Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

(Mark One)

 

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

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2012

or

 

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

For the transition period from                      to                     

Commission File Number 001-33251

 

 

UNIVERSAL INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   65-0231984

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

1110 W. Commercial Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33309

(Address of principal executive offices)

(954) 958-1200

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

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 period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.     Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted 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 and post such files).     Yes   x    No  ¨

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

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨      Accelerated filer    x
Non-accelerated filer   ¨   (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company    ¨

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

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date: 40,171,028 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, outstanding on May 2, 2012.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

UNIVERSAL INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page
No.
 
  PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION   

Item 1.

  Financial Statements:   
  Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 (unaudited)      4   
  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 (unaudited)      5   
  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 (unaudited)      6   
  Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)      7   

Item 2.

  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations      24   

Item 3.

  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk      36   

Item 4.

  Controls and Procedures      38   
  PART II—OTHER INFORMATION   

Item 1.

  Legal Proceedings      38   

Item 1A.

  Risk Factors      39   

Item 6.

  Exhibits      39   

Signatures

       41   

 

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Table of Contents

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To The Board of Directors and Stockholders of

Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

We have reviewed the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet of Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) and its Subsidiaries as of March 31, 2012 and the related condensed consolidated statements of income for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 and cash flows for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011. These interim financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.

We conducted our review in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

Based on our review, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the accompanying interim financial statements for them to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Blackman Kallick, LLP

Chicago, Illinois

May 9, 2012

 

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Table of Contents

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

UNIVERSAL INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

     As of  
     March 31,
2012
    December 31,
2011
 

ASSETS:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 325,968      $ 229,685   

Restricted cash and cash equivalents

     48,178        78,312   

Fixed maturities, at fair value

     3,800        3,801   

Equity securities, at fair value

     96,996        95,345   

Prepaid reinsurance premiums

     276,365        243,095   

Reinsurance recoverables

     77,049        85,706   

Reinsurance receivable, net

     15,794        55,205   

Premiums receivable, net

     45,628        45,828   

Receivable from securities sold

     4,117        9,737   

Other receivables

     2,207        2,732   

Property and equipment, net

     8,441        7,116   

Deferred policy acquisition costs, net

     11,798        12,996   

Income taxes recoverable

     1,070        —     

Deferred income taxes

     17,409        22,991   

Other assets

     1,836        1,477   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 936,656      $ 894,026   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

LIABILITIES:

    

Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses

   $ 172,300      $ 187,215   

Unearned premiums

     371,041        359,842   

Advance premium

     31,101        19,390   

Accounts payable

     5,064        4,314   

Bank overdraft

     28,690        25,485   

Payable for securities purchased

     8,017        1,067   

Reinsurance payable

     114,477        87,497   

Income taxes payable

     551        12,740   

Dividends payable to shareholders

     4,012        —     

Other accrued expenses

     23,506        24,780   

Long-term debt

     21,324        21,691   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     780,083        744,021   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and Contingencies (Note 11)

    

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:

    

Cumulative convertible preferred stock, $.01 par value

     1        1   

Authorized shares—1,000

    

Issued shares—108

    

Outstanding shares—108

    

Minimum liquidation preference, $2.66 per share

    

Common stock, $.01 par value

     411        411   

Authorized shares—55,000

    

Issued shares—41,135 and 41,100

    

Outstanding shares—40,117 and 40,082

    

Treasury shares, at cost—1,018

     (3,101     (3,101

Additional paid-in capital

     37,497        36,536   

Retained earnings

     121,765        116,158   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     156,573        150,005   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 936,656      $ 894,026   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements.

 

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Table of Contents

UNIVERSAL INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2012     2011  

PREMIUMS EARNED AND OTHER REVENUES

    

Direct premiums written

   $ 190,003      $ 173,175   

Ceded premiums written

     (163,434     (123,891
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net premiums written

     26,569        49,284   

Decrease (increase) in net unearned premium

     22,071        (1,280
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Premiums earned, net

     48,640        48,004   

Net investment (expense) income

     (36     257   

Net realized (losses) gains on investments

     (7,449     3,652   

Net unrealized gains on investments

     9,187        2,588   

Net foreign currency gains on investments

     23        71   

Commission revenue

     4,541        4,180   

Policy fees

     3,901        4,173   

Other revenue

     1,440        1,408   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total premiums earned and other revenues

     60,247        64,333   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

OPERATING COSTS AND EXPENSES

    

Losses and loss adjustment expenses

     26,174        26,185   

General and administrative expenses

     17,844        15,072   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating costs and expenses

     44,018        41,257   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES

     16,229        23,076   

Income taxes, current

     774        8,737   

Income taxes, deferred

     5,582        441   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income taxes, net

     6,356        9,178   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

   $ 9,873      $ 13,898   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic earnings per common share

   $ 0.24      $ 0.35   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average of common shares outstanding—Basic

     39,388        39,388   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fully diluted earnings per common share

   $ 0.24      $ 0.34   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average of common shares outstanding—Diluted

     40,544        40,838   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash dividend declared per common share

   $ 0.10      $ 0.10   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements.

 

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UNIVERSAL INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited)

(in thousands)

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2012     2011  

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net Income

   $ 9,873      $ 13,898   

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Bad debt (recovery) expense

     (80     164   

Depreciation

     199        182   

Amortization of stock-based compensation

     1,012        398   

Net realized losses (gains) on investments

     7,449        (3,652

Net unrealized (gains) losses on investments

     (9,187     (2,588

Net foreign currency (gains) on investments

     (23     (71

Amortization of premium / accretion of discount, net

     3        157   

Deferred income taxes

     5,582        442   

Excess tax (benefits) shortfall from stock-based compensation

     142        —     

Other

     —          838   

Net change in assets and liabilities relating to operating activities:

    

Restricted cash and cash equivalents

     30,134        (10,291

Prepaid reinsurance premiums

     (33,270     (7,309

Reinsurance recoverables

     8,657        426   

Reinsurance receivable, net

     39,411        5,375   

Premiums receivable, net

     303        43   

Accrued investment income

     40        —     

Other receivables

     463        (228

Income taxes recoverable

     (1,070     —     

Deferred policy acquisition costs, net

     1,198        (694

Proceeds from sale of trading securities

     119,686        119,582   

Purchases of trading securities

     (107,313     (48,350

Other assets

     (55     (1,234

Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses

     (14,915     (679

Unearned premiums

     11,199        8,588   

Accounts payable

     750        1,504   

Reinsurance payable, net

     26,980        30,158   

Income taxes payable

     (12,331     2,612   

Other accrued expenses

     (1,274     319   

Advance premium

     11,711        10,218   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

     95,274        119,808   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment

     18        —     

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

     (1,542     (399
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (1,524     (399
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Bank overdraft

     3,205        3,833   

Preferred stock dividend

     (254     (5

Issuance of common stock

     91        —     

Excess tax benefits (shortfall) from stock-based compensation

     (142     —     

Repayment of debt

     (367     —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

     2,533        3,828   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     96,283        123,237   

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     229,685        133,645   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 325,968      $ 256,882   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental cash flow disclosure

    

Dividends accrued

   $ 4,012      $ —     

Interest

   $ 105      $ —     

Income taxes

   $ 14,170      $ 6,050   

The accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements.

 

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Table of Contents

UNIVERSAL INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

1. Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation

Nature of Operations

Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc. (“UIH”) is a Delaware corporation originally incorporated as Universal Heights, Inc. in November 1990. UIH, with its wholly-owned subsidiaries (the “Company”) is a vertically integrated insurance company performing all aspects of insurance underwriting, distribution and claims. Through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, including Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Company (“UPCIC”) and American Platinum Property and Casualty Insurance Company (“APPCIC”), collectively referred to as the (“Insurance Entities”), the Company is principally engaged in the property and casualty insurance business offered primarily through a network of independent agents. Risk from catastrophic losses is managed through the use of reinsurance agreements. The Company’s primary product is homeowners’ insurance currently offered in five states, including Florida which comprises the vast majority of the Company’s in-force policies. See Note 5, Insurance Operations, for more information regarding the Company’s insurance operations.

The Company generates revenues primarily from the collection of premiums and the investment of available funds in excess of those retained for claims-paying obligations and insurance operations. Other significant sources of revenue include commissions collected from reinsurers and policy fees.

Basis of Presentation

The Company has prepared the accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (“Financial Statements”) in accordance with the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) for complete financial statements. Therefore, the Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the audited Consolidated Financial Statements contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, filed with the SEC on March 26, 2012. The condensed consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2011, was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair presentation have been included in the Financial Statements. The results for interim periods do not necessarily indicate the results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the full year.

The Financial Statements include the accounts of the UIH and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All material intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Management must make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in the Company’s Financial Statements and in disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

To conform to the current period presentation, certain amounts in the prior periods’ consolidated financial statements and notes have been reclassified. Such reclassifications were of an immaterial amount and had no effect on net income or stockholders’ equity. The Company has adjusted its Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2011 to reflect the effect of a reclassification made to its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of March 31, 2011 related to reinsurance payables. This reclassification was made upon discovery that the Company was offsetting receivables and payables with non-affiliated reinsurers. This correction represents a change in the presentation only of the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet and Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows and had no impact on earnings, equity or cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities. The following line items were adjusted (in thousands):

 

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Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows:    Three Months Ended March 31, 2011  
     As Reported      Reclassification     Adjusted  

Net change in assets and liabilities relating to operating activities:

       

Reinsurance receivable, net

   $ —         $ 5,375      $ 5,375   

Reinsurance payable, net

   $ 35,533       $ (5,375   $ 30,158   

An adjustment has been made to the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2011 to reflect the effect of a reclassification made to the Company’s Condensed Balance Sheet as of March 31, 2011 related to restricted cash and cash equivalents. The Company reclassified amounts out of cash and cash equivalents that were restricted in terms of their use and withdrawal and has presented those amounts of restricted cash and cash equivalents as a separate line item on the face of the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The following line items were adjusted (in thousands):

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows:    Three Months Ended March 31, 2011  
     As Reported      Reclassification     Adjusted  

Net change in assets and liabilities relating to operating activities:

       

Restricted cash and cash equivalents

   $ —         $ (10,291   $ (10,291

Net cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities

   $ 130,099       $ (10,291   $ 119,808   

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

   $ 133,528       $ (10,291   $ 123,237   

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

   $ 147,585       $ (13,940   $ 133,645   

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 281,113       $ (24,231   $ 256,882   

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The Company reported Significant Accounting Policies in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. The following are new or revised disclosures or disclosures required on a quarterly basis.

Concentrations of Credit Risk. The Company is exposed to concentrations of credit risk, consisting principally of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents, debt securities, premiums receivable, reinsurance receivable and reinsurance recoverables.

Concentrations of credit risk with respect to cash on deposit are limited by the Company’s policy of investing excess cash with custodial institutions who invest primarily in money market accounts backed by the United States Government and United States Government agency securities with major national banks. These accounts are held by the Institutional Trust & Custody division of U.S. Bank and the Trust Department of SunTrust Bank.

The Company maintains depository relationships with SunTrust Bank and Wells Fargo Bank N.A. It is the Company’s policy not to have a balance of more than $250 thousand for any of its affiliates at either institution on any given day to minimize exposure to a bank failure. Cash balances in excess of $250 thousand are transferred daily into custodial accounts with SunTrust Bank where cash is immediately invested into shares of Money Market Funds.

 

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The following table presents the amount of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents as of the periods presented (in thousands):

 

     As of March 31, 2012  
     Cash and cash equivalents     Restricted cash and cash equivalents  

Institution

   Cash      Money
Market Funds
     Total      % by
institution
    Funds
held in
Trust (1)
     State
Deposits (2)
     Total      % by
institution
 

U. S. Bank IT&C

   $ —         $ 40,476       $ 40,476         12.4   $ —         $ 800       $ 800         1.7

SunTrust Bank

     1,130         —           1,130         0.4     —           —           —           0.0

SunTrust Bank Institutional Asset Services

     —           279,229         279,229         85.7     —           —           —           0.0

Wells Fargo Bank N.A.

     1,396         3         1,399         0.4     —           —           —           0.0

Bank of New York Mellon Trust Co. (1)

     —           —           —           0.0     50         —           50         0.1

Florida Department of Financial Services

     —           —           —           0.0     —           47,293         47,293         98.1

All Other Banking Institutions/States

     2,813         921         3,734         1.1     —           35         35         0.1
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 5,339       $ 320,629       $ 325,968         100.0   $ 50       $ 48,128       $ 48,178         100.0
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     As of December 31, 2011  
     Cash and cash equivalents     Restricted cash and cash equivalents  

Institution

   Cash      Money
Market Funds
     Total      % by
institution
    Funds
held in
Trust (1)
     State
Deposits (2)
     Total      % by
institution
 

U. S. Bank IT&C

   $ —         $ 40,474       $ 40,474         17.6   $ —         $ 800       $ 800         1.0

SunTrust Bank

     1,629         —           1,629         0.7     —           —           —           0.0

SunTrust Bank Institutional Asset Services

     —           182,701         182,701         79.5     —           —           —           0.0

Wells Fargo Bank N.A.

     1,244         14         1,258         0.5     —           —           —           0.0

Bank of New York Mellon Trust Co. (1)

     —           —           —           0.0     30,220         —           30,220         38.6

Florida Department of Financial Services

                —           47,292         47,292         60.4

All Other Banking Institutions

     1,739         1,884         3,623         1.6     —           —           —           0.0
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 4,612       $ 225,073       $ 229,685         100.0   $ 30,220       $ 48,092       $ 78,312         100.0
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Amounts held in trust include collateral contributed by UIH in connection with reinsurance contracts entered into between a segregated account T25 owned and maintained by UIH and UPCIC. See Note 4, Reinsurance, for information about this arrangement.
(2) State deposits represent amounts held with regulatory agencies in the various states in which our Insurance Entities do business. Applicable laws and regulations govern not only the amount, but also the type of securities that are eligible for deposit. State deposits also include amounts that UPCIC has voluntarily placed on deposit in connection with the T25 arrangement.

All securities included in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2012, and December 31, 2011, are direct obligations of the United States Treasury or money-market accounts that invest in direct obligations of the United States Treasury.

Concentrations of credit risk with respect to premiums receivable are limited due to the large number of individuals comprising the Company’s customer base. However, the majority of the Company’s revenues are currently derived from products and services offered to customers in Florida, which could be adversely affected by economic downturns, an increase in competition or weather-related events.

In order to reduce credit risk for amounts due from reinsurers, the Insurance Entities seek to do business with financially sound reinsurance companies and regularly evaluate the financial strength of all reinsurers used. Everest Reinsurance Company, the reinsurer to which the Insurance Entities cede the most risk, has the following ratings from each of the rating agencies: A+ from A.M. Best Company, A+ from Standard and Poor’s Rating Services and Aa3 from Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

 

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The following table presents the unsecured amounts due from the Company’s reinsurers whose aggregate balance exceeds 3% of the Company’s stockholders’ equity (in thousands):

 

     As of  

Reinsurer

   March 31,
2012
     December 31,
2011
 

Everest Reinsurance Company

   $ 250,985       $ 264,997   

Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund

     10,756         30,422   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total (1)

   $ 261,741       $ 295,419   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Amounts represent prepaid reinsurance premiums, reinsurance receivables, and recoverables for paid and unpaid losses, including incurred but not reported ("IBNR") reserves, and loss adjustment expenses.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) updated its guidance to the Balance Sheet Topic 210 of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”). This updated guidance requires entities that have financial instruments and derivative instruments that are offset, to disclose information about offsetting and related arrangements to enable users of financial statements to understand the effect of those arrangements on an entity’s financial position. This guidance is to be applied for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods. Disclosure is required retrospectively for all comparative periods presented. The additional disclosures required by the updated guidance will not have an impact on the Company’s operating results, cash flows, or financial position.

In June 2011, the FASB updated its guidance related to the Comprehensive Income Topic 220 of the FASB ASC. This updated guidance increases the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income by eliminating the option of presenting components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity. The guidance requires that total comprehensive income (including both the net income components and other comprehensive income components) be reported in either a single continuous statement of comprehensive income, or two separate but consecutive statements (the approach currently used in the Company’s financial statements). This guidance is to be applied retrospectively to fiscal years (and interim periods within those years) beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2012. This guidance did not have an impact on the presentation of the Company’s financial statements and notes herein, as the Company did not have any amounts of other comprehensive income during the periods presented.

In May 2011, the FASB updated its guidance related to the Fair Value Measurement, Topic 820 of the ASC, to achieve common fair value measurement and disclosure requirements with International Financial Reporting Standards. The amendments change the wording used to describe many of the requirements in United States generally accepted accounting principles, to clarify the intent of application of existing fair value measurement and disclosure requirements, and to change particular principles or requirements for measuring and disclosing fair value measurements. The amendments are to be applied prospectively to interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2012. The adoption of this guidance resulted in additional disclosure but did not impact the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

In September 2010, the FASB issued guidance related to accounting for costs associated with acquiring or renewing insurance contracts. This guidance defines allowable deferred acquisition costs as costs incurred by insurance entities for the successful acquisition of new and renewal contracts. Such costs result directly from and are essential to the contract transaction(s) and would not have been incurred by the insurance entity had the contract(s) not occurred. This guidance is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2011, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted this guidance prospectively effective January 1, 2012. Under the new guidance, the Company’s net deferred policy acquisition costs were reduced from $13.0 million to $11.4 million, a difference of 13%. The resulting $1.6 million difference was charged directly to earnings during the three months ended March 31, 2012. This charge represents a charge-off of capitalized costs existing at December 31, 2011, which would have been amortized to earnings within a twelve-month period under the old guidance.

 

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3. Investments

The following table presents the Company’s investment holdings by type of instrument as of the periods presented (in thousands):

 

     As of March 31, 2012      As of December 31, 2011  
     Cost or
Amortized
Cost
     Fair Value      Carrying
Value
     Cost or
Amortized
Cost
     Fair Value      Carrying
Value
 

Cash equivalents (1)

   $ 325,968       $ 325,968       $ 325,968       $ 229,685       $ 229,685       $ 229,685   

Restricted cash and cash equivalents (1)

     48,178         48,178         48,178         78,312         78,312         78,312   

Trading portfolio:

                 

Debt securities:

                 

U.S. government securities obligations and agencies (2)

     3,294         3,800         3,800         3,179         3,801         3,801   

Equity securities:

                 

Common stock:

                 

Metals and mining

     38,211         34,460         34,460         50,121         38,816         38,816   

Energy

     7,364         7,203         7,203         6,077         4,999         4,999   

Other

     2,235         2,145         2,145         8,044         6,945         6,945   

Exchange-traded and mutual funds:

                 

Metals and mining

     15,197         15,174         15,174         28,311         25,997         25,997   

Agriculture

     20,609         19,811         19,811         17,781         16,878         16,878   

Indices

     21,373         18,203         18,203         2,006         1,710         1,710   

Derivatives: (3)

                 

Non-hedging instruments

     147         60         60         357         123         123   

Other investments (3) (4)

     517         385         385         517         371         371   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total trading portfolio investments

     108,947         101,241         101,241         116,393         99,640         99,640   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total investments

   $ 483,093       $ 475,387       $ 475,387       $ 424,390       $ 407,637       $ 407,637   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Cash equivalents include short-term debt securities consisting of direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury or money-market accounts that invest in direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury.
(2) The Company is required by various state laws and regulations to maintain certain securities on deposit in depositary accounts with the states in which we do business. As of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, securities having fair values of $3.8 million were on deposit. These laws and regulations govern not only the amount, but also the type of security that is eligible for deposit.
(3) Derivatives and other investments are included in Other Assets in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
(4) Other investments represent physical metals held by the Company.

The Company has made an assessment of its invested assets for fair value measurement as further described in Note 12 – Fair Value Measurements.

 

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The following table presents investment income comprised primarily of interest and dividends (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2012     2011  

Cash and cash equivalents (1)

   $ 179      $ 14   

Debt securities

     13        401   

Equity securities

     56        26   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investment income

     248        441   

Less investment expenses

     (284     (184
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment (expense) income

   $ (36   $ 257   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Includes interest earned on restricted cash and cash equivalents.

Trading Portfolio

The following table presents the effect of trading activities on the Company’s results of operations by type of instrument and by line item in the condensed consolidated statements of income (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2012     2011  

Realized gains (losses) on investments:

    

Debt securities

   $ —        $ (4,140

Equity securities

     (7,593     8,185   

Derivatives (non-hedging instruments) (1)

     144        (393
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total realized (losses) gains on trading portfolio

     (7,449     3,652   

Unrealized gains (losses) on investments:

    

Debt securities

     37        5,519   

Equity securities

     8,989        (3,195

Derivatives (non-hedging instruments) (1)

     147        264   

Other

     14        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total unrealized gains on trading portfolio

     9,187        2,588   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net gains recognized on trading securities

   $ 1,738      $ 6,240   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) This table represents the alternative quantitative disclosures permitted for derivatives that are not used as hedging instruments and are included in the trading portfolio.

4. Reinsurance

UPCIC seeks to reduce its risk of loss by reinsuring certain levels of risk in various areas of exposure with other insurance enterprises or reinsurers, generally, as of the beginning of the hurricane season on June 1 of each year. UPCIC’s reinsurance program consists of excess of loss, quota share and catastrophe reinsurance, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable agreements. UPCIC is responsible for insured losses related to catastrophes and other events in excess of coverage provided by its reinsurance program. UPCIC also remains responsible for the settlement of insured losses notwithstanding the failure of any of its reinsurers to make payments otherwise due to UPCIC. UPCIC’s in-force policyholder coverage for windstorm exposures as of March 31, 2012 was approximately $127.5 billion.

Amounts recoverable from reinsurers are estimated in a manner consistent with the reinsurance contracts. Reinsurance premiums, losses and loss adjustment expenses (“LAE”) are accounted for on a basis consistent with those used in accounting for the original policies issued and the terms of the reinsurance contracts. Deferred ceding commissions are netted against policy acquisition costs and amortized over the effective period of the related insurance policies.

 

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The Company’s reinsurance arrangements had the following effect on certain items in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended March 31, 2012  
     Premiums
Written
    Premiums
Earned
    Loss and Loss
Adjustment
Expenses
 

Direct

   $ 190,003      $ 178,804      $ 52,607   

Ceded

     (163,434     (130,164     (26,433
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net

   $ 26,569      $ 48,640      $ 26,174   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     Three Months Ended March 31, 2011  
     Premiums
Written
    Premiums
Earned
    Loss and Loss
Adjustment
Expenses
 

Direct

   $ 173,175      $ 164,587      $ 53,131   

Ceded

     (123,891     (116,583     (26,946
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net

   $ 49,284      $ 48,004      $ 26,185   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The following prepaid reinsurance premiums and reinsurance recoverables are reflected in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands):

 

     As of
March 31, 2012
    As of
December 31, 2011
 

Prepaid reinsurance premiums

   $ 276,365      $ 243,095   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses and LAE

   $ 79,285      $ 88,002   

Reinsurance recoverable on paid losses

     (2,236     (2,296
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Reinsurance recoverables

   $ 77,049      $ 85,706   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Termination of Agreements With Segregated Account T25

Effective January 1, 2012, the agreement between the Insurance Entities and UIH’s Segregated Account T25 – Universal Insurance Holdings of White Rock Insurance (SAC) Ltd. (“T25”) was replaced at identical limits and retentions as the prior agreement with an unaffiliated third-party reinsurer as an open market purchase. Effective January 1, 2012 through May 31, 2012, under an excess catastrophe contract, the Insurance Entities obtained catastrophe coverage of $140.2 million in excess of $44.8 million covering certain loss occurrences including hurricanes. The total cost of this reinsurance coverage is $4.4 million. In the event of a non-hurricane loss subject to this contract, the Insurance Entities will pay to the reinsurer 20.0% of the ultimate net loss ceded to the reinsurer arising out of such non-hurricane loss.

5. Insurance Operations

The Company’s primary product is homeowners’ insurance currently offered by APPIC in one state (Florida) and by UPCIC in five states, including Florida, which represented 98% of the Insurance Entities’ policies-in-force as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011. Approximately 98% of the Insurance Entities’ policies-in-force as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 included coverage for wind. As of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, 30% and 32%, respectively, of the Insurance Entities’ policies-in-force with wind coverage were for insured properties located in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

 

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Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs

The Company defers commissions and state premium taxes on policies written, called Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs (“DPAC”), net of corresponding amounts of ceded reinsurance commissions, called Deferred Reinsurance Ceding Commissions (“DRCC”). Net DPAC is amortized over the effective period of the related insurance policies. The following table presents the beginning and ending balances and the changes in DPAC, net of DRCC, for the periods presented (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2012     2011  

DPAC, beginning of year (1)

   $ 50,200      $ 50,128   

Capitalized costs

     26,144        26,285   

Amortization of DPAC

     (24,472     (24,553
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

DPAC, end of period

   $ 51,872      $ 51,860   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

DRCC, beginning of year (1)

   $ 38,845      $ 40,682   

Ceding commissions written

     20,506        21,431   

Earned ceding commissions

     (19,277     (20,392
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

DRCC, end of period

   $ 40,074      $ 41,721   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

DPAC (DRCC), net, beginning of year (1)

   $ 11,355      $ 9,446   

Capitalized costs, net

     5,638        4,854   

Amortization of DPAC (DRCC), net

     (5,195     (4,161
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

DPAC (DRCC), net, end of period

   $ 11,798      $ 10,139   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) The beginning balances for the three months ended March 31, 2012 have been adjusted in connection with the adoption of the FASB's updated guidance related to deferred acquisition costs as discussed below.

As discussed in Note 2 – Significant Accounting Policies, the Company prospectively adopted new accounting guidance effective January 1, 2012 related to accounting for costs associated with acquiring or renewing insurance contracts. This guidance resulted in a reduction of our net deferred policy acquisition costs as of December 31, 2011 by 13%, and a corresponding charge of $1.6 million, before taxes of $617 thousand, against earnings during the first quarter of 2012. This charge represents an acceleration of capitalized costs existing at December 31, 2011, which would have been amortized to earnings within a twelve-month period under the old guidance. Approximately $9 million of net costs would have been deferred during the three months ended March 31, 2012 under the old guidance compared to the $5.6 million under the new guidance. Future expenses will be higher with the adoption of this guidance, as the amounts being deferred have decreased, partially offset by less amortization. The effect of this change in future periods on income and per share amounts is not determinable as the historical methodology will have been discontinued after adoption.

 

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Liability for Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses

Set forth in the following table is the change in liability for unpaid losses and LAE for the periods presented (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2012     2011  

Balance at beginning of period

   $ 187,215      $ 158,929   

Less reinsurance recoverable

     88,002        79,114   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net balance at beginning of period

     99,213        79,815   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Incurred related to:

    

Current year

     26,350        26,335   

Prior years

     (176     (150
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total incurred

     26,174        26,185   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Paid related to:

    

Current year

     953        2,059   

Prior years

     31,419        24,302   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total paid

     32,372        26,361   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net balance at end of period

     93,015        79,639   

Plus reinsurance recoverables

     79,285        78,611   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at end of period

   $ 172,300      $ 158,250   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Regulatory Requirements

The Insurance Entities are subject to regulations and standards of the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (“OIR”). UPCIC is also subject to the laws of other states in which it operates. The OIR standards require the Insurance Entities to maintain specified levels of statutory capital and restrict the timing and amount of dividends and other distributions that may be paid to the parent company. Except in the case of extraordinary dividends, these standards generally permit the Insurance Entities to pay dividends from statutory unassigned surplus. The dividends are limited based on the Insurance Entities’ level of statutory net income and statutory capital and surplus. These dividends are referred to as “ordinary dividends” and generally can be paid without prior regulatory approval. If the dividend, together with other dividends paid within the preceding twelve months, exceeds a specified statutory limit or is paid from sources other than earned surplus, the entire dividend is generally considered an “extraordinary dividend” and must receive prior regulatory approval.

Based on the 2011 statutory net income and statutory capital and surplus levels, UPCIC and APPCIC do not have the capacity to pay ordinary dividends during 2012. For the three months ended March 31, 2012, no dividends were paid from UPCIC or APPCIC to the parent company.

The Florida Insurance Code requires companies to maintain capitalization equivalent to the greater of ten percent of the insurer’s total liabilities or $5.0 million. The following table presents the amount of statutory capital and surplus, and an amount representing ten percent of total liabilities for both UPCIC and APPCIC as of the periods presented (in thousands):

 

     As of
March 31,
2012
     As of
December 31,
2011
 

Ten percent of total liabilities

     

UPCIC

   $ 39,039       $ 37,063   

APPCIC

   $ 141       $ 97   

At such dates, both UPCIC and APPCIC met the Florida capitalization requirement. UPCIC and APPCIC are also required to adhere to prescribed premium-to-capital surplus ratios and have met those requirements at such dates.

 

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6. Share-Based Compensation

The following table presents certain information related to stock options and non-vested shares (in thousands, except per share data):

 

     Three Months Ended March 31, 2012  
      Stock Options      Non-vested Shares  
     Number of
Shares
    Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
     Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
     Weighted
Average
Remaining
Term
     Number of
Shares
    Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
 

Outstanding as of December 31, 2011

     6,720      $ 4.78               801      $ 5.67   

Granted

     —          —                 —          —     

Forfeited

     —          —                 —          —     

Exercised (1)

     (35     2.60               —          —     

Vested

     —          —                 (299     5.69   

Expired

     —          —                 —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Outstanding as of March 31, 2012 (2)

     6,685      $ 4.79       $ 1,264         2.6         502      $ 5.66   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Exercisable as of March 31, 2012

     5,613      $ 4.81       $ 1,264         1.9        
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

(1) Unless otherwise specified, such as in the case of the exercise of stock options, the per share prices were determined using the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock as quoted on the NYSE Amex Equities. Shares issued upon exercise of options represent original issuances in private transactions pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(2) All shares outstanding as of March 31, 2012 are expected to vest.

 

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The following table presents certain information regarding the Company’s stock-based compensation for the periods presented (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2012     2011  

Compensation expense:

    

Stock options

   $ 337      $ 254   

Restricted stock

     675        144   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 1,012      $ 398   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Deferred tax benefits:

    

Stock options

   $ 130      $ 98   

Restricted stock

     204        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 334      $ 98   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Realized tax benefits:

    

Stock options

   $ 14      $ —     

Restricted stock

     291        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 305      $ —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Excess tax benefits(shortfall):

    

Stock options

   $ —        $ —     

Restricted stock

     (142     —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ (142   $ —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted avg grant date fair value for grants:

    

Stock options

   $ —        $ —     

Restricted stock

     —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ —        $ —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Intrinsic value of options exercised

   $ 35      $ —     

Fair value of restricted stock vested

   $ 1,164      $ 540   

Cash received for strike price and tax withholdings

   $ 518      $ 199   

The following table presents the amount of unrecognized compensation expense as of the most recent balance sheet date and the weighted average period over which those expenses will be recorded for both stock options and restricted stock (dollars in thousands):

 

     As of March 31, 2012  
     Stock
Options
     Restricted
Stock
 

Unrecognized expense

   $ 1,273       $ 2,513   

Weighted average remaining years

     1.18         1.41   

7. Stockholders’ Equity

Dividends

On February 23, 2012, the Company declared a dividend of $0.10 per share on its outstanding common stock. The dividend was paid on April 6, 2012 to the Company’s shareholders of record at the close of business on March 28, 2012.

 

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8. Related Party Transactions

Downes and Associates, a multi-line insurance adjustment corporation based in Deerfield Beach, Florida performs certain claims adjusting work for UPCIC. Downes and Associates is owned by Dennis Downes, who is the father of Sean P. Downes, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company.

The following table presents payments made by the Company to Downes and Associates for the periods presented (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended  
     March 31,  
     2012      2011  

Claims adjusting fees

   $ 130       $ 260   

There were no amounts due to Downes and Associates as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011.

9. Income Taxes

Deferred income taxes represent the temporary differences between the GAAP and tax basis of the Company’s assets and liabilities. The tax effects of temporary differences are as follows for the periods presented (in thousands):

 

     As of March 31,     As of December 31,  
     2012     2011  

Deferred income tax assets:

    

Unearned premiums

   $ 7,305      $ 9,007   

Advance premiums

     2,345        1,451   

Unpaid losses

     2,977        3,139   

Stock option expense

     4,142        4,026   

Accrued wages

     993        958   

Allowance for uncollectible receivables

     236        276   

Additional tax basis of securities

     995        2,407   

Restricted stock grant

     86        315   

Unrealized losses on investments

     2,881        6,425   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total deferred income tax assets

     21,960        28,004   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Deferred income tax liabilities:

    

Deferred policy acquisition costs, net

     (4,551     (5,013
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total deferred income tax liabilities

     (4,551     (5,013
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net deferred income tax asset

   $ 17,409      $ 22,991   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

A valuation allowance is deemed unnecessary as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, because management believes it is probable that the Company will generate taxable income sufficient to realize the tax benefits associated with the net deferred income tax asset shown above in the near future.

Tax years that remain open for purposes of examination of the Company’s income tax liability by taxing authorities include the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008. The Company’s 2009 consolidated federal income tax return is currently under examination by the Internal Revenue Service.

 

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The following table reconciles the statutory federal income tax rate to the Company’s effective tax rate for the periods presented:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2012     2011  

Statutory federal income tax rate

     35.0     35.0

Increases resulting from:

    

Disallowed meals & entertainment

     0.3     0.1

Disallowed compensation

     0.3     0.6

State income tax, net of federal tax benefit (1)

     3.6     3.6

Other, net

     0.0     0.5
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effective tax rate

     39.2     39.8
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Included in income tax is State of Florida income tax at a statutory tax rate of 5.5%.

10. Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) is based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding for the period, excluding any dilutive common share equivalents. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities to issue common stock were exercised or restricted stock vests.

 

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The following table reconciles the numerator (i.e., income) and denominator (i.e., shares) of the basic and diluted earnings per share computations for net income for the periods presented (in thousands, except per share data):

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2012     2011  

Numerator for EPS:

    

Net income

   $ 9,873      $ 13,898   

Less: Preferred stock dividends

     (254     (5
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income available to common stockholders

   $ 9,619      $ 13,893   

Denominator for EPS:

    

Weighted average common shares outstanding

     39,388        39,388   

Plus: Assumed conversion of stock-based compensation (1)

     668        962   

Assumed conversion of preferred stock (2)

     488        488   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding

     40,544        40,838   

Basic earnings per common share

   $ 0.24      $ 0.35   

Diluted earnings per common share

   $ 0.24      $ 0.34   

 

(1) Represents the dilutive effect of unvested restricted stock and unexercised stock options.

 

(2) The assumed conversion of preferred stock for the three months ended March 31, 2011 has been corrected to reflect the conversion factor of 1 to 5 for Series M Preferred Stock. A conversion factor of 1 to 1. 25 was incorrectly used to calculate the assumed conversion of Series M Preferred Stock as presented in the Company's Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2011. This error resulted in an understatement of the assumed conversion of preferred stock for purposes of calculating the average diluted shares outstanding resulting in an overstatement of diluted earnings per share of an amount less than $0.01.

11. Commitments and Contingencies

Employment Agreements

The Company has employment agreements with certain employees which are in effect as of March 31, 2012. The agreements provide for minimum salaries, which may be subject to annual percentage increases, and non-equity incentive compensation for certain executives based on pre-tax, or net income levels attained by the Company. The agreements also provide for payments contingent upon the occurrence of certain events.

 

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The following table presents the amount of commitments and estimated contingent payments the Company is obligated to pay in the form of salaries and non-equity incentive compensation under the agreements with named executive officers (in thousands):

 

     As of March 31, 2012  
     Salaries      Non-equity
incentive
compensation
     Equity
compensation
 

Commitments

   $ 8,221       $ 4,397         —     

Contingent payments upon certain events:

        

Termination

   $ 4,449       $ 2,823         —     

Change in control

   $ 13,634       $ 5,016       $ 319   

Death

   $ 6,249       $ 3,571         —     

Disability

   $ 4,036       $ 2,277         —     

Litigation

Certain lawsuits have been filed against the Company. These lawsuits involve matters that are routine litigation incidental to the claims aspect of the Company’s business for which estimated losses are included in Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. In the opinion of management, these lawsuits are not material individually or in the aggregate to the Company’s financial position or results of operations. Accruals made or assessments of materiality of disclosure related to probable or possible losses do not consider any anticipated insurance proceeds.

12. Fair Value Measurements

GAAP defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants as of the measurement date. GAAP describes three approaches to measuring the fair value of assets and liabilities: the market approach, the income approach and the cost approach. Each approach includes multiple valuation techniques. GAAP does not prescribe which valuation technique should be used when measuring fair value, but does establish a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used in applying the various techniques. Inputs broadly refer to the assumptions that market participants use to make pricing decisions, including assumptions about risk. Level 1inputs are given the highest priority in the hierarchy while Level 3 inputs are given the lowest priority. Assets and liabilities carried at fair value are classified in one of the following three categories based on the nature of the inputs to the valuation technique used:

 

   

Level 1—Observable inputs that reflect unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets as of the reporting date. Active markets are those in which transactions for the asset or liability occur in sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.

 

   

Level 2—Observable market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data.

 

   

Level 3—Unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data. These inputs reflect management’s best estimate of fair value using its own assumptions about the assumptions a market participant would use in pricing the asset or liability.

Summary of significant valuation techniques for assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis

Level 1

Cash and cash equivalents: Cash equivalents comprise actively traded money market funds that have daily quoted net asset values for identical assets that the Company can access. The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents approximates fair value due to its liquid nature.

 

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Common stock: Comprise actively traded, exchange-listed U.S. and international equity securities. Valuation is based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets in active markets that the Company can access.

Exchange-traded and mutual funds: Comprise actively traded funds. Valuation is based on daily quoted net asset values for identical assets in active markets that the Company can access.

Other investments: Currently comprise physical metal positions held by the Company. Valuation is based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets in active markets that the Company can access.

Level 2

U.S. government obligations and agencies: Comprise U.S. Treasury Bills or Notes or U.S. Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (TIPS). The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical assets in inactive markets or similar assets in active or inactive markets, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields and credit spreads.

Derivatives: The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices or quoted net asset values for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active or highly active.

As required by GAAP, assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment, and may affect their placement within the fair value hierarchy levels.

 

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The following tables set forth by level within the fair value hierarchy the Company’s assets that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of the periods presented (in thousands):

 

     Fair Value Measurements
As of March 31, 2012
 
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 325,968       $ —         $ —         $ 325,968   

Restricted cash and cash equivalents

     48,178         —           —           48,178   

Trading portfolio:

           

Debt securities:

           

U.S. government securities obligations and agencies

     —           3,800         —           3,800   

Equity securities:

           

Common stock:

           

Metals and mining

     34,460         —           —           34,460   

Energy

     7,203         —           —           7,203   

Other

     2,145         —           —           2,145   

Exchange-traded and mutual funds:

           

Metals and mining

     15,174         —           —           15,174   

Agriculture

     19,811         —           —           19,811   

Indices

     18,203         —           —           18,203   

Derivatives (non-hedging)

     —           60         —           60   

Other investments

     385         —           —           385   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total trading portfolio investments

     97,381         3,860         —           101,241   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total investments

   $ 471,527       $ 3,860       $ —         $ 475,387   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     Fair Value Measurements
As of December 31, 2011
 
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 229,685       $ —         $ —         $ 229,685   

Restricted cash and cash equivalents

     78,312         —           —           78,312   

Trading portfolio:

           

Debt securities:

           

U.S. government securities obligations and agencies

     174         3,627         —           3,801   

Equity securities:

           

Common stock:

           

Metals and mining

     38,816         —           —           38,816   

Energy

     4,999         —           —           4,999   

Other

     6,927         18         —           6,945   

Exchange-traded and mutual funds:

           

Metals and mining

     25,997         —           —           25,997   

Agriculture

     16,878         —           —           16,878   

Indices

     1,710         —           —           1,710   

Derivatives (non-hedging)

     —           123         —           123   

Other investments

     371         —           —           371   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total trading portfolio investments

     95,872         3,768         —           99,640   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total investments

   $ 403,869       $ 3,768       $ —         $ 407,637   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The Company utilizes third-party independent pricing services that provide a price quote for each debt security, equity security and derivatives. Management reviews the methodology used by the pricing services. If management believes that the price used by the pricing service does not reflect an orderly transaction between participants, management will use an alternative valuation methodology. There were no adjustments made by the Company to the prices obtained from the independent pricing source for any debt securities, equity securities or derivatives included in the tables above.

 

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The Company did not have any transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011.

The following table summarizes the carrying value and estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments that are not carried at fair value (in thousands):

 

     As of March 31, 2012  
     Carrying value      (Level 3)
Estimated Fair
Value
 

Liabilities:

     

Long-term debt

   $ 21,324       $ 18,602   
     As of December 31, 2011  
     Carrying value      (Level 3)
Estimated Fair
Value
 

Liabilities:

     

Long-term debt

   $ 21,691       $ 18,775   

Level 3

Long-term debt: The carrying value of long-term debt was determined by management from the expected cash flows discounted using the interest rate quoted by the issuer of the note, the State Board of Administration of Florida (“SBA”) which is below prevailing rates quoted by private lending institutions. However, as the Company’s use of funds from the surplus note is limited by the terms of the agreement, the Company has determined the interest rate quoted by the SBA to be appropriate for purposes of establishing the fair value of the note.

13. Subsequent Events

The Company performed an evaluation of subsequent events through the date the Financial Statements were issued and determined there were no recognized or unrecognized subsequent events that would require an adjustment or additional disclosure in the Financial Statements as of March 31, 2012, except the following.

On April 23, 2012, the Company declared a dividend of $0.08 per share on its outstanding common stock, payable on July 9, 2012, to the Company’s shareholders of record at the close of business on June 26, 2012.

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Unless the context otherwise requires, all references to “we,” “us,” “our,” and “Company” refer to Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries. You should read the following discussion together with our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto included in Part I, Item 1”Financial Statements.” Operating results for any one quarter are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for any other quarter or for the year.

Forward-Looking Statements

In addition to historical information, the following discussion may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Reform Litigation Act of 1995. The words “expect,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend,” “project,” “plan” and similar expressions and variations thereof, speak only as of the date the statement was made and are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on various factors and assumptions that include known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Such statements may include, but not be limited to, projections of revenues, income or loss, expenses, plans, as well as assumptions relating to the foregoing.

 

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Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified. Future results could differ materially from those in the following discussion and those described in forward-looking statements as a result of the risks set forth below.

Risk Factors Summary

We operate in a rapidly changing environment that involves a number of uncertainties, some of which are beyond our control. Certain statements made in this report that reflect management’s expectations regarding future events are forward-looking in nature and, accordingly are subject to risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are only current expectations about future events. Actual results could differ materially from those set forth in or implied by any forward-looking statement. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, risk factors set forth in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our annual and quarterly reports. The following is a summary of uncertainties which were disclosed in greater detail in “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011:

Risks Relating to the Property-Casualty business

 

   

As a property and casualty insurer, we may face significant losses from catastrophes and severe weather events

 

   

Unanticipated increases in the severity or frequency of claims may adversely affect our profitability and financial condition

 

   

Actual claims incurred may exceed current reserves established for claims and may adversely affect our operating results and financial condition

 

   

Predicting claim expense relating to environmental liabilities is inherently uncertain and may have a material adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition

 

   

The failure of the risk mitigation strategies we utilize could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations

 

   

Reinsurance may be unavailable at current levels and prices, which may limit our ability to write new business

 

   

Regulation limiting rate increases and requiring us to participate in loss sharing may decrease our profitability

 

   

The potential benefits of implementing our profitability model may not be fully realized

 

   

Our financial condition and operating results and the financial condition and operating results of the Insurance Entities may be adversely affected by the cyclical nature of the property and casualty business

 

   

Continued weakness in the Florida real estate market could adversely affect our loss results

Risks Relating to Investments

 

   

We have periodically experienced, and may experience further reductions in returns or losses on our investments especially during periods of heightened volatility, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition

 

   

We are subject to market risk which may adversely impact investment income

 

   

Concentration of our investment portfolios in any particular segment of the economy may have adverse effects on our operating results and financial condition

 

   

Our overall financial performance is significantly dependent on the returns on our investment portfolio, which may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or cause such results to be volatile

Risks Relating to the Insurance Industry and Other Factors

 

   

Our future results are dependent in part on our ability to successfully operate in an insurance industry that is highly competitive

 

   

Difficult conditions in the economy generally could adversely affect our business and operating results

 

   

There can be no assurance that actions of the U.S. federal government, Federal Reserve and other governmental and regulatory bodies for the purpose of stabilizing the financial markets and stimulating the economy will achieve the intended effect

 

   

We are subject to extensive regulation and potential further restrictive regulation may increase our operating costs and limit our growth

 

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Reinsurance subjects us to the credit risk of our reinsurers and may not be adequate to protect us against losses arising from ceded risks, which could have a material adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition

 

   

The continued threat of terrorism and ongoing military actions may adversely affect the level of claim losses we incur and the value of our investment portfolio

 

   

A downgrade in our Financial Stability Rating® may have an adverse effect on our competitive position, the marketability of our product offerings, and our liquidity, operating results and financial condition

 

   

Adverse capital and credit market conditions may significantly affect our ability to meet liquidity needs or our ability to obtain credit on acceptable terms

 

   

Changing climate conditions may adversely affect our financial condition, profitability or cash flows

 

   

Loss of key executives could affect our operations

Overview

Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc. (“UIH”) is a vertically integrated insurance holding company performing all aspects of insurance underwriting, distribution and claims. Through our wholly-owned subsidiaries, including Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Company (“UPCIC”) and American Platinum Property and Casualty Insurance Company (“APPCIC”), collectively referred to as the (“Insurance Entities”), we are principally engaged in the property and casualty insurance business offered primarily through a network of independent agents. Our primary product is homeowners’ insurance currently offered in five states, including Florida, which represented 98% of the 584 thousand policies-in-force as of March 31, 2012, and 98% of the 593 thousand policies-in-force as of December 31, 2011. As for the geographic distribution of business within Florida as of March 31, 2012, and December 31, 2011, 30% and 32%, respectively, of the policies-in-force are in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties. Risk from catastrophic losses is managed through the use of reinsurance agreements.

We generate revenues primarily from the collection of premiums and the investment of funds in excess of those retained for claims-paying obligations and insurance operations. Other significant sources of revenue include commissions collected from reinsurers and policy fees.

2012 Developments

On January 11, 2012, we announced that UPCIC received OIR approval for premium rate increases for its homeowners and Dwelling Fire programs within Florida. The premium rate increases will average approximately 14.9% statewide for its homeowners program and 8.8% statewide for its dwelling fire program. The effective dates for both of the premium rate increases are January 9, 2012 for new business and February 28, 2012 for renewal business.

UPCIC made a forms filing immediately after the rate filing to segregate sinkhole coverage and to include updated policy language as a result of the property insurance bill which became law in May 2011 (Senate Bill 408). The OIR approved the forms filing with effective dates of April 1, 2012 for new business and May 21, 2012 for renewals. With the approval of this forms filing, sinkhole coverage will be removed from certain base homeowners policies and the coverage will be offered via endorsement for an additional surcharge, and a mandatory 10% deductible, to those policyholders that meet the proposed eligibility standards. Revised inspection and eligibility requirements will not be imposed upon existing policyholders who elect to continue sinkhole coverage at their policy renewal. Form changes for sinkhole coverage on dwelling fire policies, which are similar in nature to those filed for homeowners policies, were approved by the OIR with effective dates of May 1, 2012 for new business and June 8, 2012 for renewal business. Coverage for catastrophic ground cover collapse will remain a covered peril under all standard policy forms.

On February 22, 2012, we declared a dividend of $0.10 per share on our outstanding common stock payable on April 6, 2012, to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 28, 2012.

On April 17, 2012, Demotech, Inc. affirmed UPCIC’s Financial Stability Rating® of A. A Financial Stability Rating® of A is the third highest of six possible rating levels. According to Demotech, Inc., A ratings are assigned to insurers that have “…exceptional ability to maintain liquidity of invested assets, quality reinsurance, acceptable financial leverage and realistic pricing while simultaneously establishing loss and loss adjustment expense reserves at reasonable levels.” The rating of UPCIC is subject to at least annual review by, and may be revised upward or downward or revoked at the sole discretion of Demotech, Inc.

 

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On April 23, 2012, we declared a dividend of $0.08 per share on our outstanding common stock payable on July 9, 2012, to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 26, 2012. We expect to declare additional quarterly dividends in the same amount to shareholders of record in the third and fourth quarters of 2012. Declaration and payment of future dividends is subject to the discretion of UIH’s board of directors and will be dependent on future earnings, cash flows, financial requirements and other factors.

Impact of new accounting pronouncement

We prospectively adopted new accounting guidance related to accounting for costs associated with acquiring or renewing insurance contracts effective January 1, 2012. The overall impact under the new guidance, which was adopted on January 1, 2012, was a reduction in earnings of $2.7 million ($1.7 million after tax or $0.04 per diluted share). The $2.7 million pre-tax reduction in earnings during the three months ended March 31, 2012, includes an acceleration of capitalized costs existing as of December 31, 2011, which would have been amortized to earnings within a twelve-month period, and the immediate recognition of costs which otherwise would have been deferred, partially offset by a lesser amount of amortization expense due to the reduction in capitalized costs. The new guidance does not result in incremental charges to earnings, but rather affects the timing of the recognition of those charges in the income statement.

2011-2012 Reinsurance Program

In the normal course of business, we limit the maximum net loss that can arise from large risks, risks in concentrated areas of exposure and catastrophes, such as hurricanes or other similar loss occurrences, by reinsuring certain levels of risk in various areas of exposure with other insurers or reinsurers under our reinsurance agreements. Our intention is to limit our exposure and the Insurance Entities’ exposure thereby protecting stockholders’ equity and the Insurance Entities’ capital and surplus, even in the event of catastrophic occurrences, through reinsurance agreements. Without these reinsurance agreements, the Insurance Entities would be more substantially exposed to catastrophic losses with a greater likelihood that those losses could exceed their statutory capital and surplus. Any such catastrophic event, or multiple catastrophes, could have a material adverse effect on the Insurance Entities’ solvency and our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.

Quota Share

Effective June 1, 2011 through May 31, 2012, UPCIC entered into a quota share reinsurance contract with Everest Re. Everest Re has the following ratings from each of the rating agencies: A+ from A.M. Best Company, A+ from Standard and Poor’s Rating Services and Aa3 from Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. Under the quota share contract, UPCIC cedes 50% of its gross written premiums, losses and LAE for policies with coverage for wind risk with a ceding commission equal to 25% of ceded gross written premiums. In addition, the quota share contract has a limitation for any one occurrence not to exceed $34.8 million (of which UPCIC’s net liability on the first $34.8 million of losses in a first event scenario is $17.4 million, in a second event scenario is $17.4 million and in a third event scenario is $30 million) and a limitation from losses arising out of events that are assigned a catastrophe serial number by the Property Claims Services (“PCS”) office not to exceed $69.6 million. The contract requires UPCIC to reassume 100% of the attritional loss and LAE activity from 30% to 37.5% of gross written premium and has a limitation for LAE not to exceed 30% of indemnity losses paid during the contract period. Further, the contract requires UPCIC to purchase and maintain certain inuring reinsurance agreements. The contract limits the amount of reinsurance premiums inuring to the contract to $288 million excluding reinstatement premiums, and limits the total reinsurance premiums inuring to the contract to $326 million including any reinstatement premiums and all ancillary payments under the inuring reinsurance agreements.

Excess Per Risk

Effective June 1, 2011 through May 31, 2012, UPCIC entered into a multiple line excess per risk contract with various reinsurers. Under the multiple line excess per risk contract, UPCIC obtained coverage of $1.4 million in excess of $600 thousand ultimate net loss for each risk and each property loss, and $1 million in excess of $300 thousand for each casualty loss. A $7 million aggregate limit applies to the term of the contract.

Effective June 1, 2011 through May 31, 2012, UPCIC entered into a property per risk excess contract covering ex-wind only policies. Under the property per risk excess contract, UPCIC obtained coverage of $400 thousand in excess of $200 thousand for each property loss. A $2 million aggregate limit applies to the term of the contract.

 

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The total cost of our multiple line excess reinsurance program effective June 1, 2011 through May 31, 2012 is $4 million of which our cost is 50%, or $2 million and the quota share reinsurers’ cost is the remaining 50%. The total cost of our property per risk reinsurance program effective June 1, 2011 through May 31, 2012 is $575 thousand.

Effective October 1, 2011 through May 31, 2012, APPCIC entered into a multiple line excess per risk contract with various reinsurers. Under the multiple line excess per risk contract, APPCIC obtained coverage of $8.4 million in excess of $600 thousand ultimate net loss for each risk and each property loss, and $1 million in excess of $300 thousand for each casualty loss. A $21 million aggregate limit applies to the term of the contract.

The total cost of the APPCIC multiple line excess reinsurance program effective October 1, 2011 through May 31, 2012 is a minimum premium of $31,475, of which our cost is 50% or $15,737 and the quota share reinsurers’ cost is the remaining 50%, which is equated as follows: $25,000 minimum premium on 87.5% of the contract, $75,000 minimum premium on 10% of the contract and $84,000 minimum premium on 2.5% of the contract. The final premium will be determined based upon APPCIC’s volume of business during the contract term and a predetermined pricing algorithm.

Excess Catastrophe

Effective June 1, 2011 through May 31, 2012, under excess catastrophe contracts, UPCIC obtained catastrophe coverage of $541.3 million in excess of $185 million covering certain loss occurrences including hurricanes. The coverage of $541.3 million in excess of $185 million has a second full limit available to UPCIC. Additional premium is calculated pro rata as to amount and 100% as to time, as applicable.

Effective June 1, 2011 through May 31, 2012, UPCIC purchased reinstatement premium protection which reimburses UPCIC for its cost to reinstate the catastrophe coverage of the first $399.3 million (part of $541.3 million) in excess of $185 million.

Effective June 1, 2011 through May 31, 2012, under an excess catastrophe contract specifically covering risks located in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, UPCIC obtained catastrophe coverage of 50% of $24.8 million in excess of $10 million and 100% of $20 million in excess of $34.8 million covering certain loss occurrences including hurricanes. Both coverages have a second full limit available to UPCIC. Additional premium is calculated pro rata as to amount and 100% as to time, as applicable. The cost of UPCIC’s excess catastrophe contracts specifically covering risks in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina is $3.9 million.

Effective June 1, 2011 through May 31, 2012, UPCIC also obtained subsequent catastrophe event excess of loss reinsurance to cover certain levels of UPCIC’s net retention through three catastrophe events including hurricanes, as follows:

 

    

2nd Event

   3rd Event
Coverage   

$140.2 million in excess of

$44.8 million each loss occurrence

subject to an otherwise

recoverable amount of $140.2 million

(placed 100%)

   $155.0 million in excess of

$30.0 million each loss occurrence

subject to an otherwise

recoverable amount of $310.0 million

(placed 100%)

Deposit premium (100%)    $27.8 million    $11.9 million
Minimum premium (100%)    $22.2 million    $9.5 million
Premium rate -% of total insured value    0.021863 %    0.009400 %

UPCIC also obtained coverage from the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (“FHCF”), which is administered by SBA. Under the reimbursement agreement, the FHCF would reimburse UPCIC, for each loss occurrence during the contract year, for 90% of the ultimate loss paid by UPCIC in excess of its retention plus 5% of the reimbursed losses to cover loss adjustment expenses, subject to an aggregate contract limit. A covered event means any one storm declared to be a hurricane by the National Hurricane Center for losses incurred in Florida, both while it is a hurricane and through

 

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subsequent downgrades. For the contract year June 1, 2011 to May 31, 2012, UPCIC purchased the traditional FHCF coverage and did not purchase the Temporary Increase in Coverage Limit Option offered to insurers by the FHCF. UPCIC’s traditional FHCF coverage is based upon UPCIC’s exposure in-force as of June 30, 2011, and is 90% of $1.221 billion in excess of $461.4 million. The premium for this coverage is $74 million.

Also at June 1, 2011, the FHCF made available, and UPCIC obtained, $10.0 million of additional catastrophe excess of loss coverage with one free reinstatement of coverage to carriers qualified as Limited Apportionment Companies or companies that participated in the Insurance Capital Build-Up Incentive Program offered by the FHCF, such as UPCIC. This particular layer of coverage at June 1, 2011 is $10.0 million in excess of $34.8 million. The premium for this coverage is $5.0 million.

On October 28, 2011, the SBA published its most recent estimate of the FHCF’s loss reimbursement capacity in the Florida Administrative Weekly. The SBA estimated that the FHCF’s total loss reimbursement capacity under current market conditions for the 2011 – 2012 contract year is projected to be $15.17 billion over the 12-month period following the estimate. The SBA also referred to its report entitled, “October 18, 2011 Estimated Claims Paying Capacity Report” (“Report”) as providing greater detail regarding the FHCF’s loss reimbursement capacity. The Report estimated that the FHCF’s loss reimbursement capacity range is $12.17 billion to $18.17 billion. UPCIC elected to purchase the FHCF Mandatory Layer of Coverage for the 2011 – 2012 contract year, which corresponds to FHCF loss reimbursement capacity of $17 billion. By law, the FHCF’s obligation to reimburse insurers is limited to its actual claims-paying capacity. The aggregate cost of UPCIC’s reinsurance program may increase should UPCIC deem it necessary to purchase additional private market reinsurance due to reduced estimates of the FHCF’s loss reimbursement capacity. Fortunately, no hurricanes made landfall in Florida during the 2011-2012 contract year and no reimbursement payments for the 2011-2012 contract year were required from the FHCF to participating companies. Accordingly, the effect of the change in the FHCF’s reimbursement capacity estimate as compared to prior estimates had no effect on our financial position, results of operations and liquidity. In the 2012 Florida legislative session, the FHCF advocated a statutory change that would have reduced the amount of reimbursement capacity made available to the insurance industry in future years. However, the proposal did not pass.

The total cost of UPCIC’s multiple line excess and property per risk reinsurance program effective June 1, 2011 through May 31, 2012 is $4.575 million, of which UPCIC’s cost is $2.575 million, and the quota share reinsurer’s cost is the remaining $2.0 million. The total costs of APPCIC’s multiple line excess is at a minimum $31,475, of which APPCIC’s cost is at a minimum $15,737 and the quota share reinsurer’s cost is the remaining 50%. The total cost of UPCIC’s underlying excess catastrophe contract with T25 (see below) is $111.4 million, subject to a potential return premium of $83.4 million, which is eliminated in consolidation. The total cost of UPCIC’s private catastrophe reinsurance program effective June 1, 2011 through May 31, 2012 is $135.8 million, of which UPCIC’s cost is 50%, or $67.9 million, and the quota share reinsurer’s cost is the remaining 50%. In addition, UPCIC purchases reinstatement premium protection as described above, the cost of which is $22.4 million. UPCIC’s cost of the subsequent catastrophe event excess of loss reinsurance is $19.8 million. The estimated premium that UPCIC plans to cede to the FHCF for the 2011 hurricane season is $73.3 million of which UPCIC’s cost is 50%, or $36.7 million, and the quota share reinsurer’s cost is the remaining 50%. UPCIC is also participating in the additional coverage option for Limited Apportionment Companies or companies that participated in the Insurance Capital Build-Up Incentive Program offered by the FHCF, the premium for which is $5.0 million, of which UPCIC’s cost is 50%, or $2.5 million, and the quota share reinsurer’s cost is the remaining 50%.

UPCIC is responsible for losses related to catastrophic events with incurred losses in excess of coverage provided by UPCIC’s reinsurance program and for losses that otherwise are not covered by the reinsurance program.

UPCIC estimates, based upon its in-force exposures as of December 31, 2011, it had coverage to approximately the 137-year Probable Maximum Loss (PML), modeled using AIR CLASIC/2 v.11.0, long term, without demand surge. Recently, AIR updated its catastrophe model and outlook of risk with the release of its new version, AIR CLASIC/2 v12.04. UPCIC estimates, based on its in-force exposures as of December 31, 2011, that it had coverage to approximately the 94-year PML, modeled using AIR CLASIC/2 v.12.04, long term, without demand surge. Additionally, from time to time, UPCIC uses estimates from other catastrophe modeling vendors to estimate its PML. UPCIC estimates based upon its in-force exposures as of September 30, 2011, that it had coverage to approximately the 131-year PML, modeled using RMS’s new release of its RiskLink model, v11, long term, without loss amplification. PML is a general concept applied in the insurance industry for defining high loss scenarios that should be considered when underwriting insurance risk. Both “loss

 

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amplification” and “demand surge” refer to the potential impact of secondary contributors to insured losses arising from catastrophic events. Examples of loss amplification or demand surge include increases in the cost of labor or materials, incremental losses associated with time elapsing between the initial date of loss and the date of repair, claim inflation, and potential coverage ambiguities due to concurrent causes of loss. Catastrophe models produce loss estimates that are quantified in terms of dollars and probabilities. Probability of exceedance or the probability that the actual loss level will exceed a particular threshold is a standard catastrophe model output. For example, the 100-year PML represents a 1.00% Annual Probability of Exceedance (the 137-year, 94-year and 131-year PML represents a 0.80%, 1.06% and 0.76% Annual Probability of Exceedance, respectively, for AIR v11.0, AIR v12.04 and RMS v11). It is estimated that the 100-year PML is likely to be equaled or exceeded in one year out of 100 on average, or 1 percent of the time. It is the 99th percentile of the annual loss distribution.

With the implementation of our 2011-2012 reinsurance program at June 1, 2011, we retained a maximum, pre-tax net liability of $157.6 million as of December 31, 2011 for the first catastrophic event up to $1.781 billion of losses. Refer to the preceding table for information with respect to subsequent catastrophic events coverage. If catastrophic losses result in a net operating loss for the 2011 tax year, we can carry back the net operating loss to the 2010 and 2009 tax years and recover all, or a portion of, income taxes paid in those years.

Separately from the Insurance Entities’ reinsurance programs, UIH protected its own interests against diminution in value due to catastrophe events by purchasing $60 million in coverage via a catastrophe risk-linked transaction contract, effective June 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011. The contract provided for a recovery by UIH in the event of the exhaustion of UPCIC’s catastrophe coverage. The total cost to UIH of the risk-linked transaction contract is $8.7 million.

We continually evaluate strategies to more effectively manage our exposure to catastrophe losses, including the maintenance of catastrophic reinsurance coverage. The Company is currently in the process of renegotiating its 2012-2013 reinsurance program. Based on current discussions, the Company does not expect that the terms of the 2012-2013 reinsurance program will differ materially from the 2011-2012 reinsurance program, but there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to obtain reinsurance at the same levels, terms or price as the 2011-2012 program.

Termination of Agreements with Segregated Account T25

Effective January 1, 2012, the agreement between the Insurance Entities and UIH’s Segregated Account T25 – Universal Insurance Holdings of White Rock Insurance (SAC) Ltd. (“T25”) was replaced at identical limits and retentions as the prior agreement with an unaffiliated third-party reinsurer as an open market purchase. Effective January 1, 2012 through May 31, 2012, under an excess catastrophe contract, the Insurance Entities obtained catastrophe coverage of $140.2 million in excess of $44.8 million covering certain loss occurrences including hurricanes. The total cost of this reinsurance coverage is $4.4 million. In the event of a non-hurricane loss subject to this contract, the Insurance Entities will pay to the reinsurer 20.0% of the ultimate net loss ceded to the reinsurer arising out of such non-hurricane loss.

Wind Mitigation Discounts

The insurance premiums charged by the Insurance Entities are subject to various statutory and regulatory requirements. Among these, the Insurance Entities must offer wind mitigation discounts in accordance with a program mandated by the Florida Legislature and implemented by the OIR. The level of wind mitigation discounts mandated by the Florida Legislature to be effective June 1, 2007 for new business and August 1, 2007 for renewal business have had a significant negative effect on our premium.

 

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The following table reflects the effect of wind mitigation credits received by our policy holders (in thousands):

 

     Reduction of in-force premium (only policies including wind coverage)  

Date

   Percentage of UPCIC
policyholders
receiving credits
    Total credits      In-force
premium
     Percentage reduction of
in-force premium
 

6/1/2007

     1.9   $ 6,285       $ 487,866         1.3

12/31/2007

     11.8   $ 31,952       $ 500,136         6.0

3/31/2008

     16.9   $ 52,398       $ 501,523         9.5

6/30/2008

     21.3   $ 74,186       $ 508,412         12.7

9/30/2008

     27.3   $ 97,802       $ 515,560         16.0

12/31/2008

     31.1   $ 123,525       $ 514,011         19.4

3/31/2009

     36.3   $ 158,230       $ 530,030         23.0

6/30/2009

     40.4   $ 188,053       $ 544,646         25.7

9/30/2009

     43.0   $ 210,292       $ 554,379         27.5

12/31/2009

     45.2   $ 219,974       $ 556,557         28.3

3/31/2010

     47.8   $ 235,718       $ 569,870         29.3

6/30/2010

     50.9   $ 281,386       $ 620,277         31.2

9/30/2010

     52.4   $ 291,306       $ 634,285         31.5

12/31/2010

     54.2   $ 309,858       $ 648,408         32.3

3/31/2011

     55.8   $ 325,511       $ 660,303         33.0

6/30/2011

     56.4   $ 322,640       $ 673,951         32.4

9/30/2011

     57.1   $ 324,313       $ 691,031         31.9

12/31/2011

     57.7   $ 325,315       $ 703,459         31.6

3/31/2012

     57.9   $ 323,286       $ 718,164         31.0

Insurers like UPCIC fully experience the impact of rate or discount changes more than 12 months after implementation because insurance policies renew throughout the year. Although UPCIC may seek to offset the impact of wind mitigation credits through subsequent rate increase filings with the OIR, there is no assurance that the OIR and UPCIC will agree on the amount of rate change that is needed. In addition, any adjustments to UPCIC’s rates similarly take more than 12 months to be fully integrated into its business.

 

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Results of Operations—Three Months Ended March 31, 2012, Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2011

The following table summarizes changes in each component of our Statement of Income for the three months ended March 31, 2012, compared to the same period in 2011 (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,     Change  
     2012     2011     $     %  

PREMIUMS EARNED AND OTHER REVENUES

        

Direct premiums written

   $ 190,003      $ 173,175      $ 16,828        9.7

Ceded premiums written

     (163,434     (123,891     (39,543     31.9
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Net premiums written

     26,569        49,284        (22,715     -46.1

Decrease (increase) in net unearned premium

     22,071        (1,280     23,351        NM   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Premiums earned, net

     48,640        48,004        636        1.3

Net investment (expense) income

     (36     257        (293     NM   

Net realized (losses) gains on investments

     (7,449     3,652        (11,101     NM   

Net unrealized gains on investments

     9,187        2,588        6,599        255.0

Net foreign currency gains on investments

     23        71        (48     -67.6

Commission revenue

     4,541        4,180        361        8.6

Policy fees

     3,901        4,173        (272     -6.5

Other revenue

     1,440        1,408        32        2.3
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total premiums earned and other revenues

     60,247        64,333        (4,086     -6.4
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

OPERATING COSTS AND EXPENSES

        

Losses and loss adjustment expenses

     26,174        26,185        (11     0.0

General and administrative expenses

     17,844        15,072        2,772        18.4
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total operating costs and expenses

     44,018        41,257        2,761        6.7
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES

     16,229        23,076        (6,847     -29.7

Income taxes, current

     774        8,737        (7,963     -91.1

Income taxes, deferred

     5,582        441        5,141        1165.8
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Income taxes, net

     6,356        9,178        (2,822     -30.7
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

NET INCOME

   $ 9,873      $ 13,898      $ (4,025     -29.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Net income decreased by $4 million, or 29%, primarily as a result of realized losses in our investment portfolio compared to realized gains during the three months ended March 31, 2011 and an increase in general and administrative expenses due primarily to accelerated amortization of deferred acquisition costs as a result of adopting new accounting guidance provided by the FASB. These factors were partially offset by an increase in unrealized gains of $6.6 million.

The increase in net earned premiums of $636 thousand, or 1.3%, reflects an increase in direct earned premium of $14.2 million mostly offset by an increase in ceded earned premium of $13.6 million. The increase in direct earned premium is due primarily to rate increases that first became effective in February and March of 2011. These rate increases have had a positive effect on premium generated by renewal policies but have resulted in a moderate reduction in the number of policies in force. The benefit from the rate increases continued to be partially offset by wind mitigation credits within the state of Florida. The increase in ceded earned premium of $13.6 million includes $2.7 million in the 2012 period relating to the aforementioned underlying property catastrophe excess of loss reinsurance contract with an unaffiliated third-party reinsurer.

Net investment expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2012, compared to net investment income for the same period in the prior year, reflects one time charges for investment accounting services as we convert to a new investment accounting service provider.

Realized losses on investments of $7.5 million recorded during the three months ended March 31, 2012 reflect loss in value primarily in the metals and mining sector.

Net unrealized gains on investments of $9.2 million, recorded during the three months ended March 31, 2012, include both a reclassification of unrealized gains and losses recorded in prior periods to realized gains and losses upon disposition during the current period and a net increase in value of investments held in our trading portfolio as of March 31, 2012. The majority of the increase in value was in the metals and mining sector.

 

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Commission revenue is comprised principally of reinsurance commission sharing agreements. The increase in commission revenue of $361 thousand is due to an increase in the amount of ceded premiums.

Policy fees are comprised primarily of the managing general agent’s policy fee income from insurance policies. The decrease of $272 thousand reflects a reduction in the number of policies written primarily due to the rate increases that have taken affect, which has caused some attrition.

The net loss and LAE ratios, or net losses and LAE as a percentage of net earned premiums, were 53.8% and 54.5% during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and were comprised of the following components (in thousands):

 

     Three months ended March 31, 2012  
     Direct     Ceded     Net  

Loss and loss adjustment expenses

   $ 52,607      $ 26,433      $ 26,174   

Premiums earned

   $ 178,804      $ 130,164      $ 48,640   

Loss & LAE ratios

     29.4     20.3     53.8

 

     Three months ended March 31, 2011  
     Direct     Ceded     Net  

Loss and loss adjustment expenses

   $ 53,131      $ 26,946      $ 26,185   

Premiums earned

   $ 164,587      $ 116,583      $ 48,004   

Loss & LAE ratios

     32.3     23.1     54.5

The reduction in the direct loss and LAE ratio reflects an increase in earned premiums.

General and administrative expenses increased by $2.8 million due primarily to the adoption of new accounting guidance related to deferred acquisition costs. The overall impact under the new guidance, which was adopted on January 1, 2012, was a reduction in earnings of $2.7 million ($1.7 million after tax or $0.04 per diluted share). The $2.7 million pre-tax reduction in earnings during the three months ended March 31, 2012, includes an acceleration of capitalized costs existing as of December 31, 2011, which would have been amortized to earnings within a twelve-month period, and the immediate recognition of costs which otherwise would have been deferred, partially offset by a lesser amount of amortization expense due to the reduction in capitalized costs. The new guidance does not result in incremental charges to earnings, but rather affects the timing of the recognition of those charges in the income statement. There were also increases in stock-based compensation of $614 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2012 compared to the same period in 2011, and non-recurring credits in the amount of $469 thousand from the recovery of Florida Insurance Guaranty Association (“FIGA”) assessments recorded during the three months ended March 31, 2011. FIGA assessments are ultimately passed down to policyholders. Amounts charged or credited to our earnings represent timing differences between the time assessments are made by FIGA to us, and the collection of those assessments from policyholders. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in performance-based bonus accruals of $418 thousand and a decrease of $242 thousand in legal fees related to corporate matters. Performance-based bonuses are based on either net income before taxes or net income.

The decrease in income tax expense was the result of a reduction in taxable income due primarily to the realized losses in the trading portfolio and an increase general and administrative expenses.

Analysis of Financial Condition—As of March 31, 2012 Compared to December 31, 2011

We believe that premiums will be sufficient to meet our working capital requirements for at least the next twelve months.

 

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Our policy is to invest amounts considered to be in excess of current working capital requirements. We have a receivable of $4.1 million at March 31, 2012 for securities sold that had not yet settled compared to $9.7 million at December 31, 2011, and a payable for securities purchased that had not yet settled of $8.0 million as of March 31, 2012 compared to $1.1 million at December 31, 2011.

The following table summarizes, by type, the carrying values of investments (in thousands):

 

Type of Investment

   As of March 31, 2012      As of December 31, 2011  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 325,968       $ 229,685   

Restricted cash and cash equivalents

     48,178         78,312   

Debt securities

     3,800         3,801   

Equity securities

     96,996         95,345   

Non-hedge derivatives

     60         123   

Other investments

     385         371   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Investments

   $ 475,387       $ 407,637   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Prepaid reinsurance premiums represent ceded unearned premiums related to our catastrophe and quota share reinsurance programs. The increase of $33.3 million to $276.4 million during the three months ended March 31, 2012, was primarily due to an increase in premiums for catastrophe reinsurance coverage, as previously described in Recent Developments, 2011-2012 Reinsurance Program, and an increase in quota share reinsurance premiums commensurate with the increase in direct written premium. Premiums for catastrophe reinsurance coverage are earned over the respective contract periods which are generally effective from June 1, 2011, through May 31, 2012.

Reinsurance recoverables represent amounts due from reinsurers for ceded loss and LAE. The decrease in reinsurance recoverables of $8.7 million to $77 million reflects favorable loss experience in the current period and the timing of settlements with reinsurers.

Reinsurance receivable, net, represents inuring premiums receivable, net of ceded premiums payable with our quota share reinsurer. The decrease of $39.4 million to $15.8 million during the three months ended March 31, 2012 was due to timing of the settlement with the quota share reinsurer.

The increase in Property and Equipment of $1.3 million to $8.4 million reflects the cost of building a new office building which was placed into service at the end of March 2012.

See Note 5, Insurance Operations. in our Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for a roll-forward in the balance of our deferred policy acquisition costs.

The decrease in net deferred income tax asset of $5.6 million during the three months ended March 31, 2012 is due primarily to a decrease in the amount of unrealized losses in the trading portfolio.

See Note 5, Insurance Operations, in our Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for a roll-forward in the balance of our unpaid losses and LAE.

Unearned premiums represent the portion of written premiums that will be earned pro rata in the future. The increase of $11.2 million to $371 million during the three months ended March 31, 2012 was due to growth in, and timing of, direct written premiums.

Advance premium represents premium payments made by policy holders ahead of a policy’s effective date. The increase of $11.7 million to $31.1 million reflects a trend for an increase in the volume of policies with advance payments in March, relative to December.

 

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Reinsurance payable, net, represents our liability to reinsurers for ceded written premiums, net of ceding commissions receivable. The increase of $27 million to $114.5 million during the three months ended March 31, 2012 was primarily due to the timing of settlements with reinsurers and amounts not yet due to reinsurers for catastrophe reinsurance coverage, as previously described above in Recent Developments, 2011-2012 Reinsurance Program.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Liquidity

Liquidity is a measure of a company’s ability to generate sufficient cash flows to meet its short and long-term obligations. Funds generated from operations have generally been sufficient to meet our liquidity requirements and we expect that in the future funds from operations will continue to meet such requirements.

The balance of cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2012 was $326 million compared to $229.7 million at December 31, 2011. See our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for a reconciliation of the balance of cash and cash equivalent between March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011. Most of this amount is available to pay claims in the event of a catastrophic event pending reimbursement amounts recoverable under reinsurance agreements. The source of liquidity for possible claim payments consists of the collection of net premiums after deductions for expenses, reinsurance recoverables and short-term loans.

The balance of restricted cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2012 was $48.2 million. Restricted cash as of March 31, 2012 is mostly comprised of cash equivalents on deposit with regulatory agencies in the various states in which our Insurance Entities do business.

The Company’s liquidity requirements primarily include potential payments of catastrophe losses, the payment of dividends to shareholders, and interest and principal payments on debt obligations. The declaration and payment of future dividends to shareholders will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend upon many factors, including our operating results, financial condition, capital requirements and any regulatory constraints.

Our insurance operations provide liquidity in that premiums are generally received months or even years before losses are paid under the policies sold. Historically, cash receipts from operations, consisting of insurance premiums, commissions, policy fees and investment income, have provided more than sufficient funds to pay loss claims and operating expenses. We maintain substantial investments in highly liquid, marketable securities. Liquidity can also be generated by funds received upon the sale of marketable securities in our investment portfolio.

Effective July 1, 2010, we elected to classify our securities investment portfolio as trading. Accordingly, purchases and sales of investment securities are included in cash flows from operations beginning July 1, 2010. We generated $95.3 million in cash from operations during the three months ended March 31, 2012, compared to $ 119.8 million of cash generated by operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2011. The generation of cash during the three months ended March 31, 2012 reflects proceeds from sales of investment securities, net of purchases, of $12.4 million, compared to $71.2 million during the three months ended March 31, 2011.

The Insurance Entities are responsible for losses related to catastrophic events with incurred losses in excess of coverage provided by the Insurance Entities’ reinsurance programs and for losses that otherwise are not covered by the reinsurance programs, which could have a material adverse effect on either the Insurance Entities’ or our business, financial condition, results of operations and liquidity (see 2011-2012 Reinsurance Program above for a discussion of the 2011-2012 reinsurance program).

Capital Resources

Capital resources provide protection for policyholders, furnish the financial strength to support the business of underwriting insurance risks and facilitate continued business growth. At March 31, 2012, we had total capital of $177.9 million, comprised of stockholders’ equity of $156.6 million and total debt of $21.3 million. Our debt-to-total-capital ratio and debt-to-equity ratio were 12% and 13.6%, respectively, at March 31, 2012. At December 31, 2011, we had total capital of $171.7 million, comprised of stockholders’ equity of $150 million and total debt of $21.7 million. Our debt-to-total-capital ratio and debt-to-equity ratio were 12.6% and 14.5%, respectively, at December 31, 2011.

 

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At March 31, 2012, UPCIC was in compliance with all of the covenants under its surplus note and its total adjusted capital was in excess of regulatory requirements.

Cash Dividends

On February 22, 2012, we declared a dividend of $0.10 per share on our outstanding common stock to be paid on April 6, 2012, to the shareholders of record at the close of business on March 28, 2012.

On April 23, 2012, we declared a dividend of $0.08 per share on our outstanding common stock to be paid on July 9, 2012, to the shareholders of record at the close of business on June 26, 2012. We expect to declare additional quarterly dividends in the same amount to shareholders of record in the third and fourth quarters of 2012. Declaration and payment of future dividends is subject to the discretion of UIH’s board of directors and will be dependent on future earnings, cash flows, financial requirements and other factors.

Contractual Obligations

There have been no material changes during the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, outside of the ordinary course of business, to the contractual obligations specified in the table of contractual obligations included in Part 1, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

There have been no material changes during the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates previously disclosed in Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Accounting Pronouncements Issued and Not Yet Adopted

In December 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board updated its guidance to the Balance Sheet Topic 210 of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification. The objective of this updated guidance requires entities that have financial and derivative instruments that are offset to disclose information about offsetting and related arrangements to enable users of financial statements to understand the effect of those arrangements on an entity’s financial position. This guidance is to be applied for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods. Disclosure is required retrospectively for all comparative periods presented. The additional disclosures required by the updated guidance will not have an impact on our operating results, cash flows or financial position.

Related Parties

See Note 8, Related Party Transactions, in our Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for information about related parties.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Market risk is the potential for economic losses due to adverse changes in fair value of financial instruments. Our primary market risk exposures are related to our investment portfolio and include interest rates, equity prices and commodity prices. We also have exposure to foreign currency exchange rates for investments denominated in foreign currencies, and to a lesser extent, our debt obligation in the form of a surplus note. The surplus note, as previously described in “Liquidity and Capital Resources,” accrues interest at an adjustable rate based on the 10-year Constant Maturity Treasury rate. Investments held in trading are carried on the balance sheet at fair value. Our investment trading portfolio is comprised primarily of debt and equity securities and also includes non-hedging derivatives and physical positions in precious metals. See Note 5, Investments, for a schedule of investment holdings as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011.

 

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Our investments have been, and may in the future be, subject to significant volatility. Our investment objective is to maximize total rate of return after federal income taxes while maintaining liquidity and minimizing risk. Our investment strategy includes maintaining investments to support unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses for the Insurance Entities in accordance with guidelines established by insurance regulators. In addition to investment securities, we invest in derivative financial instruments to try to increase investment returns and for income-generation purposes. The most commonly used instruments are call and put equity options and written call options on common stock (i.e., covered calls). These derivatives are held in our trading portfolio and do not meet the criteria for hedge accounting.

Interest Rate Risk

Interest rate risk is the sensitivity of a fixed-rate instrument to changes in interest rates. When interest rates rise, the fair value of our fixed-rate investment securities declines.

The following table provides information about our fixed income investments, which are sensitive to changes in interest rates. The table presents cash flows of principal amounts and related weighted average interest rates by expected maturity dates for investments held in trading as of the periods presented (in thousands):

 

     As of March 31, 2012  
     Amortized Cost        
     2012     2013      2014      2015      2016      Thereafter     Total     Fair Value  

U.S. government securities obligations and agencies

   $ 136      $ —         $ —         $ —         $ —         $ 3,158      $ 3,294      $ 3,800   

Average interest rate

     4.63     —           —           —           —           1.85     1.97     1.96

 

     As of December 31, 2011  
     Amortized Cost        
     2012     2013      2014      2015      2016      Thereafter     Total     Fair Value  

U.S. government securities obligations and agencies

   $ 171      $ —         $ —         $ —         $ —         $ 3,157      $ 3,328      $ 3,801   

Average interest rate

     4.09                 1.85     1.97     1.97

United States government and agency securities are rated Aaa by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., and AA+ by Standard and Poor’s Company.

Equity and Commodity Price Risk

Equity and commodity price risk is the potential for loss in fair value of investments in common stock, exchange-traded funds (ETF), and mutual funds from adverse changes in the prices of those instruments.

 

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The following table provides information about the composition of equity securities, non-hedging derivatives and other investments held in the Company’s investment portfolio (in thousands):

 

XXX,XXX XXX,XXX XXX,XXX XXX,XXX
     As of March 31, 2012     As of December 31, 2011  
     Fair Value      Percent     Fair Value      Percent  

Equity securities:

          

Common stock:

          

Metals and mining

   $ 34,460         35.4   $ 38,816         40.5

Energy

     7,203         7.4     

Other

     2,145         2.2     11,944         12.5

Exchange-traded and mutual funds:

          

Metals and mining

     15,174         15.6     25,997         27.1

Agriculture

     19,811         20.3     16,878         17.6

Indices

     18,203         18.7     1,710         1.8

Derivatives: non-hedging

     60         0.1     123         0.1

Other investments (1)

     385         0.4     371         0.4
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 97,441         100.0   $ 95,839         100.0
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Other investments represent physical metals that we hold in our trading portfolio.

A hypothetical decrease of 20% in the market prices of each of the equity securities, non-hedging derivatives, and other investments held at March 31, 2012, and December 31, 2011, would have resulted in decreases of $19.5 million and $19.2 million, respectively, in the fair value of the equity securities, non-hedging derivatives and other investment portfolio.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2012, to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in its reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There was no change in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

We are subject to litigation in the normal course of our business. As of March 31, 2012, we were not a party to any non-routine litigation which is expected by management to have a material effect on our results of operations, financial condition or liquidity.

 

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Item 1A. Risk Factors

In the opinion of management, other than the modification provided below to a risk factor that appeared in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, there have been no other material changes during the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to the risk factors previously disclosed in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors”, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

On April 17, 2012, Demotech, Inc. provided an update to guidance originally published in March 2010. Included in the update was a statement that Demotech will no longer provide full credit for the Mandatory Layer of the FHCF reinsurance coverage. As a result of this statement, the Company has modified the following risk factor that appeared in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. The modification appears in bold.

A downgrade in our Financial Stability Rating® may have an adverse effect on our competitive position, the marketability of our product offerings, and our liquidity, operating results and financial condition

Financial Stability Ratings® are important factors in establishing the competitive position of insurance companies and generally have an effect on an insurance company’s business. On an ongoing basis, rating agencies review the financial performance and condition of insurers and could downgrade or change the outlook on an insurer’s ratings due to, for example, a change in an insurer’s statutory capital; a change in a rating agency’s determination of the amount of risk-adjusted capital required to maintain a particular rating; a change in the perceived adequacy of an insurer’s reinsurance program; an increase in the perceived risk of an insurer’s investment portfolio; a reduced confidence in management or a host of other considerations that may or may not be under an insurer’s control. The current insurance Financial Stability Rating ® of UPCIC is from Demotech, Inc. The assigned rating is A. Because this rating is subject to continuous review, the retention of this rating cannot be assured. A downgrade in or withdrawal of this rating, or a decision by Demotech to require UPCIC’s parent company to make a capital infusion into UPCIC to maintain its rating, may adversely affect our liquidity, operating results and financial condition.

Item 6. Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.

  

Exhibit

31.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32    Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

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101.INS-XBRL

   Instance Document

101.SCH-XBRL

   Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

101.CAL-XBRL

   Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

101.LAB-XBRL

   Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

101.PRE-XBRL

   Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

In accordance with Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, the XBRL related information in Exhibit 101 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, and shall not be part of any registration statement or other document filed under the Securities Act or Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

 

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SIGNATURES

In accordance with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

      UNIVERSAL INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC.

Date: May 9, 2012

      /s/ Bradley I. Meier
      Bradley I. Meier, President and Chief Executive Officer
     

 

Date: May 9, 2012

      /s/ George R. De Heer
      George R. De Heer, Chief Financial Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)
     

 

 

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