RLI CORP - Annual Report: 2022 (Form 10-K)

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

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FORM 10-K

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For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022

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Or

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For the transition period from                         to

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Commission File Number 001-09463

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RLI CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

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Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (309) 692-1000

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

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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

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

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

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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 ☒ No ☐

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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

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If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒

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If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐

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Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐

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

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The aggregate market value of the registrant’s common stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant as of June 30, 2022, based upon the closing sale price of the Common Stock on June 30, 2022 as reported on the New York Stock Exchange, was $5,418,104,534. Shares of Common Stock held directly or indirectly by each reporting officer and director along with shares held by the Company ESOP have been excluded in that such persons may be deemed to be affiliates. This determination of affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes.

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The number of shares outstanding of the Registrant’s Common Stock, $0.01 par value, on February 13, 2023 was 45,514,193.

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DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

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Portions of the Registrant’s definitive Proxy Statement for the 2023 annual meeting of shareholders are incorporated herein by reference into Part III of this document.

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RLI Corp.

Index to Annual Report on Form 10-K

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PART I

Item 1. Business

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RLI Corp. was founded in 1965. References to “the Company,” “we,” “our,” “us” or like terms refer to the business of RLI Corp. and its subsidiaries. We underwrite select property, casualty and surety products through major subsidiaries collectively known as RLI Insurance Group. We conduct operations principally through three insurance companies. RLI Insurance Company (RLI Ins.), a subsidiary of RLI Corp. and our principal insurance subsidiary, writes multiple lines of insurance on an admitted basis in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam. Mt. Hawley Insurance Company (Mt. Hawley), a subsidiary of RLI Ins., writes excess and surplus lines insurance on a non-admitted basis in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam. Contractors Bonding and Insurance Company (CBIC), a subsidiary of RLI Ins., writes multiple lines of insurance on an admitted basis in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Each of our insurance companies is domiciled in Illinois. We have no material foreign operations.

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As a specialty insurance company with a niche focus, we offer insurance coverages in the specialty admitted and excess and surplus markets. We distribute our property and casualty insurance through locations across the country that market to wholesale and retail brokers, independent agents and carrier partners. We offer limited coverages on a direct basis to select insureds, as well as various reinsurance coverages. From time to time, we also write a limited amount of business under agreements with managing general agents under the direction of our product leadership.

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We make our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available free of charge on our website (rlicorp.com). Information contained on our website is not intended to be incorporated by reference in this annual report and you should not consider that information a part of this annual report. The SEC also maintains a website (http://www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding the Company.

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SPECIALTY INSURANCE MARKET OVERVIEW

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The specialty insurance market differs significantly from the standard market. In the standard market, products and coverage are largely uniform with relatively predictable exposures and companies tend to compete for customers on the basis of price. In contrast, the specialty market provides coverage for risks that do not fit the underwriting criteria of the standard carriers. Competition tends to focus less on price and more on availability, coverage, service and other value-based considerations. While specialty market exposures may have higher insurance risks than their standard admitted market counterparts, we manage these risks to achieve higher financial returns. To reach our financial and operational goals, we must have extensive knowledge of, and expertise in, our markets. Many of our risks are underwritten on an individual basis and tailored coverages are employed in order to respond to distinctive risk characteristics. We operate in the specialty admitted insurance market, the excess and surplus insurance market and the specialty reinsurance markets.

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SPECIALTY ADMITTED INSURANCE MARKET

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We write business in the specialty admitted market. Many of these risks are unique and hard to place in the standard admitted market, but for marketing and regulatory reasons, they must remain with an admitted insurance company. The specialty admitted market is subject to greater state regulation than the excess and surplus market, particularly with regard to rate and form filing requirements, restrictions on the ability to exit lines of business, premium tax payments and membership in various state associations, such as state guaranty funds and assigned risk plans. For 2022, our specialty admitted operations produced gross premiums written of $916.0 million, representing approximately 59 percent of our total gross premiums for the year.

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EXCESS AND SURPLUS INSURANCE MARKET

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The excess and surplus market focuses on hard-to-place risks. Participating in this market allows the Company to underwrite non-standard risks with more flexible policy forms and unregulated premium rates. This typically results in coverages that are more restrictive and more expensive than in the standard admitted market. The excess and surplus lines environment and production model effectively filter submission flow and match market opportunities to our expertise and appetite. According to AM Best, the excess and surplus market represents less than 10 percent of the entire domestic property and casualty industry, as measured by direct premiums written. Our excess and surplus operations wrote gross premiums of $617.8 million, or 39 percent, of our total gross premiums written in 2022.

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SPECIALTY REINSURANCE MARKET

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We write business in the specialty reinsurance market. This business is generally written on a portfolio (treaty) basis. We write contracts on an excess of loss and a proportional basis. Contract provisions are written and agreed upon between the company and its reinsurance clients. The business is typically more volatile as a result of unique underlying exposures and excess and aggregate attachments. For 2022, our specialty reinsurance operations wrote gross premiums of $31.7 million, representing approximately 2 percent of our total gross premiums written for the year.

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BUSINESS SEGMENT OVERVIEW

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The segments of our insurance operations are casualty, property and surety. For additional information, see note 12 to the consolidated financial statements within Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. The table below summarizes the composition of net premiums earned by major product.

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CASUALTY SEGMENT

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Commercial Excess and Personal Umbrella

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Our commercial excess coverage is written in excess of primary liability insurance provided by other carriers and, in some cases, in excess of primary liability written by the Company. The personal umbrella coverage is generally written in excess of homeowners’ and automobile liability coverage provided by other carriers.

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General Liability

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Our general liability business consists primarily of coverage for third-party liability of commercial insureds including manufacturers, contractors, apartments and mercantile. We also offer coverages for security guards and in the specialized areas of onshore energy-related businesses and environmental liability for underground storage tanks, contractors and asbestos and environmental remediation specialists.

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Commercial Transportation

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Our transportation insurance provides commercial automobile liability and physical damage insurance to local, intermediate and long-haul truckers, public transportation entities and other types of specialty commercial automobile risks. We also offer incidental

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related insurance coverages including general liability, excess liability and motor truck cargo. We produce business through independent agents and brokers nationwide.

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Professional Services

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We offer professional liability coverages focused on providing errors and omission coverage for small to medium-sized design, technical, computer and other miscellaneous professionals. Our product suite for these customers also includes a full array of multi-peril package products including general liability, property, automobile, excess liability and workers’ compensation coverages. This business primarily markets its products through specialty retail agents nationwide.

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Small Commercial

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Our small commercial business offers property and casualty insurance coverages for small to mid-sized contractors, focused on the construction industry. The coverages included in these packages are predominantly general liability, but also have some inland marine coverages, as well as commercial automobile, property and excess coverage. These products are primarily marketed through retail agents.

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Executive Products

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We provide a suite of management liability coverages, such as directors and officers (D&O) liability insurance, fiduciary liability, employment practice liability and fidelity coverages, for a variety of risk classes, including both public and private businesses. Our publicly traded D&O appetite generally focuses on offering excess Side A D&O coverage (where corporations cannot indemnify the individual directors and officers) as well as excess full coverage D&O. Additionally, we offered excess cyber liability coverage for medium to large-sized public and private businesses, but exited this business on a runoff basis in 2021.

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Other Casualty

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We offer a variety of other smaller products in our casualty segment, including home business insurance, which provides limited liability and property coverage for a variety of small business owners who work from their own home. We have a quota share reinsurance agreement with Prime Insurance Company and Prime Property and Casualty Insurance Inc., the two insurance subsidiaries of Prime Holdings Insurance Services, Inc. (Prime). Through our reinsurance agreement with Prime, we assume general liability, excess, commercial auto, property and professional liability coverages on hard-to-place risks that are written in the excess and surplus and admitted insurance markets. Separately, we assume mortgage reinsurance, which provides credit risk transfer on pools of mortgages. We also offer general liability and package coverages through a general binding authority (GBA) group, a program in which select surplus lines producers are granted limited authority through our on-line system to bind business on behalf of the Company.

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PROPERTY SEGMENT

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Commercial Property

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Our commercial property coverage consists primarily of excess and surplus lines and specialty insurance such as fire, earthquake, wind and difference in conditions (DIC), which can include earthquake, flood and collapse coverages. We provide insurance for a wide range of commercial and industrial risks, such as office buildings, apartments, condominiums, builders’ risks and certain industrial and mercantile structures.

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Marine

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Our marine coverages include cargo, hull, protection and indemnity, marine liability, as well as inland marine coverages including builders’ risks and contractors’ equipment. Although the predominant exposures are located within the United States, there is some incidental international exposure written within these coverages.

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Other Property

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We offer specialized homeowners’ insurance, primarily homeowners’ and dwelling fire insurance through retail agents in Hawaii, as well as property coverages through our general binding authority group.

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SURETY SEGMENT

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Commercial

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We offer a large variety of commercial surety bonds for medium to large-sized businesses across a broad spectrum of industries, including the financial, healthcare as well as on and offshore energy, petrochemical and refining industries. These risks are underwritten on an account basis and coverage is marketed through a select number of regional and national brokers with surety expertise.

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Miscellaneous

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Our miscellaneous surety coverage includes small bonds for businesses and individuals written through independent insurance agencies throughout the United States. Examples of these types of bonds are license and permit, notary and court bonds. The underwriting and delivery of these bonds is highly automated.

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Contract

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We offer bonds for small to medium-sized contractors throughout the United States, underwritten on an account basis. Typically, these are performance and payment bonds for individual construction contracts. These bonds are marketed through a select number of insurance agencies that have surety and construction expertise. We also offer bonds for small and emerging contractors that are reinsured through the Federal Small Business Administration.

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MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION

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We distribute our coverages across the country, from our network of branch offices, primarily through wholesale and retail brokers, independent agents and carrier partners.

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BROKERS

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The largest volume of broker-generated premium is in our commercial property, general liability, commercial surety, executive products, commercial excess and commercial transportation coverages. This business is produced through independent wholesale and retail brokers.

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INDEPENDENT AGENTS

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We target classes of insurance, such as homeowners’ and dwelling fire, home business, surety and personal umbrella through independent agents. Several of these products involve detailed eligibility criteria, which are incorporated into strict underwriting guidelines and prequalification of each risk using a system accessible by the independent agent. The independent agent cannot bind the risk unless they receive approval from our underwriters or through our automated systems.

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UNDERWRITING AGENTS

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We contract with certain underwriting agencies, which have limited authority to bind or underwrite business on our behalf. The underwriting agreements involve strict underwriting guidelines and the agents are subject to regular audits.

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CARRIER PARTNERS

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We partner with other insurance carriers for home business and personal umbrella. The carriers place the business with us through their associated agencies when the underlying risk does not meet their underwriting appetite.

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DIGITAL AND DIRECT

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We utilize digital efforts to produce and efficiently process and service business including home business, general binding authority, small commercial and personal umbrella risks and surety bonding. On a direct basis, we also assume premium on various reinsurance treaties.

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COMPETITION

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Our specialty property and casualty insurance subsidiaries are part of a very competitive industry that is cyclical and historically characterized by periods of high premium rates and shortages of underwriting capacity followed by periods of severe competition and excess underwriting capacity. Within the United States alone, approximately 2,600 companies actively market property and casualty coverages. Our primary competitors in the casualty segment include Arch, Aspen, Berkley, Chubb, CNA, Great American, Great West, Hartford, Hudson, James River, Kinsale, Lancer, Markel, Protective, RSUI, Sompo, Travelers, USLI and Zurich. Primary competitors in the property segment include AmRisc, Arch, Chubb, CNA, Golden Bear, Lexington, Liberty Mutual, Palomar, RSUI, Sompo, Travelers and Velocity. Primary competitors in the surety segment are Arch, Chubb, CNA, Great American, Hartford, Intact, Liberty Mutual, Markel, Merchants, Philadelphia, Sompo, Swiss Re, Travelers and Zurich. The combination of coverages, service, pricing and other methods of competition vary from line to line. Our principal methods of meeting this competition are innovative coverages, consistency and quality service to the agents and policyholders, at a fair price. We compete favorably, in part, because of our sound financial condition and reputation, as well as our broad, geographic footprint in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam. In the casualty, property and surety areas, we have experienced underwriting and claim specialists in our branch and home offices. We continue to maintain our underwriting standards by not seeking market share at the expense of underwriting profit. We have a track record of withdrawing from markets when conditions become overly adverse and offering new coverages and programs where the opportunity exists to provide needed insurance coverage with exceptional service on a profitable basis.

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FINANCIAL STRENGTH RATINGS

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Financial strength ratings are an important factor in establishing the competitive position of insurance companies. Publications of AM Best, Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s indicate that A and A+ ratings are assigned to those companies that, in their opinion, have a superior ability to meet ongoing insurance obligations, a strong capacity to meet financial commitments or a low credit risk, respectively. The ratings are independent opinions of an insurer’s financial strength and ability to meet ongoing insurance policy and contract obligations, based on a comprehensive quantitative and qualitative analysis of balance sheet strength, operating performance, business profile and enterprise risk management. These ratings are based on factors relevant to policyholders, agents, insurance brokers and intermediaries and are not specifically related to securities issued by the company.

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At December 31, 2022, the following ratings were assigned to our insurance companies:

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*CBIC is only rated by AM Best

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For AM Best, Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s, the financial strength ratings represented above are affirmations of previously assigned ratings. In addition to assigning a financial strength rating, AM Best also assigns financial size categories. In December 2022, RLI Ins., Mt. Hawley and CBIC, which are collectively rated as a group, were assigned a financial size category of XII (adjusted policyholders’ surplus of between $1 billion and $1.25 billion). As of December 31, 2022, the policyholders’ statutory surplus of RLI Insurance Group totaled $1.4 billion, which results in AM Best’s financial size category of XIII (adjusted policyholders’ surplus of between $1.25 billion and $1.5 billion).

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REINSURANCE

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In the ordinary course of business, we rely on other insurance companies to share risks through reinsurance, paying or ceding to the reinsurer a portion of the premiums received on such policies. These arrangements allow the Company to pursue greater diversification of business and serve to limit the maximum net loss on catastrophes and large risks. We use reinsurance as an alternative to using our own capital to take risks and reduce volatility. Retention levels are evaluated each year to maintain a balance between the growth in surplus and the cost of reinsurance. Although reinsurance does not legally discharge an insurer from its primary liability for the full amount of the policies, it does make the assuming reinsurer liable to the insurer to the extent of the insurance ceded. The following table illustrates the degree to which we have utilized reinsurance during the past three years. For an expanded discussion of the impact of reinsurance on our operations, see note 5 to the consolidated financial statements within Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

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Reinsurance is subject to certain risks, specifically market risk, which affects the cost and ability to secure reinsurance contracts, and credit risk, which is the risk that our reinsurers may not pay on losses in a timely fashion or at all. We strive to purchase reinsurance from financially strong reinsurers. We evaluate reinsurers’ ability to pay based on their financial results, level of surplus, financial strength ratings and other risk characteristics. A reinsurance committee, comprised of senior management, reviews and approves our security guidelines and reinsurer usage. More than 93 percent of our reinsurance recoverables are due from companies with financial strength ratings of A or better by AM Best and Standard & Poor’s rating services.

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We utilize both treaty and facultative reinsurance coverage for our risks. Treaty coverage refers to a reinsurance contract under which the company agrees to cede all risks within a defined class of business to the reinsurer, who agrees to provide coverage on all risks ceded without individual underwriting. Facultative coverage is applied to individual risks at the company’s discretion and is subject to underwriting by the reinsurer. It is used for a variety of reasons, including supplementing the limits provided by the treaty coverage or covering risks or perils excluded from treaty reinsurance.

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Much of our reinsurance is purchased on an excess of loss basis. Under an excess of loss arrangement, we retain losses on a risk up to a specified amount and the reinsurers assume any losses above that amount. We may choose to participate in the reinsurance layers purchased by retaining a percentage of the layer. It is common to find conditions in excess of loss covers such as occurrence limits, aggregate limits and reinstatement premium charges. Occurrence limits cap our recovery for multiple losses caused by the same event. Aggregate limits cap our recovery for all losses ceded during the contract term. We may be required to pay additional premium to reinstate the reinsurance limits for potential future recoveries during the same contract year.

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Excluding catastrophe reinsurance, the table below summarizes the reinsurance treaty coverage currently in effect. We may purchase facultative coverage in excess of the per risk limits shown.

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*Maximum retention includes first-dollar retention plus any co-participation we retain through the reinsurance tower.

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At each renewal, we consider any plans to change the underlying insurance coverage we offer, as well as updated loss activity, the level of RLI Insurance Group’s surplus, changes in our risk appetite and the cost and availability of reinsurance treaties. In the last

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renewal cycle, we increased attachment points on property reinsurance structures and increased co-participations within the ceded layers of property and casualty structures.

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PROPERTY REINSURANCE — CATASTROPHE COVERAGE

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Our property catastrophe reinsurance reduces the financial impact of a catastrophe event involving multiple claims and policyholders, including earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, convective storms and certain other aggregating events. Reinsurance limits purchased fluctuate due to changes in the amount of exposure we insure, reinsurance costs, insurance company surplus levels and our risk appetite. In addition, we monitor the expected rate of return for each of our catastrophe lines of business. At high rates of return, we grow the book of business and may purchase additional reinsurance to increase our capacity. As the rate of return decreases, we may reduce exposure and may purchase less reinsurance as this capacity becomes unnecessary. Our reinsurance coverage for 2021 through 2023 are shown in the following table:

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Catastrophe Coverages

(in millions)

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These catastrophe limits are in addition to the per-occurrence coverage provided by facultative and other treaty coverages. We have participated in the catastrophe layers purchased by retaining a percentage of each layer throughout this period. Our participation has varied based on price and the amount of risk transferred by each layer. All layers of the treaty include one reinstatement.

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Our property catastrophe program continues to be applied on an excess of loss basis. It attaches after all other applicable reinsurance has been considered. Although covered in one program, limits and attachment points differ for California earthquakes and all other perils. The following charts use information from our catastrophe modeling software to illustrate our pre-tax net retention resulting from particular events that would generate the gross losses.

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In the above tables, projected losses for 2023 were estimated based on our exposure as of December 31, 2022, utilizing the treaty structure in place as of January 1, 2023. The tables were generated using theoretical probabilities of events occurring in areas where our portfolio of in-force policies could generate the level of loss illustrated. Actual results could vary significantly from these tables as the actual nature or severity of a particular event cannot be accurately predicted. Reinsurance limits are purchased based on the anticipated losses from large events. The largest losses shown above are possible, but have a lower probability of actually occurring. However, there is a remote chance that a larger event could occur. If the actual event losses are larger than anticipated, we could retain additional losses above the limit of our catastrophe reinsurance.

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We regularly monitor and quantify our exposure to catastrophes. In the normal course of business, we manage our concentrations of exposures to catastrophic events, primarily by limiting concentrations of locations insured to acceptable levels and by purchasing reinsurance. Exposure and coverage detail is recorded for each risk location. We quantify and monitor the total policy limit insured in each geographical region. In addition, we use third-party catastrophe exposure models and an internally developed analysis to assess each risk to ensure we include an appropriate charge for assumed catastrophe risks.

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Catastrophe exposure modeling is inherently uncertain due to the model’s reliance on an infrequent observation of actual events, increasing the importance of capturing accurate policy coverage data. The model results are used both in the underwriting analysis of individual risks and at a corporate level for the aggregate book of catastrophe-exposed business. From both perspectives, we consider the potential loss produced by individual events that represent moderate-to-high loss potential at varying probabilities and magnitudes. In calculating potential losses, we use assumptions including, but not limited to, loss amplification and loss adjustment expense. We establish risk tolerances at the portfolio level based on market conditions, the level of reinsurance available, changes to the assumptions in the catastrophe models, rating agency capital constraints, underwriting guidelines and coverages and internal preferences. Our risk tolerances for each type of catastrophe, and for all perils in aggregate, change over time as these internal and external conditions change.

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We are required to report to the rating agencies estimated loss to a single event that could include all potential earthquakes and hurricanes contemplated by the catastrophe modeling software. This reported loss includes the impact of insured losses based on the estimated frequency and severity of potential events, loss adjustment expense, reinstatements paid after the loss, reinsurance recoveries and taxes. Based on the catastrophe reinsurance treaty purchased on January 1, 2023, there is a 99.6 percent likelihood that the net loss will be less than 10.8 percent of policyholders’ statutory surplus as of December 31, 2022. Comparatively, based on the catastrophe reinsurance treaty purchased on January 1, 2022, there was a 99.6 percent likelihood that the net loss would have been less than 4.6 percent of policyholders’ statutory surplus as of December 31, 2021. Over the past five years, the comparative net loss each year at a 99.6 percent likelihood ranged from 4.6 percent of surplus to 16.2 percent of surplus. The exposure levels are within our tolerances for this risk.

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OPERATING RATIOS

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PREMIUMS TO SURPLUS RATIO

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The following table shows, for the periods indicated, our insurance subsidiaries’ statutory ratios of net premiums written to policyholders’ surplus. While there is no statutory requirement applicable to the Company that establishes a permissible net premiums written to surplus ratio, guidelines established by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) provide that this ratio should generally be no greater than 3 to 1. While the NAIC provides this general guideline, rating agencies often require a more conservative ratio to maintain strong or superior ratings.

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COMBINED RATIO AND STATUTORY COMBINED RATIO

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Our underwriting experience is best indicated by our combined ratio, which is the sum of (a) the ratio of incurred losses and settlement expenses to net premiums earned (loss ratio) and (b) the ratio of policy acquisition costs and other operating expenses to net premiums earned (expense ratio). The difference between the combined ratio and 100 reflects the per dollar rate of underwriting income or loss, with ratios below 100 indicating underwriting profit and ratios above 100 indicating underwriting loss.

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We also calculate the statutory combined ratio, which is not indicative of underwriting income due to accounting for policy acquisition costs differently for statutory accounting purposes. The statutory combined ratio is the sum of (a) the ratio of statutory loss and settlement expenses incurred to statutory net premiums earned (loss ratio) and (b) the ratio of statutory policy acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses to statutory net premiums written (expense ratio).

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**Source: AM Best (2022). Aggregate & Averages – Property/Casualty, United States & Canada. 2018 – 2021.

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INVESTMENTS

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Our investment portfolio serves as a resource for loss payments and secondarily as a source of income to support operations. Our investment strategy is based on preservation of capital as the first priority, with a secondary focus on growing book value through total return. Investments of the highest quality and marketability are critical for preserving our claims-paying ability. In addition, we have a diversified investment portfolio that distributes credit risk across many issuers and an investment policy that limits aggregate credit exposure. Despite periodic fluctuations in market value, our equity portfolio is part of a long-term asset allocation strategy and has contributed significantly to our growth in book value over time. Our portfolio does not contain derivatives.

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Investment portfolios are managed both internally and externally by experienced portfolio managers. We follow an investment policy that is reviewed quarterly and revised periodically, with oversight conducted by our senior officers and board of directors.

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Our investments include fixed income debt securities, common stock equity securities, exchange traded funds (ETFs) and a small number of limited partnership interests. The fixed income portfolio was 82 percent of the total portfolio, up 6 percent from the prior year, while the equity allocation was 15 percent of the overall portfolio, down 4 percent from the previous year. Other invested assets represented 1 percent of the total portfolio and include investments in low-income housing tax credit partnerships, membership stock in the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago and investments in private funds. The remaining 2 percent was made up of cash and short-term investments. As of December 31, 2022, 81 percent of the fixed income portfolio was rated A or better and 61 percent was rated AA or better.

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We classify all of the securities in our fixed income portfolio as available-for-sale, which are carried at fair value. Beyond available operating cash flow, the portfolio provides an additional source of liquidity and can be used to address potential future changes in our asset/liability structure. Aggregate maturities for the fixed income portfolio as of December 31, 2022, are as follows:

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We had cash and fixed income securities maturing within one year of $390.9 million at year-end 2022. This total represented 12 percent of cash and investments, compared to 5 percent at year-end 2021.

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REGULATION

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STATE REGULATION

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As an insurance holding company, we and our insurance company subsidiaries, are subject to regulation by the states and territories in which the insurance subsidiaries are domiciled or transact business. Registration in each insurer’s state of domicile requires periodic reporting to such state’s insurance regulatory authority of the financial, operational and management information regarding the insurers within the holding company system. All transactions within a holding company system affecting insurers must

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have fair and reasonable terms, and the insurers’ policyholders’ surplus following any transaction must be both reasonable in relation to its outstanding liabilities and adequate for its needs. Notice to and, in some cases, consent from regulators is required prior to the completion of certain transactions affecting insurance company subsidiaries of the holding company system. Each state and territory individually regulates the insurance operations of both insurance companies and insurance agents/brokers. Most insurance regulations are designed to protect the interests of policyholders rather than shareholders and other investors.

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The primary focus of state regulation of insurance companies is financial solvency and market conduct practices. Regulations designed to ensure the financial solvency of insurers are enforced by various filing, reporting and examination requirements. Marketplace oversight is conducted by monitoring and periodically examining trade practices, approving policy forms, licensing agents and brokers and requiring the filing and, in some cases, approval of premiums and commission rates to ensure they are fair and adequate.

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Because our insurance company subsidiaries operate in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam, we must comply with the individual insurance laws, regulations, rules and case law of each state and territory, including those regulating the filing of insurance rates and forms. Each of our three insurance company subsidiaries are domiciled in Illinois, with the Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI) as its principal insurance regulator. Changes to the state insurance regulatory requirements are frequent, including changes caused by state legislation, regulations by the state insurance departments and court rulings.

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As a holding company, the amount of dividends we are able to pay depends upon the funds available for distribution, including dividends or distributions from our subsidiaries. The Illinois insurance laws applicable to our insurance company subsidiaries impose certain restrictions on their ability to pay dividends. The Illinois insurance holding company laws require that ordinary dividends paid by an insurance company be reported to the IDOI prior to payment of the dividend, and that extraordinary dividends may not be paid without such regulator’s prior approval (or the absence of disapproval). The IDOI has broad authority to prevent the reduction of statutory surplus to inadequate levels, and there is no assurance that extraordinary dividend payments would be permitted.

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Illinois has adopted the Amended Holding Company Model Act, which imposes reporting obligations on parents and other affiliates of licensed insurers or reinsurers, with the purpose of protecting the licensed companies from enterprise risk. The Amended Holding Company Model Act requires the ultimate controlling person (in our case RLI Corp.) to file an annual enterprise risk report identifying the material risks within the insurance holding company system that could pose enterprise risk to the licensed companies. An enterprise risk is generally defined as an activity or event involving affiliates of an insurer that could have a material adverse effect on the insurer or the insurer’s holding company system. We report on these risks on an annual basis and are in compliance with this law.

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Illinois has adopted the Own Risk and Solvency Assessment (ORSA) model act. ORSA is applicable to Illinois domiciled insurance companies that meet certain size requirements, including ours. The ORSA program is a key component of an insurance company’s overall enterprise risk management (ERM) framework, and is the process by which organizations identify, measure, monitor and manage key risks affecting the entire enterprise. The Company files an ORSA summary report with the IDOI each year, which includes an internal identification, description and assessment of the risks associated with our business plan and the sufficiency of capital resources to support those risks.

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The NAIC uses a risk-based capital (RBC) model to monitor and regulate the solvency of licensed property and casualty insurance companies. Illinois has adopted a version of the NAIC’s model law. The RBC calculation is used to measure an insurer’s capital adequacy with respect to: the risk characteristics of the insurer’s premiums written and unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses, rate of growth and quality of assets, among other measures. Depending on the results of the RBC calculation, insurers may be subject to varying degrees of regulatory action. RBC is calculated annually by insurers, as of December 31 of each year. As of December 31, 2022, each of our insurance company subsidiaries had RBC levels significantly in excess of the company action level RBC, defined as being 200 percent of the authorized control level RBC, which would prompt corrective action under Illinois law. RLI Ins., our principal insurance company subsidiary, had an authorized control level RBC of $249.7 million compared to actual statutory capital and surplus of $1.4 billion as of December 31, 2022, resulting in statutory capital that is more than five times the authorized control level. The calculation of RBC requires certain judgments to be made, and, accordingly, each of our insurance company subsidiaries’ current RBC may be greater or less than the RBC calculated as of any date of determination. In addition, in 2022, the Illinois Department of Insurance amended its regulations by adopting the NAIC’s Group Capital Standards. This new Group Capital calculation will expand our existing RBC calculations to include (i) capital requirements for other regulated entities in the RLI Group, and (ii) defined capital calculations for other RLI Group entities that are unregulated. We expect our Group Capital calculation to be well over any regulatory minimum threshold.

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Each of our insurance company subsidiaries is required to file detailed annual reports, including financial statements, in accordance with prescribed statutory accounting rules, with regulatory officials in the jurisdictions in which they conduct business. The quarterly and annual financial reports filed with the states utilize statutory accounting principles (SAP) that are different from generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (GAAP). As a basis of accounting, SAP was developed to monitor and regulate the solvency of insurance companies. In developing SAP, insurance regulators were primarily concerned with assuring an insurer’s ability to pay all its current and future obligations to policyholders.

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As part of their routine regulatory oversight process, state insurance departments conduct periodic detailed examinations, generally once every three to five years, of the books, records, accounts and operations of insurance companies that are domiciled in their states. Examinations are generally carried out in cooperation with the insurance departments of other, non-domiciliary states under guidelines promulgated by the NAIC. The most recent examination report of our insurance company subsidiaries completed by the IDOI was issued on November 27, 2018, for the five-year period ending December 31, 2017. The examination report is available to the public. An exam for the five-year period ending December 31, 2022 will be conducted in 2023.

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Each of our insurance company subsidiaries is subject to Illinois laws and regulations that impose restrictions on the amount and type of investments our insurance company subsidiaries may have. Such laws and regulations generally require diversification of the insurer’s investment portfolio and limit the amounts of investments in certain asset categories, such as below investment grade fixed income securities, real estate-related equity, other equity investments and derivatives. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations would generally cause investments that exceed regulatory limitations to be treated as non-admitted assets for measuring statutory surplus and, in some instances, could require the divestiture of such non-qualifying investments.

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Many jurisdictions have laws and regulations that limit an insurer’s ability to withdraw from a particular market. For example, states may limit an insurer’s ability to cancel or non-renew policies. Furthermore, certain states prohibit an insurer from withdrawing one or more lines of business from the state, except pursuant to a plan that is approved by the state insurance department. The state insurance department may disapprove a withdrawal plan that may lead to marketplace disruption. Laws and regulations that limit cancellation and non-renewal, and that subject program withdrawals to prior approval requirements, may restrict our ability to exit unprofitable marketplaces in a timely manner.

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Virtually all states require licensed insurers to participate in various forms of guaranty associations in order to bear a portion of the loss suffered by qualified policyholders of insurance companies that become insolvent. Depending upon state law, licensed insurers can be assessed a small percentage of the annual premiums written for the relevant lines of insurance in that state to contribute to paying the claims of insolvent insurers. These assessments may increase or decrease in the future, depending upon the rate of insurance company insolvencies. In some states, these assessments may be wholly or partially recovered through policy fees paid by insureds. We cannot predict the amount and timing of future assessments. Therefore, the liabilities we have currently established for these potential assessments may not be adequate and an assessment may materially impact our financial condition.

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In addition, the insurance holding company laws require advance approval by state insurance commissioners of any change in control of an insurance company that is domiciled, or in some cases, having such substantial business that it is deemed to be commercially domiciled in that state. “Control” is generally presumed to exist through the ownership of 10 percent or more of the voting securities of a domestic insurance company or of any company that controls a domestic insurance company. In addition, insurance laws in many states contain provisions that require pre-notification to the insurance commissioners of a change in control of a non-domestic insurance company licensed in those states. Any future transactions that would constitute a change in control of our insurance company subsidiaries, including a change of control of RLI Ins., would generally require the party acquiring control to obtain the prior approval by the insurance departments of the insurance company subsidiaries’ state of domicile (Illinois) or commercial domicile, if applicable. It may also require pre-acquisition notification in applicable states that have adopted pre-acquisition notification provisions. Obtaining these approvals could result in a material delay of, or deter, any such transaction.

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In light of the number and severity of U.S. company data breaches, a number of states have enacted new insurance laws that require certain regulated entities to implement and maintain comprehensive information security programs to safeguard the personal information of insureds. In 2017, the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) enacted a cybersecurity regulation. This regulation requires banks, insurance companies and other financial services institutions regulated by the NYDFS to establish and maintain a cybersecurity program “designed to protect consumers and ensure the safety and soundness of New York State’s financial services industry.” We have implemented the requirements of the regulation and are in compliance with it.

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The NAIC adopted the Insurer Climate Risk Disclosure Data Survey to provide regulators with information about the assessment of risks posed by climate change to insurers and the actions insurers are taking in response to their understanding of climate change risks. In 2022, the Company provided responses for reporting year 2021 which may be accessed on the California Department of Insurance’s website.

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The rates, policy terms and conditions of reinsurance agreements generally are not subject to regulation by any regulatory authority. However, the ability of a ceding insurer to take credit for the reinsurance purchased from reinsurance companies is a significant component of reinsurance regulation. Typically, a ceding insurer will only enter into a reinsurance agreement if it can obtain credit against its reserves on its statutory basis financial statements for the reinsurance ceded to the reinsurer. With respect to U.S. domiciled ceding companies, credit is usually granted when the reinsurer is licensed, accredited or certified in the state where the ceding company is domiciled. States also generally permit ceding insurers to take credit for reinsurance if the reinsurer is: (1) domiciled in a state with a credit for reinsurance law that is substantially similar to the credit for reinsurance law in the primary insurer’s state of domicile and (2) meets certain financial requirements. Credit for reinsurance purchased from a reinsurer that does not meet the foregoing conditions is generally allowed to the extent that such reinsurer secures its obligations with qualified collateral.

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Insurers are also subject to state laws regulating claim handling practices. The NAIC created a model unfair claims practices law which most states have fully or partially adopted. These laws and regulations set the standards by which insurers must investigate and resolve claims; however, a private cause of action for violation is not available to claimants. These laws typically prohibit: (1) misrepresentation of policy provisions, (2) failing to adopt and act promptly when claims are presented and (3) refusing to pay claims without an investigation. Market conduct examinations or insurance regulator investigations may be prompted through annual reviews or excessive numbers of complaints against an insurer. After an investigation or market conduct review by an insurance regulator, insurers found to be in violation of these laws and regulations face potential fines, cease and desist orders, remediation orders or loss of authority to write business in the particular state.

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FEDERAL LEGISLATION AND REGULATION

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The U.S. insurance industry is not currently subject to any significant federal regulation related to the business of insurance and instead is regulated principally at the state level. The Company is subject to a number of federal regulatory requirements related to securities, employment practices, qualified employee benefits plans and financial disclosures, among others.

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As part of the passage of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (TRIPRA) in January 2015, the National Association of Registered Agents and Brokers (NARAB) was established by federal law, which was expected to streamline insurance agent/broker licensing. There has been little progress in implementing the provisions of NARAB to date.

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Other federal laws and regulations apply to many aspects of our company and its business operations. This federal regulation includes, without limitation, laws affecting privacy and data security and credit reporting — examples of which include the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act and Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act. It also includes international economic and trade sanctions — examples of which include the Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) and the Iran Threat Reduction and Syrian Human Rights Act (ITR/SHR). ITR/SHR generally prohibits U.S. companies from engaging in certain transactions with the government of Iran or certain Iranian businesses, including the provision of insurance or reinsurance. Under ITR/SHR, we must disclose whether RLI Corp. or any of its affiliates knowingly engaged in certain specified activities identified in that law. For the year 2022, neither RLI Corp. nor its affiliates have knowingly engaged in any transaction or dealing reportable under Section 13(r) of the Exchange Act, as required by the ITR/SHR.

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LICENSES AND TRADEMARKS

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We hold a U.S. federal service mark registration of our corporate name “RLI” and several other company service marks and trademarks with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Such registrations protect our intellectual property nationwide from deceptively similar use. The duration of these registrations is 10 years, unless renewed. We monitor our trademarks and service marks and protect them from unauthorized use as necessary.

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HUMAN CAPITAL

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RLI is a specialty underwriting company whose achievement emanates from our entrepreneurial, ownership culture. We strive to hire top underwriting and claim talent, who work closely with our customers throughout the United States. Compensation plans are designed to reward profitability and shareholder value creation to better align compensation with the longer-term nature of insurance products and stakeholder expectations. Underwriters have the resources and authority to operate within established underwriting guidelines and share in the rewards when they succeed. We solicit employee feedback to help ensure employees are engaged, feel valued and are contributing to our success.

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As of December 31, 2022, the Company employed 1,001 associates throughout the United States and the average employee tenure was 9.2 years. We prefer to utilize our own underwriting, claims and support staff, given the complex nature of our products.

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The niche markets we operate within require unique experience and deep knowledge to select appropriate risks and serve our customers. Ensuring a seamless transfer of knowledge as employees retire and developing newer talent continues to be a focus of the Company. We enable employees to maintain and expand their industry knowledge and technical expertise through education and training, as well as through memberships in industry and trade associations. We leverage the services of a limited number of third-party contractors when it is difficult to hire employees that address a needed skill set outside of our core insurance functions or when efficiencies can be gained.

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Human Capital Oversight

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At the Board of Directors level, oversight of human capital is provided by the Human Capital and Compensation Committee (HCCC). Executive oversight for human capital is provided by the Company’s Vice President of Human Resources, who reports to the President & CEO. Key responsibilities of the Vice President of Human Resources include providing effective programs related to staffing and succession planning, employee recruiting and development, compensation and benefits, and compliance, which are monitored by the HCCC.

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Compensation and Benefits

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We compensate employees through a competitive compensation (Total Rewards) program that includes a base salary or hourly wage, annual incentives for all full-time employees, long-term incentives for management, retirement benefits, as well as health, disability and life insurance. We utilize various information sources, including local, regional and national compensation surveys, to establish competitive pay targets for each position in the company to ensure our Total Rewards program attracts and retains a talented workforce.

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An important element of the Total Rewards program is to promote alignment of employee and shareholder interests, which is achieved through the Company’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) and long-term incentive plan (LTIP). The ESOP is a qualified retirement plan that provides shares of RLI Corp. stock to employees based on the profitability of the Company, while management is granted stock options and restricted stock units through the LTIP. Management, at the level of vice president and above, is subject to stock ownership guidelines requiring them to hold Company shares valued at a multiple of their base salary, depending on their role. As of December 31, 2022, 9 percent of RLI Corp. shares were owned by insiders.

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Diversity and Inclusion

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We strive to cultivate an exceptional workforce to perpetuate our ownership culture, deliver excellent customer service and continue to achieve superior business results. Our goal is to attract, develop and retain the best talent from diverse backgrounds, while promoting a culture where different viewpoints are valued and individuals feel respected, are treated fairly and have an opportunity to excel in their chosen careers.

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FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

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Forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 appear throughout this report. These statements relate to our current expectations, beliefs, intentions, goals or strategies regarding the future and are based on certain underlying assumptions by the Company. These forward looking statements generally include words such as “expect,” “predict,” “estimate,” “will,” “should,” “anticipate,” “believe” and similar expressions. Such assumptions are, in turn, based on information available and internal estimates and analyses of general economic conditions, competitive factors, conditions specific to the property and casualty insurance and reinsurance industries, claims development and the impact thereof on our loss reserves, the adequacy and financial security of our reinsurance programs, developments in the securities market and the impact on our investment portfolio, regulatory changes and conditions and other factors and are subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors, including, without limitation those set forth below in “Item 1A Risk Factors.” Actual results could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward looking statements. We assume no obligation to update any such statements. You should review the various risks, uncertainties and other factors listed from time to time in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

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Item 1A. Risk Factors

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Insurance Industry

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Our results of operations and revenues may fluctuate as a result of many factors, including cyclical changes in the insurance industry, which may cause the price of our securities to be volatile.

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The results of operations of companies in the property and casualty insurance industry historically have been subject to significant fluctuations and uncertainties. Our profitability can be affected significantly by:

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In addition, the demand for property and casualty insurance, both admitted and excess and surplus lines, can vary significantly, rising as the overall level of economic activity increases and falling as that activity decreases, causing our revenues to fluctuate. These fluctuations in results of operations and revenues may not reflect long-term results and may cause the price of our securities to be volatile.

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A significant percentage of our premium revenues are sold through a few brokers and carrier partners and a loss of business provided by any of them could adversely affect us.

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We market our insurance products through brokers, agents and carrier partners. Accordingly, our business is dependent on the willingness of these agents, brokers and carrier partners to recommend our products to their customers, who may also promote and distribute the products of our competitors. Loss of all or a substantial portion of the business written through these parties could have a material adverse effect on our business.

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Our business is concentrated in several key states and a change in our business in one of those states could disproportionately affect our financial condition or results of operations.

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Although we operate in all 50 states, 53 percent of our direct premiums earned were generated in four states in 2022: California – 17 percent; Florida – 14 percent; New York – 11 percent; and Texas – 11 percent. An interruption in our operations, or a negative change in the business environment, insurance market or regulatory environment in one or more of these states could have a disproportionate effect on our business and direct premiums earned.

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We compete with a large number of companies in the insurance industry to underwrite premium and their actions could ultimately impact our overall results.

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We compete with a large number of other companies in our selected lines of business. We are vulnerable to the actions of other companies who may seek to write business without the appropriate regard for risk and profitability, especially during periods of intense competition for premium. During these times, it is very difficult to grow or maintain premium volume without sacrificing underwriting discipline and income.

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We face competition from specialty insurance companies, underwriting agencies and intermediaries, as well as diversified financial services companies that are significantly larger than we are, and that have significantly greater financial, marketing,

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management and other resources. We may also face competition from new sources of capital such as institutional investors seeking access to the insurance market, sometimes referred to as alternative capital, which may depress pricing or limit our opportunities to write business. Some of these competitors also have stronger brand awareness than we do. We may incur increased costs in competing for premium. If we are unable to compete effectively in the markets we operate in or are not successful in expanding our operations into new markets, the amount of premium we write may decline, as well as overall business results.

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A number of new, proposed or potential legislative or industry developments could further increase competition in our industry, including:

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New competition from these developments could cause the supply and/or demand for insurance or reinsurance to change, which could affect our ability to price our coverages at attractive rates and thereby adversely affect our underwriting results.

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A downgrade in our ratings from AM Best, Standard & Poor’s or Moody’s could negatively affect our business.

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Financial strength ratings are an important factor in establishing the competitive position of insurance companies. Our insurance companies are rated for overall financial strength by AM Best, Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s. AM Best, Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s ratings are independent opinions of an insurer’s financial strength and ability to meet ongoing insurance policy and contract obligations, based on a comprehensive quantitative and qualitative analysis of balance sheet strength, operating performance, business profile and enterprise risk management. These financial strength ratings are based on factors relevant to policyholders, agents, insurance brokers and intermediaries and are not specifically related to securities issued by the company. The view of required capital may differ between rating agencies, as well as from RLI Corp.’s own view of desired capital. Our ratings are subject to periodic review by such firms, and the criteria used in the rating methodologies is subject to change. As such, we cannot assure we will continue to maintain of our current ratings.

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All of our ratings were reviewed during 2022. AM Best reaffirmed its A+, Superior rating for the combined entity of RLI Ins., Mt. Hawley and CBIC (group-rated). Standard & Poor’s reaffirmed our rating for the group of RLI Ins. and Mt. Hawley of A. Moody’s reaffirmed our group rating of A2 for RLI Ins. and Mt. Hawley. If our ratings are significantly reduced from their current levels by AM Best, Standard & Poor’s or Moody’s, our competitive position in the industry, and therefore our business, could be adversely affected. A significant downgrade could result in a substantial loss of business, as policyholders might move to other companies with greater financial strength ratings.

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We are subject to extensive governmental regulation, which may adversely affect our ability to achieve our business objectives. Moreover, if we fail to comply with these regulations, we may be subject to penalties, including fines and suspensions, which may adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and reputation.

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Most insurance regulations are designed to protect the interests of policyholders rather than shareholders and other stakeholders. These regulations, generally administered by a department of insurance in each state and territory in which we do business, relate to, among other things:

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These regulatory requirements may adversely affect or inhibit our ability to achieve some or all of our business objectives.

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In addition, regulatory authorities have relatively broad discretion to deny or revoke licenses for various reasons, including the violation of regulations. In some instances, we follow practices based on our interpretations of regulations or practices that we believe may be generally followed by the industry. These practices may turn out to be different from the interpretations of regulatory authorities. If we do not have the requisite licenses and approvals or do not comply with applicable regulatory requirements, insurance regulatory authorities could initiate investigations or other proceedings, fine the Company, preclude or temporarily suspend the Company from carrying on some or all of its activities or otherwise penalize the Company. This could adversely affect our ability to operate our business. Further, changes in the level of regulation of the insurance industry or changes in laws or regulations themselves or interpretations by regulatory authorities could adversely affect our ability to operate our business as currently conducted.

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In addition to regulations specific to the insurance industry, including the insurance laws of our principal state regulator (Illinois), as a public company we are also subject to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), each of which regulate many areas such as financial and business disclosures, corporate governance and shareholder matters. We are also subject to the corporation laws of Delaware, where we are incorporated. At the federal level, among other laws, we are subject to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the Dodd-Frank Act, each of which regulate corporate governance, executive compensation and other areas, as well as laws relating to federal trade restrictions, privacy/data security and terrorism risk insurance laws. We monitor these laws, regulations and rules on an ongoing basis to ensure compliance and make appropriate changes as necessary. Implementing such changes may require adjustments to our business methods, increases to our costs and other changes that could cause the Company to be less competitive in the industry.

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Our loss reserves are based on estimates and may be inadequate to cover our actual insured losses, which would negatively impact our profitability.

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Significant periods of time often elapse between the occurrence of an insured loss, the reporting of the loss to the Company and the payment of that loss. To recognize liabilities for unpaid losses, we establish reserves as balance sheet liabilities representing estimates of amounts needed to pay reported and unreported losses and the related loss adjustment expenses. Loss reserves are estimates of the ultimate cost of claims and do not represent an exact calculation of liability. These estimates are based on historical information and on estimates of future trends that may affect the frequency and severity of claims that may be reported in the future.

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Estimating loss reserves is a difficult, complex and inherently uncertain process involving many variables and subjective judgments. Changes in industry practices, and in legal, legislative, regulatory, judicial, social and other conditions under which we

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operate may require us to pay claims we did not intend to cover when we wrote the policies. These changes may serve to extend the time for making claims, extend coverage and increase damages. These changes may not become apparent until after we have issued policies or bonds that are affected by the changes and, consequently, we may not know the extent of our liability and the impact to our financial performance until many years after a policy or bond was issued. The effects of these and other coverage issues are difficult to predict and could have a materially adverse effect on our financial performance.

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As part of the reserving process, we review historical data and consider the impact of various factors such as:

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This process assumes that past experience, adjusted for the effects of current developments and anticipated trends, is an appropriate basis for predicting future events. It also assumes adequate historical or other data exists upon which to make these judgments. For more information on the estimates used in the establishment of loss reserves, see the Loss and Settlement Expenses section of our Critical Accounting Policies contained within Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. However, there is no precise method for evaluating the impact of any specific factor on the adequacy of reserves and actual results are likely to differ from original estimates. If the actual amount of insured losses is greater than the amount we have reserved for these losses, our profitability could suffer.

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Catastrophic losses are unpredictable and could cause the Company to suffer material financial losses.

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Our insurance coverages include exposure to catastrophic events, particularly earthquakes on the West Coast and hurricanes and tropical storms affecting the continental U.S. or Hawaii. Weather-related catastrophes may include meteorological events such as hurricanes, severe convective storms and winter weather; and climatological events such as drought, wildfires and heatwaves. In addition, catastrophe losses can occur from events such as lava flows in Hawaii and terrorist events in the U.S.

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The incidence and severity of catastrophes are inherently unpredictable. The extent of losses from a catastrophe is a function of both the total amount of insured values in the area affected by the event and the severity of the event. Most catastrophes are restricted to fairly specific geographic areas. However, hurricanes and earthquakes may produce significant damage in large, heavily populated areas. It is possible that a catastrophic event or multiple catastrophic events could cause the Company to suffer material financial losses. In addition, catastrophe claim costs may be higher than we originally estimate and could cause substantial volatility in our financial results for any fiscal quarter or year.

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We use models to help assess exposure to catastrophic events against established thresholds. Models include underlying assumptions based on a limited set of actual events and cannot contemplate all possible catastrophe scenarios. The losses we might incur from an actual catastrophe could be higher than our expectation of losses generated from modeled catastrophe scenarios, which could have a materially adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. To address uncertainty related to catastrophe models, we also monitor against thresholds using non-modeled scenarios.

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Changing climate and weather conditions may adversely affect our financial condition or profitability.

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Climate change is a complex and evolving issue and we cannot predict the cumulative impact it may have on our results of operations or financial condition at this time. The effects on the Company could include:

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Our reinsurers may not pay on losses in a timely fashion, or at all, which may increase our costs and have an adverse effect on our business.

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We purchase reinsurance to transfer part of the risk we have assumed (known as ceding) to a reinsurance company in exchange for part of the premium we receive in connection with the risk. Although reinsurance makes the reinsurer liable to the Company to the extent the risk is transferred or ceded to the reinsurer, it does not relieve the Company (the reinsured) of its liability to its policyholders. Accordingly, we bear credit risk with respect to our reinsurers. That is, our reinsurers may not pay claims made by the Company on a timely basis, or they may not pay some or all of these claims for a variety of reasons. Either of these events would increase our costs and could have a material adverse effect on our business.

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If we cannot obtain adequate reinsurance protection for the risks we have underwritten or at prices we deem acceptable, we may be exposed to greater losses from these risks or we may reduce the amount of business we underwrite, which would reduce our revenues.

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Market conditions beyond our control determine the availability and cost of the reinsurance protection that we purchase. In addition, the historical results of reinsurance programs and the availability of capital also affect the availability of reinsurance. Our reinsurance agreements are generally subject to annual renewal. We cannot be sure that we can maintain our current reinsurance protection, obtain other reinsurance facilities in adequate amounts and at favorable rates, or diversify our exposure among an adequate number of high-quality reinsurance partners. If we are unable to renew our expiring facilities or obtain new reinsurance facilities on terms we deem acceptable, either our net loss exposures would increase, which could increase the volatility of our results, or we would have to reduce the level of our underwriting commitments when possible, which would reduce our revenues. Many of the bonds we issue, particularly in the energy sector, are non-cancelable and may expose the Company to greater losses, should the surety reinsurance coverage we are able to secure be reduced or become unavailable.

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Financial and Investment

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Adverse changes in the economy could lower the demand for our insurance products and could have an adverse effect on the revenue and profitability of our operations.

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Factors such as business revenue, construction spending, government spending, the volatility and strength of the capital markets and inflation can all affect the business and economic environment. These same factors affect our ability to generate revenue and profits. Insurance premiums in our markets are heavily dependent on our customer revenues, payroll, value of goods transported, miles traveled and number of new projects initiated. In an economic downturn characterized by higher unemployment, declines in construction spending and reduced corporate revenues, the demand for insurance products is adversely affected. Adverse changes in the economy may lead our customers to have less need or desire for insurance coverage, to cancel existing insurance policies, to modify coverage or to not renew with the Company, all of which affect our ability to generate revenue. In addition, as approximately a third of our business relates to the construction industry, our results of operations could be significantly impacted in an economic downturn if the construction industry is affected disproportionally.

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Access to capital and market liquidity may adversely affect our ability to take advantage of business opportunities as they arise.

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Our ability to grow our business depends, in part, on our ability to access capital when needed. We cannot predict capital market liquidity or the availability of capital. We also cannot predict the extent and duration of future economic and market disruptions, the impact of government interventions into the market to address these disruptions and their combined impact on our industry, business and investment portfolios. If our company needs capital but cannot raise it, our business and future growth could be adversely affected.

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We are an insurance holding company and therefore may not be able to receive adequate or timely dividends from our insurance subsidiaries.

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RLI Corp. is the holding company for our three insurance operating companies. At the holding company level, our principal assets are the shares of capital stock of our insurance company subsidiaries. We rely largely on dividends from our insurance company subsidiaries to meet our obligations for paying principal and interest on outstanding debt, corporate expenses and dividends to RLI Corp. shareholders. Dividend payments to RLI Corp. from our principal insurance subsidiary are restricted by state insurance laws as to the amount that may be paid without prior approval of the IDOI. As a result, we may not be able to receive dividends from such subsidiary at times and in amounts necessary to pay RLI Corp. obligations and desired dividends to shareholders. Ordinary dividends, which may be paid by our principal insurance subsidiary without prior regulatory approval, are subject to certain limitations based upon income, surplus and earned surplus. The maximum ordinary dividend distribution from our principal insurance subsidiary in a rolling 12-month period is limited by Illinois law to the greater of 10 percent of RLI Ins. policyholder surplus as of December 31 of the preceding year, or the net income of RLI Ins. for the 12-month period ending December 31 of the preceding year. Ordinary dividends are further restricted by the requirement that they be paid from earned surplus. Any dividend distribution in excess of the ordinary dividend limits is deemed extraordinary and requires prior approval (or non-disapproval) from the IDOI. Because the limitations are based upon a rolling 12-month period, the presence, amount and impact of these restrictions vary over time.

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We may not be able to, or might not choose to, continue paying dividends on our common stock.

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We have a history of paying regular, quarterly dividends and in recent years have paid special dividends. Any determination to pay either type of dividend to our stockholders in the future will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on our results of operations, financial condition and other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors. Our ability to pay dividends depends largely on our subsidiaries’ earnings and operating capital requirements, and is subject to the regulatory, contractual and other constraints of our subsidiaries, including the effect of any such dividends or distributions on the AM Best rating or other ratings of our insurance subsidiaries. In addition, we may choose to retain capital to support growth or further mitigate risk, instead of returning excess capital to our shareholders.

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Our investment results and, therefore, our financial condition may be impacted by changes in the business, financial condition or operating results of the entities in which we invest, as well as changes in interest rates, government monetary policies, general economic conditions, liquidity and overall market conditions.

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We invest the premiums we receive from customers until they are needed to pay expenses or policyholder claims. Funds remaining after paying expenses and claims remain invested and are included in retained earnings. The value of our investment portfolio can fluctuate as a result of changes in the business, financial condition or operating results of the entities in which we invest. In addition, fluctuations can result from changes in interest rates, credit risk, government monetary policies, liquidity of holdings and

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general economic conditions. The equity portfolio will fluctuate with movements in the overall stock market. While the equity portfolio has been constructed to have lower downside risk than the market, the portfolio is positively correlated with movements in domestic stocks. The bond portfolio is affected by interest rate changes and movement in credit spreads. We attempt to mitigate our interest rate and credit risks by constructing a well-diversified portfolio of high-quality securities with varied maturities. These fluctuations may negatively impact our financial condition.

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Operational

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Our success will depend on our ability to maintain and enhance effective operating procedures and manage risks on an enterprise-wide basis.

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Operational risk and losses can result from, among other things, fraud, errors, failure to document transactions properly, failure to obtain proper internal authorization, failure to comply with regulatory requirements, information technology failures or external events. We continue to enhance our operating procedures and internal controls to effectively support our business and our regulatory and reporting requirements. The NAIC and state legislatures have increased their focus on risks within an insurer’s holding company system that may pose enterprise risk to insurers. The Illinois legislature has adopted the Risk Management and Own Risk and Solvency Assessment (ORSA) Law, which requires domestic insurers to maintain a risk management framework and establishes a legal requirement for domestic insurers to conduct an ORSA in accordance with the NAIC’s ORSA Guidance Manual. The ORSA Law also provides that, no less than annually, an insurer must submit an ORSA summary report. Under the Illinois insurance holding company laws, on an annual basis, we are also required to file an enterprise risk report with the IDOI, which is intended to identify the material risks within our insurance holding company system that could pose enterprise risk to our insurance company subsidiaries. We operate within an enterprise risk management (ERM) framework designed to assess and monitor our risks. However, assurance that we can effectively review and monitor all risks or that all of our employees will operate within the ERM framework cannot be guaranteed. Assurances that our ERM framework will result in the Company accurately identifying all risks and accurately limiting our exposures based on our assessments also cannot be guaranteed.

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We may not be able to effectively start up or integrate new product opportunities.

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Our ability to grow our business depends, in part, on our creation, implementation or acquisition of new insurance products that are profitable and fit within our business model. Our ability to grow profitably requires that we identify market opportunities, which may include acquisitions, and that we attract and retain underwriting and claims expertise to support that growth. New product launches, as well as resources to integrate business acquisitions are subject to many obstacles, including ensuring we have sufficient business and systems processes, determining appropriate pricing, obtaining reinsurance, assessing opportunity costs and regulatory burdens and planning for internal infrastructure needs. If we cannot effectively or accurately assess and overcome these obstacles, or we improperly implement new insurance products, our ability to grow profitably could be impaired.

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We may be unable to attract and retain qualified key employees.

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We depend on our ability to attract and retain experienced underwriting and claim talent, who have deep knowledge of the niche business we write, and other skilled employees. If we cannot attract or retain top-performing executive officers, underwriters and other employees, the quality of their performance decreases or we fail to implement succession plans for our key employees, we may be unable to maintain our current competitive position in the markets in which we operate or expand our operations into new markets.

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We rely on third-party vendors for a number of key components of our business.

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We contract with a number of third-party vendors to support our business. For example, we have license agreements for software that we use to model natural catastrophes, process claims, and manage policies, producers and financial processes. The vendors range from large national companies, who are dominant in their area of expertise and would be difficult to quickly replace, to smaller or start-up vendors with leading technology, but with shorter operating histories and fewer financial resources. Failures of certain vendors to provide services could adversely affect our ability to deliver products and services to our customers, disrupting our business and causing the Company to incur significant expense. If one or more of our vendors fail to protect personal information of our customers, claimants or employees, we may incur operational impairments, or could be exposed to litigation, compliance costs or reputational damage. We maintain a vendor management program to establish procurement policies and to monitor vendor risk, including the security and stability of our critical vendors.

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Any significant interruption in the operation of our facilities, systems and business functions could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

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We rely on multiple computer systems to interact with producers and customers, issue policies, pay claims, run modeling functions, assess insurance risks and complete various important internal processes including accounting and bookkeeping. Our business is highly dependent on our ability to access these systems to perform necessary business functions. Additionally, some of these systems may include or rely upon third-party systems not located on our premises. Any of these systems may be exposed to unplanned interruption, unreliability or intrusion from a variety of causes, including among others, storms and other natural disasters, terrorist attacks, utility outages or complications encountered as existing systems are replaced or upgraded.

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Any such issues could materially impact our company, including the impairment of information availability, compromise of system integrity/accuracy, misappropriation of confidential information, reduction of our volume of transactions and interruption of our general business. Although we believe our computer systems are secure and continue to take steps to ensure they are protected against such risks, we cannot guarantee such problems will not occur. If they do, interruption to our business and damage to our reputation and related costs, could be significant, which could impair our profitability.

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Epidemics, pandemics and public health outbreaks, including the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, could adversely affect our business, including revenues, profitability, results of operations and/or cash flows, in a manner and to a degree that could be material.

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Epidemics, pandemics and other public health outbreaks generally result in significant disruptions in economic activity and financial markets. The cumulative effects on the Company could include, without limitation:

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Although we have investigated and closed a substantial number of COVID-19-related claims without payment, state and federal courts could rule that such claims are covered under our policies. Court decisions upholding our position that these COVID-19 related claims are not covered under our policies could also be overturned on appeal. These actions could result in an increase in claims and paid losses, which could have a materially adverse effect on our financial performance. Such appellate court decisions may take several years to become final and their ultimate outcome remains uncertain at this time.

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We experienced declines in premium in select product lines and established loss and defense reserves for others at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. While other impacts that could result from pandemics have not manifested to a significant degree for RLI through the end of 2022, circumstances continue to change and we could be affected in different ways in the future. To the extent the COVID-19 pandemic adversely affects our business and financial results, it may also heighten many of the other risks described herein.

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If we are unable to keep pace with the technological advancements in the insurance industry, our ability to compete effectively could be impaired.

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Our operations rely upon complex and expensive information technology systems for interacting with policyholders, brokers and other business partners. The pace at which information systems must be upgraded is continually increasing, requiring an ongoing commitment of significant resources to maintain or upgrade to current standards and serve our customers. If we are unable to keep pace with the advancements being made in technology, our ability to compete with other insurance companies who have advanced technological capabilities will be negatively affected. Furthermore, if we are unable to effectively update or replace our key legacy technology systems as they become obsolete, or as emerging technology renders them competitively inefficient, our competitive position, security and our cost structure could be adversely affected.

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Technology breaches or failures, including but not limited to cyber security incidents, could disrupt our operations, result in the loss of critical and confidential information and expose us to additional liabilities, which could adversely impact our reputation and results of operations.

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Global cyber security threats can range from uncoordinated individual attempts to gain unauthorized access to our information technology systems, and those of our business or service providers, to sophisticated and targeted measures known as advanced persistent threats. Like other companies, RLI Corp. is also subject to insider threats that may impact the confidentiality, integrity or availability of our data. We, as well as our business partners and service providers, employ measures to prevent, detect, address and mitigate these threats (including access controls, data encryption, vulnerability assessments, continuous monitoring of information technology networks and systems and maintenance of backup and protective systems). However, cyber security incidents, depending on their nature and scope, could potentially result in the misappropriation, destruction, corruption or unavailability of critical data and confidential or proprietary information (our own or that of third parties) and the disruption of business operations. Security breaches could expose the Company to a risk of loss or misuse of our or our customers’ information, litigation and potential liability. In addition, cyber incidents that impact the availability, reliability, speed, accuracy or other proper functioning of our technology systems could impact our operations. We may not have the resources or technical sophistication to anticipate or prevent every type of cyber attack. A significant cyber incident, including system failure, security breach, disruption by malware or other damage could interrupt or delay our operations, result in a violation of applicable privacy and other laws, damage our reputation, cause a loss of customers or give rise to remediation costs, monetary fines and other penalties, which could be significant. We have cyber insurance, but it is possible that the coverage we have in place would not entirely protect the Company in the event that we experienced a cyber security incident, interruption or widespread failure of our information technology systems.

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We may suffer losses from litigation, which could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and business operations.

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We continually face risks associated with litigation of various types, including general commercial and corporate litigation, and disputes relating to bad faith allegations that could result in the Company incurring losses in excess of policy limits. We are party to a variety of litigation matters throughout the year. Litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties, and if there were an unfavorable outcome, it could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations and financial position in the period in which the outcome occurs. Even if an unfavorable outcome does not materialize, we still may face substantial expense and disruption associated with the litigation.

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Anti-takeover provisions affecting the Company could prevent or delay a change of control that is beneficial to you.

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Provisions of our certificate of incorporation and by-laws, as well as applicable Delaware law, federal and state regulations and insurance company regulations may discourage, delay or prevent a merger, tender offer or other change of control that holders of our securities may consider favorable. Some of these provisions impose various procedural and other requirements that could make it more difficult for shareholders to affect certain corporate actions. These provisions could:

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In particular, we are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law which, under certain circumstances, restricts our ability to engage in a business combination, such as a merger or sale of assets, with any stockholder that, together with

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affiliates, owns 15 percent or more of our common stock, which similarly could prohibit or delay the accomplishment of a change of control transaction.

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Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments - None.

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Item 2. Properties

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We own five commercial buildings totaling 173,000 square feet on our 23-acre campus that serves as our corporate headquarters in Peoria, Illinois. All of our branch offices and other company operations lease office space throughout the country. Management considers our office facilities suitable and adequate for our current levels of operations.

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RLI’s Peoria, Illinois campus includes a 1.8-megawatt solar field that is capable of producing annual electrical power equal to or exceeding the yearly electrical needs for all of our office buildings in Peoria.

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Item 3. Legal Proceedings

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Information on our legal proceedings is set forth in note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included under Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

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Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures - Not applicable.

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PART II

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

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RLI Corp. common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol RLI. RLI Corp. has paid dividends for 186 consecutive quarters and increased quarterly dividends in each of the last 47 years. In December 2022 and 2021, RLI Corp. paid special cash dividends of $7.00 and $2.00 per share to shareholders, respectively. As of February 13, 2023, there were 1,024 registered holders of the Company’s common stock.

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Performance

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The following graph provides a five-year comparison of RLI Corp.’s total return to shareholders compared to that of the S&P 500 and S&P 500 P&C Index:

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Assumes $100 invested on December 31, 2017, in RLI, S&P 500 and S&P 500 P&C Index, with reinvestment of dividends. Comparison of five-year annualized total return — RLI: 20.4%, S&P 500: 9.4% and S&P 500 P&C Index: 12.2%.

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Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans

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Refer to Part III, Item 12, “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters,” of this document for information on securities authorized for issuance under our equity compensation plan.

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Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities; Uses of Proceeds from Registered Securities - Not applicable.

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Equity Repurchases

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In 2010, our board of directors implemented a $100 million share repurchase program. We last repurchased shares in 2011. We have $87.5 million of remaining capacity from the repurchase program. The repurchase program may be suspended or discontinued at any time without prior notice.

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Item 6. [Reserved] – Not applicable.

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

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OVERVIEW

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RLI Corp. is a U.S. based, specialty insurance company that underwrites select property and casualty insurance through major subsidiaries collectively known as RLI Insurance Group (Group). Our focus is on niche markets and developing unique products that are tailored to customers’ needs. We hire underwriters and claim examiners with deep expertise and provide exceptional customer service and support. We maintain a highly diverse product portfolio and underwrite for profit in all market conditions. In 2022, we achieved our 27th consecutive year of underwriting profitability. Over the 27-year period, we averaged an 88.2 combined ratio. This drives our ability to provide shareholder returns in three different ways: the underwriting income itself, net investment income from our investment portfolio and long-term appreciation in our equity portfolio.

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We measure the results of our insurance operations by monitoring growth and profitability across three distinct business segments: casualty, property and surety. Growth is measured in terms of gross premiums written, and profitability is analyzed through combined ratios, which are further subdivided into their respective loss and expense components.

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KEY PERFORMANCE MEASURES

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Following is a list of key performance measures found throughout this report with their definitions, relationships to GAAP measures and explanations of their importance to our operations.

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Underwriting Income

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Underwriting income or profit represents one measure of the pretax profitability of our insurance operations and is derived by subtracting losses and settlement expenses, policy acquisition costs and insurance operating expenses from net premiums earned, which are all GAAP financial measures. Each of these captions is presented in the statements of earnings but is not subtotaled. However, this information is available in total and by segment in note 12 to the consolidated financial statements within Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. The nearest comparable GAAP measure is earnings before income taxes which, in addition to underwriting income, includes net investment income, net realized gains or losses, net unrealized gains or losses on equity securities, general corporate expenses, debt costs and our portion of earnings from unconsolidated investees. A reconciliation of net earnings to underwriting income follows:

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Combined Ratio

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The combined ratio, which is derived from components of underwriting income, is a common industry performance measure of profitability for underwriting operations and is calculated in two components. First, the loss ratio is losses and settlement expenses divided by net premiums earned. The second component, the expense ratio, reflects the sum of policy acquisition costs and insurance operating expenses divided by net premiums earned. All items included in these components of the combined ratio are presented in our GAAP consolidated financial statements. The sum of the loss and expense ratios is the combined ratio. The difference between the combined ratio and 100 reflects the per-dollar rate of underwriting income or loss.

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CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

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In preparing the consolidated financial statements, we are required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses for the reporting period. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.

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The most critical accounting policies involve significant estimates and include those used in determining the liability for unpaid losses and settlement expenses, investment valuation, recoverability of reinsurance balances, deferred policy acquisition costs and deferred taxes.

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LOSSES AND SETTLEMENT EXPENSES

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Overview

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Loss and loss adjustment expense (LAE) reserves represent our best estimate of ultimate payments for losses and related settlement expenses from claims that have been reported but not paid, and those losses that have been incurred but not yet reported (IBNR) to the Company. Loss reserves do not represent an exact calculation of liability, but instead represent our estimates, generally utilizing individual claim estimates, actuarial expertise and estimation techniques at a given accounting date. The loss reserve estimates are expectations of what ultimate settlement and administration of claims will cost upon final resolution. These estimates are based on facts and circumstances then known to the Company, review of historical settlement patterns, estimates of trends in claims frequency and severity, projections of loss costs, expected interpretations of legal theories of liability and many other factors. In establishing reserves, we also consider estimated recoveries from reinsurance as well as salvage and subrogation.

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We record two categories of loss and LAE reserves: case-specific reserves and IBNR reserves. Within a reasonable period of time after a claim is reported, our claim department completes an initial investigation and establishes a case reserve. This case-specific reserve is an estimate of the ultimate amount we will have to pay for the claim, including related legal expenses and other costs associated with resolving and settling it. The estimate reflects all of the current information available regarding the claim, the informed judgment of our professional claim personnel regarding the nature and value of the specific type of claim and our reserving practices. During the life cycle of a particular claim, as more information becomes available, we may revise the estimate of the ultimate value of the claim either upward or downward. We may determine that it is appropriate to pay portions of the reserve to the claimant or related settlement expenses before final resolution of the claim. The amount of the individual case reserve will be adjusted accordingly and is based on the most recent information available.

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We establish IBNR reserves to estimate the amount we will have to pay for claims that have occurred, but have not yet been reported to the Company, claims that have been reported to the Company that may ultimately be paid out differently than reflected in our case-specific reserves and claims that have been closed but may reopen and require future payment.

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LAE represents the cost involved in adjusting and administering losses from policies we issued. The LAE reserves are frequently separated into two components: allocated and unallocated. Allocated loss adjustment expense (ALAE) reserves represent an estimate of claims settlement expenses that can be identified with a specific claim or case. Examples of ALAE would be the hiring of an outside adjuster to investigate a claim or an outside attorney to defend our insured. The claim adjuster typically estimates this cost separately from the loss component in the case reserve. Unallocated loss adjustment expense (ULAE) reserves represent an estimate of claims settlement expenses that cannot be identified with a specific claim. An example of ULAE would be the cost of an internal claim examiner to manage or investigate claims.

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The process of estimating loss reserves involves a high degree of judgment and is subject to a number of variables. These variables can be affected by both internal and external events, such as changes in claim handling procedures, claim personnel, economic inflation, legal trends and legislative changes, among others. The impact of many of these items on ultimate costs for loss and LAE is difficult to estimate. Loss reserve estimations also differ significantly by coverage due to differences in claim complexity, the volume of claims, the policy limits written, the terms and conditions of the underlying policies, the potential severity of individual claims, the determination of occurrence date for a claim and reporting lags (the time between the occurrence of the policyholder event and when it is actually reported to the insurer). Informed judgment is applied throughout the process. We continually refine our loss reserve estimates as historical loss experience develops and additional claims are reported and settled. We rigorously attempt to consider all significant facts and circumstances known at the time loss reserves are established.

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Following is a table of significant risk factors involved in estimating losses grouped by major product line. We distinguish between loss ratio risk and reserve estimation risk. Loss ratio risk refers to the possible dispersion of loss ratios from year to year due to inherent volatility in the business, such as high severity or aggregating exposures. Reserve estimation risk recognizes the difficulty in estimating a given year’s ultimate loss liability. As an example, our property catastrophe business (included below in other property) has significant variance in year over year results; however, its reserving estimation risk is relatively moderate.

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