Exhibit 99
----------
News Release dated April 14, 2004,
containing financial results of
The Progressive Corporation
and Subsidiaries
for the month and year-to-date period
ended March 2004
[PROGRESSIVE LOGO] NEWS
RELEASE
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The Progressive Corporation COMPANY CONTACT:
6300 Wilson Mills Road Thomas A. King
Mayfield Village, Ohio 44143 (440) 395-2260
http://www.progressive.com
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAYFIELD VILLAGE, OHIO -- April 14, 2004 -- The Progressive Corporation today
reported the following results for March 2004:
($ in millions, except per share amounts) March March
2004 2003 Change
------------- ------------- -------------
Net premiums written $1,077.7 $944.1 14%
Net premiums earned 974.4 825.1 18%
Net income 152.6 91.8 66%
Per share .69 .42 67%
Combined ratio 82.8 83.7 .9 pts.
See the "Income Statement" for further information.
Progressive's Personal Lines business units write insurance for private
passenger automobiles and recreation vehicles. Progressive's Commercial Auto
business unit writes primary liability, physical damage and other auto-related
insurance for automobiles and trucks owned by small businesses. The Company's
other businesses principally include writing directors' and officers' liability
insurance and managing the wind down of the Company's lender's collateral
protection program. See "Supplemental Information" for the month and
year-to-date results.
THE PROGRESSIVE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
INCOME STATEMENT
MARCH 2004
(millions - except per share amounts)
(unaudited)
Current
Month Comments on Monthly Results (1)
------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------
Direct premiums written $1,108.4
============
Net premiums written $1,077.7
============
Revenues:
Net premiums earned $974.4
Investment income 41.7
Net realized gains on securities 23.6
Service revenues 4.0
------------
Total revenues 1,043.7
------------
Expenses:
Losses and loss adjustment expenses 615.2 Includes $34.9 million of unfavorable prior accident years
development; see the "Monthly Commentary" at the end of this
release for further discussion.
Policy acquisition costs 105.1
Other underwriting expenses 86.6
Investment expenses 1.0
Service expenses 1.2
Interest expense 6.7
------------
Total expenses 815.8
------------
Income before income taxes 227.9
Provision for income taxes 75.3
------------
Net income $152.6
============
COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS PER SHARE
Basic:
Average shares outstanding 216.5
============
Per share $.70
============
Diluted:
Average shares outstanding 216.5
Net effect of dilutive stock-based
compensation 3.6
------------
Total equivalent shares 220.1
============
Per share $.69
============
(1) See the Monthly Commentary at the end of this release for additional
discussion. Also see the Company's 2003 Annual Report at
progressive.com/annualreport for a complete description of its reporting and
accounting policies.
The following table sets forth the total return for the
month:
Fully taxable equivalent total return:
Fixed income securities .5%
Common stocks (1.4)%
Total portfolio .2%
THE PROGRESSIVE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
INCOME STATEMENTS
MARCH 2004
(millions - except per share amounts)
(unaudited)
Year-to-Date
---------------------------
2004 2003 % Change
----------- ------------ ----------
Direct premiums written $3,358.3 $2,939.6 14
=========== ============
Net premiums written $3,277.3 $2,879.3 14
=========== ============
Revenues:
Net premiums earned $3,093.5 $2,598.3 19
Investment income 114.9 116.0 (1)
Net realized gains (losses) on securities 59.5 (3.1) NM
Service revenues 12.6 8.8 43
Other income (expense) (.2) -- NM
----------- ------------
Total revenues 3,280.3 2,720.0 21
----------- ------------
Expenses:
Losses and loss adjustment expenses 1,962.1 1,733.5 13
Policy acquisition costs 334.0 287.7 16
Other underwriting expenses 276.2 232.2 19
Investment expenses 3.3 3.3 --
Service expenses 5.5 5.9 (7)
Interest expense 20.5 24.1 (15)
----------- ------------
Total expenses 2,601.6 2,286.7 14
----------- ------------
Income before income taxes 678.7 433.3 57
Provision for income taxes 218.7 141.8 54
----------- ------------
Net income $460.0 $291.5 58
=========== ============
COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS PER SHARE
Basic:
Average shares outstanding 216.4 217.9 (1)
=========== ============
Per share $2.13 $1.34 59
=========== ============
Diluted:
Average shares outstanding 216.4 217.9 (1)
Net effect of dilutive stock-based
compensation 3.6 3.4 6
----------- ------------
Total equivalent shares 220.0 221.3 (1)
=========== ============
Per share $2.09 $1.32 59
=========== ============
NM = Not Meaningful
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The following table sets forth the total return for the year-to-date period:
2004 2003
-------------- -------------
Fully taxable equivalent total return:
Fixed income securities 2.2% 1.5%
Common stocks 1.9% (3.2)%
Total portfolio 2.2% .9%
THE PROGRESSIVE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
MARCH 2004
($ in millions)(unaudited)
CURRENT MONTH
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PERSONAL LINES COMMERCIAL
--------------------------------- AUTO OTHER COMPANYWIDE
AGENCY DIRECT TOTAL BUSINESS BUSINESSES TOTAL
------ ------ ----- -------- ---------- -----
Net Premiums Written $640.4 $308.2 $948.6 $127.2 $1.9 $1,077.7
% Growth in NPW 12% 19% 14% 17% (68)% 14%
Net Premiums Earned $588.9 $273.4 $862.3 $109.3 $2.8 $974.4
% Growth in NPE 16% 22% 18% 27% (48)% 18%
GAAP Ratios
-----------
Loss/LAE Ratio 64.5 62.8 63.9 56.8 67.5 63.1
Expense Ratio 19.4 20.2 19.7 19.3 34.4 19.7
----------- ------------- -------------- ---------------- -------------- ------------------
Combined Ratio 83.9 83.0 83.6 76.1 101.9 82.8
=========== ============= ============== ================ ============== ==================
Actuarial Adjustments (a)
------------------------
Total Calendar Year Adjustment
Favorable (Unfavorable) $4.4 $1.0 $5.4 $1.9 $(.1) $7.2
Reserve Decrease/(Increase)
Prior accident years $6.1
Current accident year 1.1
------------------
Calendar year actuarial adjustment $7.2
==================
Prior Accident Years Development
--------------------------------
Favorable/(Unfavorable)
Actuarial adjustment $6.1
All other development (41.0)
------------------
Total development $(34.9)
==================
Calendar year loss/LAE Ratio 63.1
==================
Accident year loss/LAE Ratio 59.5
==================
Statutory Ratios
----------------
Loss/LAE Ratio 63.2
Expense Ratio 18.5
------------------
Combined Ratio 81.7
==================
(a) Represents adjustments solely based on the Company's corporate actuarial
review.
THE PROGRESSIVE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
MARCH 2004
($ in millions)(unaudited)
YEAR-TO-DATE
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PERSONAL LINES COMMERCIAL
----------------------------------- AUTO OTHER COMPANYWIDE
AGENCY DIRECT TOTAL BUSINESS BUSINESSES TOTAL
------ ------ ----- -------- ---------- -----
Net Premiums Written $1,957.1 $937.9 $2,895.0 $376.2 $6.1 $3,277.3
% Growth in NPW 12% 18% 14% 20% (67)% 14%
Net Premiums Earned $1,871.4 $865.9 $2,737.3 $346.8 $9.4 $3,093.5
% Growth in NPE 17% 22% 19% 27% (48)% 19%
GAAP Ratios
-----------
Loss/LAE Ratio 64.7 63.6 64.3 56.2 69.8 63.5
Expense Ratio 19.6 20.4 19.9 18.5 28.3 19.7
----------- ------------- -------------- ---------------- -------------- ------------------
Combined Ratio 84.3 84.0 84.2 74.7 98.1 83.2
=========== ============= ============== ================ ============== ==================
Actuarial Adjustments (a)
------------------------
Total Calendar Year Adjustment
Favorable/(Unfavorable) $7.1 $2.6 $9.7 $2.0 $(.2) $11.5
Reserve Decrease/(Increase)
Prior accident years $11.4
Current accident year .1
------------------
Calendar year actuarial adjustment $11.5
==================
Prior Accident Years Development
--------------------------------
Favorable/(Unfavorable)
Actuarial adjustment $11.4
All other development (34.3)
------------------
Total development $(22.9)
==================
Calendar year loss/LAE Ratio 63.5
==================
Accident year loss/LAE Ratio 62.8
==================
Statutory Ratios
----------------
Loss/LAE Ratio 63.5
Expense Ratio 19.0
------------------
Combined Ratio 82.5
==================
Statutory Surplus $4,972.2
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March March
Policies in Force 2004 2003 Change
------------- -------------- ----------------
(in thousands)
Agency - Auto 4,118 3,627 14%
Direct - Auto 1,941 1,650 18%
Other Personal Lines(b) 2,057 1,708 20%
----------------------------
Total Personal Lines 8,116 6,985 16%
============================
Commercial Auto Business 380 304 25%
============================
(a) Represents adjustments solely based on the Company's corporate actuarial
review.
(b) Includes insurance for motorcycles, recreation vehicles, mobile homes,
watercraft, snowmobiles, homeowners and similar items.
THE PROGRESSIVE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
BALANCE SHEET AND OTHER INFORMATION
(millions- except per share amounts)
(unaudited)
MARCH
2004
CONDENSED GAAP BALANCE SHEET: (1)
Investments -
Available-for-sale:
Fixed maturities, at market (amortized cost: $9,008.6) $9,297.3
Equity securities, at market:
Preferred stocks (cost: $804.7) 832.8
Common equities (cost: $1,600.1) 2,004.0
Short-term investments, at amortized cost (market: $1,113.6) 1,113.6
----------------
Total investments (2) 13,247.7
Net premiums receivable 2,248.2
Deferred acquisition costs 434.5
Other assets 1,231.5
----------------
Total assets $17,161.9
================
Unearned premiums $4,083.9
Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves 4,703.9
Other liabilities (2) 1,542.4
Debt 1,289.9
Shareholders' equity 5,541.8
----------------
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $17,161.9
================
Common Shares outstanding 217.5
Shares repurchased - March .2
Average cost per share $86.92
Book value per share $25.48
Return on average shareholders' equity 29.1%
Net unrealized pre-tax gains on investments $720.7
Debt to total capital ratio 18.9%
(1) Pursuant to SFAS 113, "Accounting and Reporting for Reinsurance of
Short-Duration and Long-Duration Contracts," loss and loss adjustment
expense reserves are stated gross of reinsurance recoverables on unpaid
losses of $242.2 million.
(2) Amounts include net unsettled security acquisitions of $62.0 million.
MONTHLY COMMENTARY
- - Continued low accident frequency contributed to the Company's strong
profitability for March. Forty-seven of the 49 markets in which the Company
writes Personal Lines business were profitable for the month; for the year,
all markets are profitable.
- - Unfavorable reserve development increased the combined ratio 3.6 points for
March and .7 points year-to-date. The unfavorable development, which
related to personal auto, was a function of several items, including: $10
million development in both case and incurred but not reported (IBNR)
property damage reserves; approximately $10 million of lower limit (less
than $100 thousand) bodily injury IBNR emergence; a $5 million accrual for
a pending class action lawsuit settlement; and almost $5 million of
personal injury protection (PIP) development in three PIP states.
- - Policies in force growth remains strong, supported by strong renewals. In
Personal Lines, 17 markets have year-to-date net premiums written growth of
20% or greater; these markets represent 27% of the total Personal Lines
premiums. Thirteen states (36% of total Personal Lines) grew less than 10%.
- - The Company will consider actions in selected states to maintain an
attractive combination of profit and growth.
- - In general, the Company did not see any significant changes in customer
retention.
- - At March month-end, the net unrealized gains in the investment portfolio
were $720.7 million, an increase of $77.3 million from year-end 2003. The
pretax recurring investment book yield of the portfolio was 4.1% for the
month and 3.8% year-to-date. In the fixed-income portfolio, the duration
was 3.0 years and the weighted average credit quality was AA+.
The Progressive group of insurance companies ranks third in the nation for
auto insurance based on premiums written, offering its products by phone at
1-800-PROGRESSIVE, online at progressive.com and through more than 30,000
independent agencies and insurance brokers. The Common Shares of The
Progressive Corporation, the holding company, are publicly traded at
NYSE:PGR.
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995: Statements in this release that are not historical fact are
forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ
materially from those discussed herein. These risks and uncertainties
include, without limitation, uncertainties related to estimates, assumptions
and projections generally; inflation and changes in economic conditions
(including changes in interest rates and financial markets); the accuracy
and adequacy of the Company's pricing and loss reserving methodologies;
pricing competition and other initiatives by competitors; the Company's
ability to obtain regulatory approval for requested rate changes and the
timing thereof; the effectiveness of the Company's advertising campaigns;
legislative and regulatory developments; the outcome of litigation pending
or that may be filed against the Company; weather conditions (including the
severity and frequency of storms, hurricanes, snowfalls, hail and winter
conditions); changes in driving patterns and loss trends; acts of war and
terrorist activities; court decisions and trends in litigation and health
care and auto repair costs; and other matters described from time to time by
the Company in releases and publications, and in periodic reports and other
documents filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
In addition, investors should be aware that generally accepted accounting
principles prescribe when a company may reserve for particular risks,
including litigation exposures. Accordingly, results for a given reporting
period could be significantly affected if and when a reserve is established
for a major contingency. Reported results therefore may appear to be
volatile in certain accounting periods.