Current Report

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 9, 2015 (November 3, 2015)

 

 

STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Ohio   000-19289   31-1324304

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

  

(Commission

File Number)

  

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

518 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio   43215-3976
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (614) 464-5000

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 

Section 2. Financial Information

 

Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On November 3, 2015, State Auto Financial Corporation (the “Company”) issued a press release disclosing the Company’s results of operations for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 (the “Release”). The full text of the Release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

The Release included a non-GAAP financial measure, net income (loss) from operations per diluted share. Net income (loss) from operations differs from GAAP net income (loss) only by the exclusion of realized capital gains (losses), net of applicable taxes, on investment activity for the periods being reported. For the three-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, GAAP net income (loss) was $0.50 per diluted share and $0.28 per diluted share, respectively, while net income (loss) from operations was $0.33 per diluted share and $0.25 per diluted share for the same respective periods. For the three-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, realized capital gains, net of applicable taxes, increased the GAAP net income per diluted share by $0.17 and $0.03, respectively.

Management uses net income (loss) from operations because it believes this calculation better indicates the Company’s operating performance than GAAP net income (loss) in that net income (loss) from operations excludes the sometimes volatile realized capital gains/losses, net of applicable federal income taxes, that can produce inconsistent results.

The Release also included a non-GAAP financial measure as to the combined ratio. The GAAP combined ratio for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 was 99.1% and 100.0%, respectively, and for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2014 was 102.0% and 102.8%, respectively. Excluding the impact of the homeowners quota share arrangement(1) and adverse reserve development on terminated program business written through Risk Evaluation and Design, LLC (RED), the combined ratio for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2014 would have been 94.2% and 98.0%, respectively. Management believes this non-GAAP financial measure provides investors with meaningful information concerning the Company’s GAAP combined ratio.

The Release also included a non-GAAP financial measure as to net written premium. Net written premium for the personal insurance segment for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 increased 34.7% and 31.4%, respectively, from the same periods in 2014. Excluding the impact of the homeowners quota share arrangement(1), net written premium for the personal insurance segment for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 decreased 4.9% and 5.8%, respectively, from the same periods in 2014. Management believes this non-GAAP financial measure provides investors with a meaningful comparison of the Company’s current and historical net written premium.

 

 

(1) Homeowners quota share arrangement: On December 31, 2011, the State Auto Group entered into a quota share reinsurance agreement with a syndicate of unaffiliated reinsurers covering its homeowners book of business. This agreement expired December 31, 2014 in accordance with its terms.

Section 7. Regulation FD

 

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

The Company’s management conducted a conference call on November 3, 2015, at approximately 11:00 a.m., ET, to review the Company’s financial results for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015, and to respond to questions from interested investors and financial analysts. A transcript of the conference call is furnished as Exhibit 99.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

In addition to the Consolidated Statements of Income and reconciliation schedules included with the Release, the Company makes available on its website additional supplemental schedules containing financial information for the Company. This information is available at www.stateauto.com by clicking “News Releases” under the “Investors” tab.

 

Section 9. Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(c) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.

   

Description

99.1    Press release issued by State Auto Financial Corporation on November 3, 2015, regarding results of operations for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015.
99.2    Transcript of conference call held by management of State Auto Financial Corporation on November 3, 2015.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to 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 hereunto duly authorized.

 

    STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION
Date: November 9, 2015     By  

/s/ Steven E. English

      Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

   

Description

99.1    Press release issued by State Auto Financial Corporation on November 3, 2015, regarding results of operations for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015.
99.2    Transcript of conference call held by management of State Auto Financial Corporation on November 3, 2015.