INVESTORS TITLE CO - Quarter Report: 2008 June (Form 10-Q)
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-Q
[
X ]
|
QUARTERLY
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
|
For the
Quarterly Period Ended June 30, 2008
OR
[ ]
|
TRANSITION
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
|
For the
transition period from __________________
to __________________
Commission
File Number: 0-11774
INVESTORS
TITLE COMPANY
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
North Carolina | 56-1110199 |
(State of
Incorporation)
|
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
121 North Columbia Street,
Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514
(Address of Principal Executive
Offices) (Zip Code)
(919)
968-2200
(Registrant's
Telephone Number Including Area Code)
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be
filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required
to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for
the past 90 days. Yes X No
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting
company. (See the definitions of “large accelerated
filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the
Exchange Act.) (Check one): Large accelerated filer
Accelerated filer X
Non-accelerated filer ____ Smaller reporting company
____
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ___ No X
As of
July 23, 2008, there were 2,689,500 common shares of the registrant
outstanding.
INVESTORS
TITLE COMPANY
AND
SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX
PART I. | FINANCIAL INFORMATION | |
Item 1. | Financial Statements: | |
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007 |
1
|
|
Consolidated Statements of Income |
|
|
For the Three
and Six Months Ended June 30, 2008 and 2007
|
2
|
|
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity |
|
|
For the Six
Months Ended June 30, 2008 and 2007
|
3
|
|
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows | ||
For the Six
Months Ended June 30, 2008 and 2007
|
4
|
|
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements |
5
|
|
Item 2. | Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of | |
Operations
|
13
|
|
Item 3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk |
24
|
Item 4. | Controls and Procedures |
24
|
PART II. | OTHER INFORMATION | |
Item 2. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds |
25
|
Item 4. | Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders |
25
|
Item 6. | Exhibits |
26
|
SIGNATURE. |
27
|
|
Item
1. Financial
Statements
Investors
Title Company and Subsidiaries
Consolidated
Balance Sheets
As
of June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007
(Unaudited)
June
30,
2008 |
December
31,
2007 |
|||||||
Assets
|
||||||||
Investments
in securities (Note 8):
|
||||||||
Fixed
maturities:
|
||||||||
Held-to-maturity,
at amortized cost (fair value: 2008: $569,059; 2007:
$1,078,229)
|
$ | 556,648 |
$
|
1,052,535
|
||||
Available-for-sale,
at fair value (amortized cost: 2008: $78,058,405; 2007:
$89,228,010)
|
78,226,868 |
90,530,946
|
||||||
Equity
securities, available-for-sale, at fair value
|
13,769,982 |
14,586,066
|
||||||
Short-term
investments
|
29,967,654 |
21,222,533
|
||||||
Other
investments
|
2,398,819 |
1,634,301
|
||||||
Total
investments
|
124,919,971 |
129,026,381
|
||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
3,136,693 |
3,000,762
|
||||||
Premiums
and fees receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of
|
||||||||
$1,929,000
and $2,170,000 for 2008 and 2007, respectively
|
7,084,652 |
6,900,968
|
||||||
Accrued
interest and dividends
|
1,123,266 |
1,254,641
|
||||||
Prepaid
expenses and other assets
|
2,071,246 |
1,276,806
|
||||||
Property
acquired in settlement of claims
|
392,609 |
278,476
|
||||||
Property,
net
|
4,808,139 |
5,278,891
|
||||||
Deferred
income taxes, net
|
2,706,061 |
2,625,495
|
||||||
Total
Assets
|
$ | 146,242,637 | $ |
149,642,420
|
||||
Liabilities
and Stockholders' Equity
|
||||||||
Liabilities:
|
||||||||
Reserves
for claims (Note 2)
|
$ | 37,236,000 | $ |
36,975,000
|
||||
Accounts
payable and accrued liabilities
|
10,023,544 |
11,236,781
|
||||||
Commissions
and reinsurance payables
|
227,313 |
406,922
|
||||||
Current
income taxes payable
|
- |
1,747,877
|
||||||
Total
liabilities
|
47,486,857 |
50,366,580
|
||||||
Commitments
and Contingencies (Note 9)
|
||||||||
Stockholders'
Equity:
|
||||||||
Class
A Junior Participating preferred stock (shares authorized 100,000; no
shares issued)
|
- |
-
|
||||||
Common
stock-no par value (shares authorized 10,000,000;
|
||||||||
2,400,482
and 2,411,318 shares issued and outstanding 2008 and 2007,
|
||||||||
respectively,
excluding 291,676 shares for 2008 and 2007
|
||||||||
of
common stock held by the Company's subsidiary)
|
1 |
1
|
||||||
Retained
earnings
|
96,502,927 |
95,739,827
|
||||||
Accumulated
other comprehensive income (Note 3)
|
2,252,852 |
3,536,012
|
||||||
Total
stockholders' equity
|
98,755,780 |
99,275,840
|
||||||
|
||||||||
Total
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
|
$ | 146,242,637 | $ |
149,642,420
|
|
See
notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
1
Investors
Title Company and Subsidiaries
Consolidated
Statements of Income
For
the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2008 and 2007
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | |||||||||||||||
June 30 |
June
30
|
|||||||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||||||||
Revenues:
|
||||||||||||||||
Underwriting
income:
|
||||||||||||||||
Premiums
written
|
$ | 18,178,892 | $ | 18,715,760 | $ | 36,082,654 | $ | 35,590,737 | ||||||||
Less-premiums for reinsurance ceded
|
50,910 | 89,581 | 141,312 | 172,016 | ||||||||||||
Net
premiums written
|
18,127,982 | 18,626,179 | 35,941,342 | 35,418,721 | ||||||||||||
Investment
income - interest and dividends
|
1,112,681 | 1,271,755 | 2,392,040 | 2,481,362 | ||||||||||||
Net
realized gain (loss) on investments
|
(242,272 | ) | 200,023 | (123,703 | ) | 366,203 | ||||||||||
Exchange
services revenue (Note 5)
|
66,714 | 870,083 | 471,412 | 2,115,562 | ||||||||||||
Other
|
1,287,695 | 1,139,493 | 2,532,628 | 2,059,454 | ||||||||||||
Total
Revenues
|
20,352,800 | 22,107,533 | 41,213,719 | 42,441,302 | ||||||||||||
Operating
Expenses:
|
||||||||||||||||
Commissions
to agents
|
7,949,938 | 7,733,004 | 15,269,208 | 14,578,292 | ||||||||||||
Provision
for claims (Note 2)
|
4,298,414 | 4,352,005 | 6,347,010 | 6,161,438 | ||||||||||||
Salaries,
employee benefits and payroll taxes (Note 6)
|
5,311,626 | 5,091,139 | 10,809,562 | 10,365,514 | ||||||||||||
Office
occupancy and operations
|
1,328,083 | 1,452,901 | 2,692,335 | 2,889,024 | ||||||||||||
Business
development
|
567,881 | 556,734 | 1,053,332 | 1,079,916 | ||||||||||||
Filing
fees and taxes, other than payroll and income
|
138,875 | 126,455 | 331,504 | 291,668 | ||||||||||||
Premium
and retaliatory taxes
|
451,728 | 395,262 | 819,065 | 837,182 | ||||||||||||
Professional
and contract labor fees
|
502,531 | 826,140 | 1,023,940 | 1,471,150 | ||||||||||||
Other
|
304,658 | 278,744 | 543,317 | 500,755 | ||||||||||||
Total
Operating Expenses
|
20,853,734 | 20,812,384 | 38,889,273 | 38,174,939 | ||||||||||||
Income
(Loss) Before Income Taxes
|
(500,934 | ) | 1,295,149 | 2,324,446 | 4,266,363 | |||||||||||
Provision
(Benefit) For Income Taxes
|
(227,000 | ) | 141,000 | 474,000 | 790,000 | |||||||||||
Net
Income (Loss)
|
$ | (273,934 | ) | $ | 1,154,149 | $ | 1,850,446 | $ | 3,476,363 | |||||||
Basic
Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share (Note 4)
|
$ | (0.11 | ) | $ | 0.46 | $ | 0.77 | $ | 1.40 | |||||||
Weighted
Average Shares Outstanding - Basic (Note 4)
|
2,409,206 | 2,484,874 | 2,410,852 | 2,491,955 | ||||||||||||
Diluted
Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share (Note 4)
|
$ | (0.11 | ) | $ | 0.46 | $ | 0.76 | $ | 1.38 | |||||||
Weighted
Average Shares Outstanding - Diluted (Note 4)
|
2,409,206 | 2,518,206 | 2,434,204 | 2,526,844 | ||||||||||||
Cash
Dividends Paid Per Common Share
|
$ | 0.07 | $ | 0.06 | $ | 0.14 | $ | 0.12 |
See
notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
2
Investors
Title Company and Subsidiaries
Consolidated
Statements of Stockholders' Equity
For
the Six Months Ended June 30, 2008 and 2007
(Unaudited)
Common
Stock
|
Retained
|
Accumulated OtherComprehensive
|
Total Stockholders' |
|||||||||||||||||
Shares
|
Amount
|
Earnings
|
Income
|
Equity
|
||||||||||||||||
Balance,
December 31, 2006
|
2,507,325 | $ | 1 | $ | 92,134,608 | $ | 3,141,054 | $ | 95,275,663 | |||||||||||
Net
income
|
3,476,363 | 3,476,363 | ||||||||||||||||||
Dividends
($.12 per share)
|
(298,851 | ) | (298,851 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Shares
of common stock repurchased and retired
|
(29,285 | ) | (1,485,379 | ) | (1,485,379 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Issuance
of common stock in payment of
|
||||||||||||||||||||
bonuses
and fees
|
40 | 1,999 | 1,999 | |||||||||||||||||
Stock
options exercised
|
5,335 | 88,665 | 88,665 | |||||||||||||||||
Share-based
compensation expense
|
42,654 | 42,654 | ||||||||||||||||||
Amortization
related to FASB Statement No. 158
|
5,868 | 5,868 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net
unrealized loss on investments
|
(475,505 | ) | (475,505 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Balance,
June 30, 2007
|
2,483,415 | $ | 1 | $ | 93,960,059 | $ | 2,671,417 | $ | 96,631,477 | |||||||||||
Balance,
December 31, 2007
|
2,411,318 | $ | 1 | $ | 95,739,827 | $ | 3,536,012 | $ | 99,275,840 | |||||||||||
Net
income
|
1,850,446 | 1,850,446 | ||||||||||||||||||
Dividends
($.14 per share)
|
(338,080 | ) | (338,080 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Shares
of common stock repurchased and retired
|
(21,326 | ) | (1,002,423 | ) | (1,002,423 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Issuance
of common stock in payment of
|
||||||||||||||||||||
bonuses
and fees
|
40 | 1,946 | 1,946 | |||||||||||||||||
Stock
options exercised
|
10,450 | 204,012 | 204,012 | |||||||||||||||||
Share-based
compensation expense
|
47,199 | 47,199 | ||||||||||||||||||
Amortization
related to FASB Statement No. 158
|
6,728 | 6,728 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net
unrealized loss on investments
|
(1,289,888 | ) | (1,289,888 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Balance,
June 30, 2008
|
2,400,482 | $ | 1 | $ | 96,502,927 | $ | 2,252,852 | $ | 98,755,780 |
See
notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
3
Investors
Title Company and Subsidiaries
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows
For
the Six Months Ended June 30, 2008 and 2007
(Unaudited)
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
Operating
Activities:
|
||||||||
Net
income
|
$ | 1,850,446 | $ | 3,476,363 | ||||
Adjustments
to reconcile net income to net cash
|
||||||||
provided
by (used in) operating activities:
|
||||||||
Depreciation
|
555,908 | 645,599 | ||||||
Amortization
on investments, net
|
156,259 | 139,091 | ||||||
Amortization
of prior service cost
|
10,194 | 8,893 | ||||||
Issuance
of common stock in payment of bonuses and fees
|
1,946 | 1,999 | ||||||
Share-based
compensation expense related to stock options
|
47,199 | 42,654 | ||||||
Provision
(benefit) for losses on premiums receivable
|
(241,000 | ) | 123,000 | |||||
Net
(gain) loss on disposals of property
|
1,999 | (2,673 | ) | |||||
Net
realized (gain) loss on investments
|
123,703 | (366,203 | ) | |||||
Provision
for claims
|
6,347,010 | 6,161,438 | ||||||
Provision
(benefit) for deferred income taxes
|
592,000 | (616,000 | ) | |||||
Changes
in assets and liabilities:
|
||||||||
Increase
in receivables and other assets
|
(766,500 | ) | (1,380,184 | ) | ||||
Decrease
in accounts payable and accrued liabilities
|
(1,164,574 | ) | (477,012 | ) | ||||
Decrease
in commissions and reinsurance payables
|
(179,609 | ) | (193,416 | ) | ||||
Decrease
in current income taxes payable
|
(1,747,877 | ) | (140,376 | ) | ||||
Payments
of claims, net of recoveries
|
(6,086,010 | ) | (2,507,438 | ) | ||||
Net
cash provided by (used in) operating activities
|
(498,906 | ) | 4,915,735 | |||||
Investing
Activities:
|
||||||||
Purchases
of available-for-sale securities
|
(2,293,775 | ) | (28,812,517 | ) | ||||
Purchases
of short-term securities
|
(8,906,105 | ) | (162,520 | ) | ||||
Purchases
of and net earnings (losses) from other investments
|
(994,719 | ) | (534,343 | ) | ||||
Proceeds
from sales and maturities of available-for-sale securities
|
12,999,142 | 23,960,070 | ||||||
Proceeds
from maturities of held-to-maturity securities
|
505,000 | 2,000 | ||||||
Proceeds
from sales and maturities of short-term securities
|
160,984 | 2,889,828 | ||||||
Proceeds
from sales and distributions of other investments
|
390,001 | 305,433 | ||||||
Purchases
of property
|
(87,155 | ) | (277,264 | ) | ||||
Proceeds
from disposals of property
|
- | 118,433 | ||||||
Net
change in pending trades
|
(2,045 | ) | (998,020 | ) | ||||
Net
cash provided by (used in) investing activities
|
1,771,328 | (3,508,900 | ) | |||||
Financing
Activities:
|
||||||||
Repurchases
of common stock, net
|
(1,002,423 | ) | (1,485,379 | ) | ||||
Exercise
of options
|
204,012 | 88,665 | ||||||
Dividends
paid
|
(338,080 | ) | (298,851 | ) | ||||
Net
cash used in financing activities
|
(1,136,491 | ) | (1,695,565 | ) | ||||
Net
Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents
|
135,931 | (288,730 | ) | |||||
Cash
and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period
|
3,000,762 | 3,458,432 | ||||||
Cash
and Cash Equivalents, End of Period
|
$ | 3,136,693 | $ | 3,169,702 | ||||
Supplemental
Disclosures:
|
||||||||
Cash
Paid During the Period for:
|
||||||||
Non
cash net unrealized loss on investments, net of deferred
tax
|
||||||||
benefits
of $676,032 and $245,782 for 2008 and 2007,
respectively
|
$ | 1,289,888 | $ | 475,505 |
See
notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
4
INVESTORS
TITLE COMPANY
AND
SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated
Financial Statements
June 30,
2008
(Unaudited)
Note 1 - Basis of
Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies
Reference
should be made to the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” of Investors
Title Company’s (“the Company”) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2007 for a complete description of the Company’s significant
accounting policies.
Principles
of Consolidation – The accompanying
unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts and operations
of Investors Title Company and its subsidiaries (Investors Title Insurance
Company, Northeast Investors Title Insurance Company, Investors Title Exchange
Corporation, Investors Title Accommodation Corporation, Investors Title
Management Services, Inc., Investors Title Commercial Agency, LLC, Investors
Capital Management Company, and Investors Trust Company), and have been prepared
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim
financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of
Regulation S-X. Accordingly, certain information and footnote
disclosures normally included in annual financial statements have been condensed
or omitted. All intercompany balances and transactions have been
eliminated in consolidation.
In the
opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair
presentation of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows in
the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been
included. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring
nature. Operating results for the three and six months ended June 30,
2008 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the
year ended December 31, 2008.
Use of Estimates and
Assumptions – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America
(“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the
reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets
and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts
of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results
could differ from those estimates and assumptions used.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
– In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”)
issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 157, “Fair
Value Measurements,” (“SFAS 157”) which was effective for fiscal years beginning
after November 15, 2007 and for interim periods within those
years. The Company adopted SFAS 157 as of January 1,
2008. Please refer to Note 7 for discussion of SFAS 157 and fair
value measurements.
In
February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for
Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities – Including an amendment of FASB
Statement No. 115,” (“SFAS 159”), which is effective for fiscal years
beginning after November 15, 2007. This Statement, which is
expected to expand fair value measurement, permits
5
entities
to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair
value, beyond those that are required to be measured at fair value by SFAS 157.
This Statement also establishes presentation and disclosure requirements
designed to facilitate comparisons between entities that choose different
measurement attributes for similar types of assets and liabilities. Unrealized
gains and losses on items for which the fair value option is elected would be
reported in earnings. The Company adopted SFAS 159 and has elected
not to measure any additional financial instruments and other items at fair
value, other than those it measures at fair value pursuant to SFAS
157.
In
December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in
Consolidated Financial Statements—an amendment of ARB No. 51” (“SFAS
160”). SFAS 160 amends ARB 51 to establish accounting and reporting
standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for the
deconsolidation of a subsidiary. This Statement requires the
recognition of a noncontrolling interest (minority interest) as equity in the
consolidated financial statements and separate from the parent’s equity. The
amount of net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest will be
included in consolidated net income on the face of the income statement. It also
amends certain of ARB No. 51’s consolidation procedures for consistency
with the requirements of SFAS 141(R). SFAS 160 is effective for
fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or
after December 15, 2008, with earlier adoption prohibited. The
Company is currently evaluating the effect of adopting this new Statement and
anticipates that the Statement will not have a significant impact on the
reporting of the Company’s results of operations.
In April
2008, the FASB issued Financial Staff Position (“FSP”) No. FAS 142-3,
“Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible Assets.” This FSP amends the
factors that should be considered in developing renewal or extension assumptions
used to determine the useful life of a recognized intangible asset under SFAS
No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” (“SFAS 142”). The objective
of this FSP is to improve the consistency between the useful life of a
recognized intangible asset under SFAS 142 and the period of expected cash flows
used to measure the fair value of the asset under SFAS 141(R), and other GAAP
principles. This FSP applies to all intangible assets, whether acquired in a
business combination or otherwise and shall be effective for financial
statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, and
interim periods within those fiscal years and applied prospectively to
intangible assets acquired after the effective date. Early adoption is
prohibited. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of adopting this new
FSP and anticipates that it will not have a significant impact on the reporting
of the Company’s results of operations.
In May
2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 162, “The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted
Accounting Principles” (“SFAS 162”). This Statement identifies the sources of
accounting principles and the framework for selecting the principles used in the
preparation of financial statements of nongovernmental entities that are
presented in accordance with GAAP. With the issuance of this statement, the FASB
concluded that the GAAP hierarchy should be directed toward the entity and not
its auditor, and reside in the accounting literature established by the FASB as
opposed to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (“AICPA”)
Statement on Auditing Standards No. 69, “The Meaning of Present Fairly in
Conformity With Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.” This Statement is
effective 60 days following the SEC’s approval of the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board amendments to Audit Standards AU Section 411, “The Meaning
of Present Fairly in Conformity With Generally
6
Accepted
Accounting Principles.” The Company is currently evaluating the effect of
adopting this new Statement and anticipates that the Statement will not have a
significant impact on the reporting of the Company’s results of
operations.
Note 2 - Reserves for
Claims
Transactions
in the reserves for claims for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and the year
ended December 31, 2007 are summarized as follows:
June
30, 2008
|
December
31, 2007
|
|||||||
Balance,
beginning of period
|
$ | 36,975,000 | $ | 36,906,000 | ||||
Provision,
charged to operations
|
6,347,010 | 10,134,719 | ||||||
Payments
of claims, net of recoveries
|
(6,086,010 | ) | (10,065,719 | ) | ||||
Ending
balance
|
$ | 37,236,000 | $ | 36,975,000 |
The total
reserve for all reported and unreported losses the Company incurred through June
30, 2008 is represented by the reserves for claims. The Company's reserves for
unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses are established using estimated
amounts required to settle claims for which notice has been received (reported)
and the amount estimated to be required to satisfy incurred claims of
policyholders which may be reported in the future. Despite the variability of
such estimates, management believes that the reserves are adequate to cover
claim losses which might result from pending and future claims for policies
issued through June 30, 2008. The Company continually reviews and
adjusts its reserve estimates to reflect its loss experience and any new
information that becomes available. Adjustments resulting from such
reviews may be significant.
Claims
and losses paid are charged to the reserves for claims. Although claims losses
are typically paid in cash, occasionally claims are settled by purchasing the
interest of the insured or the claimant in the real property. When this event
occurs, the Company carries assets at the lower of cost or estimated realizable
value, net of any indebtedness on the property.
Note 3 - Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
Total
comprehensive income (loss) for the three months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007
was $(942,733) and $789,180, respectively. Comprehensive income for
the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 was $567,286 and $3,006,726,
respectively. Comprehensive income is comprised of unrealized gains
or losses on the Company’s available-for-sale securities, net of tax and
amortization of prior service cost and unrealized gains and losses in net
periodic benefit costs related to postretirement liabilities, net of
tax.
Note 4 - Earnings (Loss) Per
Common Share
Basic
earnings (loss) per common share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by
the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting
period. Diluted earnings per common share is computed by dividing net
income (loss) by the combination of dilutive common share equivalents, comprised
of shares issuable under the Company’s share-based compensation plans and the
weighted-average number of common shares
7
outstanding
during the reporting period. Dilutive common share equivalents
include the dilutive effect of in-the-money stock options and stock appreciation
rights (“SARS”), which is calculated based on the average share price for each
period using the treasury stock method. Under the treasury stock
method, the exercise price of the stock option or SAR, the amount of
compensation cost, if any, for future service that the Company has not yet
recognized, and the amount of estimated tax benefits that would be recorded in
additional paid-in capital, if any, when the stock option or SAR is exercised
are assumed to be used to repurchase shares in the current
period. There were awards for 6,000 shares excluded from the
computation of diluted earnings per share for the six months ended June 30,
2008, because these awards were anti-dilutive. There were no awards excluded
from the calculation for the three months and six months ended June 30,
2007. The incremental dilutive common share equivalents, calculated
using the treasury stock method were 33,332 for the three months ended June 30,
2007, and 23,352 and 34,889 for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007,
respectively.
Note 5 – Segment
Information
Consistent
with SFAS No. 131, “Disclosures about Segments
of an Enterprise and Related Information,” the Company has aggregated
its operating segments into two reportable segments: 1) title insurance
services; and 2) tax-deferred exchange services. The remaining
immaterial segments have been combined into a group called All
Other.
Three
Months Ended
June 30,
2008
|
Title
Insurance
|
Exchange
Services
|
All
Other
|
Intersegment
Eliminations
|
Total
|
|||||||||||||||
Operating
revenues
|
$ | 18,712,575 | $ | 66,714 | $ | 901,621 | $ | (198,519 | ) | $ | 19,482,391 | |||||||||
Investment
income
|
902,757 | 27,369 | 202,973 | (20,418 | ) | 1,112,681 | ||||||||||||||
Net
realized loss on investments
|
(233,618 | ) | (99 | ) | (8,555 | ) | - | (242,272 | ) | |||||||||||
Total
revenues
|
$ | 19,381,714 | $ | 93,984 | $ | 1,096,039 | $ | (218,937 | ) | $ | 20,352,800 | |||||||||
Operating
expenses
|
19,634,063 | 365,876 | 1,052,314 | (198,519 | ) | 20,853,734 | ||||||||||||||
Income
(loss) before income
taxes
|
$ | (252,349 | ) | $ | (271,892 | ) | $ | 43,725 | $ | (20,418 | ) | $ | (500,934 | ) | ||||||
Assets,
net
|
$ | 108,834,556 | $ | 161,240 | $ | 37,246,841 | $ | - | $ | 146,242,637 | ||||||||||
June 30,
2007
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Operating
revenues
|
$ | 19,112,832 | $ | 870,083 | $ | 855,171 | $ | (202,331 | ) | $ | 20,635,755 | |||||||||
Investment
income
|
1,021,389 | 6,501 | 261,366 | (17,501 | ) | 1,271,755 | ||||||||||||||
Net
realized gain on sales
of investments
|
165,589 | - | 34,434 | - | 200,023 | |||||||||||||||
Total
revenues
|
$ | 20,299,810 | $ | 876,584 | $ | 1,150,971 | $ | (219,832 | ) | $ | 22,107,533 | |||||||||
Operating
expenses
|
19,860,205 | 349,246 | 805,264 | (202,331 | ) | 20,812,384 | ||||||||||||||
Income
before income
taxes
|
$ | 439,605 | $ | 527,338 | $ | 345,707 | $ | (17,501 | ) | $ | 1,295,149 | |||||||||
Assets,
net
|
$ | 118,239,859 | $ | 788,769 | $ | 27,688,740 | $ | - | $ | 146,717,368 |
8
Six
Months Ended
June 30,
2008
|
Title
Insurance
|
Exchange
Services
|
All
Other
|
Intersegment
Eliminations
|
Total
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Operating
revenues
|
$ | 37,082,541 | $ | 471,412 | $ | 1,781,959 | $ | (390,530 | ) | $ | 38,945,382 | |||||||||||
Investment
income
|
1,852,216 | 35,378 | 545,281 | (40,835 | ) | 2,392,040 | ||||||||||||||||
Net
realized loss on investments
|
(115,236 | ) | - | (8,467 | ) | - | (123,703 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Total
revenues
|
$ | 38,819,521 | $ | 506,790 | $ | 2,318,773 | $ | (431,365 | ) | $ | 41,213,719 | |||||||||||
Operating
expenses
|
36,465,168 | 678,964 | 2,135,671 | (390,530 | ) | 38,889,273 | ||||||||||||||||
Income
(loss) before income
taxes
|
$ | 2,354,353 | $ | (172,174 | ) | $ | 183,102 | $ | (40,835 | ) | $ | 2,324,446 | ||||||||||
Assets,
net
|
$ | 108,834,556 | $ | 161,240 | $ | 37,246,841 | $ | - | $ | 146,242,637 | ||||||||||||
June 30,
2007
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating
revenues
|
$ | 36,279,878 | $ | 2,115,562 | $ | 1,602,949 | $ | (404,652 | ) | $ | 39,593,737 | |||||||||||
Investment
income
|
2,024,719 | 15,714 | 475,931 | (35,002 | ) | 2,481,362 | ||||||||||||||||
Net
realized gain on sales
of investments
|
331,769 | - | 34,434 | - | 366,203 | |||||||||||||||||
Total
revenues
|
$ | 38,636,366 | $ | 2,131,276 | $ | 2,113,314 | $ | (439,654 | ) | $ | 42,441,302 | |||||||||||
Operating
expenses
|
36,113,238 | 764,749 | 1,701,604 | (404,652 | ) | 38,174,939 | ||||||||||||||||
Income
before income
taxes
|
$ | 2,523,128 | $ | 1,366,527 | $ | 411,710 | $ | (35,002 | ) | $ | 4,266,363 | |||||||||||
Assets,
net
|
$ | 118,239,859 | $ | 788,769 | $ | 27,688,740 | $ | - | $ | 146,717,368 |
Operating
revenues represent net premiums written and other revenues.
Note 6 – Retirement and
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
On
November 17, 2003, the Company’s subsidiary, Investors Title Insurance Company,
entered into employment agreements with key executives that provide for the
continuation of certain employee benefits upon retirement. The
executive employee benefits include health insurance, dental, vision and life
insurance. The plan is unfunded. The following sets forth the net
periodic benefits cost for the executive benefits for the three and six
months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007:
For
the Three
Months
Ended
June
30,
|
For
the Six
Months
Ended
June
30,
|
|||||||||||||||
|
2008
|
2007
|
2008
|
2007
|
||||||||||||
Service
cost – benefits earned during the year
|
$ | 4,334 | $ | 3,494 | $ | 8,668 | $ | 6,988 | ||||||||
Interest
cost on the projected benefit obligation
|
4,761 | 3,662 | 9,522 | 7,324 | ||||||||||||
Amortization
of unrecognized prior service cost
|
5,097 | 5,097 | 10,194 | 10,194 | ||||||||||||
Amortization
of unrecognized gains
|
- | (651 | ) | - | (1,302 | ) | ||||||||||
Net
periodic benefits costs
|
$ | 14,192 | $ | 11,602 | $ | 28,384 | $ | 23,204 |
9
Note 7 - Fair Value
Measurement
In
September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements,”
which was effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 and
for interim periods within those years. This Statement defines fair value,
establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands the related
disclosure requirements. Relative to SFAS 157, the FASB recently
issued FASB Staff Positions (“FSP”) 157-1, 157-2 and proposed
157-c. FSP 157-1 amends SFAS 157 to exclude SFAS No. 13,
“Accounting for Leases,” and its related interpretive accounting pronouncements
that address leasing transactions, while FSP 157-2 delays the effective date of
the application of SFAS 157 to fiscal years beginning after November 15,
2008 for all nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities, except those that
are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a
recurring basis. FSP 157-c clarifies the principles in SFAS 157 on
the fair value measurement of liabilities. Public comments on FSP
157-c were due in February 2008. The Company adopted SFAS 157 as of
January 1, 2008.
Valuation
Hierarchy. SFAS 157 establishes a valuation hierarchy for disclosure of the
inputs to valuation used to measure fair value. This hierarchy prioritizes the
inputs into three broad levels as follows. Level 1 inputs to the
valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for
identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 inputs to the valuation
methodology are quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active
markets or inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either
directly or indirectly through market corroboration, for substantially the full
term of the financial instrument. Level 3 inputs are unobservable
inputs based on the Company’s own assumptions used to measure assets and
liabilities at fair value.
The
following table presents, by level, the financial assets carried at fair value
measured on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2008. The table
does not include cash on hand and also does not include assets which are
measured at historical cost or any basis other than fair value.
Available-for-sale
securities
|
Carrying
Balance
|
Level
1
|
Level
2
|
Level
3
|
||||||||||||
Fixed
maturities
|
$ | 78,226,868 | $ | - | $ | 68,139,238 | $ | 10,087,630 | ||||||||
Equity
|
13,769,982 | 13,769,982 | - | - | ||||||||||||
Total
|
$ | 91,996,850 | $ | 13,769,982 | $ | 68,139,238 | $ | 10,087,630 |
The
following table presents the Company’s assets measured at fair value using
significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) as defined in SFAS 157 at June 30,
2008:
Changes in fair value
during the period ended June 30, 2008:
|
Level
3
|
|||
Beginning
balance at March 31, 2008
|
$ | - | ||
Transfers
into Level 3
|
10,450,000 | |||
Unrealized
loss - included in other comprehensive income
|
(362,370 | ) | ||
Ending
balance at June 30, 2008
|
$ | 10,087,630 |
10
Valuation
Techniques. A financial instrument’s classification within the
valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant
to the fair value measurement.
Equity
securities are measured at fair value using quoted active market prices and are
classified within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy. The fair value
of fixed maturity investments included in the Level 2 category was based on the
market values obtained from pricing services.
The Level
2 category generally includes corporate bonds, U.S. government corporations and
agency bonds and municipal bonds. A number of the Company’s
investment grade corporate bonds are frequently traded in active markets and
traded market prices for these securities existed at June 30,
2008. However, these securities were classified as Level 2 at June
30, 2008, because third party pricing services also use valuation models, which
use observable market inputs, in addition to traded
prices. Substantially all of these assumptions are observable in the
marketplace or can be derived or supported by observable market
data.
The
Company’s investments in student loan auction rate securities (“ARS”) are its
only Level 3 assets, and were transferred from Level 2 because quoted prices
from broker-dealers were unavailable due to the failure of
auctions. Valuations using discounted cash flow models were used to
determine the estimated fair value of these investments as of June 30,
2008. Some of the inputs to this model are unobservable in the market
and are significant.
ARS were
structured to provide purchase and sale liquidity through a Dutch auction
process. Due to the increasingly stressed and liquidity-constrained
environment in money markets, the auction process for ARS began failing in
February 2008 as broker-dealers ceased supporting auctions with their own
capital. The credit quality of the ARS the Company holds is high, as
all are rated investment grade and are comprised entirely of student loan ARS,
substantially guaranteed by government-sponsored enterprises, and the Company
continues to receive interest income.
Note 8 – Investments in
Securities
The
following table presents the gross unrealized losses on investment securities
and the fair value of the securities, aggregated by investment category and
length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous loss
position at June 30, 2008.
Less
than 12 Months
|
12
Months or Longer
|
Total
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Fair
|
Unrealized
|
Fair
|
Unrealized
|
Fair
|
Unrealized
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Value
|
Losses
|
Value
|
Losses
|
Value
|
Losses
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Auction
rate securities
|
$ | 10,087,630 | $ | ( 362,370 | ) | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 10,087,630 | $ | ( 362,370 | ) | ||||||||||
Obligations
of states and political subdivisions
|
21,553,150 | $ | ( 331,311 | ) | 512,025 | ( 17,431 | ) | $ | 22,065,175 | ( 348,742 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total
Fixed Income Securities
|
$ | 31,640,780 | $ | ( 693,681 | ) | $ | 512,025 | $ | ( 17,431 | ) | $ | 32,152,805 | $ | ( 711,112 | ) | |||||||||
Equity
Securities
|
3,660,379 | ( 674,554 | ) | 351,322 | ( 70,895 | ) | 4,011,701 | (745,449 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Total
temporarily impaired securities
|
$ | 35,301,159 | $ | (1,368,235 | ) | $ | 863,347 | $ | ( 88,326 | ) | $ | 36,164,506 | $ | (1,456,561 | ) |
11
As of
June 30, 2008, the majority of the Company’s unrealized losses relate to its
portfolio of equity securities. The Company’s unrealized losses on
its fixed income securities were caused by interest rate increases, for the most
part. Unrealized losses related to holdings of equity securities were
caused by market changes that the Company considers to be
temporary. Factors considered in determining whether a loss is
temporary include the length of time and extent to which fair value has been
below cost. Since the decline in fair value was attributable to
changes in interest rates and temporary market changes, and not credit quality,
and the Company has the intent and ability to hold these securities until a
recovery of fair value, the Company does not consider these investments
other-than-temporarily impaired. Reviews of the values of securities
are inherently uncertain, and the value of the investment may not fully recover,
or may decline in future periods resulting in a realized loss. During
the second quarter of 2008, the Company recorded an impairment charge in the
amount of approximately $235,000 related to several of its equity securities
that were deemed other than temporarily impaired.
Note 9 – Commitments and
Contingencies
The
Company and its subsidiaries are involved in various legal proceedings that are
incidental to their business. In the Company’s opinion, based on the
present status of these proceedings, any potential liability of the Company or
its subsidiaries with respect to these legal proceedings will not, in the
aggregate, be material to the Company’s consolidated financial condition or
operations.
In
administering tax-deferred property exchanges, the Company’s subsidiary,
Investors Title Exchange Corporation (“ITEC”), serves as a qualified
intermediary for exchanges, holding the net proceeds from sales transactions
from relinquished property to be used for purchase of replacement
property. Another Company subsidiary, Investors Title Accommodation
Corporation (“ITAC”), serves as exchange accommodation titleholder and, through
limited liability companies that are wholly owned subsidiaries of ITAC, holds
property for exchangers in reverse exchange transactions. Like-kind
exchange deposits and reverse exchange property totaled approximately
$107,173,000 and $115,515,000 as of June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007,
respectively. These amounts are not considered the Company’s assets
and, therefore, are excluded from the accompanying consolidated balance sheets;
however, the Company remains contingently liable for the disposition of these
deposits and for the transfers of property, disbursements of proceeds and the
return on the proceeds at the agreed upon rate. These like-kind
exchange funds are primarily invested in money market and other short-term
investments, including $7.1 million of auction rate securities (“ARS”), at June
30, 2008. The Company does not believe the current illiquidity of
these securities will impact its operations, as it believes it has sufficient
capital to provide continuous and immediate liquidity as necessary.
12
Item
2. Management’s Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The
Company’s 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K should be read in conjunction with the
following discussion since it contains important information for evaluating the
Company’s operating results and financial condition.
Overview
Title
Insurance: Investors Title Company (the “Company”) is a
holding company that engages primarily in two segments of business: title
insurance and exchange services. Its primary business activity is the issuance
of title insurance through two subsidiaries, Investors Title Insurance Company
(“ITIC”) and Northeast Investors Title Insurance Company (“NE-ITIC”), which
accounted for 95.2% of the Company’s operating revenues in the six months ended
June 30, 2008. Through ITIC and NE-ITIC, the Company underwrites land title
insurance for owners and mortgagees as a primary insurer. Title insurance
protects against loss or damage resulting from title defects that affect real
property.
There are
two basic types of title insurance policies - one for the mortgage lender and
one for the real estate owner. A lender often requires property
owners to purchase title insurance to protect its position as a holder of a
mortgage loan, but the lender’s title insurance policy does not protect the
property owner. The property owner has to purchase a separate owner’s
title insurance policy to protect their investment. When real
property is conveyed from one party to another, occasionally there is an
undisclosed defect in the title or a mistake or omission in a prior deed, will
or mortgage that may give a third party a legal claim against such
property. If a claim is made against real property, title insurance
provides indemnification against insured defects. The title insurer
has the option to retain counsel and pay the legal expenses to eliminate or
defend against any title defects, pay any third party claims arising from errors
in title examination and recording or pay the insured’s actual losses, up to
policy limits, arising from defects in title as defined in the
policy.
ITIC
issues title insurance policies through issuing agencies and also directly
through home and branch offices. Issuing agents are typically real
estate attorneys or subsidiaries of community and regional mortgage lending
institutions, depending on local customs and regulations and the Company’s
marketing strategy in a particular territory. The ability to attract
and retain issuing agents is a key determinant of the Company’s growth in
premiums written.
Revenues
for this segment result from purchases of new and existing residential and
commercial real estate, refinance activity and certain other types of mortgage
lending such as home equity lines of credit.
Volume is
a factor in the Company's profitability due to the existence of fixed operating
costs. These expenses will be incurred by the Company regardless of
the level of premiums written. The resulting operating leverage has historically
tended to amplify the impact of changes in volume on the Company’s
profitability.
13
The
Company’s volume of title insurance premiums is affected by the overall level of
residential and commercial real estate activity. In turn, real estate
activity is generally affected by a number of factors, including the
availability of mortgage credit, the cost of real estate, consumer confidence,
employment and family income levels and general United States economic
conditions.
Another
important factor in the level of residential and commercial real estate activity
is the effect of changes in interest rates. According to data
published by Freddie Mac, the six month average 30-year fixed mortgage interest
rates in the United States decreased to 5.99% for the six months ended June 30,
2008, compared with 6.30% for the six months ended June 30, 2007.
The
cyclical nature of the residential and commercial real estate markets – and
consequently, the land title insurance industry - has historically caused
fluctuations in revenues and profitability, and it is expected to continue to do
so in the future.
In
addition to cyclicality, real estate transactions have produced seasonal
variations in revenue levels for title insurers, particularly with respect to
the residential real estate market where activity generally increases during the
spring.
The
Company anticipates that current market conditions, including the subprime
lending crisis, rising foreclosures, weakening home sales and falling home
prices, will be the primary influences on the Company’s operations until some
stabilization occurs. The Company continues to monitor and strives to
manage operating expenses, as well as to enhance efficiencies, to offset the
cyclical nature of the real estate market and with knowledge of the potential
for further declines in title insurance revenues if the economy continues to
slow or interest rates rise.
The
United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) published
proposed rules regarding the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (“RESPA”) for
public comment on March 14, 2008 with a comment period which expired on June 13,
2008. According to HUD, the proposed rules are intended to improve
disclosure of the loan terms and closing costs consumers pay when purchasing or
refinancing their home. HUD continues to be committed to implementing
the proposed rules prior to the change in the current
administration. HUD has also indicated that it intends to seek
legislative changes to RESPA that will complement the proposed rules and provide
HUD with enforcement mechanisms for some of the most important consumer
disclosures and protections. Based on the information known to
management at this time, it is not possible to predict the outcome of any of the
proposed HUD rules for the title insurance industry’s market and other matters,
or the market’s response to them. However, any material change in the
Company’s regulatory environment may have an adverse effect on its
business.
Exchange Services: The
Company’s second business segment provides customer services in connection with
tax-deferred real property exchanges through its subsidiaries, Investors Title
Exchange Corporation (“ITEC”) and Investors Title Accommodation Corporation
(“ITAC”). ITEC serves as a qualified intermediary in like-kind exchanges of real
or personal property under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended. In its role as qualified intermediary, ITEC coordinates the exchange
aspects of the real estate transaction, and its duties include drafting standard
exchange documents, holding the exchange funds between the sale of the old
property and the purchase of the new property, and accepting the formal
identification of the replacement property within the required
identification
14
period.
ITAC serves as exchange accommodation titleholder in reverse
exchanges. As exchange accommodation titleholder, ITAC offers a
vehicle for accommodating a reverse exchange when the taxpayer must acquire
replacement property before selling the relinquished property.
Factors
that influence the title insurance industry will also generally affect the
exchange services industry. For further discussion, see “Results of
Operations – Operating Revenue.”
In
addition, the services provided by the Company’s exchange services segment are
pursuant to provisions in the Internal Revenue Code. From time to
time, these laws are subject to review and changes, which may negatively affect
the demand for tax-deferred exchanges in general, and consequently the revenues
and profitability of the Company’s exchange segment.
Other
Services: Other operating business segments not required to be
reported separately are reported in a category called All
Other. Other services include those offered by the parent holding
company and by its wholly owned subsidiaries Investors Trust Company (“Investors
Trust”), Investors Capital Management Company (“ICMC”) and Investors Title
Management Services, Inc. (“ITMS”). In conjunction with Investors
Trust, ICMC provides investment management and trust services to individuals,
companies, banks and trusts. ITMS offers consulting services to
clients.
Critical Accounting
Estimates and Policies
The
preparation of the Company’s financial statements requires management to make
estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of certain assets,
liabilities, revenue, expenses and related disclosures surrounding contingencies
and commitments. Actual results could differ from these
estimates. During the quarter ended June 30, 2008, the Company made
no material changes in its critical accounting policies as previously disclosed
in Management’s Discussion and Analysis in the Company’s Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 as filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
Results of
Operations
For the
quarter ended June 30, 2008, net premiums written decreased 2.7% to $18,127,982,
investment income decreased 12.5% to $1,112,681 and total revenues decreased
7.9% to $20,352,800 compared with the prior year period. The Company
reported a net loss in the second quarter of $273,934 compared with net income
of $1,154,149 for the same quarter in 2007. Net loss per diluted
share was $0.11, versus net income per diluted share of $0.46 in the same period
of 2007.
For the
six-month period ended June 30, 2008, net premiums written increased 1.5% to
$35,941,342, investment income decreased 3.6% to $2,392,040, total revenues
decreased 2.9% to $41,213,719 and net income decreased 46.8% to $1,850,446, all
compared with the first six months of 2007. Net income per basic and
diluted common share decreased 45.0% and 44.9% to $0.77 and $0.76, respectively,
compared with the six-month period ended June 30, 2007. For the six
months ended June 30, 2008, the title insurance segment’s operating revenues
increased 2.2% compared with the same period in 2007, while the exchange
services segment's operating revenues decreased 77.7% for the six months ended
June 30, 2008 compared with the same period of 2007.
15
Net
operating results for the quarters ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 were primarily
impacted by an increase in the provision for claims of $2.4 million and $2.3
million, respectively, due to the occurrence of large fraud-related
claims. The claim during the current quarter resulted from the theft of
settlement funds from an attorney's trust account intended to satisfy prior
deeds of trusts. For the quarter ended June 30, 2008, the exchange
services segment experienced a steeper decline in revenue than the title
insurance segment due to the significant decreased demand for tax-deferred
exchange services and to the decreased interest income earned on exchange
funds.
Operating revenues: Operating
revenues include net premiums written plus other fee income and exchange
services segment income. Investment income and realized investment gains and
losses are not included in operating revenues and are discussed separately
following operating revenues.
Net
premiums written in the first six months of 2008 increased slightly over the
same period in 2007. The total number of policies and commitments
issued declined in the first six months of 2008 to 112,884, which is a decrease
of 6.7% compared with 121,011 policies and commitments issued in the same period
in 2007. The Company believes that the softening housing market and
ongoing general decline in real estate activity was the primary reason for the
decline in policies and commitments issued.
Following
is a breakdown between branch and agency premiums for the three and six months
ended June 30:
Three Months Ended June 30,
|
Six Months Ended June 30,
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2008
|
%
|
2007
|
%
|
2008
|
%
|
2007
|
%
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Branch
|
$ | 6,888,518 | 38 | $ | 7,907,600 | 42 | $ | 14,239,813 | 40 | $ | 15,040,911 | 42 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Agency
|
11,239,464 | 62 | 10,718,579 | 58 | 21,701,529 | 60 | 20,377,810 | 58 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total
|
$ | 18,127,982 | 100 | $ | 18,626,179 |
|
100 | $ | 35,941,342 | 100 | $ | 35,418,721 | 100 |
Total
premiums written were positively impacted primarily by an increase in the
Company’s agency business. Agency net premiums increased 4.9% for the
quarter ended June 30, 2008 compared with the same period in the prior year,
both as a result of growth in the customer base and improved penetration in
established agencies, as well as the addition of new agencies to the Company’s
network. Agency net premiums increased 6.5% for the six months ended
June 30, 2008 compared with the same period in the prior year.
Net
premiums written from branch operations decreased 12.9% for the three months
ended June 30, 2008 compared with the same period in the prior
year. Net premiums written from branch operations decreased 5.3% for
the six months ended June 30, 2008 from the same period in the prior year,
primarily, management believes, due to the softening of the real estate market
noted above. Of the Company’s 29 branch locations that underwrite title
insurance
16
policies,
27 are located in North Carolina, and as a result, branch premiums written
primarily represent North Carolina business.
Following
is a schedule of premiums written for the three and six months ended June 30,
2008 and 2007 in all states in which the Company’s two insurance subsidiaries
ITIC and NE-ITIC currently underwrite insurance:
Three Months Ended
June 30,
|
Six Months Ended June
30,
|
|||||||||||||||
State
|
2008
|
2007
|
2008
|
2007
|
||||||||||||
Illinois
|
$ | 564,584 | $ | 460,531 | $ | 1,154,553 | $ | 849,488 | ||||||||
Kentucky
|
815,131 | 675,454 | 1,631,941 | 1,225,144 | ||||||||||||
Maryland
|
105,285 | 310,321 | 373,109 | 597,192 | ||||||||||||
Michigan
|
904,735 | 798,861 | 1,950,562 | 1,578,186 | ||||||||||||
New
York
|
685,689 | 658,675 | 1,197,887 | 1,165,434 | ||||||||||||
North
Carolina
|
8,767,479 | 9,218,284 | 17,716,146 | 17,131,757 | ||||||||||||
Pennsylvania
|
522,147 | 406,236 | 965,276 | 732,890 | ||||||||||||
South
Carolina
|
2,012,755 | 1,857,204 | 3,916,135 | 3,573,604 | ||||||||||||
Tennessee
|
614,000 | 732,461 | 1,155,674 | 1,381,851 | ||||||||||||
Virginia
|
1,686,833 | 1,572,652 | 3,208,627 | 3,133,156 | ||||||||||||
West
Virginia
|
641,537 | 545,827 | 1,112,435 | 1,013,752 | ||||||||||||
Other
States
|
858,517 | 1,474,517 | 1,603,765 | 3,196,616 | ||||||||||||
Direct
Premiums
|
18,178,692 | 18,711,023 | 35,986,110 | 35,579,070 | ||||||||||||
Reinsurance
Assumed
|
200 | 4,737 | 96,544 | 11,667 | ||||||||||||
Reinsurance
Ceded
|
(50,910 | ) | (89,581 | ) | (141,312 | ) | (172,016 | ) | ||||||||
Net
Premiums
|
$ | 18,127,982 | $ | 18,626,179 | $ | 35,941,342 | $ | 35,418,721 |
Operating
revenues from the Company’s two subsidiaries that provide tax-deferred exchange
services (ITEC and ITAC) decreased 92.3% compared with the second quarter of
2007. For
the first six months ended June 30, 2008, operating revenues from ITEC and ITAC
decreased 77.7% compared with the first six months of 2007. Demand
for exchange services has declined significantly. The decrease
in 2008 was primarily due to a decrease in transaction volume and related lower
levels of interest spread income earned on exchange fund deposits held by the
Company due to declines in the average balance of deposits held during the first
six months of 2008.
In July
2008, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) finalized its proposed regulations
regarding treatment of funds held by qualified intermediaries. As
originally proposed, the rules would have negatively affected the ability of
qualified intermediaries to retain a portion of the interest earned on exchange
funds held during exchange transactions, which could have had a material adverse
effect upon the profitability of the Company’s exchange segment. As
adopted however, the new regulations apply only to individual exchange account
balances over $2 million.
17
In
addition, the final regulations clarify that qualified intermediaries may earn
marketing fees from financial institutions. The Company currently believes that
any marketing fees earned on deposits in the future would at least partially
offset the loss of interest spread retained on exchange deposits under prior
business practices. Consequently, the Company currently believes that
the final regulations should not have a material impact on the earnings of the
exchange services segment. The regulations however have only recently
been adopted, and therefore the Company has had only limited experience under
this new regime; it is possible that these new regulations may have
unanticipated consequences that will negatively affect tax-deferred exchanges,
which could have an adverse effect on the revenues and profitability of the
Company’s exchange services segment.
Other
revenues primarily include income related to the Company’s other equity method
investments, investment management fee income and agency service fees, as well
as search fee and other ancillary fees. Other revenues increased
13.0% in 2008 compared with the second quarter of the prior year and 23.0% in
the six months ended June 30, 2008 compared with the first six months of 2007,
primarily due to increases from equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates
and investment management fee income generated by the Company’s trust
division.
Nonoperating revenues:
Investment income and realized gains and losses from investments are
included in non-operating revenues.
The
Company derives a substantial portion of its income from investments in bonds
(municipal and corporate) and equity securities. The Company’s title
insurance subsidiaries are required by statute to maintain minimum levels of
investments in order to protect the interests of policyholders. In
formulating its investment strategy, the Company has emphasized after-tax
income. Investments in marketable securities have increased from
Company profits. The investments are primarily in fixed maturity
securities and, to a lesser extent, equity securities.
As new
funds become available, they are invested in accordance with the Company’s
investment policy and corporate goals. The Company strives to
maintain a high quality investment portfolio. Interest and investment
income levels are primarily a function of securities markets, interest rates and
the amount of cash available for investment.
Investment
income decreased 3.6% to $2,392,040 in the first six months of 2008, compared
with $2,481,362 in the same period in 2007 and decreased 12.5% to
$1,112,681 from $1,271,755 for the three months ended June 30, 2008 compared
with the same period in 2007. The decline in investment income
was due to lower levels of interest earned on short-term funds.
Net
realized loss on investments totaled $123,703 for the six months ended June 30,
2008, compared with net realized gain of $366,203 for the corresponding period
in 2007. These net losses resulted primarily from impairment losses
of approximately $235,000 on several equity securities in the Company’s
portfolio that were deemed to be other than temporary.
Operating
Expenses: The Company’s operating expenses consist primarily
of commissions to agents, salaries, employee benefits and payroll taxes,
provisions for claims and office occupancy and operations. Total
operating
18
expenses
increased 0.2% and 1.9% for the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2008
compared with the same periods in 2007. The total increase in
year-to-date operating expenses resulted primarily from a higher level of
premiums written by the Company’s agents and the corresponding increase in
commissions paid to agents, along with increases in the provision for claims and
salaries, employee benefits and payroll taxes.
Following
is a summary of the Company’s operating expenses for the three and six months
ended June 30, 2008 and 2007. Intersegment eliminations have been
netted with each segment; therefore, the individual segment amounts will not
agree to Note 5 in the accompanying Consolidated Financial
Statements.
Three Months Ended June 30,
|
Six Months Ended June 30,
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2008
|
%
|
2007
|
%
|
2008
|
%
|
2007
|
%
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Title
insurance
|
$ | 19,463,209 | 93 | $ | 19,680,273 | 94 | $ | 36,127,202 | 93 | $ | 35,756,301 | 94 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Exchange
services
|
351,185 | 2 | 335,748 | 2 | 650,352 | 2 | 735,437 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
All
other
|
1,039,340 | 5 | 796,363 | 4 | 2,111,719 | 5 | 1,683,201 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total
|
$ | 20,853,734 | 100 | $ | 20,812,384 | 100 | $ | 38,889,273 | 100 | $ | 38,174,939 | 100 |
On a
combined basis, profit margins were 4.5% and 8.2% for the six months ended June
30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Total revenues decreased 2.9% in the first six
months of 2008 and operating expenses increased 1.9%, contributing to a lower
combined profit margin for 2008.
Agent
commissions represent the portion of premiums retained by agents pursuant to the
terms of their respective agency contracts. Commissions to agents
increased 2.8% from the prior year second quarter primarily due to increased
premiums from agency operations in 2008 as noted
previously. Commission expense as a percentage of net premiums
written by agents was 70.7% and 72.1% for the second quarter 2008 and 2007,
respectively. Commission rates vary by the geographic area in which
the commission is paid and may be influenced by state regulations.
Based on
the Company’s review of the underlying claims data and trends, the provision for
claims as a percentage of net premiums written (loss provision ratio) was 23.7%
for the second quarter of 2008 versus 23.4% for the same period in
2007. For the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, the provision
for claims as a percentage of net premiums written was 17.7% and 17.4%,
respectively. These high loss provision ratios in both the second
quarters of 2008 and 2007 reflect the negative impact of large fraud-related
claims that were reported in both the current and prior year
periods. Loss provision ratios are subject to variability and are
reviewed and adjusted as experience develops.
Declining
economic conditions and/or declining real estate transaction volumes have
historically been drivers of increased claim expenses due to increased mechanics
liens, defalcations and other related risks which may be discovered during
property foreclosures. The increase in the loss provision for the
second quarter of 2008 from the 2007 level resulted in approximately $63,000
more in reserves than would have been recorded at the lower 2007
level.
19
Based on
actuarial projections, paid claims and specific case reserves were greater than
expected during the second quarter of 2008. The unfavorable loss
emergence in the second quarter of 2008 is concentrated in the 2006 and 2008
policy years, partially offset by favorable claims experience in policy year
2007. The unfavorable loss emergence primarily resulted from the
occurrence of a large fraud claim, as noted earlier. If material
occurrences of mortgage-related fraud and other similar types of claims occur,
the Company’s ultimate loss estimates for recent policy years could increase,
which could result in an increase in the provision for claims in current
operations. Management will continue to monitor actual versus
expected loss emergence. Management considers the loss provision
ratios for the second quarter and first six months of 2008 and 2007 to be
appropriate given the long-tail nature of title insurance claims and the
inherent uncertainty in title insurance claims emergence
patterns. Title claims are typically reported and paid within the
first several years of policy issuance.
The
provision for claims reflects actual payments of claims, net of recovery
amounts, plus adjustments to the specific and incurred but not reported claims
reserves, the latter of which are actuarially determined based on historical
claims experience, among other factors. Actual payments of claims,
net of recoveries, were $6,086,010 and $2,507,438 in the first six months of
2008 and 2007, respectively. Payments of claims in the second quarter
of 2008 were significantly impacted by a $2.1 million payment from the
occurrence of the large fraud claim previously discussed.
At June
30, 2008, the total reserves for claims were $37,236,000. Of that
total, $4,230,488 was reserved for specific claims, and $33,005,512 was reserved
for claims for which the Company had no notice. Because of the
uncertainty of future claims, changes in economic conditions and the fact that
many claims do not materialize for several years, reserve estimates are subject
to variability.
On a
consolidated basis, salaries, employee benefits and payroll taxes as a
percentage of total revenues were 26.1% and 23.0% for the second quarter ended
June 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. For the first six months of the year,
salaries, employee benefits and payroll taxes as a percentage of total revenues
were 26.2% and 24.4% for 2008 and 2007, respectively. The increase in
salary and employee benefit costs in 2008 was primarily related to salary
increases and additional personnel costs related to staff hired by Investors
Trust Company. The title insurance segment’s total salaries, employee
benefits and payroll taxes accounted for 83.9% and 85.4% of the total
consolidated amount for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007,
respectively.
Expenses
related to overall office occupancy and operations as a percentage of total
revenues was 6.5% and 6.6% for the second quarter ended June 30, 2008 and 2007,
respectively and 6.5% and 6.8% for the first six months of 2008 and 2007,
respectively. The decrease in office occupancy and operations expense
in 2008 compared with 2007 was due to a decrease in various items, including
maintenance and depreciation, partially offset by increases in computer
expenses.
Title
insurance companies are generally not subject to state income or franchise
taxes. However, in most states they are subject to premium and
retaliatory taxes. Premium and retaliatory taxes as a percentage of
premiums written were 2.3% and 2.4% for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and
2007, respectively.
20
Professional
and contract labor fees for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008
compared with the same period in 2007 decreased primarily due to a decrease in
contract labor fees associated with investments in infrastructure and technology
in 2007.
Other
operating expenses primarily include miscellaneous operating expenses of the
trust division and other miscellaneous expenses of the title
segment.
Income Taxes: The
provision for income taxes was 20.4% and 18.5% of income before income taxes for
the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The
effective income tax rates for the quarters were below the U.S. federal
statutory income tax rate (34%), primarily due to tax-exempt investment
income.
Net Income: On a
consolidated basis, the Company reported net income in the first six months of
2008 of $1,850,446, or $0.76 per share on a diluted basis, compared with
$3,476,363 or $1.38 per share on a diluted basis, for the prior year
period.
Liquidity and Capital
Resources
Cash flows: Net
cash used in operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2008
amounted to $498,906, compared with net cash provided by operating activities of
$4,915,735 for the same six-month period of 2007. Net cash used in
operating activities was primarily the result of the increased claims
payments. Historically, cash flow from operations has been the
primary source of financing for operations, additions to property, dividends to
shareholders and other requirements.
The
principal non-operating uses of cash and cash equivalents for the three and six
month periods ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 were additions to the investment
portfolio, repurchases of common stock and payment of dividends.
Payment of
dividends: The Company’s significant sources of funds are
dividends and distributions from its subsidiaries, which are subject to
regulation in the states in which they do business. These
regulations, among other things, require prior regulatory approval of the
payment of dividends and other intercompany transfers. The Company
believes amounts available for transfer from the insurance subsidiaries are
adequate to meet the Company’s current operating needs.
Liquidity: Due to
the Company’s historical ability to generate positive cash flows from its
operations, management believes that funds generated from operations will enable
the Company to adequately meet its anticipated cash needs and is unaware of any
trend or occurrence that is likely to result in adverse liquidity
changes. The Company’s insurance subsidiaries generate cash from
premiums earned and their respective investment portfolios, and the Company
believes these funds are adequate to satisfy the payments of claims and other
liabilities. The Company’s current cash requirements include
operating expenses, taxes, capital expenditures and dividends on its common
stock declared by the Board of Directors.
21
In
addition to operational liquidity, the Company maintains a high degree of
liquidity within its investment portfolio in the form of short-term investments
and other readily marketable securities. As of June 30, 2008, the
Company held cash and cash equivalents of $3,136,693, short-term investments of
$29,967,654 and various other readily marketable securities.
Investments
as of June 30, 2008 include $10.5 million par value and $10.1 million fair value
of auction rate securities (“ARS”) held on the books of the
Company. ARS were structured to provide purchase and sale liquidity
through a Dutch auction process. Due to the increasingly stressed and
liquidity-constrained environment in money markets, the auction process for ARS
began failing in February 2008 as broker-dealers ceased supporting auctions with
their own capital. As a result, during the period these securities
were recorded at a fair value that reflects the current lack of liquidity using
a discounted cash flow methodology, and a temporary impairment of $362,000 was
recorded in other comprehensive income. The credit quality of the
ARS is high, as all are rated investment grade, and the Company
continues to receive interest income. The Company does not believe
the current illiquidity of these securities will impact its
operations.
Capital Expenditures: During
2008, the Company has plans for various capital improvement projects, including
computer hardware purchases and several software development
projects. All anticipated capital expenditures are subject to
periodic review and may vary depending on various factors.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and
Contractual Obligations: It is not the general practice of the
Company to enter into off-balance sheet arrangements; nor is it the policy of
the Company to issue guarantees to third parties. Off-balance sheet
arrangements are generally limited to the future payments under noncancelable
operating leases, payments due under various agreements with third party service
providers, and unaccrued obligations pursuant to certain executive employment
agreements.
The total
reserve for all reported and unreported losses the Company incurred through June
30, 2008 is represented by the reserves for claims. Information regarding the
claims reserves can be found in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements
of this Form 10-Q and under “Results of Operations – Operating expenses”
above. Further information on contractual obligations related to the
reserves for claims can be found in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2007 as filed with the SEC.
In
conducting its operations, the Company routinely holds customers’ assets in
escrow, pending completion of real estate transactions. Certain of
these amounts are maintained in segregated bank accounts and have not been
included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
In
addition, the Company holds proceeds from tax-deferred property exchanges for
customers until a qualifying exchange can occur, which resulted in a contingent
liability to the Company. These are funds of the party conducting the
exchange however and, as is industry practice, are not included in the
Consolidated Balance Sheets. However, the Company is obligated to its
customers for the disbursements of the funds in accordance with its customer
agreements.
22
Equity Investments: The
Company’s equity investments are in public companies whose security prices are
subject to volatility. For the six months ended June 30, 2008, the
Company recorded approximately $235,000 of other-than-temporary impairments on
equity investments.
Recent Accounting
Pronouncements
For a
description of the Company’s recent accounting pronouncements, please see Note 1
to the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere
herein.
Safe Harbor
Statement
This
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as well as information included in future filings
by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission and information
contained in written material, press releases and oral statements issued by or
on behalf of the Company, contains, or may contain, “forward-looking statements”
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that
reflect management’s current outlook for future periods. These
statements may be identified by the use of words such as “plan,” “expect,”
“aim,” “believe,” “project,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “should,”
“could” and other expressions that indicate future events and trends. All
statements that address expectations or projections about the future, including
statements about the Company’s strategy for growth, product and service
development, market share position, claims, expenditures, financial results and
cash requirements, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements
are based on certain assumptions and expectations of future events that are
subject to risks and uncertainties.
Actual
future results and trends may differ materially from historical results or those
projected in any such forward-looking statements depending on a variety of
factors, including the following:
·
|
the
level of real estate transactions, the level of mortgage origination
volumes (including refinancing) and changes to the insurance requirements
of participants in the secondary mortgage market, and the effect of these
factors on the demand for title
insurance;
|
·
|
significant
changes to applicable government
regulations;
|
·
|
the
possible inadequacy of provisions for claims to cover actual claim
losses;
|
·
|
heightened
regulatory scrutiny;
|
·
|
unanticipated
adverse changes in securities markets including interest rates, which
could result in material losses on the Company’s
investments;
|
·
|
the
Company’s dependence on key management personnel, the loss of whom could
have a material adverse affect on the Company’s
business;
|
·
|
the
Company’s ability to develop and offer products and services that meet
changing industry standards in a timely and cost-effective
manner;
|
·
|
statutory
requirements applicable to the Company’s insurance subsidiaries which
require them to maintain minimum levels of capital, surplus and reserves
and restrict the amount of dividends that they may pay to the Company
without prior regulatory approval
and
|
·
|
the
concentration of key accounting and information systems in a few
locations.
|
23
These and
other risks and uncertainties may be described from time to time in the
Company’s other reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
For more details on factors that could affect expectations and future results,
see the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2007. 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.
Item
3. Quantitative and Qualitative
Disclosures About Market Risk
No
material changes in the Company’s market risk or market strategy occurred during
the current period. A detailed discussion of market risk is provided
in the Company’s 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2007.
Item
4. Controls and
Procedures
Disclosure
Controls and Procedures
The
Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that
information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files
or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) is
recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified
by the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and include
controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be
disclosed in such reports is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s
management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required
disclosure.
No system
of controls, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide absolute
assurance that the objectives of the system of controls are met, and no
evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that the system of
controls has operated effectively in all cases. The Company’s
disclosure controls and procedures, however, are designed to provide reasonable
assurance that the objectives of disclosure controls and procedures are
met.
Pursuant
to Rule 13a-15(b) under the Exchange Act, an evaluation was performed under the
supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including
its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of
the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and
procedures. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive
Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure
controls and procedures were effective as of June 30, 2008 to provide reasonable
assurance that the objectives of disclosure controls and procedures are
met.
Changes to Internal Control
Over Financial Reporting
During
the quarter ended June 30, 2008, there was no change in the Company's internal
control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably
likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial
reporting.
24
PART
II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item
2. Unregistered Sales of Equity
Securities and Use of Proceeds
(a)
|
None
|
(b)
|
None
|
(c)
|
The
following table provides information about purchases by the Company (and
all affiliated purchasers) during the quarter ended June 30, 2008 of
equity securities that are registered by the Company pursuant to Section
12 of the Exchange Act:
|
Issuer Purchases of Equity
Securities
Period
|
Total Number of
Shares Purchased |
Average
Price
Paid per Share |
Total
Number of
Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plan |
Maximum
Number of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plan |
||||||||||||
Beginning of
period
|
231,188 | |||||||||||||||
04/01/08– 04/30/08
|
3,692 | $ | 48.69 | 3,692 | 227,496 | |||||||||||
05/01/08– 05/31/08
|
283 | $ | 48.08 | 283 | 227,213 | |||||||||||
06/01/08– 06/30/08
|
13,203 | $ | 47.38 | 13,203 | 214,010 | |||||||||||
Total:
|
17,178 | $ | 47.68 | 17,178 | 214,010 |
For the
quarter ended June 30, 2008, the Company purchased an aggregate of 17,178 shares
of the Company’s common stock pursuant to the purchase plan (the “Plan”) that
was publicly announced on June 5, 2000. The Board of Directors of the
Company approved the purchase of up to an aggregate of 500,000 and 125,000
shares, respectively, of the Company’s common stock pursuant to the
Plan. Unless terminated earlier by resolution of the Board of
Directors, the Plan will expire when all shares authorized for purchase under
the Plan have been purchased. The Company intends to make further
purchases under this Plan.
Item
4. Submission of Matters to a
Vote of Security Holders
(a)
|
Investors
Title Company’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders was held on May 21,
2008.
|
(c)
|
The
voting results for the proposal to elect three Directors to the Company’s
Board of Directors, each for a three-year term, are as
follows:
|
25
Director
|
For
|
Against
|
Abstentions
|
Withheld
|
Broker
Non-votes
|
W.
Morris Fine
|
1,993,167
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
58,169
|
N/A
|
Richard
M. Hutson II
|
1,992,967
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
58,369
|
N/A
|
R.
Horace Johnson
|
1,992,967
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
58,369
|
N/A
|
Item
6. Exhibits
(a)
|
Exhibits
|
|
31(i)
|
Certification
of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002
|
|
31(ii)
|
Certification
of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002
|
|
32
|
Certification
of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section
906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002
|
26
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly
authorized.
INVESTORS TITLE COMPANY | |
By:
|
/s/ James A. Fine,
Jr.
|
|
James
A. Fine, Jr.
|
|
President,
Principal Financial Officer and
|
Principal
Accounting Officer
|
Dated:
August 7, 2008
27