CINCINNATI FINANCIAL CORPORATION
Mailing Address: P.O. BOX 145496
CINCINNATI, OHIO 45250-5496
(513) 870-2000
Investor Contact: Heather J. Wietzel
(513) 870-2768
Media Contact: Joan O. Shevchik
(513) 603-5323
Cincinnati Financial Third-quarter Net Income and Operating Income* at 66 Cents
Cincinnati, November 1, 2006 – Cincinnati Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: CINF) today reported:
·
Third-quarter and nine-month net and operating income in line with previous announcement.
·
Record book value of $37.32 per share.
·
Results tempered by rising loss severity and by storm activity that will lead to record year for catastrophe losses.
Financial Highlights
| | | | | | | | | | |
(Dollars in millions except share data) | | Three months ended September 30, | | Nine months ended September 30, |
| 2006 | | 2005 | Change % | | 2006 | | 2005 | Change % |
Revenue Highlights | | | | | | | | | | |
Earned premiums | $ | 819 | $ | 790 | 3.6 | $ | 2,446 | $ | 2,361 | 3.6 |
Investment income | | 144 | | 134 | 7.5 | | 425 | | 390 | 9.0 |
Total revenues | | 967 | | 944 | 2.4 | | 3,556 | | 2,801 | 27.0 |
Income Statement Data | | | | | | | | | | |
Net income | $ | 115 | $ | 117 | (1.6) | $ | 800 | $ | 419 | 90.7 |
Net realized investment gains and losses | | 0 | | 10 | (100.8) | | 427 | | 24 | 1,690.9 |
Operating income* | $ | 115 | $ | 107 | 7.5 | $ | 373 | $ | 395 | (5.6) |
Per Share Data (diluted) | | | | | | | | | | |
Net income | $ | 0.66 | $ | 0.66 | 0.0 | $ | 4.56 | $ | 2.37 | 92.4 |
Net realized investment gains and losses | | 0.00 | | 0.05 | nm | | 2.43 | | 0.14 | 1,635.7 |
Operating income* | $ | 0.66 | $ | 0.61 | 8.2 | $ | 2.13 | $ | 2.23 | (4.5) |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Book value | | | | | | $ | 37.32 | $ | 34.43 | 8.4 |
Cash dividend declared | $ | 0.335 | $ | 0.305 | 9.8 | $ | 1.005 | $ | 0.90 | 11.7 |
Weighted average shares outstanding | 175,260,063 | 176,806,267 | (0.9) | 175,542,616 | 177,212,677 | (0.9) |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Insurance Operations Highlights
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2.4 percent and 3.2 percent increases in three- and nine-month property casualty net written premiums.
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Strong commercial lines growth with three-month net written premiums up 6.5 percent and new business at $89 million.
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Third-quarter personal lines new business up 14.4 percent. Rate changes made effective July 1, 2006, have better positioned personal lines products in certain markets.
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96.1 percent and 94.2 percent three- and nine-month property casualty combined ratios, in line with previous announcement.
·
Catastrophe losses contributed 3.5 and 5.5 percentage points to the 2006 three- and nine-month combined ratios. In the comparable 2005 periods, catastrophe losses contributed 8.6 and 3.6 percentage points to the ratios.
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5 cents and 15 cents contribution from the life insurance segment to three- and nine-month 2006 operating income.
Investment and Balance Sheet Highlights
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7.5 percent and 9.0 percent growth in three- and nine-month pretax investment income.
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Book value of $37.32 at September 30, 2006, up $2.44 from year-end 2005 level. Invested assets rose on new investments, interest-rate-driven improvement in bond values and appreciation of equity portfolio.
Full-year 2006 Outlook in Line with October 23, 2006, Announcement**
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Property casualty written premiums target unchanged at 2+ percent growth in full-year 2006. Growth in commercial lines is more than offsetting the expected decline in personal lines.
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Combined ratio target raised to a range of 94 percent to 95 percent including at least 5.0 percentage points from full-year catastrophe losses, from a range of 92 percent to 94 percent including 4.0 to 4.5 percentage points.
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Investment income growth target unchanged at 8.0 percent to 8.5 percent range for full-year 2006.
*
The Definitions of Non-GAAP Information and Reconciliation to Comparable GAAP Measures on Page 12 defines and reconciles measures presented in this release that are not based on Generally Accepted Accounting Principles or Statutory Accounting Principles.
**
Outlook and related assumptions are subject to the risks outlined in the company's forward-looking information safe-harbor statement (see Page 9).
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Overall Results and Long-term Position
“Third-quarter property casualty underwriting results reflected the normal ebb and flow of the insurance business. As we reported on a preliminary basis on October 23, a few business lines showed some inconsistency because of rising loss severity, including higher new large losses. We are further studying those lines so they can receive the attention necessary. We are confident we are working effectively to address each set of circumstances appropriately,” said John J. Schiff, Jr., CPCU, chairman and chief executive officer. “Looking at the big picture, many aspects of our third-quarter performance were exemplary and strengthened our confidence in our long-term outlook..
“In the insurance area, our largest commercial and personal business lines reported healthy third-quarter results, in line with recent trends. Business policyholders are continuing to respond favorably to their local independent agents’ presentation of the Cincinnati value proposition – customized, multi-year coverage packages, superior claims service, our A++ rating from A.M. Best Co. and a local field force. Personal lines policyholders are responding favorably to agents’ presentation of new pricing for Cincinnati’s personal lines products,leading to the first quarter-over-quarter increase in new personal lines businesssince the fourth quarter of 2002. And our life insurance operation continued to contribute to income, an important balance to the inevitable swings in property casualty insurance results.”
Turning to investments, Schiff added, “Our buy-and-hold equity investing strategy drives the company’s long-term growth and stability and contributed again in the third quarter. Investment income growth was healthy, helped by dividends from our equity holdings. New investments, interest-rate driven improvement in bond values and appreciation of the equity portfolio led to higher investment assets and a $2.44 gain in book value from year-end to a record $37.32.”
Schiff said, “Our long-standing strategy is to be strong on agency relationships, claims service and reserving, and total return investing. We continued during the third quarter to protect and build on these advantages, providing a stable market for our agents’ business and producing steady value for our shareholders.”
Year-to-date Catastrophe Losses
James E. Benoski, vice chairman, chief insurance officer and president, said, “This year, as in 2005, policyholders have had ample opportunities to benefit from the Cincinnati relationship. After a number of second quarter storms, severe weather continued across the Midwest during the third quarter. Policyholders affected by an April hailstorm also continue to report claims, moving the total from that storm above our initial estimate. Of the more than 8,500 catastrophe claims reported for storms during the first nine months of this year, approximately 93 percent are already closed. Our claims representatives’ prompt responses and personal approach reflect positively on our agents, supporting their marketing efforts to value-oriented clients.
“In early October, a Midwest storm caused heavy hail damage in central Ohio, resulting in at least $35 million of losses for our policyholders. Of the approximately 1,500 losses we have received from policyholders affected by that storm, more than 68 percent are already closed,” Benoski noted.
2006 Property Casualty Outlook Update
Kenneth W. Stecher, chief financial officer and executive vice president commented, “In view of the healthy investment income and premium trends, we remain comfortable with the targets for these measures we provided last quarter. Investment income growth should be between 8.0 and 8.5 percent. Our consolidated property casualty written premium growth should be at least 2 percent for the year compared with the 2.6 percent increase in 2005.
“As we announced on October 23, we have modified our expected range for the combined ratio to 94 percent to 95 percent, including at least 5.0 percentage points from full-year catastrophe losses. Catastrophe losses through nine months totaled $130 million, and we’ve already experienced one major storm in October. The rising level of large, non-catastrophe losses in the third quarter took away some of the cushion we had to handle this year’s higher level of catastrophe losses. Without any additional storms, we’re already at a record level that will add at least 5 percentage points to the full-year combined.”
2
Looking at other aspects of the combined ratio, Stecher said, “We continue to believe that savings in 2006 from favorable loss reserve development from prior accident years is likely to reduce the 2006 combined ratio by 2 to 3 percentage points, in line with historical levels. Net savings from favorable development improved this year’s third-quarter loss and loss expense ratio by 4.9 percentage points. For the first nine months of 2006, savings improved the ratio by 1.5 percentage points. In 2005 and 2004, savings – particularly for liability coverages – were at a higher-than-normal level.”
Opportunities
Schiff added, “We plan to finish the year with more agencies than ever, carefully appointing only the most professionally managed agencies in each area where we see opportunities to bring Cincinnati’s insurance products and services to families and businesses. This high-quality representation is an advantage we have been carefully expanding. We made 49 agency appointments in the first nine months, near our target of 55 to 60 new agency appointments for the year. These new appointments and other changes in agency structures brought total reporting agency locations to 1,286, a net increase of 34 since year-end 2005.
“The agencies that market our insurance products recently helped The Cincinnati Insurance Companies rank among the top companies in a survey conducted by Greenwich Associates, an independent financial services research firm. Greenwich surveyed a broad cross-section of agents and brokers to statistically measure carriers on fundamental qualitative measures, including client loyalty, claims coordination, competitive pricing and coverage.”
Schiff concluded, “We continue to target above-industry-average growth in written premiums and industry-leading profitability. We believe that our 2006 performance will support our ability to reward shareholders over the long term.”
3
Property Casualty Insurance Operations
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(Dollars in millions) | | Three months ended September 30, | | Nine months ended September 30, |
2006 | 2005 | Change % | | 2006 | | | 2005 | | Change % |
Written premiums | $ | 780 | | $ | 761 | | 2.4 | $ | 2,423 | | $ | 2,349 | | 3.2 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Earned premiums | $ | 791 | | $ | 765 | | 3.4 | $ | 2,362 | | $ | 2,283 | | 3.5 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss and loss expenses excluding catastrophes | | 489 | | | 435 | | 12.2 | | 1,375 | | | 1,312 | | 4.8 |
Catastrophe loss and loss expenses | | 27 | | | 66 | | (58.2) | | 130 | | | 83 | | 57.2 |
Commission expenses | | 147 | | | 151 | | (2.6) | | 452 | | | 451 | | 0.4 |
Underwriting expenses | | 94 | | | 84 | | 11.4 | | 256 | | | 225 | | 13.7 |
Policyholder dividends | | 3 | | | 3 | | 39.4 | | 12 | | | 7 | | 56.5 |
Underwriting profit | $ | 31 | | $ | 26 | | 19.0 | $ | 137 | | $ | 205 | | (33.4) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios as a percent of earned premiums: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss and loss expenses excluding catastrophes | | 61.7 | % | | 56.9 | % | | | 58.3 | % | | 57.5 | % | |
Catastrophe loss and loss expenses | | 3.5 | | | 8.6 | | | | 5.5 | | | 3.6 | | |
Loss and loss expenses | | 65.2 | | | 65.5 | | | | 63.8 | | | 61.1 | | |
Commission expenses | | 18.7 | | | 19.8 | | | | 19.1 | | | 19.7 | | |
Underwriting expenses | | 11.8 | | | 11.0 | | | | 10.8 | | | 9.9 | | |
Policyholder dividends | | 0.4 | | | 0.3 | | | | 0.5 | | | 0.3 | | |
Combined ratio | | 96.1 | % | | 96.6 | % | | | 94.2 | % | | 91.0 | % | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Property Casualty Insurance Highlights
·
2.4 percent rise in three-month 2006 property casualty written premiums, with a 3.2 percent nine-month increase. The 2006 net written premium growth rates were increased by the net effect of reinsurance reinstatement premiums and assumed pool adjustments in the third quarter of 2005. These added 0.5 and 0.1 percentage points, respectively, to the growth rates for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006.
·
$98 million in new business written directly by agencies compared with $79 million in last year’s three months. Nine-month new business rose 16.1 percent to $268 million from $231 million.
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1,065 agency relationships with 1,286 reporting locations marketing our insurance products at September 30, 2006, up from 1,024 agency relationships with 1,252 locations at year-end 2005.
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3.2 percentage point increase in the nine-month property casualty combined ratio due to rising loss severity, catastrophe losses, a lower level of savings from favorable development on prior period reserves and underwriting expenses, including stock option expensing.
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$27 million in third-quarter 2006 catastrophe losses, reflecting $19 million from weather events during the period and $8 million of development on catastrophe events in prior periods. $130 million in nine-month 2006 catastrophe losses contributed 5.5 percentage points to the nine-month combined ratio.
| | | | |
2006 Year-to-date Events | Dates | States Primarily Affected | Reported Claims (as of October 27) | Loss Estimate (pretax, net of reinsurance) |
Midwest tornadoes and severe weather | Mar. 11-13 | Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma | 1,629 | $38 million |
Midwest wind and hail | Apr. 2-3 | Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee | 1,227 | $18 million |
Midwest wind and hail | Apr. 6-8 | Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, Ohio, Tennessee | 976 | $10 million |
Midwest wind and hail | Apr. 13-15 | Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin | 3,360 | $38 million |
Midwest wind, hail and flood | Jun. 18-22 | Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin | 535 | $5 million |
Midwest wind, hail and flood | Jul. 19-21 | Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee and Wisconsin | 472 | $6 million |
Midwest wind, hail and flood | Aug. 23-25 | Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin | 337 | $8 million |
Midwest wind, hail and flood | Oct. 2-4 | Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin | 1,479 | $35 million |
·
Three-month 2006 net savings from favorable development on prior period reserves improved the combined ratio by 4.9 percentage points. In last year’s third quarter, savings improved the ratio by 6.5 percentage points.
·
Nine-month 2006 net savings from favorable development improved the combined ratio by 1.5 percentage points. In the comparable 2005 period, savings improved the ratio by 3.5 percentage points. The year-over-year differences largely related to development on commercial casualty losses, which can fluctuate due to the nature and size of liability policies and limits, such as those on commercial umbrella policies.
The Definitions of Non-GAAP Information and Reconciliation to Comparable GAAP Measures on Page 12 defines and reconciles measures presented in this release that are not based on Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (non-GAAP).
4
Commercial Lines Insurance Operations
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(Dollars in millions) | | Three months ended September 30, | | Nine months ended September 30, |
| 2006 | | | 2005 | | Change % | | 2006 | | | 2005 | | Change % |
Written premiums | $ | 582 | | $ | 546 | | 6.5 | $ | 1,853 | | $ | 1,741 | | 6.4 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Earned premiums | $ | 602 | | $ | 564 | | 6.7 | $ | 1,783 | | $ | 1,678 | | 6.3 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss and loss expenses excluding catastrophes | | 363 | | | 307 | | 18.1 | | 1,020 | | | 942 | | 8.4 |
Catastrophe loss and loss expenses | | 14 | | | 53 | | (73.4) | | 77 | | | 62 | | 24.4 |
Commission expenses | | 109 | | | 110 | | (0.5) | | 331 | | | 325 | | 2.1 |
Underwriting expenses | | 74 | | | 64 | | 14.2 | | 190 | | | 160 | | 18.5 |
Policyholder dividends | | 3 | | | 3 | | 39.4 | | 12 | | | 7 | | 56.5 |
Underwriting profit | $ | 39 | | $ | 27 | | 44.9 | $ | 153 | | $ | 182 | | (16.0) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios as a percent of earned premiums: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss and loss expenses excluding catastrophes | | 60.2 | % | | 54.4 | % | | | 57.3 | % | | 56.1 | % | |
Catastrophe loss and loss expenses | | 2.3 | | | 9.5 | | | | 4.3 | | | 3.7 | | |
Loss and loss expenses | | 62.5 | | | 63.9 | | | | 61.6 | | | 59.8 | | |
Commission expenses | | 18.2 | | | 19.5 | | | | 18.6 | | | 19.4 | | |
Underwriting expenses | | 12.2 | | | 11.4 | | | | 10.6 | | | 9.5 | | |
Policyholder dividends | | 0.5 | | | 0.4 | | | | 0.6 | | | 0.5 | | |
Combined ratio | | 93.4 | % | | 95.2 | % | | | 91.4 | % | | 89.2 | % | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Commercial Lines Insurance Highlights
·
6.5 percent growth in three-month 2006 commercial lines net written premiums with a 6.4 percent nine-month increase. 2006 net written premium growth rates were increased by the effect of reinsurance reinstatement premiums in the third quarter of 2005. These added 1.0 and 0.3 percentage points, respectively, to the growth rates for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006.
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$89 million in new commercial lines business written directly by agencies in third-quarter 2006, up 25.1 percent. Nine-month new commercial lines business rose 18.5 percent to $244 million.
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91.4 percent nine-month 2006 commercial lines combined ratio. The ratio rose 2.2 percentage points largely because of higher catastrophe losses, a lower level of savings from favorable development on prior period reserves and rising loss severity, including an increase in the number of losses greater than $1 million.
·
0.8 percentage-point decrease in nine-month commercial lines commission expense ratio, primarily due to lower profit-sharing commissions on lower overall underwriting profits.
·
1.2 percentage-point increase in nine-month noncommission expense ratio, including policyholder dividends. The rise largely was due to higher technology and staffing expenses. Stock option expense contributed 0.5 percentage points.
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Commercial property and commercial casualty – the company’s two largest commercial business lines – reported strong growth and healthy profitability, with nine-month loss and loss expense ratios excluding catastrophes improved from the year ago period.
·
Commercial auto and workers’ compensation results in line with previous announcement. In addition to rising loss severity and a higher number of new large losses, commercial auto results reflected the increasing competition in the commercial lines marketplace and workers’ compensation reflected a review we made of established case reserves.
·
Continued commercial lines growth anticipated due to strong agency relationships, which promoted healthy new business growth and policyholder retention.
The Definitions of Non-GAAP Information and Reconciliation to Comparable GAAP Measures on Page 12 defines and reconciles measures presented in this release that are not based on Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (non-GAAP).
5
Personal Lines Insurance Operations
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(Dollars in millions) | | Three months ended September 30, | | Nine months ended September 30, |
| 2006 | | | 2005 | | Change % | | 2006 | | | 2005 | | Change % |
Written premiums | $ | 198 | | $ | 215 | | (8.0) | $ | 570 | | $ | 608 | | (6.1) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Earned premiums | $ | 189 | | $ | 201 | | (5.9) | $ | 579 | | $ | 605 | | (4.4) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss and loss expenses excluding catastrophes | | 126 | | | 128 | | (1.9) | | 355 | | | 370 | | (4.2) |
Catastrophe loss and loss expenses | | 13 | | | 13 | | 6.4 | | 53 | | | 21 | | 153.9 |
Commission expenses | | 38 | | | 41 | | (8.0) | | 121 | | | 126 | | (4.1) |
Underwriting expenses | | 20 | | | 20 | | 2.3 | | 66 | | | 65 | | 1.9 |
Underwriting profit (loss) | $ | (8) | | $ | (1) | | (670.2) | $ | (16) | | $ | 23 | | (169.2) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios as a percent of earned premiums: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss and loss expenses excluding catastrophes | | 66.6 | % | | 63.9 | % | | | 61.3 | % | | 61.1 | % | |
Catastrophe loss and loss expenses | | 7.1 | | | 6.3 | | | | 9.2 | | | 3.5 | | |
Loss and loss expenses | | 73.7 | | | 70.2 | | | | 70.5 | % | | 64.6 | | |
Commission expenses | | 20.1 | | | 20.5 | | | | 20.8 | | | 20.8 | | |
Underwriting expenses | | 10.6 | | | 9.8 | | | | 11.5 | | | 10.7 | | |
Combined ratio | | 104.4 | % | | 100.5 | % | | | 102.8 | % | | 96.1 | % | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Personal Lines Insurance Highlights
·
8.0 percent decrease in three-month 2006 personal lines net written premiums with a 6.1 percent nine-month decrease. 2006 net written premium growth rates include the net effect of reinsurance reinstatement premiums and assumed pool adjustments in the third quarter of 2005. These reduced the decline by 0.8 and 0.3 percentage points, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006.
·
14.4 percent increase in third-quarter new personal lines business to $9 million compared with $8 million in the third quarter of 2005, the first quarter-over-quarter increase in new personal lines business since the fourth quarter of 2002. New personal lines business written directly by agencies was $24 million in the first nine months of 2006, compared with $25 million in year-ago period.
·
102.8 percent nine-month 2006 personal lines combined ratio. The 6.7 percentage-point increase reflected a 5.7 percentage point rise in the contribution from catastrophe losses.
·
Increase in three- and nine-month noncommission underwriting expense ratio, largely due to higher technology and staffing expenses. The adoption of stock option expensing contributed 0.4 and 0.5 percentage points to the three- and nine-month increases, respectively.
·
Diamond, the company’s personal lines policy processing system, in use in 13 states that represent approximately 90 percent of total 2005 personal lines earned premium volume. 2006 rollout to Georgia, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Tennessee and Wisconsin agents completed on schedule. Plans for 2007 include the introduction of Diamond in Pennsylvania, Virginia and other low-volume states.
·
Personal auto – the company’s largest personal business line – reported healthy profitability, with the nine-month loss and loss expense ratio excluding catastrophe losses improved from the year ago period.
·
Homeowner results in line with previous announcement. In addition to rising loss severity and a higher number of new large losses, homeowner results reflect industrywide trends of higher material costs and insured property values as well as rising deductibles.
·
Decrease in full-year 2006 personal lines premiums expected. Effective July 1, a limited program of policy credits to incorporate insurance scores into pricing of personal auto and homeowner policies was introduced in most states where the Diamond system is in use. This program lowers premiums for some existing policyholders. These changes can contribute to higher levels of new business and improved policyholder retention by making rates more competitive for agents’ better customers.
The Definitions of Non-GAAP Information and Reconciliation to Comparable GAAP Measures on Page 12 defines and reconciles measures presented in this release that are not based on Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (non-GAAP).
6
Life Insurance Operations
| | | | | | | | | | |
(In millions) | Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, |
2006 | 2005 | Change % | 2006 | 2005 | Change % |
Written premiums | $ | 40 | $ | 56 | (28.7) | $ | 121 | $ | 163 | (25.6) |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Earned premiums | $ | 28 | $ | 25 | 9.4 | $ | 84 | $ | 78 | 6.9 |
Investment income, net of expenses | | 27 | | 25 | 9.2 | | 81 | | 73 | 10.0 |
Other income | | 0 | | 1 | (20.6) | | 2 | | 3 | 0.5 |
Total revenues, excluding realized investment gains and losses | | 55 | | 51 | 8.8 | | 167 | | 154 | 8.3 |
Policyholder benefits | | 33 | | 27 | 21.2 | | 92 | | 77 | 19.2 |
Expenses | | 9 | | 12 | (19.8) | | 33 | | 37 | (9.9) |
Total benefits and expenses | | 42 | | 39 | 9.1 | | 125 | | 114 | 9.7 |
Net income before income tax and realized investment gains and losses | | 13 | | 12 | 7.8 | | 42 | | 40 | 4.2 |
Income tax | | 4 | | 4 | 7.0 | | 15 | | 13 | 12.4 |
Net income before realized investment gains and losses | $ | 9 | $ | 8 | 8.2 | $ | 27 | $ | 27 | 0.0 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Life Insurance Highlights
·
$121 million in nine-month total life insurance operations net written premiums, compared with $163 million in year-ago period. Written premiums include life insurance, annuity and accident and health premiums.
·
13.2 percent increase to $94 million in statutory written premiums for term and other life insurance products in the first nine months of 2006. Since late 2005, the company has de-emphasized annuities because of an unfavorable interest rate environment. Statutory written annuity premiums decreased to $24 million in the first nine months of 2006 from $77 million in the comparable prior period.
·
8.2 percent rise in face amount of life policies in force to $55.691 billion at September 30, 2006, from $51.493 billion at year-end 2005.
·
$11 million increase in nine-month benefits and expenses primarily due to higher mortality expenses compared with the year-earlier periods, although mortality experience remained within pricing guidelines. Adoption of stock option expensing added approximately $1 million to other operating expenses.
·
29.4 percent rise in first-nine month 2006 term life insurance written premiums, benefiting from the 2005 introduction of a new series of term products. Termsetter Plus series includes an optional return-of-premium feature. Response to the new portfolio has been favorable, with approximately 25 percent of applications requesting the return-of-premium feature.
·
Cash value accumulation universal life products introduced for adults and children to further round out the universal life portfolio.
The Definitions of Non-GAAP Information and Reconciliation to Comparable GAAP Measures on Page 12 defines and reconciles measures presented in this release that are not based on Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (non-GAAP).
7
Investment Operations
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(In millions) | | Three months ended September 30, | | Nine months ended September 30, |
| 2006 | | | 2005 | | Change % | | 2006 | | | 2005 | | Change % |
Investment income: |
Interest | $ | 74 | | $ | 70 | | 6.1 | $ | 225 | | $ | 208 | | 8.2 |
Dividends | | 67 | | | 64 | | 5.2 | | 194 | | | 180 | | 7.5 |
Other | | 4 | | | 2 | | 130.0 | | 11 | | | 6 | | 78.8 |
Investment expenses | | (1) | | | (2) | | 9.9 | | (5) | | | (4) | | (14.4) |
Total net investment income | | 144 | | | 134 | | 7.5 | | 425 | | | 390 | | 9.0 |
Investment interest credited to contract holders | | (14) | | | (13) | | (3.4) | | (40) | | | (38) | | (6.0) |
Net realized investment gains and losses: |
Realized investment gains and losses | | (2) | | | 12 | | (117.3) | | 667 | | | 41 | | 1,519.9 |
Change in valuation of embedded derivatives | | 2 | | | 5 | | (56.0) | | 5 | | | (2) | | 353.6 |
Other-than-temporary impairment charges | | 0 | | | (1) | | nm | | (1) | | | (1) | | 41.7 |
Net realized investment gains (losses) | | 0 | | | 16 | | nm | | 671 | | | 38 | | 1,683.6 |
Investment operations income | $ | 130 | | $ | 137 | | (4.8) | $ | 1,056 | | $ | 390 | | 171.1 |
|
Balance Sheet
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
(Dollars in millions except share data) | | | | | | | At September 30, | At December 31, |
| | | | | | | 2006 | | | 2005 | |
Balance sheet data | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Invested assets | | | | | | | $ | 13,104 | | $ | 12,702 | |
Total assets | | | | | | | | 17,671 | | | 16,003 | |
Short-term debt | | | | | | | | 49 | | | 0 | |
Long-term debt | | | | | | | | 791 | | | 791 | |
Shareholders' equity | | | | | | | | 6,464 | | | 6,086 | |
Book value per share | | | | | | | | 37.32 | | | 34.88 | |
Debt-to-capital ratio | | | | | | | | 11.5 | % | | 11.5 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three months ended Sept. 30, | Nine months ended Sept. 30, |
| | 2006 | | | 2005 | | | 2006 | | | 2005 | |
Performance measures | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Comprehensive income (loss) | $ | 455 | | $ | (59) | | $ | 609 | | $ | (39) | |
Return on equity, annualized | | 7.4 | % | | 7.7 | % | | 17.0 | % | | 9.1 | % |
Return on equity, annualized, based on comprehensive income | | 29.1 | | | (3.9) | | | 12.9 | | | (0.8) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investment and Balance Sheet Highlights
·
7.5 percent increase in three-month pretax net investment income with 9.0 percent increase for the nine months. Fifth Third Bancorp, the company’s largest equity holding, contributed 44.2 percent of total nine-month dividend income.
·
Growth in investment income reflected new investments, higher interest income from the growing fixed-maturity portfolio and increased dividend income from the common stock portfolio. In addition, proceeds from the sale of the ALLTEL Corporation holding used to make the applicable tax payments in June 2006 were invested in short-term instruments that generated approximately $5 million in interest income in the first nine months of 2006.
·
$15 million annually in additional investment income expected from dividend increases announced during the 12 months ended September 30, 2006, by Fifth Third and another 37 of the 49 common stock holdings in the equity portfolio.
·
$671 million in nine-month net realized investment gains (pretax) including $647 million due to the first-quarter sale of the company’s holdings of ALLTEL common stock.
·
Book value of $37.32 at September 30, 2006, up $2.44 from year-end 2005 level. Invested assets at September 30, 2006, rose from year-end 2005because of new investments, interest-rate-driven improvement in bond values and appreciation of the equity portfolio.
·
142,566 shares repurchased in third quarter. Raised nine-month repurchase activity to 2.15 million shares for a total cost of $95 million.
·
$4.616 billion in statutory surplus for the property casualty insurance group at September 30, 2006, compared with $4.194 billion at year-end 2005. The ratio of common stock to statutory surplus for the property casualty insurance group portfolio was 92.6 percent at September 30, 2006, compared with 97.0 percent at year-end 2005.
·
30.9 percent ratio of investment securities held at the holding-company level to total holding-company-only assets at September 30, 2006, comfortably within management’s below-40 percent target.
The Definitions of Non-GAAP Information and Reconciliation to Comparable GAAP Measures on Page 12 defines and reconciles measures presented in this release that are not based on Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (non-GAAP).
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Cincinnati Financial Corporation offers property and casualty insurance, its main business, through The Cincinnati Insurance Company, The Cincinnati Indemnity Company and The Cincinnati Casualty Company. The Cincinnati Life Insurance Company markets life and disability income insurance and annuities. CFC Investment Company offers commercial leasing and financing services. CinFin Capital Management Company provides asset management services to institutions, corporations and individuals. For additional information about the company, please visit www.cinfin.com.
For additional information or to register for this morning’s conference call webcast, please visitwww.cinfin.com/investors.
This is our “Safe Harbor” statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Our business is subject to certain risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements in this report. Some of those risks and uncertainties are discussed in our 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Item 1A, Risk Factors, Page 21. Although we often review or update our forward-looking statements when events warrant, we caution our readers that we undertake no obligation to do so.
Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to:
·
Unusually high levels of catastrophe losses due to risk concentrations, changes in weather patterns, environmental events, terrorism incidents or other causes
·
Increased frequency and/or severity of claims
·
Inaccurate estimates or assumptions used for critical accounting estimates
·
Events or actions, including unauthorized intentional circumvention of controls, that reduce the company’s future ability to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
·
Events or conditions that could weaken or harm the company’s relationships with its independent agencies and hamper opportunities to add new agencies, resulting in limitations on the company’s opportunities for growth, such as:
○
Downgrade of the company’s financial strength ratings,
○
Concerns that doing business with the company is too difficult
○
Perceptions that the company’s level of service, particularly claims service, is no longer a distinguishing characteristic in the marketplace or
○
Regulations or laws that change industry or company practices for our agents.
·
Delays or inadequacies in the development, implementation, performance and benefits of technology projects and enhancements
·
Ability to obtain adequate reinsurance on acceptable terms, amount of reinsurance purchased, financial strength of reinsurers and the potential for non-payment or delay in payment by reinsurers
·
Increased competition that could result in a significant reduction in the company’s premium growth rate
·
Underwriting and pricing methods adopted by competitors that could allow them to identify and flexibly price risks, which could decrease our competitive advantages
·
Actions of insurance departments, state attorneys general or other regulatory agencies that:
○
Place the insurance industry under greater regulatory scrutiny or result in new statutes, rules and regulations
○
Increase our expenses
○
Add assessments for guaranty funds, other insurance related assessments or mandatory reinsurance arrangements; or that impair our ability to recover such assessments through future surcharges or other rate changes
○
Limit our ability to set fair, adequate and reasonable rates
○
Place us at a disadvantage in the marketplace or
○
Restrict our ability to execute our business model, including the way we compensate agents
·
Sustained decline in overall stock market values negatively affecting the company’s equity portfolio and book value; in particular a sustained decline in the market value of Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ:FITB) shares, a significant equity holding
·
Recession or other economic conditions or regulatory, accounting or tax changes resulting in lower demand for insurance products
·
Events that lead to a significant decline in the value of a particular security and impairment of the asset
·
Prolonged medium- and long-term low interest rate environment or other factors that limit the company’s ability to generate growth in investment income
·
Adverse outcomes from litigation or administrative proceedings
·
Investment activities or market value fluctuations that trigger restrictions applicable to the parent company under the Investment Company Act of 1940
·
Events, such as an avian flu epidemic, natural catastrophe or construction delays, that could hamper our ability to assemble our workforce at our headquarters location
Further, the company’s insurance businesses are subject to the effects of changing social, economic and regulatory environments. Public and regulatory initiatives have included efforts to adversely influence and restrict premium rates, restrict the ability to cancel policies, impose underwriting standards and expand overall regulation. The company also is subject to public and regulatory initiatives that can affect the market value for its common stock, such as recent measures affecting corporate financial reporting and governance. The ultimate changes and eventual effects, if any, of these initiatives are uncertain.
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Cincinnati Financial Corporation
Consolidated Balance Sheets
| | | | | | |
(Dollars in millions except per share data) | | September 30, | | December 31, |
| 2006 | | 2005 |
| | | | (unaudited) | | |
ASSETS | | | | | | |
Investments |
Fixed maturities, at fair value (amortized cost: 2006—$5,719; 2005—$5,387) | | $ | 5,790 | $ | 5,476 |
Equity securities, at fair value (cost: 2006—$2,574; 2005—$2,128) | | | | 7,256 | | 7,106 |
Short-term investments, at fair value (amortized cost: 2005—$75) | | | | 0 | | 75 |
Other invested assets | | | | 58 | | 45 |
Cash and cash equivalents | | | | 239 | | 119 |
Securities lending collateral | | | | 1,016 | | 0 |
Investment income receivable | | | | 115 | | 117 |
Finance receivable | | | | 106 | | 105 |
Premiums receivable | | | | 1,166 | | 1,116 |
Reinsurance receivable | | | | 701 | | 681 |
Prepaid reinsurance premiums | | | | 13 | | 14 |
Deferred policy acquisition costs | | | | 458 | | 429 |
Land, building and equipment, net, for company use (accumulated depreciation: 2006—$253; 2005—$232) | | 185 | | 168 |
Other assets | | | | 63 | | 66 |
Separate accounts | | | | 505 | | 486 |
Total assets | | | $ | 17,671 | $ | 16,003 |
|
LIABILITIES |
Insurance reserves | | | | | | |
Loss and loss expense reserves | | | $ | 3,878 | $ | 3,661 |
Life policy reserves | | | | 1,389 | | 1,343 |
Unearned premiums | | | | 1,623 | | 1,559 |
Securities lending payable | | | | 1,016 | | 0 |
Other liabilities | | | | 459 | | 455 |
Deferred income tax | | | | 1,497 | | 1,622 |
Notes payable | | | | 49 | | 0 |
6.125% senior notes due 2034 | | | | 371 | | 371 |
6.9% senior debentures due 2028 | | | | 28 | | 28 |
6.92% senior debenture due 2028 | | | | 392 | | 392 |
Separate accounts | | | | 505 | | 486 |
Total liabilities | | | | 11,207 | | 9,917 |
|
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY |
Common stock, par value-$2 per share; authorized: 2006-500 million shares, 2005- 500 million shares; issued: 2006-195 million shares, 2005-194 million shares | | 391 | | 389 |
Paid-in capital | | | | 1,005 | | 969 |
Retained earnings | | | | 2,714 | | 2,088 |
Accumulated other comprehensive income | | 3,093 | | 3,284 |
Treasury stock at cost (2006—22 million shares, 2005—20 million shares) | | (739) | | (644) |
Total shareholders' equity | | | | 6,464 | | 6,086 |
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity | | | $ | 17,671 | $ | 16,003 |
|
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Cincinnati Financial Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Income
| | | | | | | | | |
(In millions except per share data) | | Three months ended Sept. 30, | | Nine months ended Sept. 30, |
| 2006 | | 2005 | | 2006 | | 2005 |
| | (unaudited) | (unaudited) |
REVENUES | | | | | | | | | |
Earned premiums | | | | |
Property casualty | | $ | 791 | $ | 765 | $ | 2,362 | $ | 2,283 |
Life | | | 28 | | 25 | | 84 | | 78 |
Investment income, net of expenses | | | 144 | | 134 | | 425 | | 390 |
Realized investment gains and losses | | | 0 | | 16 | | 671 | | 38 |
Other income | | | 4 | | 4 | | 14 | | 12 |
Total revenues | | | 967 | | 944 | | 3,556 | | 2,801 |
| | | | |
BENEFITS AND EXPENSES | | | | |
Insurance losses and policyholder benefits | | | 549 | | 528 | | 1,596 | | 1,470 |
Commissions | | | 156 | | 160 | | 478 | | 476 |
Other operating expenses | | | 83 | | 74 | | 243 | | 213 |
Taxes, licenses and fees | | | 19 | | 17 | | 58 | | 52 |
Increase in deferred policy acquisition costs | | | (5) | | (5) | | (27) | | (23) |
Interest expense | | | 13 | | 13 | | 39 | | 39 |
Other expenses | | | 4 | | 6 | | 12 | | 12 |
Total benefits and expenses | | | 819 | | 793 | | 2,399 | | 2,239 |
| | | | |
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES | | | 148 | | 151 | | 1,157 | | 562 |
| | | | |
PROVISION (BENEFIT) FOR INCOME TAXES | | | | |
Current | | | 23 | | 19 | | 363 | | 126 |
Deferred | | | 10 | | 15 | | (6) | | 17 |
Total provision for income taxes | | | 33 | | 34 | | 357 | | 143 |
| | | | |
NET INCOME | | $ | 115 | $ | 117 | $ | 800 | $ | 419 |
| | | | |
PER COMMON SHARE | | | | |
Net income—basic | | $ | 0.67 | $ | 0.67 | $ | 4.61 | $ | 2.39 |
Net income—diluted | | $ | 0.66 | $ | 0.66 | $ | 4.56 | $ | 2.37 |
| | | | |
Since 1996, Cincinnati Financial has disclosed the estimated impact of stock options on net income and earnings per share in a Note to the Financial Statements. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005, diluted net income would have been reduced by approximately 2 cents and 6 cents per share, if option expense, calculated using the binomial option-pricing model, were included as an expense.
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