EARNEST PARTNERS, LLC/UNITED FIRE & CASUALTY CO.
 

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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13G

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )*

UNITED FIRE & CASUALTY COMPANY

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock

(Title of Class of Securities)

910331107

(CUSIP Number)

9/30/2005

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:

        þ Rule 13d-1 (b)

        o Rule 13d-1 (c)

        o Rule 13d-1 (d)

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the notes).

Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number.

 

 

             
13G
CUSIP No. 910331107
  1. Name of Reporting Person:
EARNEST Partners, LLC		 I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only):
  2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group: Not Applicable
    (a) o  
    (b) o  
  3. SEC Use Only:
  4. Citizenship or Place of Organization:
State of Georgia
Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned by
Each Reporting
Person With
5. Sole Voting Power:
857,500
6. Shared Voting Power:
1,327,287
7. Sole Dispositive Power:
2,906,687
8.Shared Dispositive Power:
0
  9.Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person:
2,906,687
  10.Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares: Not Applicable
o
  11.Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9):
12.3%
  12.Type of Reporting Person:
IA

 

 

Item 1.
  (a)   Name of Issuer UNITED FIRE & CASUALTY COMPANY
 
  (b)   Address of Issuer’s Principal Executive Offices 118 Second Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52407-3909
Item 2.
  (a)   Name of Person Filing EARNEST Partners, LLC
 
  (b)   Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence 75 Fourteenth Street, Suite 2300, Atlanta, Georgia 30309
 
  (c)   Citizenship State of Georgia
 
  (d)   Title of Class of Securities Common Stock
 
  (e)   CUSIP Number 910331107
Item 3. If this statement is filed pursuant to §§240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:
         
(a)   o  
Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o).
(b)   o  
Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).
(c)   o  
Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).
(d)   o  
Investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C 80a-8).
(e)   x  
An investment adviser in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);
(f)   o  
An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);
(g)   o  
A parent holding company or control person in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);
(h)   o  
A savings associations as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813);
(i)   o  
A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3);
(j)   o  
Group, in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).

 

 

Item 4. Ownership.
Provide the following information regarding the aggregate number and percentage of the class of securities of the issuer identified in Item 1.
  (a)   Amount beneficially owned: 2,906,687
 
  (b)   Percent of class: 12.3%
 
  (c)   Number of shares as to which the person has:
  (i)   Sole power to vote or to direct the vote 857,500
 
  (ii)   Shared power to vote or to direct the vote 1,327,287
 
  (iii)   Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of 2,906,687
 
  (iv)   Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of 0
Instruction. For computations regarding securities which represent a right to acquire an underlying security see §240.13d3(d)(1).
Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class
If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the following o. Not Applicable
Instruction: Dissolution of a group requires a response to this item.
Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.
If any other person is known to have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, such securities, a statement to that effect should be included in response to this item and, if such interest relates to more than five percent of the class, such person should be identified. A listing of the shareholders of an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or the beneficiaries of employee benefit plan, pension fund or endowment fund is not required. EARNEST Partners, LLC is filing as an investment adviser in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E). No EARNEST Partners, LLC client’s interest relates to more than five percent of the class.
Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company or Control Person.
If a parent holding company or Control person has filed this schedule, pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G), so indicate under Item 3(g) and attach an exhibit stating the identity and the Item 3 classification of the relevant subsidiary. If a parent holding company or control person has filed this schedule pursuant to Rule 13d-1(c) or Rule 13d-1(d), attach an exhibit stating the identification of the relevant subsidiary. Not Applicable

 

 

Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group
If a group has filed this schedule pursuant to §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J), so indicate under Item 3(j) and attach an exhibit stating the identity and Item 3 classification of each member of the group. If a group has filed this schedule pursuant to §240.13d-1(c) or §240.13d-1(d), attach an exhibit stating the identity of each member of the group. Not Applicable
Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group
Notice of dissolution of a group may be furnished as an exhibit stating the date of the dissolution and that all further filings with respect to transactions in the security reported on will be filed, if required, by members of the group, in their individual capacity. See Item 5. Not Applicable
Item 10. Certification
  (a)   The following certification shall be included if the statement is filed pursuant to §240.13d-1(b):
      By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.
  (b)   The following certification shall be included if the statement is filed pursuant to §240.13d-1(c):
      By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.

 

 

SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
         
 
      October 11, 2005
         
        Date
         
        James M. Wilson
         
        Signature
         
        James M. Wilson, Chief Compliance Officer
         
        Name/Title