10-Q 1 fpic10q.htm FPIC INSURANCE GROUP, INC. 1Q2008 FORM 10-Q fpic10q.htm
 


 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q


þ
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2008
 
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 1-11983

FPIC Insurance Group, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Florida
 
59-3359111
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
 
(IRS Employer Identification No.)

225 Water Street, Suite 1400
Jacksonville, Florida 32202
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
 
(904) 354-2482
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
 
www.fpic.com

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes þ  No ¨
 
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Large Accelerated Filer ¨    Accelerated Filer þ    Non-accelerated Filer ¨
 
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  
Yes ¨ No þ
 
As of April 28, 2008, there were 8,809,297 shares of the Registrant’s common stock, $.10 par value, outstanding.
 
 



 
 
 
 

FPIC Insurance Group, Inc.
Table of Contents to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
For the Quarter Ended March 31, 2008

 


   
Page
Part I
Financial Information
 
Financial Statements
 
 
· 
1
 
· 
2
 
· 
3
 
· 
4
 
· 
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
5
 
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
13
 
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
19
 
Controls and Procedures
20
       
   
Part II
Other Information
 
Legal Proceedings
20
 
Risk Factors
20
 
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
21
 
Defaults Upon Senior Securities
21
 
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
21
 
Other Information
21
 
Exhibits
22



Part I
FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Financial Statements


FPIC Insurance Group, Inc.
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

(in thousands, except shares authorized, issued and outstanding)
 
As of
   
As of
 
   
March 31, 2008
   
December 31, 2007
 
Assets
           
Investments:
           
Fixed income securities, available-for-sale
  $ 700,268       689,172  
Equity securities, available-for-sale
    15,177       14,912  
Short-term investments
    1,479       1,479  
Other invested assets
    5,672       5,494  
Total investments (Note 8)
    722,596       711,057  
                 
Cash and cash equivalents
    64,847       70,229  
Premiums receivable (net of an allowance of $300 as of March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007)
    65,216       65,221  
Accrued investment income
    8,194       8,439  
Reinsurance recoverable on paid losses
    3,463       3,458  
Due from reinsurers on unpaid losses and advance premiums
    141,816       144,335  
Ceded unearned premiums
    10,984       9,764  
Deferred policy acquisition costs
    10,044       9,662  
Deferred income taxes
    30,847       32,566  
Goodwill
    10,833       10,833  
Other assets
    9,623       11,458  
Total assets
  $ 1,078,463       1,077,022  
                 
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
               
Policy liabilities and accruals:
               
Losses and loss adjustment expenses
  $ 582,763       585,087  
Unearned premiums
    110,408       108,894  
Reinsurance payable
    2,547       1,268  
Paid in advance and unprocessed premiums
    7,305       10,981  
Total policy liabilities and accruals
    703,023       706,230  
                 
Long-term debt
    46,083       46,083  
Other liabilities
    29,927       29,112  
Total liabilities
    779,033       781,425  
                 
Commitments and contingencies (Note 10)
               
                 
Preferred stock, $0.10 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized; none issued
           
Common stock, $0.10 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized; 8,830,231 and 8,949,401 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively
    883       895  
Additional paid-in capital
           
Retained earnings
    297,545       295,586  
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net
    1,002       (884 )
Total shareholders' equity
    299,430       295,597  
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
  $ 1,078,463       1,077,022  
                 

See the accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.
Form 10- Q: 1

 
 
 
FPIC Insurance Group, Inc.
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income


(in thousands, except earnings per common share)
 
For the Quarter Ended
   
For the Quarter Ended
 
   
March 31, 2008
   
March 31, 2007
 
Revenues
           
Net premiums earned
  $ 44,293       51,602  
Net investment income
    7,747       7,987  
Net realized investment (losses) gains
    (92 )     74  
Other income
    97       77  
Total revenues
    52,045       59,740  
                 
Expenses
               
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses
    25,155       21,647  
Other underwriting expenses
    9,941       9,777  
Interest expense on debt
    1,065       1,088  
Other expenses
    7       10  
Total expenses
    36,168       32,522  
                 
Income before income taxes
    15,877       27,218  
Less:  Income tax expense
    5,049       9,472  
Net income
  $ 10,828       17,746  
                 
Basic earnings per common share
  $ 1.23       1.81  
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding
    8,776       9,801  
                 
Diluted earnings per common share
  $ 1.19       1.75  
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding
    9,089       10,161  




See the accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.
Form 10- Q: 2

 
 
FPIC Insurance Group, Inc.
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity
 
         
(in thousands)
 
   
Shares of
       
Additional
           
Accumulated Other
           
   
Common
   
Common
 
Paid-in
 
Unearned
   
Retained
 
Comprehensive
   
Comprehensive
     
   
Stock
   
Stock
 
Capital
 
Compensation
   
Earnings
 
Loss, Net
   
Income
 
Total
 
Balances at December 31, 2007
  8,949,401     $ 895   $   $     $ 295,586   $ (884 )       $ 295,597  
                                                     
Net income
                      10,828         10,828     10,828  
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
                                                   
Unrealized gain on invested assets, net of tax
                          1,885     1,885     1,885  
Unrealized gain on derivative financial instruments, net of tax
                          44     44     44  
Prior service cost
                          7     7     7  
Transition obligation
                          5     5     5  
Net gain on pension plan
                          3     3     3  
Other comprehensive income
                                          1,944        
Comprehensive income
                                          12,772        
                                                     
Cumulative adjustment to adopt FAS 158 measurement date provisions
                      (89 )   (58 )         (147 )
Issuance of restricted stock
  18,517       2     562                         564  
Issuance of shares
  218,426       22     4,265                         4,287  
Repurchase of shares
  (356,113 )     (36 )   (6,511 )         (8,780 )             (15,327 )
Share-based compensation
            189                         189  
Income tax reductions relating to exercise of stock options
            1,495                         1,495  
Balances at March 31, 2008
  8,830,231     $ 883   $   $     $ 297,545   $ 1,002         $ 299,430  
                                                     
         
(in thousands)
 
   
Shares of
         
Additional
               
Accumulated Other
             
   
Common
   
Common
 
Paid-in
 
Unearned
   
Retained
 
Comprehensive
   
Comprehensive
       
   
Stock
   
Stock
 
Capital
 
Compensation
   
Earnings
 
Loss, Net
   
Income
 
Total
 
Balances at December 31, 2006
  10,063,937     $ 1,006   $ 37,735   $     $ 252,490   $ (5,977 )       $ 285,254  
                                                     
Net income
                      17,746         17,746     17,746  
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
                                                   
Unrealized gain on invested assets, net
                          910     910     910  
Unrealized loss on derivative financial instruments, net
                          (75 )     (75 )     (75 )  
Prior service cost
                          (7 )     (7 )     (7 )  
Transition obligation
                          (5 )     (5 )     (5 )  
Net loss on pension plan
                          (4 )     (4 )     (4 )  
Other comprehensive income
                                          819        
Comprehensive income
                                          18,565        
                                                     
Cumulative adjustment to adopt FIN 48
                      (84 )               (84 )  
Issuance of restricted stock
  25,626       3     391                         394  
Issuance of shares
  39,659       4     826                         830  
Repurchase of shares
  (378,314 )       (38 )     (15,259 )                         (15,297 )  
Share-based compensation
            335                         335  
Income tax reductions relating to exercise of stock options
            272                         272  
Balances at March 31, 2007
  9,750,908     $ 975   $ 24,300   $     $ 270,152   $ (5,158 )       $ 290,269  

See the accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.
Form 10- Q: 3

 
 
 
FPIC Insurance Group, Inc.
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows


(in thousands)
 
For the Three Months Ended
 
   
March 31, 2008
   
March 31, 2007
 
Operating Activities
           
Net income
  $ 10,828       17,746  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
               
Depreciation, amortization and accretion
    6,543       5,453  
Net realized losses (gains) on investments
    92       (74 )
Deferred policy acquisition costs, net of related amortization
    (4,904 )     (4,688 )
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)
    665       (110 )
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation
    (1,469 )     (239 )
Share-based compensation
    755       728  
Other Changes in Assets and Liabilities
               
Premiums receivable, net
    (7 )     7,421  
Accrued investment income
    245       1,060  
Reinsurance recoverable on paid losses
    (5 )     2,752  
Due from reinsurers on unpaid losses and advance premiums
    2,519       4,367  
Ceded unearned premiums
    (1,220 )     (208 )
Other assets and liabilities
    84       (881 )
Losses and loss adjustment expenses
    (2,324 )     (43,773 )
Unearned premiums
    1,514       (52,797 )
Reinsurance payable
    1,279       (8,036 )
Paid in advance and unprocessed premiums
    (3,676 )     (6,419 )
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
    10,919       (77,698 )
                 
Investing Activities
               
Proceeds from
               
Sales of fixed income securities, available-for-sale
    11,467       55,131  
Sales of other invested assets
    5       10  
Maturities of fixed income securities, available-for-sale
    18,545       3,690  
Maturities of short-term investments
          29,543  
Purchases of
               
Fixed income securities, available-for-sale
    (34,806 )     (31,199 )
Equity securities
    (1,500 )     (6,400 )
Other invested assets
    (369 )     (28 )
Property and equipment
    (71 )     (3,915 )
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities
    (6,729 )     46,832  
                 
Financing Activities
               
Issuance of common stock
    4,287       830  
Repurchase of common stock
    (15,328 )     (15,297 )
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation
    1,469       239  
Net cash used in financing activities
    (9,572 )     (14,228 )
                 
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
    (5,382 )     (45,094 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    70,229       138,688  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
   $ 64,847       93,594  
                 

See the accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.
Form 10- Q: 4

 
 
FPIC Insurance Group, Inc.
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
Form 10-Q:5

1.
Basis of Presentation and New Accounting Pronouncements
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements represent the consolidation of FPIC Insurance Group, Inc. (“FPIC”) and all majority owned and controlled subsidiaries.Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “we,” “our,” “us,” the “Company” and “FPIC” as used in this report refer to FPIC Insurance Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

These statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  The statement of financial position as of December 31, 2007 was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP.  All significant transactions between the parent and consolidated subsidiaries have been eliminated.  Reference is made to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, which includes information necessary for understanding our business and financial statement presentations.  In particular, our significant accounting policies are presented in Note 2, Significant Accounting Policies, to the consolidated financial statements included in that report.

These consolidated interim financial statements are unaudited.  These statements include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring accruals, that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for the fair presentation of results for interim periods.  Certain prior period amounts presented in the consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.  The results reported in these consolidated interim financial statements should not be regarded as necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for the entire year.  For example, the timing and magnitude of claim losses incurred by our insurance subsidiaries due to the estimation process inherent in determining the liability for losses and loss adjustment expenses (“LAE”) can be relatively more significant to results of interim periods than to results for a full year.  Also, variations in the amount and timing of realized investment gains and losses could cause significant variations in periodic net income.

New Accounting Pronouncements
Effective January 1, 2008, we partially adopted Financial Accounting Standard (“FAS”) 157, Fair Value Measurements, which provides a framework for measuring fair value under GAAP.  In February 2008, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) released a FASB Staff Position FAS 157-2, Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157, which delays the effective date of FAS No. 157 for all nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities, except those that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually) to fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008.  The partial adoption of FAS 157 did not have an impact on our consolidated financial statements.  For additional disclosures, see Note 9, Fair Value Measurements.

Effective January 1, 2008, we adopted the measurement date provisions of FAS 158, Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, by electing the "two measurement approach" for current year-end measurement calculations.  Under the "two measurement approach" we have appropriately recorded the net benefit expense for the transition period to retained earnings as of January 1, 2008.  Additionally, changes in the value of plan assets and benefit obligations that occurred in the transition period between October 1, 2007 and December 31, 2007 were recorded to accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, at the beginning of the year.  A second measurement was performed at January 1, 2008 to produce twelve months of net benefit expense to record during 2008.  The impact of adopting the measurement date provisions of FAS 158 is shown in the table below:

(in thousands)
                 
As of January 1, 2008
 
Before Application of
FAS 158 Measurement
Date Provisions
   
Adjustments to Adopt FAS 158
Measurement Date Provisions
   
After Application of
FAS 158
Measurement Date Provisions
 
Retained earnings
  $ 295,586       (89 )     295,497  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
  $ (884 )     (58 )     (942 )
Total shareholders' equity
  $ 294,702       (147 )     294,555  
                         

 
 
FPIC Insurance Group, Inc.
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
Form 10-Q:6

Effective January 1, 2008, we adopted FAS 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, Including an amendment of FAS 115, which allows entities to choose to measure at fair value many financial instruments and certain other items that are not currently required to be measured at fair value.  The adoption of FAS 159 did not have an impact on our consolidated financial statements as we did not elect to measure any additional financial instruments at fair value.

In December 2007, the FASB issued FAS 141(R), Business Combinations.  This Statement applies to all transactions or other events in which an entity (the acquirer) obtains control of one or more businesses (the acquiree), including those sometimes referred to as “true mergers” or “mergers of equals” and combinations achieved without the transfer of consideration, for example, by contract alone or through the lapse of minority veto rights.  This Statement applies to all business entities, including mutual entities that previously used the pooling-of-interests method of accounting for some business combinations.  It does not apply to: (a) the formation of a joint venture, (b) the acquisition of an asset or a group of assets that does not constitute a business, (c) a combination between entities or businesses under common control, (d) a combination between not-for-profit organizations or (e) the acquisition of a for-profit business by a not-for-profit organization.  FAS 141(R) is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008.  Earlier adoption is prohibited.  The adoption of FAS 141(R) is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In December 2007, the FASB issued FAS 160, Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements, an amendment of Accounting Research Bulletin (“ARB”) No. 51.  FAS 160 amends ARB 51 to establish accounting and reporting standards for the non-controlling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary.  It also amends certain of ARB 51’s consolidation procedures for consistency with the requirements of FAS 141(R), Business Combinations.  FAS 160 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008.  Earlier adoption is prohibited.  The adoption of FAS 160 is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In March 2008, the FASB issued FAS 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.  The standard is intended to improve financial reporting about derivative instruments and hedging activities by requiring enhanced disclosures to enable investors to better understand their effects on an entity’s financial position, financial performance and cash flows.  FAS 161 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008.  The adoption of FAS 161 is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.


2.
Share-Based Compensation Plans
We maintain three share-based compensation plans: (i) a plan for officers and key employees (the “Omnibus Plan”); (ii) a plan for non-employee directors (the “Director Plan”); and (iii) an employee stock purchase plan (the “ESPP”).  For a description of these plans, see Note 9, Share-Based Compensation Plans included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.  The following table summarizes data for stock options outstanding and exercisable as of March 31, 2008:

   
Options Outstanding
   
Options Exercisable
 
Range of Prices
per Share
 
Vested
Number of
Shares
 
Nonvested Number of
Shares
   
Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price
   
 
Weighted-
Average
Remaining Contractual Life
in Years
   
Total
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
(in
thousands)
   
Number of
Shares
   
Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price
   
 
Total
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
(in
thousands)
 
$      0.00-11.99
  146,018       $ 9.09     3.4           146,018     $ 9.09        
$    12.00-15.99
  177,966         13.75     3.8           177,966       13.75        
$    16.00-19.99
  8,000         17.34     1.8           8,000       17.34        
$    20.00-35.99
  193,639   9,229       26.90     6.2           193,639       26.51        
$    36.00-60.99
  54,625   54,244       41.01     6.8           54,625       42.64        
    580,248   63,473     $ 21.49     5.0     $ 16,528     580,248     $ 19.60     $ 15,997  


 
 
FPIC Insurance Group, Inc.
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
Form 10-Q:7

During the first quarter of 2008, awards of an aggregate of 33,372 performance units were granted to employees under the Omnibus Plan.  Generally, performance unit awards are subject to achieving specified levels of adjusted return on average equity during a two-year plan period.  These awards also generally vest at the expiration of the same two-year period.  The final determination of the number of shares to be issued in respect of an award (which can vary between 50 and 150 percent of the number of performance units subject to the award, provided a threshold performance level is achieved) is determined by the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors.

The following table presents the status of, and changes in, performance units and restricted stock:

   
Performance Units and Restricted Stock
 
   
Number of
Shares
   
Weighted-
Average Grant
Date Fair Value
   
 
Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term in Years
   
Total Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
(in thousands)
 
Nonvested, January 1, 2008
    92,413     $ 36.29              
Granted
    53,030       44.62              
Vested
    (35,497 )        34.47              
Forfeited
    (1,264 )        40.12              
Nonvested, March 31, 2008
    108,682     $ 40.91       1.6     $ 5,123  

As of March 31, 2008, there was $4.5 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested share-based compensation arrangements granted under our various plans, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.1 years.  The compensation cost related to our share-based awards that were charged to other underwriting expense was $0.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 and $0.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2007.


3.
Reconciliation of Basic and Diluted Earnings per Common Share
Data with respect to our basic and diluted earnings per common share are shown below.

(in thousands, except earnings per common share)
 
For the Quarter Ended
   
For the Quarter Ended
 
   
March 31, 2008
   
March 31, 2007
 
Net income
  $ 10,828       17,746  
                 
Basic earnings per common share
  $ 1.23       1.81  
                 
Diluted earnings per common share
  $ 1.19       1.75  
                 
Basic weighted-average shares outstanding
    8,776       9,801  
Common stock equivalents (1)
    313       360  
Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding
    9,089       10,161  
 
   
(1)
Outstanding stock options totaling 101,369 and 36,783 options for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively, were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per common share because the sum of the hypothetical amount of future proceeds from the exercise price, unrecorded compensation, and tax benefits to be credited to additional paid-in capital for all grants of stock options were higher than the average price of the common shares, and therefore were anti-dilutive.


 
 
FPIC Insurance Group, Inc.
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
Form 10-Q:8

4.
Liability for Losses and LAE
We establish loss and LAE reserves taking into account the results of multiple actuarial techniques applied as well as other assumptions and factors regarding our business.  Each actuarial technique is applied in a consistent manner from period to period and the techniques encompass a review of selected claims data, including claim and incident counts, average indemnity payments, and loss adjustment costs.  Estimating liability for losses and LAE is a complex process and changes in key assumptions or trends could result in a significant change in our reserve estimates.  Given the magnitude of our loss and LAE reserves, virtually any change in the level of our carried reserves will be material to our results of operations and may be material to our financial position.  For additional information regarding our liability for losses and LAE see Note 4, Liability for Losses and LAE, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

As a result of the continuation of favorable loss trends, we recognized favorable net loss development related to previously established reserves of $4.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008.  The favorable development reflects a decline in expected ultimate losses primarily for the 2004 through 2006 accident years as a result of reductions in our estimates of incidents to claim development, payment frequency and payment severity.  For the three months ended March 31, 2007, we recognized a decline in incurred losses of $14.0 million in connection with the Physicians’ Reciprocal Insurers (“PRI”) commutation.  For additional information on the PRI commutation see Note 7, Reinsurance.


5.
Income Taxes
We adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. (“FIN”) 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, on January 1, 2007.  As a result of the implementation of FIN 48, we recognized a $0.08 million increase in the liability for unrecognized tax benefits, which was accounted for as a reduction of the January 1, 2007 balance of retained earnings.  Our liability for unrecognized tax benefits as of January 1, 2007 and March 31, 2008 was $0.6 million, 100 percent of which would affect our annual effective tax rate if recognized.  We estimate that our unrecognized tax benefits will not change significantly within the next 12 months.

We file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state jurisdictions.  With few exceptions, we are no longer subject to U.S. federal or state income tax examinations by tax authorities for years prior to 2004.  Our income tax returns for 2005 and 2006 have not been examined by the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) and remain open under the applicable statute of limitations.  The IRS commenced an examination of our 2004 U.S. income tax return during 2006.  The examination was closed in February 2007 with no significant adjustments.

Our continuing practice is to recognize accrued interest related to unrecognized tax benefits and penalties in income tax expense.  During the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, we recognized interest expense of $0.01 million and $0.03 million, respectively.  We had approximately $0.09 million and $0.08 million accrued for the payment of interest as of March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively.


6.
Employee Benefit Plans
The components of the actuarially computed net periodic pension cost for our benefit plans are summarized in the table below.  For a description of our employee benefit plans, see Note 13, Employee Benefit Plans, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

(in thousands)
 
For the Quarter Ended
   
For the Quarter Ended
 
   
March 31, 2008
   
March 31, 2007
 
Service cost of benefits earned during the period
  $ 254       236  
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation
    179       162  
Expected return on plan assets
    (109 )     (101 )
Amortization of net loss
    5       6  
Amortization of prior service cost
    12       12  
Amortization of net transition obligation
    2       8  
Net periodic pension cost
  $ 343       323  

 
 
FPIC Insurance Group, Inc.
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
Form 10-Q:9

We contributed $1.1 million to our employee benefit plans during the three months ended March 31, 2008.  We currently anticipate contributing an additional $0.9 million to these plans during the remainder of 2008 for total contributions of $2.0 million.


7.
Reinsurance
The effects of ceded reinsurance on premiums written, premiums earned, and losses and LAE incurred are shown below.
 
(in thousands)
For the Quarter Ended
   
For the Quarter Ended
 
 
March 31, 2008
   
March 31, 2007
 
 
Written
 
Earned
   
Written
   
Earned
 
Direct premiums
$ 51,855     50,342     $ 60,344       58,676  
Assumed premiums
                   
Commutation of assumed premiums written
            (54,465 )      
Ceded premiums
  (7,269 )   (6,049 )     (7,282 )     (7,074 )
Net premiums
$ 44,586     44,293     $ (1,403 )     51,602  
                             
(in thousands)
For the Quarter Ended
 
For the Quarter Ended
                 
 
March 31, 2008
 
March 31, 2007
                 
Losses and LAE
$ 29,069     40,544                  
Commutation of assumed losses and LAE
      (13,982 )                
Reinsurance recoveries
  (3,914 )   (4,915 )                
Net losses and LAE
$ 25,155     21,647                  

     During February 2007, our subsidiary, First Professionals Insurance Company, Inc. (“First Professionals”), commuted, effective January 1, 2007, all assumed reinsurance treaties with PRI under which First Professionals acted as a reinsurer.  These treaties provided excess of loss reinsurance and reinsurance for PRI’s death, disability and retirement risks.  Under the terms of the commutation agreements, First Professionals paid cash and delivered securities with an aggregate value of $87.7 million to PRI as full settlement of all past and future obligations for policy risks previously reinsured by First Professionals.  The corresponding net liabilities related to these agreements carried by First Professionals totaled $103.4 million.  First Professionals recognized an after-tax gain of $9.7 million as a result of the commutation.
 
    We purchase reinsurance from a number of companies to mitigate concentrations of credit risk, and utilize our reinsurance broker to assist us in the analysis of the credit quality of our reinsurers.  We base our reinsurance buying decisions on an evaluation of the then current financial strength and stability of prospective reinsurers.  However, the financial strength of our reinsurers, and their corresponding ability to pay us, may change in the future due to forces or events we cannot control or anticipate.  At March 31, 2008, our receivable from reinsurers was approximately $156.3 million.  We have not experienced any difficulty in collecting amounts due from reinsurers related to the financial condition of a reinsurer.  Should future events lead us to believe that any reinsurer is unable to meet its obligations, adjustments to the amounts recoverable would be reflected in the results of current operations.


 
 
FPIC Insurance Group, Inc.
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
Form 10-Q:10

8.
Investments
Realized investment gains and losses are determined on the basis of specific identification.  Declines in the fair value of securities considered to be other-than-temporary, if any, are recorded as realized losses in the consolidated statements of income.  Data with respect to investments are presented in the tables below.

(in thousands)
 
For the Quarter Ended
   
For the Quarter Ended
 
   
March 31, 2008
   
March 31, 2007
 
   
 
Fixed income
securities, available-
for-sale and short-
term investments
   
Equity securities,
available-for-sale
 
Fixed income
securities, available-
for-sale and short-
term investments
   
Equity securities,
available-for-sale
 
Proceeds from sales and maturities
  $ 30,012             88,364        
Gross realized gains on investment sales
  $ 7             300        
Gross realized losses on investment sales
              (260 )      
                                 
                                 
                                 
   
As of March 31, 2008
   
As of December 31, 2007
 
   
 
Fixed income
securities, available-
for-sale and short-
term investments
   
Equity securities,
available-for-sale
 
Fixed income
securities, available-
for-sale and short-
term investments
   
Equity securities,
available-for-sale
 
Amortized cost of investments
  $ 697,203       17,003       690,364       15,503  
Gross unrealized gains
    11,177             5,159       7  
Gross unrealized losses
    (6,633 )     (1,826 )     (4,872 )     (598 )
Fair value
  $ 701,747       15,177       690,651       14,912  

As of March 31, 2008, certain of our investments were in an unrealized loss position primarily attributable to the impact of interest rates on the fair value of our investment portfolio.  We have the intent and ability to hold these securities to recover their value, which may be until their respective maturity dates.  Therefore, we do not consider any of the securities carried in an unrealized loss position at March 31, 2008 to be other-than-temporarily impaired.  During the three months ended March 31, 2008, we did recognize an other-than-temporary impairment charge of $0.1 million related to one of our other invested assets, an investment in a limited partnership.


9.
Fair Value Measurements
We adopted FAS 157, Fair Value Measurements, which provides a framework for measuring fair value under GAAP, for financial assets and liabilities effective January 1, 2008.  The adoption of FAS 157 did not have an impact on our consolidated financial statements.  As defined in FAS 157, fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (an exit price methodology).  We utilize market data or assumptions that we believe market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk and the risks inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique.  These inputs can be readily observable, market corroborated or generally unobservable.  We primarily have applied the market approach for recurring fair value measurements and endeavor to utilize the best available information.  Accordingly, we utilize valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.  We then classify fair value balances based on the observability of those inputs.

The fair value hierarchy under FAS 157 prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value.  The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurement) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurement).  The three levels of the fair value hierarchy defined by FAS No. 157 are as follows:

Level 1
Pricing inputs are based on quoted prices available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities 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.  We’ve included the following financial instruments in this category: equity securities traded on a national stock exchange, such as the New York Stock Exchange.


 
 
FPIC Insurance Group, Inc.
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
Form 10-Q:11

Level 2
Pricing inputs are other than quoted prices in active markets included in Level 1, which are either directly or indirectly observable as of the reporting date.  Level 2 includes those financial instruments that are valued by our pricing service using models or other valuation methodologies.  Pricing inputs may include benchmark curves, reported trades, broker / dealer quotes, issuer spreads, quoted forward prices, time value, volatility factors and current market and contractual prices for an underlying instrument.  We’ve included the following financial instruments in this category: fixed-income securities, short-term investments, preferred stock and non-exchange-traded derivatives.
 
Level 3
Pricing inputs include significant inputs that are generally less observable from objective sources and may include internally developed methodologies that result in management’s best estimate of fair value from the perspective of a market participant.  At each balance sheet date, we perform an analysis of all instruments subject to FAS 157 and include in Level 3 all assets or liabilities whose fair value is based on significant unobservable inputs.  We’ve included the following financial instruments in this category: fixed-income securities priced solely using broker quotes and our investments in limited partnerships.

The following table presents disclosures about fair value measurements at March 31, 2008 for assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis.

(in thousands)
       
Fair Value Measurements at March 31, 2008 Using
 
Description
 
March 31, 2008
   
 
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
   
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
   
Significant
Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
 
                         
Fixed income securities, available-for-sale
  $ 700,268             698,413       1,855  
Equity securities, available-for-sale
    15,177       13,295       1,882        
Short-term investments
    1,479             1,479        
Other invested assets
    432                   432  
Total
  $ 717,356       13,295       701,774       2,287  
 
The following table presents disclosures about fair value measurements at March 31, 2008 using significant unobservable inputs  (Level 3).
 
   
Fixed Income Securities,
available-for-sale
 
Other Invested Assets
 
Beginning balance, January 1, 2008
  $ 3,359   553  
Total gains or losses (realized / unrealized)
           
Included in earnings
      (88 )
Included in other comprehensive income
    13   (28 )
Purchases, issuances and settlements
    1,729   (5 )
Transfers in and / or out of Level 3
    (3,246 )  
Ending balance, March 31, 2008
  $ 1,855   432  
             
The amount of total gains or losses for the period
           
included in earnings attributable to the change in
           
unrealized gains or losses relating to assets
           
still held at March 31, 2008
  $   (88 )
 
    Gains and losses (realized and unrealized) included in earnings for the period are reported in net realized investment gains (losses) as follows:
 
   
Fixed Income Securities,
available-for-sale
 
Other Invested Assets
 
Total gains or losses included in earnings for the period (above)
  $   (88 )
             
Change in unrealized gains or losses related to assets still held at March 31, 2008
  $ 13   (28 )
             
 
 
 
 
FPIC Insurance Group, Inc.
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
Form 10-Q:12

10.
Commitments and Contingencies
Liabilities for loss contingencies arising from claims, assessments, litigation, fines and penalties and other sources are recorded when it is determined to be probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the assessment and/or remediation can be reasonably estimated.  In addition, our insurance subsidiaries may become subject to claims for extra-contractual obligations or risks in excess of policy limits in connection with their insurance claims.  These claims are sometimes referred to as “bad faith” actions as it is alleged that the insurance company acted in bad faith in the administration of a claim against an insured.  Bad faith actions are infrequent and generally occur in instances where a jury verdict exceeds the insured’s policy limits.  Under such circumstances, it is routinely alleged that the insurance company failed to negotiate a settlement of a claim in good faith within the insured’s policy limit.  Our primary excess of loss program includes an additional level of coverage for claims in excess of policy limits.  (For additional information regarding this reinsurance coverage see Note 5, Reinsurance, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.)  An award for a bad faith claim against one of our subsidiaries in excess of the applicable reinsurance could have an adverse affect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.  We have evaluated such exposures as of March 31, 2008, and believe our position and defenses are meritorious.  However, there can be no absolute assurance as to the outcome of such exposures.

Our insurance subsidiaries are subject to assessment by the financial guaranty associations in the states in which they conduct business for the provision of funds necessary for the settlement of covered claims under certain policies of insolvent insurers.  Generally, these associations can assess member insurers on the basis of written premiums in their particular states.  During 2006 and 2007, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (“Florida OIR”) levied assessments, totaling $9.4 million and $4.2 million, respectively, on our Florida direct written premiums at the request of the Florida Insurance Guaranty Association (“FIGA”) as a result of the insolvency of a group of Florida-domiciled homeowner’s insurance companies owned by Poe Financial Group.  Loss deficiencies in excess of FIGA’s estimates could result in the need for additional assessments by FIGA.  Such additional assessments or assessments related to other property and casualty insurers that have or may become insolvent because of hurricane activity or otherwise could adversely impact our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.  Under Florida law, our insurance subsidiaries are entitled to recoup guaranty fund assessments from their Florida policyholders and have made the necessary filings to do so.

In addition to standard guaranty fund assessments, the Florida and Missouri legislatures may also levy special assessments to settle claims caused by certain catastrophic losses.  Medical malpractice policies have been exempted from assessment by the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund until the fund’s expiration on May 31, 2010.




 
 
FPIC Insurance Group, Inc.
Form 10-Q:13


Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
For purposes of this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”), “FPIC,” “we,” “our,” “us,” and the “Company” refer to FPIC Insurance Group, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, unless the context requires otherwise.  The following MD&A should be read in conjunction with the accompanying consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2008, included in Part I, Item 1, as well as the audited, consolidated financial statements and footnotes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, which was filed with the SEC on February 27, 2008.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including the following MD&A, contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions that, if they do not materialize or prove correct, could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including statements: of our plans, strategies and objectives for future operations; concerning new products, services or developments; regarding future economic conditions, performance or outlook; as to the outcome of contingencies; of beliefs or expectations; and of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing.  Forward-looking statements may be identified by their use of forward-looking terminology, such as “believes,” “expects,” “may,” “should,” “would,” “will,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “projects” and similar words or expressions.  You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect our management’s opinions only as of the date of the filing of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.  Factors that might cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:

i)
The effect of negative developments and cyclical changes in the medical professional liability (“MPL”) insurance business;
ii)
The effects of competition, including competition for agents to place insurance, of physicians electing to self-insure or to practice without insurance coverage, and of related trends and associated pricing pressures and developments;
iii)
Business risks that result from our size, products, and geographic concentration;
iv)
The risks and uncertainties involved in determining the rates we charge for our products and services, as well as these rates being subject to or mandated by legal requirements and regulatory approval;
v)
The actual amount of our new and renewal business;
vi)
The uncertainties involved in the loss reserving process, including the possible occurrence of insured losses with a frequency or severity exceeding our estimates;
vii)
The unpredictability of court decisions and our exposure to claims for extra contractual damages and losses in excess of policy limits;
viii)
Assessments imposed by state financial guaranty associations or other insurance regulatory bodies;
ix)
Developments in financial and securities markets that could affect our investment portfolio;
x)
Legislative, regulatory or consumer initiatives that may adversely affect our business, including initiatives seeking to lower premium rates;
xi)
The passage of additional or repeal of current tort reform measures, and the effect of such measures;
xii)
Developments in reinsurance markets that could affect our reinsurance programs or our ability to collect reinsurance recoverables;
xiii)
The loss of the services of any key members of senior management;
xiv)
Changes in our financial ratings resulting from one or more of these uncertainties or other factors and the potential impact on our agents’ ability to place insurance business on our behalf;

 
 
FPIC Insurance Group, Inc.
Form 10-Q:14


xv)
Other factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, including Item 1A.  Risk Factors and Item 7.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2008.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates.  Forward-looking statements are made in reliance on the safe harbor provision of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Critical Accounting Policies
The accounting policies considered by management to be critically important in the preparation and understanding of our financial statements and related disclosures are presented in Item 7.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.
 
    Impact of Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
As described in Item 1.  Financial Statements, Note 1, Organization and Basis of Presentation under the heading “New Accounting Pronouncements,” there are accounting pronouncements that have recently been issued.  Note 1 describes the potential impact that these pronouncements are expected to have or have had on our consolidated financial statements.

Commitments and Contingencies
For information concerning commitments and contingencies to which we are subject, see Item 1.  Financial Statements, Note 10, Commitments and Contingencies.

Business Overview
We operate in the MPL insurance sector of the property and casualty insurance industry.  Our primary insurance products provide protection for physicians, dentists and other healthcare providers as individual practitioners or as members of practice groups.  Our insurance protects policyholders against losses arising from professional liability claims and the related defense costs with respect to injuries alleged to have been caused by medical error or malpractice.  Optional coverage is available for professional corporations under which physicians or dentists practice.  Through our insurance subsidiaries, we are the largest provider of MPL insurance in Florida.  Based on 2006 premium data published by A.M. Best, which is the latest available data, Florida is the third largest market for MPL insurance in the United States.  Our insurance subsidiaries also provide MPL insurance in selected other states.  We have chosen to focus on selected markets where we believe we have advantages in terms of our market knowledge, well-established reputation, significant market presence and resources.


Recent Trends and Other Developments
(Comparisons are made to the comparable periods in 2007 unless otherwise indicated)

On April 8, 2008, A.M. Best affirmed the financial strength rating of our insurance subsidiaries at A- (Excellent) with a stable outlook.
 
Income from continuing operations and net income, excluding the impact of the PRI commutation in first quarter 2007, increased 34 percent (49 percent on a diluted common share basis).
 
Our initiative to provide management services for alternative risk arrangements resulted in $1.3 million of direct written premiums for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 on 81 policyholders.
 
The number of professional liability policyholders, excluding policyholders under alternative risk arrangements, increased 1 percent to 13,380 policyholders at March 31, 2008 compared to 13,205 policyholders at March 31, 2007.
 
As a result of the continuation of favorable loss trends, we recognized favorable net loss development related to previously established reserves of $4.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008.

 
 
FPIC Insurance Group, Inc.
Form 10-Q:15


On a trade date basis, we repurchased 315,098 shares of our common stock during the quarter at an average price of $42.80 per share and had remaining authority from our Board of Directors to repurchase 115,445 more shares as of March 31, 2008.  In April 2008, our Board of Directors approved a 500,000 share increase in our share repurchase program.
Book value per common share increased 3 percent to $33.91 as of March 31, 2008 from $33.03 as of December 31, 2007.  The statutory surplus of our insurance subsidiaries increased 1 percent to $264.8 million as of March 31, 2008 compared to $261.6 million as of December 31, 2007.
(1)
During February 2007, our subsidiary, First Professionals, commuted, effective January 1, 2007, all assumed reinsurance treaties with PRI under which First Professionals acted as a reinsurer.  In connection with the commutation, First Professionals recognized an after-tax gain of $9.7 million.  For additional information on the commutation, see Item 1.  Financial Statements, Note 7, Reinsurance.
   
(1)
As noted under the discussion of Recent Trends and Other Developments, our 2007 consolidated financial statements include the following effects of the reinsurance commutation between First Professionals and PRI:
 
 
(in thousands)
 
For the quarter ended
   
     
March 31, 2007
   
 
Commutation of assumed premiums written
  $ (54,465 )  
 
Net premiums written
  $ (54,465 )  
             
 
Total revenues
  $    
             
 
Net losses and LAE
    (13,982 )  
 
Other underwriting expenses
    (1,733 )  
 
Total expenses
    (15,715 )  
             
 
Income from continuing operations before income taxes
    15,715    
 
Less: Income tax expense
    6,063    
 
Net income
  $ 9,652    
 
 
Insurance Regulation
Proposed legislation related to MPL insurance is from time to time introduced in the state legislatures of markets where we conduct business, including Florida.  Proposed legislation was introduced in the Florida legislature during the 2007 legislative session that if enacted into law, would have, among other things, required a prospective reduction in Florida MPL insurance rates.  Other proposed legislation would have, among other things, required a new study of presumed savings from Florida tort reform, which would be factored into Florida MPL insurance rate making.  Neither of these proposals was enacted in 2007, or have been reintroduced in the 2008 legislative session, but there can be no assurance that similar or other proposals affecting our industry will not be introduced or enacted in the future.


Results of Operations
Three Months Ended March 31, 2008 compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2007

Net income was $10.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008, or $1.19 per diluted common share, a decrease of 39 percent and 32 percent, respectively, compared to $17.7 million, or $1.75 per diluted common share, for the three months ended March 31, 2007.  Net income for the three months ended March 31, 2007 includes a gain of $9.7 million on the reinsurance commutation between First Professionals and PRI.  Excluding the PRI reinsurance commutation, net income and diluted earnings per common share increased 34 percent and 49 percent, respectively, compared with the same period in 2007 primarily as a result of lower net losses and LAE and other underwriting expenses, partially offset by lower net premiums earned.


 
 
FPIC Insurance Group, Inc.
Form 10-Q:16


Information concerning written premiums and policyholders is summarized in the tables below:
 
(in thousands)
 
For the Quarter Ended
   
Percentage
For the Quarter Ended
 
   
March 31, 2008
   
Change
March 31, 2007
 
Direct premiums written
  $ 51,855    (1) -14 %   60,344  
Assumed premiums written
        0 %    
Commutation of assumed premiums written
        100 %   (54,465 )  
Ceded premiums written
    (7,269 )  (1) 0 %   (7,282 )  
Net premiums written
  $ 44,586     3278 %   (1,403 )  
 
   
(1)
Includes $1.3 million of premiums associated with alternative risk arrangements.  Management fees for such arrangements are included in other income.
 
 
   
As of
   
Percentage
As of
 
   
March 31, 2008
   
Change
March 31, 2007
 
Professional liability policyholders
    13,380     1 %   13,205  
Professional liability policyholders under alternative risk arrangements
    81          
Total professional liability policyholders
    13,461     2 %   13,205  
 
Direct premiums written declined 14 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to the same period in 2007, primarily as a result of lower premium rates in our Florida market and to a lesser extent a shift in business mix to lower risk specialties offset to some extent by premiums written on alternative risk arrangements.  Our policyholder retention rate in our core Florida market was 96 percent for the first three months of 2008, compared to 94 percent for the comparable period in 2007.  Our national policyholder retention was 95 percent for the first three months of 2008 compared to 93 percent for the comparable period in 2007.

Net premiums written increased during the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to the same period in 2007, which reflects a reduction of assumed premiums written as a result of the PRI commutation.  Excluding the impact of the PRI commutation on assumed premiums written in 2007, net premiums written declined 16 percent during the three months ended March 31, 2008.  The decline in net premiums written is primarily a result of lower premium rates in our Florida market and to a lesser extent a shift in business mix to lower risk specialties.

Net premiums earned declined 14 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to the same period in 2007.  The decline is primarily the result of lower rates in our Florida market and a shift in business mix to lower risk specialties.

Net investment income declined 3 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to the same period in 2007.  The decline in net investment income is a result of declines in average cash and cash equivalents and the investment yield on our cash and cash equivalents offset to a certain extent by increases in average fixed income securities and short-term investments and the yield on fixed income securities and short-term investments.

Information concerning our loss ratio and underwriting expense ratio is summarized in the table below.
 
   
For the Quarter Ended
   
For the Quarter Ended
 
   
March 31, 2008
   
March 31, 2007
 
Loss ratio
           
Current accident year
    67.0 %     69.0 %
Commutation of assumed premiums written - prior accident years
    0.0 %     -27.0 %
Prior accident years
    -10.2 %     0.0 %
Calendar year loss ratio
    56.8 %     42.0 %
Underwriting expense ratio (1)
    22.4 %     18.9 %
Combined ratio
    79.2 %     60.9 %

   
(1)
The underwriting expense ratio for the three months ended March 31, 2007 includes the impact of the reinsurance commutations between First Professionals and PRI effective January 1, 2007.  Excluding the impact of the commutations, the underwriting expense ratio would be 22.3 percent.

 
 
FPIC Insurance Group, Inc.
Form 10-Q:17

Net losses and LAE increased 16 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to the same period in 2007, which reflects a reduction of net losses and LAE in the first quarter of 2007 as a result of the PRI commutation.  Excluding the impact of the PRI commutation in 2007, net losses and LAE decreased 29 percent for 2008.  The decline in net losses and LAE reflects the continuation of favorable loss trends, including $4.5 million of favorable prior year development.  This favorable development reflects reductions in our estimates of incident to claim development, payment frequency and payment severity.  Lower net premiums earned and the corresponding provision for losses and LAE also contributed to the decline.

Other underwriting expenses increased 2 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2008 from the comparable period in 2007, which reflects a reduction of other underwriting expenses in the first quarter of 2007 as a result of the PRI commutation.  Excluding the impact of the PRI reinsurance commutation in 2007, other underwriting expenses decreased 14 percent for 2008 primarily due to higher ceding commissions, lower premium taxes and the recoupment of a guarantee fund assessment from our policyholders.

Selected information concerning our direct professional liability insurance claim data is summarized in the table below.

   
As of
 
Percentage
 
As of
 
   
March 31, 2008
 
Change
 
March 31, 2007
 
Net Paid Losses and LAE on Professional Liability Claims (in thousands):
               
Net paid losses
  $ 11,911     -75 %     47,537  
Less: net paid losses on commuted reinsurance agreements
    144     -100 %     29,376  
Net paid losses excluding commuted reinsurance agreements
    11,767     -35 %     18,161  
                       
Net paid LAE
    13,048     -3 %     13,517  
Less: net paid LAE on commuted reinsurance agreements
    70     119 %     32  
Net paid LAE excluding commuted reinsurance agreements
    12,978     -4 %     13,485  
                       
Net paid losses and LAE on core professional liability business
  $ 24,745     -22 %   $ 31,646  
                       
Professional Liability Claims and Incidents Closed Without Indemnity Payment:
                     
Total professional liability claims closed without indemnity payment
    117     -37 %     187  
Total professional liability incidents closed without indemnity payment
    92     -55 %     205  
Total professional liability claims and incidents closed without indemnity payment
    209     -47 %     392  
                       
Total professional liability claims with indemnity payment
    65     -34 %     98  
                       
CWIP Ratio on a rolling four quarter basis(1)
    30 %           29 %
                       
CWIP Ratio,  including incidents, on a rolling four quarter basis (1)
    14 %           15 %
                       
Professional Liability Claims and Incidents Reported During the Period:
                     
Total professional liability claims reported during the period
    175     4 %     169  
Total professional liability incidents reported during the period
    222     -3 %     230  
Total professional liability claims and incidents reported during the period
    397     -1 %     399  
                       
Total professional liability claims and incidents that remained open
    3,462     -10 %     3,828  
 
   
(1)
The closed with indemnity payment (“CWIP”) ratio is defined as the ratio of total professional liability claims with indemnity payment to the sum of total professional liability claims with indemnity payment and total professional liability claims closed without indemnity payment.

Net paid losses and LAE declined for the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared with the same period in 2007 primarily due to fewer claims with an indemnity payment (“CWIP”) during the quarter.  The number of reported claims and incidents for the three months ended March 31, 2008 was relatively unchanged compared to the same period in 2007 and generally reflects continued lower frequency in newly reported claims and incidents in our Florida market that began in the fourth quarter of 2003.  For the four quarters ended March 31, 2008, the CWIP Ratio and the CWIP Ratio, including incidents, were comparable with the ratios for the four quarters ended March 31, 2007.  It is not unusual for our claims data to fluctuate from period to period, and our claims data remains within our expectations.
 
 
FPIC Insurance Group, Inc.
Table of Contents
Form 10-Q:18


Income tax expense decreased 47 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared to the same period in 2007 as a result of lower income before taxes.  Excluding the impact of the PRI commutation in 2007, income tax expense for 2008 increased 48 percent and our effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 was 32 percent and 30 percent, respectively.  The increase in our effective tax rate is primarily due to a decrease in tax-exempt investment income as a percentage of income before taxes.


Liquidity and Capital Resources

Liquidity is a measure of a company’s ability to generate cash flows sufficient to meet short-term and long-term cash requirements of its business operations.  As a holding company, our assets consist primarily of the stock of our subsidiaries and of other investments.  The sources of liquidity available to us for the payment of operating expenses, taxes and debt-related amounts include management fees and dividends from our insurance subsidiaries.  Management fees from our insurance subsidiaries are based on agreements in place with First Professionals and Anesthesiologists Professional Assurance Company, pursuant to which we provide substantially all management and administrative services.  In accordance with limitations imposed by Florida law, our insurance subsidiaries are permitted to pay us dividends of approximately $48.2 million during 2008 without prior regulatory approval.  We have received dividends of $6.0 million from our insurance subsidiaries for the three months ended March 31, 2008.

For additional information concerning our liquidity and financial resources, see 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, 2007.

Sources of liquidity include cash from operations, sales of investments and financing arrangements.  As reported in the consolidated statement of cash flows, net cash provided by operating activities was $10.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to net cash used in operating activities of $77.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007.  The increase in cash provided by operating activities is primarily due to the 2007 commutation of the reinsurance agreements between First Professionals and PRI and lower net paid losses and income taxes offset by a decline in premiums received and reinsurance recoveries associated with the decline in written premiums.

Net cash used in investing activities was $6.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to net cash provided by investing activities of $46.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007.  The cash flows from investing activities were higher in 2007 due to the transfer of securities in connection with the PRI commutation.  The remainder of the change in cash flows from investing activities is primarily due to transactions involving fixed income securities and short-term investments, which are dependent on our cash flows from operating activities and the management of our investment portfolio.

Net cash used in financing activities was $9.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to $14.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007.  The change in net cash flows used in financing activities is primarily due to additional issuances of our common stock during 2008 resulting from the exercise of stock options.  In addition, we recognized additional excess tax benefits as a result of the exercise of those stock options.

As of March 31, 2008, we had cash and investments of $787.4 million.  Included within cash and investments were cash and cash equivalents of $64.8 million and fixed income securities, available-for-sale, and short-term investments with a fair value of approximately $55.7 million with scheduled maturities during the next 12 months.  We believe that our cash and investments as of March 31, 2008, combined with expected cash flows from operating activities and the scheduled maturities of investments, will be sufficient to meet our cash needs for operating purposes for at least the next 12 months.


 
 
FPIC Insurance Group, Inc.
Form 10-Q:19


Capital Resources
Capital resources consist of funds deployed or available to be deployed to support our business operations.  We believe our financial strength provides us with the flexibility and capacity to obtain funds externally through debt or equity financing on both a short-term and long-term basis.  Our ability to access the capital markets is dependent on, among other things, market conditions.  The following table summarizes the components of our capital resources as of March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007.

(in thousands)
As of
   
As of
 
 
March 31, 2008
   
December 31, 2007
 
Long-term debt
$ 46,083       46,083  
Shareholders' equity
$ 299,430       295,597  
Ratio of debt to total capitalization
  13.3 %     13.5 %

Long-term debt
During 2003, we completed the placement of $10.0 million in senior notes and created three trusts that issued 30-year trust-preferred securities for which the proceeds from such issuances together with cash previously contributed to the trusts were used to purchase junior subordinated debentures from FPIC totaling $36.1 million.  The debentures that we issued, which are reported as long-term debt in the consolidated statements of financial position, to the three trusts are subordinated to all senior indebtedness, including the senior notes, and are equal in standing with one another.  In accordance with the guidance given in FASB Interpretation No. 46, “Variable Interest Entities,” we have not consolidated these subsidiary trusts.

The securities are uncollateralized and bear floating interest rates equal to the three-month London Inter-Bank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus spreads ranging from 3.85 percent to 4.20 percent (the interest rates ranged from 7.16 percent to 7.28 percent as of March 31, 2008).  The floating interest rates are adjustable quarterly with changes in the three-month LIBOR, and in the case of two offerings, the maximum rate that may be charged under the securities within the first five years is 12.50 percent.  We also purchased interest rate collars designed to maintain the ultimate floating rate interest cost on all of these securities within a stated range for five years from closing.  We have the option to redeem the trust-preferred securities and senior notes at par or its equivalent beginning five years from closing.  We are currently evaluating the redemption and possible replacement of certain of these securities or the effecting of interest rate hedges to replace the expiring interest rate collars.  The trust-preferred securities also contain features that would allow us the option, under certain conditions, to defer interest payments for up to 20 quarters and to redeem the securities before the first optional redemption date in five years.  In the case of the potential earlier redemption date, the redemption price payable by us may be different than par.  The securities have stated maturities of 30 years and are due in May and October 2033.

Contractual Obligations and Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We have various contractual obligations that are recorded as liabilities in our consolidated financial statements.  We also have items that represent contractual obligations, commitments and contingent liabilities that are not recorded or that are considered to possess off-balance sheet risks beyond their respective amounts otherwise reflected in our consolidated financial statements.  These include: (1) derivative financial instruments, which are used to hedge interest rate risk; (2) guarantees by us and contractual obligations related to the trust-preferred securities issued by separately created, unconsolidated trusts; and (3) employee benefit plans.  We were not a party to any unconsolidated arrangement or financial instrument with special purpose entities or other vehicles as of March 31, 2008 that would give rise to previously undisclosed market, credit or financing risk.  There have been no significant changes in our contractual obligations, commitments and off-balance sheet arrangements as described in the applicable section of our MD&A included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.


Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
There have been no material changes in the reported market risks, as described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.


 
 
FPIC Insurance Group, Inc.
Form 10-Q:20


Controls and Procedures
An evaluation of the effectiveness of FPIC's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined by Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), was completed as of March 31, 2008 by FPIC’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer.  Based on such evaluation, FPIC’s disclosure controls and procedures were found to be effective.  There are inherent limitations to the effectiveness of any system of disclosure controls and procedures, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of the controls and procedures.  Accordingly, even effective disclosure controls and procedures can only provide reasonable assurance of achieving their control objectives, and management necessarily is required to use its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the first quarter of 2008 and that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.



Part II
OTHER INFORMATION

Legal Proceedings 
We, in common with the insurance industry in general, are subject to litigation involving claims under our insurance policies in the normal course of business.  Though we may be involved in routine litigation as a matter of course, we do not expect these cases to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.  For additional information concerning our commitments and contingencies, see Item 7.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations as well as Note 10, Commitments and Contingencies to this Form 10-Q.
 
We may also become involved in legal actions not involving claims under our insurance policies from time to time.  We have evaluated such exposures as of March 31, 2008, and in all cases, believe our positions and defenses are meritorious.  However, there can be no absolute assurance as to the outcome of such exposures.  Liabilities for loss contingencies arising from claims, assessments, litigation, fines and penalties and other sources are recorded when it is determined to be probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the assessment and/or remediation can be reasonably estimated.
 
In addition, our insurance subsidiaries may become subject to claims for extra-contractual obligations or risks in excess of policy limits in connection with their insurance claims, particularly in Florida.  These claims are sometimes referred to as “bad faith” actions as it is alleged that the insurance company acted in bad faith in the administration of a claim against an insured.  Bad faith actions are infrequent and generally occur in instances where a jury verdict exceeds the insured’s policy limits.  Under such circumstances, it is routinely alleged that the insurance company failed to negotiate a settlement of a claim in good faith within the insured’s policy limit.  We have evaluated such exposures as of March 31, 2008, and believe our position and defenses are meritorious.  However, there can be no absolute assurance as to the outcome of such exposures.  An award for a bad faith claim against one of our insurance subsidiaries in excess of the applicable reinsurance could have an adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
 

Risk Factors
There have been no material changes to our risk factors as disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.


 
 
FPIC Insurance Group, Inc.
Form 10-Q:21


Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
There were no unregistered sales of equity securities during the first quarter of 2008.

Stock Repurchase Plan
Under our stock repurchase program, we may repurchase shares at such times, and in such amounts, as management deems appropriate.  Under certain circumstances, limitations may be placed on our ability to repurchase our stock by the terms of agreements relating to our junior subordinated debentures.  For information regarding these limitations, see our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, Item 8.  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 10, Long-Term Debt, as well as the discussion under the heading “Liquidity and Capital Resources” in Item 7.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. The following table summarizes our common stock repurchases for the three months ended March 31, 2008:

Period
 
Total Number of Shares Purchased
   
Average Price Paid per Share
   
Total Number of Shares
Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or
Programs *
   
Maximum Number of
Shares that May Yet Be
Purchased Under the Plans
or Programs at End of Month *
 
January 1 -31, 2008
                       
Repurchase programs *
    104,198     $ 41.60       104,198       326,345  
Employee transactions **
    10,894     $ 42.12       n/a       n/a  
                                 
February 1-29, 2008
                               
Repurchase programs *
    119,600     $ 41.50       119,600       206,745  
Employee transactions **
        $       n/a       n/a  
                                 
March 1-31, 2008
                               
Repurchase programs *
    91,300     $ 45.85       91,300       115,445  
Employee transactions **
    28,721     $ 47.11       n/a       n/a  
                                 
Total
    354,713     $ 43.12       315,098       115,445  
 
   
*
In April 2008, our Board of Directors approved a 500,000 share increase in our share repurchase program, which authorizes us to repurchase shares through open-market transactions, or in block transactions, or private transactions, pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 trading plans, or otherwise.  This program expires on December 31, 2008.
**
Represents shares of our common stock delivered to us in satisfaction of the tax withholding obligation of holders of restricted shares that vested during the quarter and the exercise of stock options.


Defaults Upon Senior Securities - Not applicable.


Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders - Not applicable.


Other Information
 All items requiring a Form 8-K filing have been so filed as of the date of this filing.  There have been no material changes to the procedures by which security holders recommend nominees to the board of directors.

 
 
FPIC Insurance Group, Inc.
Form 10-Q:22


Exhibits
Exhibit
Description
2008 Senior Executive Annual Incentive Plan
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
Certification of John R. Byers, President and Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Certification of Charles Divita, III, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Certification of John R. Byers, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Charles Divita, III, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

   
*
Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.


Signature
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 thereunto duly authorized.


April 30, 2008
   
 
FPIC Insurance Group, Inc.
     
 
By:
/s/ Charles Divita, III
 
Charles Divita, III
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)




FPIC Insurance Group, Inc.
Exhibit Index to Form 10-Q
For the Quarter Ended March 31, 2008



Exhibit
Description
2008 Senior Executive Annual Incentive Plan
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
Certification of John R. Byers, President and Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Certification of Charles Divita, III, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Certification of John R. Byers, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Charles Divita, III, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

   
*
Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.