advertising expenditures, computer expenses, legal and audit expenses, securities sales expense, and travel expenses were the primary causes of the higher costs during the quarter just ended. During the six-month comparable period, higher computer expenses, legal and audit expenses, securities sales expenses and travel expenses resulted in a $.5 million (6%) increase in other miscellaneous operating expenses during the current year.
Income Taxes:
The Company has elected to be treated as an S Corporation for income tax reporting purposes. Taxable income or loss of an S Corporation is included in the individual tax returns of the shareholders of the Company, rather then being taxed at the corporate level. Notwithstanding this election, however, income taxes continue to be reported for, and paid by, the Company's insurance subsidiaries as they are not allowed to be treated as S corporations, and for the Company’s state taxes in Louisiana, which does not recognize S Corporation status. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized and provisions for current and deferred income taxes continue to be recorded by the Company’s subsidiaries. The deferred income tax assets and liabilities are due to certain temporary differences between reported income and expenses for financial statement and income tax purposes.
Effective income tax rates were 21% and 16% during the three-month periods ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. During the six-month comparable periods, income tax rates were 20% and 16%, respectively. The higher rate experienced during the current year period was due to less income at the S Corporation level which was passed to the shareholders of the Company for tax reporting, whereas income earned at the insurance subsidiary level was taxed at the corporate level. The S Corporation reported less income during the current period just ended as compared to the same comparable period a year ago.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk:
As previously discussed, interest rates have declined since June 30, 2007 resulting in lower rates being paid on borrowings during the current year. We expect only minimal fluctuations in market rates during the remainder of the year, thereby minimizing the impact on our net interest margin. Please refer to the market risk analysis discussion contained in our annual report on Form 10-K as of and for the year ended December 31, 2007 for a more detailed analysis of our market risk exposure.
Liquidity and Capital Resources:
As of June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the Company had $25.2 million and $29.8 million, respectively, invested in cash and short-term investments, the majority of which was held by the Company’s insurance subsidiaries. Of the total amount of cash outstanding at June 30, 2008, the parent company held $4.0 million readily available for daily operations. The Company’s investments in marketable securities can be converted into cash, if necessary. As of June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, 96% of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents and investment securities were maintained in its insurance subsidiaries. State insurance regulations limit the use an insurance company can make of its assets. Dividend payments to the parent company by its wholly owned insurance subsidiaries are subject to annual limitations and are restricted to the greater of 10% of policyholders’ surplus or statutory earnings before recognizing realized investment gains of the individual insurance subsidiaries. At December 31, 2007, Frandisco Property and Casualty Insurance Company and Frandisco Life Insurance Company had policyholders’ surpluses of $38.7 million and $40.6 million, respectively. The maximum aggregate amount of dividends these subsidiaries can pay to the parent company in 2008 without prior approval of the Georgia Insurance Commissioner is approximately $9.0 million.
Liquidity requirements of the Company are financed through the collection of receivables and through the sale of short- and long-term debt securities. The Company’s continued liquidity is therefore dependent on the collection of its receivables and the sale of debt securities that |