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

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer

Non-accelerated filer

Smaller reporting company

Emerging growth company

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 March 31, 2021

☐	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

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 April 19, 2021 there were 109,741,163 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 March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020	5

	B. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020	6

	C. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020	7

	D. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020	8

	E. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 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	31

Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	40

Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	40

PART II: OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	41

Item 1A.	Risk Factors	43

Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	53

Item 5.	Other Information	53

Item 6.	Exhibits	54

Items 3 and 4 of Part II have been omitted because they are not applicable with respect to the current reporting period.

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.

•

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 OTHER INVESTMENTS;

•

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;

•

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.

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)

	March 31, 2021			December 31, 2020
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	2,026,024		$	1,275,466
Accounts and accrued income receivable, less allowances of $12,924 and $13,994		404,441			385,086
Income taxes receivable		1,581			951
Investments:
Deposits with banks		45,359			45,856
Debt securities, includes pledged securities of $92,784 and $93,586 (amortized cost $7,109,478 and $6,121,004; allowance for credit losses of $109 and $132)		7,211,498			6,354,822
Equity securities		419,606			464,126
Other investments		424,767			350,016
		8,101,230			7,214,820
Secured financings receivable		745,813			748,312
Property and equipment, net		445,378			445,132
Operating lease assets		255,065			265,963
Title plants and other indexes		590,401			584,785
Deferred income taxes		14,484			14,484
Goodwill		1,371,712			1,378,628
Other intangible assets, net		186,515			194,474
Other assets		289,259			287,887
	$	14,431,903		$	12,795,988
Liabilities and Equity
Deposits	$	4,580,528		$	3,276,949
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		1,113,351			979,733
Deferred revenue		252,665			271,977
Reserve for known and incurred but not reported claims		1,203,169			1,178,004
Income taxes payable		87,107			53,784
Deferred income taxes		291,220			291,220
Operating lease liabilities		283,211			295,762
Secured financings payable		645,530			516,155
Notes and contracts payable		1,009,447			1,010,756
		9,466,228			7,874,340
Commitments and contingencies (Note 16)
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $0.00001 par value; Authorized—500 shares; Outstanding—none		—			—
Common stock, $0.00001 par value; Authorized—300,000 shares; Outstanding—109,741 shares and 110,353 shares		1			1
Additional paid-in capital		2,173,859			2,214,935
Retained earnings		2,837,241			2,655,495
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income		(55,828	)		39,541
Total stockholders’ equity		4,955,273			4,909,972
Noncontrolling interests		10,402			11,676
Total equity		4,965,675			4,921,648
	$	14,431,903		$	12,795,988

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

FIRST AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

(unaudited)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2021		2020
Revenues
Direct premiums and escrow fees	$	785,675	$	620,637
Agent premiums		845,292		599,682
Information and other		278,892		211,512
Net investment income		49,053		45,874
Net realized investment gains (losses)		66,833		(64,762	)
		2,025,745		1,412,943
Expenses
Personnel costs		535,182		429,660
Premiums retained by agents		671,301		475,381
Other operating expenses		295,403		257,240
Provision for policy losses and other claims		140,447		117,477
Depreciation and amortization		38,298		31,449
Premium taxes		22,586		17,315
Interest		16,506		12,097
		1,719,723		1,340,619
Income before income taxes		306,022		72,324
Income taxes		71,564		8,478
Net income		234,458		63,846
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		842		642
Net income attributable to the Company	$	233,616	$	63,204
Net income per share attributable to the Company’s stockholders (Note 10):
Basic	$	2.10	$	0.56
Diluted	$	2.10	$	0.55
Cash dividends declared per share	$	0.46	$	0.44
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (Note 10):
Basic		111,113		113,556
Diluted		111,414		113,959

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

FIRST AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2021			2020
Net income	$	234,458		$	63,846
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Unrealized (losses) gains on debt securities		(99,453	)		12,619
Unrealized (losses) gains on debt securities for which credit-related portion was recognized in earnings		(293	)		85
Foreign currency translation adjustment		3,374			(33,556	)
Pension benefit adjustment		1,002			399
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax		(95,370	)		(20,453	)
Comprehensive income		139,088			43,393
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests		841			642
Comprehensive income attributable to the Company	$	138,247		$	42,751

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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 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

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

FIRST AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2021			2020
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	234,458		$	63,846
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Provision for policy losses and other claims		140,447			117,477
Depreciation and amortization		38,298			31,449
Amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts on debt securities, net		11,251			9,952
Net realized investment (gains) losses		(66,833	)		64,762
Share-based compensation		31,203			25,903
Equity in (earnings) losses of equity method investments, net		(1,088	)		228
Dividends from equity method investments		2,795			1,402
Changes in assets and liabilities excluding effects of acquisitions and noncash transactions:
Claims paid, including assets acquired, net of recoveries		(118,208	)		(108,538	)
Net change in income tax accounts		64,092			5,181
Increase in accounts and accrued income receivable		(7,825	)		(45,747	)
Decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(81,789	)		(149,960	)
Decrease in deferred revenue		(19,310	)		(15,753	)
Other, net		(3,582	)		23,952
Cash provided by operating activities		223,909			24,154
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net cash effect of acquisitions/dispositions		—			(386,231	)
Net (increase) decrease in deposits with banks		(295	)		2,095
Purchases of debt and equity securities		(1,411,674	)		(588,327	)
Proceeds from sales of debt and equity securities		259,503			211,370
Proceeds from maturities of debt securities		432,159			320,523
Investments in unconsolidated entities		(14,928	)		(44,795	)
Net change in other investments		(19,414	)		298
Advances under secured financing agreements		(6,282,240	)		(3,028,490	)
Collections of secured financings receivable		6,284,739			2,835,789
Capital expenditures		(28,582	)		(29,213	)
Proceeds from sales of property and equipment		688			14,141
Proceeds from insurance settlement		754			—
Cash used for investing activities		(779,290	)		(692,840	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net change in deposits		1,303,579			93,916
Borrowings under secured financing agreements		5,234,634			2,998,687
Repayments of secured financings payable		(5,105,259	)		(2,835,442	)
Borrowings under unsecured credit facility		—			120,000
Repayments of notes and contracts payable		(1,599	)		(1,338	)
Net activity related to noncontrolling interests		(2,095	)		(1,328	)
Net payments in connection with share-based compensation		(8,378	)		(14,378	)
Repurchases of Company shares		(64,786	)		(65,785	)
Payments of cash dividends		(50,985	)		(49,702	)
Cash provided by financing activities		1,305,111			244,630
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash		828			(11,918	)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		750,558			(435,974	)
Cash and cash equivalents—Beginning of period		1,275,466			1,485,959
Cash and cash equivalents—End of period	$	2,026,024		$	1,049,985
Supplemental information:
Cash paid during the period for:
Interest	$	10,803		$	9,462
Premium taxes	$	29,400		$	25,049
Income taxes, less refunds of $114 and $71	$	7,470		$	3,239

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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.

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, which will provide qualifying agents and customers of the Company an opportunity to transfer their policies. The Company expects the transfers to be completed by the end of the third quarter of 2022. The Company will seek to non-renew policies that are not transferred and, except in certain limited circumstances, is no longer issuing new policies.

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 $9.2 billion and $7.1 billion at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, of which $4.4 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 $4.4 billion at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020. 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.

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

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 $3.0 billion and $2.9 billion at March 31, 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.

Note 4 – Debt and Equity 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
(in thousands)	Amortized cost		Allowance for credit losses			Gains		Losses			Estimated fair value
March 31, 2021
U.S. Treasury bonds	$	158,348	$	—		$	519	$	(2,750	)	$	156,117
Municipal bonds		1,406,091		—			65,205		(17,678	)		1,453,618
Foreign government bonds		206,289		—			2,604		(3,601	)		205,292
Governmental agency bonds		299,347		—			6,189		(2,031	)		303,505
Governmental agency mortgage-backed securities		3,993,429		—			56,030		(33,609	)		4,015,850
U.S. corporate debt securities		638,875		(104	)		26,746		(5,183	)		660,334
Foreign corporate debt securities		407,099		(5	)		13,813		(4,125	)		416,782
	$	7,109,478	$	(109	)	$	171,106	$	(68,977	)	$	7,211,498
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 $5.1 million and $6.2 million, realized losses of $0.4 million and $1.3 million, and proceeds of $191.4 million and $209.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

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
March 31, 2021
U.S. Treasury bonds	$	109,133	$	(2,750	)	$	—	$	—		$	109,133	$	(2,750	)
Municipal bonds		466,304		(17,569	)		2,391		(109	)		468,695		(17,678	)
Foreign government bonds		91,324		(3,601	)		—		—			91,324		(3,601	)
Governmental agency bonds		69,387		(2,031	)		—		—			69,387		(2,031	)
Governmental agency mortgage-backed securities		1,896,533		(33,607	)		709		(2	)		1,897,242		(33,609	)
U.S. corporate debt securities		165,797		(5,009	)		6,198		(174	)		171,995		(5,183	)
Foreign corporate debt securities		113,406		(4,075	)		3,372		(50	)		116,778		(4,125	)
	$	2,911,884	$	(68,642	)	$	12,670	$	(335	)	$	2,924,554	$	(68,977	)
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 March 31, 2021.

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 months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, is summarized as follows:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands)		2021			2020
Balance at beginning of period	$	(132	)	$	—
Credit losses recognized during the period		—			(7,493	)
Net decreases to credit losses previously recognized		7			—
Reductions for securities sold/matured		16			—
Balance at end of period	$	(109	)	$	(7,493	)

Investments in debt securities at March 31, 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	$	44,026	$	73,336	$	24,774	$	16,212	$	158,348
Estimated fair value	$	44,451	$	73,186	$	23,789	$	14,691	$	156,117
Municipal bonds
Amortized cost		37,990		105,276		540,808		722,017		1,406,091
Estimated fair value		38,272		110,007		562,538		742,801		1,453,618
Foreign government bonds
Amortized cost		39,784		74,345		77,959		14,201		206,289
Estimated fair value		39,813		75,496		75,807		14,176		205,292
Governmental agency bonds
Amortized cost		23,877		143,684		52,930		78,856		299,347
Estimated fair value		24,068		146,765		53,574		79,098		303,505
U.S. corporate debt securities
Amortized cost		11,474		329,634		230,522		67,245		638,875
Estimated fair value		11,547		347,060		233,607		68,120		660,334
Foreign corporate debt securities
Amortized cost		12,807		223,422		124,604		46,266		407,099
Estimated fair value		12,927		232,283		125,873		45,699		416,782
Total debt securities excluding mortgage-backed securities
Amortized cost	$	169,958	$	949,697	$	1,051,597	$	944,797	$	3,116,049
Estimated fair value	$	171,078	$	984,797	$	1,075,188	$	964,585	$	3,195,648
Total mortgage-backed securities
Amortized cost										3,993,429
Estimated fair value										4,015,850
Total debt securities
Amortized cost									$	7,109,478
Estimated fair value									$	7,211,498

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.

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

Investments in equity securities are as follows:

(in thousands)	Cost		Estimated fair value
March 31, 2021
Preferred stocks	$	21,803	$	20,920
Common stocks		308,752		398,686
	$	330,555	$	419,606
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 $19.1 million and net losses (realized and unrealized) of $82.5 million were recognized for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, as a result of changes in the fair values of equity securities. Included in net gains during the three months ended March 31, 2021 were net unrealized gains of $17.9 million related to equity securities still held at March 31, 2021, and included in net losses during the three months ended March 31, 2020 were net unrealized losses of $82.4 million related to equity securities still held at March 31, 2020.

The composition of the investment portfolio at March 31, 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	$	156,117		100.0	$	—		—	$	—		—	$	156,117		100.0
Municipal bonds		1,406,205		96.7		44,833		3.1		2,580		0.2		1,453,618		100.0
Foreign government bonds		190,399		92.7		12,069		5.9		2,824		1.4		205,292		100.0
Governmental agency bonds		303,505		100.0		—		—		—		—		303,505		100.0
Governmental agency mortgage-backed securities		4,015,850		100.0		—		—		—		—		4,015,850		100.0
U.S. corporate debt securities		246,251		37.3		336,566		51.0		77,517		11.7		660,334		100.0
Foreign corporate debt securities		147,967		35.5		236,995		56.9		31,820		7.6		416,782		100.0
Total debt securities		6,466,294		89.7		630,463		8.7		114,741		1.6		7,211,498		100.0
Preferred stocks		59		0.3		19,368		92.6		1,493		7.1		20,920		100.0
Total	$	6,466,353		89.4	$	649,831		9.0	$	116,234		1.6	$	7,232,418		100.0

Included in debt securities at March 31, 2021, were bank loans totaling $62.0 million, of which $58.2 million were non-investment grade; high yield corporate debt securities totaling $47.0 million, all of which were non-investment grade; and emerging market debt securities totaling $70.2 million, of which $7.0 million were non-investment grade.

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

The composition of the debt securities portfolio in an unrealized loss position at March 31, 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	$	109,133		100.0	$	—		—	$	—		—	$	109,133		100.0
Municipal bonds		462,004		98.6		6,691		1.4		—		—		468,695		100.0
Foreign government bonds		89,161		97.6		612		0.7		1,551		1.7		91,324		100.0
Governmental agency bonds		69,387		100.0		—		—		—		—		69,387		100.0
Governmental agency mortgage-backed securities		1,897,242		100.0		—		—		—		—		1,897,242		100.0
U.S. corporate debt securities		48,707		28.3		80,898		47.1		42,390		24.6		171,995		100.0
Foreign corporate debt securities		52,118		44.6		53,618		45.9		11,042		9.5		116,778		100.0
Total	$	2,727,752		93.3	$	141,819		4.8	$	54,983		1.9	$	2,924,554		100.0

Debt securities in an unrealized loss position at March 31, 2021, included bank loans totaling $32.9 million, of which $31.2 million were non-investment grade; high yield corporate debt securities totaling $21.5 million, all of which were non-investment grade; and emerging market debt securities totaling $15.4 million, of which $2.3 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.

Note 5 – Allowance for Credit Losses – Accounts Receivable

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

	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands)	2021			2020
Balance at beginning of period	$	(13,994	)	$	(12,676	)
Provision for expected credit losses		(139	)		(1,003	)
Write-offs/recoveries		1,209			2,103
Balance at end of period	$	(12,924	)	$	(11,576	)

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

Note 6 – Goodwill

A summary of the changes in the carrying amount of goodwill, by reportable segment, for the three months ended March 31, 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		(7,597	)		—			(7,597	)
Foreign currency translation		681			—			681
Balance at March 31, 2021
Goodwill	$	1,359,125		$	46,765		$	1,405,890
Accumulated impairment losses		—			(34,178	)		(34,178	)
	$	1,359,125		$	12,587		$	1,371,712

Note 7 – Other Intangible Assets

Other intangible assets are summarized as follows:

(in thousands)	March 31, 2021			December 31, 2020
Finite-lived intangible assets:
Customer relationships	$	172,582		$	172,851
Noncompete agreements		37,358			38,310
Trademarks		24,377			24,370
Internal-use software licenses		21,755			21,605
Patents		2,840			2,840
		258,912			259,976
Accumulated amortization		(89,275	)		(82,380	)
		169,637			177,596
Indefinite-lived intangible assets:
Licenses		16,878			16,878
	$	186,515		$	194,474

Amortization expense for finite-lived intangible assets was $11.9 million and $6.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

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

Year	(in thousands)
Remainder of 2021	$	31,888
2022	$	34,872
2023	$	31,796
2024	$	24,531
2025	$	18,322
2026	$	18,041

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

Note 8 – 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:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands)	2021		2020
Balance at beginning of period	$	1,178,004	$	1,063,044
Provision related to:
Current year		134,820		103,213
Prior years		5,627		14,264
		140,447		117,477
Payments, net of recoveries, related to:
Current year		38,384		32,685
Prior years		79,824		75,853
		118,208		108,538
Other		2,926		(14,445	)
Balance at end of period	$	1,203,169	$	1,057,538

The provision for title insurance losses, expressed as a percentage of title insurance premiums and escrow fees, was 4.0% and 5.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The current quarter 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 the first quarter of 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 $5.5 million.

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

(in thousands, except percentages)	March 31, 2021				December 31, 2020
Known title claims	$	62,884	5.2	%	$	64,601	5.5	%
Incurred but not reported claims		1,049,835	87.3	%		1,025,761	87.1	%
Total title claims		1,112,719	92.5	%		1,090,362	92.6	%
Non-title claims		90,450	7.5	%		87,642	7.4	%
Total loss reserves	$	1,203,169	100.0	%	$	1,178,004	100.0	%

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

Note 9 – Income Taxes

The Company’s effective income tax rates (income tax expense as a percentage of income before income taxes) were 23.4% and 11.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 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 March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the liability for income taxes associated with uncertain tax positions was $7.4 million and $7.2 million, respectively. The liability as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, could be reduced by $2.5 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 March 31, 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 March 31, 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.

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

Note 10 – Earnings Per Share

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

	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands, except per share amounts)	2021		2020
Numerator
Net income attributable to the Company	$	233,616	$	63,204
Denominator
Basic weighted-average shares		111,113		113,556
Effect of dilutive restricted stock units (“RSUs”)		301		403
Diluted weighted-average shares		111,414		113,959
Net income per share attributable to the Company’s stockholders
Basic	$	2.10	$	0.56
Diluted	$	2.10	$	0.55

For the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, 219 thousand and 192 thousand RSUs, respectively, were excluded from diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding due to their antidilutive effect.

Note 11 – Employee Benefit Plans

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

	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands)	2021			2020
Expense:
Service costs	$	43		$	45
Interest costs		1,239			1,781
Amortization of net actuarial loss		1,690			1,320
Amortization of prior service credit		(326	)		(777	)
	$	2,646		$	2,369

The Company contributed $3.6 million to its unfunded supplemental benefit plans during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and expects to contribute an additional $11.8 million during the remainder of 2021.

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

Note 12 – 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.

Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis

The valuation techniques and inputs used by the Company to estimate the fair value of assets measured on a recurring basis are summarized as follows:

Debt securities

The fair values of debt securities were based on the market values obtained from independent pricing services that were evaluated using pricing models that vary by asset class and incorporate available trade, bid and other market information and price quotes from well-established, independent broker-dealers. The independent pricing services monitor market indicators, industry and economic events, and for broker-quoted only securities, obtain quotes from market makers or broker-dealers that they recognize to be market participants. The pricing services utilize the market approach in determining the fair values of the debt securities held by the Company. The Company obtains an understanding of the valuation models and assumptions utilized by the services and has controls in place to determine that the values provided represent fair values. The Company’s validation procedures include comparing prices received from the pricing services to quotes received from other third-party sources for certain securities with market prices that are readily verifiable. If the price comparison results in differences over a predefined threshold, the Company will assess the reasonableness of the changes relative to prior periods given the prevailing market conditions and assess changes in the issuers’ credit worthiness, performance of any underlying collateral and prices of the instrument relative to similar issuances. To date, the Company has not made any material adjustments to the fair value measurements provided by the pricing services.

Typical inputs and assumptions to pricing models used to value the Company’s debt securities include, but are not limited to, benchmark yields, reported trades, broker-dealer quotes, credit spreads, credit ratings, bond insurance (if applicable), benchmark securities, bids, offers, reference data and industry and economic events. For mortgage-backed securities, inputs and assumptions may also include the structure of issuance, characteristics of the issuer, collateral attributes and prepayment speeds.

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

Equity securities

The fair values of equity securities, including preferred and common stocks, were based on quoted market prices for identical assets that are readily and regularly available in an active market.

The following tables present the fair values of the Company’s assets, measured on a recurring basis, as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020:

(in thousands)	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
March 31, 2021
Debt securities:
U.S. Treasury bonds	$	156,117	$	—	$	156,117	$	—
Municipal bonds		1,453,618		—		1,453,618		—
Foreign government bonds		205,292		—		205,292		—
Governmental agency bonds		303,505		—		303,505		—
Governmental agency mortgage-backed securities		4,015,850		—		4,015,850		—
U.S. corporate debt securities		660,334		—		660,334		—
Foreign corporate debt securities		416,782		—		416,782		—
		7,211,498		—		7,211,498		—
Equity securities:
Preferred stocks		20,920		20,920		—		—
Common stocks		398,686		398,686		—		—
		419,606		419,606		—		—
Total assets	$	7,631,104	$	419,606	$	7,211,498	$	—

(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		—
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	$	—

There were no transfers between Levels 1, 2 and 3 during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.

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

Financial instruments not measured at fair value

In estimating the fair values of its financial instruments not measured at fair value, the Company used the following methods and assumptions:

Cash and cash equivalents

The carrying amount for cash and cash equivalents approximates fair value due to the short-term maturity of these investments.

Deposits with banks

The fair value of deposits with banks is estimated based on rates currently offered for deposits of similar remaining maturities, where applicable.

Notes receivable, net

The fair value of notes receivable, net is estimated based on current market rates offered for notes with similar maturities and credit quality.

Secured financings receivable

The carrying amount of secured financings receivable approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these assets.

Secured financings payable

The carrying amount of secured financings payable approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these liabilities.

Notes and contracts payable

The fair value of notes and contracts payable is estimated based on current rates offered for debt of similar remaining maturities.

The following table presents the carrying amounts and estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments not measured at fair value as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020:

	Carrying		Estimated fair value
(in thousands)	Amount		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
March 31, 2021
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	2,026,024	$	2,026,024	$	2,026,024	$	—	$	—
Deposits with banks	$	45,359	$	45,947	$	6,092	$	39,855	$	—
Notes receivable, net	$	39,355	$	39,613	$	—	$	—	$	39,613
Secured financings receivable	$	745,813	$	745,813	$	—	$	745,813	$	—
Liabilities:
Secured financings payable	$	645,530	$	645,530	$	—	$	645,530	$	—
Notes and contracts payable	$	1,009,447	$	1,102,170	$	—	$	1,096,598	$	5,572

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 13 – Share-Based Compensation

The following table presents costs associated with the Company’s share-based compensation plans:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands)	2021		2020
Expense:
RSUs	$	29,229	$	24,658
Employee stock purchase plan		1,974		1,245
	$	31,203	$	25,903

The following table summarizes RSU activity for the three months ended March 31, 2021:

(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	816		$	56.29
Vested during 2021	(761	)	$	55.91
Forfeited during 2021	(19	)	$	57.23
Unvested at March 31, 2021	941		$	57.49

Note 14 – Stockholders’ Equity

The Company maintains a stock repurchase plan with authorization up to $300.0 million, of which $177.2 million remained as of March 31, 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 three months ended March 31, 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 March 31, 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.

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

Note 15 – Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (“AOCI”)

The following table presents a summary of the changes in each component of AOCI for the three months ended March 31, 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		(131,433	)		—			—			(131,433	)		(1	)		(131,434	)
Change in unrealized gains (losses) on debt securities for which credit-related portion was recognized in earnings		(387	)		—			—			(387	)		—			(387	)
Change in foreign currency translation adjustment		—			3,532			—			3,532			—			3,532
Amortization of net actuarial loss		—			—			1,690			1,690			—			1,690
Amortization of prior service credit		—			—			(326	)		(326	)		—			(326	)
Tax effect		32,075			(158	)		(362	)		31,555			—			31,555
Balance at March 31, 2021	$	72,007		$	(34,616	)	$	(93,219	)	$	(55,828	)	$	—		$	(55,828	)

The following table presents the other comprehensive income (loss) reclassification adjustments for the three months ended March 31, 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 March 31, 2021
Pretax change before reclassifications	$	(127,206	)	$	3,532		$	—		$	(123,674	)
Reclassifications out of AOCI		(4,615	)		—			1,364			(3,251	)
Tax effect		32,075			(158	)		(362	)		31,555
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	$	(99,746	)	$	3,374		$	1,002		$	(95,370	)
Three Months Ended March 31, 2020
Pretax change before reclassifications	$	15,396		$	(34,688	)	$	—		$	(19,292	)
Reclassifications out of AOCI		2,822			—			543			3,365
Tax effect		(5,514	)		1,132			(144	)		(4,526	)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	$	12,704		$	(33,556	)	$	399		$	(20,453	)

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

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

(in thousands)	Three Months Ended March 31,						Affected line items
(in thousands)	2021				2020		Affected line items
Unrealized gains (losses) on debt securities:
Net realized gains (losses) on sales of debt securities	$	4,655		$	4,671		Net realized investment gains (losses)
Credit losses recognized on debt securities		(40	)		(7,493	)	Net realized investment gains (losses)
Pretax total	$	4,615		$	(2,822	)
Tax effect	$	(1,123	)	$	854
Pension benefit adjustment (1):
Amortization of net actuarial loss	$	(1,690	)	$	(1,320	)	Other operating expenses
Amortization of prior service credit		326			777		Other operating expenses
Pretax total	$	(1,364	)	$	(543	)
Tax effect	$	362		$	224

(1)	Amounts are components of net periodic cost. See Note 11 Employee Benefit Plans for additional details.

Note 16 – 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.

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

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, improperly handled property and casualty claims and gave items of value to builders as inducements to refer business 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.

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.

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

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 two investigations initiated in connection with the information security incident that occurred during the second quarter of 2019, one being conducted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) enforcement staff and the other by the New York Department of Financial Services. The SEC enforcement staff is questioning the adequacy of disclosures the Company made at the time of the incident and the adequacy of its disclosure controls. In September 2020, the Company received a Wells Notice informing the Company that the enforcement staff has made a preliminary determination to recommend a filing of an enforcement action by the SEC against the Company. The Company believes that its disclosures and disclosure controls complied with the securities laws and has availed itself of the opportunity to provide a response to convince the SEC that an enforcement action is inappropriate under the circumstances. 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 dispositions of the SEC and New York Department of Financial Services matters are 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.

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 $16.1 million, which is based on the exchange rate as of, and includes interest charges through, March 31, 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.

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

Note 17 – 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 issues property and casualty insurance policies and sells home warranty products. 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. The majority of policy liability is in the western United States, including approximately 59% in California. 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, which will provide qualifying agents and customers of the Company an opportunity to transfer their policies. The Company expects the transfers to be completed by the end of the third quarter of 2022. The Company will seek to non-renew policies that are not transferred and, except in certain limited circumstances, is no longer issuing new 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 corporate function consists primarily of certain financing facilities as well as the corporate services that support the Company’s business operations.

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

For the three months ended March 31, 2021:

(in thousands)	Revenues			Income (loss) before income taxes			Depreciation and amortization		Capital expenditures
Title Insurance and Services	$	1,885,058		$	321,630		$	36,713	$	30,469
Specialty Insurance		136,480			6,261			1,549		530
Corporate		5,066			(21,869	)		36		—
Eliminations		(859	)		—			—		—
	$	2,025,745		$	306,022		$	38,298	$	30,999

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	$	657,497	$	845,292	$	275,404	$	42,652	$	64,213	$	1,885,058
Specialty Insurance		128,178		—		3,748		1,934		2,620		136,480
	$	785,675	$	845,292	$	279,152	$	44,586	$	66,833	$	2,021,538

For the three months ended March 31, 2020:

(in thousands)	Revenues			Income (loss) before income taxes			Depreciation and amortization		Capital expenditures
Title Insurance and Services	$	1,300,625		$	72,976		$	29,517	$	28,423
Specialty Insurance		121,969			12,857			1,894		2,801
Corporate		(9,311	)		(13,509	)		38		—
Eliminations		(340	)		—			—		—
	$	1,412,943		$	72,324		$	31,449	$	31,224

(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	$	501,301	$	599,682	$	208,273	$	59,668	$	(68,299	)	$	1,300,625
Specialty Insurance		119,336		—		3,439		2,584		(3,390	)		121,969
	$	620,637	$	599,682	$	211,712	$	62,252	$	(71,689	)	$	1,422,594

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.

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

Results of Operations

Summary of First 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 both the home warranty and property and casualty 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 $612.8 million, or 43.4%, in the first quarter of 2021 when compared with the first quarter of 2020. This increase was primarily attributable to increases in agent premiums of $245.6 million, or 41.0%, direct premiums and escrow fees of $165.0 million, or 26.6%, and an increase in net realized investment gains and losses of $131.6 million. Direct premiums and escrow fees in the title insurance and services segment from domestic residential refinance, purchase and commercial transactions increased $82.9 million, $54.8 million, and $3.9 million, or 79.1%, 27.4% and 2.5%, respectively.

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s April 22, 2021 Mortgage Finance Forecast (the “MBA Forecast”), residential mortgage originations in the United States (based on the total dollar value of the transactions) increased 94.3% in the first quarter of 2021 when compared with the first quarter of 2020. According to the MBA Forecast, the dollar amount of purchase originations increased 24.5% and refinance originations increased 152.9%. 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 27.4% from domestic residential purchase transactions and 79.1% from domestic refinance transactions in the first quarter of 2021 when compared with the first quarter of 2020.

During the first quarter of 2021, the level of domestic title orders opened per day by the Company’s direct title operations increased 4.2% when compared with the first quarter of 2020. Residential purchase and commercial opened orders per day increased 15.0% and 5.3%, respectively, offset by a decline of 8.0% in residential refinance opened orders when compared to the first quarter of 2020.

The Company recorded net realized investment gains of $66.8 million in the first quarter of 2021. The current quarter gains included $42.1 million related to the Company’s investments in private companies where recent fund raising provided observable price changes, which resulted in an increase in the carrying values of these investments. The Company’s investments in certain private companies, including those that subsequently go public, are expected to cause fluctuations in the Company’s quarterly results of operations due to the recognition of gains or losses in connection with external events, such as liquidity events, subsequent equity sales, or price changes in investments that begin trading publicly. One of the Company’s private company investments is 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 a 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. If the transaction is consummated at that value, the Company will recognize a gain of approximately $237 million.

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, which will provide qualifying agents and customers of the Company an opportunity to transfer their policies. The Company expects the transfers to be completed by the end of the third quarter of 2022. The Company will seek to non-renew policies that are not transferred and, except in certain limited circumstances, is no longer issuing new policies.

Coronavirus Pandemic

At the outset of the coronavirus pandemic, the Company’s residential purchase business experienced a decline in April 2020 with purchase orders opened by the Company’s direct title operations down significantly compared to April 2019. Government responses to the pandemic, however, resulted in low mortgage interest rates that stimulated residential refinance activity and improved housing affordability, leading to an elevated number of closed orders for both residential purchase and refinance transactions later in 2020. The Company expects this elevated level of activity for purchase transactions to continue well into 2021. Orders opened for residential refinance activity, as noted above, have declined in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the first quarter of 2020 due to increasing interest rates during the current quarter.

The Company’s commercial business experienced a more persistent decline in order volumes beginning in April 2020, however, in the fourth quarter of 2020 activity returned to historical levels, which continued in the first quarter of 2021, with the recovery varying by asset class.

Title Insurance and Services

	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands, except percentages)	2021			2020			$ Change			% Change
Revenues
Direct premiums and escrow fees	$	657,497		$	501,301		$	156,196			31.2	%
Agent premiums		845,292			599,682			245,610			41.0
Information and other		275,404			208,273			67,131			32.2
Net investment income		42,652			59,668			(17,016	)		(28.5	)
Net realized investment gains (losses)		64,213			(68,299	)		132,512			194.0
		1,885,058			1,300,625			584,433			44.9
Expenses
Personnel costs		504,143			421,615			82,528			19.6
Premiums retained by agents		671,301			475,381			195,920			41.2
Other operating expenses		264,487			226,595			37,892			16.7
Provision for policy losses and other claims		60,111			55,049			5,062			9.2
Depreciation and amortization		36,713			29,517			7,196			24.4
Premium taxes		20,818			15,519			5,299			34.1
Interest		5,855			3,973			1,882			47.4
		1,563,428			1,227,649			335,779			27.4
Income before income taxes	$	321,630		$	72,976		$	248,654			340.7	%
Margins		17.1	%		5.6	%		11.5	%		205.4	%

Direct premiums and escrow fees were $657.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, an increase of $156.2 million, or 31.2%, when compared with the same period of the prior year. The increase was primarily due to an increase in the number of domestic title orders closed by the Company’s direct title operations, partially offset by a decrease in the average domestic revenues per order closed. The domestic average revenues per order closed was $2,118 for the three months ended March 31, 2021, a decrease of 8.5% when compared with $2,315 for the three months ended March 31, 2020 due to a shift in mix from higher premium commercial and purchase transactions to lower premium residential refinance transactions, partially offset by higher average revenues per order from residential products due to higher residential real estate values. The Company’s direct title operations closed 287,600 domestic title orders during the three months ended March 31, 2021, an increase of 41.9% when compared with 202,700 domestic title orders closed during the same period 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. Domestic residential refinance orders closed per day increased by 72.7% and domestic residential purchase orders closed per day increased by 17.1%.

Agent premiums were $845.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, an increase of $245.6 million, or 41.0%, when compared with the same period 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 March 31, 2021 is generally consistent with the 24.1% increase in the Company’s direct premiums and escrow fees in the fourth quarter of 2020 as compared with the fourth quarter of 2019.

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.

Information and other revenues were $275.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, an increase of $67.1 million, or 32.2%, when compared with the same period of the prior year. The increase was primarily attributable to growth in mortgage origination activity that led to higher demand for the Company’s title information products and the added revenues from an acquisition that closed in March of 2020.

Net investment income totaled $42.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, a decrease of $17.0 million, or 28.5%, when compared with the same period of the prior year. The decrease was 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 $64.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and were primarily attributable to gains recognized on certain non-marketable investments and increase in the fair values of equity securities. Net realized investment losses totaled $68.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and were primarily from the decrease in the fair values of 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 $504.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, an increase of $82.5 million, or 19.6%, when compared with the same period of the prior year. The increase was primarily due to higher incentive compensation, salary, employee benefit expense, overtime, temporary labor, and payroll tax expense. The increase in incentive compensation expense was due to higher revenues and profitability. The increase in overtime and temporary labor expense was due to higher volumes. The increase in employee benefit expense was primarily due to the impact of higher expense related to the Company’s 401(k) saving plan match.

Agents retained $671.3 million of title premiums generated by agency operations for the three months ended March 31, 2021, which compares with $475.4 million for the same period of the prior year. The percentage of title premiums retained by agents was 79.4% and 79.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Other operating expenses for the title insurance and services segment were $264.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, an increase of $37.9 million, or 16.7%, when compared with the same period of the prior year. The increase was primarily attributable to higher production related costs due to increased transaction volumes and higher software expense, partially offset by lower travel and entertainment expense.

The provision for policy losses and other claims, expressed as a percentage of title premiums and escrow fees, was 4.0% and 5.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The current quarter 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 the first quarter of 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 $5.5 million.

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 quarter 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 $36.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, an increase of $7.2 million, or 24.4%, when compared with the same period of the prior year. The increase was primarily attributable to higher amortization of software and other intangible assets related to recent acquisitions.

Premium taxes were $20.8 million and $15.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Premium taxes as a percentage of title insurance premiums and escrow fees was 1.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.

Interest expense was $5.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, an increase of $1.9 million, or 47.4%, when compared with the same period 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 months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 were 17.1% and 5.6%, respectively.

Specialty Insurance

	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands, except percentages)	2021			2020			$ Change			% Change
Revenues
Direct premiums	$	128,178		$	119,336		$	8,842			7.4	%
Information and other		3,748			3,439			309			9.0
Net investment income		1,934			2,584			(650	)		(25.2	)
Net realized investment gains (losses)		2,620			(3,390	)		6,010			177.3
		136,480			121,969			14,511			11.9
Expenses
Personnel costs		23,927			21,446			2,481			11.6
Other operating expenses		22,639			21,548			1,091			5.1
Provision for policy losses and other claims		80,336			62,428			17,908			28.7
Depreciation and amortization		1,549			1,894			(345	)		(18.2	)
Premium taxes		1,768			1,796			(28	)		(1.6	)
		130,219			109,112			21,107			19.3
Income before income taxes	$	6,261		$	12,857		$	(6,596	)		(51.3	)%
Margins		4.6	%		10.5	%		(5.9	)%		(56.2	)%

Direct premiums were $128.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, an increase of $8.8 million, or 7.4%, when compared with the same period of the prior year. The increase was primarily attributable to higher premiums earned in the home warranty business.

Net realized investment gains for the specialty insurance segment totaled $2.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and were primarily from equity securities. Net realized investment losses for the specialty insurance segment totaled $3.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and were primarily from the decrease in the fair values of equity securities, partially offset by a gain from the sale of real estate.

Personnel costs and other operating expenses were $46.6 million and $43.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, an increase of $3.6 million, or 8.3%. The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in deferred policy acquisition expense in the property and casualty business, higher salary expense due to higher average salaries, and higher incentive compensation, offset by lower agent commissions.

The provision for home warranty claims, expressed as a percentage of home warranty premiums, was 53.9% and 42.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The increase in the claims rate was primarily attributable to higher claims frequency and severity partially due to higher claims in the appliance and plumbing trades likely 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 89.6% and 81.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The increase in the claims rate was primarily attributable to higher coded losses due primarily to weather events in the Western U.S.

Premium taxes were $1.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020. Premium taxes as a percentage of specialty insurance segment premiums were 1.4% and 1.5% for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 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. However, 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 and, accordingly, we expect an approximate 60% reduction in policies in force by the end 2021 and decreasing revenues over time. 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 months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 were 4.6% and 10.5%, respectively.

Corporate

	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands, except percentages)	2021			2020			$ Change			% Change
Revenues
Net investment income (losses)	$	5,066		$	(16,238	)	$	21,304			131.2	%
Net realized investment gains		—			6,927			(6,927	)		(100.0	)
		5,066			(9,311	)		14,377			154.4
Expenses
Personnel costs		7,112			(13,401	)		20,513			153.1
Other operating expenses		8,537			9,297			(760	)		(8.2	)
Depreciation and amortization		36			38			(2	)		(5.3	)
Interest		11,250			8,264			2,986			36.1
		26,935			4,198			22,737			541.6
Loss before income taxes	$	(21,869	)	$	(13,509	)	$	(8,360	)		(61.9	)%

Net investment income totaled $5.1 million and net investment losses totaled $16.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The increase in net investment income for the three months ended March 31, 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.

There were no realized investment gains or losses for the corporate segment for the three months ended March 31, 2021. Net realized investment gains for the corporate segment totaled $6.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and were from the sale of real estate.

Corporate personnel costs and other operating expenses were an expense of $15.6 million and a benefit of $4.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The increase was primarily attributable to higher expense related to the Company’s deferred compensation plan.

Interest expense was $11.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, an increase of $3.0 million, or 36.1%, when compared with 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.

Eliminations

The Company’s inter-segment eliminations were not material for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.

INCOME TAXES

The Company’s effective income tax rates (income tax expense as a percentage of income before income taxes) were 23.4% and 11.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. 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 prior year.

NET INCOME AND NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE COMPANY

Net income for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 was $234.5 million and $63.8 million, respectively. Net income attributable to the Company for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 was $233.6 million and $63.2 million, or $2.10 and $0.55 per diluted share, respectively.

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 unconsolidated entities 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. In making this assessment, management considered the impact that the coronavirus pandemic and related responses have had, or are expected to have, on the Company’s liquidity and capital resources, such as uncertainty related to cash flows from operations and potential volatility in the Company’s investment portfolio, among other factors.

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.

Cash provided by operating activities totaled $223.9 million and $24.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, after claim payments, net of recoveries, of $118.2 million and $108.5 million, respectively. The principal nonoperating uses of cash and cash equivalents for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 were advances and repayments related to secured financing transactions, purchases of debt and equity securities, repurchases of Company shares, dividends to common stockholders, and for the three months ended March 31, 2020, business acquisitions. The principal nonoperating sources of cash and cash equivalents for the three months ended March 31, 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 three months ended March 31, 2020, borrowings under the unsecured credit agreement. The net effect of all activities on cash and cash

equivalents was an increase of $750.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and a decrease of $436.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020.

The Company continually assesses its capital allocation strategy, including decisions relating to dividends, stock repurchases, capital expenditures, acquisitions and investments. In March 2021, the Company paid a first 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.

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 March 31, 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 $531.2 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 March 31, 2021, the holding company’s sources of liquidity included $388.9 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 March 31, 2021, the Company had no outstanding borrowings under the facility.

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 March 31, 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 March 31, 2021, outstanding borrowings under these facilities totaled $645.5 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 March 31, 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 March 31, 2021, no amounts were outstanding under these facilities.

The Company’s debt to capitalization ratios were 25.0% and 23.7% at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. The Company’s adjusted debt to capitalization ratios, excluding secured financings payable of $645.5 million and $516.2 million at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, were 16.9% and 17.0%, respectively.

Investment Portfolio. The Company maintains a high quality, liquid investment portfolio that is primarily held at its insurance and banking subsidiaries. As of March 31, 2021, 95% of the Company’s investment portfolio consisted of debt securities, of which 66% were either United States government-backed or rated AAA and 98% 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 investment portfolio at March 31, 2021, see Note 4 Debt and Equity Securities to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

In addition to its debt and equity securities portfolio, the Company maintains certain money-market and other short-term investments.

Off-balance sheet arrangements. The Company administers escrow deposits and trust assets as a service to its customers. Escrow deposits totaled $9.2 billion and $7.1 billion at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, of which $4.4 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.

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 March 31, 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 March 31, 2021, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II: OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings.

•

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.

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.

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 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 products and services. The Company has made and will likely continue to make high-risk, illiquid investments in some of these participants, typically during their early- and growth-stages. If any of these companies do not succeed, the Company could lose and/or be required to impair all or part of its investment in the unsuccessful company. The risk of such impairment is generally greater during periods of economic uncertainty, such as that currently being experienced in the United States. The prospects of these investments also depend on a number of factors in addition to the condition of the general economy, including the general availability of capital, the performance of and volatility in the public markets, the condition of the real estate industry, the competitive environment for such participants and the operational and financial performance of such participants. These investments 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; 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 availability and efficacy of vaccines; and the effect on participants in real estate transactions and the demand for the Company’s products and services. The Company is also taking certain underwriting risks that could result in increased claims. In addition, the Company has made changes to certain of its production processes that also could result in increased claims. 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

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The Company’s applications and infrastructure 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, 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. These notifications can result, among other things, in the loss of customers, lawsuits, adverse publicity, diversion of management’s time and energy, the attention of regulatory authorities, fines and disruptions in sales. 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, otherwise harm its reputation and/or result in financial losses, litigation, increased costs or other adverse consequences that could be material to the Company.

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.

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.

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 March 31, 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

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 and certain other investments are 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, including during the current 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.

The Company also invests, independent of the management of its investment portfolio, in the equity of private companies, including venture-stage companies. These positions are concentrated in a small number of holdings and are high-risk investments. Even if one of these private 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 advantageous to sell the investment. These investments may cause material fluctuations in the Company’s quarterly results of operations due to the recognition of gains or losses in connection with external events, such as liquidity events, subsequent equity sales, or price changes in investments that begin trading publicly, which changes can be volatile. These fluctuations may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations.

22.

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 $137.5 million, and if expected ultimate losses for those same years were to fluctuate by 100 basis points, the resulting impact would be $275.1 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.

23.

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 March 31, 2021, under such regulations, the maximum amount available in 2021 from these insurance subsidiaries, without prior approval from applicable regulators, was dividends of $531.2 million and loans and advances of $116.3 million.

GENERAL RISK FACTORS

24.

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.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities

During the quarter ended March 31, 2021, the Company did not issue any unregistered common stock.

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

Pursuant to the share repurchase program initially announced by the Company on November 4, 2020, which program has no expiration date, the Company may repurchase up to $300.0 million of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock. The following table describes purchases by the Company under the share repurchase program that settled during each period set forth in the table. Prices in column (b) include commissions. Cumulatively, as of March 31, 2021, the Company had repurchased $122.8 million (including commissions) of its shares authorized under the program and had the authority to repurchase an additional $177.2 million (including commissions) under that program.

Period	(a) Total Number of Shares Purchased		(b) Average Price Paid per Share		(c) Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs		(d) Maximum Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
January 1, 2021 to January 31, 2021		369,898	$	52.90		369,898	$	222,428,248
February 1, 2021 to February 28, 2021		143,810		53.15		143,810		214,784,562
March 1, 2021 to March 31, 2021		711,855		52.79		711,855		177,208,200
Total		1,225,563	$	52.86		1,225,563	$	177,208,200

Item 5.Other Information.

On April 20, 2021, the Company’s board of directors approved an amendment to the Company’s bylaws (as amended, the “Bylaws”) to implement a federal forum selection bylaw (the “Bylaw Amendment”). The Bylaw Amendment provides that, unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The amendment to the Bylaws was effective immediately.

The foregoing summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Bylaws, filed as Exhibit 3.2 to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and incorporated by reference herein.

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.	Attached.

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.

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: April 22, 2021	By	/s/ Dennis J. Gilmore
		Dennis J. Gilmore
		Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

Date: April 22, 2021	By	/s/ Mark E. Seaton
		Mark E. Seaton
		Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)