Assurant 2010 Annual Report Download - page 8

2ASSURANT, INC.  2010 Form 10K
Amounts are presented in United States of America (“U.S.”) dollars and all amounts are in thousands, except number of shares, per share amounts,
registered holders, number of employees, benefi cial owners, number of securities in an unrealized loss position and number of loans.
Forward-Looking Statements
Some of the statements under “Business,” “Management’s Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and
elsewhere in this report, particularly those anticipating future fi nancial
performance, business prospects, growth and operating strategies and
similar matters, are forward-looking statements within the meaning
of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can
identify these statements by the fact that they may use words such as
“will,” “may,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,”
“plans,” “believes,” “targets,” “forecasts,” “potential,” “approximately,”
or the negative version of those words and other words and terms
with a similar meaning. Any forward-looking statements contained in
this report are based upon our historical performance and on current
plans, estimates and expectations.  e inclusion of this forward-
looking information should not be regarded as a representation by us
or any other person that the future plans, estimates or expectations
contemplated by us will be achieved. Our actual results might diff er
materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.
 e Company undertakes no obligation to update or review any
forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information,
future events or other developments.
In addition to the factors described under “Critical Factors Aff ecting
Results,” the following risk factors could cause our actual results to
diff er materially from those currently estimated by management:
(i) the eff ects of the Patient Protection and Aff ordable Care Act and
the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, and the
rules and regulations thereunder (together, “the Aff ordable Care Act”)
on our health and employee benefi ts businesses; (ii) deterioration in
the Company’s market capitalization compared to its book value that
could result in further impairment of the Company’s goodwill; (iii) loss
of signifi cant client relationships, distribution sources and contracts;
(iv) failure to attract and retain sales representatives; (v) losses due to
natural and man-made catastrophes; (vi) a decline in our credit or
fi nancial strength ratings (including the risk of ratings downgrades
in the insurance industry); (vii) actions by governmental agencies
that could result in the reduction of the premium rates we charge;
(viii) unfavorable outcomes in litigation and/or regulatory investigations
that could negatively aff ect our business and reputation; (ix) current or
new laws and regulations that could increase our costs and/or decrease
our revenues; (x) general global economic, fi nancial market and political
conditions (including diffi cult conditions in fi nancial, capital and credit
markets, the global economic slowdown, fl uctuations in interest rates,
mortgage rates, monetary policies, unemployment and infl ationary
pressure); (xi) inadequacy of reserves established for future claims
losses; (xii) failure to predict or manage benefi ts, claims and other costs;
(xiii) increases or decreases in tax valuation allowances; (xiv) fl uctuations
in exchange rates and other risks related to our international operations;
(xv) unavailability, inadequacy and unaff ordable pricing of reinsurance
coverage; (xvi) diminished value of invested assets in our investment
portfolio (due to, among other things, volatility in fi nancial markets,
the global economic slowdown, credit and liquidity risk, other than
temporary impairments and inability to target an appropriate overall
risk level); (xvii) insolvency of third parties to whom we have sold or
may sell businesses through reinsurance or modifi ed co-insurance;
(xviii) inability of reinsurers to meet their obligations; (xix) credit risk
of some of our agents in Assurant Specialty Property and Assurant
Solutions; (xx) failure to eff ectively maintain and modernize our
information systems; (xxi) failure to protect client information and
privacy; (xxii) failure to fi nd and integrate suitable acquisitions and new
insurance ventures; (xxiii) inability of our subsidiaries to pay suffi cient
dividends; (xxiv) failure to provide for succession of senior management
and key executives; and (xxv) signifi cant competitive pressures in our
businesses and (xxvi) cyclicality of the insurance industry. For a more
detailed discussion of the risk factors that could aff ect our actual results,
please refer to the “Critical Factors Aff ecting Results” in Item 7 and
“Risk Factors” in Item 1A of this Form 10-K.