SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10Q
QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT
OF 1934
For the Quarter Ended March 31, 2000 Commission File No. 0-3681
MERCURY GENERAL CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
California 95-221-1612
(State or other jurisdiction (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
4484 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90010
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
(323) 937-1060
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
----- -----
At May 1, 2000, the Registrant had issued and outstanding an aggregate of
54,126,423 shares of its Common Stock.
MERCURY GENERAL CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(UNAUDITED)
AMOUNTS EXPRESSED IN THOUSANDS, except share amounts
A S S E T S
March 31, December 31,
2000 1999
---------- ----------
Investments:
Fixed maturities available for sale (amortized cost
$1,381,931 in 2000 and $1,353,765 in 1999)............ $1,373,501 $1,322,054
Equity securities available for sale (cost $243,575
in 2000 and $238,856 in 1999)......................... 217,116 209,843
Short-term cash investments, at cost, which approxi-
mates market.......................................... 41,359 43,568
---------- ----------
Total investments........................... 1,631,976 1,575,465
Cash...................................................... 5,474 8,052
Receivables:
Premiums receivable.................................... 122,265 115,654
Premium notes.......................................... 13,998 13,375
Accrued investment income.............................. 22,991 23,815
Other.................................................. 19,649 19,235
---------- ----------
178,903 172,079
Deferred policy acquisition costs......................... 67,405 63,975
Fixed assets, net......................................... 34,031 34,221
Current income taxes recoverable.......................... -0- 1,796
Deferred income taxes..................................... 18,818 28,541
Other assets.............................................. 22,606 22,238
---------- ----------
Total assets $1,959,213 $1,906,367
========== ==========
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Losses and loss adjustment expenses........................ $ 432,615 $ 434,843
Unearned premiums.......................................... 357,625 340,846
Notes payable.............................................. 95,000 92,000
Loss drafts payable........................................ 46,484 40,063
Accounts payable and accrued expenses...................... 47,022 53,121
Current income taxes....................................... 4,476 -0-
Other liabilities.......................................... 39,454 35,903
---------- ----------
Total liabilities............................ 1,022,676 996,776
---------- ----------
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock without par value or stated value.
Authorized 70,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding
54,112,423 shares in 2000 and 54,425,323 shares in
1999.................................................. 50,582 50,963
Accumulated other comprehensive loss.................... (22,678) (39,471)
Unearned ESOP compensation.............................. (2,750) (3,000)
Retained earnings....................................... 911,383 901,099
---------- ----------
Total shareholders' equity.................... 936,537 909,591
---------- ----------
Commitments and contingencies........................... $1,959,213 $1,906,367
========== ==========
2
MERCURY GENERAL CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended March 31,
Amounts expressed in thousands, except per share data
2000 1999
-------- --------
Revenues:
Earned premiums $304,655 $290,518
Net investment income 25,484 23,988
Net realized investment gains 1,482 59
Other 1,757 1,168
-------- --------
Total revenues 333,378 315,733
-------- --------
Expenses:
Losses and loss adjustment expenses 213,644 182,845
Policy acquisition costs 67,106 66,114
Other operating expenses 14,919 13,098
Interest 1,671 1,192
-------- --------
Total expenses 297,340 263,249
-------- --------
Income before income taxes 36,038 52,484
Income taxes 6,100 12,440
-------- --------
Net income $ 29,938 $ 40,044
======== ========
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE (average shares outstanding
54,160,431 in 2000 and 54,595,382 in 1999) $ 0.55 $ 0.73
======== ========
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE (adjusted weighted average
shares 54,263,243 in 2000 and 54,838,156 in 1999) $ 0.55 $ 0.73
======== ========
Dividends declared per share $ 0.24 $ 0.21
======== ========
3
MERCURY GENERAL CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended March 31,
Amounts expressed in thousands
2000 1999
----- ----
Net income $ 29,938 $ 40,044
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities:
Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising
during period 26,902 (13,673)
Less: reclassification adjustment for net gains
included in net income (1,067) (913)
-------- -------
Other comprehensive income (loss),
before tax 25,835 (14,586)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to unrealized
holding losses arising during period 9,416 (4,786)
Income tax benefit related to reclassification
adjustment for gains included in net income (374) (319)
-------- --------
Comprehensive income, net of tax $ 46,731 $ 30,563
======== ========
4
MERCURY GENERAL CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31
Amounts expressed in thousands
2000 1999
-------- ---------
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income $ 29,938 $ 40,044
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
provided from operating activities:
Decrease in unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses (2,228) (2,495)
Increase in unearned premiums 16,779 10,437
Increase in premium notes receivable (623) (164)
Increase in premiums receivable (6,611) (6,200)
Increase in deferred policy acquisition costs (3,430) (1,881)
Increase in loss drafts payable 6,421 1,544
Increase in accrued income taxes, excluding deferred
tax on change in unrealized gain 6,952 12,453
Decrease in accounts payable and accrued expenses (6,099) (2,020)
Depreciation 1,625 1,426
Net realized investment gains (1,482) (59)
Bond accretion, net (1,573) (1,048)
Other, net 5,701 4,855
-------- ---------
Net cash provided from operating activities 45,370 56,892
Cash flows from investing activities:
Fixed maturities available for sale:
Purchases (68,801) (37,201)
Sales 27,096 12,378
Calls or maturities 15,278 12,827
Equity securities available for sale:
Purchases (14,379) (195,609)
Sales 10,974 174,916
Increase (decrease) in receivable from securities (1,393) 4,522
Decrease (increase) in short-term cash investments, net 2,209 (11,054)
Purchase of fixed assets (1,529) (3,055)
Sale of fixed assets 517 134
-------- ---------
Net cash used in investing activities $(30,028) $ (42,142)
(Continued)
5
MERCURY GENERAL CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Continued)
2000 1999
-------- --------
Cash flows from financing activities:
Additions to notes payable $ 3,000 $ -0-
Dividends paid to shareholders (12,971) (11,464)
Proceeds from stock options exercised 30 30
Purchase and retirement of common stock (6,979) -0-
Net decrease in ESOP loan (1,000) (1,000)
-------- --------
Net cash used in financing activities (17,920) (12,434)
-------- --------
Net (decrease) increase in cash (2,578) 2,316
Cash:
Beginning of the year 8,052 1,887
-------- --------
End of the period $ 5,474 $ 4,203
======== ========
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information
and non-cash financing activities:
Interest paid during the period $ 1,652 $ 1,243
Income taxes received during the period $ (616) $ (16)
6
MERCURY GENERAL CORPORATION & SUBSIDIARIES
NOTE TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. Basis of Presentation
---------------------
The financial data included herein have been prepared by the Company,
without audit. In the opinion of management, all adjustments of a normal
recurring nature necessary to present fairly the Company's financial position at
March 31, 2000 and the results of operations, comprehensive income and cash
flows for the periods presented have been made.
Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior year balances to
conform to the current year presentation.
This interim information should be read in conjunction with the financial
statements and notes thereto included in the Company's latest annual report on
Form 10-K.
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
---------------------------------------------------------------
Results of Operations
---------------------
General
- -------
The Company is engaged primarily in writing all risk classifications of
automobile insurance in California, which in 1999 accounted for approximately
89% of the Company's direct premiums written. Since 1990, the Company has also
written small amounts of automobile insurance in Georgia and Illinois. In
December 1996 the Company acquired the American Mercury Insurance Group
(formerly named American Fidelity Insurance Group) which was licensed in 36
states but writes automobile and mechanical breakdown insurance predominantly in
Oklahoma and Texas. During 1998, the Company began writing private passenger
automobile coverage in Florida. In January 2000, the Company began assuming
automobile risks in the state of Texas on business produced by Concord Insurance
Services, Inc., an entity controlled by the Company.
Certain statements in this report on Form 10-Q that are not historical fact
constitute "Forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements
involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause
the actual results of the Company to be materially different from historical
results or from any results expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include,
among others, the intense competition currently existing in the California
automobile insurance markets, the success of the Company in integrating and
profitably operating the business of AMI, and in expanding generally in Florida,
Texas and other states outside of California, the impact of potential third
party "bad-faith" legislation, the ability of the Company to obtain the approval
of the California Insurance Commissioner for premium rate changes for private
passenger automobile policies issued in California and to obtain similar rate
approvals in other states and the level of investment yields obtainable in the
Company's investment portfolio in comparison to recent yields, as well as the
cyclical and general
7
competitive nature of the property and casualty insurance industry and general
uncertainties regarding loss reserve estimates and legislative and regulatory
changes, particularly in California.
Results of Operations
- ---------------------
Three Months Ended March 31, 2000 compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 1999
Premiums earned in the first quarter of 2000 increased 4.9% from the
corresponding period in 1999. Premiums written in the first quarter of 2000
increased 6.7% from the corresponding period in 1999. Contributing to the
overall first quarter 2000 premiums written growth were initial automobile
premiums in Texas from the recent Concord agency transaction and increases in
California non-standard automobile premiums, Florida automobile premiums,
California homeowner premiums and the Company's core California private
passenger automobile line.
California premiums written, representing 88% of the Company's total
premiums, grew approximately 4.1% in the first quarter of 2000 compared to an
increase of 4.4% for all of 1999. The California premium growth was primarily
due to an increase in unit sales on the Company's homeowners business and an
increase in average premiums per policy on California automobile business. Total
California automobile policies in-force increased slightly during the first
quarter of 2000. The automobile insurance marketplace remains intensely
competitive, particularly in California.
The loss ratio in the first quarter (loss and loss adjustment expenses
related to premiums earned) was 70.1% in 2000 and 62.9% in 1999. The higher
loss ratio in the quarter, as compared to the first quarter of 1999, was largely
due to an increase in the frequency and severity recorded on California
automobile claims.
The expense ratio (policy acquisition costs and other expenses related to
premiums earned) in the first quarter of 2000 was 26.9% compared to 27.3% in
1999. The improved expense ratio primarily relates to a decrease in profit
related bonuses for agents and employees partially offset by higher advertising
expenses.
The combined ratio of losses and expenses (GAAP basis) was 97.0% in the
first quarter of 2000 compared with 90.2% in 1999, resulting in an underwriting
gain for the period of $9.0 million, compared with $28.5 million in 1999.
Investment income for the first quarter of 2000 was $25.5 million, compared
with $24.0 million in the first quarter of 1999. The after-tax yield on average
investments of $1,666.8 million (fixed maturities valued and equities at cost)
was 5.52% compared with 5.62% on average investments of $1,544.9 million in
1999. The reduction in the after-tax yield was primarily due to a decrease in
the dividend yield obtained from the equity portfolio.
The income tax provision in the first quarter of 2000 of $6.1 million
represented an effective tax rate of 16.9%, compared with an effective rate of
23.7% in 1999. The lower rate in 2000 is primarily attributable to the
increased proportion of investment income which consists primarily of tax-exempt
interest and tax sheltered dividend income in contrast to underwriting income,
which is taxed at the full corporate rate of 35%.
Net income for the first quarter of $29.9 million, or $.55 per share
(diluted), compares with $40.0 million or $.73 per share (diluted) in 1999.
Basic net income per share was $.55 in 2000 and $.73 in 1999.
8
Liquidity and Capital Resources
- -------------------------------
Net cash provided from operating activities during the first three months
of 2000 was $45.4 million, while funds derived from the sale, redemption or
maturity of investments was $53.3 million. Fixed-maturity investments, at
amortized cost, increased by $28.2 million during the period. Equity
investments, including perpetual preferred stocks, increased by $4.7 million at
cost, and short-term cash investments decreased by $2.2 million. The amortized
cost of fixed-maturities available for sale which were sold or called during the
period was $37.8 million.
The amortized cost of all investments (fixed-maturities and equities) held
at market as "Available for Sale" exceeded market value of $1,590.6 million at
March 31, 2000 by $34.9 million. That unrealized loss, reflected as accumulated
other comprehensive loss, net of applicable tax effects, was $22.7 million at
March 31, 2000 compared with an unrealized loss of $39.5 million at December 31,
1999.
The Company's cash and short term investments totaled $46.8 million at
March 31, 2000. $3 million of this cash is restricted. Together with funds
generated internally, such liquid assets are more than adequate to pay claims
without the forced sale of investments.
It has been the Company's policy not to invest in high yield or "junk"
bonds. Approximately 1.0% of total fixed maturities at March 31, 2000 were rated
below investment grade. The average rating of the $1,353.7 million bond
portfolio (at amortized cost) was AA. Bond holdings are broadly diversified
geographically, and, within the tax-exempt sector, consist largely of revenue
issues, including housing bonds subject to sinking funds and special par calls,
and other issues, many of which have been pre-refunded and escrowed with U.S.
Treasuries. General obligation bonds of the large eastern cities have generally
been avoided. Holdings in the taxable sector consist principally of senior
public utility issues. Fixed-maturity investments of $1,381.9 million (at cost)
include $28.2 million of sinking fund preferreds, principally utility issues.
Except for Company-occupied buildings, the Company has no direct
investments in real estate and no holdings of mortgages secured by commercial
real estate.
Equity holdings of $217.1 million at market (cost $243.6 million),
including perpetual preferred issues, are largely confined to the public utility
and banking sectors and represent 26.0% (at cost) of total shareholders' equity.
As of March 31, 2000, the Company had no material commitments for capital
expenditures.
Industry and regulatory guidelines suggest that the ratio of a property and
casualty insurer's annual net premiums written to statutory policyholders'
surplus should not exceed 3 to 1. Based on the combined surplus of all of the
licensed insurance subsidiaries of $870.1 million at March 31, 2000 and net
written premiums for the twelve months ended on that date of $1,226.5 million,
the ratio of writings to surplus was approximately 1.4 to 1.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
----------------------------------------------------------
There have been no material changes in the Company's investment strategies,
types of financial instruments held or the risks associated with such
instruments which would
9
materially alter the market risk disclosures made in the Company's Annual
Statement on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999.
A decrease in market interest rates during the first three months of the
year positively impacted the value of the Company's investments. The impact is
described in the Liquidity and Capital Resources section above.
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
--------------------------------
(a) The following exhibits are included herewith:
27 Financial Data Schedule
(b) Not applicable
10
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.
MERCURY GENERAL CORPORATION
Date: May 12, 2000 By: /s/ George Joseph
--------------------------------------
George Joseph
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Date: May 12, 2000 By: /s/ Gabriel Tirador
--------------------------------------
Gabriel Tirador
Chief Financial Officer
11