Edgar Filing: ASSURANT INC

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer

Non-accelerated filer

¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Smaller reporting company

Form 10-Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

þ	Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2010

¨	Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the transition period from to

Assurant, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

001-31978

39-1126612

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

(Commission

File Number)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

One Chase Manhattan Plaza, 41st Floor

New York, New York 10005

(212) 859-7000

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including

area code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES þ NO ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). YES þ NO ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YES ¨ NO þ

The number of shares of the registrant’s Common Stock outstanding at November 1, 2010 was 106,553,898.

ASSURANT, INC.

QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2010

TABLE OF CONTENTS


Item Number		Page Number

PART I
FINANCIAL INFORMATION

1.	Financial Statements of Assurant, Inc.:

	Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited) at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009		2

	Consolidated Statement of Operations (unaudited) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009		4

	Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity (unaudited) from December 31, 2009 through September 30, 2010		5

	Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (unaudited) for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009		6

	Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009		7

2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations		38

3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk		60

4.	Controls and Procedures		60

PART II
OTHER INFORMATION

1.	Legal Proceedings		61

1A.	Risk Factors		61

2.	Unregistered Sale of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds		63

6.	Exhibits		64

	Signatures		65

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 and beneficial owners.

Assurant, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited)

At September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009


	September 30, 2010		December 31, 2009
	(in thousands except number of shares and per share amounts)
Assets
Investments:
Fixed maturity securities available for sale, at fair value (amortized cost—$9,902,084 in 2010 and $9,684,083 in 2009)	$	10,823,195	$	9,966,772
Equity securities available for sale, at fair value
(cost - $473,276 in 2010 and $514,349 in 2009)		496,102		512,987
Commercial mortgage loans on real estate, at amortized cost		1,355,871		1,428,027
Policy loans		56,685		56,407
Short-term investments		452,008		453,469
Collateral held under securities lending		134,348		218,129
Other investments		581,917		522,041

Total investments		13,900,126		13,157,832

Cash and cash equivalents		1,168,307		1,318,552
Premiums and accounts receivable, net		545,167		507,933
Reinsurance recoverables		4,931,151		4,231,734
Accrued investment income		155,013		155,757
Deferred acquisition costs		2,432,990		2,504,654
Property and equipment, at cost less accumulated depreciation		272,750		275,420
Deferred income taxes, net		—		167,240
Goodwill		926,195		926,398
Value of business acquired		85,247		94,632
Other assets		538,167		548,183
Assets held in separate accounts		1,890,221		1,972,332

Total assets	$	26,845,334	$	25,860,667

See the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements

Assurant, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited)

At September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009


	September 30, 2010			December 31, 2009
	(in thousands except number of shares and per share amounts)
Liabilities
Future policy benefits and expenses	$	8,038,559		$	7,349,633
Unearned premiums		4,964,668			5,153,564
Claims and benefits payable		3,406,611			3,366,327
Commissions payable		230,697			218,060
Reinsurance balances payable		87,576			96,001
Funds held under reinsurance		66,614			67,700
Deferred gain on disposal of businesses		146,770			164,899
Obligation under securities lending		135,248			220,279
Accounts payable and other liabilities		1,426,934			1,388,279
Deferred income taxes, net		72,139			—
Tax payable		32,459			30,126
Debt		972,137			972,058
Mandatorily redeemable preferred stock		8,160			8,160
Liabilities related to separate accounts		1,890,221			1,972,332

Total liabilities		21,478,793			21,007,418

Commitments and contingencies (Note 14)

Stockholders’ equity
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share, 800,000,000 shares authorized, 106,474,301 and 116,648,714 shares outstanding at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively		1,453			1,447
Additional paid-in capital		2,985,716			2,962,883
Retained earnings		3,465,332			3,054,466
Accumulated other comprehensive income		514,671			65,925
Treasury stock, at cost; 38,849,678 and 28,119,993 shares at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively		(1,600,631	)		(1,231,472	)

Total stockholders’ equity		5,366,541			4,853,249

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	26,845,334		$	25,860,667

See the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements

Assurant, Inc.

Consolidated Statement of Operations (unaudited)

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009


	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2010			2009			2010			2009
	(in thousands except number of shares and per share amounts)
Revenues
Net earned premiums and other considerations	$	1,832,514		$	1,874,398		$	5,589,052		$	5,624,843
Net investment income		176,170			172,924			525,380			526,335
Net realized gains (losses) on investments, excluding other-than-temporary impairment losses		7,280			22,508			33,705			(9,570	)
Total other-than-temporary impairment losses		(924	)		(2,998	)		(2,803	)		(31,778	)
Portion of net (gain) loss recognized in other comprehensive income, before taxes		(313	)		356			(1,234	)		(617	)

Net other-than-temporary impairment losses recognized in earnings		(1,237	)		(2,642	)		(4,037	)		(32,395	)
Amortization of deferred gain on disposal of businesses		6,024			6,802			18,129			20,354
Fees and other income		93,220			82,883			259,892			388,792

Total revenues		2,113,971			2,156,873			6,422,121			6,518,359


Benefits, losses and expenses
Policyholder benefits		913,253			941,145			2,746,565			2,890,889
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs and value of business acquired		376,850			390,382			1,144,151			1,176,669
Underwriting, general and administrative expenses		581,974			601,120			1,757,367			1,756,841
Interest expense		15,162			15,160			45,484			45,509

Total benefits, losses and expenses		1,887,239			1,947,807			5,693,567			5,869,908

Income before provision for income taxes		226,732			209,066			728,554			648,451
Provision for income taxes		85,062			64,336			264,986			229,818

Net income	$	141,670		$	144,730		$	463,568		$	418,633


Earnings Per Share
Basic	$	1.31		$	1.22		$	4.13		$	3.54
Diluted	$	1.30		$	1.22		$	4.11		$	3.54
Dividends per share	$	0.16		$	0.15		$	0.47		$	0.44

Share Data
Weighted average shares outstanding used in basic per share calculations		107,806,207			118,184,367			112,137,558			118,187,358
Plus: Dilutive securities		778,075			107,474			653,565			74,106

Weighted average shares used in diluted per share calculations		108,584,282			118,291,841			112,791,123			118,261,464

See the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements

Assurant, Inc.

Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity (unaudited)

From December 31, 2009 through September 30, 2010


	Common Stock		Additional Paid-in Capital			Retained Earnings			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income		Treasury Stock			Total
	(in thousands except number of shares and per share amounts)
Balance, December 31, 2009	$	1,447	$	2,962,883		$	3,054,466		$	65,925	$	(1,231,472	)	$	4,853,249
Stock plan exercises		6		3,612			—			—		—			3,618
Stock plan compensation expense		—		25,886			—			—		—			25,886
Change in tax benefit from share-based payment arrangements		—		(6,665	)		—			—		—			(6,665	)
Dividends		—		—			(52,702	)		—		—			(52,702	)
Acquisition of common stock		—		—			—			—		(369,159	)		(369,159	)
Comprehensive income:
Net income		—		—			463,568			—		—			463,568
Other comprehensive income:
Net change in unrealized gains on securities, net of taxes of $(222,083)		—		—			—			433,770		—			433,770
Net change in other-than-temporary impairment gains recognized in other comprehensive income, net of taxes of $(2,803)		—		—			—			5,205		—			5,205
Net change in foreign currency translation, net of taxes of $(2,874)		—		—			—			2,585		—			2,585
Amortization of pension and postretirement unrecognized net periodic benefit cost, net of taxes of $(3,870)		—		—			—			7,186		—			7,186

Total other comprehensive income		—		—			—			—		—			448,746

Total comprehensive income		—		—			—			—		—			912,314

Balance, September 30, 2010	$	1,453	$	2,985,716		$	3,465,332		$	514,671	$	(1,600,631	)	$	5,366,541

See the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements

Assurant, Inc.

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (unaudited)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009


	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2010			2009
	(in thousands)
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	465,461		$	213,039

Investing activities
Sales of:
Fixed maturity securities available for sale		1,437,872			825,713
Equity securities available for sale		66,985			44,437
Property and equipment and other		118			313
Maturities, prepayments, and scheduled redemption of:
Fixed maturity securities available for sale		567,337			476,501
Purchases of:
Fixed maturity securities available for sale		(2,206,168	)		(1,514,177	)
Equity securities available for sale		(19,346	)		(26,621	)
Property and equipment and other		(42,100	)		(38,366	)
Subsidiary, net of cash transferred		(7,162	)		(3,200	)
Change in commercial mortgage loans on real estate		56,934			55,078
Change in short-term investments		1,655			261,197
Change in other invested assets		(41,415	)		(19,910	)
Change in policy loans		(229	)		1,904
Change in collateral held under securities lending		85,031			59,218

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities		(100,488	)		122,087

Financing activities
Repayment of mandatorily redeemable preferred stock		—			(3,000	)
Change in tax benefit from share-based payment arrangements		(6,665	)		(1,711	)
Acquisition of common stock		(369,159	)		(31,949	)
Dividends paid		(52,702	)		(51,961	)
Change in obligation under securities lending		(85,031	)		(59,218	)

Net cash used in financing activities		(513,557	)		(147,839	)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		(1,661	)		7,880

Change in cash and cash equivalents		(150,245	)		195,167
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		1,318,552			1,040,684

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	1,168,307		$	1,235,851

See the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

1. Nature of Operations

Assurant, Inc. (the “Company”) is a holding company whose subsidiaries provide specialized insurance products and related services in North America and select worldwide markets.

The Company is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AIZ.

Through its operating subsidiaries, the Company provides creditor-placed homeowners insurance, manufactured housing homeowners insurance, debt protection administration, credit-related insurance, warranties and service contracts, individual health and small employer group health insurance, group dental insurance, group disability insurance, group life insurance and pre-funded funeral insurance.

2. Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information. Accordingly, these statements do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements.

The interim financial data as of September 30, 2010 and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 is unaudited; in the opinion of management, the interim data includes all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to a fair statement of the results for the interim periods. The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all of its wholly owned subsidiaries. All inter-company transactions and balances are eliminated in consolidation. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2010 presentation.

Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2010. The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

3. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements - Adopted

On January 1, 2010, the Company adopted the new guidance on transfers of financial assets. This new guidance amends the derecognition guidance and eliminates the exemption from consolidation for qualifying special-purpose entities. The adoption of this new guidance did not have an impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

On January 1, 2010, the Company adopted the new guidance on the accounting for a variable interest entity (“VIE”). This new guidance amends the consolidation guidance applicable to VIEs to require a qualitative assessment in the determination of the primary beneficiary of the VIE, to require an ongoing reconsideration of the primary beneficiary, to amend the events that trigger a reassessment of whether an entity is a VIE and to change the consideration of kick-out rights in determining if an entity is a VIE. The adoption of this new guidance did not have an impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements - Not Yet Adopted

In October 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued amendments to existing guidance on accounting for costs associated with acquiring or renewing insurance contracts. The amendments modify the definition of the types of costs incurred by insurance entities that can be capitalized in the acquisition of new and renewal contracts. Under this amended guidance, acquisition costs are defined as costs that are related directly to the successful acquisition of new or renewal insurance contracts. The

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)—(Continued)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2011. Therefore, the Company is required to adopt this guidance on January 1, 2012. Prospective application as of the date of adoption is required; however retrospective application to all prior periods presented upon the date of adoption is also permitted, but not required. Early adoption is permitted, but only at the beginning of an entity’s annual reporting period. The Company is currently evaluating the requirements of the amendments and the potential impact, if any, on the Company’s financial position and results of operations.

In September 2009, the FASB issued new guidance on multiple deliverable revenue arrangements. This new guidance requires entities to use their best estimate of the selling price of a deliverable within a multiple deliverable revenue arrangement if the entity and other entities do not sell the deliverable separate from the other deliverables within the arrangement. In addition it requires both qualitative and quantitative disclosures. This new guidance is effective for new or materially modified arrangements in fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010. Earlier application is permitted as of the beginning of a fiscal year. The Company did not apply the guidance early, thus it is required to adopt this new guidance on January 1, 2011. The adoption of this new guidance will not have an impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

4. Investments

The following tables show the cost or amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses, fair value and other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) of our fixed maturity and equity securities as of the dates indicated:


	September 30, 2010
	Cost or Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses			Fair Value		OTTI in AOCI (1)
Fixed maturity securities:
United States Government and government agencies and authorities	$	168,795	$	8,734	$	(139	)	$	177,390	$	—
States, municipalities and political subdivisions		831,906		79,494		(358	)		911,042		—
Foreign governments		602,062		41,699		(733	)		643,028		—
Asset-backed		43,817		2,939		—			46,756		1,095
Commercial mortgage-backed		107,215		6,158		—			113,373		—
Residential mortgage-backed		802,032		45,081		(451	)		846,662		3,294
Corporate		7,346,257		769,442		(30,755	)		8,084,944		13,272

Total fixed maturity securities	$	9,902,084	$	953,547	$	(32,436	)	$	10,823,195	$	17,661

Equity securities:
Common stocks	$	4,408	$	660	$	—		$	5,068	$	—
Non-redeemable preferred stocks		468,868		37,695		(15,529	)		491,034		—

Total equity securities	$	473,276	$	38,355	$	(15,529	)	$	496,102	$	—

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)—(Continued)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)


	December 31, 2009
	Cost or Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses			Fair Value		OTTI in AOCI (1)
Fixed maturity securities:
United States Government and government agencies and authorities	$	115,268	$	5,135	$	(73	)	$	120,330	$	—
States, municipalities and political subdivisions		873,548		42,499		(5,979	)		910,068		—
Foreign governments		545,166		18,076		(4,779	)		558,463		—
Asset-backed		51,834		2,599		(470	)		53,963		833
Commercial mortgage-backed		159,780		1,589		(1,462	)		159,907		—
Residential mortgage-backed		685,373		29,224		(2,594	)		712,003		123
Corporate		7,253,114		326,922		(127,998	)		7,452,038		8,697

Total fixed maturity securities	$	9,684,083	$	426,044	$	(143,355	)	$	9,966,772	$	9,653

Equity securities:
Common stocks	$	5,493	$	285	$	(1,249	)	$	4,529	$	—
Non-redeemable preferred stocks		508,856		31,657		(32,055	)		508,458		—

Total equity securities	$	514,349	$	31,942	$	(33,304	)	$	512,987	$	—

(1)	Represents the amount of other-than-temporary impairment gains in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”), which, from April 1, 2009, were not included in earnings under the OTTI guidance for debt securities.

The cost or amortized cost and fair value of fixed maturity securities at September 30, 2010 by contractual maturity are shown below. Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because issuers of the securities may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.


	Cost or Amortized Cost		Fair Value
Due in one year or less	$	485,313	$	492,882
Due after one year through five years		2,053,486		2,193,289
Due after five years through ten years		2,346,261		2,573,316
Due after ten years		4,063,960		4,556,917

Total		8,949,020		9,816,404
Asset-backed		43,817		46,756
Commercial mortgage-backed		107,215		113,373
Residential mortgage-backed		802,032		846,662

Total	$	9,902,084	$	10,823,195

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)—(Continued)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

The following table summarizes the proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities and the gross realized gains and gross realized losses that have been included in earnings as a result of those sales.


	For the Three Months Ended September 30,				For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2010		2009		2010		2009
Proceeds from sales	$	520,567	$	452,769	$	1,505,701	$	927,805
Gross realized gains		18,846		23,989		50,258		36,325
Gross realized losses		1,689		1,913		6,095		41,334

The following table sets forth the net realized gains (losses), including other-than-temporary impairments, recognized in the statement of operations as follows:


	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2010			2009			2010			2009
Net realized gains (losses) related to sales and other:
Fixed maturity securities	$	14,950		$	21,290		$	40,579		$	17,804
Equity securities		2,239			836			4,980			(21,059	)
Commercial mortgage loans on real estate		(9,000	)		—			(15,772	)		(5,306	)
Other investments		(909	)		382			3,918			(1,009	)

Total net realized gains (losses) related to sales and other		7,280			22,508			33,705			(9,570	)

Net realized losses related to other-than-temporary impairments:
Fixed maturity securities		(1,055	)		(2,631	)		(3,544	)		(17,884	)
Equity securities		(182	)		(11	)		(493	)		(14,511	)

Total net realized losses related to other-than-temporary impairments		(1,237	)		(2,642	)		(4,037	)		(32,395	)

Total net realized gains (losses)	$	6,043		$	19,866		$	29,668		$	(41,965	)

Other-Than-Temporary Impairments

On April 1, 2009, the Company adopted the OTTI guidance which requires entities to separate an OTTI of a debt security into two components when there are credit related losses associated with the impaired debt security for which the Company asserts that it does not have the intent to sell, and it is more likely than not that it will not be required to sell before recovery of its cost basis. Prior to April 1, 2009, the Company was required to determine whether it had the intent and ability to hold the investment for a sufficient period of time for the value to recover. When the analysis of the above factors resulted in the Company’s conclusion that declines in market values were other-than-temporary, the cost of the securities was written down to market value and the reduction in value was reflected as a realized loss in the statement of operations. Under the OTTI guidance, the amount of the OTTI related to a credit loss is recognized in earnings, and the amount of the OTTI related to other, non-credit, factors (e.g., interest rates, market conditions, etc.) is recorded as a component of other comprehensive income. In instances where no credit loss exists but the Company intends to sell the security or it is more likely than not that the Company will have to sell the debt security prior to the anticipated recovery, the decline in market value below amortized cost is recognized as an OTTI in earnings. In periods after the recognition of an OTTI on debt securities, the Company accounts for such securities as if they had been purchased on the measurement date of the OTTI at an amortized cost basis equal to the previous amortized cost basis less the OTTI recognized in earnings. For debt securities for which OTTI was recognized in earnings, the difference between the new amortized cost basis and the cash flows expected to be collected will be accreted or amortized into net investment income.

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)—(Continued)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company recorded $924 and $2,803, respectively, of OTTI, of which $1,237 and $4,037, respectively, was related to credit losses and recorded as net OTTI losses recognized in earnings, with the remaining $(313) and $(1,234) related to all other factors and recorded as an unrealized gain component of AOCI. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, the Company recorded $2,998 and $31,778, respectively, of OTTI, of which $2,642 and $32,395, respectively, was related to credit losses and recorded as net OTTI losses recognized in earnings, with the remaining $356 and $(617), respectively, related to all other factors and recorded as an unrealized loss (gain) component of AOCI.

The following tables set forth the amount of credit loss impairments recognized within the results of operations on fixed maturity securities held by the Company as of the dates indicated, for which a portion of the OTTI loss was recognized in AOCI, and the corresponding changes in such amounts.


	Three Months Ended September 30, 2010			Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010
Balance, beginning of period	$	105,762		$	108,053
Additions for credit loss impairments recognized in the current period on securities not previously impaired		9			494
Additions for credit loss impairments recognized in the current period on securities previously impaired		694			2,698
Reductions for securities which the amount previously recognized in other comprehensive income was recognized in earnings because the entity intends to sell the security		(116	)		(116	)
Reductions for increases in cash flows expected to be collected that are recognized over the remaining life of the security		(3	)		(287	)
Reductions for credit loss impairments previously recognized on securities which matured, paid down, prepaid or were sold during the period		(2,227	)		(6,723	)

Balance, end of period	$	104,119		$	104,119


	Three Months Ended September 30, 2009			Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009
Balance, beginning of period	$	106,234		$	—
Credit losses remaining in retained earnings related to the adoption of OTTI guidance effective April 1, 2009		—			119,022
Additions for credit loss impairments recognized in the current period on securities not previously impaired		227			1,464
Additions for credit loss impairments recognized in the current period on securities previously impaired		2,404			4,641
Reductions for increases in cash flows expected to be collected that are recognized over the remaining life of the security		(106	)		(106	)
Reductions for credit loss impairments previously recognized on securities which matured, paid down, prepaid or were sold during the period		(1,906	)		(18,168	)

Balance, end of period	$	106,853		$	106,853

We regularly monitor our investment portfolio to ensure investments that may be other-than-temporarily impaired are identified in a timely fashion, properly valued, and charged against earnings in the proper period. The determination that a security has incurred an other-than-temporary decline in value requires the judgment of management. Assessment factors include, but are not limited to, the length of time and the extent to which the market value has been less than cost, the financial condition and rating of the issuer, whether any collateral is held, the intent and ability of the Company to retain the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for recovery for equity securities and the intent to sell or whether it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell for fixed maturity securities. Inherently, there are risks and uncertainties involved in making these judgments. Changes in circumstances and critical assumptions such as a continued weak economy, a more pronounced economic downturn or unforeseen events which

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)—(Continued)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

affect one or more companies, industry sectors, or countries could result in additional impairments in future periods for other-than-temporary declines in value. Any equity security whose price decline is deemed other-than-temporary is written down to its then current market value with the amount of the impairment reported as a realized loss in that period. The impairment of a fixed maturity security that the Company has the intent to sell or that it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell is deemed other-than-temporary and is written down to its market value at the balance sheet date with the amount of the impairment reported as a realized loss in that period. For all other-than-temporarily impaired fixed maturity securities that do not meet either of these two criteria, the Company is required to analyze its ability to recover the amortized cost of the security by calculating the net present value of projected future cash flows. For these other-than-temporarily impaired fixed maturity securities, the net amount recognized in earnings is equal to the difference between the amortized cost of the fixed maturity security and its net present value.

The Company considers different factors to determine the amount of projected future cash flows and discounting methods for corporate debt and residential and commercial mortgage-backed or asset-backed securities. For corporate debt securities, the split between the credit and non-credit losses is driven principally by assumptions regarding the amount and timing of projected future cash flows. The net present value is calculated by discounting the Company’s best estimate of projected future cash flows at the effective interest rate implicit in the security at the date of acquisition. For residential and commercial mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, cash flow estimates, including prepayment assumptions, are based on data from widely accepted third-party data sources or internal estimates. In addition to prepayment assumptions, cash flow estimates vary based on assumptions regarding the underlying collateral including default rates, recoveries and changes in value. The net present value is calculated by discounting the Company’s best estimate of projected future cash flows at the effective interest rate implicit in the fixed maturity security prior to impairment at the balance sheet date. The discounted cash flows become the new amortized cost basis of the fixed maturity security.

In periods subsequent to the recognition of an other-than-temporary impairment, the Company generally accretes the discount (or amortizes the reduced premium) into net investment income, up to the non-discounted amount of projected future cash flows, resulting from the reduction in cost basis, based upon the amount and timing of the expected future cash flows over the estimated period of cash flows.

Realized gains and losses on sales of investments are recognized on the specific identification basis.

The investment category and duration of the Company’s gross unrealized losses on fixed maturity securities and equity securities at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 were as follows:


	September 30, 2010
	Less than 12 months					12 Months or More					Total
	Fair Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Value		Unrealized Losses
Fixed maturity securities:
United States Government and government agencies and authorities	$	20,991	$	(139	)	$	—	$	—		$	20,991	$	(139	)
States, municipalities and political subdivisions		5,596		(188	)		10,569		(170	)		16,165		(358	)
Foreign governments		23,883		(123	)		10,968		(610	)		34,851		(733	)
Residential mortgage-backed		91,819		(322	)		2,544		(129	)		94,363		(451	)
Corporate		153,430		(1,934	)		382,393		(28,821	)		535,823		(30,755	)

Total fixed maturity securities	$	295,719	$	(2,706	)	$	406,474	$	(29,730	)	$	702,193	$	(32,436	)

Equity securities:
Non-redeemable preferred stocks	$	39,949	$	(1,948	)	$	148,022	$	(13,581	)	$	187,971	$	(15,529	)

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)—(Continued)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)


	December 31, 2009
	Less than 12 Months					12 Months or More					Total
	Fair Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Value		Unrealized Losses
Fixed maturity securities:
United States Government and government agencies and authorities	$	9,625	$	(50	)	$	777	$	(23	)	$	10,402	$	(73	)
States, municipalities and political subdivisions		127,202		(3,974	)		17,571		(2,005	)		144,773		(5,979	)
Foreign governments		77,710		(2,172	)		17,445		(2,607	)		95,155		(4,779	)
Asset-backed		2,859		(43	)		9,312		(427	)		12,171		(470	)
Commercial mortgage-backed		34,805		(313	)		29,282		(1,149	)		64,087		(1,462	)
Residential mortgage-backed		116,771		(1,804	)		5,634		(790	)		122,405		(2,594	)
Corporate		764,708		(28,025	)		1,078,051		(99,973	)		1,842,759		(127,998	)

Total fixed maturity securities	$	1,133,680	$	(36,381	)	$	1,158,072	$	(106,974	)	$	2,291,752	$	(143,355	)

Equity securities:
Common stocks	$	98	$	(2	)	$	3,525	$	(1,247	)	$	3,623	$	(1,249	)
Non-redeemable preferred stocks		15,595		(248	)		214,928		(31,807	)		230,523		(32,055	)

Total equity securities	$	15,693	$	(250	)	$	218,453	$	(33,054	)	$	234,146	$	(33,304	)

Total gross unrealized losses represent less than 6% and 7% of the aggregate fair value of the related securities at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. Approximately 10% and 21% of these gross unrealized losses have been in a continuous loss position for less than twelve months at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. The total gross unrealized losses are comprised of 241 and 635 individual securities at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. In accordance with its policy described above, the Company concluded that for these securities an adjustment to its results of operations for other-than-temporary impairments of the gross unrealized losses was not warranted at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009. These conclusions are based on a detailed analysis of the underlying credit and expected cash flows of each security. As of September 30, 2010, the gross unrealized losses that have been in a continuous loss position for twelve months or more were concentrated in non-redeemable preferred stocks and in the financial, energy, and industrial sectors of the Company’s corporate fixed maturity securities. For these concentrations, gross unrealized losses of twelve months or more were $38,217, or 88%, of the total. The gross unrealized losses are primarily attributable to widening credit spreads associated with an underlying shift in overall credit risk premium. As of September 30, 2010, the Company did not intend to sell the securities and it was not more likely than not that the Company would be required to sell the securities before the anticipated recovery of their amortized cost basis.

Collateralized Transactions

The Company engages in transactions in which fixed maturity securities, especially bonds issued by the U.S. government, government agencies and authorities, and U.S. corporations, are loaned to selected broker/dealers. Collateral, greater than or equal to 102% of the fair value of the securities lent, plus accrued interest, is received in the form of cash and cash equivalents held by a custodian bank for the benefit of the Company. The use of cash collateral received is unrestricted. The Company reinvests the cash collateral received, generally in investments of high credit quality that are designated as available-for-sale under the debt and equity securities guidance. The Company monitors the fair value of securities loaned and the collateral received, with additional collateral obtained, as necessary. The Company is subject to the risk of loss to the extent there is a loss on the re-investment of cash collateral.

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)—(Continued)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

respectively. The difference between the collateral held and obligations under securities lending is recorded as an unrealized loss and is included as part of AOCI. All securities with unrealized losses have been in a continuous loss position for twelve months or longer as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009. The Company has actively reduced the size of its securities lending to mitigate counter-party exposure. The Company includes the available-for-sale investments purchased with the cash collateral in its evaluation of other-than-temporary impairments.

Cash proceeds that the Company receives as collateral for the securities it lends and subsequent repayment of the cash are regarded by the Company as cash flows from financing activities, since the cash received is considered a borrowing. Since the Company reinvests the cash collateral generally in investments that are designated as available-for-sale, the reinvestment is presented as cash flows from investing activities.

The Company also engages in transactions in which bonds issued by the U.S. government, government agencies and authorities, are purchased under agreements to resell (“reverse repurchase agreements”). The Company may take possession of the securities purchased under agreements to resell. Collateral, greater than or equal to 100% of the fair value of the securities purchased, plus accrued interest, is pledged in the form of cash and cash equivalents or other securities, as provided for in the underlying agreement to selected broker/dealers (“secured parties”). The use of the cash collateral pledged is unrestricted. Interest earned on the collateral pledged is recorded as investment income. We did not have any receivables under securities loan agreements as of September 30, 2010 or December 31, 2009.

The Company enters into these reverse repurchase agreements in order to initiate short positions in its investment portfolio. The borrowed securities are sold to a third party in the market place. The Company records obligations to return the securities that we no longer hold. The financial liabilities resulting from these borrowings are carried at fair value with the changes in value reported as realized gains or losses. We did not have any obligations to return borrowed securities as of September 30, 2010 or December 31, 2009.

Cash payments for the collateral pledged, subsequent cash adjustments to receivables under securities loan agreements and obligations to return borrowed securities, and the return of the cash collateral from the secured parties is regarded by the Company as cash flows from financing activities, since the cash payments and receipts relate to borrowing of securities under a financing arrangements.

5. Fair Value Disclosures

Fair Values, Inputs and Valuation Techniques for Financial Assets and Liabilities Disclosures

The fair value measurements and disclosures guidance defines fair value and establishes a framework for measuring fair value. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In accordance with this guidance, the Company has categorized its recurring basis financial assets and liabilities into a three-level fair value hierarchy based on the priority of the inputs to the valuation technique.

The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls has been determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and considers factors specific to the asset or liability.

The levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:

•

Level 1 inputs utilize quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access.

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)—(Continued)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

•

Level 2 inputs utilize other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset. Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar assets in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active and inputs other than quoted prices that are observable in the marketplace for the asset. The observable inputs are used in valuation models to calculate the fair value for the asset.

•

Level 3 inputs are unobservable but are significant to the fair value measurement for the asset, and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the asset. These inputs reflect management’s own assumptions about the assumptions a market participant would use in pricing the asset.

A review of fair value hierarchy classifications is conducted on a quarterly basis. Changes in the observability of valuation inputs may result in a reclassification of levels for certain securities within the fair value hierarchy.

The following tables present the Company’s fair value hierarchy for assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009. The amounts presented below for Collateral held under securities lending, Other investments, Cash equivalents, Other assets, Assets held in separate accounts and Other liabilities differ from the amounts presented in the consolidated balance sheets because only certain investments or certain assets and liabilities within these line items are measured at estimated fair value. Other investments and Other liabilities are comprised of investments in the Assurant Investment Plan, American Security Insurance Company Investment Plan, Assurant Deferred Compensation Plan and the related deferred compensation liability, respectively. Other investments also consist of investments associated with a modified coinsurance arrangement. The fair value amount and the majority of the associated levels presented for Other investments and Assets held in separate accounts are received directly from third parties.

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)—(Continued)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)


	September 30, 2010
Financial Assets	Total		Level 1			Level 2			Level 3
Fixed maturity securities:
United States Government and government agencies and authorities	$	177,390	$	—		$	148,740		$	28,650
State, municipalities and political subdivisions		911,042		—			911,042			—
Foreign governments		643,028		2,608			637,067			3,353
Asset-backed		46,756		—			46,756			—
Commercial mortgage-backed		113,373		—			108,564			4,809
Residential mortgage-backed		846,662		—			846,662			—
Corporate		8,084,944		—			7,956,724			128,220
Equity securities:
Common stocks		5,068		3,867			1,201			—
Non-redeemable preferred stocks		491,034		—			490,477			557
Short-term investments		452,008		341,949	b		110,059	c		—
Collateral held under securities lending		84,349		65,944	b		18,405	c		—
Other investments		258,887		51,154	a		203,816	c		3,917	c
Cash equivalents		913,971		880,767	b		33,204	c		—
Other assets		7,850		—			820			7,030	d
Assets held in separate accounts		1,823,764		1,595,360	a		228,404	c		—

Total financial assets	$	14,860,126	$	2,941,649		$	11,741,941		$	176,536


Financial Liabilities
Other liabilities	$	49,842	$	49,842		$	—		$	—

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)—(Continued)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)


	December 31, 2009
Financial Assets	Total		Level 1			Level 2			Level 3
Fixed maturity securities:
United States Government and government agencies and authorities	$	120,330	$	—		$	120,330		$	—
State, municipalities and political subdivisions		910,068		—			910,068			—
Foreign governments		558,463		3,337			552,038			3,088
Asset-backed		53,963		—			53,954			9
Commercial mortgage-backed		159,907		—			127,619			32,288
Residential mortgage-backed		712,003		—			712,003			—
Corporate		7,452,038		—			7,315,312			136,726
Equity securities:
Common stocks		4,529		3,525	a		1,004			—
Non-redeemable preferred stocks		508,458		—			502,723			5,735
Short-term investments		453,469		372,861	b		80,608	c		—
Collateral held under securities lending		143,129		78,025	b		65,104	c		—
Other investments		242,193		53,803	a		184,115	c		4,275	c
Cash equivalents		1,108,459		1,082,546	b		25,913	c		—
Other assets		14,344		—			334			14,010	d
Assets held in separate accounts		1,899,915		1,685,117	a		214,798	c		—

Total financial assets	$	14,341,268	$	3,279,214		$	10,865,923		$	196,131


Financial Liabilities
Other liabilities	$	51,410	$	51,410		$	—		$	—

^a.	Mainly includes mutual funds.

^b.	Mainly includes money market funds.

^c.	Mainly includes fixed maturity securities.

^d.	Mainly includes the Consumer Price Index Cap Derivatives (“CPI Caps”).

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)—(Continued)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

There were no significant transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 financial assets during the period. However, there were transfers between Level 2 and Level 3 financial assets during the period, which are reflected in the “Net transfers” line below. Transfers between Level 2 and Level 3 most commonly occur when market observable inputs that were previously available become unavailable in the current period. The remaining unpriced securities are submitted to independent brokers who provide non-binding broker quotes or are priced by other qualified sources.

The following tables summarize the change in balance sheet carrying value associated with Level 3 financial assets carried at fair value during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009:


	Three Months Ended September 30, 2010
	Total level 3 assets			Fixed Maturity Securities														Equity Securities
	Total level 3 assets			United States Government and government agencies and authorities			Foreign governments		Asset- backed			Commercial mortgage- backed			Corporate			Non- redeemable preferred stocks			Other Investments			Other Assets
Balance, beginning of period	$	180,234		$	17,215		$	3,131	$	9		$	9,997		$	119,149		$	18,807		$	4,207		$	7,719
Total gains (losses)(realized/unrealized) included in earnings		1,901			(159	)		—		(9	)		4			(21	)		2,639			—			(553	)
Net unrealized gains (losses) included in stockholders’ equity		2,505			(85	)		222		—			13			4,796			(2,417	)		(24	)		—
Purchases		12,881			12,812			—		—			—			—			—			69			—
Sales		(12,640	)		(1,133	)		—		—			(318	)		(4,996	)		(5,722	)		(335	)		(136	)
Net transfers (1)		(8,345	)		—			—		—			(4,887	)		9,292			(12,750	)		—			—

Balance, end of period	$	176,536		$	28,650		$	3,353	$	—		$	4,809		$	128,220		$	557		$	3,917		$	7,030


	Three Months Ended September 30, 2009
	Total level 3 assets			Fixed Maturity Securities												Equity Securities
	Total level 3 assets			Foreign governments			Asset- backed			Commercial mortgage- backed			Corporate			Non- redeemable preferred stocks		Other Investments			Other Assets
Balance, beginning of period	$	179,783		$	14,809		$	10		$	30,247		$	114,963		$	5,565	$	4,874		$	9,315
Total (losses) gains (realized/unrealized) included in earnings		(1,007	)		1,470			(1	)		16			(2,401	)		—		1			(92	)
Net unrealized gains (losses) included in stockholders’ equity		11,651			1,541			1			1,650			8,425			792		(758	)		—
Purchases		431			—			—			—			—			—		206			225
Sales		(18,632	)		(14,817	)		(1	)		(222	)		(3,035	)		—		(557	)		—
Net transfers (1)		(12,085	)		—			—			(1,760	)		(10,237	)		—		(88	)		—

Balance, end of period	$	160,141		$	3,003		$	9		$	29,931		$	107,715		$	6,357	$	3,678		$	9,448

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)—(Continued)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)


	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010
	Total level 3 assets			Fixed Maturity Securities														Equity Securities
	Total level 3 assets			United States Government and government agencies and authorities			Foreign governments		Asset- backed			Commercial mortgage- backed			Corporate			Non- redeemable preferred stocks			Other Investments			Other Assets
Balance, beginning of period	$	196,131		$	—		$	3,088	$	9		$	32,288		$	136,726		$	5,735		$	4,275		$	14,010
Total (losses) gains (realized/unrealized) included in earnings		(3,859	)		(487	)		1		(8	)		52			(233	)		2,639			4			(5,827	)
Net unrealized gains (losses) included in stockholders’ equity		9,267			(19	)		264		5			527			11,604			(3,350	)		236			—
Purchases		44,317			32,333			—		588			—			2,658			8,116			622			—
Sales		(59,917	)		(3,867	)		—		—			(22,147	)		(25,808	)		(5,722	)		(1,220	)		(1,153	)
Net transfers (1)		(9,403	)		690			—		(594	)		(5,911	)		3,273			(6,861	)		—			—

Balance, end of period	$	176,536		$	28,650		$	3,353	$	—		$	4,809		$	128,220		$	557		$	3,917		$	7,030


	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009
	Total level 3 assets			Fixed Maturity Securities												Equity Securities
	Total level 3 assets			Foreign governments			Asset- backed			Commercial mortgage- backed			Corporate			Non- redeemable preferred stocks			Other Investments			Other Assets
Balance, beginning of period	$	191,685		$	19,398		$	11		$	38,909		$	106,682		$	12,581		$	7,024		$	7,080
Total (losses) gains (realized/unrealized) included in earnings		(992	)		1,844			(1	)		26			(4,609	)		—			4			1,744
Net unrealized gains (losses) included in stockholders’ equity		21,594			(2,018	)		1			6,534			16,723			850			(496	)		—
Purchases		27,295			—			—			—			26,376			—			295			624
Sales		(33,020	)		(14,817	)		(2	)		(10,637	)		(5,463	)		—			(2,101	)		—
Net transfers (1)		(46,421	)		(1,404	)		—			(4,901	)		(31,994	)		(7,074	)		(1,048	)		—

Balance, end of period	$	160,141		$	3,003		$	9		$	29,931		$	107,715		$	6,357		$	3,678		$	9,448

(1)	Net transfers are primarily attributable to changes in the availability of market observable information and re-evaluation of the observability of pricing inputs.

Three different valuation techniques can be used in determining fair value for financial assets and liabilities: the market, income or cost approaches. The three valuation techniques described in the fair value measurements and disclosures guidance are consistent with generally accepted valuation methodologies. The market approach valuation techniques use prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities. When possible, quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets are used as of the period-end date (such as for mutual funds and money market funds). Otherwise, valuation techniques consistent with the market approach including matrix pricing and comparables are used. Matrix pricing is a mathematical technique employed principally to value debt securities without relying exclusively on quoted prices for those securities but rather by relying on the securities’ relationship to other benchmark quoted securities. Market approach valuation techniques often use market multiples derived from a set of comparables. Multiples might lie in ranges with a different multiple for each comparable. The selection of where within the range the appropriate multiple falls requires judgment, considering both qualitative and quantitative factors specific to the measurement.

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)—(Continued)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

Income approach valuation techniques convert future amounts, such as cash flows or earnings, to a single present amount, or a discounted amount. These techniques rely on current market expectations of future amounts as of the period-end date. Examples of income approach valuation techniques include present value techniques, option-pricing models, binomial or lattice models that incorporate present value techniques and the multi-period excess earnings method.

Cost approach valuation techniques are based upon the amount that would be required to replace the service capacity of an asset at the period-end date, or the current replacement cost. That is, from the perspective of a market participant (seller), the price that would be received for the asset is determined based on the cost to a market participant (buyer) to acquire or construct a substitute asset of comparable utility, adjusted for obsolescence.

While not all three approaches are applicable to all financial assets or liabilities, where appropriate, one or more valuation techniques may be used. For all the classes of financial assets and liabilities included in the above hierarchy, excluding the CPI Caps and certain privately placed corporate bonds, the market valuation technique is generally used. For certain privately placed corporate bonds and the CPI Caps, the income valuation technique is generally used. For the periods ended September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the application of the valuation technique applied to the Company’s classes of financial assets and liabilities has been consistent.

Level 2 securities are valued using various observable market inputs obtained from a pricing service. The pricing service prepares estimates of fair value measurements for our Level 2 securities using proprietary valuation models based on techniques such as matrix pricing which include observable market inputs. The fair value measurements and disclosures guidance, defines observable market inputs as the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. The extent of the use of each observable market input for a security depends on the type of security and the market conditions at the balance sheet date. Depending on the security, the priority of the use of observable market inputs may change as some observable market inputs may not be relevant or additional inputs may be necessary. The following observable market inputs (“standard inputs”), listed in the approximate order of priority, are utilized in the pricing evaluation of Level 2 securities: benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, bids, offers and reference data. To price municipal bonds, the pricing service uses material event notices and new issue data inputs in addition to the standard inputs. To price residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities and asset-backed securities, the pricing service uses vendor trading platform data, monthly payment information and collateral performance inputs in addition to the standard inputs. To price fixed maturity securities denominated in Canadian dollars, the pricing service uses observable inputs, including but not limited to, benchmark yields, reported trades, issuer spreads, benchmark securities and reference data. The pricing service also evaluates each security based on relevant market information including: relevant credit information, perceived market movements and sector news. Valuation models can change period to period, depending on the appropriate observable inputs that are available at the balance sheet date to price a security. When market observable inputs are unavailable to the pricing service, the remaining unpriced securities are submitted to independent brokers who provide non-binding broker quotes or are priced by other qualified sources and are categorized as Level 3 securities. The Company could not corroborate the non-binding broker quotes with Level 2 inputs.

A non-pricing service source prices certain privately placed corporate bonds using a model with observable inputs including, but not limited to, the credit rating, credit spreads, sector add-ons, and issuer specific add-ons. A non-pricing service source prices our CPI Caps using a model with inputs including, but not limited to, the time to expiration, the notional amount, the strike price, the forward rate, implied volatility and the discount rate.

Management evaluates the following factors in order to determine whether the market for a financial asset is inactive. The factors include, but are not limited to:

•

There are few recent transactions,

•

Little information is released publicly,

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)—(Continued)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

•

The available prices vary significantly over time or among market participants,

•

The prices are stale (i.e., not current), and

•

The magnitude of the bid-ask spread.

Illiquidity did not have a material impact in the fair value determination of the Company’s financial assets.

The Company generally obtains one price for each financial asset. The Company performs a monthly analysis to assess if the evaluated prices represent a reasonable estimate of their fair value. This process involves quantitative and qualitative analysis and is overseen by investment and accounting professionals. Examples of procedures performed include, but are not limited to, initial and on-going review of pricing service methodologies, review of the prices received from the pricing service, review of pricing statistics and trends, and comparison of prices for certain securities with two different appropriate price sources for reasonableness. Following this analysis, the Company generally uses the best estimate of fair value based upon all available inputs. On infrequent occasions, a non-pricing service source may be more familiar with the market activity for a particular security than the pricing service. In these cases the price used is taken from the non-pricing service source. The pricing service provides information to indicate which securities were priced using market observable inputs so that the Company can properly categorize our financial assets in the fair value hierarchy.

Disclosures for Non-Financial Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Non-Recurring Basis

The Company also measures the fair value of certain assets on a non-recurring basis, generally on an annual basis, or when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. These assets include commercial mortgage loans, goodwill and finite-lived intangible assets.

For the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company recorded an additional reserve of $9,000 and $15,772, respectively, on one individually impaired commercial mortgage loan. Due to the continued decline in the regional commercial real estate market during the quarter, the value of the loan was determined to be zero. The fair value measurement was classified as Level 3 (unobservable) inputs in the fair value hierarchy.

The Company utilizes both the income and market valuation approaches to estimate the fair value of its reporting units in Step 1 of the goodwill impairment test. Under the income approach, the Company determines the fair value of the reporting unit considering distributable earnings which were estimated from operating plans. The resulting cash flows are then discounted using a market participant weighted average cost of capital estimated for the reporting unit. After discounting the future discrete earnings to their present value, the Company estimates the terminal value attributable to the years beyond the discrete operating plan period. The discounted terminal value is then added to the aggregate discounted distributable earnings from the discrete operating plan period to estimate the fair value of the reporting unit. Under the market approach, the Company derives the fair value of the reporting unit based on various financial multiples, including but not limited to: price to tangible book value of equity, price to estimated 2010 earnings and price to estimated 2011 earnings which are estimated based on publicly available data related to comparable guideline companies. In addition, financial multiples are also estimated from publicly available purchase price data for acquisitions of companies operating in the insurance industry. The estimated fair value of the reporting units is more heavily weighted towards the income approach because the earnings capacity of a business is generally considered the most important factor in the valuation of a business enterprise.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments Disclosures

The financial instruments guidance requires disclosure of fair value information about financial instruments, as defined therein, for which it is practicable to estimate such fair value. Therefore, it requires fair value disclosure for financial instruments that are not recognized or are not carried at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets. However, this guidance excludes certain financial instruments, including those related to insurance contracts and those accounted for under the equity method and joint ventures guidance (such as real estate joint ventures).

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)—(Continued)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

For the financial instruments included within the following financial assets and financial liabilities, the carrying value in the consolidated balance sheets equals or approximates fair value. Please refer to the Fair Value Inputs and Valuation Techniques for Financial Assets and Liabilities Disclosures section above for more information on the financial instruments included within the following financial assets and financial liabilities and the methods and assumptions used to estimate fair value:

•

Cash and cash equivalents

•

Fixed maturity securities

•

Equity securities

•

Short-term investments

•

Other investments

•

Other assets

•

Assets held in separate accounts

•

Collateral held under securities lending

•

Other liabilities

•

Liabilities related to separate accounts

In estimating the fair value of the financial instruments that are not recognized or are not carried at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets, the Company used the following methods and assumptions:

Commercial mortgage loans and policy loans: the fair values of mortgage loans are estimated using discounted cash flow analyses, based on interest rates currently being offered for similar loans to borrowers with similar credit ratings. Mortgage loans with similar characteristics are aggregated for purposes of the calculations. The carrying value of policy loans reported in the balance sheets approximates fair value.

Policy reserves under investment products: the fair values for the Company’s policy reserves under the investment products are determined using discounted cash flow analysis.

Funds held under reinsurance: the carrying value reported approximates fair value due to the short maturity of the instruments.

Debt: the fair value of debt is based upon matrix pricing performed by the pricing service.

Mandatorily redeemable preferred stock: the fair value of mandatorily redeemable preferred stock equals the carrying value for all series of mandatorily redeemable preferred stock.

Obligations under securities lending: the obligations under securities lending are reported at the amount received from the selected broker/dealers.

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)—(Continued)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

The following table discloses the carrying value and fair value of the financial instruments that are not recognized or are not carried at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009.


	September 30, 2010				December 31, 2009
	Carrying Value		Fair Value		Carrying Value		Fair Value
Financial assets
Commercial mortgage loans on real estate	$	1,355,871	$	1,470,418	$	1,428,027	$	1,442,889
Policy loans		56,685		56,685		56,407		56,407
Financial liabilities
Policy reserves under investment products (Individual and group annuities, subject to discretionary withdrawal)	$	1,020,442	$	943,498	$	895,546	$	817,370
Funds held under reinsurance		66,614		66,614		67,700		67,700
Debt		972,137		1,029,356		972,058		942,938
Mandatorily redeemable preferred stocks		8,160		8,160		8,160		8,160
Obligations under securities lending		135,248		135,248		220,279		220,279

The fair value of the Company’s liabilities for insurance contracts, other than investment-type contracts, are not required to be disclosed. However, the fair values of liabilities under all insurance contracts are taken into consideration in the Company’s overall management of interest rate risk, such that the Company’s exposure to changing interest rates is minimized through the matching of investment maturities with amounts due under insurance contracts.

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)—(Continued)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

6. Income Taxes

As of December 31, 2009, the Company had a cumulative valuation allowance of $81,688 against deferred tax assets. During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company recognized income tax expense of $5,177 and an income tax benefit through accumulated other comprehensive income of $(412). The valuation allowance related to deferred tax assets was increased by $4,765 primarily due to foreign company net operating losses. It is management’s assessment that it is more likely than not that $86,453 of deferred tax assets will not be realized.

The Company’s ability to realize deferred tax assets depends on its ability to generate sufficient taxable income of the same character within the carryback or carryforward periods. In assessing future GAAP taxable income, the Company has considered all sources of taxable income available to realize its deferred tax asset, including the future reversal of existing temporary differences, future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences and carryforwards, taxable income in carryback years and tax-planning strategies. If changes occur in the assumptions underlying the Company’s tax planning strategies or in the scheduling of the reversal of the Company’s deferred tax assets, the valuation allowance may need to be adjusted in the future.

7. Debt

In February 2004, the Company issued two series of senior notes with an aggregate principal amount of $975,000 (the “Senior Notes”). The Company received net proceeds of $971,537 from this transaction, which represents the principal amount less the discount. The discount of $3,463 is being amortized over the life of the Senior Notes and is included as part of interest expense on the statement of operations. The first series is $500,000 in principal amount, bears interest at 5.63% per year and is payable in a single installment due February 15, 2014 and was issued at a 0.11% discount. The second series is $475,000 in principal amount, bears interest at 6.75% per year and is payable in a single installment due February 15, 2034 and was issued at a 0.61% discount.

The interest expense incurred related to the Senior Notes was $15,047 for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and $45,141 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. There was $7,523 of accrued interest at September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The Company made interest payments of $30,094 on February 15, 2010 and 2009 and August 15, 2010 and 2009.

Credit Facility

In March 2004 the Board authorized a $500,000 commercial paper program, to be used for working capital and other general corporate purposes. The Company’s commercial paper program requires the Company to maintain liquidity facilities either in an available amount equal to any outstanding notes from the commercial paper program or in an amount sufficient to maintain the ratings assigned to the notes issued from the commercial paper program. The Company’s subsidiaries do not maintain commercial paper or other borrowing facilities at their level. Prior to December 18, 2009 this program was backed up by a $500,000 senior revolving credit facility (“2004 Credit Facility”). This program is currently backed up by a $350,000 senior revolving credit facility, described below, of which $325,604 was available at September 30, 2010, due to outstanding letters of credit.

On December 18, 2009, the Company entered into a three-year unsecured revolving credit agreement (“2009 Credit Facility”) with a syndicate of banks arranged by JP Morgan Chase Bank, Inc. and Bank of America, Inc. The 2009 Credit Facility replaces the 2004 Credit Facility. The 2009 Credit Facility provides for revolving loans and the issuance of multi-bank, syndicated letters of credit and/or letters of credit from a sole issuing bank in an aggregate amount of $350,000 and is available until December 2012, provided the Company is in compliance with all covenants. The agreement has a sublimit for letters of credit issued under the agreement of $50,000. The proceeds of these loans may be used for the Company’s commercial paper program or for general corporate purposes.

The Company did not use the commercial paper program during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 and there were no amounts relating to the commercial paper program outstanding at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009. The Company did not borrow using the 2004 Credit Facility during the nine months ended September 30, 2009. The Company made no borrowings using the 2009 Credit Facility and no loans are outstanding at September 30, 2010. The Company does have $24,396 of letters of credit outstanding under the 2009 Credit Facility as of September 30, 2010.

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)—(Continued)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

The 2009 Credit Facility contains restrictive covenants. The terms of the 2009 Credit Facility also require that the Company maintain certain specified minimum ratios and thresholds. Among others, these covenants include maintaining a maximum debt to capitalization ratio and a minimum consolidated adjusted net worth. At September 30, 2010 the Company was in compliance with all covenants, minimum ratios and thresholds.

8. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

The components of accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, at September 30, 2010 are as follows:


	Foreign currency translation adjustment		Unrealized gains on securities		OTTI		Pension under- funding			Accumulated other comprehensive income
Balance at December 31, 2009	$	23,912	$	194,550	$	6,275	$	(158,812	)	$	65,925
Activity in 2010		2,585		433,770		5,205		7,186			448,746

Balance at September 30, 2010	$	26,497	$	628,320	$	11,480	$	(151,626	)	$	514,671

The amounts in the unrealized gains on securities column are net of reclassification adjustments of $23,820, net of tax, for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, for net realized gains (losses) on sales of securities included in net income. The amounts in the OTTI column are net of reclassification adjustments of $(1,310), net of tax, for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, for net realized gains (losses) on sales of securities included in net income.

9. Stock Based Compensation

Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan

In May 2008, the shareholders of the Company approved the Assurant, Inc. Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan (“ALTEIP”), which authorized the granting of up to 3,400,000 shares of the Company’s common stock to employees, officers and non-employee directors. In May 2010, the shareholders of the Company approved an amended and restated ALTEIP, increasing the number of shares of the Company’s common stock authorized for issuance to 5,300,000. Under the ALTEIP, the Company may grant awards based on shares of our common stock, including stock options, stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), restricted stock (including performance shares), unrestricted stock, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), performance share units (“PSUs”) and dividend equivalents. All future share-based grants will be awarded under the ALTEIP.

The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Compensation Committee”) awarded PSUs and RSUs in 2010 and 2009. RSUs and PSUs are promises to issue actual shares of common stock at the end of a vesting period or performance period. The RSUs granted to employees under the ALTEIP were based on salary grade and performance and will vest one-third each year over a three-year period. RSUs granted to non-employee directors also vest one-third each year over a three-year period. RSUs receive dividend equivalents in cash during the restricted period and do not have voting rights during the restricted period. PSUs accrue dividend equivalents during the performance period based on a target payout, and will be paid in cash at the end of the performance period based on the actual number of shares issued.

For the PSU portion of an award, the number of shares a participant will receive upon vesting is contingent upon the Company meeting certain pre-established performance goals, identified below, at the end of a three-year performance period. Performance will be measured against these to determine the number of shares a participant will receive. The payout levels can vary between 0% and 150% (maximum) of the target (100%) ALTEIP award amount based on the Company’s level of performance against the pre-established performance goals.

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)—(Continued)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

PSU Performance Goals. For 2009, the Compensation Committee established earnings per share (“EPS”) growth, revenue growth and total stockholder return as the three performance measures for PSU awards. EPS growth is defined as the year-over-year change in GAAP net income divided by average diluted shares outstanding. Revenue growth is defined as the year-over-year change in GAAP total revenues as disclosed in the Company’s annual statement of operations. Total stockholder’s return is defined as appreciation in Company stock plus dividend yield to stockholders. For 2010, in light of the significant volatility in EPS across the financial services sector, and in response to comments from our investors, the Committee decided to replace growth in EPS with growth in book value per diluted share (“BVPS”) excluding AOCI as a performance metric. BVPS growth is defined as year-over-year growth of the Company’s common equity divided by the period ending fully diluted total shares outstanding. The Company believes this change will provide a more consistent basis for comparing the Company’s long-term financial performance to that of our competitors. The other metrics (revenue growth and total stockholder return) remain the same for PSUs awarded in 2010. For the 2009-2011 performance cycle, the actual payout level is determined by ranking the average of the Company’s performance with respect to all three measures against the average performance of companies included in the A.M. Best Insurance Index. For the 2010-2012 performance cycle, payouts will be determined by measuring performance against the average performance of companies included in the A.M. Best Insurance Index, excluding those with revenues of less than $1,000,000 or that are not in the health or insurance Global Industry Classification Standard codes. The company believes that this change will enable us to more accurately benchmark our performance against the performance of companies of comparable size that operate one or more businesses similar to ours.

Under the ALTEIP, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) is authorized by the Board of Directors to grant common stock, restricted stock and RSUs to employees other than the executive officers of the Company (as defined in Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)). Restricted stock and RSUs granted under this program may have different vesting periods.

Restricted Stock Units

RSUs granted to employees and to non-employee directors were 21,425 and 18,096 for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and 549,732 and 772,900 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The compensation expense recorded related to RSUs was $3,699 and $2,323 for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and $10,091 and $4,768 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The related total income tax benefit was $1,294 and $813 for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and $3,532 and $1,669 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The weighted average grant date fair value for RSUs granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 was $33.42 and $20.60, respectively.

As of September 30, 2010, there was $15,667 of unrecognized compensation cost related to outstanding RSUs. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.4 years. No RSUs vested during the three months ended September 30, 2009. The total fair value of RSUs vested during the three months ended September 30, 2010 was $323 and $8,343 and $5 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Performance Share Units

No PSUs were granted during the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009. PSUs granted to employees were 439,934 and 631,066 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The compensation expense recorded related to PSUs was $3,206 for the three months ended September 30, 2010. No compensation expense was recorded for the three months ended September 30, 2009 because both the performance and market-based goals were below minimum payout threshold levels. The compensation expense recorded related to PSUs for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 was $7,541 and $31, respectively. A portion of the compensation expense recorded during 2009 was reversed during the first quarter of 2010, since the Company’s level of actual performance as measured against pre-established performance goals had declined. The related total income tax benefit was $1,122 for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and $2,639 and $11 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The weighted average grant date fair value for PSUs granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 was $33.12 and $16.32, respectively.

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)—(Continued)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

As of September 30, 2010, there was $12,840 of unrecognized compensation cost related to outstanding PSUs. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.57 years.

The fair value of PSUs with market conditions was estimated on the date of grant using a Monte Carlo simulation model, which utilizes multiple variables that determine the probability of satisfying the market condition stipulated in the award. Expected volatilities for awards issued during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 were based on the historical stock prices of the Company’s stock and peer insurance group. The expected term for grants issued during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 was assumed to equal the average of the vesting period of the PSUs. The risk-free rate was based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant.

Long-Term Incentive Plan

Prior to the approval of the ALTEIP, share based awards were granted under the 2004 Assurant Long-Term Incentive Plan (“ALTIP”), which authorized the granting of up to 10,000,000 new shares of the Company’s common stock to employees and officers under the ALTIP, Business Value Rights Program (“BVR”) and CEO Equity Grants Program. Under the ALTIP, the Company was authorized to grant restricted stock and SARs. Since May 2008, no new grants have been made under this plan.

Restricted stock granted under the ALTIP vests on a prorated basis over a three year period. SARs granted prior to 2007 under the ALTIP cliff vest as of December 31 of the second calendar year following the calendar year in which the right was granted, and have a five year contractual life. SARs granted in 2007 and through May 2008 cliff vest on the third anniversary from the date the award was granted, and have a five year contractual life. SARs granted under the BVR Program have a three-year cliff vesting period. Restricted stock granted under the CEO Equity Grants Program have variable vesting schedules.

Restricted Stock

There was no restricted stock granted during the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 or the nine months ended September 30, 2010. There were 10,900 restricted shares granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2009. The compensation expense recorded related to restricted stock was $317 and $998 for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and $1,426 and $3,579 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The related total income tax benefit recognized was $111 and $349 for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and $499 and $1,253 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The weighted average grant date fair value for restricted stock granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was $29.77.

As of September 30, 2010, there was $586 of unrecognized compensation cost related to outstanding restricted stock. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 0.6 years. The total fair value of restricted stock vested was $240 and $300 during the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and $2,330 and $2,210 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Stock Appreciation Rights

There were no SARs granted during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009. Currently there are no plans to award SARs in the future. The compensation expense recorded related to SARs was $1,273 and $2,693 for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and $5,518 and $7,538 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The related total income tax benefit was $445 and $943 for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and $1,931 and $2,638 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

The total intrinsic value of SARs exercised during the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 was $416 and $1, respectively, and $1,216 and $412 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. As of September 30, 2010, there was approximately $2,519 of unrecognized compensation cost related to outstanding SARs. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 0.45 years.

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)—(Continued)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

The fair value of each SAR granted to employees and officers was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Expected volatilities for awards issued were based on the median historical stock price volatility of insurance guideline companies and implied volatilities from traded options on the Company’s stock. The expected term for grants issued was assumed to equal the average of the vesting period of the SARs and the full contractual term of the SARs. The risk-free rate for periods within the contractual life of the option was based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. The dividend yield was based on the current annual dividend and share price as of the grant date.

Directors Compensation Plan

The Company’s Amended and Restated Directors Compensation Plan, as amended, permitted the issuance of up to 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock to non-employee directors. Since May 2008, all grants awarded to directors have been awarded from the ALTEIP, discussed above. There were no common shares issued or expense recorded under the Director’s Compensation Plan for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”), the Company is authorized to issue up to 5,000,000 new shares to employees who are participants in the ESPP. Eligible employees can purchase shares at a 10% discount applied to the lower of the closing price of the common stock on the first or last day of the offering period. The compensation expense recorded related to the ESPP was $397 and $46 for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and $1,310 and $2,089 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

In January 2010, the Company issued 181,718 shares to employees at a discounted price of $21.65 for the offering period of July 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009. In January 2009, the Company issued 133,994 shares to employees at a discounted price of $27.00 for the offering period of July 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008.

In July 2010, the Company issued 142,444 shares to employees at a discounted price of $27.14 for the offering period of January 1, 2010 through June 30, 2010. In July 2009, the Company issued 186,940 shares to employees at a discounted price of $21.68 for the offering period of January 1, 2009 through June 30, 2009.

The fair value of each award under the ESPP was estimated at the beginning of each offering period using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Expected volatilities are based on implied volatilities from traded options on the Company’s stock and the historical volatility of the Company’s stock. The risk-free rate for periods within the contractual life of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. The dividend yield is based on the current annualized dividend and share price as of the grant date.

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)—(Continued)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

10. Stock Repurchase

The following table shows the shares repurchased during the periods indicated:


Period in 2010	Number of Shares Purchased		Average Price Paid Per Share		Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Programs
January		—	$	—		—
February		1,304,915		30.46		1,304,915
March		2,121,554		32.73		2,121,554
April		1,783,816		35.07		1,783,816
May		1,982,400		35.44		1,982,400
June		2,300,000		35.78		2,300,000
July		1,185,000		36.19		1,185,000
August		52,000		38.11		52,000
September		—		—		—

Total		10,729,685	$	34.41		10,729,685

On November 10, 2006, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the Company to repurchase up to $600,000 of its outstanding common stock. On January 22, 2010, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the Company to repurchase up to an additional $600,000 of its outstanding common stock.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company repurchased 10,729,685 shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock at a cost of $369,159. As of September 30, 2010, there was $400,885 remaining under the total repurchase authorization.

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)—(Continued)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

11. Earnings Per Common Share

The following table presents net income, the weighted average common shares used in calculating basic earnings per common share (“EPS”) and those used in calculating diluted EPS for each period presented below.


	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2010			2009			2010			2009
Numerator
Net income	$	141,670		$	144,730		$	463,568		$	418,633
Deduct dividends paid		(17,238	)		(17,701	)		(52,702	)		(51,961	)

Undistributed earnings	$	124,432		$	127,029		$	410,866		$	366,672

Denominator
Weighted average shares outstanding used in basic earnings per share calculations		107,806,207			118,184,367			112,137,558			118,187,358
Incremental common shares from :
SARs		223,192			107,474			197,191			74,106
PSUs		554,883			—			456,374			—

Weighted average shares used in diluted earnings per share calculations		108,584,282			118,291,841			112,791,123			118,261,464

Earnings per common share - Basic
Distributed earnings	$	0.16		$	0.15		$	0.47		$	0.44
Undistributed earnings		1.15			1.07			3.66			3.10

Net income	$	1.31		$	1.22		$	4.13		$	3.54

Earnings per common share - Diluted
Distributed earnings	$	0.16		$	0.15		$	0.47		$	0.44
Undistributed earnings		1.14			1.07			3.64			3.10

Net income	$	1.30		$	1.22		$	4.11		$	3.54

Average SARs totaling 2,960,688 and 4,080,321 for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and 3,355,176 and 4,423,605 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, were outstanding but were anti-dilutive and thus not included in the computation of diluted EPS under the treasury stock method.

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)—(Continued)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

12. Retirement and Other Employee Benefits

The components of net periodic benefit cost for the Company’s qualified pension benefits plan, nonqualified pension benefits plan and retirement health benefits plan for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 were as follows:


	Qualified Pension Benefits						Nonqualified Pension Benefits (1)					Retirement Health Benefits
	For the Three Months Ended September 30,						For the Three Months Ended September 30,					For the Three Months Ended September 30,
	2010			2009			2010		2009			2010			2009
Service cost	$	7,956		$	6,609		$	741	$	468		$	1,328		$	1,110
Interest cost		8,438			7,562			1,523		1,552			1,353			1,081
Expected return on plan assets		(9,785	)		(8,804	)		—		—			(718	)		(547	)
Amortization of prior service cost		30			85			206		419			367			417
Amortization of net loss		2,702			3,689			751		658			—			50
Settlement gain		—			—			—		(610	)		—			—

Net periodic benefit cost	$	9,341		$	9,141		$	3,221	$	2,487		$	2,330		$	2,111


	Qualified Pension Benefits						Nonqualified Pension Benefits (1)					Retirement Health Benefits
	For the Nine Months Ended September 30,						For the Nine Months Ended September 30,					For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2010			2009			2010		2009			2010			2009
Service cost	$	20,406		$	17,509		$	1,841	$	1,568		$	3,228		$	2,460
Interest cost		24,188			22,262			4,623		4,752			3,653			3,181
Expected return on plan assets		(28,285	)		(26,404	)		—		—			(1,968	)		(1,497	)
Amortization of prior service cost		80			285			656		719			1,117			1,067
Amortization of net loss (gain) (2)		7,502			3,939			1,701		1,208			—			(50	)
Settlement gain		—			—			—		(1,159	)		—			—

Net periodic benefit cost	$	23,891		$	17,591		$	8,821	$	7,088		$	6,030		$	5,161

(1)	The Company’s nonqualified plan is unfunded.

(2)	Increase is due to a change in the discount rate assumption, which decreased to 5.94% in 2010 from 6.25% in 2009.

Our qualified pension benefits plan (“Plan”) was under-funded by $124,706 and $87,977 (based on the fair value of Plan assets compared to the projected benefit obligation) on a GAAP basis at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. This equates to an 81% and 84% funded status at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. The change in under-funded status is mainly due to a decrease in the discount rate used to determine the projected benefit obligation. During the first nine months of 2010, $30,000 in cash was contributed to the qualified pension benefits plan (“Plan”). An additional $10,000 in cash is expected to be contributed to the Plan over the remainder of 2010.

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)—(Continued)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

13. Segment Information

The Company has five reportable segments, which are defined based on the nature of the products and services offered: Assurant Solutions, Assurant Specialty Property, Assurant Health, Assurant Employee Benefits, and Corporate & Other. Assurant Solutions provides credit-related insurance, including life, disability and unemployment, debt protection administration services, warranties and service contracts, life insurance policies and annuity products that provide benefits to fund pre-arranged funerals. Assurant Specialty Property provides creditor-placed homeowners insurance and manufactured housing homeowners insurance. Assurant Health provides individual, short-term and small group health insurance. Assurant Employee Benefits provides employee and employer paid dental, disability, and life insurance products and related services. Corporate & Other includes activities of the holding company, financing and interest expenses, net realized gains (losses) on investments, interest income earned from short-term investments held and additional costs associated with excess of loss reinsurance programs reinsured and ceded to certain subsidiaries in the London market between 1995 and 1997. Corporate & Other also includes the amortization of deferred gains associated with the sales of Fortis Financial Group and Long-Term Care through reinsurance agreements.

The Company evaluates performance of the operating segments based on segment income (loss) after-tax excluding realized gains (losses) on investments. The Company determines reportable segments in a manner consistent with the way the Company organizes for purposes of making operating decisions and assessing performance.

The following tables summarize selected financial information by segment:


	Three Months Ended September 30, 2010
	Solutions		Specialty Property		Health		Employee Benefits		Corporate & Other			Consolidated
Revenues
Net earned premiums and other considerations	$	611,264	$	481,108	$	467,726	$	272,416	$	—		$	1,832,514
Net investment income		99,084		27,064		11,985		33,599		4,438			176,170
Net realized gains on investments		—		—		—		—		6,043			6,043
Amortization of deferred gain on disposal of businesses		—		—		—		—		6,024			6,024
Fees and other income		59,090		18,544		10,027		5,528		31			93,220

Total revenues		769,438		526,716		489,738		311,543		16,536			2,113,971

Benefits, losses and expenses
Policyholder benefits		223,597		165,977		334,216		189,463		—			913,253
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs and value of business acquired		276,816		90,931		714		8,389		—			376,850
Underwriting, general and administrative expenses		219,216		107,061		144,980		87,773		22,944			581,974
Interest expense		—		—		—		—		15,162			15,162

Total benefits, losses and expenses		719,629		363,969		479,910		285,625		38,106			1,887,239

Segment income (loss) before provision (benefit) for income tax		49,809		162,747		9,828		25,918		(21,570	)		226,732
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		17,476		56,094		4,488		8,986		(1,982	)		85,062

Segment income (loss) after tax	$	32,333	$	106,653	$	5,340	$	16,932	$	(19,588	)

Net income												$	141,670

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)—(Continued)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)


	Three Months Ended September 30, 2009
	Solutions		Specialty Property		Health			Employee Benefits		Corporate & Other			Consolidated
Revenues
Net earned premiums and other considerations	$	669,344	$	478,701	$	470,385		$	255,968	$	—		$	1,874,398
Net investment income		97,681		26,550		11,770			33,039		3,884			172,924
Net realized gains on investments		—		—		—			—		19,866			19,866
Amortization of deferred gain on disposal of businesses		—		—		—			—		6,802			6,802
Fees and other income		50,093		15,100		10,140			7,467		83			82,883

Total revenues		817,118		520,351		492,295			296,474		30,635			2,156,873

Benefits, losses and expenses
Policyholder benefits		248,933		156,076		353,412			182,632		92			941,145
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs and value of business acquired		290,200		88,973		1,428			9,781		—			390,382
Underwriting, general and administrative expenses		230,017		118,019		146,047			86,748		20,289			601,120
Interest expense		—		—		—			—		15,160			15,160

Total benefits, losses and expenses		769,150		363,068		500,887			279,161		35,541			1,947,807

Segment income (loss) before provision (benefit) for income tax		47,968		157,283		(8,592	)		17,313		(4,906	)		209,066
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		16,324		54,126		(3,745	)		5,863		(8,232	)		64,336

Segment income (loss) after tax	$	31,644	$	103,157	$	(4,847	)	$	11,450	$	3,326

Net income													$	144,730

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)—(Continued)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)


	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010
	Solutions		Specialty Property		Health		Employee Benefits		Corporate & Other			Consolidated
Revenues
Net earned premiums and other considerations	$	1,886,310	$	1,467,052	$	1,402,873	$	832,817	$	—		$	5,589,052
Net investment income		296,493		81,007		35,628		99,008		13,244			525,380
Net realized gains on investments		—		—		—		—		29,668			29,668
Amortization of deferred gain on disposal of businesses		—		—		—		—		18,129			18,129
Fees and other income		159,382		50,492		30,683		19,091		244			259,892

Total revenues		2,342,185		1,598,551		1,469,184		950,916		61,285			6,422,121

Benefits, losses and expenses
Policyholder benefits		680,004		503,716		980,623		584,260		(2,038	)		2,746,565
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs and value of business acquired		831,945		281,993		3,364		26,849		—			1,144,151
Underwriting, general and administrative expenses		678,349		312,862		424,250		269,902		72,004			1,757,367
Interest expense		—		—		—		—		45,484			45,484

Total benefits, losses and expenses		2,190,298		1,098,571		1,408,237		881,011		115,450			5,693,567

Segment income (loss) before provision (benefit) for income tax		151,887		499,980		60,947		69,905		(54,165	)		728,554
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		60,365		171,132		21,938		24,113		(12,562	)		264,986

Segment income (loss) after tax	$	91,522	$	328,848	$	39,009	$	45,792	$	(41,603	)

Net income												$	463,568


	As of September 30, 2010
Segment assets:
Segment assets, excluding goodwill	$	11,079,132	$	3,349,518	$	1,064,584	$	2,539,930	$	7,885,975		$	25,919,139

Goodwill													926,195

Total assets												$	26,845,334

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)—(Continued)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)


	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009
	Solutions		Specialty Property		Health			Employee Benefits		Corporate & Other			Consolidated
Revenues
Net earned premiums and other considerations	$	1,980,891	$	1,450,329	$	1,411,626		$	781,997	$	—		$	5,624,843
Net investment income		292,782		84,306		36,320			100,662		12,265			526,335
Net realized losses on investments		—		—		—			—		(41,965	)		(41,965	)
Amortization of deferred gain on disposal of businesses		—		—		—			—		20,354			20,354
Fees and other income		154,084		42,066		29,901			21,765		140,976			388,792

Total revenues		2,427,757		1,576,701		1,477,847			904,424		131,630			6,518,359

Benefits, losses and expenses
Policyholder benefits		782,280		502,043		1,033,016			568,130		5,420			2,890,889
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs and value of business acquired		864,295		276,253		7,260			28,861		—			1,176,669
Underwriting, general and administrative expenses		640,914		344,072		439,612			260,948		71,295			1,756,841
Interest expense		—		—		—			—		45,509			45,509

Total benefits, losses and expenses		2,287,489		1,122,368		1,479,888			857,939		122,224			5,869,908

Segment income (loss) before provision (benefit) for income tax		140,268		454,333		(2,041	)		46,485		9,406			648,451
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		50,419		155,280		(1,536	)		15,885		9,770			229,818

Segment income (loss) after tax	$	89,849	$	299,053	$	(505	)	$	30,600	$	(364	)

Net income													$	418,633


	As of December 31, 2009
Segment assets:
Segment assets, excluding goodwill	$	11,106,794	$	3,190,617	$	1,078,567		$	2,521,667	$	7,036,624		$	24,934,269

Goodwill														926,398

Total assets													$	25,860,667

14. Commitments and Contingencies

In the normal course of business, letters of credit are issued primarily to support reinsurance arrangements. These letters of credit are supported by commitments with financial institutions. The Company had $24,946 and $28,566 of letters of credit outstanding as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.

The Company is involved in litigation in the ordinary course of business, both as a defendant and as a plaintiff. The Company may from time to time be subject to a variety of legal and regulatory actions relating to the Company’s current and past business operations. While the Company cannot predict the outcome of any pending or future litigation, examination or investigation and although no assurances can be given, the Company does not believe that any pending matter will have a material adverse effect individually or in the aggregate, on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

As of December 31, 2009, the Company held litigation reserves of $51,952 as a result of unfavorable outcomes in two ordinary course claim-related lawsuits in its Assurant Health segment. During the second quarter of 2010, the Company paid a total of $25,350 to resolve both matters, and released the remaining reserves.

One of the Company’s subsidiaries, American Reliable Insurance Company (“ARIC”), participated in certain excess of loss reinsurance programs in the London market and, as a result, reinsured certain personal accident, ransom and kidnap insurance risks

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)—(Continued)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

from 1995 to 1997. ARIC and a foreign affiliate ceded a portion of these risks to retrocessionaires. ARIC ceased reinsuring such business in 1997. However, certain disputes arose regarding these programs. The disputes generally involved multiple layers of reinsurance, and allegations that the reinsurance programs involved interrelated claims “spirals” devised to disproportionately pass claims losses to higher-level reinsurance layers.

The companies involved in these programs, including ARIC, have resolved many of these disputes. The disputes involving ARIC and an affiliate, Assurant General Insurance Limited (formerly Bankers Insurance Company Limited) (“AGIL”), for the 1995 and 1996 program years, were the subject of working group settlements negotiated with other market participants. For the 1995 program year, the participants have negotiated a final commutation agreement that extinguishes any future liability between the participants. Negotiations are still ongoing or will be scheduled for the 1996 program year and the remaining programs.

The Company believes, on the basis of information currently available, that the existing loss accruals related to these programs are adequate. However, the inherent uncertainty of resolving these matters, including the uncertainty of estimating whether any settlements the Company may enter into in the future would be on favorable terms, makes it difficult to predict the outcomes with certainty.

As previously disclosed by the Company in its 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Company entered into a settlement on January 21, 2010 in connection with a complaint filed by the SEC regarding a finite reinsurance arrangement entered into by the Company. The Company consented, without admitting or denying the allegations in the complaint, to the entry of a judgment requiring payment of a civil penalty of $3,500, an expense that the Company accrued as of December 31, 2009, and a permanent injunction prohibiting the Company from violating certain provisions of the federal securities laws. The court approved the settlement in a final judgment entered on January 25, 2010, and the Company paid the penalty during the first quarter of 2010.

In the course of implementing procedures for compliance with the new mandatory reporting requirements under the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007, Assurant Health identified a possible ambiguity in the Medicare Secondary Payer Act and related regulations about which the Company has since had a meeting with representatives of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”). Assurant Health believes that its historical interpretation and application of such laws and regulations is correct and has requested that CMS issue a written determination to that effect. CMS has not made a determination. The Company does not believe that any loss relating to this issue is probable, nor can the Company make any estimate of any possible loss or range of possible loss associated with this issue.

15. Catastrophe Bond Program

On May 5, 2009, the Company announced the establishment of a multi-year catastrophe bond program to provide reinsurance protection for losses resulting from hurricanes. As part of the program, certain of the Company’s subsidiaries (the “Subsidiaries”) entered into two reinsurance agreements with Ibis Re Ltd., an independent special purpose reinsurance company domiciled in the Cayman Islands (“Ibis Re”). The Ibis Re agreements provide up to $150,000 of reinsurance coverage for protection against losses over a three-year period from individual hurricane events in Hawaii and along the Gulf and Eastern Coasts of the United States. The agreements expire in May 2012. Ibis Re financed the property catastrophe reinsurance coverage by issuing catastrophe bonds in an aggregate amount of $150,000 to unrelated investors (the “Series 2009-1 Notes”).

On April 27, 2010, the Subsidiaries entered into two additional reinsurance agreements with Ibis Re providing up to $150,000 of reinsurance coverage for protection against losses over a three-year period from individual hurricane events in Hawaii and along the Gulf and Eastern Coasts of the United States. The agreements expire in May 2013. Ibis Re financed the property catastrophe reinsurance coverage by issuing catastrophe bonds in an aggregate amount of $150,000 to unrelated investors (the “Series 2010-1 Notes”).

The $300,000 of fully collateralized hurricane coverage, purchased from Ibis Re provides per occurrence first event coverage as part of the Company’s catastrophe program. This $300,000 of coverage represents approximately 26.5% of the $1,130,000 of first event coverage (net of reimbursements of the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund) purchased by the Company in excess of the Company’s $155,000 retention. The coverage is expected to provide protection for a storm that generates in excess of approximately $450,000 of losses net of any reimbursements from the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund.

Assurant, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)—(Continued)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)

Under the terms of these reinsurance agreements, the Subsidiaries are obligated to pay annual reinsurance premiums to Ibis Re for the reinsurance coverage. The reinsurance agreements with Ibis Re utilize a dual trigger that is based upon an index that is created by applying predetermined percentages to insured industry losses in each state in the covered area as reported by an independent party and the Subsidiaries’ covered losses incurred. Reinsurance contracts that have a separate, pre-identified variable (e.g., a loss-based index) are accounted for as reinsurance if certain conditions are met. In the case of the reinsurance agreements with Ibis Re, these conditions were met, thus the Company accounted for them as reinsurance in accordance with the guidance for reinsurance contracts.

Amounts payable to the Subsidiaries under the reinsurance agreements will be determined by the index-based losses, which are designed to approximate the Subsidiaries’ actual losses from any covered event. The amount of actual losses and index losses from any covered event may differ. For each covered event, Ibis Re pays the Subsidiaries the lesser of the covered index-based losses or the Subsidiaries’ actual losses. The principal amount of the catastrophe bonds will be reduced by any amounts paid to the Subsidiaries under the reinsurance agreements. The Subsidiaries have not incurred any losses subject to the reinsurance agreements since their inception.

As with any reinsurance agreement, there is credit risk associated with collecting amounts due from reinsurers. In connection with the issuance of the Series 2009-1 Notes, Ibis Re set up two reinsurance trusts to hold certain investments to secure payments to the Subsidiaries under the reinsurance agreements and the repayment of principal to the bondholders, as applicable, and entered into two related total return swap agreements. Refer to the “Loss Protection and Capital Management” section included in Note 14 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 for further discussion.

With regard to the Series 2010-1 Notes, the credit risk is mitigated by two reinsurance trust accounts. Each reinsurance trust account has been funded by Ibis Re with money market funds that invest solely in direct government obligations backed by the U.S. government with maturities of no more than 13 months. The money market funds must have a principal stability rating of at least AAA by Standard & Poor’s.

At the time the agreements were entered into with Ibis Re, the Company evaluated the applicability of the accounting guidance that addresses variable interest entities (“VIEs”). Entities which do not have sufficient equity at risk to allow the entity to finance its activities without additional financial support or in which the equity investors, as a group, do not have the characteristic of a controlling financial interest are referred to as VIEs. A VIE is consolidated by the variable interest holder that is determined to have the controlling financial interest (primary beneficiary) as a result of having both the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses or right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The Company determines whether it is the primary beneficiary of an entity subject to consolidation based on a qualitative assessment of the VIE’s capital structure, contractual terms, nature of the VIE’s operations and purpose and the Company’s relative exposure to the related risks of the VIE on the date it becomes initially involved in the VIE. The Company reassesses its VIE determination with respect to an entity on an ongoing basis.

As a result of the evaluation of the reinsurance agreements with Ibis Re, the Company concluded that Ibis Re is a VIE. However, while Ibis Re is a VIE, the Company concluded that it does not have a significant variable interest in Ibis Re as the variability in Ibis Re’s results, caused by the reinsurance agreements, is expected to be absorbed entirely by the bondholders and the Company is not entitled to any residual amounts. Accordingly, the Company is not the primary beneficiary of Ibis Re and does not consolidate the entity in the Company’s financial statements.

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) addresses the financial condition of Assurant, Inc. and its subsidiaries (which we refer to collectively as “Assurant” or “the Company”) as of September 30, 2010, compared with December 31, 2009, and our results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009. This discussion should be read in conjunction with our MD&A and annual audited consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2009 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and the September 30, 2010 unaudited consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Form 10-Q. The 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Third Quarter 2010 Form 10-Q and other documents related to the Company are available free of charge through the SEC website at www.sec.gov and through our website at www.assurant.com.

Some of the statements included in this MD&A and elsewhere in this report, particularly those anticipating future financial 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 like “will,” “may,” “anticipates,” “should,” “expects,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “targets,” “forecasts,” “potential,” or other forms of those words or similar words. Our actual results might differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The 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 Affecting Results,” the following risk factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from those currently estimated by management: (i) the effects of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act as well as the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 and the rules and regulations thereunder (“Health Care Reform”) on our health and employee benefits businesses; (ii) factors, including the effects of Health Care Reform and the relationship between the Company’s market capitalization and its book value, that could result in a material impairment of goodwill on the company’s balance sheet; (iii) loss of significant 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 financial 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 affect 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, financial market and political conditions (including difficult conditions in financial, capital and credit markets, the global economic slowdown, fluctuations in interest rates, mortgage rates, monetary policies, unemployment and inflationary pressure); (xi) inadequacy of reserves established for future claims losses; (xii) failure to predict or manage benefits, claims and other costs; (xiii) increases or decreases in tax valuation allowances; (xiv) fluctuations in exchange rates and other risks related to our international operations; (xv) unavailability, inadequacy and unaffordable pricing of reinsurance coverage; (xvi) diminished value of invested assets in our investment portfolio (due to, among other things, volatility in financial 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 modified 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 effectively maintain and modernize our information systems; (xxi) failure to protect client information and privacy; (xxii) failure to find and integrate suitable acquisitions and new insurance ventures; (xxiii) inability of our subsidiaries to pay sufficient dividends; (xxiv) failure to provide for succession of senior management and key executives; and (xxv) significant competitive pressures in our businesses and (xxvi) cyclicality of the insurance industry. For a detailed discussion of the risk factors that could affect our actual results, please refer to the risk factors identified in our SEC reports, including, but not limited to, our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K and this Third Quarter 2010 Form 10-Q, as filed with the SEC.

Executive Summary

Assurant has five reportable segments. Our four operating segments are Assurant Solutions, Assurant Specialty Property, Assurant Health, and Assurant Employee Benefits. These operating segments partner with clients who are leaders in their industries in the United States of America (the “U.S.”) and select worldwide markets. The Assurant operating segments provide creditor-placed homeowners insurance, manufactured housing homeowners insurance, debt protection administration, credit-related insurance, warranties and service contracts, individual health and small employer group health insurance, group dental insurance, group disability insurance, group life insurance and pre-funded funeral insurance.

Our fifth segment, Corporate & Other, includes activities of the holding company, financing and interest expenses, net realized gains and losses on investments, interest income earned from short-term investments held and additional costs associated with excess of loss reinsurance programs reinsured and ceded to certain subsidiaries in the London market between 1995 and 1997. Corporate & Other also includes the amortization of deferred gains associated with the sales of Fortis Financial Group and Long-Term Care through reinsurance agreements.

The following discussion relates to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 (“Third Quarter 2010” and “Nine Months 2010,” respectively) and the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 (“Third Quarter 2009” and “Nine Months 2009,” respectively).

Results for Third Quarter 2010 and Nine Months 2010 improved over their comparable 2009 periods in all four operating segments. Our results demonstrate our ability to adapt our product offerings and manage expenses, while pursuing new sources of revenue growth to build a stronger foundation for long-term growth.

International results for Assurant Solutions improved, achieving a combined ratio of 104.1% during Third Quarter 2010, a 320 basis point improvement since Second Quarter 2010, and we expect continued improvement over the remainder of 2010. Because of the interaction of foreign and domestic tax rates, the effective tax rate for Assurant Solutions was lower than in the first two quarters of 2010. Our Preneed life insurance business also continues to produce strong results as net income and face sales both increased over the prior year period, primarily due to our partnership with Service Corporation International (“SCI”).

We expect our international credit insurance, worldwide extended service contracts, including wireless business, and Preneed businesses to drive future growth for Solutions. We expect that revenue growth generated from these businesses will help compensate for the decline in domestic credit business and the impact of domestic extended service contract clients in bankruptcy, such as Circuit City.

At Assurant Specialty Property, Third Quarter 2010 results were strong, aided by a mild hurricane season. New clients added during the past several quarters are adding to revenue, helping counter an expected decline in creditor-placed homeowners insurance over the long term.

Improved financial results at Assurant Health over the prior periods were primarily due to pricing actions and plan design changes that were implemented during the second half of 2009. However, Health Care Reform has begun to affect our results and may materially and adversely affect results over the remainder of 2010 and into 2011.

During Third Quarter 2010 we adapted to a changing healthcare market by modifying some products and discontinuing the sale of others, while reducing expenses. We also developed and introduced new products in mid-September that address our customers concerns about coverage and affordability.

We are in the early stages of repositioning our health business due to Health Care Reform. We have taken costs out of the business and will continue to drive for greater efficiency and effectiveness in our operations.

At Assurant Employee Benefits, results improved through continued focus on the small employer, pricing discipline and expense management. Operating results benefited from very favorable disability incidence rates, an improving dental product line and continued good mortality experience. However, we expect the long-term disability loss ratio to increase as disability experience begins to revert to more traditional levels and the current low interest rate environment requires higher reserves for new long-term disability claims. Conversely, we expect dental loss experience to improve, the business to continue benefiting from the expense reductions implemented earlier this year and premiums to increase when our small business customers start hiring again. In addition, Assurant Employee Benefits is focused on driving growth through worksite and disability products and Disability Reinsurance Management Service (“DRMS”), our alternative distribution channel.

We expect interest rates to rise from the current low interest rate environment, but the timing of such changes is uncertain. Similar to other insurance companies, we are experiencing reductions in investment income from declining yields. However, we believe our low turnover and longer duration investment strategy will moderate the pace of decline in overall portfolio yields due to lower reinvestment yields.

Continued low interest rates may have a material impact on the long-term disability reserve interest rate affecting Assurant Employee Benefits. Additionally, all of our segments are affected by the cost of our retirement benefit plans. Due to reductions in the pension liability discount rate used in valuing our plans, retirement benefit expenses will be $9,755 higher in 2010 than in 2009, with $4,566 of that increase expensed over the remainder of 2010. We expect further reductions in the discount rate next year, which will increase retirement benefit expense an additional $10,000 (approximately) in 2011.

During Third Quarter 2010 we repurchased 1,237,000 shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock for $44,866, bringing total 2010 repurchases to 10,730,000 shares or 9% of shares outstanding as of December 31, 2009. In addition, we paid shareholder dividends of $17,238 during Third Quarter 2010. During 2010, we have returned more than $420,000 of capital to shareholders through repurchases and dividend payments.

Critical Factors Affecting Results and Liquidity

Our results depend on the adequacy of our product pricing, underwriting and the accuracy of our methodology for the establishment of reserves for future policyholder benefits and claims, returns on and values of invested assets and our ability to manage our expenses. Therefore, factors affecting these items, including unemployment, difficult conditions in financial markets and the global economy, may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition. Similarly, the effects of proposed or recently passed government regulation, including Health Care Reform on our operations, sales and profitability are not yet known, but could materially and adversely affect our results of operations or financial condition. For more information on these factors, see “Item 1A—Risk Factors” and “Item 7—MD&A Critical Factors Affecting Results” in our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K, and “Item 1A-Risk Factors” in this report below.

In March 2010, President Obama signed into law the Health Care Reform, which represent significant changes to the current U.S. health care system. The legislation is far-reaching and is intended to expand access to health insurance coverage over time. The legislation includes a requirement that most individuals obtain health insurance coverage beginning in 2014 and that most large employers offer coverage to their employees or they will be required to pay a financial penalty. In addition, the new laws encompass certain new taxes and fees, including limitations on the amount of compensation that is tax deductible and new fees which may not be deductible for income tax purposes.

The legislation will also impose new requirements and restrictions, including, but not limited to, guaranteed coverage requirements, prohibitions on some annual and all lifetime limits on amounts paid on behalf of or to our members, increased restrictions on rescinding coverage, establishment of minimum medical loss ratio requirements, the establishment of state insurance exchanges and essential benefit packages and greater limitations on product pricing.

Although the National Association of Insurance Commissions has issued model regulations to implement the minimum medical loss ratio (“MLR”) and rebate provisions of Health Care Reform, certain issues remain to be fully resolved, including issues arising from possible further requests by state insurance commissioners for relief from the MLR and the response from the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) to such request.

During Second Quarter 2010, we completed an extensive review of our health business and considered a number of possible future strategies. Three critical themes emerged from our review: we believe we will have significant opportunities for us to sell individual medical insurance products, although the dynamics and characteristics of the post-reform market will be different; specialty expertise will still be required; and we believe that we can earn adequate profits in this business over the long-term, without making large commitments of capital. In order to do so, we will have to reduce operating and distribution costs and modify our product lines. Such changes are underway. We may refine our strategy as new regulations are issued or additional regulatory agency actions are taken in the wake of Health Care Reform. The full impact of Health Care Reform will not be known for many years. For more information, see “Item 1A—Risk Factors” and “Item 7—MD&A Critical Factors Affecting Results” in our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K, and “Item 1A-Risk Factors” in this report below.

Management believes the Company will have sufficient liquidity to satisfy its needs over the next twelve months including the ability to pay interest on our Senior Notes and dividends on our common shares.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, net cash provided by operating activities, including the effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents totaled $463,800; net cash used in investing activities totaled $100,488 and net cash used in financing activities totaled $513,557. We had $1,168,307 in cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2010. Please see “—Liquidity and Capital Resources,” below for further details.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K described the accounting policies and estimates that are critical to the understanding of our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity. The accounting policies and estimation process described in the 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K were consistently applied to the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.

In our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K, our accounting policy and estimation process for goodwill was disclosed. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets accounting guidance requires that goodwill be tested for impairment at the reporting unit level, which for the Company is our operating segments, on an annual basis or between annual tests if an event or circumstances would be reasonably likely to cause the fair value of the reporting unit to be below its carrying value. The term “reasonably likely” refers to an occurrence that is more than remote but less than probable in the judgment of Management. The Company performs its annual testing during the fourth quarter each year.

Calculating the fair value of any of the Company’s operating segments requires Management to use various assumptions and estimates, including but not limited to: forecasted segment operating revenues and underwriting profits, investment income and dividends, discount rates and exit multiples. If these assumptions and estimates change, an impairment charge may be required for some or all of the goodwill assigned to the operation segment. If an impairment charge is necessary, the non-cash charge may be material.

Health Care Reform could have a material impact on the valuation of the goodwill attributed to our Assurant Health segment. Certain transition issues have yet to be resolved, making even near-term projections difficult. For example, the 80% minimum medical loss ratio for individual markets is subject to adjustment by HHS, if HHS determines that the requirement is disruptive to the market for individual medical insurance in a state. As key provisions of the legislation are clarified and we are better able to estimate the impact on our results, we could conclude that our goodwill and other intangible assets are impaired. See “Item 1A – Risk Factors” for further details.

Assurant Consolidated

Overview

The table below presents information regarding our consolidated results of operations:


	For the Three Months Ended September 30,				For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2010		2009		2010		2009
Revenues:
Net earned premiums and other considerations	$	1,832,514	$	1,874,398	$	5,589,052	$	5,624,843
Net investment income		176,170		172,924		525,380		526,335
Net realized gains (losses) on investments		6,043		19,866		29,668		(41,965	)
Amortization of deferred gain on disposal of businesses		6,024		6,802		18,129		20,354
Fees and other income		93,220		82,883		259,892		388,792

Total revenues		2,113,971		2,156,873		6,422,121		6,518,359

Benefits, losses and expenses:
Policyholder benefits		913,253		941,145		2,746,565		2,890,889
Selling, underwriting and general expenses (1)		958,824		991,502		2,901,518		2,933,510
Interest expense		15,162		15,160		45,484		45,509

Total benefits, losses and expenses		1,887,239		1,947,807		5,693,567		5,869,908

Income before provision for income taxes		226,732		209,066		728,554		648,451
Provision for income taxes		85,062		64,336		264,986		229,818

Net income	$	141,670	$	144,730	$	463,568	$	418,633

(1)	Includes amortization of deferred acquisition costs (“DAC”) and value of business acquired (“VOBA”) and underwriting, general and administrative expenses.

The following discussion provides a general overall analysis of how the consolidated results were affected by our four operating segments and our Corporate and Other segment for Third Quarter 2010 and Nine Months 2010, and Third Quarter 2009 and Nine Months 2009. Please see the discussion that follows, for each of these segments, for a more detailed analysis of the fluctuations.

For The Three Months Ended September 30, 2010 Compared to The Three Months Ended September 30, 2009.

Net Income

The Company reported net income of $141,670 in Third Quarter 2010, a decrease of $3,060 or 2%, compared with $144,730 of net income for Third Quarter 2009. The decrease was primarily due to $8,985 (after-tax) of lower net realized gains on investments, primarily related to a $5,850 (after-tax) allowance on a commercial mortgage investment. In addition, the Third Quarter 2010 effective tax rate was 37.5% compared with 30.8% for Third Quarter 2009 reflecting changes in certain tax assets and liabilities during the periods. Partially offsetting the effect of these items were improved results in our Assurant Health and Assurant Employee Benefit segments.

For The Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 Compared to The Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009.

Net Income

Net income increased $44,935, or 11%, to $463,568 for Nine Months 2010 from $418,633 for Nine Months 2009. The increase was primarily due to a $46,561 (after-tax) improvement in net realized gains (losses) on investments and improved results in all four operating segments.

Assurant Solutions

Overview

The tables below present information regarding Assurant Solutions’ segment results of operations:


	For the Three Months Ended September 30,						For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2010			2009			2010			2009
Revenues:
Net earned premiums and other considerations	$	611,264		$	669,344		$	1,886,310		$	1,980,891
Net investment income		99,084			97,681			296,493			292,782
Fees and other income		59,090			50,093			159,382			154,084

Total revenues		769,438			817,118			2,342,185			2,427,757

Benefits, losses and expenses:
Policyholder benefits		223,597			248,933			680,004			782,280
Selling, underwriting and general expenses		496,032			520,217			1,510,294			1,505,209

Total benefits, losses and expenses		719,629			769,150			2,190,298			2,287,489

Segment income before provision for income taxes		49,809			47,968			151,887			140,268
Provision for income taxes		17,476			16,324			60,365			50,419

Segment net income	$	32,333		$	31,644		$	91,522		$	89,849

Net earned premiums and other considerations:
Domestic:
Credit	$	46,791		$	59,562		$	145,062		$	188,243
Service contracts		313,861			348,258			989,000			1,049,549
Other (1)		11,677			24,471			36,613			61,104

Total domestic		372,329			432,291			1,170,675			1,298,896

International:
Credit		87,901			80,743			258,000			234,751
Service contracts		116,049			108,458			342,513			293,641
Other (1)		4,217			4,025			13,584			11,792

Total international		208,167			193,226			614,097			540,184

Preneed		30,768			43,827			101,538			141,811

Total	$	611,264		$	669,344		$	1,886,310		$	1,980,891

Fees and other income:
Domestic:
Debt protection	$	7,541		$	10,541		$	25,611		$	30,044
Service contracts		29,216			23,384			79,881			74,161
Other (1)		2,127			4,443			6,790			13,983

Total domestic		38,884			38,368			112,282			118,188

International		7,561			7,400			20,876			20,802
Preneed		12,645			4,325			26,224			15,094

Total	$	59,090		$	50,093		$	159,382		$	154,084

Gross written premiums (2):
Domestic:
Credit	$	109,389		$	134,597		$	320,518		$	406,393
Service contracts		272,044			259,316			841,199			751,505
Other (1)		17,014			14,210			47,225			73,269

Total domestic		398,447			408,123			1,208,942			1,231,167

International:
Credit		238,510			221,581			725,390			590,565
Service contracts		129,984			118,256			361,392			323,820
Other (1)		5,159			7,652			16,705			19,773

Total international		373,653			347,489			1,103,487			934,158

Total	$	772,100		$	755,612		$	2,312,429		$	2,165,325

Preneed (face sales)	$	211,834		$	137,301		$	579,589		$	366,688

Combined ratios (3):
Domestic		99.8	%		98.2	%		97.9	%		98.1	%
International		104.1	%		108.8	%		106.3	%		109.3	%

(1)	This includes emerging products and run-off products lines.

(2)	Gross written premiums does not necessarily translate to an equal amount of subsequent net earned premiums since Assurant Solutions reinsures a portion of its premiums to insurance subsidiaries of its clients.

(3)	The combined ratio is equal to total benefits, losses and expenses divided by net earned premiums and other considerations and fees and other income excluding the preneed business.

For The Three Months Ended September 30, 2010 Compared to The Three Months Ended September 30, 2009.

Net Income

Segment net income increased $689, or 2%, to $32,333 for Third Quarter 2010 from $31,644 for Third Quarter 2009. The increase was primarily due to better international results driven by improved loss experience in our United Kingdom (“UK”) credit insurance business and the favorable impact of foreign exchange rates. These items were partially offset by less favorable loss experience in our domestic service contract business.

Total Revenues

Total revenues decreased $47,680, or 6%, to $769,438 for Third Quarter 2010 from $817,118 for Third Quarter 2009. The decrease was primarily due to lower net earned premiums of $58,080. Domestic extended service contract business declined as a result of the discontinuation of extended service contract sales from existing clients and former clients that have fallen into bankruptcy, primarily Circuit City in 2009. However, this decline was partially offset by business generated from new clients. Additionally, net earned premiums decreased due to the continued run-off of preneed policies sold before January 1, 2009 and our domestic credit insurance business. These decreases were partially offset by increases in our international business primarily in Canada and Latin America from both new and existing client growth in credit and service contract businesses and the favorable impact of foreign exchange rates. Fees and other income also grew due to favorable results in the preneed business. Net investment income increased $1,403 due to higher invested assets as well as the favorable impact of foreign exchange rates.

Gross written premiums increased $16,488, or 2%, to $772,100 for Third Quarter 2010 from $755,612 for Third Quarter 2009. This increase was driven by higher premiums from our international credit business of $16,929 due to growth across several countries from both new and existing clients and from the favorable impact of foreign exchange rates. Gross written premiums from our domestic service contract business increased $12,728, due to the addition of new clients and an increase in automobile service contracts purchased as auto sales increase. Gross written premiums from our international service contract business increased $11,728, attributable to favorable sales results at many of our existing clients and the favorable impact of foreign exchange rates. Gross written premiums from our domestic credit insurance business decreased $25,208, due to the continued runoff of this product line.

Preneed face sales increased $74,533 as consumers purchased policies in advance of a tax change in certain provinces of Canada. The remaining increase was due to growth from our exclusive distribution partnership with SCI and increased sales initiatives.

Total Benefits, Losses and Expenses

Total benefits, losses and expenses decreased $49,521, or 6%, to $719,629 for Third Quarter 2010 from $769,150 for Third Quarter 2009. Policyholder benefits decreased $25,336 primarily due to improved loss experience in our UK credit business, the run-off of preneed policies sold before January 1, 2009, and the continued run-off of our domestic credit business. These positive variances were partially offset by less favorable loss experience in our domestic service contract business resulting from an increase in the severity of claims within the consumer goods market. Selling, underwriting and general expenses decreased $24,185. Commissions, taxes, licenses and fees, of which amortization of DAC is a component, decreased $22,948 directly related to lower earnings in our domestic service contract business, partially offset by increased commissions due to higher earnings in our international business coupled with the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange rates. General expenses decreased $1,237 driven by cost savings realized as a result of restructuring efforts made during 2009. Despite this decrease, we expect to continue incurring startup costs as we grow the Solutions business and its distribution channels.

For The Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 Compared to The Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009.

Net Income

Segment net income increased $1,673, or 2%, to $91,522 for Nine Months 2010 from $89,849 for Nine Months 2009 primarily due to improved loss experience in our UK credit insurance business, favorable domestic service contract loss experience and impact of foreign exchange rates. In addition, Nine Months 2009 net income included a $2,400 (after-tax) restructuring charge. These items were partially offset by decreased underwriting results in our run-off businesses, a $4,558 (after-tax) change in the value of our consumer price index caps (derivative instruments that protect against inflation risk in our preneed product), and a higher effective tax rate. The higher effective tax rate was primarily caused by a $2,800 increase in a tax valuation allowance related to deferred tax assets stemming from our European business restructuring.

Total Revenues

Total revenues decreased $85,572, or 4%, to $2,342,185 for Nine Months 2010 from $2,427,757 for Nine Months 2009. The decrease was the result of lower net earned premiums of $94,581 primarily the result of lower earnings in our domestic service contract business resulting from reduced retail sales in prior periods from both existing clients and former clients that are no longer in business. Additionally, net earned premiums decreased due to the continued run-off of preneed policies sold before January 1, 2009; and the continued runoff of our domestic credit insurance business. These decreases were partially offset by an increase in our domestic service contract business resulting from the addition of new clients and increases in our international business from growth in both our credit and service contracts products and the favorable impact of foreign exchange rates. Fees and other income also increased as a result of increases in preneed business, partially offset by a decrease due to mark-to-market losses associated with our consumer price index caps (discussed above). Net investment income increased due to the favorable impact of foreign exchange rates.

Gross written premiums increased $147,104, or 7%, to $2,312,429 for Nine Months 2010 from $2,165,325 for Nine Months 2009. This increase was driven by higher international credit business of $134,825 due to growth across several countries from both new and existing clients and from the favorable impact of foreign exchange rates. Gross written premiums from our domestic service contract business increased $89,694 due to the addition of new clients and an increase in auto service contracts as auto sales increase. Also, gross written premiums increased $21,200 from a one-time First Quarter 2010 true-up of premiums reported by certain third parties in a timelier manner than in the past. This true-up had no effect on net earned premiums. Gross written premiums from our international service contract business increased $37,572, primarily due to favorable foreign exchange rates and growth from existing clients, partially offset by lower premiums in Denmark due to our decision to exit that market in 2009. Gross written premiums from our domestic credit insurance business decreased $85,875, due to the continued runoff of this product line. Other domestic gross written premiums decreased $26,044 mainly due to a one-time campaign with Ford Motor Company conducted and completed in Second Quarter 2009 for which earnings continued into future periods.

Preneed face sales increased $212,901 primarily from the result of increased consumer buying in advance of a less favorable consumer tax rate change in certain Canadian provinces, as well as growth from our exclusive distribution partnership with SCI and increased sales initiatives.

Total Benefits, Losses and Expenses

Total benefits, losses and expenses decreased $97,191, or 4%, to $2,190,298 for Nine Months 2010 from $2,287,489 for Nine Months 2009. Policyholder benefits decreased $102,276 primarily due to improved loss experience in our domestic service contract business from existing and run-off clients, the run-off of preneed policies sold before January 1, 2009, and the continued run-off of our domestic credit business. Selling, underwriting and general expenses increased $5,085. Commissions, taxes, licenses and fees, of which amortization of DAC is a component, decreased $1,440 due in part to lower earnings in our domestic service contract business, partially offset by increased commissions due to higher earnings in our international business coupled with the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange rates. General expenses increased $6,525 primarily due to the amortization of previously capitalized upfront client commission payments, as we continue to grow our international business and distribution channels, as well as the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange rates. Partially offsetting these increases is a restructuring charge of $3,700 in Nine Months 2009 and cost savings realized as a result of this restructuring in Nine Months 2010.

Assurant Specialty Property

Overview

The tables below present information regarding Assurant Specialty Property’s segment results of operations:


	For the Three Months Ended September 30,						For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2010			2009			2010			2009
Revenues:
Net earned premiums and other considerations	$	481,108		$	478,701		$	1,467,052		$	1,450,329
Net investment income		27,064			26,550			81,007			84,306
Fees and other income		18,544			15,100			50,492			42,066

Total revenues		526,716			520,351			1,598,551			1,576,701

Benefits, losses and expenses:
Policyholder benefits		165,977			156,076			503,716			502,043
Selling, underwriting and general expenses		197,992			206,992			594,855			620,325

Total benefits, losses and expenses		363,969			363,068			1,098,571			1,122,368

Segment income before provision for income taxes		162,747			157,283			499,980			454,333
Provision for income taxes		56,094			54,126			171,132			155,280

Segment net income	$	106,653		$	103,157		$	328,848		$	299,053

Net earned premiums and other considerations:
By major product groupings
Homeowners (creditor placed and voluntary)	$	330,375		$	333,068		$	1,010,519		$	1,017,853
Manufactured housing (creditor placed and voluntary)		54,120			54,347			165,306			165,351
Other (1)		96,613			91,286			291,227			267,125

Total	$	481,108		$	478,701		$	1,467,052		$	1,450,329

Ratios:
Loss ratio (2)		34.5	%		32.6	%		34.3	%		34.6	%
Expense ratio (3)		39.6	%		41.9	%		39.2	%		41.6	%
Combined ratio (4)		72.8	%		73.5	%		72.4	%		75.2	%

(1)	This primarily includes flood, miscellaneous specialty property and renters insurance products.

(2)	The loss ratio is equal to policyholder benefits divided by net earned premiums and other considerations.

(3)	The expense ratio is equal to selling, underwriting and general expenses divided by net earned premiums and other considerations and fees and other income.

(4)	The combined ratio is equal to total benefits, losses and expenses divided by net earned premiums and other considerations and fees and other income.

For The Three Months Ended September 30, 2010 Compared to The Three Months Ended September 30, 2009.

Net Income

Segment net income increased $3,496, or 3%, to $106,653 for Third Quarter 2010 from $103,157 for Third Quarter 2009 despite the non-recurrence of a $5,865 subrogation reimbursement in Third Quarter 2009. The improvement is primarily due to a $23,469 increase in creditor-placed homeowners gross earned premiums partially offset by the effect of changes in client contracts.

Total Revenues

Total revenues increased $6,365 or 1%, to $526,716 for Third Quarter 2010 from $520,351 for Third Quarter 2009. Growth in creditor-placed homeowners, creditor-placed flood and renters insurance net earned premiums and increased fee income were partially offset by increased ceded creditor-placed homeowners’ premiums and lower real estate owned premiums.

Total Benefits, Losses and Expenses

Total benefits, losses and expenses increased $901 or less than 1%, to $363,969 for Third Quarter 2010 from $363,068 for Third Quarter 2009. Policyholder benefits increased $9,901 primarily due to the non-recurrence of a $9,023 subrogation

reimbursement in Third Quarter 2009 related to the 2007 California Wild Fires. There were no reportable catastrophe losses in Third Quarter 2010 or 2009. Commissions, taxes, licenses and fees decreased $14,904, primarily due to client contract changes that resulted in lower commissions expenses. General expenses increased $5,904 primarily due to increased employee related expenses.

For The Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 Compared to The Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009.

Net Income

Segment net income increased $29,795, or 10%, to $328,848 for Nine Months 2010 from $299,053 for Nine Months 2009. The improvement is primarily due to a $50,939 increase in creditor-placed homeowners gross earned premiums partially offset by the effect of changes in client contracts.

Total Revenues

Total revenues increased $21,850 or 1%, to $1,598,551 for Nine Months 2010 from $1,576,701 for Nine Months 2009. Growth in creditor-placed homeowners, creditor-placed flood and renters net earned premiums and increased fee income were offset by increased ceded creditor-placed homeowners’ premiums and lower real estate owned premiums.

Total Benefits, Losses and Expenses

Total benefits, losses and expenses decreased $23,797 or 2%, to $1,098,571 for Nine Months 2010 from $1,122,368 for Nine Months 2009. The decrease was primarily due to a $25,470 decline in Nine Months 2010 selling, underwriting, and general expenses compared with Nine Months 2009 partially offset by increased policyholder benefits of $1,673. The overall loss ratio decreased 30 basis points primarily due to lower small-scale weather related losses partially offset by $7,670 of reportable catastrophe losses from the Tennessee storms and the non-recurrence of a $9,023 subrogation reimbursement in Third Quarter 2009 related to the 2007 California Wild Fires. There were no reportable catastrophe losses in Nine Months 2010. Commissions, taxes, licenses and fees decreased $26,914, primarily due to client contract changes that resulted in lower commission expenses and a release of a premium tax reserve. General expenses increased $1,444 primarily due to increased employee related expenses.

Assurant Health

Overview

The tables below present information regarding Assurant Health’s segment results of operations:


	For the Three Months Ended September 30,						For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2010			2009			2010			2009
Revenues:
Net earned premiums and other considerations	$	467,726		$	470,385		$	1,402,873		$	1,411,626
Net investment income		11,985			11,770			35,628			36,320
Fees and other income		10,027			10,140			30,683			29,901

Total revenues		489,738			492,295			1,469,184			1,477,847

Benefits, losses and expenses:
Policyholder benefits		334,216			353,412			980,623			1,033,016
Selling, underwriting and general expenses		145,694			147,475			427,614			446,872

Total benefits, losses and expenses		479,910			500,887			1,408,237			1,479,888

Segment income (loss) before provision (benefit) for income taxes		9,828			(8,592	)		60,947			(2,041	)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		4,488			(3,745	)		21,938			(1,536	)

Segment net income (loss)	$	5,340		$	(4,847	)	$	39,009		$	(505	)

Net earned premiums and other considerations:
Individual markets:
Individual medical	$	323,871		$	317,820		$	969,733		$	950,983
Short-term medical		22,131			27,278			65,683			79,930

Subtotal		346,002			345,098			1,035,416			1,030,913
Small employer group		121,724			125,287			367,457			380,713

Total	$	467,726		$	470,385		$	1,402,873		$	1,411,626

Membership by product line:
Individual markets:
Individual medical								538			568
Short-term medical								70			91

Subtotal								608			659
Small employer group:								113			122

Total								721			781

Ratios:
Loss ratio (1)		71.5	%		75.1	%		69.9	%		73.2	%
Expense ratio (2)		30.5	%		30.7	%		29.8	%		31.0	%
Combined ratio (3)		100.5	%		104.2	%		98.2	%		102.7	%

(1)	The loss ratio is equal to policyholder benefits divided by net earned premiums and other considerations.

(2)	The expense ratio is equal to selling, underwriting and general expenses divided by net earned premiums and other considerations and fees and other income.

(3)	The combined ratio is equal to total benefits, losses and expenses divided by net earned premiums and other considerations and fees and other income.

Health Care Reform

In March 2010, President Obama signed Health Care Reform into law. Provisions of Health Care Reform have and will become effective at various dates over the next several years. As discussed above in “Critical Factors Affecting Results and Liquidity”, during Second Quarter 2010, management completed an extensive review of the Assurant Health segment and considered a number of possible strategies. On the basis of this review, management believes that opportunities continue to exist in the individual medical marketplace and has started to consider the modifications necessary to operate in the new environment. However, the HHS has yet to issue final regulations with respect to Health Care Reform. As a result, the exact impact of Health Care

Reform is not yet fully known. Given the sweeping nature of the changes represented by Health Care Reform, our results of operations and financial position, including our ability to maintain the value of our goodwill and other intangible assets, could be materially adversely affected.

For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2010 Compared to The Three Months Ended September 30, 2009.

Net Income

Segment results increased $10,187, or 210%, to net income of $5,340 for Third Quarter 2010 from a net loss of $(4,847) for Third Quarter 2009. The increase is primarily attributable to corrective pricing actions and plan design changes taken previously, a $8,125 (after-tax) claim-related lawsuit charge recognized in Third Quarter 2009, and reduced expenses associated with expense management initiatives. These increase were partially offset by a restructuring charge in Third Quarter 2010 of $4,969 (after-tax) and increased income tax expense in Third Quarter 2010 due to certain limitations on the deductibility of employee compensation caused by Health Care Reform. A further reduction in force charge of $1,300 (after-tax) is expected in Fourth Quarter 2010.

Total Revenues

Total revenues decreased $2,557, or less than 1%, to $489,738 for Third Quarter 2010 from $492,295 for Third Quarter 2009. Net earned premiums and other considerations from our individual medical business increased $6,051, or 2%, due to premium rate increases, partially offset by lower sales of new policies. Net earned premiums and other considerations from our small employer group business decreased $3,563, or 3%, due to a continued high level of policy lapses, partially offset by premium rate increases. In addition, short-term medical net earned premiums and other considerations decreased $5,147 due to a reduction in policies sold, partially offset by premium rate increases. Sales during Third Quarter 2010 were adversely affected due to modifications of our product portfolio to comply with Health Care Reform. Certain products were discontinued while some products were replaced to address the affordability concerns of consumers. Sales of these new products began in mid-September. Sales over the remainder of 2010 may be lower than our prior levels as consumer uncertainty lingers related to Health Care Reform.

Total Benefits, Losses and Expenses

Total benefits, losses and expenses decreased $20,977, or 4%, to $479,910 for Third Quarter 2010 from $500,887 for Third Quarter 2009. Policyholder benefits decreased $19,196, or 5%, and the benefit loss ratio decreased to 71.5% from 75.1%. The decrease in the benefit loss ratio was primarily attributable to corrective pricing actions and plan design changes taken previously and a $12,500 claim-related lawsuit charge in Third Quarter 2009. Selling, underwriting and general expenses decreased $1,781, or 1%, primarily due to reduced employee-related and advertising expenses, lower amortization of deferred acquisition costs, and reduced commissions based on lower sales of new policies. A restructuring charge of $7,644 in Third Quarter 2010 was the result of expense management initiatives taken to transition the business for the post-healthcare reform environment.

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 Compared to The Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009.

Net Income

Segment results increased $39,514, to net income of $39,009 for Nine Months 2010 from a net loss of $(505) for Nine Months 2009. The increase is primarily attributable to corrective pricing actions and plan design changes that began in late 2009, favorable claim reserve development, a $17,421 (after-tax) benefit from a reserve decrease due to a legal settlement, and reduced expenses associated with expense management initiatives, partially offset by a restructuring charge of $4,969 (after-tax) in Nine Months 2010. Nine Months 2009 also included a charge of $8,125 (after-tax) relating to an unfavorable ruling by the South Carolina Supreme Court in a claim-related lawsuit.

Total Revenues

Total revenues decreased $8,663, or 1%, to $1,469,184 for Nine Months 2010 from $1,477,847 for Nine Months 2009. Net earned premiums and other considerations from our individual medical business increased $18,750, or 2%, due to premium rate increases, partially offset by declining members resulting from a continued high level of policy lapses and lower sales. Net earned premiums and other considerations from our small employer group business decreased $13,256, or 3%, due to a continued high level of policy lapses, partially offset by premium rate increases. In addition, short-term medical net earned premiums and other considerations decreased $14,247 due to a reduction in policies sold, partially offset by premium rate increases.

Total Benefits, Losses and Expenses

Total benefits, losses and expenses decreased $71,651, or 5%, to $1,408,237 for Nine Months 2010 from $1,479,888 for Nine Months 2009. Policyholder benefits decreased $52,393, or 5%, and the benefit loss ratio decreased to 69.9% from 73.2%. The decrease in the benefit loss ratio was primarily due to a $26, 802 benefit from a reserve decrease due to a legal settlement and favorable claim reserve development during Nine Months 2010 compared to last year, partially offset by higher estimated claim experience in small employer group business. Nine Months 2009 also included a charge of $12,500 relating to an unfavorable ruling by the South Carolina Supreme Court in a claim-related lawsuit. Selling, underwriting and general expenses decreased $19,258, or 4%, primarily due to reduced employee-related and advertising expenses, lower amortization of deferred acquisition costs, and reduced commissions based on lower sales of new policies. A Third Quarter 2010 restructuring charge of $7,644 was the result of expense management initiatives to help transition the business for the post-healthcare reform environment.

Assurant Employee Benefits

Overview

The tables below present information regarding Assurant Employee Benefits’ segment results of operations:


	For the Three Months Ended September 30,						For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2010			2009			2010			2009
Revenues:
Net earned premiums and other considerations	$	272,416		$	255,968		$	832,817		$	781,997
Net investment income		33,599			33,039			99,008			100,662
Fees and other income		5,528			7,467			19,091			21,765

Total revenues		311,543			296,474			950,916			904,424

Benefits, losses and expenses:
Policyholder benefits		189,463			182,632			584,260			568,130
Selling, underwriting and general expenses		96,162			96,529			296,751			289,809

Total benefits, losses and expenses		285,625			279,161			881,011			857,939

Segment income before provision for income taxes		25,918			17,313			69,905			46,485
Provision for income taxes		8,986			5,863			24,113			15,885

Segment net income	$	16,932		$	11,450		$	45,792		$	30,600

Net earned premiums and other considerations:
By major product grouping:
Group dental	$	103,786		$	105,507		$	316,145		$	316,378
Group disability		120,562			103,460			372,369			321,659
Group life		48,068			47,001			144,303			143,960

Total	$	272,416		$	255,968		$	832,817		$	781,997

Ratios:
Loss ratio (1)		69.5	%		71.3	%		70.2	%		72.7	%
Expense ratio (2)		34.6	%		36.6	%		34.8	%		36.1	%

(1)	The loss ratio is equal to policyholder benefits divided by net earned premiums and other considerations.

(2)	The expense ratio is equal to selling, underwriting and general expenses divided by net earned premiums and other considerations and fees and other income.

For The Three Months Ended September 30, 2010 Compared to The Three Months Ended September 30, 2009.

Net Income

Segment net income increased 48% to $16,932 for Third Quarter 2010 from $11,450 for Third Quarter 2009. Results for the Third Quarter 2010 improved primarily due to extremely favorable long-term disability incidence and improved dental results compared with Third Quarter 2009.

Total Revenues

Total revenues increased 5% to $311,543 for Third Quarter 2010 from $296,474 for Third Quarter 2009. Third Quarter 2010 net earned premiums increased 6% or $16,448 driven by the addition of two new DRMS clients and the acquisition of a block of business from Shenandoah Life Insurance company (“Shenandoah”) both in Fourth Quarter 2009. Partially offsetting these additions is the continuation of a challenging sales environment as small groups employers wait for more clarity around Health Care Reform before making changes to their benefit offerings.

Total Benefits, Losses and Expenses

Total benefits, losses and expenses increased 2% to $285,625 for Third Quarter 2010 from $279,161 for Third Quarter 2009. The loss ratio decreased to 69.5% from 71.3%, primarily driven by favorable direct disability, life, and dental loss experience. DRMS assumed disability business loss experience was less favorable when compared with Third Quarter 2009.

The expense ratio decreased to 34.6% from 36.6% primarily due to higher net earned premiums and our focus on expense management, partially offset by increased costs from growth initiatives.

The low interest rate environment will continue to pressure investment income. As a result, we expect to lower the reserve interest rate assumption for new long-term disability claims beginning 2011.

For The Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 Compared to The Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009.

Net Income

Segment net income increased 50% to $45,792 for Nine Months 2010 from $30,600 for Nine Months 2009. The increase in net income was primarily attributable to favorable direct disability, life, and dental loss experience offset by higher general expenses and lower net investment income. General expenses for Nine Months 2010 include restructuring costs of $4,349 (after-tax) compared to $1,469 (after-tax) in Nine Months 2009.

Total Revenues

Total revenues increased 5% to $950,916 for Nine Months 2010 from $904,424 for Nine Months 2009. Net earned premiums increased 7% or $50,820, driven by assumed premium from two new clients in our DRMS channel and the Shenandoah block of business acquisition, all added in Fourth Quarter 2009. This was partially offset by decreases in our direct products as a result of a challenging sales environment which continues to impact revenue growth. Net investment income decreased 2% or $1,654 due to a decrease in average invested assets and lower investment yields.

Total Benefits, Losses and Expenses

Total benefits, losses and expenses increased 3% to $881,011 for Nine Months 2010 from $857,939 for Nine Months 2009. The loss ratio decreased to 70.2% from 72.7%, primarily driven by favorable loss experience across the direct disability, life, and dental products. Disability incidence and life mortality levels continue to be very favorable compared to prior year.

The expense ratio decreased to 34.8% from 36.1% driven by higher net earned premiums and expense management initiatives partially offset by restructuring costs. Nine Months 2010 includes $6,690 in restructuring costs compared to $2,260 in Nine Months 2009. Excluding the restructuring costs in both years, the expense ratio decreased to 34.0% for Nine Months 2010 from 35.8% for Nine Months 2009.

Assurant Corporate & Other

The table below presents information regarding the Corporate & Other segment’s results of operations:


	For the Three Months Ended September 30,						For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2010			2009			2010			2009
Revenues:
Net investment income	$	4,438		$	3,884		$	13,244		$	12,265
Net realized gains (losses) on investments		6,043			19,866			29,668			(41,965	)
Amortization of deferred gain on disposal of business		6,024			6,802			18,129			20,354
Fees and other income		31			83			244			140,976

Total revenues		16,536			30,635			61,285			131,630

Benefits, losses and expenses:
Policyholder benefits		—			92			(2,038	)		5,420
Selling, underwriting and general expenses		22,944			20,289			72,004			71,295
Interest expense		15,162			15,160			45,484			45,509

Total benefits, losses and expenses		38,106			35,541			115,450			122,224

Segment (loss) income before (benefit) provision for income taxes		(21,570	)		(4,906	)		(54,165	)		9,406
(Benefit) provision for income taxes		(1,982	)		(8,232	)		(12,562	)		9,770

Segment net (loss) income	$	(19,588	)	$	3,326		$	(41,603	)	$	(364	)

For The Three Months Ended September 30, 2010 Compared to The Three Months Ended September 30, 2009.

Net (Loss) Income

Segment results decreased $22,914, or 689%, to a net loss of $(19,588) for Third Quarter 2010 compared with net income of $3,326 for Third Quarter 2009. The decrease is primarily attributable to a $8,985 (after-tax) decline in net realized gains on investments, changes in certain tax related assets and liabilities and compensation and pension-related costs.

Total Revenues

Total revenues decreased $14,099, or 46%, to $16,536 for Third Quarter 2010 compared with $30,635 for Third Quarter 2009. This decrease in revenues was primarily the result of lower net realized gains on investments of $13,823. This decrease in revenues was primarily the result of lower net realized gains on investments of $13,823 primarily attributable to a $9,000 reserve increase on a commercial mortgage loan investment recorded during Third Quarter 2010.

Total Benefits, Losses and Expenses

Total expenses increased $2,565, or 7%, to $38,106 for Third Quarter 2010 compared with $35,541 for Third Quarter 2009. This increase is mainly due to increased compensation and pension-related costs, partially offset by decreased consulting and legal expenses. Please see “—Liquidity and Capital Resources” below for further information on our benefit plans.

For The Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 Compared to The Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009.

Net Loss

Segment net loss deteriorated $41,239, to $(41,603) for Nine Months compared with $(364) for Nine Months 2009. Segment net loss increased mainly due to a favorable legal settlement of $84,996 (after-tax) in Nine Months 2009. This item was partially offset by $46,561 (after-tax) improvement in net realized gains on investments.

Total Revenues

Total revenues decreased $70,345, or 53%, to $61,285 for Nine Months 2010 compared with $131,630 for Nine Months 2009. The decrease in revenues is mainly due to a favorable legal settlement of $139,000 in Nine Months 2009. This decrease was partially offset by a $71,633 improvement in net realized gains on investments.

Total Benefits, Losses and Expenses

Total expenses decreased $6,774, to $115,450 in Nine Months 2010 compared with $122,224 in Nine Months 2009. The decrease in expenses is mainly due to $8,237 of attorney fees and allowances for related recoverables attributable to the favorable legal settlement and additional compensation related expenses of $7,000 incurred in Nine Months 2009. These increases were partially offset by $4,537 of restructuring charges and compensation and pension-related costs in Nine Months 2010.

Investments

The Company had total investments of $13,900,126 and $13,157,832 as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. For more information on our investments see Note 4 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this report.

The following table shows the credit quality of our fixed maturity securities portfolio as of the dates indicated:


	As of
Fixed Maturity Securities by Credit Quality (Fair Value)	September 30, 2010				December 31, 2009
Aaa / Aa / A	$	6,619,971	61.2	%	$	6,152,842	61.8	%
Baa		3,309,157	30.6	%		2,953,964	29.6	%
Ba		658,234	6.1	%		647,321	6.5	%
B and lower		235,833	2.1	%		212,645	2.1	%

Total	$	10,823,195	100.0	%	$	9,966,772	100.0	%

Major categories of net investment income were as follows:


	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2010			2009			2010			2009
Fixed maturity securities	$	143,412		$	139,803		$	429,949		$	418,343
Equity securities		8,350			9,683			25,901			29,069
Commercial mortgage loans on real estate		21,381			22,983			64,990			70,085
Policy loans		886			860			2,340			2,451
Short-term investments		1,614			2,445			3,812			6,703
Other investments		5,254			3,192			13,778			13,202
Cash and cash equivalents		1,502			802			3,898			6,962

Total investment income		182,399			179,768			544,668			546,815
Investment expenses		(6,229	)		(6,844	)		(19,288	)		(20,480	)

Net investment income	$	176,170		$	172,924		$	525,380		$	526,335

Net investment income increased $3,246, or 1.9%, to $176,170 for Third Quarter 2010 from $172,924 for Third Quarter 2009. Net investment income decreased $955, or 0.2%, to $525,380 for Nine Months 2010 from $526,335 for Nine Months 2009. Lower investment yields in 2010 and changes in average invested asset balance were the primary reason for the period to period investment income fluctuations.

The credit markets improved throughout the first nine months of 2010. As a result, many securities in the portfolio have shown improved market values throughout the period. This has led to our net unrealized gain position growing to $943,937 as of September 30, 2010, from $281,327 as of December 31, 2009.

As of September 30, 2010, the Company owned $184,736 of securities guaranteed by financial guarantee insurance companies. Included in this amount was $162,930 of municipal securities, whose credit rating was AA- both with and without the guarantee.

The Company has exposure to sub-prime and related mortgages within our fixed maturity security portfolio. At September 30, 2010 approximately 2.1% of our residential mortgage-backed holdings had exposure to sub-prime mortgage collateral. This represented approximately 0.2% of the total fixed income portfolio and 0.4% of the total unrealized gain position. Of the securities with sub-prime exposure, approximately 29% are rated as investment grade. All residential mortgage-backed securities, including those with sub-prime exposure, are reviewed as part of the ongoing other-than-temporary impairment monitoring process.

Securities Lending and Borrowing

The Company engages in transactions in which fixed maturity securities, especially bonds issued by the U.S. government, government agencies and authorities, and U.S. corporations, are loaned to selected broker/dealers. Collateral, greater than or equal to 102% of the fair value of the securities lent, plus accrued interest, is received in the form of cash and cash equivalents held by a custodian bank for the benefit of the Company. The use of cash collateral received is unrestricted. The Company reinvests the cash collateral received, generally in investments of high credit quality that are designated as available-for-sale. The Company monitors the fair value of securities loaned and the collateral received, with additional collateral obtained, as necessary. The Company is subject to the risk of loss to the extent there is a loss on the re-investment of cash collateral.

As of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, our collateral held under securities lending, of which its use is unrestricted, was $134,348 and $218,129, respectively, while our liability to the borrower for collateral received was $135,248 and $220,279, respectively. The difference between the collateral held and obligations under securities lending is recorded as an unrealized loss and is included as part of AOCI.

During Third Quarter 2010, the Company began engaging in and plans to continue engaging in transactions in which securities issued by the U.S. government, government agencies and authorities, are purchased under agreements to resell (“reverse repurchase agreements”). The Company may take possession of the securities purchased under reverse repurchase agreements. Collateral, greater than or equal to 100% of the fair value of the securities purchased, plus accrued interest, is pledged in the form of cash and cash equivalents or other securities, as provided for in the underlying agreement to selected broker/dealers. The use of the cash collateral pledged is unrestricted. Interest earned on the collateral pledged is recorded as investment income. As of September 30, 2010, we had no receivables under securities loan agreements.

The Company enters into these reverse repurchase agreements in order to initiate short positions in its investment portfolio. The borrowed securities are sold in the market place. The Company records obligations to return the securities that we no longer hold as a liability. The financial liabilities resulting from these borrowings are carried at fair value with the changes in value reported as realized gains or losses. As of September 30, 2010, we had no obligations to return borrowed securities.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Regulatory Requirements

Assurant, Inc. is a holding company, and as such, has limited direct operations of its own. Our holding company’s assets consist primarily of the capital stock of our subsidiaries. Accordingly, our future cash flows depend upon the availability of dividends and other statutorily permissible payments from our subsidiaries, such as payments under our tax allocation agreement and under management agreements with our subsidiaries. The ability to pay such dividends and to make such other payments will be limited by applicable laws and regulations of the states in which our subsidiaries are domiciled, which subject our subsidiaries to significant regulatory restrictions. The dividend requirements and regulations vary from state to state and by type of insurance provided by the applicable subsidiary. These laws and regulations require, among other things, our insurance subsidiaries to maintain minimum solvency requirements and limit the amount of dividends these subsidiaries can pay to the holding company. Along with solvency regulations, the primary driver in determining the amount of capital used for dividends is the level of capital needed to maintain desired financial strength ratings from A.M. Best. Given recent economic events that have affected the insurance industry, both regulators and rating agencies could become more conservative in their methodology and criteria, including increasing capital requirements for our insurance subsidiaries which, in turn, could negatively affect our capital resources. For 2010, the maximum amount of distributions our U.S. domiciled insurance subsidiaries could pay, under applicable laws and regulations without prior regulatory approval, is approximately $526,515. During 2010, we began a two-year project to streamline and restructure the Assurant Solutions organization which we anticipated, in conjunction with other capital savings initiatives, would free up $75,000 to $150,000 of capital which can be distributed to the holding company. During Nine Months 2010, Assurant Solutions was able to distribute approximately $92,000 of the $150,000 identified to the holding company. In total, we have taken dividends, net of infusions, of $462,949 from our operating companies through Nine Months 2010.

Rating organizations periodically review the financial strength of insurers, including our insurance subsidiaries. If our ratings are lowered from their current levels by A.M. Best, Moody’s or S&P, our competitive position in the respective insurance industry segments could be materially adversely impacted and it could be more difficult for us to sell our products.

Liquidity

As of September 30, 2010 we had approximately $710,000 in capital at the holding company. Factoring in the $250,000 capital buffer, we had approximately $460,000 in deployable capital. Dividends or returns of capital paid by our subsidiaries were $516,849 and $703,099 for Nine Months 2010 and the year ended December 31, 2009, respectively. We use these cash inflows primarily to pay expenses, to make interest payments on indebtedness, to make dividend payments to our stockholders, to make subsidiary capital contributions, to fund acquisitions and to repurchase our outstanding shares.

In addition to paying expenses and making interest payments on indebtedness, our capital management strategy provides for several uses for the cash generated by our subsidiaries, including without limitation, returning capital to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends; investing in our businesses to support growth in targeted areas; and making prudent and opportunistic acquisitions.

The primary sources of funds for our subsidiaries consist of premiums and fees collected, the proceeds from the sales and maturity of investments and net investment income. Cash is primarily used to pay insurance claims, agent commissions, operating expenses and taxes. We generally invest our subsidiaries’ excess funds in order to generate investment income.

Generally, our subsidiaries’ premiums, fees and investment income, along with planned asset sales and maturities, provide sufficient cash to pay claims and expenses. However, there are instances when unexpected cash needs arise in excess of that available from usual operating sources. In such instances, we have several options to raise needed funds, including selling assets from the subsidiaries’ investment portfolios, using holding company cash (if available), issuing commercial paper, or drawing funds from our revolving credit facility. In addition, we have filed an automatically effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC. This registration statement allows us to issue equity, debt or other types of securities through one or more methods of distribution. The terms of any offering would be established at the time of the offering, subject to market conditions. If we decide to make an offering of securities, we will consider the nature of the cash requirement as well as the cost of capital in determining what type of securities we may offer.

We paid dividends to our stockholders of $0.16 per common share on September 14, 2010 and June 8, 2010, and $0.15 per common share on March 8, 2010. Any determination to pay future dividends will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will be dependent upon: our subsidiaries’ payment of dividends and/or other statutorily permissible payments to us; our results of operations and cash flows; our financial position and capital requirements; general business conditions; any legal, tax, regulatory and contractual restrictions on the payment of dividends; and any other factors our Board of Directors deems relevant.

On January 22, 2010, our Board of Directors authorized an additional $600,000 for the repurchase of Assurant’s outstanding common stock, bringing the total repurchase authorization, as of that date, to $770,044 for use in the open market and/or for private transactions. During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company repurchased 10,729,685 shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock at a cost of $369,159. As of September 30, 2010, there was $400,885 remaining under the total repurchase authorization. The timing and the amount of future repurchases will depend on market conditions and other factors.

Management believes the Company will have sufficient liquidity to satisfy its needs over the next twelve months, including the ability to pay interest on our Senior Notes and dividends on our common shares.

Retirement and Other Employee Benefits

In prior years we established a funding policy in which service cost plus 15% of qualified plan deficit will be contributed annually. During Nine Months 2010, we contributed $30,000 in cash to the Plan. We expect to contribute an additional $10,000 in cash to the Plan over the remainder of 2010.

Commercial Paper Program

available amount equal to any outstanding notes from the commercial paper program or in an amount sufficient to maintain the ratings assigned to the notes issued from the commercial paper program. The Company’s subsidiaries do not maintain commercial paper or other borrowing facilities at their level. Prior to December 18, 2009 this program was backed up by a $500,000 senior revolving credit facility (“2004 Credit Facility”). This program is currently backed up by a $350,000 senior revolving credit facility, described below, of which $325,604 was available at September 30, 2010, due to outstanding letters of credit.

On December 18, 2009, the Company entered into a three-year unsecured revolving credit agreement (“2009 Credit Facility”) with a syndicate of banks arranged by JP Morgan Chase Bank, Inc. and Bank of America, Inc. The 2009 Credit Facility replaced the 2004 Credit Facility. The 2009 Credit Facility provides for revolving loans and the issuance of multi-bank, syndicated letters of credit and/or letters of credit from a sole issuing bank in an aggregate amount of $350,000 and is available until December 2012, provided the Company is in compliance with all covenants. The agreement has a sublimit for letters of credit issued under the agreement of $50,000. The proceeds of these loans may be used for the Company’s commercial paper program or for general corporate purposes.

The Company did not use the commercial paper program during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, and there were no amounts relating to the commercial paper program outstanding at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009. The Company did not borrow using the 2004 Credit Facility during the nine months ended September 30, 2009. The Company made no borrowings using the 2009 Credit Facility and no loans are outstanding at September 30, 2010. The Company does have letters of credit outstanding of $24,396 under the 2009 Credit Facility as of September 30, 2010.

The 2009 Credit Facility contains restrictive covenants. The terms of the 2009 Credit Facility also require that the Company maintain certain specified minimum ratios and thresholds. Among others, these covenants include maintaining a maximum debt to capitalization ratio and a minimum consolidated adjusted net worth. At September 30, 2010, we were in compliance with all covenants, minimum ratios and thresholds, and there have been no material changes to the financial ratios presented in our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Senior Notes

We have two series of senior notes outstanding in an aggregate principal amount of $975,000 (the “Senior Notes”). The first series is $500,000 in principal amount, bears interest at 5.625% per year and is due February 15, 2014. The second series is $475,000 in principal amount, bears interest at 6.750% per year and is due February 15, 2034.

Interest on our Senior Notes is payable semi-annually on February 15 and August 15 of each year. The interest expense incurred related to the Senior Notes was $15,047 for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and $45,141 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. There was $7,523 of accrued interest at September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The Senior Notes are unsecured obligations and rank equally with all of our other senior unsecured indebtedness. The Senior Notes are not redeemable prior to maturity.

Our Senior Notes are rated by A.M. Best, Moody’s and S&P. During Third Quarter 2010, Moody’s lowered the senior debt rating of Assurant, Inc. See “Item 1A—Risk Factors” elsewhere in this report for more information.

Cash Flows

We monitor cash flows at the consolidated, holding company and subsidiary levels. Cash flow forecasts at the consolidated and subsidiary levels are provided on a monthly basis, and we use trend and variance analyses to project future cash needs making adjustments to the forecasts when needed.

The table below shows our recent consolidated net cash flows:


	For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
Net cash provided by (used in):	2010			2009
Operating activities (1)	$	463,800		$	220,919
Investment activities		(100,488	)		122,087
Financing activities		(513,557	)		(147,839	)

Net change in cash	$	(150,245	)	$	195,167

(1)	Includes effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $463,800 and $220,919 for Nine Months 2010 and Nine Months 2009, respectively. The increased operating activity cash flow was primarily due to an increase in gross written premiums in our Assurant Solutions and Assurant Specialty Property segments.

Net cash used in investing activities was $100,488 and net cash provided by investing activities was $122,087 for Nine Months 2010 and Nine Months 2009, respectively. The increase in investing activities was mainly due to an increase in purchases of fixed maturity securities and changes in our short-term investments.

Net cash used in financing activities was $513,557 and $147,839 for Nine Months 2010 and Nine Months 2009, respectively. The increase in financing activities was primarily due to increased repurchase of our common stock and changes in our obligation under securities lending.

The table below shows our cash outflows for interest and dividends for the periods indicated:


	For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2010		2009
Interest paid on mandatorily redeemable preferred stock and debt	$	60,451	$	60,481
Common stock dividends		52,702		51,961

Total	$	113,153	$	112,442

Letters of Credit

In the normal course of business, we issue letters of credit primarily to support reinsurance arrangements. These letters of credit are supported by commitments with financial institutions. We had $24,946 and $28,566 of letters of credit outstanding as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

For a discussion of recent accounting pronouncements see Note 3 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

Our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K described our Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk. There were no material changes to the assumptions or risks during the nine months ended September 30, 2010.

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) as of September 30, 2010. Based on that review, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to provide reasonable assurance that information the Company is required to disclose in its reports under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported accurately including, without limitation, ensuring that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Internal Control over Financial Reporting

During the quarter ending September 30, 2010, we have made no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II

OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings.

The Company is involved in litigation in the ordinary course of business, both as a defendant and as a plaintiff. See Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a description of certain matters. The Company may from time to time be subject to a variety of legal and regulatory actions relating to our current and past business operations. While the Company cannot predict the outcome of any pending or future litigation, examination or investigation and although no assurances can be given, the Company does not believe that any pending matter will have a material adverse effect individually or in the aggregate, on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

As previously disclosed by the Company in its 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Company entered into a settlement with the SEC on January 21, 2010 in connection with a complaint filed by the SEC regarding a finite reinsurance arrangement entered into by the Company. The Company consented, without admitting or denying the allegations in the complaint, to the entry of a judgment requiring payment of a civil penalty of $3,500 and permanently enjoining the Company from violating certain provisions of the federal securities laws. The court approved the settlement in a final judgment entered on January 25, 2010, and the Company paid the penalty during the first quarter of 2010.

Item 1A.

Risk Factors.

Certain factors may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and you should carefully consider them. It is not possible to predict or identify all such factors. For discussion of our potential risks or uncertainties, please refer to “Item 1A—Risk Factors” included in our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Except as set forth in the additional risk factors below, there have been no material changes during Third Quarter 2010 to the risk factors disclosed in our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Recently enacted legislation reforming the U.S. health care system may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

In March 2010, President Obama signed Health Care Reform into law. Provisions of Health Care Reform and related reforms have and will become effective at various dates over the next several years and will make sweeping and fundamental changes to the U.S. health care system that are expected to significantly affect the health insurance industry. We are in the process of evaluating the effects of Health Care Reform and specific federal and state rules and regulations that have been and will be promulgated thereunder on our health and employee benefits insurance businesses, as well as the overall market for individual and small group health insurance, disability and dental insurance. We cannot predict or quantify the precise effects of Health Care Reform on our business, but they will include, in particular, a requirement that the loss ratios for some of our product lines be no less than 80%, or that we rebate the difference to consumers; the need to reduce commissions, and the consequent risk that insurance producers may sell less of our products than they have in the past; as well as changes in the benefits provided under some of our products; limits on lifetime and annual benefit maximums; a prohibition from imposing any pre-existing condition exclusion as it applies to enrollees under the age of 19 who apply for coverage; limits on our ability to rescind coverage for persons who have misrepresented or omitted material information when they applied for coverage and, after January 1, 2014, elimination of our ability to underwrite health insurance products with certain narrow exceptions; a requirement to offer coverage to any person who applies for such coverage; increased costs to modify and/or sell our products; intensified competitive pressures that limit our ability to increase rates due to state insurance exchanges; significant risk of customer loss; new and higher taxes and fees; and the need to operate with a lower expense structure at both the business segment and enterprise level. Additionally, certain limitations on the deductibility of employee compensation due to Health Care Reform may affect the deductibility of certain payments made to employees and service providers by various Assurant entities in amounts that have not been determined.

Health Care Reform, among other factors, may materially affect the future profitability of our business and lead to a material impairment of goodwill on the Company’s balance sheet. Generally, management evaluates whether goodwill is impaired by comparing the estimated fair value of each reporting unit to its carrying value. The estimated fair value of each reporting unit is developed using certain assumptions and estimates that could change once the impact of Health Care Reform becomes clearer. Management may conclude that goodwill (and other intangible assets) is impaired in future quarters in any of our segments. For more information, see “Item 7—MD&A—Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” in this report and in our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

A.M. Best, Moody’s, and S&P rate the financial strength of our insurance company subsidiaries, and a decline in these ratings could affect our standing in the insurance industry and cause our sales and earnings to decrease.

Ratings are an important factor in establishing the competitive position of insurance companies. A.M. Best rates most of our domestic operating insurance subsidiaries. Moody’s rates six of our domestic operating insurance subsidiaries and S&P rates seven of our domestic operating insurance subsidiaries. These ratings are not recommendations to buy, sell or hold our securities. These ratings are subject to periodic review by A.M. Best, Moody’s, and S&P, and we cannot assure that we will be able to retain them. In 2009 for example, S&P lowered its counterparty credit and financial strength ratings of two of our life insurance subsidiaries from A to BBB+ due to the recent operating performance of Assurant Health. In addition, S&P lowered its counterparty credit rating of Assurant, Inc. from BBB+ to BBB, citing reduced earnings diversification, and placed a negative outlook on all Assurant ratings due to pressures on our various businesses from the economic climate. Additionally, during the third quarter of 2010, Moody’s lowered the financial strength rating of four of our insurance subsidiaries that write business for the Health, Employee Benefits and Solutions businesses from A2 to A3 and lowered the senior debt rating of Assurant, Inc. from Baa1 to Baa2, citing uncertainty surrounding the viability of the Company’s core health insurance products in the current environment as the reason. We believe that because of recent economic developments that have negatively affected the entire insurance industry, we are more susceptible to ratings downgrades than in prior years.

If our ratings are lowered from their current levels by A.M. Best, Moody’s, or S&P, our competitive position in the respective insurance industry segments could be materially adversely impacted and it could be more difficult for us to market our products. Rating agencies may take action to lower our ratings in the future due to concerns regarding, among other things, our liquidity or solvency, the competitive environment, the adequacy of our reserves, the outcome of pending litigation or regulatory investigations. They may also change their methodology or requirements for determining ratings, or they may become more conservative in assigning ratings. Ratings agencies or regulators could also increase capital requirements for the Company or its subsidiaries.

Since customers and their advisors place importance on our financial strength ratings, we may lose customers and compete less successfully if we are downgraded. In addition, ratings impact our ability to attract investment capital on favorable terms. If our financial strength ratings are reduced from their current levels by A.M. Best, Moody’s, or S&P, our cost of borrowing would likely increase, our sales and earnings could decrease and our results of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

As of September 30, 2010, contracts representing approximately 15% of Assurant Solutions’ and 24% of Assurant Specialty Property’s net earned premiums and fee income contain provisions requiring the applicable subsidiaries to maintain minimum A.M. Best financial strength ratings ranging from “A” or better to “B” or better, depending on the contract. Our clients may terminate these contracts or fail to renew them if the subsidiaries’ ratings fall below these minimums. Under our marketing agreement with SCI, American Memorial Life Insurance Company (“AMLIC”), one of our subsidiaries, is required to maintain an A.M. Best financial strength rating of “B” or better throughout the term of the agreement. If AMLIC fails to maintain this rating for a period of 180 days, SCI may terminate the agreement.

Additionally, certain contracts in the DRMS business, representing approximately 7% of Assurant Employee Benefits’ net earned premiums for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 contain provisions requiring the applicable subsidiaries to maintain minimum A.M. Best financial strength ratings of “A-” or better. DRMS clients may terminate the agreements and in some instances recapture in force business if the ratings of applicable subsidiaries fall below “A-”. Similarly, distribution and service agreements representing approximately 13% of Assurant Health’s net earned premiums for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 contain provisions requiring the applicable subsidiaries to maintain minimum A.M. Best financial strength ratings of “A-” or better, for the distribution agreements, or “B+” or better, for the service agreement. If the ratings of applicable Assurant Health subsidiaries fall below these threshold ratings levels, distribution and service partners would have the right to terminate their agreements. Termination or failure to renew these agreements could materially and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

Item 2.

Unregistered Sale of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

Repurchase of Equity Securities:


Period in 2010	Total Number of Shares Purchased		Average Price Paid Per Share		Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Programs(1)		Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet be Purchased Under the Programs(1)
January 1 – 31		—	$	—		—	$	770,044
February 1 – 28		1,304,915		30.46		1,304,915		730,290
March 1 – 31		2,121,554		32.73		2,121,554		660,860
April 1 – 30		1,783,816		35.07		1,783,816		598,300
May 1 – 31		1,982,400		35.44		1,982,400		528,044
June 1 – 30		2,300,000		35.78		2,300,000		445,751
July 1 – 31		1,185,000		36.19		1,185,000		402,866
August 1 – 31		52,000		38.11		52,000		400,885
September 1 – 30		—		—		—		400,885

Total		10,729,685	$	34.41		10,729,685	$	400,885

1)	On January 22, 2010, our Board of Directors authorized an additional $600,000 for the repurchase of Assurant’s outstanding common stock, bringing the total repurchase authorization, as of that date, to $770,044 for use in the open market and/or for private transactions.

Item 6.

Exhibits.

Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC, the Company has filed or incorporated by reference certain agreements as exhibits to this quarterly report on Form 10-Q. These agreements may contain representations and warranties by the parties. These representations and warranties have been made solely for the benefit of the other party or parties to such agreements and (i) may have been qualified by disclosures made to such other party or parties, (ii) were made only as of the date of such agreements or such other date(s) as may be specified in such agreements and are subject to more recent developments, which may not be fully reflected in the Company’s public disclosure, (iii) may reflect the allocation of risk among the parties to such agreements and (iv) may apply materiality standards different from what may be viewed as material to investors. Accordingly, these representations and warranties may not describe the Company’s actual state of affairs at the date hereof and should not be relied upon.

The following exhibits either (a) are filed with this report or (b) have previously been filed with the SEC and are incorporated herein by reference to those prior filings. Exhibits are available upon request at the investor relations section of our website at www.assurant.com. Our website is not a part of this report and is not incorporated by reference in this report.


12.1		Computation of Ratio of Consolidated Earnings to Fixed Charges as of September 30, 2010.

31.1		Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Principal Executive Officer.

31.2		Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Principal Financial Officer.

32.1		Certification of Chief Executive Officer of Assurant, Inc. pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.2		Certification of Chief Financial Officer of Assurant, Inc. pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

101		The following materials from the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2010, formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) the Consolidated Statement of Operations, (iii) the Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity, (iv) the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, and (v) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, tagged as blocks of text.†

†

Users of this data are advised pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T that this interactive data file is deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, is deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


	ASSURANT, INC.

Date: November 3, 2010	By:	/S/ ROBERT B. POLLOCK
	Name:	Robert B. Pollock
	Title:	*President and Chief Executive Officer*

Date: November 3, 2010	By:	/S/ MICHAEL J. PENINGER
	Name:	Michael J. Peninger
	Title:	*Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer*