KEMPER Corp (KMPR)
SIC breadcrumb: Finance, Insurance, And Real Estate > Insurance Carriers > SIC 6331 Fire, Marine & Casualty Insurance
SEC company page: https://www.sec.gov/edgar/browse/?CIK=860748. Latest filing source: 0000860748-26-000014.
Informational only - descriptive public-record data, not investment advice.
Business
Read KMPR's verbatim Item 1 Business section from its latest 10-K: Business.
Risk Factors
Read KMPR's verbatim Item 1A Risk Factors from its latest 10-K: Risk Factors.
Selected Fundamentals
| Metric | Value | Unit | FY | Filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 4,789,700,000 | USD | 2025 | 2026-02-11 |
| Net income | 143,300,000 | USD | 2025 | 2026-02-11 |
| Assets | 12,472,700,000 | USD | 2025 | 2026-02-11 |
Financials
Annual standardized facts from SEC companyfacts as of latest extracted filing date 2026-02-11. Source: https://data.sec.gov/api/xbrl/companyfacts/CIK0000860748.json. Derived margins, ratios, and free cash flow are computed from the extracted annual SEC facts.
| Metric | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 2,521,900,000 | 2,723,400,000 | 3,725,100,000 | 5,039,200,000 | 5,205,700,000 | 5,718,500,000 | 5,523,900,000 | 4,944,200,000 | 4,638,600,000 | 4,789,700,000 |
| Net income | 16,800,000 | 120,900,000 | 190,100,000 | 531,100,000 | 409,900,000 | -123,700,000 | -286,600,000 | -272,100,000 | 317,800,000 | 143,300,000 |
| Diluted EPS | 0.33 | 2.33 | 3.22 | 7.96 | 6.14 | -1.92 | -4.50 | -4.25 | 4.91 | 2.29 |
| Operating cash flow | 240,500,000 | 240,600,000 | 539,200,000 | 534,300,000 | 448,000,000 | 350,700,000 | -210,300,000 | -134,200,000 | 382,900,000 | 584,500,000 |
| Capital expenditures | 35,500,000 | 65,300,000 | 84,000,000 | 53,400,000 | 57,800,000 | 30,800,000 | 53,800,000 | 53,200,000 | 30,600,000 | |
| Dividends paid | 49,500,000 | 56,400,000 | 67,800,000 | 78,900,000 | 80,600,000 | 79,700,000 | 80,100,000 | 80,100,000 | 79,600,000 | |
| Share buybacks | 3,800,000 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 110,400,000 | 161,700,000 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 38,900,000 | 301,900,000 |
| Assets | 8,210,500,000 | 8,376,200,000 | 11,544,900,000 | 12,989,100,000 | 14,341,900,000 | 14,916,500,000 | 13,313,600,000 | 12,742,700,000 | 12,630,400,000 | 12,472,700,000 |
| Liabilities | 6,235,300,000 | 6,260,600,000 | 8,494,800,000 | 9,016,800,000 | 9,778,500,000 | 10,908,800,000 | 10,643,000,000 | 10,237,700,000 | 9,846,100,000 | 9,803,300,000 |
| Stockholders' equity | 1,975,200,000 | 2,115,600,000 | 3,050,100,000 | 3,972,300,000 | 4,563,400,000 | -849,700,000 | 241,100,000 | 2,505,200,000 | 2,788,400,000 | 2,681,400,000 |
| Free cash flow | 205,100,000 | 473,900,000 | 450,300,000 | 394,600,000 | 292,900,000 | -241,100,000 | -188,000,000 | 329,700,000 | 553,900,000 |
Ratios
| Metric | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net margin | 0.67% | 4.44% | 5.10% | 10.54% | 7.87% | -2.16% | -5.19% | -5.50% | 6.85% | 2.99% |
| Return on equity | 0.85% | 5.71% | 6.23% | 13.37% | 8.98% | -118.87% | -10.86% | 11.40% | 5.34% | |
| Return on assets | 0.20% | 1.44% | 1.65% | 4.09% | 2.86% | -0.83% | -2.15% | -2.14% | 2.52% | 1.15% |
| Liabilities / equity | 3.16 | 2.96 | 2.79 | 2.27 | 2.14 | 44.14 | 4.09 | 3.53 | 3.66 |
Industry Peer Context
Net margin peer context
ROE peer context
ROA peer context
Financial Bridges
Free cash flow = operating cash flow - capital expenditures
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts FY 2025. Operating cash flow: accession 0000860748-26-000014; concept NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities; source concepts us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities | Capital expenditures: accession 0000860748-26-000014; concept PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets; source concepts us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets | Free cash flow: accession 0000860748-26-000014; concept NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities - PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets; source concepts us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities; us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets
Financial Charts
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0000860748-26-000014; filed 2026-02-11. Concept: Revenues. Source concepts: us-gaap:Revenues.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0000860748-26-000014; filed 2026-02-11. Concept: NetIncomeLoss. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetIncomeLoss.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0000860748-26-000014; filed 2026-02-11. Concept: EarningsPerShareDiluted. Source concepts: us-gaap:EarningsPerShareDiluted.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0000860748-26-000014; filed 2026-02-11. Concept: NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0000860748-26-000014; filed 2026-02-11. Concept: PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets. Source concepts: us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0000860748-26-000014; filed 2026-02-11. Concept: PaymentsOfDividends. Source concepts: us-gaap:PaymentsOfDividends.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0000860748-26-000014; filed 2026-02-11. Concept: PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock. Source concepts: us-gaap:PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0000860748-26-000014; filed 2026-02-11. Concept: Assets. Source concepts: us-gaap:Assets.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0000860748-26-000014; filed 2026-02-11. Concept: Liabilities. Source concepts: us-gaap:Liabilities.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0000860748-26-000014; filed 2026-02-11. Concept: StockholdersEquity. Source concepts: us-gaap:StockholdersEquity.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0000860748-26-000014; filed 2026-02-11. Concept: NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities - PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities; us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets.
Quarterly
Quarterly standardized facts from SEC companyfacts as of latest extracted filing date 2026-05-06. Source: https://data.sec.gov/api/xbrl/companyfacts/CIK0000860748.json.
| Quarter | End Date | Revenue | Net Income | Diluted EPS | Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-Q2 | 2022-06-30 | -1.17 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2022-Q3 | 2022-09-30 | -1.19 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2023-Q1 | 2023-03-31 | -1.25 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2023-Q2 | 2023-06-30 | 1,262,800,000 | -97,100,000 | -1.52 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2023-Q3 | 2023-09-30 | 1,199,400,000 | -146,300,000 | -2.28 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2023-Q4 | 2023-12-31 | 1,187,200,000 | 51,400,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD | |
| 2024-Q1 | 2024-03-31 | 1,143,000,000 | 71,300,000 | 1.10 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2024-Q2 | 2024-06-30 | 1,129,900,000 | 75,400,000 | 1.16 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2024-Q3 | 2024-09-30 | 1,178,900,000 | 73,700,000 | 1.14 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2024-Q4 | 2024-12-31 | 1,186,800,000 | 97,400,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD | |
| 2025-Q1 | 2025-03-31 | 1,193,000,000 | 99,700,000 | 1.54 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2025-Q2 | 2025-06-30 | 1,225,600,000 | 72,600,000 | 1.12 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2025-Q3 | 2025-09-30 | 1,239,700,000 | -21,000,000 | -0.34 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2025-Q4 | 2025-12-31 | 1,131,400,000 | -8,000,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD | |
| 2026-Q1 | 2026-03-31 | 1,107,200,000 | -1,700,000 | -0.03 | reported discrete quarter |
Quarterly Charts
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-03-31; accession 0000860748-26-000045; filed 2026-05-06. Concept: Revenues. Source concepts: us-gaap:Revenues.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-03-31; accession 0000860748-26-000045; filed 2026-05-06. Concept: NetIncomeLoss. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetIncomeLoss.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-03-31; accession 0000860748-26-000045; filed 2026-05-06. Concept: EarningsPerShareDiluted. Source concepts: us-gaap:EarningsPerShareDiluted.
Macro Cross-References
- CPIAUCSL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items in U.S. City Average
- UNRATE - Unemployment Rate
- FEDFUNDS - Federal Funds Effective Rate
- CES0500000003 - Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees, Total Private
- DFEDTARU - Federal Funds Target Range - Upper Limit
- DFEDTARL - Federal Funds Target Range - Lower Limit
- DGS3MO - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 3-Month Constant Maturity
- DGS2 - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 2-Year Constant Maturity
- DGS10 - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 10-Year Constant Maturity
- DGS30 - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 30-Year Constant Maturity
- T10Y2Y - 10-Year Treasury Constant Maturity Minus 2-Year Treasury Constant Maturity
- CPILFESL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items Less Food and Energy
- CPIUFDSL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Food
- CPIENGSL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Energy
- CUSR0000SAH1 - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Shelter
- PCEPI - Personal Consumption Expenditures: Chain-type Price Index
- PCEPILFE - Personal Consumption Expenditures Excluding Food and Energy: Chain-type Price Index
- PPIACO - Producer Price Index by Commodity: All Commodities
- T10YIE - 10-Year Breakeven Inflation Rate
- U6RATE - Total Unemployed, Plus All Marginally Attached Workers Plus Total Employed Part Time for Economic Reasons
- PAYEMS - All Employees, Total Nonfarm
- CIVPART - Labor Force Participation Rate
- EMRATIO - Employment-Population Ratio
- UNEMPLOY - Unemployed
- CE16OV - Employment Level
- ICSA - Initial Claims
- JTSJOL - Job Openings: Total Nonfarm
- JTSQUR - Quits: Total Nonfarm
- GDPC1 - Real Gross Domestic Product
- A191RL1Q225SBEA - Real Gross Domestic Product: Percent Change from Preceding Period
- INDPRO - Industrial Production: Total Index
- TCU - Capacity Utilization: Total Index
- HOUST - New Privately-Owned Housing Units Started: Total Units
- PERMIT - New Privately-Owned Housing Units Authorized in Permit-Issuing Places: Total Units
- RSAFS - Advance Retail Sales: Retail Trade
- PCE - Personal Consumption Expenditures
- DSPIC96 - Real Disposable Personal Income
- PSAVERT - Personal Saving Rate
- M2SL - M2
- BOPGSTB - U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services: Balance
- MSPUS - Median Sales Price of Houses Sold for the United States
- HSN1F - New One Family Houses Sold: United States
- RHORUSQ156N - Homeownership Rate in the United States
- TTLCONS - Total Construction Spending: Total Construction in the United States
- RRVRUSQ156N - Rental Vacancy Rate in the United States
- TOTALSL - Total Consumer Credit Owned and Securitized
- REVOLSL - Revolving Consumer Credit Owned and Securitized
- DRCCLACBS - Delinquency Rate on Credit Card Loans, All Commercial Banks
- GDP - Gross Domestic Product
- GPDI - Gross Private Domestic Investment
- GCE - Government Consumption Expenditures and Gross Investment
- PCEC - Personal Consumption Expenditures
- NETEXP - Net Exports of Goods and Services
- GFDEBTN - Federal Debt: Total Public Debt
- GFDEGDQ188S - Federal Debt: Total Public Debt as Percent of Gross Domestic Product
- FYFSD - Federal Surplus or Deficit
- FGRECPT - Federal Government Current Receipts
- FGEXPND - Federal Government: Current Expenditures
- MANEMP - All Employees, Manufacturing
- USCONS - All Employees, Construction
- USTRADE - All Employees, Retail Trade
- USFIRE - All Employees, Financial Activities
- USGOVT - All Employees, Government
- AWHAETP - Average Weekly Hours of All Employees, Total Private
- DGORDER - Manufacturers' New Orders: Durable Goods
- NEWORDER - Manufacturers' New Orders: Nondefense Capital Goods Excluding Aircraft
- BUSINV - Total Business Inventories
- EXPGS - Exports of Goods and Services
- IMPGS - Imports of Goods and Services
- IR - Import Price Index (End Use): All Commodities
- PPIFIS - Producer Price Index by Commodity: Final Demand
Latest quarter (10-Q)
Latest 10-Q source: 0000860748-26-000045.
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In this report, the Company presents certain measures of its performance on a consolidated and segment basis that are not calculated in accordance with GAAP. We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures enhance the understanding for the Company and our investors of our performance by highlighting the results of operations and the underlying profitability drivers of our business. Segment-specific financial measures are calculated using only the portion of consolidated results attributable to that specific segment.
Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Income
The Company believes that the non-GAAP financial measure of Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Income provides investors with a valuable measure of its ongoing performance because it reveals underlying operational performance trends that otherwise might be less apparent if the items were not excluded. The most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is Net (Loss) Income attributable to Kemper Corporation.
Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Income is an after-tax, non-GAAP financial measure and is computed by excluding from Net (Loss) Income attributable to Kemper Corporation the after-tax impact of:
(i) Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities;
(ii) Net Realized Investment Gains;
(iii) Impairment Losses;
(iv) Acquisition and Disposition Related Transaction, Integration, Restructuring and Other Costs;
(v) Debt Extinguishment, Pension Settlement and Other Charges;
(vi) Goodwill Impairment Charges;
(vii) Non-Core Operations; and
(viii) Significant non-recurring or infrequent items that may not be indicative of ongoing operations
Significant non-recurring items are excluded when (a) the nature of the charge or gain is such that it is reasonably unlikely to recur within two years, and (b) there has been no similar charge or gain within the prior two years. There were no applicable significant non-recurring items that the Company excluded from the calculation of Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Income for the three months ended March 31, 2026 or 2025.
Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities, Net Realized Investment Gains and Impairment Losses related to investments included in the Company’s results may vary significantly between periods and are generally driven by business decisions and external economic developments such as capital market conditions that impact the values of the Company’s investments, the timing of which is unrelated to the insurance underwriting process. Acquisition and Disposition Related Transaction Costs, Integration Costs, and Restructuring and Other Costs may vary significantly between periods and are generally driven by the timing of acquisitions and business decisions which are unrelated to the insurance underwriting process. In the third quarter of 2025, a restructuring program was launched to achieve operational and organizational efficiencies. The Company will continue to evaluate additional efficiency opportunities through 2027. Debt Extinguishment, Pension Settlement and Other Charges relate to (i) loss from early extinguishment of debt, which is driven by the Company’s financing and refinancing decisions and capital needs, as well as external economic developments such as debt market conditions, the timing of which is unrelated to the insurance underwriting process; (ii) settlement of pension plan obligations which are business decisions made by the Company, the timing of which is unrelated to the underwriting process; and (iii) other charges that are non-standard, not part of the ordinary course of business, and unrelated to the insurance underwriting process. Goodwill Impairment Charges are excluded because they are infrequent and non-recurring charges. Non-Core Operations includes the results of our Preferred Insurance business which we expect to fully exit. These results are excluded because they are irrelevant to our ongoing operations and do not qualify for Discontinued Operations under GAAP. Significant non-recurring items are excluded because, by their nature, they are not indicative of the Company’s business or economic trends.
39
Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Continued)
Underlying Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses (“LAE”) and Underlying Combined Ratio
The following discussion uses the non-GAAP financial measures of (i) Underlying Losses and LAE and (ii) Underlying Combined Ratio. Underlying Losses and LAE (also referred to in the discussion as “Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE”) exclude the impact of catastrophe losses and loss and LAE reserve development from prior years from the Company’s Incurred Losses and LAE, which is the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.
The Underlying Combined Ratio is computed by adding the Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio with the Insurance Expense Ratio. The most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is the Combined Ratio, which is computed by adding Total Incurred Losses and LAE Ratio, including the impact of catastrophe losses and loss and LAE reserve development from prior years, with the Insurance Expense Ratio.
The Company believes Underlying Losses and LAE and the Underlying Combined Ratio are useful to investors and uses these financial measures to reveal the trends in the Company’s Property & Casualty Insurance segment that may be obscured by catastrophe losses and prior-year reserve development. These catastrophe losses may cause the Company’s loss trends to vary significantly between periods as a result of their incidence of occurrence and magnitude and can have a significant impact on incurred losses and LAE and the Combined Ratio. Prior-year reserve developments are caused by unexpected loss development on historical reserves. Because reserve development relates to the re-estimation of losses from earlier periods, it has minimal bearing on the performance of the Company’s insurance products in the current period. The Company believes it is useful for investors to evaluate these components separately and in the aggregate when reviewing the Company’s underwriting performance.
The preceding non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered a substitute for the comparable GAAP financial measures, as they do not fully recognize the overall profitability of the Company’s businesses.
Summary of Results
Net Loss attributable to Kemper Corporation was $1.7 million ($(0.03) per unrestricted common share) for the three months ended March 31, 2026, compared to Net Income attributable to Kemper Corporation of $99.7 million ($1.56 per unrestricted common share) for the same period in 2025.
A reconciliation of Net (Loss) Income attributable to Kemper Corporation to Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Income (a non-GAAP financial measure) for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025 is presented below.
| Three Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in Millions) | Mar 31, 2026 | Mar 31, 2025 | Change | ||||||||||||||
| Net (Loss) Income attributable to Kemper Corporation | $ | (1.7) | $ | 99.7 | $ | (101.4) | |||||||||||
| Less: | |||||||||||||||||
| Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities | (1.0) | 0.1 | (1.1) | ||||||||||||||
| Net Realized Investment Gains | 0.3 | 0.7 | (0.4) | ||||||||||||||
| Impairment Losses | (1.3) | 0.2 | (1.5) | ||||||||||||||
| Acquisition and Disposition Related Transaction, Integration, Restructuring and Other Costs | (5.0) | (4.2) | (0.8) | ||||||||||||||
| Debt Extinguishment, Pension Settlement, and Other Charges | — | 0.4 | (0.4) | ||||||||||||||
| Non-Core Operations | (7.2) | (3.9) | (3.3) | ||||||||||||||
| Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Income | $ | 12.5 | $ | 106.4 | $ | (93.9) | |||||||||||
| Components of Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Income: | |||||||||||||||||
| Segment Adjusted Net Operating Income: | |||||||||||||||||
| Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance | $ | 0.1 | $ | 97.9 | $ | (97.8) | |||||||||||
| Life Insurance | 18.0 | 17.2 | 0.8 | ||||||||||||||
| Total Segment Adjusted Net Operating Income | 18.1 | 115.1 | (97.0) | ||||||||||||||
| Corporate and Other Adjusted Net Operating Loss | (8.3) | (11.4) | 3.1 | ||||||||||||||
| Less: Net Loss attributable to Noncontrolling Interest | (2.7) | (2.7) | — | ||||||||||||||
| Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Income | $ | 12.5 | $ | 106.4 | $ | (93.9) |
40
Summary of Results (Continued)
Net (Loss) Income attributable to Kemper Corporation
Net (Loss) Income attributable to Kemper Corporation decreased by $101.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026, compared to the same period in 2025, due primarily to lower Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Income.
Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Income decreased by $93.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026, compared to the same period in 2025, due primarily to a deterioration in Specialty Personal Automobile’s Underlying loss and LAE ratio driven by higher claim severity and frequency on bodily injury and property damage coverages in California, lower business volumes, and a Florida Statutory Profit Limit Refund (as further discussed below), partially offset by higher average earned premium per exposure resulting from rate increases.
Following the enactment of Florida insurance reform in 2023, the Company has experienced lower loss costs within its personal auto business, resulting in favorable loss reserve development and improved expected profitability for recent accident years. As of December 31, 2025, the Company concluded that it is probable Florida personal auto underwriting profit for the three most recent accident years ended December 31, 2025 will exceed the profit limitation established under Florida statute, and recorded a reduction to earned premiums representing its estimate of profits expected to be returned to policyholders. During the first quarter of 2026, the Company increased its estimate of profits expected to be returned to policyholders for the three most recent accident years ended December 31, 2025 by $11.0 million given favorable development through March 31, 2026. During the first quarter of 2026, the Company also concluded that it is probable underwriting profit for the subsequent three-year accident period (2024 through 2026) will exceed the applicable profit limitation and recorded a reduction to earned premiums of $17.0 million representing its estimate of profits expected to be returned to policyholders for that period. These actions resulted in a total reduction to earned premiums of $28.0 million for the quarter. The estimate for accident years 2024 through 2026 remains subject to changes based on future development through March 31, 2027. The statute requires that excess profits for accident years 2023 through 2025 be returned to policyholders active as of December 31, 2025, and the Company expects to do so.
The loss from Non-Core Operations increased by $3.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026, compared to the same period in 2025, primarily due to reduced earned premiums outpacing expense reductions as the business continues to run off, as well as higher adverse prior year development. Separately, on August 1, 2025, certain Non-Core Operations subsidiaries entered into a renewal rights agreement with a third party and certain of its affiliates (collectively, the “Third Party”) whereby the Third Party will offer replacement policies for certain policies written by these subsidiaries in New York in accordance with the state’s non-renewal rules. During the first quarter of 2026, these subsi
[Excerpt truncated for page length; source filing is linked above.]
Latest 10-K MD&A
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations
| Non-GAAP Financial Measures | 31 |
|---|---|
| Summary of Results | 32 |
| Catastrophes | 34 |
| Loss and LAE Reserve Development | 35 |
| Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance | 37 |
| Life Insurance | 42 |
| Investment Results | 43 |
| Investment Quality and Concentrations | 45 |
| Investments in Limited Liability Companies and Limited Partnerships | 48 |
| Insurance, Interest and Other Expenses | 49 |
| Income Taxes | 50 |
| Liquidity and Capital Resources | 50 |
| Contractual Obligations | 53 |
| Critical Accounting Estimates | 55 |
| Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements | 61 |
30
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC, the Company is required to file consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). The Company is permitted to include non-GAAP financial measures in its filings provided that they are defined along with an explanation of their usefulness to investors, are no more prominent than the comparable GAAP financial measures and are reconciled to such GAAP financial measures.
In this report, the Company presents certain measures of its performance on a consolidated and segment basis that are not calculated in accordance with GAAP. We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures enhance the understanding for the Company and our investors of our performance by highlighting the results of operations and the underlying profitability drivers of our business. Segment-specific financial measures are calculated using only the portion of consolidated results attributable to that specific segment.
These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered a substitute for the comparable GAAP financial measures, as they do not fully recognize the overall profitability of the Company’s businesses.
Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Income (Loss)
The Company believes that the non-GAAP financial measure of Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Income (Loss) provides investors with a valuable measure of its ongoing performance because it reveals underlying operational performance trends that otherwise might be less apparent if the items were not excluded. The most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is Net Income (Loss) attributable to Kemper Corporation.
Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Income (Loss) is an after-tax, non-GAAP financial measure and is computed by excluding from Net Income (Loss) attributable to Kemper Corporation the after-tax impact of:
(i) Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities;
(ii) Net Realized Investment Gains (Losses);
(iii) Impairment Losses;
(iv) Acquisition and Disposition Related Transaction, Integration, Restructuring and Other Costs;
(v) Debt Extinguishment, Pension Settlement and Other Charges;
(vi) Goodwill Impairment Charges;
(vii) Non-Core Operations; and
(viii) Significant non-recurring or infrequent items that may not be indicative of ongoing operations
Significant non-recurring items are excluded when (a) the nature of the charge or gain is such that it is reasonably unlikely to recur within two years, and (b) there has been no similar charge or gain within the prior two years. There were no applicable significant non-recurring items that the Company excluded from the calculation of Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Income (Loss) for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 or 2023.
Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities, Net Realized Investment Gains (Losses) and Impairment Losses related to investments included in the Company’s results may vary significantly between periods and are generally driven by business decisions and external economic developments such as capital market conditions that impact the values of the Company’s investments, the timing of which is unrelated to the insurance underwriting process. Acquisition and Disposition Related Transaction Costs, Integration Costs, and Restructuring and Other Costs may vary significantly between periods and are generally driven by the timing of acquisitions and business decisions which are unrelated to the insurance underwriting process. In the third quarter of 2025, a restructuring program was launched to achieve operational and organizational efficiencies. The Company will continue to evaluate additional efficiency opportunities through 2027. Debt Extinguishment, Pension Settlement and Other Charges relate to (i) loss from early extinguishment of debt, which is driven by the Company’s financing and refinancing decisions and capital needs, as well as external economic developments such as debt market conditions, the timing of which is unrelated to the insurance underwriting process; (ii) settlement of pension plan obligations which are business decisions made by the Company, the timing of which is unrelated to the underwriting process; and (iii) other charges that are non-standard, not part of the ordinary course of business, and unrelated to the insurance underwriting process.
31
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (Continued)
Goodwill Impairment Charges are excluded because they are infrequent and non-recurring charges. Non-Core Operations includes the results of our Preferred Insurance business which we expect to fully exit. These results are excluded because they are irrelevant to our ongoing operations and do not qualify for Discontinued Operations under GAAP. Significant non-recurring items are excluded because, by their nature, they are not indicative of the Company’s business or economic trends.
Underlying Losses and Loss Adjustment Expense (“LAE”) and Underlying Combined Ratio
The following discussion of segment results uses the non-GAAP financial measures of (i) Underlying Losses and LAE and (ii) Underlying Combined Ratio. Underlying Losses and LAE (also referred to in the discussion as “Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE”) exclude the impact of catastrophe losses and loss and LAE reserve development from prior years from the Company’s Incurred Losses and LAE, which is the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.
The Underlying Combined Ratio is computed by adding the Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio with the Insurance Expense Ratio. The most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is the Combined Ratio, which is computed by adding Total Incurred Losses and LAE Ratio, including the impact of catastrophe losses and loss and LAE reserve development from prior years, with the Insurance Expense Ratio.
The Company believes Underlying Losses and LAE and the Underlying Combined Ratio are useful to investors and uses these financial measures to reveal the trends in the Company’s Property & Casualty Insurance segment that may be obscured by catastrophe losses and prior-year reserve development. These catastrophe losses may cause the Company’s loss trends to vary significantly between periods as a result of their incidence of occurrence and magnitude and can have a significant impact on incurred losses and LAE and the Combined Ratio. Prior-year reserve developments are caused by unexpected loss development on historical reserves. Because reserve development relates to the re-estimation of losses from earlier periods, it has minimal bearing on the performance of the Company’s insurance products in the current period. The Company believes it is useful for investors to evaluate these components separately and in the aggregate when reviewing the Company’s underwriting performance.
The preceding non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered a substitute for the comparable GAAP financial measures, as they do not fully recognize the overall profitability of the Company’s businesses.
SUMMARY OF RESULTS
Net Income attributable to Kemper Corporation was $143.3 million ($2.31 per unrestricted common share) for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to Net Income attributable to Kemper Corporation of $317.8 million ($4.95 per unrestricted common share) for the year ended December 31, 2024.
32
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
SUMMARY OF RESULTS (Continued)
A reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) attributable to Kemper Corporation to Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Income (Loss) (a non-GAAP financial measure) for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2025 | 2024 | Changefrom 2024to 2025 | 2023 | Change from 2023to 2024 | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net Income (Loss) attributable to Kemper Corporation | $ | 143.3 | $ | 317.8 | $ | (174.5) | $ | (272.1) | $ | 589.9 | |||||||||
| Less: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities | $ | (3.4) | $ | (2.1) | $ | (1.3) | $ | 3.7 | $ | (5.8) | |||||||||
| Net Realized Investment Gains (Losses) | 4.3 | 10.4 | (6.1) | (14.7) | 25.1 | ||||||||||||||
| Impairment Losses | (8.5) | (4.6) | (3.9) | (0.9) | (3.7) | ||||||||||||||
| Acquisition and Disposition Related Transaction, Integration, Restructuring and Other Costs | (43.1) | (31.8) | (11.3) | (95.0) | 63.2 | ||||||||||||||
| Debt Extinguishment, Pension Settlement and OtherCharges | 0.4 | (7.4) | 7.8 | (55.5) | 48.1 | ||||||||||||||
| Goodwill Impairment Charge | — | — | — | (45.5) | 45.5 | ||||||||||||||
| Non-Core Operations | (31.9) | (28.2) | (3.7) | (17.0) | (11.2) | ||||||||||||||
| Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Income (Loss) | $ | 225.5 | $ | 381.5 | $ | (156.0) | $ | (47.2) | $ | 428.7 | |||||||||
| Components of Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Income: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Segment Adjusted Net Operating Income: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance | $ | 187.1 | $ | 376.3 | $ | (189.2) | $ | (57.1) | $ | 433.4 | |||||||||
| Life Insurance | 68.5 | 50.2 | 18.3 | 51.8 | (1.6) | ||||||||||||||
| Total Segment Adjusted Net Operating Income | 255.6 | 426.5 | (170.9) | (5.3) | 431.8 | ||||||||||||||
| Corporate and Other Adjusted Net Operating Loss | (40.8) | (50.3) | 9.5 | (42.1) | (8.2) | ||||||||||||||
| Less: Net Loss attributable to Noncontrolling Interest | (10.7) | (5.3) | (5.4) | (0.2) | (5.1) | ||||||||||||||
| Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Income | $ | 225.5 | $ | 381.5 | $ | (156.0) | $ | (47.2) | $ | 428.7 |
Net Income (Loss) attributable to Kemper Corporation
2025 Compared with 2024
Net Income (Loss) attributable to Kemper Corporation decreased by $174.5 million in 2025, compared to 2024, due primarily to lower Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Income.
Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Income (Loss) decreased by $156.0 million in 2025, compared to 2024, due primarily to a deterioration in the Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance segment’s Underlying Combined Ratio and higher adverse prior year development on bodily injury coverages within commercial automobile insurance, partially offset by higher average earned premiums per exposure resulting from rate increases. This was partially offset by increased Life Insurance segment earnings driven by higher net investment income and a reduction in insurance expenses. Life Insurance segment results for the year December 31, 2024 included an $11.9 million after-tax loss from an investment valuation adjustment on one real estate investment from our alternative investment portfolio.
The loss from Non-Core Operations increased by $3.7 million in 2025, compared to 2024, primarily due to reduced net investment income and earned premiums outpacing reduced expenses as the business continues to run off. Additionally, the Company recognized $21.7 million of impairment losses in 2025 on Internal-Use Software assets reported as Other Assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. These were partially offset by a reduction in catastrophe losses and lower adverse prior year development. Separately, on August 1, 2025, certain Non-Core Operations subsidiaries entered into a renewal rights agreement with a third party and certain of its affiliates (collectively, the “Third Party”) whereby the Third Party will offer replacement policies for certain policies written by these subsidiaries in New York after the expiration of their current term. Execution of the terms of the agreement is contingent upon the granting of regulatory approvals by the New York Department of Financial Services.
33
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
SUMMARY OF RESULTS (Continued)
Corporate and Other Adjusted Net Operating Loss decreased $9.5 million in 2025, compared to 2024, primarily driven by lower interest expense due to the redemption of $450 million of 4.350% senior notes.
Revenues
2025 Compared with 2024
Total Revenues increased by $151.1 million to $4,789.7 million in 2025, compared to $4,638.6 million in 2024. The increase was primarily driven by higher earned premiums.
Earned Premiums increased by $180.4 million to $4,396.3 million in 2025, compared to $4,215.9 million in 2024, primarily driven by a $349.3 million increase from the Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance segment due to higher average earned premiums per exposure resulting from rate increases and higher commercial automobile volumes, partially offset by a $168.4 million reduction from our Preferred Insurance business, reported as Non-Core Operations, due primarily to lower volumes resulting from the exit and run-off of the business. Additionally, since Florida insurance reform was enacted in 2023, Kemper has experienced lower loss costs within its personal auto business, and this has led to ongoing favorable loss reserve development and expected profits on the current accident year. During the fourth quarter, the Company concluded that it is probable Florida personal auto underwriting profit for the three most recent years ended December 31, 2025, will exceed the profit limit imposed by a Florida insurance statute. During the fourth quarter of 2025 Kemper recorded a $35.0 million reduction to earned premiums, which represents a current estimate of the Florida personal auto profit that will be earned during the three-year period in excess of the permitted profit limit. This estimate will be updated through the first quarter of 2026 for development related to the three most recent years ended December 31, 2025. The statute requires that excess profits be returned to policyholders active as of December 31, 2025. The Company expects to fund credits to eligible policyholders in 2026.
Net Investment Income decreased by $2.5 million in 2025, compared to 2024, primarily driven by lower average Short-term invested assets, partially offset by higher earnings on common stock, Company-Owned Life Insurance, and mortgage loan assets.
Other (Loss) Income decreased by $12.5 million in 2025, compared to 2024, primarily driven by a $13.3 million loss from the fair market value adjustment of a tax credit equity investment.
Net Realized Investment Gains (Losses) decreased by $7.7 million in 2025, compared to 2024, due primarily to decreased gains on sales of fixed maturity and equity securities, partially offset by the absence of net realized losses on ultra-long treasury future derivatives transactions that did not qualify for hedge accounting.
Impairment losses increased by $5.0 million in 2025, compared to 2024, primarily driven by an increase in the allowance for credit losses on fixed maturity securities.
CATASTROPHES
Catastrophes and natural disasters are inherent risks of the property and casualty insurance business. These catastrophic events and natural disasters include, without limitation, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, hailstorms, wildfires, high winds and winter storms. Such events result in insured losses that are and may be a material factor in the results of operations and financial position of the Company’s property and casualty insurance companies. Further, because the level of these insured losses occurring in any one year cannot be accurately predicted, these losses may contribute to material year-to-year fluctuations in the results of operations and financial position of these companies. Specific types of catastrophic events are more likely to occur at certain times within the year than others. This factor adds an element of seasonality to property and casualty insurance claims. The Company has adopted the industry-wide catastrophe classifications of storms and other events promulgated by ISO to track and report losses related to catastrophes. ISO classifies a disaster as a catastrophe when the event causes $25.0 million or more in direct insured losses to property and affects a significant number of policyholders and insurers. ISO-classified catastrophes are assigned a unique serial number recognized throughout the insurance industry.
34
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
CATASTROPHES (Continued)
The number of ISO-classified catastrophic events and catastrophe losses and LAE, net of reinsurance recoveries, (excluding loss and LAE reserve development) by range of loss and business segment for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 are presented below.
| Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 31, 2025 | Dec 31, 2024 | Dec 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Number of Events | Losses and LAE | Number of Events | Losses and LAE | Number of Events | Losses and LAE | ||||||||||||||
| Range of Losses and LAE Per Event: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Below $5 | 55 | $ | 17.5 | 69 | $ | 47.7 | 68 | $ | 77.7 | |||||||||||
| $5 - $10 | — | — | 3 | 17.6 | 3 | 19.0 | ||||||||||||||
| $10 - $15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| $15 - $20 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| $20 - $25 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Greater Than $25 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Total | 55 | $ | 17.5 | 72 | $ | 65.3 | 71 | $ | 96.7 | |||||||||||
| Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance | $ | 11.5 | $ | 19.9 | $ | 34.5 | ||||||||||||||
| Life Insurance | 1.2 | 2.2 | 2.2 | |||||||||||||||||
| Non-Core Operations | 4.8 | 43.2 | 60.0 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Catastrophe Losses and LAE | $ | 17.5 | $ | 65.3 | $ | 96.7 |
Catastrophe Reinsurance
The Company primarily manages its exposure to catastrophes and other natural disasters through a combination of geographical diversification, restrictions on the amount and location of new business production in such regions, modifications of, and/or limitations to coverages and deductibles for certain perils in such regions and a catastrophe reinsurance program for the Company’s Property & Casualty Insurance business. Coverage under the catastrophe reinsurance program is provided in various contracts and layers. The Company’s Property & Casualty Insurance business also purchases reinsurance from the FHCF for hurricane losses in Florida at retentions lower than its catastrophe reinsurance program.
The Company had no material recoveries under its catastrophe reinsurance treaties for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023. See the “Reinsurance” subsection of the “Property and Casualty Insurance Business” and “Life Insurance Business” sections of Item 1(c), “Description of Business,” and Note 25, “Catastrophe Reinsurance,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on the Company’s reinsurance programs.
LOSS AND LAE RESERVE DEVELOPMENT
Increases (decreases) in the Company’s property and casualty loss and LAE reserves for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 to recognize adverse (favorable) loss and LAE reserve development from prior accident years in continuing operations, hereinafter also referred to as “reserve development” in the discussion of segment results, are presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Increase in Total Loss and LAE Reserves Related to Prior Years: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe | $ | 76.3 | $ | 23.8 | $ | 168.9 | |||||
| Catastrophe | 0.7 | 6.0 | (9.1) | ||||||||
| Increase in Total Loss and LAE Reserves Related to Prior Years | $ | 77.0 | $ | 29.8 | $ | 159.8 |
35
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
LOSS AND LAE RESERVE DEVELOPMENT (Continued)
See MD&A, “Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance,” MD&A, “Life Insurance,” and Note 5, “Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on the Company’s reserve development. See MD&A, “Critical Accounting Estimates,” of this 2025 Annual Report for additional information pertaining to the Company’s process of estimating property and casualty insurance reserves for losses and LAE, and the estimated variability thereof, development of property and casualty insurance losses and LAE, and a discussion of some of the variables that may impact them.
36
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
SPECIALTY PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE
Selected financial information for the Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance segment is presented below.
| (Dollars in Millions) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net Premiums Written | $ | 3,912.8 | $ | 3,685.4 | $ | 3,305.4 | |||||
| Earned Premiums | $ | 3,925.7 | $ | 3,576.4 | $ | 3,632.5 | |||||
| Net Investment Income | 211.2 | 189.6 | 168.3 | ||||||||
| Other Income | 8.9 | 6.1 | 6.1 | ||||||||
| Total Revenues | 4,145.8 | 3,772.1 | 3,806.9 | ||||||||
| Incurred Losses and LAE related to: | |||||||||||
| Current Year: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | 2,991.1 | 2,514.8 | 2,974.5 | ||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | 11.5 | 19.9 | 34.5 | ||||||||
| Prior Years: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | 74.8 | 6.3 | 135.2 | ||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | (0.2) | 0.7 | (2.3) | ||||||||
| Total Incurred Losses and LAE | 3,077.2 | 2,541.7 | 3,141.9 | ||||||||
| Insurance Expenses | 836.6 | 759.5 | 741.3 | ||||||||
| Segment Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) | 232.0 | 470.9 | (76.3) | ||||||||
| Income Tax Expense (Benefit) | 44.9 | 94.6 | (19.2) | ||||||||
| Total Segment Adjusted Net Operating Income (Loss) | $ | 187.1 | $ | 376.3 | $ | (57.1) | |||||
| Ratios Based On Earned Premiums | |||||||||||
| Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 76.2 | % | 70.3 | % | 82.0 | % | |||||
| Current Year Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.9 | ||||||||
| Prior Years Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 1.9 | 0.2 | 3.7 | ||||||||
| Prior Years Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | — | — | (0.1) | ||||||||
| Total Incurred Loss and LAE Ratio | 78.4 | 71.1 | 86.5 | ||||||||
| Insurance Expense Ratio | 21.3 | 21.2 | 20.4 | ||||||||
| Combined Ratio | 99.7 | % | 92.3 | % | 106.9 | % | |||||
| Underlying Combined Ratio | |||||||||||
| Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 76.2 | % | 70.3 | % | 82.0 | % | |||||
| Insurance Expense Ratio | 21.3 | 21.2 | 20.4 | ||||||||
| Underlying Combined Ratio | 97.5 | % | 91.5 | % | 102.4 | % | |||||
| Non-GAAP Measure Reconciliation | |||||||||||
| Combined Ratio | 99.7 | % | 92.3 | % | 106.9 | % | |||||
| Less: | |||||||||||
| Current Year Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.9 | ||||||||
| Prior Years Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 1.9 | 0.2 | 3.7 | ||||||||
| Prior Years Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | — | — | (0.1) | ||||||||
| Underlying Combined Ratio | 97.5 | % | 91.5 | % | 102.4 | % |
37
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
SPECIALTY PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE (Continued)
INSURANCE RESERVES
| (Dollars in Millions) | Dec 31, 2025 | Dec 31, 2024 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance Reserves: | |||||||
| Personal Automobile | $ | 1,826.8 | $ | 1,626.0 | |||
| Commercial Automobile | 942.6 | 721.9 | |||||
| Total Insurance Reserves | $ | 2,769.4 | $ | 2,347.9 | |||
| Insurance Reserves: | |||||||
| Loss and Allocated LAE Reserves: | |||||||
| Case and Allocated LAE | $ | 960.4 | $ | 921.8 | |||
| Incurred But Not Reported | 1,610.9 | 1,250.6 | |||||
| Total Loss and LAE Reserves | 2,571.3 | 2,172.4 | |||||
| Unallocated LAE Reserves | 198.1 | 175.5 | |||||
| Total Insurance Reserves1 | $ | 2,769.4 | $ | 2,347.9 | |||
| 1Includes $29.4 million and $9.4 million attributable to Kemper Reciprocal as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, which is reported as a consolidated variable interest entity. |
See MD&A, “Critical Accounting Estimates,” under the caption “Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves for Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses” for additional information pertaining to the Company’s process of estimating property and casualty insurance reserves for losses and LAE, development of property and casualty insurance losses and LAE from prior accident years, also referred to as “reserve development” in the discussion of segment results, estimated variability of property and casualty insurance reserves for losses and LAE, and a discussion of some of the variables that may impact development of property and casualty insurance losses and LAE and the estimated variability of property and casualty insurance reserves for losses and LAE.
Overall
2025 Compared with 2024
The Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance segment reported Total Segment Adjusted Net Operating Income of $187.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to Total Segment Adjusted Net Operating Income of $376.3 million in 2024. Segment adjusted net operating results decreased by $189.2 million which included a $166.2 million decrease from personal automobile insurance and a $23.0 million decrease from commercial automobile insurance. The decrease in personal automobile Adjusted Net Operating Income was primarily driven by higher underlying losses. The decrease in commercial automobile insurance Adjusted Net Operating Income was primarily driven by higher adverse prior year development.
Earned Premiums in the Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance segment increased by $349.3 million in 2025, compared to 2024, due to higher average earned premiums per exposure resulting from rate increases and higher commercial automobile volumes.
Net Investment Income in the Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance segment increased by $21.6 million in 2025, compared to 2024, due primarily to higher levels of invested assets resulting from growth.
Incurred Loss and LAE were $3,077.2 million or 78.4% of earned premiums for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to $2,541.7 million or 71.1% of earned premiums, in 2024. Incurred losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums increased primarily due to a deterioration in the underlying loss and LAE ratio and adverse prior year development in commercial automobile. Underlying losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums were 76.2% in 2025, a deterioration of 5.9 percentage points, compared to 2024, due to higher claim severity primarily related to bodily injury and property damage coverages, partially offset by higher average earned premiums per exposure (10.8% increase year over year). Underlying losses and LAE exclude the impact of catastrophes and loss and LAE reserve development. Adverse loss and LAE reserve development (including catastrophe reserve development) was $74.6 million for 2025 compared to adverse development of $7.0 million for 2024 an increase of $67.6 million due primarily to evolving loss patterns on bodily injury coverages in commercial automobile and higher than expected development
38
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
SPECIALTY PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE (Continued)
on litigated matters. Catastrophe losses and LAE (excluding reserve development) were $11.5 million for 2025 compared to $19.9 million for 2024, a decrease of $8.4 million due to fewer catastrophe events and lower severity per event in 2025.
Insurance Expenses were $836.6 million, or 21.3% of earned premiums, for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to $759.5 million, or 21.2% of earned premiums in 2024. Insurance Expenses increased $77.1 million due to higher expenses associated with increased business volumes.
The Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance segment’s 2025 effective tax rate was 19.4%, compared to 20.1% in 2024. The effective income tax rate for 2025 and 2024 differs from the federal statutory income tax rate primarily due to investments in Company-Owned Life Insurance, tax-exempt investment income and an increase in nondeductible executive compensation.
Specialty Personal Automobile Insurance
Selected financial information for the specialty personal automobile insurance product line for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023 is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net Premiums Written | $ | 2,934.1 | $ | 2,887.7 | $ | 2,677.5 | |||||||||
| Earned Premiums | $ | 3,024.9 | $ | 2,851.4 | $ | 2,977.8 | |||||||||
| Incurred Losses and LAE related to: | |||||||||||||||
| Current Year: | |||||||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | $ | 2,336.9 | $ | 1,984.7 | $ | 2,464.0 | |||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | 8.7 | 14.5 | 29.6 | ||||||||||||
| Prior Years: | |||||||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | (1.4) | (0.9) | 111.0 | ||||||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | (0.5) | 0.7 | (2.3) | ||||||||||||
| Total Incurred Losses and LAE | $ | 2,343.7 | $ | 1,999.0 | $ | 2,602.3 | |||||||||
| Ratios Based On Earned Premiums | |||||||||||||||
| Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 77.2 | % | 69.6 | % | 82.8 | % | |||||||||
| Current Year Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 0.3 | 0.5 | 1.0 | ||||||||||||
| Prior Years Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | — | — | 3.7 | ||||||||||||
| Prior Years Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | — | — | (0.1) | ||||||||||||
| Total Incurred Loss and LAE Ratio | 77.5 | % | 70.1 | % | 87.4 | % | |||||||||
| Insurance Expense Ratio | 22.2 | % | 21.8 | % | 21.0 | % | |||||||||
| Combined Ratio | 99.7 | % | 91.9 | % | 108.4 | % | |||||||||
| Underlying Combined Ratio | |||||||||||||||
| Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 77.2 | % | 69.6 | % | 82.8 | % | |||||||||
| Insurance Expense Ratio | 22.2 | % | 21.8 | % | 21.0 | % | |||||||||
| Underlying Combined Ratio | 99.4 | % | 91.4 | % | 103.8 | % | |||||||||
| Non-GAAP Measure Reconciliation | |||||||||||||||
| Combined Ratio as Reported | 99.7 | % | 91.9 | % | 108.4 | % | |||||||||
| Less: | |||||||||||||||
| Current Year Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 0.3 | % | 0.5 | % | 1.0 | % | |||||||||
| Prior Years Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | — | % | — | % | 3.7 | % | |||||||||
| Prior Years Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | — | % | — | % | (0.1) | % | |||||||||
| Underlying Combined Ratio | 99.4 | % | 91.4 | % | 103.8 | % |
39
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
SPECIALTY PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE (Continued)
2025 Compared with 2024
Earned Premiums in personal automobile insurance increased by $173.5 million in 2025, compared to 2024, primarily due to higher average earned premiums per exposure resulting from rate increases. Incurred losses and LAE were $2,343.7 million, or 77.5% of earned premiums, in 2025, compared to $1,999.0 million, or 70.1% of earned premiums, in 2024. Incurred losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums increased due to deterioration in the underlying loss and LAE ratio. Underlying losses and LAE as a percentage of related earned premiums were 77.2% in 2025, compared to 69.6% in 2024, a deterioration of 7.6 percentage points driven by higher claim severity and frequency primarily related to bodily injury and property damage coverages that were offset by higher average earned premiums per exposure (10.1% increase year over year). Favorable loss and LAE reserve development was $1.9 million in 2025, compared to favorable loss and LAE reserve development of $0.2 million in 2024, an improvement of $1.7 million due primarily to stabilization of loss patterns in bodily injury coverages, partially offset by less favorable development on personal injury protection and collision coverages and higher losses associated with litigated matters. Catastrophe losses and LAE (excluding reserve development) were $8.7 million in 2025 compared to $14.5 million in 2024, an improvement of $5.8 million due to fewer catastrophe events and lower severity in 2025.
40
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
SPECIALTY PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE (Continued)
Commercial Automobile Insurance
Selected financial information for the commercial automobile insurance product line is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net Premiums Written | $ | 978.7 | $ | 797.7 | $ | 627.9 | |||||
| Earned Premiums | $ | 900.8 | $ | 725.0 | $ | 654.7 | |||||
| Incurred Losses and LAE related to: | |||||||||||
| Current Year: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | $ | 654.2 | $ | 530.1 | $ | 510.5 | |||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | 2.8 | 5.4 | 4.9 | ||||||||
| Prior Years: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | 76.2 | 7.2 | 24.2 | ||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | 0.3 | — | — | ||||||||
| Total Incurred Losses and LAE | $ | 733.5 | $ | 542.7 | $ | 539.6 | |||||
| Ratios Based On Earned Premiums | |||||||||||
| Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 72.6 | % | 73.2 | % | 78.0 | % | |||||
| Current Year Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.7 | ||||||||
| Prior Years Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 8.5 | 1.0 | 3.7 | ||||||||
| Prior Years Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | — | — | — | ||||||||
| Total Incurred Loss and LAE Ratio | 81.4 | % | 74.9 | % | 82.4 | % | |||||
| Insurance Expense Ratio | 18.3 | % | 19.1 | % | 17.6 | % | |||||
| Combined Ratio | 99.7 | % | 94.0 | % | 100.0 | % | |||||
| Underlying Combined Ratio | |||||||||||
| Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 72.6 | % | 73.2 | % | 78.0 | % | |||||
| Insurance Expense Ratio | 18.3 | % | 19.1 | % | 17.6 | % | |||||
| Underlying Combined Ratio | 90.9 | % | 92.3 | % | 95.6 | % | |||||
| Non-GAAP Measure Reconciliation | |||||||||||
| Combined Ratio as Reported | 99.7 | % | 94.0 | % | 100.0 | % | |||||
| Less: | |||||||||||
| Current Year Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 0.3 | % | 0.7 | % | 0.7 | % | |||||
| Prior Years Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 8.5 | % | 1.0 | % | 3.7 | % | |||||
| Prior Years Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | — | % | — | % | — | % | |||||
| Underlying Combined Ratio | 90.9 | % | 92.3 | % | 95.6 | % |
2025 Compared with 2024
Earned premiums from commercial automobile insurance increased by $175.8 million in 2025, compared to 2024, due primarily to higher average earned premiums per exposure resulting from rate increases and targeted mix shifts, and higher business volumes. Incurred losses and LAE were $733.5 million, or 81.4% of earned premiums, in 2025, compared to $542.7 million, or 74.9% of earned premiums, in 2024. Incurred losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums increased primarily due to adverse prior year development. Underlying losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums were 72.6% in 2025, compared to 73.2% in 2024, an improvement of 0.6 percentage points driven by lower claim frequency and higher average earned premium (8.2% increase year over year), partially offset by increased claim severity, primarily related to bodily injury coverages. Adverse loss and LAE reserve development was $76.5 million in 2025, compared to adverse development of
41
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
SPECIALTY PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE (Continued)
$7.2 million in 2024, an increase of $69.3 million due primarily to evolving loss patterns and higher defense costs associated with attorney-represented bodily injury coverages. Catastrophe losses and LAE (excluding reserve development) were $2.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to $5.4 million for the same period in 2024 a decrease of $2.6 million due to few catastrophe events and lower severity per event in 2025.
LIFE INSURANCE
Selected financial information for the Life Insurance segment is presented below.
| (Dollars in Millions) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earned Premiums | $ | 393.4 | $ | 393.9 | $ | 387.6 | |||||
| Net Investment Income | 188.2 | 170.6 | 193.4 | ||||||||
| Other Income | 1.6 | 1.1 | 0.5 | ||||||||
| Total Revenues | 583.2 | 565.6 | 581.5 | ||||||||
| Policyholders’ Benefits and Incurred Losses and LAE | 238.7 | 234.5 | 243.4 | ||||||||
| Insurance Expenses | 264.4 | 272.1 | 275.8 | ||||||||
| Segment Adjusted Operating Income | 80.1 | 59.0 | 62.3 | ||||||||
| Income Tax Expense | 11.6 | 8.8 | 10.5 | ||||||||
| Total Segment Adjusted Net Operating Income | $ | 68.5 | $ | 50.2 | $ | 51.8 |
INSURANCE RESERVES
| (Dollars in Millions) | Dec 31, 2025 | Dec 31, 2024 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance Reserves: | |||||||
| Future Policyholder Benefits | $ | 3,248.1 | $ | 3,154.3 | |||
| Incurred Losses and LAE Reserves: | |||||||
| Life | 35.0 | 40.8 | |||||
| Accident and Health | 4.4 | 4.6 | |||||
| Property | 1.9 | 2.7 | |||||
| Total Incurred Losses and LAE Reserves | 41.3 | 48.1 | |||||
| Total Insurance Reserves | $ | 3,289.4 | $ | 3,202.4 |
See Note 2 “Summary of Accounting Policies and Accounting Changes,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements under the sub-caption “Insurance Reserves” for additional discussion.
2025 Compared with 2024
The Life Insurance Segment reported Total Segment Adjusted Net Operating Income of $68.5 million in 2025, compared to $50.2 million in 2024. The increase in segment net operating results was primarily due to an increase in net investment income, lower Insurance Expenses, and lower incurred losses and LAE on property insurance products.
Earned Premiums decreased by $0.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to 2024, due primarily to changes in assumptions as part of the annual assumption update for Deferred Profit Liability in 2025 ($6.3 million reduction in Earned Premiums) as compared to 2024 ($4.8 million reduction in Earned Premiums). Excluding this impact, Earned Premiums increased by $1.0 million due primarily to higher average premiums per policy on life insurance products.
Net Investment Income increased by $17.6 million in 2025, compared to 2024, due primarily to lower losses on alternative investments and higher earnings on Company-Owned Life Insurance. The year ended December 31, 2024 included a $15.1 million pre-tax loss on an investment valuation adjustment of a real estate investment in our alternative investment portfolio.
Policyholders’ Benefits and Incurred Losses and LAE increased by $4.2 million in 2025, compared to 2024. Changes in assumptions from the annual assumption update reduced Policyholders’ Benefits and Incurred Losses and LAE by $9.3 million
42
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
LIFE INSURANCE (Continued)
and $11.9 million in 2025 and 2024, respectively. Excluding this impact, Policyholders’ Benefits and Incurred Losses and LAE increased $1.6 million.
Insurance Expenses decreased by $7.7 million in 2025, compared to 2024, due primarily to lower commission expense.
The Life Insurance segment’s 2025 effective income tax rate was 14.6% compared to 14.9% in 2024. The effective income tax rate for 2025 and 2024 differs from the federal statutory income tax rate primarily due to investments in Company-Owned Life
Insurance and Tax-Exempt Investment Income. The decrease in the effective tax rate from 2024 was driven by an increase in income from Company-Owned Life Insurance, partially offset by an increase in pre-tax income.
INVESTMENT RESULTS
Net Investment Income
Net Investment Income for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 is presented below.
| (Dollars in Millions) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Investment Income: | |||||||||||
| Interest on Fixed Income Securities1 | $ | 309.4 | $ | 315.3 | $ | 323.3 | |||||
| Dividends on Equity Securities Excluding Alternative Investments | 8.0 | 5.4 | 4.4 | ||||||||
| Alternative Investments: | |||||||||||
| Equity Method Limited Liability Investments | (7.0) | (18.2) | 10.5 | ||||||||
| Limited Liability Investments Included in Equity Securities | 13.7 | 24.5 | 19.0 | ||||||||
| Total Alternative Investments | 6.7 | 6.3 | 29.5 | ||||||||
| Short-term Investments | 22.8 | 33.5 | 18.0 | ||||||||
| Loans to Policyholders | 20.8 | 21.0 | 20.9 | ||||||||
| Real Estate | 9.4 | 8.8 | 8.9 | ||||||||
| Company-Owned Life Insurance | 42.9 | 35.7 | 29.2 | ||||||||
| Other | 11.5 | 8.2 | 12.9 | ||||||||
| Total Investment Income | 431.5 | 434.2 | 447.1 | ||||||||
| Investment Expenses: | |||||||||||
| Real Estate | 9.0 | 8.7 | 8.8 | ||||||||
| Other Investment Expenses1 | 17.5 | 18.0 | 18.6 | ||||||||
| Total Investment Expenses | 26.5 | 26.7 | 27.4 | ||||||||
| Net Investment Income | $ | 405.0 | $ | 407.5 | $ | 419.7 | |||||
| 1Reduced by interest expense incurred on FHLB borrowings used for spread lending purposes of $18.7 million, $20.3 million and $22.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively. |
2025 Compared with 2024
Net Investment Income was $405.0 million and $407.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. Net Investment Income decreased by $2.5 million in 2025, mostly driven by lower levels and yields from Short-term investments and fixed maturity securities, partially offset by higher earnings on Company-Owned Life Insurance and dividends on equity securities.
43
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
INVESTMENT RESULTS (Continued)
Change in Unrealized Gains and Losses on Investments
Unrealized losses on investments decreased $163.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, primarily due to decreases in interest rates.
Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities
The components of Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 are presented below.
| (Dollars in Millions) | 2025 | 2024 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preferred Stocks | $ | (0.1) | $ | 1.0 | |||
| Common Stocks | (1.0) | 2.2 | |||||
| Other Equity Interests: | |||||||
| Exchange Traded Funds | — | (0.6) | |||||
| Limited Liability Companies and Limited Partnerships | (3.2) | (5.3) | |||||
| Total Other Equity Interests | (3.2) | (5.9) | |||||
| Change in Fair Value of Equity Securities | (4.3) | (2.7) | |||||
| Change in Fair Value of Convertible Securities | — | — | |||||
| Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities | $ | (4.3) | $ | (2.7) |
Net Realized Gains (Losses) on Sales of Investments
The components of Net Realized Investment Gains (Losses) for the year ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 are presented below.
| (Dollars in Millions) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Maturities: | |||||||||||
| Gains on Sales | $ | 6.3 | $ | 20.2 | $ | 5.9 | |||||
| Losses on Sales | (2.1) | (3.2) | (10.9) | ||||||||
| Losses on Hedging Activity1 | — | (7.9) | (11.9) | ||||||||
| Equity Securities: | |||||||||||
| Gains on Sales | 0.9 | 4.2 | 0.6 | ||||||||
| Losses on Sales | — | (0.1) | (2.5) | ||||||||
| Other Investments: | |||||||||||
| Gains on Sales | 0.4 | 4.2 | 0.2 | ||||||||
| Losses on Sales | — | (4.2) | — | ||||||||
| Net Realized Investment Gains (Losses) | $ | 5.5 | $ | 13.2 | $ | (18.6) | |||||
| Gross Gains on Sales | $ | 7.6 | $ | 28.6 | $ | 6.7 | |||||
| Gross Losses on Sales | (2.1) | (7.5) | (13.4) | ||||||||
| Gains (Losses) on Hedging Activity | — | (7.9) | (11.9) | ||||||||
| Net Realized Investment Gains (Losses) | $ | 5.5 | $ | 13.2 | $ | (18.6) | |||||
| 1Includes Ultra-Long Treasury Future derivative securities which do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment. |
Impairment Losses
The Company regularly reviews its investment portfolio to determine whether a decline in the fair value of an investment has occurred from credit or other, non-credit related factors. If the decline in fair value is due to credit factors and the Company does not expect to receive cash flows sufficient to support the entire amortized cost basis, the credit loss is reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) in the period that the declines are evaluated. Conversely, an increase in the fair value
44
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
INVESTMENT RESULTS (Continued)
or disposal of an investment with a previously established credit allowance will result in the reversal of impairment losses reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) in the period.
The components of Impairment Losses in the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) for the year ended December 31, 2025, 2024, 2023 were:
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in Millions) | Amount | Number of Issuers | Amount | Number of Issuers | Amount | Number of Issuers | ||||||||||||
| Fixed Maturities | $ | (10.8) | 18 | $ | (4.8) | 20 | $ | (0.1) | 21 | |||||||||
| Equity Securities at Modified Cost | — | — | (0.4) | 3 | (0.5) | 1 | ||||||||||||
| Real Estate | 0.1 | 3 | (0.4) | 7 | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Other | (0.1) | 7 | (0.2) | 1 | (0.5) | 6 | ||||||||||||
| Impairment Losses1 | $ | (10.8) | $ | (5.8) | $ | (1.1) |
I Includes losses from intent-to-sell securities and direct write-down securities of $1.1 million, $3.3 million and $2.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Fixed Maturities
Impairment Losses recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) for the year ended December 31, 2025 related primarily to investments in securities with direct write-downs and in Fixed Maturities where the Company established an allowance for expected credit losses.
Impairment Losses recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) for the year ended December 31, 2024 related primarily to investments in securities with direct write-downs and in Fixed Maturities where the Company established an allowance for expected credit losses.
INVESTMENT QUALITY AND CONCENTRATIONS
The Company’s fixed maturity investment portfolio is comprised primarily of high-grade corporate, municipal and agency bonds. At December 31, 2025, approximately 93.8% of the Company’s fixed maturity investment portfolio was rated investment-grade, which the Company defines as a security issued by a high quality obligor with at least a relatively stable credit profile and where it is highly likely that all contractual payments of principal and interest will timely occur and carry a rating from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) of 1 or 2. Securities with a rating of 1 or 2 from the NAIC typically are rated by one or more Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations and either have a rating of AAA, AA, A or BBB from Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”); a rating of Aaa, Aa, A or Baa from Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”); or a rating of AAA, AA, A or BBB from Fitch Ratings.
The following table summarizes the credit quality of the Company’s fixed maturity investment portfolio at December 31,2025 and 2024.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Dec 31, 2025 | Dec 31, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NAIC Rating | Rating | Amortized Cost | Fair Value | Percentage of Total | Amortized Cost | Fair Value | Percentage of Total | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | AAA, AA, A | $ | 5,319.9 | $ | 4,750.5 | 70.5 | % | $ | 5,253.1 | $ | 4,576.4 | 71.4 | % | |||||||||||
| 2 | BBB | 1,710.2 | 1,574.4 | 23.3 | 1,749.3 | 1,557.6 | 24.3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3-4 | BB, B | 390.6 | 375.1 | 5.6 | 233.0 | 221.7 | 3.5 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5-6 | CCC or Lower | 55.0 | 43.3 | 0.6 | 59.6 | 53.9 | 0.8 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Investments in Fixed Maturities | $ | 7,475.7 | $ | 6,743.3 | 100.0 | % | $ | 7,295.0 | $ | 6,409.6 | 100.0 | % |
Gross unrealized losses, net of CECL allowance, on the Company’s investments in below-investment-grade fixed maturities were $13.6 million and $14.2 million at December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
45
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
INVESTMENT QUALITY AND CONCENTRATIONS (Continued)
The following table summarizes the fair value of the Company’s investments in governmental fixed maturities at December 31, 2025 and 2024.
| Dec 31, 2025 | Dec 31, 2024 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Fair Value | Percentage of Total Investments | Fair Value | Percentage of Total Investments | ||||||||||
| U.S. Government and Government Agencies and Authorities | $ | 622.4 | 7.2 | % | $ | 486.8 | 5.5 | % | ||||||
| States and Political Subdivisions: | ||||||||||||||
| Revenue Bonds | 1,128.5 | 13.0 | 1,105.7 | 12.4 | ||||||||||
| States | 68.7 | 0.8 | 72.4 | 0.8 | ||||||||||
| Political Subdivisions | 56.1 | 0.6 | 55.1 | 0.6 | ||||||||||
| Foreign Governments | 11.0 | 0.1 | 6.6 | 0.1 | ||||||||||
| Total Investments in Governmental Fixed Maturities | $ | 1,886.7 | 21.7 | % | $ | 1,726.6 | 19.4 | % |
The following table summarizes the fair value of the Company’s investments in non-governmental fixed maturities by industry at December 31, 2025 and 2024.
| Dec 31, 2025 | Dec 31, 2024 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Fair Value | Percentage of Total Investments | Fair Value | Percentage of Total Investments | ||||||||||
| Finance, Insurance and Real Estate | $ | 2,048.2 | 23.6 | % | $ | 1,969.1 | 22.2 | % | ||||||
| Manufacturing | 961.1 | 11.1 | 1,014.3 | 11.4 | ||||||||||
| Transportation, Communication and Utilities | 884.6 | 10.2 | 793.0 | 8.9 | ||||||||||
| Services | 648.0 | 7.5 | 582.9 | 6.6 | ||||||||||
| Mining | 177.7 | 2.0 | 153.3 | 1.7 | ||||||||||
| Retail Trade | 110.1 | 1.3 | 125.7 | 1.4 | ||||||||||
| Construction | 10.5 | 0.1 | 11.7 | 0.1 | ||||||||||
| Other | 34.4 | 0.4 | 33.0 | 0.4 | ||||||||||
| Total Investments in Non-governmental Fixed Maturities | $ | 4,874.6 | 56.2 | % | $ | 4,683.0 | 52.7 | % |
The following table summarizes the fair value of the Company’s investments in non-governmental fixed maturities by range of amount invested at December 31,2025.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Number of Issuers | Aggregate Fair Value | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Below $5 | 899 | $ | 1,390.6 | |||
| $5 -$10 | 190 | 1,385.8 | ||||
| $10 - $20 | 110 | 1,469.0 | ||||
| $20 - $30 | 18 | 418.8 | ||||
| Greater Than $30 | 6 | 210.4 | ||||
| Total | 1,223 | $ | 4,874.6 |
The Company’s short-term investments primarily consist of U.S. Treasury bills, short-term bonds, and money market funds. At December 31, 2025, the Company had $94.4 million invested in U.S. Treasury bills and short-term bonds and $233.4 million invested in money market funds, which primarily invest in U.S. Treasury securities.
46
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
INVESTMENT QUALITY AND CONCENTRATIONS (Continued)
The following table summarizes the fair value of the Company’s ten largest investment exposures in a single issuer, excluding investments in U.S. Government, Government Agencies and Authorities, and Short-term Investments, at December 31, 2025.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Fair Value | Percentage of Total Investments | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Maturities: | |||||||
| States including their Political Subdivisions: | |||||||
| California | $ | 134.8 | 1.6 | % | |||
| Texas | 105.4 | 1.2 | |||||
| Michigan | 84.8 | 1.0 | |||||
| Georgia | 69.4 | 0.8 | |||||
| New York | 61.2 | 0.7 | |||||
| Florida | 54.2 | 0.6 | |||||
| Pennsylvania | 47.3 | 0.5 | |||||
| Virginia | 35.6 | 0.4 | |||||
| Louisiana | 35.6 | 0.4 | |||||
| Colorado | 34.9 | 0.4 | |||||
| Total | $ | 663.2 | 7.6 | % |
47
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
INVESTMENTS IN LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES AND LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS
The Company owns investments in various limited liability investment companies and limited partnerships that primarily invest in senior debt and mezzanine debt. The Company’s investments in these limited liability investment companies and limited partnerships are reported either as Equity Method Limited Liability Investments, Other Equity Interests included in Equity Securities at Fair Value, or Equity Securities at Modified Cost, depending on the accounting method used to report the investment. Additional information pertaining to these investments at December 31, 2025 and 2024 is presented below.
| Unfunded Commitment in Millions | Reported Value in Millions | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asset Class | Dec 31, 2025 | Dec 31, 2025 | Dec 31, 2024 | ||||||||
| Reported as Equity Method Limited Liability Investments: | |||||||||||
| Senior Debt | $ | 56.9 | $ | 21.1 | $ | 19.1 | |||||
| Mezzanine Debt | 38.8 | 115.5 | 116.7 | ||||||||
| Secondary Transactions | 1.6 | 1.9 | 5.5 | ||||||||
| Leveraged Buyout | 0.1 | 6.5 | 7.5 | ||||||||
| Real Estate | — | 24.1 | 27.3 | ||||||||
| Distressed Debt | — | 1.4 | 4.4 | ||||||||
| Other | 0.1 | 5.5 | 5.8 | ||||||||
| Total Equity Method Limited Liability Investments | 97.5 | 176.0 | 186.3 | ||||||||
| Reported as Other Equity Interests at Fair Value: | |||||||||||
| Mezzanine Debt | 82.3 | 115.8 | 116.9 | ||||||||
| Leveraged Buyout | 41.0 | 40.5 | 19.2 | ||||||||
| Distressed Debt | 16.1 | 10.8 | 11.7 | ||||||||
| Senior Debt | 6.1 | 25.5 | 26.3 | ||||||||
| Growth Equity | 5.7 | 10.7 | 7.0 | ||||||||
| Secondary Transactions | 1.0 | 1.3 | 2.4 | ||||||||
| Real Estate | — | 0.1 | — | ||||||||
| Other | 0.3 | 5.6 | 0.1 | ||||||||
| Total Reported as Other Equity Interests at Fair Value | 152.5 | 210.3 | 183.6 | ||||||||
| Reported as Other Investments: | |||||||||||
| Other Equity Investments1 | 0.1 | 5.9 | 19.4 | ||||||||
| Total Investments in Limited Liability Companies and Limited Partnerships | $ | 250.1 | $ | 392.2 | $ | 389.3 | |||||
| 1In 2025, the Company elected to change the presentation of Alternative Energy Partnership Investments and Equity Securities at Modified Costs by including them within Other Equity Investments. Prior-period amounts have been recast to conform to the current-period presentation. |
The Company expects that it will be required to fund its commitments over the next several years. The Company expects that the proceeds from distributions from these investments will be the primary source of funding of such commitments.
48
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
INSURANCE, INTEREST AND OTHER EXPENSES
Expenses for the year ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 were:
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance and Other Expenses: | |||||||||||
| Insurance Expenses: | |||||||||||
| Policy Acquisition Costs | $ | 678.2 | $ | 641.6 | $ | 707.6 | |||||
| Business Unit Operating Costs | 310.7 | 277.4 | 256.1 | ||||||||
| Corporate Overhead Costs | 178.5 | 194.9 | 200.0 | ||||||||
| Insurance Expenses | 1,167.4 | 1,113.9 | 1,163.7 | ||||||||
| Other Expenses: | |||||||||||
| Acquisition and Disposition Related Transaction, Integration, Restructuring and Other Costs | 38.0 | 40.3 | 120.3 | ||||||||
| Pension Settlement | — | (2.6) | 70.2 | ||||||||
| Other Corporate Costs | 9.6 | 28.5 | 11.4 | ||||||||
| Other Expenses | 47.6 | 66.2 | 201.9 | ||||||||
| Insurance and Other Expenses | 1,215.0 | 1,180.1 | 1,365.6 | ||||||||
| Interest Expense | 38.5 | 56.9 | 56.1 | ||||||||
| Goodwill Impairment | — | — | 49.6 | ||||||||
| Total Insurance, Interest, and Other Expenses | $ | 1,253.5 | $ | 1,237.0 | $ | 1,471.3 |
Insurance and Other Expenses
Insurance Expenses were $1,167.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2025 compared to $1,113.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. Policy acquisition costs increased $36.6 million compared to the same period in 2024, primarily due to growth in the Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance segment from higher business volumes, partially offset by reductions due to lower volumes resulting from the exit and run-off of the Preferred Insurance business. Business Unit Operating Costs increased $33.3 million compared to the same period in 2024, primarily due to impairment losses recognized on Internal-Use Software assets related to the run-off of the Preferred Insurance business as well as increased bad debt expense resulting from business volumes in the Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance segment. Corporate Overhead Costs decreased $16.4 million in 2025 compared to 2024 primarily due to lower employee-related costs.
Other Expenses decreased by $18.6 million in 2025, compared to 2024, primarily due to lower Other Corporate Costs driven by reduced legal and pension-related expenses, as well as lower Acquisition and Disposition Related Transactions, Integration, Restructuring, and Other Costs following the completion of certain strategic initiatives. These decreases were slightly offset by a reduction in pension settlement gains.
Acquisition and Disposition Related Transaction, Integration, Restructuring and Other Costs for the year ended December 31, 2025 included $17.4 million of integration expenses related to continued investments in information technology and $20.6 million of restructuring charges to achieve operational and organizational efficiencies. The Company will continue to evaluate additional efficiency opportunities through 2027.
Other Corporate Costs for the year ended December 31, 2025 decreased $18.8 million compared to 2024, primarily due to lower legal expenses and absence of pension plan related expenses, following the termination and wind down of the Company’s pension trust.
Interest Expense
Interest expense decreased by $18.4 million in 2025 compared to 2024 primarily due to redemption of $450 million of 4.350% senior notes.
49
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
INCOME TAXES
The federal corporate statutory income tax rate was 21% for the year ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023. The Company’s effective income tax rate, which was 17.5%, 19.6% and 21.6% for 2025, 2024, and 2023 respectively, differs from the federal corporate income tax rate due primarily to (1) the effects of tax-exempt investment income, (2) nontaxable income associated with the change in cash surrender value on Company-Owned Life Insurance, (3) general business tax credits, (4) a permanent difference between the amount of long-term equity-based compensation expense recognized under GAAP and the amount deductible for Federal tax purposes, (5) a permanent difference associated with nondeductible executive compensation, (6) an impairment of non-tax deductible goodwill, (7) impact of deferred taxes in foreign jurisdictions, and (8) a change in valuation allowance related to foreign deferred assets.
In July 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (“OBBBA”) was signed, enacting significant changes to federal tax law. The OBBBA includes, among other provisions, extension and modifications of various provisions from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, immediate expensing of domestic research and experimental costs, accelerated depreciation, compensation-related items, and the repeal of certain clean energy tax credits. The Company has evaluated the impacts of the OBBBA, which were not material to the consolidated financial statements, and will continue to monitor developments as further information becomes available.
On December 27, 2023, legislation implementing a corporate income tax (“CIT”) in Bermuda was enacted into law. The CIT imposes a 15% income tax that applies to Bermuda businesses which are part of multinational enterprise groups with annual revenue of €750 million or more and will be effective for fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 2025, with a five-year deferred effective date for certain groups with a limited international footprint. Kemper has recorded, as part of its total income tax provision, the estimated impact of the Bermuda CIT on its Bermuda based reinsurance company at the effective date.
Tax-exempt investment income and dividends received deductions were $15.0 million in 2025, compared to $16.0 million in 2024.
The nontaxable increase in cash surrender value on Company-Owned Life Insurance was $42.9 million in 2025, compared to $35.6 million in 2024.
The Company realized investment tax credits and other federal income tax credits of $3.3 million in 2025, compared to realized investment tax credits and other federal tax credits of $12.0 million in 2024.
The amount of expense recognized for long-term equity-based compensation expense under GAAP was $3.0 million lower than the amount that would be deductible under the IRC in 2025, compared to $0.5 million lower in 2024.
The amount of nondeductible executive compensation was $32.0 million in 2025, compared to $16.8 million in 2024.
Tax expense of $0.7 million was recorded in 2025, compared to a tax benefit of $11.3 million in 2024 related to income taxes imposed in the foreign jurisdiction in which the Company operates.
The Company recorded a decrease in valuation allowance of $0.7 million in 2025, compared to an increase of $11.3 million in 2024 for those foreign deferred tax assets it determined were not more-likely-than-not to be realized.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Shelf Registration Statement
The Company filed a universal shelf registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the first quarter of 2023. Under this shelf registration, the Company may issue an undetermined amount of securities including common stock, preferred stock, depository shares, debt securities, warrants, subscription rights, purchase contracts, and purchase units. Specific terms of any securities issued under this registration will be included in each applicable prospectus supplement.
Amended and Extended Credit Agreement
On March 15, 2022, the Company entered into an amended and extended credit agreement. The amended and extended credit agreement increased the borrowing capacity of the existing unsecured credit agreement to $600.0 million and extended the maturity date to March 15, 2027. Furthermore, the amended and extended credit agreement provides for an accordion feature whereby the Company can increase the revolving credit borrowing capacity by an additional $200.0 million for a total of maximum capacity of $800.0 million.
50
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES (Continued)
Financial covenants within the agreement may limit the Company from accessing the maximum capacity. The amount available as of December 31, 2025 was $600.0 million, the maximum capacity. There were no outstanding borrowings under the credit agreement as of either December 31, 2025 or December 31, 2024.
The Company incurred $2.2 million of debt issuance costs in relation to the amended agreement. As of December 31, 2025 there were $0.6 million of remaining unamortized costs under the credit agreement, which will be amortized under the remaining term of the credit agreement.
Common Stock Offering
Kemper is authorized to issue 20 million shares of $0.10 par value preferred stock and 100 million shares of $0.10 par value common stock. No preferred shares were issued or outstanding at December 31, 2025 and 2024. There were 58,666,644 shares and 63,840,442 shares of common stock outstanding at December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
Long-term Debt
The Company designates debt obligations as either short-term or long-term based on maturity date at issuance. Total amortized cost of Long-term Debt, Current and Non-Current, outstanding at December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 was:
| (Dollars in Millions) | Dec 31, 2025 | Dec 31, 2024 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Notes | |||||||
| Current: | |||||||
| 4.350% Senior Notes due February 15, 2025 | $ | — | $ | 449.9 | |||
| Non-Current | |||||||
| 2.400% Senior Notes due September 30, 2030 | 397.9 | 397.5 | |||||
| 3.800% Senior Notes due February 23, 2032 | 396.9 | 396.5 | |||||
| 5.875% Fixed-Rate Reset Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2062 | 148.7 | 147.7 | |||||
| Total Long-term Debt Outstanding | $ | 943.5 | $ | 1,391.6 |
See Note 23, “Debt,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information regarding the Company’s long-term debt.
Federal Home Loan Bank Agreements
Kemper’s subsidiaries, United Insurance Company of America (“United Insurance”), Trinity Universal Insurance Company (“Trinity”), and American Access Casualty Company (“AAC”) are members of the Federal Home Loan Banks (“FHLBs”) of Chicago, Dallas and Chicago, respectively. AAC became a member of the FHLB of Chicago in May 2022. United Insurance and Trinity became members of the FHLBs of Chicago and Dallas, respectively, in 2013. Under their memberships, United Insurance, Trinity and AAC may borrow through the advance program of their respective FHLB. The Company’s investments in FHLB common stock are reported at cost and included in Other Investments. The carrying value of FHLB of Chicago common stock was $17.7 million and $16.9 million at December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively. The carrying value of FHLB of Dallas common stock was $2.1 million and $8.8 million at December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively. The Company periodically uses short-term FHLB borrowings for a combination of cash management and risk management purposes, in addition to long-term FHLB borrowings for spread lending purposes.
During 2025, United Insurance received advances of $30.0 million from the FHLB of Chicago and made repayments of $57.4 million. United Insurance had outstanding advances from the FHLB of Chicago totaling $513.8 million at December 31, 2025. These advances were made in connection with the Company’s spread lending program. The proceeds related to these advances were used to purchase fixed maturity securities to earn incremental net investment income.
For these advances, United Insurance held pledged securities in a custodial account with the FHLB of Chicago with a fair value of $661.3 million at December 31, 2025. The fair value of the collateral pledged must be maintained at certain specified levels above the borrowed amount, which can vary depending on the assets pledged. If the fair value of the collateral declines below these specified levels of the amount borrowed, United Insurance would be required to pledge additional collateral or repay outstanding borrowings. See Note 22, “Policyholder Obligations,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information about the United Insurance advances and related funding agreements.
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Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES (Continued)
Common Stock Repurchases
On May 6, 2020, Kemper’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to an additional $200.0 million of Kemper common stock, in addition to the $133.3 million remaining under a previous authorization in 2014 (the “2014 Repurchase Program”). Additionally, on August 5, 2025, Kemper’s Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase authorization, under which the Company can repurchase up to $500.0 million of its common stock (the “2025 Repurchase Program”). For the year ended December 31, 2025, the Company repurchased $301.9 million of shares of its common stock. As of December 31, 2025, the 2014 Repurchase Program has been completed and the remaining share repurchase authorization under the 2025 Repurchase Program was $304.2 million. The amount and timing of any future share repurchases under the 2025 Repurchase Program will depend on various factors, including market conditions, the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, available liquidity, particular circumstances and other considerations.
In August 2025, the Company entered into an accelerated share repurchase agreement (the “ASR agreement”) with Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC to repurchase an aggregate amount of $150.0 million of shares of the Company’s common stock. The transactions under the ASR agreement were settled and immediately retired during the third and fourth quarters of 2025.
Dividends to Shareholders
Kemper paid a quarterly dividend of $0.32 per common share for each quarter of 2025 and $0.31 per common share for each quarter of 2024, respectively. Dividends and dividend equivalents paid were $79.6 million, $80.1 million and $80.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Subsidiary Dividends and Capital Contributions
Various insurance laws restrict the ability of Kemper’s insurance subsidiaries to pay dividends without regulatory approval. Such insurance laws applicable to the Company’s US based insurance subsidiaries generally restrict the amount of dividends paid in an annual period to the greater of statutory net income from the previous year or 10% of statutory capital and surplus. Kemper’s US based insurance subsidiaries collectively paid $448.9 million, $213.3 million and $640.9 million in dividends to Kemper in 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively. As of the filing date, Kemper’s US based insurance subsidiaries capacity to pay dividends to Kemper without prior regulatory approval is estimated to be $8.6 million.
Kemper made capital contributions to consolidated insurance subsidiaries and variable interest entity of $91.4 million, $18.0 million and $489.1 million during 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Sources and Uses of Funds
The Company directly held cash and investments totaling $145.4 million at December 31, 2025, compared to $547.6 million at December 31, 2024.
The primary sources of funds available for repayment of Kemper’s indebtedness, repurchases of common stock, future shareholder dividend payments, and the payment of interest on Kemper’s senior notes, include cash and investments directly held by Kemper, receipt of dividends from Kemper’s insurance subsidiaries and borrowings under the credit agreement and from subsidiaries.
The primary sources of funds for Kemper’s insurance subsidiaries are premiums, investment income, proceeds from the sales and maturity of investments, advances from the FHLBs of Chicago and Dallas, and capital contributions from Kemper. The primary uses of funds are the payment of policyholder benefits under life insurance contracts, claims under property and casualty insurance contracts and accident and health insurance contracts, the payment of commissions and general expenses, the purchase of investments and repayments of advances from the FHLBs of Chicago and Dallas.
Generally, there is a time lag between when premiums are collected and when policyholder benefits and insurance claims are paid. During periods of growth, property and casualty insurance companies typically experience positive operating cash flows and can invest a portion of their operating cash flows to fund future policyholder benefits and claims. During periods in which premium revenues decline, insurance companies may experience negative cash flows from operations and may need to sell investments to fund payments to policyholders and claimants. In addition, if the Company’s property and casualty insurance subsidiaries experience several significant catastrophic events over a relatively short period of time, investments may be sold to fund payments, which could result in investment gains or losses. Management believes that its property and casualty insurance subsidiaries maintain adequate levels of liquidity in the event that they were to experience several future catastrophic events over a relatively short period of time.
52
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES (Continued)
Information about the Company’s cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 is presented below.
| (Dollars in Millions) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities | $ | 584.5 | $ | 382.9 | $ | (134.2) | |||||
| Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities | 336.2 | (244.4) | 107.9 | ||||||||
| Net Cash Used in Financing Activities | (860.1) | (137.2) | (122.0) |
Cash available for investment activities is dependent on cash flow from Operating Activities and Financing Activities and the level of cash the Company elects to maintain.
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities
Net cash provided by Operating Activities was $584.5 million in 2025, compared to $382.9 million provided in 2024, an increase of $201.6 million. The increase in cash provided by Operating Activities was primarily driven by growth from our Specialty Property & Casualty business due to higher average earned premiums per exposure resulting from rate increases and timing of claim payments. This was partially offset by lower business volumes and timing of claim payments within Non-Core Operations resulting from the exit and run-off of the Preferred Insurance business.
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities
Net cash provided by Investing Activities was $336.2 million in 2025, compared to $244.4 million used in in 2024, a year over year increase of $580.6 million. The increase in cash provided by Investing Activities was primarily due to proceeds from sales of short term investments that were primarily used to fund the redemption of the $450.0 million 4.350% Senior Notes due February 15, 2025 (the “2025 Senior Notes”). This was partially offset by an increase in net purchases of Fixed Maturity investments as a result of normal portfolio management.
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities
Net cash used in Financing Activities was $860.1 million in 2025, compared to $137.2 million used in 2024, an increase of $722.9 million. This increase in net cash used by Financing Activities was primarily due to the redemption of the 2025 Senior Notes in the first quarter of 2025 and common stock repurchases made during 2025.
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
Estimated cash disbursements pertaining to the Company’s contractual obligations at December 31, 2025 are presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Jan 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 to Dec 31, 2028 | Jan 1, 2029 to Dec 31, 2030 | After Dec 31, 2030 | Total | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long Term Debt Obligations | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 943.5 | $ | 943.5 | |||||||||
| Life and Health Insurance Policy Benefits | 253.5 | 489.7 | 472.6 | 8,189.3 | 9,405.1 | ||||||||||||||
| Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves | 1,631.5 | 982.0 | 270.4 | 56.4 | 2,940.3 | ||||||||||||||
| Total Contractual Obligations | $ | 1,885.0 | $ | 1,471.7 | $ | 743.0 | $ | 9,189.2 | $ | 13,288.9 |
Amounts included in Life and Health Insurance Policy Benefits within the contractual obligations table above represent the estimated cash payments to be made to policyholders and beneficiaries. Such cash outflows are based on the Company’s current assumptions for mortality, morbidity and policy lapse, but are undiscounted with respect to interest. Policies must remain in force for the policyholder or beneficiary to receive the benefit under the policy. Depending on the terms of a particular policy, future premiums from the policyholder may be required for the policy to remain in force. The Company estimates that future cash inflows would total $4.1 billion using the same assumptions used to estimate the cash outflows. The Company’s Life Insurance Reserves in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets are generally based on the historical assumptions for mortality and policy lapse rates and are on a discounted basis. Accordingly, the sum of the amounts presented above for Life and Health Insurance Policy Benefits significantly exceeds the amount of Life and Health Insurance Reserves reported on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2025.
53
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS (Continued)
In addition to the contractual obligations included above, the Company had certain investment commitments totaling $250.1 million at December 31, 2025. The funding of such investment commitments is dependent on a number of factors, the timing of which is indeterminate. The Company cannot make a reasonably reliable estimate of the amount and period of related future payments, if any, for such liability.
54
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
Kemper’s subsidiaries conduct their operations in two industries: property and casualty insurance and life insurance. Accordingly, the Company is subject to several industry-specific accounting principles under GAAP. The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The process of estimation is inherently uncertain. Accordingly, actual results could ultimately differ materially from the estimated amounts reported in a company’s financial statements. Different assumptions are likely to result in different estimates of reported amounts.
The Company’s critical accounting policies most sensitive to estimates include the valuation of investments, the valuation of life insurance reserves, the valuation of reserves for property and casualty insurance incurred losses and LAE, the assessment of recoverability of goodwill, and the recoverability of deferred tax assets.
Valuation of Investments
The reported value of the Company’s investments was $8,669.6 million at December 31, 2025, of which $7,050.2 million, or 82%, was reported at fair value, $176.0 million, or 2%, was reported under the equity method of accounting, $429.7 million, or 5%, was reported at unpaid principal balance and $1,013.7 million, or 11%, was reported at cost, modified cost or depreciated cost. Investments, in general, are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate risk, credit risk and overall market volatility risk. Accordingly, it is reasonably possible that changes in the fair values of the Company’s investments reported at fair value will occur in the near term and such changes could materially affect the amounts reported in the financial statements. Also, it is reasonably possible that changes in the carrying values of the Company’s Equity Method Limited Liability Investments will occur in the near term and such changes could materially affect the amounts reported in the financial statements because these issuers follow specialized industry accounting principles which require that they report all of their investments at fair value (See Item 1A., “Risk Factors” under the title “The Company’s investment portfolio is exposed to a variety of risks that may negatively impact net investment income and cause realized and unrealized losses”).
As more fully described under the heading, “Fair Value Measurements,” in Note 2, “Summary of Accounting Policies and Accounting Changes,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company uses a hierarchical framework which prioritizes and ranks the market observability used in fair value measurements.
The fair value of the Company’s investments measured and reported at fair value was $7,050.2 million at December 31, 2025, of which $6,496.3 million, or 92%, were investments that were based on quoted market prices or significant fair value inputs that are observable, $343.6 million, or 5%, were investments where at least one significant fair value inputs was unobservable and $210.3 million or 3% were investments for which fair value is measured using the net asset value (“NAV”) per share practical expedient. Fair value measurements based on readily available, active, quoted market prices or for which fair value can be measured from actively quoted prices generally are deemed to have a higher degree of market price observability and a lesser degree of judgment, compared to fair value measurements based on significant unobservable inputs used in measuring fair value. The prices that the Company might realize from actual sales of investments are likely to vary from their respective estimated fair values at December 31, 2025 due to changing market conditions and limitations inherent in the estimation process.
The classification of a company’s investment in a financial instrument may affect its reported results. Under GAAP, a company may elect to use the fair value option method of accounting for some or all of its investments in financial instruments. Under the fair value option method of accounting, a company is required to recognize changes in fair values into income for the period reported. The Company has elected the fair value option for investments in fixed maturities with equity conversion features. As of December 31, 2025, the Company no longer holds any investments with equity conversion features. For investments in fixed maturities classified as held to maturity, a company is required to carry the investment at amortized cost, with only amortization occurring during the period recognized into income. None of the Company’s investments in fixed maturities were classified as held to maturity at December 31, 2025. Changes in the fair value of investments in fixed maturities classified as available for sale are not recognized in income during the period, but rather are recognized as a separate component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (“AOCI”) until realized. Both the reported and fair values of the Company’s investments in fixed maturities classified as available for sale were $6,743.3 million at December 31, 2025.
Equity securities with readily determinable fair values are recorded as Equity Securities at Fair Value with changes in fair values recognized into income for the period reported. Accordingly, both the reported and fair values of the Company’s investments in Equity Securities at Fair Value were $306.4 million at December 31, 2025. The Company holds certain equity investments without readily determinable fair values at cost, less impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from
55
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES (Continued)
observable price changes in orderly transactions for identical or similar investments from the same issuer. Changes in the carrying value of Equity Securities at Modified Cost due to observable price changes are recorded into income for the period reported.
Had the Company elected the fair value option for all of its investments in financial instruments, the Company’s reported net income for the year ended December 31, 2025, would have increased by $130.3 million.
The Company regularly reviews its fixed maturity investment portfolio and holdings in Equity Securities at Modified Cost for factors that may indicate a decline in the fair value of an investment below its amortized cost or modified cost basis. Such reviews are inherently uncertain in that the value of the investment may not fully recover or may decline further in future periods. Some factors considered in evaluating whether or not a decline in fair value of an investment exist include, but are not limited to, the following:
Fixed Maturity Securities
•The financial condition, credit rating and prospects of the issuer;
•The magnitude of the unrealized loss;
•The ability of the issuer to make scheduled principal and interest payments;
•The volatility of the investment;
Equity Securities at Modified Cost
•Opinions of the Company’s external investment managers;
•The financial condition and prospects of the issuer;
•Current market conditions;
•Changes in credit ratings; and
•Changes in the regulatory environment.
Changes in these factors from their December 31, 2025 evaluation date could result in the Company determining that a decline in the fair value exists for an investment held and evaluated at December 31, 2025. Such determination would result in an impairment loss in the period such determination is made.
56
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES (Continued)
Life Insurance Reserves
Company’s Life Insurance Reserves are reported using the Company’s estimate of its liability for future policyholder benefits.
Insurance Reserves for the Company’s life & health insurance business operations were $3,287.5 million and $3,199.7 million at December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
These assumption inputs to the calculation of the liability for future policyholder benefits include mortality, lapses, and discount rates (both accretion and current). Kemper groups together policies with similar types of business for its cohorts, which typically vary by issue year. The Company’s actuaries use a variety of generally accepted actuarial methodologies, in accordance with Actuarial Standards of Practice, in determining the mortality and lapse assumptions. These assumptions are based on judgments that consider the Company’s historical experience, industry data, and other relevant factors. The Company reviews and updates its estimate of cash flows expected over the lifetime of a group of contracts using actual historical experience quarterly and current future cash flow assumptions at least annually to calculate its revised net premium ratio. The revised net premium ratios are then used to calculate an updated liability for future policyholder benefits for the current reporting period, discounted at the original contract issuance discount rate. The Company has elected to use expense assumptions that are locked in at contract inception and are not subsequently reviewed or updated. Resulting changes in the liability due to differences in actual versus expected experience, changes in current cash flow assumptions, and prefunding and payout of benefits compared to the carrying amount of the liability as of that same date are recorded as a separate component of benefit expense in the Consolidated Statements of Loss. The current discount rate assumption is an equivalent spot rate curve of annually compounded rates at monthly increments that is derived based on A-credit rated fixed-income instruments reflecting the duration characteristics of the liability. The discount rate assumption is updated quarterly and used to remeasure the liability at the reporting date, with the resulting change reflected in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
In estimating the Company’s Life Insurance Reserves, the Company’s actuaries exercise professional judgment and must consider, and are influenced by, many variables that are difficult to quantify and are estimating losses many years into the future. Accordingly, the process of estimating and establishing the Company’s Life Insurance Reserves is inherently uncertain. Certain variables, such as policyholder behavior, are difficult to estimate and can have a significant impact on reserves. Experience may develop adversely such that additional reserves must be established. Adverse experience could arise out of a number of factors, including, but not limited to, severe short-term events, such as a pandemic or changes to policyholder behavior during stressed economic periods, or due to misestimation of long-term assumptions such as mortality, interest rates and lapse assumptions. To illustrate the sensitivities of the Company’s Life Insurance Reserves to changes in interest rates, the Company assessed hypothetical changes due to parallel shifts in interest rates to reported amounts related to the Company’s Life Insurance Reserve. If interest rates decreased by 100 basis points, the Company’s liability for future policyholder benefits as of December 31, 2025 would increase by $404.4 million, and if interest rates increased by 100 basis points, the Company’s liability for future policyholder benefits as of December 31, 2025 would decrease by $316.0 million.
Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves for Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses
The Company’s Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves are reported using the Company’s estimate of its ultimate liability for losses and LAE for claims that occurred prior to the end of any given accounting period but have not yet been paid. The Company had $2,910.8 million and $2,611.9 million of gross loss and LAE reserves at December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
57
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES (Continued)
Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves for the Company’s business segments at December 31, 2025 and 2024 were:
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2025 | 2024 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Segments: | |||||||
| Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance1 | $ | 2,769.4 | $ | 2,347.9 | |||
| Life Insurance | 1.9 | 2.7 | |||||
| Total Business Segments | 2,771.3 | 2,350.6 | |||||
| Non-Core Operations | 161.9 | 261.7 | |||||
| Unallocated Reserves | 7.0 | 9.0 | |||||
| Total Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves1 | $ | 2,940.2 | $ | 2,621.3 | |||
| 1Includes $29.4 million and $9.4 million attributable to Kemper Reciprocal as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, which is reported as a consolidated variable interest entity. |
In estimating the Company’s Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves, the Company’s actuaries exercise professional judgment and must consider, many variables that are difficult to quantify. Accordingly, the process of estimating and establishing the Company’s Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves is inherently uncertain, and the actual ultimate cost of known and unknown claims may vary materially from the estimated amounts reserved.
The Company’s actuaries conduct a comprehensive quarterly loss reserve review for each product line of business based on a variety of methodologies in accordance with Actuarial Standards of Practice. A reasonable range of unpaid loss estimates is derived from, but not limited to, the following methodologies:
•Incurred Loss Development Methodology;
•Paid Loss Development Methodology;
•Bornhuetter-Ferguson Incurred Loss Methodology;
•Bornhuetter-Ferguson Paid Loss Methodology; and
•Frequency and Severity Methodology.
The actuarial best estimate for each product line of business for ultimate losses and LAE represents an expected value considering a range of reasonable outcomes. The actuarial best estimate includes an offset for expected salvage and subrogation recoveries.
The key assumption in these estimation methodologies is that patterns observed in prior periods are indicative of how losses and LAE are expected to develop in the future and that such historical data can be used to predict and estimate ultimate losses and LAE. However, changes in the Company’s business processes, by their very nature, are likely to affect the development patterns, which means the Company’s actuaries must routinely make assumptions about how changes in business practices would affect historical patterns.
The ultimate impact of a single change in a business process is difficult to quantify and detect, and even more difficult if several changes to business processes occur over several years. Initially after a change is implemented, there are fewer data points, as compared to the historical data, for the Company’s actuaries to analyze. With fewer data points to analyze, the Company’s actuaries cannot be certain that observed differences from the historical data trends are a result of the change in business process or merely a random fluctuation in the data. As the Company’s actuaries observe more data points following the change in business process, the Company’s actuaries can gain more confidence in whether the change in business process is affecting the development pattern. The challenge for the Company’s actuaries is how much weight to place on the development patterns based on the older historical data and how much weight to place on the development patterns based on more recent data.
For each accident quarter or year, the point estimate selected by the Company’s actuaries is not necessarily one of the points produced by any particular one of the methodologies utilized, but often is another point selected by the Company’s actuaries, using their professional judgment, that takes into consideration each of the points produced by the several loss reserving estimation methodologies used. In some cases, for a particular product, the current accident quarter or year may not have enough paid claims data to rely upon, leading the Company’s actuaries to conclude that the incurred loss development methodology provides a better estimate than the paid loss development methodology. Therefore, the Company’s actuaries may give more weight to the incurred loss development methodology for that particular accident quarter or year. As an accident quarter or year ages for that same product, the actuary may gain more confidence in the paid loss development methodology and begin to give more weight to the paid loss development methodology. The Company’s actuaries’ quarterly selections are
58
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES (Continued)
summed by product and/or coverage levels to create the actuarial indication of the ultimate losses. More often than not, the actuarial indication for a particular product line and accident quarter or year is most heavily weighted toward the incurred loss development methodology, particularly for short-tail lines such as personal automobile insurance. Historically, the incurred loss development methodology has been more reliable in predicting ultimate losses for short-tail lines, especially in the more recent accident quarters or years, compared with the paid loss development methodology. However, in some circumstances changes can occur which impact numerous variables, including, but not limited to, those variables identified below that are difficult to quantify and/or impact the predictive value of prior development patterns relied upon in the incurred loss development methodology and paid loss development methodology. In those circumstances, the Company’s actuaries must make adjustments to these loss reserving estimation methodologies or use additional generally accepted actuarial estimation methodologies. In those circumstances, the Company’s actuaries, using their professional judgment, may place more weight on the adjusted loss reserving estimation methodologies or other generally accepted actuarial estimation methodologies until the newer development patterns fully emerge and the Company’s actuaries can fully rely on the unadjusted loss reserving estimation methodologies. In the event of a wide variation among results generated by the different projection methodologies, the Company’s actuaries further analyze the data using additional techniques.
Subrogation & salvage recoveries, which predominately impact the material damage coverages, are independently evaluated each quarter using generally accepted actuarial methodologies. Since claim adjusters do not establish case reserves for potential recoveries the methodologies use paid/recovered amounts. Once this is completed, it is combined with the ultimate gross loss and LAE analyses.
In estimating reserves, the Company’s actuaries exercise professional judgment and must consider, and are influenced by, many variables that are difficult to quantify, such as:
•Changes in the level of minimum case reserves, and the automatic aging of those minimum case reserves;
•Changes to claims practices, including, but not limited to, changes in the reporting and impact of large losses, timing of reported claims, changes in claims closing and re-opening patterns, adequacy of case reserves.
•Implementation of new systems for handling claims, turnover of claims department staffs, timing and depth of the audit review of claims handling procedures;
•Changes in the mix of business by state, class and policy limit within product line;
•Growth in new lines of business;
•Changes in the attachment points of the Company’s reinsurance programs;
•Medical costs, including, but not limited to, the ability to assess the extent of injuries and the impact of inflation;
•Repair costs, including, but not limited to, the impact of inflation and the availability of labor and materials;
•Changes in the judicial environment, including, but not limited to, the interpretation of policy provisions, the impact of jury awards and changes in case law; and
•Changes in state regulatory requirements.
A change in any one or more of the foregoing factors is likely to result in a projected ultimate net loss and LAE that is different from the previously estimated reserve and/or previous frequency and severity trends. Such changes in estimates may be material. For example, the Company’s actuaries review frequency (number of claims per policy or exposure), severity (dollars of loss per claim) and average premium (dollars of premium per exposure). Actual frequency and severity experienced will vary depending on changes in mix by class of insured risk. Similarly, the actual frequency and rate of recovery from reinsurance will vary depending on changes in the attachment point for reinsurance. In particular, in periods of high growth or expansion into new markets, there may be additional uncertainty in estimating the ultimate losses and LAE. The contributing factors of this potential risk are changes in the Company’s mix by policy limit and mix of business by state or jurisdiction.
Actuaries use historical experience and trends as predictors of how losses and LAE will emerge over time. However, historical experience may not necessarily be indicative of how actual losses and LAE will emerge. Changes in case reserve adequacy, changes in minimum case reserves and changes in internal claims handling procedures could impact the timing and recognition of incurred claims and produce an estimate that is either too high or too low if not adjusted for by the actuary. For example, if, due to changes in claims handling procedures, actual claims are settled more rapidly than they were settled historically, the estimate produced by the paid loss development methodology would tend to be overstated if the actuary did not identify and adjust for the impact of the changes in claims handling procedures. Similarly, if, due to changes in claims handling procedures, actual claim reserves are set at levels higher than past experience, the estimate produced by the incurred loss development methodology would tend to be overstated if the actuary did not identify and adjust for the impact of the changes in claims handling procedures.
59
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES (Continued)
The final step in the quarterly loss and LAE reserving process involves a comprehensive review of the actuarial indications by the Company’s chief reserving actuary and corporate management who apply their collective judgment and determine the appropriate estimated level of reserves to record. Numerous factors are considered in this determination process, including, but not limited to, the assessed reliability of key loss trends and assumptions that may be significantly influencing the current actuarial indications, changes in claim handling practices or other changes that affect the timing of payment or development patterns, changes in the mix of business, the maturity of the accident quarter or year, pertinent trends observed over the recent past, the level of volatility within a particular line of business, the improvement or deterioration of actuarial indications in the current period as compared to prior periods, and the amount of reserves related to third party pools for which the Company does not have access to the underlying data and, accordingly, relies on calculations provided by such pools.
The Company’s goal is to ensure that its total reserves for property and casualty insurance losses and LAE are adequate to cover all costs, while sustaining minimal variation from the time reserves for losses and LAE are initially estimated until losses and LAE are fully paid. Changes in the Company’s estimates of these losses and LAE over time, also referred to as “development,” will occur and may be material. Favorable development is recognized and reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements when the Company decreases its previous estimate of ultimate losses and LAE and results in an increase in net income in the period recognized, whereas adverse development is recognized and reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements when the Company increases its previous estimate of ultimate losses and LAE and results in a decrease in net income.
Although development will emerge in all of the Company’s product lines, development in the Company’s specialty personal automobile insurance product line could have the most significant impact due to the relative size of its loss and LAE reserves. To further illustrate the sensitivity of the Company’s reserves for specialty personal automobile insurance losses and LAE, the Company measures the standard deviation of the mean reserve estimate using a bootstrapping methodology. The Company believes that one standard deviation of variability is a reasonably likely scenario to measure variability for its loss and LAE reserves for specialty personal automobile insurance. The Company estimates that its specialty personal automobile insurance loss and LAE reserves could have varied by $50.4 million in either direction at December 31, 2025 for all accident years combined under this scenario. In addition to the factors described above, other factors may also impact loss reserve development in future periods. These factors include governmental actions, including court decisions interpreting existing laws, regulations or policy provisions, developments related to insurance policy claims and coverage issues, adverse or favorable outcomes in pending claims litigation, the number and severity of insurance claims, the impact of inflation on insurance claims and the impact of required participation in wind pools and joint underwriting associations and residual market assessments.
Although the Company’s actuaries do not make specific numerical assumptions about these factors, changes in these factors from past patterns will impact historical loss development factors and, in turn, future loss reserve development. Significant favorable changes in one or more factors will lead to favorable future loss reserve development, which could result in the actual loss developing closer to, or even below, the lower end of the Company’s estimated reserve variability. Significant unfavorable changes in one or more factors will lead to unfavorable loss reserve development, which could result in the actual loss developing closer to, or even above, the higher end of the Company’s estimated reserve variability. Accordingly, due to these factors and the other factors enumerated throughout the MD&A and the inherent limitations of the loss reserving estimation methodologies, the estimated and illustrated reserve variability may not necessarily be indicative of the Company’s future reserve variability, which could ultimately be greater than the estimated and illustrated variability. In addition, as previously noted, development will emerge in all of the Company’s product lines over time. Accordingly, the Company’s future reserve variability could ultimately be greater than the illustrated variability. Additional information pertaining to the estimation of, and development of, the Company’s Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves is contained in Item 1 of Part I of this 2025 Annual Report under the heading “Property and Casualty Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves.”
Goodwill Recoverability
The Company tests goodwill for recoverability at the reporting unit level on an annual basis, or whenever events or circumstances indicate the fair value of a reporting unit may have declined below its carrying value.
During the second quarter of 2023, the Company identified impairment indicators impacting the fair value of the Preferred Property & Casualty Insurance business in connection with ongoing evaluation of strategic alternatives for the Preferred Insurance business. As a result, the business’s fair value was determined using a combination of available market information, market comparisons and a discounted cash flow valuation method based on the present value of future earnings. The fair value calculated in the second quarter of 2023 was lower than the carrying value of the business, resulting in a pre-tax impairment
60
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES (Continued)
charge of $49.6 million and an after-tax impairment charge of $45.5 million. See Note 14, “Goodwill and Intangibles,” for more information.
The Company tests goodwill for recoverability at the reporting unit level on an annual basis, or whenever events or circumstances indicate the fair value of a reporting unit may have declined below its carrying value. The Company performed a quantitative goodwill impairment assessment for all reporting units with goodwill as of October 1, 2025. The quantitative assessment compares the estimated fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying value to determine if there is an impairment of goodwill. Estimating the fair value of a reporting unit is judgmental in nature and involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions by the Company. The estimates and assumptions included, but were not limited to, projections of future cash flows, operating results, discount rates, investment yields and market conditions. Such projections are inherently uncertain and, accordingly, actual future results may differ materially from the Company’s projections. For each reporting unit tested, the estimated fair value exceeded the carrying value of the reporting unit, and the Company concluded that the associated goodwill was recoverable. See Note 14, “Goodwill and Intangibles,” for more information.
Recoverability of Deferred Tax Assets
The evaluation of the recoverability of deferred tax assets and the need for a valuation allowance requires the Company to weigh all positive and negative evidence to reach a conclusion whether it is more likely than not that all or some portion of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. The weight given to the evidence is commensurate with the extent to which it can be objectively verified. The more negative evidence that exists, the more positive evidence is necessary and the more difficult it is to support a conclusion that a valuation allowance is not needed.
When making such determination, the Company considers various factors, including:
•the nature, frequency, and amount of cumulative financial reporting income and losses in recent years;
•the jurisdiction in which the deferred tax asset was generated;
•the length of time that carryforward can be utilized in the relevant taxing jurisdictions;
•future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences and carryforwards;
•future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences;
•taxable income in prior carryback years; and
•availability of tax planning strategies.
As a result of the analysis, the Company determined that a valuation allowance was required as of December 31, 2025 against certain foreign deferred tax assets which had been recorded during 2025.
RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
Except for rules and interpretive releases of the SEC under authority of federal securities laws and a limited number of grandfathered standards, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) is the sole source of authoritative GAAP recognized by the FASB that is applicable to the Company. The FASB issues Accounting Standards Updates (“ASUs”) to amend the authoritative literature in the FASB ASC.
The Company has adopted all recently issued accounting pronouncements with effective dates prior to January 1, 2026. See Note 2, “Summary of Accounting Policies and Accounting Changes” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for discussion on adoption of these ASUs and impacts to the Company’s financial statements. For all recently issued accounting pronouncements with effective dates after December 31, 2025, the Company is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on its financial statements.
61
MD&A history
Prior-year 10-K MD&A spans are extracted from SEC filings with the same bounded parser used for the latest filing. The latest 10-K appears above; prior years are below.
FY 2024 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0000860748-25-000053.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations
| Non-GAAP Financial Measures | 31 |
|---|---|
| Summary of Results | 32 |
| Catastrophes | 34 |
| Loss and LAE Reserve Development | 35 |
| Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance | 37 |
| Life Insurance | 42 |
| Investment Results | 43 |
| Investment Quality and Concentrations | 46 |
| Investments in Limited Liability Companies and Limited Partnerships | 49 |
| Insurance, Interest and Other Expenses | 50 |
| Income Taxes | 51 |
| Liquidity and Capital Resources | 51 |
| Contractual Obligations | 54 |
| Critical Accounting Estimates | 55 |
| Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements | 61 |
30
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC, the Company is required to file consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). The Company is permitted to include non-GAAP financial measures in its filings provided that they are defined along with an explanation of their usefulness to investors, are no more prominent than the comparable GAAP financial measures and are reconciled to such GAAP financial measures.
In this report, the Company presents certain measures of its performance on a consolidated and segment basis that are not calculated in accordance with GAAP. We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures enhance the understanding for the Company and our investors of our performance by highlighting the results of operations and the underlying profitability drivers of our business. Segment-specific financial measures are calculated using only the portion of consolidated results attributable to that specific segment.
These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered a substitute for the comparable GAAP financial measures, as they do not fully recognize the overall profitability of the Company’s businesses.
Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Income (Loss)
The Company believes that the non-GAAP financial measure of Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Income (Loss) provides investors with a valuable measure of its ongoing performance because it reveals underlying operational performance trends that otherwise might be less apparent if the items were not excluded. The most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is Net Income (Loss) attributable to Kemper Corporation.
Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Income (Loss) is an after-tax, non-GAAP financial measure and is computed by excluding from Net Income (Loss) attributable to Kemper Corporation the after-tax impact of:
(i) Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities;
(ii) Net Realized Investment Gains (Losses);
(iii) Impairment Losses;
(iv) Acquisition and Disposition Related Transaction, Integration, Restructuring and Other Costs;
(v) Debt Extinguishment, Pension Settlement and Other Charges;
(vi) Goodwill Impairment Charges;
(vii) Non-Core Operations; and
(viii) Significant non-recurring or infrequent items that may not be indicative of ongoing operations
Significant non-recurring items are excluded when (a) the nature of the charge or gain is such that it is reasonably unlikely to recur within two years, and (b) there has been no similar charge or gain within the prior two years. There were no applicable significant non-recurring items that the Company excluded from the calculation of Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Income (Loss) for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 or 2022.
Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities, Net Realized Investment Gains (Losses) and Impairment Losses related to investments included in the Company’s results may vary significantly between periods and are generally driven by business decisions and external economic developments such as capital market conditions that impact the values of the Company’s investments, the timing of which is unrelated to the insurance underwriting process. Acquisition and Disposition Related Transaction Costs, Integration Costs, and Restructuring and Other Costs may vary significantly between periods and are generally driven by the timing of acquisitions and business decisions which are unrelated to the insurance underwriting process. Debt Extinguishment, Pension Settlement and Other Charges relate to (i) loss from early extinguishment of debt, which is driven by the Company’s financing and refinancing decisions and capital needs, as well as external economic developments such as debt market conditions, the timing of which is unrelated to the insurance underwriting process; (ii) settlement of pension plan obligations which are business decisions made by the Company, the timing of which is unrelated to the underwriting process; and (iii) other charges that are non-standard, not part of the ordinary course of business, and unrelated to the insurance underwriting process. Goodwill Impairment Charges are excluded because they are infrequent and non-recurring charges. Non-Core Operations includes the results of our Preferred Insurance business which we expect to fully exit. These
31
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (Continued)
results are excluded because they are irrelevant to our ongoing operations and do not qualify for Discontinued Operations under GAAP. Significant non-recurring items are excluded because, by their nature, they are not indicative of the Company’s business or economic trends.
Underlying Losses and Loss Adjustment Expense (“LAE”) and Underlying Combined Ratio
The following discussion of segment results uses the non-GAAP financial measures of (i) Underlying Losses and LAE and (ii) Underlying Combined Ratio. Underlying Losses and LAE (also referred to in the discussion as “Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE”) exclude the impact of catastrophe losses and loss and LAE reserve development from prior years from the Company’s Incurred Losses and LAE, which is the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.
The Underlying Combined Ratio is computed by adding the Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio with the Insurance Expense Ratio. The most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is the Combined Ratio, which is computed by adding Total Incurred Losses and LAE Ratio, including the impact of catastrophe losses and loss and LAE reserve development from prior years, with the Insurance Expense Ratio.
The Company believes Underlying Losses and LAE and the Underlying Combined Ratio are useful to investors and uses these financial measures to reveal the trends in the Company’s Property & Casualty Insurance segment that may be obscured by catastrophe losses and prior-year reserve development. These catastrophe losses may cause the Company’s loss trends to vary significantly between periods as a result of their incidence of occurrence and magnitude and can have a significant impact on incurred losses and LAE and the Combined Ratio. Prior-year reserve developments are caused by unexpected loss development on historical reserves. Because reserve development relates to the re-estimation of losses from earlier periods, it has no bearing on the performance of the Company’s insurance products in the current period. The Company believes it is useful for investors to evaluate these components separately and in the aggregate when reviewing the Company’s underwriting performance.
The preceding non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered a substitute for the comparable GAAP financial measures, as they do not fully recognize the overall profitability of the Company’s businesses.
SUMMARY OF RESULTS
Net Income attributable to Kemper Corporation was $317.8 million ($4.95 per unrestricted common share) for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to Net Loss attributable to Kemper Corporation of $272.1 million ($(4.25) per unrestricted common share) for the year ended December 31, 2023.
32
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
SUMMARY OF RESULTS (Continued)
A reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) attributable to Kemper Corporation to Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Income (Loss) (a non-GAAP financial measure) for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2024 | 2023 | Changefrom 2023to 2024 | 2022 | Change from 2022to 2023 | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net Income (Loss) attributable to Kemper Corporation | $ | 317.8 | $ | (272.1) | $ | 589.9 | $ | (286.6) | $ | 14.5 | |||||||||
| Less: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities | $ | (2.1) | $ | 3.7 | $ | (5.8) | $ | (63.1) | $ | 66.8 | |||||||||
| Net Realized Investment Gains (Losses) | 10.4 | (14.7) | 25.1 | 3.4 | (18.1) | ||||||||||||||
| Impairment Losses | (4.6) | (0.9) | (3.7) | (20.4) | 19.5 | ||||||||||||||
| Acquisition and Disposition Related Transaction, Integration, Restructuring and Other Costs | (31.8) | (95.0) | 63.2 | (61.3) | (33.7) | ||||||||||||||
| Debt Extinguishment, Pension Settlement and OtherCharges | (7.4) | (55.5) | 48.1 | (2.9) | (52.6) | ||||||||||||||
| Goodwill Impairment Charge | — | (45.5) | 45.5 | — | (45.5) | ||||||||||||||
| Non-Core Operations | (28.2) | (17.0) | (11.2) | (25.9) | 8.9 | ||||||||||||||
| Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Income (Loss) | $ | 381.5 | $ | (47.2) | $ | 428.7 | $ | (116.4) | $ | 69.2 | |||||||||
| Components of Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Income (Loss): | |||||||||||||||||||
| Segment Adjusted Net Operating Income (Loss): | |||||||||||||||||||
| Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance | $ | 376.3 | $ | (57.1) | $ | 433.4 | $ | (147.4) | $ | 90.3 | |||||||||
| Life Insurance | 50.2 | 51.8 | (1.6) | 68.8 | (17.0) | ||||||||||||||
| Total Segment Adjusted Net Operating Income (Loss) | 426.5 | (5.3) | 431.8 | (78.6) | 73.3 | ||||||||||||||
| Corporate and Other Adjusted Net Operating Loss | (50.3) | (42.1) | (8.2) | (37.8) | (4.3) | ||||||||||||||
| Less: Net Loss attributable to Noncontrolling Interest | (5.3) | (0.2) | (5.1) | — | (0.2) | ||||||||||||||
| Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Income (Loss) | $ | 381.5 | $ | (47.2) | $ | 428.7 | $ | (116.4) | $ | 69.2 |
Net Income (Loss) attributable to Kemper Corporation
2024 Compared with 2023
Net Income (Loss) attributable to Kemper Corporation increased by $589.9 million in 2024, compared to 2023, due primarily to higher Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Income and lower Acquisition and Disposition Related Transaction, Integration, Restructuring and Other Costs from the completion of certain strategic initiatives and lower costs in connection with the 2023 cost structure optimization initiatives. The increase was also due to the absence of a $55.5 million after-tax noncash charge related to the settlement of the Company’s pension obligations recorded in 2023, and the absence of a $45.5 million after-tax charge from the impairment of the goodwill asset related to the Preferred Property & Casualty Insurance business that was also recorded in 2023.
Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Income (Loss) increased by $428.7 million in 2024, compared to 2023, due primarily to an improvement in the Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance segment profitability driven by higher average earned premiums per exposure resulting from rate increases, lower underlying claim frequency, and lower adverse prior year development.
The loss from Non-Core Operations increased by $11.2 million in 2024, compared to 2023, primarily due to reduced earned premiums during the run-off period and increasing claim severity, partially offset by reduced claim frequency and increased average earned premium as a result of rate increases.
Corporate and Other Adjusted Net Operating Loss increased $8.2 million in 2024, compared to 2023, due primarily to increased overhead expenses, partially offset by increased investment income.
33
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
SUMMARY OF RESULTS (Continued)
Revenues
2024 Compared with 2023
Total Revenues decreased by $305.6 million to $4,638.6 million in 2024, compared to $4,944.2 million in 2023. The decrease was primarily driven by a reduction in earned premiums.
Earned Premiums decreased by $313.5 million to $4,215.9 million in 2024, compared to $4,529.4 million in 2023, primarily driven by a $263.7 million reduction from our Non-Core Operations, due primarily to lower volumes resulting from the exit and run-off of the Preferred Insurance business. The decrease was also due to $56.1 million lower earned premiums from the Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance segment due to lower average business volumes resulting from targeted actions to improve profitability, partially offset by higher average earned premium per exposure resulting from rate increases.
Net Investment Income decreased by $12.2 million in 2024, compared to 2023, mostly driven by lower earnings from equity method investments, which included a $15.1 million loss from an investment valuation adjustment of one real estate investment in our alternative investment portfolio, and lower levels of fixed income securities, partially offset by higher levels of Short-term Investments.
Net Realized Investment Gains (Losses) increased by $31.8 million in 2024, compared to 2023, due primarily to the absence of net realized losses on ultra-long treasury future derivative transactions recorded in 2023 and increased gains on sales of fixed maturity investments.
CATASTROPHES
Catastrophes and natural disasters are inherent risks of the property and casualty insurance business. These catastrophic events and natural disasters include, without limitation, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, hailstorms, wildfires, high winds and winter storms. Such events result in insured losses that are and may be a material factor in the results of operations and financial position of the Company’s property and casualty insurance companies. Further, because the level of these insured losses occurring in any one year cannot be accurately predicted, these losses may contribute to material year-to-year fluctuations in the results of operations and financial position of these companies. Specific types of catastrophic events are more likely to occur at certain times within the year than others. This factor adds an element of seasonality to property and casualty insurance claims. The Company has adopted the industry-wide catastrophe classifications of storms and other events promulgated by ISO to track and report losses related to catastrophes. ISO classifies a disaster as a catastrophe when the event causes $25.0 million or more in direct insured losses to property and affects a significant number of policyholders and insurers. ISO-classified catastrophes are assigned a unique serial number recognized throughout the insurance industry.
34
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
CATASTROPHES (Continued)
The number of ISO-classified catastrophic events and catastrophe losses and LAE, net of reinsurance recoveries, (excluding loss and LAE reserve development) by range of loss and business segment for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 are presented below.
| Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 31, 2024 | Dec 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Number of Events | Losses and LAE | Number of Events | Losses and LAE | Number of Events | Losses and LAE | ||||||||||||||
| Range of Losses and LAE Per Event: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Below $5 | 69 | $ | 47.7 | 68 | $ | 77.7 | 59 | $ | 54.6 | |||||||||||
| $5 - $10 | 3 | 17.6 | 3 | 19.0 | 2 | 10.2 | ||||||||||||||
| $10 - $15 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 14.5 | ||||||||||||||
| $15 - $20 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| $20 - $25 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| Greater Than $25 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| Total | 72 | $ | 65.3 | 71 | $ | 96.7 | 62 | $ | 79.3 | |||||||||||
| Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance | $ | 19.9 | $ | 34.5 | $ | 23.0 | ||||||||||||||
| Life Insurance | 2.2 | 2.2 | 1.8 | |||||||||||||||||
| Non-Core Operations | 43.2 | 60.0 | 54.5 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Catastrophe Losses and LAE | $ | 65.3 | $ | 96.7 | $ | 79.3 |
Catastrophe Reinsurance
The Company primarily manages its exposure to catastrophes and other natural disasters through a combination of geographical diversification, restrictions on the amount and location of new business production in such regions, modifications of, and/or limitations to coverages and deductibles for certain perils in such regions and a catastrophe reinsurance program for the Company’s Property & Casualty Insurance business. Coverage under the catastrophe reinsurance program is provided in various contracts and layers. The Company’s Property & Casualty Insurance business also purchase reinsurance from the FHCF for hurricane losses in Florida at retentions lower than its catastrophe reinsurance program.
The Company had no material recoveries under its catastrophe reinsurance treaties for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022. See the “Reinsurance” subsection of the “Property and Casualty Insurance Business” and “Life Insurance Business” sections of Item 1(c), “Description of Business,” and Note 26, “Catastrophe Reinsurance,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on the Company’s reinsurance programs.
LOSS AND LAE RESERVE DEVELOPMENT
Increases (decreases) in the Company’s property and casualty loss and LAE reserves for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 to recognize adverse (favorable) loss and LAE reserve development from prior accident years in continuing operations, hereinafter also referred to as “reserve development” in the discussion of segment results, are presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Increase (Decrease) in Total Loss and LAE Reserves Related to Prior Years: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe | $ | 23.8 | $ | 168.9 | $ | (10.5) | |||||
| Catastrophe | 6.0 | (9.1) | (4.1) | ||||||||
| Increase (Decrease) in Total Loss and LAE Reserves Related to Prior Years | $ | 29.8 | $ | 159.8 | $ | (14.6) |
35
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
LOSS AND LAE RESERVE DEVELOPMENT (Continued)
See MD&A, “Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance,” MD&A, “Life Insurance,” and Note 6, “Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on the Company’s reserve development. See MD&A, “Critical Accounting Estimates,” of this 2024 Annual Report for additional information pertaining to the Company’s process of estimating property and casualty insurance reserves for losses and LAE, and the estimated variability thereof, development of property and casualty insurance losses and LAE, and a discussion of some of the variables that may impact them.
36
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
SPECIALTY PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE
Selected financial information for the Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance segment is presented below.
| (Dollars in Millions) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net Premiums Written | $ | 3,685.4 | $ | 3,305.4 | $ | 3,934.4 | |||||
| Earned Premiums | $ | 3,576.4 | $ | 3,632.5 | $ | 4,046.4 | |||||
| Net Investment Income | 189.6 | 168.3 | 140.7 | ||||||||
| Change in Value of Alternative Energy Partnership Investments | 1.4 | 1.6 | (9.9) | ||||||||
| Other Income | 4.7 | 4.5 | 6.0 | ||||||||
| Total Revenues | 3,772.1 | 3,806.9 | 4,183.2 | ||||||||
| Incurred Losses and LAE related to: | |||||||||||
| Current Year: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | 2,514.8 | 2,974.5 | 3,569.2 | ||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | 19.9 | 34.5 | 23.0 | ||||||||
| Prior Years: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | 6.3 | 135.2 | (14.6) | ||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | 0.7 | (2.3) | 0.6 | ||||||||
| Total Incurred Losses and LAE | 2,541.7 | 3,141.9 | 3,578.2 | ||||||||
| Insurance Expenses | 759.5 | 741.3 | 801.9 | ||||||||
| Segment Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) | 470.9 | (76.3) | (196.9) | ||||||||
| Income Tax Expense (Benefit) | 94.6 | (19.2) | (49.5) | ||||||||
| Total Segment Adjusted Net Operating Income (Loss) | $ | 376.3 | $ | (57.1) | $ | (147.4) | |||||
| Ratios Based On Earned Premiums | |||||||||||
| Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 70.3 | % | 82.0 | % | 88.2 | % | |||||
| Current Year Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.6 | ||||||||
| Prior Years Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 0.2 | 3.7 | (0.4) | ||||||||
| Prior Years Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | — | (0.1) | — | ||||||||
| Total Incurred Loss and LAE Ratio | 71.1 | 86.5 | 88.4 | ||||||||
| Insurance Expense Ratio | 21.2 | 20.4 | 19.8 | ||||||||
| Combined Ratio | 92.3 | % | 106.9 | % | 108.2 | % | |||||
| Underlying Combined Ratio | |||||||||||
| Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 70.3 | % | 82.0 | % | 88.2 | % | |||||
| Insurance Expense Ratio | 21.2 | 20.4 | 19.8 | ||||||||
| Underlying Combined Ratio | 91.5 | % | 102.4 | % | 108.0 | % | |||||
| Non-GAAP Measure Reconciliation | |||||||||||
| Combined Ratio | 92.3 | % | 106.9 | % | 108.2 | % | |||||
| Less: | |||||||||||
| Current Year Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.6 | ||||||||
| Prior Years Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 0.2 | 3.7 | (0.4) | ||||||||
| Prior Years Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | — | (0.1) | — | ||||||||
| Underlying Combined Ratio | 91.5 | % | 102.4 | % | 108.0 | % |
37
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
SPECIALTY PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE (Continued)
INSURANCE RESERVES
| (Dollars in Millions) | Dec 31, 2024 | Dec 31, 2023 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance Reserves: | |||||||
| Personal Automobile | $ | 1,626.0 | $ | 1,711.9 | |||
| Commercial Automobile | 721.9 | 596.8 | |||||
| Total Insurance Reserves | $ | 2,347.9 | $ | 2,308.7 | |||
| Insurance Reserves: | |||||||
| Loss and Allocated LAE Reserves: | |||||||
| Case and Allocated LAE | $ | 921.8 | $ | 999.9 | |||
| Incurred But Not Reported | 1,250.6 | 1,132.8 | |||||
| Total Loss and LAE Reserves | 2,172.4 | 2,132.7 | |||||
| Unallocated LAE Reserves | 175.5 | 176.0 | |||||
| Total Insurance Reserves1 | $ | 2,347.9 | $ | 2,308.7 | |||
| 1Includes $9.4 million attributable to Kemper Reciprocal as of December 31, 2024, which is reported as a consolidated variable interest entity. |
See MD&A, “Critical Accounting Estimates,” under the caption “Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves for Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses” for additional information pertaining to the Company’s process of estimating property and casualty insurance reserves for losses and LAE, development of property and casualty insurance losses and LAE from prior accident years, also referred to as “reserve development” in the discussion of segment results, estimated variability of property and casualty insurance reserves for losses and LAE, and a discussion of some of the variables that may impact development of property and casualty insurance losses and LAE and the estimated variability of property and casualty insurance reserves for losses and LAE.
Overall
2024 Compared with 2023
The Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance segment reported Total Segment Adjusted Net Operating Income of $376.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to Total Segment Adjusted Net Operating Loss of $57.1 million in 2023. Segment adjusted net operating results improved by $433.4 million that included a $375.5 million and $57.9 million increase from personal automobile and commercial vehicle insurance, respectively, due primarily to higher average earned premiums per exposure resulting from rate increases, lower underlying claim frequency, and lower adverse prior year development.
Earned Premiums in the Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance segment decreased by $56.1 million in 2024, compared to 2023, due to lower average business volumes resulting from targeted actions to improve profitability, partially offset by higher average earned premium per exposure resulting from rate increases.
Net Investment Income in the Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance segment increased by $21.3 million in 2024, compared to 2023, due primarily to higher levels of Fixed Income Securities, higher rates earned on and level of Short-term investments and Company-Owned Life Insurance.
Incurred Loss and LAE were $2,541.7 million or 71.1% of earned premiums for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to $3,141.9 million or 86.5% of earned premiums, in 2023. Incurred losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums decreased primarily due to an improvement in the underlying loss and LAE ratio, lower adverse prior year development and lower catastrophe losses. Underlying losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums were 70.3% in 2024, an improvement of 11.7 percentage points, compared to 2023, driven by higher average earned premium per exposure (21.7% increase year over year) resulting from rate increases and lower underlying claims frequency, partially offset by higher claims average severity. Underlying losses and LAE exclude the impact of catastrophes and loss and LAE reserve development. Adverse loss and LAE reserve development (including catastrophe reserve development) was $7.0 million for 2024 compared to adverse development of $132.9 million for 2023 due primarily to normalization in loss patterns within personal injury protection, physical damage,
38
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
SPECIALTY PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE (Continued)
and bodily injury coverages. Catastrophe losses and LAE (excluding reserve development) were $19.9 million for 2024 compared to $34.5 million for 2023, a decrease of $14.6 million due to lower average severity per catastrophe event.
Insurance Expenses were $759.5 million, or 21.2% of earned premiums, for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $741.3 million, or 20.4% of earned premiums in 2023. Insurance Expenses increased $18.2 million due to higher volume-related expenses associated with increased new business volumes. As a percentage of earned premiums, Insurance Expenses increased 0.8% as expense increases outpaced earned premium growth.
The Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance segment’s 2024 effective tax rate was 20.1%, compared to 25.3% in 2023. The effective income tax rate for 2024 and 2023 differs from the federal statutory income tax rate primarily due to investments in Company-Owned Life Insurance, Tax-Exempt Investment Income and Dividends Received Deductions. The change in the effective tax rate from 2023 is driven by an increased benefit from Company-Owned Life Insurance.
39
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
SPECIALTY PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE (Continued)
Specialty Personal Automobile Insurance
Selected financial information for the specialty personal automobile insurance product line for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022 is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net Premiums Written | $ | 2,887.7 | $ | 2,677.5 | $ | 3,305.1 | |||||||||
| Earned Premiums | $ | 2,851.4 | $ | 2,977.8 | $ | 3,496.7 | |||||||||
| Incurred Losses and LAE related to: | |||||||||||||||
| Current Year: | |||||||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | $ | 1,984.7 | $ | 2,464.0 | $ | 3,153.9 | |||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | 14.5 | 29.6 | 20.7 | ||||||||||||
| Prior Years: | |||||||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | (0.9) | 111.0 | (18.1) | ||||||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | 0.7 | (2.3) | 0.5 | ||||||||||||
| Total Incurred Losses and LAE | $ | 1,999.0 | $ | 2,602.3 | $ | 3,157.0 | |||||||||
| Ratios Based On Earned Premiums | |||||||||||||||
| Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 69.6 | % | 82.8 | % | 90.2 | % | |||||||||
| Current Year Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.6 | ||||||||||||
| Prior Years Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | — | 3.7 | (0.5) | ||||||||||||
| Prior Years Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | — | (0.1) | — | ||||||||||||
| Total Incurred Loss and LAE Ratio | 70.1 | % | 87.4 | % | 90.3 | % | |||||||||
| Insurance Expense Ratio | 21.8 | % | 21.0 | % | 20.1 | % | |||||||||
| Combined Ratio | 91.9 | % | 108.4 | % | 110.4 | % | |||||||||
| Underlying Combined Ratio | |||||||||||||||
| Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 69.6 | % | 82.8 | % | 90.2 | % | |||||||||
| Insurance Expense Ratio | 21.8 | % | 21.0 | % | 20.1 | % | |||||||||
| Underlying Combined Ratio | 91.4 | % | 103.8 | % | 110.3 | % | |||||||||
| Non-GAAP Measure Reconciliation | |||||||||||||||
| Combined Ratio as Reported | 91.9 | % | 108.4 | % | 110.4 | % | |||||||||
| Less: | |||||||||||||||
| Current Year Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 0.5 | % | 1.0 | % | 0.6 | % | |||||||||
| Prior Years Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | — | % | 3.7 | % | (0.5) | % | |||||||||
| Prior Years Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | — | % | (0.1) | % | — | % | |||||||||
| Underlying Combined Ratio | 91.4 | % | 103.8 | % | 110.3 | % |
2024 Compared with 2023
Earned Premiums in personal automobile insurance decreased by $126.4 million in 2024, compared to 2023, due to lower average business volumes driven by targeted pricing and underwriting actions to improve profitability, partially offset by higher average earned premium per exposure resulting from rate increases. Incurred losses and LAE were $1,999.0 million, or 70.1% of earned premiums, in 2024, compared to $2,602.3 million, or 87.4% of earned premiums, in 2023. Incurred losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums decreased primarily due to an improvement in the underlying loss and LAE ratio, lower adverse prior year development, and lower catastrophe losses. Underlying losses and LAE as a percentage of related earned premiums were 69.6% in 2024, compared to 82.8% in 2023, an improvement of 13.2 percentage points driven by higher average earned premiums per exposure resulting from rate increases and a lower frequency of claims, partially offset by higher claims average severity trends. Favorable loss and LAE reserve development was $0.2 million in 2024, compared to adverse loss and LAE reserve developments of $108.7 million in 2023, an improvement of $108.9 million due primarily to stabilization
40
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
SPECIALTY PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE (Continued)
of loss patterns. Catastrophe losses and LAE (excluding reserve development) were $14.5 million in 2024 compared to $29.6 million in 2023, an improvement of $15.1 million mainly due to lower average severity per catastrophe event.
Commercial Automobile Insurance
Selected financial information for the commercial automobile insurance product line is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net Premiums Written | $ | 797.7 | $ | 627.9 | $ | 629.3 | |||||
| Earned Premiums | $ | 725.0 | $ | 654.7 | $ | 549.7 | |||||
| Incurred Losses and LAE related to: | |||||||||||
| Current Year: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | $ | 530.1 | $ | 510.5 | $ | 415.3 | |||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | 5.4 | 4.9 | 2.3 | ||||||||
| Prior Years: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | 7.2 | 24.2 | 3.5 | ||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | — | — | 0.1 | ||||||||
| Total Incurred Losses and LAE | $ | 542.7 | $ | 539.6 | $ | 421.2 | |||||
| Ratios Based On Earned Premiums | |||||||||||
| Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 73.2 | % | 78.0 | % | 75.6 | % | |||||
| Current Year Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.4 | ||||||||
| Prior Years Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 1.0 | 3.7 | 0.6 | ||||||||
| Prior Years Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | — | — | — | ||||||||
| Total Incurred Loss and LAE Ratio | 74.9 | % | 82.4 | % | 76.6 | % | |||||
| Insurance Expense Ratio | 19.1 | % | 17.6 | % | 18.2 | % | |||||
| Combined Ratio | 94.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 94.8 | % | |||||
| Underlying Combined Ratio | |||||||||||
| Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 73.2 | % | 78.0 | % | 75.6 | % | |||||
| Insurance Expense Ratio | 19.1 | % | 17.6 | % | 18.2 | % | |||||
| Underlying Combined Ratio | 92.3 | % | 95.6 | % | 93.8 | % | |||||
| Non-GAAP Measure Reconciliation | |||||||||||
| Combined Ratio as Reported | 94.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 94.8 | % | |||||
| Less: | |||||||||||
| Current Year Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 0.7 | % | 0.7 | % | 0.4 | % | |||||
| Prior Years Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 1.0 | % | 3.7 | % | 0.6 | % | |||||
| Prior Years Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | — | % | — | % | — | % | |||||
| Underlying Combined Ratio | 92.3 | % | 95.6 | % | 93.8 | % |
2024 Compared with 2023
Earned premiums from commercial automobile insurance increased by $70.3 million in 2024, compared to 2023, due primarily to higher average earned premium per exposure resulting from rate increases and targeted mix shifts. Incurred losses and LAE were $542.7 million, or 74.9% of earned premiums, in 2024, compared to $539.6 million, or 82.4% of earned premiums, in 2023. Incurred losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums decreased primarily due to an improvement in the underlying loss ratio and lower adverse prior year development. Underlying losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums were 73.2% in 2024, compared to 78.0% in 2023, an improvement of 4.8 percentage points due primarily to higher average earned premiums per exposure resulting from rate increases and mix shifts and a lower frequency of claims, partially offset by higher claims average severity trends. Adverse loss and LAE reserve development was $7.2 million in 2024,
41
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
SPECIALTY PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE (Continued)
compared to adverse development of $24.2 million in 2023, an improvement of $17.0 million due primarily to stabilization of loss patterns.
LIFE INSURANCE
Selected financial information for the Life Insurance segment is presented below.
| (Dollars in Millions) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earned Premiums | $ | 393.9 | $ | 387.6 | $ | 571.5 | |||||
| Net Investment Income | 170.6 | 193.4 | 216.5 | ||||||||
| Change in Value of Alternative Energy Partnership Investments | 0.6 | 0.7 | (5.3) | ||||||||
| Other Income (Loss) | 0.5 | (0.2) | (0.6) | ||||||||
| Total Revenues | 565.6 | 581.5 | 782.1 | ||||||||
| Policyholders’ Benefits and Incurred Losses and LAE | 234.5 | 243.4 | 360.8 | ||||||||
| Insurance Expenses | 272.1 | 275.8 | 343.3 | ||||||||
| Segment Adjusted Operating Income | 59.0 | 62.3 | 78.0 | ||||||||
| Income Tax Expense | 8.8 | 10.5 | 9.2 | ||||||||
| Total Segment Adjusted Net Operating Income | $ | 50.2 | $ | 51.8 | $ | 68.8 |
INSURANCE RESERVES
| (Dollars in Millions) | Dec 31, 2024 | Dec 31, 2023 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance Reserves: | |||||||
| Future Policyholder Benefits | $ | 3,154.3 | $ | 3,375.6 | |||
| Incurred Losses and LAE Reserves: | |||||||
| Life | 40.8 | 42.1 | |||||
| Accident and Health | 4.6 | 4.7 | |||||
| Property | 2.7 | 2.9 | |||||
| Total Incurred Losses and LAE Reserves | 48.1 | 49.7 | |||||
| Total Insurance Reserves | $ | 3,202.4 | $ | 3,425.3 |
See Note 2 “Summary of Accounting Policies and Accounting Changes,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements under the sub-caption “Insurance Reserves” for additional discussion.
2024 Compared with 2023
The Life Insurance Segment reported Total Segment Adjusted Net Operating Income of $50.2 million in 2024, compared to $51.8 million in 2023. The decrease in segment net operating results was primarily due to a reduction in net investment income, partially offset by favorable mortality experience from life insurance products.
Earned Premiums increased by $6.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to 2023, due primarily to changes in assumptions as part of the annual assumption update for Deferred Profit Liability in 2024 ($4.8 million reduction in Earned Premiums) as compared to 2023 ($15.0 million reduction in Earned Premiums). Excluding this impact, Earned Premiums decreased by $3.9 million due primarily to lower volume on life and property insurance.
Net Investment Income decreased by $22.8 million in 2024, compared to 2023, due primarily to lower earnings from alternative investments, which included a $15.1 million loss from an investment valuation adjustment of one real estate investment, and lower levels of fixed income securities.
Policyholders’ Benefits and Incurred Losses and LAE decreased by $8.9 million in 2024, compared to 2023. Changes in assumptions from the annual assumption update reduced policyholders’ benefits and incurred losses and LAE by $11.9 million and $23.3 million in 2024 and 2023, respectively. Excluding this impact, Policyholders’ Benefits and Incurred Losses and LAE
42
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
LIFE INSURANCE (Continued)
decreased $20.3 million due primarily to improved mortality experience in life insurance products and lower Policyholders’ Benefits in accident and health products.
The Life Insurance segment’s 2024 effective income tax rate was 14.9% compared to 16.9% in 2023. The effective income tax rate for 2024 and 2023 differs from the federal statutory income tax rate primarily due to investments in Company-Owned Life Insurance and Tax-Exempt Investment Income. The decrease in the effective tax rate from 2023 is driven by an increased benefit from Company-Owned Life Insurance.
INVESTMENT RESULTS
Net Investment Income
Net Investment Income for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 is presented below.
| (Dollars in Millions) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Investment Income: | |||||||||||
| Interest on Fixed Income Securities1,2 | $ | 315.3 | $ | 323.3 | $ | 290.0 | |||||
| Dividends on Equity Securities Excluding Alternative Investments | 5.4 | 4.4 | 6.3 | ||||||||
| Alternative Investments: | |||||||||||
| Equity Method Limited Liability Investments | (18.2) | 10.5 | 31.3 | ||||||||
| Limited Liability Investments Included in Equity Securities | 24.5 | 19.0 | 42.1 | ||||||||
| Total Alternative Investments | 6.3 | 29.5 | 73.4 | ||||||||
| Short-term Investments | 33.5 | 18.0 | 3.7 | ||||||||
| Loans to Policyholders | 21.0 | 20.9 | 21.5 | ||||||||
| Real Estate | 8.8 | 8.9 | 10.1 | ||||||||
| Company-Owned Life Insurance | 35.7 | 29.2 | 37.9 | ||||||||
| Other | 8.2 | 12.9 | 7.7 | ||||||||
| Total Investment Income | 434.2 | 447.1 | 450.6 | ||||||||
| Investment Expenses: | |||||||||||
| Real Estate | 8.7 | 8.8 | 7.9 | ||||||||
| Other Investment Expenses1 | 18.0 | 18.6 | 20.1 | ||||||||
| Total Investment Expenses | 26.7 | 27.4 | 28.0 | ||||||||
| Net Investment Income | $ | 407.5 | $ | 419.7 | $ | 422.6 | |||||
| 1In 2024, the Company changed its presentation of the details of investment performance to report interest expense incurred on Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB") borrowings as an offset to interest on fixed income securities since FHLB borrowings are used for spread lending purposes. The interest expense incurred on FHLB borrowings was previously reported within Other Investment Expenses. The prior period amounts presented above have been updated to reflect this change in presentation. | |||||||||||
| 2Reduced by interest expense incurred on FHLB borrowings used for spread lending purposes of $20.3 million, $22.7 million and $10.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively. |
2024 Compared with 2023
Net Investment Income was $407.5 million and $419.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Net Investment Income decreased by $12.2 million in 2024 mostly driven by lower earnings from equity method securities, which included a $15.1 million loss from an investment valuation adjustment of one real estate investment in our alternative investment portfolio, and lower levels of fixed income securities, partially offset by higher levels of Short-term Investments.
Income and distributions on alternative investments can fluctuate significantly between periods as they are influenced by operating performance of the underlying investments, changes in market or economic conditions or the timing of asset sales.
43
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
INVESTMENT RESULTS (Continued)
Change in Unrealized Gains and Losses on Investments
The change in unrealized losses on investments for the year ended December 31, 2024 was an increase of $200.0 million, primarily attributable to increases in interest rates.
Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities
The components of Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 are presented below.
| (Dollars in Millions) | 2024 | 2023 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preferred Stocks | $ | 1.0 | $ | 1.8 | |||
| Common Stocks | 2.2 | — | |||||
| Other Equity Interests: | |||||||
| Exchange Traded Funds | (0.6) | 0.6 | |||||
| Limited Liability Companies and Limited Partnerships | (5.3) | 2.3 | |||||
| Total Other Equity Interests | (5.9) | 2.9 | |||||
| Change in Fair Value of Equity Securities | (2.7) | 4.7 | |||||
| Change in Fair Value of Convertible Securities | — | — | |||||
| Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities | $ | (2.7) | $ | 4.7 |
Net Realized Gains (Losses) on Sales of Investments
The components of Net Realized Investment Gains (Losses) for the year ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 are presented below.
| (Dollars in Millions) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Maturities: | |||||||||||
| Gains on Sales | $ | 20.2 | $ | 5.9 | $ | 31.6 | |||||
| Losses on Sales | (3.2) | (10.9) | (31.9) | ||||||||
| (Losses) Gains on Hedging Activity | (7.9) | (11.9) | 1.7 | ||||||||
| Equity Securities: | |||||||||||
| Gains on Sales | 4.2 | 0.6 | 9.7 | ||||||||
| Losses on Sales | (0.1) | (2.5) | (6.8) | ||||||||
| Other Investments: | |||||||||||
| Gains on Sales | 4.2 | 0.2 | — | ||||||||
| Losses on Sales | (4.2) | — | — | ||||||||
| Net Realized Investment Gains (Losses) | $ | 13.2 | $ | (18.6) | $ | 4.3 | |||||
| Gross Gains on Sales | $ | 28.6 | $ | 6.7 | $ | 41.3 | |||||
| Gross Losses on Sales | (7.5) | (13.4) | (38.7) | ||||||||
| (Losses) Gains on Hedging Activity | (7.9) | (11.9) | 1.7 | ||||||||
| Net Realized Investment Gains (Losses) | $ | 13.2 | $ | (18.6) | $ | 4.3 |
44
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
INVESTMENT RESULTS (Continued)
Fixed Maturities
Net realized gains and losses on sales of fixed maturities for the year ended December 31, 2024 primarily relate to normal portfolio management. The net realized losses on hedging activity for the year ended December 31, 2024 related to treasury futures that did not qualify for hedge accounting treatment.
Net realized gains and losses on sales of fixed maturities for the year ended December 31, 2023 primarily relate to normal portfolio management.
Equity Securities
Net realized gains and losses on sales of equity securities for the year ended December 31, 2024 primarily related to disposals of equity securities and preferred stock.
Net realized gains and losses on sales of equity securities for the year ended December 31, 2023 primarily related to disposals of equity securities and preferred stock.
Impairment Losses
The Company regularly reviews its investment portfolio to determine whether a decline in the fair value of an investment has occurred from credit or other, non-credit related factors. If the decline in fair value is due to credit factors and the Company does not expect to receive cash flows sufficient to support the entire amortized cost basis, the credit loss is reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) in the period that the declines are evaluated. Conversely, an increase in the fair value or disposal of an investment with a previously established credit allowance will result in the reversal of impairment losses reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) in the period.
The components of Impairment Losses in the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) for the year ended December 31, 2024, 2023, 2022 were:
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in Millions) | Amount | Number of Issuers | Amount | Number of Issuers | Amount | Number of Issuers | ||||||||||||
| Fixed Maturities | $ | (4.8) | 20 | $ | (0.1) | 21 | $ | (25.8) | 57 | |||||||||
| Equity Securities at Modified Cost | (0.4) | 3 | (0.5) | 1 | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Real Estate | (0.4) | 7 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Other | (0.2) | 1 | (0.5) | 6 | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Impairment Losses1 | $ | (5.8) | $ | (1.1) | $ | (25.8) |
I Includes losses from intent-to-sell securities and direct write-down securities of $3.3 million, $2.0 million and $23.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Fixed Maturities
Impairment Losses recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) for the year ended December 31, 2024 related primarily to investments in securities with direct write-downs and in Fixed Maturities where the Company established an allowance for expected credit losses.
Impairment Losses recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) for the year ended December 31, 2023 related primarily to investments in Intent-to-Sell securities.
Equity Securities
The Company recognized Impairment Losses in the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) for the year ended December 31, 2024 primarily related to investments in Equity Securities at Modified Cost where the Company has the intent or requirement to sell.
The Company recognized Impairment Losses in the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) for the year ended December 31, 2023 primarily related to investments in Equity Securities at Modified Cost where the Company has the intent or requirement to sell.
45
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
INVESTMENT RESULTS (Continued)
Real Estate
The Company recognized Impairment Losses on Real Estate Held for Investment in the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) for the year ended December 31, 2024 related to properties held with the intent to sell.
The Company did not recognize any Impairment Losses on Real Estate Held for Investment in the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) for the year ended December 31, 2023.
INVESTMENT QUALITY AND CONCENTRATIONS
The Company’s fixed maturity investment portfolio is comprised primarily of high-grade corporate, municipal and agency bonds. At December 31, 2024, approximately 95.7% of the Company’s fixed maturity investment portfolio was rated investment-grade, which the Company defines as a security issued by a high quality obligor with at least a relatively stable credit profile and where it is highly likely that all contractual payments of principal and interest will timely occur and carry a rating from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) of 1 or 2. Securities with a rating of 1 or 2 from the NAIC typically are rated by one or more Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations and either have a rating of AAA, AA, A or BBB from Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”); a rating of Aaa, Aa, A or Baa from Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”); or a rating of AAA, AA, A or BBB from Fitch Ratings.
The following table summarizes the credit quality of the Company’s fixed maturity investment portfolio at December 31, 2024 and 2023.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Dec 31, 2024 | Dec 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NAIC Rating | Rating | Amortized Cost | Fair Value | Percentage of Total | Amortized Cost | Fair Value | Percentage of Total | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | AAA, AA, A | $ | 5,253.1 | $ | 4,576.4 | 71.4 | % | $ | 5,471.8 | $ | 4,962.0 | 72.1 | % | |||||||||||
| 2 | BBB | 1,749.3 | 1,557.6 | 24.3 | 1,803.7 | 1,657.3 | 24.1 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3-4 | BB, B | 233.0 | 221.7 | 3.5 | 227.1 | 204.4 | 3.0 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5-6 | CCC or Lower | 59.6 | 53.9 | 0.8 | 63.2 | 58.2 | 0.8 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Investments in Fixed Maturities | $ | 7,295.0 | $ | 6,409.6 | 100.0 | % | $ | 7,565.8 | $ | 6,881.9 | 100.0 | % |
Gross unrealized losses on the Company’s investments in below-investment-grade fixed maturities were $14.2 million and $25.5 million at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
The following table summarizes the fair value of the Company’s investments in governmental fixed maturities at December 31, 2024 and 2023.
| Dec 31, 2024 | Dec 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Fair Value | Percentage of Total Investments | Fair Value | Percentage of Total Investments | ||||||||||
| U.S. Government and Government Agencies and Authorities | $ | 486.8 | 5.5 | % | $ | 511.5 | 5.7 | % | ||||||
| States and Political Subdivisions: | ||||||||||||||
| Revenue Bonds | 1,105.7 | 12.4 | 1,235.2 | 13.9 | ||||||||||
| States | 72.4 | 0.8 | 99.8 | 1.1 | ||||||||||
| Political Subdivisions | 55.1 | 0.6 | 66.9 | 0.8 | ||||||||||
| Foreign Governments | 6.6 | 0.1 | 3.8 | — | ||||||||||
| Total Investments in Governmental Fixed Maturities | $ | 1,726.6 | 19.4 | % | $ | 1,917.2 | 21.5 | % |
46
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
INVESTMENT QUALITY AND CONCENTRATIONS (Continued)
The following table summarizes the fair value of the Company’s investments in non-governmental fixed maturities by industry at December 31, 2024 and 2023.
| Dec 31, 2024 | Dec 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Fair Value | Percentage of Total Investments | Fair Value | Percentage of Total Investments | ||||||||||
| Finance, Insurance and Real Estate | $ | 1,969.1 | 22.2 | % | $ | 2,070.5 | 23.3 | % | ||||||
| Manufacturing | 1,014.3 | 11.4 | 1,077.6 | 12.1 | ||||||||||
| Transportation, Communication and Utilities | 793.0 | 8.9 | 807.3 | 9.1 | ||||||||||
| Services | 582.9 | 6.6 | 639.4 | 7.2 | ||||||||||
| Mining | 153.3 | 1.7 | 174.3 | 2.0 | ||||||||||
| Retail Trade | 125.7 | 1.4 | 156.0 | 1.8 | ||||||||||
| Construction | 11.7 | 0.1 | 4.4 | — | ||||||||||
| Other | 33.0 | 0.4 | 35.2 | 0.4 | ||||||||||
| Total Investments in Non-governmental Fixed Maturities | $ | 4,683.0 | 52.7 | % | $ | 4,964.7 | 55.9 | % |
The following table summarizes the fair value of the Company’s investments in non-governmental fixed maturities by range of amount invested at December 31, 2024.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Number of Issuers | Aggregate Fair Value | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Below $5 | 659 | $ | 1,330.4 | |||
| $5 -$10 | 193 | 1,404.8 | ||||
| $10 - $20 | 98 | 1,343.9 | ||||
| $20 - $30 | 17 | 394.5 | ||||
| Greater Than $30 | 6 | 209.4 | ||||
| Total | 973 | $ | 4,683.0 |
The Company’s short-term investments primarily consist of U.S. Treasury bills, short-term bonds, and money market funds. At December 31, 2024, the Company had $834.7 million invested in U.S. Treasury bills and short-term bonds and $202.4 million invested in money market funds, which primarily invest in U.S. Treasury securities.
47
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
INVESTMENT QUALITY AND CONCENTRATIONS (Continued)
The following table summarizes the fair value of the Company’s ten largest investment exposures in a single issuer, excluding investments in U.S. Government, Government Agencies and Authorities, and Short-term Investments, at December 31, 2024.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Fair Value | Percentage of Total Investments | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Maturities: | |||||||
| States including their Political Subdivisions: | |||||||
| California | $ | 133.2 | 1.5 | % | |||
| Texas | 101.2 | 1.1 | |||||
| Michigan | 81.7 | 0.9 | |||||
| Georgia | 68.8 | 0.8 | |||||
| New York | 59.8 | 0.7 | |||||
| Pennsylvania | 55.7 | 0.6 | |||||
| Florida | 53.0 | 0.6 | |||||
| Louisiana | 37.4 | 0.4 | |||||
| Virginia | 35.6 | 0.4 | |||||
| Colorado | 35.1 | 0.4 | |||||
| Total | $ | 661.5 | 7.4 | % |
48
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
INVESTMENTS IN LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES AND LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS
The Company owns investments in various limited liability investment companies and limited partnerships that primarily invest in mezzanine debt, senior debt, real estate and leveraged buyouts. The Company’s investments in these limited liability investment companies and limited partnerships are reported either as Equity Method Limited Liability Investments, Other Equity Interests included in Equity Securities at Fair Value, or Equity Securities at Modified Cost, depending on the accounting method used to report the investment. Additional information pertaining to these investments at December 31, 2024 and 2023 is presented below.
| Unfunded Commitment in Millions | Reported Value in Millions | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asset Class | Dec 31, 2024 | Dec 31, 2024 | Dec 31, 2023 | ||||||||
| Reported as Equity Method Limited Liability Investments: | |||||||||||
| Senior Debt | $ | 48.2 | $ | 19.1 | $ | 19.0 | |||||
| Mezzanine Debt | 40.8 | 116.7 | 125.4 | ||||||||
| Secondary Transactions | 1.6 | 5.5 | 7.9 | ||||||||
| Leveraged Buyout | 0.6 | 7.5 | 8.6 | ||||||||
| Growth Equity | — | — | 1.2 | ||||||||
| Hedge Fund | — | 0.1 | 0.1 | ||||||||
| Distressed Debt | — | 4.4 | 7.9 | ||||||||
| Real Estate | — | 27.3 | 41.9 | ||||||||
| Other | 0.1 | 5.7 | 9.7 | ||||||||
| Total Equity Method Limited Liability Investments | 91.3 | 186.3 | 221.7 | ||||||||
| Alternative Energy Partnership Investments | — | 17.6 | 17.3 | ||||||||
| Reported as Other Equity Interests at Fair Value: | |||||||||||
| Mezzanine Debt | 67.0 | 116.9 | 124.0 | ||||||||
| Leveraged Buyout | 30.4 | 19.2 | 19.0 | ||||||||
| Distressed Debt | 15.0 | 11.7 | 12.4 | ||||||||
| Senior Debt | 8.4 | 26.3 | 24.8 | ||||||||
| Growth Equity | 8.0 | 7.0 | 6.4 | ||||||||
| Secondary Transactions | 1.6 | 2.4 | 2.8 | ||||||||
| Hedge Funds | — | — | 1.9 | ||||||||
| Other | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | ||||||||
| Total Reported as Other Equity Interests at Fair Value | 130.6 | 183.6 | 191.4 | ||||||||
| Reported as Equity Securities at Modified Cost: | |||||||||||
| Other | — | 1.8 | 4.8 | ||||||||
| Total Reported as Equity Securities at Modified Cost | — | 1.8 | 4.8 | ||||||||
| Total Investments in Limited Liability Companies and Limited Partnerships | $ | 221.9 | $ | 389.3 | $ | 435.2 |
The Company expects that it will be required to fund its commitments over the next several years. The Company expects that the proceeds from distributions from these investments will be the primary source of funding of such commitments.
49
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
INSURANCE, INTEREST AND OTHER EXPENSES
Expenses for the year ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 were:
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance and Other Expenses: | |||||||||||
| Insurance Expenses: | |||||||||||
| Policy Acquisition Costs | $ | 641.6 | $ | 707.6 | $ | 838.5 | |||||
| Business Unit Operating Costs | 277.4 | 256.1 | 282.4 | ||||||||
| Corporate Overhead Costs | 194.9 | 200.0 | 207.8 | ||||||||
| Insurance Expenses | 1,113.9 | 1,163.7 | 1,328.7 | ||||||||
| Other Expenses: | |||||||||||
| Acquisition and Disposition Related Transaction, Integration, Restructuring and Other Costs | 40.3 | 120.3 | 62.9 | ||||||||
| Pension Settlement | (2.6) | 70.2 | — | ||||||||
| Other Corporate Costs | 28.5 | 11.4 | 12.3 | ||||||||
| Other Expenses | 66.2 | 201.9 | 75.2 | ||||||||
| Insurance and Other Expenses | 1,180.1 | 1,365.6 | 1,403.9 | ||||||||
| Interest Expense | 56.9 | 56.1 | 54.7 | ||||||||
| Loss from Early Extinguishment of Debt | — | — | 3.7 | ||||||||
| Goodwill Impairment | — | 49.6 | — | ||||||||
| Total Insurance, Interest, and Other Expenses | $ | 1,237.0 | $ | 1,471.3 | $ | 1,462.3 |
Insurance and Other Expenses
Insurance Expenses were $1,113.9 million in 2024 compared to $1,163.7 million in 2023. Insurance Expenses decreased by $49.8 million in 2024 due primarily to lower policies in force.
Other Expenses decreased by $135.7 million in 2024, compared to 2023, due primarily to lower Acquisition and Disposition Related Transaction, Integration, Restructuring and Other Costs from the completion of certain strategic initiatives and lower costs in connection with the 2023 cost structure optimization initiatives, and lower Pension Settlement costs.
Acquisition and Disposition Related Transaction, Integration, Restructuring and Other Costs for the year ended December 31, 2024 included $35.9 million of integration expenses due to continued investments in information technology. These expenses for the year ended December 31, 2023 included $60.4 million of integration expenses due to continued investments in information technology, $34.6 million of real estate exit costs resulting from impairments on operating leases and real estate owned and $9.9 million of accrued severance.
Other Corporate Costs for the year ended December 31, 2024 included $7.3 million of expense related to the reversion of assets within the pension trust. This activity included $4.7 million distributed to eligible participants in the Company’s defined contribution benefit plans and $2.6 million of excise taxes paid by the Company upon the reversion of the remaining assets.
Interest Expense
Interest expense increased by $0.8 million in 2024 compared to 2023.
Goodwill Impairment
Goodwill Impairment for the year ended December 31, 2023 was due to the impairment of goodwill related to the decision to exit the Preferred Property & Casualty Insurance segment in the third quarter of 2023. See Note 15 “Goodwill and Intangibles,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.
50
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
INCOME TAXES
The federal corporate statutory income tax rate was 21% for the year ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022. The Company’s effective income tax rate, which was 19.6%, 21.6% and 22.7% for 2024, 2023, and 2022 respectively, differs from the federal corporate income tax rate due primarily to (1) the effects of tax-exempt investment income, (2) nontaxable income associated with the change in cash surrender value on Company-Owned Life Insurance, (3) Alternative Energy Partnership Investment and general business tax credits, (4) a permanent difference between the amount of long-term equity-based compensation expense recognized under GAAP and the amount deductible in the computation of Federal taxable income (5) a permanent difference associated with nondeductible executive compensation, (6) an impairment of non-tax deductible goodwill, (7) impact of deferred taxes in foreign jurisdictions, and (8) a change in valuation allowance.
On December 27, 2023, legislation implementing a corporate income tax (“CIT”) in Bermuda was enacted into law. The CIT imposes a 15% income tax that applies to Bermuda businesses which are part of multinational enterprise groups with annual revenue of €750 million or more and will be effective for fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 2025, with a five-year deferred effective date for certain groups with a limited international footprint. Kemper has recorded, as part of its total income tax provision, the estimated impact of the Bermuda CIT on its Bermuda based reinsurance company at the effective date. The Company will continue to monitor guidance as it is released from the Government of Bermuda.
The Inflation Reduction Act (the "Law") was signed into law on August 16, 2022 and became generally effective on January 1, 2023. Included in the provisions of the Law are various changes to the tax code, including the establishment of a Corporate Alternative Minimum Tax (“CAMT”). The Company, at this time, is not subject to the CAMT.
Tax-exempt investment income and dividends received deductions were $16.0 million in 2024, compared to $22.7 million in 2023.
The nontaxable increase in cash surrender value on Company-Owned Life Insurance was $35.6 million in 2024, compared to $29.2 million in 2023.
The Company realized investment tax credits and other federal income tax credits of $12.0 million in 2024, compared to realized investment tax credits and other federal tax credits of $3.1 million in 2023.
The amount of expense recognized for long-term equity-based compensation expense under GAAP was $0.5 million lower than the amount that would be deductible under the IRC in 2024, compared to $1.4 million higher in 2023.
The amount of nondeductible executive compensation was $16.8 million in 2024, compared to $8.5 million in 2023.
The total impairment of non-tax-deductible goodwill was zero in 2024, compared to $30.0 million in 2023.
As a result of recently enacted tax legislation in jurisdictions in which the Company operates, a tax benefit of $11.3 million was recorded in 2024, compared to a tax benefit of $27.4 million in 2023.
The Company recorded an increase in valuation allowance of $11.3 million in 2024, compared to $27.4 million in 2023 for those foreign deferred tax assets it determined were not more-likely-than-not to be realized.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Shelf Registration Statement
The Company filed a universal shelf registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the first quarter of 2023. Under this shelf registration, the Company may issue an undetermined amount of securities including common stock, preferred stock, depository shares, debt securities, warrants, subscription rights, purchase contracts, and purchase units. Specific terms of any securities issued under this registration will be included in each applicable prospectus supplement.
Amended and Extended Credit Agreement
On March 15, 2022, the Company entered into an amended and extended credit agreement. The amended and extended credit agreement increased the borrowing capacity of the existing unsecured credit agreement to $600.0 million and extended the maturity date to March 15, 2027. Furthermore, the amended and extended credit agreement provides for an accordion feature whereby the Company can increase the revolving credit borrowing capacity by an additional $200.0 million for a total of maximum capacity of $800.0 million. Financial covenants within the agreement limit the Company from accessing the
51
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES (Continued)
maximum capacity. The amount available as of December 31, 2024 was $512.0 million. There were no outstanding borrowings under the credit agreement on either December 31, 2024 or December 31, 2023.
Common Stock Offering
Kemper is authorized to issue 20 million shares of $0.10 par value preferred stock and 100 million shares of $0.10 par value common stock. No preferred shares were issued or outstanding at December 31, 2024 and 2023. There were 63,840,442 shares and 64,111,555 shares of common stock outstanding at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Long-term Debt
The Company designates debt obligations as either short-term or long-term based on maturity date at issuance. Total amortized cost of Long-term Debt, Current and Non-Current, outstanding at December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 was:
| (Dollars in Millions) | Dec 31, 2024 | Dec 31, 2023 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Notes | |||||||
| Current: | |||||||
| 4.350% Senior Notes due February 15, 2025 | $ | 449.9 | $ | — | |||
| Non-Current | |||||||
| 4.350% Senior Notes due February 15, 2025 | — | 449.6 | |||||
| 2.400% Senior Notes due September 30, 2030 | 397.5 | 397.0 | |||||
| 3.800% Senior Notes due February 23, 2032 | 396.5 | 396.0 | |||||
| 5.875% Fixed-Rate Reset Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2062 | 147.7 | 146.6 | |||||
| Total Long-term Debt Outstanding | $ | 1,391.6 | $ | 1,389.2 |
See Note 24, “Debt,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information regarding the Company’s long-term debt.
Federal Home Loan Bank Agreements
Kemper’s subsidiaries, United Insurance Company of America (“United Insurance”), Trinity Universal Insurance Company (“Trinity”), and American Access Casualty Company (“AAC”) are members of the Federal Home Loan Banks (“FHLBs”) of Chicago, Dallas and Chicago, respectively. AAC became a member of the FHLB of Chicago in May 2022. United Insurance and Trinity became members of the FHLBs of Chicago and Dallas, respectively, in 2013. Under their memberships, United Insurance, Trinity and AAC may borrow through the advance program of their respective FHLB. The Company’s investments in FHLB common stock are reported at cost and included in Other Investments. The carrying value of FHLB of Chicago common stock was $16.9 million and $16.6 million at December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. The carrying value of FHLB of Dallas common stock was $8.8 million and $3.6 million at December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. The Company periodically uses short-term FHLB borrowings for a combination of cash management and risk management purposes, in addition to long-term FHLB borrowings for spread lending purposes.
During 2024, United Insurance received advances of $101.7 million from the FHLB of Chicago and made repayments of $117.8 million. United Insurance had outstanding advances from the FHLB of Chicago totaling $541.3 million at December 31, 2024. These advances were made in connection with the Company’s spread lending program. The proceeds related to these advances were used to purchase fixed maturity securities to earn incremental net investment income.
For these advances, United Insurance held pledged securities in a custodial account with the FHLB of Chicago with a fair value of $619.3 million at December 31, 2024. The fair value of the collateral pledged must be maintained at certain specified levels above the borrowed amount, which can vary depending on the assets pledged. If the fair value of the collateral declines below these specified levels of the amount borrowed, United Insurance would be required to pledge additional collateral or repay outstanding borrowings. See Note 23, “Policyholder Obligations,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information about the United Insurance advances and related funding agreements.
52
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES (Continued)
Common Stock Repurchases
On May 6, 2020, Kemper’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to an additional $200.0 million of Kemper common stock, in addition to the $133.3 million remaining under the previous authorization. The Company repurchased approximately $38.9 million in 2024 so that, as of December 31, 2024, the remaining share repurchase authorization was $132.8 million under the repurchase program. The amount and timing of any future share repurchases under the authorization will depend on various factors, including market conditions, the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, available liquidity, particular circumstances and other considerations.
During the year ended December 31, 2024, Kemper repurchased and retired approximately 637,000 shares of its common stock under its share repurchase authorization for an aggregate cost of $38.9 million and an average cost per share of $61.12. Kemper did not repurchase any shares during the year ended December 31, 2023.
Dividends to Shareholders
Kemper paid a quarterly dividend of $0.31 per common share for each quarter of 2024 and $0.31 per common share for each quarter of 2023, respectively. Dividends and dividend equivalents paid were $80.1 million, $80.1 million and $79.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Subsidiary Dividends and Capital Contributions
Various insurance laws restrict the ability of Kemper’s insurance subsidiaries to pay dividends without regulatory approval. Such insurance laws applicable to the Company’s US based insurance subsidiaries generally restrict the amount of dividends paid in an annual period to the greater of statutory net income from the previous year or 10% of statutory capital and surplus. Kemper’s insurance subsidiaries collectively paid $213.3 million, $640.9 million and $311.7 million in dividends to Kemper in 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. In 2025, Kemper’s US based insurance subsidiaries capacity to pay dividends to Kemper without prior regulatory approval is estimated to be $211.7 million as of the filing date.
Kemper made capital contributions to insurance subsidiaries of $18.0 million, $489.1 million and $270.0 million during 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Sources and Uses of Funds
The Company directly held cash and investments totaling $547.6 million at December 31, 2024, compared to $464.5 million at December 31, 2023.
The primary sources of funds available for repayment of Kemper’s indebtedness, repurchases of common stock, future shareholder dividend payments, and the payment of interest on Kemper’s senior notes, include cash and investments directly held by Kemper, receipt of dividends from Kemper’s insurance subsidiaries and borrowings under the credit agreement and from subsidiaries.
The primary sources of funds for Kemper’s insurance subsidiaries are premiums, investment income, proceeds from the sales and maturity of investments, advances from the FHLBs of Chicago and Dallas, and capital contributions from Kemper. The primary uses of funds are the payment of policyholder benefits under life insurance contracts, claims under property and casualty insurance contracts and accident and health insurance contracts, the payment of commissions and general expenses, the purchase of investments and repayments of advances from the FHLBs of Chicago and Dallas.
Generally, there is a time lag between when premiums are collected and when policyholder benefits and insurance claims are paid. During periods of growth, property and casualty insurance companies typically experience positive operating cash flows and can invest a portion of their operating cash flows to fund future policyholder benefits and claims. During periods in which premium revenues decline, insurance companies may experience negative cash flows from operations and may need to sell investments to fund payments to policyholders and claimants. In addition, if the Company’s property and casualty insurance subsidiaries experience several significant catastrophic events over a relatively short period of time, investments may be sold to fund payments, which could result in investment gains or losses. Management believes that its property and casualty insurance subsidiaries maintain adequate levels of liquidity in the event that they were to experience several future catastrophic events over a relatively short period of time.
53
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES (Continued)
Information about the Company’s cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 is presented below.
| (Dollars in Millions) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities | $ | 382.9 | $ | (134.2) | $ | (210.3) | |||||
| Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Investing Activities | (244.4) | 107.9 | (108.4) | ||||||||
| Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Financing Activities | (137.2) | (122.0) | 382.9 |
Cash available for investment activities is dependent on cash flow from Operating Activities and Financing Activities and the level of cash the Company elects to maintain.
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities
Net cash provided by Operating Activities was $382.9 million in 2024, compared to $134.2 million used in 2023, an increase of $517.1 million. The increase in cash provided by Operating Activities was primarily driven by increased net income as a result of rate increases, lower paid claims due to lower frequency, and timing of payments within our Property and Casualty operations. Additionally, cash from operations for 2023 included a $124.7 million federal income tax refund received.
Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Investing Activities
Net cash used in Investing Activities was $244.4 million in 2024, compared to $107.9 million provided by in 2023, a year over year decrease of $352.3 million. The decrease in cash provided by Investing Activities was primarily driven by the ongoing management of our investment portfolio that was impacted by timing of claim payments and premium collections from our Property and Casualty operations.
Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Financing Activities
Net cash used in Financing Activities was $137.2 million in 2024, compared to $122.0 million used in 2023, an increase of $15.2 million. This was primarily driven by $38.9 million of common stock repurchases in 2024, partially offset by lower net repayments under the FHLB spread-lending program.
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
Estimated cash disbursements pertaining to the Company’s contractual obligations at December 31, 2024 are presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Jan 1, 2025 to Dec 31, 2025 | Jan 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2027 | Jan 1, 2028 to Dec 31, 2029 | After Dec 31, 2029 | Total | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long Term Debt Obligations | $ | 449.9 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 941.7 | $ | 1,391.6 | |||||||||
| Life and Health Insurance Policy Benefits | 245.2 | 477.1 | 461.1 | 8,340.5 | 9,523.9 | ||||||||||||||
| Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves | 1,493.7 | 832.4 | 239.0 | 56.2 | 2,621.3 | ||||||||||||||
| Total Contractual Obligations | $ | 2,188.8 | $ | 1,309.5 | $ | 700.1 | $ | 9,338.4 | $ | 13,536.8 |
Amounts included in Life and Health Insurance Policy Benefits within the contractual obligations table above represent the estimated cash payments to be made to policyholders and beneficiaries. Such cash outflows are based on the Company’s current assumptions for mortality, morbidity and policy lapse, but are undiscounted with respect to interest. Policies must remain in force for the policyholder or beneficiary to receive the benefit under the policy. Depending on the terms of a particular policy, future premiums from the policyholder may be required for the policy to remain in force. The Company estimates that future cash inflows would total $4.3 billion using the same assumptions used to estimate the cash outflows. The Company’s Life Insurance Reserves in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets are generally based on the historical assumptions for mortality and policy lapse rates and are on a discounted basis. Accordingly, the sum of the amounts presented above for Life and Health Insurance Policy Benefits significantly exceeds the amount of Life and Health Insurance Reserves reported on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2024.
54
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS (Continued)
In addition to the contractual obligations included above, the Company had certain investment commitments totaling $221.9 million at December 31, 2024. The funding of such investment commitments is dependent on a number of factors, the timing of which is indeterminate. The Company cannot make a reasonably reliable estimate of the amount and period of related future payments, if any, for such liability.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
Kemper’s subsidiaries conduct their operations in two industries: property and casualty insurance and life insurance. Accordingly, the Company is subject to several industry-specific accounting principles under GAAP. The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The process of estimation is inherently uncertain. Accordingly, actual results could ultimately differ materially from the estimated amounts reported in a company’s financial statements. Different assumptions are likely to result in different estimates of reported amounts.
The Company’s critical accounting policies most sensitive to estimates include the valuation of investments, the valuation of life insurance reserves, the valuation of reserves for property and casualty insurance incurred losses and LAE, the assessment of recoverability of goodwill, and the recoverability of deferred tax assets.
Valuation of Investments
The reported value of the Company’s investments was $8,884.8 million at December 31, 2024, of which $6,624.4 million, or 75%, was reported at fair value, $203.9 million, or 2%, was reported under the equity method of accounting, $356.0 million, or 4%, was reported at unpaid principal balance and $1,700.5 million, or 19%, was reported at cost, modified cost or depreciated cost. Investments, in general, are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate risk, credit risk and overall market volatility risk. Accordingly, it is reasonably possible that changes in the fair values of the Company’s investments reported at fair value will occur in the near term and such changes could materially affect the amounts reported in the financial statements. Also, it is reasonably possible that changes in the carrying values of the Company’s Equity Method Limited Liability Investments will occur in the near term and such changes could materially affect the amounts reported in the financial statements because these issuers follow specialized industry accounting principles which require that they report all of their investments at fair value (See Item 1A., “Risk Factors” under the title “The Company’s investment portfolio is exposed to a variety of risks that may negatively impact net investment income and cause realized and unrealized losses”).
As more fully described under the heading, “Fair Value Measurements,” in Note 2, “Summary of Accounting Policies and Accounting Changes,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company uses a hierarchical framework which prioritizes and ranks the market observability used in fair value measurements.
The fair value of the Company’s investments measured and reported at fair value was $6,624.4 million at December 31, 2024, of which $6,231.8 million, or 94%, were investments that were based on quoted market prices or significant fair value inputs that are observable, $209.0 million, or 3%, were investments where at least one significant fair value inputs was unobservable and $183.6 million or 3% were investments for which fair value is measured using the net asset value (“NAV”) per share practical expedient. Fair value measurements based on readily available, active, quoted market prices or for which fair value can be measured from actively quoted prices generally are deemed to have a higher degree of market price observability and a lesser degree of judgment, compared to fair value measurements based on significant unobservable inputs used in measuring fair value. The prices that the Company might realize from actual sales of investments are likely to vary from their respective estimated fair values at December 31, 2024 due to changing market conditions and limitations inherent in the estimation process.
The classification of a company’s investment in a financial instrument may affect its reported results. Under GAAP, a company may elect to use the fair value option method of accounting for some or all of its investments in financial instruments. Under the fair value option method of accounting, a company is required to recognize changes in fair values into income for the period reported. The Company has elected the fair value option for investments in fixed maturities with equity conversion features. As of December 31, 2024, the Company no longer holds any investments with equity conversion features. For investments in fixed maturities classified as held to maturity, a company is required to carry the investment at amortized cost, with only amortization occurring during the period recognized into income. None of the Company’s investments in fixed maturities were classified as held to maturity at December 31, 2024. Changes in the fair value of investments in fixed maturities classified as available for sale are not recognized in income during the period, but rather are recognized as a separate component of
55
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES (Continued)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (“AOCI”) until realized. Both the reported and fair values of the Company’s investments in fixed maturities classified as available for sale were $6,409.6 million at December 31, 2024.
Equity securities with readily determinable fair values are recorded as Equity Securities at Fair Value with changes in fair values recognized into income for the period reported. Accordingly, both the reported and fair values of the Company’s investments in Equity Securities at Fair Value were $218.5 million at December 31, 2024. The Company holds certain equity investments without readily determinable fair values at cost, less impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for identical or similar investments from the same issuer. Changes in the carrying value of Equity Securities at Modified Cost due to observable price changes are recorded into income for the period reported.
The Company’s portfolio also includes investments in Alternative Energy Partnerships that are accounted for under the Hypothetical Liquidation at Book Value (“HLBV”) method. Under the HLBV method, the amounts of income and loss attributed to investors reflect changes in the amounts the fund investors would hypothetically receive at each balance sheet date under the liquidation provisions of the contractual agreements of these funds. Attributing income and loss under the HLBV method requires the use of significant assumptions and forecasts to calculate the amounts that fund investors would receive upon a hypothetical liquidation. See Note 1 “Basis of Presentation and Significant Estimates” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Had the Company elected the fair value option for all of its investments in financial instruments, the Company’s reported net income for the year ended December 31, 2024, would have decreased by $162.7 million.
The Company regularly reviews its fixed maturity investment portfolio and holdings in Equity Securities at Modified Cost for factors that may indicate a decline in the fair value of an investment below its amortized cost or modified cost basis. Such reviews are inherently uncertain in that the value of the investment may not fully recover or may decline further in future periods. Some factors considered in evaluating whether or not a decline in fair value of an investment exist include, but are not limited to, the following:
Fixed Maturity Securities
•The financial condition, credit rating and prospects of the issuer;
•The magnitude of the unrealized loss;
•The ability of the issuer to make scheduled principal and interest payments;
•The volatility of the investment;
Equity Securities at Modified Cost
•Opinions of the Company’s external investment managers;
•The financial condition and prospects of the issuer;
•Current market conditions;
•Changes in credit ratings; and
•Changes in the regulatory environment.
Changes in these factors from their December 31, 2024 evaluation date could result in the Company determining that a decline in the fair value exists for an investment held and evaluated at December 31, 2024. Such determination would result in an impairment loss in the period such determination is made.
56
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES (Continued)
Life Insurance Reserves
Company’s Life Insurance Reserves are reported using the Company’s estimate of its liability for future policyholder benefits.
Life Insurance Reserves by business segment at December 31, 2024 and 2023 were:
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2024 | 2023 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Segments: | |||||||
| Life Insurance: | |||||||
| Life Insurance | $ | 3,195.1 | $ | 3,417.7 | |||
| Accident & Health Insurance | 4.6 | 4.7 | |||||
| Total Life Insurance Reserves | $ | 3,199.7 | $ | 3,422.4 |
These assumption inputs to the calculation of the liability for future policyholder benefits include mortality, lapses, and discount rates (both accretion and current). Kemper groups together policies with similar types of business for its cohorts, which typically vary by issue year. The Company’s actuaries use a variety of generally accepted actuarial methodologies, in accordance with Actuarial Standards of Practice, in determining the mortality and lapse assumptions. These assumptions are based on judgments that consider the Company’s historical experience, industry data, and other relevant factors. The Company reviews and updates its estimate of cash flows expected over the lifetime of a group of contracts using actual historical experience quarterly and current future cash flow assumptions at least annually to calculate its revised net premium ratio. The revised net premium ratios are then used to calculate an updated liability for future policyholder benefits for the current reporting period, discounted at the original contract issuance discount rate. The Company has elected to use expense assumptions that are locked in at contract inception and are not subsequently reviewed or updated. Resulting changes in the liability due to differences in actual versus expected experience, changes in current cash flow assumptions, and prefunding and payout of benefits compared to the carrying amount of the liability as of that same date are recorded as a separate component of benefit expense in the Consolidated Statements of Loss. The current discount rate assumption is an equivalent spot rate curve of annually compounded rates at monthly increments that is derived based on A-credit rated fixed-income instruments reflecting the duration characteristics of the liability. The discount rate assumption is updated quarterly and used to remeasure the liability at the reporting date, with the resulting change reflected in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
In estimating the Company’s Life Insurance Reserves, the Company’s actuaries exercise professional judgment and must consider, and are influenced by, many variables that are difficult to quantify and are estimating losses many years into the future. Accordingly, the process of estimating and establishing the Company’s Life Insurance Reserves is inherently uncertain. Certain variables, such as policyholder behavior, are difficult to estimate and can have a significant impact on reserves. Experience may develop adversely such that additional reserves must be established. Adverse experience could arise out of a number of factors, including, but not limited to, severe short-term events, such as a pandemic or changes to policyholder behavior during stressed economic periods, or due to misestimation of long-term assumptions such as mortality, interest rates and lapse assumptions. To illustrate the sensitivities of the Company’s Life Insurance Reserves to changes in interest rates, the Company assessed hypothetical changes due to parallel shifts in interest rates to reported amounts related to the Company’s Life Insurance Reserve. If interest rates decreased by 100 basis points, the Company’s liability for future policyholder benefits as of December 31, 2024 would increase by $420.1 million, and if interest rates increased by 100 basis points, the Company’s liability for future policyholder benefits as of December 31, 2024 would decrease by $321.7 million.
Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves for Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses
The Company’s Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves are reported using the Company’s estimate of its ultimate liability for losses and LAE for claims that occurred prior to the end of any given accounting period but have not yet been paid. The Company had $2,611.9 million and $2,680.5 million of gross loss and LAE reserves at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
57
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES (Continued)
Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves for the Company’s business segments at December 31, 2024 and 2023 were:
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2024 | 2023 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Segments: | |||||||
| Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance1 | $ | 2,347.9 | $ | 2,308.7 | |||
| Life Insurance | 2.7 | 2.9 | |||||
| Total Business Segments | 2,350.6 | 2,311.6 | |||||
| Non-Core Operations | 261.7 | 356.4 | |||||
| Unallocated Reserves | 9.0 | 12.5 | |||||
| Total Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves1 | $ | 2,621.3 | $ | 2,680.5 | |||
| 1Includes $9.4 million attributable to Kemper Reciprocal as of December 31, 2024, which is reported as a consolidated variable interest entity. |
In estimating the Company’s Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves, the Company’s actuaries exercise professional judgment and must consider, many variables that are difficult to quantify. Accordingly, the process of estimating and establishing the Company’s Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves is inherently uncertain, and the actual ultimate cost of known and unknown claims may vary materially from the estimated amounts reserved.
The Company’s actuaries conduct a comprehensive quarterly loss reserve review for each product line of business based on a variety of methodologies in accordance with Actuarial Standards of Practice. A reasonable range of unpaid loss estimates is derived from, but not limited to, the following methodologies:
•Incurred Loss Development Methodology;
•Paid Loss Development Methodology;
•Bornhuetter-Ferguson Incurred Loss Methodology;
•Bornhuetter-Ferguson Paid Loss Methodology; and
•Frequency and Severity Methodology.
The actuarial best estimate for each product line of business for ultimate losses and LAE represents an expected value considering a range of reasonable outcomes. The actuarial best estimate includes an offset for expected salvage and subrogation recoveries.
The key assumption in these estimation methodologies is that patterns observed in prior periods are indicative of how losses and LAE are expected to develop in the future and that such historical data can be used to predict and estimate ultimate losses and LAE. However, changes in the Company’s business processes, by their very nature, are likely to affect the development patterns, which means the Company’s actuaries must routinely make assumptions about how changes in business practices would affect historical patterns.
The ultimate impact of a single change in a business process is difficult to quantify and detect, and even more difficult if several changes to business processes occur over several years. Initially after a change is implemented, there are fewer data points, as compared to the historical data, for the Company’s actuaries to analyze. With fewer data points to analyze, the Company’s actuaries cannot be certain that observed differences from the historical data trends are a result of the change in business process or merely a random fluctuation in the data. As the Company’s actuaries observe more data points following the change in business process, the Company’s actuaries can gain more confidence in whether the change in business process is affecting the development pattern. The challenge for the Company’s actuaries is how much weight to place on the development patterns based on the older historical data and how much weight to place on the development patterns based on more recent data.
For each accident quarter or year, the point estimate selected by the Company’s actuaries is not necessarily one of the points produced by any particular one of the methodologies utilized, but often is another point selected by the Company’s actuaries, using their professional judgment, that takes into consideration each of the points produced by the several loss reserving estimation methodologies used. In some cases, for a particular product, the current accident quarter or year may not have enough paid claims data to rely upon, leading the Company’s actuaries to conclude that the incurred loss development methodology provides a better estimate than the paid loss development methodology. Therefore, the Company’s actuaries may give more weight to the incurred loss development methodology for that particular accident quarter or year. As an accident quarter or year ages for that same product, the actuary may gain more confidence in the paid loss development methodology
58
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES (Continued)
and begin to give more weight to the paid loss development methodology. The Company’s actuaries’ quarterly selections are summed by product and/or coverage levels to create the actuarial indication of the ultimate losses. More often than not, the actuarial indication for a particular product line and accident quarter or year is most heavily weighted toward the incurred loss development methodology, particularly for short-tail lines such as personal automobile insurance. Historically, the incurred loss development methodology has been more reliable in predicting ultimate losses for short-tail lines, especially in the more recent accident quarters or years, compared with the paid loss development methodology. However, in some circumstances changes can occur which impact numerous variables, including, but not limited to, those variables identified below that are difficult to quantify and/or impact the predictive value of prior development patterns relied upon in the incurred loss development methodology and paid loss development methodology. In those circumstances, the Company’s actuaries must make adjustments to these loss reserving estimation methodologies or use additional generally accepted actuarial estimation methodologies. In those circumstances, the Company’s actuaries, using their professional judgment, may place more weight on the adjusted loss reserving estimation methodologies or other generally accepted actuarial estimation methodologies until the newer development patterns fully emerge and the Company’s actuaries can fully rely on the unadjusted loss reserving estimation methodologies. In the event of a wide variation among results generated by the different projection methodologies, the Company’s actuaries further analyze the data using additional techniques.
Subrogation & salvage recoveries, which predominately impact the material damage coverages, are independently evaluated each quarter using generally accepted actuarial methodologies. Since claim adjusters do not establish case reserves for potential recoveries the methodologies use paid/recovered amounts. Once this is completed, it is combined with the ultimate gross loss and LAE analyses.
In estimating reserves, the Company’s actuaries exercise professional judgment and must consider, and are influenced by, many variables that are difficult to quantify, such as:
•Changes in the level of minimum case reserves, and the automatic aging of those minimum case reserves;
•Changes to claims practices, including, but not limited to, changes in the reporting and impact of large losses, timing of reported claims, changes in claims closing and re-opening patterns, adequacy of case reserves.
•Implementation of new systems for handling claims, turnover of claims department staffs, timing and depth of the audit review of claims handling procedures;
•Changes in the mix of business by state, class and policy limit within product line;
•Growth in new lines of business;
•Changes in the attachment points of the Company’s reinsurance programs;
•Medical costs, including, but not limited to, the ability to assess the extent of injuries and the impact of inflation;
•Repair costs, including, but not limited to, the impact of inflation and the availability of labor and materials;
•Changes in the judicial environment, including, but not limited to, the interpretation of policy provisions, the impact of jury awards and changes in case law; and
•Changes in state regulatory requirements.
A change in any one or more of the foregoing factors is likely to result in a projected ultimate net loss and LAE that is different from the previously estimated reserve and/or previous frequency and severity trends. Such changes in estimates may be material. For example, the Company’s actuaries review frequency (number of claims per policy or exposure), severity (dollars of loss per claim) and average premium (dollars of premium per exposure). Actual frequency and severity experienced will vary depending on changes in mix by class of insured risk. Similarly, the actual frequency and rate of recovery from reinsurance will vary depending on changes in the attachment point for reinsurance. In particular, in periods of high growth or expansion into new markets, there may be additional uncertainty in estimating the ultimate losses and LAE. The contributing factors of this potential risk are changes in the Company’s mix by policy limit and mix of business by state or jurisdiction.
Actuaries use historical experience and trends as predictors of how losses and LAE will emerge over time. However, historical experience may not necessarily be indicative of how actual losses and LAE will emerge. Changes in case reserve adequacy, changes in minimum case reserves and changes in internal claims handling procedures could impact the timing and recognition of incurred claims and produce an estimate that is either too high or too low if not adjusted for by the actuary. For example, if, due to changes in claims handling procedures, actual claims are settled more rapidly than they were settled historically, the estimate produced by the paid loss development methodology would tend to be overstated if the actuary did not identify and adjust for the impact of the changes in claims handling procedures. Similarly, if, due to changes in claims handling procedures, actual claim reserves are set at levels higher than past experience, the estimate produced by the incurred loss development methodology would tend to be overstated if the actuary did not identify and adjust for the impact of the changes in claims handling procedures.
59
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES (Continued)
The final step in the quarterly loss and LAE reserving process involves a comprehensive review of the actuarial indications by the Company’s chief reserving actuary and corporate management who apply their collective judgment and determine the appropriate estimated level of reserves to record. Numerous factors are considered in this determination process, including, but not limited to, the assessed reliability of key loss trends and assumptions that may be significantly influencing the current actuarial indications, changes in claim handling practices or other changes that affect the timing of payment or development patterns, changes in the mix of business, the maturity of the accident quarter or year, pertinent trends observed over the recent past, the level of volatility within a particular line of business, the improvement or deterioration of actuarial indications in the current period as compared to prior periods, and the amount of reserves related to third party pools for which the Company does not have access to the underlying data and, accordingly, relies on calculations provided by such pools.
The Company’s goal is to ensure that its total reserves for property and casualty insurance losses and LAE are adequate to cover all costs, while sustaining minimal variation from the time reserves for losses and LAE are initially estimated until losses and LAE are fully paid. Changes in the Company’s estimates of these losses and LAE over time, also referred to as “development,” will occur and may be material. Favorable development is recognized and reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements when the Company decreases its previous estimate of ultimate losses and LAE and results in an increase in net income in the period recognized, whereas adverse development is recognized and reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements when the Company increases its previous estimate of ultimate losses and LAE and results in a decrease in net income.
Although development will emerge in all of the Company’s product lines, development in the Company’s specialty personal automobile insurance product line could have the most significant impact due to the relative size of its loss and LAE reserves. To further illustrate the sensitivity of the Company’s reserves for specialty personal automobile insurance losses and LAE, the Company measures the standard deviation of the mean reserve estimate using a bootstrapping methodology. The Company believes that one standard deviation of variability is a reasonably likely scenario to measure variability for its loss and LAE reserves for specialty personal automobile insurance. The Company estimates that its specialty personal automobile insurance loss and LAE reserves could have varied by $41.8 million in either direction at December 31, 2024 for all accident years combined under this scenario. In addition to the factors described above, other factors may also impact loss reserve development in future periods. These factors include governmental actions, including court decisions interpreting existing laws, regulations or policy provisions, developments related to insurance policy claims and coverage issues, adverse or favorable outcomes in pending claims litigation, the number and severity of insurance claims, the impact of inflation on insurance claims and the impact of required participation in windpools and joint underwriting associations and residual market assessments.
Although the Company’s actuaries do not make specific numerical assumptions about these factors, changes in these factors from past patterns will impact historical loss development factors and, in turn, future loss reserve development. Significant favorable changes in one or more factors will lead to favorable future loss reserve development, which could result in the actual loss developing closer to, or even below, the lower end of the Company’s estimated reserve variability. Significant unfavorable changes in one or more factors will lead to unfavorable loss reserve development, which could result in the actual loss developing closer to, or even above, the higher end of the Company’s estimated reserve variability. Accordingly, due to these factors and the other factors enumerated throughout the MD&A and the inherent limitations of the loss reserving estimation methodologies, the estimated and illustrated reserve variability may not necessarily be indicative of the Company’s future reserve variability, which could ultimately be greater than the estimated and illustrated variability. In addition, as previously noted, development will emerge in all of the Company’s product lines over time. Accordingly, the Company’s future reserve variability could ultimately be greater than the illustrated variability. Additional information pertaining to the estimation of, and development of, the Company’s Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves is contained in Item 1 of Part I of this 2024 Annual Report under the heading “Property and Casualty Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves.”
Goodwill Recoverability
The Company tests goodwill for recoverability at the reporting unit level on an annual basis, or whenever events or circumstances indicate the fair value of a reporting unit may have declined below its carrying value.
During the second quarter of 2023, the Company identified impairment indicators impacting the fair value of the Preferred Property & Casualty Insurance business in connection with ongoing evaluation of strategic alternatives for the Preferred Insurance business. As a result, the business’s fair value was determined using a combination of available market information, market comparisons and a discounted cash flow valuation method based on the present value of future earnings. The fair value calculated in the second quarter of 2023 was lower than the carrying value of the business, resulting in a pre-tax impairment
60
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES (Continued)
charge of $49.6 million and an after-tax impairment charge of $45.5 million. See Note 15, “Goodwill and Intangibles,” for more information.
The Company performed a qualitative goodwill impairment assessment for all remaining reporting units with goodwill as of October 1, 2024. The qualitative assessment takes into consideration changes in the macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, cost factors, overall financial performance, changes in management or key personnel, changes in strategy, events impacting reporting units, and changes in Kemper’s stock price since the last quantitative assessment, which was performed on October 1, 2022.
Recoverability of Deferred Tax Assets
The evaluation of the recoverability of deferred tax assets and the need for a valuation allowance requires the Company to weigh all positive and negative evidence to reach a conclusion whether it is more likely than not that all or some portion of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. The weight given to the evidence is commensurate with the extent to which it can be objectively verified. The more negative evidence that exists, the more positive evidence is necessary and the more difficult it is to support a conclusion that a valuation allowance is not needed.
When making such determination, the Company considers various factors, including:
•the nature, frequency, and amount of cumulative financial reporting income and losses in recent years;
•the jurisdiction in which the deferred tax asset was generated;
•the length of time that carryforward can be utilized in the relevant taxing jurisdictions;
•future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences and carryforwards;
•future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences;
•taxable income in prior carryback years; and
•availability of tax planning strategies.
As a result of the analysis, the Company determined that a valuation allowance was required as of December 31, 2024 against certain foreign deferred tax assets which had been recorded during 2024.
RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
Except for rules and interpretive releases of the SEC under authority of federal securities laws and a limited number of grandfathered standards, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) is the sole source of authoritative GAAP recognized by the FASB that is applicable to the Company. The FASB issues Accounting Standards Updates (“ASUs”) to amend the authoritative literature in the FASB ASC.
The Company has adopted all recently issued accounting pronouncements with effective dates prior to January 1, 2025. See Note 2, “Summary of Accounting Policies and Accounting Changes” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for discussion on adoption of these ASUs and impacts to the Company’s financial statements. For all recently issued accounting pronouncements with effective dates after December 31, 2024, the Company is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on its financial statements.
61
FY 2023 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0000860748-24-000046.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations
| Summary of Results | 31 |
|---|---|
| Catastrophes | 33 |
| Loss and LAE Reserve Development | 34 |
| Non-GAAP Financial Measures | 35 |
| Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance | 37 |
| Life Insurance | 42 |
| Investment Results | 47 |
| Investment Quality and Concentrations | 50 |
| Investments in Limited Liability Companies and Limited Partnerships | 53 |
| Insurance, Interest and Other Expenses | 54 |
| Income Taxes | 55 |
| Supplemental Financial Information | 56 |
| Liquidity and Capital Resources | 59 |
| Contractual Obligations | 62 |
| Critical Accounting Estimates | 63 |
| Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements | 69 |
30
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
SUMMARY OF RESULTS
As discussed in Note 2, “Summary of Accounting Policies and Accounting Changes”, to the Consolidated Financial Statements effective January 1, 2023, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-12, “Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts and related amendments” (“LDTI”) under the modified retrospective method. Prior period amounts in the financial statements have been adjusted to reflect application of the new guidance. Related financial data shown in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations also have been adjusted.
In the third quarter of 2023, the Company announced that it will exit the Preferred Property and Casualty Insurance business and will actively reduce the business beginning in third quarter 2023, with all policies being non-renewed or canceled in accordance with applicable state regulations. In connection with the exit, the Company changed its calculation of Adjusted Consolidated Net Loss to exclude the results of the Preferred Property and Casualty Insurance business effective July 1, 2023, since the results are irrelevant to ongoing operations of the Company and do not qualify for discontinued operations under U.S. GAAP. The results of this business, previously reported as a reportable segment, are now reflected as Non-Core Operations and presented as a reconciling item between Segment Adjusted Operating Net Loss and Net Loss. Prior period amounts have been recast to reflect the change in reportable segments and the segment measure of performance.
Net Loss Attributable to Kemper Corporation was $272.1 million ($(4.25) per unrestricted common share) for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to Net Loss Attributable to Kemper Corporation of $286.6 million ($(4.50) per unrestricted common share) for the year ended December 31, 2022.
A reconciliation of Net Loss Attributable to Kemper Corporation to Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Loss (a non-GAAP financial measure) for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2023 | 2022 | Changefrom 2022to 2023 | 2021 | Change from 2021to 2022 | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net Loss Attributable to Kemper Corporation | $ | (272.1) | $ | (286.6) | $ | 14.5 | $ | (123.7) | $ | (162.9) | |||||||||
| Less: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Income (Loss) from Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities | $ | 3.7 | $ | (63.1) | $ | 66.8 | $ | 90.5 | $ | (153.6) | |||||||||
| Net Realized Investment (Losses) Gains | (14.7) | 3.4 | (18.1) | 51.2 | (47.8) | ||||||||||||||
| Impairment Losses | (0.9) | (20.4) | 19.5 | (8.7) | (11.7) | ||||||||||||||
| Acquisition and Disposition Related Transaction, Integration, Restructuring and Other Costs | (95.0) | (61.3) | (33.7) | (34.7) | (26.6) | ||||||||||||||
| Debt Extinguishment, Pension Settlement and Other Charges | (55.5) | (2.9) | (52.6) | — | (2.9) | ||||||||||||||
| Goodwill Impairment Charge | (45.5) | — | (45.5) | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Non-Core Operations | (17.0) | (25.9) | 8.9 | (12.5) | (13.4) | ||||||||||||||
| Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Loss | $ | (47.2) | $ | (116.4) | $ | 69.2 | $ | (209.5) | $ | 93.1 | |||||||||
| Components of Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Loss: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Segment Adjusted Net Operating (Loss) Income: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance | $ | (57.1) | $ | (147.4) | $ | 90.3 | $ | (196.1) | $ | 48.7 | |||||||||
| Life Insurance | 51.8 | 68.8 | (17.0) | 25.0 | 43.8 | ||||||||||||||
| Total Segment Adjusted Net Operating Loss | (5.3) | (78.6) | 73.3 | (171.1) | 92.5 | ||||||||||||||
| Corporate and Other Adjusted Net Operating Loss | (42.1) | (37.8) | (4.3) | (38.4) | 0.6 | ||||||||||||||
| Less: Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest | (0.2) | — | (0.2) | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Loss | $ | (47.2) | $ | (116.4) | $ | 69.2 | $ | (209.5) | $ | 93.1 |
31
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
SUMMARY OF RESULTS (Continued)
Net Loss attributable to Kemper Corporation
2023 Compared with 2022
Net Loss attributable to Kemper Corporation decreased by $14.5 million in 2023, compared to 2022, due primarily to lower Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Losses and favorable changes in the Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities. These improvements were partially offset by a $55.5 million after-tax noncash charge related to the settlement of the Company’s pension obligations, a $45.5 million after-tax charge from the impairment of the goodwill asset related to the exit of the Preferred Property & Casualty Insurance business and increased Acquisition and Disposition Related Transaction, Integration, Restructuring and Other Costs incurred in connection with the multi-year cost structure optimization initiatives.
Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Loss decreased by $69.2 million in 2023, compared to 2022, due primarily to an improvement in the Specialty Property & Casualty Segment mostly due to personal automobile insurance driven by higher average earned premiums per exposure resulting from rate increases and lower underlying claim frequency that was partially offset by unfavorable prior year loss and LAE development. The Life Insurance Segment also contributed to the decrease in Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Loss due primarily to a decrease in net investment income driven by lower returns from equity method limited liability investments.
See MD&A, “Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance” and “Life Insurance,” for discussion of each respective segment’s results. Corporate and Other Adjusted Net Operating Loss increased in 2023, compared to 2022, due primarily to a decrease in Net Investment Income. The loss from Non-Core Operations decreased by $8.9 million in 2023, compared to 2022, mostly due to improvements from Homeowners Insurance that were impacted by higher average earned premium per exposure resulting from rate increases and lower underlying claim frequency.
2022 Compared with 2021
Net Loss attributable to Kemper Corporation increased by $162.9 million in 2022, compared to 2021, due primarily to increased losses from Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities, decreased Net Realized Investment Gains, and increased Acquisition and Disposition Related Transaction, Integration, Restructuring and Other Costs, partially offset by lower Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Losses.
Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Loss decreased by $93.1 million in 2022, compared to 2021, due primarily to lower Specialty Property & Casualty Segment Insurance Net Operating Loss and higher Life Insurance Segment Net Operating Income, partially offset by higher Non-Core Operations Net Operating Losses.
See MD&A, “Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance” and “Life Insurance,” for discussion of each respective segment’s results. Corporate and Other Net Operating Loss decreased due primarily to increased Net Investment Income. The loss from Non-Core Operations increased by $13.4 million due primarily to higher underlying losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums and lower net investment income, partially offset by lower catastrophe losses and lower levels of adverse prior year reserve development.
Revenues
2023 Compared with 2022
Earned Premiums were $4,529.4 million in 2023, compared to $5,213.4 million in 2022, a decrease of $684.0 million. Earned Premiums in the Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance segment decreased by $413.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Earned Premiums in the Life segment decreased by $183.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Earned Premiums from Non-Core operations decreased by $86.2 million due primarily to lower volumes resulting from the decision to exit and run-off the business in third quarter 2023 as well as ongoing profit improvement actions. See MD&A, “Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance” and “Life Insurance” for discussion of the changes in each segment’s earned premiums.
Net Investment Income decreased by $2.9 million in 2023 due primarily to lower returns on Equity Method Limited Liability Investments and Equity Securities offset by higher rate earned on Fixed Income Securities.
Income related to Changes in Value of Alternative Energy Partnership Investments was $2.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to a net loss of $19.9 million for the same period in 2022. Tax expense related to the Alternative
32
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
SUMMARY OF RESULTS (Continued)
Energy Partnership Investments were $0.5 million, compared to tax benefit of $8.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. This resulted in a net income of $2.4 million and a net loss of $11.9 million attributable to Alternative Energy Partnership Investments for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Revenues for 2023 included $3.7 million of Income from Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities compared to a loss of $63.1 million from Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities in 2022. The improvement was due primarily to the absence of unrealized losses from equity securities.
Net Realized Investment Losses were $18.6 million in 2023, compared to Net Realized Investment Gains of $4.3 million for the same period in 2022 primarily due to fair value changes on derivative transactions.
Impairment Losses were $1.1 million in 2023, compared to Impairment Losses of $25.8 million for the same period in 2022.
See MD&A, “Investment Results,” under the sub-captions captions “Net Investment Income”, “Income (Loss) from Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities”, “Net Realized (Losses) Gains on Sales of Investments” and “Impairment Losses” for additional discussion. The Company cannot predict if or when similar investment gains or losses may occur in the future.
2022 Compared with 2021
Earned Premiums were $5,213.4 million in 2022, compared to $5,179.2 million in 2021, an increase of $34.2 million. Earned Premiums in the Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance segment increased by $97.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. Earned Premiums in the Preferred Property & Casualty Insurance segment decreased by $56.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. See MD&A, “Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance” and “Preferred Property & Casualty Insurance” for discussion of the changes in each segment’s earned premiums.
Net Investment Income decreased by $4.7 million in 2022 due primarily to lower valuations on Equity Method Limited Liability Investments, lower balances in Equity Securities, and lower rate on Fixed Income Securities, partially offset by higher levels of investments in Fixed Income Securities and Company-Owned Life Insurance.
Loss related to Changes in Value of Alternative Energy Partnership Investments was $19.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to a net loss of $61.2 million for the same period in 2021. Tax benefits related to the Alternative Energy Partnership Investments were $8.0 million, compared to tax benefits of $79.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. This resulted in a net loss of $11.9 million and net income of $17.8 million attributable to Alternative Energy Partnership Investments for the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Other Income increased by $4.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to the same period in 2021.
Net Realized Gains on Sales of Investments were $4.3 million in 2022, compared to $64.8 million in 2021.
Impairment Losses were $25.8 million in 2022, compared to $11.0 million for the same period in 2021.
See MD&A, “Investment Results,” under the sub-captions “Net Realized (Losses) Gains on Sales of Investments” and “Impairment Losses” for additional discussion. The Company cannot predict if or when similar investment gains or losses may occur in the future.
CATASTROPHES
Catastrophes and natural disasters are inherent risks of the property and casualty insurance business. These catastrophic events and natural disasters include, without limitation, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, hailstorms, wildfires, high winds and winter storms. Such events result in insured losses that are, and will continue to be, a material factor in the results of operations and financial position of the Company’s property and casualty insurance companies. Further, because the level of these insured losses occurring in any one year cannot be accurately predicted, these losses may contribute to material year-to-year fluctuations in the results of operations and financial position of these companies. Specific types of catastrophic events are more likely to occur at certain times within the year than others. This factor adds an element of seasonality to property and casualty insurance claims. The Company has adopted the industry-wide catastrophe classifications of storms and other events promulgated by ISO to track and report losses related to catastrophes. ISO classifies a disaster as a catastrophe when the event causes $25.0 million or more in direct insured losses to property and affects a significant number of policyholders and insurers. ISO-classified catastrophes are assigned a unique serial number recognized throughout the insurance industry.
33
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
CATASTROPHES (Continued)
The number of ISO-classified catastrophic events and catastrophe losses and LAE, net of reinsurance recoveries, (excluding loss and LAE reserve development) by range of loss and business segment for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 are presented below.
| Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Number of Events | Losses and LAE | Number of Events | Losses and LAE | Number of Events | Losses and LAE | ||||||||||||||
| Range of Losses and LAE Per Event: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Below $5 | 68 | $ | 77.7 | 59 | $ | 54.6 | 65 | $ | 56.1 | |||||||||||
| $5 - $10 | 3 | 19.0 | 2 | 10.2 | 2 | 16.5 | ||||||||||||||
| $10 - $15 | — | — | 1 | 14.5 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| $15 - $20 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 35.2 | ||||||||||||||
| $20 - $25 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Greater Than $25 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Total | 71 | $ | 96.7 | 62 | $ | 79.3 | 69 | $ | 107.8 | |||||||||||
| Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance | $ | 34.5 | $ | 23.0 | $ | 15.7 | ||||||||||||||
| Life Insurance | 2.2 | 1.8 | 13.0 | |||||||||||||||||
| Non-Core Operations | 60.0 | 54.5 | 79.1 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Catastrophe Losses and LAE | $ | 96.7 | $ | 79.3 | $ | 107.8 |
Catastrophe Reinsurance
The Company primarily manages its exposure to catastrophes and other natural disasters through a combination of geographical diversification, restrictions on the amount and location of new business production in such regions, modifications of, and/or limitations to coverages and deductibles for certain perils in such regions and a catastrophe reinsurance program for the Company’s Property & Casualty Insurance business. Coverage under the catastrophe reinsurance program is provided in various contracts and layers. The Company’s Property & Casualty Insurance business also purchase reinsurance from the FHCF for hurricane losses in Florida at retentions lower than its catastrophe reinsurance program.
The Company had no material recoveries under its catastrophe reinsurance treaties for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021. See the “Reinsurance” subsection of the “Property and Casualty Insurance Business” and “Life Insurance Business” sections of Item 1(c), “Description of Business,” and Note 25, “Catastrophe Reinsurance,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on the Company’s reinsurance programs.
LOSS AND LAE RESERVE DEVELOPMENT
Increases (decreases) in the Company’s property and casualty loss and LAE reserves for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 to recognize adverse (favorable) loss and LAE reserve development from prior accident years in continuing operations, hereinafter also referred to as “reserve development” in the discussion of segment results, are presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Increase (Decrease) in Total Loss and LAE Reserves Related to Prior Years: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe | $ | 168.9 | $ | (10.5) | $ | 112.1 | |||||
| Catastrophe | (9.1) | (4.1) | (5.4) | ||||||||
| Increase (Decrease) in Total Loss and LAE Reserves Related to Prior Years | $ | 159.8 | $ | (14.6) | $ | 106.7 |
See MD&A, “Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance,” MD&A, “Life Insurance,” and Note 6, “Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on the Company’s reserve development. See MD&A, “Critical Accounting Estimates,” of this 2023 Annual Report for additional information pertaining to the Company’s process of estimating property and casualty insurance reserves for losses and LAE, and the estimated variability
34
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
LOSS AND LAE RESERVE DEVELOPMENT (Continued)
thereof, development of property and casualty insurance losses and LAE, and a discussion of some of the variables that may impact them.
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC, the Company is required to file consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). The Company is permitted to include non-GAAP financial measures in its filings provided that they are defined along with an explanation of their usefulness to investors, are no more prominent than the comparable GAAP financial measures and are reconciled to such GAAP financial measures.
These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered a substitute for the comparable GAAP financial measures, as they do not fully recognize the overall profitability of the Company’s businesses.
Underlying Losses and LAE and Underlying Combined Ratio
The following discussion of segment results uses the non-GAAP financial measures of (i) Underlying Losses and LAE and (ii) Underlying Combined Ratio. Underlying Losses and LAE (also referred to in the discussion as “Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE”) exclude the impact of catastrophe losses and loss and LAE reserve development from prior years from the Company’s Incurred Losses and LAE, which is the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.
The Underlying Combined Ratio is computed by adding the Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio with the Insurance Expense Ratio. The most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is the Combined Ratio, which is computed by adding Total Incurred Losses and LAE Ratio, including the impact of catastrophe losses and loss and LAE reserve development from prior years, with the Insurance Expense Ratio.
The Company believes Underlying Losses and LAE and the Underlying Combined Ratio are useful to investors and uses these financial measures to reveal the trends in the Company’s Property & Casualty Insurance segment that may be obscured by catastrophe losses and prior-year reserve development. These catastrophe losses may cause the Company’s loss trends to vary significantly between periods as a result of their incidence of occurrence and magnitude and can have a significant impact on incurred losses and LAE and the Combined Ratio. Prior-year reserve developments are caused by unexpected loss development on historical reserves. Because reserve development relates to the re-estimation of losses from earlier periods, it has no bearing on the performance of the Company’s insurance products in the current period. The Company believes it is useful for investors to evaluate these components separately and in the aggregate when reviewing the Company’s underwriting performance.
Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Loss
Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Loss is an after-tax, non-GAAP financial measure and is computed by excluding from Net Loss attributable to Kemper Corporation the after-tax impact of:
(i) Income (Loss) from Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities;
(ii) Net Realized Investment (Losses) Gains;
(iii) Impairment Losses;
(iv) Acquisition and Disposition Related Transaction, Integration, Restructuring and Other Costs;
(v) Debt Extinguishment, Pension Settlement and Other Charges;
(vi) Goodwill Impairment Charges;
(vii) Non-Core Operations; and
(viii) Significant non-recurring or infrequent items that may not be indicative of ongoing operations
Significant non-recurring items are excluded when (a) the nature of the charge or gain is such that it is reasonably unlikely to recur within two years, and (b) there has been no similar charge or gain within the prior two years. The most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is Net Loss attributable to Kemper Corporation. There were no applicable significant non-
35
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (Continued)
recurring items that the Company excluded from the calculation of Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Loss for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 or 2021.
The Company believes that Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Loss provides investors with a valuable measure of its ongoing performance because it reveals underlying operational performance trends that otherwise might be less apparent if the items were not excluded. Income (Loss) from Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities, Net Realized Investment (Losses) Gains and Impairment Losses related to investments included in the Company’s results may vary significantly between periods and are generally driven by business decisions and external economic developments such as capital market conditions that impact the values of the Company’s investments, the timing of which is unrelated to the insurance underwriting process. Acquisition and Disposition Related Transaction Costs, Integration Costs, and Restructuring and Other Costs may vary significantly between periods and are generally driven by the timing of acquisitions and business decisions which are unrelated to the insurance underwriting process. Debt Extinguishment, Pension Settlement and Other Charges relate to (i) loss from early extinguishment of debt, which is driven by the Company’s financing and refinancing decisions and capital needs, as well as external economic developments such as debt market conditions, the timing of which is unrelated to the insurance underwriting process; (ii) settlement of pension plan obligations which are business decisions made by the Company, the timing of which is unrelated to the underwriting process; and (iii) other charges that are non-standard, not part of the ordinary course of business, and unrelated to the insurance underwriting process. Goodwill impairment charges are excluded because they are infrequent and non-recurring charges. Non-Core Operations includes the results of our Preferred Insurance business which we expect to fully exit. These results are excluded because they are irrelevant to our ongoing operations and do not qualify for Discontinued Operations under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"). Significant non-recurring items are excluded because, by their nature, they are not indicative of the Company’s business or economic trends.
The preceding non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered a substitute for the comparable GAAP financial measures, as they do not fully recognize the overall profitability of the Company’s businesses.
36
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
SPECIALTY PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE
Selected financial information for the Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance segment is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net Premiums Written | $ | 3,305.4 | $ | 3,934.4 | $4,057.3 | ||||||
| Earned Premiums | $ | 3,632.5 | $ | 4,046.4 | $ | 3,948.5 | |||||
| Net Investment Income | 168.3 | 140.7 | 152.5 | ||||||||
| Change in Value of Alternative Energy Partnership Investments | 1.6 | (9.9) | (29.0) | ||||||||
| Other Income | 4.5 | 6.0 | 4.1 | ||||||||
| Total Revenues | 3,806.9 | 4,183.2 | 4,076.1 | ||||||||
| Incurred Losses and LAE related to: | |||||||||||
| Current Year: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | 2,974.5 | 3,569.2 | 3,480.3 | ||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | 34.5 | 23.0 | 15.7 | ||||||||
| Prior Years: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | 135.2 | (14.6) | 97.4 | ||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | (2.3) | 0.6 | 0.3 | ||||||||
| Total Incurred Losses and LAE | 3,141.9 | 3,578.2 | 3,593.7 | ||||||||
| Insurance Expenses | 741.3 | 801.9 | 774.5 | ||||||||
| Segment Adjusted Operating Loss | (76.3) | (196.9) | (292.1) | ||||||||
| Income Tax Benefit | 19.2 | 49.5 | 96.0 | ||||||||
| Total Segment Adjusted Net Operating Loss | $ | (57.1) | $ | (147.4) | $ | (196.1) | |||||
| Ratios Based On Earned Premiums | |||||||||||
| Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 82.0 | % | 88.2 | % | 88.1 | % | |||||
| Current Year Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.4 | ||||||||
| Prior Years Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 3.7 | (0.4) | 2.5 | ||||||||
| Prior Years Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | (0.1) | — | — | ||||||||
| Total Incurred Loss and LAE Ratio | 86.5 | 88.4 | 91.0 | ||||||||
| Insurance Expense Ratio | 20.4 | 19.8 | 19.6 | ||||||||
| Combined Ratio | 106.9 | % | 108.2 | % | 110.6 | % | |||||
| Underlying Combined Ratio | |||||||||||
| Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 82.0 | % | 88.2 | % | 88.1 | % | |||||
| Insurance Expense Ratio | 20.4 | 19.8 | 19.6 | ||||||||
| Underlying Combined Ratio | 102.4 | % | 108.0 | % | 107.7 | % | |||||
| Non-GAAP Measure Reconciliation | |||||||||||
| Combined Ratio | 106.9 | % | 108.2 | % | 110.6 | % | |||||
| Less: | |||||||||||
| Current Year Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.4 | ||||||||
| Prior Years Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 3.7 | (0.4) | 2.5 | ||||||||
| Prior Years Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | (0.1) | — | — | ||||||||
| Underlying Combined Ratio | 102.4 | % | 108.0 | % | 107.7 | % |
37
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
SPECIALTY PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE (Continued)
INSURANCE RESERVES
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Dec 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance Reserves: | |||||||
| Personal Automobile | $ | 1,711.9 | $ | 1,875.8 | |||
| Commercial Automobile | 596.8 | 445.3 | |||||
| Total Insurance Reserves | $ | 2,308.7 | $ | 2,321.1 | |||
| Insurance Reserves: | |||||||
| Loss and Allocated LAE Reserves: | |||||||
| Case and Allocated LAE | $ | 999.9 | $ | 1,099.9 | |||
| Incurred But Not Reported | 1,132.8 | 1,041.2 | |||||
| Total Loss and LAE Reserves | 2,132.7 | 2,141.1 | |||||
| Unallocated LAE Reserves | 176.0 | 180.0 | |||||
| Total Insurance Reserves | $ | 2,308.7 | $ | 2,321.1 |
See MD&A, “Critical Accounting Estimates,” under the caption “Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves for Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses” for additional information pertaining to the Company’s process of estimating property and casualty insurance reserves for losses and LAE, development of property and casualty insurance losses and LAE from prior accident years, also referred to as “reserve development” in the discussion of segment results, estimated variability of property and casualty insurance reserves for losses and LAE, and a discussion of some of the variables that may impact development of property and casualty insurance losses and LAE and the estimated variability of property and casualty insurance reserves for losses and LAE.
Overall
2023 Compared with 2022
The Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance segment reported Total Segment Adjusted Net Operating Loss of $57.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to Total Segment Adjusted Net Operating Loss of $147.4 million in 2022. Total Segment Adjusted Net Operating Loss improved by $90.3 million mostly driven by a $104.4 million improvement from personal automobile insurance due primarily to higher average earned premiums per exposure resulting from rate increases and lower underlying claim frequency that was partially offset by unfavorable prior year loss and LAE development. The improvement in segment adjusted net operating loss was partially offset by a $14.1 million decrease from the commercial automobile insurance business due primarily to an increase in the underlying loss ratio from higher claim average severity and unfavorable prior year development.
Earned Premiums in the Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance segment decreased by $413.9 million in 2023, compared to 2022 due to a decrease in new business resulting from targeted actions to improve profitability, partially offset by higher average earned premium per exposure resulting from rate increases.
Net Investment Income in the Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance segment increased by $27.6 million in 2023, compared to 2022, due primarily to higher rates on Fixed Income Securities and Short Term Investments partially offset by lower returns on Equity Securities.
Income related to Changes in Value of Alternative Energy Partnership Investments was $1.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to a loss of $9.9 million for the same period in 2022. Tax expenses related to the Alternative Energy Partnership Investments were $0.0 million and tax benefits of $4.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. This resulted in net income of $1.6 million and a net loss of $5.8 million attributable to Alternative Energy Partnership Investments for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Underlying losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums were 82.0% in 2023, an improvement of 6.2 percentage points, compared to 2022, driven by higher average earned premium per exposure resulting from rate increases and lower underlying claims frequency, partially offset by higher claims average severity from rising inflation and supply chain constraints.
38
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
SPECIALTY PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE (Continued)
Underlying losses and LAE exclude the impact of catastrophes and loss and LAE reserve development. Adverse loss and LAE reserve development (including catastrophe reserve development) was $132.9 million for 2023 compared to favorable development of $14.0 million for 2022 due primarily to higher than expected emergence in loss patterns related to third and fourth accident quarters of 2022 within the bodily injury and physical damage coverages as well as an increase in Florida personal injury protection driven by higher than expected frequency and severity resulting from an increase in litigated claim activity, mainly from policy years 2020 through 2022. Catastrophe losses and LAE (excluding reserve development) were $34.5 million for 2023 compared to $23.0 million for 2022, an increase of $11.5 million.
Insurance Expenses were $741.3 million, or 20.4 percent of earned premiums, in 2023 a deterioration of 0.6 percent compared to 2022. The $60.6 million decrease is primarily due to a reduction in new business, as discussed above.
The Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance segment’s 2023 effective income tax rate was 25.3% compared to 25.1% in 2022. The effective income tax rate for 2023 and 2022 differs from the federal statutory income tax rate due primarily to investments in Company-Owned Life Insurance, tax-exempt investment income and dividends received deductions.
2022 Compared with 2021
The Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance segment reported Segment Net Operating Loss of $147.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to Net Operating Loss of $196.1 million in 2021. Segment net operating losses decreased by $48.7 million due primarily to favorable prior year loss and LAE reserve development in 2022 of $14.6 million compared to adverse development in 2021 of $97.4 million.
Earned Premiums in the Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance segment increased by $97.9 million in 2022, compared to 2021 driven by the acquisition of American Access Casualty Company (“AAC”) and higher average earned premium per exposure resulting from rate increases. Policies-in-force were lower in Private Passenger Auto as a result of lower levels of new business due to ongoing profit improvement actions.
Net Investment Income in the Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance segment decreased by $11.8 million in 2022, compared to 2021, due primarily to lower returns from Alternative Investments and Equity Securities, partially offset by higher yields and levels of investments in fixed income securities.
Loss related to Changes in Value of Alternative Energy Partnership Investments was $9.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to a loss of $29.0 million for the same period in 2021. Tax benefits related to the Alternative Energy Partnership Investments were $4.1 million and tax benefits of $37.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. This resulted in a net loss of $5.8 million and a net income of $8.4 million attributable to Alternative Energy Partnership Investments for the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Underlying losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums were 88.2% in 2022, a deterioration of 0.1 percentage points, compared to 2021, due primarily to higher severity trends partially offset by earned rate increases and lower claim frequency. Severity trends increased due to rising inflation and supply chain constraints. Underlying losses and LAE exclude the impact of catastrophes and loss and LAE reserve development. Favorable loss and LAE reserve development (including catastrophe reserve development) was $14.0 million in 2022, compared to adverse reserve development of $97.7 million in 2021.
Catastrophe losses and LAE (excluding reserve development) were $23.0 million in 2022, compared to $15.7 million for the same period in 2021, a deterioration of $7.3 million. Insurance Expenses were $801.9 million, or 19.8% of earned premiums, for the year ended December 31, 2022, a deterioration of 0.2 percentage point compared to the same period in 2021.
The Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance segment’s 2022 effective income tax rate was 25.1% compared to 32.9% in 2021. The effective income tax rate for 2022 and 2021 differs from the federal statutory income tax rate due primarily to investments in Company-Owned Life Insurance, tax-exempt investment income and dividends received deductions. The change in the effective tax rate between 2022 and 2021 is largely due to fewer investment tax credits generated during 2022 as compared to 2021.
39
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
SPECIALTY PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE (Continued)
Specialty Personal Automobile Insurance
Selected financial information for the specialty personal automobile insurance product line for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021 is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net Premiums Written | $ | 2,677.5 | $ | 3,305.1 | $ | 3,587.2 | |||||||||
| Earned Premiums | $ | 2,977.8 | $ | 3,496.7 | $ | 3,533.7 | |||||||||
| Incurred Losses and LAE related to: | |||||||||||||||
| Current Year: | |||||||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | $ | 2,464.0 | $ | 3,153.9 | $ | 3,173.9 | |||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | 29.6 | 20.7 | 14.4 | ||||||||||||
| Prior Years: | |||||||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | 111.0 | (18.1) | 85.0 | ||||||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | (2.3) | 0.5 | 0.3 | ||||||||||||
| Total Incurred Losses and LAE | $ | 2,602.3 | $ | 3,157.0 | $ | 3,273.6 | |||||||||
| Ratios Based On Earned Premiums | |||||||||||||||
| Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 82.8 | % | 90.2 | % | 89.8 | % | |||||||||
| Current Year Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.4 | ||||||||||||
| Prior Years Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 3.7 | (0.5) | 2.4 | ||||||||||||
| Prior Years Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | (0.1) | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Total Incurred Loss and LAE Ratio | 87.4 | % | 90.3 | % | 92.6 | % |
2023 Compared with 2022
Earned Premiums on personal automobile insurance decreased by $518.9 million in 2023, compared to 2022, due to a decrease in new business driven by targeted underwriting actions to improve profitability, partially offset by higher average earned premium per exposure resulting from rate increases. Incurred losses and LAE were $2,602.3 million, or 87.4% of earned premiums, in 2023, compared to $3,157.0 million, or 90.3% of earned premiums, in 2022. Incurred losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums decreased driven by higher average earned premiums per exposure resulting from rate increases and a lower frequency of claims, partially offset by adverse prior year loss and LAE development. Underlying losses and LAE as a percentage of related earned premiums were 82.8% in 2023, compared to 90.2% in 2022, an improvement of 7.4 points. Adverse loss and LAE reserve development was $108.7 million in 2023, compared to favorable loss and LAE reserve developments of $17.6 million in 2022. The adverse loss and LAE reserve development was primarily driven by higher than expected emergence in loss patterns related to third and fourth accident quarters of 2022 within the bodily injury and physical damage coverages as well as an increase in Florida personal injury protection driven by higher than expected frequency and severity resulting from an increase in litigated claim activity, mainly from policy years 2020 through 2022. Catastrophe losses and LAE (excluding reserve development) were $29.6 million in 2023 compared to $20.7 million in 2022.
2022 Compared with 2021
Earned Premiums on specialty personal automobile insurance decreased by $37.0 million in 2022, compared to 2021, due primarily to the decrease in new business driven by targeted underwriting actions to improve profitability partially offset by the acquisition of AAC and higher average earned premium per exposure resulting from rate increases. Incurred losses and LAE were $3,157.0 million, or 90.3% of earned premiums, in 2022, compared to $3,273.6 million, or 92.6% of earned premiums, in 2021. Incurred losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums improved primarily due to a favorable change in prior year loss and LAE reserve development, partially offset by deterioration in underlying losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premium. 2021’s adverse prior year loss and LAE reserve development was primarily driven by legal developments and increased severity in personal injury protection coverages in Florida and liability coverages. Underlying losses and LAE as a percentage of related earned premiums were 90.2% in 2022, compared to 89.8% in 2021, a deterioration of 0.4 points due to higher claim severity trends partially offset by earned premium per exposure increases and lower claim frequency. Severity trends increased due to rising inflation and supply chain constraints. Favorable loss and LAE reserve development was $17.6
40
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
SPECIALTY PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE (Continued)
million in 2022, compared to adverse loss and LAE reserve developments of $85.3 million in 2021, Catastrophe losses and LAE (excluding reserve development) were $20.7 million in 2022, compared to $14.4 million in 2021, due primarily to losses arising from Hurricane Ian.
Commercial Automobile Insurance
Selected financial information for the commercial automobile insurance product line is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net Premiums Written | $ | 627.9 | $ | 629.3 | $ | 470.1 | |||||
| Earned Premiums | $ | 654.7 | $ | 549.7 | $ | 414.8 | |||||
| Incurred Losses and LAE related to: | |||||||||||
| Current Year: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | $ | 510.5 | $ | 415.3 | $ | 306.4 | |||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | 4.9 | 2.3 | 1.3 | ||||||||
| Prior Years: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | 24.2 | 3.5 | 12.4 | ||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | — | 0.1 | — | ||||||||
| Total Incurred Losses and LAE | $ | 539.6 | $ | 421.2 | $ | 320.1 | |||||
| Ratios Based On Earned Premiums | |||||||||||
| Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 78.0 | % | 75.6 | % | 73.9 | % | |||||
| Current Year Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.3 | ||||||||
| Prior Years Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 3.7 | 0.6 | 3.0 | ||||||||
| Prior Years Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | — | — | — | ||||||||
| Total Incurred Loss and LAE Ratio | 82.4 | % | 76.6 | % | 77.2 | % |
2023 Compared with 2022
Earned premiums from commercial automobile insurance increased by $105.0 million in 2023, compared to 2022, due primarily to higher volume and higher average earned premium per exposure resulting from rate increases. Incurred losses and LAE were $539.6 million, or 82.4% of earned premiums, in 2023, compared to $421.2 million, or 76.6% of earned premiums, in 2022. Incurred losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums increased due to both a deterioration in underlying losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums, as well as higher levels of adverse loss and LAE reserve development. Underlying losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums were 78.0% in 2023, compared to 75.6% in 2022, a deterioration of 2.4 percentage points due primarily to higher severity trends from rising inflation and supply chain constraints. Adverse loss and LAE reserve development was $24.2 million in 2023, compared to $3.6 million in 2022 due primarily to higher than expected emergence in loss patterns related to policy years 2021 and 2022 bodily injury coverages.
2022 Compared with 2021
Earned premiums in commercial automobile insurance increased by $134.9 million in 2022, compared to 2021, due primarily to higher volume and higher average earned premium per exposure. Incurred losses and LAE were $421.2 million, or 76.6% of earned premiums, in 2022, compared to $320.1 million, or 77.2% of earned premiums, in 2021. Incurred losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums improved due primarily to lower levels of adverse prior year development on prior year claims offset by an increase in underlying losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums. Underlying losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums were 75.6% in 2022, compared to 73.9% in 2021, a deterioration of 1.7 percentage points due primarily to higher claim severity trends. Severity trends increased due to rising inflation and supply chain constraints. Adverse loss and LAE reserve development was $3.6 million in 2022, compared to adverse reserve development of $12.4 million in 2021.
41
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
LIFE INSURANCE
Selected financial information for the Life Insurance segment is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earned Premiums | $ | 387.6 | $ | 571.5 | $ | 579.0 | |||||
| Net Investment Income | 193.4 | 216.5 | 202.7 | ||||||||
| Change in Value of Alternative Energy Partnership Investments | 0.7 | (5.3) | (15.8) | ||||||||
| Other Loss | (0.2) | (0.6) | (1.3) | ||||||||
| Total Revenues | 581.5 | 782.1 | 764.6 | ||||||||
| Policyholders’ Benefits and Incurred Losses and LAE | 243.4 | 360.8 | 388.5 | ||||||||
| Insurance Expenses | 275.8 | 343.3 | 369.6 | ||||||||
| Segment Adjusted Operating Income | 62.3 | 78.0 | 6.5 | ||||||||
| Income Tax (Expense) Benefit | (10.5) | (9.2) | 18.5 | ||||||||
| Total Segment Adjusted Net Operating Income | $ | 51.8 | $ | 68.8 | $ | 25.0 |
INSURANCE RESERVES
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Dec 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance Reserves: | |||||||
| Future Policyholder Benefits | $ | 3,375.6 | $ | 3,218.5 | |||
| Incurred Losses and LAE Reserves: | |||||||
| Life | 42.1 | 53.3 | |||||
| Accident and Health | 4.7 | 4.3 | |||||
| Property | 2.9 | 2.3 | |||||
| Total Incurred Losses and LAE Reserves | 49.7 | 59.9 | |||||
| Total Insurance Reserves | $ | 3,425.3 | $ | 3,278.4 |
See Note 2 “Summary of Accounting Policies and Accounting Changes,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements under the sub-caption “Insurance Reserves” for additional discussion.
2023 Compared with 2022
Total Segment Adjusted Net Operating Income in the Life Insurance segment was $51.8 million in 2023, compared to $68.8 million in 2022.
Earned Premiums in the Life Insurance segment decreased by $183.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to 2022 due primarily to the disposition of Reserve National in December 2022 ($146.2 million) and changes in assumptions as part of the annual assumption update for Deferred Profit Liability in 2023 ($15.0 million reduction in earned premium) as compared to 2022 ($12.7 million increase in earned premium). Excluding these impacts, Earned Premiums decreased by $10.0 million due primarily to lower volume on accident & health and property insurance products.
Net Investment Income decreased by $23.1 million in 2023, compared to 2022, due primarily to lower returns from equity method limited liability investments.
Income related to Changes in Value of Alternative Energy Partnership Investments was $0.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to a loss of $5.3 million for the same period in 2022. Tax expense related to the Alternative Energy Partnership Investments were $0.0 million and tax benefits of $2.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. This resulted in net income of $0.7 million and a net loss of $3.2 million attributable to Alternative Energy Partnership Investment for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Policyholders’ Benefits and Incurred Losses and LAE decreased by $117.4 million in 2023, compared to 2022, due primarily to the disposition of Reserve National in December 2022 ($76.5 million) and changes resulting from the annual assumption update in 2023 ($23.3 million reduction) compared to 2022 ($8.7 million increase). Excluding these impacts, Policyholders’ Benefits
42
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
LIFE INSURANCE (Continued)
and Incurred Losses and LAE decreased by $8.9 million primarily driven by changes in mortality experience and lower current year property non-catastrophe losses and LAE.
Insurance Expenses in the Life Insurance segment decreased by $67.5 million in 2023, compared to 2022, due primarily to the disposition of Reserve National in December 2022.
The Life Insurance segment’s 2023 effective income tax rate was 16.9% compared to 11.8% in 2022. The effective income tax rate for 2023 and 2022 differs from the federal statutory income tax rate due primarily to investments in Company-Owned Life Insurance, tax-exempt investment income and dividends received deductions. The increase in the effective tax rate from 2022 is primarily due to less tax-exempt investment income in 2023 and compared to 2022.
2022 Compared with 2021
The financial information for the Life Insurance Segment includes the results of Reserve National through December 1, 2022, the date it was sold.
Earned Premiums in the Life Insurance segment decreased by $7.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to 2021. Excluding the impact of changes resulting from the annual assumption update for Deferred Profit Liability in 2022 ($12.7 million increase) compared to 2021 ($4.6 million increase), Earned Premiums decreased by $15.6 million, due primarily to lower volume on accident and health insurance products and property insurance products, partially offset by increased average premium rate on life insurance products.
Net Investment Income increased by $13.8 million in 2022, compared to 2021, due primarily to higher levels of investments in Fixed Income Securities, higher returns from Alternative Investments and higher levels of investments and rate on Company-Owned Life Insurance, partially offset by lower yields on Fixed Income Securities and lower levels of investments and yields on Equity Securities.
Loss related to Changes in Value of Alternative Energy Partnership Investments was $5.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to a loss of $15.8 million for the same period in 2021. Tax benefits related to the Alternative Energy Partnership Investments were $2.1 million and $20.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. This resulted in a net loss of $3.2 million and a net income of $4.6 million attributable to Alternative Energy Partnership Investment for the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Policyholders’ Benefits and Incurred Losses and LAE decreased by $27.7 million in 2022, compared to 2021. Excluding the impact from the annual assumption updates for Insurance Reserves in 2022 ($8.7 million increase) compared to 2021 ($5.7 million increase), Policyholders’ Benefits and Incurred Losses and LAE decreased by $30.7 million. This was due primarily to lower mortality for life insurance and lower frequency of accident and health insurance claims.
Insurance Expenses in the Life Insurance segment decreased by $26.3 million in 2022, compared to 2021, due primarily to lower commission expense and a reduction in expenses due to lower volume of accident and health insurance products and property insurance products.
The Life Insurance segment’s 2022 effective income tax rate was 11.8% compared to 284.6% in 2021. The effective income tax rate for 2022 and 2021 differs from the federal statutory income tax rate due primarily to investments in Company-Owned Life Insurance, tax-exempt investment income and dividends received deductions and investment tax credits. The change in the effective tax rate between 2022 and 2021 is largely due to increased pre-tax income in 2022 as compared to 2021 as well fewer investment tax credits generated during 2022 than in 2021.
43
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
LIFE INSURANCE (Continued)
Life Insurance
Selected financial information for the life insurance product line is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earned Premiums | $ | 319.2 | $ | 352.8 | $ | 327.2 | |||||
| Net Investment Income | 191.8 | 210.0 | 196.8 | ||||||||
| Change in Value of Alternative Energy Partnership Investments | 0.7 | (4.9) | (15.0) | ||||||||
| Other Loss | (0.4) | (1.1) | (1.6) | ||||||||
| Total Revenues | 511.3 | 556.8 | 507.4 | ||||||||
| Policyholders’ Benefits and Incurred Losses and LAE | 218.7 | 257.2 | 264.1 | ||||||||
| Insurance Expenses | 241.0 | 237.7 | 246.3 | ||||||||
| Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) | 51.6 | 61.9 | (3.0) | ||||||||
| Income Tax (Expense) Benefit | (8.2) | (6.2) | 19.5 | ||||||||
| Total Product Line Adjusted Net Operating Income | $ | 43.4 | $ | 55.7 | $ | 16.5 |
2023 Compared with 2022
Earned Premiums from life insurance decreased by $33.6 million in 2023, compared to 2022, due primarily to changes resulting from the annual assumption update for Deferred Profit Liability. Policyholders’ Benefits and Incurred Losses and LAE on life insurance were $218.7 million in 2023, compared to $257.2 million in 2022, a decrease of $38.5 million. This was due primarily to changes resulting from the annual assumption update in 2023 ($32.0 million) and changes in mortality experience.
2022 Compared with 2021
Earned premiums on life insurance increased by $25.6 million in 2022, compared to 2021. Excluding the impact of changes resulting from the annual assumption updates, Earned Premiums increased by $17.5 million, due primarily to increased average premium rate. Policyholders’ benefits and incurred losses and LAE on life insurance were $257.2 million in 2022, compared to $264.1 million in 2021, a decrease of $6.9 million. Excluding the impact from the annual assumption updates, Policyholders’ Benefits and Incurred Losses and LAE decreased by $9.9 million, due primarily to lower mortality.
Accident and Health Insurance
Selected financial information for the Accident and Health Insurance product line is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earned Premiums | $ | 23.1 | $ | 168.2 | $ | 189.9 | |||||
| Net Investment Income | — | 3.3 | 3.6 | ||||||||
| Change in Value of Alternative Energy Partnership Investments | — | (0.1) | (0.3) | ||||||||
| Other Income | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.3 | ||||||||
| Total Revenues | 23.3 | 171.9 | 193.5 | ||||||||
| Policyholders’ Benefits and Incurred Losses and LAE | 11.5 | 86.5 | 96.1 | ||||||||
| Insurance Expenses | 11.2 | 79.1 | 91.6 | ||||||||
| Adjusted Operating Income | 0.6 | 6.3 | 5.8 | ||||||||
| Income Tax Expense | (0.2) | (1.1) | (0.9) | ||||||||
| Total Product Line Adjusted Net Operating Income | $ | 0.4 | $ | 5.2 | $ | 4.9 |
44
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
LIFE INSURANCE (Continued)
2023 Compared with 2022
The financial information for the Accident and Health Insurance product line includes the results of Reserve National through December 1, 2022, the date it was sold.
Earned Premiums from accident and health insurance decreased by $145.1 million in 2023, compared to 2022. This is due primarily to the disposition of Reserve National in December 2022. Policyholders’ Benefits and Incurred Losses and LAE on accident and health insurance were $11.5 million in 2023, compared to $86.5 million in 2022. This is due primarily to the disposition of Reserve National in December 2022.
Insurance expenses decreased by $67.9 million in 2023, compared to 2022, due primarily to the disposition of Reserve National in December 2022.
2022 Compared with 2021
The financial information for the Accident and Health Insurance product line includes the results of Reserve National through December 1, 2022, the date it was sold.
Earned premiums on accident and health insurance decreased by $21.7 million in 2022, compared to 2021. This is due primarily to a lower volume of sales and the disposition of Reserve National. Policyholders’ Benefits and Incurred Losses and LAE on accident and health insurance were $86.5 million in 2022, compared to $96.1 million in 2021 due primarily to lower frequency of claims.
Insurance expenses decreased by $12.5 million in 2022, compared to 2021, due primarily to lower volume of accident and health insurance products.
45
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
LIFE INSURANCE (Continued)
Property Insurance
Selected financial information for the property insurance product line is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earned Premiums | $ | 45.3 | $ | 50.5 | $ | 61.9 | |||||
| Net Investment Income | 1.6 | 3.2 | 2.3 | ||||||||
| Change in Value of Alternative Energy Partnership Investments | — | (0.3) | (0.5) | ||||||||
| Total Revenues | 46.9 | 53.4 | 63.7 | ||||||||
| Incurred Losses and LAE related to: | |||||||||||
| Current Year: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | 8.9 | 12.5 | 14.2 | ||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | 2.2 | 1.8 | 13.0 | ||||||||
| Prior Years: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.2 | ||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | 0.8 | 1.5 | (0.1) | ||||||||
| Total Incurred Losses and LAE | 13.2 | 17.1 | 28.3 | ||||||||
| Insurance Expenses | 23.6 | 26.5 | 31.7 | ||||||||
| Adjusted Operating Income | 10.1 | 9.8 | 3.7 | ||||||||
| Income Tax Expense | (2.1) | (1.9) | (0.1) | ||||||||
| Total Product Line Adjusted Net Operating Income | $ | 8.0 | $ | 7.9 | $ | 3.6 | |||||
| Ratios Based On Earned Premiums | |||||||||||
| Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 19.5 | % | 24.7 | % | 23.0 | % | |||||
| Current Year Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 4.9 | 3.6 | 21.0 | ||||||||
| Prior Years Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 2.9 | 2.6 | 1.9 | ||||||||
| Prior Years Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 1.8 | 3.0 | (0.2) | ||||||||
| Total Incurred Loss and LAE Ratio | 29.1 | % | 33.9 | % | 45.7 | % |
2023 Compared with 2022
Earned Premiums from property insurance decreased by $5.2 million in 2023, compared to 2022, due primarily to lower volume of property insurance products. Incurred losses and LAE on property insurance were $13.2 million, or 29.1% of earned premiums, in 2023, compared to $17.1 million, or 33.9% earned premiums, in 2022. Underlying losses and LAE were $8.9 million, or 19.5% of property insurance earned premiums, in 2023, compared to $12.5 million, or 24.7% of property insurance earned premiums, in 2022, due primarily to lower claim frequency and severity. Catastrophe losses and LAE (excluding loss reserve development) were $2.2 million in 2023, compared to $1.8 million in 2022. Catastrophe losses and LAE increased $0.4 million due primarily to higher frequency partially offset by lower severity of catastrophe claims. Adverse loss and LAE reserve development was $2.1 million in 2023, compared to adverse development of $2.8 million in 2022.
2022 Compared with 2021
Earned premiums from property insurance decreased by $11.4 million in 2022, compared to 2021, due primarily to lower volume of property insurance products. Incurred losses and LAE on property insurance were $17.1 million, or 33.9% of earned premiums, in 2022, compared to $28.3 million, or 45.7% earned premiums, in 2021. Underlying losses and LAE were $12.5 million, or 24.7% of property insurance earned premiums, in 2022, compared to $14.2 million, or 23.0% of property insurance earned premiums, in 2021, an increase of 1.7 percentage points due primarily to higher claim severity. Catastrophe losses and LAE (excluding loss reserve development) were $1.8 million in 2022, compared to $13.0 million in 2021. Catastrophe losses and LAE decreased $11.2 million due primarily to both lower frequency of catastrophe claims and lower claim severity. Adverse loss and LAE reserve development was $2.8 million in 2022, compared to adverse development of $1.1 million in 2021.
46
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
INVESTMENT RESULTS
Net Investment Income
Net Investment Income for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Investment Income: | |||||||||||
| Interest on Fixed Income Securities | $ | 346.0 | $ | 300.1 | $ | 277.7 | |||||
| Dividends on Equity Securities Excluding Alternative Investments | 4.4 | 6.3 | 15.9 | ||||||||
| Alternative Investments: | |||||||||||
| Equity Method Limited Liability Investments | 10.5 | 31.3 | 56.7 | ||||||||
| Limited Liability Investments Included in Equity Securities | 19.0 | 42.1 | 46.9 | ||||||||
| Total Alternative Investments | 29.5 | 73.4 | 103.6 | ||||||||
| Short-term Investments | 18.0 | 3.7 | 1.0 | ||||||||
| Loans to Policyholders | 20.9 | 21.5 | 21.7 | ||||||||
| Real Estate | 8.9 | 10.1 | 9.3 | ||||||||
| Company-Owned Life Insurance | 29.2 | 37.9 | 25.7 | ||||||||
| Other | 12.9 | 7.7 | 6.7 | ||||||||
| Total Investment Income | 469.8 | 460.7 | 461.6 | ||||||||
| Investment Expenses: | |||||||||||
| Real Estate | 8.8 | 7.9 | 9.7 | ||||||||
| Other Investment Expenses | 41.3 | 30.2 | 24.6 | ||||||||
| Total Investment Expenses | 50.1 | 38.1 | 34.3 | ||||||||
| Net Investment Income | $ | 419.7 | $ | 422.6 | $ | 427.3 |
2023 Compared with 2022
Net Investment Income was $419.7 million and $422.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Net Investment Income decreased by $2.9 million in 2023 due primarily to lower returns on Alternative Investments partially offset by higher rate earned on Fixed Income Securities and Short-term Investments.
Income and distributions on Alternative Investments can fluctuate significantly between periods as they are influenced by operating performance of the underlying investments, changes in market or economic conditions or the timing of asset sales.
2022 Compared with 2021
Net Investment Income was $422.6 million and $427.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Net Investment Income decreased by $4.7 million in 2022 due primarily to lower valuations on Equity Method Limited Liability Investments, lower balances in Equity Securities, and lower rate on Fixed Income Securities, partially offset by higher levels of investments in Fixed Income Securities and Company-Owned Life Insurance.
47
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
INVESTMENT RESULTS (Continued)
Total Comprehensive Investment Gains (Losses)
The components of Total Comprehensive Investment Gains (Losses) for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 are presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recognized in Consolidated Statements of Loss: | |||||||||||
| Income (Loss) from Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities | $ | 4.7 | $ | (79.9) | $ | 114.6 | |||||
| Gains on Sales | 6.7 | 41.3 | 68.0 | ||||||||
| Losses on Sales | (13.4) | (38.7) | (3.2) | ||||||||
| (Losses) Gains on Hedging Activity | (11.9) | 1.7 | — | ||||||||
| Impairment Losses | (1.1) | (25.8) | (11.0) | ||||||||
| Net (Losses) Gains Recognized in Consolidated Statements of Loss | (15.0) | (101.4) | 168.4 | ||||||||
| Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) | 237.1 | (1,541.2) | (286.6) | ||||||||
| Total Comprehensive Investment Gains (Losses) | $ | 222.1 | $ | (1,642.6) | $ | (118.2) |
Total Comprehensive Investment Gains were $222.1 million in 2023, compared to Total Comprehensive Investment Losses of $1,642.6 million in 2022. The increase of $1,864.7 million was primarily due to a decrease in the Company’s unrealized loss position on the fixed income bond portfolio.
Total Comprehensive Investment Losses were $1,624.6 million in 2022, compared to $118.2 million in 2021. The increase in losses of $1,524.4 million primarily due to a decrease in the fair value of the Company’s fixed income bond portfolio.
Income (Loss) from Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities
The components of Income (Loss) from Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 are presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2023 | 2022 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preferred Stocks | $ | 1.8 | $ | (8.9) | |||
| Common Stocks | — | (0.4) | |||||
| Other Equity Interests: | |||||||
| Exchange Traded Funds | 0.6 | (46.5) | |||||
| Limited Liability Companies and Limited Partnerships | 2.3 | (21.2) | |||||
| Total Other Equity Interests | 2.9 | (67.7) | |||||
| Income (Loss) from Change in Fair Value of Equity Securities | 4.7 | (77.0) | |||||
| Income (Loss) from Change in Fair Value of Convertible Securities | — | (2.9) | |||||
| Income (Loss) from Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities | $ | 4.7 | $ | (79.9) |
48
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
INVESTMENT RESULTS (Continued)
Net Realized (Losses) Gains on Sales of Investments
The components of Net Realized Investment (Losses) Gains for the year ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 are presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Maturities: | |||||||||||
| Gains on Sales | $ | 5.9 | $ | 31.6 | $ | 63.4 | |||||
| Losses on Sales | (10.9) | (31.9) | (2.1) | ||||||||
| (Losses) Gains on Hedging Activity | (11.9) | 1.7 | — | ||||||||
| Equity Securities: | |||||||||||
| Gains on Sales | 0.6 | 9.7 | 4.1 | ||||||||
| Losses on Sales | (2.5) | (6.8) | (0.7) | ||||||||
| Equity Method Limited Liability Investments: | |||||||||||
| Gains on Sales | — | — | 0.4 | ||||||||
| Real Estate: | |||||||||||
| Gains on Sales | — | — | 0.1 | ||||||||
| Losses on Sales | — | — | (0.4) | ||||||||
| Other Investments: | |||||||||||
| Gains on Sales | 0.2 | — | — | ||||||||
| Net Realized Investment (Losses) Gains | $ | (18.6) | $ | 4.3 | $ | 64.8 | |||||
| Gross Gains on Sales | $ | 6.7 | $ | 41.3 | $ | 68.0 | |||||
| Gross Losses on Sales | (13.4) | (38.7) | (3.2) | ||||||||
| (Losses) Gains on Hedging Activity | (11.9) | 1.7 | — | ||||||||
| Net Realized Investment (Losses) Gains | $ | (18.6) | $ | 4.3 | $ | 64.8 |
Fixed Maturities
Net Realized Gains and Losses on Sale of Fixed Maturities for the year ended December 31, 2023 primarily relate to normal portfolio management.
Net Realized Gains and Losses on Sale of Fixed Maturities for the year ended December 31, 2022 primarily relate to normal portfolio management and to a lesser extent, a repositioning of the portfolio for duration extension purposes.
Net Realized Gains on Sales of Fixed Maturities for the year ended December 31, 2021 primarily relate to normal portfolio management and to a lesser extent, a repositioning of the portfolio for duration extension purposes.
Equity Securities
Net Realized Gains and Losses on Sale of Equity Securities for the year ended December 31, 2023 primarily related to disposals of equity securities and preferred stock.
Net Realized Gains and Losses on Sale of Equity Securities for the year ended December 31, 2022 primarily relate disposals of equity method limited liability investments and preferred stock.
Net Realized Gains on Sales of Equity Securities for the year ended December 31, 2021 primarily relate to transactions whereby the Company’s interests in Equity Securities at Modified Cost were acquired by other companies.
Impairment Losses
The Company regularly reviews its investment portfolio to determine whether a decline in the fair value of an investment has occurred from credit or other, non-credit related factors. If the decline in fair value is due to credit factors and the Company does not expect to receive cash flows sufficient to support the entire amortized cost basis, the credit loss is reported in the
49
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
INVESTMENT RESULTS (Continued)
Consolidated Statements of Loss in the period that the declines are evaluated. Conversely, an increase in the fair value or disposal of an investment with a previously established credit allowance will result in the reversal of impairment losses reported in the Consolidated Statements of Loss in the period.
The components of Impairment Losses in the Consolidated Statements of Loss for the year ended December 31, 2023, 2022, 2021 were:
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Amount | Number of Issuers | Amount | Number of Issuers | Amount | Number of Issuers | ||||||||||||
| Fixed Maturities | $ | (0.1) | 21 | $ | (25.8) | 57 | $ | (6.4) | 17 | |||||||||
| Equity Securities at Modified Cost | (0.5) | 1 | — | — | (4.2) | 13 | ||||||||||||
| Real Estate | — | — | — | — | (0.4) | 1 | ||||||||||||
| Other | (0.5) | 6 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Impairment Losses1 | $ | (1.1) | $ | (25.8) | $ | (11.4) |
I Includes losses from intent-to-sell securities of $(2.0) million, $(23.8) million and $(6.6) million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Fixed Maturities
Impairment Losses recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Loss for the year ended December 31, 2023 related primarily to investments in Intent-to-Sell securities.
Impairment Losses recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Loss for the year ended December 31, 2022 related primarily to investments in Fixed Maturities where the Company established an allowance for expected credit loss.
Impairment Losses recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Loss for the year ended December 31, 2021 related primarily to investments in Fixed Maturities where the Company established an allowance for expected credit loss.
Equity Securities
The Company recognized Impairment Losses in the Consolidated Statements of Loss for the year ended December 31, 2023 primarily related to investments in Equity Securities at Modified Cost where the Company has the intent or requirement to sell.
The Company did not recognize any Impairment Losses in the Consolidated Statements of Loss for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Impairment Losses recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Loss for the year ended December 31, 2021 primarily related to investments in Equity Securities at Modified Cost where the Company had the intent or requirement to sell.
Real Estate
The Company did not recognize any Impairment Losses on Real Estate Held for Investment in the Consolidated Statements of Loss for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
Impairment Losses recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Loss for the year ended December 31, 2021 related to investments in Real Estate held with the intent to sell.
INVESTMENT QUALITY AND CONCENTRATIONS
The Company’s fixed maturity investment portfolio is comprised primarily of high-grade corporate, municipal and agency bonds. At December 31, 2023, approximately 96.2% of the Company’s fixed maturity investment portfolio was rated investment-grade, which the Company defines as a security issued by a high quality obligor with at least a relatively stable credit profile and where it is highly likely that all contractual payments of principal and interest will timely occur and carry a rating from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) of 1 or 2. Securities with a rating of 1 or 2 from the NAIC typically are rated by one or more Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations and either have a rating of AAA, AA, A or BBB from Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”); a rating of Aaa, Aa, A or Baa from Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”); or a rating of AAA, AA, A or BBB from Fitch Ratings.
50
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
INVESTMENT QUALITY AND CONCENTRATIONS (Continued)
The following table summarizes the credit quality of the Company’s fixed maturity investment portfolio at December 31, 2023 and 2022.
| NAIC Rating | Rating | Dec 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair Value in Millions | Percentage of Total | Fair Value in Millions | Percentage of Total | |||||||||||||
| 1 | AAA, AA, A | $ | 4,962.0 | 72.1 | % | $ | 4,896.4 | 71.0 | % | |||||||
| 2 | BBB | 1,657.3 | 24.1 | 1,687.4 | 24.5 | |||||||||||
| 3-4 | BB, B | 204.4 | 3.0 | 239.7 | 3.5 | |||||||||||
| 5-6 | CCC or Lower | 58.2 | 0.8 | 71.3 | 1.0 | |||||||||||
| Total Investments in Fixed Maturities | $ | 6,881.9 | 100.0 | % | $ | 6,894.8 | 100.0 | % |
Gross unrealized losses on the Company’s investments in below-investment-grade fixed maturities were $25.5 million and $32.8 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
The following table summarizes the fair value of the Company’s investments in governmental fixed maturities at December 31, 2023 and 2022.
| Dec 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Fair Value | Percentage of Total Investments | Fair Value | Percentage of Total Investments | ||||||||||
| U.S. Government and Government Agencies and Authorities | $ | 511.5 | 5.7 | % | $ | 528.0 | 6.0 | % | ||||||
| States and Political Subdivisions: | ||||||||||||||
| Revenue Bonds | 1,235.2 | 13.9 | 1,324.3 | 15.1 | ||||||||||
| States | 99.8 | 1.1 | 143.8 | 1.6 | ||||||||||
| Political Subdivisions | 66.9 | 0.8 | 100.8 | 1.1 | ||||||||||
| Foreign Governments | 3.8 | — | 4.1 | — | ||||||||||
| Total Investments in Governmental Fixed Maturities | $ | 1,917.2 | 21.5 | % | $ | 2,101.0 | 23.8 | % |
The following table summarizes the fair value of the Company’s investments in non-governmental fixed maturities by industry at December 31, 2023 and 2022.
| Dec 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Fair Value | Percentage of Total Investments | Fair Value | Percentage of Total Investments | ||||||||||
| Finance, Insurance and Real Estate | $ | 2,070.5 | 23.3 | % | $ | 2,007.5 | 22.8 | % | ||||||
| Manufacturing | 1,077.6 | 12.1 | 1,085.9 | 12.4 | ||||||||||
| Transportation, Communication and Utilities | 807.3 | 9.1 | 733.7 | 8.3 | ||||||||||
| Services | 639.4 | 7.2 | 602.4 | 6.9 | ||||||||||
| Mining | 174.3 | 2.0 | 173.3 | 2.0 | ||||||||||
| Retail Trade | 156.0 | 1.8 | 165.1 | 1.9 | ||||||||||
| Construction | 4.4 | — | 11.7 | 0.1 | ||||||||||
| Other | 35.2 | 0.4 | 14.2 | 0.2 | ||||||||||
| Total Investments in Non-governmental Fixed Maturities | $ | 4,964.7 | 55.9 | % | $ | 4,793.8 | 54.6 | % |
51
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
INVESTMENT QUALITY AND CONCENTRATIONS (Continued)
The following table summarizes the fair value of the Company’s investments in non-governmental fixed maturities by range of amount invested at December 31, 2023.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Number of Issuers | Aggregate Fair Value | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Below $5 | 669 | $ | 1,361.7 | |||
| $5 -$10 | 192 | 1,424.2 | ||||
| $10 - $20 | 110 | 1,491.7 | ||||
| $20 - $30 | 20 | 476.1 | ||||
| Greater Than $30 | 6 | 211.0 | ||||
| Total | 997 | $ | 4,964.7 |
The Company’s short-term investments primarily consist of money market funds and short term bonds. At December 31, 2023, the Company had $219.5 million invested in money market funds which primarily invest in U.S. Treasury securities and $301.4 million invested in U.S. Treasury bills and short-term bonds.
The following table summarizes the fair value of the Company’s ten largest investment exposures in a single issuer, excluding investments in U.S. Government and Government Agencies and Authorities and Short-term Investment, at December 31, 2023.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Fair Value | Percentage of Total Investments | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Maturities: | |||||||||
| States including their Political Subdivisions: | |||||||||
| California | $ | 137.4 | 1.5 | % | |||||
| Texas | 116.6 | 1.3 | |||||||
| Michigan | 83.7 | 0.9 | |||||||
| New York | 76.5 | 0.9 | |||||||
| Georgia | 73.7 | 0.8 | |||||||
| Louisiana | 62.4 | 0.7 | |||||||
| Pennsylvania | 57.9 | 0.7 | |||||||
| Florida | 57.6 | 0.6 | |||||||
| Colorado | 49.1 | 0.6 | |||||||
| Missouri | 42.1 | 0.5 | |||||||
| Total | $ | 757.0 | 8.5 | % |
52
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
INVESTMENTS IN LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES AND LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS
The Company owns investments in various limited liability investment companies and limited partnerships that primarily invest in mezzanine debt, distressed debt, real estate and senior debt. The Company’s investments in these limited liability investment companies and limited partnerships are reported either as Equity Method Limited Liability Investments, Other Equity Interests and included in Equity Securities at Fair Value, or Equity Securities at Modified Cost, depending on the accounting method used to report the investment. Additional information pertaining to these investments at December 31, 2023 and 2022 is presented below.
| Unfunded Commitment in Millions | Reported Value in Millions | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asset Class | Dec 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | ||||||||
| Reported as Equity Method Limited Liability Investments: | |||||||||||
| Mezzanine Debt | $ | 43.1 | $ | 125.4 | $ | 114.3 | |||||
| Real Estate | — | 41.9 | 43.3 | ||||||||
| Senior Debt | 39.9 | 19.0 | 21.6 | ||||||||
| Leveraged Buyout | 0.6 | 8.6 | 8.9 | ||||||||
| Secondary Transactions | 1.7 | 7.9 | 9.3 | ||||||||
| Distressed Debt | — | 7.9 | 9.4 | ||||||||
| Growth Equity | — | 1.2 | 1.2 | ||||||||
| Hedge Fund | — | 0.1 | 0.5 | ||||||||
| Other | — | 9.7 | 8.5 | ||||||||
| Total Equity Method Limited Liability Investments | 85.3 | 221.7 | 217.0 | ||||||||
| Alternative Energy Partnership Investments | — | 17.3 | 16.3 | ||||||||
| Reported as Other Equity Interests at Fair Value: | |||||||||||
| Mezzanine Debt | 67.0 | 124.0 | 106.0 | ||||||||
| Senior Debt | 10.6 | 24.8 | 21.9 | ||||||||
| Leveraged Buyout | 10.0 | 19.0 | 21.6 | ||||||||
| Distressed Debt | 13.0 | 12.4 | 12.5 | ||||||||
| Growth Equity | 6.5 | 6.4 | 5.4 | ||||||||
| Secondary Transactions | 3.1 | 2.8 | 3.5 | ||||||||
| Hedge Funds | — | 1.9 | 18.1 | ||||||||
| Real Estate | 0.2 | 0.1 | — | ||||||||
| Other | — | — | 0.1 | ||||||||
| Total Reported as Other Equity Interests at Fair Value | 110.4 | 191.4 | 189.1 | ||||||||
| Reported as Equity Securities at Modified Cost: | |||||||||||
| Other | — | 4.8 | 8.3 | ||||||||
| Total Reported as Equity Securities at Modified Cost | — | 4.8 | 8.3 | ||||||||
| Total Investments in Limited Liability Companies and Limited Partnerships | $ | 195.7 | $ | 435.2 | $ | 430.7 |
The Company expects that it will be required to fund its commitments over the next several years. The Company expects that the proceeds from distributions from these investments will be the primary source of funding of such commitments.
53
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
INSURANCE, INTEREST AND OTHER EXPENSES
Expenses for the year ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 were:
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance Expenses: | |||||||||||
| Commissions | $ | 584.2 | $ | 724.8 | $ | 817.6 | |||||
| General Expenses | 342.8 | 358.4 | 339.5 | ||||||||
| Taxes, Licenses and Fees | 79.6 | 99.5 | 104.3 | ||||||||
| Total Costs Incurred | 1,006.6 | 1,182.7 | 1,261.4 | ||||||||
| Net Policy Acquisition Costs Amortized (Deferred) | 43.8 | 14.2 | (77.5) | ||||||||
| Amortization of Value of Business Acquired (“VOBA”) | 2.0 | 4.1 | 45.0 | ||||||||
| Insurance Expenses | 1,052.4 | 1,201.0 | 1,228.9 | ||||||||
| Loss from Early Extinguishment of Debt | — | 3.7 | — | ||||||||
| Interest and Other Expenses: | |||||||||||
| Interest Expense | 56.1 | 54.7 | 43.6 | ||||||||
| Other Expenses: | |||||||||||
| Acquisition and Disposition Related Transaction, Integration, Restructuring and Other Costs | 120.3 | 62.9 | 43.9 | ||||||||
| Pension Settlement Expense | 70.2 | — | — | ||||||||
| Other | 122.7 | 140.0 | 131.9 | ||||||||
| Other Expenses | 313.2 | 202.9 | 175.8 | ||||||||
| Interest and Other Expenses | 369.3 | 257.6 | 219.4 | ||||||||
| Goodwill Impairment | 49.6 | — | — | ||||||||
| Total Expenses | $ | 1,471.3 | $ | 1,462.3 | $ | 1,448.3 |
Insurance Expenses
Insurance Expenses were $1,052.4 million in 2023 compared to $1,201.0 million in 2022. Insurance Expenses decreased by $148.6 million in 2023 due primarily to lower expenses from less business being written.
Insurance Expenses were $1,201.0 million in 2022 compared to $1,228.9 million in 2021. Insurance Expenses decreased by $27.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to 2021, due primarily to net amortization of policy acquisition costs as the acquisition of AAC led to higher deferrals in 2021. This was partially offset by a corresponding decrease in the amortization of VOBA from the acquisition of AAC and lower commissions as premium growth had slowed due to ongoing profit improvement actions.
Loss from Early Extinguishment of Debt
Loss from Early Extinguishment of Debt for 2022 was due to the redemption of the 2022 Senior Notes.
Interest and Other Expenses
Interest expense increased by $1.4 million in 2023, compared to 2022, primarily due to the addition of the 2032 Senior Notes and the 2062 Junior Debentures. Interest expense increased by $11.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to 2021, due primarily to the addition of the 2032 Senior Notes and the 2062 Junior Debentures in 2022.
Other Expenses increased by $110.3 million in 2023, compared to 2022, and included a $70.2 million noncash charge related to the settlement of the Company’s pension obligations. The increase in Acquisition and Disposition Related Transaction, Integration, Restructuring and Other Costs included $28.6 million of higher integration related expenses due to continued investments in information technology, $14.8 million of real estate exit costs related to the impairment of the Company’s corporate office lease in Chicago, Illinois, and $6.4 million of accrued severance expenses, mostly associated with the decision to run-off and exit the Preferred Insurance business.
Other Expenses increased by $27.1 million in 2022, compared to 2021, due primarily to higher restructuring expenses and the loss on the sale of Reserve National.
54
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
INSURANCE, INTEREST AND OTHER EXPENSES (Continued)
Goodwill Impairment
Goodwill Impairment increased by $49.6 million in 2023, compared to 2022, due to the impairment of goodwill related to the Preferred Property & Casualty Insurance segment. See Note 14 “Goodwill and Intangibles,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.
INCOME TAXES
The federal corporate statutory income tax rate was 21% for the year ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021. The Company’s effective income tax rate, which was 21.6%, 22.7% and 50.9% for 2023, 2022, and 2021 respectively, differs from the federal corporate income tax rate due primarily to (1) the effects of tax-exempt investment income, (2) nontaxable income associated with the change in cash surrender value on Company-Owned Life Insurance, (3) Alternative Energy Partnership Investment and general business tax credits, (4) a permanent difference between the amount of long-term equity-based compensation expense recognized under GAAP and the amount deductible in the computation of Federal taxable income (5) a permanent difference associated with nondeductible executive compensation, (6) an impairment of non-tax deductible goodwill, (7) impact of tax legislation in foreign jurisdictions, and (8) a change in valuation allowance.
On December 27, 2023, legislation implementing a corporate income tax (“CIT”) in Bermuda was enacted into law. The CIT imposes a 15% income tax that applies to Bermuda businesses which are part of multinational enterprise groups with annual revenue of €750 million or more and will be effective for fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 2025, with a five-year deferred effective date for certain groups with a limited international footprint. Kemper has recorded, as part of its total income tax provision, the estimated impact of the Bermuda CIT on its Bermuda based reinsurance company at the effective date. The Company will continue to monitor guidance as it is released from the Government of Bermuda.
The Inflation Reduction Act (the "Law") was signed into law on August 16, 2022 and became generally effective on January 1, 2023. Included in the provisions of the Law are various changes to the tax code, including the establishment of a Corporate Alternative Minimum Tax (“CAMT”). The Company, at this time, is not subject to the CAMT.
Tax-exempt investment income and dividends received deductions were $22.7 million in 2023, compared to $25.1 million in 2022, and $21.8 million in 2021.
The nontaxable increase in cash surrender value on Company-Owned Life Insurance was $29.2 million in 2023, compared to $37.9 million in 2022, and $25.7 million in 2021.
The Company realized investment tax credits and other federal income tax credits of $3.1 million in 2023, compared to realized investment tax credits and other federal tax credits of $6.5 million for the same period in 2022, and $66.1 million in 2021.
The amount of expense recognized for long-term equity-based compensation expense under GAAP was $1.4 million higher than the amount that would be deductible under the IRC in 2023, compared to $6.3 million higher in 2022 and $1.3 million lower in 2021.
The amount of nondeductible executive compensation was $8.5 million in 2023, compared to $7.3 million in 2022, and $13.0 million in 2021.
The total impairment of non-tax-deductible goodwill was $30.0 million in 2023, compared to none in 2022 and 2021.
No tax expense was recognized related to sold and available for sale subsidiaries in 2023, compared to $11.5 million in 2022 and none in 2021.
As a result of recently enacted tax legislation in jurisdictions in which the Company operates, a tax benefit of $27.4 million was recorded. No tax expense or benefit was recorded in 2022 or 2021 as a result of enacted tax legislation.
The Company recorded a change in valuation allowance of $27.4 million in 2023 for those foreign deferred tax assets it determined were not more-likely-than-not to be realized. No valuation allowance was recorded in 2022 or 2021.
55
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION
As discussed in Note 2, “Summary of Accounting Policies and Accounting Changes”, to the Consolidated Financial Statements effective January 1, 2023, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-12, “Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts and related amendments” (“LDTI”) under the modified retrospective method. Prior period amounts in the financial statements have been adjusted to reflect application of the new guidance.
The below table provides the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) results under LDTI for 2023.
| Quarter Ended | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS | Dec 31, 2023 | Sep 30, 2023 | Jun 30, 2023 | Mar 31, 2023 | |||||||||||
| Revenues: | |||||||||||||||
| Earned Premiums | $ | 1,063.8 | $ | 1,117.8 | $ | 1,166.9 | $ | 1,180.9 | |||||||
| Net Investment Income | 104.6 | 107.0 | 106.3 | 101.8 | |||||||||||
| Change in Value of Alternative Energy Partnership Investments | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.7 | |||||||||||
| Other Income | 1.9 | 2.4 | 1.7 | 1.2 | |||||||||||
| Income (Loss) from Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities | (2.2) | 2.8 | 2.4 | 1.7 | |||||||||||
| Net Realized Investment (Losses) Gains | 19.7 | (30.3) | (14.4) | 6.4 | |||||||||||
| Impairment Losses | (1.2) | (1.1) | (0.9) | 2.1 | |||||||||||
| Total Revenues | 1,187.2 | 1,199.4 | 1,262.8 | 1,294.8 | |||||||||||
| Expenses: | |||||||||||||||
| Policyholders’ Benefits and Incurred Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses | 808.1 | 975.2 | 984.7 | 1,052.0 | |||||||||||
| Insurance Expenses | 258.0 | 259.0 | 266.1 | 269.3 | |||||||||||
| Loss from Early Extinguishment of Debt | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||
| Interest and Other Expenses | 57.6 | 156.0 | 78.3 | 77.4 | |||||||||||
| Goodwill Impairment | — | — | 49.6 | — | |||||||||||
| Total Expenses | 1,123.7 | 1,390.2 | 1,378.7 | 1,398.7 | |||||||||||
| Income (Loss) before Income Taxes | 63.5 | (190.8) | (115.9) | (103.9) | |||||||||||
| Income Tax (Expense) Benefit | (12.2) | 44.4 | 18.8 | 23.8 | |||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) | 51.3 | (146.4) | (97.1) | (80.1) | |||||||||||
| Less: Net Loss attributable to Noncontrolling Interest | (0.1) | (0.1) | — | — | |||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) attributable to Kemper Corporation | $ | 51.4 | $ | (146.3) | $ | (97.1) | $ | (80.1) | |||||||
| Net Income (Loss) attributable to Kemper Corporation Per Unrestricted Share: | |||||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | 0.80 | $ | (2.28) | $ | (1.52) | $ | (1.25) | |||||||
| Diluted | $ | 0.80 | $ | (2.28) | $ | (1.52) | $ | (1.25) |
56
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
The below table provides the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) results under LDTI for 2023.
| Quarter Ended | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Dec 31, 2023 | Sep 30, 2023 | Jun 30, 2023 | Mar 31, 2023 | |||||||||||
| Net Loss | $ | 51.3 | $ | (146.4) | $ | (97.1) | $ | (80.1) | |||||||
| Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes | |||||||||||||||
| Changes in Net Unrealized Holding Gains (Losses) on Investment Securities with: | |||||||||||||||
| No Credit Losses Recognized in Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) | 462.7 | (327.9) | (83.2) | 187.2 | |||||||||||
| Credit Losses Recognized in Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) | 1.1 | (1.5) | (0.1) | — | |||||||||||
| Change in Net Unrecognized Postretirement Benefit Costs | (1.1) | 61.4 | (0.6) | (0.5) | |||||||||||
| Loss on Cash Flow Hedges | (0.1) | — | (0.1) | — | |||||||||||
| Change in Discount Rate on Future Life Policyholder Benefits | (319.3) | 276.8 | 50.6 | (109.8) | |||||||||||
| Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes | 143.3 | 8.8 | (33.4) | 76.9 | |||||||||||
| Other Comprehensive Income Tax (Expense) Benefit | (30.7) | (1.4) | 7.3 | (16.7) | |||||||||||
| Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Taxes | 112.6 | 7.4 | (26.1) | 60.2 | |||||||||||
| Total Comprehensive Income (Loss) | 163.9 | (139.0) | (123.2) | (19.9) | |||||||||||
| Less: Net Loss attributable to Noncontrolling Interest | (0.1) | (0.1) | — | — | |||||||||||
| Less: Other Comprehensive Loss attributable to Noncontrolling Interest | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||
| Less: Total Comprehensive Loss attributable to Noncontrolling Interest | (0.1) | (0.1) | — | — | |||||||||||
| Comprehensive Income (Loss) attributable to Kemper Corporation | $ | 164.0 | $ | (138.9) | $ | (123.2) | $ | (19.9) |
57
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
The below table provides the Consolidated Statements of Loss results under LDTI for 2022.
| Quarter to Date Ended | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS | Dec 31, 2022 | Sep 30, 2022 | Jun 30, 2022 | Mar 31, 2022 | |||||||||||
| Revenues: | |||||||||||||||
| Earned Premiums | $ | 1,264.9 | $ | 1,290.9 | $ | 1,337.6 | $ | 1,320.0 | |||||||
| Net Investment Income | 106.3 | 97.8 | 118.5 | 100.0 | |||||||||||
| Change in Value of Alternative Energy Partnership Investments | 1.3 | 0.4 | (4.9) | (16.7) | |||||||||||
| Other Income | 1.9 | 4.0 | 0.9 | 2.4 | |||||||||||
| Loss from Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities | — | (11.2) | (40.5) | (28.2) | |||||||||||
| Net Realized Investment Gains (Losses) | 3.9 | (12.1) | 11.0 | 1.5 | |||||||||||
| Impairment Losses | (3.7) | (8.3) | (4.9) | (8.9) | |||||||||||
| Total Revenues | 1,374.6 | 1,361.5 | 1,417.7 | 1,370.1 | |||||||||||
| Expenses: | |||||||||||||||
| Policyholders’ Benefits and Incurred Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses | 1,073.0 | 1,085.3 | 1,151.1 | 1,123.2 | |||||||||||
| Insurance Expenses | 288.0 | 300.5 | 307.7 | 304.8 | |||||||||||
| Loss from Early Extinguishment of Debt | — | — | — | 3.7 | |||||||||||
| Interest and Other Expenses | 86.5 | 63.5 | 53.5 | 54.1 | |||||||||||
| Goodwill Impairment | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||
| Total Expenses | 1,447.5 | 1,449.3 | 1,512.3 | 1,485.8 | |||||||||||
| Loss before Income Taxes | (72.9) | (87.8) | (94.6) | (115.7) | |||||||||||
| Income Tax Benefit | 19.6 | 13.0 | 22.4 | 29.4 | |||||||||||
| Net Loss | (53.3) | (74.8) | (72.2) | (86.3) | |||||||||||
| Less: Net Loss attributable to Noncontrolling Interest | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||
| Net Loss attributable to Kemper Corporation | $ | (53.3) | $ | (74.8) | $ | (72.2) | $ | (86.3) | |||||||
| Net Loss attributable to Kemper Corporation Per Unrestricted Share: | |||||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | (0.84) | $ | (1.17) | $ | (1.13) | $ | (1.36) | |||||||
| Diluted | $ | (0.84) | $ | (1.17) | $ | (1.13) | $ | (1.36) |
58
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
The below table provides the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) results under LDTI for 2022.
| Quarter Ended | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Dec 31, 2022 | Sep 30, 2022 | Jun 30, 2022 | Mar 31, 2022 | |||||||||||
| Net Loss | $ | (53.3) | $ | (74.8) | $ | (72.2) | $ | (86.3) | |||||||
| Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes | |||||||||||||||
| Changes in Net Unrealized Holding Gains (Losses) on Investment Securities with: | |||||||||||||||
| No Credit Losses Recognized in Consolidated Statements of Loss | 92.1 | (411.5) | (587.1) | (644.6) | |||||||||||
| Credit Losses Recognized in Consolidated Statements of Loss | 3.2 | (0.8) | 6.9 | (7.4) | |||||||||||
| Change in Net Unrecognized Postretirement Benefit Costs | 19.2 | (0.2) | — | (0.1) | |||||||||||
| (Loss) Gain on Cash Flow Hedges | — | — | (0.2) | 6.1 | |||||||||||
| Change in Discount Rate on Future Life Policyholder Benefits | (40.2) | 330.9 | 527.7 | 562.3 | |||||||||||
| Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes | 74.3 | (81.6) | (52.7) | (83.7) | |||||||||||
| Other Comprehensive Income Tax (Expense) Benefit | (15.4) | 17.2 | 11.1 | 17.5 | |||||||||||
| Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Taxes | 58.9 | (64.4) | (41.6) | (66.2) | |||||||||||
| Total Comprehensive Income (Loss) | 5.6 | (139.2) | (113.8) | (152.5) | |||||||||||
| Less: Net Loss attributable to Noncontrolling Interest | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||
| Less: Other Comprehensive Loss attributable to Noncontrolling Interest | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||
| Less: Total Comprehensive Loss attributable to Noncontrolling Interest | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||
| Comprehensive Loss attributable to Kemper Corporation | $ | 5.6 | $ | (139.2) | $ | (113.8) | $ | (152.5) |
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Shelf Registration Statement
The Company filed a universal shelf registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the first quarter of 2023. Under this shelf registration, the Company may issue an undetermined amount of securities including common stock, preferred stock, depository shares, debt securities, warrants, subscription rights, purchase contracts, and purchase units. Specific terms of any securities issued under this registration will be included in each applicable prospectus supplement.
Amended and Extended Credit Agreement
On March 15, 2022, the Company entered into an amended and extended credit agreement. The amended and extended credit agreement increased the borrowing capacity of the existing unsecured credit agreement to $600.0 million and extended the maturity date to March 15, 2027. Furthermore, the amended and extended credit agreement provides for an accordion feature whereby the Company can increase the revolving credit borrowing capacity by an additional $200.0 million for a total of maximum capacity of $800.0 million. Financial covenants within the agreement limit the Company from accessing the maximum capacity. The amount available as of December 31, 2023 was $393.0 million. There were no outstanding borrowings under the credit agreement on either December 31, 2023 or December 31, 2022.
Common Stock Offering
Kemper is authorized to issue 20 million shares of $0.10 par value preferred stock and 100 million shares of $0.10 par value common stock. No preferred shares were issued or outstanding at December 31, 2023 and 2022. There were 64,111,555 shares and 63,912,762 shares of common stock outstanding at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
59
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES (Continued)
Long-term Debt
The Company designates debt obligations as either short-term or long-term based on maturity date at issuance. Total amortized cost of Long-term Debt outstanding at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 was:
| (Dollars in Millions) | Dec 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Notes | |||||||
| 4.350% Senior Notes due February 15, 2025 | $ | 449.6 | $ | 449.3 | |||
| 2.400% Senior Notes due September 30, 2030 | 397.0 | 396.6 | |||||
| 3.800% Senior Notes due February 23, 2032 | 396.0 | 395.5 | |||||
| 5.875% Fixed-Rate Reset Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2062 | 146.6 | 145.5 | |||||
| Total Long-term Debt Outstanding | $ | 1,389.2 | $ | 1,386.9 |
See Note 23, “Debt,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information regarding the Company’s long-term debt.
Federal Home Loan Bank Agreements
Kemper’s subsidiaries, United Insurance Company of America (“United Insurance”), Trinity Universal Insurance Company (“Trinity”), and AAC are members of the Federal Home Loan Banks (“FHLBs”) of Chicago, Dallas and Chicago, respectively. Alliance United Insurance Company (“Alliance”) was a member of the FHLB of San Francisco until it surrendered all California licenses on January 30, 2023, and ceased to exist as an insurance company. AAC became a member of the FHLB of Chicago in May 2022. United Insurance and Trinity became members of the FHLBs of Chicago and Dallas, respectively, in 2013. Under their memberships, United Insurance, Trinity and AAC may borrow through the advance program of their respective FHLB. As a requirement of membership in the FHLB, United Insurance, Trinity and AAC must maintain certain levels of investment in FHLB common stock and additional amounts based on the level of outstanding borrowings. The Company’s investments in FHLB common stock are reported at cost and included in Other Investments. The carrying value of FHLB of Chicago common stock was $16.6 million and $17.5 million at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. The carrying value of FHLB of Dallas common stock was $3.6 million and $3.4 million at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. The carrying value of FHLB of San Francisco common stock was $0.0 million and $1.4 million at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. The Company periodically uses short-term FHLB borrowings for a combination of cash management and risk management purposes, in addition to long-term FHLB borrowings for spread lending purposes.
During 2023, United Insurance received advances of $122.5 million from the FHLB of Chicago and made repayments of $166.1 million. United Insurance had outstanding advances from the FHLB of Chicago totaling $557.4 million at December 31, 2023. These advances were made in connection with the Company’s spread lending program. The proceeds related to these advances were used to purchase fixed maturity securities to earn incremental net investment income.
For these advances, United Insurance held pledged securities in a custodial account with the FHLB of Chicago with a fair value of $629.3 million at December 31, 2023. The fair value of the collateral pledged must be maintained at certain specified levels above the borrowed amount, which can vary depending on the assets pledged. If the fair value of the collateral declines below these specified levels of the amount borrowed, United Insurance would be required to pledge additional collateral or repay outstanding borrowings. See Note 22, “Policyholder Obligations,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information about the United Insurance advances and related funding agreements.
Common Stock Repurchases
On May 6, 2020, Kemper’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to an additional $200.0 million of Kemper common stock, in addition to the $133.3 million remaining under the previous authorization. The Company did not repurchase any of its common stock in 2023 or 2022, respectively. The Company repurchased approximately $161.7 million of stock at an average cost per share of $77.58 in 2021. As of December 31, 2023, the remaining share repurchase authorization was $171.6 million under the repurchase program. The amount and timing of any future share repurchases under the authorization will depend on various factors, including market conditions, the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, available liquidity, particular circumstances and other considerations.
60
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES (Continued)
Dividends to Shareholders
Kemper paid a quarterly dividend of $0.31 per common share for each quarter of 2023 and $0.31 per common share for each quarter of 2022, respectively. Dividends and dividend equivalents paid were $80.1 million, $79.7 million and $80.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Subsidiary Dividends and Capital Contributions
Various insurance laws restrict the ability of Kemper’s insurance subsidiaries to pay dividends without regulatory approval. Such insurance laws applicable to the Company’s US based subsidiaries generally restrict the amount of dividends paid in an annual period to the greater of statutory net income from the previous year or 10% of statutory capital and surplus. Kemper’s insurance subsidiaries collectively paid $640.9 million, $311.7 million and $347.0 million in dividends to Kemper in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. In 2024, Kemper’s US based insurance subsidiaries capacity to pay dividends to Kemper without prior regulatory approval is estimated to be zero as of the filing date.
Kemper made capital contributions to insurance subsidiaries of $489.1 million, $270.0 million and $126.0 million during 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Sources and Uses of Funds
The Company directly held cash and investments totaling $464.5 million at December 31, 2023, compared to $417.6 million at December 31, 2022.
The primary sources of funds available for repayment of Kemper’s indebtedness, repurchases of common stock, future shareholder dividend payments, and the payment of interest on Kemper’s senior notes, include cash and investments directly held by Kemper, receipt of dividends from Kemper’s insurance subsidiaries and borrowings under the credit agreement and from subsidiaries.
The primary sources of funds for Kemper’s insurance subsidiaries are premiums, investment income, proceeds from the sales and maturity of investments, advances from the FHLBs of Chicago and Dallas, and capital contributions from Kemper. The primary uses of funds are the payment of policyholder benefits under life insurance contracts, claims under property and casualty insurance contracts and accident and health insurance contracts, the payment of commissions and general expenses, the purchase of investments and repayments of advances from the FHLBs of Chicago and Dallas.
Generally, there is a time lag between when premiums are collected and when policyholder benefits and insurance claims are paid. During periods of growth, property and casualty insurance companies typically experience positive operating cash flows and can invest a portion of their operating cash flows to fund future policyholder benefits and claims. During periods in which premium revenues decline, insurance companies may experience negative cash flows from operations and may need to sell investments to fund payments to policyholders and claimants. In addition, if the Company’s property and casualty insurance subsidiaries experience several significant catastrophic events over a relatively short period of time, investments may be sold to fund payments, which could result in investment gains or losses. Management believes that its property and casualty insurance subsidiaries maintain adequate levels of liquidity in the event that they were to experience several future catastrophic events over a relatively short period of time.
Information about the Company’s cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Operating Activities | $ | (134.2) | $ | (210.3) | $ | 350.7 | |||||
| Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities | 107.9 | (108.4) | (118.2) | ||||||||
| Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Financing Activities | (122.0) | 382.9 | (290.4) |
Cash available for investment activities is dependent on cash flow from Operating Activities and Financing Activities and the level of cash the Company elects to maintain.
61
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES (Continued)
Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Operating Activities
Net cash used in Operating Activities was $134.2 million in 2023, compared to $210.3 million used in 2022, a decrease of $76.1 million. The improvement in cash used in Operating Activities was primarily due to a $124.7 million federal income tax refund that was received in first quarter 2023, partially offset by the timing of paid claims and a decrease in new business written from our Property and Casualty operations.
Net cash used by Operating Activities was $210.3 million in 2022, compared to $350.7 million generated in 2021, a decrease of $561.0 million. Cash from operating activities decreased primarily due to higher paid losses within the P&C business in 2022 due to an increase in frequency and rising loss costs from increased severity trends caused by rising inflation and supply chain constraints.
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities
Net cash provided by Investing Activities was $107.9 million in 2023, compared to $108.4 million used in 2022, a year over year increase of $216.3 million. The decrease in cash used in Investing Activities was primarily driven by the ongoing management of our investment portfolio that was impacted by a decrease in cash from our Property and Casualty operations, as explained above.
Net cash used in Investing Activities was $108.4 million in 2022, compared to $118.2 million used in 2021, a year over year increase of $9.8 million. This was primarily due to lower net sales of short term investments. Net sales of short term investments in 2021 were primarily used to fund the purchase of AAC and the repurchase of Kemper common stock. Proceeds from the sale of equity securities increased as the Company shifted its investment portfolio more heavily to fixed maturities. This was partially offset by proceeds from the sale of Reserve National and Infinity Security.
Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Financing Activities
Net cash used in Financing Activities was $122.0 million in 2023, compared to cash generated by financing activities of $382.9 million in 2022, a year over year decrease of $504.9 million. This was primarily due to a decrease in debt raising activities in 2023 and a decrease in the advances from the Company’s borrowing arrangement with the FHLB used for spread lending purposes.
Net cash provided by Financing Activities was $382.9 million in 2022, compared to cash used by Financing Activities of $290.4 million in 2021, a year over year increase of $673.3 million. This was primarily due to the issuance of the 2032 Senior Notes and 2062 Junior Debentures, share repurchases in 2021, and increased net advances under the FHLB spread-lending program due to a more attractive interest rate environment in 2022. These were partially of offset by the redemption of the 2022 Senior Notes.
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
Estimated cash disbursements pertaining to the Company’s contractual obligations at December 31, 2023 are presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Jan 1, 2024 to Dec 31, 2024 | Jan 1, 2025 to Dec 31, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 to Dec 31, 2028 | After Dec 31, 2028 | Total | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long Term Debt Obligations | $ | — | $ | 449.6 | $ | — | $ | 939.6 | $ | 1,389.2 | |||||||||
| Life and Health Insurance Policy Benefits | 250.3 | 487.7 | 470.9 | 8,370.1 | 9,579.0 | ||||||||||||||
| Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves | 1,493.5 | 894.1 | 246.0 | 46.9 | 2,680.5 | ||||||||||||||
| Total Contractual Obligations | $ | 1,743.8 | $ | 1,831.4 | $ | 716.9 | $ | 9,356.6 | $ | 13,648.7 |
Amounts included in Life and Health Insurance Policy Benefits within the contractual obligations table above represent the estimated cash payments to be made to policyholders and beneficiaries. Such cash outflows are based on the Company’s current assumptions for mortality, morbidity and policy lapse, but are undiscounted with respect to interest. Policies must remain in force for the policyholder or beneficiary to receive the benefit under the policy. Depending on the terms of a particular policy, future premiums from the policyholder may be required for the policy to remain in force. The Company estimates that future cash inflows would total $4.5 billion using the same assumptions used to estimate the cash outflows. The Company’s Life Insurance Reserves in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets are generally based on the historical assumptions for
62
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS (Continued)
mortality and policy lapse rates and are on a discounted basis. Accordingly, the sum of the amounts presented above for Life and Health Insurance Policy Benefits significantly exceeds the amount of Life and Health Insurance Reserves reported on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2023.
In addition to the contractual obligations included above, the Company had certain investment commitments totaling $195.7 million at December 31, 2023. The funding of such investment commitments is dependent on a number of factors, the timing of which is indeterminate. The Company cannot make a reasonably reliable estimate of the amount and period of related future payments, if any, for such liability.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
Kemper’s subsidiaries conduct their operations in two industries: property and casualty insurance and life insurance. Accordingly, the Company is subject to several industry-specific accounting principles under GAAP. The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The process of estimation is inherently uncertain. Accordingly, actual results could ultimately differ materially from the estimated amounts reported in a company’s financial statements. Different assumptions are likely to result in different estimates of reported amounts.
The Company’s critical accounting policies most sensitive to estimates include the valuation of investments, the valuation of life insurance reserves, the valuation of reserves for property and casualty insurance incurred losses and LAE, the assessment of recoverability of goodwill, and the recoverability of deferred tax assets.
Valuation of Investments
The reported value of the Company’s investments was $8,904.2 million at December 31, 2023, of which $7,122.4 million, or 80%, was reported at fair value, $239.0 million, or 3%, was reported under the equity method of accounting, $381.0 million, or 4%, was reported at unpaid principal balance and $1,161.8 million, or 13%, was reported at cost, modified cost or depreciated cost. Investments, in general, are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate risk, credit risk and overall market volatility risk. Accordingly, it is reasonably possible that changes in the fair values of the Company’s investments reported at fair value will occur in the near term and such changes could materially affect the amounts reported in the financial statements. Also, it is reasonably possible that changes in the carrying values of the Company’s Equity Method Limited Liability Investments will occur in the near term and such changes could materially affect the amounts reported in the financial statements because these issuers follow specialized industry accounting principles which require that they report all of their investments at fair value (See Item 1A., “Risk Factors” under the title “The Company’s investment portfolio is exposed to a variety of risks that may negatively impact net investment income and cause realized and unrealized losses”).
As more fully described under the heading, “Fair Value Measurements,” in Note 2, “Summary of Accounting Policies and Accounting Changes,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company uses a hierarchical framework which prioritizes and ranks the market observability used in fair value measurements.
The fair value of the Company’s investments measured and reported at fair value was $7,122.4 million at December 31, 2023, of which $6,738.7 million, or 94%, were investments that were based on quoted market prices or significant fair value inputs that are observable, $192.3 million, or 3%, were investments where at least one significant fair value inputs was unobservable and $191.4 million or 3% were investments for which fair value is measured using the net asset value (“NAV”) per share practical expedient. Fair value measurements based on readily available, active, quoted market prices or for which fair value can be measured from actively quoted prices generally are deemed to have a higher degree of market price observability and a lesser degree of judgment, compared to fair value measurements based on significant unobservable inputs used in measuring fair value. The prices that the Company might realize from actual sales of investments are likely to vary from their respective estimated fair values at December 31, 2023 due to changing market conditions and limitations inherent in the estimation process.
The classification of a company’s investment in a financial instrument may affect its reported results. Under GAAP, a company may elect to use the fair value option method of accounting for some or all of its investments in financial instruments. Under the fair value option method of accounting, a company is required to recognize changes in fair values into income for the period reported. The Company has elected the fair value option for investments in fixed maturities with equity conversion features. As of December 31, 2023, the Company no longer holds any investments with equity conversion features. For investments in
63
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES (Continued)
fixed maturities classified as held to maturity, a company is required to carry the investment at amortized cost, with only amortization occurring during the period recognized into income. None of the Company’s investments in fixed maturities were classified as held to maturity at December 31, 2023. Changes in the fair value of investments in fixed maturities classified as available for sale are not recognized in income during the period, but rather are recognized as a separate component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (“AOCI”) until realized. Both the reported and fair values of the Company’s investments in fixed maturities classified as available for sale were $6,881.9 million at December 31, 2023.
Equity securities with readily determinable fair values are recorded as Equity Securities at Fair Value with changes in fair values recognized into income for the period reported. Accordingly, both the reported and fair values of the Company’s investments in Equity Securities at Fair Value were $225.8 million at December 31, 2023. The Company holds certain equity investments without readily determinable fair values at cost, less impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for identical or similar investments from the same issuer. Changes in the carrying value of Equity Securities at Modified Cost due to observable price changes are recorded into income for the period reported.
The Company’s portfolio also includes investments in Alternative Energy Partnerships that are accounted for under the Hypothetical Liquidation at Book Value (“HLBV”) method. Under the HLBV method, the amounts of income and loss attributed to investors reflect changes in the amounts the fund investors would hypothetically receive at each balance sheet date under the liquidation provisions of the contractual agreements of these funds. Attributing income and loss under the HLBV method requires the use of significant assumptions and forecasts to calculate the amounts that fund investors would receive upon a hypothetical liquidation. See Note 1 “Basis of Presentation and Significant Estimates” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Had the Company elected the fair value option for all of its investments in financial instruments, the Company’s reported net loss for the year ended December 31, 2023, would have increased by $1,030.2 million.
The Company regularly reviews its fixed maturity investment portfolio and holdings in Equity Securities at Modified Cost for factors that may indicate a decline in the fair value of an investment below its amortized cost or modified cost basis. Such reviews are inherently uncertain in that the value of the investment may not fully recover or may decline further in future periods. Some factors considered in evaluating whether or not a decline in fair value of an investment exist include, but are not limited to, the following:
Fixed Maturity Securities
•The financial condition, credit rating and prospects of the issuer;
•The magnitude of the unrealized loss;
•The ability of the issuer to make scheduled principal and interest payments;
•The volatility of the investment;
Equity Securities at Modified Cost
•Opinions of the Company’s external investment managers;
•The financial condition and prospects of the issuer;
•Current market conditions;
•Changes in credit ratings; and
•Changes in the regulatory environment.
Changes in these factors from their December 31, 2023 evaluation date could result in the Company determining that a decline in the fair value exists for an investment held and evaluated at December 31, 2023. Such determination would result in an impairment loss in the period such determination is made.
64
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES (Continued)
Life Insurance Reserves
Company’s Life Insurance Reserves are reported using the Company’s estimate of its liability for future policyholder benefits.
Life Insurance Reserves by business segment at December 31, 2023 and 2022 were:
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2023 | 2022 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Segments: | |||||||
| Life Insurance: | |||||||
| Life Insurance | $ | 3,417.7 | $ | 3,271.9 | |||
| Accident & Health Insurance | 4.7 | 4.3 | |||||
| Total Life Insurance Reserves | $ | 3,422.4 | $ | 3,276.2 |
These assumption inputs to the calculation of the liability for future policyholder benefits include mortality, lapses, and discount rates (both accretion and current). Kemper groups together policies with similar types of business for its cohorts, which typically vary by issue year. The Company’s actuaries use a variety of generally accepted actuarial methodologies, in accordance with Actuarial Standards of Practice, in determining the mortality and lapse assumptions. These assumptions are based on judgments that consider the Company’s historical experience, industry data, and other relevant factors. The Company reviews and updates its estimate of cash flows expected over the lifetime of a group of contracts using actual historical experience quarterly and current future cash flow assumptions at least annually to calculate its revised net premium ratio. The revised net premium ratios are then used to calculate an updated liability for future policyholder benefits for the current reporting period, discounted at the original contract issuance discount rate. The Company has elected to use expense assumptions that are locked in at contract inception and are not subsequently reviewed or updated. Resulting changes in the liability due to differences in actual versus expected experience, changes in current cash flow assumptions, and prefunding and payout of benefits compared to the carrying amount of the liability as of that same date are recorded as a separate component of benefit expense in the Consolidated Statements of Loss. The current discount rate assumption is an equivalent spot rate curve of annually compounded rates at monthly increments that is derived based on A-credit rated fixed-income instruments reflecting the duration characteristics of the liability. The discount rate assumption is updated quarterly and used to remeasure the liability at the reporting date, with the resulting change reflected in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
In estimating the Company’s Life Insurance Reserves, the Company’s actuaries exercise professional judgment and must consider, and are influenced by, many variables that are difficult to quantify and are estimating losses many years into the future. Accordingly, the process of estimating and establishing the Company’s Life Insurance Reserves is inherently uncertain. Experience may develop adversely such that additional reserves must be established. Adverse experience could arise out of a number of factors, including, but not limited to, severe short-term events, such as a pandemic or changes to policyholder behavior during stressed economic periods, or due to misestimation of long-term assumptions such as mortality, interest rates and lapse assumptions. Certain variables, such as policyholder behavior, are difficult to estimate and can have a significant impact on reserves.
Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves for Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses
The Company’s Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves are reported using the Company’s estimate of its ultimate liability for losses and LAE for claims that occurred prior to the end of any given accounting period but have not yet been paid. The Company had $2,680.5 million and $2,756.9 million of gross loss and LAE reserves at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
65
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES (Continued)
Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves for the Company’s business segments at December 31, 2023 and 2022 were:
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2023 | 2022 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Segments: | |||||||
| Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance | $ | 2,308.7 | $ | 2,321.1 | |||
| Life Insurance | 2.9 | 2.3 | |||||
| Total Business Segments | 2,311.6 | 2,323.4 | |||||
| Non-Core Operations | 356.4 | 419.1 | |||||
| Unallocated Reserves | 12.5 | 14.4 | |||||
| Total Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves | $ | 2,680.5 | $ | 2,756.9 |
In estimating the Company’s Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves, the Company’s actuaries exercise professional judgment and must consider, many variables that are difficult to quantify. Accordingly, the process of estimating and establishing the Company’s Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves is inherently uncertain, and the actual ultimate cost of known and unknown claims may vary materially from the estimated amounts reserved.
The Company’s actuaries conduct a comprehensive quarterly loss reserve review for each product line of business based on a variety of methodologies in accordance with Actuarial Standards of Practice. A reasonable range of unpaid loss estimates is derived from, but not limited to, the following methodologies:
•Incurred Loss Development Methodology;
•Paid Loss Development Methodology;
•Bornhuetter-Ferguson Incurred Loss Methodology;
•Bornhuetter-Ferguson Paid Loss Methodology; and
•Frequency and Severity Methodology.
The actuarial best estimate for each product line of business for ultimate losses and LAE represents an expected value considering a range of reasonable outcomes. The actuarial best estimate includes an offset for expected salvage and subrogation recoveries.
The key assumption in these estimation methodologies is that patterns observed in prior periods are indicative of how losses and LAE are expected to develop in the future and that such historical data can be used to predict and estimate ultimate losses and LAE. However, changes in the Company’s business processes, by their very nature, are likely to affect the development patterns, which means the Company’s actuaries must routinely make assumptions about how changes in business practices would affect historical patterns.
The ultimate impact of a single change in a business process is difficult to quantify and detect, and even more difficult if several changes to business processes occur over several years. Initially after a change is implemented, there are fewer data points, as compared to the historical data, for the Company’s actuaries to analyze. With fewer data points to analyze, the Company’s actuaries cannot be certain that observed differences from the historical data trends are a result of the change in business process or merely a random fluctuation in the data. As the Company’s actuaries observe more data points following the change in business process, the Company’s actuaries can gain more confidence in whether the change in business process is affecting the development pattern. The challenge for the Company’s actuaries is how much weight to place on the development patterns based on the older historical data and how much weight to place on the development patterns based on more recent data.
For each accident quarter or year, the point estimate selected by the Company’s actuaries is not necessarily one of the points produced by any particular one of the methodologies utilized, but often is another point selected by the Company’s actuaries, using their professional judgment, that takes into consideration each of the points produced by the several loss reserving estimation methodologies used. In some cases, for a particular product, the current accident quarter or year may not have enough paid claims data to rely upon, leading the Company’s actuaries to conclude that the incurred loss development methodology provides a better estimate than the paid loss development methodology. Therefore, the Company’s actuaries may give more weight to the incurred loss development methodology for that particular accident quarter or year. As an accident quarter or year ages for that same product, the actuary may gain more confidence in the paid loss development methodology and begin to give more weight to the paid loss development methodology. The Company’s actuaries’ quarterly selections are summed by product and/or coverage levels to create the actuarial indication of the ultimate losses. More often than not, the
66
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES (Continued)
actuarial indication for a particular product line and accident quarter or year is most heavily weighted toward the incurred loss development methodology, particularly for short-tail lines such as personal automobile insurance. Historically, the incurred loss development methodology has been more reliable in predicting ultimate losses for short-tail lines, especially in the more recent accident quarters or years, compared with the paid loss development methodology. However, in some circumstances changes can occur which impact numerous variables, including, but not limited to, those variables identified below that are difficult to quantify and/or impact the predictive value of prior development patterns relied upon in the incurred loss development methodology and paid loss development methodology. In those circumstances, the Company’s actuaries must make adjustments to these loss reserving estimation methodologies or use additional generally accepted actuarial estimation methodologies. In those circumstances, the Company’s actuaries, using their professional judgment, may place more weight on the adjusted loss reserving estimation methodologies or other generally accepted actuarial estimation methodologies until the newer development patterns fully emerge and the Company’s actuaries can fully rely on the unadjusted loss reserving estimation methodologies. In the event of a wide variation among results generated by the different projection methodologies, the Company’s actuaries further analyze the data using additional techniques.
Subrogation & salvage recoveries, which predominately impact the material damage coverages, are independently evaluated each quarter using generally accepted actuarial methodologies. Since claim adjusters do not establish case reserves for potential recoveries the methodologies use paid/recovered amounts. Once this is completed, it is combined with the ultimate gross loss and LAE analyses.
In estimating reserves, the Company’s actuaries exercise professional judgment and must consider, and are influenced by, many variables that are difficult to quantify, such as:
•Changes in the level of minimum case reserves, and the automatic aging of those minimum case reserves;
•Changes to claims practices, including, but not limited to, changes in the reporting and impact of large losses, timing of reported claims, changes in claims closing and re-opening patterns, adequacy of case reserves.
•Implementation of new systems for handling claims, turnover of claims department staffs, timing and depth of the audit review of claims handling procedures;
•Changes in the mix of business by state, class and policy limit within product line;
•Growth in new lines of business;
•Changes in the attachment points of the Company’s reinsurance programs;
•Medical costs, including, but not limited to, the ability to assess the extent of injuries and the impact of inflation;
•Repair costs, including, but not limited to, the impact of inflation and the availability of labor and materials;
•Changes in the judicial environment, including, but not limited to, the interpretation of policy provisions, the impact of jury awards and changes in case law; and
•Changes in state regulatory requirements.
A change in any one or more of the foregoing factors is likely to result in a projected ultimate net loss and LAE that is different from the previously estimated reserve and/or previous frequency and severity trends. Such changes in estimates may be material. For example, the Company’s actuaries review frequency (number of claims per policy or exposure), severity (dollars of loss per claim) and average premium (dollars of premium per exposure). Actual frequency and severity experienced will vary depending on changes in mix by class of insured risk. Similarly, the actual frequency and rate of recovery from reinsurance will vary depending on changes in the attachment point for reinsurance. In particular, in periods of high growth or expansion into new markets, there may be additional uncertainty in estimating the ultimate losses and LAE. The contributing factors of this potential risk are changes in the Company’s mix by policy limit and mix of business by state or jurisdiction.
Actuaries use historical experience and trends as predictors of how losses and LAE will emerge over time. However, historical experience may not necessarily be indicative of how actual losses and LAE will emerge. Changes in case reserve adequacy, changes in minimum case reserves and changes in internal claims handling procedures could impact the timing and recognition of incurred claims and produce an estimate that is either too high or too low if not adjusted for by the actuary. For example, if, due to changes in claims handling procedures, actual claims are settled more rapidly than they were settled historically, the estimate produced by the paid loss development methodology would tend to be overstated if the actuary did not identify and adjust for the impact of the changes in claims handling procedures. Similarly, if, due to changes in claims handling procedures, actual claim reserves are set at levels higher than past experience, the estimate produced by the incurred loss development methodology would tend to be overstated if the actuary did not identify and adjust for the impact of the changes in claims handling procedures.
67
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES (Continued)
The final step in the quarterly loss and LAE reserving process involves a comprehensive review of the actuarial indications by the Company’s chief reserving actuary and corporate management who apply their collective judgment and determine the appropriate estimated level of reserves to record. Numerous factors are considered in this determination process, including, but not limited to, the assessed reliability of key loss trends and assumptions that may be significantly influencing the current actuarial indications, changes in claim handling practices or other changes that affect the timing of payment or development patterns, changes in the mix of business, the maturity of the accident quarter or year, pertinent trends observed over the recent past, the level of volatility within a particular line of business, the improvement or deterioration of actuarial indications in the current period as compared to prior periods, and the amount of reserves related to third party pools for which the Company does not have access to the underlying data and, accordingly, relies on calculations provided by such pools.
The Company’s goal is to ensure that its total reserves for property and casualty insurance losses and LAE are adequate to cover all costs, while sustaining minimal variation from the time reserves for losses and LAE are initially estimated until losses and LAE are fully paid. Changes in the Company’s estimates of these losses and LAE over time, also referred to as “development,” will occur and may be material. Favorable development is recognized and reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements when the Company decreases its previous estimate of ultimate losses and LAE and results in an increase in net income in the period recognized, whereas adverse development is recognized and reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements when the Company increases its previous estimate of ultimate losses and LAE and results in a decrease in net income.
Although development will emerge in all of the Company’s product lines, development in the Company’s specialty personal automobile insurance product line could have the most significant impact due to the relative size of its loss and LAE reserves. To further illustrate the sensitivity of the Company’s reserves for specialty personal automobile insurance losses and LAE, the Company measures the standard deviation of the mean reserve estimate using a bootstrapping methodology. The Company believes that one standard deviation of variability is a reasonably likely scenario to measure variability for its loss and LAE reserves for specialty personal automobile insurance. The Company estimates that its specialty personal automobile insurance loss and LAE reserves could have varied by $57.9 million in either direction at December 31, 2023 for all accident years combined under this scenario. In addition to the factors described above, other factors may also impact loss reserve development in future periods. These factors include governmental actions, including court decisions interpreting existing laws, regulations or policy provisions, developments related to insurance policy claims and coverage issues, adverse or favorable outcomes in pending claims litigation, the number and severity of insurance claims, the impact of inflation on insurance claims and the impact of required participation in windpools and joint underwriting associations and residual market assessments.
Although the Company’s actuaries do not make specific numerical assumptions about these factors, changes in these factors from past patterns will impact historical loss development factors and, in turn, future loss reserve development. Significant favorable changes in one or more factors will lead to favorable future loss reserve development, which could result in the actual loss developing closer to, or even below, the lower end of the Company’s estimated reserve variability. Significant unfavorable changes in one or more factors will lead to unfavorable loss reserve development, which could result in the actual loss developing closer to, or even above, the higher end of the Company’s estimated reserve variability. Accordingly, due to these factors and the other factors enumerated throughout the MD&A and the inherent limitations of the loss reserving estimation methodologies, the estimated and illustrated reserve variability may not necessarily be indicative of the Company’s future reserve variability, which could ultimately be greater than the estimated and illustrated variability. In addition, as previously noted, development will emerge in all of the Company’s product lines over time. Accordingly, the Company’s future reserve variability could ultimately be greater than the illustrated variability. Additional information pertaining to the estimation of, and development of, the Company’s Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves is contained in Item 1 of Part I of this 2023 Annual Report under the heading “Property and Casualty Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves.”
Goodwill Recoverability
The Company tests goodwill for recoverability at the reporting unit level on an annual basis, or whenever events or circumstances indicate the fair value of a reporting unit may have declined below its carrying value.
During the second quarter of 2023, the Company identified impairment indicators impacting the fair value of the Preferred Property & Casualty Insurance business in connection with ongoing evaluation of strategic alternatives for the Preferred Insurance business. As a result, the business’s fair value was determined using a combination of available market information, market comparisons and a discounted cash flow valuation method based on the present value of future earnings. The fair value calculated in the second quarter of 2023 was lower than the carrying value of the business, resulting in a pre-tax impairment
68
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES (Continued)
charge of $49.6 million and an after-tax impairment charge of $45.5 million. See Note 14, “Goodwill and Intangibles,” for more information.
The Company performed a qualitative goodwill impairment assessment for all remaining reporting units with goodwill as of October 1, 2023. The qualitative assessment takes into consideration changes in the macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, cost factors, overall financial performance, changes in management or key personnel, changes in strategy, events impacting reporting units, and changes in Kemper’s stock price since the last quantitative assessment, which was performed on October 1, 2022.
Recoverability of Deferred Tax Assets
The evaluation of the recoverability of deferred tax assets and the need for a valuation allowance requires the Company to weigh all positive and negative evidence to reach a conclusion whether it is more likely than not that all or some portion of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. The weight given to the evidence is commensurate with the extent to which it can be objectively verified. The more negative evidence that exists, the more positive evidence is necessary and the more difficult it is to support a conclusion that a valuation allowance is not needed.
When making such determination, the Company considers various factors, including:
•the nature, frequency, and amount of cumulative financial reporting income and losses in recent years;
•the jurisdiction in which the deferred tax asset was generated;
•the length of time that carryforward can be utilized in the relevant taxing jurisdictions;
•future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences and carryforwards;
•future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences;
•taxable income in prior carryback years; and
•availability of tax planning strategies.
As a result of the analysis, the Company determined that a valuation allowance was required as of December 31, 2023 against certain foreign deferred tax assets which had been recorded during 2023.
RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
Except for rules and interpretive releases of the SEC under authority of federal securities laws and a limited number of grandfathered standards, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) is the sole source of authoritative GAAP recognized by the FASB that is applicable to the Company. The FASB issues Accounting Standards Updates (“ASUs”) to amend the authoritative literature in the FASB ASC.
The Company has adopted all recently issued accounting pronouncements with effective dates prior to January 1, 2024. See Note 2, “Summary of Accounting Policies and Accounting Changes” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for discussion on adoption of these ASUs and impacts to the Company’s financial statements. For all recently issued accounting pronouncements with effective dates after December 31, 2023, the Company is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on its financial statements.
69
FY 2022 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0000860748-23-000056.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations
| Summary of Results | 30 |
|---|---|
| Catastrophes | 31 |
| Loss and LAE Reserve Development | 32 |
| Non-GAAP Financial Measures | 33 |
| Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance | 35 |
| Preferred Property & Casualty Insurance | 39 |
| Life & Health Insurance | 44 |
| Investment Results | 48 |
| Investment Quality and Concentrations | 50 |
| Investments in Limited Liability Companies and Limited Partnerships | 53 |
| Insurance, Interest and Other Expenses | 54 |
| Income Taxes | 54 |
| Liquidity and Capital Resources | 55 |
| Contractual Obligations | 58 |
| Critical Accounting Estimates | 58 |
| Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements | 64 |
29
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
SUMMARY OF RESULTS
Net Loss was $301.2 million ($(4.72) per unrestricted common share) for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to Net Loss of $120.5 million ($(1.87) per unrestricted common share) for the year ended December 31, 2021.
A reconciliation of Net (Loss) Income to Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating (Loss) Income (a non-GAAP financial measure) for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020 is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2022 | 2021 | Changein Lossfrom 2021to 2022 | 2020 | Changein (Loss) Income from 2020to 2021 | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net (Loss) Income | $ | (301.2) | $ | (120.5) | $ | (180.7) | $ | 409.9 | $ | (530.4) | |||||||||
| Less: | |||||||||||||||||||
| (Loss) Income from Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities | (63.1) | 90.5 | (153.6) | 57.0 | 33.5 | ||||||||||||||
| Net Realized Investment Gains | 3.4 | 51.2 | (47.8) | 30.1 | 21.1 | ||||||||||||||
| Impairment Losses | (20.4) | (8.7) | (11.7) | (15.4) | 6.7 | ||||||||||||||
| Acquisition and Disposition Related Transaction, Integration, Restructuring and Other Costs | (61.3) | (34.7) | (26.6) | (50.0) | 15.3 | ||||||||||||||
| Debt Extinguishment, Pension and Other Charges | (2.9) | — | (2.9) | (50.6) | 50.6 | ||||||||||||||
| Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating (Loss) Income | $ | (156.9) | $ | (218.8) | $ | 61.9 | $ | 438.8 | $ | (657.6) | |||||||||
| Components of Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating (Loss) Income: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Segment Net Operating (Loss) Income: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance | $ | (147.4) | $ | (196.1) | $ | 48.7 | $ | 337.9 | $ | (534.0) | |||||||||
| Preferred Property & Casualty Insurance | (25.9) | (12.5) | (13.4) | 3.5 | (16.0) | ||||||||||||||
| Life & Health Insurance | 54.2 | 28.2 | 26.0 | 60.0 | (31.8) | ||||||||||||||
| Segment Net Operating (Loss) Income | (119.1) | (180.4) | 61.3 | 401.4 | (581.8) | ||||||||||||||
| Corporate and Other Net Operating (Loss) Income From: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Partial Satisfaction of Judgment | — | — | — | 70.6 | (70.6) | ||||||||||||||
| Other | (37.8) | (38.4) | 0.6 | (33.2) | (5.2) | ||||||||||||||
| Corporate and Other Net Operating (Loss) Income | (37.8) | (38.4) | 0.6 | 37.4 | (75.8) | ||||||||||||||
| Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating (Loss) Income | $ | (156.9) | $ | (218.8) | $ | 61.9 | 438.8 | $ | (657.6) |
Net (Loss) Income
2022 Compared with 2021
Net Loss increased by $180.7 million in 2022, compared to 2021, due primarily to increased losses from Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible securities, decreased Net Realized Investment Gains, and increased Acquisition and Disposition Related Transaction, Integration, Restructuring and Other Costs, partially offset by lower Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Losses. Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Loss decreased by $61.9 million in 2022, compared to 2021, due primarily to lower Specialty Property & Casualty Segment Insurance Net Operating Loss, higher Life & Health Insurance Segment Net Operating Income and lower Corporate and Other Net Operating Losses, partially offset by higher Preferred Property & Casualty Net Operating Losses.
See MD&A, “Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance”, “Preferred Property & Casualty Insurance” and “Life & Health Insurance,” for discussion of each respective segment’s results. Corporate and Other Net Operating Loss decreased due primarily to increased Net Investment Income.
The Company’s investment results were unfavorable in 2022, compared to 2021, primarily driven by a $153.6 million after-tax decrease from the change in fair value of the equity and convertible securities, $47.8 million after-tax decrease from net realized gains on sales of investments, and $11.7 million after-tax increase in impairment losses. See MD&A, “Investment Results,” MD&A, “Income Taxes,” and Note 26, “Contingencies.” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion.
30
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
SUMMARY OF RESULTS (Continued)
Revenues
2022 Compared with 2021
Earned Premiums were $5,266.3 million in 2022, compared to $5,253.7 million in 2021, an increase of $12.6 million. Earned Premiums in the Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance segment increased by $97.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. Earned Premiums in the Preferred Property & Casualty Insurance segment decreased by $56.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. See MD&A, “Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance” and “Preferred Property & Casualty Insurance” for discussion of the changes in each segment’s earned premiums.
Net Investment Income decreased by $4.7 million in 2022 due primarily to lower valuations on Equity Method Limited Liability Investments, lower balances in Equity Securities, and lower rate on Fixed Income Securities, partially offset by higher levels of investments in Fixed Income Securities and Company-Owned Life Insurance.
Loss related to Changes in Value of Alternative Energy Partnership Investments was $19.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to a net loss of $61.2 million for the same period in 2021. Tax benefits related to the Alternative Energy Partnership Investments were $8.0 million, compared to tax benefits of $79.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. This resulted in a net loss of $11.9 million and a net income of $17.8 million attributable to Alternative Energy Partnership Investments for the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Other Income increased by $4.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to the same period in 2021.
Net Realized Gains on Sales of Investments were $4.3 million in 2022, compared to $64.8 million in 2021. Impairment Losses were $25.8 million in 2022, compared to $11.0 million for the same period in 2021.
See MD&A, “Investment Results,” under the sub-captions “Net Realized Gains on Sales of Investments” and “Impairment Losses” for additional discussion. The Company cannot predict if or when similar investment gains or losses may occur in the future.
CATASTROPHES
Catastrophes and natural disasters are inherent risks of the property and casualty insurance business. These catastrophic events and natural disasters include, without limitation, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, hailstorms, wildfires, high winds and winter storms. Such events result in insured losses that are, and will continue to be, a material factor in the results of operations and financial position of the Company’s property and casualty insurance companies. Further, because the level of these insured losses occurring in any one year cannot be accurately predicted, these losses may contribute to material year-to-year fluctuations in the results of operations and financial position of these companies. Specific types of catastrophic events are more likely to occur at certain times within the year than others. This factor adds an element of seasonality to property and casualty insurance claims. The Company has adopted the industry-wide catastrophe classifications of storms and other events promulgated by ISO to track and report losses related to catastrophes. ISO classifies a disaster as a catastrophe when the event causes $25.0 million or more in direct insured losses to property and affects a significant number of policyholders and insurers. ISO-classified catastrophes are assigned a unique serial number recognized throughout the insurance industry.
31
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
CATASTROPHES (Continued)
The number of ISO-classified catastrophic events and catastrophe losses and LAE, net of reinsurance recoveries, (excluding loss and LAE reserve development) by range of loss and business segment for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020 are presented below.
| Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Number of Events | Losses and LAE | Number of Events | Losses and LAE | Number of Events | Losses and LAE | ||||||||||||||
| Range of Losses and LAE Per Event: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Below $5 | 59 | $ | 54.6 | 65 | $ | 56.1 | 60 | $ | 51.2 | |||||||||||
| $5 - $10 | 2 | 10.2 | 2 | 16.5 | 5 | 40.2 | ||||||||||||||
| $10 - $15 | 1 | 14.5 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| $15 - $20 | — | — | 2 | 35.2 | 1 | 15.3 | ||||||||||||||
| $20 - $25 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Greater Than $25 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Total | 62 | $ | 79.3 | 69 | $ | 107.8 | 66 | $ | 106.7 | |||||||||||
| Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance | 23.0 | 15.7 | 12.3 | |||||||||||||||||
| Preferred Property & Casualty Insurance | 54.5 | 79.1 | 82.0 | |||||||||||||||||
| Life & Health Insurance | 1.8 | 13.0 | 12.4 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Catastrophe Losses and LAE | $ | 79.3 | $ | 107.8 | $ | 106.7 |
Catastrophe Reinsurance
The Company primarily manages its exposure to catastrophes and other natural disasters through a combination of geographical diversification, restrictions on the amount and location of new business production in such regions, modifications of, and/or limitations to coverages and deductibles for certain perils in such regions and a catastrophe reinsurance program for the Company’s Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance and Preferred Property & Casualty Insurance segments. Coverage under the catastrophe reinsurance program is provided in various contracts and layers. The Company’s Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance and Preferred Property & Casualty Insurance segments also purchase reinsurance from the FHCF for hurricane losses in Florida at retentions lower than its catastrophe reinsurance program. The Life & Health Insurance segment also purchases reinsurance from the FHCF for hurricane losses in Florida and is party to the Property & Casualty catastrophe reinsurance program for its Kemper Home Service companies.
The Company had no material recoveries under its catastrophe reinsurance treaties for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021. See the “Reinsurance” subsection of the “Property and Casualty Insurance Business” and “Life and Health Insurance Business” sections of Item 1(c), “Description of Business,” and Note 23, “Catastrophe Reinsurance,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on the Company’s reinsurance programs.
LOSS AND LAE RESERVE DEVELOPMENT
Increases (decreases) in the Company’s property and casualty loss and LAE reserves for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020 to recognize adverse (favorable) loss and LAE reserve development from prior accident years in continuing operations, hereinafter also referred to as “reserve development” in the discussion of segment results, are presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Increase (Decrease) in Total Loss and LAE Reserves Related to Prior Years: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe | $ | (10.5) | $ | 112.1 | $ | 36.2 | |||||
| Catastrophe | (4.1) | (5.4) | 0.2 | ||||||||
| Increase (Decrease) in Total Loss and LAE Reserves Related to Prior Years | $ | (14.6) | $ | 106.7 | $ | 36.4 |
See MD&A, “Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance,” MD&A, “Preferred Property & Casualty Insurance,” MD&A, “Life & Health Insurance,” and Note 7, “Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for
32
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
LOSS AND LAE RESERVE DEVELOPMENT (Continued)
additional information on the Company’s reserve development. See MD&A, “Critical Accounting Estimates,” of this 2022 Annual Report for additional information pertaining to the Company’s process of estimating property and casualty insurance reserves for losses and LAE, and the estimated variability thereof, development of property and casualty insurance losses and LAE, and a discussion of some of the variables that may impact them.
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC, the Company is required to file consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). The Company is permitted to include non-GAAP financial measures in its filings provided that they are defined along with an explanation of their usefulness to investors, are no more prominent than the comparable GAAP financial measures and are reconciled to such GAAP financial measures.
These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered a substitute for the comparable GAAP financial measures, as they do not fully recognize the overall profitability of the Company’s businesses.
Underlying Losses and LAE and Underlying Combined Ratio
The following discussion of segment results uses the non-GAAP financial measures of (i) Underlying Losses and LAE and (ii) Underlying Combined Ratio. Underlying Losses and LAE (also referred to in the discussion as “Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE”) exclude the impact of catastrophe losses and loss and LAE reserve development from prior years from the Company’s Incurred Losses and LAE, which is the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.
The Underlying Combined Ratio is computed by adding the Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio with the Insurance Expense Ratio. The most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is the Combined Ratio, which is computed by adding Total Incurred Losses and LAE Ratio, including the impact of catastrophe losses and loss and LAE reserve development from prior years, with the Insurance Expense Ratio.
The Company believes Underlying Losses and LAE and the Underlying Combined Ratio are useful to investors and uses these financial measures to reveal the trends in the Company’s Property & Casualty Insurance segment that may be obscured by catastrophe losses and prior-year reserve development. These catastrophe losses may cause the Company’s loss trends to vary significantly between periods as a result of their incidence of occurrence and magnitude and can have a significant impact on incurred losses and LAE and the Combined Ratio. Prior-year reserve developments are caused by unexpected loss development on historical reserves. Because reserve development relates to the re-estimation of losses from earlier periods, it has no bearing on the performance of the Company’s insurance products in the current period. The Company believes it is useful for investors to evaluate these components separately and in the aggregate when reviewing the Company’s underwriting performance.
Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating (Loss) Income
Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating (Loss) Income is an after-tax, non-GAAP financial measure and is computed by excluding from Net (Loss) Income the after-tax impact of:
(i) (Loss) Income from Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities;
(ii) Net Realized Gains or Losses on Sales of Investments;
(iii) Impairment Losses;
(iv) Acquisition and Disposition Related Transaction, Integration, Restructuring and Other Costs;
(v) Debt Extinguishment, Pension and Other Charges; and
(vi) Significant non-recurring or infrequent items that may not be indicative of ongoing operations
Significant non-recurring items are excluded when (a) the nature of the charge or gain is such that it is reasonably unlikely to recur within two years, and (b) there has been no similar charge or gain within the prior two years. The most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is Net (Loss) Income. There were no applicable significant non-recurring items that the Company excluded from the calculation of Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating (Loss) Income for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 or 2020.
33
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (Continued)
The Company believes that Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating (Loss) Income provides investors with a valuable measure of its ongoing performance because it reveals underlying operational performance trends that otherwise might be less apparent if the items were not excluded. (Loss) Income from Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities, Net Realized Gains or Losses on Sales of Investments and Impairment Losses related to investments included in the Company’s results may vary significantly between periods and are generally driven by business decisions and external economic developments such as capital market conditions that impact the values of the Company’s investments, the timing of which is unrelated to the insurance underwriting process. Acquisition and Disposition Related Transaction Costs, Integration Costs, and Restructuring and Other Costs may vary significantly between periods and are generally driven by the timing of acquisitions and business decisions which are unrelated to the insurance underwriting process. Debt Extinguishment, Pension and Other Charges relate to (i) loss from early extinguishment of debt, which is driven by the Company’s financing and refinancing decisions and capital needs, as well as external economic developments such as debt market conditions, the timing of which is unrelated to the insurance underwriting process; (ii) settlement of pension plan obligations which are business decisions made by the Company, the timing of which is unrelated to the underwriting process; and (iii) other charges that are non-standard, not part of the ordinary course of business, and unrelated to the insurance underwriting process. Significant non-recurring items are excluded because, by their nature, they are not indicative of the Company’s business or economic trends.
The preceding non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered a substitute for the comparable GAAP financial measures, as they do not fully recognize the overall profitability of the Company’s businesses.
34
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
SPECIALTY PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE
Selected financial information for the Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance segment is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net Premiums Written | $ | 3,934.4 | $ | 4,057.3 | $ | 3,435.5 | |||||
| Earned Premiums | $ | 4,046.4 | $ | 3,948.5 | $ | 3,335.3 | |||||
| Net Investment Income | 140.7 | 152.5 | 114.1 | ||||||||
| Change in Value of Alternative Energy Partnership Investments | (9.9) | (29.0) | — | ||||||||
| Other Income | 6.0 | 4.1 | 1.8 | ||||||||
| Total Revenues | 4,183.2 | 4,076.1 | 3,451.2 | ||||||||
| Incurred Losses and LAE related to: | |||||||||||
| Current Year: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | 3,569.2 | 3,480.3 | 2,350.8 | ||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | 23.0 | 15.7 | 12.3 | ||||||||
| Prior Years: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | (14.6) | 97.4 | 15.1 | ||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.2 | ||||||||
| Total Incurred Losses and LAE | 3,578.2 | 3,593.7 | 2,378.4 | ||||||||
| Insurance Expenses | 801.9 | 774.5 | 651.9 | ||||||||
| Operating (Loss) Income | (196.9) | (292.1) | 420.9 | ||||||||
| Income Tax Benefit (Expense) | 49.5 | 96.0 | (83.0) | ||||||||
| Segment Net Operating (Loss) Income | $ | (147.4) | $ | (196.1) | $ | 337.9 | |||||
| Ratios Based On Earned Premiums | |||||||||||
| Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 88.2 | % | 88.1 | % | 70.4 | % | |||||
| Current Year Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.4 | ||||||||
| Prior Years Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | (0.4) | 2.5 | 0.5 | ||||||||
| Prior Years Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | — | — | — | ||||||||
| Total Incurred Loss and LAE Ratio | 88.4 | 91.0 | 71.3 | ||||||||
| Insurance Expense Ratio | 19.8 | 19.6 | 19.5 | ||||||||
| Combined Ratio | 108.2 | % | 110.6 | % | 90.8 | % | |||||
| Underlying Combined Ratio | |||||||||||
| Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 88.2 | % | 88.1 | % | 70.4 | % | |||||
| Insurance Expense Ratio | 19.8 | 19.6 | 19.5 | ||||||||
| Underlying Combined Ratio | 108.0 | % | 107.7 | % | 89.9 | % | |||||
| Non-GAAP Measure Reconciliation | |||||||||||
| Combined Ratio | 108.2 | % | 110.6 | % | 90.8 | % | |||||
| Less: | |||||||||||
| Current Year Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.4 | ||||||||
| Prior Years Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | (0.4) | 2.5 | 0.5 | ||||||||
| Prior Years Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | — | — | — | ||||||||
| Underlying Combined Ratio | 108.0 | % | 107.7 | % | 89.9 | % |
35
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
SPECIALTY PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE (Continued)
INSURANCE RESERVES
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Dec 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance Reserves: | |||||||
| Personal Automobile | $ | 1,875.8 | $ | 1,985.8 | |||
| Commercial Automobile | 445.3 | 333.9 | |||||
| Total Insurance Reserves | $ | 2,321.1 | $ | 2,319.7 | |||
| Insurance Reserves: | |||||||
| Loss and Allocated LAE Reserves: | |||||||
| Case and Allocated LAE | $ | 1,099.9 | $ | 1,157.9 | |||
| Incurred But Not Reported | 1,041.2 | 953.0 | |||||
| Total Loss and LAE Reserves | 2,141.1 | 2,110.9 | |||||
| Unallocated LAE Reserves | 180.0 | 208.8 | |||||
| Total Insurance Reserves | $ | 2,321.1 | $ | 2,319.7 |
See MD&A, “Critical Accounting Estimates,” under the caption “Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves for Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses” for additional information pertaining to the Company’s process of estimating property and casualty insurance reserves for losses and LAE, development of property and casualty insurance losses and LAE from prior accident years, also referred to as “reserve development” in the discussion of segment results, estimated variability of property and casualty insurance reserves for losses and LAE, and a discussion of some of the variables that may impact development of property and casualty insurance losses and LAE and the estimated variability of property and casualty insurance reserves for losses and LAE.
Overall
2022 Compared with 2021
The Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance segment reported Segment Net Operating Loss of $147.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to Net Operating Loss of $196.1 million in 2021. Segment net operating losses decreased by $48.7 million due primarily to favorable prior year loss and LAE reserve development in 2022 of $14.6 million compared to adverse development in 2021 of $97.4 million.
Earned Premiums in the Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance segment increased by $97.9 million in 2022, compared to 2021 driven by the acquisition of AAC and higher average earned premium per exposure resulting from rate increases. Policies-in-force were lower in Private Passenger Auto as a result of lower levels of new business due to ongoing profit improvement actions.
Net Investment Income in the Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance segment decreased by $11.8 million in 2022, compared to 2021, due primarily to lower returns from Alternative Investments and Equity Securities, partially offset by higher yields and levels of investments in fixed income securities.
Loss related to Changes in Value of Alternative Energy Partnership Investments was $9.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to a loss of $29.0 million for the same period in 2021. Tax benefits related to the Alternative Energy Partnership Investments were $4.1 million and tax benefits of $37.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. This resulted in a net loss of $5.8 million and a net income of $8.4 million attributable to Alternative Energy Partnership Investments for the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Underlying losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums were 88.2% in 2022, a deterioration of 0.1 percentage points, compared to 2021, due primarily to higher severity trends partially offset by earned rate increases and lower claim frequency. Severity trends increased due to rising inflation and supply chain constraints. Underlying losses and LAE exclude the impact of catastrophes and loss and LAE reserve development. Favorable loss and LAE reserve development (including catastrophe reserve development) was $14.0 million in 2022, compared to adverse reserve development of $97.7 million in 2021.
36
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
SPECIALTY PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE (Continued)
Catastrophe losses and LAE (excluding reserve development) were $23.0 million in 2022, compared to $15.7 million for the same period in 2021, a deterioration of $7.3 million. Insurance Expenses were $801.9 million, or 19.8% of earned premiums, for the year ended December 31, 2022, a deterioration of 0.2 percentage point compared to the same period in 2021.
The Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance segment’s effective income tax rate differs from the federal statutory income tax rate due primarily to investment tax credits, tax-exempt investment income and dividends received deductions.
Specialty Personal Automobile Insurance
Selected financial information for the specialty personal automobile insurance product line for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020 is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net Premiums Written | $ | 3,305.1 | $ | 3,587.2 | $ | 3,086.5 | |||||||||
| Earned Premiums | $ | 3,496.7 | $ | 3,533.7 | $ | 3,031.3 | |||||||||
| Incurred Losses and LAE related to: | |||||||||||||||
| Current Year: | |||||||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | $ | 3,153.9 | $ | 3,173.9 | $ | 2,160.9 | |||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | 20.7 | 14.4 | 11.6 | ||||||||||||
| Prior Years: | |||||||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | (18.1) | 85.0 | 28.0 | ||||||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.2 | ||||||||||||
| Total Incurred Losses and LAE | $ | 3,157.0 | $ | 3,273.6 | $ | 2,200.7 | |||||||||
| Ratios Based On Earned Premiums | |||||||||||||||
| Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 90.2 | % | 89.8 | % | 71.3 | % | |||||||||
| Current Year Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.4 | ||||||||||||
| Prior Years Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | (0.5) | 2.4 | 0.9 | ||||||||||||
| Prior Years Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Total Incurred Loss and LAE Ratio | 90.3 | % | 92.6 | % | 72.6 | % |
2022 Compared with 2021
Earned Premiums on specialty personal automobile insurance decreased by $37.0 million in 2022, compared to 2021, due primarily to the decrease in new business driven by targeted underwriting actions to improve profitability partially offset by the acquisition of AAC and higher average earned premium per exposure resulting from rate increases. Incurred losses and LAE were $3,157.0 million, or 90.3% of earned premiums, in 2022, compared to $3,273.6 million, or 92.6% of earned premiums, in 2021. Incurred losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums improved primarily due to a favorable change in prior year loss and LAE reserve development, partially offset by deterioration in underlying losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premium. Underlying losses and LAE as a percentage of related earned premiums were 90.2% in 2022, compared to 89.8% in 2021, a deterioration of 0.4 points due to higher claim severity trends partially offset by earned premium per exposure increases and lower claim frequency. Severity trends increased due to rising inflation and supply chain constraints. Favorable loss and LAE reserve development was $17.6 million in 2022, compared to adverse loss and LAE reserve developments of $85.3 million in 2021, Catastrophe losses and LAE (excluding reserve development) were $20.7 million in 2022, compared to $14.4 million in 2021, due primarily to losses arising from Hurricane Ian.
37
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
SPECIALTY PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE (Continued)
Commercial Automobile Insurance
Selected financial information for the commercial automobile insurance product line is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net Premiums Written | $ | 629.3 | $ | 470.1 | $ | 349.0 | |||||
| Earned Premiums | $ | 549.7 | $ | 414.8 | $ | 304.0 | |||||
| Incurred Losses and LAE related to: | |||||||||||
| Current Year: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | $ | 415.3 | $ | 306.4 | $ | 189.9 | |||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | 2.3 | 1.3 | 0.7 | ||||||||
| Prior Years: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | 3.5 | 12.4 | (12.9) | ||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | 0.1 | — | — | ||||||||
| Total Incurred Losses and LAE | $ | 421.2 | $ | 320.1 | $ | 177.7 | |||||
| Ratios Based On Earned Premiums | |||||||||||
| Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 75.6 | % | 73.9 | % | 62.5 | % | |||||
| Current Year Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.2 | ||||||||
| Prior Years Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 0.6 | 3.0 | (4.2) | ||||||||
| Prior Years Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | — | — | — | ||||||||
| Total Incurred Loss and LAE Ratio | 76.6 | % | 77.2 | % | 58.5 | % |
2022 Compared with 2021
Earned premiums in commercial automobile insurance increased by $134.9 million in 2022, compared to 2021, due primarily to higher volume and higher average earned premium per exposure. Incurred losses and LAE were $421.2 million, or 76.6% of earned premiums, in 2022, compared to $320.1 million, or 77.2% of earned premiums, in 2021. Incurred losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums improved due primarily to lower levels of adverse prior year development on prior year claims offset by an increase in underlying losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums. Underlying losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums were 75.6% in 2022, compared to 73.9% in 2021, a deterioration of 1.7 percentage points due primarily to higher claim severity trends. Severity trends increased due to rising inflation and supply chain constraints. Adverse loss and LAE reserve development was $3.6 million in 2022, compared to adverse reserve development of $12.4 million in 2021.
38
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
PREFERRED PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE
Selected financial information for the Preferred Property & Casualty Insurance segment is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net Premiums Written | $ | 527.1 | $ | 642.0 | $ | 653.0 | |||||
| Earned Premiums | $ | 595.5 | $ | 651.7 | $ | 688.2 | |||||
| Net Investment Income | 49.7 | 68.6 | 37.7 | ||||||||
| Change in Value of Alternative Energy Partnership Investments | (4.7) | (16.3) | — | ||||||||
| Other Income | — | — | 0.1 | ||||||||
| Total Revenues | 640.5 | 704.0 | 726.0 | ||||||||
| Incurred Losses and LAE related to: | |||||||||||
| Current Year: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | 442.3 | 450.4 | 400.9 | ||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | 54.5 | 79.1 | 82.0 | ||||||||
| Prior Years: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | 2.8 | 13.5 | 20.7 | ||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | (6.2) | (5.6) | (0.5) | ||||||||
| Total Incurred Losses and LAE | 493.4 | 537.4 | 503.1 | ||||||||
| Insurance Expenses | 183.5 | 206.4 | 221.1 | ||||||||
| Operating (Loss) Income | (36.4) | (39.8) | 1.8 | ||||||||
| Income Tax Benefit | 10.5 | 27.3 | 1.7 | ||||||||
| Segment Net Operating (Loss) Income | $ | (25.9) | $ | (12.5) | $ | 3.5 | |||||
| Ratios Based On Earned Premiums | |||||||||||
| Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 74.2 | % | 69.2 | % | 58.3 | % | |||||
| Current Year Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 9.2 | 12.1 | 11.9 | ||||||||
| Prior Years Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 0.5 | 2.1 | 3.0 | ||||||||
| Prior Years Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | (1.0) | (0.9) | (0.1) | ||||||||
| Total Incurred Loss and LAE Ratio | 82.9 | 82.5 | 73.1 | ||||||||
| Insurance Expense Ratio | 30.8 | 31.7 | 32.1 | ||||||||
| Combined Ratio | 113.7 | % | 114.2 | % | 105.2 | % | |||||
| Underlying Combined Ratio | |||||||||||
| Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 74.2 | % | 69.2 | % | 58.3 | % | |||||
| Insurance Expense Ratio | 30.8 | 31.7 | 32.1 | ||||||||
| Underlying Combined Ratio | 105.0 | % | 100.9 | % | 90.4 | % | |||||
| Non-GAAP Measure Reconciliation | |||||||||||
| Combined Ratio | 113.7 | % | 114.2 | % | 105.2 | % | |||||
| Less: | |||||||||||
| Current Year Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 9.2 | 12.1 | 11.9 | ||||||||
| Prior Years Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 0.5 | 2.1 | 3.0 | ||||||||
| Prior Years Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | (1.0) | (0.9) | (0.1) | ||||||||
| Underlying Combined Ratio | 105.0 | % | 100.9 | % | 90.4 | % |
39
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
PREFERRED PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE (Continued)
CATASTROPHE FREQUENCY AND SEVERITY
| Dec 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Number of Events | Losses and LAE | Number of Events | Losses and LAE | |||||||||
| Range of Losses and LAE Per Event1: | |||||||||||||
| Below $5 | 60 | $ | 49.4 | 58 | $ | 42.6 | |||||||
| $5 - $10 | 1 | 5.1 | 3 | 21.5 | |||||||||
| $10 - $15 | — | — | 1 | 15.0 | |||||||||
| $15 - $20 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||
| $20 - $25 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||
| Greater Than $25 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||
| Total | 61 | $ | 54.5 | 62 | $ | 79.1 | |||||||
| 1 Current accident year net incurred catastrophe Losses and LAE only |
INSURANCE RESERVES
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Dec 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance Reserves: | |||||||
| Preferred Automobile | $ | 298.4 | $ | 308.6 | |||
| Homeowners | 91.8 | 95.4 | |||||
| Other | 28.9 | 29.2 | |||||
| Total Insurance Reserves | $ | 419.1 | $ | 433.2 | |||
| Insurance Reserves: | |||||||
| Loss and Allocated LAE Reserves: | |||||||
| Case and Allocated LAE | $ | 251.6 | $ | 272.5 | |||
| Incurred But Not Reported | 139.0 | 131.9 | |||||
| Total Loss and LAE Reserves | 390.6 | 404.4 | |||||
| Unallocated LAE Reserves | 28.5 | 28.8 | |||||
| Total Insurance Reserves | $ | 419.1 | $ | 433.2 |
See MD&A, “Critical Accounting Estimates,” under the caption “Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves for Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses” for additional information pertaining to the Company’s process of estimating property and casualty insurance reserves for losses and LAE, development of property and casualty insurance losses and LAE from prior accident years, also referred to as “reserve development” in the discussion of segment results, estimated variability of property and casualty insurance reserves for losses and LAE, and a discussion of some of the variables that may impact development of property and casualty insurance losses and LAE and the estimated variability of property and casualty insurance reserves for losses and LAE.
Overall
2022 Compared with 2021
The Preferred Property & Casualty Insurance segment reported Segment Net Operating Loss of $25.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to Segment Net Operating Loss of $12.5 million in 2021. Segment net operating results decreased by $13.4 million due primarily to higher underlying losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums and lower net investment income, partially offset by lower catastrophe losses and lower levels of adverse prior year reserve development.
40
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
PREFERRED PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE (Continued)
Earned Premiums in the Preferred Property & Casualty Insurance segment decreased by $56.2 million in 2022, compared to 2021, due primarily to lower personal automobile insurance volumes as a result of ongoing profit improvement actions.
Net Investment Income in the Preferred Property & Casualty Insurance segment decreased by $18.9 million in 2022, compared to 2021, due primarily to lower returns from Alternative Investments and Equity Securities.
Loss related to Changes in Value of Alternative Energy Partnership Investments was $4.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to a loss of $16.3 million in 2021. Tax benefits related to the Alternative Energy Partnership Investments were $1.8 million, compared to tax benefits of $21.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. This resulted in a net loss of $2.9 million and a net income of $4.8 million attributable to Alternative Energy Partnership Investments for the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Underlying losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums were 74.2% and 69.2% in 2022 and 2021, respectively. Underlying losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums increased primarily due to higher claim severity trends. Severity trends increased due to rising inflation and supply chain constraints. Catastrophe losses and LAE (excluding reserve development) were $54.5 million in 2022, compared to $79.1 million in 2021, which is a decrease of $24.6 million. Catastrophe losses and LAE (excluding reserve development) decreased due primarily to a lack of larger catastrophic events in 2022, compared to 2021, There was one catastrophic event above $5 million in 2022, compared to four catastrophic events above $5 million in 2021. Favorable loss and LAE reserve development (including catastrophe reserve development) was $3.4 million in 2022, compared to adverse development of $7.9 million in 2021.
Insurance expenses were $183.5 million, or 30.8% of earned premiums, in 2022, an improvement of 0.9 percentage points compared to 2021.
The Preferred Property & Casualty Insurance segment’s effective income tax rate differs from the federal statutory income tax rate due primarily to investment tax credits, tax-exempt investment income and dividends received deductions
Preferred Personal Automobile Insurance
Selected financial information for the preferred personal automobile insurance product line is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net Premiums Written | $ | 308.2 | $ | 399.9 | $ | 407.5 | |||||
| Earned Premiums | $ | 363.7 | $ | 410.5 | $ | 431.7 | |||||
| Incurred Losses and LAE related to: | |||||||||||
| Current Year: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | 310.7 | 330.4 | 279.9 | ||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | 3.8 | 7.4 | 4.4 | ||||||||
| Prior Years: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | 1.8 | 12.2 | 27.7 | ||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | — | (0.1) | (1.0) | ||||||||
| Total Incurred Losses and LAE | $ | 316.3 | $ | 349.9 | $ | 311.0 | |||||
| Ratios Based On Earned Premiums | |||||||||||
| Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 85.5 | % | 80.4 | % | 64.8 | % | |||||
| Current Year Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 1.0 | 1.8 | 1.0 | ||||||||
| Prior Years Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 0.5 | 3.0 | 6.4 | ||||||||
| Prior Years Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | — | — | (0.2) | ||||||||
| Total Incurred Loss and LAE Ratio | 87.0 | % | 85.2 | % | 72.0 | % |
41
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
PREFERRED PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE (Continued)
2022 Compared with 2021
Earned premiums on personal automobile insurance decreased by $46.8 million in 2022, compared to 2021, due primarily to lower volume as a result of ongoing profit improvement actions. Incurred losses and LAE were $316.3 million, or 87.0% of earned premiums, in 2022, compared to $349.9 million, or 85.2% of earned premiums, in 2021. Incurred losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums increased due primarily to a deterioration in the underlying loss and LAE ratio, partially offset by lower levels of prior year loss and LAE reserve development. Underlying losses and LAE as a percentage of related earned premiums were 85.5% in 2022, compared to 80.4% in 2021, a deterioration of 5.1 percentage points primarily due to higher claim severity trends. Severity trends increased due to rising inflation and supply chain constraints. Catastrophe losses and LAE (excluding reserve development) were $3.8 million in 2022, compared to $7.4 million in 2021. Adverse loss and LAE reserve development (including catastrophe loss reserve development) was $1.8 million in 2022, compared to adverse development of $12.1 million in 2021.
Homeowners Insurance
Selected financial information for the homeowners insurance product line is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net Premiums Written | $ | 189.9 | $ | 208.4 | $ | 211.1 | |||||
| Earned Premiums | $ | 200.0 | $ | 207.3 | $ | 220.7 | |||||
| Incurred Losses and LAE related to: | |||||||||||
| Current Year: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | 115.0 | 104.1 | 108.7 | ||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | 49.8 | 70.2 | 71.2 | ||||||||
| Prior Years: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | (2.0) | (2.6) | (2.8) | ||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | (5.6) | (3.9) | 0.7 | ||||||||
| Total Incurred Losses and LAE | $ | 157.2 | $ | 167.8 | $ | 177.8 | |||||
| Ratios Based On Earned Premiums | |||||||||||
| Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 57.5 | % | 50.2 | % | 49.3 | % | |||||
| Current Year Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 24.9 | 33.9 | 32.3 | ||||||||
| Prior Years Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | (1.0) | (1.3) | (1.3) | ||||||||
| Prior Years Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | (2.8) | (1.9) | 0.3 | ||||||||
| Total Incurred Loss and LAE Ratio | 78.6 | % | 80.9 | % | 80.6 | % |
2022 Compared with 2021
Earned premiums in homeowners insurance decreased by $7.3 million in 2022, compared to 2021, due primarily to lower volume as a result of ongoing profit improvement actions partially offset by earned rate increases and the earned benefit of increases in the inflation adjustment for home construction values. Incurred losses and LAE were $157.2 million, or 78.6% of earned premiums, in 2022, compared to $167.8 million, or 80.9% of earned premiums, in 2021. Incurred losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums improved due primarily to lower incurred catastrophe losses (excluding loss reserve development), partially offset by higher underlying losses and LAE. Underlying losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums were 57.5% in 2022, compared to 50.2% in 2021, a deterioration of 7.3 percentage points. Catastrophe losses and LAE (excluding reserve development) were $49.8 million in 2022, compared to $70.2 million in 2021. There was one catastrophic event above $5 million in 2022, compared to four catastrophic events above $5 million in 2021. Favorable Loss and LAE reserve development (including catastrophe loss reserve development) was $7.6 million in 2022, compared to favorable development of $6.5 million in 2021.
42
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
PREFERRED PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE (Continued)
Other Personal Insurance
Other personal insurance products include umbrella, dwelling fire, inland marine, earthquake, boat owners and other liability coverages. Selected financial information for other personal insurance product lines is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net Premiums Written | $ | 29.0 | $ | 33.7 | $ | 34.4 | |||||
| Earned Premiums | $ | 31.8 | $ | 33.9 | $ | 35.8 | |||||
| Incurred Losses and LAE related to: | |||||||||||
| Current Year: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | 16.6 | 15.9 | 12.3 | ||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | 0.9 | 1.5 | 6.4 | ||||||||
| Prior Years: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | 3.0 | 3.9 | (4.2) | ||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | (0.6) | (1.6) | (0.2) | ||||||||
| Total Incurred Losses and LAE | $ | 19.9 | $ | 19.7 | $ | 14.3 | |||||
| Ratios Based On Earned Premiums | |||||||||||
| Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 52.3 | % | 46.9 | % | 34.3 | % | |||||
| Current Year Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 2.8 | 4.4 | 17.9 | ||||||||
| Prior Years Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 9.4 | 11.5 | (11.7) | ||||||||
| Prior Years Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | (1.9) | (4.7) | (0.6) | ||||||||
| Total Incurred Loss and LAE Ratio | 62.6 | % | 58.1 | % | 39.9 | % |
2022 Compared with 2021
Earned premiums in other personal insurance decreased by $2.1 million in 2022, compared to 2021. Incurred losses and LAE were $19.9 million, or 62.6% of earned premiums, in 2022, compared to $19.7 million, or 58.1% of earned premiums, in 2021. Underlying losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums were 52.3% in 2022, compared to 46.9% in 2021, a deterioration of 5.4 percentage points. Catastrophe losses and LAE (excluding reserve development) were $0.9 million in 2022, compared to $1.5 million in 2021. Adverse loss and LAE reserve development (including catastrophe loss reserve development) was $2.4 million in 2022, compared to adverse development of $2.3 million in 2021.
43
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
LIFE & HEALTH INSURANCE
Selected financial information for the Life & Health Insurance segment is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earned Premiums | $ | 624.4 | $ | 653.5 | $ | 648.7 | |||||
| Net Investment Income | 216.5 | 202.7 | 198.8 | ||||||||
| Change in Value of Alternative Energy Partnership Investments | (5.3) | (15.8) | — | ||||||||
| Other (Loss) Income | (0.6) | (1.3) | 0.6 | ||||||||
| Total Revenues | 835.0 | 839.1 | 848.1 | ||||||||
| Policyholders’ Benefits and Incurred Losses and LAE | 432.6 | 469.7 | 442.0 | ||||||||
| Insurance Expenses | 342.9 | 358.9 | 334.9 | ||||||||
| Operating Income | 59.5 | 10.5 | 71.2 | ||||||||
| Income Tax (Expense) Benefit | (5.3) | 17.7 | (11.2) | ||||||||
| Segment Net Operating Income | $ | 54.2 | $ | 28.2 | $ | 60.0 |
INSURANCE RESERVES
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Dec 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance Reserves: | |||||||
| Future Policyholder Benefits | $ | 3,496.4 | $ | 3,454.1 | |||
| Incurred Losses and LAE Reserves: | |||||||
| Life | 53.3 | 60.7 | |||||
| Accident and Health | 4.3 | 26.1 | |||||
| Property | 2.3 | 3.6 | |||||
| Total Incurred Losses and LAE Reserves | 59.9 | 90.4 | |||||
| Total Insurance Reserves | $ | 3,556.3 | $ | 3,544.5 |
Use of Death Verification Databases
In the third quarter of 2016, the Company’s Life & Health segment voluntarily began implementing a comprehensive process under which it cross-references its life insurance policies against the Death Master File maintained by the Social Security Administration and other death verification databases to identify potential situations where the beneficiaries may not have filed a claim following the death of an insured and initiate an outreach process to identify and contact beneficiaries and settle claims. Policyholders’ Benefits and Incurred Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses for the year ended December 31, 2016 included a pre-tax charge of $77.8 million to recognize the initial impact of using death verification databases in the Company’s operations, including to determine its IBNR liability for unpaid claims and claims adjustment expenses for life insurance products. Subsequently, the Company reduced its estimate of the initial impact of using death verification databases by $30.3 million.
See Note 2, “Summary of Accounting Policies and Accounting Changes,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements under the sub-caption “Insurance Reserves” for additional discussion.
2022 Compared with 2021
The financial information for the Life & Health Insurance Segment includes the results of Reserve National through December 1, 2022, the date it was sold.
Earned Premiums in the Life & Health Insurance segment decreased by $29.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to 2021 due primarily to lower volume on accident and health insurance products and property insurance products, partially offset by increased average premium rate on life insurance products.
44
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
LIFE & HEALTH INSURANCE (Continued)
Net Investment Income increased by $13.8 million in 2022, compared to 2021, due primarily to higher levels of investments in Fixed Income Securities, higher returns from Alternative Investments and higher levels of investments and rate on Company-Owned Life Insurance, partially offset by lower yields on Fixed Income Securities and lower levels of investments and yields on Equity Securities.
Loss related to Changes in Value of Alternative Energy Partnership Investments was $5.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to a loss of $15.8 million for the same period in 2021. Tax benefits related to the Alternative Energy Partnership Investments were $2.1 million and $20.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. This resulted in a net loss of $3.2 million and a net income of $4.6 million attributable to Alternative Energy Partnership Investment for the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Policyholders’ Benefits and Incurred Losses and LAE decreased by $37.1 million in 2022, compared to 2021, due primarily to lower mortality for life insurance, lower frequency of accident and health insurance claims and lower current year property catastrophe losses and LAE.
Insurance Expenses in the Life & Health Insurance segment decreased by $16.0 million in 2022, compared to 2021, due primarily to lower commission expense and a reduction in expenses due to lower volume of accident and health insurance products and property insurance products.
Segment Net Operating Income in the Life & Health Insurance segment was $54.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to $28.2 million in 2021.
The Life & Health Insurance segment’s effective income tax rate differs from the federal statutory income tax rate due primarily to investment tax credits, tax-exempt investment income and dividends received deductions.
Life Insurance
Selected financial information for the life insurance product line is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earned Premiums | $ | 405.7 | $ | 401.7 | $ | 385.7 | |||||
| Net Investment Income | 210.0 | 196.8 | 193.3 | ||||||||
| Change in Value of Alternative Energy Partnership Investments | (4.9) | (15.0) | — | ||||||||
| Other Income | (1.1) | (1.6) | — | ||||||||
| Total Revenues | 609.7 | 581.9 | 579.0 | ||||||||
| Policyholders’ Benefits and Incurred Losses and LAE | 329.0 | 345.3 | 318.2 | ||||||||
| Insurance Expenses | 237.3 | 235.6 | 218.8 | ||||||||
| Operating Income | 43.4 | 1.0 | 42.0 | ||||||||
| Income Tax (Expense) Benefit | (2.3) | 18.7 | (5.2) | ||||||||
| Total Product Line Net Operating Income | $ | 41.1 | $ | 19.7 | $ | 36.8 |
2022 Compared with 2021
Earned premiums on life insurance increased by $4.0 million in 2022, compared to 2021, due primarily to increased average premium rate. Policyholders’ benefits and incurred losses and LAE on life insurance were $329.0 million in 2022, compared to $345.3 million in 2021, a decrease of $16.3 million due primarily to lower mortality.
Insurance Expenses increased by $1.7 million in 2022, compared to 2021, due primarily to higher volume of life insurance products.
45
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
LIFE & HEALTH INSURANCE (Continued)
Accident and Health Insurance
Selected financial information for the Accident and Health Insurance product line is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earned Premiums | $ | 168.2 | $ | 189.9 | $ | 199.3 | |||||
| Net Investment Income | 3.3 | 3.6 | 5.0 | ||||||||
| Change in Value of Alternative Energy Partnership Investments | (0.1) | (0.3) | — | ||||||||
| Other Income | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.6 | ||||||||
| Total Revenues | 171.9 | 193.5 | 204.9 | ||||||||
| Policyholders’ Benefits and Incurred Losses and LAE | 86.5 | 96.1 | 95.3 | ||||||||
| Insurance Expenses | 79.1 | 91.6 | 91.9 | ||||||||
| Operating Income | 6.3 | 5.8 | 17.7 | ||||||||
| Income Tax Expense | (1.1) | (0.9) | (3.6) | ||||||||
| Total Product Line Net Operating Income | $ | 5.2 | $ | 4.9 | $ | 14.1 |
2022 Compared with 2021
The financial information for the Accident and Health Insurance product line includes the results of Reserve National through December 1, 2022, the date it was sold.
Earned premiums on accident and health insurance decreased by $21.7 million in 2022, compared to 2021. This is due primarily to a lower volume of sales and the disposition of Reserve National. Policyholders’ Benefits and Incurred Losses and LAE on accident and health insurance were $86.5 million in 2022, compared to $96.1 million in 2021 due primarily to lower frequency of claims.
Insurance expenses decreased by $12.5 million in 2022, compared to 2021, due primarily to lower volume of accident and health insurance products.
46
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
LIFE & HEALTH INSURANCE (Continued)
Property Insurance
Selected financial information for the property insurance product line is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earned Premiums | $ | 50.5 | $ | 61.9 | $ | 63.7 | |||||
| Net Investment Income | 3.2 | 2.3 | 0.5 | ||||||||
| Change in Value of Alternative Energy Partnership Investments | (0.3) | (0.5) | — | ||||||||
| Total Revenues | 53.4 | 63.7 | 64.2 | ||||||||
| Incurred Losses and LAE related to: | |||||||||||
| Current Year: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | 12.5 | 14.2 | 15.2 | ||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | 1.8 | 13.0 | 12.4 | ||||||||
| Prior Years: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | 1.3 | 1.2 | 0.4 | ||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | 1.5 | (0.1) | 0.5 | ||||||||
| Total Incurred Losses and LAE | 17.1 | 28.3 | 28.5 | ||||||||
| Insurance Expenses | 26.5 | 31.7 | 24.2 | ||||||||
| Operating Income | 9.8 | 3.7 | 11.5 | ||||||||
| Income Tax Expense | (1.9) | (0.1) | (2.4) | ||||||||
| Total Product Line Net Operating Income | $ | 7.9 | $ | 3.6 | $ | 9.1 | |||||
| Ratios Based On Earned Premiums | |||||||||||
| Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 24.7 | % | 23.0 | % | 23.8 | % | |||||
| Current Year Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 3.6 | 21.0 | 19.5 | ||||||||
| Prior Years Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 2.6 | 1.9 | 0.6 | ||||||||
| Prior Years Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 3.0 | (0.2) | 0.8 | ||||||||
| Total Incurred Loss and LAE Ratio | 33.9 | % | 45.7 | % | 44.7 | % |
2022 Compared with 2021
Earned premiums from property insurance decreased by $11.4 million in 2022, compared to 2021, due primarily to lower volume of property insurance products. Incurred losses and LAE on property insurance were $17.1 million, or 33.9% of earned premiums, in 2022, compared to $28.3 million, or 45.7% earned premiums, in 2021. Underlying losses and LAE were $12.5 million, or 24.7% of property insurance earned premiums, in 2022, compared to $14.2 million, or 23.0% of property insurance earned premiums, in 2021, an increase of 1.7 percentage points due primarily to higher claim severity. Catastrophe losses and LAE (excluding loss reserve development) were $1.8 million in 2022, compared to $13.0 million in 2021. Catastrophe losses and LAE decreased $11.2 million due primarily to both lower frequency of catastrophe claims and lower claim severity. Adverse loss and LAE reserve development was $2.8 million in 2022, compared to adverse development of $1.1 million in 2021.
Insurance expenses decreased $5.2 million in 2022, compared to 2021, due primarily to lower volume of property insurance products.
47
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
INVESTMENT RESULTS
Net Investment Income
Net Investment Income for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020 is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Investment Income: | |||||||||||
| Interest on Fixed Income Securities | $ | 300.1 | $ | 277.7 | $ | 289.8 | |||||
| Dividends on Equity Securities Excluding Alternative Investments | 6.3 | 15.9 | 15.4 | ||||||||
| Alternative Investments: | |||||||||||
| Equity Method Limited Liability Investments | 31.3 | 56.7 | 4.9 | ||||||||
| Limited Liability Investments Included in Equity Securities | 42.1 | 46.9 | 22.1 | ||||||||
| Total Alternative Investments | 73.4 | 103.6 | 27.0 | ||||||||
| Short-term Investments | 3.7 | 1.0 | 5.5 | ||||||||
| Loans to Policyholders | 21.5 | 21.7 | 22.1 | ||||||||
| Real Estate | 10.1 | 9.3 | 9.6 | ||||||||
| Company-Owned Life Insurance | 37.9 | 25.7 | 12.9 | ||||||||
| Other | 7.7 | 6.7 | 0.3 | ||||||||
| Total Investment Income | 460.7 | 461.6 | 382.6 | ||||||||
| Investment Expenses: | |||||||||||
| Real Estate | 7.9 | 9.7 | 8.8 | ||||||||
| Other Investment Expenses | 30.2 | 24.6 | 25.6 | ||||||||
| Total Investment Expenses | 38.1 | 34.3 | 34.4 | ||||||||
| Net Investment Income | $ | 422.6 | $ | 427.3 | $ | 348.2 |
2022 Compared with 2021
Net Investment Income was $422.6 million and $427.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Net Investment Income decreased by $4.7 million in 2022 due primarily to lower valuations on Equity Method Limited Liability Investments, lower balances in Equity Securities, and lower rate on Fixed Income Securities, partially offset by higher levels of investments in Fixed Income Securities and Company-Owned Life Insurance.
Income and distributions on Alternative Investments can fluctuate significantly between periods as they are influenced by operating performance of the underlying investments, changes in market or economic conditions or the timing of asset sales.
Total Comprehensive Investment (Losses) Gains
The components of Total Comprehensive Investment (Losses) Gains for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020 are presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recognized in Consolidated Statements of (Loss) Income: | |||||||||||
| (Loss) Income from Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities | $ | (79.9) | $ | 114.6 | $ | 72.1 | |||||
| Gains on Sales | 41.3 | 68.0 | 48.3 | ||||||||
| Losses on Sales | (38.7) | (3.2) | (10.2) | ||||||||
| Gains on Hedging Activity | 1.7 | — | — | ||||||||
| Impairment Losses | (25.8) | (11.0) | (19.5) | ||||||||
| Net (Loss) Gain Recognized in Consolidated Statements of (Loss) Income | (101.4) | 168.4 | 90.7 | ||||||||
| Recognized in Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income | (1,541.2) | (286.6) | 367.4 | ||||||||
| Total Comprehensive Investment (Losses) Gains | $ | (1,642.6) | $ | (118.2) | $ | 458.1 |
48
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
INVESTMENT RESULTS (Continued)
Total Comprehensive Investment Losses increased by $1,524.4 million primarily due to to a decrease in the fair value of the Company’s fixed income bond portfolio.
(Loss) Income From Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities
The components of (Loss) Income from Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 are presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2022 | 2021 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preferred Stocks | $ | (8.9) | $ | 1.9 | |||
| Common Stocks | (0.4) | 1.7 | |||||
| Other Equity Interests: | |||||||
| Exchange Traded Funds | (46.5) | 75.8 | |||||
| Limited Liability Companies and Limited Partnerships | (21.2) | 31.3 | |||||
| Total Other Equity Interests | (67.7) | 107.1 | |||||
| (Loss) Income from Change in Fair Value of Equity Securities | (77.0) | 110.7 | |||||
| (Loss) Income from Change in Fair Value of Convertible Securities | (2.9) | 3.9 | |||||
| (Loss) Income from Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities | $ | (79.9) | $ | 114.6 |
Net Realized Gains on Sales of Investments
The components of Net Realized Gains on Sales of Investments for the year ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020 are presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Maturities: | |||||||||||
| Gains on Sales | $ | 31.6 | $ | 63.4 | $ | 40.6 | |||||
| Losses on Sales | (31.9) | (2.1) | (7.9) | ||||||||
| Gains on Hedging Activity | 1.7 | — | — | ||||||||
| Equity Securities: | |||||||||||
| Gains on Sales | 9.7 | 4.1 | 5.9 | ||||||||
| Losses on Sales | (6.8) | (0.7) | (1.9) | ||||||||
| Equity Method Limited Liability Investments: | |||||||||||
| Gains on Sales | — | 0.4 | — | ||||||||
| Losses on Sales | — | — | (0.4) | ||||||||
| Real Estate: | |||||||||||
| Gains on Sales | — | 0.1 | 1.8 | ||||||||
| Losses on Sales | — | (0.4) | — | ||||||||
| Net Realized Investment Gains | $ | 4.3 | $ | 64.8 | $ | 38.1 | |||||
| Gross Gains on Sales | $ | 41.3 | $ | 68.0 | $ | 48.3 | |||||
| Gross Losses on Sales | (38.7) | (3.2) | (10.2) | ||||||||
| Gains on Hedging Activity | 1.7 | — | — | ||||||||
| Net Realized Investment Gains | $ | 4.3 | $ | 64.8 | $ | 38.1 |
Fixed Maturities
Net Realized Gains on Sales of Fixed Maturities for the year ended December 31, 2022 primarily relate to normal portfolio management and to a lesser extent, a repositioning of the portfolio for duration extension purposes.
49
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
INVESTMENT RESULTS (Continued)
Net Realized Gains on Sales of Fixed Maturities for the year ended December 31, 2021 primarily relate to normal portfolio management and to a lesser extent, a repositioning of the portfolio for duration extension purposes.
Equity Securities
Net Realized Gains on Sales of Equity Securities for the year ended December 31, 2022 primarily relate disposals of equity method limited liability investments and preferred stock.
Net Realized Gains on Sales of Equity Securities for the year ended December 31, 2021 primarily relate to transactions whereby the Company’s interests in Equity Securities at Modified Cost were acquired by other companies.
Impairment Losses
The Company regularly reviews its investment portfolio to determine whether a decline in the fair value of an investment has occurred from credit or other, non-credit related factors. If the decline in fair value is due to credit factors and the Company does not expect to receive cash flows sufficient to support the entire amortized cost basis, the credit loss is reported in the Consolidated Statements of (Loss) Income in the period that the declines are evaluated. The components of Impairment Losses in the Consolidated Statements of (Loss) Income for the year ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020 is presented below.
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Amount | Number of Issuers | Amount | Number of Issuers | Amount | Number of Issuers | ||||||||||||
| Fixed Maturities | $ | (25.8) | 57 | $ | (6.4) | 17 | $ | (16.7) | 14 | |||||||||
| Equity Securities | — | — | (4.2) | 13 | (2.8) | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Real Estate | — | — | (0.4) | 1 | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Impairment Losses | $ | (25.8) | $ | (11.0) | $ | (19.5) |
Fixed Maturities
Impairment Losses recognized in the Consolidated Statements of (Loss) Income for the year ended December 31, 2022 related primarily to investments in Fixed Maturities where the Company established an allowance for expected credit loss.
Impairment Losses recognized in the Consolidated Statements of (Loss) Income for the year ended December 31, 2021 related primarily to investments in Fixed Maturities where the Company established an allowance for expected credit loss.
Equity Securities
The Company did not recognize any Impairment Losses in the Consolidated Statements of (Loss) Income for the year ended December 31, 2022. Impairment Losses recognized in the Consolidated Statements of (Loss) Income for the year ended December 31, 2021 primarily related to investments in Equity Securities at Modified Cost where the Company had the intent or requirement to sell.
Real Estate
The Company did not recognize any Impairment Losses in the Consolidated Statements of (Loss) Income for the year ended December 31, 2022. Impairment Losses recognized in the Consolidated Statements of (Loss) Income for the year ended December 31, 2021 related to investments in Real Estate held with the intent to sell.
INVESTMENT QUALITY AND CONCENTRATIONS
The Company’s fixed maturity investment portfolio is comprised primarily of high-grade corporate, municipal and agency bonds. At December 31, 2022, approximately 95.5% of the Company’s fixed maturity investment portfolio was rated investment-grade, which the Company defines as a security issued by a high quality obligor with at least a relatively stable credit profile and where it is highly likely that all contractual payments of principal and interest will timely occur and carry a rating from the NAIC of 1 or 2. Securities with a rating of 1 or 2 from the NAIC typically are rated by one of more Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations and either have a rating of AAA, AA, A or BBB from Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”); a rating of Aaa, Aa, A or Baa from Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”); or a rating of AAA, AA, A or BBB from Fitch Ratings.
50
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
INVESTMENT QUALITY AND CONCENTRATIONS (Continued)
The following table summarizes the credit quality of the Company’s fixed maturity investment portfolio at December 31, 2022 and 2021.
| NAIC Rating | Rating | Dec 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair Value in Millions | Percentage of Total | Fair Value in Millions | Percentage of Total | |||||||||||||
| 1 | AAA, AA, A | $ | 4,896.4 | 71.0 | % | $ | 5,351.6 | 67.0 | % | |||||||
| 2 | BBB | 1,687.4 | 24.5 | 2,215.1 | 27.7 | |||||||||||
| 3-4 | BB, B | 239.7 | 3.5 | 331.0 | 4.2 | |||||||||||
| 5-6 | CCC or Lower | 71.3 | 1.0 | 89.2 | 1.1 | |||||||||||
| Total Investments in Fixed Maturities | $ | 6,894.8 | 100.0 | % | $ | 7,986.9 | 100.0 | % |
Gross unrealized losses on the Company’s investments in below-investment-grade fixed maturities were $32.8 million and $9.0 million at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
The following table summarizes the fair value of the Company’s investments in governmental fixed maturities at December 31, 2022 and 2021.
| Dec 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Fair Value | Percentage of Total Investments | Fair Value | Percentage of Total Investments | ||||||||||
| U.S. Government and Government Agencies and Authorities | $ | 528.0 | 6.0 | % | $ | 637.4 | 6.1 | % | ||||||
| States and Political Subdivisions: | ||||||||||||||
| Revenue Bonds | 1,324.3 | 15.1 | 1,516.1 | 14.6 | ||||||||||
| States | 143.8 | 1.6 | 235.8 | 2.3 | ||||||||||
| Political Subdivisions | 100.8 | 1.1 | 138.2 | 1.3 | ||||||||||
| Foreign Governments | 4.1 | — | 5.5 | 0.1 | ||||||||||
| Total Investments in Governmental Fixed Maturities | $ | 2,101.0 | 23.8 | % | $ | 2,533.0 | 24.4 | % |
The following table summarizes the fair value of the Company’s investments in non-governmental fixed maturities by industry at December 31, 2022 and 2021.
| Dec 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Fair Value | Percentage of Total Investments | Fair Value | Percentage of Total Investments | ||||||||||
| Finance, Insurance and Real Estate | $ | 2,007.5 | 22.8 | % | $ | 1,996.7 | 19.2 | % | ||||||
| Manufacturing | 1,085.9 | 12.4 | 1,571.0 | 15.1 | ||||||||||
| Transportation, Communication and Utilities | 733.7 | 8.3 | 815.8 | 7.9 | ||||||||||
| Services | 602.4 | 6.9 | 617.5 | 5.9 | ||||||||||
| Mining | 173.3 | 2.0 | 254.3 | 2.4 | ||||||||||
| Retail Trade | 165.1 | 1.9 | 171.4 | 1.7 | ||||||||||
| Construction | 11.7 | 0.1 | 13.1 | 0.1 | ||||||||||
| Other | 14.2 | 0.2 | 14.1 | 0.1 | ||||||||||
| Total Investments in Non-governmental Fixed Maturities | $ | 4,793.8 | 54.6 | % | $ | 5,453.9 | 52.4 | % |
51
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
INVESTMENT QUALITY AND CONCENTRATIONS (Continued)
The following table summarizes the fair value of the Company’s investments in non-governmental fixed maturities by range of amount invested at December 31, 2022.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Number of Issuers | Aggregate Fair Value | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Below $5 | 821 | $ | 1,548.1 | |||
| $5 -$10 | 185 | 1,398.1 | ||||
| $10 - $20 | 98 | 1,337.2 | ||||
| $20 - $30 | 18 | 433.5 | ||||
| Greater Than $30 | 2 | 76.9 | ||||
| Total | 1,124 | $ | 4,793.8 |
The Company’s short-term investments primarily consist of money market funds and short term bonds. At December 31, 2022, the Company had $250.3 million invested in money market funds which primarily invest in U.S. Treasury securities and $28.1 million invested in U.S. treasury bills and short-term bonds.
The following table summarizes the fair value of the Company’s ten largest investment exposures in a single issuer, excluding investments in U.S. Government and Government Agencies and Authorities and Short-term Investment, at December 31, 2022.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Fair Value | Percentage of Total Investments | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Maturities: | |||||||
| States including their Political Subdivisions: | |||||||
| Texas | $ | 139.0 | 1.6 | % | |||
| California | 126.7 | 1.4 | |||||
| New York | 85.8 | 1.0 | |||||
| Michigan | 83.9 | 1.0 | |||||
| Georgia | 78.5 | 0.9 | |||||
| Louisiana | 64.3 | 0.7 | |||||
| Pennsylvania | 60.9 | 0.7 | |||||
| Florida | 57.1 | 0.6 | |||||
| Colorado | 50.5 | 0.6 | |||||
| Massachusetts | 47.9 | 0.5 | |||||
| Total | $ | 794.6 | 9.0 | % |
52
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
INVESTMENTS IN LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES AND LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS
The Company owns investments in various limited liability investment companies and limited partnerships that primarily invest in mezzanine debt, distressed debt, and senior debt. The Company’s investments in these limited liability investment companies and limited partnerships are reported either as Equity Method Limited Liability Investments, Other Equity, Interests, and included in Equity Securities at Fair Value, or Equity Securities at Modified Cost depending on the accounting method used to report the investment. Additional information pertaining to these investments at December 31, 2022 and 2021 is presented below.
| Unfunded Commitment in Millions | Reported Value in Millions | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asset Class | Dec 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | ||||||||
| Reported as Equity Method Limited Liability Investments: | |||||||||||
| Mezzanine Debt | $ | 51.6 | $ | 114.3 | $ | 120.0 | |||||
| Senior Debt | 42.0 | 21.6 | 27.5 | ||||||||
| Distressed Debt | — | 9.4 | 21.7 | ||||||||
| Secondary Transactions | 1.7 | 9.3 | 11.7 | ||||||||
| Leveraged Buyout | 0.6 | 8.9 | 8.7 | ||||||||
| Growth Equity | — | 1.2 | 0.7 | ||||||||
| Real Estate | — | 43.3 | 29.9 | ||||||||
| Hedge Fund | — | 0.5 | 8.7 | ||||||||
| Other | — | 8.5 | 13.0 | ||||||||
| Total Equity Method Limited Liability Investments | 95.9 | 217.0 | 241.9 | ||||||||
| Alternative Energy Partnership Investments | — | 16.3 | 39.6 | ||||||||
| Reported as Other Equity Interests at Fair Value: | |||||||||||
| Mezzanine Debt | 56.0 | 106.0 | 129.3 | ||||||||
| Senior Debt | 6.0 | 21.9 | 29.9 | ||||||||
| Distressed Debt | 13.0 | 12.5 | 44.9 | ||||||||
| Secondary Transactions | 4.2 | 3.5 | 4.0 | ||||||||
| Hedge Funds | — | 18.1 | 82.7 | ||||||||
| Leveraged Buyout | 9.0 | 21.6 | 32.2 | ||||||||
| Growth Equity | 7.9 | 5.4 | 2.0 | ||||||||
| Other | 0.2 | 0.1 | — | ||||||||
| Total Reported as Other Equity Interests at Fair Value | 96.3 | 189.1 | 325.0 | ||||||||
| Reported as Equity Securities at Modified Cost: | |||||||||||
| Other | — | 8.3 | 7.7 | ||||||||
| Total Reported as Equity Securities at Modified Cost | — | 8.3 | 7.7 | ||||||||
| Total Investments in Limited Liability Companies and Limited Partnerships | $ | 192.2 | $ | 430.7 | $ | 614.2 |
The Company expects that it will be required to fund its commitments over the next several years. The Company expects that the proceeds from distributions from these investments will be the primary source of funding of such commitments.
53
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
INSURANCE, INTEREST AND OTHER EXPENSES
Expenses for the year ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020 were:
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance Expenses: | |||||||||||
| Commissions | $ | 724.8 | $ | 817.6 | $ | 745.8 | |||||
| General Expenses | 358.4 | 339.5 | 307.4 | ||||||||
| Taxes, Licenses and Fees | 99.5 | 104.3 | 94.2 | ||||||||
| Total Costs Incurred | 1,182.7 | 1,261.4 | 1,147.4 | ||||||||
| Net Policy Acquisition Costs Amortized (Deferred) | 13.8 | (88.3) | (51.6) | ||||||||
| Amortization of Value of Business Acquired (“VOBA”) | 4.1 | 45.0 | 4.7 | ||||||||
| Insurance Expenses | 1,200.6 | 1,218.1 | 1,100.5 | ||||||||
| Loss from Early Extinguishment of Debt | 3.7 | — | — | ||||||||
| Interest and Other Expenses: | |||||||||||
| Interest Expense | 54.7 | 43.6 | 36.0 | ||||||||
| Other Expenses: | |||||||||||
| Acquisition and Disposition Related Transaction, Integration, Restructuring and Other Costs | 62.9 | 43.9 | 63.3 | ||||||||
| Pension Settlement Expense | — | — | 64.1 | ||||||||
| Other | 140.0 | 131.9 | 108.1 | ||||||||
| Other Expenses | 202.9 | 175.8 | 235.5 | ||||||||
| Interest and Other Expenses | 257.6 | 219.4 | 271.5 | ||||||||
| Total Expenses | $ | 1,461.9 | $ | 1,437.5 | $ | 1,372.0 |
Insurance Expenses
Insurance Expenses decreased by $17.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to 2021, due primarily to net amortization of policy acquisition costs as the acquisition of AAC led to higher deferrals in 2021. This is partially offset by a corresponding decrease in the amortization of VOBA from the acquisition of AAC and lower commissions as premium growth has slowed due to ongoing profit improvement actions.
Interest and Other Expenses
Interest expense increased by $11.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to 2021, due primarily to the addition of the 2032 Senior Notes and the 2062 Junior Debentures in 2022. See MD&A, “Liquidity and Capital Resources,” and Note 21, “Debt,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion of debt activity.
Other Expenses increased by $27.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to 2021, due primarily to higher restructuring expenses, loss on the sale of Reserve National, and goodwill impairment.
INCOME TAXES
The federal corporate statutory income tax rate was 21% for the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021. The Company’s effective income tax rate differs from the federal corporate income tax rate due primarily to (1) the effects of tax-exempt investment income, (2) nontaxable income associated with the change in cash surrender value on Company-Owned Life Insurance, (3) Alternative Energy Partnership Investment and general business tax credits, (4) a permanent difference between the amount of long-term equity-based compensation expense recognized under GAAP and the amount deductible in the computation of Federal taxable income, (5) a permanent difference associated with nondeductible executive compensation, and (6) taxes related to sold subsidiaries.
The Inflation Reduction Act (the "Law") was signed into law on August 16, 2022, which will become generally effective on January 1, 2023. Included in the provisions of the Law are various changes to the tax code, including the establishment of a Corporate Alternative Minimum tax. The Company has evaluated the provisions of the Law and does not expect a material impact. The Company will continue to monitor guidance as it is released by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and United States Treasury.
54
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
INCOME TAXES (Continued)
Tax-exempt investment income and dividends received deductions were $25.1 million and $21.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The nontaxable increase in cash surrender value on Company-Owned Life Insurance (“COLI”) was $37.9 million and $25.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The Company realized net investment and general business tax credits of $6.5 million and $66.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The amount of expense recognized for long-term equity-based compensation expense under U.S. GAAP was $6.3 million higher than the amount that would be deductible under the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to $1.3 million lower for the same period in 2021. The amount of nondeductible executive compensation was $7.3 million and $13.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The amount of tax expense recognized related to sold subsidiaries was $11.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to none for the same period in 2021.
See Note 25, “Income Taxes,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion of income taxes.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Shelf Registration Statement
The Company filed a universal shelf registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the first quarter of 2020. Under this shelf registration, the Company may issue an undetermined amount of securities including common stock, preferred stock, depository shares, debt securities, warrants, subscription rights, purchase contracts, and purchase units. Specific terms of any securities issued under this registration will be included in each applicable prospectus supplement.
Common Stock Offering
Kemper is authorized to issue 20 million shares of $0.10 par value preferred stock and 100 million shares of $0.10 par value common stock. No preferred shares were issued or outstanding at December 31, 2022 and 2021. There were 63,912,762 shares and 63,684,628 shares of common stock outstanding at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Long-term Debt
From time to time, the Company looks to opportunistically raise capital in the debt markets. The Company designates debt obligations as either short-term or long-term based on maturity date at issuance, or in the case of the 2022 Senior Notes, based on the date of assumption. Total amortized cost of Long-term Debt outstanding at December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 was:
| (Dollars in Millions) | Dec 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Notes | |||||||
| 5.000% Senior Notes due September 19, 2022 | $ | — | $ | 276.7 | |||
| 4.350% Senior Notes due February 15, 2025 | 449.3 | 449.0 | |||||
| 2.400% Senior Notes due September 30, 2030 | 396.6 | 396.2 | |||||
| 3.800% Senior Notes due February 23, 2032 | 395.5 | — | |||||
| 5.875% Fixed-Rate Reset Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2062 | 145.5 | — | |||||
| Total Long-term Debt Outstanding | $ | 1,386.9 | $ | 1,121.9 |
See Note 21, “Debt,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information regarding the Company’s long-term debt.
Amended and Extended Credit Agreement and Term Loan Facility
On March 15, 2022, the Company entered into an amended and extended credit agreement. The amended and extended credit agreement increased the borrowing capacity of the existing unsecured credit agreement to $600.0 million and extended the maturity date to March 15, 2027. Furthermore, the amended and extended credit agreement provides for an accordion feature whereby the Company can increase the revolving credit borrowing capacity by $200.0 million to a total of $800.0 million. There were no outstanding borrowings under the credit agreement at either December 31, 2022 or December 31, 2021.
55
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES (Continued)
Federal Home Loan Bank Agreements
Kemper’s subsidiaries, United Insurance, Trinity Universal Insurance Company (“Trinity”), American Access Casualty Company (“AAC”), and Alliance United Insurance Company (“Alliance”) are members of the Federal Home Loan Banks (“FHLBs”) of Chicago, Dallas, Chicago, and San Francisco, respectively. American Access Casualty Company became a member of the FHLB of Chicago in May 2022. United Insurance and Trinity became members of the FHLBs of Chicago and Dallas, respectively, in 2013. Alliance became a member of the FHLB of San Francisco in August 2020. Under their memberships, United Insurance, Trinity, AAC, and Alliance may borrow through the advance program of their respective FHLB. As a requirement of membership in the FHLB, United Insurance, Trinity, AAC, and Alliance must maintain certain levels of investment in FHLB common stock and additional amounts based on the level of outstanding borrowings. The Company’s investments in FHLB common stock are reported at cost and included in Other Investments. The carrying value of FHLB of Chicago common stock was $17.5 million and $11.8 million at December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. The carrying value of FHLB of Dallas common stock was $3.4 million and $3.4 million at December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. The carrying value of FHLB of San Francisco common stock was $1.4 million and $1.7 million at December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. The Company periodically uses short-term FHLB borrowings for a combination of cash management and risk management purposes, in addition to long-term FHLB borrowings for spread lending purposes.
During 2022, United Insurance received advances of $415.8 million from the FHLB of Chicago and made repayments of $216.7 million. United Insurance had outstanding advances from the FHLB of Chicago totaling $601.0 million at December 31, 2022. These advances were made in connection with the Company’s spread lending program. The proceeds related to these advances were used to purchase fixed maturity securities to earn incremental net investment income.
With respect to these advances, United Insurance held pledged securities in a custodial account with the FHLB of Chicago with a fair value of $744.6 million at December 31, 2022. The fair value of the collateral pledged must be maintained at certain specified levels above the borrowed amount, which can vary depending on the assets pledged. If the fair value of the collateral declines below these specified levels of the amount borrowed, United Insurance would be required to pledge additional collateral or repay outstanding borrowings. See Note 20, “Policyholder Obligations,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information about the United Insurance advances and related funding agreements.
Common Stock Repurchases
On May 6, 2020, Kemper’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to an additional $200.0 million of Kemper common stock, in addition to the $133.3 million remaining under the previous authorization. The Company did not repurchase any of its common stock in 2022. The Company repurchased approximately $161.7 million and $110.4 million of stock at an average cost per share of $77.58 and $68.29 in 2021 and 2020, respectively. As of December 31, 2022, the remaining share repurchase authorization was $171.6 million under the repurchase program. The amount and timing of any future share repurchases under the authorization will depend on a variety of factors, including market conditions, the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, available liquidity, particular circumstances and other considerations.
Dividends to Shareholders
Kemper paid a quarterly dividend of $0.31 per common share for each quarter of 2022 and $0.31 per common share for each quarter of 2021, respectively. Dividends and dividend equivalents paid were $79.7 million and $80.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Subsidiary Dividends and Capital Contributions
Various insurance laws restrict the ability of Kemper’s insurance subsidiaries to pay dividends without regulatory approval. Such insurance laws generally restrict the amount of dividends paid in an annual period to the greater of statutory net income from the previous year or 10% of statutory capital and surplus. Kemper’s insurance subsidiaries collectively paid $311.7 million, $347.0 million and $322.0 million in dividends to Kemper in 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. In 2023, Kemper estimates that its direct insurance subsidiaries would be able to pay approximately $108.9 million in dividends to Kemper without prior regulatory approval.
Kemper made capital contributions to insurance subsidiaries of $270.0 million and $126.0 million during 2022 and 2021, respectively.
56
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES (Continued)
Sources and Uses of Funds
The Company directly held cash and investments totaling $417.6 million at December 31, 2022, compared to $233.9 million at December 31, 2021.
The primary sources of funds available for repayment of Kemper’s indebtedness, repurchases of common stock, future shareholder dividend payments, and the payment of interest on Kemper’s senior notes and term loan, include cash and investments directly held by Kemper, receipt of dividends from Kemper’s insurance subsidiaries and borrowings under the credit agreement and from subsidiaries.
The primary sources of funds for Kemper’s insurance subsidiaries are premiums, investment income, proceeds from the sales, and maturity of investments, advances from the FHLBs of Chicago, Dallas and San Francisco, and capital contributions from Kemper. The primary uses of funds are the payment of policyholder benefits under life insurance contracts, claims under property and casualty insurance contracts and accident and health insurance contracts, the payment of commissions and general expenses, the purchase of investments and repayments of advances from the FHLBs of Chicago, Dallas and San Francisco.
Generally, there is a time lag between when premiums are collected and when policyholder benefits and insurance claims are paid. During periods of growth, property and casualty insurance companies typically experience positive operating cash flows and are able to invest a portion of their operating cash flows to fund future policyholder benefits and claims. During periods in which premium revenues decline, insurance companies may experience negative cash flows from operations and may need to sell investments to fund payments to policyholders and claimants. In addition, if the Company’s property and casualty insurance subsidiaries experience several significant catastrophic events over a relatively short period of time, investments may be sold to fund payments, which could result in investment gains or losses. Management believes that its property and casualty insurance subsidiaries maintain adequate levels of liquidity in the event that they were to experience several future catastrophic events over a relatively short period of time.
Information about the Company’s cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020 is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Operating Activities | $ | (210.3) | $ | 350.7 | $ | 448.0 | |||||
| Net Cash Used in Investing Activities | (108.4) | (118.2) | (757.0) | ||||||||
| Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities | 382.9 | (290.4) | 378.3 |
Cash available for investment activities in total is dependent on cash flow from Operating Activities and Financing Activities and the level of cash the Company elects to maintain.
Cash (Used in) Provided by Operating Activities
Net cash used by Operating Activities was $210.3 million in 2022, compared to $350.7 million generated in 2021, a decrease of $561.0 million. Cash from operating activities decreased primarily due to higher paid losses within the P&C business in 2022 due to an increase in frequency and rising loss costs from increased severity trends caused by rising inflation and supply chain constraints.
Cash Used in Investing Activities
Net cash used by Investing Activities was $108.4 million in 2022, compared to $118.2 million used in 2021, a year over year increase of $9.8 million. This was primarily due to lower net sales of short term investments. Net sales of short term investments in 2021 were primarily used to fund the purchase of AAC and the repurchase of Kemper common stock. Proceeds from the sale of equity securities increased as the Company shifted its investment portfolio more heavily to fixed maturities. This was partially offset by proceeds from the sale of Reserve National and Infinity Security.
Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities
Net cash provided by Financing Activities was $382.9 million in 2022, compared to cash used by financing activities of $290.4 million in 2021, a year over year increase of $673.3 million. This was primarily due to the issuance of the 2032 Senior
Notes and 2062 Junior Debentures, share repurchases in 2021, and increased net advances under the FHLB spread-lending
57
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES (Continued)
program due to a more attractive interest rate environment in 2022. These were partially of offset by the redemption of the 2022 Senior Notes.
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
Estimated cash disbursements pertaining to the Company’s contractual obligations at December 31, 2022 are presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Jan 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2023 | Jan 1, 2024 to Dec 31, 2025 | Jan 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2027 | After Dec 31, 2027 | Total | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long Term Debt Obligations | $ | — | $ | 449.3 | $ | — | $ | 937.6 | $ | 1,386.9 | |||||||||
| Life and Health Insurance Policy Benefits | 284.5 | 555.3 | 527.5 | 8,260.2 | 9,627.5 | ||||||||||||||
| Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves | 1,918.8 | 688.5 | 105.0 | 44.6 | 2,756.9 | ||||||||||||||
| Total Contractual Obligations | $ | 2,203.3 | $ | 1,693.1 | $ | 632.5 | $ | 9,242.4 | $ | 13,771.3 |
Amounts included in Life and Health Insurance Policy Benefits within the contractual obligations table above represent the estimated cash payments to be made to policyholders and beneficiaries. Such cash outflows are based on the Company’s current assumptions for mortality, morbidity and policy lapse, but are undiscounted with respect to interest. Policies must remain in force for the policyholder or beneficiary to receive the benefit under the policy. Depending on the terms of a particular policy, future premiums from the policyholder may be required for the policy to remain in force. The Company estimates that future cash inflows would total $5.3 billion using the same assumptions used to estimate the cash outflows. The Company’s Life Insurance Reserves in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets are generally based on the historical assumptions for mortality and policy lapse rates and are on a discounted basis. Accordingly, the sum of the amounts presented above for Life and Health Insurance Policy Benefits significantly exceeds the amount of Life and Health Insurance Reserves reported on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2022.
In addition to the purchase obligations included above, the Company had certain investment commitments totaling $192.2 million at December 31, 2022. The funding of such investment commitments is dependent on a number of factors, the timing of which is indeterminate. The Company cannot make a reasonably reliable estimate of the amount and period of related future payments, if any, for such liability.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
Kemper’s subsidiaries conduct their operations in two industries: property and casualty insurance and life and health insurance. Accordingly, the Company is subject to several industry-specific accounting principles under GAAP. The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The process of estimation is inherently uncertain. Accordingly, actual results could ultimately differ materially from the estimated amounts reported in a company’s financial statements. Different assumptions are likely to result in different estimates of reported amounts.
The Company’s critical accounting policies most sensitive to estimates include the valuation of investments, the valuation of reserves for property and casualty insurance incurred losses and LAE, the assessment of recoverability of goodwill, valuation of pension benefit obligations, and recoverability of deferred tax assets.
Valuation of Investments
The reported value of the Company’s investments was $8,789.5 million at December 31, 2022, of which $7,183.0 million, or 82%, was reported at fair value, $233.3 million, or 3%, was reported under the equity method of accounting, $374.5 million, or 4%, was reported at unpaid principal balance and $998.7 million, or 11%, was reported at cost, modified cost or depreciated cost. Investments, in general, are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate risk, credit risk and overall market volatility risk. Accordingly, it is reasonably possible that changes in the fair values of the Company’s investments reported at fair value will occur in the near term and such changes could materially affect the amounts reported in the financial statements. Also, it is reasonably possible that changes in the carrying values of the Company’s Equity Method Limited Liability Investments will occur in the near term and such changes could materially affect the amounts reported in the financial statements because these issuers follow specialized industry accounting rules which require that they report all of their investments at fair value (See Item
58
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES (Continued)
1A., “Risk Factors” under the title “The Company’s investment portfolio is exposed to a variety of risks that may negatively impact net investment income and cause realized and unrealized losses”).
As more fully described under the heading, “Fair Value Measurements,” in Note 2, “Summary of Accounting Policies and Accounting Changes,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company uses a hierarchical framework which prioritizes and ranks the market observability used in fair value measurements.
The fair value of the Company’s investments measured and reported at fair value was $7,183.0 million at December 31, 2022, of which $6,763.9 million, or 94%, were investments that were based on quoted market prices or significant value drivers that are observable, $230.0 million, or 3%, were investments where at least one significant value driver was unobservable and $189.1 million or 3% were investments for which fair value is measured using the net asset value (“NAV”) per share practical expedient. Fair value measurements based on readily available, active, quoted market prices or for which fair value can be measured from actively quoted prices generally are deemed to have a higher degree of market price observability and a lesser degree of judgment, compared to fair value measurements based on significant unobservable inputs used in measuring fair value. The prices that the Company might realize from actual sales of investments are likely to vary from their respective estimated fair values at December 31, 2022 due to changing market conditions and limitations inherent in the estimation process.
The classification of a company’s investment in a financial instrument may affect its reported results. Under GAAP, a company may elect to use the fair value option method of accounting for some or all of its investments in financial instruments. Under the fair value option method of accounting, a company is required to recognize changes in fair values into income for the period reported. The Company has elected the fair value option for investments in fixed maturities with equity conversion features which are recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as Convertible Securities. Accordingly, both the reported and fair values of the Company’s investments in Convertible Securities accounted for under the fair value option method of accounting were $43.3 million at December 31, 2022. For investments in fixed maturities classified as held to maturity, a company is required to carry the investment at amortized cost, with only amortization occurring during the period recognized into income. None of the Company’s investments in fixed maturities were classified as held to maturity at December 31, 2022. Changes in the fair value of investments in fixed maturities classified as available for sale are not recognized in income during the period, but rather are recognized as a separate component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income (“AOCI”) until realized. Both the reported and fair values of the Company’s investments in fixed maturities classified as available for sale were $6,894.8 million at December 31, 2022.
Equity securities with readily determinable fair values are recorded as Equity Securities at Fair Value with changes in fair values recognized into income for the period reported. Accordingly, both the reported and fair values of the Company’s investments in Equity Securities at Fair Value were $243.2 million at December 31, 2022. The Company holds certain equity investments without readily determinable fair values at cost, less impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for identical or similar investments from the same issuer. Changes in the carrying value of Equity Securities at Modified Cost due to observable price changes are recorded into income for the period reported.
The Company’s portfolio also includes investments in Alternative Energy Partnerships that are accounted for under the Hypothetical Liquidation at Book Value (“HLBV”) method. Under the HLBV method, the amounts of income and loss attributed to investors reflect changes in the amounts the fund investors would hypothetically receive at each balance sheet date under the liquidation provisions of the contractual agreements of these funds. Attributing income and loss under the HLBV method requires the use of significant assumptions and forecasts to calculate the amounts that fund investors would receive upon a hypothetical liquidation. See Note 1 “Basis of Presentation and Significant Estimates” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Had the Company elected the fair value option for all of its investments in financial instruments, the Company’s reported net loss for the year ended December 31, 2022, would have increased by $1,216.3 million.
The Company regularly reviews its fixed maturity investment portfolio and holdings in Equity Securities at Modified Cost for factors that may indicate a decline in the fair value of an investment below its amortized cost or modified cost basis. Such reviews are inherently uncertain in that the value of the investment may not fully recover or may decline further in future periods. Some factors considered in evaluating whether or not a decline in fair value of an investment exist include, but are not limited to, the following:
59
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES (Continued)
Fixed Maturity Securities
•The financial condition, credit rating and prospects of the issuer;
•The magnitude of the unrealized loss;
•The ability of the issuer to make scheduled principal and interest payments;
•The volatility of the investment;
Equity Securities at Modified Cost
•Opinions of the Company’s external investment managers;
•The financial condition and prospects of the issuer;
•Current market conditions;
•Changes in credit ratings; and
•Changes in the regulatory environment.
Changes in these factors from their December 31, 2022 evaluation date could result in the Company determining that a decline in the fair value exists for an investment held and evaluated at December 31, 2022. Such determination would result in an impairment loss in the period such determination is made.
Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves for Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses
The Company’s Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves are reported using the Company’s estimate of its ultimate liability for losses and LAE for claims that occurred prior to the end of any given accounting period but have not yet been paid. The Company had $2,756.9 million and $2,772.7 million of gross loss and LAE reserves at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves for the Company’s business segments at December 31, 2022 and 2021 were:
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2022 | 2021 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Segments: | |||||||
| Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance | $ | 2,321.1 | $ | 2,319.7 | |||
| Preferred Property & Casualty Insurance | 419.1 | 433.2 | |||||
| Life & Health Insurance | 2.3 | 3.6 | |||||
| Total Business Segments | 2,742.5 | 2,756.5 | |||||
| Unallocated Reserves | 14.4 | 16.2 | |||||
| Total Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves | $ | 2,756.9 | $ | 2,772.7 |
In estimating the Company’s Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves, the Company’s actuaries exercise professional judgment and must consider, many variables that are difficult to quantify. Accordingly, the process of estimating and establishing the Company’s Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves is inherently uncertain, and the actual ultimate cost of known and unknown claims may vary materially from the estimated amounts reserved.
The Company’s actuaries conduct a comprehensive quarterly loss reserve review for each product line of business based on a variety of methodologies in accordance with Actuarial Standards of Practice. A reasonable range of unpaid loss estimates is derived from, but not limited to, the following methodologies:
•Incurred Loss Development Methodology;
•Paid Loss Development Methodology;
•Bornhuetter-Ferguson Incurred Loss Methodology;
•Bornhuetter-Ferguson Paid Loss Methodology; and
•Frequency and Severity Methodology.
The actuarial best estimate for each product line of business for ultimate losses and LAE represents an expected value considering a range of reasonable outcomes.
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Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES (Continued)
The key assumption in these estimation methodologies is that patterns observed in prior periods are indicative of how losses and LAE are expected to develop in the future and that such historical data can be used to predict and estimate ultimate losses and LAE. However, changes in the Company’s business processes, by their very nature, are likely to affect the development patterns, which means the Company’s actuaries must routinely make assumptions about how changes in business practices would affect historical patterns.
The ultimate impact of a single change in a business process is difficult to quantify and detect, and even more difficult if several changes to business processes occur over several years. Initially after a change is implemented, there are fewer data points, as compared to the historical data, for the Company’s actuaries to analyze. With fewer data points to analyze, the Company’s actuaries cannot be certain that observed differences from the historical data trends are a result of the change in business process or merely a random fluctuation in the data. As the Company’s actuaries observe more data points following the change in business process, the Company’s actuaries can gain more confidence in whether the change in business process is affecting the development pattern. The challenge for the Company’s actuaries is how much weight to place on the development patterns based on the older historical data and how much weight to place on the development patterns based on more recent data.
For each accident quarter or year, the point estimate selected by the Company’s actuaries is not necessarily one of the points produced by any particular one of the methodologies utilized, but often is another point selected by the Company’s actuaries, using their professional judgment, that takes into consideration each of the points produced by the several loss reserving estimation methodologies used. In some cases, for a particular product, the current accident quarter or year may not have enough paid claims data to rely upon, leading the Company’s actuaries to conclude that the incurred loss development methodology provides a better estimate than the paid loss development methodology. Therefore, the Company’s actuaries may give more weight to the incurred loss development methodology for that particular accident quarter or year. As an accident quarter or year ages for that same product, the actuary may gain more confidence in the paid loss development methodology and begin to give more weight to the paid loss development methodology. The Company’s actuaries’ quarterly selections are summed by product and/or coverage levels to create the actuarial indication of the ultimate losses. More often than not, the actuarial indication for a particular product line and accident quarter or year is most heavily weighted toward the incurred loss development methodology, particularly for short-tail lines such as personal automobile insurance. Historically, the incurred loss development methodology has been more reliable in predicting ultimate losses for short-tail lines, especially in the more recent accident quarters or years, compared with the paid loss development methodology. However, in some circumstances changes can occur which impact numerous variables, including, but not limited to, those variables identified below that are difficult to quantify and/or impact the predictive value of prior development patterns relied upon in the incurred loss development methodology and paid loss development methodology. In those circumstances, the Company’s actuaries must make adjustments to these loss reserving estimation methodologies or use additional generally accepted actuarial estimation methodologies. In those circumstances, the Company’s actuaries, using their professional judgment, may place more weight on the adjusted loss reserving estimation methodologies or other generally accepted actuarial estimation methodologies until the newer development patterns fully emerge and the Company’s actuaries can fully rely on the unadjusted loss reserving estimation methodologies. In the event of a wide variation among results generated by the different projection methodologies, the Company’s actuaries further analyze the data using additional techniques.
In estimating reserves, the Company’s actuaries exercise professional judgment and must consider, and are influenced by, many variables that are difficult to quantify, such as:
•Changes in the level of minimum case reserves, and the automatic aging of those minimum case reserves;
•Changes to claims practices, including, but not limited to, changes in the reporting and impact of large losses, timing of reported claims, changes in claims closing and re-opening patterns, adequacy of case reserves.
•Implementation of new systems for handling claims, turnover of claims department staffs, timing and depth of the audit review of claims handling procedures;
•Changes in the mix of business by state, class and policy limit within product line;
•Growth in new lines of business;
•Changes in the attachment points of the Company’s reinsurance programs;
•Medical costs, including, but not limited to, the ability to assess the extent of injuries and the impact of inflation;
•Repair costs, including, but not limited to, the impact of inflation and the availability of labor and materials;
•Changes in the judicial environment, including, but not limited to, the interpretation of policy provisions, the impact of jury awards and changes in case law; and
•Changes in state regulatory requirements.
61
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES (Continued)
A change in any one or more of the foregoing factors is likely to result in a projected ultimate net loss and LAE that is different from the previously estimated reserve and/or previous frequency and severity trends. Such changes in estimates may be material.
For example, the Company’s actuaries review frequency (number of claims per policy or exposure), severity (dollars of loss per claim) and average premium (dollars of premium per exposure). Actual frequency and severity experienced will vary depending on changes in mix by class of insured risk. Similarly, the actual frequency and rate of recovery from reinsurance will vary depending on changes in the attachment point for reinsurance. In particular, in periods of high growth or expansion into new markets, there may be additional uncertainty in estimating the ultimate losses and LAE. The contributing factors of this potential risk are changes in the Company’s mix by policy limit and mix of business by state or jurisdiction.
Actuaries use historical experience and trends as predictors of how losses and LAE will emerge over time. However, historical experience may not necessarily be indicative of how actual losses and LAE will emerge. Changes in case reserve adequacy, changes in minimum case reserves and changes in internal claims handling procedures could impact the timing and recognition of incurred claims and produce an estimate that is either too high or too low if not adjusted for by the actuary. For example, if, due to changes in claims handling procedures, actual claims are settled more rapidly than they were settled historically, the estimate produced by the paid loss development methodology would tend to be overstated if the actuary did not identify and adjust for the impact of the changes in claims handling procedures. Similarly, if, due to changes in claims handling procedures, actual claim reserves are set at levels higher than past experience, the estimate produced by the incurred loss development methodology would tend to be overstated if the actuary did not identify and adjust for the impact of the changes in claims handling procedures.
The final step in the quarterly loss and LAE reserving process involves a comprehensive review of the actuarial indications by the Company’s chief reserving actuary and corporate management who apply their collective judgment and determine the appropriate estimated level of reserves to record. Numerous factors are considered in this determination process, including, but not limited to, the assessed reliability of key loss trends and assumptions that may be significantly influencing the current actuarial indications, changes in claim handling practices or other changes that affect the timing of payment or development patterns, changes in the mix of business, the maturity of the accident quarter or year, pertinent trends observed over the recent past, the level of volatility within a particular line of business, the improvement or deterioration of actuarial indications in the current period as compared to prior periods, and the amount of reserves related to third party pools for which the Company does not have access to the underlying data and, accordingly, relies on calculations provided by such pools.
Estimated Variability of Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves
The Company’s goal is to ensure that its total reserves for property and casualty insurance losses and LAE are adequate to cover all costs, while sustaining minimal variation from the time reserves for losses and LAE are initially estimated until losses and LAE are fully paid. Changes in the Company’s estimates of these losses and LAE over time, also referred to as “development,” will occur and may be material. Favorable development is recognized and reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements when the Company decreases its previous estimate of ultimate losses and LAE and results in an increase in net income in the period recognized, whereas adverse development is recognized and reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements when the Company increases its previous estimate of ultimate losses and LAE and results in a decrease in net income.
Although development will emerge in all of the Company’s product lines, development in the Company’s specialty personal automobile insurance product line could have the most significant impact due to the relative size of its loss and LAE reserves. To further illustrate the sensitivity of the Company’s reserves for specialty personal automobile insurance losses and LAE, the Company measures the standard deviation of the mean reserve estimate using a bootstrapping methodology. The Company believes that one standard deviation of variability is a reasonably likely scenario to measure variability for its loss and LAE reserves for specialty personal automobile insurance. The Company estimates that its specialty personal automobile insurance loss and LAE reserves could have varied by $178.9 million in either direction at December 31, 2022 for all accident years combined under this scenario. In addition to the factors described above, other factors may also impact loss reserve development in future periods. These factors include governmental actions, including court decisions interpreting existing laws, regulations or policy provisions, developments related to insurance policy claims and coverage issues, adverse or favorable outcomes in pending claims litigation, the number and severity of insurance claims, the impact of inflation on insurance claims and the impact of required participation in windpools and joint underwriting associations and residual market assessments.
62
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES (Continued)
Although the Company’s actuaries do not make specific numerical assumptions about these factors, changes in these factors from past patterns will impact historical loss development factors and, in turn, future loss reserve development. Significant favorable changes in one or more factors will lead to favorable future loss reserve development, which could result in the actual loss developing closer to, or even below, the lower end of the Company’s estimated reserve variability. Significant unfavorable changes in one or more factors will lead to unfavorable loss reserve development, which could result in the actual loss developing closer to, or even above, the higher end of the Company’s estimated reserve variability. Accordingly, due to these factors and the other factors enumerated throughout the MD&A and the inherent limitations of the loss reserving estimation methodologies, the estimated and illustrated reserve variability may not necessarily be indicative of the Company’s future reserve variability, which could ultimately be greater than the estimated and illustrated variability. In addition, as previously noted, development will emerge in all of the Company’s product lines over time. Accordingly, the Company’s future reserve variability could ultimately be greater than the illustrated variability. Additional information pertaining to the estimation of, and development of, the Company’s Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves is contained in Item 1 of Part I of this 2022 Annual Report under the heading “Property and Casualty Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves.”
Goodwill Recoverability
The Company tests goodwill for recoverability at the reporting unit level on an annual basis, or whenever events or circumstances indicate the fair value of a reporting unit may have declined below its carrying value. The Company performed a quantitative goodwill impairment assessment for all reporting units with goodwill as of October 1, 2022. The quantitative assessment compares the estimated fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying value to determine if there is an impairment of goodwill. Estimating the fair value of a reporting unit is judgmental in nature and involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions by the Company. The estimates and assumptions included, but were not limited to, projections of future cash flows, operating results, discount rates, investment yields and market conditions. Such projections are inherently uncertain and, accordingly, actual future results may differ materially from the Company’s projections. For each reporting unit tested, with the exception of Reserve National Insurance Company (“Reserve National”), which was sold during 2022, the estimated fair value exceeded the carrying value of the reporting unit, and the Company concluded that the associated goodwill was recoverable. Goodwill attributed to Reserve National as part of the entity’s sale in 2022 was separately tested for recoverability which resulted in goodwill impairment of $11.4 million, $6.9 million of which was recognized in the fourth quarter of 2022. See Note 13, “Goodwill and Intangibles,” for more information.
Pension Benefit Obligations
The process of estimating the Company’s pension benefit obligations and pension benefit costs is inherently uncertain and the actual cost of benefits may vary materially from the estimates recorded. These liabilities are particularly volatile due to their long-term nature and are based on several assumptions. The main assumptions used in the valuation of the Company’s pension benefit obligations and pension costs are:
•Estimated mortality of the participants and beneficiaries eligible for benefits;
•Estimated expected long-term rates of returns on investments; and
•Estimated rate used to discount the expected benefit payment to a present value.
A change in any one or more of these assumptions is likely to result in a projected benefit obligation or pension cost that differs from the actuarial estimates at December 31, 2022. Such changes in estimates may be material.
Recoverability of Deferred Tax Assets
The evaluation of the recoverability of our deferred tax assets and the need for a valuation allowance requires us to weigh all positive and negative evidence to reach a conclusion that it is more likely than not that all or some portion of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. The weight given to the evidence is commensurate with the extent to which it can be objectively verified. The more negative evidence that exists, the more positive evidence is necessary and the more difficult it is to support a conclusion that a valuation allowance is not needed.
Recent events, including changes in target interest rates by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and significant market volatility, continue to impact actual and projected results of our business operations as well as our views on potential effectiveness of certain prudent and feasible tax planning strategies. In order to demonstrate the predictability and sufficiency of future taxable income necessary to support the realizability of the deferred tax assets, we have considered forecasts of future income for each of our businesses, inclusive of the impact of rate increases as well as assumptions about future macro-economic and other specific conditions and events, and any impact these conditions and events may have on our
63
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES (Continued)
prudent and feasible tax planning strategies. We also subjected the forecasts to a variety of stresses of key assumptions and evaluated the effect on tax attribute utilization.
RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
Except for rules and interpretive releases of the SEC under authority of federal securities laws and a limited number of grandfathered standards, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) is the sole source of authoritative GAAP recognized by the FASB that is applicable to the Company. The FASB issues Accounting Standards Updates (“ASUs”) to amend the authoritative literature in the FASB ASC.
The Company has adopted all recently issued accounting pronouncements with effective dates prior to January 1, 2023. See Note 2, “Summary of Accounting Policies and Accounting Changes” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for discussion on adoption of these ASUs and impacts to the Company’s financial statements, which were not material. For all recently issued accounting pronouncements with effective dates after December 31, 2022, the Company does not expect adoption to have a material impact on its financial statements, with the exception of ASU 2018-12, Financial Services - Insurance (Topic 944): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts.
64
FY 2021 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0000860748-22-000036.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations
| Summary of Results | 31 |
|---|---|
| Catastrophes | 32 |
| Loss and LAE Reserve Development | 34 |
| Non-GAAP Financial Measures | 34 |
| Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance | 36 |
| Preferred Property & Casualty Insurance | 40 |
| Life & Health Insurance | 45 |
| Investment Results | 49 |
| Investment Quality and Concentrations | 52 |
| Investments in Limited Liability Companies and Limited Partnerships | 55 |
| Insurance, Interest and Other Expenses | 56 |
| Income Taxes | 56 |
| Liquidity and Capital Resources | 57 |
| Contractual Obligations | 60 |
| Critical Accounting Estimates | 60 |
| Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements | 65 |
30
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
SUMMARY OF RESULTS
Net Loss was $120.5 million ($(1.87) per unrestricted common share) for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to Net Income $409.9 million ($6.24 per unrestricted common share) for the year ended December 31, 2020.
Beginning in March 2020, the global pandemic associated with COVID-19 and related economic conditions began to impact the Company’s results of operations. The numbers referenced in the following paragraphs are estimates. The actual impacts could ultimately differ from the stated estimates, although the Company believes any difference would likely not be material.
For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company estimates that its net results were negatively impacted by $485 million related to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and related economic conditions. The impact to net results was primarily related to underwriting losses in the P&C business attributable to rising loss costs fueled by higher inflation, as well as pandemic-related auto industry shortages of supplies such as chips, high demand for used cars, and higher labor costs. Additionally, the Life & Health insurance segment continued to experience excess pandemic-related mortality.
For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company estimated an improvement to net income of $70 million related to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and related economic conditions. The increase to net income was primarily attributed to improved underwriting results driven by lower frequency in the auto business of the P&C segments as a significant reduction in miles driven occurred, partially offset by premium credits to policyholders in the P&C segments and excess mortality in the Life & Health Insurance segment.
For further discussion regarding the potential impacts of COVID-19 and related economic conditions on the Company, see “Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” beginning on page 1 and Item 1A, Risk Factors, of Part 1 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
A reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) to Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Income (Loss) (a non-GAAP financial measure) for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2021 | 2020 | Increase (Decrease) in Income from 2020 to 2021 | 2019 | Increase (Decrease) in Income from 2019 to 2020 | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net Income (Loss) | $ | (120.5) | $ | 409.9 | $ | (530.4) | $ | 531.1 | $ | (121.2) | |||||||||
| Less: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Income from Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities | 90.5 | 57.0 | 33.5 | 109.7 | (52.7) | ||||||||||||||
| Net Realized Gains on Sales of Investments | 51.2 | 30.1 | 21.1 | 33.1 | (3.0) | ||||||||||||||
| Net Impairment Losses Recognized in Earnings | (8.7) | (15.4) | 6.7 | (10.9) | (4.5) | ||||||||||||||
| Acquisition Related Transaction, Integration and Other Costs | (34.7) | (50.0) | 15.3 | (14.5) | (35.5) | ||||||||||||||
| Debt Extinguishment, Pension and Other Charges | — | (50.6) | 50.6 | (4.6) | (46.0) | ||||||||||||||
| Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Income (Loss) | $ | (218.8) | $ | 438.8 | $ | (657.6) | $ | 418.3 | $ | 20.5 | |||||||||
| Components of Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Income (Loss): | |||||||||||||||||||
| Segment Net Operating Income (Loss): | |||||||||||||||||||
| Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance | $ | (196.1) | $ | 337.9 | $ | (534.0) | $ | 283.1 | $ | 54.8 | |||||||||
| Preferred Property & Casualty Insurance | (12.5) | 3.5 | (16.0) | 41.9 | (38.4) | ||||||||||||||
| Life & Health Insurance | 28.2 | 60.0 | (31.8) | 98.7 | (38.7) | ||||||||||||||
| Segment Net Operating Income (Loss) | (180.4) | 401.4 | (581.8) | 423.7 | (22.3) | ||||||||||||||
| Corporate and Other Net Operating Income (Loss) From: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Partial Satisfaction of Judgment | — | 70.6 | (70.6) | 15.9 | 54.7 | ||||||||||||||
| Other | (38.4) | (33.2) | (5.2) | (21.3) | (11.9) | ||||||||||||||
| Corporate and Other Net Operating Income (Loss) | (38.4) | 37.4 | (75.8) | (5.4) | 42.8 | ||||||||||||||
| Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Income (Loss) | $ | (218.8) | $ | 438.8 | $ | (657.6) | 418.3 | $ | 20.5 |
31
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
SUMMARY OF RESULTS (Continued)
Net Income (Loss)
2021 Compared with 2020
Net Income decreased by $530.4 million in 2021, compared to 2020, due primarily to lower Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Income, partially offset by income from change in fair value of equity and convertible securities. Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Income (Loss) decreased by $657.6 million in 2021, compared to 2020, due primarily to lower Specialty Property & Casualty Segment Insurance Net Operating Income, Corporate and Other Net Operating Income, Life & Health Insurance Segment Net Operating Income, and Preferred Property & Casualty Insurance Segment Net Operating Income.
See MD&A, “Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance”, “Preferred Property & Casualty Insurance” and “Life & Health Insurance,” for discussion of each respective segment’s results. Corporate and Other Net Operating Income (Loss) decreased due primarily to a gain recognized in 2020 for the satisfaction of the remaining balance of a final judgment received by the Company in connection with an arbitration award against Computer Sciences Corporation (the “CSC Judgment”).
The Company’s investment results were favorable in 2021, compared to 2020, primarily driven by a $33.5 million after-tax increase from the change in fair value of the equity and convertible securities, $21.1 million after-tax increase from net realized gains on sales of investments, and $6.7 million after-tax of decreased impairment losses. See MD&A, “Investment Results,” MD&A, “Income Taxes,” and Note 24, “Contingencies.” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion.
Revenues
2021 Compared with 2020
Earned Premiums were $5,253.7 million in 2021, compared to $4,672.2 million in 2020, an increase of $581.5 million. Earned Premiums in the Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance segment increased by $613.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. Earned Premiums in the Preferred Property & Casualty Insurance segment decreased by $36.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. See MD&A, “Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance” and “Preferred Property & Casualty Insurance” for discussion of the changes in each segment’s earned premiums.
Net Investment Income increased by $79.1 million in 2021 due primarily to an increase in return from Alternative Investments, higher levels of investments in fixed income securities, and higher levels of investments and rate on Company-Owned Life Insurance, partially offset by lower yields on fixed income securities.
Loss from the change in value of Alternative Energy Partnership Investments was $61.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. Tax benefits related to the Alternative Energy Partnership Investments were $79.0 million, resulting in net income attributable to Alternative Energy Partnership Investments of $17.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Other Income decreased by $89.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to the same period in 2020. Other Income for the year ended December 31, 2020 included a gain of $89.4 million related to the partial satisfaction of a final judgment against Computer Sciences Corporation.
Net Realized Gains on Sales of Investments were $64.8 million in 2021, compared to $38.1 million in 2020. Impairment Losses were $11.0 million in 2021, compared to $19.5 million for the same period in 2020.
See MD&A, “Investment Results,” under the sub-captions “Net Realized Gains on Sales of Investments” and “Impairment Losses” for additional discussion. The Company cannot predict if or when similar investment gains or losses may occur in the future.
CATASTROPHES
Catastrophes and natural disasters are inherent risks of the property and casualty insurance business. These catastrophic events and natural disasters include, without limitation, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, hailstorms, wildfires, high winds and winter storms. Such events result in insured losses that are, and will continue to be, a material factor in the results of operations and financial position of the Company’s property and casualty insurance companies. Further, because the level of these insured losses occurring in any one year cannot be accurately predicted, these losses may contribute to material year-to-year fluctuations in the results of operations and financial position of these companies. Specific types of catastrophic events are more likely to occur at certain times within the year than others. This factor adds an element of seasonality to property and casualty
32
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
CATASTROPHES (Continued)
insurance claims. The Company has adopted the industry-wide catastrophe classifications of storms and other events promulgated by ISO to track and report losses related to catastrophes. ISO classifies a disaster as a catastrophe when the event causes $25.0 million or more in direct insured losses to property and affects a significant number of policyholders and insurers. ISO-classified catastrophes are assigned a unique serial number recognized throughout the insurance industry.
The number of ISO-classified catastrophic events and catastrophe losses and LAE, net of reinsurance recoveries, (excluding loss and LAE reserve development) by range of loss and business segment for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 are presented below.
| Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | Dec 31, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Number of Events | Losses and LAE | Number of Events | Losses and LAE | Number of Events | Losses and LAE | ||||||||||||||
| Range of Losses and LAE Per Event: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Below $5 | 65 | $ | 56.1 | 60 | $ | 51.2 | 56 | $ | 42.4 | |||||||||||
| $5 - $10 | 2 | 16.5 | 5 | 40.2 | 3 | 20.8 | ||||||||||||||
| $10 - $15 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 14.0 | ||||||||||||||
| $15 - $20 | 2 | 35.2 | 1 | 15.3 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| $20 - $25 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Greater Than $25 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Total | 69 | $ | 107.8 | 66 | $ | 106.7 | 60 | $ | 77.2 | |||||||||||
| Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance | 15.7 | 12.3 | 11.1 | |||||||||||||||||
| Preferred Property & Casualty Insurance | 79.1 | 82.0 | 63.0 | |||||||||||||||||
| Life & Health Insurance | 13.0 | 12.4 | 3.1 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Catastrophe Losses and LAE | $ | 107.8 | $ | 106.7 | $ | 77.2 |
Catastrophe Reinsurance
The Company primarily manages its exposure to catastrophes and other natural disasters through a combination of geographical diversification, restrictions on the amount and location of new business production in such regions, modifications of, and/or limitations to coverages and deductibles for certain perils in such regions and a catastrophe reinsurance program for the Company’s Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance and Preferred Property & Casualty Insurance segments. Coverage under the catastrophe reinsurance program is provided in various contracts and layers. The Company’s Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance and Preferred Property & Casualty Insurance segments also purchase reinsurance from the FHCF for hurricane losses in Florida at retentions lower than its catastrophe reinsurance program. The Life & Health Insurance segment also purchases reinsurance from the FHCF for hurricane losses in Florida and is party to the Property & Casualty catastrophe reinsurance program for its Kemper Home Service companies.
The Company had no material recoveries under its catastrophe reinsurance treaties for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020. See the “Reinsurance” subsection of the “Property and Casualty Insurance Business” and “Life and Health Insurance Business” sections of Item 1(c), “Description of Business,” and Note 21, “Catastrophe Reinsurance,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on the Company’s reinsurance programs.
33
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
LOSS AND LAE RESERVE DEVELOPMENT
Increases (decreases) in the Company’s property and casualty loss and LAE reserves for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 to recognize adverse (favorable) loss and LAE reserve development from prior accident years in continuing operations, hereinafter also referred to as “reserve development” in the discussion of segment results, are presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Increase (Decrease) in Total Loss and LAE Reserves Related to Prior Years: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe | $ | 112.1 | $ | 36.2 | $ | (54.0) | |||||
| Catastrophe | (5.4) | 0.2 | (17.1) | ||||||||
| Increase (Decrease) in Total Loss and LAE Reserves Related to Prior Years | $ | 106.7 | $ | 36.4 | $ | (71.1) |
See MD&A, “Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance,” MD&A, “Preferred Property & Casualty Insurance,” MD&A, “Life & Health Insurance,” and Note 6, “Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on the Company’s reserve development. See MD&A, “Critical Accounting Estimates,” of this 2021 Annual Report for additional information pertaining to the Company’s process of estimating property and casualty insurance reserves for losses and LAE, and the estimated variability thereof, development of property and casualty insurance losses and LAE, and a discussion of some of the variables that may impact them.
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC, the Company is required to file consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). The Company is permitted to include non-GAAP financial measures in its filings provided that they are defined along with an explanation of their usefulness to investors, are no more prominent than the comparable GAAP financial measures and are reconciled to such GAAP financial measures.
These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered a substitute for the comparable GAAP financial measures, as they do not fully recognize the overall profitability of the Company’s businesses.
Underlying Losses and LAE and Underlying Combined Ratio
The following discussion of segment results uses the non-GAAP financial measures of (i) Underlying Losses and LAE and (ii) Underlying Combined Ratio. Underlying Losses and LAE (also referred to in the discussion as “Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE”) exclude the impact of catastrophe losses and loss and LAE reserve development from prior years from the Company’s Incurred Losses and LAE, which is the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.
The Underlying Combined Ratio is computed by adding the Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio with the Insurance Expense Ratio. The most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is the Combined Ratio, which is computed by adding Total Incurred Losses and LAE Ratio, including the impact of catastrophe losses and loss and LAE reserve development from prior years, with the Insurance Expense Ratio.
The Company believes Underlying Losses and LAE and the Underlying Combined Ratio are useful to investors and uses these financial measures to reveal the trends in the Company’s Property & Casualty Insurance segment that may be obscured by catastrophe losses and prior-year reserve development. These catastrophe losses may cause the Company’s loss trends to vary significantly between periods as a result of their incidence of occurrence and magnitude and can have a significant impact on incurred losses and LAE and the Combined Ratio. Prior-year reserve developments are caused by unexpected loss development on historical reserves. Because reserve development relates to the re-estimation of losses from earlier periods, it has no bearing on the performance of the Company’s insurance products in the current period. The Company believes it is useful for investors to evaluate these components separately and in the aggregate when reviewing the Company’s underwriting performance.
Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Income (Loss)
Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Income (Loss) is an after-tax, non-GAAP financial measure and is computed by excluding from Net Income (Loss) the after-tax impact of:
(i) Income (Loss) from Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities;
(ii) Net Realized Gains or Losses on Sales of Investments;
34
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (Continued)
(iii) Impairment Losses;
(iv) Acquisition Related Transaction, Integration and Other Costs;
(v) Debt Extinguishment, Pension and Other Charges; and
(vi) Significant non-recurring or infrequent items that may not be indicative of ongoing operations
Significant non-recurring items are excluded when (a) the nature of the charge or gain is such that it is reasonably unlikely to recur within two years, and (b) there has been no similar charge or gain within the prior two years. The most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is Net Income (Loss). There were no applicable significant non-recurring items that the Company excluded from the calculation of Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Income for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 or 2019.
The Company believes that Adjusted Consolidated Net Operating Income provides investors with a valuable measure of its ongoing performance because it reveals underlying operational performance trends that otherwise might be less apparent if the items were not excluded. Income (Loss) from Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities, Net Realized Gains or Losses on Sales of Investments and Impairment Losses related to investments included in the Company’s results may vary significantly between periods and are generally driven by business decisions and external economic developments such as capital market conditions that impact the values of the Company’s investments, the timing of which is unrelated to the insurance underwriting process. Acquisition Related Transaction and Integration Costs may vary significantly between periods and are generally driven by the timing of acquisitions and business decisions which are unrelated to the insurance underwriting process. Debt Extinguishment, Pension and Other Charges relate to (i) loss from early extinguishment of debt, which is driven by the Company’s financing and refinancing decisions and capital needs, as well as external economic developments such as debt market conditions, the timing of which is unrelated to the insurance underwriting process; (ii) settlement of pension plan obligations which are business decisions made by the Company, the timing of which is unrelated to the underwriting process; and (iii) other charges that are non-standard, not part of the ordinary course of business, and unrelated to the insurance underwriting process. Significant non-recurring items are excluded because, by their nature, they are not indicative of the Company’s business or economic trends.
The preceding non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered a substitute for the comparable GAAP financial measures, as they do not fully recognize the overall profitability of the Company’s businesses.
35
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
SPECIALTY PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE
Selected financial information for the Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance segment is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net Premiums Written | $ | 4,057.3 | $ | 3,435.5 | $ | 3,211.3 | |||||
| Earned Premiums | $ | 3,948.5 | $ | 3,335.3 | $ | 3,078.4 | |||||
| Net Investment Income | 152.5 | 114.1 | 107.5 | ||||||||
| Change in Value of Alternative Energy Partnership Investments | (29.0) | — | — | ||||||||
| Other Income | 4.1 | 1.8 | 7.0 | ||||||||
| Total Revenues | 4,076.1 | 3,451.2 | 3,192.9 | ||||||||
| Incurred Losses and LAE related to: | |||||||||||
| Current Year: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | 3,480.3 | 2,350.8 | 2,302.4 | ||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | 15.7 | 12.3 | 11.1 | ||||||||
| Prior Years: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | 97.4 | 15.1 | (35.1) | ||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.5 | ||||||||
| Total Incurred Losses and LAE | 3,593.7 | 2,378.4 | 2,278.9 | ||||||||
| Insurance Expenses | 774.5 | 651.9 | 555.6 | ||||||||
| Other Expenses | — | — | 2.5 | ||||||||
| Operating Income (Loss) | (292.1) | 420.9 | 355.9 | ||||||||
| Income Tax Benefit (Expense) | 96.0 | (83.0) | (72.8) | ||||||||
| Segment Net Operating Income (Loss) | $ | (196.1) | $ | 337.9 | $ | 283.1 | |||||
| Ratios Based On Earned Premiums | |||||||||||
| Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 88.1 | % | 70.4 | % | 74.7 | % | |||||
| Current Year Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | ||||||||
| Prior Years Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 2.5 | 0.5 | (1.1) | ||||||||
| Prior Years Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | — | — | — | ||||||||
| Total Incurred Loss and LAE Ratio | 91.0 | 71.3 | 74.0 | ||||||||
| Insurance Expense Ratio | 19.6 | 19.5 | 18.0 | ||||||||
| Combined Ratio | 110.6 | % | 90.8 | % | 92.0 | % | |||||
| Underlying Combined Ratio | |||||||||||
| Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 88.1 | % | 70.4 | % | 74.7 | % | |||||
| Insurance Expense Ratio | 19.6 | 19.5 | 18.0 | ||||||||
| Underlying Combined Ratio | 107.7 | % | 89.9 | % | 92.7 | % | |||||
| Non-GAAP Measure Reconciliation | |||||||||||
| Combined Ratio | 110.6 | % | 90.8 | % | 92.0 | % | |||||
| Less: | |||||||||||
| Current Year Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | ||||||||
| Prior Years Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 2.5 | 0.5 | (1.1) | ||||||||
| Prior Years Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | — | — | — | ||||||||
| Underlying Combined Ratio | 107.7 | % | 89.9 | % | 92.7 | % |
36
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
SPECIALTY PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE (Continued)
INSURANCE RESERVES
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Dec 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance Reserves: | |||||||
| Non-Standard Automobile | $ | 1,985.8 | $ | 1,308.3 | |||
| Commercial Automobile | 333.9 | 236.5 | |||||
| Total Insurance Reserves | $ | 2,319.7 | $ | 1,544.8 | |||
| Insurance Reserves: | |||||||
| Loss and Allocated LAE Reserves: | |||||||
| Case and Allocated LAE | $ | 1,157.9 | $ | 744.6 | |||
| Incurred But Not Reported | 953.0 | 653.6 | |||||
| Total Loss and LAE Reserves | 2,110.9 | 1,398.2 | |||||
| Unallocated LAE Reserves | 208.8 | 146.6 | |||||
| Total Insurance Reserves | $ | 2,319.7 | $ | 1,544.8 |
See MD&A, “Critical Accounting Estimates,” under the caption “Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves for Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses” for additional information pertaining to the Company’s process of estimating property and casualty insurance reserves for losses and LAE, development of property and casualty insurance losses and LAE from prior accident years, also referred to as “reserve development” in the discussion of segment results, estimated variability of property and casualty insurance reserves for losses and LAE, and a discussion of some of the variables that may impact development of property and casualty insurance losses and LAE and the estimated variability of property and casualty insurance reserves for losses and LAE.
Overall
2021 Compared with 2020
The Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance segment reported Segment Net Operating Loss of $196.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to Net Operating Income of $337.9 million in 2020. Segment net operating results decreased by $534.0 million due primarily to an increase in underlying losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums related to higher claim frequency and severity trends and adverse loss reserve development, partially offset by higher net investment income. Underlying losses and LAE exclude the impact of catastrophes and loss and LAE reserve development.
Earned Premiums in the Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance segment increased by $613.2 million in 2021, compared to 2020 driven by the acquisition of AAC, COVID-19 related premium credits in the prior period, and higher volume. Volumes were higher in both the Private Passenger Auto and Commercial Automobile product lines.
Net Investment Income in the Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance segment increased by $38.4 million in 2021, compared to 2020, due primarily to an increase in return from Alternative Investments, higher levels of investments in fixed income securities, and higher levels of investments and rate on Company-Owned Life Insurance, partially offset by lower yields on fixed income securities.
Loss related to Changes in Value of Alternative Energy Partnership Investments was $29.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. Tax benefits related to the Alternative Energy Partnership Investments were $37.4 million, resulting in net income attributable to Alternative Energy Partnership Investments of $8.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Underlying losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums were 88.1% in 2021, a deterioration of 17.7 percentage points, compared to 2020, due primarily to higher claim frequency and severity trends. Frequency trends increased as a result of driving activity returning to pre-pandemic levels. Severity trends increased due to rising inflation and supply chain constraints. Underlying losses and LAE exclude the impact of catastrophes and loss and LAE reserve development. Adverse loss and LAE reserve development (including catastrophe reserve development) was $97.7 million in 2021, compared to $15.3 million in
37
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
SPECIALTY PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE (Continued)
2020. Adverse loss and LAE reserve development in 2021 was largely driven by legal developments and increased severity in personal injury protection coverage in Florida and other liability coverages. Catastrophe losses and LAE (excluding reserve development) were $15.7 million in 2021, compared to $12.3 million in 2020, an increase of $3.4 million.
Insurance expenses were $774.5 million, or 19.6% of earned premiums, in 2021, compared to $651.9 million, or 19.5% of earned premiums, in 2020. Insurance expenses as a percentage of earned premium in 2021 included the amortization of intangible assets arising from the acquisition of AAC, which was offset by lower earned premium in 2020 due primarily to premium credits.
The Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance segment’s effective income tax rate differs from the federal statutory income tax rate due primarily to investment tax credits, tax-exempt investment income and dividends received deductions.
Specialty Personal Automobile Insurance
Selected financial information for the specialty personal automobile insurance product line for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net Premiums Written | $ | 3,587.2 | $ | 3,086.5 | $ | 2,941.1 | |||||||||||||
| Earned Premiums | $ | 3,533.7 | $ | 3,031.3 | $ | 2,825.6 | |||||||||||||
| Incurred Losses and LAE related to: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Current Year: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | $ | 3,173.9 | $ | 2,160.9 | $ | 2,131.5 | |||||||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | 14.4 | 11.6 | 9.9 | ||||||||||||||||
| Prior Years: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | 85.0 | 28.0 | (24.3) | ||||||||||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.5 | ||||||||||||||||
| Total Incurred Losses and LAE | $ | 3,273.6 | $ | 2,200.7 | $ | 2,117.6 | |||||||||||||
| Ratios Based On Earned Premiums | |||||||||||||||||||
| Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 89.8 | % | 71.3 | % | 75.4 | % | |||||||||||||
| Current Year Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | ||||||||||||||||
| Prior Years Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 2.4 | 0.9 | (0.9) | ||||||||||||||||
| Prior Years Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| Total Incurred Loss and LAE Ratio | 92.6 | % | 72.6 | % | 74.9 | % |
2021 Compared with 2020
Earned Premiums on specialty personal automobile insurance increased by $502.4 million in 2021, compared to 2020, due primarily to the acquisition of AAC, premium credits in the prior period, and higher volume. Incurred losses and LAE were $3,273.6 million, or 92.6% of earned premiums, in 2021, compared to $2,200.7 million, or 72.6% of earned premiums, in 2020. Incurred losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums increased due primarily to a deterioration in underlying losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premium as well as higher adverse loss and LAE reserve development. Underlying losses and LAE as a percentage of related earned premiums were 89.8% in 2021, compared to 71.3% in 2020, a deterioration of 18.5 points due to higher claim frequency and severity trends. Frequency trends increased as a result of driving activity returning to pre-pandemic levels. Severity trends increased due to rising inflation and supply chain constraints. Adverse loss and LAE reserve development was $85.3 million in 2021, compared to $28.2 million in 2020, primarily driven by legal developments and increased severity in personal injury protection coverage in Florida and other liability coverages. Catastrophe losses and LAE (excluding reserve development) were $14.4 million in 2021, compared to $11.6 million in 2020.
38
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
SPECIALTY PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE (Continued)
Commercial Automobile Insurance
Selected financial information for the commercial automobile insurance product line is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net Premiums Written | $ | 470.1 | $ | 349.0 | $ | 270.2 | |||||
| Earned Premiums | $ | 414.8 | $ | 304.0 | $ | 252.8 | |||||
| Incurred Losses and LAE related to: | |||||||||||
| Current Year: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | $ | 306.4 | $ | 189.9 | $ | 170.9 | |||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | 1.3 | 0.7 | 1.2 | ||||||||
| Prior Years: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | 12.4 | (12.9) | (10.8) | ||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | — | — | — | ||||||||
| Total Incurred Losses and LAE | $ | 320.1 | $ | 177.7 | $ | 161.3 | |||||
| Ratios Based On Earned Premiums | |||||||||||
| Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 73.9 | % | 62.5 | % | 67.6 | % | |||||
| Current Year Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.5 | ||||||||
| Prior Years Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 3.0 | (4.2) | (4.3) | ||||||||
| Prior Years Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | — | — | — | ||||||||
| Total Incurred Loss and LAE Ratio | 77.2 | % | 58.5 | % | 63.8 | % |
2021 Compared with 2020
Earned premiums in commercial automobile insurance increased by $110.8 million in 2021, compared to 2020, due primarily to higher volume and premium credits in the prior period. Incurred losses and LAE were $320.1 million, or 77.2% of earned premiums, in 2021, compared to $177.7 million, or 58.5% of earned premiums, in 2020. Incurred losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums increased due primarily to a deterioration in underlying losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums as well as adverse loss and LAE reserve development. Underlying losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums were 73.9% in 2021, compared to 62.5% in 2020, a deterioration of 11.4 percentage points due primarily to higher claim severity trends. Severity trends increased due to rising inflation and supply chain constraints. Adverse loss and LAE reserve development was $12.4 million in 2021, compared to favorable reserve development of $12.9 million in 2020.
39
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
PREFERRED PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE
Selected financial information for the Preferred Property & Casualty Insurance segment is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net Premiums Written | $ | 642.0 | $ | 653.0 | $ | 739.3 | |||||
| Earned Premiums | $ | 651.7 | $ | 688.2 | $ | 750.3 | |||||
| Net Investment Income | 68.6 | 37.7 | 44.1 | ||||||||
| Change in Value of Alternative Energy Partnership Investments | (16.3) | — | — | ||||||||
| Other Income | — | 0.1 | — | ||||||||
| Total Revenues | 704.0 | 726.0 | 794.4 | ||||||||
| Incurred Losses and LAE related to: | |||||||||||
| Current Year: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | 450.4 | 400.9 | 481.8 | ||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | 79.1 | 82.0 | 63.0 | ||||||||
| Prior Years: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | 13.5 | 20.7 | (17.6) | ||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | (5.6) | (0.5) | (18.4) | ||||||||
| Total Incurred Losses and LAE | 537.4 | 503.1 | 508.8 | ||||||||
| Insurance Expenses | 206.4 | 221.1 | 233.3 | ||||||||
| Operating Income (Loss) | (39.8) | 1.8 | 52.3 | ||||||||
| Income Tax Benefit (Expense) | 27.3 | 1.7 | (10.4) | ||||||||
| Segment Net Operating Income (Loss) | $ | (12.5) | $ | 3.5 | $ | 41.9 | |||||
| Ratios Based On Earned Premiums | |||||||||||
| Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 69.2 | % | 58.3 | % | 64.2 | % | |||||
| Current Year Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 12.1 | 11.9 | 8.4 | ||||||||
| Prior Years Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 2.1 | 3.0 | (2.3) | ||||||||
| Prior Years Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | (0.9) | (0.1) | (2.5) | ||||||||
| Total Incurred Loss and LAE Ratio | 82.5 | 73.1 | 67.8 | ||||||||
| Insurance Expense Ratio | 31.7 | 32.1 | 31.1 | ||||||||
| Combined Ratio | 114.2 | % | 105.2 | % | 98.9 | % | |||||
| Underlying Combined Ratio | |||||||||||
| Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 69.2 | % | 58.3 | % | 64.2 | % | |||||
| Insurance Expense Ratio | 31.7 | 32.1 | 31.1 | ||||||||
| Underlying Combined Ratio | 100.9 | % | 90.4 | % | 95.3 | % | |||||
| Non-GAAP Measure Reconciliation | |||||||||||
| Combined Ratio | 114.2 | % | 105.2 | % | 98.9 | % | |||||
| Less: | |||||||||||
| Current Year Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 12.1 | 11.9 | 8.4 | ||||||||
| Prior Years Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 2.1 | 3.0 | (2.3) | ||||||||
| Prior Years Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | (0.9) | (0.1) | (2.5) | ||||||||
| Underlying Combined Ratio | 100.9 | % | 90.4 | % | 95.3 | % |
40
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
PREFERRED PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE (Continued)
CATASTROPHE FREQUENCY AND SEVERITY
| Dec 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Number of Events | Losses and LAE | Number of Events | Losses and LAE | |||||||||
| Range of Losses and LAE Per Event1: | |||||||||||||
| Below $5 | 58 | $ | 42.6 | 48 | $ | 42.0 | |||||||
| $5 - $10 | 3 | 21.5 | 5 | 40.0 | |||||||||
| $10 - $15 | 1 | 15.0 | — | — | |||||||||
| $15 - $20 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||
| $20 - $25 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||
| Greater Than $25 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||
| Total | 62 | $ | 79.1 | 53 | $ | 82.0 | |||||||
| 1 Current accident year net incurred catastrophe Losses and LAE only |
INSURANCE RESERVES
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Dec 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance Reserves: | |||||||
| Preferred Automobile | $ | 308.6 | $ | 281.3 | |||
| Homeowners | 95.4 | 104.0 | |||||
| Other | 29.2 | 26.3 | |||||
| Total Insurance Reserves | $ | 433.2 | $ | 411.6 | |||
| Insurance Reserves: | |||||||
| Loss and Allocated LAE Reserves: | |||||||
| Case and Allocated LAE | $ | 272.5 | $ | 262.2 | |||
| Incurred But Not Reported | 131.9 | 122.0 | |||||
| Total Loss and LAE Reserves | 404.4 | 384.2 | |||||
| Unallocated LAE Reserves | 28.8 | 27.4 | |||||
| Total Insurance Reserves | $ | 433.2 | $ | 411.6 |
See MD&A, “Critical Accounting Estimates,” under the caption “Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves for Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses” beginning on page 62 for additional information pertaining to the Company’s process of estimating property and casualty insurance reserves for losses and LAE, development of property and casualty insurance losses and LAE from prior accident years, also referred to as “reserve development” in the discussion of segment results, estimated variability of property and casualty insurance reserves for losses and LAE, and a discussion of some of the variables that may impact development of property and casualty insurance losses and LAE and the estimated variability of property and casualty insurance reserves for losses and LAE.
Overall
2021 Compared with 2020
The Preferred Property & Casualty Insurance segment reported Segment Net Operating Loss of $12.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to Segment Net Operating Income of $3.5 million in 2020. Segment net operating results decreased by $16.0 million due primarily to higher underlying losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums, partially offset by lower catastrophe losses and LAE, lower levels of adverse loss and LAE reserve development and higher net investment income.
41
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
PREFERRED PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE (Continued)
Earned Premiums in the Preferred Property & Casualty Insurance segment decreased by $36.5 million in 2021, compared to 2020, due primarily to lower automobile and homeowners insurance volumes and ongoing profit improvement actions.
Net Investment Income in the Preferred Property & Casualty Insurance segment increased by $30.9 million in 2021, compared to 2020, due primarily to an increase in return from Alternative Investments, higher levels of investments in fixed income securities, and higher levels of investments and rate on Company-Owned Life Insurance, partially offset by lower yields on fixed income securities.
Loss related to Changes in Value of Alternative Energy Partnership Investments was $16.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. Tax benefits related to the Alternative Energy Partnership Investments were $21.1 million, resulting in net income attributable to Alternative Energy Partnership Investments of $4.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Underlying losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums were 69.2% and 58.3% in 2021 and 2020, respectively. Underlying losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums increased primarily due to severity trends caused by ongoing supply chain issues and rising inflation. Catastrophe losses and LAE (excluding reserve development) were $79.1 million in 2021, compared to $82.0 million in 2020, which is a decrease of $2.9 million. Catastrophe losses and LAE (excluding reserve development) decreased due primarily to a decrease in severity of catastrophic events in 2021, compared to 2020, There were four catastrophic events above $5 million in 2021, compared to five catastrophic events above $5 million in 2020. Adverse loss and LAE reserve development (including catastrophe reserve development) was $7.9 million in 2021, compared to $20.2 million in 2020.
Insurance expenses were $206.4 million, or 31.7% of earned premiums, in 2021, an improvement of 0.4 percentage points compared to 2020.
The Preferred Property & Casualty Insurance segment’s effective income tax rate differs from the federal statutory income tax rate due primarily to investment tax credits, tax-exempt investment income and dividends received deductions
Preferred Personal Automobile Insurance
Selected financial information for the preferred personal automobile insurance product line is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net Premiums Written | $ | 399.9 | $ | 407.5 | $ | 468.9 | |||||
| Earned Premiums | $ | 410.5 | $ | 431.7 | $ | 470.2 | |||||
| Incurred Losses and LAE related to: | |||||||||||
| Current Year: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | 330.4 | 279.9 | 332.5 | ||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | 7.4 | 4.4 | 7.8 | ||||||||
| Prior Years: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | 12.2 | 27.7 | (8.2) | ||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | (0.1) | (1.0) | — | ||||||||
| Total Incurred Losses and LAE | $ | 349.9 | $ | 311.0 | $ | 332.1 | |||||
| Ratios Based On Earned Premiums | |||||||||||
| Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 80.4 | % | 64.8 | % | 70.6 | % | |||||
| Current Year Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 1.8 | 1.0 | 1.7 | ||||||||
| Prior Years Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 3.0 | 6.4 | (1.7) | ||||||||
| Prior Years Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | — | (0.2) | — | ||||||||
| Total Incurred Loss and LAE Ratio | 85.2 | % | 72.0 | % | 70.6 | % |
42
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
PREFERRED PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE (Continued)
2021 Compared with 2020
Earned premiums in preferred personal automobile insurance decreased by $21.2 million in 2021, compared to 2020, due primarily to lower volume and ongoing profit improvement actions. Incurred losses and LAE were $349.9 million, or 85.2% of earned premiums, in 2021, compared to $311.0 million, or 72.0% of earned premiums, in 2020. Incurred losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums increased due primarily to a deterioration in the underlying loss and LAE ratio, partially offset by lower levels of adverse loss and LAE reserve development. Underlying losses and LAE as a percentage of related earned premiums were 80.4% in 2021, compared to 64.8% in 2020, a deterioration of 15.6 percentage points primarily due to higher claim frequency and severity trends. Frequency trends increased as a result of driving activity returning to pre-pandemic levels. Severity trends increased due to rising inflation and supply chain constraints. Catastrophe losses and LAE (excluding reserve development) were $7.4 million in 2021, compared to $4.4 million in 2020. Adverse loss and LAE reserve development (including catastrophe loss reserve development) was $12.1 million in 2021, compared to $26.7 million in 2020.
Homeowners Insurance
Selected financial information for the homeowners insurance product line is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net Premiums Written | $ | 208.4 | $ | 211.1 | $ | 233.1 | |||||
| Earned Premiums | $ | 207.3 | $ | 220.7 | $ | 241.3 | |||||
| Incurred Losses and LAE related to: | |||||||||||
| Current Year: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | 104.1 | 108.7 | 131.6 | ||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | 70.2 | 71.2 | 54.0 | ||||||||
| Prior Years: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | (2.6) | (2.8) | (2.7) | ||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | (3.9) | 0.7 | (17.0) | ||||||||
| Total Incurred Losses and LAE | $ | 167.8 | $ | 177.8 | $ | 165.9 | |||||
| Ratios Based On Earned Premiums | |||||||||||
| Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 50.2 | % | 49.3 | % | 54.5 | % | |||||
| Current Year Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 33.9 | 32.3 | 22.4 | ||||||||
| Prior Years Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | (1.3) | (1.3) | (1.1) | ||||||||
| Prior Years Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | (1.9) | 0.3 | (7.0) | ||||||||
| Total Incurred Loss and LAE Ratio | 80.9 | % | 80.6 | % | 68.8 | % |
2021 Compared with 2020
Earned premiums in homeowners insurance decreased by $13.4 million in 2021, compared to 2020, due primarily to lower volume and ongoing profit improvement actions. Incurred losses and LAE were $167.8 million, or 80.9% of earned premiums, in 2021, compared to $177.8 million, or 80.6% of earned premiums, in 2020. Incurred losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums increased due primarily to lower incurred catastrophe losses (excluding loss reserve development), partially offset by higher underlying losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums. Underlying losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums were 50.2% in 2021, compared to 49.3% in 2020, a deterioration of 0.9 percentage points. Catastrophe losses and LAE (excluding reserve development) were $70.2 million in 2021, compared to $71.2 million in 2020. There were four catastrophic events above $5 million in 2021, compared to five catastrophic events above $5 million in 2020. Favorable Loss and LAE reserve development (including catastrophe loss reserve development) was $6.5 million in 2021, compared to $2.1 million in 2020.
43
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
PREFERRED PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE (Continued)
Other Personal Insurance
Other personal insurance products include umbrella, dwelling fire, inland marine, earthquake, boat owners and other liability coverages. Selected financial information for other personal insurance product lines is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net Premiums Written | $ | 33.7 | $ | 34.4 | $ | 37.3 | |||||
| Earned Premiums | $ | 33.9 | $ | 35.8 | $ | 38.8 | |||||
| Incurred Losses and LAE related to: | |||||||||||
| Current Year: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | 15.9 | 12.3 | 17.7 | ||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | 1.5 | 6.4 | 1.2 | ||||||||
| Prior Years: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | 3.9 | (4.2) | (6.7) | ||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | (1.6) | (0.2) | (1.4) | ||||||||
| Total Incurred Losses and LAE | $ | 19.7 | $ | 14.3 | $ | 10.8 | |||||
| Ratios Based On Earned Premiums | |||||||||||
| Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 46.9 | % | 34.3 | % | 45.6 | % | |||||
| Current Year Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 4.4 | 17.9 | 3.1 | ||||||||
| Prior Years Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 11.5 | (11.7) | (17.3) | ||||||||
| Prior Years Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | (4.7) | (0.6) | (3.6) | ||||||||
| Total Incurred Loss and LAE Ratio | 58.1 | % | 39.9 | % | 27.8 | % |
2021 Compared with 2020
Earned premiums in other personal insurance decreased by $1.9 million in 2021, compared to 2020. Incurred losses and LAE were $19.7 million, or 58.1% of earned premiums, in 2021, compared to $14.3 million, or 39.9% of earned premiums, in 2020. Underlying losses and LAE as a percentage of earned premiums were 46.9% in 2021, compared to 34.3% in 2020, a deterioration of 12.6 percentage points. Catastrophe losses and LAE (excluding reserve development) were $1.5 million in 2021, compared to $6.4 million in 2020. Adverse loss and LAE reserve development (including catastrophe loss reserve development) was $2.3 million in 2021, compared to favorable development of $4.4 million in 2020.
44
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
LIFE & HEALTH INSURANCE
Selected financial information for the Life & Health Insurance segment is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earned Premiums | $ | 653.5 | $ | 648.7 | $ | 643.7 | |||||
| Net Investment Income | 202.7 | 198.8 | 206.4 | ||||||||
| Change in Value of Alternative Energy Partnership Investments | (15.8) | — | — | ||||||||
| Other Income | (1.3) | 0.6 | 8.5 | ||||||||
| Total Revenues | 839.1 | 848.1 | 858.6 | ||||||||
| Policyholders’ Benefits and Incurred Losses and LAE | 469.7 | 442.0 | 402.7 | ||||||||
| Insurance Expenses | 358.9 | 334.9 | 334.0 | ||||||||
| Operating Income (Loss) | 10.5 | 71.2 | 121.9 | ||||||||
| Income Tax Benefit (Expense) | 17.7 | (11.2) | (23.2) | ||||||||
| Segment Net Operating Income (Loss) | $ | 28.2 | $ | 60.0 | $ | 98.7 |
INSURANCE RESERVES
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Dec 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance Reserves: | |||||||
| Future Policyholder Benefits | $ | 3,454.1 | $ | 3,440.5 | |||
| Incurred Losses and LAE Reserves: | |||||||
| Life | 60.7 | 61.1 | |||||
| Accident and Health | 26.1 | 25.9 | |||||
| Property | 3.6 | 4.6 | |||||
| Total Incurred Losses and LAE Reserves | 90.4 | 91.6 | |||||
| Total Insurance Reserves | $ | 3,544.5 | $ | 3,532.1 |
Use of Death Verification Databases
In the third quarter of 2016, the Company’s Life & Health segment voluntarily began implementing a comprehensive process under which it cross-references its life insurance policies against the Death Master File maintained by the Social Security Administration and other death verification databases to identify potential situations where the beneficiaries may not have filed a claim following the death of an insured and initiate an outreach process to identify and contact beneficiaries and settle claims. Policyholders’ Benefits and Incurred Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses for the year ended December 31, 2016 included a pre-tax charge of $77.8 million to recognize the initial impact of using death verification databases in the Company’s operations, including to determine its IBNR liability for unpaid claims and claims adjustment expenses for life insurance products. Subsequently, the Company has reduced its estimate of the initial impact of using death verification databases by $30.3 million, of which $9.3 million was recognized during 2020.
See Note 2, “Summary of Accounting Policies and Accounting Changes,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements under the sub-caption “Insurance Reserves” for additional discussion.
2021 Compared with 2020
Earned Premiums in the Life & Health Insurance segment increased by $4.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to 2020. Earned Premiums increased due primarily to higher volume on life insurance products partially offset by lower volume on accident and health insurance products and property insurance products as well as a reduction in the estimated return premium reserve for insurance products subject to minimum loss ratio (“MLR”) in 2020.
Net Investment Income increased by $3.9 million in 2021, compared to 2020, due primarily to an increase in return from Alternative Investments, higher levels of investments in fixed income securities, and higher rate on Company-Owned Life Insurance, partially offset by lower yields on fixed income securities.
45
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
LIFE & HEALTH INSURANCE (Continued)
Loss related to Changes in Value of Alternative Energy Partnership Investments was $15.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. Tax benefits related to the Alternative Energy Partnership Investments were $20.4 million, resulting in net income attributable to Alternative Energy Partnership Investments of $4.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Policyholders’ Benefits and Incurred Losses and LAE increased by $27.7 million in 2021, compared to 2020, due primarily to higher mortality for life insurance related to COVID-19, higher persistency on life insurance, the impact of reducing the Company’s estimate of the ultimate cost of using death verification databases in the Company’s operations in 2020, and higher frequency and severity of accident and health insurance claims as utilization of supplemental accident and health insurance products normalized to pre-pandemic levels.
Insurance Expenses in the Life & Health Insurance segment increased by $24.0 million in 2021, compared to 2020, due primarily to higher commission expense driven by increased persistency and investments made to modernize and strengthen the distribution channel and enhance the capabilities of the business.
Segment Net Operating Income in the Life & Health Insurance segment was $28.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to $60.0 million in 2020.
The Life & Health Insurance segment’s effective income tax rate differs from the federal statutory income tax rate due primarily to investment tax credits, tax-exempt investment income and dividends received deductions.
Life Insurance
Selected financial information for the life insurance product line is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earned Premiums | $ | 401.7 | $ | 385.7 | $ | 384.6 | |||||
| Net Investment Income | 196.8 | 193.3 | 198.8 | ||||||||
| Change in Value of Alternative Energy Partnership Investments | (15.0) | — | — | ||||||||
| Other Income | (1.6) | — | 8.1 | ||||||||
| Total Revenues | 581.9 | 579.0 | 591.5 | ||||||||
| Policyholders’ Benefits and Incurred Losses and LAE | 345.3 | 318.2 | 270.1 | ||||||||
| Insurance Expenses | 235.6 | 218.8 | 215.3 | ||||||||
| Operating Income (Loss) | 1.0 | 42.0 | 106.1 | ||||||||
| Income Tax Benefit (Expense) | 18.7 | (5.2) | (20.0) | ||||||||
| Total Product Line Net Operating Income (Loss) | $ | 19.7 | $ | 36.8 | $ | 86.1 |
2021 Compared with 2020
Earned premiums on life insurance increased by $16.0 million in 2021, compared to 2020, due primarily to increased new business and higher persistency. Policyholders’ benefits and incurred losses and LAE on life insurance were $345.3 million in 2021, compared to $318.2 million in 2020, an increase of $27.1 million due primarily to higher mortality related to COVID-19, higher persistency, and the impact of reducing the Company’s estimate of the ultimate cost of using death verification databases in the Company’s operation in 2020.
Insurance Expenses increased by $16.8 million in 2021, compared to 2020, due primarily to higher commission expense driven by increased persistency and investments made to modernize and strengthen the distribution channel and enhance the capabilities of the business.
46
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
LIFE & HEALTH INSURANCE (Continued)
Accident and Health Insurance
Selected financial information for the accident and health insurance product line is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earned Premiums | $ | 189.9 | $ | 199.3 | $ | 190.9 | |||||
| Net Investment Income | 3.6 | 5.0 | 6.0 | ||||||||
| Change in Value of Alternative Energy Partnership Investments | (0.3) | — | — | ||||||||
| Other Income | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.4 | ||||||||
| Total Revenues | 193.5 | 204.9 | 197.3 | ||||||||
| Policyholders’ Benefits and Incurred Losses and LAE | 96.1 | 95.3 | 109.8 | ||||||||
| Insurance Expenses | 91.6 | 91.9 | 88.7 | ||||||||
| Operating Income (Loss) | 5.8 | 17.7 | (1.2) | ||||||||
| Income Tax Benefit (Expense) | (0.9) | (3.6) | 0.3 | ||||||||
| Total Product Line Net Operating Income (Loss) | $ | 4.9 | $ | 14.1 | $ | (0.9) |
2021 Compared with 2020
Earned premiums on accident and health insurance decreased by $9.4 million in 2021, compared to 2020. Earned premiums decreased due primarily to lower volume on new business sales and a reduction in the estimated return premium reserve for certain insurance products subject to MLR in 2020. Incurred accident and health insurance losses were $96.1 million, or 50.6% of accident and health insurance earned premiums, in 2021, compared to $95.3 million, or 47.8% of accident and health insurance earned premiums, in 2020, due primarily to higher frequency and severity of claims as utilization of supplemental accident and health insurance products normalized to pre-pandemic levels.
Insurance expenses decreased by $0.3 million in 2021, compared to 2020.
47
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
LIFE & HEALTH INSURANCE (Continued)
Property Insurance
Selected financial information for the property insurance product line is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earned Premiums | $ | 61.9 | $ | 63.7 | $ | 68.2 | |||||
| Net Investment Income | 2.3 | 0.5 | 1.6 | ||||||||
| Change in Value of Alternative Energy Partnership Investments | (0.5) | — | — | ||||||||
| Total Revenues | 63.7 | 64.2 | 69.8 | ||||||||
| Incurred Losses and LAE related to: | |||||||||||
| Current Year: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | 14.2 | 15.2 | 18.1 | ||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | 13.0 | 12.4 | 3.1 | ||||||||
| Prior Years: | |||||||||||
| Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.8 | ||||||||
| Catastrophe Losses and LAE | (0.1) | 0.5 | 0.8 | ||||||||
| Total Incurred Losses and LAE | 28.3 | 28.5 | 22.8 | ||||||||
| Insurance Expenses | 31.7 | 24.2 | 30.0 | ||||||||
| Operating Income (Loss) | 3.7 | 11.5 | 17.0 | ||||||||
| Income Tax Benefit (Expense) | (0.1) | (2.4) | (3.5) | ||||||||
| Total Product Line Net Operating Income (Loss) | $ | 3.6 | $ | 9.1 | $ | 13.5 | |||||
| Ratios Based On Earned Premiums | |||||||||||
| Current Year Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 23.0 | % | 23.8 | % | 26.5 | % | |||||
| Current Year Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 21.0 | 19.5 | 4.5 | ||||||||
| Prior Years Non-catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | 1.9 | 0.6 | 1.2 | ||||||||
| Prior Years Catastrophe Losses and LAE Ratio | (0.2) | 0.8 | 1.2 | ||||||||
| Total Incurred Loss and LAE Ratio | 45.7 | % | 44.7 | % | 33.4 | % |
2021 Compared with 2020
Earned premiums on property insurance decreased by $1.8 million in 2021, compared to 2020, due primarily to a lower volume. Incurred losses and LAE on property insurance were $28.3 million, or 45.7% of earned premiums, in 2021, compared to $28.5 million, or 44.7% earned premiums, in 2020. Underlying losses and LAE were $14.2 million, or 23.0% of property insurance earned premiums, in 2021, compared to $15.2 million, or 23.8% of property insurance earned premiums, in 2020, a decrease of 0.8 percentage points due primarily to lower claim severity. Catastrophe losses and LAE (excluding loss reserve development) were $13.0 million in 2021, compared to $12.4 million in 2020. Catastrophe losses and LAE increased $0.6 million due primarily to higher frequency and severity of catastrophe claims. Adverse loss and LAE reserve development was $1.1 million in 2021, compared to $0.9 million in 2020.
Insurance expenses increased $7.5 million in 2021, compared to 2020, due primarily to investments made to modernize and strengthen the distribution channel and enhance the capabilities of the business.
48
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
INVESTMENT RESULTS
Net Investment Income
Net Investment Income for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Investment Income: | |||||||||||
| Interest on Fixed Income Securities | $ | 277.7 | $ | 289.8 | $ | 299.4 | |||||
| Dividends on Equity Securities Excluding Alternative Investments | 15.9 | 15.4 | 22.9 | ||||||||
| Alternative Investments: | |||||||||||
| Equity Method Limited Liability Investments | 56.7 | 4.9 | 1.0 | ||||||||
| Limited Liability Investments Included in Equity Securities | 46.9 | 22.1 | 18.0 | ||||||||
| Total Alternative Investments | 103.6 | 27.0 | 19.0 | ||||||||
| Short-term Investments | 1.0 | 5.5 | 8.2 | ||||||||
| Loans to Policyholders | 21.7 | 22.1 | 22.6 | ||||||||
| Real Estate | 9.3 | 9.6 | 9.8 | ||||||||
| Other | 32.4 | 13.2 | 1.5 | ||||||||
| Total Investment Income | 461.6 | 382.6 | 383.4 | ||||||||
| Investment Expenses: | |||||||||||
| Real Estate | 9.7 | 8.8 | 9.6 | ||||||||
| Other Investment Expenses | 24.6 | 25.6 | 9.5 | ||||||||
| Total Investment Expenses | 34.3 | 34.4 | 19.1 | ||||||||
| Net Investment Income | $ | 427.3 | $ | 348.2 | $ | 364.3 |
2021 Compared with 2020
Net Investment Income was $427.3 million and $348.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Net Investment Income increased by $79.1 million in 2021 due primarily to higher valuations of Equity Method Limited Liability Investments and higher volume of distributions received from appreciated Limited Liability Investments included in Equity Securities, partially offset by lower yields from the Fixed Maturities portfolio reflecting lower reinvestment yields. Increase in Other Net Investment Income is driven by income from Company-Owned Life Insurance due to higher average investment balance and rate.
Income and distributions on Alternative Investments can fluctuate significantly between periods as they are influenced by operating performance of the underlying investments, changes in market or economic conditions or the timing of asset sales.
49
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
INVESTMENT RESULTS (Continued)
Total Comprehensive Investment Gains (Losses)
The components of Total Comprehensive Investment Gains (Losses) for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 are presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recognized in Consolidated Statements of Income: | |||||||||||
| Income (Loss) from Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities | $ | 114.6 | $ | 72.1 | $ | 138.9 | |||||
| Gains on Sales | 68.0 | 48.3 | 46.9 | ||||||||
| Losses on Sales | (3.2) | (10.2) | (5.0) | ||||||||
| Impairment Losses | (11.0) | (19.5) | (13.8) | ||||||||
| Net Gain (Loss) Recognized in Consolidated Statements of Income | 168.4 | 90.7 | 167.0 | ||||||||
| Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) | (286.6) | 367.4 | 405.3 | ||||||||
| Total Comprehensive Investment Gains (Losses) | $ | (118.2) | $ | 458.1 | $ | 572.3 |
Total Comprehensive Investment Gains (Losses) decreased by $576.3 million primarily due to decline in fixed maturities unrealized capital gains, partially offset by higher income from increased valuations of equity and convertible securities. Fixed maturities valuations decreased primarily due to higher interest rates.
Income (Loss) From Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities
The components of Income (Loss) from Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 are presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2021 | 2020 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preferred Stocks | $ | 1.9 | $ | (0.7) | |||
| Common Stocks | 1.7 | (0.3) | |||||
| Other Equity Interests: | |||||||
| Exchange Traded Funds | 75.8 | 68.0 | |||||
| Limited Liability Companies and Limited Partnerships | 31.3 | 1.7 | |||||
| Total Other Equity Interests | 107.1 | 69.7 | |||||
| Income (Loss) from Change in Fair Value of Equity Securities | 110.7 | 68.7 | |||||
| Income (Loss) from Change in Fair Value of Convertible Securities | 3.9 | 3.4 | |||||
| Income (Loss) from Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities | $ | 114.6 | $ | 72.1 |
50
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
INVESTMENT RESULTS (Continued)
Net Realized Gains on Sales of Investments
The components of Net Realized Gains on Sales of Investments for the year ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 are presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Maturities: | |||||||||||
| Gains on Sales | $ | 63.4 | $ | 40.6 | $ | 41.1 | |||||
| Losses on Sales | (2.1) | (7.9) | (4.8) | ||||||||
| Equity Securities: | |||||||||||
| Gains on Sales | 4.1 | 5.9 | 5.8 | ||||||||
| Losses on Sales | (0.7) | (1.9) | (0.2) | ||||||||
| Equity Method Limited Liability Investments: | |||||||||||
| Gains on Sales | 0.4 | — | — | ||||||||
| Losses on Sales | — | (0.4) | — | ||||||||
| Real Estate: | |||||||||||
| Gains on Sales | 0.1 | 1.8 | — | ||||||||
| Losses on Sales | (0.4) | — | — | ||||||||
| Net Realized Gains on Sales of Investments | $ | 64.8 | $ | 38.1 | $ | 41.9 | |||||
| Gross Gains on Sales | $ | 68.0 | $ | 48.3 | $ | 46.9 | |||||
| Gross Losses on Sales | (3.2) | (10.2) | (5.0) | ||||||||
| Net Realized Gains on Sales of Investments | $ | 64.8 | $ | 38.1 | $ | 41.9 |
Fixed Maturities
Net Realized Gains on Sales of Fixed Maturities for the year ended December 31, 2021 primarily relate to normal portfolio management and to a lesser extent, a repositioning of the portfolio for duration extension purposes.
Net Realized Gains on Sales of Fixed Maturities for the year ended December 31, 2020 primarily relate to a repositioning of the portfolio for duration extension purposes.
Equity Securities
Net Realized Gains on Sales of Equity Securities for the year ended December 31, 2021 primarily relate to transactions whereby the Company’s interests in Equity Securities at Modified Cost were acquired by other companies.
Net Realized Gains on Sales of Equity Securities for the year ended December 31, 2020 primarily relate to transactions whereby the Company’s investments were acquired by other companies.
Other sales activity in 2021 and 2020 were due to normal portfolio management.
51
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
INVESTMENT RESULTS (Continued)
Impairment Losses
The Company regularly reviews its investment portfolio to determine whether a decline in the fair value of an investment has occurred from credit or other, non-credit related factors. If the decline in fair value is due to credit factors and the Company does not expect to receive cash flows sufficient to support the entire amortized cost basis, the credit loss is reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income in the period that the declines are evaluated. The components of Impairment Losses in the Consolidated Statements of Income for the year ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 is presented below.
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Amount | Number of Issuers | Amount | Number of Issuers | Amount | Number of Issuers | ||||||||||||
| Fixed Maturities | $ | (6.4) | 17 | $ | (16.7) | 14 | $ | (13.3) | 14 | |||||||||
| Equity Securities | (4.2) | 13 | (2.8) | 2 | (0.5) | 1 | ||||||||||||
| Real Estate | (0.4) | 1 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Net Impairment Losses Recognized in Earnings | $ | (11.0) | $ | (19.5) | $ | (13.8) |
Fixed Maturities
Impairment Losses recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income for the year ended December 31, 2021 related primarily to investments in Fixed Maturities where the Company established an allowance for expected credit loss.
Impairment Losses recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income for the year ended December 31, 2020 related primarily to investments in Fixed Maturities where the Company had the intent to sell or requirement to sell.
Equity Securities
Impairment Losses recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 related primarily to investments in Equity Securities at Modified Cost where the Company had the intent or requirement to sell.
Real Estate
Impairment Losses recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income for the year ended December 31, 2021 related to investments in Real Estate held with the intent to sell. No impairment losses were recognized for the year ended December 31, 2020.
INVESTMENT QUALITY AND CONCENTRATIONS
The Company’s fixed maturity investment portfolio is comprised primarily of corporate, high-grade corporate, municipal agency bonds, and collateralized loan obligations. At December 31, 2021, approximately 95% of the Company’s fixed maturity investment portfolio was rated investment-grade, which the Company defines as a security issued by a high quality obligor with at least a relatively stable credit profile and where it is highly likely that all contractual payments of principal and interest will timely occur and carry a rating from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) of 1 or 2. Securities with a rating of 1 or 2 from the NAIC typically are rated by one of more Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations and either have a rating of AAA, AA, A or BBB from Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”); a rating of Aaa, Aa, A or Baa from Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”); or a rating of AAA, AA, A or BBB from Fitch Ratings.
52
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
INVESTMENT QUALITY AND CONCENTRATIONS (Continued)
The following table summarizes the credit quality of the Company’s fixed maturity investment portfolio at December 31, 2021 and 2020.
| NAIC Rating | Rating | Dec 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair Value in Millions | Percentage of Total | Fair Value in Millions | Percentage of Total | |||||||||||||
| 1 | AAA, AA, A | $ | 5,351.6 | 67.0 | % | $ | 4,759.9 | 62.6 | % | |||||||
| 2 | BBB | 2,215.1 | 27.7 | 2,355.6 | 31.0 | |||||||||||
| 3-4 | BB, B | 331.0 | 4.2 | 353.1 | 4.6 | |||||||||||
| 5-6 | CCC or Lower | 89.2 | 1.1 | 137.3 | 1.8 | |||||||||||
| Total Investments in Fixed Maturities | $ | 7,986.9 | 100.0 | % | $ | 7,605.9 | 100.0 | % |
Gross unrealized losses on the Company’s investments in below-investment-grade fixed maturities were $9.0 million and $23.7 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
The following table summarizes the fair value of the Company’s investments in governmental fixed maturities at December 31, 2021 and 2020.
| Dec 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Fair Value | Percentage of Total Investments | Fair Value | Percentage of Total Investments | ||||||||||
| U.S. Government and Government Agencies and Authorities | $ | 637.4 | 6.1 | % | $ | 585.3 | 5.6 | % | ||||||
| States and Political Subdivisions: | ||||||||||||||
| Revenue Bonds | 1,516.1 | 14.6 | 1,153.3 | 11.1 | ||||||||||
| States | 235.8 | 2.3 | 333.5 | 3.2 | ||||||||||
| Political Subdivisions | 138.2 | 1.3 | 102.6 | 1.0 | ||||||||||
| Foreign Governments | 5.5 | 0.1 | 5.2 | — | ||||||||||
| Total Investments in Governmental Fixed Maturities | $ | 2,533.0 | 24.4 | % | $ | 2,179.9 | 20.9 | % |
The following table summarizes the fair value of the Company’s investments in non-governmental fixed maturities by industry at December 31, 2021 and 2020.
| Dec 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Fair Value | Percentage of Total Investments | Fair Value | Percentage of Total Investments | ||||||||||
| Finance, Insurance and Real Estate | $ | 1,996.7 | 19.2 | % | $ | 1,916.3 | 18.4 | % | ||||||
| Manufacturing | 1,571.0 | 15.1 | 1,633.5 | 15.7 | ||||||||||
| Transportation, Communication and Utilities | 815.8 | 7.9 | 825.5 | 7.9 | ||||||||||
| Services | 617.5 | 5.9 | 581.3 | 5.6 | ||||||||||
| Mining | 254.3 | 2.4 | 285.7 | 2.7 | ||||||||||
| Retail Trade | 171.4 | 1.7 | 172.6 | 1.7 | ||||||||||
| Construction | 13.1 | 0.1 | — | — | ||||||||||
| Other | 14.1 | 0.1 | 11.0 | 0.1 | ||||||||||
| Total Investments in Non-governmental Fixed Maturities | $ | 5,453.9 | 52.4 | % | $ | 5,425.9 | 52.1 | % |
53
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
INVESTMENT QUALITY AND CONCENTRATIONS (Continued)
The following table summarizes the fair value of the Company’s investments in non-governmental fixed maturities by range of amount invested at December 31, 2021.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Number of Issuers | Aggregate Fair Value | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Below $5 | 611 | $ | 1,333.8 | |||
| $5 -$10 | 200 | 1,435.9 | ||||
| $10 - $20 | 121 | 1,647.2 | ||||
| $20 - $30 | 30 | 721.4 | ||||
| Greater Than $30 | 9 | 315.6 | ||||
| Total | 971 | $ | 5,453.9 |
The Company’s short-term investments primarily consist of money market funds, U.S. treasury bills, and short term bonds. At December 31, 2021, the Company had $272.1 million invested in money market funds which primarily invest in U.S. Treasury securities and $12.0 million invested in U.S. treasury bills and short-term bonds.
The following table summarizes the fair value of the Company’s ten largest investment exposures in a single issuer, excluding investments in U.S. Government and Government Agencies and Authorities and Short-term Investment, at December 31, 2021.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Fair Value | Percentage of Total Investments | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Maturities: | |||||||
| States including their Political Subdivisions: | |||||||
| Texas | $ | 151.4 | 1.5 | % | |||
| California | 107.6 | 1.0 | |||||
| Georgia | 98.0 | 0.9 | |||||
| New York | 95.1 | 0.9 | |||||
| Florida | 74.8 | 0.7 | |||||
| Louisiana | 74.7 | 0.7 | |||||
| Colorado | 70.8 | 0.7 | |||||
| Pennsylvania | 68.6 | 0.7 | |||||
| Equity Securities at Fair Value—Other Equity Interests: | |||||||
| Vanguard Total World Stock ETF | 226.9 | 2.2 | |||||
| iShares® Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF | 86.1 | 0.8 | |||||
| Total | $ | 1,054.0 | 10.1 | % |
54
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
INVESTMENTS IN LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES AND LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS
The Company owns investments in various limited liability investment companies and limited partnerships that primarily invest in mezzanine debt, distressed debt, and senior debt. The Company’s investments in these limited liability investment companies and limited partnerships are reported either as Equity Method Limited Liability Investments, Other Equity Interests and included in Equity Securities at Fair Value, or Equity Securities at Modified Cost depending on the accounting method used to report the investment. Additional information pertaining to these investments at December 31, 2021 and 2020 is presented below.
| Unfunded Commitment in Millions | Reported Value in Millions | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asset Class | Dec 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | ||||||||
| Reported as Equity Method Limited Liability Investments: | |||||||||||
| Mezzanine Debt | $ | 43.3 | $ | 120.0 | $ | 102.5 | |||||
| Senior Debt | 46.7 | 27.5 | 28.6 | ||||||||
| Distressed Debt | 100.1 | 21.7 | 14.5 | ||||||||
| Secondary Transactions | 8.3 | 11.7 | 11.2 | ||||||||
| Leveraged Buyout | 0.1 | 8.7 | 3.5 | ||||||||
| Growth Equity | — | 0.7 | 0.7 | ||||||||
| Real Estate | — | 29.9 | 29.9 | ||||||||
| Hedge Fund | — | 8.7 | — | ||||||||
| Other | — | 13.0 | 13.1 | ||||||||
| Total Equity Method Limited Liability Investments | 198.5 | 241.9 | 204.0 | ||||||||
| Alternative Energy Partnership Investments | — | 39.6 | 21.3 | ||||||||
| Reported as Other Equity Interests at Fair Value: | |||||||||||
| Mezzanine Debt | 53.7 | 129.3 | 118.3 | ||||||||
| Senior Debt | 15.1 | 29.9 | 33.9 | ||||||||
| Distressed Debt | 20.0 | 44.9 | 31.8 | ||||||||
| Secondary Transactions | 6.8 | 4.0 | 4.2 | ||||||||
| Hedge Funds | — | 82.7 | 71.6 | ||||||||
| Leveraged Buyout | 6.0 | 32.2 | 30.7 | ||||||||
| Growth Equity | 0.7 | 2.0 | — | ||||||||
| Other | — | — | 1.5 | ||||||||
| Total Reported as Other Equity Interests at Fair Value | 102.3 | 325.0 | 292.0 | ||||||||
| Reported as Equity Securities at Modified Cost: | |||||||||||
| Other | — | 7.7 | 15.7 | ||||||||
| Total Reported as Equity Securities at Modified Cost | — | 7.7 | 15.7 | ||||||||
| Total Investments in Limited Liability Companies and Limited Partnerships | $ | 300.8 | $ | 614.2 | $ | 533.0 |
The Company expects that it will be required to fund its commitments over the next several years. The Company expects that the proceeds from distributions from these investments will be the primary source of funding of such commitments.
55
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
INSURANCE, INTEREST AND OTHER EXPENSES
Expenses for the year ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 were:
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance Expenses: | |||||||||||
| Commissions | $ | 817.6 | $ | 745.8 | $ | 708.8 | |||||
| General Expenses | 339.5 | 307.4 | 278.0 | ||||||||
| Taxes, Licenses and Fees | 104.3 | 94.2 | 93.5 | ||||||||
| Total Costs Incurred | 1,261.4 | 1,147.4 | 1,080.3 | ||||||||
| Net Policy Acquisition Costs Amortized (Deferred) | (88.3) | (51.6) | (66.9) | ||||||||
| Amortization of Value of Business Acquired (“VOBA”) | 45.0 | 4.7 | 6.3 | ||||||||
| Insurance Expenses | 1,218.1 | 1,100.5 | 1,019.7 | ||||||||
| Interest and Other Expenses: | |||||||||||
| Loss from Early Extinguishment of Debt | — | — | 5.8 | ||||||||
| Interest Expense | 43.6 | 36.0 | 42.5 | ||||||||
| Other Expenses: | |||||||||||
| Acquisition Related Transaction, Integration and Other Costs | 43.9 | 63.3 | 18.4 | ||||||||
| Pension Settlement Expense | — | 64.1 | — | ||||||||
| Other | 131.9 | 108.1 | 102.9 | ||||||||
| Other Expenses | 175.8 | 235.5 | 121.3 | ||||||||
| Interest and Other Expenses | 219.4 | 271.5 | 163.8 | ||||||||
| Total Expenses | $ | 1,437.5 | $ | 1,372.0 | $ | 1,189.3 |
Insurance Expenses
Insurance Expenses increased by $117.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to 2020, due primarily to growth in business and increased amortization of VOBA with the acquisition of AAC.
Interest and Other Expenses
Interest expense increased by $7.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to 2020, due primarily to the addition of the 2030 Senior Notes in September 2020. See MD&A, “Liquidity and Capital Resources,” and Note 19, “Debt,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion of debt activity.
Other Expenses decreased by $59.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to 2020, due primarily to prior year Pension Settlement Expenses related to purchasing annuities on behalf of certain plan participants and lump-sum payments made to certain terminated vested participants and lower current year Acquisition Related Transaction, Integration and Other Costs.
INCOME TAXES
The federal corporate statutory income tax rate was 21% for the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020. The Company’s effective income tax rate differs from the federal corporate income tax rate due primarily to (1) the effects of tax-exempt investment income and dividends received deductions, (2) nontaxable income associated with the change in cash surrender value on Company-Owned Life Insurance, (3) Alternative Energy Partnership Investment tax credits, (4) a permanent difference between the amount of long-term equity-based compensation expense recognized under GAAP and the amount deductible in the computation of Federal taxable income, and (5) a permanent difference associated with nondeductible executive compensation.
Tax-exempt investment income and dividends received deductions were $21.8 million and $19.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The nontaxable increase in cash surrender value on COLI was $25.7 million and $12.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The Company realized net investment tax credits of $66.1 million and $3.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The amount of expense recognized for long-term equity-based compensation expense under U.S. GAAP was $1.3 million and $10.5 million lower than the amount that would be deductible under the Internal Revenue Code (the “IRC”) for the years ended December 31, 2021 and
56
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
INCOME TAXES (Continued)
2020, respectively. The amount of nondeductible executive compensation was $13.0 million and $13.0 million for years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
See Note 23, “Income Taxes,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion of income taxes.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Shelf Registration Statement
The Company filed a universal shelf registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the first quarter of 2020. Under this shelf registration, the Company may issue an undetermined amount of securities including common stock, preferred stock, depository shares, debt securities, warrants, subscription rights, purchase contracts, and purchase units. Specific terms of any securities issued under this registration will be included in each applicable prospectus supplement.
Common Stock Offering
Kemper is authorized to issue 20 million shares of $0.10 par value preferred stock and 100 million shares of $0.10 par value common stock. No preferred shares were issued or outstanding at December 31, 2021 and 2020. There were 63,684,628 shares and 65,436,207 shares of common stock outstanding at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Long-term Debt
From time to time, the Company looks to opportunistically raise capital in the debt markets. The Company designates debt obligations as either short-term or long-term based on maturity date at issuance, or in the case of the 2022 Senior Notes, based on the date of assumption. Total amortized cost of Long-term Debt outstanding at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 was:
| (Dollars in Millions) | Dec 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Term Loan due July 5, 2023 | $ | — | $ | 49.9 | |||
| 5.000% Senior Notes due September 19, 2022 | 276.7 | 278.3 | |||||
| 4.350% Senior Notes due February 15, 2025 | 449.0 | 448.8 | |||||
| 2.400% Senior Notes due September 30, 2030 | 396.2 | 395.8 | |||||
| Total Long-term Debt Outstanding | $ | 1,121.9 | $ | 1,172.8 |
See Note 19, “Debt,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information regarding the Company’s long-term debt.
Amended and Extended Credit Agreement and Term Loan Facility
From time to time, the Company looks to opportunistically raise capital in the credit markets and is considering an increase in its existing credit facility. On June 8, 2018, the Company entered into an amended and extended credit agreement and term loan facility. The amended and extended credit agreement increased the borrowing capacity of the existing unsecured credit agreement to $300.0 million and extended the maturity date to June 8, 2023. The term loan facility included a delayed draw feature with borrowing capacity of $250.0 million and a maturity date two years from the borrowing date (see discussion below under the heading, “Repayment of Term Loan Due 2020,” for additional information regarding the initial borrowing and subsequent repayment of this delayed-draw term loan). On June 4, 2019, the Company utilized the accordion feature under the credit agreement to increase its credit borrowing capacity by $100.0 million, resulting in the available credit commitments increasing from $300.0 million to $400.0 million. The Company incurred $0.1 million in additional debt issuance costs in connection with the utilization of the accordion feature, which in addition to the $0.5 million of remaining unamortized costs under the credit agreement, will be amortized under the remaining term of the credit agreement. There were no outstanding borrowings under the credit agreement at either December 31, 2021 or December 31, 2020.
Federal Home Loan Bank Agreements
Kemper’s subsidiaries, United Insurance, Trinity Universal Insurance Company (“Trinity”) and Alliance United Insurance Company (“Alliance”) are members of the FHLB of Chicago, Dallas and San Francisco, respectively. Alliance became a member of the FHLB of San Francisco in August 2020. United Insurance became a member of the FHLB of Chicago in March 2014. Trinity became a member of the FHLB of Dallas in December 2013. Under their memberships, United, Trinity and Alliance may borrow through the advance program of their respective FHLB. As a requirement of membership in the FHLB,
57
Kemper Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES (Continued)
United Insurance, Trinity, and Alliance must maintain certain levels of investment in FHLB common stock and additional amounts based on the level of outstanding borrowings. The Company’s investments in FHLB common stock are reported at cost and included in Equity Securities at Modified Cost. The carrying value of FHLB of Chicago common stock was $11.8 million and $11.8 million at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. The carrying value of FHLB of Dallas common stock was $3.4 million and $3.4 million at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. The carrying value of FHLB of San Francisco common stock was $1.7 million and $1.7 million at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. The Company periodically uses short-term FHLB borrowings for a combination of cash management and risk management purposes. It also uses long-term FHLB borrowings for spread lending purposes.
During 2021, United Insurance received advances of $385.4 million from the FHLB of Chicago and made repayments of $391.3 million. United Insurance had outstanding advances from the FHLB of Chicago totaling $401.9 million at December 31, 2021. These advances were made in connection with the Company’s spread lending program. The proceeds related to these advances were used to purchase fixed maturity securities to earn incremental net investment income.
With respect to these advances, United Insurance held pledged securities in a custodial account with the FHLB of Chicago with a fair value of $556.6 million at December 31, 2021. The fair value of the collateral pledged must be maintained at certain specified levels above the borrowed amount, which can vary depending on the assets pledged. If the fair value of the collateral declines below these specified levels of the amount borrowed, United Insurance would be required to pledge additional collateral or repay outstanding borrowings. See Note 18, “Policyholder Obligations,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information about the United Insurance advances and related funding agreements.
Common Stock Repurchases
On May 6, 2020, Kemper’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to an additional $200.0 million of Kemper common stock, in addition to the $133.3 million remaining under the previous authorization. The Company repurchased approximately $161.7 million and $110.4 million of stock at an average cost per share of $77.58 and $68.29 in 2021 and 2020, respectively. As of December 31, 2021, the remaining share repurchase authorization was $171.6 million under the repurchase program. The amount and timing of any future share repurchases under the authorization will depend on a variety of factors, including market conditions, the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, available liquidity, particular circumstances and other considerations.
Dividends to Shareholders
Kemper paid a quarterly dividend of $0.31 per common share for each quarter of 2021 and $0.30 per common share for each quarter of 2020, respectively. Dividends and dividend equivalents paid were $80.6 million and $78.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Subsidiary Dividends and Capital Contributions
Various state insurance laws restrict the ability of Kemper’s insurance subsidiaries to pay dividends without regulatory approval. Such insurance laws generally restrict the amount of dividends paid in an annual period to the greater of statutory net income from the previous year or 10% of statutory capital and surplus. Kemper’s insurance subsidiaries collectively paid $347.0 million, $322.0 million and $239.0 million in dividends to Kemper in 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. In 2022, Kemper estimates that its direct insurance subsidiaries would be able to pay approximately $191.2 million in dividends to Kemper without prior regulatory approval.
Kemper made capital contributions to insurance subsidiaries of $126 million and $62 million during 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Sources and Uses of Funds
Kemper directly held cash and investments totaling $233.9 million at December 31, 2021, compared to $733.2 million at December 31, 2020.
The primary sources of funds available for repayment of Kemper’s indebtedness, repurchases of common stock, future shareholder dividend payments and the payment of interest on Kemper’s senior notes, include cash and investments directly held by Kemper, receipt of dividends from Kemper’s insurance subsidiaries and borrowings under the credit agreement and from subsidiaries.
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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES (Continued)
The primary sources of funds for Kemper’s insurance subsidiaries are premiums, investment income, proceeds from the sales and maturity of investments, advances from the FHLBs of Chicago, Dallas and San Francisco, and capital contributions from Kemper. The primary uses of funds are the payment of policyholder benefits under life insurance contracts, claims under property and casualty insurance contracts and accident and health insurance contracts, the payment of commissions and general expenses, the purchase of investments and repayments of advances from the FHLBs of Chicago, Dallas and San Francisco.
Generally, there is a time lag between when premiums are collected and when policyholder benefits and insurance claims are paid. During periods of growth, property and casualty insurance companies typically experience positive operating cash flows and are able to invest a portion of their operating cash flows to fund future policyholder benefits and claims. During periods in which premium revenues decline, insurance companies may experience negative cash flows from operations and may need to sell investments to fund payments to policyholders and claimants. In addition, if the Company’s property and casualty insurance subsidiaries experience several significant catastrophic events over a relatively short period of time, investments may be sold to fund payments, which could result in investment gains or losses. Management believes that its property and casualty insurance subsidiaries maintain adequate levels of liquidity in the event that they were to experience several future catastrophic events over a relatively short period of time.
Information about the Company’s cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 is presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating Activities | $ | 350.7 | $ | 448.0 | $ | 534.3 | |||||
| Investing Activities | (118.2) | (757.0) | (633.4) | ||||||||
| Financing Activities | (290.4) | 378.3 | 160.8 |
Cash available for investment activities in total is dependent on cash flow from Operating Activities and Financing Activities and the level of cash the Company elects to maintain.
Cash from Operating Activities
The Company generated $350.7 million of net cash from operating activities during 2021 compared to $448.0 million in 2020, a decrease of $97.3 million. Cash from operating activities decreased primarily due to higher paid losses within the P&C business in 2021 due to an increase in frequency and rising loss costs from increased severity trends caused by rising inflation and supply chain constraints. This is partially offset by higher premium collections due to increased volume and a decrease in income taxes paid due to lower net income and tax credits generated from the Company’s investment in Alternative Energy Partnerships.
Cash used by Investing Activities
Net cash used by Investing Activities was $118.2 million in 2021, compared to $757.0 million in 2020, a year over year decrease of $638.8 million. This was driven primarily by higher net sales of short-term investments in 2021. In 2020, the Company purchased short-term investments toward the end of the year in anticipation of the purchase of AAC, which were subsequently liquidated prior to the purchase. This is partially offset by the purchase of AAC and net purchases of fixed maturities to support the growth in P&C business.
Cash used by Financing Activities
Net cash used by financing activities in 2021 was $290.4 million, compared to cash provided by financing activities of $378.3 million in 2020, a year over year change of $668.7 million. In 2021, the Company used cash to repay the $50.0 million term loan and also repurchase a greater amount of shares. Cash provided by financing activities in 2020 consisted of $395.6 million of proceeds from the issuance of the senior debt as well as $169.4 million higher proceeds from Policyholder Obligations for the FHLB spread lending program.
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CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
Estimated cash disbursements pertaining to the Company’s contractual obligations at December 31, 2021 are presented below.
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | Jan 1, 2022 to Dec 31, 2022 | Jan 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2024 | Jan 1, 2025 to Dec 31, 2026 | After Dec 31, 2026 | Total | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long Term Debt Obligations | $ | 275.0 | $ | — | $ | 450.0 | $ | 400.0 | $ | 1,125.0 | |||||||||
| Life and Health Insurance Policy Benefits | 346.8 | 577.7 | 548.4 | 8,432.4 | 9,905.3 | ||||||||||||||
| Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves | 1,933.7 | 660.6 | 134.9 | 43.5 | 2,772.7 | ||||||||||||||
| Total Contractual Obligations | $ | 2,555.5 | $ | 1,238.3 | $ | 1,133.3 | $ | 8,875.9 | $ | 13,803.0 |
Amounts included in Life and Health Insurance Policy Benefits within the contractual obligations table above represent the estimated cash payments to be made to policyholders and beneficiaries. Such cash outflows are based on the Company’s current assumptions for mortality, morbidity and policy lapse, but are undiscounted with respect to interest. Policies must remain in force for the policyholder or beneficiary to receive the benefit under the policy. Depending on the terms of a particular policy, future premiums from the policyholder may be required for the policy to remain in force. The Company estimates that future cash inflows would total $5.7 billion using the same assumptions used to estimate the cash outflows. The Company’s Life Insurance Reserves in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets are generally based on the historical assumptions for mortality and policy lapse rates and are on a discounted basis. Accordingly, the sum of the amounts presented above for Life and Health Insurance Policy Benefits significantly exceeds the amount of Life and Health Insurance Reserves reported on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2021.
In addition to the purchase obligations included above, the Company had certain investment commitments totaling $300.8 million at December 31, 2021. The funding of such investment commitments is dependent on a number of factors, the timing of which is indeterminate. The Company cannot make a reasonably reliable estimate of the amount and period of related future payments, if any, for such liability.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
Kemper’s subsidiaries conduct their operations in two industries: property and casualty insurance and life and health insurance. Accordingly, the Company is subject to several industry-specific accounting principles under GAAP. The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The process of estimation is inherently uncertain. Accordingly, actual results could ultimately differ materially from the estimated amounts reported in a company’s financial statements. Different assumptions are likely to result in different estimates of reported amounts.
The Company’s critical accounting policies most sensitive to estimates include the valuation of investments, the valuation of reserves for property and casualty insurance incurred losses and LAE, the assessment of recoverability of goodwill and the valuation of pension benefit obligations.
Valuation of Investments
The reported value of the Company’s investments was $10,387.4 million at December 31, 2021, of which $8,863.9 million, or 85%, was reported at fair value, $281.5 million, or 3%, was reported under the equity method of accounting, $383.0 million, or 4%, was reported at unpaid principal balance and $859.0 million, or 8%, was reported at cost, modified cost or depreciated cost. Investments, in general, are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate risk, credit risk and overall market volatility risk. Accordingly, it is reasonably possible that changes in the fair values of the Company’s investments reported at fair value will occur in the near term and such changes could materially affect the amounts reported in the financial statements. Also, it is reasonably possible that changes in the carrying values of the Company’s Equity Method Limited Liability Investments will occur in the near term and such changes could materially affect the amounts reported in the financial statements because these issuers follow specialized industry accounting rules which require that they report all of their investments at fair value (See Item 1A., “Risk Factors” under the title “The Company’s investment portfolio is exposed to a variety of risks that may negatively impact net investment income and cause realized and unrealized losses”).
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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES (Continued)
As more fully described under the heading, “Fair Value Measurements,” in Note 2, “Summary of Accounting Policies and Accounting Changes,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company uses a hierarchical framework which prioritizes and ranks the market observability used in fair value measurements.
The fair value of the Company’s investments measured and reported at fair value was $8,863.9 million at December 31, 2021, of which $8,287.5 million, or 93%, were investments that were based on quoted market prices or significant value drivers that are observable, $251.4 million, or 3%, were investments where at least one significant value driver was unobservable and $325.0 million or 4% were investments for which fair value is measured using the net asset value per share practical expedient. Fair value measurements based on readily available, active, quoted market prices or for which fair value can be measured from actively quoted prices generally are deemed to have a higher degree of market price observability and a lesser degree of judgment, compared to fair value measurements based on significant unobservable inputs used in measuring fair value. The prices that the Company might realize from actual sales of investments are likely to vary from their respective estimated fair values at December 31, 2021 due to changing market conditions and limitations inherent in the estimation process.
The classification of a company’s investment in a financial instrument may affect its reported results. Under GAAP, a company may elect to use the fair value option method of accounting for some or all of its investments in financial instruments. Under the fair value option method of accounting, a company is required to recognize changes in fair values into income for the period reported. The Company has elected the fair value option for investments in fixed maturities with equity conversion features which are recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as Convertible Securities. Accordingly, both the reported and fair values of the Company’s investments in Convertible Securities accounted for under the fair value option method of accounting were $46.4 million at December 31, 2021. For investments in fixed maturities classified as held to maturity, a company is required to carry the investment at amortized cost, with only amortization occurring during the period recognized into income. None of the Company’s investments in fixed maturities were classified as held to maturity at December 31, 2021. Changes in the fair value of investments in fixed maturities classified as available for sale are not recognized in income during the period, but rather are recognized as a separate component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (“AOCI”) until realized. Both the reported and fair values of the Company’s investments in fixed maturities classified as available for sale were $7,986.9 million at December 31, 2021.
Equity securities with readily determinable fair values are recorded as Equity Securities at Fair Value with changes in fair values recognized into income for the period reported. Accordingly, both the reported and fair values of the Company’s investments in Equity Securities at Fair Value were $830.6 million at December 31, 2021. The Company holds certain equity investments without readily determinable fair values at cost, less impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for identical or similar investments from the same issuer. Changes in the carrying value of Equity Securities at Modified Cost due to observable price changes are recorded into income for the period reported.
The Company’s portfolio also includes investments in Alternative Energy Partnerships that are accounted for under the Hypothetical Liquidation at Book Value (“HLBV”) method. Under the HLBV method, the amounts of income and loss attributed to investors reflect changes in the amounts the fund investors would hypothetically receive at each balance sheet date under the liquidation provisions of the contractual agreements of these funds. Attributing income and loss under the HLBV method requires the use of significant assumptions and forecasts to calculate the amounts that fund investors would receive upon a hypothetical liquidation. See Note 1 “Basis of Presentation and Significant Estimates,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Had the Company elected the fair value option for all of its investments in financial instruments, the Company’s reported net loss for the year ended December 31, 2021, would have increased by $226.4 million.
The Company regularly reviews its fixed maturity investment portfolio and holdings in Equity Securities at Modified Cost for factors that may indicate a decline in the fair value of an investment below its amortized cost or modified cost basis. Such reviews are inherently uncertain in that the value of the investment may not fully recover or may decline further in future periods. Some factors considered in evaluating whether or not a decline in fair value of an investment exist include, but are not limited to, the following:
Fixed Maturity Securities
•The financial condition, credit rating and prospects of the issuer;
•The magnitude of the unrealized loss;
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CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES (Continued)
•The ability of the issuer to make scheduled principal and interest payments;
•The volatility of the investment;
Equity Securities at Modified Cost
•Opinions of the Company’s external investment managers;
•The financial condition and prospects of the issuer;
•Current market conditions;
•Changes in credit ratings; and
•Changes in the regulatory environment.
Changes in these factors from their December 31, 2021 evaluation date could result in the Company determining that a decline in the fair value exists for an investment held and evaluated at December 31, 2021. Such determination would result in an impairment loss in the period such determination is made.
Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves for Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses
The Company’s Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves are reported using the Company’s estimate of its ultimate liability for losses and LAE for claims that occurred prior to the end of any given accounting period but have not yet been paid. The Company had $2,772.7 million and $1,982.5 million of gross loss and LAE reserves at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves for the Company’s business segments at December 31, 2021 and 2020 were:
| DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | 2021 | 2020 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Segments: | |||||||
| Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance | $ | 2,319.7 | $ | 1,544.8 | |||
| Preferred Property & Casualty Insurance | 433.2 | 411.6 | |||||
| Life & Health Insurance | 3.6 | 4.6 | |||||
| Total Business Segments | 2,756.5 | 1,961.0 | |||||
| Unallocated Reserves | 16.2 | 21.5 | |||||
| Total Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves | $ | 2,772.7 | $ | 1,982.5 |
In estimating the Company’s Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves, the Company’s actuaries exercise professional judgment and must consider, and are influenced by, many variables that are difficult to quantify. Accordingly, the process of estimating and establishing the Company’s Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves is inherently uncertain, and the actual ultimate cost of known and unknown claims may vary materially from the estimated amounts reserved.
The Company’s actuaries estimate reserves at least quarterly for most product lines and/or coverage levels using accident quarters or years spanning 10 or more years, depending on the product line and/or coverage level or emerging issues relating to them. The Company’s actuaries use a variety of generally accepted actuarial loss reserving estimation methodologies, including, but not limited to, the following:
•Incurred Loss Development Methodology;
•Paid Loss Development Methodology;
•Bornhuetter-Ferguson Incurred Loss Methodology;
•Bornhuetter-Ferguson Paid Loss Methodology; and
•Frequency and Severity Methodology.
The Company’s actuaries generally review the results of at least four of the estimation methodologies, two based on paid data and two based on incurred data, to initially estimate the ultimate losses and LAE for the current accident quarter or year and re-estimate the ultimate losses and LAE for previous accident quarters or years to determine if changes in the previous estimates of the ultimate losses and LAE are indicated by the most recent data. In some cases, the methodologies produce a cluster of estimates with a tight band of indicated possible outcomes. In other cases, however, the methodologies produce conflicting results and wider bands of indicated possible outcomes, and the Company’s actuaries perform additional analyses before
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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES (Continued)
making their final selections. However, such bands do not necessarily constitute a range of outcomes, nor does the Company’s management or the Company’s actuaries calculate a range of outcomes.
The key assumption in these estimation methodologies is that patterns observed in prior periods are indicative of how losses and LAE are expected to develop in the future and that such historical data can be used to predict and estimate ultimate losses and LAE. However, changes in the Company’s business processes, by their very nature, are likely to affect the development patterns, which means the Company’s actuaries must routinely make assumptions about how changes in business practices would affect historical patterns.
The ultimate impact of a single change in a business process is difficult to quantify and detect, and even more difficult if several changes to business processes occur over several years. Initially after a change is implemented, there are fewer data points, as compared to the historical data, for the Company’s actuaries to analyze. With fewer data points to analyze, the Company’s actuaries cannot be certain that observed differences from the historical data trends are a result of the change in business process or merely a random fluctuation in the data. As the Company’s actuaries observe more data points following the change in business process, the Company’s actuaries can gain more confidence in whether the change in business process is affecting the development pattern. The challenge for the Company’s actuaries is how much weight to place on the development patterns based on the older historical data and how much weight to place on the development patterns based on more recent data.
For each accident quarter or year, the point estimate selected by the Company’s actuaries is not necessarily one of the points produced by any particular one of the methodologies utilized, but often is another point selected by the Company’s actuaries, using their professional judgment, that takes into consideration each of the points produced by the several loss reserving estimation methodologies used. In some cases, for a particular product, the current accident quarter or year may not have enough paid claims data to rely upon, leading the Company’s actuaries to conclude that the incurred loss development methodology provides a better estimate than the paid loss development methodology. Therefore, the Company’s actuaries may give more weight to the incurred loss development methodology for that particular accident quarter or year. As an accident quarter or year ages for that same product, the actuary may gain more confidence in the paid loss development methodology and begin to give more weight to the paid loss development methodology. The Company’s actuaries’ quarterly selections are summed by product and/or coverage levels to create the actuarial indication of the ultimate losses. More often than not, the actuarial indication for a particular product line and accident quarter or year is most heavily weighted toward the incurred loss development methodology, particularly for short-tail lines such as personal automobile insurance. Historically, the incurred loss development methodology has been more reliable in predicting ultimate losses for short-tail lines, especially in the more recent accident quarters or years, compared with the paid loss development methodology. However, in some circumstances changes can occur which impact numerous variables, including, but not limited to, those variables identified below that are difficult to quantify and/or impact the predictive value of prior development patterns relied upon in the incurred loss development methodology and paid loss development methodology. In those circumstances, the Company’s actuaries must make adjustments to these loss reserving estimation methodologies or use additional generally accepted actuarial estimation methodologies. In those circumstances, the Company’s actuaries, using their professional judgment, may place more weight on the adjusted loss reserving estimation methodologies or other generally accepted actuarial estimation methodologies until the newer development patterns fully emerge and the Company’s actuaries can fully rely on the unadjusted loss reserving estimation methodologies. In the event of a wide variation among results generated by the different projection methodologies, the Company’s actuaries further analyze the data using additional techniques.
In estimating reserves, the Company’s actuaries exercise professional judgment and must consider, and are influenced by, many variables that are difficult to quantify, such as:
•Changes in the level of minimum case reserves, and the automatic aging of those minimum case reserves;
•Changes to claims practices, including, but not limited to, changes in the reporting and impact of large losses, timing of reported claims, changes in claims closing and re-opening patterns, adequacy of case reserves, implementation of
•new systems for handling claims, turnover of claims department staffs, timing and depth of the audit review of claims handling procedures;
•Changes in the mix of business by state, class and policy limit within product line;
•Growth in new lines of business;
•Changes in the attachment points of the Company’s reinsurance programs;
•Medical costs, including, but not limited to, the ability to assess the extent of injuries and the impact of inflation;
•Repair costs, including, but not limited to, the impact of inflation and the availability of labor and materials;
•Changes in the judicial environment, including, but not limited to, the interpretation of policy provisions, the impact of jury awards and changes in case law; and
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CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES (Continued)
•Changes in state regulatory requirements.
A change in any one or more of the foregoing factors is likely to result in a projected ultimate net loss and LAE that is different from the previously estimated reserve and/or previous frequency and severity trends. Such changes in estimates may be material.
For example, the Company’s actuaries review frequency (number of claims per policy or exposure), severity (dollars of loss per claim) and average premium (dollars of premium per exposure). Actual frequency and severity experienced will vary depending on changes in mix by class of insured risk. Similarly, the actual frequency and rate of recovery from reinsurance will vary depending on changes in the attachment point for reinsurance. In particular, in periods of high growth or expansion into new markets, there may be additional uncertainty in estimating the ultimate losses and LAE. The contributing factors of this potential risk are changes in the Company’s mix by policy limit and mix of business by state or jurisdiction.
Actuaries use historical experience and trends as predictors of how losses and LAE will emerge over time. However, historical experience may not necessarily be indicative of how actual losses and LAE will emerge. Changes in case reserve adequacy, changes in minimum case reserves and changes in internal claims handling procedures could impact the timing and recognition of incurred claims and produce an estimate that is either too high or too low if not adjusted for by the actuary. For example, if, due to changes in claims handling procedures, actual claims are settled more rapidly than they were settled historically, the estimate produced by the paid loss development methodology would tend to be overstated if the actuary did not identify and adjust for the impact of the changes in claims handling procedures. Similarly, if, due to changes in claims handling procedures, actual claim reserves are set at levels higher than past experience, the estimate produced by the incurred loss development methodology would tend to be overstated if the actuary did not identify and adjust for the impact of the changes in claims handling procedures.
The final step in the quarterly loss and LAE reserving process involves a comprehensive review of the actuarial indications by the Company’s chief reserving actuary and corporate management who apply their collective judgment and determine the appropriate estimated level of reserves to record. Numerous factors are considered in this determination process, including, but not limited to, the assessed reliability of key loss trends and assumptions that may be significantly influencing the current actuarial indications, changes in claim handling practices or other changes that affect the timing of payment or development patterns, changes in the mix of business, the maturity of the accident quarter or year, pertinent trends observed over the recent past, the level of volatility within a particular line of business, the improvement or deterioration of actuarial indications in the current period as compared to prior periods, and the amount of reserves related to third party pools for which the Company does not have access to the underlying data and, accordingly, relies on calculations provided by such pools.
Estimated Variability of Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves
The Company’s goal is to ensure that its total reserves for property and casualty insurance losses and LAE are adequate to cover all costs, while sustaining minimal variation from the time reserves for losses and LAE are initially estimated until losses and LAE are fully paid. Changes in the Company’s estimates of these losses and LAE over time, also referred to as “development,” will occur and may be material. Favorable development is recognized and reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements when the Company decreases its previous estimate of ultimate losses and LAE and results in an increase in net income in the period recognized, whereas adverse development is recognized and reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements when the Company increases its previous estimate of ultimate losses and LAE and results in a decrease in net income.
Although development will emerge in all of the Company’s product lines, development in the Company’s specialty personal automobile insurance product line could have the most significant impact due to the relative size of its loss and LAE reserves. To further illustrate the sensitivity of the Company’s reserves for specialty personal automobile insurance losses and LAE, the Company measures the standard deviation of the mean reserve estimate using a bootstrapping methodology. The Company believes that one standard deviation of variability is a reasonably likely scenario to measure variability for its loss and LAE reserves for specialty personal automobile insurance. The Company estimates that the Company’s specialty personal automobile insurance loss and LAE reserves could have varied by $145.3 million in either direction at December 31, 2021 for all accident years combined under this scenario. In addition to the factors described above, other factors may also impact loss reserve development in future periods. These factors include governmental actions, including court decisions interpreting existing laws, regulations or policy provisions, developments related to insurance policy claims and coverage issues, adverse or favorable outcomes in pending claims litigation, the number and severity of insurance claims, the impact of inflation on insurance claims and the impact of required participation in windpools and joint underwriting associations and residual market
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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—(Continued)
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES (Continued)
assessments. Although the Company’s actuaries do not make specific numerical assumptions about these factors, changes in these factors from past patterns will impact historical loss development factors and, in turn, future loss reserve development. Significant favorable changes in one or more factors will lead to favorable future loss reserve development, which could result in the actual loss developing closer to, or even below, the lower end of the Company’s estimated reserve variability. Significant unfavorable changes in one or more factors will lead to unfavorable loss reserve development, which could result in the actual loss developing closer to, or even above, the higher end of the Company’s estimated reserve variability. Accordingly, due to these factors and the other factors enumerated throughout the MD&A and the inherent limitations of the loss reserving estimation methodologies, the estimated and illustrated reserve variability may not necessarily be indicative of the Company’s future reserve variability, which could ultimately be greater than the estimated and illustrated variability. In addition, as previously noted, development will emerge in all of the Company’s product lines over time. Accordingly, the Company’s future reserve variability could ultimately be greater than the illustrated variability. Additional information pertaining to the estimation of, and development of, the Company’s Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves is contained in Item 1 of Part I of this 2021 Annual Report under the heading “Property and Casualty Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves.”
Goodwill Recoverability
The Company tests goodwill for recoverability at the reporting unit level on an annual basis, or whenever events or circumstances indicate the fair value of a reporting unit may have declined below its carrying value. The Company performed a qualitative goodwill impairment assessment for all reporting units with goodwill as of October 1, 2021. The qualitative assessment takes into consideration changes in macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, cost factors, overall financial performance, changes in management or key personnel, changes in strategy, events impacting reporting units, and changes in Kemper’s stock price since the last quantitative assessment, which was performed on December 31, 2017. Based on its qualitative assessment, the Company concluded that the associated goodwill was recoverable for each reporting unit tested.
Pension Benefit Obligations
The process of estimating the Company’s pension benefit obligations and pension benefit costs is inherently uncertain and the actual cost of benefits may vary materially from the estimates recorded. These liabilities are particularly volatile due to their long-term nature and are based on several assumptions. The main assumptions used in the valuation of the Company’s pension benefit obligations and pension costs are:
•Estimated mortality of the participants and beneficiaries eligible for benefits;
•Estimated expected long-term rates of returns on investments; and
•Estimated rate used to discount the expected benefit payment to a present value.
A change in any one or more of these assumptions is likely to result in a projected benefit obligation or pension cost that differs from the actuarial estimates at December 31, 2021. Such changes in estimates may be material.
RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
Except for rules and interpretive releases of the SEC under authority of federal securities laws and a limited number of grandfathered standards, the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) is the sole source of authoritative GAAP recognized by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) that is applicable to the Company. The FASB issues ASUs to amend the authoritative literature in ASC.
The Company has adopted all recently issued accounting pronouncements with effective dates prior to January 1, 2022. See Note 2, “Summary of Accounting Policies and Accounting Changes” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for discussion on adoption of these ASUs and impacts to the Company’s financial statements, which were not material. For all recently issued accounting pronouncements with effective dates after December 31, 2021, the Company does not expect adoption to have a material impact on its financial statements, with the possible exception of ASU 2018-12, Financial Services - Insurance (Topic 944): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts.
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