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First American Financial Corp - Quarter Report: 2021 June (Form 10-Q)

 

 

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2021

 

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 001-34580

 

 

 

FIRST AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Delaware

 

26-1911571

(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) 250-3000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Trading Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common stock, $0.00001 par value

 

FAF

 

New York Stock Exchange

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       No  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes      No  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act

 

Large accelerated filer

 

  

Accelerated filer

 

 

 

 

 

Non-accelerated filer

 

  

Smaller reporting company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Emerging growth company

 

 

 

 

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes      No  

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

On July 19, 2021 there were 109,919,919 shares of common stock outstanding.

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

FIRST AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

INFORMATION INCLUDED IN REPORT

 

PART I: FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

 

Financial Statements (unaudited)

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020

  

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

B. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020

 

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

C. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020

 

 

7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

D. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for each of the quarters within the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020

 

 

8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

E. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020

  

 

10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

F. Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 2.

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

  

 

33

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 3.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

  

 

45

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 4.

 

Controls and Procedures

  

 

45

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PART II: OTHER INFORMATION

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

 

Legal Proceedings

  

 

46

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1A.

 

Risk Factors

  

 

48

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 6.

 

Exhibits

  

 

58

 

Items 2 through 5 of Part II have been omitted because they are not applicable with respect to the current reporting period.

 

 


2


 

 

THIS QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 27A OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND SECTION 21E OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED.  THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS CAN BE IDENTIFIED BY THE FACT THAT THEY DO NOT RELATE STRICTLY TO HISTORICAL OR CURRENT FACTS AND MAY CONTAIN THE WORDS “BELIEVE,” “ANTICIPATE,” “EXPECT,” “INTEND,” “PLAN,” “PREDICT,” “ESTIMATE,” “PROJECT,” “WILL BE,” “WILL CONTINUE,” “WILL LIKELY RESULT,” OR OTHER SIMILAR WORDS AND PHRASES OR FUTURE OR CONDITIONAL VERBS SUCH AS “WILL,” “MAY,” “MIGHT,” “SHOULD,” “WOULD,” OR “COULD.” THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS INCLUDE, WITHOUT LIMITATION, STATEMENTS REGARDING FUTURE OPERATIONS, PERFORMANCE, FINANCIAL CONDITION, PROSPECTS, PLANS AND STRATEGIES.  THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ARE BASED ON CURRENT EXPECTATIONS AND ASSUMPTIONS THAT MAY PROVE TO BE INCORRECT.

 

RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES EXIST THAT 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, WITHOUT LIMITATION:

 

 

INTEREST RATE FLUCTUATIONS;

 

CHANGES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE REAL ESTATE MARKETS;

 

VOLATILITY IN THE CAPITAL MARKETS;

 

UNFAVORABLE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS;

 

THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC AND RESPONSES THERETO;

 

IMPAIRMENTS IN THE COMPANY’S GOODWILL OR OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS;

 

UNCERTAINTY FROM THE EXPECTED DISCONTINUANCE OF LIBOR AND TRANSITION TO ANY OTHER INTEREST RATE BENCHMARK;

 

FAILURES AT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS WHERE THE COMPANY DEPOSITS FUNDS;

 

REGULATORY OVERSIGHT AND CHANGES IN APPLICABLE LAWS AND GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS, INCLUDING PRIVACY AND DATA PROTECTION LAWS;

 

HEIGHTENED SCRUTINY BY LEGISLATORS AND REGULATORS OF THE COMPANY’S TITLE INSURANCE AND SERVICES SEGMENT AND CERTAIN OTHER OF THE COMPANY’S BUSINESSES;

 

REGULATION OF TITLE INSURANCE RATES;

 

LIMITATIONS ON ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS AND OTHER DATA;

 

CLIMATE CHANGE, HEALTH CRISES, SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND OTHER CATASTROPHE EVENTS;

 

CHANGES IN RELATIONSHIPS WITH LARGE MORTGAGE LENDERS AND GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED ENTERPRISES;

 

CHANGES IN MEASURES OF THE STRENGTH OF THE COMPANY’S TITLE INSURANCE UNDERWRITERS, INCLUDING RATINGS AND STATUTORY CAPITAL AND SURPLUS;

 

LOSSES IN THE COMPANY’S INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO OR VENTURE CAPITAL PORTFOLIO;

 

MATERIAL VARIANCE BETWEEN ACTUAL AND EXPECTED CLAIMS EXPERIENCE;

 

DEFALCATIONS, INCREASED CLAIMS OR OTHER COSTS AND EXPENSES ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE COMPANY’S USE OF TITLE AGENTS;

 

ANY INADEQUACY IN THE COMPANY’S RISK MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK;

 

SYSTEMS DAMAGE, FAILURES, INTERRUPTIONS, CYBERATTACKS AND INTRUSIONS, OR UNAUTHORIZED DATA DISCLOSURES;

3


 

 

INNOVATION EFFORTS OF THE COMPANY AND OTHER INDUSTRY PARTICIPANTS AND ANY RELATED MARKET DISRUPTION;

 

ERRORS AND FRAUD INVOLVING THE TRANSFER OF FUNDS;

 

THE COMPANY’S USE OF A GLOBAL WORKFORCE;

 

INABILITY OF THE COMPANY’S SUBSIDIARIES TO PAY DIVIDENDS OR REPAY FUNDS; AND

 

OTHER FACTORS DESCRIBED IN THIS QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q, INCLUDING UNDER THE CAPTION “RISK FACTORS” IN ITEM 1A OF PART II.

 

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.

 

 

4


 

 

PART I: FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.Financial Statements.

FIRST AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except par values)

(unaudited)

 

 

June 30,

2021

 

 

December 31,

2020

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$

2,222,675

 

 

$

1,275,466

 

Accounts and accrued income receivable, less allowance for credit losses of $12,439 and $13,994

 

419,279

 

 

 

385,086

 

Income taxes receivable

 

7,406

 

 

 

951

 

Investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deposits with banks

 

49,037

 

 

 

45,856

 

Debt securities, includes pledged securities of $94,658 and $93,586 (amortized cost
$7,727,800 and $6,121,004; allowance for credit losses of $105 and $132)

 

7,879,744

 

 

 

6,354,822

 

Equity securities

 

886,133

 

 

 

750,011

 

 

 

8,814,914

 

 

 

7,150,689

 

Secured financings receivable

 

712,530

 

 

 

748,312

 

Property and equipment, net

 

453,919

 

 

 

445,132

 

Operating lease assets

 

251,334

 

 

 

265,963

 

Title plants and other indexes

 

585,312

 

 

 

584,785

 

Deferred income taxes

 

14,484

 

 

 

14,484

 

Goodwill

 

1,378,067

 

 

 

1,378,628

 

Other intangible assets, net

 

177,926

 

 

 

194,474

 

Other assets

 

389,039

 

 

 

352,018

 

 

$

15,426,885

 

 

$

12,795,988

 

Liabilities and Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deposits

$

5,357,337

 

 

$

3,276,949

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

1,070,783

 

 

 

979,733

 

Deferred revenue

 

250,243

 

 

 

271,977

 

Reserve for known and incurred but not reported claims

 

1,242,510

 

 

 

1,178,004

 

Income taxes payable

 

42,768

 

 

 

53,784

 

Deferred income taxes

 

291,220

 

 

 

291,220

 

Operating lease liabilities

 

277,977

 

 

 

295,762

 

Secured financings payable

 

610,954

 

 

 

516,155

 

Notes and contracts payable

 

1,008,241

 

 

 

1,010,756

 

 

 

10,152,033

 

 

 

7,874,340

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 17)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, $0.00001 par value; Authorized—500 shares;
Outstanding—none

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $0.00001 par value; Authorized—300,000 shares;
Outstanding—109,919 shares and 110,353 shares

 

1

 

 

 

1

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

2,186,926

 

 

 

2,214,935

 

Retained earnings

 

3,088,627

 

 

 

2,655,495

 

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income

 

(11,810

)

 

 

39,541

 

Total stockholders’ equity

 

5,263,744

 

 

 

4,909,972

 

Noncontrolling interests

 

11,108

 

 

 

11,676

 

Total equity

 

5,274,852

 

 

 

4,921,648

 

 

$

15,426,885

 

 

$

12,795,988

 

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

5


 

 

FIRST AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

June 30,

 

 

June 30,

 

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct premiums and escrow fees

 

$

917,451

 

 

$

651,984

 

 

$

1,703,126

 

 

$

1,272,621

 

Agent premiums

 

 

904,897

 

 

 

597,895

 

 

 

1,750,189

 

 

 

1,197,577

 

Information and other

 

 

301,439

 

 

 

231,169

 

 

 

580,331

 

 

 

442,681

 

Net investment income

 

 

56,074

 

 

 

58,420

 

 

 

105,127

 

 

 

104,294

 

Net realized investment gains

 

 

86,514

 

 

 

69,261

 

 

 

153,347

 

 

 

4,499

 

 

 

 

2,266,375

 

 

 

1,608,729

 

 

 

4,292,120

 

 

 

3,021,672

 

Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Personnel costs

 

 

588,266

 

 

 

451,487

 

 

 

1,123,448

 

 

 

881,147

 

Premiums retained by agents

 

 

718,424

 

 

 

472,398

 

 

 

1,389,725

 

 

 

947,779

 

Other operating expenses

 

 

330,719

 

 

 

250,088

 

 

 

626,122

 

 

 

507,328

 

Provision for policy losses and other claims

 

 

149,930

 

 

 

138,688

 

 

 

290,377

 

 

 

256,165

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

40,939

 

 

 

40,976

 

 

 

79,237

 

 

 

72,425

 

Premium taxes

 

 

22,467

 

 

 

16,354

 

 

 

45,053

 

 

 

33,669

 

Interest

 

 

16,214

 

 

 

13,443

 

 

 

32,720

 

 

 

25,540

 

 

 

 

1,866,959

 

 

 

1,383,434

 

 

 

3,586,682

 

 

 

2,724,053

 

Income before income taxes

 

 

399,416

 

 

 

225,295

 

 

 

705,438

 

 

 

297,619

 

Income taxes

 

 

96,008

 

 

 

53,601

 

 

 

167,572

 

 

 

62,079

 

Net income

 

 

303,408

 

 

 

171,694

 

 

 

537,866

 

 

 

235,540

 

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

 

1,109

 

 

 

1,039

 

 

 

1,951

 

 

 

1,681

 

Net income attributable to the Company

 

$

302,299

 

 

$

170,655

 

 

$

535,915

 

 

$

233,859

 

Net income per share attributable to the Company's

stockholders (Note 11):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

2.73

 

 

$

1.52

 

 

$

4.83

 

 

$

2.07

 

Diluted

 

$

2.72

 

 

$

1.52

 

 

$

4.81

 

 

$

2.06

 

Cash dividends declared per share

 

$

0.46

 

 

$

0.44

 

 

$

0.92

 

 

$

0.88

 

Weighted-average common shares outstanding (Note 11):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

110,866

 

 

 

112,309

 

 

 

111,001

 

 

 

112,939

 

Diluted

 

 

111,177

 

 

 

112,555

 

 

 

111,303

 

 

 

113,270

 

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

6


 

 

FIRST AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

June 30,

 

 

Six Months Ended

June 30,

 

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Net income

 

$

303,408

 

 

$

171,694

 

 

$

537,866

 

 

$

235,540

 

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized gains (losses) on debt securities

 

 

37,590

 

 

 

58,467

 

 

 

(61,863

)

 

 

71,086

 

Unrealized gains (losses) on debt securities for which credit-related portion was recognized in earnings

 

 

16

 

 

 

62

 

 

 

(277

)

 

 

147

 

Foreign currency translation adjustment

 

 

5,410

 

 

 

14,373

 

 

 

8,784

 

 

 

(19,183

)

Pension benefit adjustment

 

 

1,002

 

 

 

399

 

 

 

2,004

 

 

 

798

 

Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

 

 

44,018

 

 

 

73,301

 

 

 

(51,352

)

 

 

52,848

 

Comprehensive income

 

 

347,426

 

 

 

244,995

 

 

 

486,514

 

 

 

288,388

 

Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

 

1,109

 

 

 

1,039

 

 

 

1,950

 

 

 

1,681

 

Comprehensive income attributable to the Company

 

$

346,317

 

 

$

243,956

 

 

$

484,564

 

 

$

286,707

 

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

7


 

 

FIRST AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

First American Financial Corporation Stockholders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

Common
stock

 

 

Additional
paid-in
capital

 

 

Retained
earnings

 

 

Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income (loss)

 

 

Total
stockholders’
equity

 

 

Noncontrolling
interests

 

 

Total

 

Balance at December 31, 2020

 

 

110,353

 

 

$

1

 

 

$

2,214,935

 

 

$

2,655,495

 

 

$

39,541

 

 

$

4,909,972

 

 

$

11,676

 

 

$

4,921,648

  

Net income for three months ended March 31, 2021

 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

233,616

  

 

 

 

 

 

233,616

  

 

 

842

 

 

 

234,458

  

Dividends on common shares

 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

(50,985

 

 

 

 

 

(50,985

)

 

 

 

 

 

(50,985

)

Purchase of Company shares

 

 

(1,226

)

 

 

 

 

 

(64,786

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(64,786

)

 

 

 

 

 

(64,786

)

Shares issued in connection with share-based compensation

 

 

614

  

  

 

 

  

 

(7,493

)

  

 

(885

 

 

 

 

 

(8,378

)

 

 

 

 

 

(8,378

)

Share-based compensation

 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

31,203

  

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31,203

 

 

 

 

 

 

31,203

 

Net activity related to noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,115

)

 

 

(2,115

)

Other comprehensive loss

 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

(95,369

)

 

 

(95,369

)

 

 

(1

)

 

 

(95,370

)

Balance at March 31, 2021

 

 

109,741

  

  

 

1

  

  

 

2,173,859

  

  

 

2,837,241

  

 

 

(55,828

 

 

4,955,273

 

 

 

10,402

 

 

 

4,965,675

  

Net income for three months ended June 30, 2021

 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

302,299

  

 

 

 

 

 

302,299

  

 

 

1,109

 

 

 

303,408

  

Dividends on common shares

 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

(50,058

 

 

 

 

 

(50,058

)

 

 

 

 

 

(50,058

)

Shares issued in connection with share-based compensation

 

 

178

  

  

 

 

  

 

4,966

 

  

 

(855

 

 

 

 

 

4,111

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,111

 

Share-based compensation

 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

8,165

  

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,165

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,165

 

Net activity related to noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

(64

)

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(64

)

 

 

(403

)

 

 

(467

)

Other comprehensive income

 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

44,018

 

 

 

44,018

 

 

 

 

 

 

44,018

 

Balance at June 30, 2021

 

 

109,919

  

  

$

1

  

  

$

2,186,926

  

  

$

3,088,627

  

 

$

(11,810

)

 

$

5,263,744

 

 

$

11,108

 

 

$

5,274,852

  

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.


8


 

 

FIRST AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity – (Continued)

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

First American Financial Corporation Stockholders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

Common
stock

 

 

Additional
paid-in
capital

 

 

Retained
earnings

 

 

Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income (loss)

 

 

Total
stockholders’
equity

 

 

Noncontrolling
interests

 

 

Total

 

Balance at December 31, 2019

 

 

112,476

 

 

$

1

 

 

$

2,300,926

 

 

$

2,161,049

 

 

$

(41,492

)

 

$

4,420,484

 

 

$

4,518

 

 

$

4,425,002

  

Net income for three months ended March 31, 2020

 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

63,204

  

 

 

 

 

 

63,204

  

 

 

642

 

 

 

63,846

  

Dividends on common shares

 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

(49,702

 

 

 

 

 

(49,702

)

 

 

 

 

 

(49,702

)

Purchase of Company shares

 

 

(1,703

)

 

 

 

 

 

(65,785

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(65,785

)

 

 

 

 

 

(65,785

)

Shares issued in connection with share-based compensation

 

 

644

  

  

 

 

  

 

(13,547

)

  

 

(831

 

 

 

 

 

(14,378

)

 

 

 

 

 

(14,378

)

Share-based compensation

 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

25,903

  

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

25,903

 

 

 

 

 

 

25,903

 

Net activity related to noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

72

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

72

 

 

 

4,417

 

 

 

4,489

 

Other comprehensive loss

 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

(20,453

)

 

 

(20,453

)

 

 

 

 

 

(20,453

)

Balance at March 31, 2020

 

 

111,417

  

  

 

1

  

  

 

2,247,569

  

  

 

2,173,720

  

 

 

(61,945

 

 

4,359,345

 

 

 

9,577

 

 

 

4,368,922

  

Net income for three months ended June 30, 2020

 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

170,655

  

 

 

 

 

 

170,655

  

 

 

1,039

 

 

 

171,694

  

Dividends on common shares

 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

(48,996

 

 

 

 

 

(48,996

)

 

 

 

 

 

(48,996

)

Purchase of Company shares

 

 

(71

)

 

 

 

 

 

(3,079

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(3,079

)

 

 

 

 

 

(3,079

)

Shares issued in connection with share-based compensation

 

 

173

  

  

 

 

  

 

5,308

 

  

 

(827

 

 

 

 

 

4,481

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,481

 

Share-based compensation

 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

9,693

  

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9,693

 

 

 

 

 

 

9,693

 

Net activity related to noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(405

)

 

 

(405

)

Other comprehensive income

 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

73,301

 

 

 

73,301

 

 

 

 

 

 

73,301

 

Balance at June 30, 2020

 

 

111,519

  

  

$

1

  

  

$

2,259,491

  

  

$

2,294,552

  

 

$

11,356

 

 

$

4,565,400

 

 

$

10,211

 

 

$

4,575,611

  

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

9


 

 

FIRST AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

Six Months Ended

June 30,

 

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

537,866

 

 

$

235,540

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provision for policy losses and other claims

 

 

290,377

 

 

 

256,165

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

79,237

 

 

 

72,425

 

Amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts on debt securities, net

 

 

21,593

 

 

 

20,162

 

Net realized investment gains

 

 

(153,347

)

 

 

(4,499

)

Share-based compensation

 

 

39,368

 

 

 

35,596

 

Equity in earnings of equity method investments, net

 

 

(3,533

)

 

 

(1,121

)

Dividends from equity method investments

 

 

5,979

 

 

 

2,674

 

Changes in assets and liabilities excluding effects of acquisitions and noncash transactions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Claims paid, including assets acquired, net of recoveries

 

 

(231,421

)

 

 

(214,594

)

Net change in income tax accounts

 

 

952

 

 

 

58,132

 

Increase in accounts and accrued income receivable

 

 

(31,027

)

 

 

(29,006

)

Decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

 

(51,630

)

 

 

(74,602

)

Decrease in deferred revenue

 

 

(21,757

)

 

 

(2,846

)

Other, net

 

 

(5,688

)

 

 

13,924

 

Cash provided by operating activities

 

 

476,969

 

 

 

367,950

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash effect of acquisitions/dispositions

 

 

(3,640

)

 

 

(386,231

)

Net (increase) decrease in deposits with banks

 

 

(4,118

)

 

 

3,769

 

Purchases of debt securities

 

 

(3,036,117

)

 

 

(1,111,215

)

Proceeds from sales of debt securities

 

 

679,952

 

 

 

494,552

 

Proceeds from maturities of debt securities

 

 

891,252

 

 

 

702,670

 

Purchases of equity securities

 

 

(71,673

)

 

 

(158,527

)

Proceeds from sales of equity securities

 

 

73,430

 

 

 

88,865

 

Net change in notes receivable

 

 

(48,711

)

 

 

(3,264

)

Advances under secured financing agreements

 

 

(12,426,536

)

 

 

(6,317,790

)

Collections of secured financings receivable

 

 

12,462,318

 

 

 

6,025,653

 

Capital expenditures

 

 

(67,535

)

 

 

(58,045

)

Proceeds from sales of property and equipment

 

 

12,866

 

 

 

13,934

 

Proceeds from insurance settlement

 

 

6,611

 

 

 

123

 

Cash used for investing activities

 

 

(1,531,901

)

 

 

(705,506

)

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net change in deposits

 

 

2,080,388

 

 

 

80,346

 

Borrowings under secured financing agreements

 

 

11,078,385

 

 

 

6,235,457

 

Repayments of secured financings payable

 

 

(10,983,586

)

 

 

(6,035,271

)

Net proceeds from issuance of unsecured senior notes

 

 

 

 

 

443,753

 

Borrowings under unsecured credit facility

 

 

 

 

 

120,000

 

Repayments of borrowings under unsecured credit facility

 

 

 

 

 

(280,000

)

Repayments of notes and contracts payable

 

 

(3,175

)

 

 

(2,658

)

Net activity related to noncontrolling interests

 

 

(2,561

)

 

 

(1,732

)

Net payments in connection with share-based compensation

 

 

(4,267

)

 

 

(9,897

)

Repurchases of Company shares

 

 

(64,786

)

 

 

(68,864

)

Payments of cash dividends

 

 

(101,043

)

 

 

(98,698

)

Cash provided by financing activities

 

 

1,999,355

 

 

 

382,436

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

 

 

2,786

 

 

 

(7,495

)

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

 

947,209

 

 

 

37,385

 

Cash and cash equivalents—Beginning of period

 

 

1,275,466

 

 

 

1,485,959

 

Cash and cash equivalents—End of period

 

$

2,222,675

 

 

$

1,523,344

 

Supplemental information:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash paid during the period for:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest

 

$

31,860

 

 

$

20,371

 

Premium taxes

 

$

49,308

 

 

$

42,098

 

Income taxes, less refunds of $33 and $2,692

 

$

166,592

 

 

$

4,283

 

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

10


 

 

FIRST AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(unaudited)

 

Note 1 – Basis of Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Basis of Presentation

 

The condensed consolidated financial information included in this report has been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and Article 10 of Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Regulation S-X.  The principles for condensed interim financial information do not require the inclusion of all the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements.  Therefore, these financial statements should be read in conjunction with the First American Financial Corporation (the “Company”) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.  The condensed consolidated financial statements included herein are unaudited; however, in the opinion of management, they contain all normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the consolidated results for the interim periods.  All material intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated upon consolidation.

Reclassifications

To conform to its current presentation, certain previously reported balance sheet amounts, as of December 31, 2020, have been reclassified.  The Company reclassified $222.1 million related to non-marketable equity securities and $63.8 million related to equity method investments from other investments to equity securities and $64.1 million related to certain other assets from other investments to other assets.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2019, the FASB issued updated guidance intended to simplify and improve the accounting for income taxes.  The updated guidance eliminates certain exceptions and clarifies and amends certain areas of the guidance.  The updated guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020.  The adoption of this guidance on a prospective basis, effective January 1, 2021, did not have a material impact on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

Note 2 – Exit of Property and Casualty Insurance Business

During 2020, the Company initiated a plan to exit its property and casualty insurance business. In January 2021, the Company entered into book transfer agreements with two third-party insurers and will seek to non-renew policies that are not transferred.  The Company’s policies in force had declined by approximately 22% as of June 30, 2021 and  the Company expects an approximate 70% reduction in policies in force by the end of 2021 and decreasing revenues over time. The Company expects the transfers to be completed by the end of the third quarter of 2022.

The property and casualty insurance business recorded revenues of $44.0 million and $78.6 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively, and $36.0 million and $66.0 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, respectively.  Income (loss) before income taxes, which includes a gain of $12.2 million from the sale of the agency operations in the second quarter of 2021, was $6.0 million and $(0.6) million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively. Loss before income taxes was $8.5 million and $15.8 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, respectively.

11


 

 

FIRST AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)
(unaudited)

 

Note 3 – Escrow Deposits, Like-kind Exchange Deposits and Trust Assets

The Company administers escrow deposits and trust assets as a service to its customers.  Escrow deposits totaled $11.6 billion and $7.1 billion at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, of which $5.1 billion and $3.1 billion, respectively, were held at First American Trust, FSB.  The escrow deposits held at First American Trust, FSB are temporarily invested in cash and cash equivalents and debt securities, with offsetting liabilities included in deposits in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.  The remaining escrow deposits were held at third-party financial institutions.

Trust assets held or managed by First American Trust, FSB totaled $4.5 billion and $4.4 billion at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.  Escrow deposits held at third-party financial institutions and trust assets are not considered assets of the Company and, therefore, are not included in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.  All such amounts are placed in deposit accounts insured, up to applicable limits, by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.  The Company could be held contingently liable for the disposition of these assets.

In conducting its operations, the Company often holds customers’ assets in escrow, pending completion of real estate transactions and, as a result, the Company has ongoing programs for realizing economic benefits with various financial institutions.  The results from these programs are included as income or a reduction in expense, as appropriate, in the consolidated statements of income based on the nature of the arrangement and benefit received.

The Company facilitates tax-deferred property exchanges for customers pursuant to Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code and tax-deferred reverse exchanges pursuant to Revenue Procedure 2000-37.  As a facilitator and intermediary, the Company holds the proceeds from sales transactions and takes temporary title to property identified by the customer to be acquired with such proceeds.  Upon the completion of each such exchange, the identified property is transferred to the customer or, if the exchange does not take place, an amount equal to the sales proceeds or, in the case of a reverse exchange, title to the property held by the Company is transferred to the customer.  Like-kind exchange funds held by the Company totaled $3.9 billion and $2.9 billion at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.  The like-kind exchange deposits are held at third-party financial institutions and, due to the structure utilized to facilitate these transactions, the proceeds and property are not considered assets of the Company and, therefore, are not included in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.  All such amounts are placed in deposit accounts insured, up to applicable limits, by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.  The Company could be held contingently liable to the customer for the transfers of property, disbursements of proceeds and the returns on such proceeds.

 

 

12


 

 

FIRST AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)
(unaudited)

 

 

Note 4 – Debt Securities

Investments in debt securities, classified as available-for-sale, are as follows:

 

(in thousands)

 

Amortized
cost

 

 

Allowance for credit losses

 

 

Gross unrealized

 

 

Estimated
fair value

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gains

 

 

Losses

 

 

 

June 30, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury bonds

 

$

187,858

 

 

$

 

 

$

1,164

 

 

$

(1,030

)

 

$

187,992

 

Municipal bonds

 

 

1,498,743

 

 

 

 

 

 

74,559

 

 

 

(5,064

)

 

 

1,568,238

 

Foreign government bonds

 

 

225,364

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,930

 

 

 

(2,750

)

 

 

225,544

 

Governmental agency bonds

 

 

279,045

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,005

 

 

 

(304

)

 

 

284,746

 

Governmental agency mortgage-backed securities

 

 

4,385,612

 

 

 

 

 

 

53,478

 

 

 

(15,336

)

 

 

4,423,754

 

U.S. corporate debt securities

 

 

748,349

 

 

 

(103

)

 

 

27,296

 

 

 

(1,588

)

 

 

773,954

 

Foreign corporate debt securities

 

 

402,829

 

 

 

(2

)

 

 

13,457

 

 

 

(768

)

 

 

415,516

 

 

 

$

7,727,800

 

 

$

(105

)

 

$

178,889

 

 

$

(26,840

)

 

$

7,879,744

 

December 31, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury bonds

 

$

80,172

 

 

$

 

 

$

778

 

 

$

(104

)

 

$

80,846

 

Municipal bonds

 

 

1,168,425

 

 

 

 

 

 

80,953

 

 

 

(570

)

 

 

1,248,808

 

Foreign government bonds

 

 

194,042

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,004

 

 

 

(516

)

 

 

199,530

 

Governmental agency bonds

 

 

254,248

 

 

 

 

 

 

9,869

 

 

 

(195

)

 

 

263,922

 

Governmental agency mortgage-backed securities

 

 

3,401,737

 

 

 

 

 

 

74,549

 

 

 

(1,668

)

 

 

3,474,618

 

U.S. corporate debt securities

 

 

637,808

 

 

 

(119

)

 

 

43,505

 

 

 

(497

)

 

 

680,697

 

Foreign corporate debt securities

 

 

384,572

 

 

 

(13

)

 

 

22,078

 

 

 

(236

)

 

 

406,401

 

 

 

$

6,121,004

 

 

$

(132

)

 

$

237,736

 

 

$

(3,786

)

 

$

6,354,822

 

Sales of debt securities resulted in realized gains of $13.1 million and $18.2 million, realized losses of $6.8 million and $7.2 million, and proceeds of $488.6 million and $680.0 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively. Sales of debt securities during the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 resulted in realized gains of $3.2 million and $9.3 million, realized losses of $1.8 million and $3.0 million, and proceeds of $285.1 million and $494.6 million, respectively.

13


 

 

FIRST AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)
(unaudited)

 

Investments in debt securities in an unrealized loss position, based on length of time, are as follows:

 

 

 

Less than 12 months

 

 

12 months or longer

 

 

Total

 

(in thousands)

 

Estimated

fair value

 

 

Unrealized

losses

 

 

Estimated

fair value

 

 

Unrealized

losses

 

 

Estimated

fair value

 

 

Unrealized

losses

 

June 30, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury bonds

 

$

79,263

 

 

$

(1,030

)

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

79,263

 

 

$

(1,030

)

Municipal bonds

 

 

320,337

 

 

 

(5,064

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

320,337

 

 

 

(5,064

)

Foreign government bonds

 

 

121,176

 

 

 

(2,750

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

121,176

 

 

 

(2,750

)

Governmental agency bonds

 

 

12,241

 

 

 

(304

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12,241

 

 

 

(304

)

Governmental agency mortgage-backed securities

 

 

1,657,179

 

 

 

(15,333

)

 

 

2,517

 

 

 

(3

)

 

 

1,659,696

 

 

 

(15,336

)

U.S. corporate debt securities

 

 

149,470

 

 

 

(1,416

)

 

 

4,887

 

 

 

(172

)

 

 

154,357

 

 

 

(1,588

)

Foreign corporate debt securities

 

 

82,370

 

 

 

(740

)

 

 

2,011

 

 

 

(28

)

 

 

84,381

 

 

 

(768

)

 

 

$

2,422,036

 

 

$

(26,637

)

 

$

9,415

 

 

$

(203

)

 

$

2,431,451

 

 

$

(26,840

)

December 31, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury bonds

 

$

7,744

 

 

$

(104

)

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

7,744

 

 

$

(104

)

Municipal bonds

 

 

74,045

 

 

 

(570

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

74,045

 

 

 

(570

)

Foreign government bonds

 

 

67,094

 

 

 

(516

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

67,094

 

 

 

(516

)

Governmental agency bonds

 

 

15,353

 

 

 

(195

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15,353

 

 

 

(195

)

Governmental agency mortgage-backed securities

 

 

287,947

 

 

 

(1,089

)

 

 

100,473

 

 

 

(579

)

 

 

388,420

 

 

 

(1,668

)

U.S. corporate debt securities

 

 

42,508

 

 

 

(484

)

 

 

1,357

 

 

 

(13

)

 

 

43,865

 

 

 

(497

)

Foreign corporate debt securities

 

 

19,042

 

 

 

(232

)

 

 

276

 

 

 

(4

)

 

 

19,318

 

 

 

(236

)

 

 

$

513,733

 

 

$

(3,190

)

 

$

102,106

 

 

$

(596

)

 

$

615,839

 

 

$

(3,786

)

Based on the Company’s review of its debt securities in an unrealized loss position for which an allowance for credit losses has not been recorded, it determined that the losses were due to non-credit factors.  As such, the Company does not consider these securities to be credit impaired at June 30, 2021.

14


 

 

FIRST AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)
(unaudited)

 

Activity in the allowance for credit losses on debt securities for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, is summarized as follows:

 

 

Three Months Ended

June 30,

 

 

Six Months Ended

June 30,

 

(in thousands)

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Balance at beginning of period

 

$

(109

)

 

$

(7,493

)

 

$

(132

)

 

$

 

Credit losses recognized during the period

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(7,493

)

Net (increases) decreases to credit losses previously recognized

 

 

(2

)

 

 

3,460

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

3,460

 

Reductions for securities sold/matured

 

 

6

 

 

 

2,653

 

 

 

22

 

 

 

2,653

 

Balance at end of period

 

$

(105

)

 

$

(1,380

)

 

$

(105

)

 

$

(1,380

)

Investments in debt securities at June 30, 2021, by contractual maturities, are as follows:

 

(in thousands)

 

Due in one

year or less

 

 

Due after

one through

five years

 

 

Due after

five through

ten years

 

 

Due after

ten years

 

 

Total

 

U.S. Treasury bonds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortized cost

 

$

81,689

 

 

$

59,052

 

 

$

26,288

 

 

$

20,829

 

 

$

187,858

 

Estimated fair value

 

$

81,921

 

 

$

59,056

 

 

$

26,619

 

 

$

20,396

 

 

$

187,992

 

Municipal bonds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortized cost

 

 

30,583

 

 

 

95,786

 

 

 

623,363

 

 

 

749,011

 

 

 

1,498,743

 

Estimated fair value

 

 

30,763

 

 

 

100,160

 

 

 

651,146

 

 

 

786,169

 

 

 

1,568,238

 

Foreign government bonds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortized cost

 

 

53,194

 

 

 

83,691

 

 

 

78,247

 

 

 

10,232

 

 

 

225,364

 

Estimated fair value

 

 

53,240

 

 

 

84,953

 

 

 

76,779

 

 

 

10,572

 

 

 

225,544

 

Governmental agency bonds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortized cost

 

 

19,391

 

 

 

133,138

 

 

 

53,905

 

 

 

72,611

 

 

 

279,045

 

Estimated fair value

 

 

19,712

 

 

 

135,211

 

 

 

54,463

 

 

 

75,360

 

 

 

284,746

 

U.S. corporate debt securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortized cost

 

 

33,606

 

 

 

416,003

 

 

 

230,406

 

 

 

68,334

 

 

 

748,349

 

Estimated fair value

 

 

34,065

 

 

 

431,225

 

 

 

235,021

 

 

 

73,643

 

 

 

773,954

 

Foreign corporate debt securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortized cost

 

 

17,982

 

 

 

241,107

 

 

 

99,896

 

 

 

43,844

 

 

 

402,829

 

Estimated fair value

 

 

18,121

 

 

 

248,253

 

 

 

102,613

 

 

 

46,529

 

 

 

415,516

 

Total debt securities excluding mortgage-backed securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortized cost

 

$

236,445

 

 

$

1,028,777

 

 

$

1,112,105

 

 

$

964,861

 

 

$

3,342,188

 

Estimated fair value

 

$

237,822

 

 

$

1,058,858

 

 

$

1,146,641

 

 

$

1,012,669

 

 

$

3,455,990

 

Total mortgage-backed securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortized cost

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,385,612

 

Estimated fair value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,423,754

 

Total debt securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortized cost

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

7,727,800

 

Estimated fair value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

7,879,744

 

Mortgage-backed securities, which include contractual terms to maturity, are not categorized by contractual maturity as borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with, or without, call or prepayment penalties.

 

15


 

 

FIRST AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)
(unaudited)

 

 

 

The composition of the debt securities portfolio at June 30, 2021, by credit rating, is as follows:

 

 

 

A- or higher

 

 

BBB+ to BBB-

 

 

Non-Investment Grade

 

 

Total

 

(in thousands, except percentages)

 

Estimated

fair value

 

 

Percentage

 

 

Estimated

fair value

 

 

Percentage

 

 

Estimated

fair value

 

 

Percentage

 

 

Estimated

fair value

 

 

Percentage

 

Debt securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury bonds

 

$

187,992

 

 

 

100.0

 

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

$

187,992

 

 

 

100.0

 

Municipal bonds

 

 

1,527,816

 

 

 

97.4

 

 

 

38,753

 

 

 

2.5

 

 

 

1,669

 

 

 

0.1

 

 

 

1,568,238

 

 

 

100.0

 

Foreign government bonds

 

 

210,876

 

 

 

93.5

 

 

 

10,213

 

 

 

4.5

 

 

 

4,455

 

 

 

2.0

 

 

 

225,544

 

 

 

100.0

 

Governmental agency bonds

 

 

284,746

 

 

 

100.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

284,746

 

 

 

100.0

 

Governmental agency mortgage-backed securities

 

 

4,423,754

 

 

 

100.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,423,754

 

 

 

100.0

 

U.S. corporate debt securities

 

 

266,554

 

 

 

34.4

 

 

 

350,759

 

 

 

45.4

 

 

 

156,641

 

 

 

20.2

 

 

 

773,954

 

 

 

100.0

 

Foreign corporate debt securities

 

 

142,062

 

 

 

34.2

 

 

 

225,972

 

 

 

54.4

 

 

 

47,482

 

 

 

11.4

 

 

 

415,516

 

 

 

100.0

 

 

 

$

7,043,800

 

 

 

89.4

 

 

$

625,697

 

 

 

7.9

 

 

$

210,247

 

 

 

2.7

 

 

$

7,879,744

 

 

 

100.0

 

Included in debt securities at June 30, 2021, were bank loans totaling $101.7 million, of which $97.7 million were non-investment grade; high yield corporate debt securities totaling $95.5 million, all of which were non-investment grade; and emerging market debt securities totaling $95.0 million, of which $15.4 million were non-investment grade.

The composition of the debt securities portfolio in an unrealized loss position at June 30, 2021, by credit rating, is as follows:

 

 

 

A- or higher

 

 

BBB+ to BBB-

 

 

Non-Investment Grade

 

 

Total

 

(in thousands, except percentages)

 

Estimated

fair value

 

 

Percentage

 

 

Estimated

fair value

 

 

Percentage

 

 

Estimated

fair value

 

 

Percentage

 

 

Estimated

fair value

 

 

Percentage

 

U.S. Treasury bonds

 

$

79,263

 

 

 

100.0

 

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

$

79,263

 

 

 

100.0

 

Municipal bonds

 

 

315,874

 

 

 

98.6

 

 

 

4,463

 

 

 

1.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

320,337

 

 

 

100.0

 

Foreign government bonds

 

 

118,965

 

 

 

98.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,211

 

 

 

1.8

 

 

 

121,176

 

 

 

100.0

 

Governmental agency bonds

 

 

12,241

 

 

 

100.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12,241

 

 

 

100.0

 

Governmental agency mortgage-backed securities

 

 

1,659,696

 

 

 

100.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,659,696

 

 

 

100.0

 

U.S. corporate debt securities

 

 

45,628

 

 

 

29.6

 

 

 

53,453

 

 

 

34.6

 

 

 

55,276

 

 

 

35.8

 

 

 

154,357

 

 

 

100.0

 

Foreign corporate debt securities

 

 

29,251

 

 

 

34.7

 

 

 

37,001

 

 

 

43.8

 

 

 

18,129

 

 

 

21.5

 

 

 

84,381

 

 

 

100.0

 

 

 

$

2,260,918

 

 

 

93.0

 

 

$

94,917

 

 

 

3.9

 

 

$

75,616

 

 

 

3.1

 

 

$

2,431,451

 

 

 

100.0

 

Debt securities in an unrealized loss position at June 30, 2021, included bank loans totaling $40.9 million, of which $39.1 million were non-investment grade; high yield corporate debt securities totaling $30.9 million, all of which were non-investment grade; and emerging market debt securities totaling $17.1 million, of which $5.6 million were non-investment grade.

The credit ratings in the above tables reflect published ratings obtained from globally recognized securities rating agencies.  If a security was rated differently among the rating agencies, the lowest rating was selected.  Governmental agency mortgage-backed securities are not rated by any of the ratings agencies; however, these securities have been included in the above table in the “A- or higher” rating category because the payments of principal and interest are guaranteed by the governmental agency that issued the security.

16


 

 

FIRST AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)
(unaudited)

 

Note 5 – Equity Securities

Investments in equity securities, by classification, are summarized as follows:

 

(in thousands)

 

June 30,
2021

 

 

December 31,
2020

 

Marketable equity securities

 

$

462,009

 

 

$

464,126

 

Non-marketable equity securities

 

 

351,282

 

 

 

217,104

 

Equity method investments

 

 

72,842

 

 

 

68,781

 

 

 

$

886,133

 

 

$

750,011

 

See Note 1 Basis of Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of the balance sheet reclassifications of non-marketable equity securities and equity method investments to equity securities.

Investments in marketable equity securities are summarized as follows:

(in thousands)

 

Cost

 

 

Estimated

fair value

 

June 30, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stocks

 

$

17,816

 

 

$

17,292

 

Common stocks

 

 

331,546

 

 

 

444,717

 

 

 

$

349,362

 

 

$

462,009

 

December 31, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stocks

 

$

22,163

 

 

$

19,479

 

Common stocks

 

 

354,157

 

 

 

444,647

 

 

 

$

376,320

 

 

$

464,126

 

Net gains (realized and unrealized) of $24.2 million and $43.3 million were recognized for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively, as a result of changes in the fair values of marketable equity securities.  Included in net gains during the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 were net unrealized gains of $24.3 million and $42.2 million, respectively, related to marketable equity securities still held at June 30, 2021.  Net gains (realized and unrealized) of $59.1 million and net losses (realized and unrealized) of $23.4 million were recognized for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, respectively, as a result of changes in the fair values of marketable equity securities.  Included in net gains during the three months ended June 30, 2020 were net unrealized gains of $58.7 million and included in net losses during the six months ended June 30, 2020 were net unrealized losses of $23.7 million, respectively, related to marketable equity securities still held at June 30, 2020.  Net gains (realized and unrealized) are recognized in net realized investment gains/losses on the condensed consolidated statements of income.

Investments in non-marketable equity securities are summarized as follows:

(in thousands)

 

Cost

 

 

 

Unrealized gains

 

 

Carrying amount

 

June 30, 2021

 

$

249,266

 

 

$

102,016

 

 

$

351,282

 

December 31, 2020

 

$

200,858

 

 

$

16,246

 

 

$

217,104

 

 

17


 

 

FIRST AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)
(unaudited)

 

 

A substantial majority of the Company’s investments in non-marketable equity securities are in private venture-stage companies that operate in the real estate industry and related industries and many of which offer technology-enabled products and services.  Included in non-marketable equity securities is the Company’s investment in Offerpad, Inc. (“Offerpad”), a leading tech-enabled real estate solutions platform, with a cost and carrying amount of $85.0 million at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020. On March 18, 2021, Offerpad announced that it entered into a definitive merger agreement with Supernova Partners Acquisition Company, Inc. (“Supernova”), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company.   Also included in non-marketable equity securities is the Company’s investment in Side, Inc., a real estate technology company, with a cost and carrying amount of $10.1 million and $73.8 million, respectively, as of June 30, 2021.

Unrealized gains of $43.7 million and $85.8 million were recognized during the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively, related to investments in private venture-stage companies for which transactions resulted in observable price changes.  All such gains recognized during the six months ended June 30, 2021 related to securities still held at June 30, 2021.  For the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 there were no observable price changes resulting from transactions by the same issuer.  Net gains (realized and unrealized) are recognized in net realized investment gains/losses on the condensed consolidated statements of income.

 

Note 6 – Allowance for Credit Losses – Accounts Receivable

Activity in the allowance for credit losses on accounts receivable is summarized as follows:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

June 30,

 

 

Six Months Ended

June 30,

 

(in thousands)

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Balance at beginning of period

 

$

(12,924

)

 

$

(11,576

)

 

$

(13,994

)

 

$

(12,676

)

Provision for expected credit losses

 

 

(627

)

 

 

(2,018

)

 

 

(766

)

 

 

(3,021

)

Write-offs/recoveries

 

 

1,112

 

 

 

1,422

 

 

 

2,321

 

 

 

3,525

 

Balance at end of period

 

$

(12,439

)

 

$

(12,172

)

 

$

(12,439

)

 

$

(12,172

)

 

 

Note 7 – Goodwill

A summary of the changes in the carrying amounts of goodwill, by reportable segment, for the six months ended June 30, 2021, is as follows:

 

(in thousands)

 

Title

Insurance

and Services

 

 

Specialty

Insurance

 

 

Total

 

Balance at December 31, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goodwill

 

$

1,366,041

 

 

$

46,765

 

 

$

1,412,806

 

Accumulated impairment losses

 

 

 

 

 

(34,178

)

 

 

(34,178

)

 

 

$

1,366,041

 

 

$

12,587

 

 

$

1,378,628

 

Acquisitions

 

 

(1,911

)

 

 

 

 

 

(1,911

)

Foreign currency translation

 

 

1,350

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,350

 

Balance at June 30, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goodwill

 

$

1,365,480

 

 

$

46,765

 

 

$

1,412,245

 

Accumulated impairment losses

 

 

 

 

 

(34,178

)

 

 

(34,178

)

 

 

$

1,365,480

 

 

$

12,587

 

 

$

1,378,067

 

 

 

18


 

 

FIRST AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)
(unaudited)

 

 

Note 8 – Other Intangible Assets

Other intangible assets are summarized as follows:

(in thousands)

 

June 30,

2021

 

 

December 31,

2020

 

Finite-lived intangible assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Customer relationships

 

$

172,518

 

 

$

172,851

 

Noncompete agreements

 

 

34,755

 

 

 

38,310

 

Trademarks

 

 

24,385

 

 

 

24,370

 

Internal-use software licenses

 

 

23,118

 

 

 

21,605

 

Patents

 

 

2,840

 

 

 

2,840

 

 

 

 

257,616

 

 

 

259,976

 

Accumulated amortization

 

 

(96,568

)

 

 

(82,380

)

 

 

 

161,048

 

 

 

177,596

 

Indefinite-lived intangible assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Licenses

 

 

16,878

 

 

 

16,878

 

 

 

$

177,926

 

 

$

194,474

 

Amortization expense for finite-lived intangible assets was $11.9 million and $23.8 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively, and $13.6 million and $19.9 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, respectively.  

Estimated amortization expense for finite-lived intangible assets for the next five years is as follows:

Year

 

(in thousands)

 

Remainder of 2021

 

$

22,061

 

2022

 

$

35,702

 

2023

 

$

32,019

 

2024

 

$

24,656

 

2025

 

$

18,380

 

2026

 

$

18,044

 

 

 

Note 9 – Reserve for Known and Incurred But Not Reported Claims

Activity in the reserve for known and incurred but not reported claims is summarized as follows:

 

 

Six Months Ended
June 30,

 

(in thousands)

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Balance at beginning of period

 

$

1,178,004

 

 

$

1,063,044

 

Provision related to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current year

 

 

267,589

 

 

 

225,921

 

Prior years

 

 

22,788

 

 

 

30,244

 

 

 

 

290,377

 

 

 

256,165

 

Payments, net of recoveries, related to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current year

 

 

107,493

 

 

 

87,928

 

Prior years

 

 

123,928

 

 

 

126,666

 

 

 

 

231,421

 

 

 

214,594

 

Other

 

 

5,550

 

 

 

(9,121

)

Balance at end of period

 

$

1,242,510

 

 

$

1,095,494

 

19


 

 

FIRST AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)
(unaudited)

 

 

 

The provision for title insurance losses, expressed as a percentage of title insurance premiums and escrow fees, was 4.0% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 compared to 5.0% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, respectively.  The current year rate of 4.0% reflects the ultimate loss rate for the current policy year and no change in the loss reserve estimates for prior policy years.  The 5.0% rate for 2020 reflected an ultimate loss rate of 4.5% for the 2020 policy year and a net increase in the loss reserve estimates for prior policy years of 0.5%, or $5.6 million and $11.1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, respectively.

A summary of the Company’s loss reserves is as follows:

 

(in thousands, except percentages)

 

June 30, 2021

 

 

December 31, 2020

 

Known title claims

 

$

67,956

 

 

 

5.5

%

 

$

64,601

 

 

 

5.5

%

Incurred but not reported claims

 

 

1,081,866

 

 

 

87.0

%

 

 

1,025,761

 

 

 

87.1

%

Total title claims

 

 

1,149,822

 

 

 

92.5

%

 

 

1,090,362

 

 

 

92.6

%

Non-title claims

 

 

92,688

 

 

 

7.5

%

 

 

87,642

 

 

 

7.4

%

Total loss reserves

 

$

1,242,510

 

 

 

100.0

%

 

$

1,178,004

 

 

 

100.0

%

 

 

20


 

 

FIRST AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)
(unaudited)

 

 

Note 10 – Income Taxes

The Company’s effective income tax rates (income tax expense as a percentage of income before income taxes) were 24.0% and 23.8% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively, and 23.8% and 20.9% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, respectively.  The effective tax rates differ from the federal statutory rate as a result of state and foreign income taxes for which the Company is liable, as well as permanent differences between amounts reported for financial statement purposes and amounts reported for income tax purposes, including the recognition of excess tax benefits or tax deficiencies associated with share-based payment transactions through income tax expense.  In addition, the rates for 2021 and 2020 reflect benefits related to foreign tax law changes.

The Company evaluates the realizability of its deferred tax assets by assessing the valuation allowance and makes adjustments to the allowance as necessary.  The factors used by the Company to assess the likelihood of realization include its forecast of future taxable income and available tax planning strategies that could be implemented to realize its deferred tax assets.  The Company’s ability or inability to achieve forecasted taxable income in the applicable taxing jurisdictions could affect the ultimate realization of its deferred tax assets.  Based on future operating results in certain jurisdictions, it is possible that the current valuation allowance positions of those jurisdictions could be adjusted during the next 12 months.

As of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the liability for income taxes associated with uncertain tax positions was $7.5 million and $7.2 million, respectively.  The liability as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, could be reduced by $2.6 million and $2.1 million, respectively, due to offsetting tax benefits associated with the correlative effects of potential adjustments, including timing adjustments, and state income taxes.  The net liability, if recognized, would favorably affect the Company’s effective income tax rate.

The Company’s continuing practice is to recognize interest and penalties, if any, related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense.  Accrued interest and penalties, net of tax benefits, related to uncertain tax positions were not material as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020.

It is reasonably possible that the amount of the unrecognized benefit with respect to certain of the Company’s unrecognized tax positions may increase or decrease within the next 12 months.  Any such change may be the result of ongoing audits or the expiration of federal and state statutes of limitations for the assessment of taxes.

The Company, or one of its subsidiaries, files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, various state jurisdictions and various non-U.S. jurisdictions.  The primary non-federal jurisdictions are California, Canada, India and the United Kingdom.  As of June 30, 2021, the Company is generally no longer subject to income tax examinations for U.S. federal, state and non-U.S. jurisdictions for years prior to 2017, 2016, and 2014, respectively.

21


 

 

FIRST AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)
(unaudited)

 

Note 11 – Earnings Per Share

The computation of basic and diluted earnings per share is as follows:

 

 

Three Months Ended

June 30,

 

 

Six Months Ended

June 30,

 

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Numerator

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income attributable to the Company

 

$

302,299

 

 

$

170,655

 

 

$

535,915

 

 

$

233,859

 

Denominator

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic weighted-average shares

 

 

110,866

 

 

 

112,309

 

 

 

111,001

 

 

 

112,939

 

Effect of dilutive restricted stock units (“RSUs”)

 

 

311

 

 

 

246

 

 

 

302

 

 

 

331

 

Diluted weighted-average shares

 

 

111,177

 

 

 

112,555

 

 

 

111,303

 

 

 

113,270

 

Net income per share attributable to the Company’s stockholders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

2.73

 

 

$

1.52

 

 

$

4.83

 

 

$

2.07

 

Diluted

 

$

2.72

 

 

$

1.52

 

 

$

4.81

 

 

$

2.06

 

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 either no RSUs or an immaterial amount of RSUs were excluded from diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding due to their antidilutive effect.  For the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, 410 thousand and 299 thousand RSUs, respectively, were excluded from diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding due to their antidilutive effect.  

Note 12 – Employee Benefit Plans

Net periodic cost related to the Company’s unfunded supplemental benefit plans includes the following components:

 

 

Three Months Ended

June 30,

 

 

Six Months Ended

June 30,

 

(in thousands)

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Expense:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service costs

 

$

43

 

 

$

45

 

 

$

86

 

 

$

90

 

Interest costs

 

 

1,239

 

 

 

1,781

 

 

 

2,478

 

 

 

3,562

 

Amortization of net actuarial loss

 

 

1,690

 

 

 

1,320

 

 

 

3,380

 

 

 

2,640

 

Amortization of prior service credit

 

 

(326

)

 

 

(777

)

 

 

(652

)

 

 

(1,554

)

 

 

$

2,646

 

 

$

2,369

 

 

$

5,292

 

 

$

4,738

 

The Company contributed $7.2 million to its unfunded supplemental benefit plans during the six months ended June 30, 2021 and expects to contribute an additional $8.2 million during the remainder of 2021.

 

 

22


 

 

FIRST AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)
(unaudited)

 

 

Note 13 – Fair Value Measurements

Certain of the Company’s assets are carried at fair value.  Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.

The Company categorizes its assets and liabilities carried at fair value using a three-level hierarchy for fair value measurements that distinguishes between market participant assumptions developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company (observable inputs) and the Company’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions developed based on the best information available in the circumstances (unobservable inputs).  The hierarchy for inputs used in determining fair value maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that observable inputs be used when available.  The hierarchy level assigned to the assets and liabilities is based on management’s assessment of the transparency and reliability of the inputs used to estimate the fair values at the measurement date.  The three hierarchy levels are defined as follows:

Level 1—Valuations based on unadjusted quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2—Valuations based on observable inputs (other than Level 1 prices), such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities at the measurement date; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable, either directly or indirectly.

Level 3—Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement and involve management judgment.

If the inputs used to measure fair value fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the hierarchy level assigned is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

The following tables present the fair values of the Company’s assets measured on a recurring basis:

 

(in thousands)

 

Total

 

 

Level 1

 

 

Level 2

 

 

Level 3

 

June 30, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Debt securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury bonds

 

$

187,992

 

 

$

 

 

$

187,992

 

 

$

 

Municipal bonds

 

 

1,568,238

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,568,238

 

 

 

 

Foreign government bonds

 

 

225,544

 

 

 

 

 

 

225,544

 

 

 

 

Governmental agency bonds

 

 

284,746

 

 

 

 

 

 

284,746

 

 

 

 

Governmental agency mortgage-backed securities

 

 

4,423,754

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,423,754

 

 

 

 

U.S. corporate debt securities

 

 

773,954

 

 

 

 

 

 

773,954

 

 

 

 

Foreign corporate debt securities

 

 

415,516

 

 

 

 

 

 

415,516

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,879,744

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,879,744

 

 

 

 

Marketable equity securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stocks

 

 

17,292

 

 

 

17,292

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stocks

 

 

444,717

 

 

 

444,717

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

462,009

 

 

 

462,009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

$

8,341,753

 

 

$

462,009

 

 

$

7,879,744

 

 

$

 

 

23


 

 

FIRST AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)
(unaudited)

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Total

 

 

Level 1

 

 

Level 2

 

 

Level 3

 

December 31, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Debt securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury bonds

 

$

80,846

 

 

$

 

 

$

80,846

 

 

$

 

Municipal bonds

 

 

1,248,808

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,248,808

 

 

 

 

Foreign government bonds

 

 

199,530

 

 

 

 

 

 

199,530

 

 

 

 

Governmental agency bonds

 

 

263,922

 

 

 

 

 

 

263,922

 

 

 

 

Governmental agency mortgage-backed securities

 

 

3,474,618

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,474,618

 

 

 

 

U.S. corporate debt securities

 

 

680,697

 

 

 

 

 

 

680,697

 

 

 

 

Foreign corporate debt securities

 

 

406,401

 

 

 

 

 

 

406,401

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,354,822

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,354,822

 

 

 

 

Marketable equity securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stocks

 

 

19,479

 

 

 

19,479

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stocks

 

 

444,647

 

 

 

444,647

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

464,126

 

 

 

464,126

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

$

6,818,948

 

 

$

464,126

 

 

$

6,354,822

 

 

$

 

Assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis

The Company’s non-marketable equity securities, equity method investments, and certain non-financial assets, such as goodwill, other intangible assets, title plants and other indexes and property and equipment are recorded at fair value at the time an impairment or observable price adjustment occurs.

The Company recognized $85.8 million in unrealized gains during the six months ended June 30, 2021 resulting from observable price adjustments on its non-marketable equity securities, which are classified as Level 2.

The following table presents the carrying amounts and estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments not measured at fair value:

 

 

 

Carrying

 

Estimated fair value

 

(in thousands)

 

Amount

 

Total

 

 

Level 1

 

 

Level 2

 

 

Level 3

 

June 30, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

2,222,675

 

$

2,222,675

 

 

$

2,222,675

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

Deposits with banks

 

$

49,037

 

$

49,127

 

 

$

6,417

 

 

$

42,710

 

 

$

 

Notes receivable, net

 

$

68,642

 

$

71,674

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

71,674

 

Secured financings receivable

 

$

712,530

 

$

712,530

 

 

$

 

 

$

712,530

 

 

$

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Secured financings payable

 

$

610,954

 

$

610,954

 

 

$

 

 

$

610,954

 

 

$

 

Notes and contracts payable

 

$

1,008,241

 

$

1,110,079

 

 

$

 

 

$

1,105,046

 

 

$

5,033

 

 

24


 

 

FIRST AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)
(unaudited)

 

 

 

 

Carrying

 

Estimated fair value

 

(in thousands)

 

Amount

 

Total

 

 

Level 1

 

 

Level 2

 

 

Level 3

 

December 31, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

1,275,466

 

$

1,275,466

 

 

$

1,275,466

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

Deposits with banks

 

$

45,856

 

$

45,947

 

 

$

6,092

 

 

$

39,855

 

 

$

 

Notes receivable, net

 

$

29,912

 

$

30,279

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

30,279

 

Secured financings receivable

 

$

748,312

 

$

748,312

 

 

$

 

 

$

748,312

 

 

$

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Secured financings payable

 

$

516,155

 

$

516,155

 

 

$

 

 

$

516,155

 

 

$

 

Notes and contracts payable

 

$

1,010,756

 

$

1,131,356

 

 

$

 

 

$

1,125,128

 

 

$

6,228

 

 

 

Note 14 – Share-Based Compensation

Costs associated with the Company’s share-based compensation plans are summarized as follows:

 

 

Three Months Ended

June 30,

 

 

Six Months Ended

June 30,

 

(in thousands)

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Expense:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RSUs

 

$

6,595

 

 

$

8,056

 

 

$

35,824

 

 

$

32,714

 

Employee stock purchase plan

 

 

1,570

 

 

 

1,637

 

 

 

3,544

 

 

 

2,882

 

 

 

$

8,165

 

 

$

9,693

 

 

$

39,368

 

 

$

35,596

 

RSU activity for the six months ended June 30, 2021 is summarized as follows:

(in thousands, except weighted-average grant-date fair value)

 

Shares

 

 

Weighted-average

grant-date

fair value

 

Unvested at December 31, 2020

 

905

 

 

$

57.24

 

Granted during 2021

 

842

 

 

$

56.33

 

Vested during 2021

 

(805

)

 

$

55.82

 

Forfeited during 2021

 

(22

)

 

$

56.69

 

Unvested at June 30, 2021

 

920

 

 

$

57.66

 

 

Note 15 – Stockholders’ Equity

25


 

 

FIRST AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)
(unaudited)

 

The Company maintains a stock repurchase plan with authorization up to $300.0 million, of which $177.2 million remained as of June 30, 2021.  Purchases may be made from time to time by the Company in the open market at prevailing market prices or in privately negotiated transactions.  During the six months ended June 30, 2021, the Company repurchased and retired 1.2 million shares of its common stock for a total purchase price of $64.8 million and, as of June 30, 2021, had repurchased and retired 2.4 million shares of its common stock under the current authorization for a total purchase price of $122.8 million.

Note 16 – Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (“AOCI”)

The following table presents a summary of the changes in each component of AOCI for the six months ended June 30, 2021:

 

First American Financial Corporation

 

 

NCI

 

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

Unrealized
gains (losses)
on debt securities

 

 

Foreign
currency
translation
adjustment

 

 

Pension
benefit
adjustment

 

 

Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income (loss)

 

 

Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income (loss)

 

 

Balance

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2020

$

171,752

 

 

$

(37,990

)

 

$

(94,221

)

 

$

39,541

 

 

$

1

 

 

$

39,542

 

 

Change in unrealized gains (losses) on debt securities

 

(81,535

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(81,535

)

 

 

(1

)

 

 

(81,536

)

 

Change in unrealized gains (losses) on debt securities for which credit-related portion was recognized in earnings

 

(365

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(365

)

 

 

 

 

 

(365

)

 

Change in foreign currency translation adjustment

 

 

 

 

9,104

 

 

 

 

 

 

9,104

 

 

 

 

 

 

9,104

 

 

Amortization of net actuarial loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,380

 

 

 

3,380

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,380

 

 

Amortization of prior service credit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(652

)

 

 

(652

)

 

 

 

 

 

(652

)

 

Tax effect

 

19,761

 

 

 

(320

)

 

 

(724

)

 

 

18,717

 

 

 

 

 

 

18,717

 

 

Balance at June 30, 2021

$

109,613

 

 

$

(29,206

)

 

$

(92,217

)

 

$

(11,810

)

 

$

 

 

$

(11,810

)

 

The following table presents the other comprehensive income (loss) reclassification adjustments for the three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020:

 

(in thousands)

 

Unrealized

gains (losses)

on debt securities

 

 

Foreign

currency

translation

adjustment

 

 

Pension

benefit

adjustment

 

 

Total

other

comprehensive

income (loss)

 

Three Months Ended June 30, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pretax change before reclassifications

 

$

56,197

 

 

$

5,572

 

 

$

 

 

$

61,769

 

Reclassifications out of AOCI

 

 

(6,277

)

 

 

 

 

 

1,364

 

 

 

(4,913

)

Tax effect

 

 

(12,314

)

 

 

(162

)

 

 

(362

)

 

 

(12,838

)

Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

 

$

37,606

 

 

$

5,410

 

 

$

1,002

 

 

$

44,018

 

Three Months Ended June 30, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pretax change before reclassifications

 

$

77,887

 

 

$

14,373

 

 

$

 

 

$

92,260

 

Reclassifications out of AOCI

 

 

(1,370

)

 

 

 

 

 

543

 

 

 

(827

)

Tax effect

 

 

(17,988

)

 

 

 

 

 

(144

)

 

 

(18,132

)

Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

 

$

58,529

 

 

$

14,373

 

 

$

399

 

 

$

73,301

 

26


 

 

FIRST AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)
(unaudited)

 

 

The following table presents the other comprehensive income (loss) reclassification adjustments for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020:

 

(in thousands)

 

Unrealized

gains (losses)

on debt securities

 

 

Foreign

currency

translation

adjustment

 

 

Pension

benefit

adjustment

 

 

Total

other

comprehensive

income (loss)

 

Six Months Ended June 30, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pretax change before reclassifications

 

$

(71,009

)

 

$

9,104

 

 

$

 

 

$

(61,905

)

Reclassifications out of AOCI

 

 

(10,892

)

 

 

 

 

 

2,728

 

 

 

(8,164

)

Tax effect

 

 

19,761

 

 

 

(320

)

 

 

(724

)

 

 

18,717

 

Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

 

$

(62,140

)

 

$

8,784

 

 

$

2,004

 

 

$

(51,352

)

Six Months Ended June 30, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pretax change before reclassifications

 

$

93,282

 

 

$

(20,315

)

 

$

 

 

$

72,967

 

Reclassifications out of AOCI

 

 

1,452

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,086

 

 

 

2,538

 

Tax effect

 

 

(23,501

)

 

 

1,132

 

 

 

(288

)

 

 

(22,657

)

Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

 

$

71,233

 

 

$

(19,183

)

 

$

798

 

 

$

52,848

 

The following table presents the effects of the reclassifications out of AOCI on the respective line items in the condensed consolidated statements of income:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

June 30,

 

 

Six Months Ended

June 30,

 

 

Affected line items

(in thousands)

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

Unrealized gains (losses) on debt securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net realized gains on sales of debt securities

 

$

6,296

 

 

$

1,384

 

 

$

10,951

 

 

$

6,055

 

 

Net realized investment gains

Credit losses recognized on debt securities

 

 

(19

)

 

 

(14

)

 

 

(59

)

 

 

(7,507

)

 

Net realized investment gains

Pretax total

 

$

6,277

 

 

$

1,370

 

 

$

10,892

 

 

$

(1,452

)

 

 

Tax effect

 

$

(1,548

)

 

$

(322

)

 

$

(2,628

)

 

$

360

 

 

 

Pension benefit adjustment (1):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of net actuarial loss

 

$

(1,690

)

 

$

(1,320

)

 

$

(3,380

)

 

$

(2,640

)

 

Other operating expenses

Amortization of prior service credit

 

 

326

 

 

 

777

 

 

 

652

 

 

 

1,554

 

 

Other operating expenses

Pretax total

 

$

(1,364

)

 

$

(543

)

 

$

(2,728

)

 

$

(1,086

)

 

 

Tax effect

 

$

362

 

 

$

144

 

 

$

724

 

 

$

288

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

Amounts are components of net periodic cost.  See Note 12 Employee Benefit Plans for additional details.

 

 

27


 

 

FIRST AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)
(unaudited)

 

 

Note 17 – Litigation and Regulatory Contingencies

The Company and its subsidiaries are parties to a number of non-ordinary course lawsuits.  These lawsuits frequently are similar in nature to other lawsuits pending against the Company’s competitors.

For those non-ordinary course lawsuits where the Company has determined that a loss is both probable and reasonably estimable, a liability representing the best estimate of the Company’s financial exposure based on known facts has been recorded.  Actual losses may materially differ from the amounts recorded.

It is, however, often not possible to assess the probability of loss.  Lawsuits that are putative class actions require a plaintiff to satisfy a number of procedural requirements before proceeding to trial.  These requirements include, among others, demonstration to a court that the law proscribes in some manner the Company’s activities, the making of factual allegations sufficient to suggest that the Company’s activities exceeded the limits of the law and a determination by the court—known as class certification—that the law permits a group of individuals to pursue the case together as a class.  In certain instances, the Company may also be able to compel the plaintiff to arbitrate its claim on an individual basis.  If these procedural requirements are not met, either the lawsuit cannot proceed or, as is the case with class certification or compelled arbitration, the plaintiffs lose the financial incentive to proceed with the case (or the amount at issue effectively becomes de minimis).  Frequently, a court’s determination as to these procedural requirements is subject to appeal to a higher court.  As a result of, among other factors, ambiguities and inconsistencies in the laws applicable to the Company’s business and the uniqueness of the factual issues presented in any given lawsuit, the Company often cannot determine the probability of loss until a court has finally determined that a plaintiff has satisfied applicable procedural requirements.

Furthermore, for putative class actions, it is often impossible to estimate the possible loss or a range of loss amounts, even where the Company has determined that a loss is reasonably possible.  Generally class actions involve a large number of people and the effort to determine which people satisfy the requirements to become plaintiffs—or class members—is often time consuming and burdensome.  Moreover, these lawsuits raise complex factual issues which result in uncertainty as to their outcome and, ultimately, make it difficult for the Company to estimate the amount of damages which a plaintiff might successfully prove.  In addition, many of the Company’s businesses are regulated by various federal, state, local and foreign governmental agencies and are subject to numerous statutory guidelines.  These regulations and statutory guidelines often are complex, inconsistent or ambiguous, which results in additional uncertainty as to the outcome of a given lawsuit—including the amount of damages a plaintiff might be afforded—or makes it difficult to analogize experience in one case or jurisdiction to another case or jurisdiction.

Most of the non-ordinary course lawsuits to which the Company and its subsidiaries are parties challenge practices in the Company’s title insurance business, though a limited number of cases also pertain to the Company’s other businesses.  These lawsuits include, among others, cases alleging, among other assertions, that the Company or one of its subsidiaries improperly charged fees for products and services, improperly performed debt collection practices, and improperly handled property and casualty claims in violation of certain laws, such as consumer protection laws and laws generally prohibiting unfair business practices, and certain obligations, including:

 

Seymour vs. First American Title Insurance Company, et al., filed on January 12, 2021 and pending in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Santa Barbara,

 

Tenefufu vs. First American Specialty Insurance Company, filed on June 1, 2017 and pending in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Sacramento, and

 

Wilmot vs. First American Financial Corporation, et al., filed on April 20, 2007 and pending in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles.

Seymour and Tenefufu are putative class actions for which a class has not been certified.  A class has been certified in Wilmot.  For the reasons described above, the Company has not yet been able to assess the probability of loss or estimate the possible loss or the range of loss.

28


 

 

FIRST AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)
(unaudited)

 

The Company and/or its subsidiaries are also parties to consumer class actions and a securities class action in connection with the information security incident that occurred during the second quarter of 2019.  All of these lawsuits are putative class actions for which a class has not been certified.  For the reasons described above, the Company has not yet been able to assess the probability of loss or estimate the possible loss or the range of loss.

While some of the lawsuits described above may be material to the Company’s financial results in any particular period if an unfavorable outcome results, the Company does not believe that any of these lawsuits will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s overall financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

In addition, the Company and its board of directors and certain executives are parties to a shareholder derivative action, Hollett vs. Gilmore, et al., filed on November 25, 2020 and pending in the United States District Court for the Central District of California.  The allegations arise out of the information security incident that occurred during the second quarter of 2019 and the resulting legal proceedings and disclosures made at the time of the incident.  While the ultimate disposition is not yet determinable, the Company does not believe it will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

The Company also is a party to non-ordinary course lawsuits other than those described above.  With respect to these lawsuits, the Company has determined either that a loss is not reasonably possible or that the estimated loss or range of loss, if any, will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.  

The Company’s title insurance, property and casualty insurance, home warranty, banking, thrift, trust and wealth management businesses are regulated by various federal, state and local governmental agencies.  Many of the Company’s other businesses operate within statutory guidelines.  Consequently, the Company may from time to time be subject to examination or investigation by such governmental agencies.  Currently, governmental agencies are examining or investigating certain of the Company’s operations. These exams and investigations include an inquiry by the New York Attorney General and the Massachusetts Attorney General into competitive practices in the title insurance industry.  With respect to matters where the Company has determined that a loss is both probable and reasonably estimable, the Company records a liability representing its best estimate of the financial exposure based on known facts.  While the ultimate disposition of each such exam or investigation is not yet determinable, the Company does not believe that individually or in the aggregate they will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Some of these exams or investigations could, however, result in changes to the Company’s business practices which could ultimately have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Furthermore, these exams and investigations include an investigation initiated in connection with the information security incident that occurred during the second quarter of 2019 by the New York Department of Financial Services.  The New York Department of Financial Services has alleged violations of its cyber security requirements for financial services companies and filed a statement of charges on July 22, 2020, as amended on March 10, 2021, and scheduled an administrative hearing in connection therewith.  While the ultimate disposition of the New York Department of Financial Services matter is not yet determinable, the Company does not believe that it will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

As announced by the Company in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 15, 2021, the Company reached a settlement with the SEC in connection with the previously disclosed information security incident that occurred during the second quarter of 2019 and which was the subject of the Wells Notice disclosed by the Company in October 2020.  Under the terms of the settlement, which resolves the matter, the Company consented to the entry of an order finding a violation of Rule 13a-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which requires issuers of registered securities to maintain effective disclosure controls.  No other violations of the securities laws are alleged in the order.  The order required the Company to pay a civil penalty of $487,616 and to cease and desist from committing or causing any violations of Rule 13a-15.  The Company neither admits nor denies the findings in the order, other than with respect to the SEC’s jurisdiction.

29


 

 

FIRST AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)
(unaudited)

 

The Company’s Canadian operations provide certain services to lenders which it believes to be exempt from excise tax under applicable Canadian tax laws.  However, in October 2014, the Canadian taxing authority provided internal guidance that the services in question should be subject to the excise tax.  During July 2019, the Company received an assessment from the Canadian taxing authority.  The amount of the assessment is $16.4 million, which is based on the exchange rate as of, and includes interest charges through, June 30, 2021. As the Company does not believe that the services in question are subject to excise tax, it intends to avail itself of avenues of appeal, and it believes it is reasonably likely that the Company will prevail on the merits.  Accordingly, the Company filed a notice of appeal with the Canadian taxing authority in March 2020.  Based on the current facts and circumstances, the Company does not believe a loss is probable, therefore no liability has been recorded.

The Company and its subsidiaries also are involved in numerous ongoing routine legal and regulatory proceedings related to their operations.  With respect to each of these proceedings, the Company has determined either that a loss is not reasonably possible or that the estimated loss or range of loss, if any, is not material to the condensed consolidated financial statements as a whole.

 

 

Note 18 – Segment Information

The Company consists of the following reportable segments and a corporate function:

 

The Company’s title insurance and services segment issues title insurance policies on residential and commercial property in the United States and offers similar or related products and services internationally.  This segment also provides closing and/or escrow services; accommodates tax-deferred exchanges of real estate; provides products, services and solutions designed to mitigate risk or otherwise facilitate real estate transactions; maintains, manages and provides access to title plant data and records; provides appraisals and other valuation-related products and services; provides lien release, document custodial and default-related products and services; and provides warehouse lending services and banking,  trust and wealth management services.  The Company, through its principal title insurance subsidiary and such subsidiary’s affiliates, transacts its title insurance business through a network of direct operations and agents.  Through this network, the Company issues policies in the 49 states that permit the issuance of title insurance policies, the District of Columbia and certain United States territories.  The Company also offers title insurance, closing services and similar or related products and services, either directly or through third parties in other countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, South Korea and various other established and emerging markets.

 

The Company’s specialty insurance segment sells home warranty products and issues property and casualty insurance policies.  The home warranty business provides residential service contracts that cover residential systems, such as heating and air conditioning systems, and certain appliances against failures that occur as the result of normal usage during the coverage period.  This business currently operates in 35 states and the District of Columbia.  The property and casualty insurance business provides insurance coverage to residential homeowners and renters for liability losses and typical hazards such as fire, theft, vandalism and other types of property damage.  This business is licensed to issue policies in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.  During 2020, the Company initiated a plan to exit its property and casualty insurance business.  In January 2021, the Company entered into book transfer agreements with two third-party insurers and will seek to non-renew policies that are not transferred.  The Company expects the transfers to be completed by the end of the third quarter of 2022.  

The corporate function consists primarily of certain financing facilities as well as the corporate services that support the Company’s business operations.

30


 

 

FIRST AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)
(unaudited)

 

Selected financial information about the Company’s operations, by segment, is as follows:

For the three months ended June 30, 2021:

 

(in thousands)

 

Revenues

 

 

Income (loss)

before

income taxes

 

 

Depreciation

and

amortization

 

 

Capital

expenditures

 

Title Insurance and Services

 

$

2,108,229

 

 

$

402,351

 

 

$

39,470

 

 

$

36,599

 

Specialty Insurance

 

 

151,630

 

 

 

19,731

 

 

 

1,433

 

 

 

989

 

Corporate

 

 

6,986

 

 

 

(22,666

)

 

 

36

 

 

 

 

Eliminations

 

 

(470

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

2,266,375

 

 

$

399,416

 

 

$

40,939

 

 

$

37,588

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Direct

premiums

and escrow

fees

 

 

Agent

premiums

 

 

Information

and other

 

 

Net

investment

income

 

 

Net realized

investment

gains (losses)

 

 

Total

Revenues

 

Title Insurance and Services

 

$

787,244

 

 

$

904,897

 

 

$

298,242

 

 

$

47,482

 

 

$

70,364

 

 

$

2,108,229

 

Specialty Insurance

 

 

130,207

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,457

 

 

 

1,816

 

 

 

16,150

 

 

 

151,630

 

 

 

$

917,451

 

 

$

904,897

 

 

$

301,699

 

 

$

49,298

 

 

$

86,514

 

 

$

2,259,859

 

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2020:

 

(in thousands)

 

Revenues

 

 

Income (loss)

before

income taxes

 

 

Depreciation

and

amortization

 

 

Capital

expenditures

 

Title Insurance and Services

 

$

1,462,939

 

 

$

237,802

 

 

$

38,995

 

 

$

24,999

 

Specialty Insurance

 

 

133,518

 

 

 

7,319

 

 

 

1,943

 

 

 

3,100

 

Corporate

 

 

12,516

 

 

 

(19,826

)

 

 

38

 

 

 

 

Eliminations

 

 

(244

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

1,608,729

 

 

$

225,295

 

 

$

40,976

 

 

$

28,099

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Direct

premiums

and escrow

fees

 

 

Agent

premiums

 

 

Information

and other

 

 

Net

investment

income

 

 

Net realized

investment

gains (losses)

 

 

Total

Revenues

 

Title Insurance and Services

 

$

530,735

 

 

$

597,895

 

 

$

228,252

 

 

$

43,234

 

 

$

62,823

 

 

$

1,462,939

 

Specialty Insurance

 

 

121,249

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,103

 

 

 

2,316

 

 

 

6,850

 

 

 

133,518

 

 

 

$

651,984

 

 

$

597,895

 

 

$

231,355

 

 

$

45,550

 

 

$

69,673

 

 

$

1,596,457

 

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2021:

 

(in thousands)

 

Revenues

 

 

Income (loss)

before

income taxes

 

 

Depreciation

and

amortization

 

 

Capital

expenditures

 

Title Insurance and Services

 

$

3,993,289

 

 

$

723,980

 

 

$

76,183

 

 

$

67,067

 

Specialty Insurance

 

 

288,109

 

 

 

25,991

 

 

 

2,983

 

 

 

1,520

 

Corporate

 

 

12,052

 

 

 

(44,533

)

 

 

71

 

 

 

 

Eliminations

 

 

(1,330

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

4,292,120

 

 

$

705,438

 

 

$

79,237

 

 

$

68,587

 

31


 

 

FIRST AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)
(unaudited)

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Direct

premiums

and escrow

fees

 

 

Agent

premiums

 

 

Information

and other

 

 

Net

investment

income

 

 

Net realized

investment

gains (losses)

 

 

Total

Revenues

 

Title Insurance and Services

 

$

1,444,741

 

 

$

1,750,189

 

 

$

573,646

 

 

$

90,135

 

 

$

134,578

 

 

$

3,993,289

 

Specialty Insurance

 

 

258,385

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,205

 

 

 

3,750

 

 

 

18,769

 

 

 

288,109

 

 

 

$

1,703,126

 

 

$

1,750,189

 

 

$

580,851

 

 

$

93,885

 

 

$

153,347

 

 

$

4,281,398

 

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2020:

 

(in thousands)

 

Revenues

 

 

Income (loss)

before

income taxes

 

 

Depreciation

and

amortization

 

 

Capital

expenditures

 

Title Insurance and Services

 

$

2,763,564

 

 

$

310,778

 

 

$

68,512

 

 

$

53,422

 

Specialty Insurance

 

 

255,487

 

 

 

20,177

 

 

 

3,837

 

 

 

5,901

 

Corporate

 

 

3,205

 

 

 

(33,336

)

 

 

76

 

 

 

 

Eliminations

 

 

(584

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

3,021,672

 

 

$

297,619

 

 

$

72,425

 

 

$

59,323

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Direct

premiums

and escrow

fees

 

 

Agent

premiums

 

 

Information

and other

 

 

Net

investment

income

 

 

Net realized

investment

gains (losses)

 

 

Total

Revenues

 

Title Insurance and Services

 

$

1,032,036

 

 

$

1,197,577

 

 

$

436,525

 

 

$

102,902

 

 

$

(5,476

)

 

$

2,763,564

 

Specialty Insurance

 

 

240,585

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,542

 

 

 

4,900

 

 

 

3,460

 

 

 

255,487

 

 

 

$

1,272,621

 

 

$

1,197,577

 

 

$

443,067

 

 

$

107,802

 

 

$

(2,016

)

 

$

3,019,051

 

 

 

 

 

 

32


 

 

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

CERTAIN STATEMENTS IN THIS QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q ARE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 27A OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND SECTION 21E OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED.  THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS MAY CONTAIN THE WORDS “BELIEVE,” “ANTICIPATE,” “EXPECT,” “INTEND,” “PLAN,” “PREDICT,” “ESTIMATE,” “PROJECT,” “WILL BE,” “WILL CONTINUE,” “WILL LIKELY RESULT,” OR OTHER SIMILAR WORDS AND PHRASES.

RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES EXIST THAT 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 THE FACTORS SET FORTH ON PAGES 3-4 OF THIS QUARTERLY REPORT.  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.

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis contains the financial measure adjusted debt to capitalization ratio that is not presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), as it excludes the effect of secured financings payable.  The Company is presenting this non-GAAP financial measure because it provides the Company’s management and readers of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with additional insight into the financial leverage of the Company.  The Company does not intend for this non-GAAP financial measure to be a substitute for any GAAP financial information.  In this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, this non-GAAP financial measure has been presented with, and reconciled to, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.  Readers of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should use this non-GAAP financial measure only in conjunction with the comparable GAAP financial measure.  Because not all companies use identical calculations, the presentation of adjusted debt to capitalization ratio may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

A summary of the Company’s significant accounting policies that it considers to be the most dependent on the application of estimates and assumptions can be found in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2019, the FASB issued updated guidance intended to simplify and improve the accounting for income taxes.  The updated guidance eliminates certain exceptions and clarifies and amends certain areas of the guidance.  The updated guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020.  The adoption of this guidance on a prospective basis, effective January 1, 2021, did not have a material impact on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

33


 

Results of Operations

Summary of Second Quarter

A substantial portion of the revenues for the Company’s title insurance and services segment results from the sale and refinancing of residential and commercial real estate.  In the Company’s specialty insurance segment, revenues associated with the initial year of coverage in the home warranty operations are impacted by volatility in residential purchase transactions.  Traditionally, the greatest volume of real estate activity, particularly residential purchase activity, has occurred in the spring and summer months.  However, changes in interest rates, as well as other changes in general economic conditions in the United States and abroad, can cause fluctuations in the traditional pattern of real estate activity.

The Company’s total revenues increased $657.6 million, or 40.9%, in the second quarter of 2021 when compared with the second quarter of 2020.  This increase was primarily attributable to increases in agent premiums of $307.0 million, or 51.3%, and an increase in direct premiums and escrow fees of $265.5 million, or 40.7%.  Direct premiums and escrow fees in the title insurance and services segment from domestic residential purchase and commercial transactions increased $143.3 million and $113.8 million, or 66.2% and 103.9%, respectively.

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s July 21, 2021 Mortgage Finance Forecast (the “MBA Forecast”), residential mortgage originations in the United States (based on the total dollar value of the transactions) increased 2.1% in the second quarter of 2021 when compared with the second quarter of 2020.  According to the MBA Forecast, the dollar amount of purchase originations increased 18.7% and refinance originations decreased 8.7%.  This volume of domestic residential mortgage origination activity contributed to increases in direct premiums and escrow fees for the Company’s direct title operations of 66.2% from domestic residential purchase transactions and a decline of 22.7% from domestic refinance transactions in the second quarter of 2021 when compared with the second quarter of 2020.  

During the second quarter of 2021, the level of domestic title orders opened per day by the Company’s direct title operations decreased 6.2% when compared with the second quarter of 2020.  Residential purchase and commercial opened orders per day increased 24.1% and 59.9%, respectively, offset by a decline of 39.5% in residential refinance opened orders when compared to the second quarter of 2020.

The Company recorded net realized investment gains of $86.5 million in the second quarter of 2021, which included an unrealized gain of $43.7 million related to the Company’s investment in a private company where a recent fund raising provided an observable price change resulting in an increase in the carrying value of the Company’s investment.  A substantial majority of the Company’s investments in non-marketable equity securities are in private venture-stage companies that operate in the real estate and related industries and many of which offer technology-enabled products and services.  These investments are expected from time to time to cause material fluctuations in the Company’s quarterly results of operations due to the recognition of gains or losses in connection with observable price changes, such as from liquidity events, subsequent equity sales, or price changes in investments that begin trading publicly, which changes can be volatile.  

Among the Company’s investments in venture-stage companies is its investment in Offerpad Inc. (“Offerpad”), a leading tech-enabled real estate solutions platform.  On March 18, 2021, Offerpad announced that it entered into a definitive merger agreement with Supernova Partners Acquisition Company, Inc. (“Supernova”), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company.  In its Current Report on Form 8-K, Supernova announced that the value of the aggregate equity consideration to be paid to Offerpad’s stockholders and optionholders will be equal to $2.25 billion.  At that value, the Company would recognize a gain of approximately $237 million.

Also, a venture-stage company in which the Company maintains an equity investment expects to enter into a transaction with a publicly-traded special purpose acquisition company, which, if consummated at the current expected valuation, on the expected timeline and on the terms reported to the Company, would result in the Company recognizing a gain of approximately $55 million on that investment around the end of 2021.  One of the Company’s venture-stage investments has closed a transaction, and others are in various stages of executing transactions, to raise additional capital that have resulted in, or may result in, observable price changes that could trigger the recognition of additional gains of approximately $80 million during the remainder of 2021.

34


 

While the potential gains related to the Company’s investments in venture-stage companies noted above are based only on transactions for which at least a letter of intent, term sheet or similar commitment has been made, none of these pending transactions are certain to close at the valuations or on the timelines or terms reported to the Company, if they close at all.  Whether the Company recognizes such future gain(s), and the amount and, consequently, the materiality of such gain(s), is dependent upon a number of factors, including the condition of the general economy, the general availability of capital, the performance of and volatility in the public markets, the regulatory and political environments, the condition of the real estate industry, the competitive environment for such companies and operational and financial performance of such companies. In addition, the Company may be subject to restrictions on resale or may choose to continue to hold the investment for strategic or other reasons and, as a result, the Company may not monetize the value of its investment during periods in which it could be financially advantageous to sell the investment.

During 2020, the Company initiated a plan to exit its property and casualty insurance business.  In January 2021, the Company entered into book transfer agreements with two third-party insurers and will seek to non-renew policies that are not transferred.  The Company expects the transfers to be completed by the end of the third quarter of 2022.  

35


 

Title Insurance and Services

 

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

(in thousands, except percentages)

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

 

$ Change

 

 

% Change

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

 

$ Change

 

 

% Change

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct premiums and escrow fees

 

$

787,244

 

 

$

530,735

 

 

 

$

256,509

 

 

 

48.3

%

 

$

1,444,741

 

 

$

1,032,036

 

 

 

$

412,705

 

 

 

40.0

%

Agent premiums

 

 

904,897

 

 

 

597,895

 

 

 

 

307,002

 

 

 

51.3

 

 

 

1,750,189

 

 

 

1,197,577

 

 

 

 

552,612

 

 

 

46.1

 

Information and other

 

 

298,242

 

 

 

228,252

 

 

 

 

69,990

 

 

 

30.7

 

 

 

573,646

 

 

 

436,525

 

 

 

 

137,121

 

 

 

31.4

 

Net investment income

 

 

47,482

 

 

 

43,234

 

 

 

 

4,248

 

 

 

9.8

 

 

 

90,135

 

 

 

102,902

 

 

 

 

(12,767

)

 

 

(12.4

)

Net realized investment gains (losses)

 

 

70,364

 

 

 

62,823

 

 

 

 

7,541

 

 

 

12.0

 

 

 

134,578

 

 

 

(5,476

)

 

 

 

140,054

 

 

 

NM

1

 

 

 

2,108,229

 

 

 

1,462,939

 

 

 

 

645,290

 

 

 

44.1

 

 

 

3,993,289

 

 

 

2,763,564

 

 

 

 

1,229,725

 

 

 

44.5

 

Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Personnel costs

 

 

556,827

 

 

 

417,066

 

 

 

 

139,761

 

 

 

33.5

 

 

 

1,060,970

 

 

 

838,681

 

 

 

 

222,289

 

 

 

26.5

 

Premiums retained by agents

 

 

718,424

 

 

 

472,398

 

 

 

 

246,026

 

 

 

52.1

 

 

 

1,389,725

 

 

 

947,779

 

 

 

 

441,946

 

 

 

46.6

 

Other operating expenses

 

 

297,586

 

 

 

222,192

 

 

 

 

75,394

 

 

 

33.9

 

 

 

562,074

 

 

 

448,787

 

 

 

 

113,287

 

 

 

25.2

 

Provision for policy losses and other claims

 

 

67,686

 

 

 

56,431

 

 

 

 

11,255

 

 

 

19.9

 

 

 

127,798

 

 

 

111,481

 

 

 

 

16,317

 

 

 

14.6

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

39,470

 

 

 

38,995

 

 

 

 

475

 

 

 

1.2

 

 

 

76,183

 

 

 

68,512

 

 

 

 

7,671

 

 

 

11.2

 

Premium taxes

 

 

20,698

 

 

 

14,319

 

 

 

 

6,379

 

 

 

44.5

 

 

 

41,516

 

 

 

29,837

 

 

 

 

11,679

 

 

 

39.1

 

Interest

 

 

5,187

 

 

 

3,736

 

 

 

 

1,451

 

 

 

38.8

 

 

 

11,043

 

 

 

7,709

 

 

 

 

3,334

 

 

 

43.2

 

 

 

 

1,705,878

 

 

 

1,225,137

 

 

 

 

480,741

 

 

 

39.2

 

 

 

3,269,309

 

 

 

2,452,786

 

 

 

 

816,523

 

 

 

33.3

 

Income before income taxes

 

$

402,351

 

 

$

237,802

 

 

 

$

164,549

 

 

 

69.2

%

 

$

723,980

 

 

$

310,778

 

 

 

$

413,202

 

 

 

133.0

%

Pretax margins

 

 

19.1

%

 

 

16.3

%

 

 

 

2.8

%

 

 

17.2

%

 

 

18.1

%

 

 

11.2

%

 

 

 

6.9

%

 

 

61.6

%

 

(1)

Not meaningful

Direct premiums and escrow fees were $787.2 million and $1.4 billion for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively, increases of $256.5 million, or 48.3%, and $412.7 million, or 40.0%, when compared with the respective periods of the prior year.  The increases were primarily due to an increase in the average domestic revenues per order and the number of domestic title orders closed by the Company’s direct title operations.  The domestic average revenues per order closed were $2,651 and $2,376 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively, increases of 35.9% and 12.5% when compared with $1,950 and $2,112 for the respective periods of the prior year due to higher average revenues per order from residential products due to higher residential real estate values and higher average revenues per order from commercial transactions.   The increase in average revenues per order for the three months ended June 30, 2021 was also due to a shift in mix from the lower premium residential refinance transactions to higher premium commercial and residential resale transactions.  The Company’s direct title operations closed 271,100 and 558,700 domestic title orders during the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively, increases of 6.5% and 22.2% when compared with 254,500 and 457,200 title orders closed during the respective periods of the prior year, which was generally consistent with the changes in residential mortgage origination activity in the United States as reported in the MBA Forecast.  For the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, domestic residential refinance orders closed per day decreased by 26.7% and increased by 11.6%, respectively, and domestic residential purchase orders closed per day increased by 42.9% and 30.5%, respectively, when compared to the respective periods of the prior year.

Agent premiums were $904.9 million and $1.8 billion for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively, increases of $307.0 million, or 51.3%, and $552.6 million, or 46.1%, when compared with the respective periods of the prior year.  Agent premiums are recorded when notice of issuance is received from the agent, which is generally when cash payment is received by the Company.  As a result, there is generally a delay between the agent’s issuance of a title policy and the Company’s recognition of agent premiums.  Therefore, current quarter agent premiums typically reflect prior quarter mortgage origination activity.  The increase in agent premiums for the three months ended June 30, 2021 is generally consistent with the 31.2% increase in the Company’s direct premiums and escrow fees in the first quarter of 2021 as compared with the first quarter of 2020.

Information and other revenues primarily consist of revenues generated from fees associated with title search and related reports, title and other real property records and images, other non-insured settlement services, and risk mitigation products and services.  These revenues generally trend with direct premiums and escrow fees but are typically less volatile since a portion of the revenues are subscription based and do not fluctuate with transaction volumes.  

36


 

Information and other revenues were $298.2 million and $573.6 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively, increases of $70.0 million, or 30.7%, and $137.1 million, or 31.4%, when compared with the respective periods of the prior year.  The increases were primarily attributable to growth in mortgage origination activity that led to higher demand for the Company’s information products, an increase in activity in the commercial markets, higher volume in our international operations, and an increase in demand for the Company’s default information products as a result of an increase in loss mitigation activities.  

Net investment income totaled $47.5 million and $90.1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively, an increase of $4.2 million, or 9.8%, and a decrease of $12.8 million, or 12.4%, when compared with the respective periods of the prior year.  The increase for the three months ended June 30, 2021 was primarily due to interest income from the Company’s warehouse lending business. The decrease for the six months ended June 30, 2021 were primarily attributable to lower short-term interest rates, which drove lower income from the Company’s cash and investment portfolio, escrow balances, and tax-deferred property exchange business, partially offset by an increase in interest income from the Company’s warehouse lending business.  

Net realized investment gains totaled $70.4 million and $134.6 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively.  Net realized investment gains for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 were primarily attributable to gains recognized on certain non-marketable equity investments and increases in the fair values of marketable equity securities. Net realized investment gains totaled $62.8 million and net realized investment losses totaled $5.5 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, respectively.  The net realized investment gains for the three months ended June 30, 2020 were primarily attributable to increases in the fair values of marketable equity securities.  The net realized investment losses for the six months ended June 30, 2020 were primarily attributable to declines in the fair values of marketable equity securities.

The title insurance and services segment (primarily direct operations) is labor intensive; accordingly, a major expense component is personnel costs.  This expense component is affected by two primary factors: the need to monitor personnel changes to match the level of corresponding or anticipated new orders and the need to provide quality service.

Personnel costs were $556.8 million and $1.1 billion for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively, increases of $139.8 million, or 33.5%, and $222.3 million, or 26.5%, when compared with the respective periods of the prior year.  The increases were primarily due to higher incentive compensation, salary, employee benefit expense, overtime, temporary labor, and payroll tax expense.  The increases in incentive compensation expense was due to higher revenues and profitability.  The increases in salary and payroll tax expense were driven by higher headcount.  The increases in overtime and temporary labor expense was due to higher volumes.  The increases in employee benefit expense was primarily due to the impact of higher expense related to the Company’s 401(k) saving plan match and higher medical claims.

Agents retained $718.4 million and $1.4 billion of title premiums generated by agency operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, which compares with $472.4 million and $947.8 million for the respective periods of the prior year.  The percentage of title premiums retained by agents was 79.4% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, compared to 79.0% and 79.1% for the respective periods of the prior year.

Other operating expenses for the title insurance and services segment were $297.6 million and $562.1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively, increases of $75.4 million, or 33.9%, and $113.3 million, or 25.2%, when compared with the respective periods of the prior year.  The increases were primarily attributable to higher production related costs due to increased transaction volumes, higher software expense, and higher professional services.

The provision for policy losses and other claims, expressed as a percentage of title premiums and escrow fees, was 4.0% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 compared to 5.0% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, respectively.  The current year rate of 4.0% reflects the ultimate loss rate for the current policy year and no change in the loss reserve estimates for prior policy years. The 5.0% rate for 2020 reflected an ultimate loss rate of 4.5% for the 2020 policy year and a net increase in the loss reserve estimates for prior policy years of 0.5%, or $5.6 million and $11.1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, respectively.

37


 

Title claims generally increase when economic conditions deteriorate and foreclosure activity increases. The Company increased its calendar year loss rate from 4.0% in 2019 to 5.0% in 2020 in anticipation of higher claims due to the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.  However, the Company has not experienced an increase in title claims as a result of the pandemic, but rather claims have been significantly below the Company’s actuarial expectation.  As a result, and in anticipation of lower claims due to a generally strengthening economy, high levels of home equity and ongoing foreclosure moratoriums, the Company lowered the current year loss rate to 4.0%.  The Company will continue to monitor economic conditions and actual claims experience and will consider this information, among other factors, when determining the appropriate loss rate and reserve balance for incurred but not reported claims in future periods.

Depreciation and amortization expense was $39.5 million and $76.2 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively, increases of $0.5 million, or 1.2%, and $7.7 million, or 11.2%, when compared with the respective periods of the prior year.  The increase for the six months ended June 30, 2021 was primarily attributable to higher amortization of software and other intangible assets related to recent acquisitions.

Premium taxes were $20.7 million and $41.5 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively, increases of $6.4 million, or 44.5%, and $11.7 million, or 39.1%, respectively, compared to $14.3 million and $29.8 million for the same periods of the prior year. Premium taxes as a percentage of title insurance premiums and escrow fees were 1.2% and 1.3% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively, and were 1.3% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020.

Interest expense was $5.2 million and $11.0 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively, increases of $1.5 million, or 38.8%, and $3.3 million, or 43.2%, when compared with the respective periods of the prior year.

The profit margins for the title insurance business reflect the high cost of performing the essential services required before insuring title, whereas the corresponding revenues are subject to regulatory and competitive pricing restraints.  Due to the relatively high proportion of fixed costs, title insurance profit margins generally improve as closed order volumes increase.  Title insurance profit margins are also impacted by the segment’s net investment income and net realized investment gains or losses, which may not move in the same direction as closed order volumes.  Title insurance profit margins are affected by the composition (residential or commercial) and type (resale, refinancing or new construction) of real estate activity.  Title insurance profit margins are also affected by the percentage of title insurance premiums 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.  The pretax margins for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 were 19.1% and 18.1%, respectively, compared with 16.3% and 11.2% in the respective periods of the prior year.

38


 

Specialty Insurance

 

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

(in thousands, except percentages)

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

$ Change

 

 

% Change

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

$ Change

 

 

% Change

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct premiums

 

$

130,207

 

 

$

121,249

 

 

$

8,958

 

 

 

7.4

%

 

$

258,385

 

 

$

240,585

 

 

$

17,800

 

 

 

7.4

%

Information and other

 

 

3,457

 

 

 

3,103

 

 

 

354

 

 

 

11.4

 

 

 

7,205

 

 

 

6,542

 

 

 

663

 

 

 

10.1

 

Net investment income

 

 

1,816

 

 

 

2,316

 

 

 

(500

)

 

 

(21.6

)

 

 

3,750

 

 

 

4,900

 

 

 

(1,150

)

 

 

(23.5

)

Net realized investment gains

 

 

16,150

 

 

 

6,850

 

 

 

9,300

 

 

 

135.8

 

 

 

18,769

 

 

 

3,460

 

 

 

15,309

 

 

 

NM

1

 

 

 

151,630

 

 

 

133,518

 

 

 

18,112

 

 

 

13.6

 

 

 

288,109

 

 

 

255,487

 

 

 

32,622

 

 

 

12.8

 

Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Personnel costs

 

 

22,727

 

 

 

20,681

 

 

 

2,046

 

 

 

9.9

 

 

 

46,654

 

 

 

42,126

 

 

 

4,528

 

 

 

10.7

 

Other operating expenses

 

 

23,726

 

 

 

19,283

 

 

 

4,443

 

 

 

23.0

 

 

 

46,365

 

 

 

40,831

 

 

 

5,534

 

 

 

13.6

 

Provision for policy losses and other claims

 

 

82,244

 

 

 

82,257

 

 

 

(13

)

 

 

 

 

 

162,579

 

 

 

144,684

 

 

 

17,895

 

 

 

12.4

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

1,433

 

 

 

1,943

 

 

 

(510

)

 

 

(26.2

)

 

 

2,983

 

 

 

3,837

 

 

 

(854

)

 

 

(22.3

)

Premium taxes

 

 

1,769

 

 

 

2,035

 

 

 

(266

)

 

 

(13.1

)

 

 

3,537

 

 

 

3,832

 

 

 

(295

)

 

 

(7.7

)

 

 

 

131,899

 

 

 

126,199

 

 

 

5,700

 

 

 

4.5

 

 

 

262,118

 

 

 

235,310

 

 

 

26,808

 

 

 

11.4

 

Income before income taxes

 

$

19,731

 

 

$

7,319

 

 

$

12,412

 

 

 

169.6

%

 

$

25,991

 

 

$

20,177

 

 

$

5,814

 

 

 

28.8

%

Margins

 

 

13.0

%

 

 

5.5

%

 

 

7.5

%

 

 

136.4

%

 

 

9.0

%

 

 

7.9

%

 

 

1.1

%

 

 

13.9

%

 

(1)

Not meaningful

Direct premiums were $130.2 million and $258.4 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively, increases of $9.0 million, or 7.4%, and $17.8 million, or 7.4%, when compared with the respective periods of the prior year.  The increases were primarily attributable to higher premiums earned in the home warranty business.

Net realized investment gains for the specialty insurance segment totaled $16.2 million and $18.8 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively, and were primarily from the sale of our Property and Casualty agency operations and to a lesser extent, an increase in the fair values of equity securities.  Net realized investment gains for the specialty insurance segment totaled $6.9 million and $3.5 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020.  The net realized investment gains for the three months ended June 30, 2020 were primarily from the increase in the fair values of equity securities.  The net realized investment gains for the six months ended June 30, 2020 were primarily from a gain from the sale of real estate.

Personnel costs and other operating expenses were $46.5 million and $93.0 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively, increases of $6.5 million, or 16.2%, and $10.1 million, or 12.1%, when compared with the respective periods of the prior year.  The increases were primarily attributable to an increase in deferred policy acquisition expense in the property and casualty business, higher incentive compensation, higher salary expense due to higher average salaries, higher offshore vendor expense due to higher volumes in the home warranty business, and higher employee benefit expense due to the impact of higher expense related to the Company’s 401(k) saving plan match, offset by lower agent commissions.

The provision for home warranty claims, expressed as a percentage of home warranty premiums, was 55.5% and 54.7% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively, compared with 54.7% and 48.5% for the respective periods of the prior year.  The increase in the claims rate for the three months ended June 30, 2021, was primarily attributable to higher claims severity.  The increase for the six months ended June 30, 2021, was primarily attributable to higher severity and frequency partially due to higher claims in the appliance and plumbing trades due to people spending more time at home.  The provision for property and casualty claims, expressed as a percentage of property and casualty insurance premiums, was 89.1% and 89.4% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively, compared with 106.2% and 93.6%  for the respective periods of the prior year.  The decreases in the claims rate were primarily attributable to low claims severity.  

39


 

Premium taxes were $1.8 million and $3.5 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively, compared with $2.0 million and $3.8 million for the respective periods of the prior year.  Premium taxes as a percentage of specialty insurance segment premiums were 1.4% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, and 1.7% and 1.6% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, respectively.

A large part of the revenues for the specialty insurance businesses are generated by renewals and are not dependent on the level of real estate activity in the year of renewal. With the exception of loss expense, the majority of the expenses for this segment are variable in nature and therefore generally fluctuate consistent with revenue fluctuations.  Accordingly, profit margins for this segment (before loss expense) are relatively constant, although as a result of some fixed expenses, profit margins (before loss expense) should nominally improve as premium revenues increase.  Specialty insurance profit margins are also impacted by the segment’s net investment income and net realized investment gains or losses, which may not move in the same direction as premium revenues.  The pretax margins for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 were 13.0% and 9.0%, respectively, compared with 5.5% and 7.9% in the respective periods of the prior year.

In January 2021, the Company entered into book transfer agreements with two third-party insurers related to its property and casualty insurance business and will seek to non-renew policies that are not transferred.  The Company’s policies in force had declined by approximately 22% as of June 30, 2021 and the Company expects an approximate 70% reduction in policies in force by the end of 2021 and decreasing revenues over time.  The Company expects the transfers to be completed by the end of the third quarter of 2022.  The property and casualty insurance business recorded revenues of $44.0 million and $78.6 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively, and $36.0 million and $66.0 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, respectively.  Income (loss) before income taxes, which includes a gain of $12.2 million from the sale of the agency operations in the second quarter of 2021, was $6.0 million and $(0.6) million for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively.  Loss before income taxes was $8.5 million and $15.8 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, respectively.

40


 

Corporate

 

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

(in thousands, except percentages)

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

$ Change

 

 

% Change

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

$ Change

 

 

% Change

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net investment income (losses)

 

$

6,986

 

 

$

12,928

 

 

$

(5,942

)

 

 

(46.0

)%

 

$

12,052

 

 

$

(3,310

)

 

$

15,362

 

 

 

NM

1%

Net realized investment (losses) gains

 

 

 

 

 

(412

)

 

 

412

 

 

 

100.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,515

 

 

 

(6,515

)

 

 

(100.0

)

 

 

 

6,986

 

 

 

12,516

 

 

 

(5,530

)

 

 

(44.2

)

 

 

12,052

 

 

 

3,205

 

 

 

8,847

 

 

 

276.0

 

Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Personnel costs

 

 

8,712

 

 

 

13,740

 

 

 

(5,028

)

 

 

(36.6

)

 

 

15,824

 

 

 

340

 

 

 

15,484

 

 

 

NM

1

Other operating expenses

 

 

9,667

 

 

 

8,799

 

 

 

868

 

 

 

9.9

 

 

 

18,203

 

 

 

18,096

 

 

 

107

 

 

 

0.6

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

36

 

 

 

38

 

 

 

(2

)

 

 

(5.3

)

 

 

71

 

 

 

76

 

 

 

(5

)

 

 

(6.6

)

Interest

 

 

11,237

 

 

 

9,765

 

 

 

1,472

 

 

 

15.1

 

 

 

22,487

 

 

 

18,029

 

 

 

4,458

 

 

 

24.7

 

 

 

 

29,652

 

 

 

32,342

 

 

 

(2,690

)

 

 

(8.3

)

 

 

56,585

 

 

 

36,541

 

 

 

20,044

 

 

 

54.9

 

Loss before income taxes

 

$

(22,666

)

 

$

(19,826

)

 

$

(2,840

)

 

 

(14.3

)%

 

$

(44,533

)

 

$

(33,336

)

 

$

(11,197

)

 

 

(33.6

)%

 

(1)

Not meaningful

Net investment income totaled $7.0 million and $12.1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively, compared with net investment income of $12.9 million and net investment losses of $3.3 million for the respective periods of the prior year.  The decrease in net investment income for the three months ended June 30, 2021 was primarily attributable to lower earnings on investments associated with the Company’s deferred compensation plan when compared to the same period of 2020.  The increase in net investment income for the six months ended June 30, 2021 was primarily attributable to higher earnings on investments associated with the Company’s deferred compensation plan when compared to the same period of 2020.

Net realized investment gains for the corporate segment totaled $6.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and were primarily from the sale of real estate.  

Corporate personnel costs and other operating expenses were $18.4 million and $34.0 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively, compared with $22.5 million and $18.4 million for the respective periods of the prior year.  The decrease for the three months ended June 30, 2021, was primarily attributable to lower expense related to the Company’s deferred compensation plan.  The increase for the six months ended June 30, 2021, was primarily attributable to higher expense related to the Company’s deferred compensation plan.

Interest expense was $11.2 million and $22.5 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively, increases of $1.5 million, or 15.1%, and $4.5 million, or 24.7%, when compared with the respective periods of the prior year.  The increase is attributable to the interest accrued on the $450.0 million of 4.00% 10-year senior unsecured notes that the company issued in May 2020.

 

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Eliminations

The Company’s inter-segment eliminations were not material for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020.

INCOME TAXES

The Company’s effective income tax rates (income tax expense as a percentage of income before income taxes) were 24.0% and 23.8% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively, compared with 23.8% and 20.9% for the respective periods of the prior year.  The difference in the effective tax rates is primarily due to benefits related to foreign tax law changes and the recognition of additional excess tax benefits associated with share-based payment transactions in the six months ended June 30, 2020.

The Company evaluates the realizability of its deferred tax assets by assessing the valuation allowance and makes adjustments to the allowance as necessary.  The factors used by the Company to assess the likelihood of realization include its forecast of future taxable income and available tax planning strategies that could be implemented to realize its deferred tax assets.  The Company’s ability or inability to achieve forecasted taxable income in the applicable taxing jurisdictions could affect the ultimate realization of its deferred tax assets.  Based on future operating results in certain jurisdictions, it is possible that the current valuation allowance positions of those jurisdictions could be adjusted during the next 12 months.

NET INCOME AND NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE COMPANY

Net income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 was $303.4 million and $537.9 million, respectively, compared with $171.7 million and $235.5 million for the respective periods of the prior year. Net income attributable to the Company for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 was $302.3 million, or $2.72 per diluted share, and $535.9 million, or $4.81 per diluted share, respectively, compared with $170.7 million, or $1.52 per diluted share, and $233.9 million, or $2.06 per diluted share, for the respective periods of the prior year.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Cash requirements.    The Company generates cash primarily from the sale of its products and services and investment income.  The Company’s current cash requirements include operating expenses, taxes, payments of principal and interest on its debt, capital expenditures, dividends on its common stock, and may include business acquisitions, investments in private companies, primarily those in the venture-stage, and repurchases of its common stock.  Management forecasts the cash needs of the holding company and its primary subsidiaries and regularly reviews their short-term and long-term projected sources and uses of funds, as well as the asset, liability, investment and cash flow assumptions underlying such forecasts.  Based on the Company’s ability to generate cash flows from operations, its liquid-asset position and amounts available on its revolving credit facility, management believes that its resources are sufficient to satisfy its anticipated operational cash requirements and obligations for at least the next twelve months.  

The substantial majority of the Company’s business is dependent upon activity in the real estate and mortgage markets, which are cyclical and seasonal.  Periods of increasing interest rates and reduced mortgage financing availability generally have an adverse effect on residential real estate activity and therefore typically decrease the Company’s revenues.  In contrast, periods of declining interest rates and increased mortgage financing availability generally have a positive effect on residential real estate activity, which typically increases the Company’s revenues.  Residential purchase activity is typically slower in the winter months with increased volumes in the spring and summer months.  Residential refinance activity is typically more volatile than purchase activity and is highly impacted by changes in interest rates.  Commercial real estate volumes are less sensitive to changes in interest rates but fluctuate based on local supply and demand conditions for space and mortgage financing availability.

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Cash provided by operating activities totaled $477.0 million and $368.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, after claim payments, net of recoveries, of $231.4 million and $214.6 million, respectively.  The principal nonoperating uses of cash and cash equivalents for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 were advances and repayments related to secured financing transactions, purchases of debt and equity securities, capital expenditures, repurchases of Company shares, dividends to common stockholders, and for the six months ended June 30, 2020, business acquisitions and repayment of borrowings under the unsecured credit facility.  The principal nonoperating sources of cash and cash equivalents for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 were borrowings and collections related to secured financing transactions, proceeds from the sales and maturities of debt and equity securities, increases in the deposit balances at the Company’s banking operations, and for the six months ended June 30, 2020, proceeds from the issuance of unsecured senior notes and borrowings under the unsecured credit agreement.  The net effect of all activities on cash and cash equivalents were increases of $947.2 million and $37.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

The Company continually assesses its capital allocation strategy, including decisions relating to dividends, stock repurchases, capital expenditures, acquisitions and investments. In June 2021, the Company paid a second quarter cash dividend of 46 cents per common share.  Management expects that the Company will continue to pay quarterly cash dividends at or above the current level.  The timing, declaration and payment of future dividends, however, falls within the discretion of the Company’s board of directors and will depend upon many factors, including the Company’s financial condition and earnings, the capital requirements of the Company’s businesses, restrictions imposed by applicable law and any other factors the board of directors deems relevant from time to time.

The Company maintains a stock repurchase plan with authorization up to $300.0 million, of which $177.2 million remained as of June 30, 2021.  Purchases may be made from time to time by the Company in the open market at prevailing market prices or in privately negotiated transactions.  During the six months ended June 30, 2021, the Company repurchased and retired 1.2 million shares of its common stock for a total purchase price of $64.8 million and, as of June 30, 2021, had repurchased and retired 2.4 million shares of its common stock under the current authorization for a total purchase price of $122.8 million.

Holding Company.    First American Financial Corporation is a holding company that conducts all of its operations through its subsidiaries.  The holding company’s current cash requirements include payments of principal and interest on its debt, taxes, payments in connection with employee benefit plans, dividends on its common stock and other expenses.  The holding company is dependent upon dividends and other payments from its operating subsidiaries to meet its cash requirements.  The Company’s target is to maintain a cash balance at the holding company equal to at least twelve months of estimated cash requirements.  At certain points in time, the actual cash balance at the holding company may vary from this target due to, among other factors, the timing and amount of cash payments made and dividend payments received.  Pursuant to insurance and other regulations under which the Company’s insurance subsidiaries operate, the amount of dividends, loans and advances available to the holding company is limited, principally for the protection of policyholders.  As of June 30, 2021, under such regulations, the maximum amount available to the holding company from its insurance subsidiaries for the remainder of 2021, without prior approval from applicable regulators, was dividends of $436.7 million and loans and advances of $116.3 million.  However, the timing and amount of dividends paid by the Company’s insurance subsidiaries to the holding company falls within the discretion of each insurance subsidiary’s board of directors and will depend upon many factors, including the level of total statutory capital and surplus required to support minimum financial strength ratings by certain rating agencies.  Such restrictions have not had, nor are they expected to have, an impact on the holding company’s ability to meet its cash obligations.

As of June 30, 2021, the holding company’s sources of liquidity included $335.1 million of cash and cash equivalents and $700.0 million available on the Company’s revolving credit facility.  Management believes that liquidity at the holding company is sufficient to satisfy anticipated cash requirements and obligations for at least the next twelve months.

Financing.    The Company maintains a credit agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. in its capacity as administrative agent and the lenders party thereto.  The credit agreement, which is comprised of a $700.0 million revolving credit facility, includes an expansion option that permits the Company, subject to satisfaction of certain conditions, to increase the revolving commitments and/or add term loan tranches in an aggregate amount not to exceed $350.0 million.  Unless terminated earlier, the credit agreement will terminate on April 30, 2024.  The obligations of the Company under the credit agreement are neither secured nor guaranteed.  Proceeds under the credit agreement may be used for general corporate purposes.  At June 30, 2021, the Company had no outstanding borrowings under the facility.

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At the Company’s election, borrowings of revolving loans under the credit agreement bear interest at (a) the Alternate Base Rate plus the applicable spread or (b) the Adjusted LIBOR rate plus the applicable spread (in each case as defined in the credit agreement).  The Company may select interest periods of one, two, three or six months or (if agreed to by all lenders) such other number of months for Eurodollar borrowings of loans.  The applicable spread varies depending upon the debt rating assigned by Moody’s Investor Service, Inc., Standard & Poor’s Rating Services and/or Fitch Ratings Inc.  The minimum applicable spread for Alternate Base Rate borrowings is 0.25% and the maximum is 1.00%.  The minimum applicable spread for Adjusted LIBOR rate borrowings is 1.25% and the maximum is 2.00%.  The rate of interest on any term loans incurred in connection with the expansion option will be established at or about the time such loans are made and may differ from the rate of interest on revolving loans.

The credit agreement includes representations and warranties, reporting covenants, affirmative covenants, negative covenants, financial covenants and events of default customary for financings of this type.  Upon the occurrence of an event of default the lenders may accelerate the loans.  Upon the occurrence of certain insolvency and bankruptcy events of default the loans will automatically accelerate.  As of June 30, 2021, the Company was in compliance with the financial covenants under the credit agreement.

In addition to amounts available under its credit facility, certain subsidiaries of the Company maintain separate financing arrangements.  The primary financing arrangements maintained by subsidiaries of the Company are as follows:

 

SUSA Financial, Inc. (dba FirstFunding, Inc.), a specialized warehouse lender to correspondent mortgage lenders, maintains secured warehouse lending facilities with several banking institutions.  At June 30, 2021, outstanding borrowings under these facilities totaled $611.0 million.

 

First American Trust, FSB, a federal savings bank, maintains a secured line of credit with the Federal Home Loan Bank and federal funds lines of credit with certain correspondent institutions.  In addition, First American Trust, FSB is a party to master repurchase agreements under which securities may be loaned or sold.  At June 30, 2021, no amounts were outstanding under any of these facilities.

 

First Canadian Title Company Limited, a Canadian title insurance and services company, maintains credit facilities with certain Canadian banking institutions. At June 30, 2021, no amounts were outstanding under these facilities.

The Company’s debt to capitalization ratios were 23.5% and 23.7% at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.  The Company’s adjusted debt to capitalization ratios, excluding secured financings payable of $611.0 million and $516.2 million at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, were 16.0% and 17.0%, respectively.

Investment Portfolio.    The Company maintains a high quality, liquid portfolio of debt and marketable equity securities that is primarily held at its insurance and banking subsidiaries.  As of June 30, 2021, 95% of the Company’s investment portfolio consisted of debt securities, of which 67% were either United States government-backed or rated AAA and 97% were either rated or classified as investment grade.  Percentages are based on the estimated fair values of the securities.  Credit ratings reflect published ratings obtained from globally recognized securities rating agencies.  If a security was rated differently among the rating agencies, the lowest rating was selected.  For further information on the credit quality of the Company’s debt securities portfolio at June 30, 2021, see Note 4 Debt Securities to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

In addition to its portfolio of debt and marketable equity securities, the Company maintains investments in non-marketable equity securities and securities accounted for under the equity method.  For further information on the Company’s equity securities see Note 5 Equity Securities to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Off-balance sheet arrangements.    The Company administers escrow deposits and trust assets as a service to its customers.  Escrow deposits totaled $11.6 billion and $7.1 billion at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, of which $5.1 billion and $3.1 billion, respectively, were held at First American Trust, FSB.  The escrow deposits held at First American Trust, FSB are temporarily invested in cash and cash equivalents and debt securities, with offsetting liabilities included in deposits in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.  The remaining escrow deposits were held at third-party financial institutions.

Trust assets held or managed by First American Trust, FSB totaled $4.5 billion and $4.4 billion at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.  Escrow deposits held at third-party financial institutions and trust assets are not considered assets of the Company and, therefore, are not included in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.  All such amounts are placed in deposit accounts insured, up to applicable limits, by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.  The Company could be held contingently liable for the disposition of these assets.

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In conducting its operations, the Company often holds customers’ assets in escrow, pending completion of real estate transactions and, as a result, the Company has ongoing programs for realizing economic benefits with various financial institutions.  The results from these programs are included as income or a reduction in expense, as appropriate, in the consolidated statements of income based on the nature of the arrangement and benefit received.

The Company facilitates tax-deferred property exchanges for customers pursuant to Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code and tax-deferred reverse exchanges pursuant to Revenue Procedure 2000-37.  As a facilitator and intermediary, the Company holds the proceeds from sales transactions and takes temporary title to property identified by the customer to be acquired with such proceeds.  Upon the completion of each such exchange, the identified property is transferred to the customer or, if the exchange does not take place, an amount equal to the sales proceeds or, in the case of a reverse exchange, title to the property held by the Company is transferred to the customer.  Like-kind exchange funds held by the Company totaled $3.9 billion and $2.9 billion at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.  The like-kind exchange deposits are held at third-party financial institutions and, due to the structure utilized to facilitate these transactions, the proceeds and property are not considered assets of the Company and, therefore, are not included in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.  All such amounts are placed in deposit accounts insured, up to applicable limits, by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.  The Company could be held contingently liable to the customer for the transfers of property, disbursements of proceeds and the returns on such proceeds.

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 on any significant scale to hedge these risks.

There have been no material changes in the Company’s market risks since the filing of its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer have concluded that, as of June 30, 2021, the end of the quarterly period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, were effective, based on the evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 13a-15(b) thereunder.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended June 30, 2021, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II: OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.

The Company and its subsidiaries are parties to a number of non-ordinary course lawsuits.  These lawsuits frequently are similar in nature to other lawsuits pending against the Company’s competitors.

For those non-ordinary course lawsuits where the Company has determined that a loss is both probable and reasonably estimable, a liability representing the best estimate of the Company’s financial exposure based on known facts has been recorded.  Actual losses may materially differ from the amounts recorded.

It is, however, often not possible to assess the probability of loss.  Lawsuits that are putative class actions require a plaintiff to satisfy a number of procedural requirements before proceeding to trial.  These requirements include, among others, demonstration to a court that the law proscribes in some manner the Company’s activities, the making of factual allegations sufficient to suggest that the Company’s activities exceeded the limits of the law and a determination by the court—known as class certification—that the law permits a group of individuals to pursue the case together as a class.  In certain instances, the Company may also be able to compel the plaintiff to arbitrate its claim on an individual basis.  If these procedural requirements are not met, either the lawsuit cannot proceed or, as is the case with class certification or compelled arbitration, the plaintiffs lose the financial incentive to proceed with the case (or the amount at issue effectively becomes de minimis).  Frequently, a court’s determination as to these procedural requirements is subject to appeal to a higher court.  As a result of, among other factors, ambiguities and inconsistencies in the laws applicable to the Company’s business and the uniqueness of the factual issues presented in any given lawsuit, the Company often cannot determine the probability of loss until a court has finally determined that a plaintiff has satisfied applicable procedural requirements.

Furthermore, for putative class actions, it is often impossible to estimate the possible loss or a range of loss amounts, even where the Company has determined that a loss is reasonably possible.  Generally class actions involve a large number of people and the effort to determine which people satisfy the requirements to become plaintiffs—or class members—is often time consuming and burdensome.  Moreover, these lawsuits raise complex factual issues which result in uncertainty as to their outcome and, ultimately, make it difficult for the Company to estimate the amount of damages which a plaintiff might successfully prove.  In addition, many of the Company’s businesses are regulated by various federal, state, local and foreign governmental agencies and are subject to numerous statutory guidelines.  These regulations and statutory guidelines often are complex, inconsistent or ambiguous, which results in additional uncertainty as to the outcome of a given lawsuit—including the amount of damages a plaintiff might be afforded—or makes it difficult to analogize experience in one case or jurisdiction to another case or jurisdiction.

Most of the non-ordinary course lawsuits to which the Company and its subsidiaries are parties challenge practices in the Company’s title insurance business, though a limited number of cases also pertain to the Company’s other businesses.  These lawsuits include, among others, cases alleging, among other assertions, that the Company or one of its subsidiaries improperly charged fees for products and services, improperly performed debt collection practices, and improperly handled property and casualty claims in violation of certain laws, such as consumer protection laws and laws generally prohibiting unfair business practices, and certain obligations, including:

 

Seymour vs. First American Title Insurance Company, et al., filed on January 12, 2021 and pending in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Santa Barbara,

 

Tenefufu vs. First American Specialty Insurance Company, filed on June 1, 2017 and pending in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Sacramento, and

 

Wilmot vs. First American Financial Corporation, et al., filed on April 20, 2007 and pending in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles.

Seymour and Tenefufu are putative class actions for which a class has not been certified.  A class has been certified in Wilmot.  For the reasons described above, the Company has not yet been able to assess the probability of loss or estimate the possible loss or the range of loss.

The Company and/or its subsidiaries are also parties to consumer class actions and a securities class action in connection with the information security incident that occurred during the second quarter of 2019.  All of these lawsuits are putative class actions for which a class has not been certified.  For the reasons described above, the Company has not yet been able to assess the probability of loss or estimate the possible loss or the range of loss.

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While some of the lawsuits described above may be material to the Company’s financial results in any particular period if an unfavorable outcome results, the Company does not believe that any of these lawsuits will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s overall financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

In addition, the Company and its board of directors and certain executives are parties to a shareholder derivative action, Hollett vs. Gilmore, et al., filed on November 25, 2020 and pending in the United States District Court for the Central District of California.  The allegations arise out of the information security incident that occurred during the second quarter of 2019 and the resulting legal proceedings and disclosures made at the time of the incident. While the ultimate disposition is not yet determinable, the Company does not believe it will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

The Company also is a party to non-ordinary course lawsuits other than those described above.  With respect to these lawsuits, the Company has determined either that a loss is not reasonably possible or that the estimated loss or range of loss, if any, will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.  

The Company’s title insurance, property and casualty insurance, home warranty, banking, thrift, trust and wealth management businesses are regulated by various federal, state and local governmental agencies.  Many of the Company’s other businesses operate within statutory guidelines.  Consequently, the Company may from time to time be subject to examination or investigation by such governmental agencies.  Currently, governmental agencies are examining or investigating certain of the Company’s operations. These exams and investigations include an inquiry by the New York Attorney General and the Massachusetts Attorney General into competitive practices in the title insurance industry.  With respect to matters where the Company has determined that a loss is both probable and reasonably estimable, the Company records a liability representing its best estimate of the financial exposure based on known facts.  While the ultimate disposition of each such exam or investigation is not yet determinable, the Company does not believe that individually or in the aggregate they will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Some of these exams or investigations could, however, result in changes to the Company’s business practices which could ultimately have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Furthermore, these exams and investigations include an investigation initiated in connection with the information security incident that occurred during the second quarter of 2019 by the New York Department of Financial Services.  The New York Department of Financial Services has alleged violations of its cyber security requirements for financial services companies and filed a statement of charges on July 22, 2020, as amended on March 10, 2021, and scheduled an administrative hearing in connection therewith.  While the ultimate disposition of the New York Department of Financial Services matter is not yet determinable, the Company does not believe that it will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

As announced by the Company in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on June 15, 2021, the Company reached a settlement with the SEC in connection with the previously disclosed information security incident that occurred during the second quarter of 2019 and which was the subject of the Wells Notice disclosed by the Company in October 2020.  Under the terms of the settlement, which resolves the matter, the Company consented to the entry of an order finding a violation of Rule 13a-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which requires issuers of registered securities to maintain effective disclosure controls.  No other violations of the securities laws are alleged in the order.  The order required the Company to pay a civil penalty of $487,616 and to cease and desist from committing or causing any violations of Rule 13a-15.  The Company neither admits nor denies the findings in the order, other than with respect to the SEC’s jurisdiction.

The Company’s Canadian operations provide certain services to lenders which it believes to be exempt from excise tax under applicable Canadian tax laws.  However, in October 2014, the Canadian taxing authority provided internal guidance that the services in question should be subject to the excise tax.  During July 2019, the Company received an assessment from the Canadian taxing authority.  The amount of the assessment is $16.4 million, which is based on the exchange rate as of, and includes interest charges through, June 30, 2021. As the Company does not believe that the services in question are subject to excise tax, it intends to avail itself of avenues of appeal, and it believes it is reasonably likely that the Company will prevail on the merits.  Accordingly, the Company filed a notice of appeal with the Canadian taxing authority in March 2020.  Based on the current facts and circumstances, the Company does not believe a loss is probable, therefore no liability has been recorded.

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The Company and its subsidiaries also are involved in numerous ongoing routine legal and regulatory proceedings related to their operations.  With respect to each of these proceedings, the Company has determined either that a loss is not reasonably possible or that the estimated loss or range of loss, if any, is not material to the condensed consolidated financial statements as a whole.

Item 1A.

Risk Factors.

The following “risk factors” could materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, operations, reputation, financial position or future financial performance. You should carefully consider each of the following risk factors and the other information contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.  The Company faces risks other than those listed here, including those that are unknown to the Company and others of which the Company may be aware but, at present, considers immaterial.  Because of the following factors, as well as other variables affecting the Company’s operating results, past financial performance may not be a reliable indicator of future performance, and historical trends should not be used to anticipate results or trends in future periods.

STRATEGIC RISK FACTORS

1.The Company’s risk management framework could prove inadequate, which could adversely affect the Company

The Company’s risk management framework is designed to identify, monitor and mitigate risks that could have a negative impact on the Company’s financial condition or reputation.  This framework includes departments or groups dedicated to enterprise risk management, information security, disaster recovery and other information technology-related risks, business continuity, legal and compliance, compensation structures and other human resources matters, vendor management and internal audit, among others.  Many of the processes overseen by these departments function at the enterprise level, but many also function through, or rely to a certain degree upon, risk mitigation efforts in local operating groups.  Similarly, with respect to the risks the Company assumes in the ordinary course of its business through the issuance of title insurance policies and the provision of related products and services, the Company employs localized as well as centralized risk mitigation efforts.  These efforts include the implementation of underwriting policies and procedures, automated risk-decisioning tools and other mechanisms for assessing and managing risk.  Underwriting title insurance policies and making other risk-assumption decisions frequently involves a substantial degree of individual judgment and, accordingly, underwriters are maintained at the state, regional, divisional, and corporate levels with varying degrees of underwriting authority.  These individuals may be encouraged by customers or others to assume risks or to expeditiously make risk determinations.  If the Company’s risk mitigation efforts prove inadequate, the Company could be adversely affected.

2.The Company is pursuing various innovative initiatives, which could result in increased title claims or otherwise adversely affect the Company

In an effort to speed the delivery of its products, increase efficiency, improve quality, improve the customer experience and decrease risk, the Company is increasingly utilizing innovative technologies, processes and techniques in the creation of its products and services.  These efforts include streamlining the closing process by converting certain manual processes into automated ones, which the Company believes will improve the customer experience by simplifying and reducing the time it takes to close a transaction, reducing risk and improving communication.  The Company increasingly is employing advanced technologies to automate various processes, including various processes related to the building, maintaining and updating of title plants and other data assets, as well as the search and examination of information in connection with the issuance of title insurance policies.  In connection with the increase in orders during 2020, the Company expanded the use of certain of these advanced technologies in order to facilitate the processing of those orders and expects to continue the expanded use of these technologies.  Risks from these and other innovative initiatives include those associated with potential defects in the design and development of the technologies used to automate processes, misapplication of technologies, the reliance on data that may prove inadequate, and failure to meet customer expectations, among others.  As a result of these risks, the Company could experience increased claims, reputational damage or other adverse effects, which could be material to the Company.  

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3.Potentially disruptive innovation in the real estate industry and/or the Company’s participation in these efforts could adversely affect the Company

In addition to the Company’s innovative activities, other participants in the real estate industry are seeking to innovate in ways that could adversely impact the Company’s businesses.  These participants include certain of the Company’s sources of business, competitors, investments and ultimate customers.  Innovations by these participants may change the demand for the Company’s products and services, the manner in which the Company’s products and services are ordered or fulfilled and the revenue or profitability derived from the Company’s products and services.  The Company’s investments in some of these participants could also facilitate efforts that ultimately disrupt the Company’s business or enable competitors.  Accordingly, the Company’s efforts to anticipate and participate in these transformations could require significant additional investment and management attention and may not succeed.  These innovative efforts by third parties, and the manner in which the Company, its agents and other industry participants respond to them, could therefore have an adverse effect on the Company.

4.The coronavirus pandemic and the responses thereto could adversely affect the Company

The coronavirus pandemic and responses to it have created significant volatility, uncertainty and disruption in the broader economy.  The extent to which the coronavirus pandemic impacts the Company’s business, operations and financial results will depend on numerous factors that the Company may not be able to accurately predict, including: the duration and scope of the pandemic and restrictions and responses to it, particularly if virus variants result in additional outbreaks; governmental, business and individual actions that have been and continue to be taken in response to the pandemic; the ongoing impact of the pandemic on economic activity and actions taken in response, including the efficacy of governmental relief efforts; the efficacy of vaccination efforts; and the effect on participants in real estate transactions and the demand for the Company’s products and services.  In response to the pandemic, the Company made changes to the way it conducted business, including by altering certain underwriting practices, production processes, employee working arrangements and employee engagement efforts.  Some of these changes have altered employee, client and other expectations and are expected to alter the way the Company conducts business and engages with its employees over an extended period of time, and, in some cases, permanently.  Certain of these changes could result in increased claims and expose the Company to other risks.  While the Company is unable to predict the ultimate impact the coronavirus pandemic and related responses will have on its businesses, these events adversely affected the Company early in the pandemic, and still could adversely affect, its business and results of operations and, if prolonged, could materially adversely affect the Company’s financial condition.  The impacts of the coronavirus pandemic may also exacerbate the risks discussed elsewhere in Part II, Item 1A of this Quarterly Report.

OPERATIONAL RISK FACTORS

5.Conditions in the real estate market generally impact the demand for a substantial portion of the Company’s products and services and the Company’s claims experience

Demand for a substantial portion of the Company’s products and services generally decreases as the number of real estate transactions in which its products and services are purchased decreases.  The number of real estate transactions in which the Company’s products and services are purchased decreases in the following situations, among others:

 

when mortgage interest rates are high or rising;

 

when the availability of credit, including commercial and residential mortgage funding, is limited; and

 

when real estate affordability is declining.

These circumstances, particularly when combined with declining real estate values and the increase in foreclosures that often results therefrom, also tend to adversely impact the Company’s title claims experience.

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6.Unfavorable economic conditions adversely affect the Company

Historically, uncertainty and negative trends in general economic conditions in the United States and abroad, including significant tightening of credit markets and a general decline in the value of real property, have created a difficult operating environment for the Company’s core title and settlement businesses.  Uncertainty and a deterioration in economic conditions in connection with the coronavirus pandemic adversely affected the Company early in the pandemic.  These conditions also tend to negatively impact the amount of funds the Company receives from third parties to be held in trust pending the closing of commercial and residential real estate transactions.  The Company deposits a substantial portion of these funds, as well as its own funds, with the federal savings bank it owns.  The Company’s bank invests those funds and any realized losses incurred on those investments will be reflected in the Company’s consolidated results.  The likelihood of such losses, which generally would not occur if the Company were to deposit these funds in an unaffiliated entity, increases when economic conditions are unfavorable.  Moreover, during periods of unfavorable economic conditions, the return on these funds deposited at the Company’s bank, as well as funds the Company deposits with third party financial institutions, tends to decline.  Certain rules promulgated in connection with the coronavirus pandemic allow certain borrowers to request forbearance of the payment of their mortgages.  In certain circumstances, if a borrower requests forbearance on a mortgage originated through the Company’s warehouse lender before that mortgage is sold to a third party, the Company’s warehouse lender may have to retain that loan.  In addition, the Company holds investments in entities, such as title agencies and settlement service providers, some of which have been negatively impacted by these conditions, as well as other securities in its investment portfolio, which also may be, and recently have been, negatively impacted by these conditions.  Depending upon the ultimate severity and duration of any economic downturn, the resulting effects on the Company could be materially adverse, including a significant reduction in revenues, earnings and cash flows, challenges to the Company’s ability to satisfy covenants or otherwise meet its obligations under debt facilities, difficulties in obtaining access to capital, challenges to the Company’s ability to pay dividends at currently anticipated levels, deterioration in the value of or return on its investments and increased credit risk from customers and others with obligations to the Company.

7.Climate change, severe weather conditions, health crises and other catastrophe events could adversely affect the Company

Climate change, global or extensive health crises, severe weather and other catastrophe events could adversely affect the Company.  These include impacts on the results of the Company’s property and casualty insurance business due to any increase in the frequency and severity of wildfires, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes or other catastrophe or severe weather events, as well as increased claims in the Company’s home warranty business.  Home warranty claims, including those pertaining to climate control units, tend to rise as temperatures become extreme, especially in geographies where extreme temperatures are infrequent, and as people spend more time at home, such as during the coronavirus pandemic.  In addition, the Company manages its financial exposure for losses in its title insurance business and in its property and casualty insurance business with third-party reinsurance.  Catastrophic events could adversely affect the cost and availability of that reinsurance.  Moreover, to the extent climate change, health crises, severe weather conditions and other catastrophe events impact companies or municipalities whose securities the Company invests in, the value of its investment portfolio may also decrease due to these factors.  In addition, these factors may impact real estate markets and the broader economy, which could also impact the Company.  The frequency, severity, duration, and geographic location and scope of such health crises, catastrophe and severe whether events are inherently unpredictable, and, therefore, the Company is unable to predict the ultimate impact climate change and such events will have on its businesses.

8.The Company may find it difficult to acquire necessary data

Certain data used and supplied by the Company are subject to regulation by various federal, state and local regulatory authorities.  Compliance with existing federal, state and local laws and regulations with respect to such data has not had a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations to date.  Nonetheless, federal, state and local laws and regulations in the United States designed to protect the public from the misuse of personal information in the marketplace and adverse publicity or potential litigation concerning the commercial use of such information may affect the Company’s operations and could result in substantial regulatory compliance expense, litigation expense and a loss of revenue.  The suppliers of data to the Company face similar burdens.  As a result of these and other factors, the Company may find it financially burdensome to acquire necessary data.

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9.Changes in the Company’s relationships with large mortgage lenders or government–sponsored enterprises could adversely affect the Company

Large mortgage lenders and government-sponsored enterprises, because of their significant role in the mortgage process, have significant influence over the Company and other service providers.  Changes in the Company’s relationship with any of these lenders or government-sponsored enterprises, the loss of all or a portion of the business the Company derives from these parties, any refusal of these parties to accept the Company’s products and services, the modification of the government-sponsored enterprises’ requirement for title insurance in connection with mortgages they purchase or the use of alternatives to the Company’s products and services, could have a material adverse effect on the Company.

10.A downgrade by ratings agencies, reductions in statutory capital and surplus maintained by the Company’s title insurance underwriters or a deterioration in other measures of financial strength could adversely affect the Company

Certain of the Company’s customers use measurements of the financial strength of the Company’s title insurance underwriters, including, among others, ratings provided by ratings agencies and levels of statutory capital and surplus maintained by those underwriters, in determining the amount of a policy they will accept and the amount of reinsurance required.  Each of the major ratings agencies currently rates the Company’s title insurance operations. The Company’s principal title insurance underwriter’s financial strength ratings are “A2” by Moody’s Investor Services, Inc., “A” by Fitch Ratings, Inc., “A-” by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services and “A” by A.M. Best Company, Inc. These ratings provide the agencies’ perspectives on the financial strength, operating performance and cash generating ability of those operations.  These agencies continually review these ratings and the ratings are subject to change.  Statutory capital and surplus, or the amount by which statutory assets exceed statutory liabilities, is also a measure of financial strength.  The Company’s principal title insurance underwriter maintained $1.5 billion of total statutory capital and surplus as of December 31, 2020.  Accordingly, if the ratings or statutory capital and surplus of these title insurance underwriters are reduced from their current levels, or if there is a deterioration in other measures of financial strength, the Company’s results of operations, competitive position and liquidity could be adversely affected.

11.The issuance of the Company’s title insurance policies and related activities by title agents, which operate with substantial independence from the Company, could adversely affect the Company

The Company’s title insurance subsidiaries issue a significant portion of their policies through title agents that operate largely independent of the Company.  There is no guarantee that these title agents will fulfill their contractual obligations to the Company, which contracts include limitations that are designed to limit the Company’s risk with respect to their activities.  In addition, regulators are increasingly seeking to hold the Company responsible for the actions of these title agents and, under certain circumstances, the Company may be held liable directly to third parties for actions (including defalcations) or omissions of these agents.  Case law in certain states also suggests that the Company is liable for the actions or omissions of its agents in those states, regardless of contractual limitations.  As a result, the Company’s use of title agents could result in increased claims on the Company’s policies issued through agents and an increase in other costs and expenses.

12.Systems damage, failures, interruptions, cyberattacks and intrusions, and unauthorized data disclosures by the Company or its service providers may disrupt the Company’s business, harm the Company’s reputation, result in material claims for damages or otherwise adversely affect the Company

The Company uses computer software applications, systems and other technologies (collectively referred to as “systems”), some of which it owns and manages and some of which are owned and/or managed by third parties, including providers of distributed computing infrastructure platforms commonly known as the “cloud.”  The Company and its agents, suppliers, service providers, and customers use these systems to receive, process, store and transmit business information, including non-public personal information as well as data from suppliers and other information upon which the Company’s business relies.  The Company also uses these systems to manage substantial cash, investment assets, bank deposits, trust assets and escrow account balances on behalf of itself and its customers, among other activities.  Many of the Company’s products, services and solutions involving the use of real property related data are fully reliant on these systems and are only available electronically.  Accordingly, for a variety of reasons, the integrity of these systems and the protection of the information that resides thereon are critically important to the Company’s successful operation.

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These systems have been subject to, and are likely to continue to be the target of, computer viruses, cyberattacks, phishing attacks and other malicious activity.  These attacks have increased in frequency and sophistication, including in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.  The Company’s employees working remotely are more susceptible to social engineering attacks, intrusions and other malicious activity, and this risk has increased given that a substantial number of the Company’s employees are working from home following the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.  These systems also have known and unknown vulnerabilities.  Once identified, the Company’s information technology and information security personnel seek to remediate these vulnerabilities based on the level of risk presented.  For a number of reasons, including the introduction of new vulnerabilities, resource constraints, competing business demands and dependence on third parties, a number of unremediated vulnerabilities will always exist.  Remediation of some vulnerabilities are outside of the control of the Company and third-party remediation efforts may not be timely provided or implemented or otherwise adequate, even when the level of risk is critical or high.  Further, certain other potential causes of system damage or other negative system-related events are wholly or partially beyond the Company’s control, such as natural disasters, vendor failures to satisfy service level requirements and power or telecommunications failures.  These circumstances could expose the Company to system-related damages, failures, interruptions, cyberattacks and other negative events or could otherwise disrupt the Company’s business and could also result in the loss or unauthorized release, gathering, monitoring or destruction of confidential, proprietary and other information pertaining to the Company, its customers, employees, agents or suppliers.

In conducting its business and delivering its products and services, the Company also utilizes service providers.  These service providers and the systems they utilize are typically subject to similar types of system- and information security-related risks that the Company faces.  The Company provides certain of these service providers with data, including nonpublic personal information.  There is no guarantee that the Company’s due diligence or ongoing vendor oversight will be sufficient to ensure the integrity and security of the systems utilized by these service providers or the protection of the information that resides thereon.  Adverse consequences for the Company in the event of a significant event involving the systems of its service providers or the information residing thereon include, among others, delays in the delivery of the Company’s products and services, direct or indirect financial loss, loss of business and reputational damage.

During the third quarter of 2019, the Company concluded an investigation regarding unauthorized access to non-public personal information as a result of a vulnerability in one of the Company’s applications.  The investigation identified imaged documents containing non-public personal information pertaining to 32 consumers that likely were accessed without authorization.  These 32 consumers were notified and offered complimentary credit monitoring services.  This incident triggered numerous federal and state governmental inquiries as well as private lawsuits against the Company.  While the incident is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s business, it increases the risk associated with any future incidents, particularly the risk of damage to the Company’s reputation.

Certain laws and contracts the Company has entered into require it to notify various parties, including consumers or customers, in the event of certain actual or potential data breaches or systems failures, including those of the Company’s service providers.  Further, the Company’s financial institution customers have obligations to safeguard their systems and sensitive information and the Company may be bound contractually and/or by regulation to comply with the same requirements.  If the Company or its service providers fail to comply with applicable regulations and contractual requirements, the Company could be exposed to lawsuits, governmental proceedings or the imposition of fines, among other consequences.

Any inability to prevent or adequately respond to the issues described above could disrupt the Company’s business, inhibit its ability to retain existing customers or attract new customers, divert management’s time and energy, otherwise harm its reputation and/or result in financial losses, litigation, regulatory inquiries, increased costs or other adverse consequences that could be material to the Company.

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13.Errors and fraud involving the transfer of funds may adversely affect the Company

The Company relies on its systems, employees and domestic and international banks to transfer its own funds and the funds of third parties.  In addition to relying on third-party banks to transfer these funds, the Company’s federal savings bank subsidiary transfers funds on behalf of the Company as well as title agents that are not affiliates of the Company.  These transfers are susceptible to user input error, fraud, system interruptions, incorrect processing and similar errors that from time to time result in lost funds or delayed transactions.  The Company’s email and computer systems and systems used by its agents, customers and other parties involved in a transaction have been subject to, and are likely to continue to be the target of, fraudulent attacks, including attempts to cause the Company or its agents to improperly transfer funds.  These attacks have increased in frequency and sophistication.  Funds transferred to a fraudulent recipient are often not recoverable.  In certain instances the Company may be liable for those unrecovered funds.  The controls and procedures used by the Company to prevent transfer errors and fraud may prove inadequate, resulting in financial losses, reputational harm, loss of customers or other adverse consequences which could be material to the Company.

14.The Company’s use of a global workforce involves risks that could adversely affect the Company

The Company utilizes lower cost labor in countries such as India and the Philippines, among others.  These countries are subject to relatively high degrees of political and social instability and may lack the infrastructure to withstand natural disasters, health crises and other catastrophe events.  Such disruptions could decrease efficiency and increase the Company’s costs, which the Company has experienced during the coronavirus pandemic.  Weakness of the United States dollar in relation to the currencies used in these countries may also reduce the savings achievable through this strategy.  Furthermore, the practice of utilizing labor based in other countries is subject to heightened scrutiny in the United States and, as a result, the Company could face pressure to decrease its use of labor based outside the United States.  Laws or regulations that require the Company to use labor based in the United States or effectively increase the Company’s labor costs abroad also could be enacted.  The Company may not be able to pass on these increased costs to its customers.

LEGAL AND COMPLIANCE RISK FACTORS

15.Regulatory oversight and changes in government regulation could require the Company to raise capital, make it more difficult to deploy capital, including dividends to shareholders and repurchases of the Company’s shares, prohibit or limit the Company’s operations, make it more costly or burdensome to conduct such operations, result in decreased demand for the Company’s products and services or otherwise adversely affect the Company

Many of the Company’s businesses, including its title insurance, property and casualty insurance, home warranty, banking, trust and wealth management businesses, are regulated by various federal, state, local and foreign governmental agencies.  These and other of the Company’s businesses also operate within statutory guidelines.  The industry in which the Company operates and the markets into which it sells its products are also regulated and subject to statutory guidelines.  In general, in recent years, the Company experienced increasing regulatory oversight and became subject to increasingly complex statutory guidelines.

Regulatory oversight could require the Company to raise capital, and/or make it more difficult to deploy capital, including dividends to shareholders and repurchases of the Company’s shares.  For example, regulatory capital requirements for the Company have historically applied only at the subsidiary level, specifically to the Company’s federal savings bank subsidiary and the Company’s insurance underwriter subsidiaries.  However, both the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System have issued proposals for group capital calculations.  These proposals, if finalized and adopted in their current forms, would apply to the Company at the group level and would be in addition to existing subsidiary-level capital requirements.  It is possible that the requirements, particularly in an economic downturn, could have the effect of requiring the Company to raise capital and/or making it more difficult to otherwise deploy capital, including dividends to shareholders and repurchases of the Company’s shares.

An increasing number of federal, state, and international laws and regulations apply to the collection, use, retention, protection, disclosure, transfer, and other processing of personal data, including the California Consumer Privacy Act, the California Privacy Rights Act and the European Union General Data Protection Regulation.  The effects of these privacy and data protection laws, including the cost of compliance and required changes in the manner in which the Company conducts its business, are not fully known and are potentially significant, and the failure to comply could adversely affect the Company.  The Company has incurred costs to comply with these laws and to respond to inquiries about its compliance with them.

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In addition, changes in the applicable regulatory environment, statutory guidelines or interpretations of existing regulations or statutes; reform of government-sponsored enterprises such as the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac); enhanced governmental oversight or efforts by governmental agencies to cause customers to refrain from using the Company’s products or services could prohibit or limit its future operations or make it more costly or burdensome to conduct such operations or result in decreased demand for the Company’s products and services or a change in its competitive position.  The impact of these changes would be more significant if they involve jurisdictions in which the Company generates a greater portion of its title premiums, such as the states of Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas.  These changes may compel the Company to reduce its prices, may restrict its ability to implement price increases or acquire assets or businesses, may limit the manner in which the Company conducts its business or otherwise may have a negative impact on its ability to generate revenues, earnings and cash flows.

16.Scrutiny of the Company’s businesses and the industries in which it operates by governmental entities and others could adversely affect the Company

The real estate settlement services industry, an industry in which the Company generates a substantial portion of its revenue and earnings, is subject to continuous scrutiny by regulators, legislators, the media and plaintiffs’ attorneys.  Though often directed at the industry generally, these groups also focus their attention directly on the Company’s businesses from time to time.  In either case, this scrutiny may result in changes which could adversely affect the Company’s operations and, therefore, its financial condition and liquidity.

Governmental entities have routinely inquired into certain practices in the real estate settlement services industry to determine whether certain of the Company’s businesses or its competitors have violated applicable laws, which include, among others, the insurance codes of the various jurisdictions and the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act and similar state, federal and foreign laws.  The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”), for example, has actively utilized its regulatory authority over the mortgage and real estate markets by bringing enforcement actions against various participants in the mortgage and settlement industries and we expect that such enforcement activity will intensify.  Departments of insurance in the various states, the CFPB and other federal regulators and applicable regulators in international jurisdictions, either separately or together, also periodically conduct targeted inquiries into the practices of title insurance companies and other settlement services providers in their respective jurisdictions.  Currently, the Company is the subject of a number of regulatory inquiries.

Further, from time to time plaintiffs’ lawyers have targeted, and are expected to continue to target, the Company and other members of the Company’s industry with lawsuits claiming legal violations or other wrongful conduct.  These lawsuits often involve large groups of plaintiffs and claims for substantial damages.  These types of inquiries or proceedings have from time to time resulted, and may in the future result, in findings of a violation of the law or other wrongful conduct and the payment of fines or damages or the imposition of restrictions on the Company’s conduct.  This could impact the Company’s operations and financial condition.  Moreover, these laws and standards of conduct often are ambiguous and, thus, it may be difficult to ensure compliance.  This ambiguity may force the Company to mitigate its risk by settling claims or by ending practices that generate revenues, earnings and cash flows.  Currently the Company is a party to a number of class action lawsuits.

17.Regulation of title insurance rates could adversely affect the Company

Title insurance rates are subject to extensive regulation, which varies from state to state.  In many states the approval of the applicable state insurance regulator is required prior to implementing a rate change.  These regulations could hinder the Company’s ability to promptly adapt to changing market dynamics through price adjustments, which could adversely affect its results of operations, particularly in a rapidly declining market.

FINANCIAL RISK FACTORS

18.Failures at financial institutions at which the Company deposits funds could adversely affect the Company

The Company deposits substantial funds in financial institutions.  These funds include amounts owned by third parties, such as escrow deposits and like-kind exchange deposits.  Should one or more of the financial institutions at which deposits are maintained fail, there is no guarantee that the Company would recover the funds deposited, whether through Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation coverage or otherwise.  In the event of any such failure, the Company also could be held liable for the funds owned by third parties.

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19.Unfavorable economic or other conditions could cause the Company to write off a portion of its goodwill and other intangible assets

The Company performs an impairment test of the carrying value of goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets annually in the fourth quarter, or sooner if circumstances indicate a possible impairment.  Finite-lived intangible assets are subject to impairment tests on a periodic basis.  Factors that may be considered in connection with this review include, without limitation, underperformance relative to historical or projected future operating results, reductions in the Company’s stock price and market capitalization, increased cost of capital and negative macroeconomic, industry and company-specific trends.  These and other factors could lead to a conclusion that goodwill or other intangible assets are impaired, in which case the Company would be required to write off the portion believed to be impaired.  In the third quarter of 2020, the Company committed to a plan to sell its property and casualty insurance business, which triggered goodwill and other intangible assets impairment tests.  Based on the results of the impairment tests, the Company recorded pretax impairment losses to goodwill and other intangible assets of $34.2 million and $3.2 million, respectively, for the third quarter of 2020. Total goodwill and other intangible assets reflected on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2021 are $1.6 billion.  Any substantial goodwill and other intangible asset impairments that may be required could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.

20.Uncertainty from the expected discontinuance of LIBOR and transition to any other interest rate benchmark may affect the Company’s cost of capital and net investment income

On March 5, 2021, the ICE Benchmark Administration, the administrator of LIBOR, announced that it will stop publishing certain LIBOR rates after December 31, 2021 and all of these widely used reference rates will no longer be available after June 30, 2023.  The Company has exposure to LIBOR-based financial instruments, such as LIBOR-based securities held in its investment portfolio.  Borrowings under the Company’s $700.0 million senior unsecured credit facility and some of its warehouse credit facilities also are LIBOR-based, although each allows for the use of an unspecified alternative benchmark rate if LIBOR is no longer available.  The discontinuance of LIBOR, as well as uncertainty related to the establishment of any alternative reference rate, may adversely affect the Company’s cost of capital and the market for LIBOR-based securities, which could have an adverse impact on the earnings from or value of the Company’s investment portfolio.  At this time, the Company cannot predict the overall effect of the discontinuation of LIBOR or the establishment of any alternative benchmark rate.

21.The Company’s investment portfolio is subject to certain risks and could experience losses

The Company maintains a substantial investment portfolio, primarily consisting of fixed income debt securities.  The investment portfolio also includes adjustable-rate debt securities, common and preferred stock, as well as money-market and other short-term investments.  Securities in the Company’s investment portfolio are subject to certain economic and financial market risks, such as credit risk, interest rate (including call, prepayment and extension) risk and/or liquidity risk.  The risk of loss associated with the portfolio is increased during periods of instability in credit markets and economic conditions, such as during the coronavirus pandemic.  Debt and equity securities are carried at fair value on the Company’s balance sheet.  Changes in the fair value of debt securities is recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income/loss on the balance sheet.  For debt securities in an unrealized loss position, where the loss is determined to be due to credit-related factors, the Company records the loss in earnings.  Changes in the fair value of equity securities are recognized in earnings.  Changes in the fair values of securities in the Company’s investment portfolio have had an adverse impact on the Company and could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, statutory surplus, financial condition and cash flow.

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22.The Company’s venture capital portfolio is volatile and subject to certain risks and could experience losses

Investments in non-marketable equity securities reflected on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2021 totaled $351.3 million, a substantial majority of which are investments in the equity of private venture-stage companies that operate in the real-estate industry and related industries and many of which offer technology-enabled products and services.  These venture-stage investments are managed independent of the Company’s investment portfolio.  The Company is likely to continue to make similar investments.  These positions are concentrated in a small number of holdings and are high-risk, illiquid investments.  In certain circumstances, such as when one or more of these companies raise capital, merge with another company or sells itself at a valuation that is less than the valuation at which the Company made its investment or when one or more of these companies fails and/or liquidates itself, the Company could be required to impair all or part of its investment in the company or companies.  The prospects of these companies depend on a number of factors, including the condition of the general economy, the general availability of capital, the performance of and volatility in the public markets, the regulatory and political environments, the condition of the real estate industry, the competitive environment for such companies and the operational and financial performance of such companies.  Even if one of these companies is successful, the Company’s ability to realize the value of its investment may take a significant amount of time and may be dependent on the occurrence of a liquidity event, such as an initial public offering or the sale of the company.  Even when a liquidity event occurs, the Company may be subject to restrictions on resale or may choose to continue to hold the investment for strategic or other reasons and, as a result, the Company may not monetize the value of its investment during periods in which it could be financially advantageous to sell the investment.  These investments are expected from time to time to cause material fluctuations in the Company’s quarterly results of operations due to the recognition of gains or losses in connection with observable price changes, such as from liquidity events, subsequent equity sales, or price changes in investments that begin trading publicly, which changes can be volatile.  These impairments and fluctuations may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations.

Offerpad, Inc., one of the Company’s venture-stage investments, is expected to begin trading publicly during 2021 and, subsequently, the fair value of Offerpad’s equity securities recognized in the Company’s earnings will fluctuate as Offerpad’s trading price changes.  The Company holds a large position in Offerpad and significant fluctuations in the fair value of Offerpad’s securities could be material to the Company’s earnings in any given quarter.

23.Actual claims experience could materially vary from the expected claims experience reflected in the Company’s reserve for incurred but not reported claims

The Company maintains a reserve for incurred but not reported (“IBNR”) claims pertaining to its title, escrow and other insurance and guarantee products.  The majority of this reserve pertains to title insurance policies, which are long-duration contracts with the majority of the claims reported within the first few years following the issuance of the policy.  Generally, 70% to 80% of claim amounts become known in the first six years of the policy life, and the majority of IBNR reserves relate to the six most recent policy years.  Changes in expected ultimate losses and corresponding loss rates for recent policy years are considered likely and could result in a material adjustment to the IBNR reserves.  Based on historical experience, management believes a 50 basis point change to the loss rates for recent policy years, positive or negative, is reasonably likely given the long duration nature of a title insurance policy.  In uncertain economic times, such as those experienced as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, an even larger change is more likely.  As examples, if the expected ultimate losses for each of the last six policy years increased or decreased by 50 basis points, the resulting impact on the Company’s IBNR reserve would be an increase or decrease, as the case may be, of $140.9 million, and if expected ultimate losses for those same years were to fluctuate by 100 basis points, the resulting impact would be $281.8 million.  A material change in expected ultimate losses and corresponding loss rates for older policy years is also possible, particularly for policy years with loss ratios exceeding historical norms.  The estimates made by management in determining the appropriate level of IBNR reserves could ultimately prove to be materially different from actual claims experience.

Changes in laws or regulations impacting real estate, particularly when applied retroactively, may cause a material change in expected ultimate losses and corresponding loss rates for recent and/or older policy years.  For example, the 2020 United States Supreme Court decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma calls into question the governing authority for certain real estate-related matters in Native American reservations once thought to have been disestablished.  To the extent the Company, in those areas, underwrote title insurance policies or closed real estate transactions in conformity with authority that ultimately proves inapplicable, expected ultimate losses arising from those policies and transactions could change materially and could result in a material change to loss rates. 

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24.As a holding company, the Company depends on distributions from its subsidiaries, and if distributions from its subsidiaries are materially impaired, the Company’s ability to declare and pay dividends may be adversely affected; in addition, insurance and other regulations limit the amount of dividends, loans and advances available from the Company’s insurance subsidiaries

The Company is a holding company whose primary assets are investments in its operating subsidiaries.  The Company’s ability to pay dividends is dependent on the ability of its subsidiaries to pay dividends or repay funds.  If the Company’s operating subsidiaries are not able to pay dividends or repay funds, the Company may not be able to fulfill parent company obligations and/or declare and pay dividends to its stockholders.  Moreover, pursuant to insurance and other regulations under which the Company’s insurance subsidiaries operate, the amount of dividends, loans and advances available is limited.  As of June 30, 2021, under such regulations, the maximum amount available in 2021 from these insurance subsidiaries, without prior approval from applicable regulators, was dividends of $436.7 million and loans and advances of $116.3 million.

GENERAL RISK FACTORS

25.Certain provisions of the Company’s bylaws and certificate of incorporation may reduce the likelihood of any unsolicited acquisition proposal or potential change of control that the Company’s stockholders might consider favorable

The Company’s bylaws and certificate of incorporation contain provisions that could be considered “anti-takeover” provisions because they make it harder for a third-party to acquire the Company without the consent of the Company’s incumbent board of directors.  Under these provisions:

 

election of the Company’s board of directors is staggered such that only one-third of the directors are elected by the stockholders each year and the directors serve three year terms prior to reelection;

 

stockholders may not remove directors without cause, change the size of the board of directors or, except as may be provided for in the terms of preferred stock the Company issues in the future, fill vacancies on the board of directors;

 

stockholders may act only at stockholder meetings and not by written consent;

 

stockholders must comply with advance notice provisions for nominating directors or presenting other proposals at stockholder meetings; and

 

the Company’s board of directors may without stockholder approval issue preferred shares and determine their rights and terms, including voting rights, or adopt a stockholder rights plan.

While the Company believes that they are appropriate, these provisions, which may only be amended by the affirmative vote of the holders of approximately 67% of the Company’s issued voting shares, could have the effect of discouraging an unsolicited acquisition proposal or delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control transaction that might involve a premium price or otherwise be considered favorably by the Company’s stockholders.

 

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Item 6.

Exhibits.

Each management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement in which any director or named executive officer of First American Financial Corporation, as defined by Item 402(a)(3) of Regulation S-K (17 C.F.R. §229.402(a)(3)), participates that is included among the exhibits listed on the Exhibit Index is identified on the Exhibit Index by an asterisk (*).

Exhibit
No.

 

Description

 

Location

 

 

 

 

 

  3.1

 

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of First American Financial Corporation dated May 28, 2010.

 

Incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 1, 2010.

 

 

 

 

 

  3.2

 

Bylaws of First American Financial Corporation, effective as of April 20, 2021.

 

Incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 3.2 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed April 23, 2021.

 

 

 

 

 

  31(a)

 

Certification by Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

Attached.

 

 

 

 

 

  31(b)

 

Certification by Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

Attached.

 

 

 

 

 

  32(a)

 

Certification by Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.

 

Attached.

 

 

 

 

 

  32(b)

 

Certification by Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.

 

Attached.

 

 

 

 

 

101.INS

 

Inline XBRL Instance Document.  The instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.

 

N/A.

 

 

 

 

 

101.SCH

 

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.

 

Attached.

 

 

 

 

 

101.CAL

 

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.

 

Attached.

 

 

 

 

 

101.DEF

 

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.

 

Attached.

 

 

 

 

 

101.LAB

 

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.

 

Attached.

 

 

 

 

 

101.PRE

 

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.

 

Attached.

 

 

 

 

 

104

 

Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).

 

N/A.

 

 

 

58


 

 

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.

 

 

 

FIRST AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION

(Registrant)

 

 

 

 

Date: July 22, 2021

 

By

/s/ Dennis J. Gilmore

 

 

 

Dennis J. Gilmore

 

 

 

Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

 

 

Date: July 22, 2021

 

By

/s/ Mark E. Seaton

 

 

 

Mark E. Seaton

 

 

 

Executive Vice President,

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

 

 

59