1 FORM 10-Q SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 (Mark One) [ x ] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the Quarterly period ended June 30, 1995 [ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURIT EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from _________________ to ________________________ Commission file number 1-12688 STEWART INFORMATION SERVICES CORPORATION (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware 74-1677330 (State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) incorporation or organization) 1980 Post Oak Blvd., Houston, TX 77056 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) (713) 625-8100 (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, and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X No ____ Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date. Common 5,847,003 Class B Common 525,006 2 FORM 10-Q QUARTERLY REPORT Quarter Ended June 30, 1995 TABLE OF CONTENTS Item No. Page ------- ---- Part I 1. Financial Statements 1 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 5 Part II 1. Legal Proceedings 10 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K 13 Signature 30 3 STEWART INFORMATION SERVICES CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS FOR THE SIX MONTHS AND QUARTER ENDED June 30, 1995 and 1994 SECOND QUARTER SIX MONTHS 1995 1994 1995 1994 ------ ------ ------ ------ ($000 Omitted) ($000 Omitted) Revenues Title premiums, fees and related revenues 63,019 76,321 118,043 156,444 Investment income 3,309 2,989 6,627 6,062 Investment gains (losses) 300 (201) 353 377 Other income 699 740 352 1,377 ------ ------ ------- ------- 67,327 79,849 125,375 164,260 Expenses Employee costs 33,879 38,901 65,852 80,040 Other operating expenses 21,615 24,175 40,804 46,525 Title losses and related claims 6,406 11,410 13,033 23,210 Depreciation and amortization 2,416 1,847 4,679 3,679 Interest 263 124 415 267 Minority interests 275 232 233 548 ------ ------ ------- ------- 64,854 76,689 125,016 154,269 Income before taxes 2,473 3,160 359 9,991 Income taxes 798 856 111 3,247 ------ ------ ------- ------- Net income 1,675 2,304 248 6,744 ====== ====== ======= ======= Average number of shares outstanding (000) 6,228 6,204 6,223 6,189 Earnings per share Net income 0.27 0.37 0.04 1.09 ====== ====== ======= ======= -1- 4 STEWART INFORMATION SERVICES CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS JUNE 30, 1995 AND DECEMBER 31, 1994 JUN 30 DEC 31 1995 1994 -------- --------- ($000 Omitted) Assets Cash and cash equivalents 15,887 16,214 Investments - statutory reserve fund 115,795 105,642 Investments - other 82,788 90,737 Receivables 33,220 29,440 Property and equipment, net 24,698 24,778 Title plants 19,484 14,369 Other 43,196 43,996 ------- ------- 335,068 325,176 ======= ======= Liabilities Notes payable 14,286 7,865 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 20,483 21,968 Estimated title losses 133,147 134,316 Minority interest 4,520 4,674 Contingent liabilities and commitments Stockholders' equity Common and Class B Common Stock and additional paid-in capital 49,215 48,962 Net unrealized investment gains/(losses), less deferred taxes of $530 and ($2,888) 985 (5,363) Retained earnings 112,432 112,754 ------- ------- Total stockholders' equity ($26.11 per share at June 30, 1995) 162,632 156,353 ------- ------- 335,068 325,176 ======= ======= -2- 5 STEWART INFORMATION SERVICES CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1995 AND 1994 1995 1994 -------- -------- ($000 Omitted) Net cash flow (used) provided by operating activities (Note) (3,343) 15,288 Cash flow from investing activities: Purchases of property and equipment and title plants, less capital leases - net (3,644) (7,066) Proceeds of investments matured to sold 36,011 35,386 Purchases of investments, excluding mortgage loans (28,780) (58,565) Increases in mortgages and other notes (766) (1,462) Collections on mortgages and other notes 759 1,453 Cash paid in the purchase of subsidiaries - net (2,615) (968) Proceeds from issuance of stock 363 305 ------- ------- Net cash provided (used) by investing activities 1,328 (30,917) Cash flow from financing activities: Dividends paid (570) (550) Proceeds of notes payable 3,948 2,377 Payments on notes payable and capital leases (1,690) (2,809) ------- ------- Net cash provided (used) by financing activities 1,688 (982) ------- ------- Net decrease in cash equivalents (327) (16,611) ======= ======= NOTE: Reconciliation of net income to above amounts: Net income 248 6,744 Add (deduct): Depreciation and amortization 4,679 3,679 Provision for title losses (less than) in excess of payments (1,169) 13,352 Provision for uncollectible amounts 413 987 (Increase) decrease in accounts receivable, net (3,143) 133 Decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities - net (4,432) (7,900) Minority interest expense 233 548 Equity in net earnings of investees 109 (1,070) Realized investment losses (gains) - net 353 (377) Other, net (634) (808) ------- ------- Net cash flow (used) provided by operating activities (3,343) 15,288 ======= ====== -3- 6 STEWART INFORMATION SERVICES CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ========================================================================== Note 1: Interim Financial Statements The financial information contained in this report for the six month periods ended June 30, 1995 and 1994, and as at June 30, 1995, is unaudited. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of this information for all unaudited periods, consisting only of normal recurring accruals, have been made. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year. -4- 7 Item 2: Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations ______________________________________________________________________________ A comparison of the results of operations of the Company for the first six months of 1995 with the first six months of 1994 follows: General The Company's dominant segment of operations is the land title business. In general, the principal factors which contribute to increases in title revenues include declining mortgage interest rates (which usually increase home sales), increases in refinancing ("refis") transactions, rising home prices, higher premium rates, increased market share, additional revenues from new offices and increased revenue from non-residential commercial transactions. Although relatively few in number, large commercial transactions usually yield higher premiums. Revenues The Company's revenues from title premiums and fees fell $38.4 million, or 24.5%, in the first six months of 1995 as compared to the first six months of 1994. The Company did not benefit in the first quarter of 1995 from a high volume of loan refinancings like the first quarter of 1994. Regular business declined also from the same period a year ago. Volume in the first quarter of 1994 was driven by low mortgage interest rates, which began a steady rise in February 1994, and peaked at the 9.7% level in December 1994. A gradual decline in rates began in the early months of 1995, dropping below the 8% level in May. The number of closings handled by the Company were down 33.0% primarily because of the reduction in refinancing transactions, as well as regular transactions, resulting from the rise in mortgage rates noted above. Closings decreased in California, Texas, Florida, Colorado and most of the company's other major markets. The average revenue per closing rose 11.1% primarily because regular transactions generate higher premiums than refi transactions. Premium revenues from new and existing agents decreased 30.0% in 1995 over 1994. Investment income was up 9.3% in 1995 due to an increase in the average balance invested. Expenses Employee expenses decreased $14.2 million, or 17.7% in 1995 primarily because of a decrease in the average number of employees from 4,079 a year ago to 3,423 in 1995. The decrease in staff in 1995 was primarily in Texas, California and Florida. While the Company has reduced overall employee expenses, employee expenses of the systems development and programming operations increased. Most of the increase was attributable to developing new, or significantly improving, existing operating processes. These expenditures are expected to add customer revenues and reduce operating expenses and title losses in the future. -5- 8 Other operating expenses decreased by $5.7 million, or 12.3%, in 1995 primarily because of the decrease in volume which reduced supplies, premium taxes, advertising, bad debts and title plant expenses. Other operating expenses include office rent, telephone, policy forms, delivery expenses, travel and fees paid to attorneys for examination and closing services. Provisions for title losses and related claims were down $10.2 million in 1995. The Company's recent experience in claims has improved significantly as a result of the Company's programs designed to curtail claims and improve recoveries on claims. The first six months of 1995 included larger than usual recoveries. As a percentage of title premiums, fees and related revenues, provisions decreased to 11.0% in 1995 versus 14.8% in 1994. The ratio was 13.9% for the full year 1994. In December 1994 the California Board of Equalization ruled in favor of the Company concerning an assessment previously filed against the Company for certain additional premium taxes for the year 1987; however, an assessment for retaliatory premium taxes for 1987 is still pending. The amount of the remaining assessment is $1.1 million, excluding interest and penalties. The Company cannot predict the results of this assessment nor can the Company predict whether California will assess additional taxes for years subsequent to 1989 or the amount of any such assessments, if made. No assessments were made for the years 1988 or 1989 and those years are barred from assessments. The provision for income taxes represented a 30.9% effective tax rate in 1995 and 32.5% effective tax rate in 1994. Liquidity and capital resources Operating earnings represent the primary source of financing, but this may be supplemented by bank borrowings. The capital resources of the Company, and the present debt-to-equity relationship, are considered satisfactory. -6- 9 Item 2: Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations ______________________________________________________________________________ A comparison of the results of operations of the Company for the second quarter of 1995 with the second quarter of 1994 follows: General The Company's dominant segment of operations is the land title business. In general, the principal factors which contribute to increases in title revenues include declining mortgage interest rates (which usually increase home sales and refinancing transactions), rising home prices, higher premium rates, increased market share, additional revenues from new offices and increased revenue from non-residential commercial transactions. Although relatively few in number, large commercial transactions usually yield higher premiums. Revenues The Company's revenues from title premiums and fees fell $13.3 million, or 17.4%, in the second quarter of 1995 as compared to the second quarter of 1994. The number of closings handled by the Company were down 20.9% primarily because of a decrease in refi and regular transactions resulting from the steady rise in mortgage interest rates that began in February 1994. A gradual decline in rates began in the early months of 1995, dropping below the 8% level in May. Closings decreased in Texas, California, Colorado, Florida and most of the company's other major markets. The average revenue per closing rose 7.7%. Premium revenues from new and existing agents decreased 35.4% in 1995 as compared to 1994. Investment income was up 10.7% in 1995, due to an increase in market yields. Expenses Employee expenses decreased $5.0 million, or 12.9%, in 1995 because of a decrease in the average number of employees from 3,925 a year ago to 3,350 in 1995. The decrease in staff in 1995 was primarily in Texas and California. While the Company has reduced overall employee expenses, employee expenses of the systems development and programming operations increased. Most of the increase was attributable to developing new, or significantly improving, existing operating processes. These expenditures are expected to add customer revenues and reduce operating expenses and title losses in the future. Other operating expenses decreased by $2.6 million, or 10.6%, in 1995 primarily because of decreased volume which reduced advertising, premium taxes and title plant expenses. Other operating expenses include rent, supplies, telephone, policy forms, delivery, travel and fees paid to attorneys for examination and closing services. -7- 10 Provisions for title losses and related claims were down $5.0 million in 1995. The Company's recent experience in claims has improved significantly as a result of the Company's programs designed to curtail claims and improve recoveries on claims. The first and second quarters of 1995 included larger than usual recoveries. As a percentage of title premiums, fees and related revenues, provisions decreased to 10.2% in 1995 versus 15.0% in 1994. The ratio was 13.9% for the full year 1994. In December 1994 the California Board of Equalization ruled in favor of the Company concerning an assessment previously filed against the Company for certain additional premium taxes for the year 1987; however, an assessment for retaliatory premium taxes for 1987 is still pending. The amount of the remaining assessment is $1.1 million, excluding interest and penalties. The Company cannot predict the results of this assessment nor can the Company predict whether California will assess additional taxes for years subsequent to 1989 or the amount of any such assessments, if made. No assessments were made for the years 1988 or 1989 and those years are barred from assessments. The provision for income taxes represented a 32.3% effective tax rate in 1995 and 27.1% effective tax rate in 1994. The effect tax rate in 1994 was lower primarily because of the increase in non-taxable income from municipal bonds as a percentage of taxable income. Liquidity and capital resources Operating earnings represent the primary source of financing, but this may be supplemented by bank borrowings. The capital resources of the Company, and the present debt-to-equity relationship, are considered satisfactory. -8- 11 PART II Page ---- Item 1. Legal Proceedings 10 Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K (a) Exhibits 4. - Rights of Common and Class B Common Stockholders 10.1 - SISCO 1995 Stock Option Plan Agreement 10.2 - Executed Incentive Stock Option Agreements 27.0 - Financial data schedule 28.2 - Details of Investments as reported in the Quarterly Report to Shareholders (b) There were no reports on Form 8-K filed during the quarter ended June 30, 1995 -9- 12 ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS On August 29, 1989, a purported class action was filed in the Circuit Court of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin against Guaranty, eleven other title insurance companies and nine individuals. The plaintiffs purported to represent a class of all persons and entities in Wisconsin who purchased title insurance and/or search and examination services from 1971 through at least December 31, 1984. The complaint alleges that the defendants violated Wisconsin antitrust and insurance laws by participating in a title insurance rating bureau. Plaintiffs seek declaratory relief, treble damages in an unspecified amount and costs and attorneys' fees. On February 1, 1990, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss the complaint in the Circuit Court of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin on the basis of res judicata, implied repeal of the Wisconsin antitrust laws by the Wisconsin insurance laws, filed tariff doctrine and statute of limitations. The Circuit Court granted the defendants' motion on October 17, 1990. On June 19, 1991, the Circuit Court denied the plaintiffs' motion to amend their complaint to add new plaintiffs. The plaintiffs appealed the Circuit Court's rulings to the Court of Appeals of Wisconsin, which certified the appeal to the Wisconsin Supreme Court on April 1, 1992. On June 9, 1993, the Supreme Court affirmed the Circuit Court's dismissal of the case. The plaintiffs filed a motion for reconsideration in the Wisconsin Supreme Court on or about June 28, 1993, and the defendants filed a response on or about July 7, 1993. On or about August 17, 1993, the Wisconsin Supreme Court denied the plaintiffs' motion. The United States Supreme Court denied the plaintiff's petition for certiorari on February 22, 1994. On April 13, 1990, Walter Thomas Brown and Jeffrey L. Dziewit sued Guaranty and five other major title insurers in a purported class action in United States District Court for the District of Arizona. The complaint alleges that the defendants' participation in a title insurance rating bureau constituted a violation of federal antitrust laws. Plaintiffs seek injunctive relief, treble damages in an unspecified amount, and costs and attorneys' fees. The plaintiffs purport to represent a class consisting of all persons, except officers and directors of the defendants and their immediate families, who purchased title search and examination services from defendants in Arizona and Wisconsin from January 7, 1981, to the present time. The District Court granted the defendants' motion for summary judgment on March 1, 1991. On December 28, 1992, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed in part the decision of the district court, holding that the federal class action settlement bars the plaintiffs' claims for injunctive relief, but reversed in part the decision of the district court by holding that the federal class action settlement does not bar the plaintiffs' claims for monetary damages. In addition, the court held that the defendants are not protected from the plaintiffs' claims by the state action doctrine or the filed tariff doctrine. The title insurers filed a petition for rehearing in the Ninth Circuit on or about January 11, 1993. On or about March 17, 1993, the Ninth Circuit denied the petition for rehearing. On or about March 24, 1993, the Ninth Circuit granted the title insurers' motion to stay issuance of the Ninth Circuit's mandate for a period of ninety days, pending the title insurers' filing of a petition for certiorari with the United States Supreme Court. On or about June 15, 1993, the title insurers filed their petition for a writ of certiorari. On or about October 1, 1993, counsel for the plaintiffs and counsel for the defendants executed a "memorandum of understanding" regarding a proposed settlement. Under an Agreement of Settlement subsequently executed by the parties, the proposed settlement class would include persons who purchased search and examination services in Wisconsin and Arizona from January 1, 1981 through June 10, 1986. Members of the settlement class who purchased from one of the defendants or their agents from 1981 through 1984 with respect to Wisconsin, or from 1981 through 1982 with respect to Arizona, would be entitled to receive a cash payment equal to 7.7 percent of the amount that each such class member paid for title search and examination services (provided that the total liability of the defendants not exceed $1,587,326 in Wisconsin and that the total liability of the defendants not exceed $1,225,200 in Arizona). Members of the -10- 13 settlement class who are eligible but do not elect to receive the cash option would receive, without additional charge, a policy enhancement designed to reflect the impact of inflation from January 1, 1981 to the date of any final settlement order. Such class members and members of the settlement class who purchased from persons other than the defendants or their agents will receive the last $5,000 of coverage without charge in connection with any new title insurance policy purchased from any of the defendants within one year following any final settlement order with respect to property located either in Arizona or Wisconsin. Members of this settlement class would have the right to "opt out" of the proposed settlement, and the defendants would have the right to reject the settlement if 5,000 or more members elect to opt out. The proposed settlement, which is subject to notice and court approval pursuant to the provisions of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23 and other authorities, would result in a judgment dismissing with prejudice all claims of the settlement class under federal and state antitrust laws as to the defendants and their agents, officers, and employees. On October 4, 1993, the Supreme Court granted the title insurers' petition for a writ of certiorari. On or about April 4, 1994, the Supreme Court dismissed the writ as improvidently granted. On June 1, 1994, the parties jointly filed with the district court their Agreement of Settlement and a proposed order that would preliminarily approve the proposed settlement, authorize notice to be given to members of the settlement class, and schedule a hearing on the proposed settlement. On or about July 5, 1994, counsel for the plaintiffs filed "Plaintiffs" Notice of Withdrawal of Joint Request for Entry of Preliminary Settlement Order Lodged June 1, 1994." On or about July 14, 1994, the title insurers filed their response, urging the court to enforce the Agreement of Settlement and to enter the proposed order. On September 19, 1989, the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") denied Guaranty's appeal of the Administrative Law Judge's decision in In the Matter of Ticor Title Insurance. The FTC ordered Guaranty and the other respondents to cease and desist from discussing, proposing, settling or filing any rates for title search and examination services through rating bureaus in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Wisconsin, Arizona and Montana, except where such collective activity is engaged in pursuant to clearly articulated state policy and is actively supervised by a state regulatory agency. The Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit reversed the FTC's decision on January 9, 1991 and held that the collective filing of rates for title search and examination services is immune from federal antitrust liability under the state-action doctrine. On June 12, 1992, the Supreme Court determined that state regulators in Wisconsin and Montana failed to actively supervise rating bureau activity in those states and that as a result, state action immunity did not apply. Accordingly, the Court reversed the Court of Appeals' finding with respect to those states. The Court also remanded to the Court of Appeals with instructions to reconsider its findings with respect to Arizona and Connecticut. The Court did not consider defenses raised by the title insurers other than state action immunity. On July 15, 1993, the Court of Appeals held that the state action doctrine did not apply to the title insurers' activity in Arizona and Connecticut. The Court of Appeals also held that the title insurers' activity was not protected by the McCarren-Ferguson Act's exemption for the "business of insurance" or by the exemption for petitioning of the government. On or about August 30, 1993, the Court of Appeals denied the title insurers' petition for rehearing. The title insurers filed a petition for a writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court, which denied the petition on March 21, 1994. The FTC's order has been modified to delete references to New Jersey and Pennsylvania and, as modified, has become final. On or about April 22, 1994, Harold Segall and three other plaintiffs sued Guaranty and 10 other title insurance companies in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. The plaintiffs purport to represent a class consisting of persons who purchased title search and examination services from one or more of the defendants in connection with the sale or refinancing of residential real -11- 14 estate in Wisconsin from January 7, 1981 through at least January 8, 1985. According to the plaintiffs, the defendants violated federal antitrust law by participating in a title insurance rating bureau through which they allegedly agreed upon the process and other terms and conditions of sale for title search and examination services in Wisconsin. The plaintiffs request treble damages in an unspecified amount, costs, and attorney's fees. The plaintiffs also seek an injunction against certain defendants other than Guaranty. On or about June 15, 1994 Guaranty filed its answer to the complaint. On or about July 8, 1994, the plaintiffs filed a Motion to Transfer with the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, requesting that it transfer the action to the United State District Court of the District of Arizona for consolidation with the Arizona Federal proceeding, described above. Guaranty filed its opposition to the motion on August 1, 1994. On May 18, 1995, the plaintiffs and defendants in the consolidated proceeding presented a proposed settlement to the United States District Court for the District of Arizona. The proposed settlement class would include persons who purchased search and examination services in Wisconsin and Arizona from January 1, 1981, through June 10, 1986 from any title insurance underwriter or agent. Members of the settlement class who purchased from 1981 through 1984 with respect to Wisconsin, or from 1981 through 1982 with respect to Arizona, would be entitled to receive a cash payment equal to 7.7 percent of the amount that each such class member paid for title search and examination services (provided that the total liability of the defendants not exceed $2,070,326 in Wisconsin and $1,996,613 in Arizona). Members of the settlement class who purchased search and examination services between January 1, 1981 and June 10, 1986 but do not receive the cash option would receive, without additional charge, a policy enhancement designed to reflect the impact of inflation from January 1, 1981 to the date of any final settlement order. The same enhancement would be provided to members of the settlement class who did not purchase search and examination services but became insured during the applicable period by any defendant. Class members who purchased search and examination services, and class members who neither purchased search and examination nor become insured by any defendant, would receive the last $5,000 of coverage without charge in connection with any new title insurance policy purchased from any of the defendants within one year following any final settlement order with respect to property located in either Arizona or Wisconsin. Members of this settlement class would have the right to "opt out" of the proposed settlement, and the defendants would have the right to reject the settlement if 5,000 or more members elected to opt out. The proposed settlement, which is subject to notice and court approval pursuant to the provisions of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23 and other authorities, would result in a judgment dismissing with prejudice all claims of the settlement class under federal and state antitrust and other laws as to the defendants and their affiliates, agents, officers, and employees. On June 19, 1995, the Court entered an order preliminarily approving the proposed settlement. The Court scheduled a final hearing on the proposed settlement for October 10, 1995. The Registrant is a party to number routine lawsuits incidental to its business most of which involve disputed policy claims. In many of these suits, the plaintiff seeks exemplary or treble damages in excess of policy limits based on the alleged malfeasance of an issuing agent of the Registrant. -12- 15 SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. Stewart Information Services Corporation (Registrant) 08-09-95 ______________ Date /s/ MAX CRISP _____________________________________ Max Crisp (Vice President - Finance, Secretary-Treasurer, Director and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) -13- 16 INDEX TO EXHIBITS (a) Exhibits 4. - Rights of Common and Class B Common Stockholders 10.1 - SISCO 1995 Stock Option Plan Agreement 10.2 - Executed Incentive Stock Option Agreements 27.0 - Financial data schedule 28.2 - Details of Investments as reported in the Quarterly Report to Shareholders