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Rli Corp – ‘10-K’ for 12/31/98

As of:  Friday, 3/26/99   ·   For:  12/31/98   ·   Accession #:  1047469-99-11722   ·   File #:  1-09463

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  As Of                Filer                Filing    For·On·As Docs:Size              Issuer               Agent

 3/26/99  Rli Corp                          10-K       12/31/98    7:266K                                   Merrill Corp/New/FA

Annual Report   —   Form 10-K
Filing Table of Contents

Document/Exhibit                   Description                      Pages   Size 

 1: 10-K        Annual Report                                         35    185K 
 2: EX-10.7     Material Contract                                     10     36K 
 3: EX-13       Annual or Quarterly Report to Security Holders        40    252K 
 4: EX-21.1     Subsidiaries of the Registrant                         1      6K 
 5: EX-23.1     Consent of Experts or Counsel                          1      7K 
 6: EX-27.1     Exhibit 27.1/FDS                                       2      9K 
 7: EX-28.1     Information from a Report Furnished to State           1      7K 
                          Insurance Regulatory Authorities                       


10-K   —   Annual Report
Document Table of Contents

Page (sequential) | (alphabetic) Top
 
11st Page   -   Filing Submission
2Item 1. Business
6Reinsurance
20Item 2. Properties
"Item 3. Legal Proceedings
"Item 4. Submission of Matters to A Vote of Security Holders
"Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters
"Item 6. Selected Financial Data
21Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
"Item 7a. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk
"Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
"Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
"Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K
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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-K [X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended______________DECEMBER 31, 1998_________ or [ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from_________to____________ Commission File Number ____________0-6612______________ RLI CORP. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) ILLINOIS 37-0889946 -------------------------------- ----------------------------------- (State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employers Identification No.) incorporation or organization) 9025 NORTH LINDBERGH DRIVE, PEORIA, ILLINOIS 61615 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code (309) 692-1000 --------------- Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: TITLE OF EACH CLASS NAME OF EACH EXCHANGE ON WHICH REGISTERED ------------------- ----------------------------------------- Common Stock $1.00 par value New York Stock Exchange Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: NONE Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. _X_ Yes No___ Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [ ] The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant, based upon the closing sale price of the Common Stock on February 26, 1999 as reported on the New York Stock Exchange, was $306,409,698. Shares of Common Stock held directly or indirectly by each officer and director along with shares held by the Company ESOP have been excluded in that such persons may be deemed to be affiliates. This determination of affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes. The number of shares outstanding of the Registrant's Common Stock, $1 par value, on February 26, 1999 was $10,408,822. DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCES. Portions of the Annual Report to Shareholders for the past year ended December 31, 1998, are incorporated by reference into Parts I and II of this document. Portions of the Registrant's definitive Proxy Statement for the 1999 annual meeting of security holders to be held May 6, 1999, are incorporated herein by reference into Part III of this document. Exhibit index is located on pages 34-35 of this document. 1
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PART I Item 1. BUSINESS (a) General Development of Business As used in this Form 10-K, the term "Company" refers to RLI Corp. and its subsidiaries and affiliates, unless the context otherwise indicates. RLI Corp., which was incorporated in Illinois in 1965, merged into and became a Delaware corporation in 1984. In May of 1993, RLI Corp. changed its state of incorporation back to Illinois through a merger. RLI Corp. is a holding company, which, through its subsidiaries, underwrites selected property and casualty insurance. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT UNDERWRITERS INDEMNITY HOLDING COMPANY MERGER On January 29, 1999, the Company acquired Underwriters Indemnity Holdings, Inc., ("UIH") located in Houston, Texas. The Company paid $40.7 million in cash in exchange for all outstanding shares of UIH subject to post-closing contingencies. Included in the transaction were both of UIH's operating insurance subsidiaries, Underwriters Indemnity Company of Texas ("UIC") and Planet Indemnity Company of Colorado ("PIC"). UIC and PIC specialize in the marketing and underwriting of surety products for oil, gas, mining and other energy-related exposures. Both UIC and PIC are rated "A-" (Excellent) by A.M. Best. (b) Financial Information about Industry Segments Selected information about industry segments is included herein as Item 8. (c) Narrative Description of Business RLI INSURANCE GROUP RLI Insurance Group is composed primarily of two main insurance companies. RLI Insurance Company, the principal subsidiary, writes multiple lines of insurance on an admitted basis in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Mt. Hawley Insurance Company, a subsidiary of RLI Insurance Company, writes multiple lines of insurance on an admitted basis in Kansas and surplus lines insurance in the remaining 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam. Other companies in the RLI Insurance Group include: Replacement Lens Inc., RLI Insurance Agency, Ltd., RLI Insurance Ltd., Underwriters Indemnity Company and Planet Indemnity Company. Since 1977, when the Company first began underwriting specialty property and casualty coverages for commercial risks, highly cyclical market conditions and a number of other factors have influenced the Company's growth and underwriting profits. The Company, as a "niche" company rather than an "all lines" company, seeks to develop expertise and large homogeneous books of business in areas generally overlooked by traditional markets. In response to the soft market conditions of the early 1980's, which were characterized by severe rate competition and excess underwriting capacity, the Company limited its writings in specialty property and casualty lines and terminated certain lines and sources of production. 2
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Significant rate increases resulted when the insurance market hardened in late 1984. The Company responded by expanding its premium volume in targeted lines. Since 1987, the industry has experienced generally soft market conditions featuring intensified competition for admitted and surplus lines insurers, resulting in rate decreases. The Company has continually monitored its rates and controlled its costs in an effort to maximize profits during this entrenched soft market condition. As a result of catastrophic losses, such as Hurricane Andrew and the Northridge Earthquake, property rates hardened in California, Florida and the wind belt, but remained soft in other areas of the country. In 1994 and 1995, rates hardened and premium growth was achieved in the commercial property book of business. Otherwise, rates for property and casualty lines have declined over time. To maintain profitability, underwriters have tightened selection criteria, broadened their focus to other market segments and given up business where rates dropped too low. The Company initially wrote specialty property and casualty insurance through independent underwriting agents. The Company opened its first branch office in 1984, and began to shift from independent underwriting agents to wholly-owned branch offices which market to wholesale producers. The Company also markets certain products to retail producers from its Specialty Marketing Division located at the Home Office in Peoria, Illinois. The Company produces business under agreements with underwriting general agents. Additional underwriting agents are being accepted under the auspices of Company product vice presidents. The majority of the specialty property and casualty business is marketed through the Specialty Markets and Surety divisions and branch offices located in Los Angeles, California; San Diego, California; San Francisco, California; Glastonbury, Connecticut; Atlanta, Georgia; Alpharetta, Georgia; Honolulu, Hawaii; Chicago, Illinois; Overland Park, Kansas; Boston, Massachusetts; St. Paul, Minnesota; New York City, New York; Dallas, Texas; Houston, Texas and Seattle, Washington. The following table provides for the year ended December 31, 1998 the geographic distribution of the Company's risks insured as represented by direct premiums earned for all product lines. For the year ended December 31, 1998, no other state accounted for more than 2% of total direct premiums earned for all product lines. [Download Table] DIRECT PREMIUMS STATE EARNED PERCENT OF TOTAL ----- ---------------- ---------------- California $100,662,702 36.60% Florida 24,036,160 8.74 New York 21,698,605 7.89 Texas 20,740,580 7.54 Hawaii 10,513,187 3.82 Ohio 8,867,799 3.23 New Jersey 8,090,247 2.94 Illinois 7,328,351 2.67 Michigan 5,644,425 2.05 Pennsylvania 5,627,816 2.05 All Other 61,785,825 22.47 ---------- ----- Total direct $274,995,697 100.00% premiums ------------ ------- ------------ ------- The Company presently underwrites selected property and casualty insurance primarily in the following lines: 3
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A. PROPERTY SEGMENT 1. COMMERCIAL PROPERTY. The Company's commercial property coverage consists primarily of excess and surplus lines and specialty insurance such as fire and difference in conditions which includes earthquake, flood and collapse coverages. The Company writes coverage for a wide range of commercial and industrial classes such as office buildings, apartments, condominiums, certain industrial and mercantile structures, and buildings under construction. The Company also writes boiler and machinery and ocean marine insurance under the same management as commercial property. The Alpharetta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, and, San Francisco branch offices are responsible for underwriting this coverage. In 1998, 1997, and 1996, net earned premiums totaled $42,281,000, $48,799,000, and $47,822,000, or 25%, 29%, and 31% respectively, of the Company's consolidated revenues. 2. HOMEOWNERS/RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY. In 1997, the Company assumed a highly profitable book of homeowners and dwelling fire business for Hawaii homeowners from the Hawaii Property Insurance Association. In the aftermath of Hurricane Iniki in 1992, this business was available at reasonable rates and terms. Net earned premiums totaled $9,689,000 and $13,229,000 or 6% and 8% of the Company's consolidated revenues for 1998 and 1997, respectively. B. SURETY SEGMENT 3. SURETY. In 1993, the Company began writing surety business. This product line is underwritten from the Home Office in Peoria and through the Dallas, Houston and Seattle branch offices. The initial target market of the Surety Division was a wide range of commercial surety bonds written primarily through the independent agency system. In 1996, the Company expanded their product offering to include contract bonds for small size contractors. Net earned premiums totaled $18,307,000, $11,491,000, and $4,407,000, or 11%, 8%, and 3% of the Company's consolidated revenues for 1998, 1997, and 1996, respectively. The acquisition of Underwriter's Indemnity Holdings, Inc., and its operating insurance subsidiaries provide an ideal situation for our surety line to grow in new directions. The facility is a leader in the oil and gas field and will begin generating premium income in 1999. C. CASUALTY SEGMENT 4. GENERAL LIABILITY. The Company writes general liability coverages through its Los Angeles, Glastonbury, Chicago, Alpharetta, and Dallas branch offices. The Company's general liability business consists primarily of coverage for third party liability of commercial insureds including manufacturers, contractors, apartments and mercantile risks. Net earned premiums totaled $23,726,000, $26,332,000, and $34,834,000, or 14%, 16%, and 22% of the Company's consolidated revenues for the years 1998, 1997, and 1996, respectively. 5. COMMERCIAL AND PERSONAL UMBRELLA LIABILITY. The Company's commercial umbrella coverage is produced through its Overland Park, St. Paul, Alpharetta, Glastonbury, and Dallas branch offices, and through an underwriting general agency in San Francisco. The coverage is principally written in excess of primary liability insurance provided by other carriers and, to a small degree, in excess of primary liability written by the Company. The expansion into California and the introduction of internet based production of smaller premium light hazard businesses contributed to significant premium growth in 1998. The personal umbrella coverage, which is produced through the Specialty Markets Division, is written in excess of the homeowners and automobile liability coverage provided by other carriers. Net earned premiums totaled $29,086,000, $22,566,000, and $21,282,000, or 17%, 12%, and 14% of the Company's consolidated revenues for the years 1998, 1997, and 1996, respectively. 6. DIRECTORS' AND OFFICERS' LIABILITY/MISCELLANEOUS PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY. The Company produces Directors' and Officers' Liability through underwriting facilities in San Diego, Los Angeles, and New York City. The Company also offers Miscellaneous Professional Liability for a variety of low to moderate classes of risks. D&O is a relatively small component of the overall P&C market, which has been subject to severe competition. Underwriters have relinquished market share rather than accept inadequate pricing. Net earned premiums totaled $3,054,000, $4,430,000, and $5,000,000, or 2%, 3%, and 3%, of the Company's consolidated revenues for the years 1998, 1997, and 1996, respectively. 4
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7. EMPLOYER'S EXCESS INDEMNITY. Since 1993, the Company has written Employer's Excess Indemnity coverage for businesses which have opted out of the Workers' Compensation plan in the state of Texas. The coverage is similar to accident and health, in that it indemnifies the employer for expenses resulting from a work related injury or disease, excess of a self-insured retention (SIR). The SIR can range from $50,000 to $500,000. The product is underwritten out of the Overland Park branch office. A return to excessive competition for Texas workers' compensation business has reduced the market for this product since 1996. Net earned premiums totaled $1,722,000, $5,130,000, and $6,566,000, or 1%, 3%, and 4%, of the Company's consolidated revenues for 1998, 1997, and 1996, respectively. 8. TRANSPORTATION. In 1997, the Company opened a transportation insurance facility in Atlanta to offer automobile liability and physical damage insurance to local, intermediate and long haul truckers, public transportation risks and equipment dealers. Incidental, related insurance coverages are also offered, including general liability, commercial umbrella and excess liability, and motor truck cargo. The facility is staffed by highly experienced transportation underwriters who produce business through independent agents and brokers nationwide. Net earned premiums totaled $3,806,000 or 2% of the Company's consolidated revenues for 1998. 9. OTHER. Smaller programs offered by the Company include: excess medical, in-home business, personal automobile (Hawaii only), ocean marine and occupational accident. Net earned premiums from these lines totaled $10,653,000, $9,907,000, and $10,744,000, or 6%, 5%, and 7% of the Company's consolidated revenues for the years, 1998, 1997, and 1996, respectively. COMPETITION The Company's specialty property and casualty insurance subsidiaries are part of an extremely competitive industry which is cyclical and historically characterized by periods of high premium rates and shortages of underwriting capacity followed by periods of severe competition and excess underwriting capacity. Within the United States alone, approximately 3,500 companies, both stock and mutual, actively market property and casualty products. The combination of products, service, pricing and other methods of competition vary from line to line. The Company's principal methods of meeting this competition are innovative products, marketing structure and quality service to the agents and policyholders at a fair price. The Company competes favorably in part because of its sound financial base and reputation, as well as its broad geographic penetration into all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam. In the property and casualty area, the Company has acquired experienced underwriting specialists in its branch and Home offices. In 1987, the insurance industry, in general, entered into a "soft" or highly competitive period during which insurance rates generally decreased. The specialty property and casualty market continues to be soft with some rate increases experienced in the property lines in California, Florida and the wind belt from 1993 through 1995. Since 1996, competition reasserted itself and the Company reduced rates somewhat. The Company has, however, continued to maintain its underwriting and marketing standards by not seeking market share at the expense of earnings. New products and new programs are offered where the opportunity exists to provide needed insurance coverage with exceptional service on a profitable basis. RATINGS During 1992, the A.M. Best rating for RLI Insurance Company, the principal subsidiary of the Company, was upgraded to "A" (Excellent). During 1993, Mt. Hawley Insurance Company's (an indirect subsidiary of the Company) A.M. Best rating was upgraded to "A" (Excellent). During 1998, A.M. Best reaffirmed "A" ratings for both RLI Insurance Company and Mt. Hawley Insurance Company. During 1997, the Company for the first time applied for and received a claims-paying rating from Standard & Poor's. As a result, rating of "A" (Good) was received for the combined insurance operation. In 1998, the "A" rating was reaffirmed, with the addition of a "Positive Future Outlook". The addition of the positive outlook to the rating indicates that Standard & Poor's anticipates that there is a good chance that RLI's rating could increase within the next year. 5
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A.M. Best ratings for the industry range from "A++" (Superior) to "F" (In Liquidation) with some companies not being rated. Standard & Poor's ratings for the industry range from "AAA" (Superior) to "CC" (Default Expected). Publications of both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's indicate that "A" ratings are assigned to those companies that, in their opinion, have achieved excellent overall performance when compared to the standards established by these firms and have a strong ability to meet their obligations to policyholders over a long period of time. In evaluating a company's financial and operating performance, both firms reviews the company's profitability, leverage and liquidity as well as the company's spread of risk, the quality and appropriateness of its reinsurance, the quality and diversification of its assets, the adequacy of its policy and loss reserves, the adequacy of its surplus, its capital structure and the experience and objectives of its management. These ratings are based on factors relevant to policyholders, agents, insurance brokers and intermediaries and are not directed to the protection of investors. As of December 31, 1998, the Company had no public debt outstanding, therefore, no debt rating existed. REINSURANCE The Company reinsures a significant portion of its property and casualty insurance exposure, paying to the reinsurer a portion of the premiums received on such policies. Earned premiums ceded to non-affiliated reinsurers totaled $135,269,000, $138,198,000, and $140,928,000 in 1998, 1997, and 1996, respectively. Insurance is ceded principally to reduce net liability on individual risks and to protect against catastrophic losses. Although reinsurance does not legally discharge an insurer from its primary liability for the full amount of the policies, it does make the assuming reinsurer liable to the insurer to the extent of the insurance ceded. The Company attempts to purchase reinsurance from a limited number of financially strong reinsurers. Retention levels are adjusted each year to maintain a balance between the growth in surplus and the cost of reinsurance. At December 31, 1998, the Company had prepaid reinsurance premiums and reinsurance recoverables on paid and unpaid losses and settlement expenses with American Re-Insurance Company (rated A++ "superior" by A.M. Best Company) that amounted to 80,365,000. All other reinsurance balances recoverable, when considered by individual reinsurer, are less than 10% of shareholders' equity. The following table sets forth the largest reinsurers in terms of amounts recoverable before reinsurance payables from such reinsurers as of December 31, 1998. Also shown are the amounts of written premium ceded by the Company to such reinsurers during 1998. [Download Table] GROSS REINSURER CEDED EXPOSURE AS OF PERCENT PREMIUMS PERCENT DECEMBER 31, 1998 OF TOTAL WRITTEN OF TOTAL ------------------ -------- ------- -------- American Re-Insurance Co. $80,365,000 32.97% $30,916,000 21.27% General Reins Corp. 23,469,000 9.63 12,631,000 8.69 Employer's Re 12,505,000 5.13 8,700,000 5.98 Transatlantic Reinsurance 11,439,000 4.69 10,047,000 6.91 NAC Reinsurance Corporation 7,057,000 2.89 4,516,000 3.11 Everest Re 7,043,000 2.89 6,163,000 4.24 TIG Insurance Co. 6,218,000 2.55 1,299,000 .89 St. Paul Fire & Marine 5,915,000 2.43 4,166,000 2.86 Old Lyme Ins. Co. of RI 5,543,000 2.27 6,394,000 4.40 Lloyd's of London 4,580,000 1.88 11,017,000 7.58 All other reinsurers 79,644,000 32.67 49,523,000 34.07 ------------ ------ ------------ ------ Total ceded exposure $243,778,000 100.00% $145,372,000 100.00% ------------- ------ ------------ ------ ------------- ------ ------------ ------ As of December 31, 1998, the Company held $9,448,000 in irrevocable letters of credit, $7,575,000 under trust agreements and $1,313,508 in cash to collateralize a portion of the total amount recoverable. 6
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Since 1992, the Company has purchased non-proportional contracts. This allows the Company to retain a larger percentage of the premium and a larger portion of the initial loss risk. Under non-proportional reinsurance, the ceding company retains losses on a risk up to a specified amount and the reinsurers assume any losses above that amount. Since 1989, through its various reinsurance programs, the Company has generally limited its maximum retained exposure on any one risk to $1,000,000. The Company seeks to limit its net aggregate exposure to a single catastrophic event to less than 10% of shareholders' equity by purchasing various types of reinsurance. In 1998, the Company's underwriting was supported by up to $220,000,000 in traditional reinsurance protection. In 1999, the Company has enhanced this protection by adding an additional $30,000,000 in catastrophe reinsurance protection at improved terms and conditions. Using computer-assisted techniques, the Company quantifies and monitors its exposure to earthquake risk, the most significant catastrophe exposure to the Company. Detail is captured for each location covered for earthquake risk and the Probable Maximum Loss (PML) for each risk is determined. The PML calculation for each risk includes all faults to which the risk is exposed. Richter scale magnitudes used in the PML calculations are determined and applied separately for each fault. The Company uses the greater of the magnitude of an earthquake which only occurs every 100 years or 6.5 on the Richter scale in its PML calculations. Several widely accepted methods are used to estimate the magnitude of the 100 year event for each fault. Underwriting decisions are based on the PML as determined by the system, which calculates PML's on over 200 faults. Portfolio runs are made regularly to determine the Company's overall exposure on each fault from all risks covered. Total exposure after facultative reinsurance is managed by the Company to fall within the limits covered by the Company's chosen net retention, working layer treaty reinsurance and catastrophe reinsurance. In 1998, the Company continued its innovative catastrophe reinsurance and loss financing program with Centre Reinsurance (Centre Re). The program, called Catastrophe Equity Puts (CatEPuts)-SM-, augments the Company's traditional reinsurance by integrating its loss financing needs with a pre-negotiated sale of securities linked to exchange-traded shares. CatEPuts allows the Company to put up to $50.0 million of its convertible preferred shares to Centre Re at a pre-negotiated rate in the event of a catastrophic loss provided the loss does not reduce GAAP equity to less than $55.0 million. CatEPuts is intended to be a three-year program and is designed to enable the Company to continue operating after a loss of such magnitude that its reinsurance capacity is exhausted. If the Company exercises its option to put preferred shares to Centre Re, then Centre Re, in turn, has the option to reinsure certain business written by the Company on a prospective basis. FACTORS AFFECTING SPECIALTY PROPERTY AND CASUALTY PROFITABILITY The profitability of the specialty property and casualty insurance business is generally subject to many factors, including rate competition, the severity and frequency of claims, natural disasters, state regulation of premium rates, default of reinsurers, interest rates, general business conditions, regulatory measures and court decisions that define and expand the extent of coverage and the amount of compensation due for injuries or losses. One of the distinguishing features of the property and casualty insurance business is that its product must be priced before the ultimate claims costs can be known. In addition, underwriting profitability has tended to fluctuate over cycles of several years' duration. Insurers generally had profitable underwriting results in the late 1970's, substantial underwriting losses in the early 1980's and somewhat smaller underwriting losses in 1986 and 1987. During the years 1988 through 1992, underwriting losses increased due to increased rate competition and the frequency and severity of catastrophic losses, although pre-tax operating income remained profitable due to investment income gains. Since 1993, the industry experienced improvement in underwriting losses, particularly in years with fewer catastrophe losses. The trends experienced during the late 1980s, however, have continued, and companies continue to post underwriting losses but remain profitable through investment income gains. As well, ongoing rate cuts are of concern to financial analysts. For 1998, the industry's statutory combined ratio is estimated to be 104.5. The Company believes that certain other factors affect its ability to underwrite specialty lines successfully, including: 7
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SPECIALIZED UNDERWRITING EXPERTISE. The Company employs experienced professionals in its branch offices. Each office restricts its production and underwriting of business to certain classes of insurance reflecting the particular areas of expertise of its key underwriters. In accepting risks, all independent and affiliated underwriters are required to comply with risk parameters, retention limits and rates prescribed by the Company's home office underwriting group, which reviews submissions and periodically audits and monitors underwriting files and reports on losses over $100,000. Compensation of senior underwriters is substantially dependent on the profitability of the business for which they are responsible. The loss of any of these professionals could have an adverse effect on the Company's underwriting abilities and earnings in these lines. The Company's Underwriting Policy limits extension of binding authority to independent agents. The Company's product distribution falls into distinct categories, with binding authority following the categorization. BROKER BUSINESS. The largest volume of broker generated premium is Commercial Property, General Liability, Commercial Umbrella and Commercial Automobile. This business is produced through wholesale brokers who are not affiliated with the Company. Only a Company underwriter has the authority to bind the Company on such risks. INDEPENDENT AGENT BUSINESS. The Surety Division offers its business through a variety of independent agents. Additionally, the Specialty Markets Division writes program business, such as Personal Umbrella and the In-Home Business Policy, through independent agents. Homeowners Dwelling Fire and Personal Auto are produced through independent agents in Hawaii. Each of these programs involves detailed eligibility criteria which are incorporated into strict underwriting guidelines. The programs involve prequalification of each risk using the "smart" system accessible by the independent agent. The independent agent cannot bind the risk unless they receive approval through the Company's "smart" system. UNDERWRITING AGENTS. The Surety Division has authorized two underwriting general agencies to underwrite contract surety business on behalf of RLI, primarily in the East and Southeast. An underwriting agency in San Francisco is authorized to underwrite commercial umbrella business in select Western states. An underwriting agency in New York is authorized to underwrite and handle claims for low limit deductible buy-backs on program business, primarily in the East. Other underwriting agencies have been designated to underwrite programs involving ocean marine insurance, property and liability insurance for apartment risks, farm insurance, miscellaneous professional insurance and commercial automobile. These underwriting general agencies receive some compensation through contingent profit commission. Otherwise, producers of business who are not Company employees are generally compensated on the basis of direct commissions with no provision for any contingent profit commission. There are a few volume incentives for producers handling association business, with the increased commission involved being tied to the program's underwriting profit. This represents less than 5% of the business. RETENTION LIMITS. The Company limits its net retention of single and aggregate risks through the purchase of reinsurance. See "Business -- Specialty Property and Casualty Insurance Segment -- Reinsurance." The amount of reinsurance available fluctuates according to market conditions. Reinsurance arrangements are subject to annual renewal. Any significant reduction in the availability of reinsurance or increase in the cost of reinsurance could adversely affect the Company's ability to insure specialty property and casualty risks at current levels or to add to the amount thereof. CLAIMS ADJUSTMENT ABILITY. The Company has a professional claims management team with proven experience in all areas of multi-line claims work. This team supervises and administers all claims and directs all outside legal and adjustment specialists. Whether a claim is being handled by the Company's claim specialist or has been assigned to a local attorney or adjuster, detailed attention is given to each claim to minimize loss expenses while providing for loss payments in a fair and equitable manner. 8
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EXPENSE CONTROL. Management continues to review all areas of the Company's operations to streamline the organization, emphasizing quality and customer service, while minimizing expenses. These strategies will help to contain the growth of future costs. Maintaining and improving underwriting and other key organizational systems continues to be paramount as a means of supporting the Company's orderly growth in anticipation of a market rebound, as it is the Company's philosophy to retain its talented insurance professionals and to build infrastructure in spite of the soft market. Other insurance operating expenses as a percent of gross written premiums for the years 1998, 1997, and 1996, were 6%, 7%, and 6%, respectively. ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURES. The Company is subject to environmental claims and exposures through its commercial umbrella, general liability, and discontinued assumed reinsurance lines of business. Within these lines, the Company's environmental exposures include environmental site cleanup, asbestos removal, and mass tort liability. The majority of the exposure is in the excess layers of the Company's commercial umbrella and assumed reinsurance books of business. The following table represents inception-to-date paid and unpaid environmental exposure data (including incurred but not reported losses) for the periods ended 1998, 1997, and 1996: [Download Table] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Inception-to-date December 31 (in thousands) 1998 1997 1996 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense (LAE) payments Gross $ 14,690 $11,570 $8,267 Ceded (9,140) (7,646) (5,761) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net $ 5,550 $ 3,924 $ 2,506 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unpaid losses and LAE at end of year Gross $ 12,360 $14,880 $17,596 Ceded ( 5,875) ( 8,842) (11,150) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net $ 6,485 $ 6,038 $ 6,446 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Although the Company's environmental exposure is limited as a result of entering the liability lines after the industry had already recognized it as a problem, Management cannot determine the Company's precise ultimate liability with any reasonable degree of certainty. This ultimate liability is difficult to assess due to evolving legislation on such issues as joint and several liability, retroactive liability, and standards of cleanup. Additionally, the Company participates primarily in the excess layers, making it even more difficult to assess the ultimate impact. LOSSES AND SETTLEMENT EXPENSES Many years may elapse between the occurrence of an insured loss, the reporting of the loss to the insurer and the insurer's payment of that loss. To recognize liabilities for unpaid losses, insurers establish reserves, which are balance sheet liabilities. The reserves represent estimates of future amounts needed to pay claims and related expenses with respect to insured events which have occurred. 9
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When a claim is reported, the claims department establishes a "case reserve" for the estimated amount of the ultimate payment. The estimate reflects the informed judgment of professional claims personnel, based on the Company's reserving practices and the experience and knowledge of such personnel regarding the nature and value of the specific type of claim. Estimates for losses incurred but not yet reported are determined on the basis of statistical information, including the Company's past experience. The Company does not use discounting (recognition of the time value of money) in reporting its estimated reserves for losses and settlement expenses. The reserves are closely monitored and reviewed by management, with changes reflected as a component of earnings in the current accounting period. For lines of business without sufficiently large numbers of policies or that have not accumulated sufficient development statistics, industry average development patterns are used. To the extent that the industry average development experience improves or deteriorates, the Company adjusts prior accident years' reserves for the change in development patterns. Additionally, there may be future adjustments to reserves should the Company's actual experience prove to be better or worse than industry averages. As part of the reserving process, historical data is reviewed and consideration is given to the anticipated impact of various factors such as legal developments and economic conditions, including the effects of inflation. The reserving process provides implicit recognition of the impact of inflation and other factors affecting claims payments by taking into account changes in historic payment patterns and perceived probable trends. Changes in reserves from the prior years' estimates are calculated based on experience as of the end of each succeeding year (loss and settlement expense development). The estimate is increased or decreased as more information becomes known about the frequency and severity of losses for individual years. A redundancy means the original estimate was higher than the current estimate; a deficiency means that the current estimate is higher than the original estimate. Due to the inherent uncertainty in estimating reserves for losses and settlement expenses, there can be no assurance that the ultimate liability will not exceed amounts reserved, with a resulting adverse effect on the Company. Based on the current assumptions used in calculating reserves, Management believes the Company's overall reserve levels at December 31, 1998 are adequate to meet its future obligations. 10
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The table which follows is a reconciliation of the Company's unpaid losses and settlement expenses for the years 1998, 1997, and 1996. [Enlarge/Download Table] YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, ------------------------------------------ (Dollars in thousands) 1998 1997 1996 ---- ----- ----- Unpaid losses and settlement expenses at beginning of year: Gross $404,263 $405,801 $418,986 Ceded (155,711) (157,995) (186,678) ------- ------- -------- Net 248,552 247,806 232,308 ------- ------- -------- Increase (decrease) in incurred losses and settlement expenses: Current accident year 68,131 61,771 69,724 Prior accident years (3,403) (520) (1,463) ------- ------- -------- Total incurred 64,728 61,251 68,261 ------- ------- -------- Loss and settlement expense payments for claims incurred: Current accident year (14,762) (11,284) (11,026) Prior accident years (54,927) (49,023) (41,143) ------- ------- ------- Total paid (69,689) (60,307) (52,169) -------- ------ ------- Insolvent reinsurer charged off (recovered) 7,911 (627) 607 Loss reserves commuted (4,240) 429 (1,201) ------- ------- -------- Unpaid losses and settlement expenses at end of year $247,262 $248,552 $247,806 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Unpaid losses and settlement expenses at end of year: Gross $415,523 $404,263 $405,801 Ceded (168,261) (155,711) (157,995) --------- ------- -------- Net $247,262 $248,552 $247,806 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- 11
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Explanation of significant components of reserve development by calendar year are as follows: 1996 During 1996, the Company experienced approximately $1,463,000 of favorable development on loss reserves. This development resulted from approximately $1,519,000 of favorable development in the property lines of business. Various property claims closed during the year were settled below recorded reserves. The remaining $56,000 of adverse development relates to the net effect of changes made to casualty loss reserves. This development is a result of reserve strengthening of $3,557,000 made in the General Liability and Miscellaneous Professional business on accident years 1987 through 1995. This increase was offset by favorable development and reserve decreases of $3,501,000 in the Umbrella and Excess Employer's Indemnity programs on accident years 1986 and 1993 through 1995. 1997 During 1997, the Company experienced approximately $520,000 of favorable development on loss reserves. The development results from loss reserve adjustments in various lines of business. Reserve strengthening was necessary on the Property line of business due to development on the Lender's Single Interest program. As a result, an increase of $1,465,000 was made to IBNR reserves. This increase, however, was offset by $1,985,000 of favorable development on the Company's other casualty, in-home business, and surety bonding programs. 1998 During 1998, the Company experienced $3,402,000 of favorable development on loss reserves. This development was the net result from several reserve adjustments amongst various programs. Reserve strengthening of $2,600,000 to the surety line of business in the third quarter was offset by favorable development in primarily the personal umbrella product. Favorable development of approximately $3,000,000 on a deductible buy-back program resulted in a reclass between loss reserves and contingent commissions. This reclass was warranted by favorable loss development and had no impact to earnings. The table on the following page presents the development under generally accepted accounting principles of the Company's balance sheet reserves for 1989 through 1998. The top line of the table shows the reserves at the balance sheet date for each of the indicated periods. This represents the estimated amount of losses and settlement expenses arising in all prior years that are unpaid at the balance sheet date, including losses that had been incurred but not yet reported to the Company. The lower portion of the table shows the re-estimated amount of the previously recorded reserves based on experience as of the end of each succeeding year. The estimate changes as more information becomes known about the frequency and severity of claims for individual periods. 12
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[Enlarge/Download Table] YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, -------------------------------------------------------- (Dollars in thousands) 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- Net Liability for unpaid losses and settlement expenses at end of year $105,025 $111,152 $119,411 $140,248 $175,491 Paid (cumulative) as of: One year later 15,525 18,579 22,332 24,589 36,416 Two years later 26,685 35,963 37,763 46,342 63,675 Three years later 40,341 44,088 49,462 64,364 84,614 Four years later 44,714 52,322 57,085 78,994 96,741 Five years later 51,153 56,413 65,318 85,746 106,631 Six years later 54,546 62,989 70,270 92,689 Seven years later 59,444 66,254 75,668 Eight years later 62,266 71,373 Nine years later 67,235 Liability re-estimated as of: One year later 91,646 101,251 108,249 128,600 166,666 Two years later 89,112 98,505 105,747 132,850 164,218 Three years later 87,981 95,690 107,777 132,376 157,286 Four years later 87,403 97,041 106,326 127,426 168,782 Five years later 90,030 96,490 100,968 140,536 163,127 Six years later 88,982 93,159 117,529 134,950 Seven years later 85,381 96,973 107,103 Eight years later 90,154 99,622 Nine years later 94,151 Net cumulative redundancy (deficiency) $10,874 $11,530 $12,308 $5,298 $12,364 Gross liability $268,043 $310,767 Reinsurance recoverable (127,795) (135,276) -------- -------- Net liability $140,248 $175,491 Gross re-estimated liability $283,890 Re-estimated recoverable (120,763) -------- Net re-estimated liability $163,127 Gross cumulative redundancy (deficiency) $ 26,877 [Enlarge/Download Table] Year Ended December 31, ------------------------------------------------------- (Dollars in thousands) 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- Net Liability for unpaid losses and settlement expenses at end of year $204,771 $232,308 $247,806 $248,552 $247,262 Paid (cumulative) as of: One year later 46,905 37,505 47,999 54,927 Two years later 73,972 75,485 85,342 Three years later 100,936 103,482 Four years later 121,834 Five years later Six years later Seven year later Eight years later Nine years later Liability re-estimated as of: One year later 218,499 220,185 240,264 245,150 Two years later 214,352 228,636 242,865 Three years later 212,964 222,761 Four years later 217,790 Five years later Six years later Seven years later Eight years later Nine years later Net cumulative redundancy (deficiency) $(13,019) $9,547 $4,941 $3,402 Gross liability $394,966 $418,986 $405,801 $404,263 $415,523 Reinsurance recoverable (190,195) (186,678) (157,995) (155,711) (168,261) -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Net liability $204,771 $232,308 $247,806 $248,552 $247,262 Gross re-estimated liability $408,715 $404,867 $407,051 $408,424 Re-estimated recoverable (190,925) (182,106) (164,186) (163,274) -------- -------- -------- -------- Net re-estimated liability $217,790 $222,761 $242,865 $245,150 Gross cumulative redundancy (deficiency) $(13,749) $ 14,119 $( 1,250) $ (4,161) 13
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OPERATING RATIO PREMIUMS TO SURPLUS RATIO The following table shows, for the periods indicated, the Company's insurance subsidiaries' statutory ratios of net premiums written to policyholders' surplus. While there is no statutory requirement applicable to the Company which establishes a permissible net premiums written to surplus ratio, guidelines established by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners provide that this ratio should generally be no greater than 3 to 1. [Enlarge/Download Table] YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, ----------------------- (Dollars in thousands) 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- Statutory net premiums written $145,701 $144,674 $130,908 $130,453 $131,164 Policyholders' surplus $314,484 $265,526 $207,787 $172,313 $136,125 Ratio .5 to 1 .5 to 1 .6 to 1 .8 to 1 1.0 to 1 GAAP AND STATUTORY COMBINED RATIOS The underwriting experience of the Company is best indicated by its GAAP combined ratio, which is the sum of (a) the ratio of incurred losses and settlement expenses to net premiums earned (loss ratio) and (b) the ratio of policy acquisition costs and other operating expenses to net premiums earned (expense ratio). YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, ------------------------------------------------------------------------ GAAP 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- Loss ratio 45.4 43.2 52.2 64.4 72.5 Expense ratio 42.8 43.6 35.2 43.1 44.4 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- Combined ratio 88.2 86.8 87.4 107.5(1) 116.9(1) ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- (1) Excluding the effects of the Northridge Earthquake, the GAAP combined ratio for the years ended 1995 and 1994 would have been 86.2 and 91.1, respectively. 14
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The Company also calculates the statutory combined ratio, which is not indicative of GAAP underwriting profits due to accounting for multiple-year retrospectively-rated reinsurance contracts and policy acquisition costs differently for statutory accounting purposes compared to GAAP. The statutory combined ratio is the sum of (a) the ratio of statutory loss and settlement expenses incurred to statutory net premiums earned (loss ratio) and (b) the ratio of statutory policy acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses to statutory net premiums written. [Enlarge/Download Table] YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Statutory 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 -------- ---- ---- ---- ----- Loss ratio 48.0 43.0 52.3 63.6 73.4 Expense ratio 40.4 47.4 36.8 42.9 43.5 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- Combined ratio 88.4 90.4 89.1 106.5 (3) 116.9 (3) ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- Industry combined ratio 104.5 (1) 101.6 (2) 105.8 (2) 106.4 (2) 108.4 (2) ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- (1) Source: Insurance Information Institute. Estimated for the year ended December 31, 1998. (2) Source: A.M. Best Aggregate & Averages -- Property-Casualty (1997 Edition). (3) Excluding the effects of the Northridge Earthquake, the statutory combined ratio for the years ended 1995 and 1994 would have been 85.3 and 89.7, respectively. INVESTMENTS The investment portfolios of the Company are managed by an Investment Committee of the Board of Directors. The Company follows an investment policy that is reviewed quarterly and revised periodically. The investment portfolio serves primarily as the funding source for loss reserves and secondly as a source of income and appreciation. For these reasons, RLI's primary investment criteria are quality and liquidity, followed by yield and potential for appreciation. Investments of the highest quality and marketability are critical for preserving the Company's claims paying ability. Virtually all of RLI's fixed income investments are U.S. Government or AA-rated or better taxable and tax- exempt securities. Common stock investments are limited to securities listed on national exchanges and by the Securities Valuation Office of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. During 1998, operating cash flows were used to acquire fixed income instruments composed primarily of intermediate-term municipal and U.S. Government and Agency securities. Additionally, a smaller portion of funds was allocated to the equity portfolio and an investment grade convertible debenture portfolio designed to provide diversification and yield enhancement to the portfolio. RLI's mix of fixed income securities continues to be biased toward U.S. Government and Agency securities due to their high liquidity and almost risk-free nature. The mix of tax-exempt and taxable instruments within the portfolios is decided at the time of purchase on the basis of available after-tax returns and overall taxability of all invested assets. Almost all securities reviewed for purchase are either high grade municipal or U.S. Government or Agency, debt instruments. As part of its investment philosophy, the Company attempts to avoid exposure to default risk by holding, almost exclusively, instruments ranked in the top two grades of investment security quality by Standard & Poor's and Moody's (i.e. AAA and AA). As of December 31, 1998, 96% of the fixed income portfolio was rated AA or better. Interest rate risk is limited by restricting and managing acceptable call provisions among new security purchases. 15
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The municipal bond component of the fixed maturity portfolio increased $28.2 million, to $172.1 million; and comprised 52.3% of the Company's total fixed maturity portfolio, up 9.2% from year- end 1997. The taxable U.S. Government and Agency portion of the fixed income portfolio declined by $34.3 million to $143.7 million, or 43.7% of the total versus 53.3% at year end 1997. Investment grade corporate securities totaled $4.2 million compared to $5.0 million at year- end 1997, while convertible debenture securities totaled $8.9 million, an increase over last year's $6.5 million. The Company follows a program of matching assets to anticipated liabilities to ensure its ability to hold securities until maturity. The Company's long-term accounts payable and other liabilities are added to the estimate of its unpaid losses and settlement expenses, broken out by line of business. These anticipated liabilities are then factored against ultimate payout patterns and the resulting payout streams are fully funded with the purchase of fixed-income securities of like maturity. Management believes that both liquidity and interest rate risk can best be minimized by such asset/liability matching. Aggregate maturities for the fixed maturity securities are as follows: [Download Table] MATURITY PAR AMORTIZED FAIR CARRYING YEAR VALUE VALUE VALUE VALUE ------- ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------- 1999 $32,600,000 $32,684,341 $33,229,363 $32,786,941 2000 32,685,000 33,064,261 34,055,168 33,229,235 2001 22,250,000 22,850,114 23,547,318 22,930,970 2002 28,930,000 29,964,671 30,991,320 30,225,787 2003 34,740,000 34,889,536 35,911,948 34,904,449 2004 20,345,000 20,429,631 21,182,564 20,438,600 2005 29,090,000 29,244,928 30,640,999 29,362,843 2006 21,540,000 21,606,893 22,525,427 21,538,659 2007 16,650,000 16,769,639 17,309,025 16,640,301 2008 20,355,000 20,235,585 20,995,265 20,131,847 2009 21,635,000 21,465,486 22,652,738 21,465,486 2010 23,280,000 23,582,486 24,334,504 23,582,486 2011 6,865,000 6,846,070 7,050,834 6,908,160 2012 7,415,000 7,401,994 7,632,658 7,401,994 2013 7,105,000 6,882,043 6,936,197 6,894,863 2014 0 0 0 0 2015 0 0 0 0 2016 0 0 0 0 2017 750,000 416,574 413,438 413,438 2018 0 0 0 0 TOTAL $326,235,000 $328,334,252 $339,408,766 $328,856,059 ------------ ------------- ------------- --------------- ------------ ------------- ------------- --------------- At December 31, 1998, the Company's equity securities were valued at $296.5 million, an increase of $45.1 million from the $251.4 million held at the end of 1997. During 1998, net common equity investments totaling $8.6 million were purchased and pretax unrealized appreciation of common equity securities totaled $36.0 million. Equity securities represented 43.8% of cash and invested assets at the end of 1998, an increase from the 41.6% at year-end 1997. As of the year-end, total equity investments held at the operating companies represented 88.2% of the combined statutory surplus of the insurance subsidiaries. Combined cash and short-term investments totaling $51.9 million at year-end 1998 represented 7.7% of cash and invested assets versus 3.1% last year. The Company's short-term investments consist of U.S. Government and Agency backed money market funds and the highest rated commercial paper. 16
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Under generally accepted accounting principles, equity and fixed income securities are carried at fair market value, except that a company that can demonstrate its ability to hold fixed income securities until their originally scheduled maturity is permitted to carry such securities at amortized cost. RLI Corp. has chosen to carry most of its fixed income securities at amortized cost as it believes it has constructed its fixed income portfolios to match expected liability payouts and thus has the ability and intention to hold such securities until their originally scheduled maturity dates. Consequently, fluctuations in the market value of most bonds are not reflected in the financial statements and do not affect shareholders' equity. The Company's investment results are summarized in the following table: [Enlarge/Download Table] YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Dollars in thousands) 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- Average invested assets (1) $640,576 $570,901 $504,773 $442,717 $407,722 Investment income (2)(3) 23,937 24,558 23,681 22,029 20,133 Realized gains (losses) (3) 1,853 2,982 1,017 457 (3,595) Change in unreal- ized appreciation/ depreciation (3)(4) 36,183 55,760 25,033 36,037 (5,749) Annualized return on average invested assets 9.7% 14.6% 9.9% 13.2% 2.7% (1) Average of amounts at beginning and end of each year. (2) Investment income, net of investment expenses, including non-debt interest expense. (3) Before income taxes. (4) Relates to available-for-sale fixed income and equity securities. REGULATION STATE REGULATION As an insurance holding company, RLI Corp., as well as its insurance subsidiaries, are subject to regulation by the states in which the insurance subsidiaries are domiciled or transact business. Holding company registration in each insurer's state of domicile requires reporting to the state regulatory authority the financial, operations and management data of the insurers within the holding company system. All transactions within a holding company system affecting insurers must be fair, and the insurer's policyholder surplus following any transaction must be both reasonable in relation to its outstanding liabilities and adequate for its needs. Notice to regulators is required prior to the consummation of certain transactions affecting insurance subsidiaries of the holding company system. Other regulations limit the amount of dividends and other distributions the subsidiaries can pay without prior approval of the insurance department in the states in which they are physically and/or commercially domiciled, and impose restrictions on the amount and type of investments they may have. Regulations designed to ensure financial solvency of insurers and to require fair and adequate treatment and service for policyholders are enforced by filing, reporting and examination requirements. Market oversight is conducted by monitoring trade practices, approving policy forms, licensing of agents and brokers, and requiring fair and equitable premiums and commission rates. Financial solvency is monitored by minimum reserve and capital requirements, periodic reporting procedures (annually, quarterly, or more frequently if necessary), and periodic examinations. 17
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The quarterly and annual financial reports to the states utilize accounting principles which are different than the generally accepted accounting principles that show the business as a going concern. The statutory accounting principles used by regulators, in keeping with the intent to assure policyholder protection, are generally based on a liquidation concept. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) has recently developed a codified version of these statutory accounting principles, and its deployment in the states in the near future will foster more consistency among the states for accounting guidelines and reporting. State regulatory authorities have relatively broad discretion with respect to granting, renewing and revoking brokers' and agents' licenses to transact business in the state. The manner of operating in particular states may vary according to the licensing requirements of the particular state, which may, among other things, require a firm to operate in the state through a corporation. In a few states, licenses are issued only to individual residents and locally-owned business entities. In such cases, the Company has arrangements with residents or business entities licensed to act in the state. COMMERCIAL LINES DEREGULATION -- The NAIC and several state legislatures have taken up the issue of commercial lines deregulation in an attempt to streamline specific areas of insurance regulation. A growing contingent in the regulatory community has acknowledged that some regulatory procedures and practices may be cumbersome and inappropriate for commercial buyers of insurance. Specifically, the large, sophisticated, multi-state or multi-national businesses that employ their own teams of risk managers to evaluate, reduce and finance their loss exposures are less likely to need the form and rate protections that regulators provide consumers and small to medium business endeavors. And, while these large businesses may receive some benefit from the state financial regulation of licensed insurers, it has long been acknowledged that they do not need the protections addressed by the barriers to the surplus lines market and other nontraditional markets. Indisputably, deregulation of the licensed market will have an impact on the surplus lines insurance carriers, which have been free from form and rate requirements. USE OF CREDIT REPORTS IN UNDERWRITING -- Gains in access to electronic commerce, and the means to gather information more rapidly, have spurred regulators to take a second look at the use of consumer credit reports in underwriting and rate making. In some states, regulators charged with protecting insurance consumers from unfair trade practices, are concerned that some consumers' risks may be underwritten based solely on their credit standing, and have sought to strengthen their laws and regulations to address this. This trend comes on the heels of Congress' re-tooling of the Fair Credit Reporting Act in 1997, which specifically addresses this issue, and permits the use of consumer credit reports in underwriting. The issue of federal preemption of state action in this arena has not been judicially addressed. LEGISLATION AT FEDERAL LEVEL Although the federal government generally does not directly regulate the insurance business, federal initiatives often have an impact on the business in a variety of ways. Current and proposed federal measures which may significantly affect the insurance business include federal preemption of state auto liability laws, tax reform measures, and Year 2000 legislation. The Company is also monitoring the following federal proposals: NATURAL DISASTER ACT--Recent natural disasters including Hurricane Georges, continue to fuel concern regarding the best way to provide affordable insurance coverage for such events. Congress has yet to pass legislation, but proposals to set up a system for excess federal reinsurance to provide relief to the industry continue to be discussed. Two Initiatives, "The Natural Disaster Protection and Insurance Act of 1997" (H.R. 230), and "The Homeowners Insurance Availability Act of 1997" (H.R. 219), have been the primary tools for discussion and debate. The Company will continue to monitor the progress of this issue. 18
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FINANCIAL SERVICES MODERNIZATION -- Both judicial decisions and action by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) have combined to grant national banks more authority to enter non-banking business, including insurance. The Barnett Bank decision, which permits the Comptroller of the Currency to preempt any state law which "significantly interferes" with a bank's ability to sell insurance products, has spawned the "Financial Services Competition Act of 1997" (H.R. 10), (also known as "Financial Services Modernization Legislation"). This Act, designed to shrink the powers of the OCC, has been the subject of various revisions that would result in both positive and negative effects on the insurance industry. The bill also contains a provision that would create a National Association of Registered Agents and Brokers, which would permit insurance producers to obtain a national license, rather than a number of state licenses. Obviously, this legislation could have an important impact on many aspects of the insurance industry; the Company continues to monitor its progress. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INSURANCE COMMISSIONERS The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) facilitates the regulation of multi-state companies through uniform reporting requirements, standardized procedures for financial examinations, and uniform regulatory procedures embodied in model acts and regulations. Current developments address the reporting and regulation of the adequacy of capital and surplus. The NAIC has developed Property-Casualty Risk-Based Capital (RBC) standards that relate an insurer's reported statutory surplus to the risks inherent in its overall operations. The RBC formula uses the statutory annual statement to calculate the minimum indicated capital level to support asset (investment and credit) risk and underwriting (loss reserves, premiums written, and unearned premium) risk. The NAIC model law calls for various levels of regulatory action based on the magnitude of an indicated RBC capital deficiency, if any. The Company continues to monitor its subsidiaries' internal capital requirements and the NAIC's RBC developments. The Company has determined that its subsidiaries' capital levels are well in excess of the minimum capital requirements for all RBC action levels. Management believes that its capital levels are sufficient to support the level of risk inherent in its operations. CORPORATE COMPLIANCE The Company has developed a Code of Conduct and Compliance Manual which provides employees with guidance on complying with a variety of federal and state laws. AGENCY LICENSES AND TRADEMARKS Replacement Lens Inc. or its designated employees, must be licensed to act as resident or non-resident producers by regulatory authorities in the states in which it operates. RLI Insurance Company obtained service mark registration of the letters "RLI" in 1998 in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Such registration protects the mark nationwide from deceptively similar use by the Company's competitors. The duration of this registration is ten years unless renewed. CLIENTELE No significant part of the Company's or its subsidiaries' business is dependent upon a single client or upon a very few clients, the loss of any one of which would have a material adverse effect on the Company. 19
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EMPLOYEES The Company employs a total of 405 associates. Of the 405 total associates, 47 are part-time and 358 are full-time. (d) Financial Information about Foreign and Domestic Operations and Export Sales. For purposes of this discussion, foreign operations are not considered material to the Company's overall operations. Item 2. PROPERTIES The Company owns a two-story, 80,000 square foot building in Peoria, Illinois, which serves as the Corporate Headquarters for RLI Corp., RLI Insurance Company and Mt. Hawley Insurance Company. Two RLI Insurance Company Branch Offices also lease office space in this building. Located on the same 15.0 acre campus is a 12,800 square foot building. Nearly 9,800 square feet of this building are used as warehouse storage for records and equipment. The remaining 3,000 square feet are used as office space. Additionally, the Company owns two other buildings located near the headquarter building. One, a 19,000 square foot building, is leased to Maui Jim, Inc. and is used as their headquarters. The other, a 20,000 square foot building, was purchased in December of 1996. Currently used for warehousing and record storage, this building will provide space for future office expansion. All other operations of RLI Corp. lease the office space which they need in various locations throughout the country. Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS The Company is involved in certain legal proceedings and disputes considered by management to be ordinary and incidental to the business or which have no foundation in fact. Management believes that valid defenses exist as to all such litigation and disputes, and is of the opinion that these will not have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements. Item 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS No matters were submitted by the Company to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year covered by this report. PART II Item 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS Refer to the Corporate Data on page 52 of the Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended December 31, 1998 attached in Exhibit 13. Item 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA Refer to the Selected Financial Data on pages 52 through 53 of the Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended December 31, 1998 attached in Exhibit 13. 20
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Item 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS Refer to the Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations on pages 16 through 28 of the Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended December 31, 1998 attached in Exhibit 13. Item 7a. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK Refer to the Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations on pages 16 through 28 of the Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended December 31, 1998 attached in Exhibit 13. Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA Refer to the consolidated financial statements and supplementary data included on pages 29 through 48 of the Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended December 31, 1998 attached in Exhibit 13. (See Index to Financial Statements and Schedules attached on page 24.) Item 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE There were no changes in accountants or disagreements with accountants on any matters of accounting principles or practices or financial statement disclosure. PART III Items 10 to 13. Pursuant to General Instructions G(3) of Form 10-K, Items 10 to 13, inclusive, have not been restated or answered since the Company intends to file within 120 days after the close of its fiscal year with the Securities and Exchange Commission a definitive proxy statement pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which proxy statement involves the election of directors. The information required in these items 10 to 13, inclusive, is incorporated by reference to that proxy statement. PART IV Item 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K (a) (l-2) Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedules. See Index to Financial Statements and Schedules attached. (3) Exhibits. See Exhibit Index on pages 34-35. (b) No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the last quarter of 1998. (c) Exhibits. See Exhibit Index on pages 34-35. (d) Financial Statement Schedules. The schedules included on attached pages 24 through 32 as required by Regulation S-X are excluded from the Company's Annual Report to Shareholders. See Index to Financial Statements and Schedules on page 24. There is no other financial information required by Regulation S-X which is excluded from the Company's Annual Report to Shareholders. 21
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SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. RLI Corp. (Registrant) By: /s/Joseph E. Dondanville ----------------------------------------------- J. E. Dondanville Vice President, Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) Date: MARCH 3, 1999 Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated. By: /s/Gerald D. Stephens ----------------------------------------------- G. D. Stephens, President (Principal Executive Officer) Date: March 3, 1999 --------------------------------------------- * * * * * By: /s/Joseph E. Dondanville ----------------------------------------------- J. E. Dondanville, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) Date: March 3, 1999 --------------------------------------------- * * * * * By: /s/Gerald D. Stephens ----------------------------------------------- G. D. Stephens, Director Date: March 3, 1999 --------------------------------------------- * * * * * By: /s/ Bernard J. Daenzer ----------------------------------------------- B. J. Daenzer, Director Date: March 3, 1999 --------------------------------------------- * * * * * By: /s/Richard J. Haayen ----------------------------------------------- R. J. Haayen, Director Date: March 3, 1999 --------------------------------------------- * * * * * By: /s/William R. Keane ----------------------------------------------- W. R. Keane, Director Date: March 3, 1999 --------------------------------------------- * * * * * 22
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By: /s/Gerald I. Lenrow ----------------------------------------------- G. I. Lenrow, Director Date: MARCH 3, 1999 --------------------------------------------- * * * * * By: /s/Jonathan E. Michael ----------------------------------------------- J.E. Michael, Director Date: MARCH 3, 1999 --------------------------------------------- * * * * * By: /s/Edwin S. Overman ----------------------------------------------- E. S. Overman, Director Date: March 3, 1999 --------------------------------------------- * * * * * By: /s/Edward F. Sutkowski ----------------------------------------------- E. F. Sutkowski, Director Date: March 3, 1999 --------------------------------------------- * * * * * By: /s/Robert O. Viets ----------------------------------------------- R. O. Viets, Director Date: March 3, 1999 --------------------------------------------- * * * * * 23
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INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES [Enlarge/Download Table] Reference (Page) DATA SUBMITTED HEREWITH: Report of Independent Auditors 25 Schedules: I. Summary of Investments - Other than Investments in Related Parties at December 31, 1998. 26 II. Condensed Financial Information of Registrant for the three years ended December 31, 1998. 27 - 29 III. Supplementary Insurance Information for the three years ended December 31, 1998. 30 - 31 IV. Reinsurance for the three years ended December 31, 1998. 32 V. Valuation and Qualifying Accounts 33 Schedules other than those listed are omitted for the reason that they are not required, are not applicable or that equivalent information has been included in the financial statements, and notes thereto, or elsewhere herein. 24
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INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT The Board of Directors and Shareholders RLI Corp.: Under date of January 14, 1999, we reported on the consolidated balance sheets of RLI Corp. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1998 and 1997, and the related consolidated statements of earnings and comprehensive earnings, shareholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1998, as contained in the 1998 annual report to shareholders. These consolidated financial statements and our report thereon are incorporated by reference in the annual report on Form 10-K for the year 1998. In connection with our audits of the aforementioned consolidated financial statements, we also have audited the related financial statement schedules as listed in the accompanying index. These financial statement schedules are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statement schedules based on our audits. In our opinion, the financial statement schedules, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein. KPMG LLP Chicago, Illinois January 14, 1999 25
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RLI CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES SCHEDULE I--SUMMARY OF INVESTMENTS--OTHER THAN INVESTMENTS IN RELATED PARTIES DECEMBER 31, 1998 [Enlarge/Download Table] Column A Column B Column C Column D Amount at Which Shown in Fair the Balance Type of Investment Cost(1) Value Sheet ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Fixed maturities: Bonds: Held-to-maturity United States government and government agencies and authorities $124,418,833 $128,814,165 $124,418,833 States, political subdivisions, and revenues 159,572,691 165,730,065 159,572,691 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total held-to-maturity 283,991,524 294,544,230 283,991,524 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Trading U.S. governments 3,652,869 3,726,006 3,726,006 Foreign governments 0 0 0 Corporate 4,102,579 4,215,737 4,215,737 States, political subdivisions & revenues 401,934 406,398 406,398 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total trading 8,157,382 8,348,141 8,348,141 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Available-for-sale U.S. governments 15,177,280 15,527,980 15,527,980 Corporates 9,149,952 8,892,633 8,892,633 States, political subdivisions, and revenues 11,858,113 12,095,780 12,095,780 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total available-for-sale 36,185,345 36,516,393 36,516,393 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total fixed maturities 328,334,251 339,408,764 328,856,058 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Equity securities, available-for-sale: Common stock: Public utilities 41,687,469 80,064,940 80,064,940 Banks, trusts and insurance companies 11,957,163 36,701,934 36,701,934 Industrial, miscellaneous and all other 73,563,360 179,260,083 179,260,083 Preferred stock 159,495 493,412 493,412 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total equity securities 127,367,487 296,520,369 296,520,369 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Short-term investments 51,917,333 51,917,333 51,917,333 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total investments $507,619,071 $687,846,466 $677,293,760 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Note: See notes 1D and 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, as attached in Exhibit 13. (1) Original cost of equity securities and, as to fixed maturities, original cost reduced by repayments and adjusted for amortization of premiums or accrual of discounts. 26
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RLI CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES SCHEDULE II--CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT (PARENT COMPANY) CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997 [Enlarge/Download Table] 1998 1997 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASSETS Cash $ 258,436 $ 135,663 Investments in subsidiaries/investees, at equity 304,713,805 264,146,254 Equity securities available-for-sale, at fair value (Cost--$6,528,441 in 1998 and $6,677,285 in 1997) 13,823,699 12,288,528 Investment in Rabbi Trust 6,432,355 Property and equipment 998,780 1,045,298 Other assets 736,815 418,040 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total assets $320,531,535 $284,466,138 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Liabilities: Accounts payable, current $ 4,249,318 $ 1,996,859 Notes payable, short-term 19,575,000 7,500,000 Deferred compensation--Rabbi Trust 6,432,355 Income taxes payable--current 465,203 332,621 Income taxes payable--deferred 2,229,622 1,523,663 Other liabilities 53,738 128,200 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total liabilities 26,572,881 17,913,698 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shareholders' equity: Common stock ($1 par value, authorized 50,000,000 shares, issued 12,790,428 shares in 1998 and 10,229,673 shares in 1997) 12,790,428 10,229,673 Paid in Capital 71,092,631 74,587,595 Accumulated other comprehensive earnings net of tax 110,371,461 86,852,663 Retained earnings 163,324,161 140,431,791 Deferred compensation 3,460,606 Unearned ESOP shares (2,500,999) Treasury shares at cost (2,384,736 shares in 1998 and 1,994,272 shares in 1997) (64,579,634) (45,549,282) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total shareholders' equity 293,958,654 266,552,440 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $320,531,535 $284,466,138 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, as attached in Exhibit 13. 27
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RLI CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES SCHEDULE II--CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT (PARENT COMPANY)--(CONTINUED) CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS AND COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, [Enlarge/Download Table] 1998 1997 1996 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net investment income $ 453,843 $ 454,906 $ 164,181 Selling, general, and administrative expenses (3,914,954) (4,118,010) (3,559,113) Interest expense on debt (1,122,358) (1,547,542) (2,808,470) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (4,583,469) (5,210,646) (6,203,402) Income tax benefit (1,383,099) (1,675,135) (2,186,013) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net loss before equity in net earnings of subsidiaries (3,200,370) (3,535,511) (4,017,389) Equity in net earnings of subsidiaries/investees 31,438,961 33,706,994 29,713,110 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net earnings $28,238,591 $30,171,483 $25,695,721 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Comprehensive Earnings, net of tax Unrealized gains on securities: Unrealized holding gains arising during the period $ 1,217,174 $ 1,859,712 $901,569 Less: Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in Net Earnings (122,659) (81,383) 10,846 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Comprehensive Earnings--parent only 1,094,515 1,778,329 912,415 Equity in Other Comprehensive Earnings of Subsidiaries/Investees 22,424,283 4,465,638 15,361,757 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Comprehensive Earnings 23,518,798 36,243,967 16,274,172 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comprehensive Earnings $ 51,797,389 $66,415,450 $41,969,893 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, as attached in Exhibit 13 28
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RLI CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES SCHEDULE II--CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT (PARENT COMPANY)--(CONTINUED) CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, [Enlarge/Download Table] 1998 1997 1996 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cash Flows from Operating Activities Losses before equity in net earnings of subsidiaries/investees $(3,200,370) $(3,535,511) $(4,017,389) Adjustments to reconcile net losses to net cash provided by operating activities: Other items, net (576,103) (1,792,215) (55,262) Change in: Affiliate balances payable 2,187,132 451,029 (207,668) Interest Payable (1,265,000) Federal income taxes 97,641 140,485 437,303 Deferred debt costs 805,701 123,164 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net cash used in operating activities (1,491,700) (5,195,511) (3,719,852) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cash Flows from Investing Activities Purchase of: Equity securities, available-for-sale (31,122) (135,001) (387,395) Property and equipment (37,210) Unconsolidated investee ownership interest (88,750) (3,694,118) Sale of: Equity securities, available-for-sale 368,672 383,838 236,986 Cash dividends received-subsidiaries/investees 13,384,443 16,998,248 21,125,783 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net cash provided by investing activities 13,633,243 13,515,757 20,975,374 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cash Flows from Financing Activities Proceeds from issuance of debt 12,075,000 7,500,000 Payments on debt (2,800,000) Fractional share paid (16,099) (1,211) CatEPut Payment (1,212,500) Shares issued under stock option plan 60,638 161,356 Unearned ESOP shares (2,500,999) Treasury shares purchased (14,858,394) (20,738,547) (3,040,671) Treasury shares reissued 2,207,526 Cash dividends paid (5,566,416) (4,704,015) (4,261,445) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net cash used in financing activities (12,018,770) (17,782,417) (7,894,590) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net increase (decrease) in cash 122,773 (9,462,171) 9,360,932 Cash at beginning of year 135,663 9,597,834 236,902 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cash at end of year $258,436 $135,663 $ 9,597,834 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Interest paid on outstanding debt for 1998, 1997, and 1996 amounted to $2,327,113, $2,809,903, and $2,834,192, respectively. See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, as attached in Exhibit 13. 29
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RLI CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES SCHEDULE III--SUPPLEMENTARY INSURANCE INFORMATION SCHEDULE VI--SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION CONCERNING PROPERTY-CASUALTY INSURANCE OPERATIONS YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998, 1997, AND 1996 [Enlarge/Download Table] Column A Column B Column C (1) Column E (1) Column F Column H Incurred Deferred Unpaid Losses and policy losses and settlement acquisition settlement Unearned Premiums expenses Segment costs expenses, net premiums, net earned Current year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Year ended December 31, 1998 Property segment $8,783,705 $29,634,175 $34,977,862 $52,281,163 $12,050,748 Surety segment 5,263,476 5,397,144 8,944,616 18,307,259 4,198,692 Casualty segment 8,462,960 212,230,257 38,320,680 71,735,513 51,882,019 RLI Insurance Group $ 22,510,141 $247,261,576 $ 82,243,158 $142,323,935 $ 68,131,459 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Year ended December 31, 1997 Property segment $10,484,486 35,794,786 41,230,427 62,028,216 $11,998,750 Surety segment 4,818,957 2,214,233 8,119,275 11,491,172 2,507,153 Casualty segment 6,681,142 210,543,568 29,516,110 68,365,057 47,265,353 RLI Insurance Group $ 21,984,585 $248,552,587 $ 78,865,812 $141,884,445 $61,771,256 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Year ended December 31, 1996 Property segment $ 6,182,136 44,045,187 37,776,691 48,181,678 $11,030,823 Surety segment 3,421,403 1,715,328 5,483,068 4,406,633 1,195,897 Casualty segment 7,060,064 202,045,556 32,816,802 78,067,784 57,498,010 RLI Insurance Group $ 16,663,603 $247,806,071 $ 76,076,561 $130,656,095 $69,724,730 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE 1: Investment income is not allocated to the segments, therefore net investment income (column G) has not been provided. 30
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RLI CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES SCHEDULE III--SUPPLEMENTARY INSURANCE INFORMATION SCHEDULE VI--SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION CONCERNING PROPERTY-CASUALTY INSURANCE OPERATIONS (CONTINUED) YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998, 1997, AND 1996 [Enlarge/Download Table] Column A Column H Column I Column J Column K Incurred Losses and settlement Policy Other Net expenses acquisition operating Premiums Segment Prior year costs expenses written ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Year ended December 31, 1998 Property segment $ (300,799) $14,394,458 $6,335,787 $46,029,088 Surety segment 2,430,308 10,990,793 1,406,353 19,133,037 Casualty segment (5,532,667) 18,895,582 8,783,745 80,539,155 RLI Insurance Group $ (3,403,158) $44,280,833 $16,525,885 $145,701,280 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Year ended December 31, 1997 Property segment $ (95,228) $20,366,636 $8,347,252 $65,482,315 Surety segment (19,898) 7,304,618 1,173,349 14,127,068 Casualty segment (404,696) 15,469,127 9,220,776 65,064,313 RLI Insurance Group $ (519,822) $43,140,381 $18,741,377 $144,673,696 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Year ended December 31, 1996 Property segment $ (226,883) $11,442,412 $ 7,104,879 $ 48,809,514 Surety segment (24,597) 3,028,034 613,023 4,463,383 Casualty segment (1,211,943) 15,085,944 8,723,430 79,084,743 RLI Insurance Group $(1,463,423) $29,556,390 $16,441,332 $132,357,640 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 31
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RLI CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES SCHEDULE IV--REINSURANCE FOR THE YEARS ENDED 1998, 1997, AND 1996 [Enlarge/Download Table] Column A Column B Column C Column D Column E Column F Percentage Ceded to Assumed of Amount Direct Other From Other Net Assumed to Amount Companies Companies Amount Net ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1998 Property $115,926,412 $ 65,712,932 $2,067,683 $ 52,281,163 3.95% Surety 29,149,915 11,157,925 315,269 18,307,259 1.72% Casualty 129,919,370 58,398,009 214,152 71,735,513 .30% RLI Insurance Group premiums earned $274,995,697 $135,268,866 $2,597,104 $142,323,935 1.82% ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1997 Property $132,599,094 $ 81,810,126 $11,239,248 $ 62,028,216 18.12% Surety 20,311,217 9,079,051 259,006 11,491,172 2.25% Casualty 115,658,960 47,308,406 14,503 68,365,057 .02% RLI Insurance Group premiums earned $268,569,271 $138,197,583 $11,512,757 $141,884,445 8.11% ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1996 Property $135,260,684 $87,079,006 0 48,181,678 0% Surety 6,222,892 1,857,187 40,928 4,406,633 .93% Casualty 130,068,132 51,992,133 (8,215) 78,067,784 (.01)% RLI Insurance Group premiums earned $271,551,708 $140,928,326 $ 32,713 $130,656,095 .02% ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTES: Column B, "Gross Amount" includes only direct premiums earned. 32
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RLI CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES SCHEDULE V--VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998, 1997 AND 1996 [Enlarge/Download Table] Column A Column B Column C Column D Column E Balance at Amounts Amounts Balance beginning of charged to recovered Amounts at end period expense (written-off) commuted of period ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1998 Allowance for insolvent reinsurers $17,057,194 -- $(574,934) $(6,839,313) $9,642,947 1997 Allowance for insolvent reinsurers $16,897,798 -- $ 159,396 -- $17,057,194 1996 Allowance for insolvent reinsurers $16,336,146 $1,006,140 $ (444,488) -- $16,897,798 33
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EXHIBIT INDEX [Enlarge/Download Table] EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT REFERENCE (PAGE) ----------- ----------------------- ---------------- 2.1 Plan of Reorganization and Agreement Incorporated by reference to the Company's of Merger Quarterly Form 10-Q for the First Quarter ended March 31, 1993. 2.2 Articles of Merger Incorporated by reference to the Company's Quarterly Form 10-Q for the Second Quarter ended June 30, 1993. 3.1 Articles of incorporation Incorporated by reference to the Company's Quarterly Form 10-Q for the Second Quarter ended June 30, 1997. 3.2 By-Laws Incorporated by reference to the Company's Quarterly Form 10-Q for the Second Quarter ended June 30, 1997. 4.1 Indenture dated July 28, 1993 between Incorporated by reference to the Company's the Company and Norwest Bank Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed on July Minnesota, National Association as 21, 1993 Trustee 10.1 Market Value Potential Plan Incorporated by reference to the Company's Quarterly Form 10-Q for the Second Quarter ended June 30, 1997. 10.2 RLI Corp. Director Deferred Incorporated by reference to the Company's Compensation Plan Registration Statement on Form 10-Q for the Second Quarter ended June 30, 1993. 10.3 The RLI Corp. Directors' Irrevocable Incorporated by reference to the Company's Trust Agreement Registation Statement on Form 10-Q for the Second Quarter ended June 30, 1993. 10.4 Key Employee Excess Benefit Plan Incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 1992. 10.5 RLI Corp. Incentive Stock Incorporated by reference to Company's Option Plan Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed on March 11, 1996, File No. 333-01637 10.6 Directors' Stock Option Plan Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed on June 6, 1997, File No. 333-28625. 10.7 RLI Corp. Executive Deferred Attached Exhibit 10. Compensation Agreement 10.9 Reinsurance Agreements between the Incorporated by reference to the Company's Company and American Re-Insurance Annual Form 10-K/A for the year ended Company December 31, 1992. 34
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EXHIBIT INDEX [Enlarge/Download Table] EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT REFERENCE (PAGE) ----------- ----------------------- ---------------- 10.10 Reinsurance Agreements between the Incorporated by reference to the Company's Company and Lloyd's of London Annual Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 1992. 10.11 Reinsurance Agreements between the Incorporated by reference to the Company's Company and NAC Reinsurance Corp. Annual Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 1992. 11.0 Statement re computation of per Refer to the Notes to Consolidated Financial share earnings Statements--Note 1K "Earnings per share", on page 35 of the Annual Report to Shareholders attached in Exhibit 13. 13.1 Refer to the Annual Report to Share- Attached Exhibit 13. holders for the year ended December 31, 1998, pages 20-49 and 53. 21.1 Subsidiaries of the Registrant Attached page 36. 23.1 Consent of KPMG LLP Attached page 47. 23.2 Consent of Kirkland & Ellis Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed July 21, 1993. 24.1 Powers of Attorney Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed on July 21, 1993. 27 Financial Data Schedule Attached Exhibit 27. 28.1 Information from reports furnished to Attached page 48. state insurance regulatory authorities 35

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