State Auto Financial Corporation AnnuAl RepoRt 2007 State Auto Financial Corporation 2007 State auto FINaNCIaL CorporatIoN (“StFC”) is a super-regional insurance holding company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. STFC is affiliated with State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company (State Auto Mutual), which owns approxi- mately 64% of STFC. STFC, State Auto Mutual and its insurance subsidiaries and affiliates (State Auto) market their insurance products exclusively through independent insurance agencies in 33 states. State Auto’s principal lines include personal and commercial auto, homeowners, commercial multi-peril, fire and general liability insurance. With a commitment to responsible cost-based pricing, conservative investments and sound underwriting practices, STFC has achieved solid financial performance since becoming a public company in 1991. Combined with providing outstanding customer service to policyholders and agents, State Auto has earned the reputation as one of the strongest and best managed super-regional insurance groups in the industry. State Auto has consistently received A.M. Best’s A+ (Superior) rating. State Auto Financial Corporation is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market System under the symbol STFC. FINaNCIaL HIGHLIGHtS ($ in millions, except per share amounts) 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 Earned premiums Net investment income Net realized investment gain Other income Total revenue Net income Basic earnings per share Diluted earnings per share Dividends paid per share Book value per share Total assets Stockholders’ equity Return on equity Combined ratio $ 1,011.6 84.7 12.1 5.0 $ 1,113.4 1,023.8 83.1 5.6 4.9 1,117.4 1,050.3 78.7 5.6 4.9 1,139.5 1,006.8 71.8 7.6 6.2 1,092.4 960.6 64.6 10.6 5.9 1,041.7 $ 119.1 120.4 125.9 110.0 2.95 2.90 0.38 20.32 3.12 3.06 0.27 18.86 2.76 2.70 0.17 16.42 63.6 1.62 1.58 0.15 13.71 2,255.1 834.2 15.1% 91.4 2,274.9 763.5 17.7% 90.1 2,168.4 658.2 18.3% 91.7 2,029.9 542.3 12.6% 98.2 2.90 $ 2.86 $ $ 0.50 $ 23.10 $ 2,337.9 $ 935.5 13.5% 92.8 dear Shareholders We’re pleased with State Auto’s excellent 2007 results, in terms of the numbers and the development of our infra- structure. Although earnings did not match our 2006 per- formance, we continued to make significant investments in products, systems and services necessary to predictably increase our long-term profit and growth. We added talent and depth to an already strong leadership team and we completed the development of a business strategy— approved by our Board of Directors— that will guide us over the next three to five years. While most of this report details what happened in 2007, my letter includes a number of references to our preparation for the future. Our business strategy focuses on four performance elements: underwriting profitability; growth; capital management; and risk management. Our strategy also recognizes— indeed, underscores—that our performance is absolutely dependent on our people. You’ll also find in this report frequent reference to technology. I don’t subscribe to the clever suggestion that we’re in an IT business that happens to sell insurance. But I am of the mind that our overarching determination to improve our customers’ ease of doing business with us is only achieved if we master the technologies required to sell, service and deliver our products. Here are our four performance elements, today and in the future. Underwriting: OUtperfOrming the indUstry State Auto’s top priority remains producing an under- writing profit. That’s how we established and will continue to maintain our superior financial profile. Better-than- expected catastrophe loss experience during 2007 was offset by pricing and lower benefits from favorable prior year loss development, a key reason why 2006 earnings were slightly higher than 2007’s. Nonetheless, our 2007 combined ratio was 92.8, with net income from opera- tions of $111 million. It added up to one of the best years in our history. We made some aggressive pricing decisions in 2006 and early 2007 that were intended to help us retain profitable business and give our field staff a stronger calling card for new business opportunities. The pricing decisions paid off. Loss ratios were slightly higher but impressive, especially in the automobile and liability lines. Our business insurance teams proved adept at responding quickly to the competi- tion, delivering exceptional products and services. We kept our good customers, preserved our profitability and demonstrated to our agents and consumers that we are serious about competing in our expanding markets. Heading into 2008 we are increasingly confident that we will see a slow but steady turn in the personal insurance market. After several years of rate cutting in the industry, automobile insurance pricing should stabilize and then begin to rise. Our new standard automobile product, CustomFitSM, produced solid results in 2007. We believe we have the products, pricing sophistication and agency plant to produce increasing under writing profits in personal automobile. Homeowners remains a challenge, given our Midwestern orientation and exposure to wind and hail. We have several underwriting initiatives underway to improve short-term results. Longer term, we will develop new pricing models for homeowners that will improve our results in this under- performing line. We expect competition in business insurance to remain strong in 2008. While we have given up some price to retain existing policyholders and attract new ones, such discount- ing has been modest and our commercial underwriting results remain excellent. Increasingly, we will rely on prod- uct and service enhancements to retain our good business. In addition, we will begin introducing sophisticated predic- tive modeling techniques for our main street commercial lines products by mid-2008. As with personal auto, this will expand our pricing flexibility while institutionalizing our underwriting discipline. From an underwriting standpoint, we are well positioned to outperform the industry as a whole and, more importantly, our peer group of regional insurance companies. grOwth: when OppOrtUnity meets technOlOgy After three years of declining written premium, we turned the corner in 2007. In Business Insurance, we empowered our field underwriters to respond more quickly by expanding their authority con- sistent with their experience, training and track record. Additionally, we introduced a variety of new product and pricing programs enabling our field staff to say “yes” to the production needs of our independent agency partners without giving up the underwriting results critical to both the agent and the company. Lastly, we introduced bizXpressSM, an easy-to-use Web-based system that allows our agents to rate, quote and begin the policy issuance process in real-time. It accounted for a significant increase in our busi- ness owners policy (BOP) production. In 2008, we will add bizXpress support for commercial automobile and workers’ compensation. Personal Insurance posted modest premium growth in 2007, an increased policy count and solid policy retention. Personal auto led the way in both standard and non- standard lines. Our new standard automobile product, CustomFit, continues to shine. Its pricing flexibility and coverage features are attractive to consumers and producers. By the end of 2008, we expect to have CustomFit available in all of our states. After three straight years of negative growth, State Auto’s non-standard auto product finished 2007 with positive growth. We believe our prospects for personal auto are bright. With new products supported by improved services and systems, we’ll begin focusing on our sales management capability. Frankly, it needs our focus. Our average premi- ums per agent are below industry norms and well short of our potential. In November we added Clyde Fitch to our management team as chief sales officer. Clyde brings a wealth of experience from two large national insurers, and a proven ability to build superior sales organizations. There are basically two ways to grow in our industry: increase sales through your existing structure—it’s called organic or same store sales—and/or expand that structure through acquisitions and affiliations. A&A is the best use of our capital and an important supplement to our strategies. During 2007, State Auto Mutual completed two transac- tions and began to integrate the Beacon Insurance Group and the Patrons Group. Together, these transactions allowed us to enter five new states: Texas, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont. Our total num- ber of operating states has grown to 33, adding approxi- mately $95 million in direct written premium to State Auto and providing us with significant cross-selling opportu- nities, particularly in the personal auto and business insurance lines. We remain active in the A&A market going into 2008, targeting companies that have: • $50 to $250 million in written premium with the potential to be immediately accretive to earnings; • good underwriting and claim fundamentals, strong agency relationships, and the cultural compatibility that is critical to successful integration; • problems that we can help solve, including geographic concentration, an inability to invest in new technology, and an over-dependence on reinsurance. As the market continues to soften and underwriting results deteriorate, we anticipate more opportunities will arise. capital management: mOney at wOrk In 2007, we took several capital management actions that we think are very responsive to your expectations as shareholders. In March State Auto Mutual completed the acquisition of the Beacon Insurance Group, and in December completed an affiliation with the Patrons Group. In July, we refinanced and expanded our credit capacity to achieve the liquidity and flexibility we need to support our capital management and A&A plan. We completed this transaction well before the current turmoil in the credit markets. In November we announced a 50% increase to our divi- dend. This change provides our shareholders a very com- petitive yield and enhances our total return prospects for the future. We also announced a Board-authorized stock repurchase plan that allows us to repurchase up to four million shares of STFC stock through 2009. The stock will be repurchased proportionately from State Auto Mutual and our public shareholders based on their respec- tive ownership percentages. Preserving and leveraging our strong capital position is both a high priority and our biggest challenge. enterprise risk management Along with our desire to be a more responsive underwriter and marketer is our commitment to manage risk. In 2007 we created a function within the company dedicated to enterprise risk management. This is not a matter of simply satisfying our conservative side—it’s smart business. The objectives of our enterprise risk management include: • balancing the risks we assume and the prices we charge to produce stable underwriting profits; • reserving for losses in a way that realistically and conser- vatively approximates what our ultimate payment will be; • investing our cash flow in securities that are highly rated, relatively liquid, and produce good total returns; • entering into reinsurance agreements that are responsive to our risk management needs and secure from a credit standpoint; and • implementing business continuity plans that effectively anticipate the worst. State Auto has performed each of these quite well for some time, but we can always improve. Demands from rating agencies have intensified and our own view of risk has been sharpened. Not only was 9/11 a devastating human loss, it was also a terrible financial loss, showing how many things can go wrong at the same time. The insurance industry suffered a tremendous underwriting loss that destabilized the capital and reinsurance markets and challenged the business continuity plans of many companies. The recent turmoil in the financial and credit markets has also revealed the importance of risk management programs. I want to finish this review by acknowledging, again, our people. This is where are our 2007 success really begins. They have managed very well the business and leadership changes in our company over the last two years. I couldn’t be prouder of our team, or more excited about their will- ingness and ability to take on the challenges ahead. We’ve shifted into a higher sales gear, and they have embraced it. We’ve been open about our preference for technology and the inordinate resources it requires, and they have bought in. We’ve talked about paying for performance and develop- ing new skills and rethinking the way we evaluate our sys- tems, our work and each other. And they’re on board. In 2008 we will continue to focus on personal development, rewards and human resource management and training. I’m confident in our people and our prospects, and believe we are well on our way to becoming the company of choice for all our stakeholders. In 2007 we continued to broaden our review with the Board of Directors of all significant risks that we face as a com- pany and an industry. RobeRt P. RestRePo JR. Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer State Auto Financial Corporation 2007 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION (“STFC”) is a super-regional insurance holding company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. STFC is affiliated with State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company (State Auto Mutual), which owns approxi- mately 64% of STFC. STFC, State Auto Mutual and its insurance subsidiaries and affiliates (State Auto) market their insurance products exclusively through independent insurance agencies in 33 states. State Auto’s principal lines include personal and commercial auto, homeowners, commercial multi-peril, fire and general liability insurance. With a commitment to responsible cost-based pricing, conservative investments and sound underwriting practices, STFC has achieved solid financial performance since becoming a public company in 1991. Combined with providing outstanding customer service to policyholders and agents, State Auto has earned the reputation as one of the strongest and best managed super-regional insurance groups in the industry. State Auto has consistently received A.M. Best’s A+ (Superior) rating. State Auto Financial Corporation is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market System under the symbol STFC. our Strategy GROwTH UNDERwRITING FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS ($ in millions, except per share amounts) STFC must continue to grow. We’ll do so by giving our agents the tools they need to promote and service our products. We’ll be selective in choosing new agents, and we expect to become a preferred company in every agency. We will earn that status by being more flexible and better listeners. All the while, we will continue to foster the bond with our agents that we’re noted for. Achieving organic growth through our existing agency force is important because it’s growth built on strong, profitable, existing books of business. Earned premiums Net investment income Net realized investment gain Other income Total revenue $ 1,011.6 84.7 12.1 5.0 $ 1,113.4 2005 2004 2006 State Auto’s business insurance division recognizes three market sectors. Our ability to compete for small accounts is dependent on pricing accuracy and transaction speed. Success in writing large accounts relies more on the quality of our risk management tools, because the insurance buyer is assuming a greater share of the potential losses. The business in the middle is best pursued by skilled underwriters who work closely with their agents and are empowered to make underwriting decisions in the field. 1,023.8 83.1 5.6 4.9 1,117.4 1,006.8 71.8 7.6 6.2 1,092.4 960.6 64.6 10.6 5.9 1,041.7 1,050.3 78.7 5.6 4.9 1,139.5 2003 2007 $ 119.1 120.4 125.9 110.0 63.6 Net income Basic earnings per share Diluted earnings per share Dividends paid per share Book value per share We’ll also grow through acquisition and affiliation. This is the more dramatic way to grow, but it needs to be done care- fully and thoughtfully. We have a reputation for integrity, honesty and treating our acquired companies well. But a friendly acquisition (and all of ours have been friendly) brings with it challenges in staffing integration, licensing, systems migration—especially systems migration. 2.90 $ 2.86 $ $ 0.50 $ 23.10 $ 2,337.9 $ 935.5 2.95 2.90 0.38 20.32 In Personal Insurance we now use multivariate pricing and predictive modeling to attract accounts with the greatest potential for profit. While pricing will never entirely replace the personal application of underwriting principals, the melding of proven underwriting practices with greater information and pricing precision is a strategy that is expected to continue our well-earned reputation for consistently producing profit. 1.62 1.58 0.15 13.71 2.76 2.70 0.17 16.42 3.12 3.06 0.27 18.86 2,168.4 658.2 2,274.9 763.5 2,255.1 834.2 2,029.9 542.3 We’ll also pursue quality books of our competition’s business. More than 1,000 agents have graduated from PaceSetter, State Auto’s widely acclaimed new agent development program founded in 1997. 13.5% 92.8 15.1% 91.4 17.7% 90.1 18.3% 91.7 12.6% 98.2 In 2007, 533,000 personal insurance policy transactions were reviewed by Apollo, State Auto’s automated underwriting system; 333,000, or 62%, were handled without the need for underwriter intervention. Total assets Stockholders’ equity Return on equity Combined ratio 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.0 25 20 15 10 5 0 3.2 2.4 1.6 0.8 DIVIDENDS PAID (per share) ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 0.0 ’07 $0.50 $0.40 $0.30 $0.20 $0.10 0 $25 Other $20 nsAuto home $15 SAuto $10 $5 0 DIVIDENDS PAID (per share) ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 BOOK VALUE (per share) ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 $0.50 $0.40 $0.30 $0.20 $0.10 0 $25 $20 $15 $10 $5 0 DIVIDENDS PAID (per share) ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 State Auto Financial Corporation 2007 BOOK VALUE (per share) EARNINGS (per share) PERSONAL INSURANCE—PRODUCT MIX $3.20 $2.40 A. Standard Auto $1.60 B. Homeowners C. Non-Standard Auto D. Other 58.6% 30.6% 7.0% 3.8% $0.80 Net Premiums Earned: $609.6 Million ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 0 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 PERSONAL INSURANCE—PRODUCT MIX other BOOK VALUE (per share) workers A. Standard Auto liab B. Homeowners C. Non-Standard Auto fire D. Other multi Net Premiums Earned: $609.6 Million auto 58.6% 30.6% 7.0% 3.8% EARNINGS (per share) $3.20 $2.40 BUSINESS INSURANCE—PRODUCT MIX A. Commercial Auto 24.1% B. Commercial Multi-Peril 21.6% C. Fire/Allied D. Commercial Liability E. Worker’s Comp F. Other 20.7% 18.8% 8.3% 6.5% Net Premiums Earned: $402.0 Million $0.50 $0.40 $0.30 $0.20 $0.10 0 $25 $20 $15 $10 $5 0 ’05 ’04 BUSINESS INSURANCE—PRODUCT MIX ’03 ’06 ’07 $1.60 B. Commercial Multi-Peril 21.6% capital management $0.80 A. Commercial Auto C. Fire/Allied 24.1% 20.7% D. Commercial Liability 18.8% 8.3% E. Worker’s Comp 0 F. Other 6.5% State Auto’s capital management objective is to increase total ’04 returns to our shareholders while providing security to our policyholders. We strive to maintain adequate liquidity to grow surplus and fund acquisitions. Our flexible corporate structure, featuring parent company State Auto Mutual, can be leveraged to acquire stock or mutual companies. ’03 Net Premiums Earned: $402.0 Million EARNINGS (per share) $3.20 $2.40 In 2007 we took advantage of market conditions and expanded our bank line of credit to $200 million. We implemented a share repurchase program to return capital to shareholders if conditions warrant. We increased our quarterly dividend to $0.15 per share, reflecting the confidence we have in our operations and future prospects. On January 1, 2008, STFC began assuming insurance business from the Beacon Insurance Group and the Patrons Insurance Group through the State Auto reinsurance pooling agreement. $0.80 $1.60 0 ’03 State Auto’s first acquisition was Milbank Insurance Company in 1993. It went so well that we encouraged potential acquisi- tion partners to call any Milbank employee if they needed assurance that State Auto lived up to its promises. ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 enteRpRiSe RiSk management ’05 ’07 Insurance companies are typically very good at risk manage- ’06 ment. But there’s a difference between addressing risk effectively at the business unit level and addressing the joint management of risk and capital at the corporate level. Underwriting, reserving, cash flow investment, reinsurance, disaster recovery—these are among the functions and responsibilities across the entire organization that warrant the attention of the Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) function. ERM is holistic in its approach. It’s not just about reducing or eliminating risk. It’s about understanding it better. A proactive ERM program, when done well, reduces surprises, promotes better decision-making and serves as a strategic tool to increase shareholder value. ERM can help us spot opportunities and areas in which we can prudently take more risk, boosting our returns. Rating agencies such as A.M. Best and Standard & Poor’s and many state insurance regulators have begun to take a com- pany’s enterprise risk management capabilities explicitly into account in their assessment of insurance companies. 1 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.0 25 20 15 10 5 0 3.2 2.4 1.6 0.8 multi 0.0 Other nsAuto home SAuto other workers liab fire auto 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.0 25 20 15 10 5 0 3.2 2.4 1.6 0.8 0.0 State Auto Financial Corporation 2007 JameS Seay Personal Insurance DaviD bailey Information Technology our People Ask a State Auto agent what sets us apart and you’ll likely hear variations on a theme: our people. From being easy to reach by phone to personally visiting the offices of our independent agency partners, it’s clear that in a crowded insurance market- place, our associates stand out. We’re taking our associates, and our company, to a new level by rewarding high performers and empowering each person in our organization through comprehensive performance man- agement and leadership development initiatives. matt Smith Claims Si SingRatSomboune Information Technology keith yun Personal Insurance cRaig SegbeRS Information Technology 2 State Auto Financial Corporation 2007 michael young Personal Insurance beth knaack Agency Services ken Rott Information Technology These programs ensure personal objectives are aligned Professional. Honest. Trustworthy. All are words often with departmental, divisional and corporate goals, and used to describe the people of State Auto. They’re among that associates are rewarded when they meet or exceed the best in the industry, and we intend to keep it that way. those goals. In annual performance plans, associates also align their actions and behaviors with corporate values that tie directly to our culture and strong reputation. We’re also focusing on leadership development to enhance our leaders’ skills and abilities to successfully guide State Auto into the future. 2,200 associates were responsible for making 2007 a great year. The people on these pages were among those serving on teams dedicated to profitable growth, claims service, automation and systems development. John RoSS Field Sales Jackie chRiStenSen Business Insurance Joe oak Information Technology 3 State Auto Financial Corporation 2007 our Vision, Mission and Values OUR VISIOn: State Auto is the property and casualty insurance company of choice. OUR MISSIOn: The State Auto group provides property and casualty products and services, through indepen- dent agents, that enhance the financial interests of our policyholders and shareholders. OUR VAlUES: We maintain our Financial Strength by • preserving our A+ rating • growing surplus consistently • underwriting profitably • growing premium rationally • embracing fiscal discipline We honor our Reputation by • behaving honestly, ethically, and with integrity • inspiring trust • caring for others We preserve our Relationships by • being respectful • valuing diversity • embracing candor • attracting and keeping quality people We reinforce our Reliability by • keeping our commitments • managing change effectively We ensure our Responsiveness by • listening effectively • being accountable • executing flawlessly and quickly Steve laSeR Claims Rob Wettling Program Management Rich hopkinS Business Insurance DeliveRing on the pRomiSe no facet of our service to policyholders has meant more to State Auto’s reputa- tion than our claims service, whose ultimate test is catastrophe. In 2007 catastrophe teams were called to Min- nesota and north Dakota and already in 2008 teams have been dispatched to Arkansas, kentucky and Tennessee. Their tireless, caring efforts in the face of physically challenging and some- times tragic circumstances honor our mission and epitomize our values. They deserve our special thanks. kelly ReiSling Field Sales TIM REIk Sales 4 State auto Financial corporation 2007 form 10-K UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-K È Annual Report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ‘ Transition Report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 or For the transition period from to Commission File Number 000-19289 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) Ohio (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) 31-1324304 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) 518 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio (Address of principal executive offices) 43215-3976 (Zip Code) Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (614) 464-5000 Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: Common Shares, without par value Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ‘ No È Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ‘ No È Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes È 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. ‘ Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. Large accelerated filer ‘ Non-accelerated filer ‘ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) Indicate by check mark whether Accelerated filer È Smaller reporting company ‘ is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Registrant Act). Yes ‘ No È the As of June 30, 2007, the last business day of the Registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, the aggregate market value (based on the closing sales price on that date) of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant was $443,201,023. On March 7, 2008, the Registrant had 40,167,853 Common Shares outstanding. DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE Portions of the Registrant’s Proxy Statement relating to the annual meeting of stockholders to be held May 7, 2008 (the “2008 Proxy Statement”), which will be filed within 120 days of December 31, 2007, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K. Index to Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 Form 10-K Item Description Part I 1 Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Part II Executive Officers of the Registrant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1A Risk Factors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1B Unresolved Staff Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3 4 5 6 7 Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Legal Proceedings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Shareholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Selected Consolidated Financial Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7A Qualitative and Quantitative Disclosures about Market Risk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 9 Financial Statements and Supplementary Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9A Controls and Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9B Other Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Part III 10 Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 12 13 14 15 Executive Compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence . . . . . . . . . . Principal Accountant Fees and Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Signatures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Part IV Exhibits(1) Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Certifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 2 15 16 25 25 25 25 26 28 29 76 77 77 121 121 121 122 122 122 123 123 123 134 135 136 (1) The financial statement schedules noted at Item 15(a)(2) and the exhibits noted at Item 15(a)(3), other than those exhibits identified in this Index, have been omitted from the reproduction of this form 10-K. For the omitted schedules and exhibits, see our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, a copy of which is available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies of omitted schedules and exhibits are also available on our website at www.stfc.com under “SEC filings” or may be obtained by writing to Terrence L. Bowshier, Vice President, State Auto Financial Corporation, 518 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215. IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K (this “Form 10-K”) of State Auto Financial Corporation (“State Auto Financial” or “STFC”) or incorporated herein by reference, including, without limitation, statements regarding State Auto Financial’s future financial position, business strategy, budgets, projected costs, goals and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “project,” “believe” or “continue” or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology. Forward-looking statements speak only as the date the statements were made. Although State Auto Financial believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements have a reasonable basis, it can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the statements. For a discussion of the most significant risks and uncertainties that could cause State Auto Financial’s actual results to differ materially from those projected, see “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of this Form 10-K. Except to the limited extent required by applicable law, State Auto Financial undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. IMPORTANT DEFINED TERMS USED IN THIS FORM 10-K As used in this Form 10-K, the following terms have the meanings ascribed below: • • • • • • • • “State Auto Financial” or “STFC” refers to State Auto Financial Corporation; “We,” “us,” “our” or the “Company” refers to STFC and its consolidated subsidiaries, namely State Auto Property & Casualty Insurance Company (“State Auto P&C”), Milbank Insurance Company (“Milbank”), Farmers Casualty Insurance Company (“Farmers”), State Auto Insurance Company of Ohio (“SA Ohio”), State Auto National Insurance Company (“SA National”), Stateco Financial Services, Inc. (“Stateco”), Strategic Insurance Software, Inc. (“S.I.S.”) and 518 Property Management and Leasing, LLC (“518 PML”); “State Auto Mutual” or “our parent company” refers to State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company, which owns approximately 64% of STFC’s outstanding common shares; The “Pooled Companies” or “our Pooled Companies” refer to State Auto P&C, Milbank, Farmers, SA Ohio (referred to as the “STFC Pooled Companies”), State Auto Mutual, and certain subsidiaries and affiliates of State Auto Mutual, namely State Auto Florida Insurance Company (“SA Florida”), State Auto Insurance Company of Wisconsin (“SA Wisconsin”), Meridian Security Insurance Company (“Meridian Security”) Meridian Citizens Mutual Insurance Company (“Meridian Citizens Mutual”), Beacon National Insurance Company (“Beacon National”), Patrons Mutual Insurance Company of Connecticut (“Patrons Mutual”), and Litchfield Fire Mutual Insurance Company (“Litchfield”), (State Auto Mutual, SA Florida, SA Wisconsin, Meridian Security, Meridian Citizens Mutual, Beacon National, Patrons Mutual and Litchfield are referred to as the “Mutual Pooled Companies”); The “MIGI Insurers” refer to Meridian Security and Meridian Citizens Mutual, and the “MIGI Companies” refer to the MIGI Insurers and Meridian Insurance Group, Inc. (“MIGI”); The “Beacon Insurance Group” or “Beacon Group” refers to Beacon National and Beacon Lloyds Insurance Company (“Beacon Lloyds”); The “Patrons Insurance Group” or “Patrons Group” refers to Patrons Mutual, Litchfield, Patrons Fire Insurance Company of Rhode Island (“Patrons Fire”) and Provision State Insurance Company (“Provision State”); and The “State Auto Group” refers to the Pooled Companies and the non-pooled insurance companies including SA National, Beacon Lloyds, Provision State and Patrons Fire. 1 Item 1. Business (a) General Development of Business PART I State Auto Financial is an Ohio domiciled super-regional property and casualty insurance holding company incorporated in 1990. We are primarily engaged in writing both personal and business lines of insurance. State Auto Financial owns 100% of State Auto P&C, Milbank, Farmers, SA Ohio, and SA National, each of which is a property and casualty insurance company. Our operations are headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. State Auto Financial owns 100% of Stateco, which provides investment management services to affiliated insurance companies. State Auto Financial also owns 100% of S.I.S., a developer and seller of insurance-related software. State Auto P&C and Stateco share ownership of 518 PML, which owns and leases property to affiliated companies. The results of the operations of S.I.S. and 518 PML are not material to our total operations. Our parent company is State Auto Mutual, an Ohio domiciled super-regional mutual property and casualty insurance company organized in 1921. It owns approximately 64% of State Auto Financial’s outstanding common shares. It also owns 100% of SA Florida and SA Wisconsin, each of which is a property and casualty insurance company. It also owns 100% of MIGI, an insurance holding company. MIGI owns 100% of Meridian Security, a property and casualty insurance company. MIGI is also a party to an affiliation agreement with Meridian Citizens Mutual, a mutual property and casualty insurance company. MIGI also owns 100% of State Auto Holdings, Inc., an insurance holding company, which owns 100% of the Beacon Insurance Group. In March 2007, State Auto Mutual completed its purchase of the Beacon Insurance Group of Wichita Falls, Texas. With this acquisition, Texas became the State Auto Group’s 29th state of operation. The Beacon Insurance Group is comprised of Beacon National and Beacon Lloyds, which are affiliated through a trust agreement. Beacon National and Beacon Lloyds wrote premiums during 2007 in Texas and Arkansas. In December 2007, State Auto Mutual completed its affiliation with the Patrons Insurance Group. This affiliation expanded the State Auto Group’s operations to 33 states by adding Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont. State Auto P&C has participated in a quota share reinsurance pooling arrangement with State Auto Mutual since 1987 (the “Pooling Arrangement”). Since January 1, 2005, the participants in the Pooling Arrangement have been State Auto P&C, State Auto Mutual, Milbank, SA Wisconsin, Farmers, SA Ohio, SA Florida, Meridian Security and Meridian Citizens Mutual. On January 1, 2008, Beacon National, Patrons Mutual and Litchfield became participants in the Pooling Arrangement. See “Narrative Description of Business—Pooling Arrangement” in this Item 1 for further information regarding the Pooling Arrangement. The State Auto Group markets a broad line of property and casualty insurance, such as standard personal and commercial automobile, nonstandard personal automobile, homeowners and farmowners, commercial multi- peril, workers’ compensation, general liability and property insurance, through independent insurance agencies in 33 states. Our Pooled Companies and SA National are rated A+ (Superior) by the A.M. Best Company. (b) Financial Information about Segments We have three significant reportable segments: personal insurance and business insurance (the “insurance segments”), and investment operations. The insurance segments are managed separately because of the the insurance differences in types of customers served, products provided or services offered. In 2007, segments distributed their products through the independent agency system in 29 states. The personal insurance segment provides primarily personal auto (standard and nonstandard) and homeowners to the personal insurance market. The business insurance segment provides primarily commercial auto, commercial multi-peril, fire and allied lines, other and product liability and workers’ compensation insurance to small to medium sized businesses within the commercial insurance market, which in 2008 includes middle market business. The investment operations segment, managed by Stateco, provides investment services for our Company’s invested assets. 2 Prior to 2007, we reported our financial information in two segments, a standard insurance segment and a nonstandard insurance segment. We believe that our new segments better reflect the manner in which we manage our business and report our results internally to our principal operating decision makers. We established integrated personal and business insurance teams with product and profit responsibilities for their respective areas. We evaluate the performance of our insurance segments using industry financial measurements based on Statutory Accounting Principles (“SAP”), which include loss and loss adjustment expense ratios, underwriting expense ratios, combined ratios, statutory underwriting gain (loss), net premiums earned and net written premiums. Prior reporting periods have been restated to conform to the new segment presentation. (c) Narrative Description of Business Property and Casualty Insurance Pooling Arrangement Our Pooled Companies are parties to the “Pooling Arrangement.” In general, under the Pooling Arrangement, each of the Pooled Companies cedes premiums, losses and expenses on all of its business to State Auto Mutual, and State Auto Mutual in turn cedes to each of the Pooled Companies a specified portion of premiums, losses and expenses based on each of the Pooled Companies’ respective pooling percentages. State Auto Mutual then retains the balance of the pooled business. The participation percentage for the STFC Pooled Companies has remained at 80% since 2001. Prior to 2008, the Pooling Arrangement covered all property and casualty insurance written by the Pooled Companies except State Auto Mutual’s voluntary assumed reinsurance, middle market business insurance written by State Auto Mutual and Meridian Security and intercompany catastrophe reinsurance written by State Auto P&C. In 2008, we made the following changes to the Pooling Arrangement: • • • • Added Beacon National to the pool with a participation percentage of 0.0%; Added Patrons Mutual and Litchfield to the pool with participation percentages of 0.4% and 0.1%, respectively; Reduced State Auto Mutual’s participation percentage from 19.5% to 19.0% to accommodate the participation percentages allocated to Patrons Mutual and Litchfield; Included State Auto middle market business insurance written by State Auto Mutual and Meridian Security. The following table sets forth a chronology of the participants and their participation percentage changes that have occurred in the Pooling Arrangement since January 1, 1997: Year(1) 1997 1998 1999 2000 – 9/30/2001 10/1/2001 – 2002 2003 – 2004 1/1/2005 – 2007 1/1/2008 – current State Auto Mutual State Auto P&C Milbank 55.0 52.0 49.0 46.0 19.0 18.3 19.5 19.0 35.0 37.0 37.0 39.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 10.0 10.0(2) 10.0 10.0 17.0 17.0 17.0 17.0 SA Wisconsin Farmers SA Ohio SA Florida Meridian Security Meridian Citizens Mutual Beacon National Patrons Mutual Litchfield Mutual N/A 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 3.0 N/A N/A 1.0 N/A 3.0 1.0 N/A 3.0 0.7 1.0 3.0 0.0 1.0 3.0 0.0 1.0 3.0 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 0.0 0.0 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 0.5 0.5 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 0.0 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 0.4 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 0.1 (1) (2) Time period is for the year ended December 31, unless otherwise noted. In July 1998, Milbank became a 100% owned subsidiary of STFC. Previously, Milbank was a 100% owned subsidiary of State Auto Mutual. 3 The following table sets forth a summary of the Pooling Arrangement participation percentages of STFC and State Auto Mutual, aggregating their respective 100% owned subsidiaries: Year(1) STFC Pooled Companies State Auto Mutual Pooled Companies 1997 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1/1/1998 – 6/30/1998 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7/1/1998 – 12/31/1998 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2000 – 9/30/2001 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10/1/2001 – current . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 37 47 50 53 80 65 63 53 50 47 20 (1) Time period is for the year ended December 31, unless otherwise noted. It is not management’s intention to recommend an adjustment to the STFC Pooled Companies’ 80% the Pooling in the foreseeable future. Under applicable governance procedures, participation level Arrangement were to be amended, management would make recommendations to the independent committees of the Board of Directors of both State Auto Mutual and STFC. The independent committees review and evaluate such factors as they deem relevant and recommend any appropriate pooling change to the Board of Directors of both State Auto Mutual and STFC. The Pooling Arrangement is terminable by any of our Pooled Companies at any time by any party by giving twelve months notice to the other parties and their respective domiciliary insurance departments. None of our Pooled Companies currently intends to terminate the Pooling Arrangement. if Under the terms of the Pooling Arrangement, all subject premiums, incurred losses, loss expenses and other underwriting expenses are prorated among our Pooled Companies on the basis of their participation in the pool. By spreading the underwriting risk among each of our Pooled Companies, the Pooling Arrangement is designed to produce more uniform and stable underwriting results for each of our Pooled Companies than any one company would experience individually. One effect of the Pooling Arrangement is to provide each of our Pooled Companies with an identical mix of pooled property and casualty insurance business on a net basis. The Pooling Arrangement excludes catastrophic losses and loss adjustment expenses that are reinsured under our Catastrophe Assumption Agreement (defined below), as well as the premium for such exposures. State Auto P&C reinsures each insurer in the State Auto Group for this layer of reinsurance in the amount of $100.0 million in excess of $135.0 million. No losses were paid by State Auto P&C under the Catastrophe Assumption Agreement in 2007, 2006 or 2005. The State Auto Group does not currently intend to renew the Catastrophe Assumption Agreement upon its expiration on July 1, 2008. The State Auto Group is considering other alternatives, such as securing replacement coverage from a third party reinsurer or relying upon the $100 million set aside under the Credit Agreement (defined below) to fund this layer of catastrophe reinsurance, but currently no decision has been reached. See “Narrative Description of Business—Reinsurance” in this Item 1 for further information regarding the Catastrophe Assumption Agreement. Our nonstandard automobile programs, written through SA National, provide insurance for private passenger automobile risks which do not qualify for the standard or preferred automobile insurance market. Typically, nonstandard risks have higher than average loss experience and an overall higher degree of risk than standard or preferred automobile business. We do not include the business of SA National in the Pooling Arrangement. See “Narrative Description of Business—Marketing” for further information regarding our nonstandard auto insurance business. Management Agreement With the exception of the Patrons Group (discussed below), our subsidiary, State Auto P&C, provides the employees to perform all organizational, operational and management functions for the State Auto Group and 4 State Auto Mutual provides certain operating facilities, including our corporate headquarters, for the State Auto Group through management and cost sharing agreements. Each of the affiliated management and cost sharing agreements has a ten-year term and renews for an additional ten-year period unless terminated sooner in accordance with their terms. If our primary management agreement, which we refer to as our 2005 Management Agreement, were terminated for any reason, we would have to relocate our facilities to continue our operations. However, we do not currently anticipate the termination of the 2005 Management Agreement. See also Item 2 (Property) of this Form 10-K. On December 14, 2007, State Auto Mutual and State Auto P&C became parties to various management and/ or cost sharing agreements in conjunction with State Auto Mutual’s affiliation with the Patrons Insurance Group. Each of these management and/or cost sharing agreements apportions among the parties the actual costs of the services provided. Employees of the Patrons Group will remain employees of Patrons Mutual until January 1, 2009, at which time it is expected that they will become employees of State Auto P&C. The insurance operations of the Patrons Group will continue to be conducted at facilities owned by Patrons Mutual and Litchfield. Marketing As of January 1, 2008, the State Auto Group marketed its products in 33 states through independent insurance agencies. None of the companies in the State Auto Group has any contracts with managing general agencies. We view our independent insurance agents as our primary customers, because they are in a position to recommend either our insurance products or those of a competitor to their customers. We strongly support the independent agency system and believe its maintenance is essential to our present and future success. As such, we continually develop programs and procedures to enhance our agency relationships, including the following: regular travel by senior management and branch office staff to meet with agents, in person, in their home states; training opportunities; travel incentives related to profit and growth; contingent commissions; and an agent stock purchase plan. We actively help our agencies develop professional sales skills within their staffs. Our training programs include both products and sales training conducted in our home office. Further, our training programs include disciplined follow-up and coaching for an extended time. Other targeted training sessions are held in our branch office locations from time to time, as well as in our agents’ offices. We have made continuing efforts to use technology to make it easier for our agents to do business with us. We offer internet-based (i) rating, (ii) policy application submission and (iii) execution of changes to policies for certain products. In addition, we provide our agents with the opportunity to maintain policyholder records electronically, avoiding the expense of preparing and storing paper records. Software developed by S.I.S. also enhances the ability of our agents and us to take advantage of electronic data submission. We believe that, since agents and their customers realize better service and efficiency through automation, they value their relationship with us. Automation can make it easier for an agent to do business with us, which attracts prospective agents and enhances existing agencies’ relationships with us. We share the cost of approved advertising with selected agencies. We provide our agents with defined travel and cash incentives if they achieve certain sales and underwriting profit levels. Further, we recognize our very top agencies—measured by consistent profitability, achievement of written premium thresholds and growth—as Inner Circle Agencies. Inner Circle Agencies are rewarded with additional trip and financial incentives, including additional contingent commissions and additional contributions to their Inner Circle Agent Stock Purchase Plan, a part of our Agent Stock Purchase Plan described below. To strengthen agency commitment to producing profitable business and further develop our agency relationships, we make available to our agents a stock purchase plan which provides them with the opportunity to 5 use their commission income to purchase our stock. Our transfer agent administers this stock purchase plan using commission dollars assigned by the agents to purchase shares on the open market through a stockbroker. We also make available to our top performing agents a stock option plan which provides them with the opportunity to vest grants of options in our stock if they meet certain performance targets. During 2007, the State Auto Group, which includes the Beacon and Patrons Groups, received premiums on products marketed in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin. During 2007, the eight states that contributed the greatest percentage of our direct premiums written were as follows: Ohio (17.1%), Kentucky (10.2%), Indiana (6.9%), Tennessee (6.3%), Pennsylvania (4.6%), Minnesota (4.6%), Maryland (4.4%) and Arkansas (4.1%). Claims Our claims division emphasizes timely investigation of claims, settlement of meritorious claims for equitable amounts, maintenance of adequate case reserves for claims, and control of external claims adjustment expenses. Achievement of these goals supports our marketing efforts by providing agents and policyholders with prompt and effective service. Claim settlement authority levels are established for each adjuster, supervisor and manager based on his or her level of expertise and experience. Our claims division is responsible for reviewing the claim, obtaining necessary documentation and establishing loss and expense reserves of certain claims. Generally, property or casualty claims estimated to reach $150,000 or above are sent to our home office to be supervised by claims division specialists. Branches with low volumes of large claims are assigned a lower dollar threshold for referring claims to the home office. In territories in which there is not sufficient volume to justify having full- time adjusters, we use independent appraisers and adjusters to evaluate and settle claims under the supervision of claims division personnel. We attempt to minimize claims adjusting costs by settling as many claims as possible through our internal claims staff and, if possible, by settling disputes regarding automobile physical damage and property insurance claims (first party claims) through arbitration. In addition, selected agents have authority to settle small first party claims, which improves claims service. Our claim representatives use third party, proprietary bodily injury evaluation software to help them value bodily injury claims, except for the most severe injury cases. Our Claims Contact Centers allow us to improve claims efficiency and economy by concentrating the handling of smaller, less complex claims in a centralized environment. We provide claim service 24 hours a day, seven days a week, either through associates in our Claims Contact Centers, which are located in Des Moines, Iowa and Columbus, Ohio, or, for a few overnight hours, through a third party service provider. Reserves Loss reserves are management’s best estimates at a given point in time of what we expect to pay in claims, based on facts, circumstances and historical trends then known. During the loss settlement period, additional facts regarding individual claims may become known, and consequently it often becomes necessary to refine and adjust the estimates of liability. The results of our operations and financial condition could be impacted, perhaps significantly, in the future if the ultimate payments required to settle claims vary from the liability currently recorded. We maintain reserves for the eventual payment of losses and loss expenses for both reported claims and incurred claims that have not yet been reported. Loss expense reserves are intended to cover the ultimate costs of settling all losses, including investigation, litigation and in-house claims processing costs from such losses. 6 Reserves for reported losses are initially established on either a case-by-case or formula basis depending on the type and circumstances of the loss. The case-by-case reserve amounts are determined based on our reserving practices, which take into account the type of risk, the circumstances surrounding each claim and policy provisions relating to types of loss. The formula reserves are based on historical paid loss data for similar claims with provisions for trend changes caused by inflation. Loss and loss expense reserves for incurred claims that have not yet been reported are estimated based on many variables including historical and statistical information, changes in exposure units, inflation, legal developments, storm loss estimates and economic conditions. Case and formula basis loss reserves are reviewed on a regular basis. As new data becomes available, estimates are updated resulting in adjustments to loss reserves. Generally, reported losses initially reserved on a formula basis which have not settled after six months, are case reserved at that time. Although our management uses many resources to calculate reserves, there is no precise method for determining the ultimate liability. We do not discount loss reserves for financial statement purposes. For additional information regarding our reserves, see Item 7 of this Form 10-K, “Management, Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Loss and Loss Expense Reserves.” The following table presents our one-year development information on changes in the reserve for loss and loss expenses for each of the three years in the period ended December 31: ($ millions) Beginning of Year: Year Ended December 31 2007 2006 2005 Loss and loss expenses payable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Less: Reinsurance recoverable on losses and loss expenses payable(1) . . . . . . . . . . . $674.5 13.5 728.7 17.4 681.8 25.9 Net losses and loss expenses payable(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 661.0 711.3 655.9 Provision for losses and loss expenses occurring: Current year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Prior years(3) 645.5 (54.7) 659.3 (71.7) 657.7 (44.3) Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 590.8 587.6 613.4 Loss and loss expense payments for claims occurring during: Current year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Prior years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 368.7 236.0 389.4 248.5 350.5 242.8 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 604.7 637.9 593.3 Impact of pooling change, January 1, 2005 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . — — 35.3 End of Year: Net losses and loss expenses payable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Add: Reinsurance recoverable on losses and loss expenses payable(4) 647.1 11.2 661.0 13.5 711.3 17.4 Losses and loss expenses payable(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $658.3 674.5 728.7 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) Includes amounts due from affiliates of $2.7 million, $5.5 million, and $5.7 million at beginning of year 2007, 2006, and 2005, respectively. Includes net amounts assumed from affiliates of $281.7 million, $302.6 million, and $296.9 million at beginning of year 2007, 2006, and 2005, respectively. This line item shows decreases in the current calendar year in the provision for losses and loss expenses attributable to claims occurring in prior years. See discussion regarding the calendar year developments at Item 7 of this Form 10-K Management’s Discussion and Analysis section at “2007 Compared to 2006—Expenses” and “2006 Compared to 2005—Expenses.” Includes amounts due from affiliates of $1.2 million, $2.7 million, and $5.5 million at end of year 2007, 2006, and 2005, respectively. Includes net amounts assumed from affiliates of $257.2 million, $281.7 million, and $302.6 million at end of year 2007, 2006, and 2005, respectively. 7 The following table sets forth our development of reserves for losses and loss expenses from 1997 through 2007. “Net liability for losses and loss expenses payable” sets forth the estimated liability for unpaid losses and loss expenses recorded at the balance sheet date, net of reinsurance recoverables, for each of the indicated years. This liability represents the estimated amount of losses and loss expenses for claims arising in the current and all prior years that are unpaid at the balance sheet date, including losses incurred but not reported to us. The upper section of the table shows the cumulative amounts paid with respect to the previously reported reserve as of the end of each succeeding year. For example, through December 31, 2007, we have paid 92.4% of the currently estimated losses and loss expenses that had been incurred, but not paid, as of December 31, 1997. The lower portion of the table shows the re-estimated amounts of the previously reported reserve based on experience as of the end of each succeeding year. The estimate is increased or decreased as more information becomes known about the claims incurred. The amounts on the “cumulative redundancy (deficiency)” line represent the aggregate change in the estimates over all prior years. For example, the 1997 calendar year reserve has developed a $28.0 million or 14.4% deficiency through December 31, 2007. This $28.0 million amount has been included in operating results over the ten years and did not have a significant effect on income in any one year. In evaluating the information in the table, it should be noted that each amount includes the effects of all changes in amounts for prior periods. For example, the amount of the redundancy related to losses settled in 2000, but incurred in 1997, will be included in the cumulative redundancy or deficiency amounts for years 1997, 1998 and 1999. Conditions and trends that have affected the development of the liability in the past may not necessarily occur in the future. Accordingly, it may not be appropriate to extrapolate future redundancies or deficiencies based on this table. In 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 the Pooling Arrangement was amended to increase our share of premiums, losses and expenses and in 2005 to add the business of two companies within the State Auto Group, the MIGI Insurers. An amount of assets equal to the increase in net liabilities was transferred to us from our parent company in 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 in conjunction with each year’s respective pooling change and in 2005 from the MIGI Insurers. The amount of the assets transferred on the reserve liabilities assumed in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2005 has been netted against and has reduced the cumulative amounts paid for years prior to 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2005, respectively. 8 ($ millions) Years Ended December 31 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Net liability for losses and loss expenses payable . . . . . . . . . . $194.2 $205.0 $221.7 $236.7 $509.9 $592.1 $628.8 $ 655.9 $ 711.3 $ 661.0 $ 647.1 Paid (cumulative) as of: One year later . . . . . . . . . . . Two years later . . . . . . . . . . Three years later . . . . . . . . . Four years later . . . . . . . . . . Five years later . . . . . . . . . . Six years later . . . . . . . . . . . Seven years later . . . . . . . . Eight years later . . . . . . . . . Nine years later . . . . . . . . . Ten years later . . . . . . . . . . 5.9% 41.8% 35.4% 52.7% 43.0% 61.6% 79.9% 71.9% 62.1% 86.9% 95.5% 78.8% 96.1% 101.6% 86.3% 99.0% 107.0% 92.5% 94.9% 102.4% 112.2% 97.4% 106.0% 32.7% 54.6% 70.1% 69.2% 77.1% 81.8% 85.8% 88.2% 90.0% 100.3% 92.4% Net liability re-estimate as of: 43.4% 65.3% 78.4% 84.4% 88.5% 92.3% 41.2% 60.8% 71.4% 77.3% 82.3% 36.7% 53.2% 63.3% 70.6% 31.6% 48.4% 59.6% 34.9% 51.1% 34.9% — One year later . . . . . . . . . . . Two years later . . . . . . . . . . Three years later . . . . . . . . . Four years later . . . . . . . . . . Five years later . . . . . . . . . . Six years later . . . . . . . . . . . Seven years later . . . . . . . . Eight years later . . . . . . . . . Nine years later . . . . . . . . . Ten years later . . . . . . . . . . 96.6% 99.7% 97.5% 125.7% 102.4% 96.7% 119.1% 129.1% 105.1% 100.6% 98.8% 98.5% 98.8% 93.0% 92.0% 91.9% 111.9% 120.3% 133.1% 106.9% 102.0% 111.5% 123.2% 136.1% 106.2% 101.4% 115.6% 126.7% 135.6% 107.1% 106.1% 118.5% 127.9% 138.2% 107.7% 108.9% 120.0% 128.9% 140.1% 110.5% 121.5% 131.1% 111.9% 123.9% 114.4% 96.5% 93.2% 91.0% 90.6% 93.3% 87.6% 86.9% 89.9% 86.4% 91.7% — Cumulative redundancy (deficiency) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ (28.0) $ (49.0) $ (68.8) $ (95.0) $ (39.0) $ 7.1 $ 59.1 $ 86.2 $ 96.9 $ 54.7 Cumulative redundancy (deficiency) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (14.4)% (23.9)% (31.1)% (40.1)% (7.7)% 1.2% 9.4% 13.1% 13.6% 8.3% — — Gross* liability – end of year . . . Reinsurance recoverable . . . . . . Net liability – end of year . . . . . . $402.7 $208.5 $194.2 $414.2 $209.2 $205.0 $438.7 $217.0 $221.7 $457.2 $220.5 $236.7 $743.7 $233.8 $509.9 $862.4 $270.3 $592.1 $934.0 $305.2 $628.8 $1,006.4 $ 350.5 $ 655.9 $1,111.1 $ 399.8 $ 711.3 $1,032.7 $ 371.7 $ 661.0 $1,029.9 $ 382.8 $ 647.1 Gross liability re-estimated – latest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107.7% 118.1% 119.4% 125.5% 107.5% 99.3% 93.1% 90.2% 89.0% 93.2% Reinsurance recoverable re-estimated – latest . . . . . . . . 101.4% 112.5% 107.4% 109.9% 107.1% 100.4% 98.3% 96.4% 93.8% 95.8% Net liability re-estimated – latest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114.4% 123.9% 131.1% 140.1% 107.7% 98.8% 90.6% 86.9% 86.4% 91.7% — — — * Gross liability includes: Direct and assumed losses and loss expenses payable. As the Pooling Arrangement provides for the right of offset, we have reported losses and loss expenses payable ceded to our parent company as assets only in situations when net amounts ceded to our parent company exceed that assumed. The following table provides a reconciliation of the reinsurance recoverable to the amount reported in our consolidated financial statements at each balance sheet date: ($ millions) 1997 1998 1999 2000 Years Ended December 31 2002 2003 2001 2004 2005 2006 2007 Reinsurance recoverable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $208.6 $209.2 $217.1 $220.5 $233.8 $270.3 $305.2 $350.5 $399.8 $371.7 $382.8 Amount netted against assumed from State Auto Mutual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $195.3 $197.7 $206.3 $212.6 $219.9 $261.5 $291.0 $324.6 $382.4 $358.2 $371.6 8.8 $ 14.2 $ 25.9 $ 17.4 $ 13.5 $ 11.2 Net reinsurance recoverable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 13.3 $ 11.5 $ 10.8 $ 7.9 $ 13.9 $ Reinsurance Members of the State Auto Group follow the customary industry practice of reinsuring a portion of their exposures and paying to the reinsurers a portion of the premiums received. Insurance is ceded principally to reduce net liability on individual risks or for individual loss occurrences, including catastrophic losses. Although reinsurance does 9 not legally discharge the individual members of the State Auto Group from primary liability for the full amount of limits applicable under their policies, it does make the assuming reinsurer liable to the extent of the reinsurance ceded. During 2007, the Beacon Group was added to the State Auto Group’s reinsurance programs described below and as of January 1, 2008, the Patrons Group was added to these programs. Each member of the State Auto Group is party to working reinsurance treaties for property, casualty and workers’ compensation lines with several reinsurers arranged through a reinsurance intermediary. Under the property per risk excess of loss treaty, each member is responsible for the first $3.0 million of each covered loss, and the reinsurers are responsible for 100% of the excess over $3.0 million up to $20.0 million of covered loss. The rates for this reinsurance are negotiated annually. The terms of the casualty excess of loss program provide that each company in the State Auto Group is responsible for the first $2.0 million of a covered loss. The reinsurers are responsible for 100% of the excess over $2.0 million up to $5.0 million of covered loss. Also, certain unusual claim situations involving bodily injury liability, property damage, uninsured motorist and personal injury protection are covered by an arrangement that provides for $10.0 million of coverage in excess of the $5.0 million retention for each loss occurrence. This layer of reinsurance sits above the $3.0 million excess of $2.0 million arrangement. The rates for this reinsurance are negotiated annually. The terms of the workers’ compensation excess of loss program provide that each company in the State Auto Group is responsible for the first $2.0 million of covered loss. The reinsurers are responsible for 100% of the excess over $2.0 million up to $10.0 million of covered loss. Net retentions under this contract may be submitted to the casualty excess of loss program, subject to a limit of $2.0 million per loss occurrence. The rates for this reinsurance are negotiated annually. In addition to the workers’ compensation reinsurance program described above, each company in the State Auto Group is party to an agreement which provides an additional layer of excess of loss reinsurance for workers’ compensation losses involving multiple workers. Subject to $10.0 million of retention, reinsurers are responsible for 100% of the excess over $10.0 million up to $20.0 million of covered loss. This coverage is subject to a “Maximum Any One Life” limit of $10.0 million. The rates for this reinsurance are negotiated annually. In addition, the State Auto Group has secured other reinsurance to limit the net cost of large loss events for certain types of coverage and certain companies. Included are umbrella liability losses which are reinsured up to a limit of $10.0 million with a maximum $0.6 million retention. The State Auto Group also makes use of facultative reinsurance for unique risk situations and participates in involuntary pools and associations in certain states. (Facultative reinsurance provides for a separate reinsurance agreement that is negotiated for a particular risk or insurance policy.) Members of the State Auto Group maintain property catastrophe reinsurance for catastrophic events affecting at least two risks. On a combined basis, the members of the State Auto Group retain the first $55.0 million of catastrophe loss, each occurrence, with a 5% co-participation on the next $80 million of covered loss, each occurrence. The reinsurers are responsible for 95% of the excess over $55.0 million up to $135.0 million of covered losses, each occurrence. The rates for this reinsurance are negotiated annually. Excess of the property catastrophe reinsurance described immediately above, the members of the State Auto Group participate in an intercompany catastrophe reinsurance program (the “Catastrophe Assumption Agreement”). Under the terms of the Catastrophe Assumption Agreement our subsidiary, State Auto P&C, acts as the catastrophe reinsurer for the State Auto Group, and is responsible for up to $100.0 million of covered loss, each occurrence in excess of $135.0 million of covered loss, each occurrence. Each reinsured company pays a premium to our subsidiary, State Auto P&C, in exchange for the reinsurance coverage provided. There have been no losses assumed under this agreement. The State Auto Group does not currently intend to renew the Catastrophe Assumption Agreement upon its expiration on July 1, 2008. The State Auto Group is considering 10 other alternatives, such as securing replacement coverage from a third party reinsurer or relying upon the $100 million set aside under the Credit Agreement, discussed below, to fund this layer of catastrophe reinsurance, but currently no decision has been reached. On July 12, 2007, State Auto Financial terminated its then-current credit agreement and entered into a new credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with a syndicate of lenders which provides for a $200.0 million five- year unsecured revolving credit facility (the “Credit Facility”). During the term of the Credit Facility, we have the right to increase the total facility amount by $50.0 million, up to a maximum total facility amount of $250.0 million, provided that no event of default has occurred and is continuing. While the Credit Facility is available for general corporate purposes, including working capital, acquisitions and liquidity purposes, we presently intend to keep $100 million of the Credit Facility available in the event there is a need to fund losses under the catastrophe reinsurance program with State Auto P&C. See Item 7 of this Form 10-K, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources,” for additional information regarding the Credit Facility. See “Narrative Description of Business—Regulation” of this Item 1 for a discussion of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002, and its successor, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Extension Act of 2005. Regulation Most states, including all the domiciliary states of the State Auto Group, have enacted legislation that regulates insurance holding company systems. Each insurance company in our holding company system is required to register with the insurance supervisory agency of its state of domicile and furnish information concerning the operations of companies within our holding company system that may materially affect the operations, management or financial condition of the insurers within the system. Pursuant to these laws, the respective insurance departments may examine any members of the State Auto Group, at any time, require disclosure of material transactions involving insurer members of our holding company system, and require prior notice and an opportunity to disapprove of certain “extraordinary” transactions, including, but not limited to, extraordinary dividends to stockholders. Pursuant to these laws, all transactions within our holding company system affecting any insurance subsidiary within the State Auto Group must be fair and equitable. In addition, approval of the applicable Insurance Commissioner is required prior to the consummation of transactions affecting the control of an insurer. The insurance laws of all the domiciliary states of the State Auto Group provide that no person may acquire direct or indirect control of a domestic insurer without obtaining the prior written approval of the state insurance commissioner for such acquisition. In addition to being regulated by the insurance department of its state of domicile, each of our insurance companies is subject to supervision and regulation in the states in which we transact business. Such supervision and regulation relate to numerous aspects of an insurance company’s business operations and financial condition. The primary purpose of such supervision and regulation is to ensure financial stability of insurance companies for the protection of policyholders. The laws of the various states establish insurance departments with broad regulatory powers relative to granting and revoking licenses to transact business, regulating trade practices, licensing agents, approving policy forms, setting reserve requirements, determining the form and content of required statutory financial statements, prescribing the types and amount of investments permitted and requiring minimum levels of statutory capital and surplus. Although premium rate regulation varies among states and lines of insurance, such regulations generally require approval of the regulatory authority prior to any changes in rates. In addition, all of the states in which the State Auto Group transacts business have enacted laws which restrict these companies’ underwriting discretion. Examples of these laws include restrictions on policy terminations, restrictions on agency terminations and laws requiring companies to accept any applicant for automobile insurance. These laws may adversely affect the ability of the insurers in the State Auto Group to earn a profit on their underwriting operations. We are required to file detailed annual reports with the supervisory agencies in each of the states in which we do business, and our business and accounts are subject to examination by such agencies at any time. 11 There can be no assurance that such regulatory requirements will not become more stringent in the future and have an adverse effect on the operations of the State Auto Group. Dividends. Our insurance subsidiaries generally are restricted by the insurance laws of our respective states of domicile as to the amount of dividends we may pay without the prior approval of our respective state regulatory authorities. Generally, the maximum dividend that may be paid by an insurance subsidiary during any year without prior regulatory approval is limited to the greater of a stated percentage of that subsidiary’s statutory surplus as of a certain date, or adjusted net income of the subsidiary for the preceding year. Under current law at December 31, 2007, adjusted for dividend payments made in the previous twelve-month period, a total of $79.6 million is available in 2008 for payment as a dividend from our insurance subsidiaries to STFC without prior approval from our respective domiciliary state insurance departments. STFC received dividends of $50.0 million, $0.0, and $40.5 million in 2007, 2006, and 2005, respectively, from its insurance subsidiaries. Rates and Related Regulation. Except as discussed below, we are not aware of the adoption of any adverse legislation or regulation in any state in which we conducted business during 2007 which would materially impact our business. In January 2007, the Florida legislature enacted new legislation which made fundamental changes to the property and casualty insurance business in Florida. This legislation was intended to address the cost of residential property insurance in Florida. After careful analysis of this legislation, we concluded that we could no longer operate our personal lines on a profitable basis in that state. Accordingly, during the second quarter 2007, we filed an application with the Florida Department of Insurance to withdraw from this state’s personal lines insurance market effective January 1, 2008. Non-renewals on our personal lines business are in process. We will continue to write commercial lines business in Florida. Many of the states in which we operate have passed or are considering legislation restricting or banning the use of “credit scoring” in the rating and risk selection process. In July 2007, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) released a report on credit scoring and its impact on automobile insurance. The FTC concluded that credit-based scoring is an effective predictor of risk with respect to the issuance of automobile insurance policies to consumers, but has little effect as an indicator of racial or ethnic status of consumers. Despite the FTC’s conclusions, some consumer groups and certain regulatory and legislative entities continue to resist the use of credit scoring in the rating and risk selection process. Banning or restricting this practice or data mining would limit our ability, and the ability of other carriers, to take advantage of the predictive value of this information. An FTC study reviewing the impact of credit scoring on homeowners insurance is pending. The homeowners insurance study could affect the future use of credit scoring based upon the findings of the FTC. In an attempt to make capital and surplus requirements more accurately reflect the underwriting risk of different lines of insurance, as well as investment risks that attend insurers’ operations, the National Association requirements. As of of December 31, 2007, each insurer affiliated with us surpassed all standards tested by the formula applying risk- based capital requirements. Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) annually tests insurers’ risk-based capital The property and casualty insurance industry is also affected by court decisions. In general, premium rates are actuarially determined to enable an insurance company to generate an underwriting profit. These rates contemplate a certain level of risk. The courts may modify, in a number of ways, the level of risk which insurers had expected to assume, including eliminating exclusions, expanding the terms of the contract, multiplying limits of coverage, creating rights for policyholders not intended to be included in the contract and interpreting applicable statutes expansively to create obligations on insurers not originally considered when the statute was passed. Courts have also undone legal reforms passed by legislatures, which reforms were intended to reduce a litigant’s rights of action or amounts recoverable and so reduce the costs borne by the insurance mechanism. These court decisions can adversely affect an insurer’s profitability. They also create pressure on rates charged for coverages adversely affected, and this can cause a legislative response resulting in rate suppression that can unfavorably impact an insurer. 12 The Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 and its successor, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Extension Act of 2005 (collectively, the “Terrorism Acts”) require the federal government and the insurance industry to share in insured losses up to $100 billion per year resulting from future terrorist attacks within the United States. Under the Terrorism Acts, commercial property and casualty insurers must offer their commercial policyholders coverage against certified acts of terrorism, but the policyholders may choose to reject this coverage. If the policyholder rejects coverage for certified acts of terrorism, we intend, subject to the approval of the state regulators, to cover only such acts of terrorism that are not certified acts under the Terrorism Acts and that do not arise out of nuclear, biological or chemical agents. In December 2007, The United States Congress extended the Terrorism Acts through December 31, 2014. At the same time, Congress made modest changes to the Terrorism Acts—for example, deleting the distinction between certified and non-certified (essentially foreign and domestic) acts of terrorism. Lines of business covered, as well as certain important coverage features (such as loss triggers, company deductibles and industry retentions) were not changed. We are evaluating these recent changes to the Terrorism Acts and are taking actions to comply. Our current property reinsurance treaties exclude certified acts of terrorism. An area of regulatory focus in recent years and which may continue to receive additional attention in 2008 is “producer compensation arrangements.” Beginning in 2006, the New York Attorney General as well as other states’ Attorneys General undertook investigations and initiated lawsuits involving allegations of improper compensation arrangements between brokers and insurance companies. Improper producer compensation arrangements generally involve insurance brokers, who are persons retained and compensated by the insurance customer. We market our insurance products through independent insurance agents who have been appointed to act on our behalf, and we, not the insurance customer, compensate these agents pursuant to contractual arrangements. Under our agency agreements, our compensation arrangements with our agencies consist of commissions paid for the sale of our insurance products, usually based upon a percentage of the premium paid by the insurance customer, and a “contingent commission.” This “contingent commission” is based upon the underwriting profit and production volume generated by that agency’s book of business placed with the State Auto Group. Like many other sales organizations, we also offer sales incentives to our agencies. We believe that our agent compensation arrangements are in compliance with the law and consistent with good business practices. Investments Our investment portfolio is managed to provide growth of statutory surplus to facilitate increased premium writings over the long term while maintaining the ability to fund current insurance operations. The primary objectives are to generate income, preserve capital and maintain liquidity. Our investment portfolio is managed separately from that of our parent company and its subsidiaries, and investment results are not shared by our Pooled Companies through the Pooling Arrangement. Stateco performs investment management services for us and our parent company and its subsidiaries, although investment policies implemented by Stateco continue to be set for each company through the Investment Committee of its respective Board of Directors. Our decision to make a specific investment is influenced primarily by the following factors: (a) investment risks; (b) general market conditions; (c) relative valuations of investment vehicles; (d) general market interest rates; (e) our liquidity requirements at any given time; and (f) our current federal income tax position and relative spread between after tax yields on tax-exempt and taxable fixed maturity investments. We have investment policy guidelines with respect to purchasing fixed maturity investments for our insurance subsidiaries which preclude investments in bonds that are rated below investment grade by a recognized rating service. Our fixed maturities portfolio is composed of high quality, investment grade issues, comprised almost entirely of debt issues rated AAA or AA. As of December 31, 2007 and 2006, our bond portfolio had a fair value that totaled $1,745.4 million and $1,647.4 million, respectively. Our fixed maturity investments are classified as available-for-sale and carried at fair value, according to the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Statement 115, “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities” (“SFAS 115”). Our maximum investment in any single note or bond is limited to 5.0% of statutory assets, other than obligations of the U.S. government or government agencies, for which there is no 13 limit. Generally, investments in equity securities are selected based on their potential for appreciation as well as ability to continue paying dividends. See Item 7 of this Form 10-K, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—2007 Compared to 2006—Investment Operations Segment— Market Risks,” for a discussion regarding the market risks related to our investment portfolio. At December 31, 2007 and 2006, our equity portfolio was classified as available-for-sale and carried at fair value totaling $254.2 million and $284.2 million, respectively. The following table sets forth our investment results for the periods indicated: ($ millions) Year ended December 31 2006 2007 2005 Average Invested Assets(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net Investment Income(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Average Yield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,987.1 84.7 4.3% 4.4% 1,891.6 83.1 1,811.6 78.7 4.3% (1) Average of the aggregate invested assets at the beginning and end of each period, including interim quarter ends. Invested assets include fixed maturities at amortized cost, equity securities and other invested assets at cost and cash equivalents. (2) Net investment income is net of investment expenses and does not include realized or unrealized investment gains or losses or provision for income taxes. For additional discussion regarding our investments, see Item 7 of this Form 10-K, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Investment Operations Segment.” Competition The property and casualty insurance industry is highly competitive. We compete with numerous insurance companies, many of which are substantially larger and have considerably greater financial resources. In addition, because our products are marketed exclusively through independent insurance agencies, most of which represent more than one company, we face competition within each agency. See “Narrative Description of Business— Marketing” in Item 1 and “Distribution System” and “Competition” in Item 1A of this Form 10-K. We compete through underwriting criteria, appropriate pricing, quality service to our policyholders and our agents, and a fully developed agency relations program. Employees As of February 28, 2008, we had 2,185 employees. Our employees are not covered by any collective bargaining agreement. We consider the relationship with our employees to be excellent. Available Information Our website address is www.stfc.com. Through this website (found by clicking the “Investors” link, then the “All SEC Filings” link), we make available, free of charge, our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, proxy and information statements and all amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Also available on our website is information pertaining to our corporate governance, including the charters of each of our standing committees of our Board of Directors, our corporate governance guidelines, our employees’ code of business conduct and our directors’ ethical principles. Any of the materials we file with the SEC may also be read and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549. Information on the operation of the SEC’s Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC at www.sec.gov. 14 Executive Officers of the Registrant Name of Executive Officer and Position(s) with Company Robert P. Restrepo, Jr., . . . . . . Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Age(1) 57 Mark A. Blackburn, . . . . . . . . . Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer 56 Steven E. English, . . . . . . . . . . 47 Vice President and Chief Financial Officer James E. Duemey, . . . . . . . . . . 61 Vice President and Investment Officer Clyde H. Fitch, Jr. . . . . . . . . . . 57 Senior Vice President and Chief Sales Officer Steven R. Hazelbaker, . . . . . . . Vice President and Director of Corporate Enterprise Risk Management Cathy B. Miley, . . . . . . . . . . . . Vice President and Director of Corporate Development Cynthia A. Powell, . . . . . . . . . . Vice President and Treasurer 52 58 47 Lorraine M. Siegworth, . . . . . . 40 Vice President James A. Yano, . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of STFC and State Auto Mutual, 2/06 to present; President of STFC and State Auto Mutual, 3/06 to present; Senior Vice President, Insurance Operations, of Main Street America Group, a property and casualty insurance company, 4/05 – 2/06; President and Chief Executive Officer for two property and casualty insurance subsidiaries of Allmerica Financial Corporation (now known as Hanover Insurance Group), 1998 – 2003. Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of STFC and State Auto Mutual, 11/06 to present; Senior Vice President of STFC and State Auto Mutual, 03/01 to 11/06. Vice President of STFC and State Auto Mutual, 05/06 to present; Chief Financial Officer of STFC and State Auto Mutual, 12/06 to present; Assistant Vice President of State Auto Mutual, 06/01 to 05/06. Vice President and Investment Officer of State Auto Mutual, 5/91 to present. Senior Vice President and Chief Sales Officer of STFC and State Auto Mutual, 11/07 to present. Senior Vice President of Travelers Companies, Inc. for more than five years prior to 11/07. Vice President of State Auto Mutual and STFC, 6/01 to present. Vice President of STFC, 3/98 to present; Vice President of State Auto Mutual, 3/95 to present. Treasurer of STFC and State Auto Mutual, 06/06 to present; Vice President of State Auto Mutual, 3/00 to present; Vice President of STFC, 5/00 to present. Vice President of STFC and State Auto Mutual, 11/06 to present; Vice President of Nationwide Insurance or its affiliates, 09/00 to 03/06, most recently serving as Vice President of Corporate HR of Nationwide Insurance. Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of STFC and State Auto Mutual 4/07 to present; Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of Abercrombie & Fitch Co. 5/05 to 3/07; Partner, law firm of Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP for more than five years prior. An Executive Officer of the Company Since(2) 2006 1999 2006 1991 2007 2001 1995 2000 2006 2007 (1) Age is as of March 5, 2008. (2) Each of the foregoing officers has been designated by our Board of Directors as an executive officer for purposes of Section 16 of the Exchange Act. 15 Item 1A. Risk Factors Statements contained in this Form 10-K may be “forward-looking” within the meaning of the Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause our operating results to differ materially from those projected. The following factors, among others, in some cases have affected, and in the future could affect, our actual financial performance. RESERVES If our estimated liability for losses and loss expenses is incorrect, our reserves may be inadequate to cover our ultimate liability for losses and loss expenses and may have to be increased. We establish and carry, as a liability, reserves based on actuarial estimates of how much we will need to pay in the future for claims incurred as of the end of the accounting period. We maintain loss reserves to cover our estimated ultimate unpaid liability for losses and loss expenses with respect to reported and unreported claims incurred as of the end of each accounting period. Reserves do not represent an exact calculation of liability, but instead represent estimates, generally using actuarial projection techniques at a given accounting date. These reserve estimates are expectations of what the ultimate settlement and administration of claims will cost based on our assessment of facts and circumstances then known, review of historical settlement patterns, estimates of trends in claims severity and frequency, legal theories of liability and other factors. Variables in the reserve estimation process can be affected by both internal and external events, such as changes in claims handling procedures, trends in loss costs, economic inflation, legal trends and legislative changes. Many of these items are not directly quantifiable, particularly on a prospective basis. Additionally, there may be a significant reporting lag between the occurrence of an insured event and the time it is actually reported to the insurer. We refine reserve estimates in a regular ongoing process as historical loss experience develops and additional claims are reported and settled. We record adjustments to reserves in the results of operations for the periods in which the estimates are changed. In establishing reserves, we take into account estimated recoveries for reinsurance and salvage and subrogation. Because estimating reserves is an inherently uncertain process, currently established reserves may not be adequate. If we conclude the estimates are incorrect and our reserves are inadequate, we are obligated to increase our reserves. An increase in reserves results in an increase in losses and a reduction in our net income for the period in which the deficiency in reserves is identified. Accordingly, an increase in reserves could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, liquidity and financial condition. CATASTROPHE LOSSES AND GEOGRAPHIC CONCENTRATIONS The occurrence of catastrophic events could materially reduce our profitability. Our insurance operations expose us to claims arising out of catastrophic events. We have experienced, and will in the future experience, catastrophe losses that may cause substantial volatility in our financial results for any fiscal quarter or year and could materially reduce our profitability or harm our financial condition. Our ability to write new business also could be affected. Catastrophes can be caused by various natural events, including hurricanes, hailstorms, tornadoes, windstorms, earthquakes, severe winter weather and fires, none of which are within our control. Catastrophe losses can vary widely and could significantly impact our results. The frequency and severity of catastrophes are inherently unpredictable. The extent of losses from a catastrophe is a function of both the total amount of insured exposure in the area affected by the event and the severity of the event. Most catastrophes are restricted to small geographic areas. However, hurricanes, earthquakes and other perils may produce significant damage in larger areas, especially those that are heavily populated. Although catastrophes can cause losses in a variety of our property and casualty lines, most of our catastrophe claims in the past have related to homeowners, allied lines and commercial multi- peril coverages. The geographic distribution of our business subjects us to catastrophe exposure from tornadoes, 16 hailstorms and earthquakes in the Midwest as well as catastrophe exposure from hurricanes in Florida and the Gulf Coast, southern coastal states and Mid-Atlantic regions. See “Narrative Description of Business— Regulation” in Item 1 of this Form 10-K for a discussion regarding our recent personal lines action with respect to Florida. In the last three years, the largest catastrophe or series of catastrophes to affect STFC’s results of operations in any one year were as follows: 2007 with losses that occurred from hailstorms and windstorms in the Midwest resulting in approximately $10.8 million in pre-tax losses; 2006 with losses that occurred in April from a series of tornadoes, hailstorms and windstorms that caused damage in several of our Midwest operating states resulting in approximately $51.8 million in pre-tax losses; 2005 with losses from hurricanes Katrina and Wilma resulting in approximately $41.7 million in pre-tax losses. We believe that increases in the value and geographic concentration of insured properties and the effects of inflation could increase the severity of claims from catastrophic events in the future. In addition, states have from time to time passed legislation that has the effect of limiting the ability of insurers to manage catastrophe risk, such as legislation prohibiting insurers from withdrawing from catastrophe-prone areas. Although we attempt to reduce the impact on our business of a catastrophe by controlling concentrations of exposures in catastrophe prone areas and through the purchase of reinsurance covering various categories of catastrophes, reinsurance may prove inadequate if a major catastrophic loss exceeds the reinsurance limit, or an insurance subsidiary incurs a number of smaller catastrophes that, individually, fall below the subsidiary’s retention level. UNDERWRITING AND PRICING Our financial results depend primarily on our ability to underwrite risks effectively and to charge adequate rates to policyholders. Our financial condition, cash flows and results of operations depend on our ability to underwrite and set rates accurately for a full spectrum of risks, across a number of lines of insurance. Rate adequacy is necessary to generate sufficient premium to pay losses, loss adjustment expenses and underwriting expenses and to earn a profit. Our ability to underwrite and set rates effectively is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation: • • • • • • • • • • • the availability of sufficient, reliable data; our ability to conduct a complete and accurate analysis of available data; our ability to timely recognize changes in trends and to project both the severity and frequency of losses with reasonable accuracy; uncertainties which are generally inherent in estimates and assumptions; our ability to project changes in certain operating expense levels with reasonable certainty; the development, selection and application of appropriate rating formulae or other pricing methodologies; our use of modeling tools to assist with correctly and consistently achieving the intended results in underwriting and pricing; our ability to innovate with new pricing strategies, and the success of those innovations on implementation; our ability to secure regulatory approval of premium rates on an adequate and timely basis; our ability to predict policyholder retention accurately; unanticipated court decisions, legislation or regulatory action; 17 • • • • • • • unanticipated changes in our claim settlement practices; changing driving patterns for auto exposures; changing weather patterns for property exposures; changes in the medical sector of the economy; unanticipated changes in auto repair costs, auto parts prices and used car prices; impact of inflation and other factors on cost of construction materials and labor; our ability to monitor property concentration in catastrophe prone areas, such as hurricane, earthquake and wind/hail regions; and the general state of the economy in the states in which we operate. Such risks may result in our rates being based on inadequate or inaccurate data or inappropriate assumptions or methodologies, and may cause our estimates of future changes in the frequency or severity of claims to be incorrect. As a result, we could under price risks, which would negatively affect our margins, or we could overprice risks, which could reduce our volume and competitiveness. In either event, our operating results, financial condition and cash flows could be materially adversely affected. REINSURANCE Reinsurance may not be available or adequate to protect us against losses. We use reinsurance to help manage our exposure to insurance risks. The availability and cost of reinsurance are subject to prevailing market conditions, both in terms of price and available capacity, which can affect our business volume and profitability. Although the reinsurer is liable to us to the extent of the ceded reinsurance, we remain liable as the direct insurer on all risks reinsured. As a result, ceded reinsurance arrangements do not eliminate our obligation to pay claims. We are subject to credit risk with respect to our ability to recover amounts due from reinsurers. Reinsurance may not be adequate to protect us against losses and may not be available to us in the future at commercially reasonable rates. In addition, the magnitude of losses in the reinsurance industry resulting from catastrophes may adversely affect the financial strength of certain reinsurers, which may result in our inability to collect or recover reinsurance. Reinsurers also may reserve their right to dispute coverage with respect to specific claims. With respect to catastrophic or other loss, if we experience difficulty collecting from reinsurers or obtaining additional reinsurance in the future, we will bear a greater portion of the total financial responsibility for such loss, which could materially reduce our profitability or harm our financial condition. CYCLICAL NATURE OF THE INDUSTRY The property and casualty insurance industry is highly cyclical, which may cause fluctuations in our operating results. The property and casualty insurance industry, particularly business insurance, has been historically characterized by periods of intense price competition due to excess underwriting capacity, as well as periods of shortages of underwriting capacity that result in higher prices and more restrictive contract and/or coverage terms. The periods of intense price competition may adversely affect our operating results, and the overall cyclicality of the industry may cause fluctuations in our operating results. While we may adjust prices during periods of intense competition, it remains our strategy to allow for acceptable profit levels and to decline coverage in situations where pricing or risk would not result in acceptable returns. Accordingly, our commercial lines business tends to contract during periods of severe competition and price declines and expand when market pricing allows an acceptable return. The personal lines businesses are characterized by an auto underwriting cycle of loss cost trends. Driving patterns, inflation in the cost of auto repairs and medical care and increasing litigation of liability claims are 18 some of the more important factors that affect loss cost trends. Inflation in the cost of building materials and labor costs and demand caused by weather-related catastrophic events affect personal lines homeowners loss cost trends. Our Company and other personal lines insurers may be unable to increase premiums at the same pace as coverage costs increase. Accordingly, profit margins generally decline in periods of increasing loss costs. DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM The independent agency system is the distribution system for our products. Use of this distribution system may constrain our ability to grow at a comparable pace to our competitors that utilize multiple distribution channels. In addition, consumers may prefer to purchase insurance products through alternative channels, such as through the internet, rather than through agents. We market our insurance products through independent, non-exclusive insurance agents, whereas some of our competitors sell their insurance products through direct marketing techniques, the internet or “captive” insurance agents who sell products exclusively for one insurance company. The State Auto Group has supported the independent agency system as our sole distribution channel for the past 86 years. However, we recognize that although the number of distribution locations has expanded, the number of independent agencies in the industry has dramatically shrunk over the past several years due to agency purchases, consolidations, bankruptcies and agent retirements. We also recognize that it will be progressively more difficult to expand the number of independent agencies representing us. If we are unsuccessful in maintaining and increasing the number of agencies in our independent agency distribution system, our sales and results of operations could be adversely affected. The agents that market and sell our products also sell products of our competitors. These agents may recommend our competitors’ products over our products or may stop selling our products altogether. Our strategy of not pursuing market share at prices that are not expected to produce an underwriting profit can have the effect of making top line growth more difficult. When price competition is intense, this effect is exaggerated by the fact our independent agent distribution force has products to sell from other carriers that may be more willing to lower prices to grow top line sales. Consequently, we must remain focused on attracting and retaining productive agents to market and sell our products. We compete for productive agents primarily on the basis of our financial position, support services, ease of doing business, compensation and product features. Although we make efforts to ensure we have strong relationships with our independent agents and to persuade them to promote and sell our products, we may not be successful in these efforts. If we are unsuccessful in attracting and retaining these agents, our sales and results of operations could be adversely affected. In addition, consumers are increasingly using the internet and other alternative channels to purchase insurance products. While our website provides a significant amount of information about our insurance products, consumers cannot purchase insurance through our website. Instead, consumers must contact one of our independent agents in order to purchase any of our insurance products or make changes to their existing policies. This sole distribution system may place us at a disadvantage with consumers who prefer to purchase insurance products online or through other alternative distributions channels. We also expect there will be consequences from certain of our competitors eliminating contingent commissions to agents as a result of legal actions undertaken by certain states’ Attorneys General. It may be that these or other Attorneys General will pursue other insurers who are continuing to pay contingent commissions or it may be that these insurers will develop alternative compensation structures to replace contingent commissions that could be perceived as more attractive to independent agents, thus driving the marketplace to move in that direction. It may also be that these large insurers will seek to level the playing field for independent agent compensation by lobbying for regulatory or legal changes to prohibit or restrict so-called contingent commissions and other sales incentive compensation. 19 REGULATION Our business is heavily regulated, and changes in regulation may reduce our profitability and limit our growth. We are subject to extensive regulation in the states in which we conduct business. This regulation is generally designed to protect the interests of policyholders, as opposed to stockholders and other investors, and relates to authorization for lines of business, capital and surplus requirements, limitations, underwriting limitations, transactions with affiliates, dividend limitations, (See “Narrative Description of Business-Regulation-Dividends” in Item 1), changes in control, premium rates and a variety of other financial and non-financial components of an insurance company’s business. The NAIC and state insurance regulators are constantly reexamining existing laws and regulations, generally focusing on modifications to holding company regulations, interpretations of existing laws and the development of new laws. investment From time to time, some states in which we conduct business have considered or enacted laws that may alter or increase state authority to regulate insurance companies and insurance holding companies. In other situations, states in which we conduct business have considered or enacted laws that impact the competitive environment and marketplace for property and casualty insurance. For example, in 2007, Florida enacted legislation that required us to charge rates for homeowners insurance that we believed were inadequate to cover the related underwriting risk. After careful analysis of this legislation, we concluded that we could no longer operate our personal lines on a profitable basis in that state. Accordingly, during the second quarter 2007, we filed an application with the Florida Department of Insurance to withdraw from this state’s personal lines insurance market effective January 1, 2008. Non-renewals on our personal lines business are in process. We will continue to write commercial lines business in Florida. Nearly all states require licensed insurers to participate in guaranty funds through assessments covering a portion of insurance claims against impaired or insolvent insurers. An increase in the magnitude of impaired companies could result in an increase in our share of such assessments. Residual market or pooling arrangements exist in many states to provide certain types of insurance coverage to those that are otherwise unable to find private insurers willing to insure them. Licensed insurers voluntarily writing such coverage are required to participate in these residual markets or pooling mechanisms. Such participation exposes the Company to possible assessments. The potential availability of recoupments or premium rate increases, if applicable, may not offset such assessments in the financial statements nor do so in the same fiscal periods. Many of the states in which we operate have passed or are considering legislation restricting or banning the use of credit scoring in rating and/or risk selection in personal lines of business. Similarly, several states are considering restricting insurers’ rights to use loss history information maintained in various databases by insurance support organizations. These tools help us price our products more fairly and enhance our ability to compete for business that we believe will be profitable. Such regulations would limit our ability, as well as the ability of all other insurance carriers operating in any affected jurisdiction, to take advantage of these tools. Currently the federal government does not directly regulate the insurance business. However, in recent years the state insurance regulatory framework has come under increased federal scrutiny. Congress and some federal agencies from time to time investigate the current condition of insurance regulation in the United States to determine whether to impose federal regulation or to allow an optional federal charter, similar to banks. In addition, changes in federal legislation and administrative policies in several areas, including changes in the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, financial services regulation and federal taxation, can significantly impact the insurance industry and us. We cannot predict with certainty the effect any enacted, proposed or future state or federal legislation or NAIC initiatives may have on the conduct of our business. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that the regulatory requirements applicable to our business will not become more stringent in the future or result in materially higher costs than current requirements. Changes in the regulation of our business may reduce our profitability, limit our growth or otherwise adversely affect our operations. 20 CLAIM AND COVERAGE DEVELOPMENTS Developing claim and coverage issues in our industry are uncertain and may adversely affect our insurance operations. As industry practices and legislative, judicial and regulatory conditions change, unexpected and unintended issues related to claims and coverage may develop. These issues could have an adverse effect on our business by either extending coverage beyond our underwriting intent or by increasing the number or size of claims. The premiums we charge for our insurance products are based upon certain risk expectations. When the legislative, judicial or regulatory authorities expand the burden of risk beyond our expectations, the premiums we previously charged or collected may no longer be sufficient to cover the risk, and we do not have the ability to retroactively modify premium amounts. An example would be a trend of plaintiffs targeting property and casualty insurers, including us, in purported class action litigation relating to claim-handling and other practices. Many of these issues are beyond our control. The effects of these and other unforeseen claims and coverage issues are extremely hard to predict and could materially harm our business and results of operations. TERRORISM Terrorist attacks, and the threat of terrorist attacks, and ensuing events could have an adverse effect on us. Terrorism, both within the United States and abroad, and military and other actions and heightened security measures in response to these types of threats, may cause loss of life, property damage, reduced economic activity, and additional disruptions to commerce. Actual terrorist attacks could cause losses from insurance claims related to the property and casualty insurance operations of the State Auto Group, as well as a decrease in our stockholders’ equity, net income and/or revenue. The Terrorism Acts require the federal government and the insurance industry to share in insured losses up to $100 billion per year resulting from certain future terrorist attacks within the United States. Under the Terrorism Acts, we must offer our commercial policyholders coverage against certified acts of terrorism. In December 2007, the United States Congress extended the Terrorism Acts through December 31, 2014, and made some modest changes to the Terrorism Acts. We are evaluating these changes to the Terrorism Act and are taking actions to comply. See “Narrative Description of Business—Regulation” of this Item 1 for a discussion of the Terrorism Acts. In addition, some of the assets in our investment portfolio may be adversely affected by declines in the equity markets and economic activity caused by the continued threat of terrorism, ongoing military and other actions and heightened security measures. We cannot predict at this time whether and the extent to which industry sectors in which we maintain investments may suffer losses as a result of potentially decreased commercial and economic activity, or how any such decrease might impact the ability of companies within the affected industry sectors to pay interest or principal on their securities, or how the value of any underlying collateral might be affected. TECHNOLOGY Our development of business insurance lines automated underwriting tools may not be successful or the benefits may not be realized. We are developing a business insurance lines automation system that will build upon the success we believe we have achieved through our personal lines netXpress™ system. Our netXpress™ allows agents to obtain personal lines rates for applicants on-line in real time and secure consumer reports required for rating or underwriting. This report availability enables our agents to offer a firm quote to a customer in real time at the point of sale. It is our intention to develop similar functionality for business insurance lines as we have in personal lines through netXpress™. 21 While this represents a significant commitment of resources over the next 6 to 24 months, we believe it is vitally important to our ability to maintain our prospects in business lines. Such automation was successfully put into production for businessowners products during the latter part of 2007. We expect to introduce such automation for commercial auto coverage during 2008, to be followed by development of this technology for workers compensation products. We cannot be sure that the development of this technology will be completed within the timeframe projected, or that it will be successful upon implementation. Additionally, because some of our competitors have already implemented or may be implementing similar types of underwriting tools, we may be competitively disadvantaged. A challenge during this development phase will be the utilization of today’s technology in face of a constantly changing technological landscape. There can be no assurance that the development of today’s technology for tomorrow’s use will not result in our being competitively disadvantaged, especially among the larger national carriers that have greater financial and human resources than we. INVESTMENTS The performance of our investment portfolios is subject to investment risks. Like other property and casualty insurance companies, we depend on income from our investment portfolio for a portion of our revenues and earnings and are therefore subject to market risk and the risk that we will incur losses due to adverse changes in equity, interest, commodity or foreign currency exchange rates and prices. Our primary market risk exposures are to changes in interest rates and equity prices. Individual securities in our fixed- income portfolio are subject to credit risk. Downgrades in the credit ratings of fixed maturities can have a significant negative effect of the market valuation of such securities. If the fixed-income or equity portfolios, or both, were to be impaired by market, sector or issuer-specific conditions to a substantial degree, our liquidity, financial position and financial results could be materially adversely affected. Under these circumstances, our income from these investments could be materially reduced, and declines in the value of certain securities could further reduce our reported earnings and capital levels. A decrease in value of our investment portfolio could also put our insurance subsidiaries at risk of failing to satisfy regulatory minimum capital requirements. If we were not at that time able to supplement our subsidiaries’ capital from STFC or by issuing debt or equity securities on acceptable terms, our business could be materially adversely affected. Also, a decline in market rates could cause the investments in our pension plans to decrease below the accumulated benefit obligation, resulting in additional expense and increasing required contributions to the pension plan. In addition, our investments are subject to risks inherent in the nation’s and world’s capital markets. The functioning of those markets, the values of the investments held by us and our ability to liquidate investments on favorable terms or short notice may be adversely affected if those markets are disrupted or otherwise affected by local, national or international events, such as power outages, system failures, wars or terrorist attacks or by recessions or depressions, a significant change in inflation expectations, a significant devaluation of governmental or private sector credit, currencies or financial markets and other factors or events. EMPLOYEES Our ability to attract, develop and retain talented employees, managers and executives, and to maintain appropriate staffing levels, is critical to our success. Our success depends on our ability to attract, develop and retain talented employees, including executives and other key managers in a specialized industry. Our loss of certain key officers and employees or the failure to attract and develop talented new executives and managers could have a materially adverse effect on our business. In addition, we must forecast the changing business environments (for multiple business units and in many geographic markets) with reasonable accuracy and adjust hiring programs and/or employment levels accordingly. 22 Our failure to recognize the need for such adjustments, or the failure or inability to react appropriately on a timely basis, could lead either to over-staffing (which would adversely affect our cost structure) or under-staffing (impairing our ability to service our ongoing and new business) in one or more business units or locations. In either event, our financial results could be materially adversely affected. BUSINESS CONTINUITY Our business depends on the uninterrupted operation of our facilities, systems and business functions, including our information technology and other business systems. Our business is highly dependent upon our ability to perform, in an efficient and uninterrupted fashion, necessary business functions, such as Internet support and 24-hour claims contact centers, processing new and renewal business, and processing and paying claims. A shut-down of or inability to access one or more of our facilities, a power outage, a pandemic, or a failure of one or more of our information technology, telecommunications or other systems could significantly impair our ability to perform such functions on a timely basis. In addition, because our information technology and telecommunications systems interface with and depend on third party systems, we could experience service denials if demand for such service exceeds capacity or a third party system fails or experiences an interruption. If sustained or repeated, such a business interruption, systems failure or service denial could result in a deterioration of our ability to write and process new and renewal business, provide customer service, pay claims in a timely manner or perform other necessary corporate functions. This could result in a materially adverse effect on our business results and liquidity. A security breach of our computer systems could also interrupt or damage our operations or harm our reputation. In addition, we could be subject to liability if confidential customer information is misappropriated from our computer systems. Despite the implementation of security measures, including hiring an independent firm to perform intrusion vulnerability testing of our computer infrastructure, these systems may be vulnerable to physical break-ins, computer viruses, programming errors, attacks by third parties or similar disruptive problems. Any well-publicized compromise of security could deter people from entering into transactions that involve transmitting confidential information to our systems, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. We have established a business continuity plan in an effort to ensure the continuation of core business operations in the event that normal business operations could not be performed due to a catastrophic event. While we continue to test and assess our business continuity plan to ensure it meets the needs of our core business there is no assurance that core business operations and addresses multiple business interruption events, operations could be performed upon the occurrence of such an event. ACQUISITIONS Acquisitions subject us to a number of financial and operational risks. Since going public in 1991, we and State Auto Mutual have acquired or affiliated with other insurance companies, such as the MIGI Insurers, Milbank, Farmers, SA Wisconsin, and most recently the Beacon and Patrons Groups. It is anticipated that we and State Auto Mutual will continue to pursue acquisitions or affiliations of other insurance companies in the future. Acquisitions and affiliations involve numerous risks and uncertainties, such as: • • • obtaining necessary regulatory approvals may prove to be more difficult than anticipated; integrating the business may prove to be more costly than anticipated; integrating the business without material disruption to existing operations may prove to be more difficult than anticipated; 23 • • • • anticipated cost savings may not be fully realized (or not realized within the anticipated time frame); loss results of the acquired or affiliated company or business may be worse than expected; losses may develop differently than what we expected them to; and retaining key employees of the acquired company or business may prove to be more difficult than anticipated. In addition, other companies in the insurance industry have similar acquisition and affiliation strategies. Competition for target companies or businesses may intensify or we may not be able to complete such acquisitions or affiliations on terms and conditions acceptable to us. Additionally, the costs of unsuccessful acquisition and affiliation efforts may adversely affect our financial performance. FINANCIAL STRENGTH RATINGS A downgrade in our financial strength ratings may negatively affect our business. Insurance companies are subject to financial strength ratings produced by external rating agencies. Higher ratings generally indicate financial stability and a strong ability to pay claims. Ratings are assigned by rating agencies to insurers based upon factors that they believe are relevant to policyholders and creditors. Ratings are important to maintaining public confidence in our Company and in our ability to market our products. A downgrade in our financial strength ratings could, among other things, negatively affect our ability to sell certain insurance products, our relationships with agents, new sales and our ability to compete. Although other agencies cover the property and casualty industry, we believe our ability to write business is most influenced by our rating from A.M. Best. According to A.M. Best, its ratings are designed to assess an insurer’s financial strength and ability to meet ongoing obligations to policyholders. Our Pooled Companies and SA National currently have a rating from A.M. Best Company of A+ (Superior) (the second highest of A.M. Best’s 15 ratings). We may not be able to maintain our current A.M. Best ratings. CONTROL BY OUR PARENT COMPANY Our parent company owns a significant interest in us and may exercise its control in a manner detrimental to your interests. As of December 31, 2007, our parent company owned approximately 64% of the voting power of our Company. Therefore, State Auto Mutual has the power to direct our affairs and is able to determine the outcome of substantially all matters required to be submitted to stockholders for approval, including the election of all our directors. State Auto Mutual could exercise its control over us in a manner detrimental to the interests of other STFC stockholders. COMPETITION Our industry is highly competitive, which could adversely affect our sales and profitability. The property and casualty insurance business is highly competitive, and we compete with a large number of other insurers. Many of our competitors have well-established national reputations, and substantially greater financial, technical and operating resources and market share than we. We may not be able to effectively compete, which could adversely affect our sales or profitability. We believe that competition in our lines of business is based primarily on price, service, commission structure, product features, financial strength ratings, reputation and name or brand recognition. Our competitors sell through various distribution channels, including independent agents, captive agents and directly to the consumer. We compete not only for business insurance customers and personal insurance customers, but also for independent agents to market and sell our products. 24 Some of our competitors offer a broader array of products, have more competitive pricing or have higher claims paying ability ratings. In addition, other financial institutions are now able to offer services similar to our own as a result of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. The increased transparency that arises from information available from the use of tools such as comparative rater software, could work to our disadvantage. We may have difficulty differentiating our products or becoming among the lowest cost providers. Expense efficiencies are important to maintaining and increasing our growth and profitability. If we are unable to realize future expense efficiencies, it could affect our ability to establish competitive pricing and could have a negative effect on new business growth and retention of existing policyholders. VOLATILITY OF OUR COMMON STOCK The price of our common stock could be volatile. limited to, The trading price of our common stock may fluctuate substantially due to a variety of factors, certain of which may not be related to our operating performance and are beyond our control. Such factors include, but are not the following: variations in our actual or anticipated operating results or changes in the expectations of financial market analysts; investor perceptions of our Company and/or the property and casualty industry; market conditions in the insurance industry and any significant volatility in the market; and major catastrophic events. Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments None. Item 2. Properties We share our operating facilities with State Auto Mutual pursuant to the terms of the 2005 Management Agreement. Our corporate headquarters are located in Columbus, Ohio, in buildings owned by State Auto Mutual that contain approximately 280,000 square feet of office space. Our Company and State Auto Mutual also own and lease other office facilities in numerous locations throughout the State Auto Group’s geographical areas of operation. Item 3. Legal Proceedings We are a party to a number of lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of our insurance business. Our Management believes that the ultimate resolution of these lawsuits will not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material, adverse effect on our financial condition. Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders None. 25 PART II Item 5. Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Shareholder Matters, and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities Market Information; Holders of Record Our common shares are traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol STFC. As of February 21, 2008, there were 3,951 stockholders of record of our common shares. Market Price Ranges and Dividends Declared on Common Shares Initial Public Offering—June 28, 1991 – $2.25(1). The following table provides information with respect to the high and low sale prices of our common shares for each quarterly period for the past two years as reported by NASDAQ, along with the amount of cash dividends declared by us with respect to our common shares for each quarterly period for the past two years: 2007 High Low Dividend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . First Quarter Second Quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Third Quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fourth Quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $35.22 34.00 32.25 32.38 $30.61 28.67 23.99 25.39 $0.10 0.10 0.15 0.15 2006 High Low Dividend First Quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Second Quarter Third Quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fourth Quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $39.94 36.33 32.90 35.15 $30.59 31.11 28.40 29.25 $0.09 0.09 0.10 0.10 (1) Adjusted for stock splits. Additionally, see Item 7 of this Form 10-K, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Regulatory Considerations,” for additional information regarding regulatory restrictions on the payment of dividends to State Auto Financial by its insurance subsidiaries. Purchases of Common Shares by the Company The following table provides information with respect to purchases made by us of our common shares during the fourth quarter 2007: Period Total number of shares purchased(1) Average price paid per share Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs Maximum number of shares that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs 10/01/07 – 10/31/07 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11/01/07 – 11/30/07 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/01/07 – 12/31/07 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256,343 388,175(2) 85,026(3) 729,544 $27.62 26.45 27.27 26.96 256,343 380,705 83,482 720,530 3,650,657 3,269,952 3,186,470 (1) On August 17, 2007, State Auto Financial announced that its board of directors had authorized the repurchase, from time to time, of up to 4.0 million of its common shares, or approximately 10% of State Auto Financial’s outstanding shares, over a period extending until 26 December 31, 2009. State Auto Financial will repurchase shares from State Auto Mutual in amounts that are proportional to the respective current ownership percentages of State Auto Mutual, which is approximately 64%, and other shareholders. 7,470 shares acquired as a result of stock swap option exercises. 1,544 shares acquired as a result of stock swap option exercises. (2) (3) Performance Graph The line graph below compares the total return on $100 invested on December 31, 2002, in STFC’s shares, the CRSP Total Return Index for the NASDAQ Stock Market (“NASDAQ Index”), and the CRSP Total Return Index for NASDAQ insurance stocks (“NASDAQ Ins. Index”), with dividends reinvested. 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 STFC NASDAQ Index NASDAQ Ins. Index STFC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NASDAQ Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NASDAQ Ins. Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.000 100.000 100.000 148.984 122.725 151.548 162.136 149.000 168.949 165.583 166.399 240.058 181.920 188.819 230.840 197.280 189.206 178.389 12/31/2002 12/31/2003 12/31/2004 12/31/2005 12/31/2006 12/31/2007 27 Item 6. Selected Consolidated Financial Data (dollars and shares in millions, except per share data) Year ended December 31: 2007 2006 2005* 2004 2003 Statement of Income Data – GAAP Basis: Earned premiums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net investment income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total revenues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Earned premium growth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Return on average invested assets(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,011.6 $ 84.7 $1,113.4 $ 119.1 1,023.8 83.1 1,117.4 120.4 (1.2)% (2.5) 4.3% 4.4 1,050.3 78.7 1,139.5 125.9 4.3 4.3 Balance Sheet Data – GAAP Basis: Total investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total notes payable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total stockholders’ equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Common shares outstanding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Return on average equity(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Debt to stockholders’ equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,021.2 1,937.9 $2,337.9 2,255.1 $ 118.0 118.4 $ 935.5 834.2 40.5 41.0 13.5% 15.1 12.6% 14.2 1,879.9 2,274.9 118.7 763.5 40.5 17.7 15.5 1,006.8 71.8 1,092.4 110.0 4.8 4.5 1,699.1 2,168.4 164.5 658.2 40.1 18.3 25.0 960.6 64.6 1,041.7 63.6 7.1 4.6 1,570.3 2,029.9 161.2 542.3 39.6 12.6 29.7 Per Common Share Data – GAAP Basis: Basic EPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diluted EPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cash dividends per share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Book value per share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Common Share Price: High . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Low . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Close at December 31 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Close price to basic EPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Close price to book value per share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GAAP Ratios:(3) Loss and LAE ratio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Expense ratio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Combined ratio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Statutory Ratios:(3) Loss and LAE ratio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Expense ratio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Combined ratio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Industry combined ratio(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net premiums written to surplus(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.90 $ 2.86 $ $ 0.50 $ 23.10 $ 35.22 $ 23.99 $ 26.30 9.07 1.14 2.95 2.90 0.38 20.32 39.94 28.40 34.68 11.76 1.71 58.4% 57.4 34.4% 34.0 92.8% 91.4 57.9% 56.8 33.2% 32.9 91.1% 89.7 93.8% 92.7 1.1 1.2 3.12 3.06 0.27 18.86 38.15 24.30 36.46 11.69 1.93 58.4 31.7 90.1 58.4 31.6 90.0 101.2 1.5 2.76 2.70 0.17 16.42 31.83 22.12 25.85 9.37 1.57 61.5 30.2 91.7 61.6 30.6 92.2 98.9 1.6 1.62 1.58 0.15 13.71 26.90 14.96 23.34 14.41 1.70 67.8 30.4 98.2 67.9 30.7 98.6 100.1 1.9 (1) Invested assets include investments and cash equivalents. (2) Net income divided by average common stockholders’ equity. (3) GAAP ratios are computed using earned premiums for both the loss and LAE ratio and the expense ratio, and include the effect of eliminations in consolidation. The statutory expense ratio is computed using net written premiums. We use the statutory combined ratio to compare our results to the industry statutory combined ratio as there is no industry GAAP combined ratio available. The industry combined ratios are from A.M. Best. The 2007 industry combined ratio is an estimate. (4) (5) We use the statutory net premiums written to surplus ratio as there is no comparable GAAP measure. This ratio, also called the leverage ratio, measures our statutory surplus available to absorb losses. Reflects change in Pooling Arrangement, effective January 1, 2005. * 28 Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Capitalized terms used in this Item 7 and not otherwise defined have the meanings ascribed to such terms under the caption “Important Defined Terms Used in this Form 10-K” which immediately precedes Part I of this Form 10-K. OVERVIEW State Auto Financial is a property and casualty insurance holding company primarily engaged in writing both personal and business lines of insurance. The State Auto Group markets a broad line of property and casualty insurance products through independent agencies in 33 states. State Auto Financial’s subsidiaries are State Auto P&C, Milbank, Farmers, SA Ohio and SA National, each of which is a property and casualty insurance company; Stateco, which provides investment management services to affiliated insurance companies; S.I.S., a developer and seller of insurance-related software; and 518 PML, which owns and leases property to affiliated companies. S.I.S. and 518 PML are not material to our total operations. State Auto Mutual owns approximately 64% of State Auto Financial’s outstanding common shares. State Auto P&C, Milbank, Farmers and SA Ohio (“STFC Pooled Companies”) participate in a quota share reinsurance pooling arrangement (the “Pooling Arrangement”) with State Auto Mutual, SA Florida, SA Wisconsin, Meridian Security and Meridian Citizens Mutual, which together with STFC Pooled Companies are referred to as the “Pooled Companies”. The Pooled Companies provide a broad line of property and casualty insurance, such as standard personal and commercial automobile, homeowners and farmowners, commercial multi-peril, workers’ compensation, general liability and property insurance. SA National, which is not included in the Pooling Arrangement, provides nonstandard personal automobile insurance. Our Pooled Companies and SA National are rated A+ (Superior) by the A.M. Best Company. Under the Pooling Arrangement, each of the Pooled Companies cedes premiums, losses and expenses on all of its business to State Auto Mutual, and State Auto Mutual in turn cedes to each of the Pooled Companies a specified portion of premiums, losses and expenses based on each of the Pooled Companies’ respective pooling percentages. State Auto Mutual then retains the balance of the pooled business. The participation percentage for the STFC Pooled Companies has remained at 80% since 2001. In general, the Pooling Arrangement covers all the property and casualty insurance written by the Pooled Companies except State Auto Mutual’s voluntary assumed reinsurance, middle market business insurance written by State Auto Mutual and Meridian Security and intercompany catastrophe reinsurance written by State Auto P&C. As of January 1, 2005, the Pooling Arrangement was modified to add Meridian Security and Meridian Citizens Mutual as participants. In conjunction with this modification, the STFC Pooled Companies received $54.0 million in cash from these two companies which related to the additional net insurance liabilities assumed on January 1, 2005. As of January 1, 2008, the Pooling Arrangement was further modified to add Patrons Mutual, Litchfield and Beacon National as participants and to include the middle market business insurance written by State Auto Mutual and Meridian Security. Concurrently with the addition of Patrons Mutual, Litchfield and Beacon National, the participating percentages of certain participants were adjusted as presented in the table below; however the STFC Pooled Companies continue to maintain an overall share of the pool at 80% and State Auto Mutual and its subsidiaries and affiliates continue to maintain 20%. In conjunction with this modification, the STFC Pooled Companies will receive approximately $92.0 million in cash from State Auto Mutual and its subsidiaries and affiliates. 29 Our business insurance book of business continues to be impacted by rate competition as well as ease of doing business issues. Commercial auto net written premiums decreased 3.4% in 2006. However, commercial multi-peril and workers’ compensation net written premiums reflected positive growth. In general, during 2006 the overall impact to net written premiums from business insurance line rate changes was a slight decrease. We are pursuing initiatives that we anticipate will generate additional business insurance premium production over the long term. One of our current strategic priorities is to develop a web-based rating system for the three products that generate the most new business submissions. In addition, we are developing more sophisticated pricing models to further segment our business insurance accounts, which we anticipate will improve our growth opportunities while still achieving our profit targets. We are also emphasizing a total account underwriting approach in which we offer additional products to our existing accounts. We are developing product enhancements that we believe will result in increased sales while pursuing process efficiencies to deliver product and pricing developments to the market more quickly. During 2006, we focused on introducing a more marketable pricing structure without forfeiting underwriting profits. Finally, we increased field underwriting authority which quickens our response to our agents. For both our personal and business products, we continue to emphasize that we will not compromise underwriting profitability for top line growth. We believe that we can implement periodic rate changes in most states and remain an attractive market to our policyholders and independent agents by stressing the strengths we bring to the marketplace. These strengths include stability, financial soundness, prompt and fair claims service, and user-friendly technology which help agents do business with us and provide substantial value to our customers. Losses and Expenses Our GAAP loss and LAE ratios were 57.4% and 58.4% for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Our auto and liability lines produced better loss results during 2006 while the property lines deteriorated due mostly to catastrophes. Our personal and commercial auto lines continued to produce favorable GAAP loss and LAE ratios benefiting from a combination of cumulative rate changes taken over the past several years along with improvement in claim frequency and severity. The following table presents the provision for losses and loss expenses for those claims occurring in the current calendar year and prior years, along with the GAAP loss and LAE ratio for the years 2006 and 2005, respectively: ($ millions) % GAAP loss and LAE 2005 % GAAP loss and LAE 2006 Provision for losses and loss expenses occurring: Current year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Prior years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $659.3 (71.7) Total losses and loss expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $587.6 64.4 (7.0) 57.4 $657.7 (44.3) $613.4 62.6 (4.2) 58.4 52 The following table sets forth a chronology of the participant and participation percentages for the Pooling Arrangement since January 1, 2005: STFC Pooled Companies: 2005-2007(1) 2008(1) State Auto P&C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Milbank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Farmers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SA Ohio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Subtotal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59.0% 17.0 3.0 1.0 80.0 59.0% 17.0 3.0 1.0 80.0 Mutual Pooled Companies: State Auto Mutual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SA Wisconsin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SA Florida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Meridian Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Meridian Citizens Mutual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Beacon National Patrons Mutual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Litchfield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Subtotal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 N/A N/A N/A 20.0 19.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.4 0.1 20.0 (1) Time period is for the year ended December 31, except for 2008, which is as of January 1, 2008. The remainder of this discussion refers to the Pooling Arrangement in effect prior to January 1, 2008, unless otherwise noted. Prior to January 1, 2007, we operated in two significant reportable segments, a standard segment and a nonstandard segment. In 2006, we undertook initiatives to realign our internal organization, specifically our people, processes, internal reporting systems and compensation reward programs, to become more focused within the business and personal insurance markets. We established integrated personal and business insurance teams with product, profit and production responsibilities for their respective areas. Consequently, beginning insurance, business insurance with first quarter 2007, our significant reportable segments are personal (collectively the “insurance segments” or “our insurance segments”) and investment operations, and we have begun reporting to our principal operating decision makers on these bases, analyzing each segment separately, to support our risk-based pricing focus. We evaluate the performance of our insurance segments using industry financial measurements determined based on Statutory Accounting Principles (“SAP”), which include loss and loss adjustment expense ratios, underwriting expense ratios, combined ratios, statutory underwriting gain (loss), net premiums earned and net written premiums. One of the most significant differences between SAP and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) is that SAP requires all underwriting expenses to be expensed immediately and not deferred over the same period the premium is earned. We evaluate our investment operations segment based on investment returns of assets. Financial information about our segments for 2007 is set forth in Note 15 to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K. Prior period segment information has been restated to conform to current period presentation. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The results of our operations from year-to-year and quarter-to-quarter are primarily driven by our ability to generate revenue through selecting and pricing risks in a manner that permits premium growth without adversely 30 affecting underwriting profits, and disciplined investment strategy. We also recognize that our results will be periodically impacted, sometimes significantly, by the occurrence of catastrophic events, which are generally beyond our control. • • • • Premium Growth/Underwriting Profitability: The property and casualty insurance industry is highly cyclical. Our industry has been historically characterized by periods of intense price competition due to excess underwriting capacity, as well as periods of shortages of underwriting capacity that result in increased prices and more favorable underwriting terms. During periods of excess underwriting capacity, some property and casualty insurers attempt to generate additional top line growth by setting their prices at levels inappropriate for the risk underwritten. While in the short term this may result in additional revenues, this action compromises their long term underwriting profitability. Our strategy is to insure personal and small-to-medium business risks while adhering to disciplined and consistent underwriting principles through all market cycles. Our underwriting principles include insistence on selecting and retaining business based on the merits of each account and a dedication to cost-based pricing, where each line of business is priced to generate a profit. It is our intention to set pricing levels so that no line of business, or classification within major lines, subsidizes another line or classification. We are committed to achieving an underwriting profit through all market cycles, even at the expense of periodic slowdowns in written and earned premiums. We will not compromise underwriting profitability for top line growth. We believe that we can implement periodic rate changes in most states and remain an attractive market to our policyholders and independent agents by stressing the strengths we bring to the marketplace. These strengths include stability, financial soundness, prompt and fair claims service, and technology which make it easier for the agent to do business with the State Auto Group and provide substantial value to our customers. We carefully monitor writing insurance in states that we believe present difficult legislative, judicial and/or regulatory environments for the insurance industry. Investment Strategy: We have a disciplined approach to our investment strategy that emphasizes the quality of our fixed maturity portfolio, which comprised 86% of our total portfolio at fair value at December 31, 2007, and includes only investment grade securities. During the last year our strategy has included increasing our positions in tax-exempt fixed maturities in an effort to maximize after tax investment income in conjunction with diversifying into additional asset classes, such as treasury inflation protected securities. Our only investments in asset-backed securities are in federal agency pools and government guaranteed GNMAs. Our internally managed equity portfolio, which comprised approximately 13% at fair value of our total portfolio at December 31, 2007, emphasizes large-cap, dividend-paying companies selected based upon their potential for appreciation as well as ability to continue paying dividends. During the fourth quarter, 2007, we began to diversify our equity portfolio, and utilize outside managers to invest in U.S. small-cap equities and international instruments. By diversifying, we hope to achieve a greater total return with reduced volatility. Loss Reserves: We maintain reserves for the eventual payment of losses and loss expenses for both reported claims and incurred claims that have not yet been reported. Loss reserves are management’s best estimates at a given point in time of what we expect to pay to claimants, based on facts, circumstances and historical trends then known. Although management uses many resources to calculate reserves, there is no precise method for determining the ultimate liability. We do not discount loss reserves for financial statement purposes. Our objective is to set reserves that are adequate such that the amounts that we originally record as reserves reasonably approximate the ultimate liability for insured losses and loss expenses. We then periodically review and adjust loss reserves on a timely basis. Catastrophic Events: We are exposed to claims arising out of catastrophic events. Catastrophe losses can and do cause substantial volatility in our financial results for any fiscal quarter or year. Catastrophes can be caused by various natural events, including hurricanes, hailstorms, tornadoes, windstorms, earthquakes, severe winter weather and fires, none of which are within our control. The frequency and severity of catastrophes are inherently unpredictable. The extent of losses from a 31 catastrophe is a function of both the total amount of insured exposure in the area affected by the event and the severity of the event. Many catastrophes are restricted to small geographic areas. However, hurricanes, earthquakes and other perils may produce significant damage in larger areas, especially those that are heavily populated. Although catastrophes can cause losses in a variety of our property and casualty lines, most of our catastrophe claims in the past have related to homeowners, other personal lines, allied lines and commercial multiple peril coverages. We deploy specific strategies designed to mitigate our exposure to catastrophe losses, which include obtaining reinsurance. We continually seek to diversify our business on a geographic basis. The number of states we operate in has increased from 17 states in 1991 to 33 states as of January 1, 2008. As we begin 2008, the concentration of our direct written premiums for our property and casualty operations in our largest state, Ohio, has decreased from 28% for the year ended December 31, 1991, to approximately 17% at January 1, 2008. Our underwriting guidelines are designed to limit exposures to high risk insurance matters such as asbestos and environmental claims. Our catastrophe management strategies are designed to mitigate our exposure to earthquakes and hurricanes. In addition to our adherence to our cost-based pricing, investment and risk mitigation strategies discussed above, our management focuses on several other key areas with the intention of continually improving the results of our operations and financial results, including the following: • • • Claims Service: We believe an important element of our success is our focus on claims service. We expect our claim service to be fair, fast and friendly. The role of the claims division is to deliver the promise that we and the independent agent made to the insured. We have the capability of receiving claims 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Claims may be reported to our Claims Contact Center, to the policyholder’s independent agent or via the Internet. We make a pledge to our policyholders to try and make contact with them within two hours of a claim being assigned to a claims handler (except in catastrophe loss situations). In 2007, we established claims catastrophe teams to enhance our response to policyholders in catastrophe loss situations. Independent Insurance Agent Network: We offer our products through over 3,000 agencies in 33 states. We believe the success of our independent insurance agent network, which is our only distribution channel, grows out of our commitment to promote and foster close working relationships with our agents. We seek relationships with agencies where we will be one of their top three insurers, measured on the basis of direct premiums written, for the type of business we desire. Our agents’ compensation package includes competitive commission rates and other sales inducements designed to maintain and enhance relationships with existing independent agents as well as to attract new independent agents. We provide our agents with a co-operative advertising program, sales training programs, contingent commissions, travel incentives and agency recognition. We continually monitor our agencies for compatibility with us, taking into account factors such as loss ratio, premium volume, business profiles and relationship history. This allows us to be proactive in helping our agents grow their book of business with us profitably and, thus, enhance the long-term value of our relationship. Our senior management meets frequently with agents to encourage mutual growth and demonstrate our commitment. We believe each of these elements creates a relationship that has resulted in our independent insurance agents placing quality insurance business with us. Technology: Our technology efforts are focused on making us as efficient and effective as possible. In 2007, our personal insurance segment technology leveraged past successes with our netXpress™ agency portal by putting emphasis on the integration between various third party technologies and netXpress™. One such example was adding functionality to “bridge” data directly into our netXpress™ portal from comparative rating tools thus eliminating the re-keying effort and increasing the data quality level. Agency personnel have welcomed this functionality and rewarded us with increased quote opportunities and submissions. It has also positioned us to be more effective on book rollover opportunities. Other integration examples include agency management systems and services that dynamically order underwriting products like motor vehicle reports, credit reports, and geographic data used in our pricing algorithms. 32 Our business insurance segment benefited by the introduction of our bizXpressSM portal. The bizXpressSM portal was deployed in all of our states of operation (except Florida) in 2007. During the course of 2007, several disciplines were more effectively used in our technology efforts. Quality assurance practices were formalized and used resulting in less defects in applications once deployed. Additionally, more project management rigor and application governance allowed our project delivery to be more predictable for all business segments. Finally, we implemented performance testing tools and application monitoring technologies so we can increase our responsiveness and operate our information systems infrastructure efficiently. CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES Our significant accounting policies are more fully described in Note 1 of the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K. In preparing the consolidated financial statements, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the balance sheet, revenues and expenses for the period then ended and the financial entries in the accompanying notes to the financial statements. Such estimates and assumptions could change in the future, as more information becomes known which could impact the amounts reported and disclosed in this Item 7. We have identified the policies and estimates described below as critical to our business operations and the understanding of the results of our operations. Investments Our fixed maturity, equity security and certain other invested asset investments are classified as available-for-sale and carried at fair value. The unrealized holding gains or losses, net of applicable deferred taxes, are shown as a separate component of stockholders’ equity as “accumulated other comprehensive income,” and as such are not included in the determination of net income. Investment income is recognized when earned, and capital gains and losses are recognized when investments are sold. We regularly monitor our investment portfolio for declines in value that are other-than-temporary, an assessment that requires significant management judgment. Among the factors we consider are the nature of the investment, severity and length of decline in fair value, events impacting the issuer, overall market conditions and our intent and ability to hold securities until the value recovers. When a security in our investment portfolio has been determined to have a decline in fair value that is other-than-temporary, we adjust the cost basis of the security to fair value. This results in a charge to earnings as a realized loss, which is not changed for subsequent recoveries in fair value. For a further discussion regarding our investments see “2007 Compared to 2006” and “2006 Compared to 2005” included in this Item 7. Deferred Acquisition Costs Acquisition costs, consisting of commissions, premium taxes and certain underwriting expenses relating to the production of property and casualty business, are deferred and amortized over the same period in which the related premiums are earned. The method followed for computing the acquisition costs limits the amount of such deferred costs to their estimated realizable value. In determining estimated realizable value, the computation gives effect to the premium to be earned, losses and loss expenses expected to be incurred, and certain other costs expected to be incurred as premium is earned. These amounts are based on estimates, and accordingly, the actual realizable value may vary from the estimated realizable value. Losses and Loss Expenses Payable Losses and loss expenses payable are management’s best estimates at a given point in time of what we expect to pay claimants, based on known facts, circumstances and historical trends. Reserves for reported losses are established on either a case-by-case or formula basis depending on the type and circumstances of the loss. 33 The case-by-case reserve amounts are determined by claims adjusters based on our reserving practices, which take into account the type of risk, the circumstances surrounding each claim and policy provisions relating to types of loss. The formula reserves are based on historical data for similar claims with provision for trend changes caused by inflation. Case and formula basis loss reserves are reviewed on a regular basis, and as new data becomes available, estimates are updated resulting in adjustments to loss reserves. Generally, reported losses initially reserved on a formula basis and not settled after six months are case reserved at that time. Loss and loss expense reserves for incurred claims that have not yet been reported (“IBNR”) are estimated based on many variables including historical and statistical information, inflation, legal developments, storm loss estimates, and economic conditions. The process for calculating IBNR is to develop an estimate of the ultimate losses incurred, and then subtract all amounts already paid or held in tabular case reserves. Although we use many internal and external resources, as well as multiple established methodologies to calculate IBNR, there is no method for determining the exact ultimate liability. For a further discussion regarding our losses and loss expense reserves and our reserving methods see “Other—Loss and Loss Expense Reserves” included in this Item 7. Pension and Postretirement Benefit Obligations Pension and postretirement benefit obligations are long term in nature and require management’s judgment in estimating the factors used to determine these amounts. We review these factors annually, including the discount rate and expected long term rate of return on plan assets. Because these obligations are based on estimates which could change, the ultimate benefit obligation could be different from the amount estimated. For a further discussion regarding our pension and postretirement benefit obligations see “Other—Employee Benefit Plans” included in this Item 7. Share-Based Compensation We have share-based compensation plans which authorize the granting of various equity-based incentives including stock options, restricted stock and restricted share units to employees and non-employee directors and agents. The expense for these equity-based incentives is based on their fair value at date of grant or each reporting date and amortized over their vesting period. The fair value of each stock option granted is estimated on the date of grant or each reporting date using the Black-Scholes closed-form pricing model. The pricing model requires assumptions such as the expected life of the option and expected volatility of our stock over the expected life of the option, which significantly impacts the assumed fair value. We use historical data to determine these assumptions and if these assumptions change significantly for future grants, share-based compensation expense will fluctuate in future periods. Other Other items that could have a significant impact on the financial statements include the risks and uncertainties listed in Item 1A of this Form 10-K under “Risk Factors.” Actual results could differ materially using different estimates and assumptions, or if conditions are significantly different in the future. 34 RESULTS OF OPERATIONS Summary The following table summarizes certain key performance indicators used to manage our operations for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively: ($ millions, except per share data) 2007 2006 2005 GAAP Basis: Total revenues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stockholders’ equity(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Book value per share(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loss and LAE ratio(2) Expense ratio(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Combined ratio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Catastrophe loss and LAE points(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Premium written growth(3) Premium earned growth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Investment yield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SAP Basis: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loss and LAE ratio(4) Expense ratio(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Combined ratio(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net premiums written to surplus(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,113.4 1,117.4 $ 119.1 120.4 $ 935.5 834.2 $ 23.10 20.32 58.4 57.4 34.4 34.0 92.8 91.4 3.7% 8.9 0.0% (2.5) (1.2)% (2.5) 4.3% 4.4 57.9 33.2 91.1 1.1 56.8 32.9 89.7 1.2 1,139.5 125.9 763.5 18.86 58.4 31.7 90.1 6.9 5.0 4.3 4.3 58.4 31.6 90.0 1.5 (3) (2) (1) At December 31, 2006, accumulated comprehensive income was reduced by $63.9 million and book value per share was reduced by $1.56, respectively, in connection with the initial adoption of SFAS 158 (defined below) at December 31, 2006. For a further discussion of the impact of SFAS 158, see “Other—Employee Benefit Plans” included in this Item 7. See “2007 Compared to 2006” section below for definitions. 2.3 points of the increase for 2005 related to the $24.0 million of unearned premiums transferred to us in connection with the addition of the Meridian Security and Meridian Citizens Mutual to the Pooling Arrangement. SAP loss and LAE ratio is statutory losses and loss expenses as a percentage of net earned premium. SAP expense ratio is statutory underwriting expenses and miscellaneous expenses offset by miscellaneous income (“underwriting expenses”) as a percentage of net written premiums. SAP combined ratio is the sum of the SAP loss and LAE ratio and the SAP expense ratio. (4) (5) We use the statutory net premiums written to surplus ratio because there is no comparable GAAP measure. This ratio, also called the leverage ratio, measures our statutory surplus available to absorb losses. 2007 Compared to 2006 Income before federal income tax decreased $6.4 million (4.0%) to $155.3 million from 2006. The most significant factors contributing to this decrease related to a decline in our revenues, specifically our premiums, and an increase in our loss and loss expenses. Our GAAP loss and loss expense ratio for 2007 was 58.4% compared to 57.4% in 2006. Insurance Segments Insurance industry regulators require our insurance subsidiaries to report their financial condition and results of operations using SAP. We use SAP financial results, along with industry standard financial measures determined on a SAP basis and certain measures determined on a GAAP basis, to internally monitor the performance of our insurance segments and reward our employees. The more common financial measures used are loss and LAE ratio, underwriting expense ratio, combined ratio, net premiums written and net premiums earned. The combined ratio is the sum of the loss and LAE ratio and the underwriting expense ratio. When the 35 combined ratio is less than 100%, the insurer is operating at an underwriting gain and when it is greater than 100%, the insurer is operating at an underwriting loss. Underwriting gain (loss) is determined by subtracting from net earned premiums, losses and loss expenses and underwriting expenses. One of the more significant differences between GAAP and SAP is that SAP requires all underwriting expenses to be expensed immediately and not deferred over the same period that the premium is earned. In converting SAP underwriting results to GAAP underwriting results, acquisition costs are deferred and amortized over the periods the related written premiums are earned. For a discussion of deferred policy acquisition costs see “Critical Accounting Policies—Deferred Acquisition Costs” included in this Form 10-K. The “GAAP combined ratio” is defined as the sum of the “GAAP loss and LAE ratio” (loss and loss expenses as a percentage of earned premiums) plus “GAAP expense ratio” (acquisition and operating expenses as a percentage of earned premiums). All references to financial measures or components thereof in this discussion are calculated on a GAAP basis, unless otherwise noted. The following tables provide a summary of our insurance segments’ SAP underwriting gain and SAP combined ratio for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006: ($ millions) 2007 % Personal Ratio Business Written premiums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Earned premiums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Losses and loss expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . Underwriting expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . $615.1 609.6 378.4 183.9 $404.7 402.0 207.2 154.2 62.1 29.9 SAP underwriting profit and SAP % Ratio 51.5 38.1 Total $1,019.8 1,011.6 585.6 338.1 % Ratio 57.9 33.2 combined ratio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 47.3 92.0 $ 40.6 89.6 $ 87.9 91.1 ($ millions) Written premiums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Earned premiums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Losses and loss expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . Underwriting expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . SAP underwriting profit and SAP 2006 % Ratio 63.4 29.4 Business $406.7 409.0 192.4 155.1 % Ratio 47.0 38.1 Personal $612.8 614.8 389.6 180.4 Total $1,019.5 1,023.8 582.0 335.5 % Ratio 56.8 32.9 combined ratio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 44.8 92.8 $ 61.5 85.1 $ 106.3 89.7 Revenue We measure our top-line growth for our insurance segments based on net written premiums, which represent the premiums on the policies we have issued for a period, net of reinsurance. Net written premiums provide us with an indication of how well we are doing in terms of revenue growth before it is actually earned. Our policies provide a fixed amount of coverage for a stated period of time, often referred to as “the policy term.” As such, our written premiums are recognized as earned ratably over the policy term. The unearned portion of written premiums, called unearned premiums, is reflected on our balance sheet as a liability and represents our obligation to provide coverage for the unexpired terms of the policy. Personal Insurance Segment Revenue Our personal insurance segment consists primarily of auto (standard and nonstandard) and homeowners’ products, with personal auto representing approximately 40% of our total consolidated net written premium in 36 2007 and 2006. The following table provides a summary of written and earned premium, net of reinsurance, by major product line of business for our personal insurance segment for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006: ($ millions) Personal Insurance Segment: 2007 2006 % Change Net Written Premium Standard auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nonstandard auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Homeowners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other personal $361.5 42.7 187.7 23.2 Total personal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $615.1 Net Earned Premium Standard auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nonstandard auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Homeowners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other personal $357.3 42.9 186.5 22.9 Total personal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $609.6 361.7 42.4 186.1 22.6 612.8 362.1 44.8 185.2 22.7 614.8 (0.1) 0.7 0.9 2.7 0.4 (1.3) (4.2) 0.7 0.9 (0.8) In total, the personal insurance segment net written premium increased from 2006 by 0.4%. While a modest increase, it does represent an improvement from 2006 which declined approximately 3.5% from 2005. In particular, competition remains intense within the personal auto market, which is contributing to our overall modest growth. It remains our strategy that rates be risk-based, reflecting the underlying loss and expense trends. Net written premiums for our standard auto products decreased 0.1% in 2007 compared to 2006. The competitive marketplace combined with some rate reductions in 2007 contributed to this result. However, we have seen increasing new business production related to the introduction of our CustomFitSM product into new states. CustomFitSM uses a multi-variate rating approach that broadens the underwriting eligibility for new customers. In 2007, we began introducing the second generation of CustomFitSM, which further improves our rating sophistication. Net written premiums for nonstandard personal auto increased 0.7% in 2007 compared 2006. This represents a significant improvement compared to the 2006 premium result which declined 13.3% from 2005. Targeted rate decreases coupled with the introduction of new discounts and an increased marketing effort contributed to an increased level of new policy submissions leading to an increase in premiums. We believe independent agents value ease of doing business and make it an important factor in their choice of insurance companies when quoting personal auto products to their customers. During 2007, we introduced in 17 states various “real time” comparative rating tools which can be used by our independent agents to prepare comparative rate quotes from multiple insurance companies by entering the rating information once. We believe our independent agents will quote and write more personal standard and nonstandard auto with us as a result of a more efficient quoting process. Homeowners’ net written premium increased 0.9% in 2007 compared to 2006. In 2007, we introduced a home purchase discount and expanded our age of dwelling discounts to help attract new business which we believe contributed favorably to increased new homeowners policy submission levels. During 2007, we continued to enhance our personal lines point of sale portal, netXpress™, by adding several new integration options with a variety of third party tools used by our independent agents including a 37 joint credit ordering tool, integrated report ordering, and the comparative rating tools mentioned above. We also have added a number of internal integration points through the use of web services technology. One example of this is real time integration with our enterprise billing system to provide accurate installment information via netXpressTM. The goal of these technology investments is to streamline quoting and policy issuance for our agents. We strive to be their carrier of choice and ease of doing business is a major driver toward that goal. We have also focused on improving our policyholders’ ease of doing business with respect to bill payment and claim reporting and settlement. In 2006, we expanded our premium payment options to include credit and debit card via www.stateauto.com. In 2007, we deployed an Interactive Voice Response (“IVR”) solution to accept premium payments over the phone providing yet another option for policyholders. The IVR solution provides a more efficient business process for our payment services department and is expected to drive better policy retention results. During 2007, nearly 189,000 payments were made through self-service technologies such as these representing over $76 million of premium payments. Additionally, we recently completed several strategic initiatives to enhance our claims handling ability and better manage major catastrophes. Field claims personnel are now equipped with mobile devices that permit adjusting property claims at the loss site. We believe that our professional claims service backed by reliable technology will continue to distinguish us from our competitors. During the second quarter 2007, we filed an application with the Florida Department of Insurance to withdraw from the state’s personal lines insurance market effective January 1, 2008. After a careful analysis of recent regulatory changes in Florida, we concluded that we could no longer operate our personal lines on a profitable basis in that state. Non-renewals on this business are in process. We will continue to write commercial lines business in Florida. During 2007, we wrote $12.5 million of personal lines premium in Florida. Business Insurance Segment Revenue We focus our business insurance sales on small to medium sized exposures and offer a broad range of both property and liability coverages such as commercial auto, commercial multi-peril, fire and allied lines, products liability and workers’ compensation. The following table provides a summary of written and earned premium, net of reinsurance, by major product line of business for our business insurance segment for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006: ($ millions) Business Insurance Segment: Net Written Premium Commercial auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Commercial multi-peril . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fire & allied lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other & product liability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Workers’ compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other commercial Total business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net Earned Premium Commercial auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Commercial multi-peril . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fire & allied lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other & product liability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Workers’ compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other commercial Total business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2007 2006 % Change $ 95.8 86.6 84.0 75.6 36.1 26.6 $404.7 $ 96.9 86.8 83.4 75.5 33.4 26.0 $402.0 98.7 87.8 83.1 77.2 34.3 25.6 406.7 100.3 87.5 84.2 77.5 33.8 25.7 409.0 (2.9) (1.4) 1.1 (2.1) 5.2 3.9 (0.5) (3.4) (0.8) (1.0) (2.6) (1.2) 1.2 (1.7) 38 The business insurance segment net written premium for 2007 decreased 0.5% from 2006. Business insurance continues to be impacted by rate competition and ease of doing business issues. We are seeking to balance our traditional underwriting discipline with new products and pricing tools that support the production of profitable new business. In 2007, we began offering our business products in two new states—Colorado and Texas—and increased the number of business products offered in Arizona. We also continue to enhance our back office systems which enable us to more effectively support our independent agents. We recently implemented the technology to provide real time functionality in our business insurance policy administration systems for quote and issuance transactions. Also known as straight through processing (“STP”), our associates are now able to more effectively and accurately handle typical business insurance processing. The policy service time has been greatly reduced as a result of this new technology. To make it easier for our agents to submit business insurance accounts, in 2007, we introduced bizXpressSM, our web-based quote and issuance system, to agents in all of our operating states except Florida. We currently utilize bizXpressSM for businessowners policies. We are working to expand bizXpressSM functionality to our business auto products in the first half of 2008, while we develop the same functionality for workers compensation business for introduction at a later date. This has been a highly collaborative initiative that has included agent focus group input lifecycle. It also leverages the STP technology investment mentioned above. We believe this technology investment should better position us for revenue growth opportunities in the future and start to drive efficiencies into our business model much like we have seen in personal insurance. the project throughout Losses and Expenses Our GAAP loss and LAE ratio was 58.4% in 2007 compared to 57.4% in 2006. Loss results for the year have been mixed. Our core auto (personal and business) and other and product liability lines continue to perform well. On the property side, catastrophe losses for 2007 were lower than in 2006, but we experienced significantly higher frequency of large fire losses within our personal and business lines during 2007. Losses and loss expenses for a calendar year represent the combined estimated ultimate liability for claims occurring in the current calendar year along with development of claims occurring in prior years. The following table presents the provision for losses and loss expenses for those claims occurring in the current calendar year and prior years, along with the GAAP loss and LAE ratio for the years 2007 and 2006, respectively: ($ millions) Provision for losses and loss expenses occurring: % GAAP loss and LAE % GAAP loss and LAE 2006 2007 Current year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Prior years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $645.5 (54.7) Total losses and loss expenses . . . . . $590.8 62.7 (4.3) 58.4 659.3 (71.7) 587.6 64.4 (7.0) 57.4 39 A tabular presentation of the 2007 $54.7 million favorable development broken down by accident year is shown below. ($ millions) Accident year 1997 and prior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1998 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2001 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2003 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2004 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2005 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Current year development of ultimate liability Redundancy /(Deficiency) $ (4.8) (0.1) 0.2 0.2 1.8 1.1 4.3 2.3 20.2 29.5 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $54.7 Normal fluctuations and uncertainty associated with loss reserve development and claim settlement contributed to favorable development in the respective calendar years. The favorable development of $54.7 million in 2007 came primarily from accident years 2005-2006. The more notable items contributing to the 2007 development are: • • Favorable development at the product level is primarily from the auto liability and other liability lines, where current loss projections using more mature claim data resulted in lower expected average claim severities than past projections. The impact is approximately $23.5 million for these two lines combined. Adjusting and other expense reserves accounted for approximately $11.8 million of prior year reserve change. These expense reserves have a proportional relationship to the overall claim inventory and held reserves by accident year, as they move up or down in relation to carried loss reserves. Since reserves decreased for the prior accident years, the expense reserves declined in a similar fashion. (Allocated loss adjustment expenses (“ALAE”) are those costs that can be related to a specific claim, which may include attorney fees, external claims adjusters and investigation costs, among others. Unallocated loss adjustment expenses (“ULAE”) are those costs incurred in settling claims, such as in-house processing costs, for which no identification can be made to specific claims. “Adjusting and other expenses” are the components of ALAE and ULAE that relate to costs other than defense, litigation, and medical cost containment.) • We hold ceded loss reserves in anticipation of transferring liabilities to reinsurers and other pools and associations. Ceded loss reserves were above previously anticipated levels by approximately $10.0 million. Historically, we have had less ceded loss activity because our reinsurance retention levels are generally high enough to exclude most claims. This favorable development occurred primarily in the fire, auto liability and workers’ compensation lines. • • Favorable catastrophe loss development of approximately $4.6 million is attributable to the 2006 accident year. This development occurred primarily within our homeowners, other personal and commercial multi-peril lines of business. The remaining favorable development is spread across several lines of business and is generally the result of having fewer claims emerge and lower claim severity than anticipated in the estimates developed as of December 31, 2006. 40 See discussion regarding the 2006 calendar year development at “2006 Compared to 2005—Losses and Expenses” section included herein. See additional discussion regarding loss and loss expense reserves at the “Other—Loss and Loss Expense Reserves” section included herein. Catastrophe losses in 2007 totaled $37.1 million (3.7 loss ratio points) compared to $91.2 million (8.9 loss ratio points) in 2006. During 2007, our catastrophe losses resulted primarily from wind and hail in several Midwestern states and mostly impacted our homeowners business. Catastrophe activity in 2006 had a significant impact on both our personal and business insurance property lines. The discussion of catastrophe losses includes those which have been designated as such by ISO’s Property Claim Services (“PCS”) unit, a nationally recognized industry service. PCS defines catastrophes as events resulting in $25.0 million or more in insured losses industry wide and affecting significant numbers of insureds and insurers. The following table provides our insurance segments’ comparative SAP loss and LAE ratios (“loss ratios”) by major line of business for 2007 and 2006: 2007 2006 Improve (Deteriorate) Personal insurance segment: Standard auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nonstandard auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Homeowners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other personal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total personal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Business insurance segment: Commercial auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Commercial multi-peril . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fire & allied lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other & product liability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Workers’ compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other commercial Total business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total SAP personal and business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61.5 63.2 64.6 48.2 62.1 52.2 59.3 49.1 43.5 74.6 24.8 51.5 57.9 57.0 60.0 78.1 51.1 63.4 40.3 48.6 58.3 37.5 57.5 46.3 47.0 56.8 (4.5) (3.2) 13.5 2.9 1.3 (11.9) (10.7) 9.2 (6.0) (17.1) 21.5 (4.5) (1.1) The personal insurance segment loss ratio was 1.3 points lower in 2007 than in 2006. Catastrophes accounted for 5.0 loss ratio points in 2007 compared to 11.9 points in 2006 period. Excluding the impact of catastrophes, the personal lines loss ratio in 2007 was 5.5 points higher than in 2006 period. The increase in both the standard and nonstandard auto loss ratios can be attributed partially to rate reductions taken in 2006 and 2007. The improvement in the homeowners loss ratio can be attributed primarily to the reduction of catastrophe losses. In 2007, catastrophes added 14.2 points to the homeowners loss ratio compared to 32.2 points in 2006 period. The business insurance segment’s loss ratio for 2007 was 4.5 points higher than in 2006. Catastrophes accounted for 1.6 loss ratio points in 2007 compared to 4.3 points in 2006. Excluding the impact of catastrophes, the business lines loss ratio in 2007 was 7.2 points higher than in 2006. The overall increase reflects rate reductions in premium per exposure on business written in 2006 and 2007 and an increase in the number of large property losses. Workers’ compensation, which represents approximately 9.0% of our business insurance portfolio and less than 4.0% of our overall insurance segment portfolio, tends to be a more volatile line of business due to its size and risks written. We do not write mono-line workers’ compensation, but make our product available as part of the business package policy. The increase in the level of 2007 losses as compared to 2006 was driven largely by an increase in severity rather than frequency. We regularly monitor frequency and 41 severity trends, as well as the overall construction of our workers compensation book of business. In addition, we promote the writing of the low-hazard risk types that have developed a consistent pattern of profitability. Acquisition and operating expenses, as a percentage of earned premiums (“GAAP expense ratio”) were 34.4% in 2007 compared to 34.0% in 2006. The 2007 expense ratio was largely impacted by a lower premium base in 2007 compared to 2006. Investment Operations Segment Our investment portfolio and the investment portfolios of State Auto Mutual, and its subsidiaries and affiliates are managed by our subsidiary, Stateco. The Investment Committee of the Board of Directors of each of our insurers sets investment policies to be followed by Stateco. At December 31, 2007, our investments in fixed maturities, equity securities and certain other invested assets were held as available-for-sale and carried at fair value. The unrealized holding gains or losses, net of applicable deferred taxes, are included as a separate component of stockholders’ equity as “accumulated other comprehensive loss” and as such are not included in the determination of net income. Our primary investment objectives are to generate income, preserve capital and maintain adequate liquidity for the payment of claims and expenses. Our current investment strategy does not rely on the use of derivative financial instruments. We have investment policy guidelines with respect to purchasing fixed maturity investments for our insurance subsidiaries which preclude investments in bonds that are rated below investment grade by a recognized rating service. For the insurance subsidiaries, the maximum investment in any single note or bond is limited to 5.0% or less of statutory assets, other than obligations of the U.S. government or government agencies, for which there is no limit. Our fixed maturity portfolio is composed of high quality, investment grade issues, comprised almost entirely of debt issues rated AAA or AA. At December 31, 2007, we had no fixed maturity investments rated below investment grade. Our only investments in asset-backed securities are in federal agency pools and government guaranteed GNMAs. Our internally managed equity portfolio invests in U.S. large-cap, dividend-paying companies across many different industries selected based upon their potential for appreciation as well as ability to continue paying dividends. This diversification across companies and industries reduces volatility in the value of the large-cap equity portfolio. In addition, our investment policy guidelines limit the purchase of a specific stock to no more than 2% of the market value of the stock at the time of purchase, and no single equity holding should exceed 5% of the total equity portfolio. During the fourth quarter 2007, we began to diversify our equity portfolio and utilize outside money managers to invest in U.S. small-cap equities and international instruments. These managers are permitted to manage the portfolios according to their own respective portfolio objectives. In selecting our outside money managers we confirm that their portfolio objectives, including risk tolerance, are acceptable to us; however, there may be slight differences in their objectives with respect to dividend payments and other constraints that we apply to our large cap equity holdings. By further diversifying our portfolio into small-cap equities and international instruments, we hope to achieve a greater total return with reduced volatility. 42 In August 2007, we completed a portfolio diversification study with the objective to reduce the volatility of the returns and improve our overall after-tax return while continuing to maintain a high-quality portfolio. Based on this study, the Committee (defined below) approved the following target asset allocation: Cash and cash equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Core fixed maturities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Treasury inflation protected securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Large-cap equities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Small-cap equities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . International instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total portfolio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.5% 69.0 10.0 10.5 3.0 4.0 100.0% Composition of Investment Portfolio Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2007, we began investing funds as they became available moving toward our targeted asset allocations over the next 12 to 18 months. The following table provides a breakdown of our investments relative to our targeted allocated percentages provided above at December 31, 2007. We measure our investment portfolio allocation with fixed maturities at amortized cost and equities and international instruments at fair value. ($ millions) Cash and cash equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Core fixed maturities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Treasury inflation protected securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Large-cap equities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Small-cap equities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . International instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other invested assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total portfolio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . % of Total 3.4 82.6 0.6 11.7 0.6 0.8 0.3 $ 70.9 1,710.0 12.9 242.7 11.5 15.9 5.7 $2,069.6 100.0 The following table provides the composition of our available-for-sale investment portfolio at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively: ($ millions) Fixed maturities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Equity securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other invested assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total investments, at fair value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2007 2006 $1,745.4 254.2 20.3 $2,019.9 86.4% 1,647.4 12.6 284.2 1.0 4.5 100.0% 1,936.1 85.1 14.7 0.2 100.0 43 The amortized cost and fair value of fixed maturities at December 31, 2007, by contractual maturity, are as follows: ($ millions) Due in 1 year or less . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Due after 1 year through 5 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Due after 5 years through 10 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Due after 10 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.S. government agencies mortgage-backed securities . . . . . . . . . . . . Amortized Cost $ 16.9 60.5 437.5 1,019.4 188.6 Fair Value 16.9 62.5 451.1 1,025.4 189.5 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,722.9 1,745.4 Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities as the issuers may have the right to call or prepay the obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. At December 31, 2007, our equity portfolio consisted of approximately 80 different large-cap stocks and 325 small-cap stocks. The largest single position was 3.2% of the equity portfolio based on fair value and the top ten positions were equal to approximately 25.1% of the equity portfolio. Our equity portfolio consists primarily of large-cap, value-oriented stocks with a small allocation to small-cap equities. Therefore, when large-cap stocks and/or value-oriented stocks perform well our equity portfolio typically performs well compared to benchmarks. Conversely, when growth stocks outperform value and/or small- to mid-cap stocks outperform large-cap stocks, our equity portfolio does not perform as well compared to benchmarks. This is due to the significant overweighting in large-cap, value-oriented stocks versus small-cap and growth stocks in the portfolio. The chart below shows the industry sector breakdown of our large-cap equity portfolio versus the S&P 500 Index based on fair value as of December 31, 2007. Industry Sector Basic Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Consumer Cyclical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Consumer Non-cyclical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Financial Industrial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Utilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Equity Portfolio % of Fair Value S&P 500 Index % of Fair Value 2.1 5.6 16.3 16.8 9.9 16.6 24.4 8.3 — 3.4 11.3 7.1 20.5 12.9 17.6 11.8 11.8 3.6 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.0 100.0 In 2005, the Investment Committee of State Auto Financial’s Board of Directors (“the Committee”) approved a targeted allocation of 70% tax-exempt fixed maturities, 15% taxable fixed maturities and 15% equities. This reallocation effort would result in lower pre-tax investment yields but higher after tax investment income than if we had continued under the then current allocation percentages. In November 2006, the Committee approved a $50.0 million repositioning of the then-current taxable and tax-exempt holdings to reach our targeted percentage at a quicker pace than if we just used new monies. Based 44 on this action, the sale of approximately $50.0 million of taxable securities was completed by December 31, 2006. Reinvestment into tax-exempt securities of the proceeds from these actions was completed during the first quarter 2007. During the Committee’s March 2007 meeting, the allocation status was reviewed and the Committee approved an additional $100.0 million repositioning of the then-current taxable and tax-exempt holdings. Based on this action, the sale of approximately $100.0 million of taxable securities was completed by March 31, 2007. Reinvestment into tax-exempt securities of the proceeds from these actions was completed during the 2007 second quarter. After completion of the targeted rebalancing, we assessed the securities held and confirmed our intent to hold the remaining securities until either recovery of fair value or maturity. Market Risk Our decision to make a specific investment is influenced primarily by the following factors: (a) investment risks; (b) general market conditions; (c) relative valuations of investment instruments; (d) general market interest rates; (e) our liquidity requirements at any given time; and (f) our current federal income tax position and relative spread between after tax yields on tax-exempt and taxable fixed maturity investments. Our primary market risk exposures are to changes in market prices for equity securities and changes in interest rates and credit ratings for fixed maturity securities. Our fixed maturity securities are subject to interest rate risk whereby the value of the securities varies as market interest rates change. We manage this risk by closely monitoring the duration of the fixed maturity portfolio. The duration of the fixed maturity portfolio was approximately 5.10 and 5.35 as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The table below summarizes our interest rate risk and shows the effects of a parallel change in interest rates on the fair value of the fixed maturity portfolio (excluding other debt securities) as of December 31, 2007: Fair value ($ millions) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Change in interest rates (bps) . . . . . . . . . Value as % of original value . . . . . . . . . . $1,952.8 -200 112% $1,849.1 -100 106% $1,745.4 0 100% $1,641.7 +100 $1,520.7 +200 94% 87% This table summarizes only the effects that a parallel change in interest rates could have on the fixed maturity portfolio. This change in rates would also change the value of our liabilities and possibly other financial assets. We caution the reader that this analysis does not take into account nonparallel changes in interest rates. It is likely that some rates would increase or decrease more than others depending upon market conditions at the time of the change. This nonparallel change would alter the value of the fixed maturity portfolio. The analysis is also limited in that it does not take into account any actions that might be taken by us in response to these changes. As a result, the actual impact of a change in interest rates and the resulting fixed maturity values may differ significantly from what is shown in the table. We believe that the fixed maturity portfolio’s exposure to credit risk is minimal as greater than 94% of the bonds we own are rated AA or better and the remaining bonds are rated A. We do not intend to change our investment policy on the quality of our fixed maturity investments. The fixed maturity portfolio is managed in a laddered-maturity style and considers business mix and liability payout patterns to ensure adequate cash flow to meet claims as they are presented. We also manage liquidity risk by maintaining sufficient cash balances, owning some agency and U.S. Treasury securities at all times, purchasing bonds of major issuers, and purchasing bonds that are part of a medium or large issue. The fixed maturity portfolio does not have any direct exposure to either exchange rate risk or commodity risk. We do not rely on the use of derivative financial instruments. To provide us greater flexibility in order to manage our market risk exposures, we categorize our fixed maturities as available-for-sale. We do not maintain a trading portfolio. We have no asset-backed securities in our fixed maturity portfolio which may be labeled sub-prime mortgage-backed securities. We only invest in conventional mortgage backed securities issued by a federal agency or that are U.S. Government guaranteed. Specifically, our only investment in asset-backed securities (approximately $189.4 million or 9.4% of our available-for-sale 45 investment portfolio) are in federal agency pool and government guaranteed GNMAs, of which 63.8% are GNMAs, which are guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. Our fixed maturity investment portfolio at December 31, 2007 included securities issued by numerous municipalities with a total carrying value of $1,452.0 million. Approximately $829.4 million or 57% of these securities were enhanced by third-party insurance (the “Credit Enhancement”) for the payment of principal and interest in the event of an issuer default. Such insurance generally results in a rating of “AAA” being assigned by independent ratings agencies to those securities. The downgrade of credit ratings of insurers of these securities could result in a corresponding downgrade in the ratings of the securities from “AAA” to the underlying rating of the respective security without giving effect to the benefit of the Credit Enhancement. Credit Enhancement is not a primary consideration to us when purchasing a municipality security as we consider the underlying credit rating of the security by Moody’s and S&P as a more important factor in our evaluation process. Of the total $829 million of insured municipal securities in our investment portfolio, approximately 82% were rated AA or better, without the benefit of a Credit Enhancement. We do not believe that a loss of a Credit Enhancement would have a material adverse impact on our results of operations, financial position or liquidity, due to the underlying strength of the issuers of the securities, as well as our ability and intent to hold the securities. As of December 31, 2007, our large-cap equity portfolio had a beta of 0.99 using the S&P 500 Index as a benchmark. Beta estimates the degree the portfolio’s price will fluctuate based on a given movement in the market index. The table below reflects what changes might occur in the value of the large-cap equity portfolio given a change in the S&P 500 Index: Fair value ($ millions) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Change in S&P 500 Index . . . . . . . . . . . Value as % of original value . . . . . . . . . $290.8 $266.7 +20% 120% +10% 110% $242.7 0 100% $218.7 $194.6 -10% 90% -20% 80% The above analysis is limited in that it does not take into account any actions that might be taken by us in response to these changes. As a result, the actual impact of a change in equity market prices and the resulting equity values may differ significantly from what is shown in the table. By investing in mostly large-cap issues we hope to limit liquidity risk in the equity portfolio. The equity portfolio does not have any direct exposure to exchange rate risk since we do not directly hold any foreign stocks. We constantly monitor the equity portfolio holdings for any credit risk issues that may arise. We do not invest in any commodity futures or commodity oriented mutual funds. 46 Investment Operations Revenue Net investment income for 2007 was $84.7 million compared to $83.1 million in 2006. In 2007 our average invested assets increased due to our insurance segments’ favorable underwriting cash flows. However, our pre-tax return on investments declined slightly as provided in the table below due largely to rebalancing our fixed maturity portfolio as described above toward tax-exempt bonds, which have a lower yield on a pre-tax basis. After tax, our net investment income for 2007 was $73.6 million (13.2% effective tax rate) compared to $69.8 million (16.1% effective tax rate) for 2006. ($ millions) Gross investment income: Year Ended December 31 2007 2006 Fixed maturities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Equity securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ Total gross investment income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Less: Investment expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net investment income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 75.3 5.7 5.5 86.5 1.8 84.7 73.6 5.1 6.1 84.8 1.7 83.1 Average invested assets (at cost) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Annualized investment yield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Annualized investment yield, after tax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,987.1 4.3% 3.7% 1,891.6 4.4 3.7 Realized gains and losses on investments for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively are summarized as follows: ($ millions) Realized gains: Fixed maturities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Equity securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total realized gains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Realized losses: Fixed maturities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Equity securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total realized losses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2007 2006 Realized Gains (Losses) Proceeds Received on Sale Realized Gains (Losses) Proceeds Received On Sale $ 0.8 19.7 20.5 (1.3) (7.1) (8.4) $ 82.5 76.2 158.7 72.7 30.8 103.5 $ 1.8 15.6 17.4 $130.1 72.0 202.1 (4.8) (7.0) (11.7) 41.3 31.8 73.1 Net realized gains on investments . . . . . $12.1 $262.2 $ 5.6 $275.2 Most of the realized gains in 2007 were derived from the equity segment of the portfolio. Equity sales were executed for various reasons, including the achievement of our price target and raising funds within two of our insurance subsidiaries to fund cash dividends to State Auto Financial. (See “Other Capital Transactions” section below.) The realized gains on the fixed maturity portfolio were achieved by selling shorter-term tax-exempt securities and subsequently reinvesting those funds into longer-term tax-exempt securities as well as selling taxable securities to reinvest the proceeds into the tax-exempt securities as described above. For the year ended December 31, 2007, realized losses of $1.3 million on the fixed maturities related primarily to selling taxable securities to support our shift into tax-exempt securities. Realized losses of $7.1 million on equity securities related primarily to the sale of equity positions where changes in government policy or business conditions, in our opinion, greatly diminished future business prospects. 47 We regularly monitor our investment portfolio for declines in value that are other-than-temporary, an assessment which requires significant management judgment. Among the factors considered by management are the nature of the investment, severity and length of decline in fair value, events impacting the issuer, overall market conditions, and our intent and ability to hold securities until recovery. When a security in our investment portfolio has been determined to have a decline in fair value that is other-than-temporary, we adjust the cost basis of the security to fair value. This results in a charge to earnings as a realized loss, which is not changed for subsequent recoveries in fair value. Future increases or decreases in fair value, if not other-than-temporary, are included in other comprehensive income. For the year ended December 31, 2007, we recognized $1.9 million other-than-temporary impairments compared to $5.4 million for the same 2006 period. During 2007 we recognized no other-than-temporary impairments on our fixed maturity portfolio; however, we recognized $1.9 million in realized losses related to other-than-temporary impairments within our equity portfolio. Of the $1.9 million in realized losses, $1.1 million related to two equity positions within the consumer cyclical sector impacted by the downturn in the housing industry. The remaining $0.8 million in realized losses was limited to our externally managed U.S. small cap portfolio for which we were unable to make the assertion regarding our intent to hold particular securities that were currently valued below cost until recovery in the near term. The other-than-temporary impairments recognized in 2007 were limited to these securities, based on specific facts and judgments related to these particular issuers. The 2006 write-downs related primarily to our investment in certain subordinate income notes and principal protected units representing purchased beneficial interests in securitized financial assets. We reduced the estimate of future cash flows we expected to receive from these securities in light of actual default rates of the underlying collateral securities exceeding the assumed defaults. Gross Unrealized Investment Gains and Losses A review of our investment portfolio at December 31, 2007 determined there were no individual investments with an unrealized loss that had a fair value significantly below cost continually for more than one year. There were also no individual material securities with an unrealized holding loss at December 31, 2007. The following table provides detailed information on our available-for-sale investment portfolio for our gross unrealized gains and losses at December 31, 2007. Cost or amortized cost Gross unrealized holding gains Number of gain positions Gross unrealized holding losses Number of loss positions Fair Value ($ millions, except number of positions) Investment Category: Fixed Maturities: U.S. Treasury securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . States and political subdivisions . . . . . . . . . . . Corporate securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mortgage-backed securities of U.S. Gov. $ 90.9 1,432.7 10.7 $ 2.2 23.6 0.3 Agencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188.6 Total fixed maturities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,722.9 Equity Securities: Consumer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pharmaceuticals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Financial services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Manufacturing and other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65.3 24.7 8.4 35.6 76.2 2.6 28.7 18.1 5.4 0.6 7.9 15.4 Total equity securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other invested assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210.2 20.1 $1,953.2 47.4 0.3 $76.4 48 34 469 11 23 537 78 71 9 79 149 386 2 925 $(0.1) (4.3) — (1.8) (6.2) (1.7) (0.3) (0.2) (0.7) (0.5) (3.4) (0.1) $(9.7) 6 181 1 48 236 5 2 2 3 4 16 2 254 $ 93.0 1,452.0 11.0 189.4 1,745.4 81.7 29.8 8.8 42.8 91.1 254.2 20.3 $2,019.9 Other Income Statement Items Interest expense on our debt was $7.6 million and $7.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Our effective tax rate is largely affected by the amount of underwriting profit or loss and net realized investment gains or losses that are taxed at approximately 35% relative to the amount of net investment income at its effective tax rate. For the year ended December 31, 2007, the effective tax rate was 23.3% compared to 25.5% for the same 2006 period. As previously discussed, the effective tax rate on net investment income declined to 13.2% for 2007 versus 16.1% for 2006. 2006 Compared to 2005 Income before federal income taxes decreased $10.3 million (6.0%) to $161.7 million in 2006 from 2005. The most significant factors contributing to this decrease relate to a decline in our revenues, specifically our premiums, an increased level of catastrophe losses and the recognition of share-based compensation expenses beginning in 2006. Catastrophe losses in 2006 were $91.2 million compared to $72.7 million in 2005. Share- based compensation expense, which we began to recognize in 2006, was $6.6 million. Each of these components is discussed more fully below. Insurance Segments The following tables provide a summary of our insurance segments’ SAP underwriting gain and SAP combined ratio for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005: ($ millions) Written premiums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Earned premiums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Losses and loss expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Underwriting expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SAP underwriting profit And SAP Personal $612.8 614.8 389.6 180.4 % Ratio 63.4 29.4 2006 Business $406.7 409.0 192.4 155.1 % Ratio 47.0 38.1 Total $1,019.5 1,023.8 582.0 335.5 % Ratio 56.8 32.9 combined ratio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 44.8 92.8 $ 61.5 85.1 $ 106.3 89.7 ($ millions) Written premiums(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Earned premiums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Losses and loss expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Underwriting expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SAP underwriting profit And SAP Personal $651.0 641.0 383.7 184.9 % Ratio 59.9 28.4 2005 Business $418.6 409.3 230.2 152.6 % Ratio 56.1 36.5 Total $1,069.5 1,050.3 613.8 337.6 % Ratio 58.5 31.6 combined ratio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 72.4 88.3 $ 26.5 92.6 $ 98.8 90.1 (1) Includes approximately $16.0 million and $8.0 million of unearned premium transferred on personal and business segments, respectively, in connection with the addition of the Meridian Security and Meridian Citizens Mutual to the Pooling Arrangement as of January 1, 2005. 49 Revenue Personal Insurance Segment Revenue The following table provides a summary of written and earned premium, net of reinsurance, by major product line of business for our personal insurance segment for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005: ($ millions) Personal insurance segment: 2006 2005(1) % Change Net Written Premium Standard Auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nonstandard Auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Homeowners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other personal $361.7 42.4 186.1 22.6 Total personal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $612.8 Net Earned Premium Standard auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nonstandard auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Homeowners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other personal $362.1 44.8 185.2 22.7 Total personal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $614.8 379.7 48.9 183.2 23.2 635.0 385.7 53.1 178.7 23.5 641.0 (4.7) (13.3) 1.6 (2.6) (3.5) (6.1) (15.6) 3.6 (3.4) (4.1) (1) Net written premium amounts for 2005 have been adjusted to exclude the unearned premium transferred in connection with the addition of the Meridian Security and Meridian Citizens Mutual to the Pooling Arrangement as of January 1, 2005. Competitive pressures within the standard personal auto market are impacting the writing of new and renewal business and putting downward pressure on our existing rates. Standard personal auto, which accounts for 35.5% of our book of business, continues to be our most profitable line of business. As a result of the competitive market, we reduced our rates approximately 2.7% during 2006 in order to remain competitive without significantly compromising our profitability. We continue to focus on attracting new business to our standard personal auto line of business. The primary product contributing to new business in standard personal auto is our CustomFitSM product which uses a multi- variate rating approach that broadens the underwriting and eligibility guidelines for new customers. Having price points for a larger percentage of the personal lines market is expected to improve new business opportunities. As of the end of 2006, we had implemented CustomFitSM in 19 states, which represented approximately 80% of our standard personal auto written premium volume. Since introducing CustomFitSM in December 2005, we have seen a significant improvement in our net written premium production trend for new business. Net written premiums in nonstandard personal auto decreased $6.5 million (13.3%) in 2006. However, nonstandard personal auto is beginning to stabilize; in the fourth quarter of 2006, new business increased 14.6% compared to the same period in 2005. The impact of target rate decreases coupled with the introduction of new discounts has produced what appears to be an improving premium situation. The personal auto market appears to be changing quickly and dramatically. Many companies are moving to a single auto product (such as our CustomFitSM) which can accommodate most personal auto risks. As a result, the delineation between standard and nonstandard auto insurance is becoming blurred. The new auto programs accepting a broader range of risks has limited and is expected to continue to limit the nonstandard auto market for us and other insurers. 50 We believe independent agents value ease of doing business and make it an important factor in their choice of insurance companies when quoting personal auto products to their customers. To assist in this area, in 2006, we entered into agreements with two major comparative rating companies. These companies’ products allow agents to receive rate quotes from multiple insurance companies by entering the rating information only one time. We worked diligently in the fourth quarter with these two vendors with a launch date for implementation expected in early 2007. We believe agents will quote and write more personal standard and nonstandard auto with us as a result of a more efficient quoting process combined with more competitive rates resulting from the ongoing introduction of CustomFitSM for standard auto and new policy discounts introduced in 2006 for nonstandard auto. Homeowners net written premium grew 1.6% in 2006. We are undertaking new homeowners pricing and product initiatives, such as a new home purchase discount and an expanded new home discount that will complement our CustomFitSM rollout and should position us well for the future. The competitive pressures that have impacted personal auto have also extended to homeowners. In general, our homeowner rate level was impacted (2.0) % due to downward rate changes. During 2006, we enhanced our personal lines point of sale portal, netXpressSM. This is the system our agencies use to send us business electronically. We now have real time, on-line information access capabilities that streamline the new business quote and issue process. Approximately 94% of our personal auto and homeowner lines new business was submitted electronically in 2006 compared to 84% in 2005. In addition in 2006, 78% of all personal auto and homeowner lines policy changes came to us electronically from agents. Business Insurance Segment Revenue The following table provides a summary of written and earned premium, net of reinsurance, by major product line for our business insurance segment for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005: ($ millions) Business insurance segment: 2006 2005(1) % Change New Written Premium Commercial auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Commercial multi-peril . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fire & allied lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other & product liability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Workers’ compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other commercial $ 98.7 87.8 83.1 77.2 34.3 25.6 Total business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $406.7 Net Earned Premium Commercial auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Commercial multi-peril . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fire & allied lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other & product liability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Workers’ compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other commercial $100.3 87.5 84.2 77.5 33.8 25.7 Total business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $409.0 102.2 86.6 84.8 76.9 34.2 25.9 410.6 103.2 84.6 84.8 76.7 34.5 25.5 409.3 (3.4) 1.4 (2.0) 0.4 0.3 (1.2) (0.9) (2.8) 3.4 (0.7) 1.0 (2.0) 0.8 (0.1) (1) Net written premium amounts for 2005 have been adjusted to exclude the unearned premium transferred in connection with the addition of the Meridian Security and Meridian Citizens Mutual to the Pooling Arrangement as of January 1, 2005. 51 A tabular presentation of the 2006 $71.7 million favorable development broken down by accident year is shown below. ($ millions) Accident year 1996 and prior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1997 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1998 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2001 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2003 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2004 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2005 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Current year development of ultimate liability Redundancy /(Deficiency) $ (2.8) (0.1) (0.1) 0.8 (3.9) 1.3 6.7 11.8 23.2 34.8 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $71.7 Normal fluctuations and uncertainty associated with loss reserve development and claim settlement contributed to favorable development in the respective calendar years. The favorable development of $71.7 million in 2006 came primarily from accident years 2003-2005. The following are the notable items contributing to the 2006 development: • We hold ceded loss reserves in anticipation of transferring liabilities to reinsurers and other pools and associations. In 2006, ceded loss reserves developed favorably by $23.7 million, meaning the actual ceded losses were above anticipated levels. Historically, we have had less ceded loss activity because our reinsurance retention levels are generally high enough to exclude most claims. This favorable development occurred primarily in the auto and commercial multi-peril lines. • • • Favorable development at the product level is primarily from the personal auto and commercial auto liability lines, where current loss projections using more mature claim data resulted in lower expected average claim severities than past projections. The impact is $24.7 million for these two lines combined. Adjusting and other expense reserves accounted for approximately $13.5 million of prior year reserve change. These expense reserves have a proportional relationship to the overall claim inventory and held reserves by accident year, as they move up or down in relation to carried loss reserves. Since reserves decreased for the prior accident years, the expense reserves declined in a similar fashion. The remaining favorable development is spread across several lines of business and is generally the result of having fewer claims emerge and lower claim severity, than anticipated in the estimates developed as of December 31, 2005. 53 The following table provides our insurance segments’ comparative SAP loss and LAE ratios for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005: 2006 2005 Improve (Deteriorate) Personal insurance segment: Standard auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nonstandard auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Homeowners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other personal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total personal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Business insurance segment: Commercial auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Commercial multi-peril . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fire & allied lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other & product liability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Workers’ compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other commercial Total business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total SAP personal and business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57.0 60.0 78.1 51.1 63.4 40.3 48.6 58.3 37.5 57.5 46.3 47.0 56.8 59.3 64.4 62.6 40.6 59.9 54.2 59.8 61.1 48.6 66.9 43.5 57.4 58.4 2.3 4.4 (15.5) (10.5) (3.5) 13.9 11.2 2.8 11.1 (9.4) (2.8) 10.4 1.6 Catastrophes added 8.9 points ($91.2 million) to the 2006 loss ratio compared to 6.9 points ($72.7 million) for 2005. During 2006, catastrophe losses included $51.8 million (5.1 points) in losses relating to three major Midwestern storms that occurred in April. In 2005, hurricanes accounted for $42.9 million (4.1 points) of total catastrophe losses. As of January 1, 2006, we began recognizing compensation expense associated with share-based awards granted to employees and non-employee directors within our financial statements in accordance with SFAS 123(R). Consequently, our 2006 expenses include additional share-based awards of $6.6 million associated with the adoption of SFAS 123(R). Prior to January 1, 2006, we accounted for these awards in accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (“APB 25”) and related Interpretations. We adopted the guidance provided by SFAS 123(R) under the modified prospective transition method. Under this transition method, share-based compensation expense in 2006 includes the portion vesting in the period for (1) all share-based awards granted prior to, but not vested as of January 1, 2006, based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the original provisions of FASB Statement SFAS 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (“SFAS 123”), and (2) all share-based awards granted subsequent to January 1, 2006, based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of SFAS 123(R). Results for prior periods have not been restated. Prior to January 1, 2006, we provided pro-forma disclosures as required under SFAS 123. The reader is referred to the complete disclosure on share-based awards in Note 12, Share-Based Awards, of the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K. Our 2005 pro-forma earnings, as reported in December 31, 2005 Form 10-K, included $0.14 diluted per share of share-based compensation expense. For the year ended December 31, 2006, the comparable share-based awards are $0.12 diluted per share. The expense for our share-based awards is based on their fair value at date of grant and amortized over the vesting period. At December 31, 2006, there was $5.6 million of total unrecognized share-based compensation expense related to non-vested service based awards. This expense is expected to be recognized as follows: $3.5 million in 2007; $1.7 million in 2008; and $0.4 million in 2009. Unearned share-based compensation is amortized over the vesting period for the particular grant and is recognized as a component of loss and loss adjustment expenses and acquisition and operating expenses in a manner consistent with other employee compensation in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income. 54 The fair value of each stock option granted is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes closed- form pricing model. The pricing model requires assumptions such as the expected life of the option and expected volatility of our stock over the expected life of the option, which significantly impacts the assumed fair value. We use historical data to determine these assumptions and if these assumptions change significantly for future grants, share-based compensation expense will fluctuate in future periods. The GAAP expense ratio was 34.0% and 31.7% for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The increase in our 2006 expense ratio is due in part to lower premiums in 2006 compared to 2005, expenses associated with share-based awards under SFAS 123(R) (see previous discussion above), as well as expenses related to our incentive programs, both agency and employee. These incentive programs are directly related to our loss experience. We do not anticipate meaningful reductions in our expense ratio during 2007 as it relates to our incentive compensation programs as well as our investment in new technologies and products as we position ourselves to be more competitive in the market place. Investment Operations Segment Composition of Investment Portfolio The following table provides the composition of our available-for-sale investment portfolio at December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively: ($ millions) 2006 2005 Fixed maturities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Equity securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other invested assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,647.4 284.2 4.5 85.0% $1,617.3 255.6 14.7 3.8 0.3 86.2% 13.6 0.2 Total investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,936.1 100.0% $1,876.7 100.0% The amortized cost and fair value of fixed maturities at December 31, 2006, by contractual maturity, are summarized as follows: ($ millions) Due in 1 year or less . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Due after 1 year through 5 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Due after 5 years through 10 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Due after 10 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amortized Cost $ 8.4 60.7 380.5 976.1 Fair Value 8.3 60.9 388.7 987.1 Subtotal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mortgage-backed securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,425.7 204.9 1,445.0 202.4 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,630.6 1,647.4 Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities as the issuers may have the right to call or prepay the obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. In 2005 and part of 2006, we participated in a securities lending program whereby certain fixed maturity and equity securities from our investment portfolio were loaned to other institutions for short periods of time. We required collateral, equal to 102% of the market value of the loaned securities. The collateral was invested by the lending agent, in accordance with our guidelines, generating investment income, net of applicable fees. We accounted for this program as a secured borrowing and recorded the collateral held and corresponding liability to return the collateral on our balance sheet. During the second quarter of 2006, we terminated our participation in 55 this program and there were no securities on loan or related collateral held as of September 30, 2006. At December 31, 2005, the amount of collateral held was approximately $99.0 million and the amount of securities lent was $96.0 million. We manage our equity portfolio by investing in a large, but manageable, number of stocks from many different industries. This diversification across companies and industries reduces volatility in the value of the equity portfolio. We invest only in stocks that currently pay a dividend. As of December 31, 2006, our equity portfolio consisted of approximately 100 different stocks. The largest single position was 2.8% of the equity portfolio based on fair value and the top ten positions were equal to approximately 20% of the equity portfolio. The chart below shows the industry sector breakdown of our equity portfolio versus the S&P 500 Index based on fair value as of December 31, 2006. Industry Sector Basic Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Consumer Cyclical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Consumer Non-cyclical Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Financial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Industrial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Utilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Equity Portfolio % of Fair Value S&P 500 Index % of Fair Value 1.7 4.1 22.7 12.0 1.8 30.3 20.5 6.9 — 2.9 11.6 8.2 20.0 9.9 22.2 11.1 10.6 3.5 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.0 100.0 Our equity portfolio consists of large-cap, value-oriented stocks. Therefore, when large-cap stocks and/or value- oriented stocks perform well our portfolio typically performs well. Conversely, when growth stocks outperform value stocks and/or small- to mid-cap stocks outperform large-cap stocks, our portfolio does not perform as well. Investment Operations Revenue Net investment income increased $4.4 million (5.6%) to $83.1 million in 2006 compared to the same 2005 period. Strong underwriting results in 2005 and 2006 contributed favorably to cash flows, which allowed us to increase the amount of our invested assets during 2006. Total cost of invested assets at December 31, 2006 and 2005 was $1,940.7 million and $1,856.5 million, respectively. Also impacting our 2006 results was the fact that STFC paid off its $45.5 million line of credit with State Auto Mutual at the end of 2005, which had the effect of decreasing net investment income for the year by approximately $2.0 million. ($ millions) Gross investment income: Fixed maturities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Equity securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ Total gross investment income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Less: Investment expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net investment income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ Year Ended December 31 2006 2005 73.6 5.1 6.1 84.8 1.7 83.1 72.8 4.0 3.6 80.4 1.7 78.7 Average invested assets (at cost) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Annualized investment yield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Annualized investment yield, after tax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,891.6 4.4% 3.7% 1,802.5 4.3 3.6 56 We continue to allocate new monies and reinvestments to tax-exempt bonds, targeting an allocation of 70% of our total portfolio, in an effort to maximize our after tax investment income. During the fourth quarter of 2006, the Investment Committee of the Board of Directors of each of our insurance subsidiaries approved a $50.0 million repositioning of the current taxable and tax-exempt holdings intending to reach the targeted 70% tax-exempt allocation at a quicker pace. At December 31, 2006, tax-exempt bonds accounted for 62% of our total portfolio versus 58% at December 31, 2005. Our after tax net investment income grew to $69.8 million (16.1% effective tax rate) in 2006 compared to $65.2 million (17.3% effective tax rate) in 2005. Realized gains and losses for the year ended December 31, 2006, are summarized as follows: ($ millions) Realized Gains/Losses Fair Value at Sale Realized gains: Fixed maturities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Equity securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total realized gains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Realized losses: Fixed maturities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Equity securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total realized losses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net realized gains on investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 1.8 15.6 17.4 4.8 7.0 11.8 $ 5.6 130.1 72.0 202.1 41.3 31.8 73.1 275.2 Most of the realized gains during 2006 were derived from the equity segment of the portfolio. Equity sales were executed during this time for various reasons, including achieving our price target. The proceeds from these sales were mostly reinvested into equity securities of other companies. The realized gains on the fixed maturity portfolio were achieved by selling shorter-term municipal bonds and subsequently reinvesting those funds into longer term municipal bonds. We recognized $5.4 million in other-than-temporary impairments in 2006 compared to $1.6 million in 2005. In 2006, we recognized $3.8 million of other-than-temporary impairments related to our investment in certain subordinate income notes and principal protected units representing purchased beneficial interests in securitized financial assets. We reduced our estimate of future cash flows we expect to receive from these securities in light of actual default rates of the underlying collateral securities in excess of assumed defaults. Our carrying value of these securities at December 31, 2006 was $1.6 million. We also recognized $1.6 million of other-than- temporary impairment related to four of our equity holdings within the consumer sector. All four of these equity positions were sold during 2006. The other-than-temporary impairments recognized in 2006 were limited to these securities, based on specific facts and judgments related to these particular issuers. Gross Unrealized Investment Gains and Losses A review of our investment portfolio at December 31, 2006 determined there were no individual investments with an unrealized holding loss that had a fair value significantly below cost continually for more than one year. There were also no individual material securities with an unrealized holding loss at December 31, 2006. 57 The following table provides detailed information on our available-for-sale investment portfolio for our investments with other-than-temporary impairment at gross unrealized gains and losses, adjusted for December 31, 2006: ($ millions, except number of positions) Investment Category Cost or amortized cost Gross unrealized holding gains Gain number of positions Gross unrealized holding losses Loss number of positions Fair value Fixed Maturities: U.S. Treasury securities & Obligations . . . . . . . . States & political subdivisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Corporate securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mortgage-backed securities of U.S. Gov. $ 180.1 1,229.8 15.8 $ 0.6 23.7 0.4 Agencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204.9 Total fixed maturities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,630.6 Equity Securities: Consumer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pharmaceuticals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Financial services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Manufacturing & other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total equity securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other invested assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69.4 23.3 6.6 64.8 66.7 230.8 4.0 1.7 26.4 15.8 3.2 0.4 22.9 12.3 54.6 0.5 19 440 11 12 482 25 7 4 24 24 84 4 $ (2.8) (2.5) (0.1) (4.2) (9.6) (0.2) (0.9) — (0.1) — (1.2) — Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,865.4 $81.5 570 $(10.8) 58 124 2 59 243 1 3 — 3 2 9 — 252 $ 177.9 1,251.0 16.1 202.4 1,647.4 85.0 25.6 7.0 87.6 79.0 284.2 4.5 $1,936.1 Other Income Statement Items Interest expense in 2006 was $7.4 million compared to $8.8 million in 2005. The decrease in interest expense was largely due to our repayment to State Auto Mutual of a $45.5 million note at the end of 2005. The amount of interest expense related to this $45.5 million note was $1.6 million in 2005. For a further discussion of our debt arrangements, see “Liquidity And Capital Resources—Borrowing Arrangements” included in this Item 7. The effective tax rate is largely affected by the amount of underwriting profit or loss and net realized investment gains or losses that are taxed at approximately 35% relative to the amount of net investment income at its effective tax rate. For 2006, the effective tax rate was 25.5% compared to 26.8% for 2005. As previously discussed, the effective tax rate on net investment income has declined to 16.1% in 2006 compared to 17.3% in 2005, primarily due to increasing our tax-exempt municipal bond holdings throughout 2006. LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES General Liquidity refers to our ability to generate adequate amounts of cash to meet our needs for both long-term and short-term cash obligations as they come due. Our significant sources of cash are premiums, investment income, investment sales and the maturity of fixed security investments, as well as funds available under our Credit Facility (as defined below). The significant outflows of cash are payments of claims, commissions, premium taxes, operating expenses, income taxes, dividends, interest and principal payments on debt and investment purchases. The cash outflows can vary due to uncertainties regarding settlement of large losses or catastrophe events. As a result, we continually monitor our investment and reinsurance programs to ensure they 58 are appropriately structured to enable the insurance subsidiaries to meet anticipated short and long-term cash requirements without the need to sell investments to meet fluctuations in claim payments. We maintain a portion of our investment portfolio in relatively short-term and highly liquid investments to ensure the immediate availability of funds to pay claims and expenses. At December 31, 2007 and 2006, we had $70.9 million and $73.4 million, respectively, in cash and cash equivalents, and $2,019.9 million and $1,936.1 million, respectively, of total available-for-sale investments at fair value. In addition, substantially all of our fixed maturity and equity securities are traded on public markets. For a further discussion regarding investments see “Investments Operations Segment” included in this Item 7. Our insurance subsidiaries must have adequate liquidity to ensure that their cash obligations are met. However, because the STFC Pooled Companies participate in the Pooling Arrangement, they do not have the daily liquidity concerns normally associated with an insurance company. This is due to the fact that, under the terms of the Pooling Arrangement, State Auto Mutual receives all premiums and pays all losses and expenses associated with the insurance business produced by the pool participants and then settles the intercompany balances generated by these transactions with the participating companies within 45 days following each quarter end. When settling the intercompany balances, State Auto Mutual provides the pool participants with full credit for the premiums written and net losses paid during the quarter and retains all receivable amounts from insureds and agents and reinsurance recoverable on paid losses from unaffiliated reinsurers. Any receivable amounts that are ultimately deemed to be uncollectible are charged-off by State Auto Mutual and allocated to the pool member on the basis of pool participation. As a result, we have an off-balance sheet credit—risk related to the balances due to State Auto Mutual from insureds, agents and reinsurers, which are offset by the unearned premium from the respective policies. While the total amount due to State Auto Mutual from policyholders and agents is significant, the individual amounts due are relatively small at the policyholder and agency level. Based on historical data, this credit-risk exposure is not considered to be material to our financial position, though the impact to income on a quarterly basis may be material. The State Auto Group mitigates its exposure to this credit risk through its in-house collections unit for both personal and commercial accounts which is supplemented by third party collection service providers. The amounts deemed uncollectible by State Auto Mutual and allocated to the STFC Pooled Companies are included in Other Expenses in the accompanying Statements of Income. The State Auto Group’s reliance on ceded reinsurance is not significant in comparison to the State Auto Group’s total statutory surplus or our total financial position. To minimize the risk of reinsurer default, the State Auto Group cedes only to third-party reinsurers who are rated A- or better by A.M. Best and also utilizes both domestic and international markets to diversify its credit risk. We utilize reinsurance to limit our loss exposure and contribute to our liquidity and capital resources. For a discussion of our reinsurance arrangements, see “Reinsurance Arrangements” included in this Item 7. Net cash provided by operating activities was $121.7 million, $93.5 million and $226.9 million for 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The significant sources of operating cash flows are derived from underwriting operations and investment income. The positive cash flows over the three year period is largely due to favorable underwriting and investment income cash flows, offset by increases in cash paid on estimated federal income taxes, interest expense and cash contributions to our defined benefit pension plan. Cash from operations in 2007 increased $28.2 million over 2006 primarily due to a reduction in claim payments from a lower level of catastrophe losses in 2007 compared to 2006 offset partially by an increase in taxes paid. Cash from operations for 2006 decreased from 2005 due to our decline in net written premiums as previously discussed along with an increase in the amount of loss and loss expenses paid from the increased level of catastrophe losses between the two years. In addition, 2005 benefited from the $54.0 million received by the STFC Pooled Companies in connection with adding Meridian Security and Meridian Citizens Mutual to the Pooling Arrangement. Over the last three years, operating cash flows have been sufficient to meet our operating needs while providing increased opportunities for investment. However, should our written premium decline or paid losses increase significantly our cash flows from operations could be impacted requiring us to liquidate investments. 59 During 2007, 2006 and 2005, as permitted by regulations of the Internal Revenue Service, we made cash contributions of $11.5 million, $10.0 million and $7.5 million, respectively, to our defined benefit pension plan on behalf of our employees. The actuarially determined contribution to our defined benefit pension plan ranges from the minimum amount we would be required to contribute to the maximum amount that would be tax deductible. Amounts contributed in excess of the minimum are deemed voluntary while amounts in excess of the maximum would be subject to an excise tax and may not be deductible for tax purposes. Amounts paid in each of these three years were within the minimum and maximum funding amounts that would be deductible for tax purposes. The actuarially determined funding amount to the Pension Plan is generally not determined until the second quarter with respect to the contribution year, though we currently expect to make a cash contribution to our defined benefit pension plan of approximately $12.0 million during 2008. For a further discussion regarding our defined benefit pension plan see “Employee Benefit Plans” included in this Item 7. Net cash used in investing activities was $86.1 million, $43.2 million and $212.5 million for 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The increase in 2007 versus 2006 is principally the result of: • • a greater amount of cash and cash equivalents available to invest at the beginning of 2007 versus 2006 ($73.4 million in 2007 compared to $28.7 million in 2006); an increase in the level of cash provided from operations between the two years. The decline in 2006 versus 2005 is principally the result of: • • • a lesser amount of cash and cash equivalents available to invest at the beginning of 2006 versus 2005 ($28.7 million in 2006 compared to $64.3 million in 2005); $54.0 million in cash available from operations in 2005 in connection with adding Meridian Security and Meridian Citizens Mutual to the Pooling Arrangement; and a decline in the 2006 level of cash provided by operating activities as described above. Our financing activities for 2007, 2006 and 2005 produced net cash outflows of $38.0 million, $5.6 million, and $50.0 million, respectively. The following contributed to the fluctuations between years: • • • In December 2005, we repaid a $45.5 million line of credit from State Auto Mutual. Dividends paid to shareholders totaled $20.5 million, $15.4 million and $8.6 million for 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. $22.1 million in cash used to repurchase common shares under our stock repurchase program. See “Other Capital Transactions” below. The increase in dividends paid between the years is due to the following: • • In July 2005, State Auto Mutual’s waiver of its receipt of STFC dividends expired and was not renewed. State Auto Mutual was paid $13.2 million, $12.4 million and $2.4 million in dividends for 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively; and Dividends paid per common share have increased over the three year period: $0.50 in 2007; $0.38 in 2006 and $0.27 in 2005. Other Capital Transactions On August 17, 2007, State Auto Financial’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase, from time to time, of up to 4.0 million of its common shares, or approximately 10% of State Auto Financial’s outstanding shares, over a period extending to and through December 31, 2009. State Auto Financial will repurchase shares from State Auto Mutual in amounts that are proportional to the respective current ownership percentages of State 60 Auto Mutual, which is approximately 64%, and other shareholders. Our total share repurchase activity in 2007 was 0.8 million common shares at an average repurchase price of $27.21 per share for a total of $22.1 million. On March 7, 2008, the Board of Directors of State Auto Financial declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per common share, payable on March 31, 2008, to stockholders of record on March 17, 2008. This is the 67th consecutive quarterly cash dividend declared by State Auto Financial’s Board since we had our initial public offering of common stock on June 28, 1991. We have increased cash dividends to stockholders for fifteen consecutive years. To fund these capital transactions and provide additional working capital to State Auto Financial, on September 12, 2007, State Auto P&C and Milbank declared cash dividends of $40.0 million and $10.0 million, respectively, to State Auto Financial. The cash transfer of dividends was completed in October 2007. Other Events On February 14, 2008, we issued a press release announcing preliminary estimates of 2008 catastrophe storm activity through February 8, 2008. This press release disclosed our expectation that first quarter 2008 earnings will include between $32.0 and $36.0 million in pre-tax catastrophe losses related to unusual January and early February storm activity. Severe wind and tornado activity which impacted the Midwest during the first five weeks of this year are expected to contribute significantly more losses to our first quarter 2008 results than are normal. Over the past five years, we have experienced an average of $6.7 million in catastrophe losses during the first quarter. We reported $8.1 million in catastrophe losses for the first quarter of 2007. While the 2008 January and February catastrophe storm losses will be significant to our first quarter results, we do not expect these losses to have a significant impact on our overall financial position. Borrowing Arrangements The following provides an overview of our borrowing arrangements during 2007 and outstanding at December 31, 2007: Credit Agreement Through July 12, 2007, State Auto Financial had a credit agreement with a syndicate of lenders which provided for a $100.0 million five-year unsecured revolving credit facility. State Auto Financial did not borrow any funds under the credit facility. On July 12, 2007, State Auto Financial terminated its then-current credit agreement and entered into a new credit agreement (“Credit Agreement”) with a syndicate of lenders which provides for a $200.0 million five-year unsecured revolving credit facility (“Credit Facility”). During the term of the Credit Facility, we have the right to increase the total facility to a maximum total facility amount of $250.0 million, provided that no event of default has occurred and is continuing. While the Credit Facility will be available for general corporate purposes, including working capital, acquisitions and liquidity purposes, we presently intend to keep $100.0 million of the Credit Facility available in the event there is a need to fund losses under the catastrophe reinsurance program with State Auto P&C. For a discussion of our catastrophe reinsurance arrangements, see the “Reinsurance Arrangements” section included in this Item 7. The Credit Facility provides for interest-only payments during its term, with principal due in full at maturity. Interest is based on either a London interbank market rate or a base rate plus a calculated margin amount. The Credit Agreement contains certain covenants, including financial covenants that require us to maintain a minimum net worth and not exceed a certain debt to capitalization ratio. As of December 31, 2007, State Auto Financial had not made any borrowings and was in compliance with all of the covenants under the Credit Agreement. 61 Senior Notes In 2003, State Auto Financial issued $100.0 million of unsecured Senior Notes due November 2013. The Senior Notes bear interest at a fixed rate of 6.25% per annum, which is payable each May 15 and November 15. The Senior Notes are general unsecured obligations ranking senior to all existing and future subordinated indebtedness and equal with all existing and future senior indebtedness. The Senior Notes are not guaranteed by any of our subsidiaries and thereby are effectively subordinated to all our subsidiaries’ existing and future indebtedness. As of December 31, 2007, we were in compliance with all covenants related to the Senior Notes. Trust Securities State Auto Financial’s Delaware business trust subsidiary (the “Capital Trust”) issued $15.0 million liquidation amount of capital securities in 2003, due 2033. In connection with the Capital Trust’s issuance of the capital securities and the related purchase by State Auto Financial of all of the Capital Trust’s common securities (liquidation amount of $0.5 million), State Auto Financial issued to the Capital Trust $15.5 million aggregate principal amount of unsecured Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Debt Securities due 2033 (the “Subordinated Debentures”). The sole assets of the Capital Trust are the Subordinated Debentures and any interest accrued thereon. Interest on the Capital Trust’s capital and common securities is payable quarterly at a rate equal to the three-month LIBOR rate plus 4.20%, adjusted quarterly. The applicable interest rates for the periods January 2005 through December 31, 2007 ranged from 8.61% to 9.78%. Notes Payable Summary At December 31, 2007, our notes payable are summarized as follows: ($ millions) Carrying Value Fair Value Interest Rate Senior Notes due 2013: issued $100.0 million, November 2003 with fixed interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $102.5 $103.6 6.25% Subordinated Debentures due 2033: issued $15.5 million, May 2003 with variable interest adjusting quarterly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15.5 15.5 9.32% Total Notes Payable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $118.0 $119.1 Related to our notes payable, our primary market risk exposure is to the change in interest rates and our credit rating. For a discussion regarding our credit ratings see “Credit and Financial Strength Ratings” included in this Item 7. Based upon the notes payable carrying value at December 31, 2007, we had $15.5 million notes payable with variable interest and $102.5 million notes payable with interest fixed at 6.25%, which equated to approximately 13.1% variable interest debt and 86.9% fixed interest debt. Our decision to obtain fixed versus variable interest rate debt is influenced primarily by the following factors: (a) current market interest rates (b) anticipated future market interest rates (c) availability of fixed versus variable interest instruments and (d) our currently existing notes payable fixed and variable interest rate position. See our contractual obligations table included in “Contractual Obligations”. Reinsurance Arrangements Members of the State Auto Group follow the customary industry practice of reinsuring a portion of their exposures and paying to the reinsurers a portion of the premiums received. Insurance is ceded principally to reduce net liability on individual risks or for individual loss occurrences, including catastrophic losses. Although reinsurance does not legally discharge the individual members of the State Auto Group from primary liability for the full amount of limits applicable under their policies, it does make the assuming reinsurer liable to the extent of the reinsurance ceded. 62 During 2007, the Beacon Group was added to the State Auto Group’s reinsurance programs described below and as of January 1, 2008, the Patrons Group was added to these reinsurance programs. The terms of the casualty excess of loss program provide that each company in the State Auto Group is responsible for the first $2.0 million of a covered loss. Coverage under the casualty excess of loss program was expanded as of July 1, 2007, so that reinsurers became responsible for 100% of a covered loss in excess of $2.0 million, up to $5.0 million of covered loss, compared to 95% under the previous program. Also, certain unusual claim situations involving bodily injury liability, property damage, uninsured motorist and personal injury protection are covered by an arrangement that provides for $10.0 million of coverage in excess of $5.0 million retention for each loss occurrence. This layer of reinsurance sits above the $3.0 million excess of $2.0 million arrangement. The rates for this reinsurance are negotiated annually. Under our property per risk excess of loss program, each company within the our State Auto Group is responsible for the first $3.0 million of each covered loss and reinsurers are responsible for 100% of the excess over the retention up to $20.0 million of covered losses. The rates for this reinsurance are negotiated annually. Under our property catastrophe excess of loss program, the State Auto Group retains the first $55.0 million of catastrophe loss per occurrence. Outside reinsures provide coverage for the next $80.0 million of covered loss with a 5% co-participation. The rates for this reinsurance are negotiated annually. We also participate in an intercompany catastrophe reinsurance agreement by which State Auto P&C acts as the catastrophe reinsurer for the State Auto Group. The coverage attaches at $135.0 million of catastrophe loss per occurrence. Excess of the $135.0 million retention, this program continues to provide coverage for the next $100.0 million of covered loss. There have been no losses assumed under this agreement. The State Auto Group does not currently intend to renew this intercompany catastrophe reinsurance arrangement upon its expiration on July 1, 2008. The State Auto Group is considering other alternatives, which include securing replacement coverage from a third party reinsurer or relying upon the $100.0 million set aside under the Credit Agreement, discussed above, to fund this layer of catastrophe reinsurance. In addition to the treaties described above, the State Auto Group is also party to treaties for workers’ compensation excess of loss and workers’ compensation catastrophe excess of loss. The terms of the workers’ compensation excess of loss program provide that each company in the State Auto Group is responsible for the first $2.0 million of covered loss. The reinsurers are responsible for 100% of the excess over $2.0 million up to $10.0 million of covered loss. Net retentions under this contract may be submitted to the casualty excess of loss program, subject to a limit of $2.0 million per loss occurrence. The rates for this reinsurance are negotiated annually. The workers’ compensation catastrophe excess of loss treaty provides an additional layer of excess of loss reinsurance for workers’ compensation losses involving multiple workers. Subject to $10.0 million of retention, reinsurers are responsible for 100% of the excess over $10.0 million up to $20.0 million of covered loss. This coverage is subject to a “Maximum Any One Life” limit of $10.0 million. The rates for this reinsurance are negotiated annually. The State Auto Group has also secured other reinsurance to limit the net cost of large loss events for certain types of coverage and certain companies. Included are umbrella liability losses which are reinsured up to a limit of $10.0 million with a maximum $0.6 million retention. The State Auto Group also makes use of facultative reinsurance for unique risk situations and participates in involuntary pools and associations in certain states. (Facultative reinsurance provides for a separate reinsurance agreement that is negotiated for a particular risk or insurance policy.) 63 Contractual Obligations Our significant contractual obligations as of December 31, 2007, were as follows: ($ millions) Direct loss and reserves(1) Notes payable(2): Senior Notes due 2013: Due 1 year or less Due 1-3 years Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 697.5 275.7 230.6 Due 3-5 years 85.7 Due after 5 years 105.5 issued $100.0, November 2003 with fixed interest(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 100.0 — Subordinated Debentures due 2033: issued $15.5, May 2003 with variable interest(4) adjusting quarterly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15.5 Total notes payable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 115.5 — — — — — — 100.0 — — 15.5 115.5 Interest payable(2): Senior Notes due 2013: issued $100.0, November 2003 with fixed interest(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Subordinated Debentures due 2033: issued $15.5, May 2003 with variable interest(4) adjusting quarterly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total interest payable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Postretirement benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pension funding(5) $ $ $ $ 37.6 6.3 12.5 12.5 6.3 35.2 72.8 59.5 83.7 1.4 7.7 4.0 — 2.8 15.3 9.0 20.8 2.8 15.3 10.8 20.5 28.2 34.5 35.7 42.4 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,029.0 287.4 275.7 132.3 333.6 (2) (1) We derived expected payment patterns separately for the direct loss and ALAE reserves. Amounts included the STFC Pooled Companies net additional share of transactions assumed from State Auto Mutual through the Pooling Arrangement. For a reconciliation of management’s best estimate see “Loss and Loss Expense Reserves” included in this Item 7. These patterns were applied to the December 31, 2007, loss and ALAE payable to generate estimated annual incremental loss and ALAE payments for each subsequent calendar year. These amounts are based on historical payment patterns and do not represent actual contractual obligations. The actual payment amounts and the related timing of those payments could differ significantly from these estimates. For a discussion of these debt instruments, see “Liquidity and Capital Resources—Borrowing Arrangements” included in this Item 7. The Senior Notes bear interest at a fixed rate of 6.25% per annum, which is payable each May 15 and November 15. Interest on the subordinated debentures was calculated using an interest rate equal to the three-month LIBOR rate at December 31, 2007 of 4.7025% plus 4.20%, or 8.9025%. These amounts are estimates of ERISA minimum funding levels for our defined benefit pension plan and do not represent an estimate of our expected contributions. See Note 9, “Pension and Postretirement Benefits Plans” to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K for a tabular presentation of expected benefit payments from the State Auto Group’s defined benefit pension plan. (3) (5) (4) Lease and other purchase obligations of State Auto Mutual are allocated to us through the Pooling Arrangement. Regulatory Considerations At December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, each of our insurance subsidiaries was in compliance with statutory requirements relating to capital adequacy. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) utilizes a collection of analytical tools designed to assist state insurance departments with an integrated approach to screening and analyzing the 64 financial condition of insurance companies operating in their respective states. One such set of analytical tools is 12 key financial ratios that are known in the insurance industry as the “IRIS” ratios. IRIS ratios are derived from financial statements prepared on a statutory accounting basis, which are accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the insurance department with regulatory authority over our insurance subsidiaries. A “defined range” of results for each ratio has been established by the NAIC for solvency monitoring. While management utilizes each of these IRIS ratios in monitoring our insurance companies’ operating performance on a statutory accounting basis (each of our insurance subsidiaries operates within the defined range for the other measures), the net written premium to statutory surplus ratio (the “leverage ratio”) is monitored to ensure that each of our insurance subsidiaries continue to operate within the “defined range” of 3.0 to 1.0. The higher the leverage ratio, the more risk a company bears in relation to statutory surplus available to absorb losses. In considering this range, management also considers the distribution of net premiums between property and liability lines of business. A company with a larger portion of net premiums from liability lines should generally maintain a lower leverage ratio. The statutory leverage ratios for our insurance subsidiaries at December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 were as follows: Statutory Leverage Ratios(1) 2007 2006 2005 State Auto P&C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Milbank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Farmers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SA Ohio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SA National . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weighted Average . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.2 1.2 1.0 1.0 0.6 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.1 1.0 0.6 1.2 1.6 1.6 1.3 1.2 0.8 1.5 (1) We use the statutory leverage ratio as there is no comparable GAAP measure. Our insurance subsidiaries pay dividends to State Auto Financial which in turn may be used by State Auto Financial to pay dividends to stockholders or to make principal and interest payments on debt. Individual states limit the amount of dividends that our insurance subsidiaries domiciled in those states can pay without prior approval. Under current law, at December 31, 2007, after adjustment for dividend payments made in the previous twelve month period, a total of $79.6 million is available in 2008 for payment as a dividend from our insurance subsidiaries to State Auto Financial, without prior approval from our respective domiciliary state insurance departments. In 2007, 2006, and 2005, State Auto Financial received $50 million, $0, and $40.5 million in dividends from its insurance subsidiaries, respectively. We are required to notify the insurance subsidiaries’ applicable state insurance commissioner within five business days after declaration of all such dividends and at least ten days prior to payment. Additionally, the domiciliary state commissioner of each insurance subsidiary has the authority to limit a dividend when the commissioner determines, based on factors set forth in the law, that an insurer’s surplus is not reasonable in relation to the insurer’s outstanding liabilities and adequate to meet its financial needs. Such restrictions are not expected to limit the capacity of State Auto Financial to meet its cash obligations. State Auto Financial’s insurance subsidiaries are subject to regulation and supervision by the states in which they do business. The NAIC has developed Risk-Based Capital (“RBC”) requirements. RBC attempts to relate an individual insurance company’s statutory surplus to the risk inherent in its overall operations. RBC requires the calculation of a ratio of total adjusted statutory capital to authorized control level. Insurers with a ratio below 200% are subject to different levels of regulatory intervention and action. At December 31, 2007, the ratio of total adjusted statutory capital to authorized control level of State Auto Financial’s insurance subsidiaries ranged from 969% to 1,859%. 65 Credit and Financial Strength Ratings The following table summarizes our credit and insurance company financial strength ratings at December 31, 2007: STFC (credit rating) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . STFC Pooled Companies (financial strength) . . . . SA National (financial strength) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . a- A+ A+ Baa1 A2 n/a BBB A A A.M. Best Moody’s Standard & Poor’s We are reviewed regularly by the independent rating agencies listed in the table above. Ratings provide a meaningful way for policyholders, agents, creditors and stockholders to compare us to our competitors. The published credit ratings on State Auto Financial Senior Notes discussed above are opinions as to the ability of State Auto Financial to meet its ongoing obligations under the terms of the Senior Notes. Generally, credit ratings affect the cost, type and availability of debt financing. Higher rated securities receive more favorable pricing and terms relative to lower rated securities at the time of issue. State Auto Financial’s Senior Notes have been rated investment grade by each agency. The published financial strength ratings on the insurance company subsidiaries of State Auto Financial are opinions as to the ability of those companies to meet their ongoing obligations to their policyholders. The A.M. Best financial strength ratings influence our ability to write insurance business as agents and policyholders generally prefer higher rated companies. Lower rated companies may be required to compete for agents and policyholders by offering higher commissions or lower premiums and expanded coverage, or a combination thereof. State Auto Mutual is one of only 14 companies in the United States that have received A.M. Best’s A+ or higher rating every year since 1954. The STFC Pooled Companies and the Mutual Pooled Companies are collectively assigned a pool rating by A.M. Best while SA National is rated by A. M. Best as a part of the total group. Our ratings are influenced by many factors including operating and financial performance, asset quality, liquidity, financial leverage, exposure to catastrophe risks and operating leverage. At December 31, 2007, our A.M. Best, Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s ratings were assigned stable outlooks. OTHER Employee Benefit Plans The State Auto Group has a defined benefit pension plan and a postretirement health care plan covering substantially all employees (collectively “the benefit plans”). Several factors, which attempt to anticipate future events, are used in calculating the expense and liability related to the benefit plans. Key factors include assumptions about the expected rates of return on plan assets, discount rates, and health care cost trend rates. We consider market conditions, in making these assumptions. We use a measurement date of September 30 as currently permitted under SFAS No. 87 “Employers’ Accounting for Pensions” (“SFAS 87”) and SFAS No. 106 “Employers’ Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other than Pensions” (“SFAS 106”) when determining our liabilities at December 31. including changes in investment returns and interest rates, To calculate the State Auto Group’s December 31, 2007 pension projected benefit obligation (“PBO”) we used a discount rate of 6.25% based on an evaluation of the expected future benefit cash flows of our defined benefit pension plan used in conjunction with the Citigroup Pension Discount Curve at the measurement date. A lower discount rate results in, all else equal, a higher present value of the benefit obligation. We selected an expected long-term rate of return on our plan assets of 9.0% by considering the mix of investments and stability of investment portfolio along with actual investment experience during the lifetime of the plan. To calculate the net periodic benefit cost for the year ended December 31, 2007, a discount rate of 6.0% and an expected long- term rate of return on plan assets of 9.0% were used. 66 The selected discount rate of 6.25% increased 0.25 points from the 6.00% rate used in 2006 which had the effect of decreasing the 2007 PBO and related unrecognized net actuarial loss by approximately $7.8 million. Cumulative unrecognized actuarial losses of approximately $62.6 million, which are now being recognized on our balance sheet pursuant to SFAS 158 (defined below), are being systematically recognized as an increase in net periodic cost over the average future service period of active participants. Unrecognized gains and losses arise from several factors including expected to actual demographic changes, assumption changes in the obligations and from the difference between expected and actual returns on plan assets. The accumulated benefit obligation (“ABO”) of a defined benefit plan represents the actuarial present value of benefits attributed by the pension benefit formula to employee service rendered prior to the measurement date and based on current and past compensation levels, while the PBO is the ABO plus a factor for future compensation levels. At December 31, 2007, the ABO and PBO were $194.3 million and $217.3 million, respectively. At December 31, 2007 the fair value of the assets of our defined benefit pension plan was $220.0 million, which resulted in an overfunding status within our balance sheet of $2.7 million. The State Auto Group has consistently targeted contributions to our defined benefit pension plan with the objective of maintaining a fully funded status on an ABO basis. Historically our plan assets have exceeded our ABO. The ABO, which considers current compensations level only, provides information about the obligation an employer would have if the plan were discontinued at the date of measurement date. This funding objective has served our plan participants well knowing that we were fully funded on a current basis as well as the fact that we have not had to recognize in 2006 or anytime prior an additional minimum liability as would have been previously required under SFAS 87. Key assumptions used in determining the amount of the benefit obligation and related periodic cost recognized for postretirement benefits other than pensions under SFAS 106 include the discount rate and the assumed health care cost trend rate. To calculate the State Auto Group’s 2007 benefit obligation for our health care plan, we increased our selected discount rate by 0.25 points to 6.25% from the 2006 discount rate to match the anticipated stream of future benefit payments. We assume that the relative increase in health care costs will generally trend downward over the next several years, reflecting assumed increases in efficiency in the health care system and cost containment initiatives. For 2007 the expected rate of increase in future health care costs was 10% for 2007, trending down 1% per year to 5% thereafter. The change in the discount rate and adjustment for the assumed health care cost trend rate had the effect of increasing the benefit obligation and related unrecognized net actuarial loss by approximately $0.6 million. The benefit obligation under our health care plan was $123.0 million at December 31, 2007 which exceeded the fair value of plan assets of $2.3 million, resulting in an underfunding status of $120.7 million in our balance sheet. In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R)” (“SFAS 158”) which requires employers with defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans, such as health care, to recognize the funded status of its benefit plans on its balance sheet and measure the fair value of plan assets and benefit obligations as of the date of the fiscal year-end balance sheet date thereby eliminating the use of an earlier measurement date and to provide additional disclosures. The new measurement date requirement is not effective until fiscal years ending after December 15, 2008. Adopting SFAS 158 required us to recognize the funded status (i.e. the difference between the fair value of plan assets and the benefit obligations) on our balance sheet, with a corresponding adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax. The adoption of SFAS 158 at December 31, 2006 had the impact of decreasing accumulated comprehensive income by $63.9 million, net of tax, which was represented by the following: • For our pension plan: net unrecognized actuarial losses of $77.4 million ($50.3 million net of tax); unrecognized prior service costs of $3.4 million ($2.2 million net of tax); unrecognized transition asset remaining from the initial adoption of SFAS 87 of $3.0 million ($1.9 million net of tax), all of which were previously netted against the plan’s funded status on our balance sheet pursuant to the provisions of SFAS 87. These amounts will be subsequently recognized as a component of our net periodic cost (benefit) pursuant to our historical accounting policy for amortizing and allocating such amounts. 67 • For our postretirement health care plan: net unrecognized actuarial losses of $23.6 million ($15.3 million net of tax); unrecognized prior service costs of $3.2 million ($2.1 million net of tax), all of which were previously netted against the plan’s funded status in our balance sheet pursuant to the provisions of SFAS 106. These amounts will be subsequently recognized as a component of our net periodic cost (benefit) pursuant to our historical accounting policy for amortizing and allocating such amounts. The following table provides the incremental effects of adopting the provisions of SFAS 158 on our balance sheet at December 31, 2006. The adoption of SFAS 158 had no effect on our consolidated statement of income for the year ended December 31, 2006, or for any prior period presented. ($ millions) Assets: Net prepaid pension expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deferred federal income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Liabilities: Postretirement benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pension benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stockholders’ Equity: Accumulated other comprehensive Income (loss) . . . . . . . Prior to Adopting SFAS 158 Effect of Adopting SFAS 158 As Reported $61.8 5.6 $(61.8) 40.7 $ — 46.3 98.1 — 26.7 16.1 124.8 16.1 46.6 (63.9) (17.3) With regard to the adoption of the new measurement guidelines, we are continuing to review the transition alternatives available to us but intend to adopt the required December 31 measurement at December 31, 2008. The adoption of SFAS 158 did not have an impact on our debt covenants. The actuarial assumptions used by us in determining benefit obligations may differ materially from actual results due to changing market and economic conditions, higher or lower turnover and retirement rates or longer or shorter life spans of participants. While we believe that the assumptions used are appropriate, differences in actual experience or changes in assumptions may materially affect our financial position or results of operations. Loss and Loss Expense Reserves Our loss and loss expense reserves include the accumulation of unpaid individual case estimates for claims that have been reported and estimates of claims that have been incurred but not reported (“IBNR”) as well as estimates of the expenses associated with processing and settling all reported and unreported claims. Our loss and loss expense reserves are not discounted to present value. Losses and allocated loss expense reserves (“Loss and ALAE Reserve”) are management’s best estimates (“MBE”) at a given point in time of what we expect to pay claimants, based on known facts, circumstances and historical trends. Reserves for reported losses are established on either a case-by-case or formula basis depending on the type and circumstances of the loss. The case-by-case reserve amounts are determined by claims adjusters based on our reserving practices, which take into account the type of risk, the circumstances surrounding each claim and policy provisions relating to types of loss. The formula reserves are based on historical data for similar claims with provision for trend changes caused by inflation. Case and formula basis loss reserves are reviewed on a regular basis, and as new data becomes available, estimates are updated resulting in adjustments to loss reserves. Generally, reported losses initially reserved on a formula basis and not settled after six months are case reserved at that time. The process for calculating the IBNR component of the Loss and ALAE Reserve is to develop an estimate of the ultimate losses and allocated loss expenses incurred, and then subtract all amounts already paid and held in case and formula reserves. 68 The ultimate determination of MBE integrates information and analysis provided by several disciplines within our Company, including claims, actuarial and accounting. This assessment requires considerable judgment in understanding how claims mature, which lines of business are the most volatile, and how trends change over time. Loss and ALAE Reserves represent an estimate at a given point in time based on many variables including legal developments, storm loss estimates, and economic historical and statistical conditions. Although we consider many different sources of information, as well as a number of actuarial methodologies to estimate our Loss and ALAE Reserve, there is no single method for determining the exact ultimate liability. information, inflation, Our internal actuarial staff conducts quarterly reviews of projected loss development information to assist management in making estimates of ultimate losses and loss expenses. Several factors are considered in estimating ultimate liabilities including consistency in relative case reserve adequacy, consistency in claims settlement practices, recent legal developments, historical data, actuarial projections, accounting projections, exposure growth, current business conditions, catastrophe developments, and late reported claims. In addition, reasonableness tests are performed on many of the assumptions underlying each reserving methodology, such as claim frequency, claim severity and loss ratios. Nonetheless, changes, which are not contemplated, do occur over time, and those changes are incorporated in subsequent valuations of the loss reserves. We use a number of different methodologies to estimate the IBNR component of the Loss and ALAE Reserves. Our reserves include amounts related to short tail and long tail lines of business. “Tail” refers to the time period between the occurrence of a loss and the settlement of the claim. The longer the time span between the incidence of a loss and the settlement of the claim, the more the ultimate settlement amount can vary. The reserving methods and strengths and weaknesses of each are described below. Short-Tail Business: For short-tailed contracts, the claims are typically settled within five years, and the most common actuarial estimates are based on techniques using link ratio projections of incurred losses, paid losses, claim counts and claim severities. Each of these methods is described below in detail. Separate projections are made for catastrophes that are in the very early stages of development based on specific information known through the reporting date. Incurred Loss Development Method: The Incurred Loss Development Method is probably the most common actuarial method used in projecting indicated IBNR reserves. This method uses paid loss experience as well as the outstanding estimates (average and case reserves) for claims that have been reported and are still open. The underlying assumption of the Incurred Loss Development Method is that case reserve adequacy remains consistent over time. This method’s advantage is its responsiveness to changes in reported losses, which is particularly valuable in the less mature accident years. The disadvantage of the Incurred Loss Development Method is that case reserve adequacy changes will distort the IBNR projections. Paid Loss Development Method: The Paid Loss Development Method uses calculations that are very similar to the Incurred Loss Development Method. The key difference is that the data used in paid methods excludes the case reserve estimates, so only paid losses are utilized. With these methods, a payment pattern is estimated to project ultimate settlement values for each accident year, with the underlying assumption that claims are settled at a consistent rate over time. Neither case reserves nor the rate at which claims are reported (except to the extent that the reporting pattern might influence the payment pattern) is relevant to the results of this method. This method’s advantage is the estimates of ultimate loss are independent of case reserve adequacy and are unaffected by company changes in case reserving philosophy. The disadvantages are that the paid method does not use all of the available information, and in some cases the liability payment patterns require the application of very large development factors to relatively small payments in the immature years. Claim Counts and Severities Method: The Counts and Severities Method calculations are very similar to the other methods. The incurred claim counts reported to date are projected to an ultimate value. Similarly, the incurred loss severities are projected to ultimate. The ultimate incurred count is multiplied by the ultimate 69 incurred severity, for each accident year, to arrive at the ultimate incurred loss. Finally, as with the other loss development methods, an estimate of the IBNR reserve is calculated by subtracting the reported losses from the estimated ultimate losses. Long-Tail Business: Reserve estimates for long-tailed contracts use the same methods listed above for short-tailed lines, along with several other methods as determined by the actuary. For example, premium-based methods may be used in developing ultimate loss estimates, including the Expected Loss Ratio, Bornhuetter- Ferguson, and Least-Squares techniques as described below. We also use statistical models when the historical patterns can be reasonably approximated. Expected Loss Ratio Method: The Expected Loss Ratio Method generates indicated IBNR by multiplying an expected loss ratio by earned premium, then subtracting incurred-to-date losses. For slower reporting lines of business, new products, or data that is very immature, the actual claim data is often too thin for traditional projections. With this method the premiums are used as a measure of loss exposure, and the loss ratios can be derived from pricing expectations. Bornhuetter-Ferguson Method: The Bornhuetter-Ferguson Method is a weighted average of the Expected Loss Ratio Method and the Incurred Loss Development Method, using the percentage of losses reported as the weight. This method is particularly useful where there is a low volume of data in the current accident period, or where the experience is volatile. In general this method produces estimates that are very similar to the Incurred Loss Development Method. Least Square Loss Development Method: In the Least Squares Loss Development Method the statistical technique of least squares regression is applied to a triangle of reported loss ratios to project the ultimate loss ratio in each accident year. Using historical loss ratios puts the data for each time period on a more consistent exposure basis, because premium levels generally correlate well with insured exposures. A by-product of the regression function is an estimate of credibility for each stage of development. In cases where the regression parameters fall outside of a reasonable range, the projection defaults to the incurred loss method. Selection Process: In determining which reserving method to use for a particular line of business or accident year, diagnostic tests of loss ratios and severity trends are considered, as well as the historic case reserve adequacy and claim settlement rate. In general the Incurred Loss Development Method is used if the projections are stable, the data is credible, historic case reserve adequacy is consistent, and the loss ratios and loss severities are reasonable. Other reserving methods are considered as well for particular lines of business or accident years, given supplementary information like open claim counts and prior period development. For example, if more than one method provides a reasonable projection, the actuary may select an average of those methods. There is considerable judgment applied in the analysis of the historical patterns and in applying business knowledge that reflects our underwriting and claims risk. Reserve ranges provide a quantification of the variability in the reserve projections. The primary determinant in estimating the reserve range boundaries are the variances measured within the historical reserving data for the various lines of business. Property lines typically have smaller variances, while liability lines can experience significant variability. MBE of loss reserves considers the expected variation to establish an appropriate position within a range. MBE for SA National and the STFC Pooled Companies’ share of the Pooled Companies’ Loss and ALAE Reserves at December 31, 2007 was $697.5 million, within a projected range of $640.6 million to $714.1 million. (These values presented are on a direct basis, gross of salvage and subrogation recoverable, and before reinsurance, except for the STFC Pooled Companies’ participation in the inter-company Pooling Arrangement. Therefore, these values cannot be compared to many of the other loss and loss expenses payable tables included elsewhere within this Form 10-K.) The potential impact of the reserve variability on net income is quantifiable using the range end points and carried reserve amounts listed above. For example, if ultimate losses reach the high point of $714.1 million, the 70 reserve increase of $16.5 million is an after-tax decrease of $10.7 million on net income. Likewise, should losses decline to the low end of $640.6 million, the $57.0 million reserve decrease would add $37.0 million of after-tax net income. An important assumption underlying the reserve estimation methods for the major casualty lines is that the loss cost trends implicitly built into the loss and ALAE patterns will continue into the future. To estimate the sensitivity of reserves to an unexpected change in inflation, projected calendar year payment patterns were applied to the December 31, 2007, other liability Loss and ALAE Reserve to generate estimated annual incremental loss and ALAE payments for each subsequent calendar year. Then, for purposes of sensitivity testing, an additional annual loss cost trend of 10% was added to the trend implicitly embedded in the estimated payment pattern, and revised incremental loss and ALAE payments were calculated. This type of inflationary jump could arise from a variety of sources including tort law changes, development of new medical procedures, social inflation, and other inflationary changes in costs beyond assumed levels. The estimated cumulative impact that this additional, unexpected 10% increase in the loss cost trend would have on our results of operations over the lifetime of the underlying claims in other liability is an increase of $54.2 million on reserves, or a $35.3 million after-tax reduction (assuming a tax rate of 35%) to net income. Inflation changes have much more impact on the longer tail commercial lines like other liability and workers’ compensation, and much less impact on the shorter tail personal lines’ reserves. In addition to establishing Loss and ALAE Reserves, as described above, we establish reserves for loss adjustment expenses contemplating functions and costs that are not attributable to a specific claim, which is called Unallocated Loss Adjustment Expense (“ULAE”). Based on historical patterns, selected ratios of paid ULAE to paid losses are imposed on the current outstanding reserves. Consequently, this component of the loss expense reserve has a proportional relationship to the overall claim inventory and held reserves by accident year, as they move up or down in sync with carried reserves. The method uses a traditional assumption that 50% of the expenses are incurred when the claim is open, and the other 50% are incurred when the claim is closed, and also assumes that the underlying claims process and mix of business do not change drastically over time. 71 The following table provides a reconciliation of MBE of our direct Loss and ALAE Reserve to our net loss and loss expenses payable at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The STFC Pooled Companies net additional share of transactions assumed from State Auto Mutual through the Pooling Arrangement for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, has been reflected in the table below as assumed by STFC Pooled Companies: ($ millions) Direct Loss and ALAE Reserve: STFC Pooled Companies and SA National . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assumed by STFC Pooled Companies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total direct loss and ALAE reserve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2007 2006 $393.1 304.4 697.5 $384.2 325.3 709.5 Direct unallocated loss adjustment expense (“ULAE”) STFC Pooled Companies and SA National . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assumed by STFC Pooled Companies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total direct ULAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Direct salvage and subrogation recoverable: STFC Pooled Companies and SA National . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assumed by STFC Pooled Companies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total direct salvage and subrogation recoverable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reinsurance recoverable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assumed reinsurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reinsurance assumed by STFC Pooled Companies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23.8 20.3 44.1 (20.9) (8.4) (29.3) (11.2) 5.1 (59.1) 23.5 21.7 45.2 (20.5) (8.5) (29.0) (13.5) 5.6 (56.8) Total losses and loss expenses payable, net of reinsurance recoverable on losses and loss expenses payable of $11.2 in 2007 and $13.5 in 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $647.1 $661.0 The following tables present the loss and loss expenses payable by major line of business at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively: ($ in millions) December 31, 2007 Personal insurance segment: Standard auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nonstandard auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Homeowners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other personal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total personal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Business insurance segment: Commercial auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Commercial multi-peril . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fire & allied lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Product & other liability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Workers’ compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total losses and loss expenses payable net of reinsurance Ending Loss & ALAE Case & Formula Ending Loss & ALAE IBNR Ending ULAE Bulk Total Reserves $120.4 13.9 36.4 6.3 177.0 $ 37.5 3.0 15.3 2.3 $11.2 1.4 1.7 0.3 $169.1 18.3 53.4 8.9 58.1 14.6 249.7 44.8 37.8 18.7 46.0 38.3 2.0 28.9 36.9 1.0 71.7 39.4 2.4 187.6 180.3 4.1 4.1 0.6 12.4 7.8 0.5 29.5 77.8 78.8 20.3 130.1 85.5 4.9 397.4 recoverable on losses and loss expenses payable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $364.6 $238.4 $44.1 $647.1 72 Ending Loss & ALAE Case & Formula Ending Loss & ALAE IBNR Ending ULAE Bulk Total Reserves December 31, 2006 Personal insurance segment: Standard auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nonstandard auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Homeowners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other personal 118.4 16.0 38.6 5.7 Total personal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178.7 Business insurance segment: Commercial auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Commercial multi-peril . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fire & allied lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Product & other liability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Workers’ compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46.3 34.4 19.3 40.2 37.7 2.5 42.1 4.0 16.6 1.7 64.4 31.4 40.4 1.8 75.3 40.2 3.3 Total business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180.4 192.4 11.3 1.6 1.9 0.2 15.0 4.3 4.4 0.7 12.3 7.7 0.7 30.1 171.8 21.6 57.1 7.6 258.1 82.0 79.2 21.8 127.8 85.6 6.5 402.9 Total losses and loss expenses payable net of reinsurance recoverable on losses and loss expenses payable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359.1 256.8 45.1 661.0 Net losses and loss expenses payable at December 31, 2007 decreased $13.9 million (2.1%) from 2006 due to a combination of the following: • • Improved claim severity trends, primarily on the auto liability lines as previously discussed; At the end of 2006, catastrophe loss reserves, primarily on homeowners and commercial multi- peril lines, remained in reserve status, but were paid during 2007 resulting in some of the reserve decreases. The property and casualty industry has had significant loss experience from claims related to asbestos, environmental remediation, product liability, mold and other mass torts. Asbestos reserves are $3.2 million, and environmental reserves are $7.9 million, for a total of $11.1 million, or 1.7% of net losses and loss expenses payable. Our environmental reserves increased approximately $1.2 million from 2006 primarily from the state of Indiana where there was an adverse court ruling several years ago. Because we have insured primarily product retailers and distributors, we do not expect to incur the same level of liability as companies that have insured manufacturing risks. The risks and uncertainties inherent in the estimates include, but are not limited to, actual settlement experience being different from historical data and trends, changes in business and economic conditions, court decisions creating unanticipated liabilities, ongoing interpretation of policy provisions by the courts, inconsistent decisions in lawsuits regarding coverage and additional information discovered before settlement of claims. Our results of operations and financial condition could be impacted, perhaps significantly, in the future if the ultimate payments required to settle claims vary from the liability currently recorded. For an additional discussion relating to losses and loss expense reserves see “Impact of Significant External Factors”, included in this Item 7. 73 New Accounting Standards: Adoption of Recent Accounting Pronouncements In September 2006, issued SFAS No. 158, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R)” (“SFAS 158”) that requires employers with defined benefit pension and postretirement benefit plans other than pensions (collectively “benefit plans”) to recognize the funded status of their benefit plans in their balance sheet, measure the fair value of plan assets and benefit obligations as of the date of the fiscal year-end balance sheet date thereby eliminating the use of an earlier measurement date and provide additional disclosures. The new measurement date requirement is not effective until fiscal years ending after December 15, 2008. On December 31, 2006, the Company adopted the recognition and disclosure provisions of SFAS 158, which had no effect on the Company’s consolidated statement of income for year ended December 31, 2006, or for any prior period presented in the 2006 Form 10-K, and it will not affect the Company’s operating results in future periods. Adopting SFAS 158 required the Company to recognize the funded status (i.e. the difference between the fair value of plan assets and the benefit obligations) of its benefit plans in the December 31, 2006 balance sheet, with a corresponding adjustment to other comprehensive loss, net of tax of $63.9 million. The adoption did not have an impact on the Company’s debt covenants. At December 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company continued to use the earlier measurement date of September 30, and is currently reviewing the transition alternatives available and the related impact. In June 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (“FIN 48”), which was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. FIN 48 clarified the accounting for income taxes by prescribing the minimum recognition threshold a tax position is required to meet before being recognized in the financial statements. FIN 48 also provided guidance on derecognition, measurement, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. The Company adopted the provisions of FIN 48, on January 1, 2007. As a result of the implementation of FIN 48, the Company recognized no increase in the liability for unrecognized tax benefits. See Note 8 for additional required disclosures. In February 2006, the FASB issued SFAS 155, “Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments—an amendment of FASB Statements No. 133 and 140” (“SFAS 155”), which was effective for all financial instruments acquired or issued after the beginning of an entity’s fiscal year after September 15, 2006. SFAS 155 permits fair value re-measurement for any hybrid financial instruments that contain an embedded derivative that would otherwise require bifurcation, clarifies which interest-only strips and principal-only strips are not subject to the requirements of Statement 133, establishes a requirement to evaluate interests in securitized financial assets in order to identify interests that are freestanding derivatives or that are hybrid financial instruments that contain an embedded derivative requiring bifurcation, clarifies that concentrations of credit risk in the form of subordination are not embedded derivatives, and amends Statement 140 to eliminate the prohibition on a qualifying special-purpose entity from holding a derivative financial instrument that pertains to a beneficial interest other than another derivative financial instrument. The Company adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2007 and there was no impact on the Company’s financial statements. In September 2005, the Accounting Standards Executive Committee issued Statement of Position 05-1, “Accounting by Insurance Enterprises for Deferred Acquisition Costs in Connection With Modifications or Exchanges of Insurance Contracts” (“SOP 05-1”), which was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. SOP 05-1 provides guidance on accounting for deferred acquisition costs associated with modifications to or the internal replacement of insurance contracts. SOP 05-1 focuses on modifications to contracts with integrated product features and internal replacement of contracts in which the new contract offers product features not included in the old contract when both were priced together. The Company’s insurance contracts include only nonintegrated contract features as defined in SOP 05-1, which are contract features that provide coverage that is underwritten and priced only for that incremental insurance coverage and that do not result in re-underwriting or re-pricing of other components of the contract. Nonintegrated contract features do not 74 change the existing base contract and do not require further evaluation under SOP 05-1. The Company adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2007 and there was no impact on the Company’s financial statements. Pending Adoption of Accounting Pronouncements In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS 157”), which is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. SFAS 157 establishes a single authoritative definition of fair value, sets out a framework for measuring fair value, and requires additional disclosures about fair-value measurements. The statement imposes no new requirements for additional fair-value measures in financial statements. The Company adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2008. In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” (“SFAS 159”). SFAS 159 expands the standards under SFAS 157 to provide entities with a one-time election to measure existing financial instruments and certain other items at fair value at the date of adoption. SFAS 159 also amends SFAS No. 115 “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities” to require a specific presentation of investments categorized as available-for-sale. This statement is effective for the first fiscal year that begins after November 15, 2007. The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2008 and did not elect the fair value option for any of its eligible assets or liabilities as of this date. In June 2007, the FASB issued EITF 06-11, “Accounting for Income Tax Benefits of Dividends on Share- Based Payment Awards” (“EITF 06-11”). EITF 06-11 addresses how a company should recognize the income tax benefit received on dividends that are (a) paid to employees holding equity-classified non-vested shares, equity- classified non-vested share units, or equity-classified outstanding share options, and (b) charged to retained earnings under FAS 123(R). The tax benefit received on dividends paid to employees associated with their share- based awards should be recorded in additional paid-in capital until the award is settled through exercise (if the award is an option) or vesting (if the award is non-vested stock). This will be effective for tax benefits of dividends declared in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2007. The Company adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2008 and it had no material impact on the Company’s financial statements. Impact of Significant External Factors Inflation can have a significant impact on property and casualty insurers because premium rates are established before the amount of losses and loss expenses are known. When establishing rates, we attempt to anticipate increases from inflation subject to the limitations of modeling economic variables. General inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index, has been relatively modest over the last several years. However, price inflation on the goods and services purchased by insurance companies in settling claims has been steadily increasing. In particular, repair costs for homes, autos, commercial buildings, and medical care costs, have risen disproportionately over the last few years. Costs for building materials typically rise dramatically following substantial natural catastrophes such as the industry experienced in Florida and adjacent states in 2004 and in Mississippi and Alabama in 2005. We continue to adjust our pricing projections as loss cost trends change in order to ensure premiums keep pace with inflation in all lines of business. We consider inflation when estimating liabilities for losses and loss expenses, particularly for claims having a long period between occurrence and settlement. The liabilities for losses and loss expenses are management’s best estimates of the ultimate net cost of underlying claims and expenses and are not discounted for the time value of money. In times of high inflation, the normally higher yields on investment income may partially offset potentially higher claims and expenses. In “Loss and Loss Expenses Reserves,” we include a discussion of certain factors management considers in estimating the ultimate liability for losses and loss expenses. With respect to the auto line of business, which represents approximately 40% of our total reserves, perhaps the most significant external variable is legal developments. Court decisions, as discussed below, have had significant impact on the property and casualty insurance industry. Some of these decisions have a more prospective effect, for example, when contract 75 provisions relating to third party coverages are construed in ways not anticipated by us. Other court decisions may have more of a retroactive effect which may be seen more clearly in the auto insurance line. Auto insurance tends to be a line of business more regulated by statutes; consequently, the courts tend to have more of an opportunity to construe and apply those statutes to existing contracts. Uninsured motorists and underinsured motorists (collectively “UM”) are statutory coverages in almost every state where we do business. If a court construes a UM statute adversely to us and the industry, the decision typically has a retroactive effect with the court’s interpretation being applied as if the UM statute has always been interpreted that way. This retroactive application is exacerbated in UM cases (and other first party coverage cases) because the statute of limitations applicable to UM claims and other first party coverages can be as long as 15 years. Claims that had been closed or not even presented, going back as long as fifteen years, can be restored by an adverse court decision. We consider the impact of adverse court decisions of which we have become aware when we set ultimate loss and loss expense reserves for auto insurance as well as other lines to the extent those lines may be retroactively affected by such matters. The effect of court decisions is also apparent in the commercial lines of coverages such as commercial multi- peril and other liability and products liability. Courts can expand coverage or void exclusions which can increase our exposure to claims. Some of these third party claims may still be brought within the statute of limitations applicable to such third party claims and expose us to some retroactive liabilities. These liabilities are sought to be addressed by the ultimate loss and loss expense reserve that is our estimate of loss and loss expenses payable. It is not feasible to quantify the impact of judicial decisions that may have retroactive effect because we cannot foresee, among the range of issues that are litigated every day in courts in each state in which we do business, which cases will be decided adversely and how such decisions will actually apply to us. The reserve estimates do not contemplate substantial loss from any mass torts, including those already listed above, or others not known at this time. In addition, there is no provision in the reserves for a major retroactive expansion of coverage through judicial interpretation. If these assumptions prove to be incorrect, ultimate liabilities could increase substantially. Our claims, underwriting and actuarial staff track separately all claims within the family of mass torts, and respond accordingly as information becomes known. Premium rates are actuarially determined to enable an insurance company to generate an underwriting profit. These rates contemplate a certain level of risk. The courts may modify, in a number of ways, the level of risk which insurers had expected to assume including eliminating exclusions, multiplying limits of coverage, creating rights for policyholders not intended to be included in the contract and interpreting applicable statutes expansively to create obligations on insurers not originally considered when the statute was passed. Courts have also undone legal reforms passed by legislatures, which reforms were intended to reduce a litigant’s rights of action or amounts recoverable and so reduce the costs borne by the insurance mechanism. These court decisions can adversely affect an insurer’s profitability. They also create pressure on rates charged for coverages adversely affected, and this can cause a legislative response resulting in rate suppression that can adversely affect an insurer. We may also be adversely affected by regulatory actions on matters within the jurisdiction of the various insurance departments where we do business or have entities domiciled. For a discussion regarding the federal Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 and 2005 (collectively, the “Terrorism Acts”) see “Regulation” in Item 1 of this Form 10-K. Item 7A. Qualitative and Quantitative Disclosures about Market Risk Qualitative and Quantitative Disclosures about Market Risk are included in Item 7 of this Form 10-K under “2007 Compared to 2006—Investment Operations Segment—Market Risk.” 76 Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data The Consolidated Financial Statements, including the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and the Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm are as follows: Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm The Board of Directors and Stockholders of State Auto Financial Corporation We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of State Auto Financial Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2007. Our audits also included the financial statement schedules listed in the Index at Item 15(a)(2). These financial statements and schedules are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and schedules based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of State Auto Financial Corporation and subsidiaries at December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2007, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedules, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein. As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company changed its method of accounting for share-based compensation expense as of January 1, 2006, to adopt Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment.” As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company also changed its method of accounting for defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans as of December 31, 2006, to adopt Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans.” We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), State Auto Financial Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated March 7, 2008 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon. Columbus, Ohio March 7, 2008 /s/ Ernst & Young LLP 77 Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm The Board of Directors and Stockholders of State Auto Financial Corporation We have audited State Auto Financial Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria). State Auto Financial Corporation’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion. A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. In our opinion, State Auto Financial Corporation maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on the COSO criteria. We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of State Auto Financial Corporation as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2007 of State Auto Financial Corporation and our report dated March 7, 2008 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon. Columbus, Ohio March 7, 2008 /s/ Ernst & Young LLP 78 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company) Consolidated Balance Sheets (in millions, except per share amounts) Assets December 31 2007 2006 Fixed maturities, available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost $1,722.9 and $1,630.6 respectively) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,745.4 1,647.4 Equity securities, available-for-sale, at fair value (cost $210.2 and $230.8 respectively) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254.2 284.2 Other invested assets, available-for-sale, at fair value (cost $20.1 and $4.0 respectively) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other invested assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20.3 1.3 4.5 1.8 2,021.2 1,937.9 Cash and cash equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Accrued investment income and other assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deferred policy acquisition costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pension asset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reinsurance recoverable on losses and loss expenses payable (affiliates $1.2 and $2.7 respectively) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Prepaid reinsurance premiums (affiliates none) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Due from affiliate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net deferred federal income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Property and equipment, at cost, (net of accumulated depreciation of $5.6 and $5.1, respectively) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity . . . . . . . Losses and loss expenses payable (affiliates $257.2 and $281.7, respectively) Unearned premiums (affiliates $119.5 and $118.4, respectively) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Notes payable (affiliates $15.5 and $15.5, respectively) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Postretirement and pension benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Current federal income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stockholders’ equity: Class A Preferred stock (nonvoting), without par value. Authorized 2.5 shares; none issued . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Class B Preferred stock, without par value. Authorized 2.5 shares; none issued . . . . . . Common stock, without par value. Authorized 100.0 shares; 46.0 and 45.7 shares issued, respectively, at stated value of $2.50 per share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Treasury stock, 5.5 and 4.7 shares, respectively, at cost Additional paid-in capital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Accumulated other comprehensive loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Retained earnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total stockholders’ equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70.9 42.1 105.8 2.7 11.2 6.0 19.4 46.1 12.5 73.4 43.7 104.0 — 13.5 6.0 17.9 46.3 12.4 $2,337.9 2,255.1 $ 658.3 436.0 118.0 125.2 7.8 57.1 674.5 428.8 118.4 140.9 7.2 51.1 1,402.4 1,420.9 — — — — 115.0 (81.0) 98.2 (3.3) 806.6 935.5 114.3 (58.1) 87.3 (17.3) 708.0 834.2 $2,337.9 2,255.1 See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. 79 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company) Consolidated Statements of Income ($ millions, except per share amounts) Year ended December 31 2007 2006 2005 Earned premiums (ceded to affiliate $695.7, $687.8 and $683.4, respectively) . . . $1,011.6 84.7 Net investment income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.1 Net realized gains on investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other income (affiliates $3.3, $3.0 and $2.9, respectively) 1,023.8 83.1 5.6 4.9 1,050.3 78.7 5.6 4.9 Total revenues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,113.4 1,117.4 1,139.5 Losses and loss expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (ceded to affiliate $405.0, $389.1 and $428.2, respectively) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Acquisition and operating expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interest expense (affiliates $1.5, $1.5 and $2.8, respectively) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Income before federal income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Federal income tax expense (benefit): Current . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deferred . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total federal income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 590.8 347.9 7.6 11.8 958.1 155.3 587.6 348.0 7.4 12.7 955.7 161.7 613.4 332.9 8.8 12.4 967.5 172.0 43.5 (7.3) 36.2 43.5 (2.2) 41.3 49.3 (3.2) 46.1 Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 119.1 120.4 125.9 Earnings per common share: Basic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diluted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dividends paid per common share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ $ $ 2.90 2.86 0.50 2.95 2.90 0.38 3.12 3.06 0.27 See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. 80 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company) Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (in millions) Common shares: Year ended December 31 2007 2006 2005 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Balance at beginning of year Issuance of shares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Balance at end of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45.7 0.3 46.0 45.1 0.6 45.7 44.7 0.4 45.1 Treasury shares: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Balance at beginning of year Shares acquired on stock option exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shares acquired under repurchase program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Balance at end of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (4.6) (4.7) — (0.8) — (5.5) (4.6) (0.1) — — (4.6) (4.7) Common stock: Balance at beginning of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Issuance of shares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Balance at end of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $114.3 0.7 115.0 112.8 1.5 114.3 111.8 1.0 112.8 Treasury stock: Balance at beginning of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shares acquired on stock option exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shares acquired under repurchase program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Balance at end of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Additional paid-in capital: (56.8) (1.3) (58.1) (0.8) (22.1) — (81.0) (58.1) Balance at beginning of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Issuance of common stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tax benefit from stock options exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stock options granted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Balance at end of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87.3 4.4 0.7 5.8 98.2 70.2 7.2 3.2 6.7 87.3 (56.5) (0.3) — (56.8) 64.1 4.0 1.8 0.3 70.2 Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income: Balance at beginning of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Change in unrealized (losses) gains on investments, net of tax and reclassification adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amortization of gain on derivative used in cash flow hedge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Change in unrecognized benefit plan obligations, net of tax and reclassification (17.3) 34.3 53.1 (2.6) (0.1) 12.4 (0.1) (18.7) (0.1) adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16.7 — — Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income before SFAS No. 158 adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cumulative effect of adoption of SFAS No. 158, net of tax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Balance at end of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (3.3) 34.3 46.6 — (63.9) — (3.3) 34.3 (17.3) Retained earnings: Balance at beginning of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cash dividends paid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Balance at end of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total stockholders’ equity at end of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 708.0 119.1 (20.5) 806.6 $935.5 603.0 120.4 (15.4) 708.0 834.2 485.7 125.9 (8.6) 603.0 763.5 See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. 81 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows ($ millions) Cash flows from operating activities: Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Share-based compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net realized gains on investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Deferred policy acquisition costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Accrued investment income and other assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Postretirement and pension benefits (assets) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reinsurance recoverable on losses and loss expenses payable and prepaid reinsurance premiums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other liabilities and due to/from affiliates, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Losses and loss expenses payable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Unearned premiums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Excess tax benefits on share-based awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Federal income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cash provided from adding Meridian Security Insurance Company and Meridian Citizens Mutual Insurance Company business to the reinsurance pool, effective January 1, 2005 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net cash provided by operating activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cash flows from investing activities: Purchases of fixed maturities – available-for-sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Purchases of equity securities – available-for-sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Purchases of other invested assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maturities, calls and pay downs of fixed maturities – available-for-sale . . . . . . . Sales of fixed maturities – available-for-sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sales of equity securities – available-for-sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sales of other invested assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net (additions) disposals of property and equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net cash used in investing activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cash flows from financing activities: Proceeds from issuance of common stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Payments to acquire treasury shares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Excess tax benefits on share-based awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Payments of dividends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Change in securities lending collateral . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Change in securities lending obligation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Payment of debt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net cash used in financing activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Year ended December 31 2007 2006 2005 $ 119.1 120.4 125.9 11.0 6.0 (12.1) (1.7) 1.0 7.3 2.3 4.0 (16.2) 7.2 0.4 (6.7) 9.6 7.0 (5.6) 2.0 1.6 6.2 9.3 0.6 (5.6) (3.2) 4.4 4.8 10.7 26.3 11.6 (6.1) 4.0 (2.8) (54.2) (4.1) (2.4) — 11.8 (5.8) — 121.6 — 93.5 54.0 226.9 (331.6) (73.7) (17.1) 73.1 155.2 107.0 1.8 (0.8) (86.1) (293.8) (101.2) (0.9) 76.0 171.4 103.8 1.7 (0.2) (43.2) (539.1) (109.2) (3.0) 98.5 290.9 49.2 — 0.2 (212.5) 4.3 7.4 (22.1) — 2.4 (15.4) 99.0 (99.0) — (5.6) 0.3 (20.5) — — — (38.0) 4.1 — — (8.6) 45.7 (45.7) (45.5) (50.0) (35.6) 64.3 28.7 9.0 51.9 Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cash and cash equivalents at end of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2.5) 73.4 $ 70.9 Supplemental disclosures: Interest paid (affiliates $1.5, $1.4 and $2.7 respectively) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 7.8 Federal income taxes paid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 42.3 44.7 28.7 73.4 7.7 29.4 See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. 82 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies a. Principles of Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include State Auto Financial Corporation (“State Auto Financial”) and its wholly-owned subsidiaries: • State Auto Property and Casualty Insurance Company (“State Auto P&C”), an Iowa corporation • Milbank Insurance Company (“Milbank”), a South Dakota corporation • • • • • Farmers Casualty Insurance Company (“Farmers”), an Iowa corporation State Auto Insurance Company of Ohio (“SA Ohio”), an Ohio corporation State Auto National Insurance Company (“SA National”), an Ohio corporation Stateco Financial Services, Inc. (“Stateco”), an Ohio corporation Strategic Insurance Software, Inc. (“S.I.S.”), an Ohio corporation The financial statements include the operations and financial position of 518 Property Management and Leasing, LLC (“518 PML”), whose members are State Auto P&C and Stateco. State Auto Financial, an Ohio corporation, is a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company (“State Auto Mutual”), an Ohio corporation. State Auto Financial and subsidiaries are referred to herein as the “Companies” or the “Company.” All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. b. Description of Business The Company, through State Auto P&C, Milbank, Farmers and SA Ohio, provides standard personal and business insurance to its policyholders. The Company’s principal lines of insurance include personal and commercial automobile, homeowners, commercial multi-peril, workers’ compensation, general liability and fire insurance. SA National provides nonstandard automobile insurance. State Auto P&C, Milbank, Farmers, SA Ohio and SA National operate primarily in the central and eastern United States, excluding New York, New Jersey and the New England states, through an independent insurance agency system. State Auto P&C, Milbank, Farmers, SA Ohio and SA National are chartered and licensed property and casualty insurers. As such, they are subject to the regulations of the applicable Departments of Insurance of their respective states of domicile (the “Departments”) and the regulations of each state in which they operate. These property and casualty insurance companies undergo periodic financial examination by the Departments and insurance regulatory agencies of the states that choose to participate. A large portion of the Company’s revenues are derived from a reinsurance pooling agreement with State Auto Mutual and its affiliates. The nature of the underlying policies and geographical distribution of State Auto Mutual’s and its affiliates’ underwriting activity is similar to the Company. Through State Auto P&C, the Company provides management and operation services under management agreements for all insurance and non-insurance affiliates. Through Stateco, the Company provides investment management services to affiliated companies. The Company, through S.I.S., develops and sells software for the processing of insurance transactions, database management for insurance agents and electronic interfacing of information between insurance 83 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued companies and agencies. S.I.S. sells services and products to insurance agencies and nonaffiliated insurers and their agencies. S.I.S. also delivers services and sells products to affiliated entities. 518 PML, an Ohio limited liability company, was formed to engage in the business of owning and leasing property to the Company’s affiliates. c. Basis of Presentation The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, which vary in certain respects from statutory accounting principles followed by State Auto P&C, Milbank, Farmers, SA Ohio and SA National that are prescribed or permitted by the Departments. In preparing the consolidated financial statements, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the balance sheet, revenues and expenses for the periods then ended, and the accompanying notes to the financial statements. Such estimates and assumptions could change in the future as more information becomes known which could impact the amounts reported and disclosed herein. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change in the near term relate to the determination of losses and loss expenses payable. In connection with the determination of this estimate, management uses historical data, current business conditions and assumptions about future conditions to formulate estimates of the ultimate cost to uncertainties for various reasons. The Company’s results of operations and financial condition could be materially impacted in future periods should the ultimate payments required to settle claims vary from the amount of the liability currently provided. to settle claims. These estimates by their nature are subject Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2006 and 2005 financial statements to conform to the 2007 presentation. This includes reclassifications in the consolidated balance sheet that consist of separately presenting certain other invested assets that are included in the Company’s available-for-sale portfolio from all other invested assets as well as aggregating the Company’s benefit plans where permitted, namely postretirement and pension liability or asset presentation. Consistent with balance sheet reclassifications, 2006 and 2005 line items in the consolidated statement of cash flows have been combined to conform with balance sheet presentation, specifically postretirement and pension benefits (assets). d. Investments Investments in fixed maturities, equity securities and certain other invested assets are classified as available-for-sale and, therefore, are carried at fair value. The unrealized holding gains or losses, net of applicable deferred taxes, are shown as a separate component of stockholders’ equity as a part of “accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income” and, as such, are not included in the determination of net income. Realized gains and losses on the sales of investments are computed using the first-in, first-out method. The Company regularly monitors its investments that have fair values less than cost or amortized cost for signs of other-than-temporary impairment. Among the factors that management considers are market conditions, the amount, timing and length of decline in fair value, events impacting the issuer and the Company’s positive intent and ability to hold the security until anticipated recovery or maturity. For declines in value that are not 84 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued solely attributable to interest rate movements, the Company considers positive evidence indicating that the cost of the investment is recoverable within a reasonable period of time and evidence to the contrary in considering the severity and duration of the impairment in relation to the anticipated market price recovery. When a decline in fair value is deemed to be other-than-temporary, the investment cost is written down to fair value on the date the determination is made and a realized loss is recorded. The cost is not adjusted for any subsequent recovery in fair value. e. Cash Equivalents The Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments with a maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. f. Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs Acquisition costs, consisting of commissions, premium taxes and certain underwriting expenses that relate to and vary with the production of new and renewal property and casualty business, are deferred and amortized ratably over the contract period. The method followed in computing deferred policy acquisition costs limits the amount of such deferred costs to their estimated realizable value. In determining estimated realizable value, the computation gives effect to the premium to be earned, losses and loss expenses to be incurred, and certain other costs expected to be incurred as premium is earned. These amounts are based on estimates and accordingly, the actual realizable value may vary from the estimated realizable value. Net deferred policy acquisition costs for the years ended December 31 are: ($ millions) 2007 2006 2005 Balance, beginning of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Effect of January 1, 2005 pooling change (Note 6) . . . . . . . . Acquisition costs deferred . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amortized to expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 104.0 — 244.5 (242.7) 106.0 — 246.1 (248.1) 97.5 5.3 255.0 (251.8) Balance, end of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 105.8 104.0 106.0 g. Federal Income Taxes The Company files a consolidated federal income tax return, and pursuant to a written tax sharing agreement, each entity within the consolidated group pays its share of federal income taxes based on separate return calculations. Income taxes are accounted for using the liability method. Using this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. Interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax obligations are recorded in the balance sheet as other liabilities, and recognized in the income statement as other expenses. 85 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued h. Losses and Loss Expenses Payable Losses and loss expenses payable are based on formula and case-basis estimates for reported claims and on estimates, based on experience and perceived trends, for unreported claims and loss expenses. The liability for unpaid losses and loss expenses, net of estimated salvage and subrogation recoverable of $29.3 million and $29.0 million at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, has been established to cover the estimated ultimate cost to settle insured losses. The amounts are necessarily based on estimates of future rates of inflation and other factors, and accordingly, there can be no assurance that the ultimate liability will not vary materially from such estimates. The estimates are continually reviewed and adjusted as necessary; such adjustments are included in current operations (see Note 4). Anticipated salvage and subrogation is estimated using historical experience. As such, losses and loss expenses payable represent management’s best estimate of the ultimate liability related to reported and unreported claims. i. Premiums Premiums are recognized as earned in proportion to the insurance protection provided using the monthly pro rata method over the contract period. Unearned premiums represent the portion of premiums written relative to the unexpired terms of coverage. j. Comprehensive Income (Loss) Comprehensive income (loss) is defined as all changes in an enterprise’s equity during a period other than those resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners. Comprehensive income (loss) includes net income and other comprehensive income (loss). Other comprehensive income (loss) includes all other non-owner related changes to equity and includes net unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale investments, derivative instruments and unrecognized benefit plan obligations, adjusted for deferred federal income taxes. k. Share-Based Compensation See Note 12—Share-Based Compensation regarding the Company’s adoption of SFAS 123(R) “Share- Based Payment” (SFAS 123(R)) on January 1, 2006. The Company’s share-based compensation plans authorize the granting of various equity-based incentives including stock options, restricted stock and restricted share units to employees and non-employee directors and agents. The expense for these equity-based incentives is based on their fair value at date of grant and amortized over their vesting period. The fair value of each stock option is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes closed-form pricing model. The pricing model requires assumptions such as the expected life of the option and expected volatility of the Company’s stock over the expected life of the option, which significantly impacts the assumed fair value. The Company uses historical data to determine these assumptions and if these assumptions change significantly for future grants, share-based compensation expense will fluctuate in future periods. 86 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued Prior to January 1, 2006, the Company accounted for share-based compensation plans for employees and non-employee directors under the measurement and recognition provisions of Accounting Principles Board Opinion 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (“APB 25”) and related Interpretations, as permitted by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (“SFAS 123”). Had compensation cost of the employee and non-employee directors’ plans for 2005 been determined based on the fair values at the grant dates consistent with the method of SFAS 123, the Company’s pro-forma net earnings and net earnings per share information would have been as follows: Pro-forma Fair Value Method: ($ millions, except per share amounts) 2005 Net income as reported . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Less pro-forma stock compensation expense, net of tax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $125.9 (3.5) Pro-forma net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $122.4 Pro-forma net earnings per common share Basic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 3.04 Diluted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 2.92 The fair value of stock option awards granted to employees and directors in 2005 were estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The weighted average fair values and related assumptions for options granted were as follows: Fair value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Expected dividend yield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Risk free interest rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Expected volatility factor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Expected life in years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2005 $10.38 0.77% 3.8% 35.8% 6.7 l. New Accounting Standards Adoption of Recent Accounting Pronouncements In September 2006, issued SFAS No. 158, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R)” (“SFAS 158”) that requires employers with defined benefit pension and postretirement benefit plans other than pensions (collectively “benefit plans”) to recognize the funded status of their benefit plans in their balance sheet, measure the fair value of plan assets and benefit obligations as of the date of the fiscal year-end balance sheet date thereby eliminating the use of an earlier measurement date and provide additional disclosures. The new measurement date requirement is not effective until fiscal years ending after December 15, 2008. On December 31, 2006, the Company adopted the recognition and disclosure provisions of SFAS 158, which had no effect on the Company’s consolidated statement of income for year ended December 31, 2006, or for any prior period presented in the 2006 Form 10-K, and it will not affect the Company’s operating results in future periods. Adopting SFAS 158 required the Company to recognize the 87 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued funded status (i.e. the difference between the fair value of plan assets and the benefit obligations) of its benefit plans in the December 31, 2006 balance sheet, with a corresponding adjustment to other comprehensive loss, net of tax of $63.9 million. The adoption did not have an impact on the Company’s debt covenants. At December 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company continued to use the earlier measurement date of September 30, and is currently reviewing the transition alternatives available and the related impact. In June 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (“FIN 48”), which was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. FIN 48 clarified the accounting for income taxes by prescribing the minimum recognition threshold a tax position is required to meet before being recognized in the financial statements. FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, measurement, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. The Company adopted the provisions of FIN 48, on January 1, 2007. As a result of the implementation of FIN 48, the Company recognized no increase in the liability for unrecognized tax benefits. See Note 8 for additional required disclosures. In February 2006, the FASB issued SFAS 155, “Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments—an amendment of FASB Statements No. 133 and 140” (“SFAS 155”), which was effective for all financial instruments acquired or issued after the beginning of an entity’s fiscal year after September 15, 2006. SFAS 155 permits fair value re-measurement for any hybrid financial instruments that contain an embedded derivative that would otherwise require bifurcation, clarifies which interest-only strips and principal-only strips are not subject to the requirements of Statement 133, establishes a requirement to evaluate interests in securitized financial assets in order to identify interests that are freestanding derivatives or that are hybrid financial instruments that contain an embedded derivative requiring bifurcation, clarifies that concentrations of credit risk in the form of subordination are not embedded derivatives, and amends Statement 140 to eliminate the prohibition on a qualifying special-purpose entity from holding a derivative financial instrument that pertains to a beneficial interest other than another derivative financial instrument. The Company adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2007 and there was no impact on the Company’s financial statements. In September 2005, the Accounting Standards Executive Committee issued Statement of Position 05-1, “Accounting by Insurance Enterprises for Deferred Acquisition Costs in Connection With Modifications or Exchanges of Insurance Contracts” (“SOP 05-1”), which was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. SOP 05-1 provides guidance on accounting for deferred acquisition costs associated with modifications to or the internal replacement of insurance contracts. SOP 05-1 focuses on modifications to contracts with integrated product features and internal replacement of contracts in which the new contract offers product features not included in the old contract when both were priced together. The Company’s insurance contracts include only nonintegrated contract features as defined in SOP 05-1, which are contract features that provide coverage that is underwritten and priced only for that incremental insurance coverage and that do not result in re-underwriting or re-pricing of other components of the contract. Nonintegrated contract features do not change the existing base contract and do not require further evaluation under SOP 05-1. The Company adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2007 and there was no impact on the Company’s financial statements. Pending Adoption of Accounting Pronouncements In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS 157”), which is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. SFAS 157 establishes a single authoritative definition of fair value, sets out a framework for measuring fair value, and requires additional disclosures about fair-value measurements. The statement imposes no new requirements for additional fair-value measures in financial statements. The Company adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2008. 88 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” (“SFAS 159”). SFAS 159 expands the standards under SFAS 157 to provide entities with a one-time election to measure existing financial instruments and certain other items at fair value at the date of adoption. SFAS 159 also amends SFAS No. 115 “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities” to require a specific presentation of investments categorized as available-for-sale. This statement is effective for the first fiscal year that begins after November 15, 2007. The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2008 and did not elect the fair value option for any of its eligible assets or liabilities as of this date. In June 2007, the FASB issued EITF 06-11, “Accounting for Income Tax Benefits of Dividends on Share- Based Payment Awards” (“EITF 06-11”). EITF 06-11 addresses how a company should recognize the income tax benefit received on dividends that are (a) paid to employees holding equity-classified non-vested shares, equity- classified non-vested share units, or equity-classified outstanding share options, and (b) charged to retained earnings under FAS 123(R). The tax benefit received on dividends paid to employees associated with their share- based awards should be recorded in additional paid-in capital until the award is settled through exercise (if the award is an option) or vesting (if the award is non-vested stock). This will be effective for tax benefits of dividends declared in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2007. The Company adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2008 and it had no material impact on the Company’s financial statements. 2. Investments The following tables summarize the cost or amortized cost of available-for-sale securities at December 2007 and 2006: ($ millions) Cost or amortized cost Gross unrealized holding gains Gross unrealized holding losses Fair value Available-for-sale at December 31, 2007: U.S. treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government agencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Obligations of states and political subdivisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Corporate securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.S. government agencies mortgage-backed securities . . . . . . . . . . . Total fixed maturities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Equity securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other invested assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 90.9 1,432.7 10.7 188.6 1,722.9 210.2 20.1 $ 2.2 23.6 0.3 2.6 28.7 47.4 0.3 $(0.1) (4.3) — (1.8) (6.2) (3.4) (0.1) $ 93.0 1,452.0 11.0 189.4 1,745.4 254.2 20.3 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,953.2 $76.4 $(9.7) $2,019.9 89 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued ($ millions) Available-for-sale at December 31, 2006: U.S. treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government agencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Obligations of states and political subdivisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Corporate securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.S. government agencies mortgage-backed securities . . . . . . . . . . . Total fixed maturities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Equity securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other invested assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cost or amortized cost Gross unrealized holding gains Gross unrealized holding losses Fair value $ 180.1 1,229.8 15.8 204.9 1,630.6 230.8 4.0 $ 0.6 23.7 0.4 1.7 26.4 54.6 0.5 $ (2.8) (2.5) (0.1) (4.2) (9.6) (1.2) — $ 177.9 1,251.0 16.1 202.4 1,647.4 284.2 4.5 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,865.4 $81.5 $(10.8) $1,936.1 Deferred federal income taxes on the net unrealized holding gains for available-for-sale investments were $23.3 million and $24.7 million at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. At December 31, 2007 and 2006, there were no individual investments reflected in the tables below with an unrealized holding loss that had a fair value significantly below cost continually for more than one year. There are no individual material securities with an unrealized holding loss at December 31, 2007 and 2006. The following tables reflect the Company’s gross unrealized losses and fair value on its investments, aggregated by investment category and length of time for individual securities that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position, at December 31, 2007 and 2006: At December 31, 2007 Less than 12 months 12 months or more Total Description of Securities ($ millions) Fair Value Unrealized Losses Number of Positions Fair Value Unrealized Losses Number of Positions Fair Value Unrealized Losses Number of Positions U.S. treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government agencies . . . $ Obligations of states and 5.4 $— 2 $ 6.5 $(0.1) 4 $ 11.9 $(0.1) 6 political subdivisions . . . 204.1 Corporate securities . . . . . . — U.S. government agencies (1.8) — 75 — 283.2 (2.5) 1.0 — mortgage backed securities . . . . . . . . . . . . Total fixed maturities . . . . Equity securities . . . . . . . . Other invested assets . . . . . Total temporarily 2.8 212.3 36.6 15.9 (0.1) (1.9) (3.4) (0.1) 2 79 16 2 101.2 391.9 — — (1.7) (4.3) — — 106 1 46 157 — — 487.3 (4.3) 1.0 — 104.0 604.2 36.6 15.9 (1.8) (6.2) (3.4) (0.1) 181 1 48 236 16 2 impaired securities . . . . . . . . $264.8 $(5.4) 97 $391.9 $(4.3) 157 $656.7 $(9.7) 254 90 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued At December 31, 2006 Less than 12 months 12 months or more Total Description of Securities ($ millions) Fair Value Unrealized Losses Number of Positions Fair Value Unrealized Losses Number of Positions Fair Value Unrealized Losses Number of Positions U.S. treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government agencies . . . . $ 11.9 Obligations of states and political subdivisions . . . . 90.0 Corporate securities . . . . . . . — U.S. government agencies $(0.1) 7 $111.3 $(2.7) (0.6) — 35 — 232.8 3.0 (1.9) (0.1) mortgage backed securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total fixed maturities . . . . . Equity securities . . . . . . . . . Total temporarily 17.2 119.1 21.6 (0.4) (1.1) (1.2) 8 50 9 135.2 482.3 — (3.8) (8.5) — 51 89 2 51 193 — $123.2 $ (2.8) 58 322.8 3.0 (2.5) (0.1) 124 2 152.4 601.4 21.6 (4.2) (9.6) (1.2) 59 243 9 impaired securities . . . . . . . . . $140.7 $(2.3) 59 $482.3 $(8.5) 193 $623.0 $(10.8) 252 The amortized cost and fair value of available-for-sale fixed maturities at December 31, 2007, by contractual maturity, are summarized as follows: ($ millions) Due in 1 year or less . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Due after 1 year through 5 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Due after 5 years through 10 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Due after 10 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.S. Government agencies mortgage-backed securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amortized cost $ 16.9 60.5 437.5 1,019.4 188.6 Fair value $ 16.9 62.5 451.1 1,025.5 189.4 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,722.9 $1,745.4 Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because the issuers may have the right to call or prepay the obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. Fixed maturities with fair values of approximately $55.1 million and $52.5 million were on deposit with regulators as required by law or specific escrow agreement at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. 91 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued Components of net investment income for the year ended December 31 are summarized as follows: ($ millions) Fixed maturities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Equity securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cash and cash equivalents, and other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Investment income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Investment expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2007 $75.3 5.7 5.5 86.5 1.8 2006 73.6 5.1 6.1 84.8 1.7 2005 72.8 4.0 3.6 80.4 1.7 Net investment income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $84.7 83.1 78.7 The Company’s current investment strategy does not rely on the use of derivative financial instruments. See Note 3 for additional fair value disclosures. The Company recognized realized losses on other-than-temporary impairments of $0, $3.8 million and $0.6 million on its fixed maturity portfolio in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The Company recognized realized losses on other-than-temporary impairments of $1.9 million, $1.6 million and $1.0 million in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively on its equity security portfolio. During 2007 the Company outsourced a segment of its investment portfolio to external money managers. When assessing other-than-temporary impairment on this segment of the investment portfolio, management considers its inability to make the assertion regarding its intent to hold a particular security that is currently valued below cost until recovery in the near term. The Company reviewed its investments at December 31, 2007, and determined no additional other-than-temporary impairment exists in the gross unrealized holding losses due to the evidence that would indicate only temporary impairment. Proceeds on sales of available-for-sale securities in 2007, 2006, and 2005 were $262.2 million, $275.2 million and $340.1 million, respectively. 92 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued Realized and unrealized gains and losses for the years ended December 31 are summarized as follows: ($ millions) Realized gains: 2007 2006 2005 Fixed maturities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Equity securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total realized gains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Realized losses: Fixed maturities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Equity securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total realized losses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 0.8 19.7 20.5 1.3 7.1 8.4 Net realized gains on investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $12.1 1.8 15.6 17.4 4.8 7.0 11.8 5.6 Change in unrealized gains (losses): Increase (decrease) in unrealized holding gains – fixed maturity securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Decrease) increase in unrealized holding gains – equity securities . . . . . . (Decrease) increase in unrealized holding gains – other invested assets . . . Deferred federal income taxes (benefits) thereon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 5.7 (9.4) (0.3) 1.4 (3.2) 22.6 (0.3) (6.7) (Decrease) increase in net unrealized holding gains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ (2.6) 12.4 5.9 6.7 12.6 1.7 5.3 7.0 5.6 (30.2) 0.6 0.6 10.3 (18.7) 3. Fair Value of Financial Instruments The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company in estimating its fair value disclosures for financial instruments: Investment securities: Fair values for investments in fixed maturities are based on quoted market prices, where available. For fixed maturities not actively traded, fair values are estimated using values obtained from independent pricing services. The fair values for equity securities are based on quoted market prices. Cash and cash equivalents: The carrying amounts reported for these instruments approximate their fair value. 93 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued Notes payable: The carrying amount of the Trust Preferred note (defined in Note 6b) in the consolidated balance sheets approximates its fair value as the interest rate adjusts quarterly. The $100.0 million, 6.25% Senior Notes (defined in Note 7) have a fair value of $103.6 million and $99.1 million at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The fair value of the Senior Notes is based on the quoted market price at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. ($ millions) Fixed maturities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Equity securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other invested assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cash and cash equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Notes payable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . December 31, 2007 December 31, 2006 Carrying Value $1,745.4 254.2 21.6 70.9 118.0 Fair Value $1,745.4 254.2 21.6 70.9 119.1 Carrying Value $1,647.4 284.2 6.3 73.4 118.4 Fair Value $1,647.4 284.2 6.3 73.4 114.6 4. Losses and Loss Expenses Payable Activity in the liability for losses and loss expenses for the year ended December 31 is summarized as follows: ($ millions) 2007 2006 2005 Losses and loss expenses payable, at beginning of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Less: reinsurance recoverable on losses and loss expenses payable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $674.5 13.5 728.7 17.4 681.8 25.9 Net balance at beginning of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 661.0 711.3 655.9 Incurred related to: Current year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Prior years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 645.5 (54.7) 659.3 (71.7) 657.7 (44.3) Total incurred . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 590.8 587.6 613.4 Paid related to: Current year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Prior years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 368.7 236.0 389.4 248.5 350.5 242.8 Total paid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 604.7 637.9 593.3 Impact of pooling change, January 1, 2005 (Note 6a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . — — Net balance at end of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Plus: reinsurance recoverable on losses and loss expenses payable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 647.1 11.2 661.0 13.5 35.3 711.3 17.4 Losses and loss expenses payable, at end of year (affiliate $257.2, $281.7 and $302.6, respectively) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $658.3 674.5 728.7 The Company recorded favorable loss and loss expense reserve development in 2007, 2006, and 2005 of $54.7 million, $71.7 million and $44.3 million, respectively. The favorable development in 2007 was primarily due to auto liability and other liability losses being approximately $23.5 million less than anticipated as current loss projections using more mature claim data resulted in lower claim severity than in past projections, loss adjustment expenses being approximately $11.8 million lower than anticipated in proportion to losses and ceded 94 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued losses being above previously anticipated levels by approximately $10.0 million. The favorable development in 2006 was largely due to ceded reserves being above previously anticipated levels by $23.7 million, auto liability losses being $24.7 million less than anticipated as current loss projections using more mature claim data resulted in lower average claim severities than in past projections, and loss adjustment expenses declining by $13.5 million in proportion to losses. The favorable development in 2005 was largely due to ceded reserves being above previously anticipated levels by $14.8 million, catastrophe losses associated with the 2004 hurricanes developing $5.8 million better than previous estimates, and loss adjustment expenses developing favorably by $13.7 million in proportion to losses. 5. Reinsurance In the ordinary course of business, the Company assumes and cedes reinsurance with other insurers and reinsurers and is a member in various pools and associations. See Note 6a for discussion of reinsurance with affiliates. The voluntary arrangements provide greater diversification of business and limit the maximum net loss potential arising from large risks and catastrophes. Most of the ceded reinsurance is effected under reinsurance contracts known as treaties; the remainder is by negotiation on individual risks. Although the ceding of reinsurance does not discharge the original insurer from its primary liability to its policyholder, the insurance company that assumes the coverage assumes the related liability. Amounts recoverable from reinsurers are estimated in a manner consistent with the claim liability associated with the reinsured business. The recoverability of these assets depends on the reinsurers’ ability to perform under the reinsurance agreements. The Company evaluates and monitors the financial condition and concentrations of credit risk associated with its reinsurers under voluntary reinsurance arrangements to minimize its exposure to significant losses from reinsurer insolvencies. The Company has reported ceded losses and loss expenses payable and prepaid reinsurance premiums with other insurers and reinsurers as assets. All reinsurance contracts provide for indemnification against loss or liability relating to insurance risk and have been accounted for as reinsurance. Prior to the reinsurance transaction with State Auto Mutual under the Pooling Arrangement, as discussed in Note 6a, the effect of the Company’s external reinsurance on its balance sheets and income statements is summarized as follows: ($ millions) Losses and loss expenses payable: December 31 2007 2006 Direct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assumed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ceded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $396.0 5.1 (10.1) 387.2 5.6 (10.8) Net losses and loss expenses payable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $391.0 382.0 Unearned premiums: Direct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assumed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ceded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $315.3 1.2 (6.0) 309.2 1.2 (6.0) Net unearned premiums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $310.5 304.4 95 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued ($ millions) Written premiums: Year ended December 31 2007 2005 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Direct Assumed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ceded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $757.4 6.5 (18.8) 748.8 7.1 (17.7) 749.5 6.0 (16.9) Net written premiums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $745.1 738.2 738.6 Earned premiums: Direct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assumed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ceded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $751.0 6.5 (18.8) 743.1 7.1 (17.6) 746.9 6.1 (16.4) Net earned premiums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $738.7 732.6 736.6 Losses and loss expenses incurred: Direct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assumed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ceded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $438.5 2.0 (2.9) 415.0 10.8 (3.5) 455.7 14.6 (8.2) Net losses and loss expenses incurred . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $437.6 422.3 462.1 6. Transactions with Affiliates a. Reinsurance Prior to 2005, State Auto P&C, Milbank, Farmers, SA Ohio (the “STFC Pooled Companies”), State Auto Insurance Company of Wisconsin (“SA Wisconsin”) and State Auto Florida Insurance Company (“SA Florida”) participated in a quota share reinsurance pooling arrangement (the “Pooling Arrangement”) with State Auto Mutual. Effective January 1, 2005, the Pooling Arrangement was amended to add as participants Meridian Security Insurance Company (“Meridian Security”) and Meridian Citizens Mutual Insurance Company (“Meridian Citizens”), Indiana domiciled property and casualty insurers. Meridian Security is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Meridian Insurance Group, Inc. (“MIGI”), which is wholly-owned by State Auto Mutual. MIGI is party to an affiliation agreement with Meridian Citizens. Meridian Security and Meridian Citizens Mutual are hereafter referred to collectively as the “MIGI Insurers” and together with MIGI as the “MIGI Companies.” SA Wisconsin and SA Florida are wholly owned subsidiaries of State Auto Mutual. In conjunction with the Pooling Arrangement amendment, the STFC Pooled Companies received $54.0 million in cash from the MIGI Insurers which related to the additional net insurance liabilities assumed on January 1, 2005. In general, under the Pooling Arrangement, the STFC Pooled Companies, SA Wisconsin, SA Florida and the MIGI Insurers cede to State Auto Mutual all of their insurance business and assume from State Auto Mutual an amount equal to their respective participation percentages in the Pooling Arrangement. The STFC Pooled Companies’ pooling participation percentage remained at 80% under the amended pooling arrangement effective January 1, 2005. All premiums, losses and loss expenses and underwriting expenses are allocated among the participants on the basis of each Company’s participation percentage in the Pooling Arrangement. The Pooling Arrangement provides indemnification against loss or liability relating to insurance risk and has been accounted for as reinsurance. 96 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued The Pooling Arrangement does not relieve each individual pooled subsidiary of its primary liability as the originating insurer; consequently, there is a concentration of credit risk arising from business ceded to State Auto Mutual. As the Pooling Arrangement provides for the right of offset, the Company has reported losses and loss expenses payable and prepaid reinsurance premiums to State Auto Mutual as assets only in situations when net amounts ceded to State Auto Mutual exceed net amounts assumed. The STFC Pooled Companies’ pooling percentage has remained at an 80% participation level since 2001. All parties that participate in the Pooling Arrangement have an A.M. Best rating of A+ (Superior). The following provides a summary of the reinsurance transactions on the Company’s balance sheets and income statements for the Pooling Arrangement between the STFC Pooled Companies and State Auto Mutual: ($ millions) Losses and loss expenses payable: December 31 2007 2006 Ceded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assumed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $(371.6) 628.8 (358.2) 639.9 Net assumed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 257.2 281.7 Unearned premiums: Ceded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assumed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $(298.6) 418.1 (292.3) 410.7 Net assumed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 119.5 118.4 ($ millions) Written premiums: Year ended December 31 2007 2006 2005 Ceded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assumed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $(702.3) 973.9 (695.7) 974.1 (685.8) 993.9 Earned premiums: Ceded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assumed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $(695.7) 965.5 (687.6) 976.0 (676.8) 994.4 Losses and loss expenses incurred: Ceded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assumed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $(405.6) 558.2 (388.4) 554.4 (423.4) 579.5 The STFC Pooled Companies, SA National, State Auto Mutual, SA Wisconsin, SA Florida and the MIGI Insurers are collectively referred to as the “State Auto Group.” State Auto P&C assumes catastrophe reinsurance from the State Auto Group and Beacon National Insurance Company (“Beacon National”), a subsidiary of State Auto Mutual, in the amount of $100.0 million excess of $135.0 million in exchange for a premium paid by each reinsured company. Under this agreement, the Company has assumed from State Auto Mutual and its affiliates premiums written and earned of $3.1 million, $3.0 million and $2.7 million for 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. There have been no losses assumed under this agreement. The catastrophe reinsurance program with State Auto P&C has been excluded from the Pooling Arrangement. 97 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued As of July 1, 2005, SA National and State Auto Mutual terminated a reinsurance agreement between the parties that included excess of loss and quota share coverages. SA National and State Auto Mutual mutually agreed to terminate the reinsurance agreement because of SA National’s stronger surplus position, relative to the commencement date of the agreement, which makes it more efficient for SA National to retain such exposures rather than to reinsure them. Under the terms of the termination, State Auto Mutual will continue to be liable, with respect to policies in force at the termination date, for occurrences until the expiration, cancellation or next anniversary, not to exceed one year. The following provides a summary of the ceded reinsurance transactions on the Company’s balance sheet and income statement for the reinsurance agreement between SA National and State Auto Mutual: ($ millions) Balance sheet: Losses and loss expenses payable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2007 2006 $1.1 2.7 ($ millions) Income statement: Written premiums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Earned premiums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Losses and loss expenses incurred . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2007 2006 2005 $— $— $(0.6) — 0.2 0.7 3.8 6.6 4.8 Intercompany Balances Pursuant to the Pooling Arrangement, State Auto Mutual receives all premiums and pays all losses and expenses associated with the insurance business produced by the pool participants and then settles the intercompany balances generated by these transactions with the participating companies on a quarterly basis within 45 days following each quarter end. No interest is paid on this balance. When settling the intercompany balances, State Auto Mutual provides the pool participants with full credit for the premiums written and net losses paid during the quarter and retains all receivable amounts from insureds and agents and reinsurance recoverable on paid losses from unaffiliated reinsurers. Any receivable amounts that are ultimately deemed to be uncollectible are charged-off by State Auto Mutual and allocated to the pool member on the basis of pool participation. As a result, the Company has an off-balance sheet credit–risk related to the balances due to State Auto Mutual from insurers, agents and reinsurers, which are offset by the unearned premium from the respective policies. The Company’s share of the premium balances due to State Auto Mutual from agents and insureds at December 31, 2007 and 2006 is approximately $266.9 million and $250.3 million, respectively. b. Notes Payable In May 2003, State Auto Financial formed a Delaware business trust (the “Capital Trust) that issued $15.0 million mandatorily redeemable preferred capital securities to a third party and $0.5 million of its common securities representing all outstanding common securities to State Auto Financial (collectively, the capital and common securities are referred to as the “Trust Securities”). The Capital Trust loaned $15.5 million in proceeds from the issuance of its Trust Securities to State Auto Financial in the form of a Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Debt Securities due in 2033 (the “Subordinated Debentures”). The Subordinated Debentures are the Capital Trust’s only assets along with any interest accrued thereon. Interest on the Trust Securities are payable 98 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued quarterly at a rate equal to the three-month LIBOR rate plus 4.20% adjusted quarterly (total 9.32% at December 31, 2007). Prior to May 2008, the interest rate may not exceed 12.5% per annum. The interest rate and interest payment dates on the Subordinated Debentures are the same as the interest rate and interest payment dates on the Trust Securities, thereby payments from the Subordinated Debentures finance the distributions paid on the Trust Securities. State Auto Financial has the right to redeem the Subordinated Debentures, in whole or in part, on or after May 23, 2008. In accordance with FASB Interpretation No. 46(R), (and related amendments and interpretations) “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities,” State Auto Financial determined that the business trust is a variable interest entity for which it is not the primary beneficiary and therefore, does not consolidate the Capital Trust with the Company. State Auto Financial has unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed payment of any required distributions on the capital securities, the redemption price when the capital securities are redeemed, and any amounts due if the Capital Trust is liquidated or terminated. State Auto Financial’s equity interest in the Capital Trust is included in other invested assets. In December 2005, State Auto Financial repaid a $45.5 million line of credit it had with State Auto Mutual. This repayment was funded through dividends from State Auto Financial’s insurance subsidiaries. The interest rate under this line of credit was 3.50% for 2005. c. Management Services Stateco provides State Auto Mutual and its affiliates investment management services. Investment management income is recognized quarterly based on a percentage of the average fair value of investable assets and the equity portfolio performance of each company managed. Revenue related to these services amounted to $2.8 million, $2.5 million and $2.3 million in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively, and is included in other income (affiliates). 7. Notes Payable and Credit Facility In 2003, State Auto Financial issued $100.0 million of unsecured Senior Notes due November 2013. The Senior Notes bear interest at a fixed rate of 6.25% per annum, which is payable each May 15 and November 15. The Senior Notes are general unsecured obligations ranking senior to all existing and future subordinated indebtedness and equal with all existing and future senior indebtedness. The Senior Notes are not guaranteed by any of State Auto Financial’s subsidiaries and thereby are effectively subordinated to all subsidiaries’ existing and future indebtedness. As of December 31, 2007, State Auto Financial was in compliance with all covenants related to the Senior Notes. State Auto Financial incurred $1.5 million in issuance costs related to the Senior Notes, which is recorded in other assets and is being amortized into interest expense ($0.1 million each for 2007, 2006 and 2005) as the underlying interest expense is recognized on the Senior Notes. On July 12, 2007, State Auto Financial terminated its previous credit agreement which provided for a $100.0 million five-year unsecured revolving credit facility and entered into a new credit agreement (“Credit Agreement”) with a syndicate of lenders which provides for a $200.0 million five-year unsecured revolving credit facility (“Credit Facility”). State Auto did not borrow any funds under the previous credit agreement. During the term of the Credit Facility, the Company has the right to increase the total facility to a maximum total facility amount of $250.0 million, provided that no event of default has occurred and is continuing. While the Credit Facility will be available for general corporate purposes, including working capital, acquisitions and liquidity purposes, the Company presently intends to keep $100.0 million of the Credit Facility available in the event there is a need to fund losses under the catastrophe reinsurance program with State Auto P&C. The Credit Facility provides for interest-only payments during its term, with principal due in full at maturity. Interest is 99 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued based on either a London interbank market rate or a base rate plus a calculated margin amount. The Credit Agreement contains certain covenants, including financial covenants that require the Company to maintain a minimum net worth and not exceed a certain debt to capitalization ratio. As of December 31, 2007, State Auto Financial had not made any borrowings and was in compliance with all of the covenants under the Credit Agreement. State Auto Financial incurred $0.5 million in issuance costs related to the Credit Agreement, which is recorded in other assets and is being amortized into expense ($0.1 million for 2007) over the life of the Credit Agreement. See discussion of affiliate notes payable at Note 6c. Notes payable at December 31 consisted of the following: ($ millions, except interest rates) Carrying Value 2007 Fair Value Interest Rate Carrying Value 2006 Fair Value Interest Rate Senior Notes due 2013: issued $100.0, November 2003 with fixed interest . . . $102.5 $103.6 6.25% $102.9 $ 99.1 6.25% Affiliate subordinated debentures due 2033: issued $15.5, May 2003 with variable interest (see Note 6c) . . . . . . . 15.5 15.5 9.32 15.5 15.5 9.57 Total Notes Payable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $118.0 $119.1 $118.4 $114.6 8. Federal Income Taxes At December 31, 2007, the Company carried no balance for uncertain tax positions. The Company had no accrual for the payment of interest and penalties at December 31, 2007 or 2006. The Company is currently not under audit by either the Internal Revenue Service or any state jurisdiction for income tax purposes and all prior audits have been settled. Tax years 2004 through 2006 remain open for audit for federal income tax purposes. The reconciliation between actual federal income tax expense (benefit) and the amount computed at the indicated statutory rate for the year ended December 31 is summarized as follows: ($ millions) Amount at statutory rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tax-free interest and dividends received deduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other, net 2007 $ 54.4 % 35 2006 $ 56.6 % 35 2005 $ 60.2 % 35 (18.5) (12) (15.7) (10) (14.0) (8) 0.3 — 0.4 — (0.1) — Federal income tax expense and rate . . . . . . . $ 36.2 23 $ 41.3 25 $ 46.1 27 100 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities as of December 31 are presented below: ($ millions) Deferred tax assets: 2007 2006 Unearned premiums not currently deductible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Losses and loss expenses payable discounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Postretirement and pension benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 29.6 20.1 42.4 14.3 28.8 20.7 47.9 10.0 Total deferred tax assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106.4 107.4 Deferred tax liabilities: Deferral of policy acquisition costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Unrealized holding gains on investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total deferred tax liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37.0 23.3 60.3 Net deferred federal income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 46.1 36.4 24.7 61.1 46.3 The Company is required to establish a valuation allowance for any portion of the deferred tax asset that management believes will not be realized. In the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that the Company will realize the benefit of the deferred tax assets and, therefore, no such valuation allowance has been established at December 31, 2007 or 2006. 9. Pension and Postretirement Benefit Plans All Company personnel are employees of State Auto P&C. The Company, through State Auto P&C, provides management and operation services under management agreements for all insurance and non-insurance affiliates. The annual periodic costs related to the Company’s benefit plans are allocated to affiliated companies based on allocations pursuant to intercompany management agreements. The Company provides a defined benefit pension plan for its eligible employees. Substantially all Company employees become eligible to participate the year after becoming 20 years of age and vest with 5 years of credited service or attained age 65. The Company’s policy is to fund pension costs in accordance with the requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. Benefits are determined by applying factors specified in the plan to a participant’s defined average annual compensation. In addition to the defined benefit pension plan, the Company provides a postretirement benefit plan including certain health care and life insurance benefits for its eligible retired employees. Substantially all of the Company’s employees may become eligible for these postretirement benefits if they retire between age 55 and 65 with 15 years or more of service or if they retire at age 65 or later with 5 years or more of service. The defined benefit pension and postretirement benefit plans are referred to herein as “the benefit plans.” On December 31, 2006, the Company adopted the recognition and disclosure provisions of SFAS 158. SFAS 158 required the Company to recognize the funded status of its benefit plans in the December 31, 2006 balance sheet, with a corresponding adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax. The adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive income at adoption represents the net unrecognized actuarial losses, unrecognized prior service costs, and unrecognized transition assets remaining from the initial adoption of 101 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued SFAS 87 and SFAS 106, all of which were previously netted against the plans’ funded status in the Company’s balance sheet pursuant to the provisions of SFAS 87 and SFAS 106. These amounts will be subsequently recognized as net periodic cost pursuant to the Company’s historical accounting policy for amortizing such amounts. Further, actuarial gains and losses that arise in subsequent periods and are not recognized as net periodic cost in the same periods will be recognized as a component of other comprehensive income. Those amounts will be subsequently recognized as a component of net periodic cost on the same basis as the amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income at adoption of SFAS 158. The following table provides the incremental effects of adopting the provisions of SFAS 158 on the Company’s balance sheet at December 31, 2006. The adoption of SFAS 158 had no effect on the Company’s consolidated statement of income for the year ended December 31, 2006, or for any prior period presented. ($ millions) Assets: Net prepaid pension expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deferred federal income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Liabilities: Postretirement benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pension benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stockholders’ Equity: Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) . . . . . . . Prior to Adopting SFAS 158 Effect of Adopting SFAS 158 As Reported $61.8 5.6 $(61.8) 40.7 $ — 46.3 98.1 — 26.7 16.1 124.8 16.1 46.6 (63.9) (17.3) The Company uses September 30 as its measurement date to determine its pension and postretirement benefit obligations. 102 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued Information regarding the Company’s pension and postretirement benefit plans’ change in benefit obligation, plan assets and funded status as of December 31 are as follows: ($ millions) Pension 2007 2006 Postretirement 2007 2006 Change in benefit obligation: Benefit obligation at beginning of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Service cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interest cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Actuarial (gain) loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Contributions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Benefits paid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $213.4 9.0 12.5 (5.6) — (12.0) 206.8 10.0 11.7 (4.3) — 122.7 5.6 7.3 (9.7) (2.9) (10.8) — 109.2 4.9 6.2 5.5 (3.1) — Benefit obligation at end of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $217.3 213.4 123.0 122.7 Change in plan assets: Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Employer contribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Actual return on plan assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Benefits paid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $197.3 11.5 23.2 (12.0) 2.2 183.4 — 10.0 0.1 14.7 (10.8) — Fair value of plan assets at end of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $220.0 197.3 2.3 2.1 — 0.1 — 2.2 Contribution received during fourth quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SERP (defined below) — — — — (0.2) — (4.3) (4.3) Funded status at end of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 2.7 (16.1) (125.2) (124.8) Accumulated benefit obligation – end of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $194.3 190.9 No assets are expected to be returned during the fiscal year-ended December 31, 2008. The Company had no additional minimum liability included in other comprehensive income for the pension plan for 2006 (prior to adoption of SFAS 158) and 2005. Included in accumulated other comprehensive loss are the following amounts that have not been recognized in net periodic cost: ($ millions) December 31 2007 2006 Net actuarial loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Prior service cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Transition asset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $75.7 5.7 (2.4) 101.0 6.6 (3.0) Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $79.0 104.6 103 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued The amount of amortization expected to be recognized during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008 for the State Auto Group is as follows: ($ millions) Net actuarial loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Prior service cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Transition asset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2008 $ 3.2 0.9 (0.6) Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 3.5 Information regarding the State Auto Group’s pension and postretirement benefit plans’ components of net periodic cost for the year ended December 31 is as follows: ($ millions) Pension Postretirement 2007 2006 2005 2007 2006 2005 Components of net periodic cost: Service cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interest cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Expected return on plan assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amortization of prior service cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amortization of transition asset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amortization of net gain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 9.0 12.5 (17.8) 0.4 (0.6) 3.9 10.0 11.7 (17.0) 0.4 (0.6) 2.9 5.6 7.3 (0.2) 0.5 4.9 6.2 (0.2) 0.5 8.0 4.4 11.2 6.5 (16.9) (0.2) 0.5 0.4 (0.6) — — — 0.6 1.1 0.6 0.8 Net periodic cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 7.4 7.4 3.2 14.0 12.0 11.8 The following benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, are expected to be paid: ($ millions) Pension Postretirement 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2013 - 2017 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 9.0 9.3 9.7 10.2 11.2 72.9 $ 4.0 4.3 4.7 5.2 5.6 35.7 The Company’s share of the 2007, 2006, and 2005 net periodic costs for the defined benefit plan were $7.4 million, $7.4 million, and $3.2 million, respectively. For postretirement benefits other than pensions, the Company’s share of the 2007, 2006 and 2005 net periodic costs were $11.6 million, $10.3 million and $10.2 million, respectively. 104 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued Summarized in the following table are the weighted average assumptions used to determine the Company’s benefit obligations for the year ended December 31: Pension 2007 2006 Postretirement 2007 2006 Benefit obligations weighted-average assumptions: Discount rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rates of increase in compensation levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.25% 6.00% 6.25% 6.00% 4.00 4.00 — — Summarized in the following table are the weighted average assumptions used to determine the Company’s net periodic cost: Pension 2006 2007 2005 2007 Postretirement 2006 2005 Weighted-average assumptions: Discount rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Expected long-term rate of return on assets . . . . . . . . . Rates of increase in compensation levels . . . . . . . . . . . 6.00% 5.75% 6.50% 6.00% 5.75% 6.50% 9.00 4.00 9.00 9.00 5.00 — 9.00 5.00 9.00 — 9.00 — The Company’s benefit plan obligations are long-term in nature and consequently the investment strategies have a long-term time horizon. In establishing the long-term rate of return assumption on plan assets, management, along with its pension consulting actuary, reviews the historical performance of the plan assets and the stability in the mix of the investment portfolio. The expected inflation rate and expected real rates of return of applicable asset classes are then determined to assist in setting appropriate assumptions. The assumed health care cost trend rates used for the year ended December 31 are as follows: Assumed health care cost trend rates: Health care cost trend rate assumed for the next year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline (the ultimate trend rate) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Year that the rate reaches the ultimate trend rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Postretirement 2006 2005 2007 10.00% 10.00% 10.00% 5.00% 5.00% 5.00% 2012 2011 2010 The assumed health care cost trend rates have a significant effect on the amounts reported for the postretirement plan. A one percentage point change in assumed health care cost trend rates would have the following effects for the year ended December 31, 2007: ($ millions) One percentage point change: Effect on total service and interest cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Effect on accumulated postretirement benefit obligation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Postretirement Increase (Decrease) $ 3.1 23.3 $ (2.4) (18.6) 105 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued The Company also has a supplemental executive retirement plan (“SERP”) for certain executives for which the accrued obligation at December 31, 2007 and 2006 was $4.3 million that is included as a component in postretirement and pension benefits liability in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The Company’s benefit plans’ weighted average asset allocations by asset category at the plans’ measurement date of September 30 are as follows: Pension 2007 2006 Postretirement 2007 2006 Asset Category: Fixed maturity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.S. large cap equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.S. small cap equities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . International 37.9% 35.4% 100.0% 100.0% 40.3 12.4 9.4 64.6 — — — — — — — — Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 The benefit plan’s investment policy objective is to preserve the investment principal while generating income and appreciation in fair value to meet the benefit plans’ obligations. The benefit plans’ investment strategy and risk tolerance is balanced between meeting cash obligation requirements and a long term relatively high risk tolerance. Since the nature and timing of the benefit plans’ liabilities and cash requirements are predictable, the liquidity requirements are somewhat moderate. During 2007, the following asset allocation targets, as a percentage of total fair value, were approved. Management is in the process of moving towards these allocation targets as funds become available. Asset Allocation Target (0 to 100%) Asset Category: Fixed maturity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.S. large cap equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.S. small/mid cap equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Treasury inflation protected securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . International 23 43 14 10 10 The actuarially prepared funding amount to the pension plan ranges from the minimum amount the Company would be required to contribute to the maximum amount that would be deductible for tax purposes. Contributed amounts in excess of the minimum amounts are deemed voluntary. Amounts in excess of the maximum amount would be subject to an excise tax and may not be deductible for tax purposes. This range is generally not determined until the second quarter with respect to the contribution year. The Company expects to contribute approximately $12.0 million during 2008 to its pension plan, depending on the actuarially calculated funding requirements of such plan. Postretirement and SERP plan payments are deductible for tax purposes when paid. The Company maintains a defined contribution plan that covers substantially all employees of the Company. The Company matches the first 2% of contributions of participants’ salary at the rate of 75 cents for each dollar 106 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued contributed. Participant contributions of 3% to 6% are matched at a rate of 50 cents for each dollar contributed. The Company’s share of the expense under the plan totaled $2.6 million, $2.5 million and $2.4 million for the years 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. 10. Stockholders’ Equity a. Treasury Shares On August 17, 2007, State Auto Financial’s board of directors authorized a plan to repurchase, from time to time, up to 4.0 million of its common shares, or approximately 10% of State Auto Financial’s outstanding shares, over a period extending to and through December 31, 2009 (the “Repurchase Plan”). Under the Repurchase Plan, State Auto Financial may repurchase shares from State Auto Mutual in amounts that are proportional to the respective current ownership percentages of State Auto Mutual, which is approximately 64%, and other shareholders. State Auto Financial’s total share repurchase activity in 2007 was approximately 0.8 million common shares at an average repurchase price of $27.21 per share for a total of $22.1 million. b. Dividend Restrictions and Statutory Financial Information State Auto P&C, Milbank, Farmers, SA Ohio and SA National are subject to regulations and restrictions under which payment of dividends from statutory earned surplus can be made to State Auto Financial during the year without prior approval of regulatory authorities. Pursuant to these rules, at December 31, 2007, adjusted for dividend payments made in the previous twelve-month period, approximately $79.6 million is available for payment to State Auto Financial from its insurance subsidiaries in 2008 without prior approval. In 2007 State Auto Financial received dividends of $50.0 million from its insurance subsidiaries, $0 in 2006, and $40.5 million in 2005. Reconciliations of statutory capital and surplus and net income, as determined using statutory accounting principles, to the amounts included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements as of December 31 are as follows: ($ millions) 2007 2006 Statutory capital and surplus of insurance subsidiaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net liabilities of non-insurance parent and affiliates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $916.4 (59.5) 856.2 (71.4) Increases (decreases): Deferred policy acquisition costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Postretirement and pension obligations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deferred federal income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fixed maturities at fair value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 856.9 784.8 105.8 (22.1) (33.6) 22.5 6.0 104.0 (38.2) (38.8) 16.8 5.6 Stockholders’ equity per accompanying consolidated financial statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $935.5 834.2 107 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued ($ millions) Year ended December 31 2007 2005 2006 Statutory net income of insurance subsidiaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net income (loss) of non-insurance parent and affiliates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $129.5 0.5 140.1 (0.1) 123.7 (2.1) Increases (decreases): Deferred policy acquisition costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Postretirement and pension benefit Deferred federal income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Share-based compensation expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other, net 1.7 (12.0) 5.4 (5.5) (0.5) 8.5 (2.0) (7.1) (11.8) 0.3 2.7 (6.5) — 0.2 0.4 Net income per accompanying consolidated financial statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $119.1 120.4 125.9 130.0 140.0 121.6 11. Preferred Stock State Auto Financial has authorized two classes of preferred stock. For both classes, upon issuance, the Board of Directors has authority to fix and determine the significant features of the shares issued, including, among other things, the dividend rate, redemption price, redemption rights, conversion features and liquidation price payable in the event of any liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the affairs of State Auto Financial. The Class A preferred stock is not entitled to voting rights until, for any period, dividends are in arrears in the amount of six or more quarterly dividends. 12. Share-Based Compensation Prior to January 1, 2006, the Company accounted for share-based compensation plans for employees and non-employee directors under the measurement and recognition provisions of Accounting Principles Board Opinion 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and related Interpretations, as permitted by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (“SFAS 123”). Accordingly, share-based compensation was included as a pro forma disclosure in the financial statement footnotes (See Note 1k – Share-Based Compensation). For share-based awards granted to the Company’s the Company recognized share-based compensation within its financial independent statements in accordance with SFAS 123 and related Interpretations. insurance agencies, The Company maintains share-based compensation plans for its key employees and outside, or non-employee, directors. The share-based compensation plan for key employees is the Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Equity Plan”). In May 2005, the Company’s shareholders approved amendments to, and a restatement of, the Equity Plan, which was formerly called the 2000 Stock Option Plan. The stock-based compensation plan for outside directors is the Outside Directors Restricted Share Unit Plan (the “Outside Directors RSU Plan”), which was approved by the Company’s shareholders in May 2005. The Outside Directors RSU Plan replaced the 2000 Directors Stock Option Plan for outside directors (the “Outside Directors Stock Option Plan”). Equity Plan The 2000 Stock Option Plan provided only for the award of qualified and nonqualified stock options. The Equity Plan now provides for the award of qualified and nonqualified stock options, restricted shares, 108 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued performance shares, performance units and other stock-based awards. The Company has reserved 3.5 million common shares under the Equity Plan. As of December 31, 2007, a total of 1.1 million common shares were available for issuance under the Equity Plan. The Equity Plan provides that (i) no more than 33% of the common shares authorized for issuance under the Equity Plan may be granted in the form of awards other than stock options, (ii) the maximum number of common shares subject to awards of stock options, restricted shares and performance shares that may be granted in any calendar year is equal to 1.5% of the total number of common shares of the Company outstanding as of December 31 of the prior year, and (iii) the maximum number of common shares subject to awards of stock options, restricted shares and performance shares that may be granted in any calendar year to any individual is 250,000 shares. The Equity Plan automatically terminates on July 1, 2010. The Equity Plan provides that qualified stock options may be granted at an option price not less than the fair market value of the common shares at the date of grant and that nonqualified stock options may be granted at any price determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. Options granted generally vest over a three-year period, with one-third of the options vesting on each anniversary of the grant date, and must be exercised no later than ten years from the date of grant. Stock options granted under the Equity Plan for 2007, 2006 and 2005 were 0.4 million, 0.3 million and 0.4 million, respectively. The Equity Plan provides for the granting of restricted shares subject to a vesting schedule based on the employee’s continued employment (“Restriction Period”), for which vesting is generally on the third anniversary after the date of grant. The Company recognizes compensation expense based on the number of restricted shares granted at the then grant date fair value over the Restriction Period. Restricted shares granted for 2007 and 2006 were 32,000 and 10,500, respectively, with a weighted average grant date fair value of $29.98 and $31.94, respectively. There were no restricted shares granted prior to January 1, 2006. A summary of the status of the Company’s non-vested restricted shares and changes for the year ended December 31 is as follows: 2007 2006 Outstanding, beginning of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Granted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value $31.94 29.98 Shares 10,500 32,000 Outstanding, end of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42,500 30.46 Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value $31.94 31.94 Shares — 10,500 10,500 As of December 31, 2007, there was $1.0 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested restricted share compensation arrangements. The remaining cost is expected to be recognized over a period of 2.75 years. No shares vested during the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006. Employee Stock Purchase Plan The Company also has a broad-based employee stock purchase plan, under which employees of the Company may choose at two different specified time intervals each year to have up to 6% of their annual base earnings withheld to purchase the Company’s common shares. The purchase price of the common shares is 85% 109 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued of the lower of its beginning-of-interval or end-of-interval market price. The Company has reserved 3.4 million common shares under this plan. As of December 31, 2007, a total of 2.4 million common shares have been purchased under this plan. This plan remains in effect until terminated by the board of directors. Outside Directors Plan The Outside Directors RSU Plan is an unfunded deferred compensation plan which provides each outside director with an award of 1,400 restricted share units (the “RSU award”) following each annual meeting of shareholders, however, the amount of the award may change from year to year, based on the provision described below. The RSU awards are fully vested upon grant. RSU awards are not common shares of the Company and, as such, no participant has any rights as a holder of common shares under the Outside Directors RSU Plan. RSU awards represent the right to receive an amount, payable in cash or common shares of the Company, as previously elected by the outside director, equal to the value of a specified number of common shares of the Company at the end of the restricted period. Such election may be changed within the constraints set forth in the RSU Plan. The restricted period for the RSU awards begins on the date of grant and expires on the date the outside director retires from or otherwise terminates service as a director of the Company. During the restricted period, outside directors are credited with dividends, equivalent in value to those declared and paid on the Company’s common shares, on all RSU awards granted to them. At the end of the restricted period, outside directors receive distributions of their RSU awards either (i) in a single lump sum payment, or (ii) in annual installment payments over a five- or ten-year period, as previously elected by the outside director. The administrative committee for the Outside Directors RSU Plan (currently the Company’s Compensation Committee) retains the right to increase the annual number of RSU awards granted to each outside director to as many as 5,000 or to decrease such annual number to not less than 500, without seeking shareholder approval, if such increase or decrease is deemed appropriate by the administrative committee to maintain director compensation at appropriate levels. The Outside Directors RSU Plan automatically terminates on May 31, 2015. The Company accounts for the Outside Directors RSU Plan as a liability plan. There were 11,200 and 9,800 RSUs granted in 2007 and 2006, respectively. There were no RSUs granted by the Company prior to January 1, 2006. During 2007 and 2006, common shares valued at approximately $9,000 and $60,000, respectively, were distributed by the Company under the Outside Directors RSU Plan. No distributions were made in 2005. Under the Outside Directors Stock Option Plan, following each annual meeting of shareholders, outside directors received nonqualified options to purchase 4,200 common shares at an option price equal to the fair market value of the common shares at the close of business on the last trading day immediately prior to the date of the annual meeting. These nonqualified options vested upon grant and are exercisable for 10 years from the date of grant. On May 11, 2005 (the date of the Company’s 2005 annual meeting of shareholders), the Outside Directors Stock Option Plan was amended to prohibit the grant of further options under the plan. Agent Stock Option Plan The Company has a stock option incentive plan for certain designated independent insurance agencies (“Agent Stock Option Plan”) that represent the Company and its affiliates. The Company has reserved 0.4 million shares of common stock under this plan. As of December 31, 2007, a total of 0.2 million shares were available for issuance under the Agent Stock Option Plan. The plan provides that the options become exercisable on the first day of the calendar year following the agency’s achievement of specific production and profitability requirements over a period not greater than two calendar years from the date of grant or a portion thereof in the 110 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued first calendar year in which an agency commences participation under the plan. Options granted under this plan have a ten-year term. Stock options granted for the years 2007, 2006 and 2005 were 15,862, 16,452 and 29,505, respectively. The Agent Stock Option Plan terminates May 27, 2008. Stock Options The fair value of each stock option granted is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes closed- form pricing model. The following tables present the weighted-average assumptions used in the option pricing model for options granted to employees and non-employees (independent insurance agencies) during 2007, 2006, and 2005. The expected life of the options for employees represents the period of time the options are expected to be outstanding and is based on historical trends. For non-employees the expected life of the option approximates the remaining contractual term of the option. The expected stock price volatility is based on the historical volatility of the Company’s stock for a period approximating the expected life and the expected dividend yield is based on the Company’s most recent period’s dividend payout. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant and has a term equal to the expected life. The fair value of the independent agent options granted was estimated at the reporting date or vesting date using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The weighted average fair value and related assumptions are as follows: Fair value per share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dividend yield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Risk free interest rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Expected volatility factor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Expected life in years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2006 16.61 2005 18.24 2007 $7.10 2.28% 1.15% 0.99% 3.9% 4.7% 4.3% 33.8% 34.7% 33.6% 8.5 8.4 6.4 The fair value of share-based awards granted to employees in 2007 and 2006 was estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The weighted average fair values and related assumptions for options granted were as follows: Fair value per share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Expected dividend yield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Risk free interest rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Expected volatility factor Expected life in years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2007 2006 $10.82 12.41 1.46% 1.12% 4.5% 5.1% 33.4% 32.4% 6.4 6.4 As of December 31, 2007, there was $5.4 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to option- based compensation arrangements granted under the plans. The remaining cost is expected to be recognized over a period of three years. 111 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued A summary of the Company’s total stock option activity and related information for these plans for the years ended December 31, follows: ($ millions, except per share amounts) 2007 2006 2005 Outstanding, beginning of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Granted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Exercised . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Canceled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . — Options 2.4 0.4 (0.1) Weighted- Average Exercise Price $22.09 29.55 15.48 31.91 — Options 2.6 0.3 (0.5) Weighted- Average Exercise Price $18.76 33.49 12.35 27.14 — Options 2.6 0.4 (0.4) Weighted- Average Exercise Price $16.46 26.48 9.88 23.34 Outstanding, end of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.7 $23.78 2.4 $22.09 2.6 $18.76 Intrinsic value for stock options is defined as the difference between the current market value and the grant price. For the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, the total intrinsic value of stock options exercised was $2.6 million, $11.9 million and $6.0 million, respectively. The tax benefit for tax deductions from share- based awards totaled $0.7 million, $3.2 million and $1.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. A summary of information pertaining to the total options outstanding and exercisable as of December 31, 2007 follows: ($ millions, except per share amounts) Options Outstanding Options Exercisable Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life Weighted- Average Exercise Price Number Number Range of Exercise Prices: Less than $10.00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . — 1.1 $10.01 – $20.00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.9 $20.01 – $30.00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.7 Greater than $30.01 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.7 2.0 3.5 8.4 7.4 6.0 $ 9.30 — 1.1 15.40 0.3 27.94 0.5 32.11 $23.78 1.9 Weighted- Average Exercise Price $ 9.30 15.40 26.43 31.60 $21.39 Aggregate intrinsic value for total options outstanding at December 31, 2007 is $12.3 million. Aggregate intrinsic value for total options exercisable at December 31, 2007 is $12.3 million. Compensation expense recognized during 2007, 2006 and 2005 was $6.0 million, $7.0 million and $0.3, respectively. See Note 1(k) for a discussion of share based compensation expense prior to the adoption of FAS 123(R) on January 1, 2006. Share-based compensation is recognized as a component of loss and loss adjustment expense and acquisition and operating expense in a manner consistent with other employee compensation. As of December 31, 2007, there was $6.1 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to option-based compensation arrangements granted under the plans. The remaining cost is expected to be recognized over a period of three years. 112 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued 13. Net Earnings Per Common Share The following table sets forth the compilation of basic and diluted net earnings per common share for the year ended December 31: ($ millions, except per share amounts) 2007 2006 2005 Numerator: Net earnings for basic net earnings per common share . . . . . . Effect of dilutive share-based awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $119.1 0.1 120.4 — 125.9 — Adjusted net earnings for dilutive net earnings per common share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $119.2 120.4 125.9 Denominator: Weighted average shares for basic net earnings per common share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Effect of dilutive share-based awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adjusted weighted average shares for diluted net earnings per common share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41.0 0.6 41.6 Basic net earnings per common share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diluted net earnings per common share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 2.90 $ 2.86 40.9 0.7 41.6 2.95 2.90 40.3 0.8 41.1 3.12 3.06 The following options to purchase shares of common stock were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the exercise price of the options was greater than the average market price for the year ended December 31: (in millions) 2007 2006 2005 Number of options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.7 0.3 0.4 113 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued 14. Comprehensive Income A reconciliation of each component of comprehensive income (loss) and the related federal income tax effect for the year ended December 31, is as follows: ($ millions) 2007: Before-Tax Amount Tax (Expense) or Benefit Net-of-Tax Amount Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $155.3 (36.2) 119.1 8.1 (12.1) (4.0) (0.1) (2.8) 4.2 1.4 — 5.3 (7.9) (2.6) (0.1) 20.6 (6.9) 13.7 (0.6) 4.7 0.9 25.6 0.2 (1.9) (0.3) (8.9) (7.5) (43.7) (0.4) 2.8 0.6 16.7 14.0 133.1 Other comprehensive income: Net unrealized holding loss on investments: Unrealized holding loss arising during the year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reclassification adjustments for gains realized in net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amortization of gain on derivative used in cash flow hedge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net unrecognized benefit plan obligations: Net actuarial gain arising during period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reclassification adjustments for amortization to net income: Transition asset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net actuarial loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Prior service cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other comprehensive income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Comprehensive income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21.5 $176.8 114 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued ($ millions) 2006: Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other comprehensive income: Net unrealized holding gain on investments: Unrealized holding loss arising during the year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reclassification adjustments for gains realized in net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amortization of gain on derivative used in cash flow hedge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other comprehensive income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Before-Tax Amount Tax (Expense) or Benefit Net-of-Tax Amount $161.7 (41.3) 120.4 24.7 (5.6) 19.1 (0.1) 19.0 (8.7) 2.0 (6.7) — (6.7) 16.0 (3.6) 12.4 (0.1) 12.3 132.7 Comprehensive income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $180.7 (48.0) 2005: Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other comprehensive loss: Net unrealized holding loss on investments: Unrealized holding gains arising during the year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reclassification adjustments for gains realized in net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amortization of gain on derivative used in cash flow hedge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other comprehensive loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $172.0 (46.1) 125.9 (23.4) (5.6) (29.0) (0.1) (29.1) 8.3 2.0 10.3 — 10.3 (15.1) (3.6) (18.7) (0.1) (18.8) Comprehensive income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $142.9 (35.8) 107.1 15. Reportable Segments Due to internal reorganization efforts which occurred throughout most of 2006, that included realigning the Company changed its significant reportable people, processes, systems and compensation programs, segments from standard insurance and nonstandard insurance to the new segments described below, effective January 1, 2007. Prior reporting periods have been restated to conform to the new segment presentation The Company has three significant reportable segments: personal insurance, business insurance, and investment operations. The reportable insurance segments are business units managed separately because of the differences in the type of customers they serve or products they provide or services they offer. The insurance segments operate primarily in the central and eastern United States, excluding New York, New Jersey, and New England states, distributing products through the independent insurance agency system. The personal insurance segment provides primarily personal auto (standard and nonstandard) and homeowners to the personal insurance market. The business insurance segment provides primarily commercial auto, commercial multi-peril, fire and allied lines, other and product liability and workers’ compensation insurance to small to medium sized businesses within the commercial insurance market. The investment operations segment, managed by Stateco, provides investment services for the Company’s invested assets. 115 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued The Company evaluates the performance of its insurance segments using industry financial measurements determined based on Statutory Accounting Principles (“SAP”), which include loss and loss adjustment expense ratios, underwriting expense ratios, combined ratios, statutory underwriting gain (loss), net premiums earned and net written premiums. One of the most significant differences between SAP and GAAP is that SAP requires all underwriting expenses to be expensed immediately and not deferred and amortized over the same period the premium is earned as under GAAP. Asset information by segment is not reported for the insurance segments because the Company does not produce such information internally. The investment operations segment is evaluated based on investment returns of assets managed by Stateco. 116 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued The following provides financial information regarding the Company’s reportable segments for the year ended December 31: ($ millions) Revenues from external customers: Insurance segments 2007 2006 2005 Personal insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Business insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 609.6 402.0 614.8 409.0 641.0 409.3 Total insurance segments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,011.6 1,023.8 1,050.3 Investment operations segment Net investment income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net realized gains on investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total investment operations segment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . All other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84.7 12.1 96.8 5.0 83.1 5.6 88.7 4.9 78.7 5.6 84.3 4.9 Total revenues from external sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,113.4 1,117.4 1,139.5 Intersegment revenues: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.4 9.0 9.0 Total revenues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,122.8 1,126.4 1,148.5 Reconciling items: Eliminate intersegment revenues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (9.4) (9.0) (9.0) Total consolidated revenue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,113.4 1,117.4 1,139.5 Segment income (loss) before federal income tax: Insurance segments: Personal insurance SAP underwriting gain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Business insurance SAP underwriting gain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ Total insurance segments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Investment operations segment: Net investment income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net realized gains on investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total investment operations segment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47.3 40.6 87.9 84.7 12.1 96.8 44.9 61.5 106.4 83.1 5.6 88.7 72.4 26.5 98.9 78.7 5.6 84.3 All other segments (loss) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2.6) (2.3) (1.1) Reconciling items: GAAP adjustments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interest expense on corporate debt Corporate expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (17.3) (7.6) (1.9) (21.7) (7.4) (2.0) 0.6 (8.8) (1.9) Total consolidated income before federal income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 155.3 161.7 172.0 117 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued ($ millions) Segment assets: December 31 2007 2006 Investment operations segment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,092.1 $2,011.3 Total segment assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,092.1 2,011.3 Reconciling items: Corporate assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245.8 243.8 Total consolidated assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,337.9 $2,255.1 Assets attributed to the Investment Operations segment include the “Total investments” and “Cash and cash equivalent” categories from the balance sheet. All other assets are corporate assets and are not assigned to a segment. Revenues from external sources for reportable segments include the following products and services for the year ended December 31: ($ millions) Earned premiums: Personal insurance: 2007 2006 2005 Standard auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nonstandard auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Homeowners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other personal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 357.3 42.9 186.5 22.9 Total personal insurance earned premiums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 609.6 Business insurance: Commercial auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Commercial multi-peril . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fire & allied lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other & product liability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Workers compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96.9 86.8 83.4 75.5 33.4 26.0 Total business insurance earned premiums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 402.0 362.1 44.8 185.2 22.7 614.8 100.3 87.5 84.2 77.5 33.8 25.7 409.0 385.7 53.0 178.7 23.6 641.0 103.2 84.6 84.8 76.7 34.4 25.6 409.3 Total earned premiums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,011.6 1,023.8 1,050.3 Investment operations: Net investment income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Realized gains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total investment operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84.7 12.1 96.8 83.1 5.6 88.7 78.7 5.6 84.3 Total revenues from significant reportable segments . . . . . . . $1,108.4 1,112.5 1,134.6 118 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued 16. Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited) ($ millions, except per share amounts) 2007 For three months ended March 31 June 30 September 30 December 31 Total revenues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Income before federal income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net earnings per common share: $275.5 40.9 30.9 278.7 28.8 23.3 Basic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diluted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 0.75 $ 0.74 0.57 0.56 280.9 28.6 23.2 0.56 0.55 278.3 57.0 41.7 1.02 1.01 ($ millions, except per share amounts) 2006 For three months ended March 31 June 30 September 30 December 31 Total revenues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Income (loss) before federal income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net earnings per common share: $276.8 56.7 40.2 280.0 (0.2) 4.1 Basic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diluted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 0.99 $ 0.97 0.10 0.10 279.6 42.4 31.2 0.76 0.75 281.0 62.8 44.9 1.10 1.08 17. Contingencies The Company’s insurance subsidiaries are involved in litigation and may become involved in potential litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. Additionally, the insurance subsidiaries may be impacted by adverse regulatory actions and adverse court decisions where insurance coverages are expanded beyond the scope originally contemplated in the policies at December 31, 2007. In the opinion of management, the effects, if any, of such litigation and published court decisions are not expected to be material to the consolidated financial statements. 18. Subsequent Event (unaudited) Effective January 1, 2008, the Pooling Arrangement, described in Note 6a, was further amended to add Patrons Mutual Insurance Company of Connecticut (“Patrons Mutual”), Litchfield Mutual Fire Insurance Company (“Litchfield”) and Beacon National as participants and the middle market business of State Auto Mutual and Meridian Security to the pool. Patrons Mutual and Litchfield are affiliate companies of State Auto Mutual. Concurrently with the addition of the three companies, certain individual participant percentages of State Auto Mutual and its subsidiaries and affiliates were adjusted but continue to maintain an overall 20% participation percentage; STFC’s insurance subsidiaries will maintain its 80% participation percentage. 119 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued In conjunction with the Pooling Arrangement amendment, the STFC Pooled Companies will receive approximately $92.0 million in cash, for additional net insurance liabilities assumed on January 1, 2008. All parties that participate in the Pooling Arrangement, effective January 1, 2008, have an A.M. Best rating of A+ (Superior). The following table presents an estimate of the impact on the Company’s balance sheet at January 1, 2008, for additional net insurance liabilities. ($ millions) Losses and loss expense payable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Unearned premiums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deferred policy acquisition costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 51.3 53.6 (12.9) Net cash received . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 92.0 120 Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure None. Item 9A. Controls and Procedures Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting Our management’s annual report on internal control over financial reporting required by Item 308(a) of Regulation S-K follows. The attestation report of our independent registered public accounting firm required by Item 308(b) of Regulation S-K is found under the caption “Report of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in Item 8 of this Form 10-K. The following report is provided by our management on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act): 1. Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for the Company. 2. Our management has used the Committee Of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) framework to evaluate the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. Our management believes that the COSO framework is a suitable framework for its evaluation of our internal control over financial reporting because it is free from bias, permits reasonably qualitative and quantitative measurements of our internal controls, is sufficiently complete so that those relevant factors that would alter a conclusion about the effectiveness of our internal controls are not omitted and is relevant to an evaluation of internal control over financial reporting. 3. All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can only provide reasonable assurance with respect to financial reporting. 4. Our management has assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, and has concluded that such internal control over financial reporting is effective. There are no material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting that have been identified by our management. Disclosure Controls and Procedures We carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e)). Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective in timely alerting them to material information relating to the Company (including its consolidated subsidiaries) required to be included in the Company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. Item 9B. Other information None. 121 Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant PART III Information regarding our directors required by Items 401(a) and (d)-(f) of Regulation S-K will be found under the caption “Proposal One: Election of Directors” in our 2008 Proxy Statement, which information is incorporated herein by reference. Information regarding our executive officers required by Items 401(b) and (d)-(f) of Regulation S-K is found under the caption “Executive Officers of the Registrant” at the end of Item 1 of our Form 10-K, which information is also incorporated by reference into this Item 10. a We have separately-designated standing Audit Committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act. As of March 3, 2008, the members of our Audit Committee were Richard K. Smith, David J. D’Antoni, David R. Meuse, Thomas E. Markert and Paul S. Williams. Mr. Smith is Chairman of our Audit Committee. Our Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Smith is an “audit committee financial expert,” as that term is defined in Item 407(d)(5)of Regulation S-K, and “independent,” as that term is defined in Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act. Information regarding the filing of reports of ownership under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act by our officers and directors and persons owning more than 10% of a registered class of our equity securities required by Item 405 of Regulation S-K will be found under the caption “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in our 2008 Proxy Statement, which information is incorporated herein by reference. Information concerning the procedures by which stockholders may recommend nominees to our Board of Directors will be found under the caption “Corporate Governance—Nomination of Directors” in our 2008 Proxy Statement. There has been no material change to the nomination procedures previously disclosed by the Company in its proxy statement for its 2007 annual meeting of stockholders. Our Board of Directors has adopted a code of ethics that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, controller, and persons performing similar functions. This code of ethics has been posted on our website at www.stfc.com under “Investors” then “Corporate Governance.” Any amendment (other than any technical, administrative or other non-substantive amendment) to, or waiver from, a provision of this code will be posted on our website described above within four business days following its occurrence. Item 11. Executive Compensation Our 2008 Proxy Statement will contain information regarding the following matters: information regarding executive compensation required by Item 402 of Regulation S-K will be found under the captions “Board of Directors and Board Committees—Compensation of Directors and Director Compensation Table” and “Compensation Discussion and Analysis”; information required by Item 407(e)(4) of Regulation S-K will be found under the caption “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation”; information required by Item 407(e)(5) of Regulation S-K will be found under the caption “Compensation Committee Report”. This information is incorporated herein by reference. Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters Information regarding security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management required by Item 403 of Regulation S-K will be found under the caption “Proposal One: Election of Directors” and “Principal Holders of Voting Securities” in our 2008 Proxy Statement, which information is incorporated herein by reference. Information regarding equity compensation plan information required by Item 201(d) of Regulation S-K will be found under the caption “Equity Compensation Plan Information” in our 2008 Proxy Statement, which information is incorporated herein by reference. 122 Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence Information regarding certain relationships and related transactions required by Item 404 of Regulation S-K will be found under the caption “Related Party Transactions” in our 2008 Proxy Statement, which information is incorporated herein by reference. Information regarding the independence of our directors required by Item 407(a) of Regulation S-K will be found under the caption “Corporate Governance—Director Independence” in our 2008 Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference. Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services Information regarding principal accountant fees and services required by Item 9(e) of Schedule 14A will be found under the caption “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in our 2008 Proxy Statement, which information is incorporated herein by reference. Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules (a)(1) LISTING OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS PART IV The following consolidated financial statements of the Company are filed as part of this Form 10-K and are included in Item 8: Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 Consolidated Statements of Income for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2007 Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2007 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2007 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (a)(2) LISTING OF FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES The following financial statement schedules of the Company for the years 2007, 2006 and 2005 are included in Item 14(d) following the signatures and should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements contained in our Form 10-K. Schedule Number I. II. III. IV. Summary of Investments—Other Than Investments in Related Parties Schedule Condensed Financial Information of Registrant Supplementary Insurance Information Reinsurance All other schedules and footnotes are omitted because they are not applicable or the required information is included in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto. 123 (a)(3) LISTING OF EXHIBITS Exhibit No. 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 10.01 10.02 Description of Exhibit If incorporated by reference document with which Exhibit was previously filed with SEC State Auto Financial Corporation’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation 1933 Act Registration Statement No. 33-40643 on Form S-1 (see Exhibit 3(a) therein) Auto State Amendment Articles of Incorporation Financial Corporation’s to the Amended and Restated 1933 Act Registration Statement No. 33-89400 on Form S-8 (see Exhibit 4(b) therein) State Auto Financial Corporation Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation as of June 2, 1998 Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 1998 (see Exhibit 3(A)(3) therein) State Auto Financial Corporation’s Amended and Restated Code of Regulations 1933 Act Registration Statement No. 33-40643 on Form S-1 (see Exhibit 3(b) therein) Agreement Guaranty State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company and State Auto Property and Casualty Insurance Company dated as of May 16, 1991 between 1933 Act Registration Statement No. 33-40643 on Form S-1 (see Exhibit 10 (d) therein) Form of Indemnification Agreement between State Auto Financial Corporation and each of its directors 1933 Act Registration Statement No. 33-40643 on Form S-1 (see Exhibit 10 (e) therein) 10.03* 1991 Stock Option Plan 1933 Act Registration Statement No. 33-40643 on Form S-1 (see Exhibit 10 (h) therein) 10.04* 10.05* 10.06* Amendment Number 1 to the 1991 Stock Option Plan 1933 Act Registration Statement No. 33-89400 on Form S-8 (see Exhibit 4 (a) therein) Amendment Number 2 to the 1991 Stock Option Plan Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 1996 (see Exhibit 10(DD) therein) Amendment No. 3 to 1991 Stock Option Plan Effective January 1, 2001 Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ended September 30, 2003 (see 10.01) therein) 10.07* 1991 Directors’ Stock Option Plan 1933 Act Registration Statement No. 33-40643 on Form S-1 (see Exhibit 10 (i) therein) 10.08* 10.09* Amendment Number 1 to the 1991 Directors’ Stock Option Plan Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 1996 (see Exhibit 10(EE) therein) Second Amendment to 1991 Directors’ Stock Option Plan Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ended September 30, 2001 (see Exhibit 10(JJ) therein) 10.10* 2000 Directors Stock Option Plan 000-19289, Definitive Proxy Statement on Form DEF 14A, File No. of Shareholders held on May 26, 2000 (see Appendix B therein) for Annual Meeting 10.11* 10.12* First Amendment Option Plan to 2000 Directors Stock Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ended March 31, 2001 (see Exhibit 10(HH) therein) Second Amendment to 2000 Directors Stock Option Plan Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ended September 30, 2001 (see Exhibit 10(KK) therein) 124 Exhibit No. 10.13* 10.14* 10.15* 10.16 10.17 10.18 10.19 10.20 10.21 10.22 10.23 Description of Exhibit If incorporated by reference document with which Exhibit was previously filed with SEC Third Amendment Option Plan to 2000 Directors Stock Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2001 (see Exhibit 10(EE) therein) Fourth Amendment to 2000 Directors Stock Option Plan Form 10-K Annual Report for year ended 12-31-02 (see Exhibit 10(UU) therein) Fifth Amendment of Option Corporation Plan to 2000 Directors Stock Financial State Auto Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ended June 30, 2005 (see Exhibit 10.66 therein) Form 10-K Annual Report December 31, 1992 (see Exhibit 10 (N) therein) the year ended for Form 10-K Annual Report December 31, 2005 (see Exhibit 10.17 therein) the year ended for Form 10-K Annual Report December 31, 2005 (see Exhibit 10.18 therein) the year ended for Form 10-K Annual Report December 31, 2005 (see Exhibit 10.19 therein) the year ended for Form 10-K Annual Report December 31, 2005 (see Exhibit 10.20 therein) the year ended for Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ended March 31, 2007 (see Exhibit 10.63 therein) Included herein Included herein Investment Management Agreement between Inc. and State Stateco Financial Services, Automobile Mutual Insurance Company, effective April 1, 1993 Investment Management Agreement between Stateco Financial Services, Inc. and Meridian Security Insurance Company, effective June 1, 2001 Investment Management Agreement between Stateco Financial Services, Inc. and State Auto Florida Insurance Company effective April 1, 2002 Investment Management Agreement between Stateco Financial Services, Inc. and Midwest Security Insurance Company effective January 1, 1997 Investment Management Agreement between Stateco Financial Services, Inc. and Meridian Citizens Mutual Insurance Company effective June 1, 2001 dated Investment Management Agreement March 29, 2007, between Stateco Financial Services, Inc. and Beacon National Insurance Company, First Preferred Insurance Company, Petrolia Insurance Company and Beacon Lloyds Insurance Company Amended and Restated Investment Management Agreement dated as of December 31, 2007, Inc. and among Stateco Financial Services, Patrons Mutual of Connecticut, Patrons Fire Insurance Company of Rhode Island, and Provision State Insurance Company Insurance Company Amended and Restated Investment Management Agreement dated as of December 31, 2007, between Stateco Financial Services, Inc. and Litchfield Mutual Fire Insurance Company 125 Exhibit No. 10.24 10.25 10.26 10.27 Description of Exhibit If incorporated by reference document with which Exhibit was previously filed with SEC Cost Sharing Agreement among State Auto Property and Casualty Insurance Company, State Insurance Company, and Automobile Mutual State Auto Florida Insurance Company effective January 1, 2003 Form 10-K Annual Report for year ended 12-31-02 (see Exhibit 10(OO) therein) Form 10-K Annual Report December 31, 2005 (see Exhibit 10.45 therein) the year ended for Security Insurance Company Midwest Management Agreement amended and restated as of January 1, 2000 by and among State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company, an Ohio corporation, State Auto Property and Casualty Insurance Company, a South Carolina corporation and Midwest Security Insurance (nka State Auto Insurance Company of Wisconsin), a Wisconsin corporation Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ended March 31, 2005 (see Exhibit 10.56 therein) Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ended June 30, 2007 (see Exhibit 66.67 therein) Management and Operations Agreement, Amended and Restated as of January 1, 2005 by and among State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company, State Auto Financial Corporation, State Auto Property and Casualty Insurance Company, State Auto National Insurance Company, Milbank Insurance Company, State Auto Insurance Company of Ohio, Meridian Security Insurance Company, Meridian Citizens Mutual Insurance Company, Meridian Insurance Insurance Group, Inc., Company, Stateco Financial Services, Inc., and 518 Strategic Insurance Software, Property Management and Leasing, LLC Farmers Casualty Inc., Insurance Company, First Amendment to Management and Operations Agreement Amended and Restated as of January 1, 2005, by and among State Automobile Mutual State Auto Financial Corporation, State Auto Property and Insurance Company, State Auto Casualty National Insurance Company, Milbank Insurance Company, State Auto Insurance Company of Ohio, Meridian Security Insurance Company, Meridian Citizens Mutual Insurance Company, Inc., Farmers Meridian Casualty Insurance Company, Stateco Financial Services, Inc., Strategic Insurance Software, Inc., 518 Property Management and Leasing, LLC, State Auto Florida Insurance Company, Beacon National Insurance Company, Beacon Lloyds, Inc., Beacon Lloyds Insurance Company, First Preferred Insurance Company, and Petrolia Insurance Company, made as of April 1, 2007 Insurance Group, 126 Exhibit No. 10.28 10.29 10.30 10.31 10.32 Description of Exhibit If incorporated by reference document with which Exhibit was previously filed with SEC Included herein Included herein Included herein Included herein Included herein Inter-Company Expense Agreement (dated as of June 18, 2001), including First Amendment (dated as of September 30, 2002) and Second Amendment (dated as of December 14, 2007), thereto, among Patrons Fire Insurance Company of Rhode Island, Patrons Mutual Insurance Company of Connecticut, State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company and State Auto Property & Casualty Insurance Company Inter-Company Expense Agreement (dated as of January 12, 2001), including First Amendment (dated as of September 30, 2002) and Second Amendment (dated as of December 14, 2007) thereto among Litchfield Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Patrons Mutual Insurance Company of Connecticut, State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company and State Auto Property & Casualty Insurance Company Inter-Company Expense Agreement (dated as of June 18, 2001), including First Amendment (dated as of December 14, 2007) thereto among Provision State Insurance Company, Patrons Mutual Insurance Company of Connecticut, State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company and State Auto Property and Casualty Insurance Company Management Services Agreement (dated as of August 30, 1996), including First Amendment (dated as of December 14, 2007) thereto among Patrons Fire Insurance Company of Rhode Island, Patrons Mutual Insurance Company of Connecticut, State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company and State Auto Property & Casualty Insurance Company Management Services Agreement (dated as of August 26, 1998), including First Amendment (dated as of December 14, 2007) thereto among Litchfield Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Patrons Mutual of Connecticut, State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company and State Auto Property & Casualty Insurance Company Company Insurance 127 Exhibit No. 10.33 10.34 10.35 Description of Exhibit If incorporated by reference document with which Exhibit was previously filed with SEC Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ended September 30, 2006 (see Exhibit 10.69 therein) Included herein Included herein Property Catastrophe Overlying Excess of Loss Reinsurance Contract (effective July 1, 2006) Insurance among State Automobile Mutual Company, Milbank Insurance Company, State Auto National Insurance Company, State Auto Insurance Company of Wisconsin, Farmers Insurance Company, State Auto Casualty Insurance Company of Ohio, Meridian Security Insurance Company, Meridian Citizens Mutual Insurance Company, Florida Insurance Company and State Auto Property and Casualty Insurance Company State Auto Property Catastrophe Overlying Excess of Loss Reinsurance Contract (effective July 1, 2007) Insurance among State Automobile Mutual Company, Milbank Insurance Company, State Auto National Insurance Company, State Auto Insurance Company of Wisconsin, Farmers Insurance Company, State Auto Casualty Insurance Company of Ohio, Meridian Security Insurance Company, Meridian Citizens Mutual Insurance Company, Florida Insurance Company, Beacon National Insurance Company, First Preferred Insurance Company, Petrolia Insurance Company, Beacon Lloyds Insurance Company and State Auto Property and Casualty Insurance Company State Auto Farmers Casualty Endorsement No. 1 to the Property Catastrophe Overlying Excess of Loss Reinsurance Contract (effective July 1, 2007) among State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company, Milbank Insurance Company, State Auto National Insurance Company, State Auto Insurance Company of Wisconsin, Insurance Company, State Auto Insurance Company of Ohio, Meridian Security Insurance Company, Meridian Citizens Mutual Insurance Company, State Auto Florida Insurance Company, Beacon Insurance Company, First Preferred National Insurance Insurance Company, Beacon Lloyds Insurance Company, Patrons Mutual of Connecticut, Litchfield Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Patrons Fire Insurance Company of Rhode Insurance Provision Company and State Auto Property and Casualty Insurance Company Company, Company Insurance Petrolia Island, State 128 Exhibit No. 10.36 10.37 10.38 10.39 10.40 10.41 Description of Exhibit If incorporated by reference document with which Exhibit was previously filed with SEC Form 10-K Annual Report December 31, 2004 (see Exhibit 10.55 therein) the year ended for Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ended June 30, 2007 (see Exhibit 10.66 therein) Included herein Reinsurance Pooling Agreement Amended and Restated as of January 1, 2005 by and among State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company, State Auto Property and Casualty Insurance Company, Milbank Insurance Company, State Auto Insurance Company of Wisconsin, Farmers Casualty Insurance Company, State Auto Insurance Company of Ohio, State Auto Florida Insurance Company, Meridian Security Insurance Company, and Meridian Citizens Mutual Insurance Company First Amendment to the Reinsurance Pooling Agreement Amended and Restated as of January 1, 2005 by and among State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company, State Auto Property and Casualty Insurance Company, Milbank Insurance Company, State Auto Insurance Company of Wisconsin, Farmers Casualty Insurance Company, State Auto Insurance Company of Ohio, State Auto Florida Insurance Company, Meridian Insurance Security Company, and Meridian Citizens Mutual Insurance Company, made as of April 1, 2007 Reinsurance Pooling Agreement Amended and Restated as of January 1, 2008 by and among State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company, State Auto Property and Casualty Insurance Company, Milbank Insurance Company, State Auto Insurance Company of Wisconsin, Farmers Casualty Insurance Company, State Auto Insurance Company of Ohio, State Auto Florida Insurance Security Company, Meridian Insurance Company, and Meridian Citizens Mutual Insurance Company, Patrons Mutual Insurance Company of Connecticut, Litchfield Mutual Fire Insurance Company and Beacon National Insurance Company Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of STFC Capital Trust I, dated as of May 22, 2003 Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ended June 30, 2003 (see 10(XX) therein) Indenture dated as of May 22, 2003, for Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Debt Securities Due 2033 Indenture dated as of November 13, 2003, among State Auto Financial Corporation, as Issuer, and Fifth Third Bank, as Trustee, regarding 6 1/4% Senior Note due 2013 Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ended June 30, 2003 (see 10(YY) therein) Securities Act Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-111507)(see Exhibit 4.01 therein) 129 Exhibit No. 10.42 10.43 10.44* 10.45* 10.46* 10.47* 10.48* 10.49* 10.50* 10.51* Description of Exhibit If incorporated by reference document with which Exhibit was previously filed with SEC Form of 6 1/4% Senior Note due 2013 (Exchange Note) Securities Act Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-111507)(see Exhibit 4.02 therein) Credit Agreement dated as of July 12, 2007, among State Auto Financial Corporation, as borrower, a syndicate of financial institutions, as lenders, and KeyBank National Association, as Administrative Agent, Lead Arranger, Sole Book Runner and Swingline Lender Employment Agreement dated as of March 2, 2006, among State Auto Financial Corporation, State Auto Property and Casualty Insurance Company, State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company and Robert P. Restrepo, Jr. Amendment to Employment Agreement dated as of January 24, 2007, among State Auto Financial Corporation, State Auto Property and Casualty Insurance Company, State Automobile and Robert Mutual P. Restrepo, Jr. Insurance Company Executive Agreement dated as of March 2, 2006, among State Auto Financial Corporation, State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company and Robert P. Restrepo, Jr. Employment Agreement dated as of October 4, 2007, among State Auto Financial Corporation, State Auto Property and Casualty Insurance Company, State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company and Mark A. Blackburn Amended and Restated Executive Agreement dated as of October 4, 2007, among State Auto Financial Corporation, State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company and Mark A. Blackburn Employment Agreement made as of May 10, 2007, and effective as of January 1, 2007, among BroadStreet Capital Partners, Inc., State Auto State Auto Property and Casualty Insurance Company, State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company and Richard L. Miley Financial Corporation, Retention Agreement dated as of February 9, 2004, between State Auto Property & Casualty Insurance Company and Steven E. English Retention Agreement dated as of May 3, 2004, between State Auto Property & Casualty Insurance Company and Steven R. Hazelbaker 130 Form 8-K current Report filed on July 17, 2007 (see Exhibit 10.1 therein) Form 10-K Annual Report December 31, 2005 (see Exhibit 10.26 therein) the year ended for Form 10-K Annual Report December 31, 2006 (see Exhibit 10.24 therein) the year ended for Form 10-K Annual Report December 31, 2005 (see Exhibit 10.29 therein) the year ended for Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ended September 30, 2007 (see Exhibit 10.69 therein) Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ended September 30, 2007 (see Exhibit 10.70 therein) Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ended June 30, 2007 (see Exhibit 10.68 therein) Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ended March 31, 2007 (see Exhibit 10.61 therein) Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ended March 31, 2007 (see Exhibit 10.62 therein) Exhibit No. 10.52* 10.53* 10.54* 10.55* 10.56* 10.57* 10.58* 10.59* 10.60* 10.61* 10.62* 10.63* Description of Exhibit If incorporated by reference document with which Exhibit was previously filed with SEC Amended Incentive and Restated Equity Compensation Plan of State Auto Financial Corporation Restricted Share Award Agreement under the Amended Incentive and Restated Equity Compensation Plan dated as of March 2, 2006 between State Auto Financial Corporation and Robert P. Restrepo, Jr. Restricted Stock Agreement under the Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Compensation Plan dated as of October 4, 2007, between State Auto Financial Corporation and Mark A. Blackburn Stock Option Form of Non-Qualified Agreement under the Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Compensation Plan of State Auto Financial Corporation Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement under the Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Compensation Plan of State Auto Financial Corporation dated March 2, 2006 between State Auto Financial Corporation and Robert P. Restrepo, Jr. Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement the Amended and Restated Equity under Incentive Compensation Plan of State Auto Financial Corporation Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ended June 30, 2005 (see Exhibit 10.60 therein) Form 10-K Annual Report December 31, 2005 (see Exhibit 10.49 therein) the year ended for Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ended September 30, 2007 (see Exhibit 10.71 therein) Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ended June 30, 2005 (see Exhibit 10.62 therein) Form 10-K Annual Report December 31, 2005 (see Exhibit 10.51 therein) the year ended for Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ended June 30, 2005 (see Exhibit 10.63 therein) Outside Directors Restricted Share Unit Plan of State Auto Financial Corporation Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ended June 30, 2005 (see Exhibit 10.61 therein) First Amendment to the Outside Directors Restricted Share Unit Plan of State Auto Financial Corporation Form of Restricted Share Unit Agreement for the Outside Directors Restricted Share Unit Plan of State Auto Financial Corporation Form of Designation of Beneficiary for the Outside Directors Restricted Share Unit Plan of State Auto Financial Corporation Amended and Restated SERP of State Auto Mutual effective as of January 1, 1994 State Auto Financial Corporation Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, effective January 1, 2007 131 Form 10-K Annual Report December 31, 2005 (see Exhibit 10.54 therein) the year ended for Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ended June 30, 2005 (see Exhibit 10.64 therein) Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ended June 30, 2005 (see Exhibit 10.65 therein) Form 10-K Annual Report December 31, 1997 (see Exhibit 10(HH) therein) the year ended for Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ended September 30, 2007 (see Exhibit 10.72 therein) Exhibit No. 10.64* 10.65* 10.66* 10.67* 10.68* 10.69* 10.70* 10.71* Description of Exhibit If incorporated by reference document with which Exhibit was previously filed with SEC Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ended September 30, 2007 (see Exhibit 10.73 therein) Form 10-K Annual Report December 31, 2005 (see Exhibit 10.58 therein) the year ended for Form 10-K Annual Report December 31, 2005 (see Exhibit 10.59 therein) the year ended for Form 10-K Annual Report December 31, 2005 (see Exhibit 10.60 therein) the year ended for Form 10-K Annual Report December 31, 2005 (see Exhibit 10.61 therein) the year ended for Form 10-K Annual Report December 31, 2005 (see Exhibit 10.62 therein) the year ended for Form 10-K Annual Report December 31, 2005 (see Exhibit 10.63 therein) the year ended for Form 10-K Annual Report December 31, 2005 (see Exhibit 10.64 therein) the year ended for Form of Designation of Distribution Election for the State Auto Financial Corporation Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan State Auto Insurance Companies Amended and Restated Directors Deferred Compensation Plan (amended and restated as of March 1, 2001) First Amendment to the state Auto Insurance Companies Amended and restated Directors Deferred Compensation Plan (amendment effective as of December 1, 2005) Agreement of Assignment and Assumption dated as of March 1, 2001, among State Auto Financial Corporation, State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company, State Auto Property and Casualty Insurance Company, and Midwest Security Insurance Company (nka State Auto Insurance Company of Wisconsin) regarding the State Auto Insurance Companies Amended and Restated Directors Deferred Compensation Plan Form of State Auto Insurance Companies Directors Deferred Compensation Agreement State Auto Property & Casualty Insurance Company’s Amended and Restated Incentive Deferred Compensation Plan (amended and restated as of March 1, 2001) First Amendment to the State Auto Property & Casualty Insurance Company’s Amended and Restated Incentive Deferred Compensation Plan (amendment effective as of November 22, 2002) Agreement of Assignment and Assumption dated as of March 1, 2001, among State Auto Financial Corporation, State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company, and State Auto Property and Casualty Insurance Company regarding the State Auto Property & Casualty Insurance Company’s Amended and Restated Incentive Deferred Compensation Plan 10.72* Form of State Auto Property & Casualty Insurance Company’s Incentive Deferred Compensation Agreement Form 10-K Annual Report December 31, 2005 (see Exhibit 10.65 therein) the year ended for 10.73* State Auto Financial Corporation Leadership Bonus Plan Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ended June 30, 2007 (see Exhibit 10.64 therein) 132 Exhibit No. 10.74* 21.01 23.01 24.01 24.02 31.01 31.02 32.01 32.02 Description of Exhibit If incorporated by reference document with which Exhibit was previously filed with SEC State Auto Financial Corporation Long-Term Incentive Plan Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ended June 30, 2007 (see Exhibit 10.65 therein) List of Subsidiaries of State Auto Financial Corporation Included herein Consent of Accounting Firm Independent Registered Public Included herein Powers of Attorney – Robert P Restrepo, Jr., David J D’Antoni, David R. Meuse, S. Elaine Roberts, Richard K. Smith, Alexander B. Trevor and Paul S. Williams Form 10-K Annual Report December 31, 2007 (see Exhibit 24.01 therein) the year ended for Powers of Attorney – Robert E. Baker and Thomas E. Markert Included herein CEO certification required by Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 Included herein CFO certification required by Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 Included herein CEO certification required by Section 906 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 Included herein CFO certification required by Section 906 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 Included herein * Constitutes either a management contract or a compensatory plan or arrangement required to be filed as an Exhibit. (b) EXHIBITS The exhibits included with this Form 10-K, as indicated in Item 15(a) (3), have been separately filed. (c) FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES Our financial statement schedules included with this Form 10-K, as indicated in Item 15(a) (2), follow the signatures to this Form 10-K. 133 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. SIGNATURES Dated: March 14, 2008 STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION /s/ ROBERT P. RESTREPO, JR. Robert P. Restrepo, Jr. Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated. Name Title Date /s/ ROBERT P. RESTREPO, JR. Robert P. Restrepo, Jr. /s/ STEVEN E. ENGLISH Steven E. English /s/ CYNTHIA A. POWELL Cynthia A. Powell DAVID J. D’ANTONI* David J. D’Antoni ROBERT E. BAKER* Robert E. Baker THOMAS E. MARKERT* Thomas E. Markert DAVID R. MEUSE* David R. Meuse S. ELAINE ROBERTS* S. Elaine Roberts RICHARD K. SMITH* Richard K. Smith ALEXANDER B. TREVOR* Alexander B. Trevor PAUL S. WILLIAMS* Paul S. Williams Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) March 14, 2008 Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) March 14, 2008 Vice President and Treasurer (principal accounting officer) Director Director Director Director Director Director Director Director March 14, 2008 March 14, 2008 March 14, 2008 March 14, 2008 March 14, 2008 March 14 2008 March 14, 2008 March 14, 2008 March 14, 2008 * Steven E. English by signing his name hereto, does sign this document on behalf of the person indicated above pursuant to a Power of Attorney duly executed by such person. /s/ STEVEN E. ENGLISH Attorney in Fact March 14, 2008 Steven E. English 134 Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm We consent to the incorporation by reference in the following Registration Statements and related Prospectuses of State Auto Financial Corporation of our reports dated March 7, 2008, with respect to the consolidated financial statements and schedules of State Auto Financial Corporation and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of State Auto Financial Corporation, included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2007. EXHIBIT 23.01 Form S-8 S-8 S-8 S-8 S-8 S-8 S-3 S-3 S-4 S-8 Registration Number 33-44667 33-89400 1991 Stock Option Plan Description 33-44666 1991 Directors’ Stock Option Plan 1991 Employee Stock Purchase and Dividend Reinvestment Plan 33-41423 333-05755 333-147333 333-56336 State Auto Insurance Companies Capital Accumulation Plan 333-43882 2000 Directors’ Stock Option Plan 333-43880 2000 Stock Option Plan 333-41849 Monthly Stock Purchase Plan for Independent Agents 333-90529 333-111507 1998 State Auto Agents’ Stock Option Plan 6 1⁄4% Senior Notes due 2013 333-127172 2005 Outside Directors Restricted Share Unit Plan /s/ Ernst & Young LLP Columbus, Ohio March 7, 2008 135 CERTIFICATION I, Robert P. Restrepo, Jr., certify that: 1. I have reviewed this Form 10-K of State Auto Financial Corporation; EXHIBIT 31.01 2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; 3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; 4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have: (a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; (b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over to provide reasonable assurance financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; (c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and (d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and 5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors: (a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and (b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. Date: March 14, 2008 /s/ Robert P. Restrepo, Jr. Robert P. Restrepo, Jr., Chief Executive Officer (Principal executive officer) 136 CERTIFICATION I, Steven E. English, certify that: 1. I have reviewed this Form 10-K of State Auto Financial Corporation; EXHIBIT 31.02 2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; 3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; 4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have: (a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; (b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over to provide reasonable assurance financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; (c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and (d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and 5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors: (a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and (b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. Date: March 14, 2008 /s/ Steven E. English Steven E. English, Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) 137 CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002 EXHIBIT 32.01 In connection with the Annual Report of State Auto Financial Corporation (the “Company”) on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2007, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Robert P. Restrepo, Jr., Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that: (1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and (2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company. /s/ Robert P. Restrepo, Jr. Robert P. Restrepo, Jr. Chief Executive Officer March 14, 2008 A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to State Auto Financial Corporation and will be retained by State Auto Financial Corporation and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request. 138 CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002 EXHIBIT 32.02 In connection with the Annual Report of State Auto Financial Corporation (the “Company”) on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2007, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Steven E. English, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that: (1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and (2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company. /s/ Steven E. English Steven E. English Principal Financial Officer March 14, 2008 A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to State Auto Financial Corporation and will be retained by State Auto Financial Corporation and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request. 139 State Auto Financial Corporation 2007 shareholder information Directors RobeRt P. RestRePo JR. President & Ceo state Auto Insurance Companies term expires in 2009 RobeRt e. bAkeR President Puroast Coffee Inc. term expires in 2010 DAvID J. D’AntonI Retired senior vice President Ashland Inc. term expires in 2008 thomAs e. mARkeRt Ceo Ipsos Loyalty Worldwide term expires in 2010 DAvID R. meuse Principal stonehenge Financial holdings Inc. term expires in 2008 s. eLAIne RobeRts President & Ceo Columbus Regional Airport Authority term expires in 2008 RIChARD k. smIth Retired Audit Partner kPmG Peat marwick term expires in 2009 ALexAnDeR b. tRevoR President nuvocom Inc. term expires in 2010 PAuL s. WILLIAms managing Director major, Lindsay and Africa term expires in 2009 senior officers RobeRt P. RestRePo JR., 57 Chairman of the board, President and Ceo mARk A. bLACkbuRn, 56 executive vice President, Coo CLyDe h. FItCh JR., 57 senior vice President steven e. enGLIsh, 47 vice President, CFo JAmes A. yAno, 56 vice President, secretary, General Counsel CynthIA A. PoWeLL, 47 vice President, Chief Accounting officer, treasurer DouGLAs e. ALLen, 50 vice President teRRenCe L. boWshIeR, 55 vice President JoeL e. bRoWn, 50 vice President DAvID W. DALton, 49 vice President JAmes e. Duemey, 61 vice President nAnCy D. eDWARDs, 55 vice President steven R. hAzeLbAkeR, 52 vice President teRRenCe P. hIGeRD, 63 vice President John b. meLvIn, 58 vice President CAthy b. mILey, 58 vice President RIChARD L. mILey, 54 vice President PAuL e. noRDmAn, 50 vice President John m. PetRuCCI, 49 vice President m. JeAn ReynoLDs, 52 vice President LoRRAIne m. sIeGWoRth, 41 vice President LARRy D. WILLIAms, 60 vice President CoRPoRAte heADQuARteRs state Auto Financial Corporation 518 e. broad street Columbus, oh 43215 Phone (614) 464-5000 www.stateAuto.com AnnuAL meetInG 10 a.m. Wednesday, may 7, 2008, Corporate headquarters shARehoLDeR InQuIRIes terrence bowshier Director of Investor Relations state Auto Financial Corporation 518 e. broad street Columbus, oh 43215 Phone (614) 464-5078 Fax (614) 464-5049 e-mail: terry.bowshier@stateAuto.com InDePenDent AuDItoRs ernst & young LLP 1100 huntington Center 41 south high street Columbus, oh 43215 LeGAL CounseL baker & hostetler LLP 65 e. state street Columbus, oh 43215 seC FILInGs this report and other filings with the securities and exchange Commission are also available free of charge on the company’s Web site maintained at www.stateAuto.com. tRAnsFeR AGent/ReGIstRAR national City bank shareholder services operations—LoC 5352 P.o. box 92301 Cleveland, oh 44101-4301 Phone (800) 622-6757 e-mail: shareholder.inquiries@nationalcity.com stoCk tRADInG Common shares are traded in the nAsDAQ Global select market system under the sym- bol stFC. As of February 21, 2008, there were 3,951 shareholders of the Company’s common shares. mARket PRICe RAnGe AnD DIvIDenDs, Common stoCk Initial Public offering—June 28, 1991, $2.25(1) the high and low sale prices for each quarterly period for the past two years as reported by nAsDAQ and cash dividends paid per share are: 2007 high low dividend First Qtr. Second Qtr. Third Qtr. Fourth Qtr. $ 35.22 34.00 32.25 32.38 $30.61 28.67 23.99 25.39 $ 0.10 0.10 0.15 0.15 2006 high low dividend first Qtr. $ 39.94 second Qtr. 36.33 third Qtr. 32.90 35.15 fourth Qtr. (1) Adjusted for stock splits. $ 30.59 31.11 28.40 29.25 $ 0.09 0.09 0.10 0.10 State Auto Financial Corporation 2007 geographic Dispersion Corprate Headquarters Field Offices Active New in 2007 Corporate HeadquarterS Columbus, Ohio FIeLd oFFICeS Central Regional Office Columbus, Ohio Cincinnati Branch Office Cincinnati, Ohio Cleveland Branch Office Cleveland, Ohio Des Moines Center West Des Moines, Iowa Eastern Regional Office Gahanna, Ohio Indianapolis Regional Office Indianapolis, Indiana La Crosse Branch Office La Crosse, Wisconsin Milbank Regional Office Milbank, South Dakota Nashville Regional Office Nashville, Tennessee Patrons and Litchfield Insurance Hartford Regional Office Glastonbury, Connecticut Southern Regional Office Greer, South Carolina Southwest Region Office Wichita Falls, Texas STATE AuTO MIDDLE MARkET INSuRANCE (SAMMI) Austin Zone Austin, Texas Central Zone Columbus, Ohio Eastern Zone Hunt Valley, Maryland Midwest Zone Naperville, Illinois Western Zone Peoria, Arizona Forward-LookING StatemeNtS This Annual Report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Please see “Important Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” preceding Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-k for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, which is included with this Annual Report. m o c . s r o n n o c - n a r r u c . w w w / . c n I , s r o n n o C & n a r r u C y b d e n g i s e D State auto Group: State Auto Financial Corp State Automobile Mutual Ins Co State Auto Property & Casualty Ins Co State Auto National Ins Co State Auto Ins Co of Ohio State Auto Ins Co of Wisconsin State Auto Florida Ins Co Milbank Ins Co Farmers Casualty Ins Co Meridian Security Ins Co Meridian Citizens Mutual Ins Co Beacon National Ins Co Beacon Lloyds Ins Co Patrons Mutual Ins Co of Connecticut Patrons Fire Ins Co of Rhode Island Litchfield Mutual Fire Ins Co Provision State Ins Co Stateco Financial Services Inc Strategic Insurance Software Inc 518 Property Management & Leasing LLC Broadstreet Capital Partners Inc State Auto Financial Corporation 518 E. Broad Street Columbus, OH 43215 www.StateAuto.com Our People, Front Cover: l-r, Anne Hogan, Brent Mims, Terra Boroff, Luyang Fu, Vince Monardo, Marlene Butts