SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
x | | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2002
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)
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
(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. Yes x 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—71,455,978 shares as of May 8, 2002
Part I: | | FINANCIAL INFORMATION | | |
|
Item 1. | | Financial Statements | | |
| | A. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets | | 3 |
| | B. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income | | 4 |
| | C. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows | | 5 |
| | D. Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements | | 6 |
|
Item 2. | | Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | | 8 |
|
Item 3. | | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk | | 12 |
|
Part II: | | OTHER INFORMATION | | |
|
Item 6. | | Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K | | 12 |
| | Items 1-5 have been omitted because they are not applicable with respect to the current reporting period. | | |
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/ MAX O. VALDES
|
| | Max O. Valdes |
| | Vice President |
| | Chief Accounting Officer |
Date: May 13, 2002
2
Part I: Financial Information
Item 1: Financial Statements
THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
| | March 31, 2002 (Unaudited)
| | | December 31, 2001
| |
Assets | | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 631,896,000 | | | $ | 645,240,000 | |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Accounts and accrued income receivable, net | | | 295,190,000 | | | | 273,090,000 | |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Investments: | | | | | | | | |
Deposits with savings and loan associations and banks | | | 40,398,000 | | | | 27,597,000 | |
Debt securities | | | 270,709,000 | | | | 257,045,000 | |
Equity securities | | | 53,010,000 | | | | 52,014,000 | |
Other long-term investments | | | 123,414,000 | | | | 113,995,000 | |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| | | 487,531,000 | | | | 450,651,000 | |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Loans receivable, net | | | 105,267,000 | | | | 104,264,000 | |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Property and equipment, at cost: | | | | | | | | |
Land | | | 43,468,000 | | | | 43,018,000 | |
Buildings | | | 174,674,000 | | | | 173,878,000 | |
Furniture and equipment | | | 250,230,000 | | | | 237,354,000 | |
Capitalized software | | | 261,490,000 | | | | 251,072,000 | |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| | | 729,862,000 | | | | 705,322,000 | |
Less—accumulated depreciation and amortization | | | (292,439,000 | ) | | | (269,237,000 | ) |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| | | 437,423,000 | | | | 436,085,000 | |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Title plants and other indexes | | | 347,915,000 | | | | 344,947,000 | |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Deferred income taxes | | | 23,445,000 | | | | 22,221,000 | |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Goodwill and other intangibles, net | | | 470,767,000 | | | | 432,823,000 | |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Other assets | | | 152,731,000 | | | | 127,942,000 | |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| | $ | 2,952,165,000 | | | $ | 2,837,263,000 | |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity | | | | | | | | |
Demand deposits | | $ | 92,018,000 | | | $ | 91,285,000 | |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | | | 347,468,000 | | | | 373,170,000 | |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Deferred revenue | | | 307,137,000 | | | | 294,227,000 | |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Reserve for known and incurred but not reported claims | | | 325,355,000 | | | | 314,777,000 | |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Income taxes payable | | | 28,888,000 | | | | 13,342,000 | |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Notes and contracts payable | | | 425,014,000 | | | | 415,341,000 | |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries | | | 137,729,000 | | | | 130,669,000 | |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
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—71,275,000 and 68,694,000 shares | | | 71,275,000 | | | | 68,694,000 | |
Additional paid-in capital | | | 317,363,000 | | | | 271,403,000 | |
Retained earnings | | | 816,344,000 | | | | 777,971,000 | |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | | | (16,426,000 | ) | | | (13,616,000 | ) |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| | | 1,188,556,000 | | | | 1,104,452,000 | |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| | $ | 2,952,165,000 | | | $ | 2,837,263,000 | |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
3
THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income
(Unaudited)
| | For the Three Months Ended March 31
| |
| | 2002
| | | 2001
| |
Revenues | | | | | | | | |
Operating revenues | | $ | 1,024,119,000 | | | $ | 750,184,000 | |
Investment and other income | | | 18,862,000 | | | | 16,557,000 | |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| | | 1,042,981,000 | | | | 766,741,000 | |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Expenses | | | | | | | | |
Salaries and other personnel costs | | | 345,325,000 | | | | 274,819,000 | |
Premiums retained by agents | | | 284,294,000 | | | | 189,407,000 | |
Other operating expenses | | | 238,137,000 | | | | 191,088,000 | |
Provision for policy losses and other claims | | | 47,099,000 | | | | 36,490,000 | |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 24,148,000 | | | | 24,433,000 | |
Premium taxes | | | 7,199,000 | | | | 5,008,000 | |
Interest | | | 8,220,000 | | | | 6,298,000 | |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| | | 954,422,000 | | | | 727,543,000 | |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Income before income taxes and minority interests | | | 88,559,000 | | | | 39,198,000 | |
Income taxes | | | 31,000,000 | | | | 13,500,000 | |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Income before minority interests | | | 57,559,000 | | | | 25,698,000 | |
Minority interests | | | 13,484,000 | | | | 6,922,000 | |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Net income | | | 44,075,000 | | | | 18,776,000 | |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax | | | | | | | | |
Unrealized loss on securities | | | (535,000 | ) | | | (1,878,000 | ) |
Minimum pension liability adjustment | | | (2,275,000 | ) | | | (200,000 | ) |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| | | (2,810,000 | ) | | | (2,078,000 | ) |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Comprehensive income | | $ | 41,265,000 | | | $ | 16,698,000 | |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Net income per share (Note 2): | | | | | | | | |
Basic | | $ | 0.63 | | | $ | 0.29 | |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Diluted | | $ | 0.57 | | | $ | 0.27 | |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Cash dividends per share | | $ | .07 | | | $ | .06 | |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Weighted average number of shares (Note 2): | | | | | | | | |
Basic | | | 69,995,000 | | | | 64,165,000 | |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Diluted | | | 80,985,000 | | | | 68,797,000 | |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
4
THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
| | For the Three Months Ended March 31
| |
| | 2002
| | | 2001
| |
Cash flows from operating activities: | | | | | | | | |
Net income | | $ | 44,075,000 | | | $ | 18,776,000 | |
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities- | | | | | | | | |
Provision for policy losses and other claims | | | 47,099,000 | | | | 36,490,000 | |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 24,148,000 | | | | 24,433,000 | |
Minority interests in net income | | | 13,484,000 | | | | 6,922,000 | |
Other, net | | | (7,967,000 | ) | | | (608,000 | ) |
Changes in assets and liabilities excluding effects of company acquisitions and noncash transactions- | | | | | | | | |
Claims paid, net of recoveries | | | (36,500,000 | ) | | | (36,852,000 | ) |
Net change in income tax accounts | | | 14,591,000 | | | | 28,205,000 | |
Increase in accounts and accrued income receivable | | | (17,662,000 | ) | | | (38,706,000 | ) |
Decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities | | | (17,862,000 | ) | | | (17,595,000 | ) |
Increase (decrease) in deferred revenue | | | 12,910,000 | | | | (874,000 | ) |
Other, net | | | (20,783,000 | ) | | | (15,293,000 | ) |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Cash provided by operating activities | | | 55,533,000 | | | | 4,898,000 | |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Cash flows from investing activities: | | | | | | | | |
Net cash effect of company acquisitions/dispositions | | | (11,257,000 | ) | | | 2,282,000 | |
Net increase in deposits with banks | | | (9,496,000 | ) | | | (5,197,000 | ) |
Net increase in loans receivable | | | (1,003,000 | ) | | | (4,257,000 | ) |
Purchases of debt and equity securities | | | (57,978,000 | ) | | | (6,677,000 | ) |
Proceeds from sales of debt and equity securities | | | 7,314,000 | | | | 5,848,000 | |
Proceeds from maturities of debt securities | | | 36,274,000 | | | | 9,083,000 | |
Net decrease (increase) in other investments | | | 2,392,000 | | | | (1,569,000 | ) |
Capital expenditures | | | (20,662,000 | ) | | | (33,468,000 | ) |
Purchases of capitalized data | | | (3,477,000 | ) | | | (3,125,000 | ) |
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment | | | 134,000 | | | | 392,000 | |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Cash used for investing activities | | | (57,759,000 | ) | | | (36,688,000 | ) |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Cash flows from financing activities: | | | | | | | | |
Net change in demand deposits | | | 733,000 | | | | 4,883,000 | |
Proceeds from issuance of debt | | | 677,000 | | | | | |
Repayment of debt | | | (5,072,000 | ) | | | (9,426,000 | ) |
Proceeds from exercise of stock options | | | 3,406,000 | | | | 6,168,000 | |
Proceeds from the issuance of stock to employee benefit plans | | | 1,264,000 | | | | | |
Distributions to minority shareholders | | | (6,424,000 | ) | | | (1,001,000 | ) |
Cash dividends | | | (5,702,000 | ) | | | (3,892,000 | ) |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Cash used for financing activities | | | (11,118,000 | ) | | | (3,268,000 | ) |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents | | | (13,344,000 | ) | | | (35,058,000 | ) |
Cash and cash equivalents—Beginning of year | | | 645,240,000 | | | | 300,905,000 | |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
—End of first quarter | | $ | 631,896,000 | | | $ | 265,847,000 | |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Supplemental information: | | | | | | | | |
Cash paid during the first quarter for: | | | | | | | | |
Interest | | $ | 1,452,000 | | | $ | 5,777,000 | |
Premium taxes | | $ | 9,127,000 | | | $ | 4,368,000 | |
Income taxes | | $ | 16,146,000 | | | $ | 656,000 | |
Noncash investing and financing activities: | | | | | | | | |
Shares issued for employee benefits plans | | $ | 17,491,000 | | | $ | 8,508,000 | |
Liabilities incurred in connection with company acquisitions | | $ | 8,827,000 | | | $ | 12,516,000 | |
Company acquisitions in exchange for common stock | | $ | 26,380,000 | | | $ | 4,768,000 | |
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. This report should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001.
Note 2—Earnings Per Share
| | For the Three Months Ended March 31
|
| | 2002
| | 2001
|
Numerator: | | | | | | |
Net Income-numerator for basic net income per share | | $ | 44,075,000 | | $ | 18,776,000 |
Effect of dilutive securities Convertible debt—interest expense (net of tax) | | | 1,773,000 | | | — |
| |
|
| |
|
|
Net Income–numerator for dilutive net income per share | | $ | 45,848,000 | | $ | 18,776,000 |
| |
|
| |
|
|
Denominator | | | | | | |
Weighted average shares-denominator | | | | | | |
For basic net income per share | | | 69,995,000 | | | 64,165,000 |
Effect of dilutive securities: | | | | | | |
Employee stock options | | | 2,396,000 | | | 4,632,000 |
Convertible debt | | | 8,594,000 | | | — |
| |
|
| |
|
|
Denominator for diluted net income per share | | | 80,985,000 | | | 68,797,000 |
| |
|
| |
|
|
Basic net income per share | | $ | 0.63 | | $ | 0.29 |
| |
|
| |
|
|
Diluted net income per share | | $ | 0.57 | | $ | 0.27 |
| |
|
| |
|
|
For the three months ended March 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively, 3,818,000 and 42,000 stock options were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share due to their antidilutive effect.
Note 3—Business Combinations
During the three months ended March 31, 2002, the Company acquired six companies. These acquisitions were individually not material and 5 have been included in the Company’s title insurance segment and 1 has been included in the Company’s screening information segment. The aggregate purchase price was $26.4 million in stock, $11.1 million in cash and $11.2 million in notes payable.
Note 4—Segment Information
In order to expand the disclosure of the Company’s business segments and to report financial results in a manner consistent with the reporting responsibilities of the Company’s management, the Company established 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.
6
For the three months ended March 31, 2002:
| | Revenues
| | Income before income taxes and minority interests
| | | Depreciation and amortization
| | Capital expenditures
|
Financial Services | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Title Insurance and Services | | $ | 751,140,000 | | $ | 39,652,000 | | | $ | 11,801,000 | | $ | 9,444,000 |
Specialty Insurances | | | 31,568,000 | | | 5,682,000 | | | | 293,000 | | | 509,000 |
Trust and Other Services | | | 11,136,000 | | | 4,225,000 | | | | 291,000 | | | 13,000 |
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
| | | 793,844,000 | | | 49,559,000 | | | | 12,385,000 | | | 9,966,000 |
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Information Technology | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Mortgage Information | | | 112,880,000 | | | 34,833,000 | | | | 2,136,000 | | | 1,832,000 |
Property Information | | | 55,145,000 | | | 8,317,000 | | | | 4,374,000 | | | 2,775,000 |
Credit Information | | | 56,632,000 | | | 12,653,000 | | | | 2,809,000 | | | 3,199,000 |
Screening Information | | | 23,533,000 | | | 782,000 | | | | 558,000 | | | 919,000 |
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
| | | 248,190,000 | | | 56,585,000 | | | | 9,877,000 | | | 8,725,000 |
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
| | | 1,042,034,000 | | | 106,144,000 | | | | 22,262,000 | | | 18,691,000 |
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Corporate | | | 947,000 | | | (17,585,000 | ) | | | 1,886,000 | | | 1,971,000 |
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
| | $ | 1,042,981,000 | | $ | 88,559,000 | | | $ | 24,148,000 | | $ | 20,662,000 |
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
For the three months ended March 31, 2001:
| | Revenues
| | Income (loss) before income taxes and minority interests
| | | Depreciation and amortization
| | Capital expenditures
|
Financial Services | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Title Insurance and Services | | $ | 532,372,000 | | $ | 18,866,000 | | | $ | 10,615,000 | | $ | 13,210,000 |
Specialty Insurances | | | 28,880,000 | | | (488,000 | ) | | | 657,000 | | | 926,000 |
Trust and Other Services | | | 8,818,000 | | | 2,147,000 | | | | 292,000 | | | 76,000 |
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
| | | 570,070,000 | | | 20,525,000 | | | | 11,564,000 | | | 14,212,000 |
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Information Technology | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Mortgage Information | | | 89,688,000 | | | 20,996,000 | | | | 2,888,000 | | | 6,711,000 |
Property Information | | | 50,691,000 | | | 3,252,000 | | | | 5,682,000 | | | 4,469,000 |
Credit Information | | | 45,882,000 | | | 6,261,000 | | | | 2,346,000 | | | 4,234,000 |
Screening Information | | | 10,313,000 | | | (165,000 | ) | | | 388,000 | | | 1,090,000 |
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
| | | 196,574,000 | | | 30,344,000 | | | | 11,304,000 | | | 16,504,000 |
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
| | | 766,644,000 | | | 50,869,000 | | | | 22,868,000 | | | 30,716,000 |
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Corporate | | | 97,000 | | | (11,671,000 | ) | | | 1,565,000 | | | 2,752,000 |
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
| | $ | 766,741,000 | | $ | 39,198,000 | | | $ | 24,433,000 | | $ | 33,468,000 |
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
7
Note 5—New Accounting Pronouncements
On January 1, 2002, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141, “Business Combinations” (SFAS 141). This statement addresses financial accounting and reporting for business combinations and supercedes Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 16, “Business Combinations.” SFAS 141 requires that all business combinations be accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. The adoption of SFAS 141 did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.
On January 1, 2002, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” (SFAS 142). This statement addresses financial accounting and reporting for goodwill and other intangibles and supersedes APB Opinion No. 17, “Intangible Assets.” SFAS 142 addresses how goodwill and other intangible assets should be accounted for in the financial statements. Goodwill and other intangible assets that have indefinite lives will not be amortized but rather will be tested at least annually for impairment. Accordingly, the Company recorded no goodwill amortization expense for the three months ended March 31, 2002. Goodwill amortization expense for the three months ended March 31, 2001 was $3.6 million, or $0.05 per diluted share. The Company will test goodwill for impairment using the two-step process prescribed in SFAS 142. The first step is a screen for potential impairment, while the second step measures the amount of impairment, if any. The Company expects to perform the first of the required impairment tests of goodwill as of January 1, 2002 by the end of the second quarter of 2002. Any impairment charge resulting from the transitional impairment test will be reflected as the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle. The Company is in the process of assessing the impact of the impairment provisions of SFAS 142 on its financial condition and 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; legal proceedings commenced by the California attorney general and related litigation; 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, 2001, 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
OVERVIEW
During the first quarter of 2002, refinance transactions, although down from the record-setting volumes experienced in 2001, continued at a healthy level. This, coupled with seasonally high levels of new home sales and resale activity, as well as the high inventory of title insurance open orders present at the beginning of the quarter, resulted in net income for the first quarter of 2002 of $44.1 million, the highest first quarter net income in the Company’s history, or $0.57 per diluted share. This compares with net income for the first quarter of 2001 of $18.8 million, or $0.27 per diluted share.
8
OPERATING REVENUES
A summary by segment of the Company’s operating revenues is as follows:
| | Three Months Ended March 31
|
| | 2002
| | %
| | 2001
| | %
|
| | (in thousands, except percent) |
Financial Services: | | | | | | | | | | |
Title Insurance: | | | | | | | | | | |
Direct operations | | $ | 387,174 | | 38 | | $ | 289,270 | | 39 |
Agency operations | | | 356,797 | | 35 | | | 234,254 | | 31 |
| |
|
| |
| |
|
| |
|
| | | 743,971 | | 73 | | | 523,524 | | 70 |
Specialty Insurance | | | 29,312 | | 3 | | | 26,755 | | 4 |
Trust and Other Services | | | 11,156 | | 1 | | | 8,994 | | 1 |
| |
|
| |
| |
|
| |
|
| | | 784,439 | | 77 | | | 559,273 | | 75 |
| |
|
| |
| |
|
| |
|
Information Technology: | | | | | | | | | | |
Mortgage Information | | | 108,130 | | 11 | | | 85,641 | | 11 |
Property Information | | | 55,110 | | 5 | | | 50,501 | | 7 |
Credit Information | | | 52,999 | | 5 | | | 44,509 | | 6 |
Screening Information | | | 23,441 | | 2 | | | 10,260 | | 1 |
| |
|
| |
| |
|
| |
|
| | | 239,680 | | 23 | | | 190,911 | | 25 |
| |
|
| |
| |
|
| |
|
Total Operating Revenues | | $ | 1,024,119 | | 100 | | $ | 750,184 | | 100 |
| |
|
| |
| |
|
| |
|
Financial Services. Operating revenues from direct title operations increased 33.8% when compared with the same period of the prior year. This increase was primarily attributable to an increase in the number of title orders closed by the Company’s direct operations, offset in part by a decrease in the average revenues per order closed. The Company’s direct operations closed 393,000 title orders during the current quarter, an increase of 45.5% when compared with 270,100 title orders closed during the same period of the prior year. This increase was primarily due to the factors mentioned in the “Overview” section. The average revenues per order closed were $985 for the current three-month period, as compared with $1,071 for the same period of the prior year. This decrease was primarily due to the heavy mix of refinance orders, offset in part by appreciating residential real estate values. Operating revenues from agency operations increased 52.3% when compared with the same period of the prior year. This increase was primarily due to the same conditions that affected direct operations, compounded by the time lag in the reporting of agency remittances. Specialty insurance operating revenues increased 9.6% when compared with the same period of the prior year. This increase was primarily due to geographic expansion at the Company’s home warranty division and market share growth at the property and casualty insurance division. Trust and other services operating revenues increased 24.0% when compared with the same period of the prior year. This increase was primarily due to an increase in investment advisory and trust fees.
Information Technology. Operating revenues for the Company’s mortgage information and property information segments increased 26.3% and 9.1%, respectively, when compared with the first quarter of 2001. Included in mortgage information operating revenues were $11.9 million of revenues contributed by new acquisitions. Excluding the affects of new acquisitions, the increase for the mortgage information segment was 12.3%. The increases in operating revenues for the mortgage and property information segments were primarily due to the same factors affecting the title insurance segment mentioned above. Credit information operating revenues increased 19.1% when compared with the same period of the prior year. This increase included $5.4 million of operating revenues contributed by new acquisitions. Excluding the affects of the new acquisitions, credit information operating revenues increased 6.9%. This increase was primarily due to the growth in demand for credit information in the housing and automobile sectors. Operating revenues for the screening information segment increased 128.5% when compared with the same period of the prior year. This increase was primarily due to $13.2 million of operating revenues contributed by new acquisitions.
9
INVESTMENT AND OTHER INCOME
Investment and other income totaled $18.9 million, an increase of $2.3 million when compared with $16.6 million for the first quarter 2001. This increase was primarily due to increased equity in earnings of $4.1 million from the Company’s affiliated companies and increased realized gains of $1.5 million, offset in part by a $3.3 million reduction in interest income as a result of decreasing yields.
TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES
Financial Services. Salaries and other personnel costs for the Financial Services group, which primarily reflects the title insurance segment, totaled $255.2 million for the current quarter, an increase of $56.5 million, or 28.5% when compared with the same period of the prior year. This increase was primarily attributable to an increase in title insurance staff costs in the production area, caused primarily by the 22.5% increase in total title order volume, increased commissions associated with the 45.5% increase in closed title orders, and $3.2 million of personnel costs associated with new acquisitions. Title insurance personnel costs as a percentage of net operating revenues were 53.0% for the current quarter and 56.3% for the same period of the prior year.
Agents retained $284.3 million, or 79.7%, and $189.4 million, or 80.1%, of the title premiums generated by agency operations for the first quarter 2002 and 2001, respectively. The percentage of title premiums retained by agents varies from region to region. Accordingly, the geographical mix of revenues from agency operations accounts for the variation in the percentage amount of title premiums retained by agents.
Other operating expenses for the Financial Services group, which primarily reflect the title insurance segment, were $139.6 million for the current quarter, an increase of $29.4 million, or 26.7% when compared with the same period of the prior year. This increase was primarily due to incremental costs incurred at the title insurance segment to service the increase in title orders processed. Other operating expenses for the title insurance segment as a percentage of net operating revenues were 29.2% for the current quarter and 30.0% for the same quarter of the prior year.
The provision for policy losses and other claims primarily represents title insurance claims and home warranty claims. For the title insurance segment, the claims provision as a percentage of title insurance operating revenues was 4.0% for the current period and 3.7% for the same period of the prior year. This increase reflected adverse claims development, offset in part by the shift in current quarter revenue mix from resale to refinance, which is generally less claims intensive. The rate of 4.0% for the current quarter is consistent with the rate applied for the full year of 2001. For the home warranty segment, the claims provision as a percentage of home warranty operating revenues was 47.5% for the current quarter and 56.2% for the same period of the prior year. This decrease was primarily due to a reduction in the average number of claims per contract, which was primarily due to the elimination of higher-cost vendor contractors that were servicing claims in new geographic areas.
Premium taxes, which relate to the title insurance and specialty insurance segments, were $7.2 million for the current quarter and $5.0 million for the same quarter of the prior year. Expressed as a percentage of title insurance and specialty insurance operating revenues, premium taxes were 0.9% for the current year first quarter and for the same quarter of the prior year.
Information Technology. The majority of the businesses that comprise the Information Technology group are database intensive with a high proportion of fixed costs. As such, business volume fluctuations generally have a significantly greater impact on revenues than on operating expenses.
Mortgage information personnel and other operating expenses were $73.3 million, an increase of $10.4 million, or 16.6% when compared with the same period of the prior year. Excluding acquisitions, mortgage information personnel and other operating expenses decreased $2.1 million, or 3.4%. This decrease was primarily due to the benefits derived from the restructuring of the Company’s field service operations as well as other cost-containment measures, offset in part by costs incurred to service the increase in business volume. Property information personnel and other operating expenses were $42.3 million, an increase of $0.9 million, or 2.2% when compared with the same period of the prior year. This increase was primarily due to certain costs incurred servicing the increase in business volume. Credit information personnel and other operating expenses increased $4.4 million, or 12.0% when compared with the same period of the prior year. Excluding acquisitions, credit information personnel and other operating expenses decreased $0.7 million, or 1.9%. This decrease was primarily attributable to cost-containment programs. Personnel and other operating expenses at the Company’s screening information segment were $21.9 million, an increase of $11.9 million, or 118.4% when compared with the same period of the prior year. This increase was primarily attributable to personnel and other operating expenses associated with new acquisitions.
10
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND MINORITY INTERESTS
A summary by segment of the Company’s income before income taxes and minority interests is as follows:
| | Three Months Ended March 31
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2002
| | | %
| | 2001
| | | %
| |
| | (in thousands, except percent) | |
Financial Services: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Title Insurance | | $ | 39,652 | | | 37 | | $ | 18,866 | | | 37 | |
Specialty Insurance | | | 5,682 | | | 5 | | | (488 | ) | | (1 | ) |
Trust and Other Services | | | 4,225 | | | 4 | | | 2,147 | | | 4 | |
| |
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| | | 49,559 | | | 46 | | | 20,525 | | | 40 | |
| |
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
Information Technology: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Mortgage Information | | | 34,833 | | | 33 | | | 20,996 | | | 41 | |
Credit Information | | | 8,317 | | | 8 | | | 3,252 | | | 7 | |
Property Information | | | 12,653 | | | 12 | | | 6,261 | | | 12 | |
Screening Information | | | 782 | | | 1 | | | (165 | ) | | — | |
| |
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| | | 56,585 | | | 54 | | | 30,344 | | | 60 | |
| |
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
Total before corporate | | | 106,144 | | | 100 | | | 50,869 | | | 100 | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
|
|
Corporate | | | (17,585 | ) | | | | | (11,671 | ) | | | |
| |
|
|
| | | |
|
|
| | | |
Total | | $ | 88,559 | | | | | $ | 39,198 | | | | |
| |
|
|
| | | |
|
|
| | | |
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. 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 increased $5.9 million when compared with the same period of the prior year. This increase was primarily due to a $2.4 million increase in interest expense due primarily to the issuance of the Company’s $210.0 million 4.5% senior convertible debentures in April 2001 and a $2.0 million increase in certain employee benefit plan costs.
INCOME TAXES
The Company’s effective income tax rate (income tax expense as a percentage of pretax income after minority interest expense) was 41.3% for the current quarter and 41.8% 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 income. A majority of the minority interest expense is attributable to a limited liability company subsidiary, which for tax purposes, is treated as a partnership. Accordingly, no income taxes have been provided for that portion of the minority interest expense.
MINORITY INTERESTS
Minority interest expense was $13.5 million and $6.9 million for the first quarter 2001 and 2000, respectively. This increase was primarily attributable to the increase in the operating results of the Company’s joint venture with Experian.
11
NET INCOME
Net income for the three months ended March 31, 2002, was $44.1 million, or $0.57 per diluted share. Net income for the three months ended March 31, 2001 was $18.8 million, or $0.27 per diluted share.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Total cash and cash equivalents decreased $13.3 million and $35.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2002, and 2001, respectively. The decrease for the current year period was primarily due to capital expenditures, net purchases of debt and equity securities and the net cash effect of company acquisitions, offset in part by cash provided by operating activities. The decrease for the prior year period was primarily due to capital expenditures and debt repayments.
Notes and contracts payable as a percentage of total capitalization decreased to 23.2% at March 31, 2001, from 23.7% at December 31, 2001. The decrease was primarily due to an increase in total equity due primarily to net income and shares issued in connection with company acquisitions and employee benefit plans during the current period.
Management believes that all of its operational cash requirements for the immediate future will be met from internally generated funds.
Item 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, 2001.
Part II: Other Information
Item 6. | | Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K. |
None.
During the quarterly period covered by this report, the Company filed a report on Form 8-K dated February 13, 2002 (reporting on fourth quarter and full year 2001 earnings). Subsequent to such quarterly period, the Company filed a report on Form 8-K dated April 25, 2002 (reporting on first quarter 2002 earnings and expansion of business segment data).
12