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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
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Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 8-K
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CURRENT REPORT
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Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
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Exchange Act of 1934
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Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 7, 2012
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ProAssurance Corporation
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware
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001-16533
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63-1261433
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(State of Incorporation)
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(Commission File No.)
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(IRS Employer I.D. No.)
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100 Brookwood Place, Birmingham, Alabama
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35209
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(Address of Principal Executive Office )
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(Zip code)
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Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (205) 877-4400
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Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
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¨
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Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
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¨
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Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
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¨
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act
(17CFR 240.14d-2(b))
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¨
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-(c) under the Exchange Act
(17CFR 240.13e-(c))
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Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure
Attached as Exhibit 99.1, and incorporated into this Item 7.01 by reference, is our news release relating to the dividend referred to in Item 8.01 below.
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Item 8.01 Other Events
On March 7, 2012, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per common share. The record date for the dividend is March 29, 2012 and the payment date is April 12, 2012.Under the dividend policy announced September 7, 2011, our Board of Directors anticipates a total annual dividend of $1.00 per share, to be paid in equal quarterly installments. However, any decision to pay future cash dividends is subject to the Board’s final determination after a comprehensive review of the company’s financial performance, future expectations and other factors deemed relevant by the Board.
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Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits
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99.1News release issued on March 7, 2012, announcing ProAssurance’s initiation of a cash dividend policy and declaration of an initial quarterly dividend of $0.25 per common share.
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We are furnishing Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K solely for the purpose of incorporation by reference into Items 7.01 and 9.01. This exhibit shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liability of such section, nor shall such information be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, regardless of the general incorporation language of such filing, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.
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SIGNATURE
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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Date: March 7, 2012
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PROASSURANCE CORPORATION
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by: /s/ Frank B. O’Neil
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Frank B. O’Neil
Senior Vice-President
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