacy requirements, credit score regulation, producer compensation regulations, corporate governance requirements and financial services deregulation initiatives.

State insurance laws intended primarily for the protection of policyholders contain certain requirements that must be met prior to any change of control of an insurance company or insurance holding company that is domiciled or, in some cases, an insurance company having such substantial business that it is deemed commercially domiciled, in that state. These requirements may include the advance filing of specific information with the state insurance regulators, a public hearing on the matter, and review and approval of the change of control by such regulators. The Company has insurance subsidiaries domiciled in a number of states, including California, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas and Wisconsin. In these states, “control” generally is presumed to exist through the direct or indirect ownership of 10% or more of the voting securities of an insurance company. Any purchase of the Company’s shares that would result in the purchaser owning 10% or more of the Company’s voting securities would be presumed to result in the acquisition of control of the Company’s insurance subsidiaries. Such an acquisition generally would require the prior approval of the insurance regulatory authorities in each state in which the Company’s insurance subsidiaries are domiciled or deemed to be commercially domiciled. In addition, many states require pre-acquisition notification to the state insurance regulators of a change of control of an insurance company licensed in that state if specific market concentration thresholds would be triggered by the acquisition. While those pre-acquisition notification statutes generally do not authorize the state insurance regulators to disapprove the change of control, they do authorize the issuance of a cease and desist order with respect to the insurance company if certain conditions, such as undue market concentration, would result from the acquisition. These insurance regulatory requirements may deter, delay or prevent transactions effecting control of the Company or the ownership of the Company’s voting securities, including transactions that could be advantageous to the Company’s shareholders.

 

14


Consumer Finance Regulation

Fireside is an industrial bank regulated by the California Department of Financial Institutions. Under California banking law, Fireside is permitted to engage in the activities of a commercial bank, except the activity of accepting demand deposits, and is generally subject to the same laws and regulations to which commercial banks are subject under the California banking law. In addition, since Fireside’s deposits are insured by the FDIC, it is subject to a broad system of regulation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and FDIC regulations. The regulations of these state and federal agencies govern most aspects of Fireside’s business, and are generally intended to protect a bank’s depositors, creditors, borrowers and the deposit insurance fund. They impose reporting obligations, minimum capitalization requirements, limitations on dividends, investments, loans, borrowings, branching, mergers and acquisitions, reserves against deposits, and other requirements, including those relating to privacy, fairness in consumer credit, and prevention and detection of fraud and financial crime. Federal law also imposes certain restrictions on Fireside’s transactions with the Company and other affiliates, and certain fair lending and reporting requirements involving consumer lending operations and Community Reinvestment Act activities.

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

Catastrophe losses and reinsurance risks may adversely affect the Company’s results of operations, liquidity and financial condition.

Property and casualty insurance companies are subject to claims arising out of catastrophes that may have a significant effect on their results of operations, liquidity and financial condition. Catastrophes can be caused by various events, including hurricanes, tornadoes, windstorms, earthquakes, hail storms, explosions, severe winter weather and fires and may include man-made events, such as the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The incidence, frequency, and severity of catastrophes are inherently unpredictable. The extent of losses from a catastrophe is a function of both the total amount of insured exposure in the area affected by the event and the severity of the event.

The Company’s insurance subsidiaries seek to reduce their exposure to catastrophe losses through underwriting strategies and the purchase of catastrophe reinsurance. Reinsurance does not relieve the Company’s insurance subsidiaries of their direct liability to their policyholders. As long as the reinsurers meet their obligations, the net liability for the Company’s insurance subsidiaries is limited to the amount of risk that they retain. However, the Company cannot be certain that their reinsurers will pay the amounts due from them either now, in the future, or on a timely basis, which could impact the Company’s liquidity. A reinsurer’s insolvency, inability or unwillingness to make payments under the terms of its reinsurance agreement with the Company’s insurance subsidiaries could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position and results of operations.

In addition, market conditions beyond the Company’s control determine the availability and cost of the reinsurance protection its subsidiaries may purchase. A decrease in the amount of reinsurance that the Company’s insurance subsidiaries purchase generally should decrease their cost of reinsurance, but increase their risk of loss. An increase in the amount of reinsurance that the Company’s insurance subsidiaries purchase generally should increase their cost of reinsurance, but decrease their risk of loss. However, if the amount of reinsurance available is reduced, the Company’s subsidiaries could pay more for the same level, or a lower level, of reinsurance coverage. Accordingly, the Company may be forced to incur additional expenses for reinsurance or may not be able to obtain sufficient reinsurance on acceptable terms, which could adversely affect the Company’s insurance subsidiaries’ ability to write future business or result in their retaining more risk with respect to their insurance policies.

Estimating property and casualty insurance reserves is inherently uncertain, and if the Company’s loss reserves are insufficient, it will have an unfavorable impact on the Company’s results.

The Company establishes loss and LAE reserves to cover estimated liabilities, which remain unpaid as of the end of each accounting period, to investigate and settle all claims incurred under the property and casualty insurance policies that it has issued. Loss and LAE reserves are established for claims that have been reported to the Company as of the end of the accounting period, as well as for claims that have occurred but have not yet been reported to the Company. The estimates of loss and LAE reserves are based on the Company’s assessment of the facts and circumstances known to it at the time, as well as estimates of the impact of future trends in the severity of claims, the frequency of claims, and other factors.

 

15


As described more thoroughly above, the process of estimating loss reserves is complex and imprecise. The estimate of the ultimate cost of claims must take into consideration many factors that are dependent on the outcome of future events. The impact on the Company’s loss reserves from these factors is difficult to estimate accurately. Such factors consist of, but are not limited to, the following:

 

    Changes in the length of time between the actual occurrence of the event that gives rise to a claim, and the date on which the claim is reported.

 

    Changes in underwriting practices.

 

    Changes in claim handling procedures.

 

    Changes in medical care, including the impact of inflation, the extent of injuries and the utilization of medical services.

 

    Changes in the cost of home repair, including the impact of inflation and the availability of labor and materials.

 

    Changes in the judicial environment, including, but not limited to, the interpretation of policy provisions, the impact of jury awards and changes in case law.

 

    Changes in state regulatory requirements.

A change in any one or more of the foregoing factors is likely to result in a projected ultimate loss that is different from the previously estimated cost. Such changes may be material.

The Company uses informed, subjective professional judgment in estimating the ultimate cost of claims. The estimate of the ultimate cost at any particular valuation point may vary materially from the actual cost when claims are ultimately settled.

The Company continually reviews the adequacy of its reserve estimates in a regular and ongoing process as experience develops and further claims are reported and settled. The Company reflects any adjustments to reserves in the results of the periods in which such estimates are changed.

The Company estimates the reserves for each product line and coverage that it writes. The Company uses a variety of generally accepted actuarial loss reserving estimation methodologies that analyze experience trends and other relevant factors. These methodologies generally utilize analyses of historical patterns of the development of paid and reported losses by accident year by product lines and coverage. An accident year is the year in which the event that gave rise to the claim occurred. This process relies on the basic assumption that past experience, adjusted for the effects of current developments and likely trends, is an appropriate basis for predicting future outcomes. The expected ultimate losses are adjusted as claims mature and are eventually settled.

Using the various complex actuarial methods and different underlying assumptions, the Company actuaries produce a number of point estimates for each class of business. After reviewing the appropriateness of the underlying assumptions, management selects the carried reserve for each product line and coverage.

The Company does have some exposure to construction defect and asbestos claims. The estimation of loss reserves relating to construction defect and asbestos are subject to greater uncertainty than other types of claims due to differing court decisions as well as judicial interpretations and legislative actions that in some cases have tended to broaden coverage beyond the original intent of such policies.

 

16


The insurance industry is highly competitive.

The Company’s insurance businesses face significant competition. Competitive success is based on many factors, including:

 

    Competitiveness of premiums charged

 

    Underwriting discipline

 

    Selectiveness of sales markets

 

    Technological innovation

 

    Ability to control expenses

 

    Adequacy of ratings from A.M. Best and other ratings agencies

 

    Quality of services provided to agents and policyholders

The inability to compete effectively in any of the Company’s business segments could materially reduce its customer base and revenues, and could adversely affect the financial condition of the Company.

See “Competition” beginning on pages 11 and 13, for more information on the competitive rankings in the property and casualty insurance markets and the life and health insurance markets, respectively, in the United States.

A significant downgrade in the ratings of the Company’s insurance subsidiaries could adversely affect their businesses.

Third party rating agencies assess and rate the claims-paying ability of insurance companies based upon criteria established by the agencies. Financial strength ratings are used by agents and clients as an important means of assessing the financial strength and quality of insurers. A significant downgrade by a recognized rating agency in the ratings of the Company’s insurance subsidiaries, particularly those that market their products through independent agents, could result in a substantial loss of business for that subsidiary if agents or policyholders move to other companies with higher claims paying and financial strength ratings. This loss of business could have a material adverse effect on the financial condition and results of operations of that subsidiary.

The Company’s subsidiaries are subject to significant regulation by state insurance departments and by the FDIC and state bank regulators.

Insurance. The Company’s insurance subsidiaries are subject to extensive regulation in the states in which they do business. Current regulations encompass a wide variety of matters, including policy forms, premium rates, licensing, trade practices, investment standards, statutory capital and surplus requirements, reserve and loss ratio requirements, restrictions on transactions amoung affiliates and consumer privacy.

Banking. Fireside Bank is regulated by the California Department of Financial Institutions and the FDIC. These agencies regulate most aspects of Fireside’s business, impose reporting obligations and a broad array of restrictions and requirements on such matters as capitalization, dividends, investments, loans and borrowings, and many requirements which relate to privacy and fairness in consumer credit or the detection and prevention of fraud and financial crime.

Effect on Operations. Insurance and banking regulatory agencies conduct periodic examinations of the Company’s subsidiaries and require the filing of annual and other reports relating to financial condition, holding company issues and other matters. If an insurance company fails to obtain required licenses or approvals, or if any of the Company’s subsidiaries fails to comply with other regulatory requirements, including banking regulations applicable to Fireside, the regulatory agencies can suspend or delay their operations, require corrective action, and impose penalties or other remedies available under the applicable regulations.

These federal and state laws and regulations, and their interpretation by the various regulatory agencies and courts, are undergoing continual revision and expansion. It is not possible to predict how new legislation or regulations or new interpretations of existing laws and regulations may impact the operations of the Company’s subsidiaries. Significant changes in or new interpretations of these laws and regulations could make it more expensive for the Company’s subsidiaries to conduct their businesses and could materially affect the profitability of their operations and the Company’s financial results.

 

17


For a more detailed discussion of the regulations applicable to the Company’s subsidiaries, see “Insurance Regulation” and “Consumer Finance Regulation” under “Regulation”, beginning on page 14.

The effects of emerging claim and coverage issues on the Company’s insurance businesses are uncertain.

As industry practices and regulatory, judicial, social and other environmental conditions change, unexpected and unintended issues related to insurance claims and coverages may emerge. For example, the insurance industry is confronted with a number of complicated coverage issues arising out of the 2005 hurricanes in the Gulf Coast states. These emerging practices, conditions and issues could adversely affect the Company’s insurance businesses by either extending coverages beyond the Company’s underwriting intent or by increasing the number or size of claims. The effects of such emerging claim and coverage issues are extremely hard to predict, but could harm the business of the Company’s insurance subsidiaries.

Legal and regulatory proceedings are unpredictable.

The Company and its subsidiaries are involved in lawsuits, regulatory inquiries, and other legal proceedings arising out of the ordinary course of its businesses. Many of these matters raise difficult and complicated factual and legal issues and are subject to uncertainties and complexities, and the outcomes of these matters are difficult to predict. For further information about the Company’s pending litigation, see “Item 3, Legal Proceedings”, on page 20.

The Company is dependent on receiving dividends from its subsidiaries to service its debt and to pay dividends to its shareholders.

As a holding company with no business operations of its own, the Company depends upon the dividend income that it receives from its subsidiaries as the primary source of funds to pay interest and principal on its outstanding debt obligations and to pay dividends to its shareholders. The Company’s subsidiaries are subject to significant regulatory restrictions from state insurance and banking laws and regulations which limit their ability to declare and pay dividends. These regulations impose minimum solvency and liquidity requirements on dividends between affiliated companies and require prior notice to, and may require approval from, state insurance or bank regulators before dividends can be paid. The inability of one or more of the Company’s subsidiaries to pay the Company sufficient dividends may materially affect the Company’s ability to timely pay its debt obligations or to pay dividends to its shareholders.

The Company’s equity investments are concentrated.

At December 31, 2006, the Company held 7.4 and 1.8 million shares of Northrop Grumman Corporation (“Northrop”) common and preferred stock, respectively. The total fair market value of the Company’s equity position in Northrop at year-end 2006 was $736.3 million, or 46 percent of the fair market value of the Company’s total equity portfolio (reflecting its investee at fair market value). The fair market value of the Company’s holdings of its investee, Intermec, Inc. (“Intermec”) common stock at year-end 2006 was $307.2 million, or 19 percent of the fair market value of the Company’s total equity portfolio (reflecting its investee at fair market value). Its equity holdings in Northrop after tax represent approximately 21 percent of the Company’s total shareholders equity at December 31, 2006. The remainder of the Company’s equity investments is primarily composed of a diversified pool of primarily externally managed common stock.

Common stock is subject to a variety of risk factors under the umbrella of market risk. General economic swings influence the performance of the underlying industries and companies within those industries. A downturn in the economy will have a negative impact on an equity portfolio. Industry- and company-specific risks have the potential to substantially affect the market value of the Company’s equity portfolio. In particular, a downturn in the defense industry, in which Northrop competes, or the global supply chain solutions industry, in which Intermec competes, may have an adverse effect on the market value of the Company’s concentrated equity holdings.

The Company is subject to interest rate risk in its investment portfolio.

One of the Company’s primary market risk exposures is to changes in interest rates. A decline in market interest rates could have an adverse effect on the Company’s investment income as it invests cash in new investments that may yield less than the portfolio’s average rate. In a declining interest rate environment, borrowers may seek to refinance their borrowings at lower rates and, accordingly, prepay or redeem securities the Company holds more quickly than the Company initially expected. This action may cause the Company to reinvest the redeemed proceeds in lower yielding investments. An increase in market interest rates could also have an adverse effect on the value of the Company’s investment portfolio, for example, by decreasing the fair values of the fixed income securities that comprise a substantial majority of its investment portfolio.

 

18


The Company’s Consumer Finance segment receives interest on the loans it makes to its customers. The Consumer Finance segment also pays interest on the certificates of deposits it accepts. Accordingly, it is exposed to interest rate changes.

Managing technology initiatives and meeting new data security requirements present significant challenges to the Company.

While technological developments can streamline many business processes and ultimately reduce the cost of operations, technology initiatives can present short-term cost and implementation risks. In addition, projections of expenses, implementation schedules and utility of results may be inaccurate and can escalate over time.

Data security is subject to increasing regulation. The Company faces rising costs and competing time constraints in meeting compliance requirements of new and proposed regulations. The expanding volume and sophistication of computer viruses, hackers and other external hazards may increase the vulnerability of the Company’s data systems to security breaches. These increased risks and expanding regulatory requirements expose the Company to potential data loss and damages and significant increases in compliance and litigation costs.

 

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.

Not applicable.

 

Item 2. Properties.

Owned Properties

Unitrin owns the 41-story office building at One East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois, that houses the executive offices of Unitrin. Unitrin occupies approximately 57,000 square feet of the 527,000 rentable square feet in the building. In addition, Unitrin subsidiaries together own 7 buildings located in 5 states consisting of approximately 20,800 square feet in the aggregate. Unitrin subsidiaries hold additional properties solely for investment purposes that are not utilized by the Company or its subsidiaries.

Leased Facilities

Unitrin’s Life and Health Insurance segment leases facilities with aggregate square footage of approximately 543,000 at 139 locations in 26 states. The latest expiration date of the existing leases is in January 2015.

Kemper Auto and Home leases facilities with an aggregate square footage of approximately 244,000 at 9 locations in 7 states. The latest expiration date of the existing leases is in May 2011.

Unitrin Business Insurance leases facilities with an aggregate square footage of approximately 193,500 at 3 locations in 3 states. The latest expiration date of the existing leases is in March 2018.

Consumer Finance occupies 36 leased facilities with an aggregate square footage of approximately 204,500 in 8 states (including consumer finance branches and main office buildings). The latest expiration date of the existing leases is in August 2016.

Unitrin Specialty leases facilities with an aggregate square footage of approximately 147,500 at 3 locations in 3 states. The latest expiration date of the existing leases is in March 2014.

Unitrin Direct leases facilities with an aggregate square footage of approximately 132,000 at 6 locations in 5 states. The latest expiration date of the existing leases is in May 2013.

Unitrin’s corporate data processing operation occupies a facility with an aggregate square footage of approximately 30,500 square feet under a lease that expires in December 2014.

Southern States General Agency leases facilities with an aggregate square footage of approximately 8,000 at 1 location in 1 state. The latest expiration date of the existing lease is in December 2007.

The properties described above are in good condition and suitable for all presently anticipated requirements of Unitrin and its subsidiaries.

 

19


Item 3. Legal Proceedings.

In the ordinary course of their businesses, the Company and its subsidiaries are involved in a number of legal proceedings, including lawsuits and regulatory examinations. Some of these proceedings include matters particular to the Company or one or more of its subsidiaries, while other matters pertain to business practices in the industries in which the Company or its subsidiaries operate. Many of these matters raise complicated issues and are subject to uncertainties and difficulties, including but not limited to: (i) the underlying facts of the matter; (ii) unsettled questions of law; (iii) issues unique to the jurisdiction where the matter is pending; (iv) damage claims, including claims for punitive damages, that are disproportionate to the actual economic loss incurred; and (v) the general legal and regulatory environment faced by large corporations generally and the insurance and banking sectors specifically. Additionally, some of the lawsuits seek class action status that, if granted, could expose the Company or its subsidiaries to potentially significant liability by virtue of the size of the putative classes. Accordingly, the outcomes of these matters are difficult to predict, and the amounts or ranges of potential loss at particular points in time are in most cases difficult or impossible to ascertain with any degree of certainty.

The Company believes that resolution of its pending legal proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position. However, given the unpredictability of the legal process, there can be no assurance that one or more of these matters will not produce a loss which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial results for any given period.

 

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

During the quarter ended December 31, 2006, no matters were submitted to a vote of shareholders.

PART II

 

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

Unitrin’s common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol of “UTR.” The high and low prices for Unitrin’s common stock during each quarterly period in 2006 and 2005 are incorporated herein by reference to the unaudited quarterly financial information contained in Note 22, “Quarterly Financial Information,” to the Financial Statements, captioned “Quarterly Financial Information.”

Information as to the amount and frequency of cash dividends declared by Unitrin on its common stock during 2006 and 2005 is incorporated herein by reference to the following portions of the Financial Statements:

(a) Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Income; and

(b) Cash Dividends Paid to Shareholders (Per Share) included in Note 22 under the caption “Quarterly Financial Information.”

Information as to restrictions on the ability of Unitrin’s subsidiaries to transfer funds to Unitrin in the form of cash dividends, loans, or advances is incorporated herein by reference to the discussion on page 15 in Item 1A. above and to the following items:

(a) Note 9 to the Financial Statements, captioned “Shareholders’ Equity”; and

(b) The “Liquidity and Capital Resources” section of the MD&A.

As of January 24, 2007, the approximate number of record holders of Unitrin’s common stock was 6,450.

 

20


Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

Period

   Total
Number of Shares
Purchased (1)
   Average
Price
Paid per
Share
   Total
Number of Shares
Purchased as Part
of Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs (1)
   Maximum
Number of Shares
that May Yet Be
Purchased Under
the Plans or
Programs

October 1 - October 31

   —      $ —      —      751,554

November 1 - November 30

   276,500    $ 47.39    276,500    6,475,054

December 1 - December 31

   9,400    $ 48.94    9,400    6,465,654
               

Total

   285,900       285,900   
               

 

(1) This number represents purchases made by the Company under its stock repurchase program, which was first announced on August 8, 1990. The repurchase program was subsequently expanded several times, most recently in November 2006, when the Board of Directors expanded the Company’s authority to repurchase the Company’s common stock by an aggregate number of 6,000,000 shares (in addition to approximately 750,000 shares remaining under its prior authorization). This table does not include shares withheld or surrendered, either actually or constructively, to
(2) satisfy the exercise price and/or tax withholding obligations relating to the exercise of stock options or stock appreciation rights under the Company’s four stock option plans or shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations on the vesting of awards under the Company’s restricted stock plan.

Unitrin Common Stock Performance Graph

The following Performance Graph assumes $100 invested on December 31, 2001 in (i) the Company’s Common Stock, (ii) the S&P MidCap 400 Index, (iii) the S&P Composite 1500 Insurance Index, and (iv) the S&P 400 Multi-Line Insurance Index, in each case with dividends reinvested. The Company is a constituent of each of the three indices, and plans to replace the S&P 400 Multi-Line Insurance Index with the S&P Composite 1500 Insurance Index in its 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company believes that the S&P Composite 1500 Insurance Index, a larger index consisting of fifty-three companies, provides a broader representation of the industry as a whole, and therefore a better source for comparison of industry stock performance, than the S&P 400 Multi-Line Insurance Index, which consists of only four companies.

The comparisons in the Graph below are based on historical data and are not intended to forecast the possible future performance of the Company’s Common Stock.

LOGO

 

Company / Index

   2001    2002    2003    2004    2005    2006

Unitrin, Inc.

   $ 100    $ 77.52    $ 116.32    $ 132.65    $ 136.25    $ 157.39

S&P MidCap 400 Index

     100      85.49      115.94      135.05      152.00      167.69

S&P Composite 1500 Insurance

     100      80.12      97.88      106.39      122.08      135.28

S&P 400 Multi-Line Insurance Index

     100      68.78      99.14      112.81      134.87      164.22

 

21


Item 6. Selected Financial Data.

Selected consolidated financial data for the five years ended December 31, 2006 is incorporated herein by reference to the data captioned “Financial Highlights” and filed as Exhibit 13.3 hereto.

 

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) is incorporated herein by reference to, and filed as, Exhibits 13.2 and 13.4 hereto.

 

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

These disclosures are contained in the section of the MD&A entitled “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” which is incorporated herein by reference to, and filed as, Exhibit 13.2 hereto.

 

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

The Financial Statements (including their related notes and the report of Deloitte & Touche LLP) are incorporated herein by reference to, and filed as, Exhibit 13.1 hereto.

 

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

Not Applicable

 

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.

The Company’s management, with participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on such evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the end of such period, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified by the SEC’s rules and forms, and accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Management’s annual report on internal control over financial reporting and the attestation report of the Company’s registered public accounting firm are included in Exhibit 13.1 under the headings “Management Report on Internal Control” and “Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm,” respectively, and incorporated herein by reference.

There have not been any changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2006 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 information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the sections captioned “Meetings and Committees of the Board of Directors,” “Unitrin Executive Officers,” “Ownership of Unitrin Common Stock” and “Corporate Governance” in the Proxy Statement for the 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Unitrin. Unitrin plans to file such proxy statement within 120 days after December 31, 2006, the end of Unitrin’s fiscal year.

 

22


The Company’s code of ethics applicable to its chief executive officer, chief financial officer and principal accounting officer (“Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Executives”) is posted in the Corporate Governance section of the Company’s website (unitrin.com). The Company also intends to disclose any future amendments to, and any waivers from (though none are anticipated), the Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Executives in the Corporate Governance section of its website.

 

Item 11. Executive Compensation.

The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the relevant sections of the Proxy Statement for the 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Unitrin. The Compensation Committee Report to be included in such Proxy Statement shall be deemed to be furnished in this report and shall not be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act as a result of such furnishing in this Item 11.

 

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

The information required by this Item is set forth in the table below and incorporated herein by reference to the section captioned “Ownership of Unitrin Common Stock” in the Proxy Statement for the 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Unitrin.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

Plan Category

  

Number of Securities

to be Issued Upon

Exercise of

Outstanding Options,

Warrants and Rights

  

Weighted-Average

Exercise Price of

Outstanding Options,

Warrants and Rights

  

Number of Securities

Remaining Available

for Future Issuance

Under Equity

Compensation Plans

or Programs (1)

Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Security Holders

   5,244,954    45.50    3,056,315

Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by Security Holders

   —      —      —  
              

Total

   5,244,954    45.50    3,056,315
              

 

(1) In addition to shares available for issuance under the Company’s four stock option plans, this number includes 876,183 shares of restricted stock available for issuance under the Company’s 2005 Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit Plan.

 

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence.

The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the relevant sections of the Proxy Statement for the 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Unitrin.

 

Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.

The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the section captioned “Independent Public Accountants” in the Proxy Statement for the 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Unitrin.

 

23


PART IV

 

Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statements Schedules.

(a) Documents filed as part of this Report

 

1.   Financial Statements. The following financial statements, in response to Item 8 of the Form 10-K, have been filed as Exhibit 13.1 and together are incorporated by reference into Item 8 hereof:
  The consolidated balance sheets of Unitrin and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, and the consolidated statements of income, cash flows and shareholders’ equity and comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, together with the notes thereto and the report of Deloitte & Touche LLP thereon.
2.   Financial Statement Schedules. The following five financial statement schedules are included on the following pages hereof. Schedules not listed here have been omitted because they are not applicable or not material or the required information is included in the Financial Statements.
  Schedule I Investments Other Than Investments in Related Parties
  Schedule II Parent Company Financial Statements
  Schedule III Supplementary Insurance Information
  Schedule IV Reinsurance Schedule
  Schedule VI Supplemental Information Concerning Property-Casualty Insurance Operations
  The Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, Deloitte & Touche LLP, with regards to the Financial Statement Schedules listed above, is included on the page following Schedule VI.
3.   Exhibits. The following exhibits are either filed as a part hereof or are incorporated by reference. Exhibit numbers correspond to the numbering system in Item 601 of Regulation S-K. Exhibits 10.1 through 10.16 relate to compensatory plans filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits hereto pursuant to Item 15(b) of Form 10-K.
3.1  

Certificate of Incorporation (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed May 9, 2002, Registration No. 333-87866.)

3.2  

Amended and Restated Bylaws (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2004.)

4.1  

Rights Agreement between Unitrin, Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. as successor Rights Agent, including the Form of Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, the Form of Rights Certificate and the Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Stock, dated as of August 4, 2004 and amended May 4, 2006 and October 9, 2006 (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 6, 2004, Exhibits 4.1 and 4.2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A dated May 4, 2006 and Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A dated October 10, 2006.)

4.2  

Senior Indenture dated as of June 26, 2002, by and between Unitrin, Inc. and BNY Midwest Trust Company as Trustee (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 1, 2002.)

4.3  

Form of Subordinated Indenture (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed May 9, 2002, Registration No. 333-87866.)

4.4  

Officer’s Certificate, including form of Senior Note with respect to the Company’s 5.75% Senior Notes due July 1, 2007 (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 1, 2002.)

 

24


4.5  

Officer’s Certificate, including form of Senior Note with respect to the Company’s 4.875% Senior Notes due November 1, 2010 (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 30, 2003.)

10.1  

Unitrin, Inc. 1990 Stock Option Plan, as amended and restated.

10.2  

Unitrin, Inc. 1995 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan, as amended and restated (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 6, 2006.)

10.3  

Unitrin, Inc. 1997 Stock Option Plan, as amended and restated (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 6, 2006.)

10.4  

Unitrin, Inc. 2002 Stock Option Plan, as amended and restated (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 6, 2006.)

10.5  

2005 Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit Plan (Incorporated herein by reference to Appendix B to the Company’s Proxy Statement, dated March 28, 2005, in connection with the Company’s 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.)

10.6  

Form of Stock Option Agreement under the Unitrin, Inc. 1995 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan, as of February 1, 2006 (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 6, 2006.)

10.7  

Form of Stock Option Agreement (including stock appreciation rights) under the Unitrin, Inc. 1997 Stock Option Plan, as of February 1, 2006 (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 6, 2006.)

10.8  

Form of Stock Option Agreement (including stock appreciation rights) under the Unitrin, Inc. 2002 Stock Option Plan, as of February 1, 2006 (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 6, 2006.)

10.9  

Form of Restricted Stock Agreement under the 2005 Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit Plan (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006.)

10.10  

Unitrin, Inc. Pension Equalization Plan, as amended by First and Second Amendments to the Unitrin, Inc. Pension Equalization Plan (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006.)

10.11  

Unitrin is a party to individual severance agreements (the form of which is attached as Exibit 10.11), with the following executive officers:

 

Richard C. Vie (Chairman)

 

Donald G. Southwell (President and Chief Executive Officer)

 

David F. Bengston (Vice President)

 

John M. Boschelli (Treasurer)

 

Eric J. Draut (Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer)

 

Edward J. Konar (Vice President)

 

Scott Renwick (Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary)

 

Richard Roeske (Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer)

 

Each of the foregoing agreements is identical except that the severance compensation multiple is 3.0 for Mr. Vie and 2.0 for the other executive officers.

10.12  

Unitrin, Inc. Severance Plan.

10.13  

Unitrin, Inc. Incentive Bonus Plan, dated February 3, 2004 (Incorporated herein by reference to Appendix A to the Company’s Proxy Statement, dated March 29, 2004, in connection with the Company’s 2004 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.)

10.14  

Unitrin, Inc. Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan.

10.15  

Summary of Named Executive Officer Compensation, as of September 1, 2006 (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006.)

10.16  

Summary of Non-Employee Director Compensation, as of February 1, 2006 (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed February 7, 2006.)

 

25


10.17  

Credit Agreement, dated as of June 24, 2005, by and among Unitrin, Inc., the lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., individually and as administrative agent, letter of credit issuer and swing line lender, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, individually and as syndication agent, and Wachovia Bank, N.A., individually and as documentation agent (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Unitrin’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 27, 2005.)

12  

Ratios of Earned to Fixed Charges

13.1  

Financial Statements

13.2  

MD&A (see also Exhibit 13.4)

13.3  

Financial Highlights

13.4  

Shareholders’ Letter (forms a part of MD&A)

21  

Subsidiaries of Unitrin, Inc.

23  

Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP

24  

Power of Attorney (included on the signature page hereof)

31.1  

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to SEC Rule 13a-14(a).

31.2  

Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to SEC Rule 13a-14(a).

32.1  

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (furnished pursuant to Item 601(b)(32) of Regulation S-K.)

32.2  

Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (furnished pursuant to Item 601(b)(32) of Regulation S-K.)

(b) Exhibits. Included in Item 15(a)3 above

(c) Financial Statement Schedules. Included in Item 15(a)2 above

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements (and the notes thereto), the MD&A and the other Exhibits filed as a part hereof or incorporated by reference herein may contain or incorporate by reference information that includes or is based upon forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements give expectations or forecasts of future events. The reader can identify these statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They use words such as “believe(s),” “goal(s),” “target(s),” “estimate(s),” “anticipate(s),” “forecast(s),” “project(s),” “plan(s),” “intend(s),” “expect(s),” “might,” “may” and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with a discussion of future operating or financial performance. Forward-looking statements, in particular, include statements relating to future actions, prospective services or products, future performance or results of current and anticipated services or products, sales efforts, expenses, the outcome of contingencies such as legal proceedings, trends in operations and financial results.

Any or all forward-looking statements may turn out to be wrong, and, accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements, which speak only as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Forward-looking statements can be affected by inaccurate assumptions or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Many such factors will be important in determining the Company’s actual future results. These statements are based on current expectations and the current economic environment. They involve a number of risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. These statements are not guarantees of future performance; actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements.

Among the general factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from estimated results are:

 

    Changes in general economic conditions, including performance of financial markets, interest rates, unemployment rates and fluctuating values of particular investments held by the Company and its subsidiaries;

 

    Heightened competition, including, with respect to pricing, entry of new competitors and the development of new products by new and existing competitors;

 

    The number and severity of insurance claims (including those associated with catastrophe losses) and their impact on the adequacy of loss reserves;

 

    The impact of inflation on insurance claims, including, but not limited to, the effects attributed to scarcity of resources available to rebuild damaged structures, including labor and materials and the amount of salvage value recovered for damaged property;

 

    Orders, interpretations or other actions by regulators that impact the reporting, adjustment and payment of claims;

 

    Changes in the pricing or availability of reinsurance;

 

    Changes in the financial condition of reinsurers and amounts recoverable therefrom;

 

    Changes in industry trends and significant industry developments;

 

    Regulatory approval of insurance rates, policy forms, license applications and similar matters;

 

26


    Developments related to insurance policy claims and coverage issues including, but not limited to, interpretations or decisions by courts or regulators that may govern or influence insurance policy coverage issues arising with respect to losses incurred in connection with hurricanes and other catastrophes;

 

    Governmental actions, including new laws or regulations or court decisions interpreting existing laws and regulations or policy provisions;

 

    Adverse outcomes in litigation or other legal or regulatory proceedings involving the Company or its subsidiaries;

 

    Regulatory, accounting or tax changes that may affect the cost of, or demand for, the Company’s products or services;

 

    The impact of residual market assessments and assessments for insurance industry insolvencies;

 

    Changes in distribution channels, methods or costs resulting from changes in laws or regulations, lawsuits or market forces;

 

    Changes in ratings by credit rating agencies including A.M. Best Co., Inc.;

 

    The level of success and costs expended in realizing economies of scale and implementing significant business consolidations and technology initiatives;

 

    Increased costs and risks related to data security;

 

    Absolute and relative performance of the Company’s products or services; and

 

    Other risks and uncertainties described from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

No assurances can be given that the results contemplated in any forward-looking statements will be achieved or will be achieved in any particular timetable. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly correct or update any forward-looking statements as a result of events or developments subsequent to the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The reader is advised, however, to consult any further disclosures the Company makes on related subjects in filings made with the SEC.

 

27


POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below hereby appoints each of Donald G. Southwell, President and Chief Executive Officer, Eric J. Draut, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, and Scott Renwick, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact with authority together or individually to execute in the name of each such signatory, and with authority to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, any and all amendments to this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Unitrin, Inc., together with any and all exhibits thereto and other documents therewith, necessary or advisable to enable Unitrin, Inc. to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any rules, regulations, and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect thereof, which amendments may make such other changes in the Annual Report on Form 10-K as the aforesaid attorney-in-fact executing the same deems appropriate.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Unitrin, Inc. has duly caused this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on February 2, 2007.

 

UNITRIN, INC.

(Registrant)

 
By:  

/s/    DONALD G. SOUTHWELL

  Donald G. Southwell
  President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of Unitrin, Inc. in the capacities indicated on February 2, 2007.

 

Signature

  

Title

/s/    RICHARD C. VIE

Richard C. Vie

   Chairman and Director

/s/    DONALD G. SOUTHWELL

Donald G. Southwell

   President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

/s/    ERIC J. DRAUT

Eric J. Draut

   Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Director (principal financial officer)

/s/    RICHARD ROESKE

Richard Roeske

   Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer (principal accounting officer)

/s/    JAMES E. ANNABLE

James E. Annable

   Director

/s/    DONALD V. FITES

Donald V. Fites

   Director

/s/    DOUGLAS G. GEOGA

Douglas G. Geoga

   Director

/s/    REUBEN L. HEDLUND

Reuben L. Hedlund

   Director

/s/    JERROLD V. JEROME

Jerrold V. Jerome

   Director

/s/    WILLIAM E. JOHNSTON, JR.

William E. Johnston, Jr.

   Director

/s/    WAYNE KAUTH

Wayne Kauth

   Director

/s/    FAYEZ S. SAROFIM

Fayez S. Sarofim

   Director

/s/ ANN E. ZIEGLER 

Ann E. Ziegler

   Director

 

28


SCHEDULE I

UNITRIN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARES

INVESTMENTS OTHER THAN INVESTMENTS IN RELATED PARTIES

DECEMBER 31, 2006

(Dollars in Millions)

 

     Amortized
Cost
   Fair
Value
   Amount
Carried in
Balance Sheet

Fixed Maturities:

        

Bonds and Notes:

        

United States Government and Government Agencies and Authorities

   $ 1,226.7    $ 1,199.5    $ 1,199.5

States, Municipalities and Political Subdivisions

     1,358.5      1,408.0      1,408.0

Corporate Securities:

        

Other Bonds and Notes

     1,187.8      1,218.0      1,218.0

Redemptive Preferred Stocks

     7.3      7.4      7.4
                    

Total Investments in Fixed Maturities

     3,780.3      3,832.9      3,832.9
                    

Northrop Grumman Corporation Preferred Stock

     177.5      236.0      236.0

Northrop Grumman Corporation Common Stock

     318.8      500.3      500.3

Other Equity Securities:

        

Preferred Stocks

     56.3      68.7      68.7

Common Stocks

     328.8      476.2      476.2

Other Equity Interests

     22.7      24.4      24.4
                    

Total Investments in Other Equity Securities

     407.8      569.3      569.3
                    

Investee (A)

        

Intermec, Inc.

     92.7      307.2      92.7
                    

Total Investee

     92.7      307.2      92.7
                    

Loans, Real Estate and Other Investments

     594.6      XXX.X      594.6

Short-term Investments

     465.2      XXX.X      465.2
                

Total Investments

   $ 5,836.9       $ 6,291.0
                

(A) - Amortized Cost = Cost Plus Cumulative Undistributed Earnings.

See Accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

 


SCHEDULE II

UNITRIN, INC.

PARENT COMPANY BALANCE SHEETS

December 31, 2006 and 2005

(Dollars in Millions)

 

     December 31,
2006
   December 31,
2005

ASSETS

     

Investment in Subsidiaries

   $ 2,593.3    $ 2,479.0

Northrop Grumman Preferred Stock at Fair Value (Cost: 2006 - $186.9; 2005 - $186.9)

     236.0      225.7

Northrop Grumman Common Stock at Fair Value (Cost: 2006 - $74.9; 2005 - $85.8)

     94.0      96.0

Notes Receivable from Subsidiary, 10.00% Due 2010

     20.0      20.0

Other Equity Securities at Fair Value (Cost: 2006 - $4.2; 2005 - $3.5)

     5.8      4.2

Short Term Investments

     40.0      1.0

Cash

     0.8      0.2

Other Receivables

     3.1      12.2

Other Assets

     0.4      2.3
             

Total Assets

   $ 2,993.4    $ 2,840.6
             

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

     

Senior Notes Payable, 5.75% due 2007 (Fair Value: 2006 - $300.2; 2005 - $302.0)

   $ 299.6    $ 299.0

Senior Notes Payable, 4.875% due 2010 (Fair Value: 2006 - $195.0; 2005 - $196.2)

     198.8      198.5

Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities

     211.0      185.4
             

Total Liabilities

     709.4      682.9
             

Shareholders’ Equity:

     

Common Stock

     6.7      6.9

Additional Paid-in Capital

     759.1      711.4

Retained Earnings

     1,231.2      1,188.2

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

     287.0      251.2
             

Total Shareholders’ Equity

     2,284.0      2,157.7
             

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

   $ 2,993.4    $ 2,840.6
             

See Accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

 


SCHEDULE II

UNITRIN, INC.

PARENT COMPANY STATEMENTS OF INCOME

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006, 2005 AND 2004

(Dollars in Millions)

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2006     2005     2004  

Net Investment Income

   $ 14.6     $ 15.6     $ 14.1  

Net Realized Investment Gains

     2.2       0.8       11.0  
                        

Total Revenues

     16.8       16.4       25.1  
                        

Interest Expense

     28.5       28.4       28.3  

Other Operating (Income) Expenses

     0.4       —         (1.2 )
                        

Total Operating Expenses

     28.9       28.4       27.1  
                        

Loss before Income Taxes and Equity in Net Income of Subsidiaries and Investee

     (12.1 )     (12.0 )     (2.0 )

Income Tax Benefit

     7.0       7.6       4.0  
                        

Income (Loss) before Equity in Net Income of Subsidiaries and Investee

     (5.1 )     (4.4 )     2.0  

Equity in Net Income of Subsidiaries and Investee

     288.2       259.9       238.2  
                        

Net Income

   $ 283.1     $ 255.5     $ 240.2  
                        

See Accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.


SCHEDULE II

UNITRIN, INC.

PARENT COMPANY STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006, 2005 AND 2004

(Dollars in Millions)

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2006     2005     2004  

Operating Activities:

      

Net Income

   $ 283.1     $ 255.5     $ 240.2  

Adjustment Required to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Provided by Operations:

      

Equity in Net Income of Subsidiaries and Investee

     (288.2 )     (259.9 )     (238.2 )

Cash Dividends from Subsidiaries

     221.8       299.5       17.2  

Net Realized Investment Gains

     (2.2 )     (0.7 )     (11.1 )

Other, Net

     13.0       2.3       (76.7 )
                        

Net Cash Provided (Used) by Operating Activities

     227.5       296.7       (68.6 )
                        

Investing Activities:

      

Purchase of Reliable Life Insurance from Subsidiary

     —         (174.0 )     —    

Sale of Common Stocks to Unaffiliates

     12.7       11.1       184.0  

Change in Short term Investments

     (39.0 )     33.0       (26.0 )

Issuance of Note Receivable to Subsidiary

     —         (20.0 )     —    

Other, Net

     —         (0.9 )     (0.9 )
                        

Net Cash Provided (Used) by Investing Activities

     (26.3 )     (150.8 )     157.1  
                        

Financing Activities:

      

Notes Payable Proceeds:

      

Revolving Credit Agreement

     40.0       40.0       —    

Notes Payable Payments:

      

Revolving Credit Agreement

     (40.0 )     (40.0 )     —    

Cash Dividends Paid

     (119.8 )     (117.4 )     (113.5 )

Common Stock Repurchases

     (89.9 )     (48.9 )     —    

Exercise of Stock Options

     6.8       15.7       28.4  

Excess Tax Benefits on Share Based Awards

     2.3       —         —    
                        

Net Cash Used by Financing Activities

     (200.6 )     (150.6 )     (85.1 )
                        

Increase (Decrease) in Cash

     0.6       (4.7 )     3.4  

Cash, Beginning of Year

     0.2       4.9       1.5  
                        
Cash, End of Year    $ 0.8     $ 0.2     $ 4.9  
                        

See Accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

 


SCHEDULE II

UNITRIN, INC.

PARENT COMPANY STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006, 2005 AND 2004

(Dollars in Millions)

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2006     2005     2004  

Net Income

   $ 283.1     $ 255.5     $ 240.2  

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):

      

Gross Unrealized Holding Gains (Losses) Arising During Year:

      

Securities Held by Subsidiaries

     72.3       17.1       138.4  

Securities Held by Parent

     21.5       2.5       21.4  

Cumulative Translation Adjustment in Investee

     (2.1 )     0.3       1.7  
                        

Gross Unrealized Holding Gains (Losses) Arising During Year

     91.7       19.9       161.5  

Income Tax Benefit (Expense)

     (32.1 )     (6.9 )     (56.5 )
                        

Unrealized Holding Gains (Losses) Arising During Year, Net

     59.6       13.0       105.0  
                        

Reclassification Adjustment for Gross (Gains) Losses Realized in Net Income:

      

Securities Held by Subsidiaries

     (23.7 )     (16.9 )     (87.5 )

Securities Held by Parent

     (1.8 )     (0.6 )     10.9  
                        

Reclassification Adjustment for Gross (Gains) Losses Realized in Net Income

     (25.5 )     (17.5 )     (76.6 )

Income Tax Expense (Benefit)

     9.0       6.1       26.7  
                        

Reclassification Adjustment for (Gains) Losses Realized in Net Income (Loss), Net

     (16.5 )     (11.4 )     (49.9 )
                        

Other Comprehensive Income

     43.1       1.6       55.1  
                        

Total Comprehensive Income

   $ 326.2     $ 257.1     $ 295.3  
                        

See Accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

 


SCHEDULE III

UNITRIN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

SUPPLEMENTARY INSURANCE INFORMATION

(Dollars in Millions)

 

     Year Ended December 31,     December 31,
     Premiums    Premiums
Written
   Other
Income
   Net
Investment
Income
  

Insurance
Claims

and
Policyholders’
Benefits

   Amortization
Of Deferred
Policy
Acquisition
Costs
   Other
Insurance
Expenses
    Deferred
Policy
Acquisition
Costs
   Insurance
Reserves
   Unearned
Premiums

Year Ended December 31, 2006:

                            

Kemper Auto and Home

   $ 944.6    $ 955.0    $ 0.4    $ 49.1    $ 586.2    $ 165.4    $ 110.4     $ 77.0    $ 534.1    $ 430.8

Unitrin Specialty

     444.4      444.3      —        21.8      335.6      60.9      31.1       17.8      293.4      148.6

Unitrin Direct

     225.9      182.5      0.4      9.0      182.3      10.4      52.7       3.3      106.8      71.6

Unitrin Business Insurance

     188.2      189.6      1.9      28.2      108.8      34.4      59.6       16.9      397.9      98.8

Life and Health (1)

     675.6      N/A      11.2      178.3      404.5      71.5      236.7       329.7      2,493.0      28.8

Other

     —        N/A      2.4      18.7      —        —        (32.9 )     —        93.5      0.3
                                                                      

Total

   $ 2,478.7    $ N/A    $ 16.3    $ 305.1    $ 1,617.4    $ 342.6    $ 457.6     $ 444.7    $ 3,918.7    $ 778.9
                                                                      

Year Ended December 31, 2005:

                            

Kemper Auto and Home

   $ 945.7    $ 958.4    $ 0.6    $ 48.1    $ 625.9    $ 168.7    $ 120.4     $ 75.2    $ 553.6    $ 420.1

Unitrin Specialty

     453.2      450.4      —        20.6      335.1      66.6      29.4       16.9      295.8      148.7

Unitrin Direct

     221.3      223.2      0.2      8.6      173.4      9.0      46.2       5.1      99.4      115.0

Unitrin Business Insurance

     190.6      187.1      —        28.2      116.6      32.1      53.8       17.0      419.7      96.4

Life and Health (1)

     667.5      N/A      6.2      157.1      414.3      78.6      246.2       324.0      2,436.1      30.2

Other

     —        N/A      2.5      19.5      —        —        (33.5 )     —        131.8      0.2
                                                                      

Total

   $ 2,478.3    $ N/A    $ 9.5    $ 282.1    $ 1,665.3    $ 355.0    $ 462.5     $ 438.2    $ 3,936.4    $ 810.6
                                                                      

Year Ended December 31, 2004:

                            

Kemper Auto and Home

   $ 945.8    $ 952.5    $ 7.0    $ 39.6    $ 639.0    $ 155.7    $ 121.2          

Unitrin Specialty

     486.8      484.5      —        18.0      356.4      72.8      30.8          

Unitrin Direct

     188.6      213.2      —        6.9      149.8      6.7      44.1          

Unitrin Business Insurance

     196.0      186.6      —        25.7      126.1      34.6      41.9          

Life and Health (1)

     668.0      N/A      3.6      150.0      396.9      73.5      253.9          

Other

     —        N/A      2.5      21.0      —        —        (11.2 )        
                                                          

Total

   $ 2,485.2    $ N/A    $ 13.1    $ 261.2    $ 1,668.2    $ 343.3    $ 480.7          
                                                          

 

(1) The Company’s Life and Health Insurance employee-agents also market certain property and casualty insurance products under common management. Accordingly, the Company includes the results of these property and casualty insurance products in its Life and Health Insurance segment.

See Accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

 


SCHEDULE IV

UNITRIN, INC.

REINSURANCE SCHEDULE

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004

(Dollars in Millions)

 

 

     Gross
Amount
   Ceded to
Other
Companies
   Assumed
from Other
Companies
   Net
Amount
  

Percentage

of Amount
Assumed to
Net

 

Year Ended December 31, 2006:

              

Life Insurance in Force

   $ 20,767.3    $ 687.4    $ —      $ 20,079.9    —    
                                  

Premiums

              

Life Insurance

   $ 401.6    $ 0.9    $ —      $ 400.7    0.0 %

Accident and Health Insurance

     158.3      —        —        158.3    —    

Property and Liability Insurance

     1,880.0      45.9      85.6      1,919.7    4.5 %
                                  

Total Premiums

   $ 2,439.9    $ 46.8    $ 85.6    $ 2,478.7    3.5 %
                                  

Year Ended December 31, 2005:

              

Life Insurance in Force

   $ 21,026.9    $ 729.2    $ —      $ 20,297.7    —    
                                  

Premiums

              

Life Insurance

   $ 402.2    $ 0.9    $ —      $ 401.3    0.0 %

Accident and Health Insurance

     161.3      0.8      —        160.5    —    

Property and Liability Insurance

     1,873.4      41.9      85.0      1,916.5    4.4 %
                                  

Total Premiums

   $ 2,436.9    $ 43.6    $ 85.0    $ 2,478.3    3.4 %
                                  

Year Ended December 31, 2004:

              

Life Insurance in Force

   $ 20,259.0    $ 902.6    $ —      $ 19,356.4    —    
                                  

Premiums

              

Life Insurance

   $ 402.6    $ 0.9    $ —      $ 401.7    0.0 %

Accident and Health Insurance

     163.9      2.6      —        161.3    —    

Property and Liability Insurance

     1,748.5      35.4      209.1      1,922.2    10.9 %
                                  

Total Premiums

   $ 2,315.0    $ 38.9    $ 209.1    $ 2,485.2    8.4 %
                                  

See Accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.


SCHEDULE VI

UNITRIN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION CONCERNING PROPERTY-CASUALTY INSURANCE OPERATIONS

(Dollars in Millions)

 

Affiliation

  

Deferred
Policy
Acquisition
Costs

  

Reserves
for Unpaid
Claims and
Claim
Adjustment
Expenses

  

Discount

  

Unearned
Premiums

  

Earned
Premiums

  

Net
Investment
Income

   Claim and Claim
Adjustment
Expenses Incurred
Related to
   

Amortization
of Deferred
Policy
Acquisition
Costs

  

Paid
Claims and
Claim
Adjustment
Expenses

  

Premiums
Written

                     Current
Year
   Prior
Years
         

Year Ended December 31, 2006:

                               

(a) Consolidated property casualty entities

   $ 115.8    $ 1,432.6    $ —      $ 753.6    $ 1,919.7    $ 108.0    $ 1,355.9    $ (91.6 )   $ 283.4    $ 1,292.2    $ 1,887.8
                                                                             

Year Ended December 31, 2005:

                               

(a) Consolidated property casualty entities

   $ 115.0    $ 1,531.5    $ —      $ 783.5    $ 1,916.5    $ 106.2    $ 1,398.3    $ (92.1 )   $ 288.8    $ 1,265.4    $ 1,924.9
                                                                             

Year Ended December 31, 2004:

                               

(a) Consolidated property casualty entities

               $ 1,922.2    $ 91.6    $ 1,351.0    $ (39.0 )   $ 281.4    $ 1,131.2    $ 1,941.7
                                                             

All of the Company’s ending reserves are reported on a consolidated basis, accordingly amounts for categories (b) Unconsolidated property casualty subsidiaries and (c) Proportionate share of registrant and its subsidiaries 50%-or-less-owened property casualty equity investees have been omitted from this schedule.

See Accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

 


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of

Unitrin, Inc.

We have audited the consolidated financial statements of Unitrin, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2006, management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006, and the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006, and have issued our report thereon dated February 2, 2007 (which report expresses an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory paragraph as to the changes in the Company’s method of accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans in 2006); such consolidated financial statements and report are included in the Company’s 2006 Annual Report to Shareholders of Unitrin, Inc. and are incorporated herein by reference. Our audits also included the financial statement schedules of the Company listed in Item 15. These financial statement schedules are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion 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.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Chicago, Illinois

February 2, 2007