OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORP - Quarter Report: 2009 March (Form 10-Q)
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
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FORM
10-Q
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||
[x] Quarterly
report pursuant to section 13 or 15(d) of the Security Exchange Act of
1934
for the quarterly
period ended: March 31, 2009 or
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[ ] Transition
report pursuant to section 13 or 15(d) of the Security Exchange Act of
1934
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Commission
File Number:
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001-10607
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OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL
CORPORATION
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(Exact name
of registrant as specified in its
charter)
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Delaware
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No.
36-2678171
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(State or
other jurisdiction of
incorporation
or organization)
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(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
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307 North
Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois
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60601
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(Address of
principal executive office)
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(Zip
Code)
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Registrant's
telephone number, including area code: 312-346-8100
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 definitions of
“accelerated filer”, “large accelerated filer”, and “smaller reporting company”
in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one).
Large
accelerated filer x
|
Accelerated
filer ¨
|
Non-accelerated
filer ¨
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Smaller
reporting company ¨
|
Indicate by check
mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Exchange Act Rule
12b-2). Yes:¨ No:x
Class
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Shares
Outstanding
March 31,
2009
|
|
Common Stock
/ $1 par value
|
240,554,385
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There are 38 pages
in this report
OLD
REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
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Report on
Form 10-Q / March 31, 2009
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INDEX
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PAGE
NO.
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PART
I
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FINANCIAL
INFORMATION:
|
|
CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEETS
|
3
|
|
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF INCOME
|
4
|
|
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
|
5
|
|
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
|
6
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|
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
7 -
12
|
|
MANAGEMENT
ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL POSITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
|
13 -
34
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|
QUANTITATIVE
AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK
|
35
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|
CONTROLS AND
PROCEDURES
|
35
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|
PART
II
|
OTHER
INFORMATION:
|
|
ITEM 1 –
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
|
36
|
|
ITEM 1A –
RISK FACTORS
|
36
|
|
ITEM 6 –
EXHIBITS
|
36
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|
SIGNATURE
|
37
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|
EXHIBIT
INDEX
|
38
|
2
Old
Republic International Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated
Balance Sheets
($
in Millions, Except Share Data)
|
||||||||
(Unaudited)
March
31,
2009
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December
31,
2008
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|||||||
Assets
|
||||||||
Investments:
|
||||||||
Available for
sale:
|
||||||||
Fixed
maturity securities (at fair value) (adjusted cost: $7,391.3 and
$7,385.2)
|
$
|
7,496.4
|
$
|
7,406.9
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||||
Equity
securities (at fair value) (adjusted cost: $373.3 and
$373.3)
|
271.9
|
350.3
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||||||
Short-term
investments (at fair value which approximates cost)
|
1,083.2
|
888.0
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||||||
Miscellaneous
investments
|
25.7
|
29.7
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||||||
Total
|
8,877.3
|
8,675.0
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||||||
Other
investments
|
7.8
|
7.8
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||||||
Total
investments
|
8,885.2
|
8,682.9
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||||||
Other
Assets:
|
||||||||
Cash
|
59.7
|
63.9
|
||||||
Securities
and indebtedness of related parties
|
16.3
|
17.4
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||||||
Accrued
investment income
|
107.4
|
108.2
|
||||||
Accounts and
notes receivable
|
817.9
|
806.7
|
||||||
Federal
income tax recoverable: Current
|
18.1
|
41.0
|
||||||
Prepaid
federal income taxes
|
221.4
|
463.4
|
||||||
Reinsurance
balances and funds held
|
62.0
|
67.6
|
||||||
Reinsurance
recoverable:
|
Paid
losses
|
60.9
|
52.2
|
|||||
Policy and
claim reserves
|
2,485.7
|
2,395.7
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||||||
Deferred
policy acquisition costs
|
216.6
|
222.8
|
||||||
Sundry
assets
|
341.7
|
343.8
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||||||
4,408.3
|
4,583.1
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|||||||
Total
Assets
|
$
|
13,293.5
|
$
|
13,266.0
|
||||
Liabilities,
Preferred Stock, and Common Shareholders’ Equity
|
||||||||
Liabilities:
|
||||||||
Losses,
claims, and settlement expenses
|
$
|
7,430.6
|
$
|
7,241.3
|
||||
Unearned
premiums
|
1,106.7
|
1,112.3
|
||||||
Other
policyholders' benefits and funds
|
182.1
|
180.7
|
||||||
Total policy
liabilities and accruals
|
8,719.4
|
8,534.3
|
||||||
Commissions,
expenses, fees, and taxes
|
250.9
|
264.5
|
||||||
Reinsurance
balances and funds
|
281.8
|
264.8
|
||||||
Federal
income tax payable: Deferred
|
24.0
|
77.3
|
||||||
Debt
|
221.1
|
233.0
|
||||||
Sundry
liabilities
|
152.7
|
151.5
|
||||||
Commitments
and contingent liabilities
|
||||||||
Total
Liabilities
|
9,650.2
|
9,525.7
|
||||||
Preferred
Stock:
|
||||||||
Convertible
preferred stock (1)
|
-
|
-
|
||||||
Common
Shareholders’ Equity:
|
||||||||
Common stock
(1)
|
240.5
|
240.5
|
||||||
Additional
paid-in capital
|
407.2
|
405.0
|
||||||
Retained
earnings
|
3,092.7
|
3,186.5
|
||||||
Accumulated
other comprehensive income (loss)
|
(51.0)
|
(41.7)
|
||||||
Unallocated
ESSOP shares (at cost)
|
(46.1)
|
(50.0)
|
||||||
Treasury
stock (at cost)(1)
|
-
|
-
|
||||||
Total Common
Shareholders' Equity
|
3,643.2
|
3,740.3
|
||||||
Total
Liabilities, Preferred Stock and Common Shareholders’
Equity
|
$
|
13,293.5
|
$
|
13,266.0
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||||
(1)
|
At March 31,
2009 and December 31, 2008, there were 75,000,000 shares of $0.01 par
value preferred stock authorized, of which no shares were outstanding. As
of the same dates, there were 500,000,000 shares of common stock, $1.00
par value, authorized, of which 240,554,385 at March 31, 2009 and 240,520,251 at December
31, 2008 were issued. At March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, there were
100,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, $1.00 par value, authorized,
of which no shares were issued. There were no common shares classified as
treasury stock as of March 31, 2009 and December 31,
2008.
|
See
accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements.
|
3
Old
Republic International Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated
Statements of Income (Unaudited)
($
in Millions, Except Share Data)
|
|||||||
Quarters
Ended
March
31,
|
|||||||
2009
|
2008
|
||||||
Revenues:
|
|||||||
Net premiums
earned
|
$
|
721.8
|
$
|
804.1
|
|||
Title,
escrow, and other fees
|
55.6
|
42.5
|
|||||
Total
premiums and fees
|
777.4
|
846.6
|
|||||
Net
investment income
|
93.4
|
95.2
|
|||||
Other
income
|
7.6
|
8.8
|
|||||
Total
operating revenues
|
878.5
|
950.7
|
|||||
Realized
investment gains (losses):
|
|||||||
From
sales
|
-
|
.9
|
|||||
From
impairments
|
-
|
-
|
|||||
Total
realized investment gains (losses)
|
-
|
.9
|
|||||
Total
revenues
|
878.5
|
951.6
|
|||||
Benefits,
Claims and Expenses:
|
|||||||
Benefits,
claims, and settlement expenses
|
649.2
|
646.0
|
|||||
Dividends to
policyholders
|
2.8
|
2.3
|
|||||
Underwriting,
acquisition, and other expenses
|
318.6
|
342.3
|
|||||
Interest and
other charges
|
.6
|
.6
|
|||||
Total
expenses
|
971.3
|
991.3
|
|||||
Income (loss)
before income taxes (credits)
|
(92.7)
|
(39.6)
|
|||||
Income
Taxes (Credits):
|
|||||||
Current
|
24.7
|
19.4
|
|||||
Deferred
|
(63.5)
|
(40.0)
|
|||||
Total
|
(38.8)
|
(20.5)
|
|||||
Net
Income (Loss)
|
$
|
(53.9)
|
$
|
(19.0)
|
|||
Net
Income (Loss) Per Share:
|
|||||||
Basic:
|
$
|
(.23)
|
$
|
(.08)
|
|||
Diluted:
|
$
|
(.23)
|
$
|
(.08)
|
|||
Average
shares outstanding:
|
Basic
|
235,259,226
|
230,495,852
|
||||
Diluted
|
235,259,226
|
230,495,852
|
|||||
Dividends
Per Common Share:
|
|||||||
Cash
|
$
|
.17
|
$
|
.16
|
See
accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements.
|
4
Old
Republic International Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated
Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)
($
in Millions)
|
||||||
Quarters
Ended
March
31,
|
||||||
2009
|
2008
|
|||||
Net
income (loss) as reported
|
$
|
(53.9)
|
$
|
(19.0)
|
||
Other
comprehensive income (loss):
|
||||||
Post-tax net
unrealized gains (losses) on securities
|
(9.8)
|
(109.4)
|
||||
Other
adjustments
|
.5
|
(5.2)
|
||||
Net
adjustments
|
(9.2)
|
(114.7)
|
||||
Comprehensive
income (loss)
|
$
|
(63.1)
|
$
|
(133.7)
|
See
accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements.
|
5
Old
Republic International Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
($
in Millions)
|
|||||||
Quarters
Ended
March
31,
|
|||||||
2009
|
2008
|
||||||
Cash
flows from operating activities:
|
|||||||
Net income
(loss)
|
$
|
(53.9)
|
$
|
(19.0)
|
|||
Adjustments
to reconcile net income to
|
|||||||
net cash
provided by operating activities:
|
|||||||
Deferred
policy acquisition costs
|
6.1
|
6.2
|
|||||
Premiums and
other receivables
|
(11.4)
|
.6
|
|||||
Unpaid claims
and related items
|
118.3
|
217.2
|
|||||
Other
policyholders’ benefits and funds
|
(22.0)
|
(17.4)
|
|||||
Income
taxes
|
(40.8)
|
(24.4)
|
|||||
Prepaid
federal income taxes
|
241.9
|
35.2
|
|||||
Reinsurance
balances and funds
|
13.9
|
4.6
|
|||||
Realized
investment (gains) losses
|
-
|
(.9)
|
|||||
Accounts
payable, accrued expenses and other
|
11.2
|
(2.8)
|
|||||
Total
|
263.3
|
199.3
|
|||||
Cash
flows from investing activities:
|
|||||||
Fixed
maturity securities:
|
|||||||
Maturities
and early calls
|
208.8
|
233.1
|
|||||
Sales
|
6.9
|
19.9
|
|||||
Sales
of:
|
|||||||
Equity
securities
|
-
|
6.1
|
|||||
Other –
net
|
.3
|
27.8
|
|||||
Purchases
of:
|
|||||||
Fixed
maturity securities
|
(232.6)
|
(183.9)
|
|||||
Equity
securities
|
-
|
(80.8)
|
|||||
Other –
net
|
(4.4)
|
(10.6)
|
|||||
Purchase of a
business
|
-
|
(4.3)
|
|||||
Net decrease
(increase) in short-term investments
|
(194.9)
|
(155.2)
|
|||||
Other-net
|
.2
|
4.8
|
|||||
Total
|
(215.6)
|
(142.9)
|
|||||
Cash
flows from financing activities:
|
|||||||
Issuance of
debentures and notes
|
60.0
|
3.0
|
|||||
Issuance of
common shares
|
.3
|
.4
|
|||||
Redemption of
debentures and notes
|
(72.3)
|
(.2)
|
|||||
Dividends on
common shares
|
(39.9)
|
(36.8)
|
|||||
Other-net
|
.1
|
.3
|
|||||
Total
|
(51.8)
|
(33.3)
|
|||||
Increase
(decrease) in cash:
|
(4.2)
|
22.9
|
|||||
Cash,
beginning of period
|
63.9
|
54.0
|
|||||
Cash, end of
period
|
$
|
59.7
|
$
|
76.9
|
|||
Supplemental
cash flow information:
|
|||||||
Cash paid
during the period for:
|
Interest
|
$
|
1.2
|
$
|
.6
|
||
Income
taxes
|
$
|
2.0
|
$
|
1.7
|
See
accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements.
|
6
OLD
REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
|
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
|
($ in
Millions, Except Share Data)
|
1.
|
Accounting Policies and Basis
of Presentation:
|
The accompanying
consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) as described in the Company’s
latest annual report to shareholders or otherwise disclosed herein. The
financial accounting and reporting process relies on estimates and on the
exercise of judgment, but in the opinion of management all adjustments,
consisting only of normal recurring accruals, necessary for a fair statement of
the results were recorded for the interim periods. Amounts shown in the
consolidated financial statements and applicable notes are stated (except as
otherwise indicated and as to share data) in millions, which amounts may not add
to totals shown due to truncation. Necessary reclassifications are made in prior
periods’ financial statements whenever appropriate to conform to the most
current presentation.
The Financial
Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income
Taxes (“FIN 48”) provides recognition criteria and a related measurement
model for uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in income tax
returns. FIN 48 requires that a position taken or expected to be taken in a tax
return be recognized in the financial statements when it is more likely than not
that the position would be sustained upon examination by tax authorities. The
Company’s unrecognized tax benefits, including interest and penalty accruals,
are not considered material to the consolidated financial statements and did not
change significantly upon the adoption of FIN 48. There are no tax uncertainties
that are expected to result in significant increases or decreases to
unrecognized tax benefits within the next twelve month period. The Company views
its income tax exposures as consisting of timing differences whereby the
ultimate deductibility of a taxable amount is highly certain but the timing of
its deductibility is uncertain. Such differences relate principally to the
timing of deductions for loss and premium reserves. As in prior examinations,
the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) could assert that claim reserve deductions
were overstated thereby reducing the Company’s statutory taxable income in any
particular year. The Company believes that it establishes its reserves fairly
and consistently at each balance sheet date, and that it would succeed in
defending its tax position in these regards. Because of the impact of deferred
tax accounting under GAAP, other than possible interest and penalties, the
possible accelerated payment of tax to the IRS would not affect the annual
effective tax rate. The Company classifies interest and penalties as income tax
expense in the consolidated statement of income. The Company’s consolidated
Federal income tax returns through year-end 2004 are closed and no significant
adjustments have resulted. On October 22, 2008 the IRS commenced their
examination of the Company’s 2006 consolidated income tax return.
The Company’s
adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (“FAS
157”) and FASB Staff Position No. 157-3, Determining Fair Value of a
Financial Asset When the Market for that Asset is Not Active (“FSP
157-3”), is discussed in Note 3 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements. In addition, FAS 157 was also amended by FASB Staff Position No.
157-2, Effective Date of FASB
Statement No. 157 (“FSP 157-2”), which delayed the effective date of FAS
157 for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities that are not remeasured
at fair value on at least an annual basis until fiscal years beginning after
November 15, 2008. The adoption of FSP 157-2 by the Company on January 1, 2009
did not have an impact on the consolidated financial statements.
In April 2009, the
FASB issued three related Staff Positions to provide additional technical
guidance regarding the application of FAS 157 to fair value measurements in the
current economic environment, modify the recognition of other-than-temporary
impairments of debt securities, and require companies to disclose the fair
values of financial instruments in interim periods. These Staff Positions are
effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2009. FASB Staff
Position No. 157-4, Determining Fair Value When the
Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly
Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly (“FSP
157-4”), supersedes FSP 157-3 and provides additional technical guidance
regarding the factors that should be considered in estimating fair value in the
current economic environment while reemphasizing that the objective of a fair
value measurement remains an exit price. This Staff Position also contains
additional interim and annual financial statement disclosure requirements which
will result in more disaggregated disclosures than previously required under FAS
157. FASB Staff Position No. 115-2 and 124-2 Recognition and Presentation of
Other-Than-Temporary Impairments (“FSP 115-2”), modifies the requirements
for recognizing other-than-temporarily-impaired debt securities and changes the
existing impairment model for such securities. This Staff Position also modifies
the presentation of other-than-temporary impairment losses and increases the
frequency of and expands already required disclosures about other-than-temporary
impairment for debt and equity securities. FASB Staff Position No. 107-1 and APB
28-1 Interim Disclosures about
Fair Value of Financial Instruments (“FSP 107-1”), relates to fair value
disclosures in public entity financial statements for financial instruments that
are within the scope of FASB Statement No. 107, Disclosures about Fair Value of
Financial Instruments (“FAS 107”). This Staff Position increases the
frequency of fair value disclosures from annual to quarterly in an effort to
provide financial statement users with more timely information about the effects
of current market conditions on financial instruments. The adoption of these
Staff Positions by the Company in the second quarter of 2009 is not expected to
have a significant impact on the consolidated financial
statements.
7
The above
accounting policy changes result primarily in additional financial statement
disclosures for GAAP reporting purposes and do not have any effect on
management’s conduct of the business, its financial condition or reported
results.
2.
|
Common Share
Data:
|
Earnings Per Share
- Consolidated basic earnings per share excludes the dilutive effect of common
stock equivalents and is computed by dividing income (loss) available to common
stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares actually
outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share are similarly calculated
with the inclusion of dilutive common stock equivalents. The following table
provides a reconciliation of the income (loss) and number of shares used in
basic and diluted earnings per share calculations.
Quarters
Ended
March
31,
|
|||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
||||||||
Numerator:
|
|||||||||
Net Income
(loss)
|
$
|
(53.9)
|
$
|
(19.0)
|
|||||
Numerator for
basic earnings per share -
|
|||||||||
income (loss)
available to common stockholders
|
(53.9)
|
(19.0)
|
|||||||
Numerator for
diluted earnings per share -
|
|||||||||
income (loss)
available to common stockholders
|
|||||||||
after assumed
conversions
|
$
|
(53.9)
|
$
|
(19.0)
|
|||||
Denominator:
|
|||||||||
Denominator
for basic earnings per share -
|
|||||||||
weighted-average
shares (a)(b)
|
235,259,226
|
230,495,852
|
|||||||
Effect of
dilutive securities – stock options
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||
Denominator
for diluted earnings per share -
|
|||||||||
adjusted
weighted-average shares
|
|||||||||
and assumed
conversions (a)(b)
|
235,259,226
|
230,495,852
|
|||||||
Earnings per
share:
|
Basic
|
$
|
(.23)
|
$
|
(.08)
|
||||
Diluted
|
$
|
(.23)
|
$
|
(.08)
|
|||||
Anti-dilutive
outstanding stock option awards
|
|||||||||
excluded from
earning per share computations
|
16,030,334
|
15,527,938
|
|||||||
(a)
|
All per share
statistics have been restated to reflect all stock dividends and splits
declared through March 31, 2009.
|
(b)
|
In
calculating earnings per share, GAAP accounting rules require that common
shares owned by the Company’s Employee Savings and Stock Ownership Plan
that are as yet unallocated to participants in the plan be excluded from
the calculation. Such shares are issued and outstanding, have the same
voting and other rights applicable to all other common shares, and may be
sold at any time by the plan.
|
3. Investments:
Effective January
1, 2008, the Company adopted FAS 157, Fair Value Measurements,
which establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and applies to existing
accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements. FAS
157 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or
paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market
participants (an exit price) at the measurement date. A fair value hierarchy is
established that prioritizes the sources (“inputs”) used to measure fair value
into three broad levels: inputs based on quoted market prices in active markets
(Level 1); observable inputs based on corroboration with available market data
(Level 2); and unobservable inputs based on uncorroborated market data or a
reporting entity’s own assumptions (Level 3). In October 2008, the FASB issued
FSP 157-3. This Staff Position, which will be superseded upon the Company’s
adoption of FSP 157-4 as discussed in Note 1, provides additional technical
guidance regarding the application of FAS 157 in a market that is not active,
and provides an example to illustrate key considerations in determining the fair
value of a financial asset when the market for that financial asset is not
active. The adoption of FAS 157 and FSP 157-3 has had no impact on the Company’s
consolidated financial statements. Following is a description of the valuation
methodologies used for securities measured at fair value, as well as the general
classification of such securities pursuant to the valuation
hierarchy.
The Company uses
quoted values and other data provided by a nationally recognized independent
pricing source as inputs into its quarterly process for determining fair values
of its fixed maturity and equity securities. To validate the techniques or
models used by pricing sources, the Company’s review process includes, but is
not limited to: (i) initial and ongoing evaluation of methodologies used by
outside parties to calculate fair value; and (ii) comparing the fair value
estimates to its knowledge of the current market and to independent fair value
estimates provided by the investment custodian. The independent pricing source
obtains market quotations and actual transaction prices for securities that have
quoted prices in active markets using its own proprietary method for determining
the fair value of securities that are not actively traded. In general, these
methods involve the use of “matrix pricing” in which the
8
independent pricing
source uses observable market inputs including, but not limited to, investment
yields, credit risks and spreads, benchmarking of like securities, broker-dealer
quotes, reported trades and sector groupings to determine a reasonable fair
market value.
Level 1 securities
include U.S. and Canadian Treasury notes, publicly traded common stocks, net
asset value (“NAV”) quoted mutual funds and a substantial portion of its
short-term investments in highly liquid money market instruments and U.S. and
Canadian Treasury bills. Level 2 securities generally include corporate bonds,
municipal bonds and certain U.S. and Canadian government agency securities.
Securities classified within Level 3 include non-publicly traded bonds,
short-term investments and common stocks. There were no significant changes in
the fair value of assets measured with the use of significant unobservable
inputs during the quarter ended March 31, 2009.
The following table
shows a summary of assets measured at fair value segregated among the various
input levels required by FAS 157:
Fair value
measurements as of March 31, 2009:
|
|||||||||||
Level
1
|
Level
2
|
Level
3
|
Total
|
||||||||
Available for
sale:
|
|||||||||||
Fixed
maturity securities
|
$
|
285.4
|
$
|
7,190.5
|
$
|
20.5
|
$
|
7,496.4
|
|||
Equity
securities
|
226.8
|
-
|
44.9
|
271.9
|
|||||||
Short-term
investments
|
1,076.8
|
-
|
6.3
|
1,083.2
|
Net unrealized
gains (losses) on investments amounted to $1.2 at March 31, 2009. Unrealized
appreciation (depreciation) of investments, before applicable deferred income
taxes (credits) of $10.1 at March 31, 2009 included gross unrealized gains
(losses) of $300.2 and $(299.0), respectively. For the three months ended March
31, 2009 and 2008, changes in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of
investments, net of deferred income taxes (credits), amounted to $(9.8) and
$(109.4), respectively. The amount of unrealized gains and losses is affected by
the Company’s estimates of securities that have been classified as
other-than-temporarily impaired (“OTTI”).
The Company
completes a detailed analysis each quarter to assess whether the decline in the
value of any investment below its cost basis is deemed other-than-temporary. All
securities in an unrealized loss position are reviewed. Absent issuer-specific
circumstances that would result in a contrary conclusion, any equity security
with an unrealized investment loss amounting to a 20% or greater decline for a
six month period is considered OTTI. The decline in value of a security deemed
OTTI is included in the determination of net income and a new cost basis is
established for financial reporting purposes. There were no write downs for
other-than-temporary declines in the estimated fair value of investments for the
quarters ended March 31, 2009 and 2008.
A valuation
allowance of $64.0 was established against a deferred tax asset related to the
Company’s losses on equity securities at March 31, 2009. In valuing the deferred
tax asset, the Company considered certain factors including primarily the
scheduled reversals of certain deferred tax liabilities and the impact of
available carryback and carryforward periods. Based on these considerations, the
Company believes that it is more likely than not that it will realize the
benefits of the deferred tax assets related to equity investment losses, net of
the existing valuation allowance at March 31, 2009.
4.
|
Pension
Plans:
|
The Company has
three pension plans covering a portion of its work force. All three plans have
been closed to new participants since December 31, 2004. It is the Company’s
policy to fund the plans’ costs as they accrue. Plan assets are comprised
principally of bonds, common stocks and short-term investments. The Companies
made cash contributions of approximately $2.8 to their pension plans in the
first quarter 2009, and expect to make cash contributions of approximately $2.9
to their pension plans in the remaining portion of calendar year
2009.
9
5. Information About Segments of
Business:
The Company is
engaged in the single business of insurance underwriting. It conducts its
operations through a number of regulated insurance company subsidiaries
organized into three major segments, namely its General Insurance (property and
liability insurance), Mortgage Guaranty and Title Insurance Groups. The results
of a small life & health insurance business are included with those of its
corporate and minor service operations. Each of the Company’s segments
underwrites and services only those insurance coverages which may be written by
it pursuant to state insurance regulations and corporate charter provisions.
Segment results exclude net realized investment gains or losses and
other-than-temporary impairments, and these are aggregated in the consolidated
totals. The contributions of Old Republic’s insurance industry segments to
consolidated totals are shown in the following table.
Quarters
Ended
March
31,
|
||||||
2009
|
2008
|
|||||
General
Insurance Group:
|
||||||
Net premiums
earned
|
$
|
457.3
|
$
|
512.7
|
||
Net
investment income and other income
|
66.3
|
68.8
|
||||
Total
revenues before realized gains or losses
|
$
|
523.7
|
$
|
581.5
|
||
Income (loss)
before income taxes (credits) and
realized
investment gains or losses (a)
|
$
|
58.2
|
$
|
89.8
|
||
Income tax
expense (credits) on above
|
$
|
15.6
|
$
|
26.5
|
||
Mortgage
Guaranty Group:
|
||||||
Net premiums
earned
|
$
|
145.3
|
$
|
147.6
|
||
Net
investment income and other income
|
25.9
|
24.7
|
||||
Total
revenues before realized gains or losses
|
$
|
171.2
|
$
|
172.4
|
||
Income (loss)
before income taxes (credits) and
realized
investment gains or losses
|
$
|
(144.6)
|
$
|
(122.3)
|
||
Income tax
expense (credits) on above
|
$
|
(51.9)
|
$
|
(44.2)
|
||
Title
Insurance Group:
|
||||||
Net premiums
earned
|
$
|
98.6
|
$
|
118.1
|
||
Title, escrow
and other fees
|
55.6
|
42.5
|
||||
Sub-total
|
154.3
|
160.7
|
||||
Net
investment income and other income
|
5.9
|
6.3
|
||||
Total
revenues before realized gains or losses
|
$
|
160.2
|
$
|
167.1
|
||
Income (loss)
before income taxes (credits) and
realized investment gains or losses (a)
|
$
|
(9.0)
|
$
|
(12.6)
|
||
Income tax
expense (credits) on above
|
$
|
(3.5)
|
$
|
(4.9)
|
||
Consolidated
Revenues:
|
||||||
Total
revenues of above Company segments
|
$
|
855.3
|
$
|
921.1
|
||
Other sources
(b)
|
35.1
|
38.4
|
||||
Consolidated
net realized investment gains (losses)
|
-
|
.9
|
||||
Consolidation
elimination adjustments
|
(11.9)
|
(8.8)
|
||||
Consolidated
revenues
|
$
|
878.5
|
$
|
951.6
|
||
Consolidated
Income (Loss) Before Taxes (Credits):
|
||||||
Total income
(loss) before income taxes (credits) and
realized
investment gains or losses of above Company segments
|
$
|
(95.4)
|
$
|
(45.2)
|
||
Other sources
– net (b)
|
2.6
|
4.6
|
||||
Consolidated
net realized investment gains (losses)
|
-
|
.9
|
||||
Consolidated
income (loss) before income taxes (credits)
|
$
|
(92.7)
|
$
|
(39.6)
|
||
Consolidated
Income Tax Expense (Credits):
|
||||||
Total income
tax expense (credits) for above Company segments
|
$
|
(39.8)
|
$
|
(22.5)
|
||
Other sources
– net (b)
|
.9
|
1.6
|
||||
Income tax
expense (credits) on
consolidated
net realized investment gains (losses)
|
-
|
.3
|
||||
Consolidated
income tax expense (credits)
|
$
|
(38.8)
|
$
|
(20.5)
|
10
March
31,
2009
|
December
31,
2008
|
||||||
Consolidated
Assets:
|
|||||||
General
|
$
|
9,485.0
|
$
|
9,482.9
|
|||
Mortgage
|
3,055.7
|
2,973.1
|
|||||
Title
|
761.3
|
762.4
|
|||||
Other assets
(b)
|
404.8
|
509.5
|
|||||
Consolidation
elimination adjustments
|
(413.3)
|
(462.0)
|
|||||
Consolidated
|
$
|
13,293.5
|
$
|
13,266.0
|
|||
In the above
tables, net premiums earned on a GAAP basis differ slightly from statutory
amounts due to certain differences in calculations of unearned premium reserves
under each accounting method.
(a)
|
Income (loss)
before taxes (credits) is reported net of interest charges on intercompany
financing arrangements with Old Republic’s holding company parent for the
following segments: General - $2.6 and $3.5 for the quarters ended March
31, 2009 and 2008, respectively; Mortgage - $1.8 and $ - for the quarters
ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively; and Title - $.9 and $.7 for
the quarters ended March 31, 2009 and 2008,
respectively.
|
(b)
|
Represents
amounts for Old Republic’s holding company parent, minor corporate
services subsidiaries, and a small life and health insurance
operation.
|
|
6.
|
Commitments and Contingent
Liabilities:
|
Legal proceedings
against the Company arise in the normal course of business and usually pertain
to claim matters related to insurance policies and contracts issued by its
insurance subsidiaries. Other legal proceedings are discussed
below.
Purported class
action lawsuits are pending against the Company’s principal title insurance
subsidiary, Old Republic National Title Insurance Company (“ORNTIC”) in state
and federal courts in Connecticut, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas. The
plaintiffs allege that ORNTIC failed to give consumers reissue and/or refinance
credits on the premiums charged for title insurance covering mortgage
refinancing transactions, as required by rate schedules filed by ORNTIC or by
state rating bureaus with the state insurance regulatory authorities. The suit
in Texas also alleges violation of the federal Real Estate Settlement Procedures
Act (“RESPA”). Substantially similar lawsuits are also pending against other
unaffiliated title insurance companies in these and other states as well, and
additional lawsuits based upon similar allegations could be filed against ORNTIC
in the future. Classes have been certified in the New Jersey and Pennsylvania
actions, and a settlement agreement, which is not expected to cost ORNTIC more
than $2.2, has received preliminary approval in the New Jersey
action.
Since early
February 2008, approximately 80 purported consumer class action lawsuits have
been filed nationwide against the title industry’s principal title insurance
companies, their subsidiaries and affiliates, and title insurance rating bureaus
or associations in at least 10 states. The suits are substantially identical in
alleging that the defendant title insurers engaged in illegal price-fixing
agreements to set artificially high premium rates and conspired to create
premium rates which the state insurance regulatory authorities could not
evaluate and therefore, could not adequately regulate. The Company and ORNTIC
are currently among the named defendants in 35 of these actions in 5 states. A
second subsidiary, American Guaranty Title Insurance Company, was originally
named in some of the same suits but has been dismissed from all such actions. No
class has yet been certified in any of these suits against the Company and
ORNTIC, and none of the actions against them allege RESPA
violations.
Also pending
certification as a class action is a suit against ORNTIC and Old Republic Title,
Ltd. in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. Filed in
May, 2008, the suit alleges that ORNTIC and its affiliate deceptively charged
fees for reconveyancing services they did not perform and split the fees with
settlement service providers in violation of RESPA. The action seeks damages,
declaratory and injunctive relief. No class has yet been certified in the
action.
Except in New
Jersey where a preliminary settlement agreement has been approved, the ultimate
impact of these lawsuits, all of which seek unquantified damages, attorneys’
fees and expenses, is uncertain and not reasonably estimable. The Company and
its subsidiaries intend to defend vigorously against each of the aforementioned
actions. Although the Company does not believe that these lawsuits will have a
material adverse effect on its consolidated financial condition, results of
operations or cash flows, there can be no assurance in those
regards.
A putative national
class action suit has been filed against the Company’s subsidiary, Old Republic
Home Protection Company (“ORHP”) in the California Superior Court, San Diego, on
behalf of all persons who made a claim under an ORHP home warranty contract from
March 6, 2003 to the present. The suit alleges breach of contract, breach of the
implicit covenant of good faith and fair dealing, violations of certain
California consumer protection laws and misrepresentation arising out of ORHP’s
alleged failure to adopt and implement reasonable standards for the prompt
investigation and processing of claims under its home warranty contracts. The
suit seeks unspecified damages consisting of the rescission of the class
members’ contracts, restitution of all sums paid by the class
members,
11
punitive damages,
declaratory and injunctive relief. No class has been certified. ORHP has removed
the action to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.
Similar suits, filed by the same law firm, are believed to be pending in
California against two other home warranty companies. It is too early in the
proceeding to evaluate ORHP’s exposure or the likely outcome of the case. ORHP
intends to vigorously oppose class certification and to defend against the
action.
|
7.
|
Subsequent
Event:
|
On April 23 the
Company announced the pricing of its public offering of $275.0 million aggregate
principal amount of 8% convertible senior notes due 2012. Old Republic has
granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional $41.25
million aggregate principal amount of such convertible notes on the same terms
and conditions to cover overallotments, if any. The Company
anticipates closing the transaction on April 29, 2009.
12
OLD
REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
MANAGEMENT
ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL POSITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Quarters
Ended March 31, 2009 and 2008
($ in Millions,
Except Share Data)
OVERVIEW
|
This management
analysis of financial position and results of operations pertains to the
consolidated accounts of Old Republic International Corporation (“Old Republic”
or “the Company”). The Company conducts its operations through three major
regulatory segments, namely, its General (property and liability), Mortgage
Guaranty, and Title insurance segments. A small life and health insurance
business, accounting for 2.5% of consolidated operating revenues for the quarter
ended March 31, 2009 and 1.9% of consolidated assets as of March 31, 2009, is
included within the corporate and other caption of this report. The consolidated
accounts are presented on the basis of generally accepted accounting principles
(“GAAP”). This management analysis should be read in conjunction with the
consolidated financial statements and the footnotes appended to
them.
The insurance
business is distinguished from most others in that the prices (premiums) charged
for various insurance products are set without certainty of the ultimate benefit
and claim costs that will emerge or be incurred, often many years after issuance
and expiration of a policy. This basic fact casts Old Republic as a risk-taking
enterprise managed for the long run. Management therefore conducts the business
with a primary focus on achieving favorable underwriting results over cycles,
and on the maintenance of financial soundness in support of the insurance
subsidiaries’ long-term obligations to insurance beneficiaries. To achieve these
objectives, adherence to insurance risk management principles is stressed, and
asset diversification and quality are emphasized. In addition to income arising
from Old Republic’s basic underwriting and related services functions,
significant investment income is earned from invested funds generated by those
functions and from shareholders’ capital. Investment management aims for
stability of income from interest and dividends, protection of capital, and
sufficient liquidity to meet insurance underwriting and other obligations as
they become payable in the future. Securities trading and the realization of
capital gains are not objectives. The investment philosophy is therefore best
characterized as emphasizing value, credit quality, and relatively long-term
holding periods. The Company’s ability to hold both fixed maturity and equity
securities for long periods of time is in turn enabled by the scheduling of
maturities in contemplation of an appropriate matching of assets and
liabilities.
In light of the
above factors, the Company’s affairs are managed without regard to the arbitrary
strictures of quarterly or even annual reporting periods that American industry
must observe. In Old Republic’s view, such short reporting time frames do not
comport well with the long-term nature of much of its business. Management
believes that the Company’s operating results and financial condition can best
be evaluated by observing underwriting and overall operating performance trends
over succeeding five to ten year intervals. Such extended periods can encompass
one or two economic and/or underwriting cycles, and thereby provide appropriate
time frames for such cycles to run their course and for reserved claim costs to
be quantified with greater finality and effect.
EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
|
Old Republic’s
consolidated operating results, which exclude net realized investment gains,
declined year over year. The reduced performance stemmed from ongoing weakness
in the Company’s housing-related mortgage guaranty and title insurance lines,
and from lower general insurance profits. As noted in each quarterly report
since 2007’s third quarter, the substantial dislocations that have enveloped all
businesses with housing and mortgage-lending exposures are likely to exert
earnings pressures throughout 2009, and most likely into 2010 as well. In
comparison with the final quarter of 2008, however, both mortgage guaranty and
title insurance segments registered some improvement in underwriting
performance, while year over year loss costs were greater for mortgage guaranty
and slightly lower for title. Year over year general insurance
earnings were dampened by greater loss costs for nearly all
coverages.
13
Consolidated Results – The
major components of Old Republic’s consolidated results and other data for the
periods reported upon are shown below:
Quarters
Ended March 31,
|
||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
Change
|
||||||
Operating
revenues:
|
||||||||
General
insurance
|
$
|
523.7
|
$
|
581.5
|
-9.9
|
%
|
||
Mortgage
guaranty
|
171.2
|
172.4
|
-.7
|
|||||
Title
insurance
|
160.2
|
167.1
|
-4.1
|
|||||
Corporate and
other
|
23.2
|
29.6
|
||||||
Total
|
$
|
878.5
|
$
|
950.7
|
-7.6
|
%
|
||
Pretax
operating income (loss):
|
||||||||
General
insurance
|
$
|
58.2
|
$
|
89.8
|
-35.2
|
%
|
||
Mortgage
guaranty
|
(144.6) )
|
(122.3)
|
-18.2
|
|||||
Title
insurance
|
(9.0)
)
|
(12.6)
)
|
28.7
|
|||||
Corporate and
other
|
2.6
|
4.6
|
||||||
Sub-total
|
(92.8)
)
|
(40.5))
|
-128.6
|
|||||
Realized
investment gains (losses):
|
||||||||
From
sales
|
-
|
0.9
|
||||||
From
impairments
|
-
|
-
|
||||||
Net realized
investment gains (losses)
|
-
|
0.9
|
||||||
Consolidated pretax
income (loss)
|
(92.7)
)
|
(39.6)
|
-134.0
|
|||||
Income taxes
(credits)
|
(38.8)
)
|
(20.5)
|
-88.7
|
|||||
Net income
(loss)
|
$
|
(53.9)
)
|
$
|
(19.0)
|
-183.0
|
%
|
Consolidated
underwriting ratio:
|
||||||||
Benefits and
claims ratio
|
83.9
|
%
|
76.6
|
%
|
||||
Expense
ratio
|
39.6
|
39.1
|
||||||
Composite
ratio
|
123.5
|
%
|
115.7
|
%
|
Components
of diluted earnings per share:
|
||||||||
Net operating
income (loss)
|
$
|
(0.23)
|
$
|
(0.08)
|
-187.5
|
%
|
||
Net realized
investment gains (losses)
|
-
|
-
|
||||||
Net income
(loss)
|
$
|
(0.23)
|
$
|
(0.08)
|
-187.5
|
%
|
||
Cash
dividends paid per share
|
$
|
0.17
|
$
|
0.16
|
6.3
|
%
|
The above table
shows both operating and net income to highlight the effects of realized
investment gain or loss recognition and any non-recurring items on
period-to-period comparisons. Operating income, however, does not replace net
income computed in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
(“GAAP”) as a measure of total profitability.
The recognition of
realized investment gains or losses can be highly discretionary and arbitrary
due to such factors as the timing of individual securities sales, recognition of
estimated losses from write-downs for impaired securities, tax-planning
considerations, and changes in investment management judgments relative to the
direction of securities markets or the future prospects of individual investees
or industry sectors. Likewise, non-recurring items which may emerge from time to
time, can distort the comparability of the Company’s results from period to
period. Accordingly, management uses net operating income, a non-GAAP financial
measure, to evaluate and better explain operating performance, and believes its
use enhances an understanding of Old Republic’s basic business
results.
14
General Insurance Results –
First quarter 2009 general insurance earnings were mainly affected by a
lower earned premium base and the higher claim ratio shown in the following
table:
General
Insurance Group
|
||||||||
Quarters
Ended March 31,
|
||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
Change
|
||||||
Net premiums
earned
|
$
|
457.3
|
$
|
512.7
|
-10.8
|
%
|
||
Net
investment income
|
63.4
|
64.5
|
-1.6
|
|||||
Pretax
operating income (loss)
|
$
|
58.2
|
$
|
89.8
|
-35.2
|
%
|
Claims
ratio
|
74.8
|
%
|
69.9
|
%
|
|||
Expense
ratio
|
25.6
|
24.4
|
|||||
Composite
ratio
|
100.4
|
%
|
94.3
|
%
|
A moderately
declining rate environment for most commercial insurance prices in the past
three years or so and the current economic slowdown have precluded meaningful
additions to Old Republic’s premium base and made business retention more
difficult. Most of the latest quarter’s decline in earned premiums stemmed from
lower volumes of commercial auto (trucking), workers’ compensation, and consumer
credit indemnity coverages. With respect to the latter, new premium production
has been effectively curbed by much lower consumer credit extensions in the
current recessionary environment.
The lower top line
for this year’s first quarter was accompanied by an increase in the claims ratio
to 74.8% from 69.9% in the same period last year, and from an average of 67.9%
for the five most recent calendar years. The higher claims ratio was driven
mostly by greater loss costs among Old Republic’s financial indemnity coverages,
most prominently the consumer credit indemnity (CCI) and directors’ and
officers’ (D&O) liability line. As noted in recent quarterly and annual
financial reports, the CCI line continues to be impacted by higher loss costs
emanating from the loan repayment difficulties encountered by increasingly large
numbers of consumers. The rise in D&O claim costs was mainly caused by
greater loss provisions on several older claims which the Company does not
expect to re-occur in light of currently expected full year
results.
The expense ratio
of 25.6% in the first three months of 2009 increased slightly by comparison with
that registered in last year’s first quarter, and the average of 24.4% for the
most recent five calendar years. General Insurance Group net investment income
was basically flat in this year’s first quarter and was influenced by a slightly
lower invested asset base and lower yields on fixed maturity and equity
holdings.
Mortgage Guaranty Results –
The cyclical downturn in the economy and, in particular, in its housing
and mortgage lending sectors continued to drive trends in mortgage guaranty
earned premium and claim costs during this year’s first three months. Key
indicators of the Mortgage Guaranty Group’s first quarter 2009 operating
performance are shown in the following table:
Mortgage
Guaranty Group
|
||||||||
Quarters
Ended March 31,
|
||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
Change
|
||||||
Net premiums
earned
|
$
|
145.3
|
$
|
147.6
|
-1.6
|
%
|
||
Net
investment income
|
22.4
|
21.5
|
4.2
|
|||||
Pretax
operating income (loss)
|
$
|
(144.6)
|
$
|
(122.3)
|
-18.2
|
%
|
Claims
ratio
|
199.9
|
%
|
181.1
|
%
|
|||
Expense
ratio
|
13.7
|
16.4
|
|||||
Composite
ratio
|
213.6
|
%
|
197.5
|
%
|
The first quarter
2009 reduction in premium volume reflected the combination of more stringent
underwriting guidelines we’ve imposed gradually since late 2007, a contracting
mortgage lending market place, and broader acceptance of competing Federal
Housing Administration (FHA) loan guaranty programs. These factors outweighed
the favorable effect of higher business persistency, and led to a 3.4% decline
of risk in force since year-end 2008.
Further declines in
home values, diminished availability of mortgage financing, negative employment
trends, and rising levels of reported loan defaults and paid claims, were most
responsible for an 8.7% increase in incurred claim costs in this year’s first
quarter vis-à-vis the same period of 2008. As of March 31, 2009, net claim
reserves of $1.51 billion were 82.6% higher than they were twelve months
earlier. The effect of varying amounts of periodic paid losses and reserve
provisions on reported mortgage guaranty incurred loss ratios is shown in the
following table:
15
Quarters
Ended
|
||||||
March
31,
|
||||||
2009
|
2008
|
|||||
Incurred loss
ratio from:
|
||||||
Paid
losses
|
107.1
|
%
|
55.0
|
%
|
||
Reserve
provisions
|
92.8
|
126.1
|
||||
Total
|
199.9
|
%
|
181.1
|
%
|
The expense ratio
benefited primarily from lower operating costs, particularly those which respond
to changes in production volumes and operating results. Positive operating cash
flow for the quarter, attributable almost exclusively to the recovery of prepaid
federal income taxes, was additive to the high quality and liquid invested asset
base which reached $2.35 billion, up 22.8% from the level registered as of the
end of March, 2008.
Title Insurance Results – Old
Republic’s title insurance business registered an operating loss somewhat lower
than we expected in this year’s first quarter. Key indicators of its results are
shown in the following table:
Title
Insurance Group
|
||||||||
Quarters
Ended March 31,
|
||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
Change
|
||||||
Net premiums
and fees earned
|
$
|
154.3
|
$
|
160.7
|
-4.0
|
%
|
||
Net
investment income
|
5.8
|
6.4
|
-9.0
|
|||||
Pretax
operating income (loss)
|
$
|
(9.0)
|
$
|
(12.6)
|
28.7
|
%
|
Claims
ratio
|
6.6
|
%
|
7.0
|
%
|
|||
Expense
ratio
|
102.9
|
104.5
|
|||||
Composite
ratio
|
109.5
|
%
|
111.5
|
%
|
The cyclical
downturn in the housing and related mortgage lending sectors of the U.S. economy
also had a dampening effect on the title segment’s premiums and fees revenue.
However, recently higher levels of loan refinancing activity and some market
share improvements provided a positive offset to top line weakness and operating
expense coverage.
Corporate and Other Operations –
The Company’s small life and health insurance business and the net costs
associated with the parent holding company and internal services subsidiaries
produced a much lower gain in this year’s first quarter. Period-to-period
variations in the results of these relatively minor elements of Old Republic’s
operations usually stem from the volatility inherent to the small scale of its
life and health business, fluctuations in the costs of external debt, and net
interest on intra-system financing arrangements. Substantially all of the
year-over-year decline in earnings was due to foreign exchange adjustments for
U.S. dollar conversions from the currency of Old Republic’s Canadian life and
health insurance subsidiary.
Cash, Invested Assets, and
Shareholders’ Equity – The following table reflects Old Republic’s
consolidated cash and invested assets as well as shareholders’ equity at the
dates shown:
%
Change
|
||||||||||||||||
March
|
December
|
March
|
March
'09/
|
March
'09/
|
||||||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
2008
|
Dec
'08
|
March
'08
|
||||||||||||
Cash and
invested assets
|
: fair value
basis
|
$
|
9,052.4
|
$
|
8,855.1
|
$
|
8,895.1
|
2.2
|
%
|
1.8
|
%
|
|||||
: original
cost basis
|
$
|
9,407.1
|
$
|
9,210.0
|
$
|
8,942.1
|
2.1
|
%
|
5.2
|
%
|
||||||
Shareholders’
equity:
|
||||||||||||||||
Total
|
$
|
3,643.2
|
$
|
3,740.3
|
$
|
4,376.7
|
-2.6
|
%
|
-16.8
|
%
|
||||||
Per common
share
|
$
|
15.47
|
$
|
15.91
|
$
|
18.99
|
-2.8
|
%
|
-18.5
|
%
|
||||||
Composition
of shareholders’ equity per share:
|
||||||||||||||||
Equity before
items below
|
$
|
15.69
|
$
|
16.10
|
$
|
19.08
|
-2.5
|
%
|
-17.8
|
%
|
||||||
Unrealized
investment gains (losses) and
other
accumulated comprehensive income (loss)
|
(0.22)
|
(0.19)
|
(0.09)
|
|||||||||||||
Total
|
$
|
15.47
|
$
|
15.91
|
$
|
18.99
|
-2.8
|
%
|
-18.5
|
%
|
Consolidated cash
flow from operating activities amounted to $263.3 for the first three months of
2009 versus $199.3 for the same period in 2008. Other than title insurance, each
insurance segment remained cash flow-positive in this year’s first quarter, with
General Insurance and Mortgage Guaranty contributing $39.4 and $233.5,
respectively.
The investment
portfolio reflects a current allocation of approximately 84% to fixed-maturity
securities and 3% to equities. As has been the case for many years, Old
Republic’s invested assets are managed in consideration of
16
enterprise-wide
risk management objectives intended to assure solid funding of its subsidiaries’
long-term obligations to insurance policyholders and other beneficiaries, as
well as evaluations of their long-term effect on stability of capital accounts.
The portfolio contains little or no insurance risk-correlated asset exposures to
real estate, mortgage-backed securities, collateralized debt obligations
(“CDO’s”), derivatives, junk bonds, hybrid securities, or illiquid private
equity investments. In a similar vein, the Company does not engage in hedging or
securities lending transactions, nor does it invest in securities whose values
are predicated on non-regulated financial instruments exhibiting amorphous
counter-party risk attributes.
Substantially all
changes in the shareholders’ equity account reflect the Company’s net income or
loss, dividend payments to shareholders, and changes in market valuations and
impairments of invested assets during the periods shown below:
Shareholders’
Equity
|
||||||
Per
Share
|
||||||
Three Months
Ended
|
||||||
March
31,
|
||||||
2009
|
2008
|
|||||
Beginning
balance
|
$
|
15.91
|
$
|
19.71
|
||
Changes in
shareholders’ equity for the periods:
|
||||||
Net operating
income (loss)
|
(0.23)
|
(0.08)
|
||||
Net realized
investment gains (losses)
|
-
|
-
|
||||
Net
unrealized investment gains (losses)
|
(0.04)
|
(0.48)
|
||||
Total
realized and unrealized investment gains (losses)
|
(0.04)
|
(0.48)
|
||||
Cash
dividends
|
(0.17)
|
(0.16)
|
||||
Stock
issuance, foreign exchange, and other transactions
|
-
|
-
|
||||
Net
change
|
(0.44)
|
(0.72)
|
||||
Ending
balance
|
$
|
15.47
|
$
|
18.99
|
Old Republic’s
significant investments in the stocks of two leading publicly held mortgage
guaranty (“MI”) businesses (MGIC Investment Corp. and The PMI Group) account for
a substantial portion of the realized and unrealized investment losses incurred
in 2008, and reflected in the above and following tables. Unrealized losses,
including losses on securities categorized as other-than-temporarily impaired
(“OTTI”), represent the net difference between the most recently established
cost and the fair values of the investments at a point in time. The aggregate
costs, original and impaired, fair value, and latest reported underlying equity
values of the aforementioned two mortgage guaranty investments are shown
below.
March
31,
|
December
31,
|
|||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
2007
|
||||||||
Total value
of the two investments:
|
Original
cost
|
$
|
416.4
|
$
|
416.4
|
$
|
429.7
|
|||
Impaired
cost
|
106.8
|
106.8
|
N/A
|
|||||||
Fair
value
|
32.1
|
82.7
|
375.1
|
|||||||
Underlying
equity(*)
|
$
|
496.2
|
$
|
515.9
|
$
|
679.7
|
||||
(*)
Underlying equity based on latest reports (which may lag by one quarter)
issued by investees.
|
When making
investment decisions, management considers the Company’s ability to retain its
holdings for a period sufficient to recover their cost and to obtain a
competitive long-term total return. It also considers such factors as balance
sheet effects of potential changes in market valuations, asset-liability
matching objectives, long term ability to hold securities, tax planning
considerations, and the investees’ reported book values and ability to continue
as going concerns. The above-noted mortgage guaranty holdings were acquired as
passive long-term investment additions to core segments of Old Republic’s
business in anticipation of a turn-around for the MI industry in 2010. In
management’s judgment, the currently depressed market valuations of companies
operating in the housing and mortgage-lending sectors of the American economy
have been impacted significantly by the cyclical and macroeconomic conditions
affecting these sectors, and by the recent dysfunctionality of the banking and
mortgage lending industries.
For external GAAP
reporting purposes, however, Old Republic uses relatively short time frames in
recognizing OTTI adjustments in its income statement. In this context, absent
issuer-specific circumstances that would result in a contrary conclusion, all
unrealized investment losses pertaining to any equity security reflecting a 20%
or greater decline for a six month period is considered OTTI. Unrealized losses
that are deemed temporary and all unrealized gains are recorded directly as a
separate component of the shareholders’ equity account and in the consolidated
statement of comprehensive income. As a result of accounting idiosyncrasies,
however, OTTI losses recorded in the income statement of one period can not be
offset in the income statement of a subsequent period by fair value gains on the
previously impaired securities unless the gains are realized through actual
sales. Such unrealized fair value gains can only be recognized through direct
credits in the shareholders’ equity account and in the consolidated statement of
comprehensive income.
17
DETAILED
MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS
|
FINANCIAL
ACCOUNTING AND REPORTING POLICIES
|
The Company’s annual and interim financial
statements incorporate a large number and types of estimates relative to matters
which are highly uncertain at the time the estimates are made. The estimation
process required of an insurance enterprise is by its very nature highly dynamic
inasmuch as it necessitates a continuous evaluation, analysis, and
quantification of factual data as it becomes known to the Company. As a result,
actual experienced outcomes can differ from the estimates made at any point in
time, and thus affect future periods’ reported revenues, expenses, net income,
and financial condition.
Old Republic
believes that its most critical accounting estimates relate to: a) the
determination of other-than-temporary impairments in the value of fixed maturity
and equity investments; b) the establishment of deferred acquisition costs which
vary directly with the production of insurance premiums; c) the recoverability
of reinsured paid and/or outstanding losses; and d) the establishment of
reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses. The major assumptions and
methods used in setting these estimates are discussed in the Company’s 2008
Annual Report on Form 10K.
In July 2006, the
Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued its Interpretation No. 48,
“Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (“FIN 48”), which became effective
for the Company in the first quarter of 2007. FIN 48 provides recognition
criteria and a related measurement model for uncertain tax positions taken or
expected to be taken in income tax returns. FIN 48 requires that a position
taken or expected to be taken in a tax return be recognized in the financial
statements when it is more likely than not that the position would be sustained
upon examination by tax authorities. The Company’s unrecognized tax benefits,
including interest and penalty accruals, are not considered material to the
consolidated financial statements and did not change significantly upon the
adoption of FIN 48. There are no tax uncertainties that are expected to result
in significant increases or decreases to unrecognized tax benefits within the
next twelve month period. As indicated in Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated
Financial Statements, the Company believes that the major uncertainties relating
to its tax position pertain to timing differences in the recognition of taxable
income. Accordingly, the annual effective tax rate, other than possible interest
and penalties, would be largely unaffected as an increase in currently due
income taxes would likely be offset by a corresponding deferred income tax
adjustment.
In September 2006,
the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157 “Fair Value
Measurements” (“FAS 157”), which establishes a framework for measuring fair
value. FAS 157 applies to existing accounting pronouncements that require or
permit fair value measurements, and became effective for the Company in the
first quarter of 2008. FAS 157 was amended by FASB Staff Position No. 157-2
“Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157” (“FSP 157-2”), which delayed the
effective date of FAS 157 for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities
that are not remeasured at fair value on at least an annual basis until fiscal
years beginning after November 15, 2008. The adoption of FSP 157-2 by the
Company on January 1, 2009 did not have an impact on the consolidated financial
statements. Additionally, in October 2008, the FASB issued Staff Position No.
157-3 “Determining the Fair Value of a Financial Asset When the Markets for That
Asset is Not Active” (“FSP 157-3”). This Staff Position, which will be
superseded upon the Company’s adoption of FSP 157-4 as discussed in Note 1 of
the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, provides additional technical
guidance regarding the application of FAS 157 in a market that is not active.
The impact of the adoption of FAS 157 and FSP 157-3 is discussed in Note 3 of
the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
In April 2009, the
FASB issued three related Staff Positions to provide additional technical
guidance regarding the application of FAS 157 to fair value measurements in the
current economic environment, modify the recognition of other-than-temporary
impairments of debt securities, and require companies to disclose the fair
values of financial instruments in interim periods. These Staff Positions are
effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2009 and are
discussed further in Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements.
The above
accounting policy changes result primarily in additional financial statement
disclosures and do not have any effect on management’s conduct of the business,
its financial condition or reported results.
18
FINANCIAL
POSITION
|
The Company’s
financial position at March 31, 2009 reflected increases in assets and
liabilities of .2% and 1.3%, respectively, and a decrease in common
shareholders’ equity of 2.6% when compared to the immediately preceding
year-end. Cash and invested assets represented 68.1% and 66.8% of consolidated
assets as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. Consolidated
operating cash flow was positive at $263.3 in the first quarter of 2009 compared
to $199.3 in the same period of 2008. As of March 31, 2009, the invested asset
base increased 2.3% to $8,885.2 principally as a result of positive operating
cash flows.
Investments
- During the first quarter of 2009 and 2008, the Company committed substantially
all investable funds to short to intermediate-term fixed maturity securities. At
both March 31, 2009 and 2008, approximately 99% of the Company’s investments
consisted of marketable securities. Old Republic continues to adhere to its
long-term policy of investing primarily in investment grade, marketable
securities. The portfolio contains little or no insurance risk-correlated asset
exposures to real estate, mortgage-backed securities, collateralized debt
obligations (“CDO’s”), derivatives, junk bonds, hybrid securities, or illiquid
private equity investments. In a similar vein, the Company does not engage in
hedging or securities lending transactions, nor does it invest in securities
whose values are predicated on non-regulated financial instruments exhibiting
amorphous counter-party risk attributes. At March 31, 2009, the Company had no
fixed maturity investments in default as to principal and/or
interest.
Relatively high
short-term maturity investment positions continued to be maintained as of March
31, 2009. Such positions reflect a large variety of seasonal and
intermediate-term factors including current operating needs, expected operating
cash flows, quarter-end cash flow seasonality, and investment strategy
considerations. Accordingly, the future level of short-term investments will
vary and respond to the interplay of these factors and may, as a result,
increase or decrease from current levels.
The Company does
not own or utilize derivative financial instruments for the purpose of hedging,
enhancing the overall return of its investment portfolio, or reducing the cost
of its debt obligations. With regard to its equity portfolio, the Company does
not own any options nor does it engage in any type of option writing.
Traditional investment management tools and techniques are employed to address
the yield and valuation exposures of the invested assets base. The long-term
fixed maturity investment portfolio is managed so as to limit various risks
inherent in the bond market. Credit risk is addressed through asset
diversification and the purchase of investment grade securities. Reinvestment
rate risk is reduced by concentrating on non-callable issues, and by taking
asset-liability matching considerations into account. Purchases of mortgage and
asset backed securities, which have variable principal prepayment options, are
generally avoided. Market value risk is limited through the purchase of bonds of
intermediate maturity. The combination of these investment management practices
is expected to produce a more stable long-term fixed maturity investment
portfolio that is not subject to extreme interest rate sensitivity and principal
deterioration.
The market value of
the Company’s long-term fixed maturity investment portfolio is sensitive,
however, to fluctuations in the level of interest rates, but not materially
affected by changes in anticipated cash flows caused by any prepayments. The
impact of interest rate movements on the long-term fixed maturity investment
portfolio generally affects net unrealized gains or losses. As a general rule,
rising interest rates enhance currently available yields but typically lead to a
reduction in the fair value of existing fixed maturity investments. By contrast,
a decline in such rates reduces currently available yields but usually serves to
increase the fair value of the existing fixed maturity investment portfolio. All
such changes in fair value are reflected, net of deferred income taxes, directly
in the shareholders’ equity account, and as a separate component of the
statement of comprehensive income. Given the Company’s inability to forecast or
control the movement of interest rates, Old Republic sets the maturity spectrum
of its fixed maturity securities portfolio within parameters of estimated
liability payouts, and focuses the overall portfolio on high quality
investments. By so doing, Old Republic believes it is reasonably assured of its
ability to hold securities to maturity as it may deem necessary in changing
environments, and of ultimately recovering their aggregate cost.
Possible future
declines in fair values for Old Republic’s bond and stock portfolios would
negatively affect the common shareholders’ equity account at any point in time,
but would not necessarily result in the recognition of realized investment
losses. The Company reviews the status and market value changes of each of its
investments on at least a quarterly basis during the year, and estimates of
other-than-temporary impairments in the portfolio’s value are evaluated and
established at each quarterly balance sheet date. In reviewing investments for
other-than-temporary impairment, the Company, in addition to a security’s market
price history, considers the totality of such factors as the issuer’s operating
results, financial condition and liquidity, its ability to access capital
markets, credit rating trends, most current audit opinion, industry and
securities markets conditions, and analyst expectations to reach its
conclusions. Sudden market value declines caused by such adverse developments as
newly emerged or imminent bankruptcy filings, issuer default on significant
obligations, or reports of financial accounting developments that bring into
question the validity of previously reported earnings or financial condition,
are recognized as realized losses as soon as credible publicly available
information emerges to confirm such developments. Absent issuer-specific
circumstances that would result in a contrary conclusion, any equity security
with an unrealized investment loss amounting to a 20% or greater decline for a
six month period is considered other-than-temporarily-impaired. In the event the
Company’s estimate of other-than-temporary impairments is insufficient at any
point in time, future periods’ net income would be affected adversely by the
recognition of additional realized or impairment losses, but its financial
condition would not necessarily be affected adversely inasmuch as such losses,
or a portion of them, could have been recognized previously as unrealized
losses.
19
The following
tables show certain information relating to the Company’s fixed maturity and
equity portfolios as of the dates shown:
Credit
Quality Ratings of Fixed Maturity Securities
(a)
|
March
31,
|
December
31,
|
||||||
2009
|
2008
|
||||||
Aaa
|
13.6
|
%
|
14.2
|
%
|
|||
Aa
|
27.9
|
28.7
|
|||||
A
|
33.6
|
33.4
|
|||||
Baa
|
23.0
|
22.1
|
|||||
Total investment grade
|
98.1
|
98.4
|
|||||
All other
(b)
|
1.9
|
1.6
|
|||||
Total
|
100.0
|
%
|
100.0
|
%
|
|||
(a)
|
Credit
quality ratings used are those assigned primarily by Moody’s; other
ratings are assigned by Standard & Poor’s and converted to equivalent
Moody’s ratings classifications.
|
(b)
|
“All other”
includes non-investment grade or non-rated small issues of tax-exempt
bonds.
|
Gross
Unrealized Losses Stratified by Industry Concentration for Non-Investment
Grade Fixed Maturity Securities
|
March 31,
2009
|
|||||||
Gross
|
|||||||
Amortized
|
Unrealized
|
||||||
Cost
|
Losses
|
||||||
Fixed
Maturity Securities by Industry Concentration:
|
|||||||
Industrial
|
$
|
19.4
|
$
|
4.7
|
|||
Consumer
Durables
|
33.3
|
4.3
|
|||||
Service
|
22.4
|
3.9
|
|||||
Retail
|
17.0
|
2.9
|
|||||
Other
(includes 4 industry groups)
|
30.4
|
2.4
|
|||||
Total
|
$
|
122.7
|
(c)
|
$
|
18.4
|
||
(c)
|
Represents
1.7% of the total fixed maturity securities
portfolio.
|
Gross
Unrealized Losses Stratified by Industry Concentration for Investment
Grade Fixed Maturity Securities
|
March 31,
2009
|
|||||||
Gross
|
|||||||
Amortized
|
Unrealized
|
||||||
Cost
|
Losses
|
||||||
Fixed
Maturity Securities by Industry Concentration:
|
|||||||
Banking
|
$
|
261.2
|
$
|
17.7
|
|||
Finance
|
170.7
|
16.1
|
|||||
Basic
Industry
|
112.2
|
13.7
|
|||||
REIT
|
78.9
|
12.9
|
|||||
Other
(includes 14 industry groups)
|
1,286.6
|
65.6
|
|||||
Total
|
$
|
1,909.8
|
(d)
|
$
|
126.2
|
||
(d)
|
Represents
25.8% of the total fixed maturity securities
portfolio.
|
20
Gross
Unrealized Losses Stratified by Industry Concentration for Equity
Securities
|
March 31,
2009
|
||||||||
Gross
|
||||||||
Adjusted
|
Unrealized
|
|||||||
Cost
(g)
|
Losses
|
|||||||
Equity
Securities by Industry Concentration:
|
||||||||
Insurance
|
$
|
107.1
|
$
|
74.8
|
||||
Index
Funds
|
217.6
|
68.3
|
||||||
Health
Care
|
25.3
|
4.2
|
||||||
Utilities
|
13.9
|
1.5
|
||||||
Total
|
$
|
364.0
|
(e)
|
$
|
148.9
|
(f)
|
||
(e)
|
Represents
97.5% of the total equity securities
portfolio.
|
(f)
|
|
Represents
39.9% of the adjusted cost of the total equity securities portfolio, while
gross unrealized gains represent 12.7% of the
portfolio.
|
(g)
|
Reported net
of other-than-temporary impairment
adjustments.
|
Gross
Unrealized Losses Stratified by Maturity Ranges for All Fixed Maturity
Securities
|
March 31,
2009
|
|||||||||||||
Amortized
Cost
|
|||||||||||||
of Fixed
Maturity Securities
|
Gross
Unrealized Losses
|
||||||||||||
Non-
|
Non-
|
||||||||||||
Investment
|
Investment
|
||||||||||||
All
|
Grade
Only
|
All
|
Grade
Only
|
||||||||||
Maturity
Ranges:
|
|||||||||||||
Due in one
year or less
|
$
|
281.7
|
$
|
30.7
|
$
|
4.3
|
$
|
.3
|
|||||
Due after one
year through five years
|
1,007.6
|
66.2
|
71.6
|
12.8
|
|||||||||
Due after
five years through ten years
|
742.3
|
25.8
|
68.6
|
5.2
|
|||||||||
Due after ten
years
|
.8
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||
Total
|
$
|
2,032.6
|
$
|
122.7
|
$
|
144.7
|
$
|
18.4
|
|||||
21
Gross
Unrealized Losses Stratified by Duration and Amount of Unrealized
Losses
|
March 31,
2009
|
||||||||||||||
Amount of
Gross Unrealized Losses
|
||||||||||||||
Less
than
|
Total
Gross
|
|||||||||||||
20%
of
|
20% to
50%
|
More
than
|
Unrealized
|
|||||||||||
Cost
|
of
Cost
|
50% of
Cost
|
Loss
|
|||||||||||
Number of
Months in Loss Position:
|
||||||||||||||
Fixed
Maturity Securities:
|
||||||||||||||
One to six
months
|
$
|
18.9
|
$
|
3.2
|
$
|
3.3
|
$
|
25.6
|
||||||
Seven to
twelve months
|
44.3
|
12.8
|
3.1
|
60.3
|
||||||||||
More than
twelve months
|
28.4
|
30.2
|
-
|
58.7
|
||||||||||
Total
|
$
|
91.8
|
$
|
46.3
|
$
|
6.5
|
$
|
144.7
|
||||||
Equity
Securities:
|
||||||||||||||
One to six
months
|
$
|
9.4
|
$
|
23.1
|
$
|
74.7
|
$
|
107.2
|
||||||
Seven to
twelve months
|
-
|
41.4
|
-
|
41.4
|
||||||||||
More than
twelve months
|
-
|
.1
|
-
|
.1
|
||||||||||
Total
|
$
|
9.4
|
$
|
64.7
|
$
|
74.7
|
$
|
148.9
|
||||||
Number of
Issues in Loss Position:
|
||||||||||||||
Fixed
Maturity Securities:
|
||||||||||||||
One to six
months
|
116
|
4
|
1
|
121
|
||||||||||
Seven to
twelve months
|
183
|
8
|
2
|
193
|
||||||||||
More than
twelve months
|
93
|
19
|
-
|
112
|
||||||||||
Total
|
392
|
31
|
3
|
426
|
(h)
|
|||||||||
Equity
Securities:
|
||||||||||||||
One to six
months
|
4
|
2
|
2
|
8
|
||||||||||
Seven to
twelve months
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
2
|
||||||||||
More than
twelve months
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
1
|
||||||||||
Total
|
4
|
5
|
2
|
11
|
(h)
|
|||||||||
(h)
|
At March 31,
2009 the number of issues in an unrealized loss position represent 21.5%
as to fixed maturities, and 68.8% as to equity securities of the total
number of such issues held by the
Company.
|
The aging of issues
with unrealized losses employs closing market price comparisons with an issue’s
original cost net of other-than-temporary impairment adjustments. The percentage
reduction from such adjusted cost reflects the decline as of a specific point in
time (March 31, 2009 in the above table) and, accordingly, is not indicative of
a security’s value having been consistently below its cost at the percentages
and throughout the periods shown.
Age
Distribution of Fixed Maturity
Securities
|
March
31,
|
December
31,
|
|||||||
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
Maturity
Ranges:
|
||||||||
Due in one
year or less
|
13.5
|
%
|
14.0
|
%
|
||||
Due after one
year through five years
|
52.3
|
51.0
|
||||||
Due after
five years through ten years
|
33.8
|
34.7
|
||||||
Due after ten
years through fifteen years
|
.4
|
.3
|
||||||
Due after
fifteen years
|
-
|
-
|
||||||
Total
|
100.0
|
%
|
100.0
|
%
|
||||
Average
Maturity in Years
|
4.4
|
4.4
|
||||||
Duration
(i)
|
3.7
|
3.7
|
||||||
|
(i)
|
Duration is
used as a measure of bond price sensitivity to interest rate changes. A
duration of 3.7 as of March 31, 2009 implies that a 100 basis point
parallel increase in interest rates from current levels would result in a
possible decline in the market value of the long-term fixed maturity
investment portfolio of approximately
3.7%.
|
22
Composition
of Unrealized Gains (Losses)
|
March
31,
|
December
31,
|
||||||
2009
|
2008
|
||||||
Fixed
Maturity Securities:
|
|||||||
Amortized
cost
|
$
|
7,391.3
|
$
|
7,385.2
|
|||
Estimated
fair value
|
7,496.4
|
7,406.9
|
|||||
Gross
unrealized gains
|
249.8
|
196.8
|
|||||
Gross
unrealized losses
|
(144.7)
|
(175.0)
|
|||||
Net
unrealized gains (losses)
|
$
|
105.0
|
$
|
21.7
|
|||
Equity
Securities:
|
|||||||
Original
cost
|
$
|
729.2
|
$
|
729.2
|
|||
Impaired
cost
|
373.3
|
373.3
|
|||||
Estimated
fair value
|
271.9
|
350.3
|
|||||
Gross
unrealized gains
|
47.4
|
49.6
|
|||||
Gross
unrealized losses
|
(148.9)
|
(72.7)
|
|||||
Net
unrealized gains (losses)
|
$
|
(101.4)
|
$
|
(23.0)
|
Other
Assets - Among other major assets, substantially all of the Company’s
receivables are not past due. Reinsurance recoverable balances on paid or
estimated unpaid losses are deemed recoverable from solvent reinsurers or have
otherwise been reduced by allowances for estimated amounts unrecoverable.
Deferred policy acquisition costs are estimated by taking into account the
variable costs of producing specific types of insurance policies, and evaluating
their recoverability on the basis of recent trends in claims costs. The
Company’s deferred policy acquisition cost balances have not fluctuated
substantially from period-to-period and do not represent significant percentages
of assets or shareholders’ equity.
Liquidity - The parent holding company
meets its liquidity and capital needs principally through dividends paid by its
subsidiaries. From time to time additional cash needs are also met by accessing
Old Republic’s commercial paper program and/or debt and equity capital markets.
The insurance subsidiaries' ability to pay cash dividends to the parent company
is generally restricted by law or subject to approval of the insurance
regulatory authorities of the states in which they are domiciled. The Company
can receive up to $245.7 in dividends from its subsidiaries in 2009 without the
prior approval of regulatory authorities. The liquidity achievable through such
permitted dividend payments is considered adequate to cover the parent holding
company’s currently expected cash outflows represented mostly by interest and
scheduled repayments on outstanding debt, quarterly cash dividend payments to
shareholders, modest operating expenses at the holding company, and the
near-term capital needs of its operating company subsidiaries. Old Republic can
currently access the commercial paper market for up to $215.0, of which $190.0
was outstanding at March 31, 2009, to meet unanticipated liquidity
needs.
Capitalization - Old Republic’s total
capitalization of $3,864.4 at March 31, 2009 consisted of debt of $221.1 and
common shareholders' equity of $3,643.2. Changes in the common shareholders’
equity account reflect primarily operating results for the period then ended,
dividend payments, and changes in market valuations of invested assets. Old
Republic has paid cash dividends to its shareholders without interruption since
1942, and has increased the annual rate in each of the past 27 calendar years.
The dividend rate is reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors on a
quarterly basis throughout each year. In establishing each year’s cash dividend
rate the Company does not follow a strict formulaic approach. Rather, it favors
a gradual rise in the annual dividend rate that is largely reflective of
long-term consolidated operating earnings trends. Accordingly, each year’s
dividend rate is set judgmentally in consideration of such key factors as the
dividend paying capacity of the Company’s insurance subsidiaries, the trends in
average annual statutory and GAAP earnings for the five most recent calendar
years, and management’s long-term expectations for the Company’s consolidated
business.
Under state
insurance regulations, the Company’s mortgage guaranty insurance subsidiaries
are required to operate at a maximum risk to capital ratio of 25:1. If a
company’s risk to capital ratio exceeds the limit, it may be prohibited from
writing new business until its risk to capital ratio falls below the limit. At
March 31, 2009, the statutory risk to capital ratio was 18.6:1 on a combined
basis. All of the segment’s mortgage guaranty insurance companies were within
the 25:1 requirement. A continuation of operating losses could further reduce
statutory surplus thus increasing the risk to capital ratio. Old Republic
invested $150.0 of capital in its mortgage guaranty segment during the fourth
quarter of 2008. The Company evaluates the trends in this ratio on a quarterly
basis to determine the necessity of possible capital additions.
As of year-end
2008, additional capital funds of $35.0 were directed to the title insurance
segment to support the expected growth of its business as part of the Old
Republic’s capital management program.
The Company has
access to various capital resources including dividends from its subsidiaries,
holding company investments, undrawn capacity under its commercial paper
program, and access to debt and equity capital markets. At March 31, 2009, the
Company’s consolidated debt to equity ratio was 6.1%. This relatively low level
of financial leverage
23
provides the
Company with additional borrowing capacity to meet its capital
commitments.
RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS
|
Revenues: Premiums
& Fees
|
Pursuant to GAAP
applicable to the insurance industry, revenues are associated with the related
benefits, claims, and expenses.
Substantially all
general insurance premiums are reflected in income on a pro-rata basis. Earned
but unbilled premiums are generally taken into income on the billing date, while
adjustments for retrospective premiums, commissions and similar charges or
credits are accrued on the basis of periodic evaluations of current underwriting
experience and contractual obligations.
The Company’s
mortgage guaranty premiums primarily stem from monthly installment policies.
Accordingly, substantially all such premiums are generally written and earned in
the month coverage is effective. With respect to annual or single premium
policies, earned premiums are largely recognized on a pro-rata basis over the
terms of the policies.
Title premium and
fee revenues stemming from the Company’s direct operations (which include branch
offices of its title insurers and wholly owned agency subsidiaries) represent
43.5% of 2009 consolidated title business revenues. Such premiums are generally
recognized as income at the escrow closing date which approximates the policy
effective date. Fee income related to escrow and other closing services is
recognized when the related services have been performed and completed. The
remaining 56.5% of consolidated title premium and fee revenues is produced by
independent title agents and underwritten title companies. Rather than making
estimates that could be subject to significant variance from actual premium and
fee production, the Company recognizes revenues from those sources upon receipt.
Such receipts can reflect a three to four month lag relative to the effective
date of the underlying title policy, and are offset concurrently by production
expenses and claim reserve provisions.
The major sources
of Old Republic’s earned premiums and fees for the periods shown were as
follows:
Earned
Premiums and Fees
|
||||||||||||||||||||
%
Change
|
||||||||||||||||||||
from
prior
|
||||||||||||||||||||
General
|
Mortgage
|
Title
|
Other
|
Total
|
period
|
|||||||||||||||
Years Ended
December 31:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
2006
|
$
|
1,902.1
|
$
|
444.3
|
$
|
980.0
|
$
|
74.1
|
$
|
3,400.5
|
.4
|
%
|
||||||||
2007
|
2,155.1
|
518.2
|
850.7
|
77.0
|
3,601.2
|
5.9
|
||||||||||||||
2008
|
1,989.3
|
592.5
|
656.1
|
80.1
|
3,318.1
|
-7.9
|
||||||||||||||
Quarters
Ended March 31:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
2008
|
512.7
|
147.6
|
160.7
|
25.5
|
846.6
|
-2.7
|
||||||||||||||
2009
|
$
|
457.3
|
$
|
145.3
|
$
|
154.3
|
$
|
20.4
|
$
|
777.4
|
-8.2
|
%
|
The percentage
allocation of net premiums earned for major insurance coverages in the General
Insurance Group was as follows:
General
Insurance Earned Premiums by Type of Coverage
|
|||||||||||||||||
Commercial
|
Inland
|
||||||||||||||||
Automobile
|
Marine
|
||||||||||||||||
(mostly
|
Workers’
|
Financial
|
and
|
General
|
|||||||||||||
trucking)
|
Compensation
|
Indemnity
|
Property
|
Liability
|
Other
|
||||||||||||
Years Ended
December 31:
|
|||||||||||||||||
2006
|
39.6
|
%
|
21.7
|
%
|
11.0
|
%
|
10.7
|
%
|
5.1
|
%
|
11.9
|
%
|
|||||
2007
|
35.0
|
23.5
|
13.8
|
9.3
|
7.8
|
10.6
|
|||||||||||
2008
|
34.9
|
21.0
|
16.1
|
9.7
|
7.5
|
10.8
|
|||||||||||
Quarters
Ended March 31:
|
|||||||||||||||||
2008
|
34.0
|
22.1
|
16.9
|
9.5
|
7.8
|
9.7
|
|||||||||||
2009
|
35.2
|
%
|
22.5
|
%
|
14.5
|
%
|
9.7
|
%
|
8.5
|
%
|
9.6
|
%
|
24
The following
tables provide information on production and related risk exposure trends for
Old Republic’s Mortgage Guaranty Group:
Mortgage
Guaranty Production by Type
|
||||||||||||
Traditional
|
||||||||||||
New Insurance Written:
|
Primary
|
Bulk
|
Other
|
Total
|
||||||||
Years Ended
December 31:
|
||||||||||||
2006
|
$
|
17,187.0
|
$
|
13,716.7
|
$
|
583.7
|
$
|
31,487.5
|
||||
2007
|
31,841.7
|
10,800.3
|
901.6
|
43,543.7
|
||||||||
2008
|
20,861.9
|
3.5
|
1,123.5
|
21,989.0
|
||||||||
Quarters
Ended March 31:
|
||||||||||||
2008
|
7,866.9
|
3.5
|
481.0
|
8,351.6
|
||||||||
2009
|
$
|
2,212.0
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
.5
|
$
|
2,212.6
|
||||
Traditional
|
||||||||||||
New Risk Written by Type:
|
Primary
|
Bulk
|
Other
|
Total
|
||||||||
Years Ended
December 31:
|
||||||||||||
2006
|
$
|
4,246.8
|
$
|
1,146.6
|
$
|
12.2
|
$
|
5,405.7
|
||||
2007
|
7,844.5
|
724.5
|
15.2
|
8,584.4
|
||||||||
2008
|
4,815.0
|
.6
|
11.8
|
4,827.5
|
||||||||
Quarters
Ended March 31:
|
||||||||||||
2008
|
1,837.9
|
.6
|
4.8
|
1,843.4
|
||||||||
2009
|
$
|
468.4
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
468.4
|
Earned
Premiums
|
Persistency
|
|||||||||||
Premium and Persistency Trends by
Type:
|
Traditional
|
|||||||||||
Years Ended
December 31:
|
Direct
|
Net
|
Primary
|
Bulk
|
||||||||
2006
|
$
|
524.7
|
$
|
444.3
|
73.1
|
%
|
70.5
|
%
|
||||
2007
|
612.7
|
518.2
|
77.6
|
73.7
|
||||||||
2008
|
698.4
|
592.5
|
83.9
|
88.4
|
||||||||
Quarters
Ended March 31:
|
||||||||||||
2008
|
174.2
|
147.6
|
78.3
|
77.5
|
||||||||
2009
|
$
|
170.3
|
$
|
145.3
|
83.3
|
%
|
89.7
|
%
|
While there is no
consensus in the marketplace as to the precise definition of “sub-prime”, Old
Republic generally views loans with credit (FICO) scores less than 620, loans
underwritten with reduced levels of documentation and loans with loan to value
ratios in excess of 95% as having a higher risk of default. Risk in force
concentrations by these attributes are disclosed in the following tables for
both traditional primary and bulk production. Premium rates for loans exhibiting
greater risk attributes are typically higher in anticipation of potentially
greater defaults and claim costs. Additionally, bulk insurance policies, which
represent 9.0% of total net risk in force, are frequently subject to deductibles
and aggregate stop losses which serve to limit the overall risk on a pool of
insured loans. As the decline in the housing markets has accelerated and
mortgage lending standards have tightened, rising defaults and the attendant
increases in reserves and paid claims on higher risk loans have become more
significant drivers of increased claim costs.
Net Risk in
Force
|
||||||||||||
Traditional
|
||||||||||||
Net Risk in Force By Type:
|
Primary
|
Bulk
|
Other
|
Total
|
||||||||
Years Ended
December 31:
|
||||||||||||
2006
|
$
|
14,582.1
|
$
|
2,471.1
|
$
|
578.9
|
$
|
17,632.2
|
||||
2007
|
18,808.5
|
2,539.9
|
511.1
|
21,859.5
|
||||||||
2008
|
20,463.0
|
2,055.0
|
457.0
|
22,975.1
|
||||||||
Quarters
Ended March 31:
|
||||||||||||
2008
|
19,747.0
|
2,299.4
|
500.4
|
22,547.0
|
||||||||
2009
|
$
|
19,809.1
|
$
|
2,006.8
|
$
|
386.7
|
$
|
22,202.7
|
25
Analysis of
Risk in Force
|
||||||||||||
FICO
|
||||||||||||
FICO
less
|
FICO
620
|
Greater
|
Unscored/
|
|||||||||
Risk in Force Distribution By FICO
Scores:
|
than
620
|
to
680
|
than
680
|
Unavailable
|
||||||||
Traditional Primary:
|
||||||||||||
As of
December 31:
|
||||||||||||
2006
|
8.5
|
%
|
32.6
|
%
|
54.6
|
%
|
4.3
|
%
|
||||
2007
|
8.5
|
33.6
|
55.1
|
2.8
|
||||||||
2008
|
7.0
|
30.5
|
60.5
|
2.0
|
||||||||
As of March
31:
|
||||||||||||
2008
|
8.0
|
32.9
|
56.5
|
2.6
|
||||||||
2009
|
6.8
|
%
|
30.2
|
%
|
61.2
|
%
|
1.8
|
%
|
||||
Bulk(a):
|
||||||||||||
As of
December 31:
|
||||||||||||
2006
|
24.1
|
%
|
35.7
|
%
|
39.8
|
%
|
.4
|
%
|
||||
2007
|
19.4
|
34.9
|
45.4
|
.3
|
||||||||
2008
|
18.2
|
33.7
|
47.9
|
.2
|
||||||||
As of March
31:
|
||||||||||||
2008
|
19.5
|
34.1
|
46.2
|
.2
|
||||||||
2009
|
18.0
|
%
|
33.7
|
%
|
48.1
|
%
|
.2
|
%
|
LTV
|
||||||||||||
LTV
less
|
LTV
|
LTV
|
Greater
|
|||||||||
Risk in Force Distribution By Loan to Value
(“LTV”) Ratio:
|
than
85
|
85 to
90
|
90 to
95
|
than
95
|
||||||||
Traditional Primary:
|
||||||||||||
As of
December 31:
|
||||||||||||
2006
|
5.0
|
%
|
37.4
|
%
|
36.0
|
%
|
21.6
|
%
|
||||
2007
|
4.7
|
34.4
|
32.0
|
28.9
|
||||||||
2008
|
5.1
|
35.5
|
31.6
|
27.8
|
||||||||
As of March
31:
|
||||||||||||
2008
|
5.0
|
34.3
|
31.5
|
29.2
|
||||||||
2009
|
5.2
|
%
|
35.8
|
%
|
31.4
|
%
|
27.6
|
%
|
||||
Bulk(a):
|
||||||||||||
As of
December 31:
|
||||||||||||
2006
|
63.4
|
%
|
23.1
|
%
|
9.0
|
%
|
4.5
|
%
|
||||
2007
|
62.0
|
20.9
|
9.3
|
7.8
|
||||||||
2008
|
63.5
|
20.1
|
8.6
|
7.8
|
||||||||
As of March
31:
|
||||||||||||
2008
|
62.2
|
20.9
|
9.0
|
7.9
|
||||||||
2009
|
64.0
|
%
|
19.8
|
%
|
8.4
|
%
|
7.8
|
%
|
Risk in Force Distribution
By Top Ten States:
Traditional
Primary
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
FL
|
TX
|
GA
|
IL
|
OH
|
CA
|
NJ
|
VA
|
NC
|
PA
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
As of
December 31:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2006
|
9.0
|
%
|
7.5
|
%
|
5.8
|
%
|
5.4
|
%
|
3.7
|
%
|
3.1
|
%
|
3.1
|
%
|
2.8
|
%
|
4.8
|
%
|
4.0
|
%
|
||||||||||
2007
|
8.9
|
7.7
|
5.3
|
5.2
|
3.4
|
4.5
|
3.1
|
2.8
|
4.5
|
3.8
|
||||||||||||||||||||
2008
|
8.3
|
8.1
|
5.2
|
5.2
|
3.2
|
5.5
|
3.1
|
2.9
|
4.4
|
3.8
|
||||||||||||||||||||
As of March
31:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2008
|
8.8
|
7.8
|
5.2
|
5.1
|
3.3
|
5.1
|
3.1
|
2.9
|
4.4
|
3.7
|
||||||||||||||||||||
2009
|
8.3
|
%
|
8.1
|
%
|
5.2
|
%
|
5.1
|
%
|
3.1
|
%
|
5.7
|
%
|
3.1
|
%
|
2.9
|
%
|
4.3
|
%
|
3.9
|
%
|
||||||||||
(a)
|
Bulk pool
risk in-force, which represented 45.7% of total bulk risk in-force at
March 31, 2009, has been allocated pro-rata based on insurance
in-force.
|
26
Bulk
(a)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
FL
|
TX
|
GA
|
IL
|
OH
|
CA
|
NJ
|
AZ
|
CO
|
NY
|
||||||||||||||||||||
As of
December 31:
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2006
|
9.4
|
%
|
4.8
|
%
|
3.6
|
%
|
4.5
|
%
|
3.4
|
%
|
17.7
|
%
|
3.2
|
%
|
4.4
|
%
|
2.8
|
%
|
4.6
|
%
|
|||||||||
2007
|
9.3
|
4.8
|
4.2
|
4.1
|
3.1
|
17.5
|
3.4
|
4.2
|
3.0
|
5.5
|
|||||||||||||||||||
2008
|
10.0
|
4.6
|
4.0
|
3.9
|
3.1
|
18.2
|
3.4
|
4.3
|
2.9
|
5.4
|
|||||||||||||||||||
As of March
31:
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2008
|
9.5
|
4.6
|
4.1
|
4.0
|
3.1
|
18.0
|
3.4
|
4.3
|
3.0
|
5.3
|
|||||||||||||||||||
2009
|
10.1
|
%
|
4.6
|
%
|
4.0
|
%
|
3.9
|
%
|
3.1
|
%
|
18.2
|
%
|
3.5
|
%
|
4.3
|
%
|
3.0
|
%
|
5.4
|
%
|
Full
|
Reduced
|
|||||
Risk in Force Distribution By Level of
Documentation:
|
Docu-
|
Docu-
|
||||
mentation
|
mentation
|
|||||
Traditional Primary:
|
||||||
As of
December 31:
|
||||||
2006
|
89.4
|
%
|
10.6
|
%
|
||
2007
|
88.0
|
12.0
|
||||
2008
|
90.0
|
10.0
|
||||
As of March
31:
|
||||||
2008
|
88.2
|
11.8
|
||||
2009
|
90.1
|
%
|
9.9
|
%
|
||
Bulk (a):
|
||||||
As of
December 31:
|
||||||
2006
|
51.9
|
%
|
48.1
|
%
|
||
2007
|
49.6
|
50.4
|
||||
2008
|
49.1
|
50.9
|
||||
As of March
31:
|
||||||
2008
|
49.9
|
50.1
|
||||
2009
|
49.0
|
%
|
51.0
|
%
|
Risk in Force Distribution By Loan
Type:
|
Fixed
|
Adjustable
|
|||||
Rate
|
Rate
|
||||||
Traditional Primary:
|
|||||||
As of
December 31:
|
|||||||
2006
|
92.3
|
%
|
7.7
|
%
|
|||
2007
|
94.4
|
5.6
|
|||||
2008
|
95.8
|
4.2
|
|||||
As of March
31:
|
|||||||
2008
|
94.9
|
5.1
|
|||||
2009
|
95.8
|
%
|
4.2
|
%
|
|||
Bulk (a):
|
|||||||
As of
December 31:
|
|||||||
2006
|
65.7
|
%
|
34.3
|
%
|
|||
2007
|
70.9
|
29.1
|
|||||
2008
|
74.4
|
25.6
|
|||||
As of March
31:
|
|||||||
2008
|
71.7
|
28.3
|
|||||
2009
|
74.8
|
%
|
25.2
|
%
|
|||
(a)
|
Bulk pool
risk in-force, which represented 45.7% of total bulk risk in-force at
March 31, 2009, has been allocated pro-rata based on insurance
in-force.
|
27
The following table
shows the percentage distribution of Title Group premium and fee revenues by
production sources:
Title Premium
and Fee Production by Source
|
||||||
Independent
|
||||||
Title
|
||||||
Direct
|
Agents
&
|
|||||
Operations
|
Other
|
|||||
Years Ended
December 31:
|
||||||
2006
|
32.3
|
%
|
67.7
|
%
|
||
2007
|
32.1
|
67.9
|
||||
2008
|
36.8
|
63.2
|
||||
Quarters
Ended March 31:
|
||||||
2008
|
34.2
|
65.8
|
||||
2009
|
43.5
|
%
|
56.5
|
%
|
Revenues:
Net Investment Income
|
Net investment
income is affected by trends in interest and dividend yields for the types of
securities in which the Company’s funds are invested during each reporting
period. The following tables reflect the segmented and consolidated invested
asset bases as of the indicated dates, and the investment income earned and
resulting yields on such assets. Since the Company can exercise little control
over fair values, yields are evaluated on the basis of investment income earned
in relation to the cost of the underlying invested assets, though yields based
on the fair values of such assets are also shown in the statistics
below.
Fair
|
Invested
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Invested
Assets at Adjusted Cost
|
Value
|
Assets
at
|
||||||||||||||||||
Corporate
|
Adjust-
|
Fair
|
||||||||||||||||||
General
|
Mortgage
|
Title
|
and
Other
|
Total
|
ment
|
Value
|
||||||||||||||
As of
December 31:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
2007
|
$
|
5,984.9
|
$
|
1,795.8
|
$
|
606.0
|
$
|
252.9
|
$
|
8,639.7
|
$
|
121.4
|
$
|
8,761.2
|
||||||
2008
|
5,618.7
|
2,099.7
|
545.8
|
417.5
|
8,681.8
|
1.0
|
8,682.9
|
|||||||||||||
As of March
31:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
2008
|
6,018.1
|
1,885.5
|
599.4
|
256.3
|
8,759.5
|
(46.6)
|
8,712.8
|
|||||||||||||
2009
|
$
|
5,625.9
|
$
|
2,354.9
|
$
|
564.0
|
$
|
338.9
|
$
|
8,883.9
|
$
|
1.2
|
$
|
8,885.2
|
Net
Investment Income
|
Yield
at
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Corporate
|
Original
|
Fair
|
||||||||||||||||||
General
|
Mortgage
|
Title
|
and
Other
|
Total
|
Cost
|
Value
|
||||||||||||||
Years
Ended
|
||||||||||||||||||||
December
31:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
2006
|
$
|
221.5
|
$
|
74.3
|
$
|
26.9
|
$
|
18.7
|
$
|
341.6
|
4.52
|
%
|
4.47
|
%
|
||||||
2007
|
260.8
|
79.0
|
27.3
|
12.7
|
379.9
|
4.58
|
4.52
|
|||||||||||||
2008
|
253.6
|
86.8
|
25.1
|
11.6
|
377.3
|
4.27
|
4.33
|
|||||||||||||
Quarters
Ended
|
||||||||||||||||||||
March
31:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
2008
|
64.5
|
21.5
|
6.4
|
2.7
|
95.2
|
4.38
|
4.36
|
|||||||||||||
2009
|
$
|
63.4
|
$
|
22.4
|
$
|
5.8
|
$
|
1.6
|
$
|
93.4
|
4.09
|
%
|
4.25
|
%
|
Revenues:
Net Realized Gains (Losses)
|
The Company's
investment policies have not been designed to maximize or emphasize the
realization of investment gains. Rather, these policies aim for a stable source
of income from interest and dividends, protection of capital, and the providing
of sufficient liquidity to meet insurance underwriting and other obligations as
they become payable in the future. Dispositions of fixed maturity securities
arise mostly from scheduled maturities and early calls; for the first quarters
of 2009 and 2008, 96.8% and 92.1%, respectively, of all such dispositions
resulted from these occurrences. Dispositions of securities at a realized gain
or loss reflect such factors as ongoing assessments of issuers’ business
prospects, rotation among industry sectors, changes in credit quality, and tax
planning considerations. Additionally, the amount of net realized gains and
losses registered in any one accounting period are affected by the
aforementioned assessments of securities’ values for other-than-temporary
impairment. As a result of the interaction of all these factors and
considerations, net realized investment gains or losses can vary significantly
from period-to-period, and in the Company’s view are not indicative of any
particular trend or result in the basics of its insurance business.
The following table
reflects the composition of net realized gains or losses for the periods shown.
A significant portion of Old Republic’s indexed stock portfolio was sold at a
gain during 2007, with proceeds redirected to a more concentrated, select list
of common stocks expected to provide greater long-term total
returns.
28
Realized
Gains (Losses) on
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Disposition
of Securities
|
Impairment
Losses on Securities
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Equity
|
Equity
|
|||||||||||||||||||
securities
|
securities
|
Net
|
||||||||||||||||||
Fixed
|
and
miscell-
|
Fixed
|
and
miscell-
|
realized
|
||||||||||||||||
maturity
|
aneous
|
maturity
|
aneous
|
gains
|
||||||||||||||||
securities
|
investments
|
Total
|
securities
|
investments
|
Total
|
(losses)
|
||||||||||||||
Years
Ended
|
||||||||||||||||||||
December
31:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
2006
|
$
|
2.0
|
$
|
16.9
|
$
|
19.0
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
19.0
|
||||||
2007
|
2.2
|
68.1
|
70.3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
70.3
|
|||||||||||||
2008
|
(25.0)
|
20.9
|
(4.1)
|
(11.5)
|
(470.7)
|
(482.3)
|
(486.4)
|
|||||||||||||
Quarters
Ended
|
||||||||||||||||||||
March
31:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
2008
|
1.0
|
(.1)
|
.9
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
.9
|
|||||||||||||
2009
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
Expenses:
Benefits and Claims
|
In order to achieve
a necessary matching of premium and fee revenues and expenses, the Company
records the benefits, claims and related settlement costs that have been
incurred during each accounting period. Total claim costs are affected by the
amount of paid claims and the adequacy of reserve estimates established for
current and prior years’ claim occurrences at each balance sheet
date.
The following table
shows a breakdown of gross and net of reinsurance claim reserve estimates for
major types of insurance coverages as of March 31, 2009 and December 31,
2008:
Claim
and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves
|
||||||||||||
March 31,
2009
|
December 31,
2008
|
|||||||||||
Gross
|
Net
|
Gross
|
Net
|
|||||||||
Commercial
automobile (mostly trucking)
|
$
|
1,036.1
|
$
|
849.3
|
$
|
1,035.7
|
$
|
849.8
|
||||
Workers’
compensation
|
2,234.3
|
1,274.0
|
2,241.6
|
1,271.8
|
||||||||
General
liability
|
1,240.6
|
624.8
|
1,209.2
|
612.3
|
||||||||
Other
coverages
|
679.0
|
460.0
|
709.7
|
487.9
|
||||||||
Unallocated
loss adjustment expense reserves
|
135.4
|
105.1
|
150.6
|
104.9
|
||||||||
Total general
insurance reserves
|
5,325.7
|
3,313.4
|
5,346.9
|
3,326.9
|
||||||||
Mortgage
guaranty
|
1,794.7
|
1,515.3
|
1,581.7
|
1,380.6
|
||||||||
Title
|
255.3
|
255.3
|
261.2
|
261.2
|
||||||||
Life and
health
|
31.3
|
24.4
|
28.1
|
22.2
|
||||||||
Unallocated
loss adjustment expense reserves -
|
||||||||||||
other
coverages
|
23.4
|
23.4
|
23.2
|
23.2
|
||||||||
Total claim
and loss adjustment expense reserves
|
$
|
7,430.6
|
$
|
5,132.0
|
$
|
7,241.3
|
$
|
5,014.2
|
||||
Asbestosis
and environmental claim reserves included
|
||||||||||||
in the above
general insurance reserves:
|
||||||||||||
Amount
|
$
|
180.9
|
$
|
142.6
|
$
|
172.4
|
$
|
145.0
|
||||
% of total
general insurance reserves
|
3.4%
|
4.3%
|
3.2%
|
4.4%
|
The Company’s
reserve for loss and loss adjustment expenses represents the accumulation of
estimates of ultimate losses, including incurred but not reported losses and
loss adjustment expenses. The establishment of claim reserves by the Company’s
insurance subsidiaries is a reasonably complex and dynamic process influenced by
a large variety of factors as further discussed below. Consequently, reserves
established are a reflection of the opinions of a large number of persons, of
the application and interpretation of historical precedent and trends, of
expectations as to future developments, and of management’s judgment in
interpreting all such factors. At any point in time the Company is exposed to
possibly higher or lower than anticipated claim costs and the resulting changes
in estimates are recorded in operations of the periods during which they are
made. Increases to prior reserve estimates are often referred to as unfavorable
development whereas any changes that decrease previous estimates of the
Company’s ultimate liability are referred to as favorable
development.
Overview
of Loss Reserving Process
Most of Old
Republic’s consolidated claim and related expense reserves stem from its general
insurance business. At March 31, 2009, such reserves accounted for 71.7%
and 64.6% of consolidated gross and net of reinsurance
29
reserves,
respectively, while similar reserves at December 31, 2008 represented 73.8% and
66.3% of the respective consolidated amounts.
The Company’s
reserve setting process reflects the nature of its insurance business and the
decentralized basis upon which it is conducted. Old Republic’s general insurance operations
encompass a large variety of lines or classes of commercial insurance; it has
negligible exposure to personal lines such as homeowners or private passenger
automobile insurance that exhibit wide diversification of risks, significant
frequency of claim occurrences, and high degrees of statistical credibility.
Additionally, the Company’s insurance subsidiaries do not provide significant
amounts of insurance protection for premises; most of its property insurance
exposures relate to cargo, incidental property, and insureds’ inland marine
assets. Consequently, the wide variety of policies issued and commercial
insurance customers served require that loss reserves be analyzed and
established in the context of the unique or different attributes of each block
or class of business produced by the Company. For example, accident liability
claims emanating from insured trucking companies or from general aviation
customers become known relatively quickly, whereas claims of a general liability
nature arising from the building activities of a construction company may emerge
over extended periods of time. Similarly, claims filed pursuant to errors and
omissions or directors and officers’ (“E&O/D&O”) liability coverages are
usually not prone to immediate evaluation or quantification inasmuch as many
such claims may be litigated over several years and their ultimate costs may be
affected by the vagaries of judged or jury verdicts. Approximately 84% of the
general insurance
group’s claim reserves stem from liability insurance coverages for commercial
customers which typically require more extended periods of investigation and at
times protracted litigation before they are finally settled. As a consequence of
these and other factors, Old Republic does not utilize a single, overarching
loss reserving approach.
The Company
prepares periodic analyses of its loss reserve estimates for its significant
insurance coverages. It establishes point estimates for most losses on an
insurance coverage line-by-line basis for individual subsidiaries, sub-classes,
individual accounts, blocks of business or other unique concentrations of
insurance risks such as directors and officers’ liability, that have similar
attributes. Actuarially or otherwise derived ranges of reserve levels are not
utilized as such in setting these reserves. Instead the reported reserves
encompass the Company’s best point estimates at each reporting date and the
overall reserve level at any point in time therefore represents the compilation
of a very large number of reported reserve estimates and the results of a
variety of formula calculations largely driven by statistical analysis of
historical data. Reserve releases or additions are implicitly covered by the
point estimates incorporated in total reserves at each balance sheet date. The
Company does not project future variability or make an explicit provision for
uncertainty when determining its best estimate of loss reserves, although, as
discussed below, over the most recent ten-year period management’s estimates
have developed slightly favorably on an overall basis.
Aggregate loss
reserves consist of liability estimates for claims that have been reported
(“case”) to the Company’s insurance subsidiaries and reserves for claims that
have been incurred but not yet reported (“IBNR”) or whose ultimate costs may not
become fully apparent until a future time. Additionally, the Company establishes
unallocated loss adjustment expense reserves for loss settlement costs that are
not directly related to individual claims. Such reserves are based on prior
years’ cost experience and trends, and are intended to cover the unallocated
costs of claim departments’ administration of case and IBNR claims over time.
Long-term, disability-type workers’ compensation reserves are discounted to
present value based on interest rates that range from 3.5% to 4.0%.
A large variety of
statistical analyses and formula calculations are utilized to provide for IBNR
claim costs as well as additional costs that can arise from such factors as
monetary and social inflation, changes in claims administration processes,
changes in reinsurance ceded and recoverability levels, and expected trends in
claim costs and related ratios. Typically, such formulas take into account
so-called link ratios that represent prior years’ patterns of incurred or paid
loss trends between succeeding years, or past experience relative to
progressions of the number of claims reported over time and ultimate average
costs per claim.
Overall, reserves
pertaining to several hundred large individual commercial insurance accounts
that exhibit sufficient statistical credibility, and at times may be subject to
retrospective premium rating plans or the utilization of varying levels or types
of self-insured retentions through captive insurers and similar risk management
mechanisms are established on an account by account basis using case reserves
and applicable formula-driven methods. Large account reserves are usually set
and analyzed for groups of coverages such as workers’ compensation, commercial
auto and general liability that are typically underwritten jointly for many
customers. For certain so-called long-tail categories of insurance such as
retained or assumed excess liability or excess workers’ compensation, officers
and directors’ liability, and commercial umbrella liability relative to which
claim development patterns are particularly long, more volatile, and immature in
their early stages of development, the Company judgmentally establishes the most
current accident years’ loss reserves on the basis of expected loss ratios. Such
expected loss ratios typically reflect currently estimated loss ratios from
prior accident years, adjusted for the effect of actual and anticipated rate
changes, actual and anticipated changes in coverage, reinsurance, mix of
business, and other anticipated changes in external factors such as trends in
loss costs or the legal and claims environment. Expected loss ratios are
generally used for the two to three most recent accident years depending on the
individual class or category of business. As actual claims data emerges in
succeeding interim and annual periods, the original accident year loss ratio
assumptions are validated or otherwise adjusted sequentially through the
application of statistical projection techniques such as the
Bornhuetter/Ferguson method which utilizes data from the more mature experience
of prior years to arrive at a likely indication of more recent years’ loss
trends and costs.
30
Mortgage
guaranty insurance loss reserves are based
on statistical calculations that take into account the number of reported
insured mortgage loan defaults as of each balance sheet date, as well as
experience-based estimates of IBNR. Further, the loss reserve estimating process
also takes into account a large number of variables including trends in claim
severity, potential salvage recoveries, expected cure rates for reported loan
delinquencies at various stages of default, the level of policy rescissions for
non-compliance with terms of the master policy, and management judgments
relative to future employment levels, housing market activity, and mortgage loan
interest costs, demand, and extensions.
Title
insurance and related escrow
services loss and loss adjustment expense reserves are established as point
estimates to cover the projected settlement costs of known as well as IBNR
losses related to premium and escrow service revenues of each reporting period.
Reserves for known claims are based on an assessment of the facts available to
the Company during the settlement process. The point estimates covering all
claim reserves take into account IBNR claims based on past experience and
evaluations of such variables as changing trends in the types of policies
issued, changes in real estate markets and interest rate environments, and
changing levels of loan refinancing, all of which can have a bearing on the
emergence, number, and ultimate costs of claims.
Incurred
Loss Experience
Management is of
the opinion that the Company’s overall reserving practices have been
consistently applied over many years. For at least the past ten years,
previously established aggregate reserves have produced reasonable estimates of
the cumulative ultimate net costs of claims incurred. However, there are no
guarantees that such outcomes will continue, and accordingly, no representation
is made that ultimate net claim and related costs will not develop in future
years to be greater or lower than currently established reserve estimates. In
management’s opinion, however, such potential development is not likely to have
a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, although it
could affect materially its consolidated results of operations for any one
annual or interim reporting period. See further discussion in the Company’s 2008
Annual Report on Form 10-K under Item 1A - Risk Factors.
The percentage of net claims, benefits and
related settlement expenses incurred as a percentage of premiums and related fee
revenues of the Company’s three major operating segments and for its
consolidated results were as follows:
General
|
Mortgage
|
Title
|
Consolidated
|
|||||||||
Years Ended
December 31:
|
||||||||||||
2006
|
65.9
|
%
|
42.8
|
%
|
5.9
|
%
|
45.3
|
%
|
||||
2007
|
67.8
|
118.8
|
6.6
|
60.2
|
||||||||
2008
|
73.0
|
199.3
|
7.0
|
81.8
|
||||||||
Quarters
Ended March 31:
|
||||||||||||
2008
|
69.9
|
181.1
|
7.0
|
76.6
|
||||||||
2009
|
74.8
|
%
|
199.9
|
%
|
6.6
|
%
|
83.9
|
%
|
The percentage of
net claims, benefits and related settlement expenses measured against premiums
earned by major types of general insurance coverage
were as follows:
General
Insurance Claims Ratios by Type of Coverage
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Commercial
|
Inland
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Automobile
|
Marine
|
||||||||||||||||||||
All
|
(mostly
|
Workers’
|
Financial
|
and
|
General
|
||||||||||||||||
Coverages
|
trucking)
|
Compensation
|
Indemnity
|
Property
|
Liability
|
Other
|
|||||||||||||||
Years
Ended
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
December
31:
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
2006
|
65.9
|
%
|
75.4
|
%
|
74.5
|
%
|
40.6
|
%
|
55.0
|
%
|
57.5
|
%
|
55.6
|
%
|
|||||||
2007
|
67.8
|
74.0
|
70.9
|
69.6
|
54.9
|
59.9
|
55.9
|
||||||||||||||
2008
|
73.0
|
76.1
|
69.4
|
95.0
|
60.5
|
64.4
|
53.9
|
||||||||||||||
Quarters
Ended
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
March
31:
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
2008
|
69.9
|
73.5
|
70.1
|
88.5
|
48.6
|
65.3
|
54.7
|
||||||||||||||
2009
|
74.8
|
%
|
74.9
|
%
|
69.6
|
%
|
120.0
|
%
|
57.8
|
%
|
59.2
|
%
|
58.2
|
%
|
The overall general
insurance claims ratio reflects reasonably consistent trends for the past three
years. To a large extent this major cost factor reflects pricing and risk
selection improvements that have been applied since 2001, together with elements
of reduced loss severity and frequency. The higher claim ratio for financial
indemnity coverages in 2008, 2007, and in the first quarter 2009 was driven
principally by greater claim frequencies experienced in Old Republic’s consumer
credit indemnity coverage. During the three most recent calendar years, the
general insurance group
experienced favorable development of prior year loss reserves primarily due to
the commercial automobile and the E&O/D&O (financial indemnity) lines of
business; these were partially offset by unfavorable development in excess
workers’ compensation coverages and for ongoing development of asbestos and
environmental (“A&E”) exposures (general liability). Unfavorable
developments attributable to A&E claim reserves are due to periodic
re-evaluations of
31
such reserves as
well as subsequent reclassifications of other coverages’ reserves, typically
workers’ compensation, deemed assignable to A&E types of
losses.
Except for a small
portion that emanates from ongoing primary insurance operations, a large
majority of the A&E claim reserves posted by Old Republic stem mainly from
its participations in assumed reinsurance treaties and insurance pools which
were discontinued fifteen or more years ago and have since been in run-off
status. With respect to the primary portion of gross A&E reserves, Old
Republic administers the related claims through its claims personnel as well as
outside attorneys, and posted reserves reflect its best estimates of ultimate
claim costs. Claims administration for the assumed portion of the Company’s
A&E exposures is handled by the claims departments of unrelated primary or
ceding reinsurance companies. While the Company performs periodic reviews of
certain claim files managed by third parties, the overall A&E reserves it
establishes respond to the paid claim and case reserve activity reported to the
Company as well as available industry statistical data such as so-called
survival ratios. Such ratios represent the number of years’ average paid losses
for the three or five most recent calendar years that are encompassed by an
insurer’s A&E reserve level at any point in time. According to this
simplistic appraisal of an insurer’s A&E loss reserve level, Old Republic’s
average five year survival ratios stood at 8.7 years (gross) and 11.7 years (net
of reinsurance) as of March 31, 2009 and 7.3 years (gross) and 9.9 years (net of
reinsurance) as of December 31, 2008. Fluctuations in this ratio between years
can be caused by the inconsistent pay out patterns associated with these types
of claims. Incurred net losses for A&E claims have averaged 2.4% of general insurance group net
incurred losses for the five years ended December 31, 2008.
The mortgage guaranty claims
ratios have continued to rise in recent periods, principally as a result of
higher reserve positions and paid losses. Reserve additions have been increasing
as a result of higher levels of reported delinquencies as well as increased
expectations as to claim frequencies and severities. Claim severity has trended
upward primarily due to loans with larger unpaid principal balances and
corresponding risk becoming delinquent along with a lower level of mitigation
potential due to housing depreciation trends. Expectations of greater claim
frequency are impacted by several factors, including the number of loans
entering into default, the outlook for the housing market, tightening lending
standards which affect borrowers’ ability to refinance troubled loans, the aging
of the bulk business, and the overall declining state of the
economy.
Average mortgage guaranty paid
claims, and certain delinquency ratio data as of the end of the periods shown
are listed below:
Average Paid
Claim
|
|||||||||||||
Amount
(a)
|
Delinquency
Ratio
|
||||||||||||
Traditional
|
Traditional
|
||||||||||||
Primary
|
Bulk
|
Primary
|
Bulk
|
||||||||||
Years Ended
December 31:
|
|||||||||||||
2006
|
$
|
25,989
|
$
|
21,846
|
4.41
|
%
|
3.29
|
%
|
|||||
2007
|
32,214
|
34,951
|
5.47
|
6.85
|
|||||||||
2008
|
43,532
|
56,481
|
10.34
|
17.17
|
|||||||||
Quarters
Ended March 31:
|
|||||||||||||
2008
|
39,311
|
48,762
|
5.79
|
9.13
|
|||||||||
2009
|
$
|
48,968
|
$
|
61,806
|
11.47
|
%
|
21.71
|
%
|
|||||
(a)
|
Amounts are
in whole dollars.
|
Traditional
Primary Delinquency Ratios for Top Ten States (b):
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
FL
|
TX
|
GA
|
IL
|
OH
|
CA
|
NJ
|
VA
|
NC
|
PA
|
||||||||||||||||||||
As of
December 31:
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2006
|
2.7
|
%
|
4.5
|
%
|
6.1
|
%
|
4.5
|
%
|
7.8
|
%
|
2.9
|
%
|
4.1
|
%
|
2.6
|
%
|
4.6
|
%
|
4.8
|
%
|
|||||||||
2007
|
7.7
|
4.5
|
7.2
|
5.4
|
8.1
|
6.7
|
5.4
|
4.1
|
4.8
|
5.2
|
|||||||||||||||||||
2008
|
21.9
|
7.1
|
11.1
|
10.8
|
11.0
|
19.8
|
11.4
|
8.1
|
7.6
|
7.7
|
|||||||||||||||||||
As of March
31:
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2008
|
10.0
|
4.3
|
7.2
|
5.9
|
7.8
|
8.8
|
5.9
|
4.3
|
4.3
|
5.2
|
|||||||||||||||||||
2009
|
25.4
|
%
|
6.9
|
%
|
12.1
|
%
|
12.2
|
%
|
11.4
|
%
|
23.7
|
%
|
13.9
|
%
|
9.3
|
%
|
8.0
|
%
|
8.2
|
%
|
Bulk
Delinquency Ratios for Top Ten States (b):
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
FL
|
TX
|
GA
|
IL
|
OH
|
CA
|
NJ
|
NY
|
CO
|
AZ
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
As of
December 31:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2006
|
1.6
|
%
|
4.0
|
%
|
4.4
|
%
|
4.2
|
%
|
9.3
|
%
|
1.6
|
%
|
3.5
|
%
|
4.4
|
%
|
3.3
|
%
|
1.0
|
%
|
||||||||||
2007
|
7.8
|
5.4
|
7.3
|
8.6
|
10.6
|
7.0
|
6.6
|
6.6
|
5.8
|
5.1
|
||||||||||||||||||||
2008
|
27.0
|
10.2
|
16.3
|
19.1
|
17.1
|
22.4
|
16.0
|
13.8
|
9.8
|
18.2
|
||||||||||||||||||||
As of March
31:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2008
|
12.0
|
6.1
|
9.6
|
10.8
|
12.5
|
10.3
|
8.9
|
8.0
|
6.8
|
7.4
|
||||||||||||||||||||
2009
|
34.3
|
%
|
12.2
|
%
|
19.5
|
%
|
22.8
|
%
|
19.1
|
%
|
30.0
|
%
|
22.0
|
%
|
18.0
|
%
|
11.6
|
%
|
25.1
|
%
|
||||||||||
(b)
|
As determined
by risk in force as of March 31, 2009, these 10 states represent
approximately 49.8%, 60.1%, and 50.3%, of traditional primary, bulk, and
total risk in force,
respectively.
|
32
Total
Delinquency Ratios for Top Ten States (includes “other” business)
(b):
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
FL
|
TX
|
GA
|
IL
|
OH
|
CA
|
NJ
|
NY
|
NC
|
PA
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
As of
December 31:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2006
|
2.0
|
%
|
4.1
|
%
|
5.2
|
%
|
3.1
|
%
|
7.3
|
%
|
1.4
|
%
|
3.6
|
%
|
4.0
|
%
|
3.3
|
%
|
4.3
|
%
|
||||||||||
2007
|
6.9
|
4.5
|
6.7
|
5.0
|
8.0
|
5.5
|
5.5
|
5.4
|
4.1
|
5.1
|
||||||||||||||||||||
2008
|
21.3
|
7.2
|
11.2
|
10.2
|
11.4
|
17.2
|
12.1
|
10.8
|
6.8
|
8.1
|
||||||||||||||||||||
As of March
31:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2008
|
9.7
|
4.4
|
7.2
|
5.7
|
8.1
|
7.7
|
6.5
|
6.0
|
4.0
|
5.4
|
||||||||||||||||||||
2009
|
25.9
|
%
|
7.5
|
%
|
12.5
|
%
|
11.9
|
%
|
12.3
|
%
|
23.1
|
%
|
15.5
|
%
|
13.2
|
%
|
7.4
|
%
|
9.0
|
%
|
||||||||||
(b)
|
As determined
by risk in force as of March 31, 2009, these 10 states represent
approximately 49.8%, 60.1%, and 50.3%, of traditional primary, bulk, and
total risk in force, respectively.
|
The title insurance loss ratios
remain in the mid single digits due to a continuation of favorable trends in
claims frequency and severity for business underwritten since 1992 in
particular. Though still reasonably contained, the increases in claim ratios in
2008 and 2007 are reflective of the continuing downturn in the housing and
related mortgage lending industries.
Reinsurance
Programs
To maintain premium
production within its capacity and limit maximum losses and risks for which it
might become liable under its policies, Old Republic may cede a portion or all
of its premiums and liabilities on certain classes of insurance, individual
policies, or blocks of business to other insurers and reinsurers. Further
discussion of the Company’s reinsurance programs can be found in Part 1 of the
Company’s 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Expenses:
Underwriting Acquisition and Other
Expenses
|
The following table
sets forth the expense ratios registered by each major business segment and in
consolidation for the periods shown:
General
|
Mortgage
|
Title
|
Consolidated
|
|||||||||
Years Ended
December 31:
|
||||||||||||
2006
|
24.4
|
%
|
22.5
|
%
|
93.6
|
%
|
44.7
|
%
|
||||
2007
|
24.1
|
17.7
|
98.1
|
41.3
|
||||||||
2008
|
24.2
|
15.7
|
103.6
|
39.1
|
||||||||
Quarters
Ended March 31:
|
||||||||||||
2008
|
24.4
|
16.4
|
104.5
|
39.1
|
||||||||
2009
|
25.6
|
%
|
13.7
|
%
|
102.9
|
%
|
39.6
|
%
|
Variations in the
Company’s consolidated expense ratios reflect a continually changing mix of
coverages sold and attendant costs of producing business in the Company’s three
largest business segments. To a significant degree, expense ratios for both the
general and title insurance segments are mostly reflective of variable costs,
such as commissions or similar charges, that rise or decline along with
corresponding changes in premium and fee income, as well as changes in general
operating expenses which can contract or expand in differing proportions due to
varying levels of operating efficiencies and expense management opportunities in
the face of changing market conditions.
Expenses:
Total
|
The composite
ratios of the above summarized net claims, benefits and underwriting expenses
that reflect the sum total of all the factors enumerated above have been as
follows:
General
|
Mortgage
|
Title
|
Consolidated
|
|||||||||
Years Ended
December 31:
|
||||||||||||
2006
|
90.3
|
%
|
65.3
|
%
|
99.5
|
%
|
90.0
|
%
|
||||
2007
|
91.9
|
136.5
|
104.7
|
101.5
|
||||||||
2008
|
97.2
|
215.0
|
110.6
|
120.9
|
||||||||
Quarters
Ended March 31:
|
||||||||||||
2008
|
94.3
|
197.5
|
111.5
|
115.7
|
||||||||
2009
|
100.4
|
%
|
213.6
|
%
|
109.5
|
%
|
123.5
|
%
|
33
Expenses:
Income Taxes
|
The effective
consolidated income tax rates (credits) were (41.9%) and (51.9%) in the first
quarter of 2009 and 2008, respectively. The rates for each year reflect
primarily the varying proportions of pretax operating income derived from
partially tax sheltered investment income (principally state and municipal
tax-exempt interest) on the one hand, and the combination of fully taxable
investment income, realized investment gains or losses, and underwriting and
service income, on the other hand. A valuation allowance of $64.0 was
established against a deferred tax asset related to the Company’s losses on
equity securities at March 31, 2009.
OTHER
INFORMATION
|
Reference is here
made to “Information About Segments of Business” appearing elsewhere
herein.
Historical data
pertaining to the operating results, liquidity, and other performance indicators
applicable to an insurance enterprise such as Old Republic are not necessarily
indicative of results to be achieved in succeeding years. In addition to the
factors cited below, the long term nature of the insurance business, seasonal
and annual patterns in premium production and incidence of claims, changes in
yields obtained on invested assets, changes in government policies and free
markets affecting inflation rates and general economic conditions, and changes
in legal precedents or the application of law affecting the settlement of
disputed and other claims can have a bearing on period-to-period comparisons and
future operating results.
Some of the oral or
written statements made in the Company’s reports, press releases, and conference
calls following earnings releases, can constitute “forward-looking statements”
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Of
necessity, any such forward-looking statements involve assumptions,
uncertainties, and risks that may affect the Company’s future performance. With
regard to Old Republic’s General Insurance segment, its results can be affected,
in particular, by the level of market competition, which is typically a function
of available capital and expected returns on such capital among competitors, the
levels of interest and inflation rates, and periodic changes in claim frequency
and severity patterns caused by natural disasters, weather conditions,
accidents, illnesses, work-related injuries, and unanticipated external events.
Mortgage Guaranty and Title Insurance results can be affected by similar factors
and by changes in national and regional housing demand and values, the
availability and cost of mortgage loans, employment trends, and default rates on
mortgage loans. Mortgage Guaranty results, in particular, may also be affected
by various risk-sharing arrangements with business producers as well as the risk
management and pricing policies of government sponsored enterprises. Life and
health insurance earnings can be affected by the levels of employment and
consumer spending, variations in mortality and health trends, and changes in
policy lapsation rates. At the parent holding company level, operating earnings
or losses are generally reflective of the amount of debt outstanding and its
cost, interest income on temporary holdings of short-term investments, and
period-to-period variations in the costs of administering the Company’s
widespread operations.
A more detailed
listing and discussion of the risks and other factors which affect the Company’s
risk-taking insurance business are included in Part I, Item 1A – Risk Factors,
of the Company’s 2008 Annual Report to the Securities and Exchange Commission,
which Item is specifically incorporated herein by reference.
Any forward-looking
statements or commentaries speak only as of their dates. Old Republic undertakes
no obligation to publicly update or revise any and all such comments, whether as
a result of new information, future events or otherwise, and accordingly they
may not be unduly relied upon.
34
OLD
REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
Item
3 - Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk
Market risk
represents the potential for loss due to adverse changes in the fair value of
financial instruments as a result of changes in interest rates, equity prices,
foreign exchange rates and commodity prices. Old Republic’s primary market risks
consist of interest rate risk associated with investments in fixed maturities
and equity price risk associated with investments in equity securities. The
Company has no material foreign exchange or commodity risk.
Old Republic’s
market risk exposures at March 31, 2009, have not materially changed from those
identified in the Company’s 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Item
4 - Controls and Procedures
Evaluation
of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company’s
principal executive officer and its principal financial officer have evaluated
the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period
covered by this quarterly report. Based upon their evaluation, the principal
executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the
Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and
15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) are effective for the above
referenced evaluation period.
Changes
in Internal Control
During the three
month period ended March 31, 2009, there were no changes in internal control
over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely
to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial
reporting.
Management’s
Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
The Company’s
internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide
reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the
preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles. The Company’s internal control over
financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to
the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly
reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (ii)
provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to
permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are
being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of
the Company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or
timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the
Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial
statements.
Because of its
inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent
or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to
future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate
because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the
policies or procedures may deteriorate.
35
OLD
REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
FORM
10-Q
PART
II – OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1 – Legal
Proceedings
The information
contained in Note 6 “Commitments and Contingent Liabilities” of the Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements filed as Part 1 of this Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 1A – Risk
Factors
There have been no
material changes with respect to the risk factors disclosed in the Company’s
2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Item 6 –
Exhibits
(a)
Exhibits
|
31.1
|
Certification
by Aldo C. Zucaro, Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and
15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.
|
|
31.2
|
Certification
by Karl W. Mueller, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)
and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002.
|
|
32.1
|
Certification
by Aldo C. Zucaro, Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 1350,
Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code, as adopted pursuant to Section
906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.
|
|
32.2
|
Certification
by Karl W. Mueller, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 1350,
Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code, as adopted pursuant to Section
906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.
|
36
|
SIGNATURE
|
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.
Old Republic
International Corporation
|
|||
(Registrant)
|
|||
Date:
|
April 27,
2009
|
||
/s/
Karl W. Mueller
|
|||
Karl W.
Mueller
Senior Vice
President,
Chief
Financial Officer, and
Principal
Accounting Officer
|
37
EXHIBIT
INDEX
Exhibit
|
||
No.
|
Description
|
|
31.1
|
Certification
by Aldo C. Zucaro, Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and
15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.
|
|
31.2
|
Certification
by Karl W. Mueller, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)
and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002.
|
|
32.1
|
Certification
by Aldo C. Zucaro, Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 1350,
Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code, as adopted pursuant to Section
906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
|
32.2
|
Certification
by Karl W. Mueller, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 1350,
Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code, as adopted pursuant to Section
906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.
|
38