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 First-quarter 2007 Net Income at $1.11 per Share and
Operating Income* at 88 Cents
Cincinnati, May 2, 2007 – Cincinnati Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: CINF) today reported:
·
Net income of $1.11 per share, below year-ago level that included high realized gains on investments.
·
Operating income up 18.9 percent to 88 cents per share on healthy insurance results and higher investment income.
·
Property casualty underwriting profits of $81 million reflect strong commercial lines insurance performance including lower catastrophe losses.
Financial Highlights
| | | | | | |
(Dollars in millions except share data) | | Three months ended March 31, | |
| | 2007 | | 2006 | Change % | |
Revenue Highlights | | | | | | |
Earned premiums | $ | 815 | $ | 804 | 1.3 | |
Investment income | | 148 | | 139 | 7.1 | |
Total revenues | | 1,031 | | 1,607 | (35.9) | |
Income Statement Data | | | | | | |
Net income | $ | 194 | $ | 552 | (64.8) | |
Net realized investment gains and losses | | 41 | | 421 | (90.2) | |
Operating income* | $ | 153 | $ | 131 | 16.4 | |
Per Share Data (diluted) | | | | | | |
Net income | $ | 1.11 | $ | 3.13 | (64.5) | |
Net realized investment gains and losses | | 0.23 | | 2.39 | (90.4) | |
Operating income* | $ | 0.88 | $ | 0.74 | 18.9 | |
| | | | | | | |
Book value | $ | 39.08 | $ | 35.85 | 9.0 | |
Cash dividend declared | $ | 0.355 | $ | 0.335 | 6.0 | |
Weighted average shares outstanding | | 174,274,157 | | 176,127,404 | (1.1) | |
| | | | | | | |
Insurance Operations Highlights
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2.1 percent increase in first-quarter property casualty net written premiums.
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Strong commercial lines growth with first-quarter 2007 net written premiums up 3.8 percent and new business written by our agencies up 2.8 percent to $72 million.
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Decline in personal lines net written premiums slowed to 5.1 percent for first-quarter 2007. New business was up 25.4 percent to $8 million and retention rates remained above 90 percent as pricing changes made July 1, 2006, continue to improve agents’ ability to market personal lines.
·
89.6 percent first-quarter 2007 property casualty combined ratio, reflecting low catastrophe losses from first-quarter storms and reduced loss estimates for prior-year storms.
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7 cents per share contribution from the life insurance operations to first-quarter operating income, up from 4 cents.
Investment and Balance Sheet Highlights
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7.1 percent growth in first-quarter pretax investment income.
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Book value of $39.08 per share compared with $39.38 at year-end 2006.
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1.9 million reduction in average shares outstanding. First-quarter repurchases of the company's common stock totaled 1.49 million shares at a cost of $64 million.
Full-year 2007 Outlook**
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Property casualty net written premiums expected to grow at low-single-digit rate in 2007. New agency appointments and new states to help drive long-term growth.
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Combined ratio now expected to be at or below 97 percent in 2007, assuming catastrophe losses contribute approximately 5.0 percentage points.
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Investment income growth target at 6.5 percent to 7.0 percent range for 2007.
*
The Definitions of Non-GAAP Information and Reconciliation to Comparable GAAP Measures on Page 11 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 8).
1
New States and New Agency Appointments to Support Continued Growth
“The value that local independent insurance agents bring to The Cincinnati Insurance Companies again proved itself in this year’s first quarter,” said John J. Schiff, Jr., CPCU, chairman and chief executive officer. “Their quality business submissions are helping us achieve profitable commercial lines premium growth. They are again selling the value of our homeowner and personal auto policies, as seen in our improved personal lines new business growth and policy retention.
“With special efforts and teamwork, our agents, field representatives and headquarters associates have maintained positive underwriting momentum in the face of commercial lines competition that is softening pricing and pressuring margins across the industry. For our commercial and personal lines of insurance, loss severity continues to be higher than one year ago, although our severity measures held steady at the same level we saw in the second half of 2006,” Schiff noted. “We have faced similarly challenging market conditions in the past, benefiting from agent and policyholder loyalty that grows out of our commitment to offer outstanding service and market stability through all stages of the pricing cycle.”
James E. Benoski, vice chairman, chief insurance officer and president, said, “We continue to invest in tools to meet our agents’ long-term needs. We plan to increase their ease of doing business with us in 2007, further rolling out our Web-based policy processing systems and other tools. Cincinnati has earned a generous share of each agency’s business over the years by offering the products and services they need to protect their local businesses and families. Our agents have indicated their desire to have Cincinnati available as a market for commercial accounts that require the flexibility of excess and surplus lines coverage. We now are taking steps to establish a new subsidiary to tap that opportunity for our agencies and our company. In 2008, we expect to begin seeing some premiums from excess and surplus lines.”
Benoski added, “In addition to growing with our current agencies, we also continue to build relationships with selected new agencies, whether by making agency appointments in our active states or by entering new geographic areas. We completed 12 agency appointments in the first three months, a good start toward achieving our target of approximately 55 to 60 for the year. These new appointments and other changes in agency structures brought total reporting agency locations to 1,291, compared with 1,289 at year-end 2006.
“Our preparations to begin actively marketing in New Mexico and eastern Washington are on schedule for the second half of 2007, with agencies in those areas showing great interest in securing Cincinnati appointments.”
2007 Property Casualty Outlook Update
Kenneth W. Stecher, chief financial officer and executive vice president commented, “While we expect competition to continue accelerating in most property casualty business lines, we believe that our strong agency relationships will lead to full-year 2007 net written premium growth in the low single-digits. That estimate takes into account an anticipated $22 million increase in the premiums we pay for reinsurance.”
Stecher added, “Overall profitability was solid in the first quarter due to strong results from commercial lines, reflecting the benefits of low catastrophe losses and savings from favorable development on prior period reserves. With those benefits as well as a favorable expense comparison, first-quarter personal lines profitability also was acceptable. We remain concerned, however, about personal lines pricing and loss activity.
“In light of our solid first-quarter performance, in mid-April we announced that we believe that the full-year combined ratio could be at or below 97 percent on either a GAAP or statutory basis. We make several assumptions to arrive at this estimate. First, we assume that catastrophe losses will contribute approximately 5.0 percentage points to the full-year ratio, down from 5.5 percentage points in 2006.
“Second, we assume that the loss and loss expense ratio will rise on competitive pricing and higher loss costs. Third, we will benefit from full-year favorable reserve development in line with the 2 percentage points in savings from favorable development on prior period reserves that we averaged between 2000 and 2003.
“Finally, we are assuming a full-year underwriting expense ratio of approximately 31.5 percent, reflecting continued investment in people and technology during a period of slowing premium growth,” Stecher said.
Investment Strategy Key to Long-term Growth and Stability
Schiff continued, “After paying from cash flow all current liabilities such as claims, expenses, taxes and interest, we invest the remainder to generate income while increasing policyholder surplus and shareholders’ equity. In the first quarter of 2007, we continued to buy fixed income securities to support our insurance liabilities.
“In seeking long-term growth and stability, we also buy and hold common stocks of companies that regularly pay and increase their dividends,” Schiff noted. “We are looking for pretax investment income growth in the range of 6.5 percent to 7.0 percent in 2007, and we continue to select and hold securities in our portfolio that give us an opportunity to further build book value, an important measure of our long-term success.”
2
Property Casualty Insurance Operations
| | | | | | | | |
(Dollars in millions) | Three months ended March 31, | |
2007 | 2006 | Change % | |
Written premiums | $ | 846 | | $ | 829 | | 2.1 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Earned premiums | $ | 785 | | $ | 778 | | 0.8 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Loss and loss expenses excluding catastrophes | | 455 | | | 432 | | 5.1 | |
Catastrophe loss and loss expenses | | 3 | | | 39 | | (91.8) | |
Commission expenses | | 161 | | | 157 | | 2.5 | |
Underwriting expenses | | 82 | | | 84 | | (2.8) | |
Policyholder dividends | | 3 | | | 4 | | (2.1) | |
Underwriting profit | $ | 81 | | $ | 62 | | 30.9 | |
| | |
Ratios as a percent of earned premiums: | | | | | | | | |
Loss and loss expenses excluding catastrophes | | 57.9 | % | | 55.6 | % | | |
Catastrophe loss and loss expenses | | 0.4 | | | 5.0 | | | |
Loss and loss expenses | | 58.3 | | | 60.6 | | | |
Commission expenses | | 20.5 | | | 20.2 | | | |
Underwriting expenses | | 10.4 | | | 10.8 | | | |
Policyholder dividends | | 0.4 | | | 0.4 | | | |
Combined ratio | | 89.6 | % | | 92.0 | % | | |
| |
·
2.1 percent rise in first-quarter property casualty net written premiums.
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$80 million in first-quarter new business written directly by agencies, up 4.8 percent.
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1,065 agency relationships with 1,291 reporting locations marketing our insurance products at March 31, 2007, compared with 1,066 agency relationships with 1,289 locations at year-end 2006.
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89.6 percent first-quarter 2007 property casualty combined ratio. The ratio improved by 2.4 percentage points largely due to lower catastrophe losses and savings from favorable development of prior period reserves.
·
$3 million in net first-quarter 2007 catastrophe losses, reflecting $16 million from four weather events during the quarter, mitigated by $13 million in reduced estimates of losses from catastrophes in earlier years, in particular an October 2006 hail storm.
Catastrophe Loss and Loss Expenses Incurred
| | | | | | | | | |
(In millions, net of reinsurance) | | Three months ended March 31, |
| | | | Commercial | | Personal | | | |
Dates | Cause of loss | Region | | lines | | lines | | Total | |
2007 | | | | | | | | | |
Jan. 12-15 | Wind, hail, ice, snow | Midwest | $ | 2 | $ | 1 | $ | 3 | |
Feb. 14-15 | Wind, hail, ice, snow | Mid-Atlantic | | 1 | | 1 | | 2 | |
Feb. 23-25 | Wind, hail, ice, snow | Midwest | | 3 | | 0 | | 3 | |
Mar. 1-2 | Wind, hail, flood | South | | 6 | | 2 | | 8 | |
Development on 2006 and prior catastrophes | | (2) | | (11) | | (13) | |
Calendar year incurred total | $ | 10 | $ | (7) | $ | 3 | |
2006 | | | | | | | | | |
Mar. 11-13 | Wind, hail | Midwest, Mid-Atlantic | $ | 28 | $ | 10 | $ | 38 | |
Development on 2005 and prior catastrophes | | 1 | | 0 | | 1 | |
Calendar year incurred total | $ | 29 | $ | 10 | $ | 39 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
·
First-quarter 2007 net savings from favorable development on prior period reserves improved the combined ratio by 4.0 percentage points. Excluding reduced estimates for prior year catastrophe losses, net savings from favorable development improved the combined ratio by 2.3 percentage points. In last year’s first quarter, reserve strengthening increased the combined ratio by 2.5 percentage points.
The Definitions of Non-GAAP Information and Reconciliation to Comparable GAAP Measures on Page 11 defines and reconciles measures presented in this release that are not based on Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (non-GAAP).
3
Commercial Lines Insurance Operations
| | | | | | | | |
(Dollars in millions) | Three months ended March 31, | |
2007 | 2006 | Change % | |
Written premiums | $ | 693 | | $ | 668 | | 3.8 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Earned premiums | $ | 604 | | $ | 582 | | 3.7 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Loss and loss expenses excluding catastrophes | | 344 | | | 324 | | 5.8 | |
Catastrophe loss and loss expenses | | 10 | | | 29 | | (63.9) | |
Commission expenses | | 123 | | | 117 | | 5.6 | |
Underwriting expenses | | 57 | | | 53 | | 5.9 | |
Policyholder dividends | | 3 | | | 4 | | (2.1) | |
Underwriting profit | $ | 67 | | $ | 55 | | 21.3 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Ratios as a percent of earned premiums: | | | | | | | | |
Loss and loss expenses excluding catastrophes | | 56.9 | % | | 55.7 | % | | |
Catastrophe loss and loss expenses | | 1.8 | | | 5.1 | | | |
Loss and loss expenses | | 58.7 | | | 60.8 | | | |
Commission expenses | | 20.4 | | | 20.0 | | | |
Underwriting expenses | | 9.3 | | | 9.1 | | | |
Policyholder dividends | | 0.5 | | | 0.6 | | | |
Combined ratio | | 88.9 | % | | 90.5 | % | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
·
3.8 percent growth in first-quarter commercial lines net written premiums.
·
$72 million in new commercial lines business written directly by agencies in first-quarter 2007, up 2.8 percent.
·
88.9 percent first-quarter 2007 commercial lines combined ratio. The ratio improved 1.6 percentage points largely because lower catastrophe losses and savings from favorable development of prior period reserves offset softer pricing and higher loss severity.
·
56.9 percent commercial lines loss and loss expense ratio excluding catastrophe losses. The ratio rose 1.2 percentage points because of softer pricing and higher loss severity mitigated by reserve development. New large losses in the commercial auto and workers’ compensation business lines were in line with the third and fourth quarters of 2006.
·
First-quarter 2007 commercial lines net savings from favorable development on prior period reserves improved the combined ratio by 2.5 percentage points. Excluding reduced estimates for prior year catastrophe losses, net savings from favorable reserve development improved the ratio by 2.1 percentage points. In last year’s first quarter, reserve strengthening raised the combined ratio by 2.7 percentage points.
·
0.4 percentage-point increase in first-quarter 2007 commercial lines commission expense ratio and 0.2 percentage point increase in underwriting expense ratio.
·
Commercial casualty, commercial property and workers’ compensation – three of the company’s four largest commercial business lines – reported net written premium growth in the first quarter of 2007. New business and policy retention continued to offset pricing pressures due to competitive market conditions. In line with recent quarters, the fourth of the largest business lines – commercial auto – saw net written premiums decline slightly due to softer pricing.
·
First-quarter rollout of CinciBridge™ integrates agency management systems used by all agencies with WinCPP®, the company’s online, real-time commercial lines rate quoting system.
·
Upcoming rollout of CinciBridge will integrate agency management systems with e-CLAS®, the company’s processing system for Businessowner (BOP) and Dentist’s Package (DBOP) Policies. e-CLAS currently is available in 10 states representing 56 percent of BOP and DBOP premiums. 2007 plans for e-CLAS rollout include 10 additional states.
The Definitions of Non-GAAP Information and Reconciliation to Comparable GAAP Measures on Page 11 defines and reconciles measures presented in this release that are not based on Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (non-GAAP).
4
Personal Lines Insurance Operations
| | | | | | | | |
(Dollars in millions) | Three months ended March 31, | |
2007 | 2006 | Change % | |
Written premiums | $ | 153 | | $ | 161 | | (5.1) | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Earned premiums | $ | 181 | | $ | 196 | | (7.6) | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Loss and loss expenses excluding catastrophes | | 111 | | | 108 | | 2.8 | |
Catastrophe loss and loss expenses | | (7) | | | 10 | | (176.3) | |
Commission expenses | | 38 | | | 40 | | (6.6) | |
Underwriting expenses | | 25 | | | 31 | | (18.0) | |
Underwriting profit | $ | 14 | | $ | 7 | | 107.1 | |
| | |
Ratios as a percent of earned premiums: | | | | | | | | |
Loss and loss expenses excluding catastrophes | | 61.4 | % | | 55.1 | % | | |
Catastrophe loss and loss expenses | | (4.1) | | | 5.0 | | | |
Loss and loss expenses | | 57.3 | | | 60.1 | | | |
Commission expenses | | 20.9 | | | 20.7 | | | |
Underwriting expenses | | 13.8 | | | 15.6 | | | |
Combined ratio | | 92.0 | % | | 96.4 | % | | |
| | |
·
5.1 percent decrease in first-quarter personal lines net written premiums because of higher reinsurance premiums and pricing changes made in mid-2006 that lowered rates while improving policyholder retention and new business.
·
First-quarter 2007 personal lines new business rose 25.4 percent to $8 million. Third consecutive quarter of improvement in the new business growth rate following July 2006 introduction of a limited program of policy credits for homeowner and personal auto pricing in most of the states in which the company’s personal lines policy processing system is in use. These changes also lowered premiums for some current policyholders.
·
92.0 percent first-quarter 2007 personal lines combined ratio. The 4.4 percentage-point improvement primarily was due to $7 million in net savings from catastrophe losses compared with $10 million in catastrophe losses in the first quarter of 2006, and a favorable 2007 expense comparison.
·
61.4 percent personal lines loss and loss expense ratio excluding catastrophe losses. The ratio rose 6.3 percentage points because of the lower pricing, normal loss cost trends and higher loss severity mitigated by reserve development.
·
First-quarter 2007 personal lines net savings from favorable development on prior period reserves improved the combined ratio by 9.1 percentage points. Excluding reduced estimates for prior year catastrophe losses, net savings from favorable development was 3.0 percentage points. In last year’s first quarter, reserve strengthening raised the combined ratio by 2.0 percentage points.
·
0.2 percentage-point increase in first-quarter personal lines commission expense ratio, primarily due to changes in the mix of personal business compared with the year-ago period.
·
1.8 percentage point improvement in personal lines underwriting expense ratio. In the first three months of 2006, underwriting expenses were high due to normal fluctuations in operating expenses and the timing of expense items.
·
Agencies writing personal lines policies in 15 states now use Diamond, the company’s personal lines policy processing system, with rollout to two other states planned for later in 2007. Approximately 95 percent of total 2006 personal lines earned premium volume was written in active Diamond states.
·
New product offerings for 2007 and 2008 include the rollout of a new coverage endorsement – Replacement Cost Auto. This optional coverage provides for replacement of a totaled auto with a new auto, if the accident occurs in the first three years after the policyholder purchases a new car. An optional endorsement for personal auto policies that includes eight additional coverages will be rolled out in the third quarter of 2007. These coverages will increase towing and rental limits, pay for lock replacement if the policyholder’s keys are lost or stolen and pay for accidental deployment of an airbag, among others.
·
Personal lines have been added recently in 24 of our commercial lines agencies and with a target of an additional 25 commercial lines agencies during the remainder of the year. Expanding into these agencies would provide additional sources of premiums and help diversify the personal lines portfolio.
The Definitions of Non-GAAP Information and Reconciliation to Comparable GAAP Measures on Page 11 defines and reconciles measures presented in this release that are not based on Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (non-GAAP).
5
Life Insurance Operations
| | | | | | |
(In millions) | | Three months ended March 31, | |
| | 2007 | | 2006 | Change % | |
Written premiums | $ | 42 | $ | 40 | 5.5 | |
| | | | | | | |
Earned premiums | $ | 30 | $ | 26 | 15.7 | |
Investment income, net of expenses | | 28 | | 26 | 7.8 | |
Other income | | 1 | | 1 | 83.1 | |
Total revenues, excluding realized investment gains
and losses | | 59 | | 53 | 12.7 | |
Policyholder benefits | | 27 | | 30 | (9.8) | |
Expenses | | 13 | | 10 | 28.7 | |
Total benefits and expenses | | 40 | | 40 | 0.1 | |
Net income before income tax and
realized investment gains and losses | | 19 | | 13 | 53.3 | |
Income tax | | 6 | | 5 | 31.9 | |
Net income before realized investment
gains and losses | $ | 13 | $ | 8 | 67.8 | |
| | | | | | | |
·
$42 million in total first-quarter 2007 life insurance segment net written premiums. Written premiums include life insurance, annuity and accident and health premiums.
·
13.0 percent increase to $33 million in statutory written premiums for term and other life insurance products. Since late 2005, the company has de-emphasized annuities because of an unfavorable interest rate environment. Statutory written annuity premiums decreased to $8 million in first-quarter 2007 from $9 million in first-quarter 2006.
·
30.1 percent rise in first-quarter term life insurance written premiums reflecting marketing advantages of competitive, up-to-date products, providing close personal attention and exhibiting financial strength and stability.
·
2.6 percent rise in face amount of life policies in force to $58.450 billion at March 31, 2007, from $56.871 billion at year-end 2006.
·
$5 million increase in first-quarter 2007 operating profit due to favorable mortality experience and persistency as well as healthy earned premium growth.
·
2007 plans include continued enhancement of term and other life insurance products, including an expanded worksite product portfolio and introduction of two new universal and whole life products. The priority continues to be expansion within the insurance agencies currently marketing our property casualty insurance products.
The Definitions of Non-GAAP Information and Reconciliation to Comparable GAAP Measures on Page 11 defines and reconciles measures presented in this release that are not based on Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (non-GAAP).
6
Investment Operations
| | | | | | | |
(In millions) | | Three months ended March 31, | |
| | 2007 | | 2006 | | Change % | |
Investment income: |
Interest | $ | 76 | $ | 74 | | 2.2 | |
Dividends | | 72 | | 62 | | 16.7 | |
Other | | 3 | | 4 | | (18.0) | |
Investment expenses | | (3) | | (1) | | (102.0) | |
Total net investment income | | 148 | | 139 | | 7.1 | |
Investment interest credited to contract holders | | (14) | | (14) | | 2.8 | |
Net realized investment gains and losses: |
Realized investment gains and losses | | 61 | | 659 | | (90.7) | |
Change in valuation of derivatives | | 1 | | 2 | | (56.2) | |
Other-than-temporary impairment charges | | 0 | | (1) | | 100.0 | |
Net realized investment gains | | 62 | | 660 | | (90.6) | |
Investment operations income | $ | 196 | $ | 785 | | (75.0) | |
|
·
7.1 percent increase in first-quarter pretax net investment income. Fifth Third Bancorp, the company’s largest equity holding, contributed 42.3 percent of first-quarter 2007 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.
·
$21 million annually in additional investment income expected during 2007 from dividend increases announced during the past 12 months by Fifth Third and another 42 of our 47 publicly traded common stock holdings.
·
$62 million in net realized investment gains during the first quarter of 2007 compared with $660 million in the first quarter of 2006, which included $647 million from the sale of the company’s holdings of Alltel common stock.
Balance Sheet
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
(Dollars in millions except share data) | | | | | | | At March 31, | At December 31, |
| | | | | | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | |
Balance sheet data | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Invested assets | | | | | | | $ | 13,641 | | $ | 13,759 | |
Total assets | | | | | | | | 18,221 | | | 17,222 | |
Short-term debt | | | | | | | | 49 | | | 49 | |
Long-term debt | | | | | | | | 791 | | | 791 | |
Shareholders' equity | | | | | | | | 6,708 | | | 6,808 | |
Book value per share | | | | | | | | 39.08 | | | 39.38 | |
Debt-to-capital ratio | | | | | | | | 11.1 | % | | 11.0 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | Three months ended March 31, |
| | | | | | | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | |
Performance measures | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Comprehensive income | | | | | | | $ | 13 | | $ | 240 | |
Return on equity | | | | | | | | 11.5 | % | | 35.9 | % |
Return on equity based on comprehensive income | | 0.8 | | | 15.7 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
·
Book value of $39.08 at March 31, 2007, compared with $39.38 at year-end 2006, due to a decline in the market value of our equity portfolio.
·
$4.741 billion in statutory surplus for the property casualty insurance group at March 31, 2007, compared with $4.723 billion at year-end 2006. The ratio of common stock to statutory surplus for the property casualty insurance group portfolio was 96.0 percent at March 31, 2007, compared with 97.3 percent at year-end 2006.
·
30.9 percent ratio of investment securities held at the holding-company level to total holding-company-only assets at March 31, 2007, comfortably within management’s below-40 percent target.
·
1,491,000 shares repurchased in first quarter at a total cost of $64 million.
The Definitions of Non-GAAP Information and Reconciliation to Comparable GAAP Measures on Page 11 defines and reconciles measures presented in this release that are not based on Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (non-GAAP).
7
Cincinnati Financial Corporation offers property and casualty insurance, our 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 visitwww.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 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Item 1A, Risk Factors, Page 20. 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
·
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:
○
Restrict our ability to exit or reduce writings of unprofitable coverages or lines of business
○
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 low interest rate environment or other factors that limit the company’s ability to generate growth in investment income or interest-rate fluctuations that result in declining values of fixed-maturity investments
·
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 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.
8
Cincinnati Financial Corporation
Consolidated Balance Sheets
| | | | | | |
(Dollars in millions except per share data) | | March 31, | | December 31, |
| | 2007 | | 2006 |
| | | | (unaudited) | | |
ASSETS | | | | | | |
Investments |
Fixed maturities, at fair value (amortized cost: 2007—$5,785; 2006—$5,739) | $ | 5,864 | $ | 5,805 |
Equity securities, at fair value (cost: 2007—$2,802; 2006—$2,621) | | | | 7,687 | | 7,799 |
Short-term investments, at fair value (amortized cost: 2007—$19; 2006—$95) | | 19 | | 95 |
Other invested assets | | | | 71 | | 60 |
Total investments | | | | 13,641 | | 13,759 |
| | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | | | 197 | | 202 |
Securities lending collateral | | | | 984 | | 0 |
Investment income receivable | | | | 117 | | 121 |
Finance receivable | | | | 103 | | 108 |
Premiums receivable | | | | 1,173 | | 1,128 |
Reinsurance receivable | | | | 727 | | 683 |
Prepaid reinsurance premiums | | | | 12 | | 13 |
Deferred policy acquisition costs | | | | 467 | | 453 |
Land, building and equipment, net, for company use (accumulated depreciation: 2007—$268; 2006—$261) | | 204 | | 193 |
Other assets | | | | 85 | | 58 |
Separate accounts | | | | 511 | | 504 |
Total assets | | | $ | 18,221 | $ | 17,222 |
| |
LIABILITIES |
Insurance reserves | | | | | | |
Loss and loss expense reserves | | | $ | 3,928 | $ | 3,896 |
Life policy reserves | | | | 1,427 | | 1,409 |
Unearned premiums | | | | 1,640 | | 1,579 |
Securities lending payable | | | | 984 | | 0 |
Other liabilities | | | | 652 | | 533 |
Deferred income tax | | | | 1,531 | | 1,653 |
Note payable | | | | 49 | | 49 |
6.125% senior notes due 2034 | | | | 371 | | 371 |
6.9% senior debentures due 2028 | | | | 28 | | 28 |
6.92% senior debentures due 2028 | | | | 392 | | 392 |
Separate accounts | | | | 511 | | 504 |
Total liabilities | | | | 11,513 | | 10,414 |
| | | | | | | |
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY |
Common stock, par value—$2 per share; (authorized: 2007—500 million shares,
2006—500 million shares; issued: 2007—196 million shares, 2006—196 million shares) | | 392 | | 391 |
Paid-in capital | | | | 1,027 | | 1,015 |
Retained earnings | | | | 2,923 | | 2,786 |
Accumulated other comprehensive income | | 3,193 | | 3,379 |
Treasury stock at cost (2007—24 million shares, 2006—23 million shares) | | (827) | | (763) |
Total shareholders' equity | | | | 6,708 | | 6,808 |
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity | | | $ | 18,221 | $ | 17,222 |
| |
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Cincinnati Financial Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Income
| | | | | |
(In millions except per share data) | | Three months ended March 31, |
| | 2007 | | 2006 |
| | | (unaudited) |
REVENUES | | | | | |
Earned premiums |
Property casualty | | $ | 785 | $ | 778 |
Life | | | 30 | | 26 |
Investment income, net of expenses | | | 148 | | 139 |
Realized investment gains and losses | | | 62 | | 660 |
Other income | | | 6 | | 4 |
Total revenues | | | 1,031 | | 1,607 |
| |
BENEFITS AND EXPENSES |
Insurance losses and policyholder benefits | | | 484 | | 501 |
Commissions | | | 170 | | 166 |
Other operating expenses | | | 88 | | 83 |
Taxes, licenses and fees | | | 20 | | 24 |
Increase in deferred policy acquisition costs | | | (15) | | (14) |
Interest expense | | | 13 | | 13 |
Total benefits and expenses | | | 760 | | 773 |
| |
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES | | | 271 | | 834 |
| |
PROVISION (BENEFIT) FOR INCOME TAXES |
Current | | | 77 | | 292 |
Deferred | | | 0 | | (10) |
Total provision for income taxes | | | 77 | | 282 |
| |
NET INCOME | | $ | 194 | $ | 552 |
| |
PER COMMON SHARE |
Net income—basic | | $ | 1.12 | $ | 3.17 |
Net income—diluted | | $ | 1.11 | $ | 3.13 |
|
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