ATLANTIC AMERICAN CORP - Annual Report: 2006 (Form 10-K)

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

 

Form 10-K

 

Commission file number 0-3722

 

 

 

 

ATLANTIC AMERICAN CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

(404) 266-5500

 

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

None

 

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

 

Common Stock, $1.00 par value

(Title of class)

 

 

 

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes o     No þ

 

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

 

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 þ     No o

 

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 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  o

 

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. (Check one):

 

Large Accelerated Filer o     Accelerated Filer o     Non-Accelerated Filer þ

 

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

 

 

 

 

The aggregate market value of voting and nonvoting common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2006, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, was $15,840,476. On March 16, 2007 there were 21,536,573 shares of the registrant’s common stock, par value $1.00 per share, outstanding.

 

 

 

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

1. Portions of the registrant’s Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, to be held on May 1, 2007, have been incorporated by reference in Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 of Part III of this Form 10-K.

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

Atlantic American Corporation, a Georgia corporation incorporated in 1968 (the “Parent” or “Company”), is a holding company that operates through its subsidiaries in well-defined specialty markets of the life, health, property and casualty insurance industries. Atlantic American’s principal subsidiaries are American Southern Insurance Company and American Safety Insurance Company (collectively known as “American Southern”), Association Casualty Insurance Company and Association Risk Management General Agency, Inc. (collectively known as “Association Casualty”), Georgia Casualty & Surety Company (“Georgia Casualty”) and Bankers Fidelity Life Insurance Company (“Bankers Fidelity”). Each subsidiary is managed separately based upon the geographic location or the type of products offered and is evaluated on its individual performance. Management has conformed information systems, policies and procedures, products, marketing and managerial responsibilities between Association Casualty and Georgia Casualty to create a southern “regional” property and casualty operation and increase efficiencies. The Parent has no significant business operations of its own and relies on fees, dividends and other distributions from its insurance companies as the principal source of cash flow to meet its obligations. Additional information regarding the cash flow and liquidity needs of the Parent may be found in the Liquidity and Capital Resources section of Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

 

The Company’s strategy is to focus on well-defined geographic, demographic and/or product niches within the insurance market place. Each of the Company’s subsidiaries operate with relative autonomy, which allows for quick reaction to market opportunities. In addition, the Company seeks to develop and expand cross-selling opportunities and other synergies among its subsidiaries as they arise.

 

Property and Casualty Operations

 

The Company’s property and casualty operations are composed of three distinct entities, American Southern, Association Casualty and Georgia Casualty. The primary products offered by the Company’s property and casualty operations are described below, followed by an overview of each company.

 

Workers’ Compensation Insurance policies provide indemnity and medical benefits to insured workers for injuries sustained in the course of their employment.

 

Business Automobile Insurance policies provide bodily injury and/or property damage liability coverage, uninsured motorist coverage and physical damage coverage to commercial accounts.

 

General Liability Insurance policies cover bodily injury and property damage liability for both premises and completed operations exposures for general classes of business.

 

Property Insurance policies provide for payment of losses on real and personal property caused by fire or other multiple perils.

 

Personal Automobile Insurance policies provide bodily injury and/or property damage liability coverage, uninsured motorists coverage and physical damage coverage to individuals.

 

Surety Bonds are contracts under which one party, the insurance company issuing the surety bond, guarantees to a third party, that the primary party will fulfill an obligation in accordance with a contractual agreement. This obligation may involve meeting a contractual commitment, paying a debt or performing certain duties.

 

American Southern.  American Southern provides tailored fleet automobile and long-haul physical damage insurance coverage, on a multi-year contract basis, to state governments, local municipalities and other large motor pools and fleets (“block accounts”) that can be specifically rated and underwritten. The size of the block accounts insured by American Southern are such that individual class experience generally can be determined, which allows for customized policy terms and rates. American Southern is licensed to do business

in 29 states. While the majority of American Southern’s premiums are derived from auto liability and auto physical damage, American Southern also offers both property and general liability coverage. Additionally, American Southern directly provides surety bond coverage for school bus transportation and subdivision construction, as well as performance and payment bonds. In recent years, American Southern has increased its premium writings in the general liability, primarily artisan and small contractors, and surety lines of business and expects such trends to continue.

 

The following table summarizes, for the periods indicated, the allocation of American Southern’s net earned premiums from each of its principal product lines:

 

 

Georgia Casualty.  Georgia Casualty is a property-casualty insurance company providing workers’ compensation, commercial property, general liability, commercial automobile, umbrella, inland marine and mechanical breakdown coverage to businesses throughout the Southeastern United States. Georgia Casualty’s primary marketing focus is on accounts with low to moderate hazard grades, ranging from $20,000 to $250,000 in written premiums. In addition to the wide range of commercial products available, Georgia Casualty offers customized extension endorsements for various classes of business, including, but not limited to, light manufacturing, restaurants, country clubs and artisan contractors. These products, along with risk management and claims services, are offered through a network of independent agents. Georgia Casualty is licensed to do business in thirteen states. Its principal marketing territories include Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

 

The following table summarizes, for the periods indicated, the allocation of Georgia Casualty’s net earned premiums from each of its principal product lines:

 

 

Association Casualty.  Association Casualty is a property-casualty insurance company that offers workers’ compensation, commercial property, commercial automobile, general liability, umbrella and inland marine coverages throughout Texas and surrounding states. Association Casualty has adopted a strategy consistent with that of Georgia Casualty and is focused on small to middle market accounts with low to moderate hazard grades, ranging from $15,000 to $250,000 in written premiums. In addition to a wide range of products, customized extension endorsements are also offered to various classes of business, including restaurants, light manufacturing and country clubs. These particular products can be coupled with specialized loss control and claims services and are offered through a network of independent agents. Association Casualty is licensed to do business in nine states and Texas is its principal marketing territory.

 

The following table summarizes, for the periods indicated, the allocation of Association Casualty’s net earned premiums from each of its principal product lines.

 

 

Life and Health Operations

 

Bankers Fidelity.  Bankers Fidelity constitutes the life and health operations of the Company and offers a variety of life and supplemental health products with a focus on the senior markets. Products offered by Bankers Fidelity include ordinary and term life insurance, Medicare supplement, cancer, and other supplemental health insurance products. Health business, primarily Medicare supplement, accounted for 81.4% of Bankers Fidelity’s net earned premiums in 2006. Life insurance, including both whole and term life insurance policies, accounted for 18.6% of Bankers Fidelity’s premiums in 2006. In terms of the number of policies written in 2006, 23% were life insurance policies and 77% were health policies.

 

The following table summarizes, for the periods indicated, the allocation of Bankers Fidelity’s net earned premiums from each of its principal product lines followed by a brief description of the principal products:

 

 

Life Insurance products include non-participating individual term and whole life insurance policies with a variety of riders and options.

 

Medicare Supplement Insurance includes 7 of the 13 standardized Medicare supplement policies created under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (“OBRA 1990”), which are designed to provide insurance coverage for certain expenses not covered by the Medicare program, including copayments and deductibles.

 

Cancer, Accident & Other Health Insurance coverages include several policies providing for the payment of benefits in connection with the treatment of diagnosed cancer, as well as a number of other policies including facility care, accident expense, hospital/surgical and disability.

 

Property and Casualty Operations

 

American Southern.  A portion of American Southern’s business is marketed through a small number of specialized, experienced independent agents. Most of American Southern’s agents are paid an up-front commission with the potential for additional commissions by participating in a profit sharing arrangement that is directly linked to the profitability of the business generated. American Southern also solicits business from

governmental entities. As an experienced writer for certain governmental programs, the company actively pursues this market on a direct basis. Much of this business is priced by means of competitive bid situations and there can be no assurance that the company can retain such business at the time of a specific contract renewal. During 1998, American Southern formed American Auto Club Insurance Agency, LLC in a 50/50 joint venture with AAA Carolinas to market personal automobile insurance to the members of the automobile club. This program produced gross written premiums of approximately $2.6 million and $8.6 million during 2006 and 2005, respectively. Effective October 1, 2005, this joint venture was terminated due to unfavorable underwriting results.

 

Association Casualty.  Association Casualty was represented by a field force of 68 independent agencies with 87 locations in Texas for the sale and distribution of its insurance products at December 31, 2006. Each agency is a party to a standard agency contract that sets forth the commission structure and other terms. Association Casualty also offers a contingent profit sharing arrangement that allows agents to earn additional commissions when specific loss experience and premium growth goals are achieved. Marketing efforts are handled by an experienced staff of insurance professionals, and complemented by the assistance of Association Casualty’s underwriting, loss control and claims staffs.

 

Georgia Casualty.  Georgia Casualty was represented by a field force of 58 independent agencies with 90 locations in eight states for the sale and distribution of its insurance products at December 31, 2006. Each agency is a party to a standard agency contract that sets forth the commission structure and other terms. Georgia Casualty also offers a contingent profit-sharing arrangement that allows agents to earn additional commissions when specific loss experience and premium growth goals are achieved. Marketing efforts, directed by experienced marketing professionals, are complemented by the underwriting, risk management, and audit staffs of Georgia Casualty, who are available to assist agents in the presentation of all insurance products and services to their insureds.

 

Life and Health Operations

 

Bankers Fidelity.  Bankers Fidelity markets its policies through commissioned, independent agents. In general, Bankers Fidelity enters contractual arrangements with various general agents, responsible for marketing and other activities, who also, in turn, contract with independent agents. The standard agreements set forth the commission arrangements and are terminable by either party upon thirty days’ written notice. General agents receive an override commission on sales made by agents contracted by them. Management believes utilizing experienced agents, as well as independent general agents who recruit and train their own agents, is cost effective. All independent agents are compensated on a pure commission basis. Using independent agents also enables Bankers Fidelity to expand or contract its sales forces at any time without incurring significant additional expense.

 

Bankers Fidelity has implemented a selective agent qualification process and had 1,900 licensed agents as of December 31, 2006. The agents concentrate their sales activities in either the accident and health or life insurance product lines, although the company is currently promoting greater cross selling initiatives through property and casualty agencies, association groups and worksite marketing agencies. During 2006, approximately 500 agents wrote policies on behalf of Bankers Fidelity.

 

Products of Bankers Fidelity compete directly with products offered by other insurance companies, and agents may represent several insurance companies. Bankers Fidelity, in an effort to motivate agents to market its products, offers the following agency services: a unique lead system, competitive products and commission structures, efficient claims service, prompt payment of commissions that immediately vest, simplified policy issue procedures, periodic sales incentive programs and, in some cases, protected sales territories determined based on specific counties and/or zip codes.

 

Bankers Fidelity utilizes multiple distribution sales systems including agency business which is centered around a lead generation plan that rewards qualified agents with leads in accordance with monthly production goals. In addition, a protected territory is established for each qualified agent, which entitles them to all leads produced within that territory. The territories are zip code or county based and encompass sufficient geographic territory to produce a minimum senior population of 25,000. Bankers Fidelity also recruits at a

general agent level as well as at a managing general agent level in an effort to use more than one distribution system to lower expenses.

 

The Company believes these distribution systems solve an agent’s most important dilemma — prospecting — and allows Bankers Fidelity to build long-term relationships with agents who view Bankers Fidelity as their primary company. In addition, management believes that Bankers Fidelity’s product line is less sensitive to competitor pricing and commissions because of the perceived value of the protected territory and the lead generation plan. In protected geographical areas, production per agent compares favorably to unprotected areas served by the general brokerage division.

 

Property and Casualty Operations

 

American Southern specializes in underwriting various risks that are sufficiently large enough to establish separate class experience, relying upon the underwriting expertise of its agents. In contrast, Georgia Casualty and Association Casualty internally underwrite all of their individual accounts.

 

During the course of the policy year, extensive use is made of risk management representatives to assist commercial underwriters in identifying and correcting potential loss exposures and to pre-inspect a majority of the new underwritten accounts. The results of each product line are reviewed on a stand-alone basis periodically. When the results are below expectations, management takes appropriate corrective action which may include adjusting rates, reviewing underwriting standards, reducing commissions paid to agents, altering or declining to renew accounts at expiration, and/or terminating agencies with an unprofitable book of business.

 

Life and Health Operations

 

Bankers Fidelity issues a variety of products for both life and health, which include senior life products typically with small face amounts of between $1,000 and $30,000 and Medicare supplement. The majority of its products are “Yes” or “No” applications that are underwritten on a non-medical basis. Bankers Fidelity offers products to all age groups; however, its primary focus is the senior market. For life products other than the senior market, Bankers Fidelity may require medical information such as medical examinations subject to age and face amount based on published guidelines. Approximately 95% of the net premiums earned for both life and health insurance sold during 2006 were derived from insurance written below Bankers Fidelity’s medical limits. For the senior market, Bankers Fidelity issues products primarily on an accept-or-reject basis with face amounts up to $30,000 for ages 45-70, $20,000 for ages 71-80 and $10,000 for ages 81-85. Bankers Fidelity retains a maximum amount of $50,000 with respect to any individual life policy (see “Reinsurance”).

 

Applications for insurance are reviewed to determine the face amount, age, and medical history. Depending upon information obtained from the insured, the Medical Information Bureau (“M.I.B.”) report, paramedical testing, and/or medical records, special testing may be ordered. If deemed necessary, Bankers Fidelity may use investigative services to supplement and substantiate information. For certain limited coverages, Bankers Fidelity has adopted simplified policy issue procedures by which an application containing a variety of Yes/No health related questions is submitted. For these plans, a M.I.B. report is ordered, however, paramedical testing and medical records are not ordered in most cases. All applications for individuals age 60 and above are verified by telephone interview.

 

The Company believes that prompt, efficient policyholder and claims services are essential to its continued success in marketing its insurance products (see “Competition”). Additionally, the Company believes that its insureds are particularly sensitive to claims processing time and to the accessibility of qualified staff to answer inquiries. Accordingly, the Company’s policyholder and claims services seek to offer expeditious disposition of service requests by providing toll-free access for all customers, 24-hour claim reporting services, and direct computer links with some of its largest accounts. The Company also utilizes a state-of-the-art

automatic call distribution system to ensure that inbound calls to customer service support groups are processed efficiently. Operational data generated from this system allows management to further refine ongoing client service programs and service representative training modules.

 

The Company supports a Customer Awareness Program as the basis for its customer service philosophy. All personnel are required to attend customer service classes. Customer service hours of operation have been expanded in all service areas to serve customers and agents in all domestic time zones.

 

Property and Casualty Operations

 

American Southern, Association Casualty, and Georgia Casualty control their claims costs by utilizing an in-house staff of claims supervisors to investigate, verify, negotiate and settle claims. Upon notification of an occurrence purportedly giving rise to a claim, a claim file is established. The claims department then conducts a preliminary investigation, determines whether an insurable event has occurred and, if so, updates the file for the findings and any required reserve adjustments. The property and casualty companies frequently utilize independent adjusters and appraisers to service claims which require on-site inspections.

 

Life and Health Operations

 

Insureds may obtain claim forms by calling the claims department customer service group or through Bankers Fidelity’s website. To shorten claim processing time, a letter detailing all supporting documents that are required to complete a claim for a particular policy is sent to the customer along with the correct claim form. With respect to life policies, the claim is entered into Bankers Fidelity’s claims system when the proper documentation is received. Properly documented claims are generally paid within three to nine business days of receipt. With regard to Medicare supplement policies, the claim is either directly billed to Bankers Fidelity by the provider or sent electronically through a Medicare clearing house.

 

The following table sets forth information concerning the Company’s reserves for losses and claims and reserves for loss adjustment expenses (“LAE”) for the periods indicated:

 

 

 

Reserves are set by line of business within each of the subsidiaries and a single line of business may be written in one or more of the subsidiaries. Individual case reserves are established by a claims processor on each individual claim and are periodically reviewed and adjusted as new information becomes known during the course of handling the claim. Lines of business for which loss data (e.g. paid losses and case reserves) emerge over a long period of time are referred to as long-tail lines of business. Lines of business for which loss data emerge more quickly are referred to as short-tail lines of business. The Company’s long-tail lines of business generally include workers’ compensation and general liability; the short-tail lines of business generally include property and automobile coverages.

 

The Company’s actuaries regularly review reserves for both current and prior accident years using the most current claims data. These regular reviews incorporate a variety of actuarial methods (as discussed in Critical Accounting Policies) and judgments and involve a disciplined analysis. For most lines of business, certain actuarial methods and specific assumptions are deemed more appropriate based on the current circumstances affecting that line of business. These selections incorporate input from claims personnel and operating management on reported loss cost trends and other factors that could affect the reserve estimates.

 

For long-tail lines of business, the emergence of paid losses and case reserves is less credible in the early periods, and accordingly may not be indicative of ultimate losses. For these lines, methods which incorporate a development pattern assumption are given less weight in calculating incurred but not reported (“IBNR”) reserves for the early periods of loss emergence because such a low percentage of ultimate losses are reported in that time frame. Accordingly, for any given accident year, the rate at which losses emerge in the early periods is generally not as reliable an indication of the ultimate loss costs as it would be for shorter-tail lines of business. The estimation of reserves for these lines of business in the early periods of loss emergence is therefore largely influenced by statistical analysis and application of prior accident years’ loss ratios after considering changes to earned pricing, loss costs, mix of business, ceded reinsurance and other factors that are

expected to affect the estimated ultimate losses. For later periods of loss emergence, methods which incorporate a development pattern assumption are given more weight in estimating ultimate losses.

 

For short-tail lines of business, the emergence of paid loss and case reserves is more credible and likely indicative of ultimate losses. The method used to set reserves for these lines is based upon utilization of a historical development pattern for reported losses. IBNR reserves for the current year are set as the difference between the estimated fully developed ultimate losses for each year, less the established, related case reserves and cumulative related payments. IBNR reserves for prior accident years are similarly determined, again relying on an indicated, historical development pattern for reported losses.

 

Based on the results of regular reserve estimate reviews, the Company will determine the appropriate reserve adjustment, if any, to record. If necessary, recorded reserve estimates are changed after consideration of numerous factors, including, but not limited to, the magnitude of the difference between the actuarial indication and the recorded reserves, improvement or deterioration of actuarial indication in the period, the maturity of the accident year, trends observed over the recent past and the level of volatility within a particular line of business. In general, changes are made more quickly to recognize changes in estimates to ultimate losses in mature accident years and less volatile lines of business.

 

Estimating case reserves and ultimate losses involves various considerations which differ according to line of business. Workers’ compensation is a significant line of business for the Company and is the one line with the longest pattern of loss emergence. Reserve estimates for workers’ compensation are particularly sensitive to assumptions about medical cost inflation, which has been increasing steadily in recent years. In addition, changes in state legislative and regulatory environments impact the Company’s estimates. Likewise, general liability can also have a long pattern of loss emergence. Given the broad nature of potential general liability coverages, investigative time periods may be extended and coverage questions may exist. Such uncertainties create greater imprecision in estimating required levels of loss reserves. The property and automobile lines of business generally have less variable reserve estimates than other lines. This is largely due to the coverages having relatively shorter periods of loss emergence. Estimates, however, can still vary due to a number of factors, including interpretations of frequency and severity trends. Severity trends can be impacted by changes in internal claim handling and reserving practices in addition to changes in the external environment. These changes in claim practices increase the uncertainty in the interpretation of case reserve data, which increases the uncertainty in recorded reserve levels.

 

Components of the Company’s reserves for losses and claims by product line at December 31, 2006 were as follows:

 

 

The Company’s policy is to record reserves for losses and claims in amounts which approximate actuarial best estimates of ultimate values. Actuarial best estimates do not necessarily represent the midpoint value determined using the various actuarial methods; however, such estimates will fall between the estimated low and high end reserve values. The range of estimates developed in connection with the December 31, 2006 review indicated that reserves could be as much as 13.1% lower or as much as 2.6% higher. In the opinion of management, recorded reserves represent the best estimate of outstanding losses, although significant

judgments are made in the derivation of reserve estimates and revisions to such estimates will be made in future periods. Any such revisions could be material.

 

Property and Casualty Operations

 

The Company’s property and casualty operations maintain loss reserves representing estimates of amounts necessary for payment of losses and LAE and are not discounted. The property and casualty operations also maintain IBNR reserves and bulk reserves for future development. These loss reserves are estimates, based on known facts and circumstances at a given point in time, of amounts the insurer expects to pay on incurred claims. All balances are reviewed periodically by both internal and external qualified actuaries. Reserves for LAE are intended to cover the ultimate costs of settling claims, including investigation and defense of lawsuits resulting from such claims. Loss reserves for reported claims are based on a case-by-case evaluation of the type of claim involved, the circumstances surrounding the claim, and the policy provisions relating to the type of loss along with anticipated future development. The LAE for claims reported and claims not reported is based on historical statistical data and anticipated future development. Inflation and other factors which may affect claim payments are implicitly reflected in the reserving process through analysis and consideration of cost trends and reviews of historical reserve results.

 

The property and casualty operations establish reserves for claims based upon: (a) management’s estimate of ultimate liability and claims adjusters’ evaluations for unpaid claims reported prior to the close of the accounting period, (b) estimates of IBNR claims based on past experience, and (c) estimates of LAE. The estimated liability is periodically reviewed and updated, and changes to the estimated liability are recorded in the statement of operations in the year in which such changes become known.

 

The following table sets forth the development of reserves for unpaid losses and claims determined using generally accepted accounting principles of the property and casualty operations’ insurance lines from 1996 through 2006. Development from acquired companies are included from the year of acquisition. Specifically excluded from the table are the life and health division’s claims reserves, which are included in the consolidated loss and claims reserves. The top line of the table represents the estimated cumulative amount of losses and LAE for claims arising in all prior years that were unpaid at the balance sheet date for each of the indicated periods, including an estimate of losses that had been incurred but not yet reported at the applicable date. The amounts represent initial reserve estimates at the respective balance sheet dates for the current and all prior years. The next portion of the table shows the cumulative amounts paid with respect to claims in each succeeding year. The lower portion of the table shows the re-estimated amounts of previously recorded reserves based on experience as of the end of each succeeding year.

 

The reserve estimates are modified as more information becomes known about the frequency and severity of claims for individual years. The “cumulative redundancy or deficiency” for each year represents the aggregate change in such year’s estimates through the end of 2006. In evaluating this information, it should be noted that the amount of the redundancy or deficiency for any year represents the cumulative amount of the changes from initial reserve estimates for such year. Operations for any year may be affected, favorably or unfavorably, by the amount of the change in the estimate for such years; however, because such analysis is based on the reserves for unpaid losses and claims, before consideration of reinsurance, the total indicated redundancies and/or deficiencies may not ultimately be reflected in the Company’s net income. Further, conditions and trends that have affected development of the reserves in the past may not necessarily occur in the future and there could be future events or actions that would impact future development which have not existed in the past. Accordingly, it is impossible to accurately predict future redundancies or deficiencies based on the data in the following table.

 

Note: Because this analysis is based on reserves for unpaid losses and claims, before consideration of reinsurance, the total indicated redundancies and/or deficiencies may not ultimately be reflected in the Company’s net income.

Life and Health Operations

 

Bankers Fidelity establishes liabilities for future policy benefits to meet projected future obligations under outstanding policies. These reserves are calculated to satisfy policy and contract obligations as they mature. The amount of reserves for insurance policies is calculated using assumptions for interest rates, mortality and morbidity rates, expenses, and withdrawals. Reserves are adjusted periodically based on published actuarial tables with modification to reflect actual experience (see Note 3 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements).

 

The Company’s insurance subsidiaries may purchase reinsurance from unaffiliated insurers and reinsurers to reduce their liability on individual risks and to protect against catastrophic losses. In a reinsurance transaction, an insurance company transfers, or “cedes,” a portion or all of its exposure on insurance policies to a reinsurer. The reinsurer assumes the exposure in return for a portion of the premiums. The ceding of insurance does not legally discharge the insurer from primary liability for the full amount of policies written by it, and the ceding company incurs a loss if the reinsurer fails to meet its obligations under the reinsurance agreement.

 

Property and Casualty Operations

 

American Southern.  American Southern’s basic reinsurance treaties generally cover all claims in excess of $150,000 per occurrence. Limits per occurrence within the reinsurance treaties are as follows: Fire, inland marine, commercial automobile and physical damage — $125,000 excess of $50,000 retention; all other lines vary by type of policy and generally have retentions in excess of $100,000, up to $150,000. American Southern maintains a property catastrophe treaty with a $6.6 million limit excess of $400,000 retention. American Southern also issues individual surety bonds with face amounts generally up to $1.5 million, and limited to $5.0 million per account, that are not subject to reinsurance.

 

Association Casualty.  Association Casualty’s basic reinsurance treaties cover all claims in excess of $300,000 per occurrence. Limits per occurrence within the reinsurance treaties and excess of the retention are as follows: Workers’ compensation — $20.0 million; Property per location — $15.0 million; Excess of policy and extra contractual obligations — $20.0 million; Liability — $11.0 million; and Surety — $10.0 million. In 2006, Association Casualty maintained a property catastrophe reinsurance treaty with a $12.0 million limit excess of $500,000 retention with one automatic reinstatement. As a result of the 2005 and 2004 catastrophe experience, Association Casualty prepaid its 2006 automatic reinstatement premium at a discount on the $7.0 million excess $500,000 retention layer. Prior to 2006, Association Casualty maintained a property catastrophe reinsurance treaty with only a $7.0 million limit excess of $500,000 retention also with one automatic reinstatement.

 

Georgia Casualty.  Georgia Casualty’s basic reinsurance treaties cover all claims in excess of $300,000 per occurrence. Limits per occurrence within the reinsurance treaties and excess of the retention are as follows: Workers’ compensation — $20.0 million; Property per location — $15.0 million; Excess of policy and extra contractual obligations — $20.0 million; Liability — $11.0 million; and Surety — $10.0 million. In 2006, Georgia Casualty maintained a property catastrophe reinsurance treaty with a $12.0 million limit excess of $500,000 retention with one automatic reinstatement. As a result of the 2005 and 2004 catastrophe experience, Georgia Casualty prepaid its 2006 automatic reinstatement premium at a discount on the $7.0 million excess $500,000 retention layer. Prior to 2006, Georgia Casualty maintained a property catastrophe reinsurance treaty with only a $7.0 million limit excess of $500,000 retention also with one automatic reinstatement.

 

Life and Health Operations

 

Bankers Fidelity.  Bankers Fidelity has entered into reinsurance contracts ceding the excess of its retention to several primary reinsurers. Maximum retention by Bankers Fidelity on any one individual in the case of life insurance policies is $50,000. At December 31, 2006, Bankers Fidelity reinsured $37.2 million of

the $269.3 million of life insurance in force, generally under yearly renewable term agreements. Certain prior year reinsurance agreements remain in force although they no longer provide reinsurance for new business.

 

Competition is based on many factors including premiums charged, terms and conditions of coverage, service provided, financial ratings assigned by independent rating agencies, claims services, reputation, perceived financial strength and the experience of the organization in the line of business being written.

 

Property and Casualty Operations

 

American Southern.  The businesses in which American Southern engages are highly competitive. The principal areas of competition are pricing and service. Many competing property and casualty companies, which have been in business longer than American Southern, offer more diversified lines of insurance and have substantially greater financial resources. Management believes, however, that the policies it sells are competitive with those providing similar benefits offered by other insurers doing business in the states where American Southern operates.

 

Association Casualty.  The Texas market, historically Association Casualty’s primary market, is extremely competitive. Association Casualty’s competition comes primarily from carriers that are of a larger size than Association Casualty as well as a state fund that writes monoline workers’ compensation insurance. Association Casualty’s strong focus and commitment to its target markets has enabled it to forge stronger ties with the agency networks that represent the company. Insurance products that provide a full range of commercial coverage, as well as customized loss control and claims services, position the agency partners to compete effectively within their respective geographic locations. Association Casualty generally writes workers’ compensation coverage as a part of its total insurance package. Flexible commission agreements award the greatest commissions to those agents that demonstrate loyalty and commitment to Association Casualty through continued premium growth and profitability. This further allows Association Casualty to be competitive in the marketplace.

 

Georgia Casualty.  Georgia Casualty’s insurance business is also extremely competitive. The competition includes: (1) companies with higher A.M. Best ratings, as described below, (2) alternative workers’ compensation markets, and (3) self-insured funds. Georgia Casualty’s efforts are directed in the following three general categories where the company believes it has the best opportunity to control exposures and claims: (1) manufacturing, (2) artisan contractors, and (3) service industries. Management believes that Georgia Casualty’s key to being competitive in these areas is maintaining strong underwriting standards, risk management programs, writing workers’ compensation coverage as part of its total insurance package, maintaining and expanding its loyal network of agents and development of new agents in key territories. In addition, Georgia Casualty offers quality customer service to its agents and insureds, and provides rehabilitation, medical management, and claims management services to its insureds. Georgia Casualty believes that it will continue to be competitive in the marketplace based on its current strategies and services.

 

Life and Health Operations

 

The life and health insurance business also remains highly competitive and includes a large number of insurance companies, many of which have substantially greater financial resources than Bankers Fidelity or the Company. Bankers Fidelity focuses on four core products in the senior market: Medicare supplement, hospital indemnity, small face amount life insurance and short-term nursing home coverage. Bankers Fidelity believes that its primary competitors in this market are Continental Life, Standard Life & Accident, Lincoln Heritage Life, United American, American Pioneer and Blue Cross / Blue Shield. Bankers Fidelity competes with these as well as other insurers on the basis of premium rates, policy benefits and service to policyholders. Bankers Fidelity also competes with other insurers to attract and retain the allegiance of its independent agents through commission arrangements, accessibility and marketing assistance, lead programs, reputation, and market expertise. Bankers Fidelity utilizes a proprietary lead generation program to attract and retain independent agents. Bankers Fidelity has expanded into other markets through cross-selling strategies with the

company’s property and casualty affiliations, offering turn-key marketing programs to facilitate business through these relationships. Bankers Fidelity continues to expand in niche markets through long-term relationships with a select number of independent marketing organizations including worksite marketing, credit union business and association endorsements. Bankers Fidelity has a track record of competing in its chosen markets through long-standing relationships with independent agents and marketing agencies by providing proprietary marketing initiatives and outstanding service to distribution and policyholders. Bankers Fidelity believes that it competes effectively on the basis of policy benefits, services and market expertise.

 

Ratings of insurance companies are not designed for investors and do not constitute recommendations to buy, sell, or hold any security. Ratings are important measures within the insurance industry, and improved ratings should have a favorable impact on the ability of a company to compete in the marketplace.

 

Each year A.M Best Company, Inc. (“A.M. Best”) publishes Best’s Insurance Reports, which includes assessments and ratings of all insurance companies. A.M. Best’s ratings, which may be revised quarterly, fall into fifteen categories ranging from A++ (Superior) to F (in liquidation). A.M. Best’s ratings are based on a detailed analysis of the statutory financial condition and operations of an insurance company compared to the industry in general.

 

American Southern.  American Southern and its wholly-owned subsidiary, American Safety Insurance Company, are each currently rated “A−” (Excellent) by A.M. Best.

 

Association Casualty.  Association Casualty is currently rated “A−” (Excellent) by A.M. Best.

 

Georgia Casualty.  Georgia Casualty is currently rated “B++” (Very Good) by A.M. Best.

 

Bankers Fidelity.  Bankers Fidelity is currently rated “B++” (Very Good) by A.M. Best.

 

In common with all domestic insurance companies, the Company’s insurance subsidiaries are subject to regulation and supervision in the jurisdictions in which they do business. Statutes typically delegate regulatory, supervisory, and administrative powers to state insurance commissioners. The method of such regulation varies, but regulation relates generally to the licensing of insurers and their agents, the nature of and limitations on investments, approval of policy forms, reserve requirements, the standards of solvency to be met and maintained, deposits of securities for the benefit of policyholders, and periodic examinations of insurers and trade practices, among other things. The Company’s products generally are subject to rate regulation by state insurance commissions, which require that certain minimum loss ratios be maintained. Certain states also have insurance holding company laws which require registration and periodic reporting by insurance companies controlled by other corporations licensed to transact business within their respective jurisdictions. The Company’s insurance subsidiaries are subject to such legislation and are registered as controlled insurers in those jurisdictions in which such registration is required. Such laws vary from state to state, but typically require periodic disclosure concerning the corporation which controls the registered insurers and all subsidiaries of such corporations, as well as prior notice to, or approval by, the state insurance commissioners of intercorporate transfers of assets (including payments of dividends by the insurance subsidiaries in excess of specified amounts) within the holding company system.

 

Most states require that rate schedules and other information be filed with the state’s insurance regulatory authority, either directly or through a rating organization with which the insurer is affiliated. The regulatory authority may disapprove a rate filing if it determines that the rates are inadequate, excessive, or discriminatory. The Company has historically experienced no significant regulatory resistance to its applications for rate adjustments; however, the Company cannot provide any assurance that it will not receive any objections to its applications in the future.

 

A state may require that acceptable securities be deposited for the protection either of policyholders located in those states or of all policyholders. As of December 31, 2006, securities with an amortized cost of

$17.9 million were on deposit either directly with various state authorities or with third parties pursuant to various custodial agreements on behalf of the Company’s insurance subsidiaries.

 

Virtually all of the states in which the Company’s insurance subsidiaries are licensed to transact business require participation in their respective guaranty funds designed to cover claims against insolvent insurers. Insurers authorized to transact business in these jurisdictions are generally subject to assessments of up to 4% of annual direct premiums written in that jurisdiction to pay such claims, if any. The likelihood and amount of any future assessments cannot be estimated until an insolvency has occurred. For 2006, 2005, and 2004, the amounts expensed by the Company for such assessments were $0.4 million, $0.1 million, and $0.6 million, respectively.

 

Workers’ compensation insurance carriers authorized to transact business in certain states are required to participate in second injury trust funds of those states. A second injury trust fund is a state-mandated monetary reserve designed to remove financial disincentives from the employment of individuals with disabilities. Without a second injury trust fund, the employer or insurer might be required to absorb full indemnity and/or medical and rehabilitation costs if a worker suffered increased disability from a work-related injury because of a pre-existing condition. Second injury trust funds are used to reimburse indemnity and medical costs to employer/insurers on accepted, qualified second injury cases. For 2006, 2005, and 2004, the amounts expensed by the Company in connection with such assessments were $1.7 million, $1.2 million, and $1.1 million, respectively. The increase during 2006 was primarily due to a $1.0 million revision in the estimate of the cumulative second injury trust fund accrual recorded in the second quarter.

 

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (the “NAIC”) was established to, among other things, provide guidelines to assess the financial strength of insurance companies for state regulatory purposes. The NAIC conducts annual reviews of the financial data of insurance companies primarily through the application of 13 financial ratios prepared on a statutory basis. The annual statements are submitted to state insurance departments to assist them in monitoring insurance companies in their state and to set forth a desirable range in which companies should fall in each such ratio.

 

The NAIC suggests that insurance companies which fall outside of the “usual” range in four or more financial ratios are those most likely to require analysis by state regulators. However, according to the NAIC, it may not be unusual for a financially sound company to have several ratios outside the “usual” range, and in normal years the NAIC expects 15% of the companies it tests to be outside the “usual” range in four or more categories.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2006, Association Casualty and American Southern were within the NAIC “usual” range for all 13 financial ratios. Bankers Fidelity was outside the “usual” range on one ratio: the change in premium. The change in premium variance was primarily due to a decline in new business levels and the loss, during 2006, of certain existing policies that resulted from increased competition. Georgia Casualty was outside the “usual” range on two ratios: the change in net writings and the two year overall operating ratio variance. The change in net writings ratio variance was primarily due to the decrease in assumed premium. During the third quarter of 2005, Georgia Casualty no longer assumed new business written by Association Casualty. The two year overall operating ratio variance was primarily due not only to hurricane related losses but also several other large losses during 2005.

 

Risk-based capital (“RBC”) is used by rating agencies and regulators as an early warning tool to identify weakly capitalized companies for the purpose of initiating further regulatory action. The RBC calculation determines the amount of adjusted capital needed by a company to avoid regulatory action. “Authorized Control Level Risk-Based Capital” (“ACL”) is calculated, and if a company’s adjusted capital is 200% or lower than ACL, it is subject to regulatory action. At December 31, 2006, all of the Company’s insurance subsidiaries exceeded the RBC regulatory levels.

 

Investment income represents a significant portion of the Company’s total income. Insurance company investments are subject to state insurance laws and regulations which limit the concentration and types of investments. The following table provides information on the Company’s investments as of the dates indicated.

 

 

 

Results of the investment portfolio for periods shown were as follows:

 

 

 

Management’s investment strategy is an increased investment in short and medium maturity bonds and common and preferred stocks.

 

The Company and its subsidiaries employed 253 people at December 31, 2006.

 

The Company’s primary insurance subsidiaries operate with relative autonomy and each company is evaluated on its individual performance. American Southern, Association Casualty, and Georgia Casualty operate in the Property and Casualty insurance market, while Bankers Fidelity operates in the Life and Health insurance market. All segments derive revenue from the collection of premiums, as well as from investment income. Substantially all revenue other than that in the corporate and other segment is from external sources. (See Note 14 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.)

 

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 read and obtain copies of those materials by visiting the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers like Atlantic American that file electronically with the SEC. The address of the SEC’s web site is http://www.sec.gov. In addition, as soon as reasonably practicable after such materials are filed with or furnished to the SEC by the Company, the Company makes copies available to the public, free of charge, on or through its web site at http://www.atlam.com.

 

The table below and the information following the table set forth, for each executive officer of the Company as of March 1, 2007, his name, age, positions with the Company and business experience for the past five years, as well as any prior service with the Company (based upon information supplied by each of them).

 

Officers are elected annually and serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

 

Mr. Robinson has served as a Director and Chairman of the Board since 1974 and served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company from September 1988 to May 1995. In addition, Mr. Robinson is a director of Gray Television, Inc.

 

Mr. Howell has been President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since May 1995, and prior thereto served as Executive Vice President of the Company from October 1992 to May 1995. He has been a Director of the Company since October 1992. Mr. Howell is the son-in-law of Mr. Robinson. He is also a director of Triple Crown Media, Inc. and Gray Television, Inc.

 

Mr. Sample has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company since July 2002. He also serves in the following capacities at subsidiaries of the Company: Director of Georgia Casualty, Director of Association Casualty, and Director of Bankers Fidelity. Prior to joining the Company in July 2002, he was a partner of Arthur Andersen LLP since 1990. He is also a director of 1st Franklin Financial Corporation.

 

Certain of the statements contained herein are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and include estimates and assumptions related to, among other things, economic, competitive and legislative developments. The forward-looking statements are subject to changes and uncertainties which are, in many instances, beyond the Company’s control and have been made based upon management’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effect upon the Company. There can be no assurance that future developments will be in accordance with management’s expectations or that the effect of future developments on the Company will be those anticipated by management. Actual results could differ materially from those expected by the Company, depending on the outcome of various factors. These factors include, among others, those discussed in the “Risk Factors” section which follows and: unanticipated increases in the rate, number and amounts of claims outstanding; the possible occurrence of terrorist attacks; the level of performance of reinsurance companies under reinsurance contracts and the availability, pricing and adequacy of reinsurance to protect the Company against losses; changes in the stock markets, interest rates or other financial markets, including the potential effect on the Company’s statutory capital levels; the uncertain effect on the Company of regulatory and market-driven changes in practices relating to the payment of incentive compensation to brokers, agents and other producers; the incidence and severity of catastrophes, both natural and man-made; stronger than anticipated competitive activity; unfavorable judicial or legislative developments, including the possibility that the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 is not ultimately extended; the potential effect of regulatory developments, including those which could increase the Company’s business costs and required capital levels; the possibility of general economic and business conditions that are less favorable than anticipated; the Company’s ability to distribute its products through distribution channels, both current and future; the uncertain effect of emerging claim and coverage issues; and the effect of assessments and other surcharges for guaranty funds and second-injury trust funds and other mandatory pooling arrangements. Many of such factors are beyond the Company’s ability to control or predict. As a result, the Company’s actual financial condition, results of operations and stock price could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by the Company. Undue reliance should not be placed upon forward-looking statements contained herein. The Company does not intend to publicly update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by, or on behalf of, the Company.

 

There are numerous factors, many beyond our control, which could have a significant or material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, operating results or liquidity. Any factor discussed below or elsewhere in this report could by itself or, together with one or more factors, cause results to differ significantly from our expectations. Further, there may be significant additional risks which management has

not considered which could have a significant or material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, operating results or liquidity of the Company.

 

We operate in a highly competitive environment.

 

The life and health and property and casualty insurance businesses are highly competitive. We compete with large national insurance companies, locally-based specialty carriers and alternative risk transfer entities whose activities are directed to limited markets. Competitors include companies that have substantially greater resources than we do, as well as mutual companies and similar companies not subject to the expenses and limitations imposed on publicly-held companies. Competition is based on many factors including premiums charged, terms and conditions of coverage, service provided, financial ratings assigned by independent rating agencies, claims services, reputation, perceived financial strength and the experience of the organization in the line of business being written. Increased competition could adversely affect our ability to attract and retain business at current premium levels and reduce the profits that would otherwise arise from operations.

 

We operate in a highly regulated environment.

 

Our insurance businesses are subject to extensive regulations by state insurance authorities in each state in which they operate. Regulation is intended for the benefit of the policyholders rather than shareholders. In addition to limiting the amount of dividend and other payments that can be made to our holding company by our insurance subsidiaries, regulatory authorities have broad administrative and supervisory authority relating to: licensing requirements, trade practices, capital and surplus requirements, investment practices and rates charged to our customers. Regulatory authorities may also impose conditions on terms of business or rate increases that we may desire to enhance our operating results. In addition, we may incur significant costs in complying with regulatory requests, initiatives and/or requirements. Regulatory authorities generally also regulate insurance holding companies in a variety of matters such as placing limits on acquisitions, changes of control and the terms of any affiliate transactions.

 

Our revenues may fluctuate with insurance market conditions for similar products.

 

We derive a significant portion of our insurance premium revenue from Medicare supplement and moderately-sized commercial property and casualty insurance policies. While we have in the recent past been successful in implementing premium increases which help improve our operating results, we believe that competition from alternative government sponsored products and pricing decisions from larger insurers will, at least in the short term, result in more moderate pricing increases, if not decreases in certain situations. Should our competitors become less disciplined in their pricing, or more permissive in their terms, we may lose customers who base their purchasing decisions primarily on price because our policy is to price coverage commensurate with the underlying risk. We cannot predict whether, when or how market conditions will change, or the manner in which, or the extent to which any such changes may adversely impact the results of our operations.

 

Our revenues and profitability may fluctuate with interest rates and investment results.

 

We generally rely on the positive performance of our investment portfolio to offset insurance losses and to contribute to our profitability. As our investment portfolio is primarily comprised of interest-earning assets, prevailing economic conditions, particularly changes in market interest rates, may significantly affect our operating results. Changes in interest rates also can affect the value of our interest-earning assets, which are principally comprised of fixed rate investment securities. Generally, the values of fixed-rate investment securities fluctuate inversely with changes in interest rates. Interest rate fluctuations could adversely affect our shareholders’ equity, income and/or cash flows. Further, to the extent fixed rate investment securities consist of investments in other than government or government agency securities, changing credit risk profiles may significantly affect our operating results. The Company generally carries investment securities at fair value; however, if the value of an investment security declines below its cost or amortized cost, and the decline is considered to be other than temporary, a realized loss is recorded to reduce the carrying value of the

investment to its estimated fair value. Realized losses are reflected as a reduction in investment results and revenues and could adversely impact our results of operations.

 

Our operating results may be affected if incurred losses differ from our loss reserve estimates.

 

Varying periods of time often elapse between the occurrence of an insured loss, the reporting of the loss by the insured and the ultimate settlement of that loss. The financial statement recognition of unpaid incurred losses is made through a provision for incurred losses with corresponding loss reserves established. The loss reserves represent the estimate of amounts needed to pay incurred losses and related loss adjustment expense as of the balance sheet date. The process of estimating loss reserves is a complex undertaking and involves significant variables and judgments. Consideration is given to numerous factors including, but not limited to: historical data; trends in claim frequency and severity; changes in operations; emerging economic, social, regulatory and legal trends and inflation. Further, estimating loss reserves assumes that past experience, adjusted for the effect of current developments and anticipated trends, is an appropriate, but not always necessarily accurate, basis for predicting future settlements. There is no precise method for evaluating the impact of any specific factor on the adequacy of loss reserves, and ultimate settlements will differ from initial and regularly updated estimates. To the extent loss reserves prove to be inadequate in the future, increases in loss reserves would be necessitated with a corresponding charge to earnings in the period the reserves are increased, which could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.

 

Rapidly changing benefit costs could have a material impact on our operations.

 

A significant portion of the Company’s insurance policies provide coverage for some portion of medical benefits and/or repair/replacement of damaged property such as buildings and automobiles. Historical inflationary increases in those costs are considered when developing premium rates; however, on occasion, future cost increases exceed those initially estimated. In the medical field, scientific breakthroughs and/or new technology can result in unanticipated increasing medical costs. In property repair/replacement, a significant geographically concentrated demand for labor and supplies, particularly as a result of catastrophic disasters, may result in significantly increased costs. Rapidly changing costs of settling claims in excess of those originally anticipated, due to scientific breakthrough, new technology and/or catastrophic events could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations.

 

If market conditions cause reinsurance to be more costly or unavailable, we may be required to assume increased risk or reduce the level of our underwriting commitments.

 

As part of our enterprise risk management strategy, we purchase reinsurance for significant amounts of risk underwritten by our insurance company subsidiaries. Market conditions beyond our control determine the availability and cost of the reinsurance, which may affect the level of our business and profitability. We may be unable to maintain current reinsurance coverage or to obtain other reinsurance coverage in adequate amounts and at comparable rates in the future. If we are unable to renew our expiring coverage or to obtain new reinsurance coverage, either our net exposure to risk would increase, or if we were unwilling to assume additional risk, we would have to reduce the amount of our underwritten risk.

 

We cannot guarantee that our reinsurers will pay in a timely fashion, if at all, and, as a result, we could experience losses.

 

We transfer some of our risks to reinsurance companies in exchange for part of the premium we receive in connection with the risk. Although reinsurance makes the reinsurer liable to us to the extent the risk is transferred, it does not relieve us of our liability to our policyholders. If reinsurers fail to pay us or fail to pay on a timely basis, our financial results would be adversely affected.

 

The guaranty fund assessments that we are required to pay to state guaranty associations may increase and results of operations and financial condition could suffer as a result.

 

A majority of the states in which we operate have separate insurance guaranty fund laws which require certain admitted insurance companies doing business within their respective jurisdictions to be a member of their guaranty associations. These associations are organized to pay covered claims, as defined, under insurance policies issued by insolvent insurance companies. Most guaranty association laws enable the associations to make assessments against member insurers to obtain funds to pay covered claims after a member insurer becomes insolvent. These associations levy assessments, up to prescribed limits, on all member insurers in a particular state on the basis of the proportionate share of the premiums written by member insurers in the covered lines of business in that state. Maximum assessments permitted by law in any one year are generally subject to 4% of annual premiums written by a member in that state. Some states permit member insurers to recover assessments paid through surcharges on policyholders or through full or partial premium tax offsets, while other states permit recovery of assessments through the rate filing process. Our policy is to accrue an estimated annual assessment based on the most recent prior year’s experience. There is a significant degree of uncertainty in estimating the liabilities relating to an insolvent insurer due to inadequate financial data with respect to the estate of the insolvent company as supplied by the guaranty funds.

 

The unpredictability of court decisions could have a material impact on our operations.

 

From time to time we are party to legal proceedings that may arise from disputes over our insurance coverage. The financial position of our insurance subsidiaries may be affected by court decisions that expand insurance coverage beyond the intention of the insurer at the time it originally issued an insurance policy. In addition, a significant jury award, or series of awards, against one or more of our insureds could require us to pay large sums of money in excess of our reserve amounts.

 

The passage of tort reform or other legislation, and the subsequent review of such laws by the courts, could have a material impact on our operations.

 

Tort reforms generally restrict the ability of a plaintiff to recover damages by, among other limitations, eliminating certain claims that may be heard in a court, limiting the amount or types of damages, changing statutes of limitations or the period of time to make a claim, and limited venue or court selection. A number of states in which we do business have enacted, or are considering, tort reform legislation. Proposed federal tort reform legislation has failed to win Congressional approval to date. While the effects of tort reform would appear to be beneficial to our business generally, there can be no assurance that such reforms will be effective or ultimately upheld by the courts in the various states. Further, if tort reforms are effective, it could effectively increase the level of competition for us in the markets in which we compete. In addition, there can be no assurance that the benefits of tort reform will not be accompanied by legislation or regulatory actions that may be detrimental to our business. Furthermore, insurance regulators might require premium rate limitations and expanded coverage requirements as well as other requirements in anticipation of the expected benefits of tort reform which may or may not be actually realized.

 

The geographic concentration of our regional property and casualty operations ties our performance to the economic, regulatory and demographic conditions of the southern United States.

 

Our revenues and profitability are subject to prevailing economic, regulatory, demographic and other conditions in the states in which we write insurance. While our life and health subsidiary writes insurance in numerous and diverse states, our regional property and casualty subsidiaries write business in the southern United States, which include New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, and North and South Carolina (the “Southern States.”) While we have limited exposures in the states of Louisiana and Alabama, the Company does not actively solicit business in those states. Further, even though the regional property and casualty subsidiaries write business in these eleven Southern States, there is a concentration of business in the three states of Georgia, Mississippi and Texas, which have potential coastal exposures. The Company’s coastal underwriting guidelines have been significantly revised in the past

three years, thereby reducing the Company’s future exposure. While there can be no assurances with respect to reduced losses as a result of future storms or natural catastrophes, the concentration of business in these Southern States does limit the opportunity for risk diversification and exposes the Company to events which could result in a material adverse effect.

 

Catastrophic events could have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated operating results, financial condition and/or liquidity.

 

The Company’s primary objective in managing risk is to obtain diversification in the types and locations of business written. In the property and casualty operations, modeling is performed to evaluate the “probable maximum loss” that may result from natural catastrophic events. There are however, catastrophic events which may occur, the effects of which cannot be reasonably estimated. In various Asian and European countries there have been confirmed cases of H5N1 Avian Influenza in birds. Individuals, primarily in Asia, have contracted the H5N1 Avian Influenza and although there are no cases which have been reported in the United States, should such influenza reach the United States and begin spreading via human transmission, the impact on our life and health subsidiary is undeterminable. Further, in the past three years but more particularly in 2005 and 2004, our property and casualty operations have sustained losses from eight “named” hurricanes. Not only have the hurricanes been costly due to the direct losses incurred by the Company’s insureds, but the Company has also been subject to significant assessments from various state windstorm facilities. Windstorm assessments from the states of Mississippi and Florida during 2006, related to prior year’s catastrophes, totaled approximately $2.4 million, of which $0.03 million was absorbed by reinsurance. However, should catastrophic windstorms continue, the direct losses resultant therefrom, coupled with state windstorm assessments could result in losses ultimately exceeding the Company’s reinsurance limits which occurred with respect to hurricane Katrina in 2005. Additionally, the Company does not insure “high-profile” individuals and/or locations and believes the risk of loss from future catastrophic terrorist activities is remote. Each of these or other catastrophic events, individually and/or collectively could ultimately however have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated operating results, financial condition and/or liquidity.

 

If we are unable to maintain favorable financial strength ratings, it may be more difficult for us to write new business or renew our existing business.

 

Our principal operating subsidiaries hold favorable financial strength ratings from A.M. Best, an independent insurance rating agency. Financial strength ratings are used by our agents and customers as an important means of assessing the financial strength and quality of various insurers. If our financial position, or that of any of our individual subsidiaries, were to deteriorate, we may not maintain our existing financial strength ratings from the rating agency. A downgrade or withdrawal of any such rating could limit or prevent us from writing and/or renewing desirable business which would materially adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations.

 

Our business could be adversely affected by the loss of independent agents.

 

We depend in part on the services of independent agents and brokers in the marketing of our insurance products. We face competition from other insurance companies for the services and allegiance of independent agents and brokers. These agents and brokers may choose to direct business to competing insurance companies or may direct less desirable risks to us.

 

Our business could be adversely affected by the loss of one or more key employees.

 

We are heavily dependent upon our senior management and the loss of services of any of our senior executives could adversely affect our business. Our success has been, and will continue to be, dependent on our ability to retain the services of existing key employees and to attract and retain additional qualified personnel in the future. The loss of the services of key employees or senior management, or the inability to identify, hire and retain other highly qualified personnel in the future, could adversely affect the quality and profitability of our business operations.

 

We are a holding company and are dependent on dividends and other payments from our operating subsidiaries, which are subject to dividend restrictions.

 

We are a holding company whose principal source of funds is cash dividends and other permitted payments from operating subsidiaries. If our subsidiaries are unable to make payments to us, or are able to pay only limited amounts, we may be unable to make payments on our indebtedness. The payment of dividends by these operating subsidiaries is subject to restrictions set forth in the insurance laws and regulations of their respective states of domicile.

 

A majority of our common stock is held directly and indirectly by one family.

 

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of our Company and his family, directly and indirectly, own slightly less than 2/3 of the outstanding common stock of the Company. Accordingly, on significantly all matters requiring a majority or greater shareholder vote, our Chairman and his family effectively control the vote. Such ownership effectively precludes any other shareholder from acquiring any number of shares in an attempt to exercise any degree of control over the Company. Further, as a result of the significant ownership, the level of float of the Company’s stock on the NASDAQ market is minimal.

 

Not applicable.

 

Leased Properties.  The Company leases space for its principal offices and for some of its insurance operations in an office building located in Atlanta, Georgia, from Delta Life Insurance Company under leases which expire at various times through May 31, 2012. Under the current terms of the leases, the Company occupies approximately 65,489 square feet of office space. Delta Life Insurance Company, the owner of the building, is controlled by J. Mack Robinson, Chairman of the Board of Directors and the largest shareholder of the Company. The terms of the leases are believed by Company management to be comparable to terms which could be obtained by the Company from unrelated parties for comparable rental property.

 

American Southern leases space for its office in a building located in Atlanta, Georgia. The lease term expires January 31, 2010. Under the terms of the lease, American Southern occupies approximately 17,014 square feet.

 

Association Casualty leases space for its office in a building located in Austin, Texas. The lease term expires April 30, 2011. Under the terms of the lease, Association Casualty occupies 15,777 square feet.

 

Self Insurance Administrators, Inc. (“SIA”), a non-insurance subsidiary of the Company, leases space for its office in a building located in Duluth, Georgia. The lease term expires March 31, 2008. Under the terms of the lease, SIA occupies 2,266 square feet.

 

From time to time, the Company and its subsidiaries are involved in various claims and lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of business, both as a liability insurer defending third-party claims brought against insureds and as an insurer defending coverage claims brought against it. The Company accounts for such exposures through the establishment of loss and loss adjustment expense reserves. Subject to the uncertainties inherent in litigation, management expects that the ultimate liability, if any, with respect to such ordinary-course claims litigation, after consideration of provisions made for probable losses and costs of defense, will not be material to the Company’s consolidated financial condition, although the results of such litigation could be material to the consolidated results of operations for any given period.

 

There were no matters submitted to a vote of the Company’s shareholders during the quarter ended December 31, 2006.

 

The Company’s common stock is quoted on the Nasdaq Global Market (Symbol: AAME). As of March 16, 2007, there were 4,158 shareholders of record. The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low sale prices of the Company’s common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Market.

 

 

The Company has not paid dividends to its common shareholders since the fourth quarter of 1988. The Company has elected to retain its earnings to grow its business and does not anticipate paying cash dividends on its common stock in the foreseeable future. Payment of dividends in the future will be at the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors and will depend upon the financial condition, capital requirements, earnings of the Company, any restrictions contained in any agreements by which the Company is bound, as well as other factors as the Board of Directors may deem relevant. The Company’s primary sources of cash for the payment of dividends are dividends from its subsidiaries. Under the insurance codes of the state of jurisdiction under which each insurance subsidiary operates, dividend payments to the Company by its insurance subsidiaries without the prior approval of the Insurance Commissioner of the applicable state, are limited to the greater of 10% of statutory surplus or statutory net income of such subsidiary before recognizing realized investment gains. At December 31, 2006, Georgia Casualty had $23.4 million of statutory surplus, American Southern had $34.9 million of statutory surplus, Association Casualty had $21.7 million of statutory surplus, and Bankers Fidelity Life had $34.5 million of statutory surplus.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

The following table sets forth, as of December 31, 2006, the number of securities outstanding under the Company’s equity compensation plans, the weighted average exercise price of such securities and the number of securities remaining available for grant under these plans:

 

 

 

 

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

On May 2, 1995, the Board of Directors of the Company approved an initial plan that allowed for the repurchase of shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Repurchase Plan”). As amended since its original adoption, the Repurchase Plan currently allows for repurchases of up to an aggregate of 2.0 million shares of the Company’s common stock on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, as determined by an authorized officer of the Company. Such purchases can be made from time to time in accordance with applicable securities laws and other requirements.

 

Other than pursuant to the Repurchase Plan, no purchases of common stock of the Company were made by or on behalf of the Company during the periods described below.

 

The table below sets forth information regarding repurchases by the Company of shares of its common stock on a monthly basis during the three months ended December 31, 2006.

 

Performance Graph

 

The graph below compares the cumulative total return to shareholders on the Company’s common stock for the period from December 31, 2001 through December 31, 2006, with (i) the Russell 2000 Index, (ii) the Nasdaq Insurance Index, and (iii) a previously selected peer group of insurance companies (the “Insurance Peer Group”).

 

 

Assumes $100 invested at the close of trading in 12/2001 in Atlantic American common stock, the Russell 2000 Index, the NASDAQ Insurance Index and the Insurance Peer Group.

 

 

 

Insurance Peer Group includes: American Safety Insurance Group Ltd., Donegal Insurance Group J, National Security Group, Inc., Meadowbrook Insurance Group, Inc., Horace Mann Educators Corp., Unico American Corp. and Covanta Holding Group.

 

 

 

 

The following is management’s discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operations of Atlantic American Corporation (“Atlantic American” or the “Parent”) and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2006. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere herein.

 

Atlantic American is an insurance holding company whose operations are conducted through a group of regional insurance companies: American Southern Insurance Company and American Safety Insurance Company (together known as “American Southern”); Association Casualty Insurance Company and Association Risk Management General Agency, Inc. (together known as “Association Casualty”); Georgia Casualty & Surety Company (“Georgia Casualty”); and Bankers Fidelity Life Insurance Company (“Bankers Fidelity”). Each operating company is managed separately based upon the geographic location or the type of products offered and is evaluated on its individual performance. Management has conformed information systems, policies and procedures, products, marketing and managerial responsibilities between Association Casualty and Georgia Casualty to create a southern “regional” property and casualty operation and increase efficiencies.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

The accounting and reporting policies of the Company are in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and, in management’s belief, conform to general practices within the insurance industry. The following is an explanation of the Company’s accounting policies and the resultant estimates considered most significant by management. These accounting policies inherently require significant judgment and assumptions and actual operating results could differ from management’s initial estimates determined using these policies. Atlantic American does not expect that changes in the estimates determined using these policies will have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition or liquidity, although changes could have a material effect on its consolidated results of operations.

 

Unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses comprised 45% of the Company’s liabilities at December 31, 2006. This obligation includes estimates for: 1) unpaid losses on claims reported prior to December 31, 2006, 2) development on those reported claims, 3) unpaid ultimate losses on claims incurred prior to December 31, 2006 but not yet reported and 4) unpaid loss adjustment expenses for reported and unreported claims incurred prior to December 31, 2006. Quantification of loss estimates for each of these components involves a significant degree of judgment and estimates may vary, materially, from period to period. Estimated unpaid losses on reported claims are developed based on historical experience with similar claims by the Company. Development on reported claims, estimates of unpaid ultimate losses on claims incurred prior to December 31, 2006 but not yet reported, and estimates of unpaid loss adjustment expenses, are developed based on the Company’s historical experience, using actuarial methods to assist in the analysis. The Company’s actuarial staff develops ranges of estimated development on reported and unreported claims as well as loss adjustment expenses using various methods including the paid-loss development method, the reported-loss development method, the paid Bornhuetter-Ferguson method, the reported Bornhuetter-Ferguson method, the Berquist-Sherman method and a frequency-severity method. Any single method used to estimate ultimate losses has inherent advantages and disadvantages due to the trends and changes affecting the business environment and the Company’s administrative policies. Further, a variety of external factors, such as legislative changes, medical cost inflation, and others may directly or indirectly impact the relative adequacy of liabilities for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses. The Company’s approach is to select an estimate of ultimate losses based on comparing results of a variety of reserving methods, as opposed to total reliance on any single method. Unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses are reviewed periodically for significant lines of business, and when current results differ from the original assumptions used to develop such estimates, the amount of the Company’s recorded liability for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses is adjusted. In the event the Company’s actual reported losses in any period are materially in excess of the previous estimated amounts, such losses, to the extent reinsurance coverage does not exist, would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations.

Future policy benefits comprised 14% of the Company’s total liabilities at December 31, 2006. These liabilities relate primarily to life insurance products and are based upon assumed future investment yields, mortality rates, and withdrawal rates after giving effect to possible risks of adverse deviation. The assumed mortality and withdrawal rates are based upon the Company’s experience. If actual results differ from the initial assumptions, the amount of the Company’s recorded liability could require adjustment.

 

Deferred acquisition costs comprised 5% of the Company’s total assets at December 31, 2006. Deferred acquisition costs are commissions, premium taxes, and other costs that vary with and are primarily related to the acquisition of new and renewal business and are generally deferred and amortized. The deferred amounts are recorded as an asset on the balance sheet and amortized to expense in a systematic manner. Traditional life insurance and long-duration health insurance deferred policy acquisition costs are amortized over the estimated premium-paying period of the related policies using assumptions consistent with those used in computing the related liability for policy benefit reserves. The deferred acquisition costs for property and casualty insurance and short-duration health insurance are amortized over the effective period of the related insurance policies. Deferred policy acquisition costs are expensed when such costs are deemed not to be recoverable from future premiums (for traditional life and long-duration health insurance) and from the related unearned premiums and investment income (for property and casualty and short-duration health insurance). Assessments of recoverability for property and casualty and short-duration health insurance are extremely sensitive to the estimates of a subsequent year’s projected losses related to the unearned premiums. Projected loss estimates for a current block of business for which unearned premiums remain to be earned may vary significantly from the indicated losses incurred in any given previous calendar year.

 

Receivables are amounts due from reinsurers, insureds and agents and comprised 20% of the Company’s total assets at December 31, 2006. Insured and agent balances are evaluated periodically for collectibility. Annually, the Company performs an analysis of the credit worthiness of the Company’s reinsurers using various data sources. Failure of reinsurers to meet their obligations due to insolvencies or disputes could result in uncollectible amounts and losses to the Company. Allowances for uncollectible amounts are established, as and when a loss has been determined probable, against the related receivable. Losses are recognized when determined on a specific account basis and a general provision for loss is made based on the Company’s historical experience.

 

Cash and investments comprised 71% of the Company’s total assets at December 31, 2006. Substantially all investments are in bonds and common and preferred stocks, which are subject to significant market fluctuations. The Company carries all investments as available for sale and, accordingly, at their estimated fair values. The Company owns certain non-redeemable preferred stocks that do not have quoted values and are carried at estimated fair values as determined by management. Such values inherently involve a greater degree of judgment and uncertainty and therefore ultimately greater price volatility. On occasion, the value of an investment may decline to a value below its amortized purchase price and remain at such value for an extended period of time. When an investment’s indicated fair value has declined below its cost basis for a period of time, primarily due to changes in credit risk, the Company evaluates such investment for other than a temporary impairment. If other than a temporary impairment is deemed to exist, then the Company will write down the amortized cost basis of the investment to its estimated fair value. While such write down does not impact the reported value of the investment in the Company’s balance sheet, it is reflected as a realized investment loss in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.

 

Deferred income taxes comprised approximately 1% of the Company’s total assets at December 31, 2006. Deferred income taxes reflect the effect of temporary differences between assets and liabilities that are recognized for financial reporting purposes and the amounts that are recognized for tax purposes. These deferred income taxes are measured by applying currently enacted tax laws and rates. Valuation allowances are recognized to reduce the deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. In assessing the likelihood of realization, management considers estimates of future taxable income and tax planning strategies.

 

Refer to Note 1 of “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” for details regarding the Company’s significant accounting policies.

 

Overall Corporate Results