FORM 10-Q

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

 

xQUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended         March 31,September 30, 2003

 

OR

 

¨TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from                        to                        

 

Commission file number 0-3658

 

THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

            THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION            


(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Incorporated in California


 

95-1068610


(State or other jurisdiction of


incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

1 First American Way, Santa Ana, California

 

92707-5913


(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

(714) 800-3000

(714) 800-3000


(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 


(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

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.

 

Yesx No¨

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2).

 

Yesx No¨

 

 

APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY

PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PRECEDING FIVE YEARS:

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports to be filed by Section 12,13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court.

 

Yes¨ No¨

 

APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

$1 par value - 76,231,151 shares78,233,349 as of May 6 ,November 7, 2003



INFORMATION INCLUDED IN REPORT

 

Part I:

  

Financial InformationFINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.

  

Financial Statements

A.        Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

   

A. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

B. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income

   

C. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

   

D. Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Item 2.

  

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

Item 3.

  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Item 4.

  

Controls and Procedures

Part II:

  

Other InformationOTHER INFORMATION

Item 6.

  

Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

Items 1-5 have been omitted because they are not applicable with respect to the current reporting period.


Part I:Financial Information

Item 1:    Financial Statements

 

Item 1:Financial Statements

THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)(in thousands, except percentage and share data)

 

  September 30,
2003


  December 31,
2002


 
  ($000)  ($000) 
  

March 31, 2003


   

December 31, 2002


   (unaudited)    

Assets

           

Cash and cash equivalents

  

$

942,874,000

 

  

$

900,863,000

 

  $1,255,870  $900,863 
  


  


  


 


Accounts and accrued income receivable, net

  

 

345,773,000

 

  

 

299,040,000

 

   385,103   299,040 
  


  


  


 


Investments:

           

Deposits with savings and loan associations and banks

  

 

26,104,000

 

  

 

38,328,000

 

   55,681   38,328 

Debt securities

  

 

320,251,000

 

  

 

309,864,000

 

   377,172   309,864 

Equity securities

  

 

36,219,000

 

  

 

36,931,000

 

   44,611   36,931 

Other long-term investments

  

 

186,618,000

 

  

 

142,392,000

 

   211,835   142,392 
  


  


  


 


  

 

569,192,000

 

  

 

527,515,000

 

   689,299   527,515 
  


  


  


 


Loans receivable, net

  

 

108,111,000

 

  

 

108,162,000

 

   105,726   108,162 
  


  


  


 


Property and equipment, at cost:

           

Land

  

 

43,237,000

 

  

 

43,185,000

 

   43,291   43,185 

Buildings

  

 

181,332,000

 

  

 

183,045,000

 

   191,954   183,045 

Furniture and equipment

  

 

267,044,000

 

  

 

270,004,000

 

   290,578   270,004 

Capitalized software

  

 

288,434,000

 

  

 

284,537,000

 

   329,267   284,537 
  


  


  


 


  

 

780,047,000

 

  

 

780,771,000

 

   855,090   780,771 

Less—accumulated depreciation and amortization

  

 

(352,103,000

)

  

 

(347,695,000

)

Less - accumulated depreciation and amortization

   (396,698)  (347,695)
  


  


  


 


  

 

427,944,000

 

  

 

433,076,000

 

   458,392   433,076 
  


  


  


 


Title plants and other indexes

  

 

381,686,000

 

  

 

375,401,000

 

   394,794   375,401 
  


  


  


 


Deferred income taxes

  

 

14,089,000

 

  

 

20,951,000

 

   46,672   20,951 
  


  


  


 


Goodwill, net

  

 

559,269,000

 

  

 

563,991,000

 

   714,993   563,991 
  


  


  


 


Other assets

  

 

189,035,000

 

  

 

169,046,000

 

   233,285   169,046 
  


  


  


 


  

$

3,537,973,000

 

  

$

3,398,045,000

 

  $4,284,134  $3,398,045 
  


  


  


 


Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

      

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

     

Demand deposits

  

$

84,888,000

 

  

$

84,473,000

 

  $74,266  $84,473 
  


  


  


 


Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

  

 

470,710,000

 

  

 

539,069,000

 

   692,232   539,069 
  


  


  


 


Deferred revenue

  

 

375,312,000

 

  

 

358,747,000

 

   452,522   358,747 
  


  


  


 


Reserve for known and incurred but not reported claims

  

 

367,812,000

 

  

 

360,305,000

 

   404,478   360,305 
  


  


  


 


Income taxes payable

  

 

45,913,000

 

  

 

1,518,000

 

   73,584   1,518 
  


  


  


 


Notes and contracts payable

  

 

431,011,000

 

  

 

425,705,000

 

   459,387   425,705 
  


  


  


 


Mandatorily redeemable preferred securities of the Company’s subsidiary trust whose sole assets are the Company’s $100,000 8.5% deferrable interest subordinated notes due 2012

   100,000   100,000 
  


 


Minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries

  

 

172,739,000

 

  

 

163,639,000

 

   251,530   163,639 
  


  


  


 


Mandatorily redeemable preferred securities of the Company's subsidiary trust whose sole assets are the Company's $100,000,000 8.5% deferrable interest subordinated notes due 2012

  

 

100,000,000

 

  

 

100,000,000

 

  


  


Stockholders' equity:

      

Preferred stock, $1 par value

      

Authorized—500,000 shares; outstanding—none

      

Common stock, $1 par value

      

Authorized—180,000,000 shares

      

Outstanding—75,937,000 and 73,636,000 shares

  

 

75,937,000

 

  

 

73,636,000

 

Commitments and contingencies

     

Stockholders’ equity:

     

Preferred stock, $1 par value Authorized - 500,000 shares; outstanding - none

     

Common stock, $1 par value Authorized - 180,000,000 shares Outstanding - 77,843,000 and 73,636,000 shares

   77,843   73,636 

Additional paid-in capital

  

 

405,891,000

 

  

 

359,644,000

 

   439,947   359,644 

Retained earnings

  

 

1,067,752,000

 

  

 

987,768,000

 

   1,317,647   987,768 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

  

 

(59,992,000

)

  

 

(56,459,000

)

   (59,302)  (56,459)
  


  


  


 


  

 

1,489,588,000

 

  

 

1,364,589,000

 

   1,776,135   1,364,589 
  


  


  


 


  

$

3,537,973,000

 

  

$

3,398,045,000

 

  $4,284,134  $3,398,045 
  


  


  


 


 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

3


THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income

(Unaudited)(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

  For the Three Months Ended
September 30


  For the Nine Months Ended
September 30


 
  

For the Three Months Ended

March 31


   2003

  2002

  2003

  2002

 
  

2003


   

2002


   (unaudited)  (unaudited) 

Revenues

               

Operating revenues

  

$

1,304,863,000

 

  

$

1,023,340,000

 

  $1,681,446  $1,179,116  $4,499,863  $3,287,037 

Investment and other income

  

 

24,567,000

 

  

 

18,803,000

 

   29,535   22,858   81,892   61,237 

Net realized investment gains

  

 

12,545,000

 

  

 

59,000

 

Net realized investment gains (losses)

   5,761   (5,888)  19,893   (18,456)
  


  


  


 


 


 


  

 

1,341,975,000

 

  

 

1,042,202,000

 

   1,716,742   1,196,086   4,601,648   3,329,818 
  


  


  


 


 


 


Expenses

               

Salaries and other personnel costs

  

 

407,217,000

 

  

 

345,325,000

 

   490,152   381,074   1,337,138   1,090,317 

Premiums retained by agents

  

 

365,709,000

 

  

 

284,294,000

 

   477,504   322,148   1,251,997   915,281 

Other operating expenses

  

 

293,387,000

 

  

 

237,358,000

 

   348,528   264,458   969,719   745,645 

Provision for policy losses and other claims

  

 

67,239,000

 

  

 

47,099,000

 

   89,464   58,215   236,106   158,011 

Depreciation and amortization

  

 

26,015,000

 

  

 

24,148,000

 

   27,134   23,662   79,704   72,894 

Premium taxes

  

 

10,456,000

 

  

 

7,199,000

 

   14,348   8,889   36,814   24,481 

Interest

  

 

8,459,000

 

  

 

8,220,000

 

   8,853   8,618   26,165   25,554 
  


  


  


 


 


 


  

 

1,178,482,000

 

  

 

953,643,000

 

   1,455,983   1,067,064   3,937,643   3,032,183 
  


  


  


 


 


 


Income before income taxes and minority interests

  

 

163,493,000

 

  

 

88,559,000

 

   260,759   129,022   664,005   297,635 

Income taxes

  

 

56,000,000

 

  

 

31,000,000

 

   92,100   42,800   231,200   100,100 
  


  


  


 


 


 


Income before minority interests

  

 

107,493,000

 

  

 

57,559,000

 

   168,659   86,222   432,805   197,535 

Minority interests

  

 

19,913,000

 

  

 

13,484,000

 

   26,812   18,863   75,902   45,980 
  


  


  


 


 


 


Net income

  

 

87,580,000

 

  

 

44,075,000

 

  $141,847  $67,359  $356,903  $151,555 
  


  


  


 


 


 


Other comprehensive loss, net of tax

      

Unrealized loss on securities

  

 

(433,000

)

  

 

(535,000

)

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

         

Unrealized gain (loss) on securities

   992   (313)  4,212   (5,323)

Minimum pension liability adjustment

  

 

(3,100,000

)

  

 

(2,275,000

)

   (2,005)  (875)  (7,055)  (3,250)
  


  


  


 


 


 


  

 

(3,533,000

)

  

 

(2,810,000

)

   (1,013)  (1,188)  (2,843)  (8,573)
  


  


  


 


 


 


Comprehensive income

  

$

84,047,000

 

  

$

41,265,000

 

  $140,834  $66,171  $354,060  $142,982 
  


  


  


 


 


 


Net income per share (Note 2):

               

Basic

  

$

1.18

 

  

$

0.63

 

  $1.83  $0.94  $4.69  $2.13 
  


  


  


 


 


 


Diluted

  

$

1.05

 

  

$

0.57

 

  $1.62  $0.84  $4.15  $1.91 
  


  


  


 


 


 


Cash dividends per share

  

$

.10

 

  

$

.07

 

  $.10  $.08  $.30  $.23 
  


  


  


 


 


 


Weighted average number of shares (Note 2):

               

Basic

  

 

74,159,000

 

  

 

69,995,000

 

   77,660   71,827   76,080   71,092 
  


  


  


 


 


 


Diluted

  

 

85,098,000

 

  

 

80,985,000

 

   88,395   82,679   87,155   82,112 
  


  


  


 


 


 


 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

4


THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)(in thousands)

 

  

For the Nine Months Ended

September 30


 
  

For the Three Months Ended

March 31


   2003

  2002

 
  

2003


   

2002


   (unaudited) 

Cash flows from operating activities:

           

Net income

  

$

87,580,000

 

  

$

44,075,000

 

  $356,903  $151,555 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities—

      

Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities-

     

Provision for policy losses and other claims

  

 

67,239,000

 

  

 

47,099,000

 

   236,106   158,011 

Depreciation and amortization

  

 

26,015,000

 

  

 

24,148,000

 

   79,704   72,894 

Minority interests in net income

  

 

19,913,000

 

  

 

13,484,000

 

   75,902   45,980 

Net investment gains

  

 

(12,545,000

)

  

 

(59,000

)

Net investment (gains) losses

   (19,893)  18,456 

Other, net

  

 

(15,343,000

)

  

 

(7,908,000

)

   (47,724)  (28,475)

Changes in assets and liabilities excluding effects of company acquisitions and noncash transactions—

      

Changes in assets and liabilities excluding effects of company acquisitions and noncash transactions-

     

Claims paid, net of recoveries

  

 

(63,604,000

)

  

 

(36,500,000

)

   (196,499)  (141,968)

Net change in income tax accounts

  

 

49,298,000

 

  

 

14,591,000

 

   50,768   (2,776)

Increase in accounts and accrued income receivable

  

 

(49,014,000

)

  

 

(17,662,000

)

   (74,128)  (42,862)

Decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities

  

 

(27,878,000

)

  

 

(17,862,000

)

Increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities

   134,558   73,074 

Increase in deferred revenue

  

 

16,450,000

 

  

 

12,910,000

 

   93,600   50,366 

Other, net

  

 

(15,271,000

)

  

 

(20,783,000

)

   (30,072)  (23,737)
  


  


  


 


Cash provided by operating activities

  

 

82,840,000

 

  

 

55,533,000

 

   659,225   330,518 
  


  


  


 


Cash flows from investing activities:

           

Net cash effect of company acquisitions/dispositions

  

 

(9,929,000

)

  

 

(11,257,000

)

   (111,540)  (31,767)

Net decrease (increase) in deposits with banks

  

 

12,224,000

 

  

 

(9,496,000

)

Net increase in deposits with banks

   (16,856)  (13,132)

Net decrease (increase) in loans receivable

  

 

51,000

 

  

 

(1,003,000

)

   2,436   (4,768)

Purchases of debt and equity securities

  

 

(59,904,000

)

  

 

(57,978,000

)

   (242,885)  (250,568)

Proceeds from sales of debt and equity securities

  

 

37,547,000

 

  

 

7,314,000

 

   138,099   60,811 

Proceeds from maturities of debt securities

  

 

12,772,000

 

  

 

36,274,000

 

   41,466   111,388 

Net decrease in other investments

  

 

5,009,000

 

  

 

2,392,000

 

   45,468   15,913 

Capital expenditures

  

 

(21,932,000

)

  

 

(20,662,000

)

   (81,387)  (70,997)

Purchases of capitalized data

  

 

(4,820,000

)

  

 

(3,477,000

)

   (14,794)  (13,472)

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment

  

 

607,000

 

  

 

134,000

 

   3,067   2,934 
  


  


  


 


Cash used for investing activities

  

 

(28,375,000

)

  

 

(57,759,000

)

   (236,926)  (193,658)
  


  


  


 


Cash flows from financing activities:

           

Net change in demand deposits

  

 

415,000

 

  

 

733,000

 

   (10,207)  (3,149)

Proceeds from issuance of debt

  

 

7,030,000

 

  

 

677,000

 

   19,398   6,543 

Repayment of debt

  

 

(8,548,000

)

  

 

(5,072,000

)

   (38,342)  (19,096)

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

  

 

4,502,000

 

  

 

3,406,000

 

   14,978   7,521 

Proceeds from the issuance of stock to employee benefit plans

  

 

1,774,000

 

  

 

1,264,000

 

   4,676   3,113 

Distributions to minority shareholders

  

 

(10,031,000

)

  

 

(6,424,000

)

   (35,467)  (24,063)

Cash dividends

  

 

(7,596,000

)

  

 

(5,702,000

)

   (22,328)  (17,205)
  


  


  


 


Cash used for financing activities

  

 

(12,454,000

)

  

 

(11,118,000

)

   (67,292)  (46,336)
  


  


  


 


Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

  

 

42,011,000

 

  

 

(13,344,000

)

Cash and cash equivalents —Beginning of year

  

 

900,863,000

 

  

 

645,240,000

 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

   355,007   90,524 

Cash and cash equivalents - Beginning of year

   900,863   645,240 
  


  


  


 


—End of first quarter

  

$

942,874,000

 

  

$

631,896,000

 

- End of third quarter

  $1,255,870  $735,764 
  


  


  


 


Supplemental information:

           

Cash paid during the first quarter for:

      

Cash paid during the first nine months for:

     

Interest

  

$

6,357,000

 

  

$

1,452,000

 

  $23,327  $18,641 

Premium taxes

  

$

17,124,000

 

  

$

9,127,000

 

  $37,477  $24,563 

Income taxes

  

$

7,825,000

 

  

$

16,146,000

 

  $183,909  $101,992 

Noncash investing and financing activities:

           

Shares issued for employee benefit plans

  

$

42,272,000

 

  

$

17,491,000

 

  $42,376  $17,491 

Liabilities incurred in connection with company acquisitions

  

$

13,840,000

 

  

$

8,827,000

 

  $109,490  $46,927 

Company acquisitions in exchange for common stock

     

$

26,380,000

 

  $22,480  $34,880 

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

5


THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

Note 1 – Basis of Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The condensed consolidated financial information included in this report has been prepared in conformity with the accounting principles and practices reflected in the consolidated financial statements included in the annual report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the preceding calendar year. All adjustments are of a normal recurring nature and are, in the opinion of management, necessary to a fair statement of the consolidated results for the interim periods. Certain 2002 amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2003 presentation. This report should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002.

 

Note 2 – Earnings Per Share

 

  

For the Three Months Ended March 31


  For the Three Months
Ended
September 30


  For the Nine Months
Ended
September 30


(in thousands, except per share amounts)


  2003

  2002

  2003

  2002

Numerator:

            

Net Income-numerator for basic net income per share

  $141,847  $67,359  $356,903  $151,555

Effect of dilutive securities

            

Add: Convertible debt – interest expense (net of tax)

   1,700   1,748   5,134   5,282
  

2003

  

2002

  

  

  

  

Net Income–numerator for dilutive net income per share

  $143,547  $69,107  $362,037  $156,837
  
  

  

  

  

Numerator:

      

Net Income—numerator for basic net income per share

  

$

87,580,000

  

$

44,075,000

Effect of dilutive securities

      

Convertible debt—interest expense (net of tax)

  

 

1,723,000

  

 

1,773,000

Denominator:

            

Weighted average shares-denominator For basic net income per share

   77,660   71,827   76,080   71,092
  

Net Income—numerator for dilutive net income per share

  

$

89,303,000

  

$

45,848,000

  

Denominator

      

Weighted average shares—denominator

For basic net income per share

  

 

74,159,000

  

 

69,995,000

Effect of dilutive securities:

                  

Employee stock options

  

 

2,496,000

  

 

2,396,000

   2,365   2,333   2,650   2,464

Convertible debt

  

 

8,443,000

  

 

8,594,000

   8,370   8,519   8,425   8,556
  
  

  

  

  

Denominator for diluted net income per share

  

 

85,098,000

  

 

80,985,000

   88,395   82,679   87,155   82,112
  
  

  

  

  

Basic net income per share

  

$

1.18

  

$

0.63

  $1.83  $0.94  $4.69  $2.13
  
  

  

  

  

Diluted net income per share

  

$

1.05

  

$

0.57

  $1.62  $0.84  $4.15  $1.91
  
  

  

  

  

Antidilutive stock options

   320   2,549   1,346   3,624
  

  

  

  

For the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively, 3,414,000 and 3,818,000 stock options were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share due to their antidilutive effect.

Note 3 – Stock Options

 

Effective December 15, 2002, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation-Transition and Disclosure, which amends Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (SFAS 148). In accounting for its plans, the Company, as allowable under the provisions of SFAS 148, applies Accounting Principles Board Opinions No. 25, “Accounting for Stock issuedIssued to Employees.” As a result of this election, the Company does not recognize compensation expense for its stock option plans. Had the Company determined compensation cost based on the fair value for its stock options at grant date, net income and earnings per share would have been reduced to the pro forma amounts as follows:

 

6


  

For the Three Months Ended

March 31,


  For the Three Months
Ended
September 30


  For the Nine Months
Ended
September 30


 
(in thousands, except per share amounts)  2003

  2002

  2003

  2002

 

Net Income:

         

As reported

  $141,847  $67,359  $356,903  $151,555 

Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based methods for all awards, net of tax

   (1,960)  (1,418)  (4,916)  (3,190)
  

2003

  

2002

  


 


 


 


Pro forma

  $139,887  $65,941  $351,987  $148,365 


  


 


 


 


Net income:

      

As reported

  

$

87,580,000

  

$

44,075,000

Pro forma

  

$

86,463,000

  

$

42,842,000

Earnings per share:

      

As reported

      

Basic

  

$

1.18

  

$

0.63

Diluted

  

$

1.05

  

$

0.57

Pro forma

      

Net income per share:

         

As reported:

         

Basic

  

$

1.17

  

$

0.61

  $1.83  $0.94  $4.69  $2.13 

Diluted

  

$

1.04

  

$

0.55

  $1.62  $0.84  $4.15  $1.91 


Pro forma:

         

Basic

  $1.80  $0.92  $4.63  $2.09 

Diluted

  $1.60  $0.82  $4.10  $1.87 

 

Note 4 – Business Combinations

 

During the three months ended March 31,On June 5, 2003, the Company formed First Advantage Corporation, which was created through the merger of First American Corporation’s screening information businesses with the operations of US SEARCH.com Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, the former stockholders of US SEARCH received 0.04 of a Class A common share of First Advantage for each share of US SEARCH owned prior to the merger. The former stockholders of US SEARCH hold approximately 20 percent of the total shares of First Advantage. The First American Corporation received Class B common stock, entitling 10 votes for each share, representing approximately 80 percent of the total shares of First Advantage. Approximately $3.0 million of intangible assets with definite lives and $54.4 million of goodwill was recorded by First Advantage as part of this transaction. The new public company trades Class A common stock as “FADV” on the NASDAQ National Market System.

First Advantage Corporation completed 5 acquisitions during the current year. The aggregate purchase price of these acquisition was $8.5 million in cash, $9.2 million in notes payable and .7 million shares, valued at $13.0 million of First Advantage’s Class A common stock. The purchase price of each acquisition was allocated to the assets acquired three companies.and liabilities assumed using a variety of valuation techniques including discounted cash flow analysis. As a result of these acquisitions, First Advantage recorded approximately $4.1 million of intangible assets with definite lives and $25.5 million of goodwill. In accounting for the First Advantage shares issued in these acquisitions, the Company, whose ownership interest was reduced to approximately 77 percent, recorded a pretax gain of $1.6 million.

In addition to the acquisitions discussed above, the Company acquired 26 companies during the nine months ended September 30, 2003. These acquisitions were not material individually or in the aggregate. Two of theOf these acquisitions, 23 have been included in the Company’s title insurance segment and onethree are in the Company’s property information segment. The aggregate purchase price was $8.4$91.9 million in cash, and $6.2$31.8 million in notes payable.payable and .9 million shares, valued at $22.5 million, of the Company’s common stock. The purchase price for each was allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed using a variety of valuation techniques including discounted cash flow analysis. As a result of these acquisitions, the Company has preliminarily recorded approximately $5.3$11.4 million of intangible assets with definite lives and $5.8$70.5 million of goodwill. The Company is awaiting information necessary to finalize the purchase accounting adjustments for these acquisitions and the final purchase price allocations could change the recorded intangible asset and goodwill amounts.

Note 5 – Segment Information

 

TheIn order to report financial results in a manner consistent with the reporting responsibilities of the Company’s management, the Company hasestablished seven reporting segments that fall within two primary business groups, Financial Services and Information Technology. The Financial Services Group includes Title Insurance and Services, Specialty Insurance and Trust and Other Services. The Information Technology Group includes Mortgage Information, Property Information, Credit Information and Screening Information. Selected financial information by reporting segment is as follows:

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2003

  

Revenues

  

Income (loss) before

income taxes and

minority interests

   

Depreciation

and

amortization

  

Capital

expenditures


Financial Services

                 

Title Insurance and Services

  

$

944,391,000

  

$

86,766,000

 

  

$

9,312,000

  

$

9,611,000

Specialty Insurances

  

 

48,584,000

  

 

5,839,000

 

  

 

422,000

  

 

204,000

Trust and Other Services

  

 

9,851,000

  

 

2,441,000

 

  

 

229,000

  

 

8,000


   

 

1,002,826,000

  

 

95,046,000

 

  

 

9,963,000

  

 

9,823,000


Information Technology

                 

Mortgage Information

  

 

141,877,000

  

 

45,797,000

 

  

 

3,795,000

  

 

2,556,000

Property Information

  

 

87,441,000

  

 

23,443,000

 

  

 

5,482,000

  

 

3,041,000

Credit Information

  

 

78,046,000

  

 

26,607,000

 

  

 

3,145,000

  

 

1,243,000

Screening Information

  

 

31,618,000

  

 

515,000

 

  

 

1,785,000

  

 

1,504,000


   

 

338,982,000

  

 

96,362,000

 

  

 

14,207,000

  

 

8,344,000


   

 

1,341,808,000

  

 

191,408,000

 

  

 

24,170,000

  

 

18,167,000


Corporate

  

 

167,000

  

 

(27,915,000

)

  

 

1,845,000

  

 

3,765,000


   

$

1,341,975,000

  

$

163,493,000

 

  

$

26,015,000

  

$

21,932,000


For the three months ended September 30, 2003:


 

For the three months ended March 31, 2002

  

Revenues

  

Income (loss) before

income taxes and

minority interests

   

Depreciation

and

amortization

  

Capital

expenditures


(in thousands)

  Revenues

  Income (loss)
before income
taxes and
minority interests


  Depreciation
and
amortization


  Capital
expenditures


Financial Services

                       

Title Insurance and Services

  

$

751,141,000

  

$

39,652,000

 

  

$

11,801,000

  

$

9,444,000

  $1,262,666  $167,478  $9,357  $12,862

Specialty Insurances

  

 

31,567,000

  

 

5,682,000

 

  

 

293,000

  

 

509,000

Specialty Insurance

   58,524   8,741   505   261

Trust and Other Services

  

 

11,136,000

  

 

4,225,000

 

  

 

291,000

  

 

13,000

   10,529   2,960   190   121

  

 

793,844,000

  

 

49,559,000

 

  

 

12,385,000

  

 

9,966,000

  

  


 

  



   1,331,719   179,179   10,052   13,244
  

  


 

  

Information Technology

                       

Mortgage Information

  

 

109,552,000

  

 

31,505,000

 

  

 

2,136,000

  

 

1,832,000

   166,624   64,733   3,464   3,140

Property Information

  

 

58,473,000

  

 

11,645,000

 

  

 

4,374,000

  

 

2,775,000

   105,001   26,976   6,075   10,720

Credit Information

  

 

56,632,000

  

 

12,653,000

 

  

 

2,809,000

  

 

3,199,000

   64,354   14,987   2,787   72

Screening Information

  

 

22,754,000

  

 

782,000

 

  

 

558,000

  

 

919,000

   47,644   2,525   2,395   1,890


  

  


 

  

  

 

247,411,000

  

 

56,585,000

 

  

 

9,877,000

  

 

8,725,000

   383,623   109,221   14,721   15,822


  

  


 

  

  

 

1,041,255,000

  

 

106,144,000

 

  

 

22,262,000

  

 

18,691,000

   1,715,342   288,400   24,773   29,066


  

  


 

  

Corporate

  

 

947,000

  

 

(17,585,000

)

  

 

1,886,000

  

 

1,971,000

   1,400   (27,641)  2,361   1,421


  

  


 

  

  

$

1,042,202,000

  

$

88,559,000

 

  

$

24,148,000

  

$

20,662,000

  $1,716,742  $260,759  $27,134  $30,487


  

  


 

  

For the three months ended September 30, 2002:

(in thousands)

 

  Revenues

  Income (loss)
before income
taxes and
minority interests


  Depreciation
and
amortization


  Capital
expenditures


Financial Services

                

Title Insurance and Services

  $868,298  $80,026  $10,218  $11,296

Specialty Insurance

   40,156   6,014   496   565

Trust and Other Services

   9,635   2,443   259   143
   


 


 

  

    918,089   88,483   10,973   12,004
   


 


 

  

Information Technology

                

Mortgage Information

   120,759   39,188   2,666   2,645

Property Information

   76,058   21,405   5,262   2,757

Credit Information

   56,213   10,943   2,178   2,614

Screening Information

   26,786   1,120   679   1,148
   


 


 

  

    279,816   72,656   10,785   9,164
   


 


 

  

    1,197,905   161,139   21,758   21,168
   


 


 

  

Corporate

   (1,819)  (32,117)  1,904   2,845
   


 


 

  

   $1,196,086  $129,022  $23,662  $24,013
   


 


 

  

For the nine months ended September 30, 2003:

(in thousands)

 

  Revenues

  Income (loss)
before income
taxes and
minority interests


  Depreciation
and
amortization


  Capital
expenditures


Financial Services

                

Title Insurance and Services

  $3,307,986  $394,279  $27,940  $35,381

Specialty Insurance

   161,170   22,821   1,417   1,061

Trust and Other Services

   30,637   8,403   634   145
   

  


 

  

    3,499,793   425,503   29,991   36,587
   

  


 

  

Information Technology

                

Mortgage Information

   469,437   173,183   10,986   11,067

Property Information

   297,599   82,809   17,054   15,636

Credit Information

   214,181   59,565   8,797   4,572

Screening Information

   116,636   6,258   5,965   4,647
   

  


 

  

    1,097,853   321,815   42,802   35,922
   

  


 

  

    4,597,646   747,318   72,793   72,509
   

  


 

  

Corporate

   4,002   (83,313)  6,911   8,878
   

  


 

  

   $4,601,648  $664,005  $79,704  $81,387
   

  


 

  

For the nine months ended September 30, 2002:

(in thousands)

 

  Revenues

  Income (loss)
before income
taxes and
minority interests


  Depreciation
and
amortization


  Capital
expenditures


Financial Services

                

Title Insurance and Services

  $2,427,531  $169,788  $33,361  $37,297

Specialty Insurance

   107,843   17,855   1,442   1,604

Trust and Other Services

   32,421   11,255   821   209
   


 


 

  

    2,567,795   198,898   35,624   39,110
   


 


 

  

Information Technology

                

Mortgage Information

   339,808   100,245   7,047   7,043

Property Information

   196,814   48,070   14,274   8,527

Credit Information

   164,968   30,827   8,083   7,782

Screening Information

   74,240   3,868   1,963   2,823
   


 


 

  

    775,830   183,010   31,367   26,175
   


 


 

  

    3,343,625   381,908   66,991   65,285
   


 


 

  

Corporate

   (13,807)  (84,273)  5,903   5,712
   


 


 

  

   $3,329,818  $297,635  $72,894  $70,997
   


 


 

  

Note 6 – Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

 

The Company’s reporting units for purposes of the annual testing for impairment of goodwill are title insurance, home warranty, property and casualty insurance, trust and other services, mortgage origination products and services, mortgage servicing products and services, property information services, conventional credit information, sub-prime credit information, pre-employment and drug screening, and tenant screening.

 

A reconciliation of the changes in the carrying amount of net goodwill, by operating segment, for the threenine months ended March 31,September 30, 2003, is as follows:follows (in thousands):

 

  

Balance as of December 31, 2002

    

Acquired (Disposed of)

During the Period

     

Impairment

Losses

  

Balance as of

March 31, 2003

  
  Balance as of
December 31, 2002


  Acquired (Disposed of)
During the Period


  Impairment
Losses


  Balance as of
September 30, 2003


Financial Services

                           

Title Insurance and Services

  

$

149,013,000

    

$

 

    

$

  

$

149,013,000

  $149,013  $47,394  $ —    $196,407

Specialty Insurances

  

 

19,794,000

    

 

 

    

 

  

 

19,794,000

   19,794   —     —     19,794

Trust and Other Services

  

 

    

 

 

    

 

  

 

   —     —     —     —  

Information Technology

                           

Mortgage Information

  

 

72,423,000

    

 

 

    

 

  

 

72,423,000

   72,423   297   —     72,720

Property Information

  

 

124,678,000

    

 

5,840,000

 

    

 

  

 

130,518,000

   124,678   24,583   —     149,261

Credit Information

  

 

86,900,000

    

 

(10,562,000

)

    

 

  

 

76,338,000

   86,900   (10,562)  —     76,338

Screening Information

  

 

111,183,000

    

 

 

    

 

  

 

111,183,000

   111,183   89,290   —     200,473
  
  

  


 

  

  

$

563,991,000

    

$

(4,722,000

)

    

$

  

$

559,269,000

  $563,991  $151,002  $ —    $714,993
  
  

  


 

  

 

The Company had $30.4$44.9 million of intangible assets includingincluded in “Other assets” at March 31,September 30, 2003, with definite lives ranging from three to seven years. These assets, comprised primarily of customer lists and noncompete agreements, are being amortized in a manner consistent with periods prior to the adoption of SFAS 142.

 

8

Note 7 – Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity


In May 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 150, “Accounting for Certain Financial instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity. This statement is effective for interim periods beginning after June 15, 2003 and establishes standards for how an issuer classifies and measures certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and equity. The implementation of this statement required the Company to reclassify its “Mandatorily redeemable preferred securities of the Company’s subsidiary trust whose sole assets are the Company’s $100,000,000 8.5% deferrable interest subordinated notes due 2012” as debt. As a result of the change in classification, the Company’s debt-to-total capitalization ratio was increased. This change has not had any other impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

 

Item 2.    Management’s DiscussionNote 8 – Subsequent Events

On October 1, 2003, the Company completed the previously announced acquisition of the real estate tax service and Analysisflood hazard certification businesses of Transamerica Finance Corporation for a net cash purchase price of $375 million. The Company will combine the new companies with its existing tax service and flood certification businesses, which are included in the Company’s mortgage information and services segment.

The Company is in the process of analyzing the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed utilizing a variety of valuation techniques including third party valuation advisors. This process should be substantially completed by the end of 2003 and is expected to result in the Company recording goodwill and other intangible assets of approximately $400 million.

In January 2003, the Financial Condition and ResultsAccounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of OperationsVariable Interest Entities” (FIN 46). The purpose of FIN 46 is to establish guidance for consolidation of variable interest entities that function to support the activities of the primary beneficiary. In October 2003, the FASB issued FIN 46-6, “Effective Date of FASB Interpretation No. 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities” deferring the effective date for applying the FIN 46 provisions until periods that end after December 15, 2003. The adoption of FIN 46 will have not have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

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

 

Certain statements made in this 10-Q, including those relating to anticipated cash requirements, are forward looking. Risks and uncertainties exist which may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the anticipated results to differ from those described in the forward-looking statements include: interest rate fluctuations; changes in the performance of the real estate markets; general volatility in the capital markets; changes in applicable government regulations; consolidation among the Company’s significant customers and competitors; the Company’s continued ability to identify businesses to be acquired; changes in the Company’s ability to integrate businesses which it acquires; and other factors described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. The Company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Critical accounting policies are those policies used in theThe preparation of the Company’s financial statements that requirerequires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of certain assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and related disclosure of contingencies. A summary of thesethe significant critical accounting policies of the Company can be found in Management’s Discussion and Analysis in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002.

 

Additionally, pursuant to SFAS 142, the Company is required to perform an annual impairment test for goodwill and other intangible assets. This impairment test is performed utilizing a variety of valuation techniques, all which require management to make estimates and judgments, and include discounted cash flow analysis, market approach valuations and the use of third party valuation advisors. Certain of these valuation techniques are also utilized by the Company in accounting for business combinations, primarily in the determination of the fair value of acquired assets and liabilities.

OVERVIEW

 

ElevatedRecord-setting levels of mortgage applications in the fourthsecond quarter of 20022003 produced strongrecord-breaking order closings for the Company in the currentthird quarter which contributedof 2003. This, coupled with operating efficiencies resulting from technology enhancements and related infrastructure cost-cutting initiatives, as well as other expense reductions in reaction to the slowdown in new refinance transactions, resulted in record-breaking quarterly results for the Company for the three months ended September 30, 2003. Mortgage application levels remained seasonally strong in the third quarter of 2003, although down from the record levels of the second quarter of 2003. The decrease from the second quarter was due to a record-breaking first quarterslowdown in refinance transactions as a result of increasing mortgage interest rates. The Company began to reduce expenses in the real estate-related segmentsthird quarter of 2003 in reaction to the Company’s Financial Servicesslowdown in refinance transactions and Information Technology groups.will continue to monitor expenses and personnel in relation to new incoming orders. Net income for the three months ended March 31,September 30, 2003, was $87.6$141.8 million, or $1.05$1.62 per diluted share. Netshare, compared with net income of $67.4 million, or $0.84 per diluted share for the three months ended March 31, 2002September 30, 2002. Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2003, was $44.1$356.9 million, or $0.57$4.15 per diluted share. The current year quarter includes a realized pretax gain on the mergershare, compared with net income of the Company’s Credit Online business with DealerTrack Holdings, Inc. of $13.1$151.6 million, $8.0 million on an after-tax basis, or $0.09$1.91 per diluted share.

9share for the nine months ended September 30, 2002.


OPERATING REVENUES

 

Set forth below is a summary of operating revenues for each of the Company’s segments.segments (in thousands, except percentages).

 

  

Three Months Ended March 31


  

($000)

  

Three Months Ended

September 30


  

Nine Months Ended

September 30


  

2003


  

%


  

2002


  

%


  2003

  %

  2002

  %

  2003

  %

  2002

  %

Financial Services:

                                    

Title Insurance:

                                    

Direct operations

  

$

484,308

  

37

  

$

387,174

  

38

  $654,861  39  $464,893  40  $1,721,134  38  $1,271,670  39

Agency operations

  

 

448,996

  

34

  

 

356,797

  

35

   589,632  35   393,034  33   1,547,386  35   1,128,453  34
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

 

933,304

  

71

  

 

743,971

  

73

   1,244,493  74   857,927  73   3,268,520  73   2,400,123  73

Specialty Insurance

  

 

46,144

  

4

  

 

29,312

  

3

   55,180  3   37,426  3   152,213  3   100,318  3

Trust and Other Services

  

 

9,905

  

1

  

 

11,156

  

1

   10,523  1   9,647  1   30,630  1   32,341  1
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

 

989,353

  

76

  

 

784,439

  

77

   1,310,196  78   905,000  77   3,451,363  77   2,532,782  77
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

Information Technology:

                                    

Mortgage Information

  

 

139,108

  

11

  

 

108,130

  

11

   163,473  10   119,718  10   459,837  10   336,378  10

Property Information

  

 

82,280

  

6

  

 

55,110

  

5

   97,952  6   71,024  6   278,254  6   183,587  6

Credit Information

  

 

62,528

  

5

  

 

52,999

  

5

   62,200  3   56,642  5   193,844  4   160,189  5

Screening Information

  

 

31,594

  

2

  

 

22,662

  

2

   47,625  3   26,732  2   116,565  3   74,101  2
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

 

315,510

  

24

  

 

238,901

  

23

   371,250  22   274,116  23   1,048,500  23   754,255  23
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

Total

  

$

1,304,863

  

100

  

$

1,023,340

  

100

Total Operating Revenues

  $1,681,446  100  $1,179,116  100  $4,499,863  100  $3,287,037  100
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

 

Financial Services. Operating revenues from direct title operations increased 25.1%40.9% and 35.3% for the current quarterthree and nine months ended September 30, 2003, respectively, when compared with the same periodperiods of the prior year. This increase wasThese increases were primarily due to an increase in the number of title orders closed by the Company’s direct operations and an increase in the average revenues per order closed.operations. The Company’s direct operations closed 455,700589,300 and 1,578,100 title orders during the current three and nine month period, an increaseperiods, respectively, increases of 16.0%38.7% and 31.6% when compared with 393,000 title orders425,000 and 1,199,500 closed during the same periodperiods of the prior year. This increase wasThese increases were primarily due to the high level of real estate activity. The average revenues per order closed were $1,063 forfactors mentioned above in the three months ended March 31, 2003, an increase of 7.9% when compared with $985 for the three months ended March 31, 2002. This increase was primarily due to appreciating home values.Overview section. Operating revenues from agency operations increased 25.8%50.0% and 37.1% for the current quarterthree and nine months ended September 30, 2003, respectively, when compared with the same periodperiods of the prior year. This increase wasThese fluctuations were primarily due to the same factorfactors affecting direct title operations as well asand to the timing of the reporting of agency remittances. Specialty insurance operating revenues increased 57.4%47.4% and 51.7% for the current quarterthree and nine months ended September 30, 2003, respectively, when compared with the same period of the prior year. This increase was primarily due to market share growth at the property and casualty insurance division and geographic expansion at the Company’s home warranty division. Trust and other services operating revenues decreased 11.2% for the current quarter when compared with the same period of the prior year. This decrease was primarily attributable to a reduction in fees earned do to the declining values of the investment portfolios managed by this segment.

Information Technology.    Operating revenues for the mortgage information, property information and credit information segments increased 28.7%, 49.3% and 18.0%, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2003, when compared with the same periodperiods of the prior year. These increases were primarily due to geographic expansion at the high levelCompany’s home warranty division and market share growth at the property and casualty insurance division.

Information Technology. Mortgage information operating revenues increased 36.6% and 36.7% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003, respectively, when compared with the same periods of the prior year. These increases were primarily due to market share gains and to the increase in real estate activity. Property information operating revenues increased 37.9% and 51.6% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003, respectively, when compared with the same periods of the prior year. These increases were primarily attributable to market share gains, the increase in real estate activity, and for the property information segment, $12.2$15.1 million and $44.5 million of operating revenues contributed by new acquisitions. Credit information operating revenues increased 9.8% and 21.0% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003, respectively, when compared with the same periods of the prior year. These increases were primarily due to an increase in the demand for mortgage credit information offset in part by a $6.2 million reduction in operating revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2003, due to the previously announced sale of the Company’s subsidiary, FASTRAC Systems, Inc., in the latter part of the third quarter of 2002. Screening information operating revenues increased 39.4%78.2% and 57.3% for the three and nine months ended March 31,September 30, 2003, respectively, when compared with the same periodperiods of the prior year. This increase wasThese increases were primarily attributable to $6.8$19.9 million and $37.3 million of operating revenues contributed by new acquisitions.acquisitions for the respective periods.

INVESTMENT AND OTHER INCOME

 

Investment and other income totaled $24.6$29.5 million and $81.9 million for the three and nine months ended March 31,September 30, 2003, an increaserespectively, representing increases of $5.8$6.7 million, or 30.7%29.2%, and $20.7 million, or 33.7%, when compared with the same periodperiods of the prior year. ThisThese increases resulted primarily from an increase primarily reflects increasedin earnings from affiliated companies,unconsolidated affiliates, which are accounted for under the equity method of accounting, offset in part by lower yields on cash equivalents and the Company’s investment portfolio due to the current lower rate environment.accounting.

10


 

NET REALIZED INVESTMENT GAINS (LOSSES)

 

Net realized investment gains totaled $12.5$5.8 million and $19.9 million for the three and nine months ended March 31,September 30, 2003, respectively, compared with $59,000losses totaling $5.9 million and 18.5 million for the same period of the prior year.three and nine months ended September 30, 2002, respectively. The current year quarternine-month period included a $13.1 million realized investment gain associated with the merger of the Company’s Credit Online business with DealerTrack Holdings, Inc. Included in both prior year periods was a $2.6 million loss associated with the sale of the Company’s subsidiary, FASTRAC Systems, Inc., and in the prior year nine-month period, $13.6 million of investment losses resulting from the write-down of WorldCom bonds.

 

TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES

 

Financial Services. Salaries and other personnel costs for the Financial Services group, which primarily reflects the title insurance segment, were $294.7$362.6 million and $976.9 million for the three and nine months ended March 31,September 30, 2003, an increaserespectively, increases of $39.5$80.6 million, or 15.5%28.6%, and $168.3 million, or 20.8%, when compared with the same periodperiods of the prior year. This increase wasThese increases were primarily attributable to incremental labor costs associated withincurred to service the processing and closing of increased order volumes (i.e., overtime,increase in business volume, offset in part time help and commissions) atby operational efficiencies in the title insurance operations, wheresegment which resulted from the Company experienced a 25.9% increase in total order volume for the three months ended March 31, 2003, when compared with the same period of the prior year.Company’s FAST technology and related cost-cutting initiatives. Salaries and other personnel costs as a percentage of operating revenues for the Financial Services group were 29.8%27.7% and 28.3% for the three and nine months ended March 31,September 30, 2003, down from 32.5%respectively, and 31.2% and 31.9% for the same periodrespective periods of the prior year.

 

Agents retained $365.7$477.5 million or 81.5%and $1.25 billion of title premiums generated by agency operations for the three and nine months ended March 31,September 30, 2003, respectively, which compares with $284.3$322.1 million or 79.7%and $915.3 million for the same periodperiods of the prior year. The change in the percentage of title premiums retained by agents wasranged from 80.9% to 82.0% due to regional variances (i.e., the agency share varies from region to region and thus the geographical mix of agency revenues causes this variation).

 

Other operating expenses for the Financial Services group, which primarily reflect the title insurance segment, were $161.8$205.2 million and $554.9 million for the three and nine months ended March 31,September 30, 2003, an increaserespectively, increases of $22.2$56.5 million, or 15.9%38.0%, and $124.3 million, or 29.0%, when compared with the same periodperiods of the prior year. This increase wasThese increases were primarily the result of incremental costs incurred to service the increase in business volume. Other operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenues for the Financial Services group were 16.4%15.7% and 16.1% for the three and nine months ended March 31,September 30, 2003, down from 17.8%and 16.4% and 17.0% for the same periodrespective periods of the prior year.

 

The provision for policy losses and other claims primarily represents title insurance claims, home warranty claims and property and casualty insurance claims. For the title insurance segment, the claims provision as a percentage of title insurance operating revenues was 4.0%4.1% for both the current quarternine-month period and 4.0% for the same period of the prior year. This increase in rate reflects marginal adverse claims development experience for certain prior policy years. For the home warranty segment,business, the claims provision as a percentage of home warranty operating revenues was 44.2%49.5% for the current quarter, down from 47.5%nine-month period and 50.4% for the same period of the prior year. This decrease in rate was primarily due to a reduction in the average cost per claim, which was primarily attributable to the elimination of higher-cost contractors. Invendor contractors that were servicing claims in new geographic areas. For the property and casualty insurance segment,business, the claims provision for losses as a percentage of property and casualty insurance operating revenues was 78.9%66.6% for the current quarter, up from 57.2%nine-month period and 64.6% for the same quarterperiod of the prior year. This increase in rate was due to high claims activity experienced primarily during the currentfirst quarter of 2003 resulting primarily from insured property damaged in Southern California as a result of extraordinarily high winds experienced during the beginning of the quarter.wind conditions.

 

Premium taxes, which relate to the title insurance and specialty insurance segments, were $10.5$36.8 million and $7.2$24.5 million for the threenine months ended March 31,September 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Premium taxes as a percentage of title insurance and specialty insurance operating revenues ranged from 0.9% towere 1.1%. This for the current nine-month period and 1.0% for the same period of the prior year. The slight variation in rate was primarily due to the composition and geographical mix of the operating revenues (i.e., tax rates and bases vary from state to state).

Information Technology.Information technology personnel and other operating expenses were $224.6$251.3 million and $715.6 million for the three and nine months ended March 31,September 30, 2003, an increaserespectively, increases of $46.6$58.3 million, or 26.2%30.2%, and $163.2 million, or 29.6%, when compared with the same periodperiods of the prior year. Excluding acquisitions,acquisition activity, the increase was $34.1increases were $25.9 million, or 19.1%. This increase was13.4% for the current three-month period, and $98.4 million, or 17.8% for the current nine-month period. These increases were primarily due to costs incurred to service the increase in business volume costs incurred to integrate new acquisitions and increased technology costs. Personnel and other operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenues for the Information Technologyinformation technology group were 71.2%67.7% and 68.3% for the three and nine months ended March 31,September 30, 2003, respectively, down from 74.5%70.4% and 73.2% for the same periodperiods of the prior year.

11


 

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND MINORITY INTERESTS

 

Set forth below is a summary of income before income taxes and minority interests for each of the Company’s segments.segments (in thousands except percentages).

 

  

Three Months Ended March 31


  

Three Months Ended

September 30


  

Nine Months Ended

September 30


  

($000)

  2003

  %

  2002

  %

  2003

  %

  2002

   %

  

2003


   

%


  

2002


   

%


Financial Services:

            

Title Insurance

  

$

86,766

 

  

46

  

$

39,652

 

  

37

Specialty Insurance

  

 

5,839

 

  

3

  

 

5,682

 

  

5

Financial Services

                     

Title Insurance and Services

  $167,478  58  $80,026  50  $394,279  53  $169,788   44

Speciality Insurance

   8,741  3   6,014  4   22,821  3   17,855   5

Trust and Other Services

  

 

2,441

 

  

1

  

 

4,225

 

  

4

   2,960  1   2,443  1   8,403  1   11,255   3
  


  
  


  
  


 
  


 
  


 
  


  
  

 

95,046

 

  

50

  

 

49,559

 

  

46

   179,179  62   88,483  55   425,503  57   198,898   52
  


  
  


  
  


 
  


 
  


 
  


  

Information Technology:

            

Information Technology

                     

Mortgage Information

  

 

45,797

 

  

24

  

 

31,505

 

  

30

   64,733  23   39,188  24   173,183  23   100,245   26

Property Information

  

 

23,443

 

  

12

  

 

11,645

 

  

11

   26,976  9   21,405  13   82,809  11   48,070   13

Credit Information

  

 

26,607

 

  

14

  

 

12,653

 

  

12

   14,987  5   10,943  7   59,565  8   30,827   8

Screening Information

  

 

515

 

  

0

  

 

782

 

  

1

   2,525  1   1,120  1   6,258  1   3,868   1
  


  
  


  
  


 
  


 
  


 
  


  
  

 

96,362

 

  

50

  

 

56,585

 

  

54

   109,221  38   72,656  45   321,815  43   183,010   48
  


  
  


  
  


 
  


 
  


 
  


  

Total before corporate expenses

  

 

191,408

 

  

100

  

 

106,144

 

  

100

Total before corporate

   288,400  100   161,139  100   747,318  100   381,908   100
     
     
    
    
    
     

Corporate expenses

  

 

(27,915

)

     

 

(17,585

)

   

Corporate

   (27,641)     (32,117)     (83,313)     (84,273)   
  


     


     


    


    


    


   

Total

  

$

163,493

 

     

$

88,559

 

     $260,759     $129,022     $664,005     $297,635    
  


     


     


    


    


    


   

 

In general, the title insurance business is a lower profit margin business when compared to the Company’s other segments. The lower profit margins reflect the high cost of producing title evidence whereas the corresponding revenues are subject to regulatory and competitive pricing restraints. Due to this relatively high proportion of fixed costs, title insurance profit margins generally improve as closed order volumes increase. In addition, title insurance profit margins are affected by the composition (residential or commercial) and type (resale, refinancing or new construction) of real estate activity. Profit margins from resale and new construction transactions are generally higher than from refinancing transactions because in many states there are premium discounts on, and cancellation rates are higher for, refinance transactions. Title insurance profit margins are also affected by the percentage of operating revenues generated by agency operations. Profit margins from direct operations are generally higher than from agency operations due primarily to the large portion of the premium that is retained by the agent. Most of the businesses included in the Information Technology group are database intensive, with a relatively high proportion of fixed costs. As such, profit margins generally improve as revenues increase. Revenues for the mortgage and property information segments, like the title insurance segment, are primarily dependent on the level of real estate activity and the cost and availability of mortgage funds. Revenues for the credit information segment are in part impacted by real estate activity, but also by the consumer and automobile sectors. Corporate expenses totaled $27.9 million for the current quarter, an increase of $10.3 million when compared with the same period of the prior year. This increase was primarily due to a $1.7 million increase in technology costs and higher general costs associated with the support effort needed to service the Company’s expanded national and international operations

 

INCOME TAXES

 

The effective income tax rate (income tax expense as a percentage of pretax income after minority interest expense) was 39.0%39.3% for the threenine months ended March 31September 30, 2003, and 41.3%39.8% for the same period of the prior year. The decrease in effective rate was primarily attributable to changes in the ratio of permanent differences to pretax profits. A large portion of the Company’s minority interest expense is attributable to a limited liability company subsidiary that,which, for tax purposes, is treated as a partnership; and accordingly,partnership. Accordingly, no income taxes have been provided.

12provided for that portion of the minority interest expense.


MINORITY INTERESTS

 

Minority interest expense was $19.9$26.8 million and $75.9 million for the three and nine months ended March 31,September 30, 2003, an increaserespectively, increases of $6.4$7.9 million and $29.9 million when compared with the same periodperiods of the prior year. This increase wasThese increases were primarily attributable to the increase in operating results of the Company’s joint venture with Experian.

 

NET INCOME

 

Net income for the three and nine months ended March 31,September 30, 2003, was $87.6$141.8 million, or $1.05$1.62 per diluted share.share, and $356.9 million, or $4.15 per diluted share, respectively. Net income for the three and nine months ended March 31,September 30, 2002, was $44.1$67.4 million, or $0.57$0.84 per diluted share. The current year quarter included a realized pretax gain on the merger of the Company’s Credit Online business with DealerTrack Holdings, Inc. of $13.1share, and $151.6 million, $8.0 million on an after-tax basis, or $0.09$1.91 per diluted share.share, respectively.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Total cash and cash equivalents increased $42.0$355.0 million and decreased $13.3$90.5 million for the threenine months ended March 31,September 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The increase for the current year period as well as for the prior year period was primarily due primarily to cash providedgenerated by operating activities, offset in part by capital expenditures, purchases of debt and equity securities, the cash paid foreffect of company acquisitions, paymentsthe repayment of debt, distributions to minority shareholders and cash dividends. The decrease for the prior-year period was primarily due to purchases of debt and equity securities, capital expenditures, cash paid for company acquisitions, payments to minority shareholders and cash dividends, offset in part by cash provided by operating activities.

 

Notes and contracts payable as a percentage of total capitalization decreased to 19.7%21.6% at March 31,September 30, 2003 from 20.7%25.6% at December 31, 2002. This decrease was primarily due to an increase in equity due primarily to the net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 and debt repayments. In May 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 150, “Accounting for Certain Financial instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity. This statement became effective for the current period.quarter and establishes standards for how an issuer classifies and measures certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and equity. The implementation of this statement required the Company to reclassify its “Mandatorily redeemable preferred securities of the Company’s subsidiary trust whose sole assets are the Company’s $100,000,000 8.5% deferrable interest subordinated notes due 2012” as debt.

On October 1, 2003, the Company completed the previously announced acquisition of Transamerica Finance Corporation’s real estate tax service and flood hazard certification businesses for a net purchase price of $375.0 million. The acquisition was made through the Company’s 80% owned joint venture with Experian. There was no debt assumed in the transaction and the purchase price was funded with $125.0 million of existing cash at the joint venture, a $200.0 million contribution from the Company and a $50.0 million contribution from Experian.

 

Management believes that all of its anticipated operating cash requirements for the immediate future will be met from internally generated funds.

 

Item 3 – 3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The Company’s primary exposure to market risk relates to interest rate risk associated with certain financial instruments. Although the Company monitors its risk associated with fluctuations in interest rates, it does not currently use derivative financial instruments to hedge these risks.

The Company is also subject to equity price risk as related to its equity securities. Although the Company has operations in certain foreign countries, these operations, in the aggregate, are not material to the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

 

There have been no material changes in the Company’s risk since filing its Form 10K for the year ended December 31, 2002.

 

Item 4.    Controls and Procedures

The Company’s President and Chief Financial Officer, after evaluating the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, have concluded that, as of the end of the fiscal quarter covered by this report on Form 10-Q, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurances that information required to be disclosed in the reports filed or submitted under such Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms.

There was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended September 30, 2003 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II:Other Information

Item 6.Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K.

 

 (a)Exhibits

Based upon an evaluation
(10)(a)Amendment No. 1, dated June 30, 2003, to Contribution and Joint Venture Agreement By and Among The First American Financial Corporation and Experian Information Solutions, Inc., et al, dated November 30, 1997.
(10)(b)Amendment No. 2, dated September 23, 2003, to Contribution and Joint Venture Agreement By and Among The First American Financial Corporation and Experian Information Solutions, Inc., et al., dated November 30, 1997.
(31)(a)Certification by the Company’s President and Chief FinancialExecutive Officer within 90 days priorPursuant to the filing date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, they have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rule 13a-14(c)13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, are effective for gathering, analyzing and disclosing the information the Company is required to disclose in its reports filed under such Act.1934.

(31)(b) there were no significant changes inCertification by Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Company’s internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the dateSecurities Exchange Act of the evaluation referred to above.1934.

Part II:    Other Information

Item 6.    Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K.

(32)(a) Exhibits

(10)

Amendment No. 2, dated February 1, 2003, to Deferred Compensation Plan

(99)(a)

Certification by Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.

(99)

(32)(b)

 

Certification by Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.

 

13


(b)    Reports on Form 8-K

(b)Reports on Form 8-K

 

During the quarterly period covered by this report, the Company filed a report on Form 8-K dated February 12,September 4, 2003 (reporting on fourth quarter(announcing the Company’s intent to acquire Transamerica Finance Corporation’s tax and full year 2002 earnings)flood companies). Subsequent to such quarterly period, the Company filed a report on Form 8-K dated April 23,October 1, 2003 (announcing the completion of the acquisition of Transamerica Finance Corporation’s tax and flood companies) and furnished a report on Form 8-K dated October 22, 2003 (reporting on firstthird quarter 2003 earnings).

 

SIGNATURES

 

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 thereunto duly authorized.

 

THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION


(Registrant)

/s/    THOMAS A. KLEMENS        


Thomas A. Klemens


Executive Vice President


Chief Financial Officer

/S/s/    MAX O. VALDES        


Max O. Valdes


Vice President


Chief Accounting Officer

 

Date: May 15,November 14, 2003

14


CERTIFICATIONS

I, Parker S. Kennedy, certify that:

1.    I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of The First American Corporation (“registrant”);

2.    Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

3.    Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

4.    The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:

a)  designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

b)  evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the “Evaluation Date”); and

c)  presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5.    The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

a)  all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

b)  any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and

6.    The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

Date:  May 15, 2003

/s/ PARKER S. KENNEDY        


Parker S. Kennedy

President

(Principal Executive Officer)

15


I, Thomas A. Klemens, certify that:

1.    I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of The First American Corporation (“ registrant”);

2.    Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

3.    Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

4.    The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 1ad-14) for the registrant and we have:

a)  designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

b)  evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the “Evaluation Date”); and

c)  presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5.    The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

a)  all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

b)  any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and

6.    The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

Date:  May 15, 2003

/s/    THOMAS A. KLEMENS        


Thomas A. Klemens

Senior Executive Vice President,

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

16


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.



 

Description


  

Sequentially
Numbered Page



(10)

(a)
 

Amendment No. 2,1, dated February 1,June 30, 2003, to Deferred Compensation Plan.

Contribution and Joint Venture Agreement By and Among The First American Financial Corporation and Experian Information Solutions, Inc., et al, dated November 30, 1997.
   

(99)(a)

(10)(b)
 

Amendment No. 2, dated September 23, 2003, to Contribution and Joint Venture Agreement By and Among The First American Financial Corporation and Experian Information Solutions, Inc., et al., dated November 30, 1997.

(31)(a)Certification by Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(31)(b)Certification by Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(32)(a)Certification by Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.

   

(99)(32)(b)

 

Certification by Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.

   

17