10-Q 1 d10q.htm FORM 10-Q FORM 10-Q
Table of Contents

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

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

 

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2005

 

OR

 

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

 

For the transition period from                      to                     

 

Commission file number 001-13585

 

THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Incorporated in California   95-1068610

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation

or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

1 First American Way, Santa Ana, California   92707-5913
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

(714) 800-3000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 


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

 

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 if the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2).

 

Yes  x    No  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2).

 

Yes  ¨    No  x

 

APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY

PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PRECEDING FIVE YEARS:

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports to be filed by Section 12,13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court.

 

Yes  ¨    No  ¨

 

APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:

 

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

 

On November 7, 2005, there were 95,861,481 shares of Common stock outstanding.

 



Table of Contents

THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

 

INFORMATION INCLUDED IN REPORT

 

Part I:

  

Financial Information

    

Item 1.

  

Financial Statements (unaudited)

    
    

A. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

   3
    

B. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income

   4
    

C. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

   5
    

D. Condensed Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity

   6
    

E. Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

   7

Item 2.

  

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

   14

Item 3.

  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

   18

Item 4.

  

Controls and Procedures

   18

Part II:

  

Other Information

    

Item 1.

  

Legal Proceedings

   18

Item 2.

  

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

   18

Item 6.

  

Exhibits

   19

 

Items 3–5 of Part II have been omitted because they are not applicable with respect to the current reporting period.

 

CERTAIN STATEMENTS MADE IN THIS QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q INCLUDING THOSE RELATING TO IMPLEMENTATION OF SFAS 123R, PENSION PLAN CONTRIBUTIONS, THE MINNESOTA CLASS ACTION, THE MAGNUSON LITIGATION, ROUTINE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AND CASH REQUIREMENTS, ARE FORWARD LOOKING. RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES EXIST THAT MAY CAUSE RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE SET FORTH IN THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. FACTORS THAT COULD CAUSE THE ANTICIPATED RESULTS TO DIFFER FROM THOSE DESCRIBED IN THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS INCLUDE: INTEREST RATE FLUCTUATIONS; CHANGES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE REAL ESTATE MARKETS; LIMITATIONS ON ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS AND OTHER DATA; GENERAL VOLATILITY IN THE CAPITAL MARKETS; CHANGES IN APPLICABLE GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS; CONSOLIDATION AMONG THE COMPANY’S SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMERS AND COMPETITORS; THE COMPANY’S CONTINUED ABILITY TO IDENTIFY BUSINESSES TO BE ACQUIRED; CHANGES IN THE COMPANY’S ABILITY TO INTEGRATE BUSINESSES WHICH IT ACQUIRES; AND OTHER FACTORS DESCRIBED IN THE COMPANY’S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004, FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS SPEAK ONLY AS OF THE DATE THEY ARE MADE. THE COMPANY DOES NOT UNDERTAKE TO UPDATE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS TO REFLECT CIRCUMSTANCES OR EVENTS THAT OCCUR AFTER THE DATE THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ARE MADE.

 

2


Table of Contents

Part I: Financial Information

 

Item 1: Financial Statements

 

THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     September 30,
2005


   

December 31,

2004


 

Assets

                

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 1,628,867     $ 1,336,643  
    


 


Accounts and accrued income receivable, net

     542,331       438,365  
    


 


Income taxes receivable

     —         34,074  
    


 


Investments:

                

Deposits with savings and loan associations and banks

     92,629       94,445  

Debt securities

     1,073,451       705,674  

Equity securities

     47,384       46,190  

Other long-term investments

     364,584       305,571  
    


 


       1,578,048       1,151,880  
    


 


Loans receivable, net

     92,449       101,341  
    


 


Property and equipment, net

     635,992       593,401  
    


 


Title plants and other indexes

     526,651       497,430  
    


 


Deferred income taxes

     40,753       39,886  
    


 


Goodwill

     1,848,964       1,605,879  
    


 


Other assets

     514,039       409,466  
    


 


     $ 7,408,094     $ 6,208,365  
    


 


Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

                

Demand deposits

   $ 792,622     $ 399,429  

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     942,808       883,761  

Deferred revenue

     764,341       729,537  

Reserve for known and incurred but not reported claims

     614,281       526,516  

Income taxes payable

     82,038       —    

Notes and contracts payable

     774,657       732,770  

Deferrable interest subordinated notes

     100,000       100,000  
    


 


       4,070,747       3,372,013  
    


 


Minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries

     391,527       372,788  
    


 


Commitments and contingencies Stockholders’ equity:

                

Preferred stock, $1 par value Authorized - 500 shares; outstanding - none

                

Common stock, $1 par value:

                

Authorized - 180,000 shares

Outstanding – 95,710 and 90,058 shares

     95,710       90,058  

Additional paid-in capital

     922,949       757,931  

Retained earnings

     2,013,025       1,696,636  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (85,864 )     (81,061 )
    


 


       2,945,820       2,463,564  
    


 


     $ 7,408,094     $ 6,208,365  
    


 


 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

3


Table of Contents

THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

(unaudited)

 

     For the Three Months Ended
September 30,


    For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,


 
     2005

    2004

    2005

    2004

 

Revenues

                                

Operating revenues

   $ 2,103,153     $ 1,680,887     $ 5,691,610     $ 4,811,518  

Investment and other income

     58,196       35,541       152,527       98,685  

Net realized investment gains

     6,833       5,057       12,504       9,106  
    


 


 


 


       2,168,182       1,721,485       5,856,641       4,919,309  
    


 


 


 


Expenses

                                

Salaries and other personnel costs

     628,559       545,294       1,778,531       1,553,691  

Premiums retained by agents

     607,239       458,750       1,632,863       1,341,486  

Other operating expenses

     460,366       358,694       1,237,713       1,071,971  

Provision for policy losses and other claims

     126,186       97,975       316,820       255,082  

Depreciation and amortization

     38,049       32,981       110,998       93,677  

Premium taxes

     16,954       13,324       45,897       38,954  

Interest

     15,468       12,462       39,196       32,122  
    


 


 


 


       1,892,821       1,519,480       5,162,018       4,386,983  
    


 


 


 


Income before income taxes and minority interests

     275,361       202,005       694,623       532,326  

Income taxes

     101,100       70,800       255,600       187,500  
    


 


 


 


Income before minority interests

     174,261       131,205       439,023       344,826  

Minority interests

     25,139       23,990       71,246       66,129  
    


 


 


 


Net income

     149,122       107,215       367,777       278,697  
    


 


 


 


Other comprehensive income, net of tax

                                

Unrealized gain (loss) on securities

     (2,452 )     3,196       (4,803 )     (2,802 )

Minimum pension liability adjustment

     —         (7,581 )     —         (10,181 )
    


 


 


 


       (2,452 )     (4,385 )     (4,803 )     (12,983 )
    


 


 


 


Comprehensive income

   $ 146,670     $ 102,830     $ 362,974     $ 265,714  
    


 


 


 


Net income per share (Note 4)

                                

Basic

   $ 1.56     $ 1.21     $ 3.92     $ 3.27  
    


 


 


 


Diluted

   $ 1.51     $ 1.17     $ 3.79     $ 3.07  
    


 


 


 


Cash dividends per share

   $ .18     $ .15     $ .54     $ .45  
    


 


 


 


Weighted average number of shares (Note 4)

                                

Basic

     95,341       88,595       93,852       85,330  
    


 


 


 


Diluted

     98,768       91,594       97,307       91,431  
    


 


 


 


 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,


 
     2005

    2004

 

Cash flows from operating activities

                

Net income

   $ 367,777     $ 278,697  

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

                

Provision for policy losses and other claims

     316,820       255,082  

Depreciation and amortization

     110,998       93,677  

Minority interests in net income

     71,246       66,129  

Net realized investment gains

     (12,504 )     (9,106 )

Other, net

     (49,413 )     (37,696 )

Changes in assets and liabilities excluding effects of company acquisitions and noncash transactions-

                

Claims paid, net of recoveries

     (259,056 )     (194,216 )

Net change in income tax accounts

     168,814       68,849  

Increase in accounts and accrued income receivable

     (78,000 )     (96,910 )

Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     39,380       (27,848 )

Increase in deferred revenue

     20,781       21,590  

Other, net

     (56,672 )     (39,119 )
    


 


Cash provided by operating activities

     640,171       379,129  
    


 


Cash flows from investing activities

                

Net cash effect of company acquisitions

     (210,820 )     (215,406 )

Net decrease in deposits with banks

     5,496       11,464  

Net decrease in loans receivable

     8,892       3,384  

Purchases of debt and equity securities

     (512,497 )     (208,961 )

Proceeds from sales of debt and equity securities

     48,767       73,407  

Proceeds from maturities of debt securities

     118,535       22,842  

Net decrease in other investments

     41,199       10,112  

Capital expenditures

     (136,363 )     (121,278 )

Purchases of capitalized data

     (15,908 )     (18,844 )

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment

     6,913       2,970  
    


 


Cash used for investing activities

     (645,786 )     (440,310 )
    


 


Cash flows from financing activities

                

Net change in demand deposits

     391,904       37,673  

Proceeds from issuance of debt

     142,166       194,978  

Repayment of debt

     (160,058 )     (54,748 )

Repurchase of company stock

     (36,941 )     (37,283 )

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

     39,433       17,221  

Proceeds from the issuance of stock to employee benefit plans

     6,274       5,517  

Contributions from minority shareholders

     10,700       12,100  

Distributions to minority shareholders

     (47,857 )     (41,670 )

Cash dividends

     (47,782 )     (38,891 )
    


 


Cash provided by financing activities

     297,839       94,897  
    


 


Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     292,224       33,716  

Cash and cash equivalents - Beginning of year

     1,336,643       1,167,799  
    


 


- End of the period

   $ 1,628,867     $ 1,201,515  
    


 


Supplemental information

                

Cash paid during the period for:

                

Interest

   $ 36,857     $ 31,741  

Premium taxes

   $ 44,931     $ 46,952  

Income taxes

   $ 88,154     $ 120,871  

Noncash investing and financing activities:

                

Shares issued for employee benefit plans

   $ 119,117     $ 50,484  

Shares issued in repayment of convertible debt

   $ —       $ 205,728  

Liabilities incurred in connection with company acquisitions

   $ 108,005     $ 203,321  

Company acquisitions in exchange for common stock

   $ 88,005     $ 27,058  

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

5


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THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

 

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     Shares

    Common
Stock


    Additional
paid-in
capital


    Retained
earnings


    Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income (loss)


    Total

 

Balance at December 31, 2004

   90,058     $ 90,058     $ 757,931     $ 1,696,636     $ (81,061 )   $ 2,463,564  

Net income for nine months ended September 30, 2005

                           367,777               367,777  

Dividends on common shares

                           (51,388 )             (51,388 )

Purchase of Company shares

   (1,011 )     (1,011 )     (35,930 )                     (36,941 )

Conversion of debt

   16       16       473                       489  

Shares issued in connection with company acquisitions

   2,379       2,379       85,626                       88,005  

Shares issued in connection with option, benefit and savings plans

   4,268       4,268       114,849                       119,117  

Other comprehensive loss

                                   (4,803 )     (4,803 )
    

 


 


 


 


 


Balance at September 30, 2005

   95,710     $ 95,710     $ 922,949     $ 2,013,025     $ (85,864 )   $ 2,945,820  
    

 


 


 


 


 


 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

Note 1 – Basis of Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The condensed consolidated financial information included in this report has been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and with the instructions to Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Form 10-Q and Article 10 of SEC Regulation S-X. The principles for condensed interim financial information do not require the inclusion of all the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. Therefore, these financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004. The condensed consolidated financial statements included herein are unaudited; however, in the opinion of management, they contain all normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the consolidated results for the interim periods. Certain 2004 amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2005 presentation.

 

Note 2 – Escrow and Trust Deposits

 

The Company administers escrow deposits as a service to its customers. Escrow deposits totaled $6.7 billion and $4.8 billion at September 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively, of which $706.7 million and $337.4 million were held at the Company’s trust and thrift division. The escrow deposits held at the Company’s trust and thrift division are included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, with $168.1 million and $43.3 million included in cash and cash equivalents and $538.6 million and $294.1 million included in debt securities at September 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively, with offsetting liabilities included in demand deposits. The remaining escrow deposits were held at third party financial institutions. Trust deposits totaled $3.2 billion and $2.9 billion at September 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively. Escrow deposits held at third party financial institutions and trust deposits are not considered assets of the Company and, therefore, are not included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. However, the Company remains contingently liable for the disposition of these assets.

 

Note 3 – Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

 

The Company’s reporting units for purposes of the annual testing for impairment of goodwill are title insurance, home warranty, property and casualty insurance, trust and other services, mortgage origination products and services, mortgage servicing products and services, property information services, conventional credit information, sub-prime credit information, pre-employment and drug screening, tenant screening and risk mitigation.

 

A reconciliation of the changes in the carrying amount of goodwill, by operating segment, for the nine months ended September 30, 2005, is as follows:

 

(in thousands)


   Balance as of
December 31,
2004


   Acquired
During the
Period


   Post
Acquisition
Adjustments


    Balance as of
September 30,
2005


Financial Services:

                            

Title Insurance

   $ 376,936    $ 145,652    $ 1,802     $ 524,390

Specialty Insurance

     19,794      —        —         19,794

Information Technology:

                            

Mortgage Information

     583,722      6,779      —         590,501

Property Information

     247,438      29,848      (449 )     276,837

Credit Information

     72,450      34,260      —         106,710

Screening Information

     305,539      55,515      (30,322 )     330,732
    

  

  


 

     $ 1,605,879    $ 272,054      (28,969 )   $ 1,848,964
    

  

  


 

 

Included in “Post Acquisition Adjustments” for the Screening Information segment is a $33.3 million decrease in goodwill attributable to a reduction in the income tax valuation allowance at the Company’s subsidiary, First Advantage.

 

There have been no impairments of goodwill during the nine months ending September 30, 2005. The Company had $192.6 million of intangible assets included in “Other assets” at September 30, 2005, with definite lives ranging from three to ten years.

 

7


Table of Contents

Note 4 – Earnings Per Share

 

     For the Three Months
Ended September 30,


   For the Nine Months
Ended September 30,


(in thousands, except per share amounts)


   2005

   2004

   2005

   2004

Numerator:

                           

Net Income - numerator for basic net income per share

   $ 149,122    $ 107,215    $ 367,777    $ 278,697

Effect of dilutive securities convertible debt - interest expense (net of tax)

     209      234      644      2,372
    

  

  

  

Net Income - numerator for dilutive net income per share

   $ 149,331    $ 107,449    $ 368,421    $ 281,069
    

  

  

  

Denominator:

                           

Weighted average shares-denominator for basic net income per share

     95,341      88,595      93,852      85,330

Effect of dilutive securities:

                           

Employee stock options

     2,784      2,277      2,795      2,486

Convertible debt

     643      722      660      3,615
    

  

  

  

Denominator for diluted net income per share

     98,768      91,594      97,307      91,431
    

  

  

  

Basic net income per share

   $ 1.56    $ 1.21    $ 3.92    $ 3.27
    

  

  

  

Diluted net income per share

   $ 1.51    $ 1.17    $ 3.79    $ 3.07
    

  

  

  

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2005, there were no antidilutive stock options that were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share. For the nine months ended September 30, 2005, six thousand stock options were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share due to their antidilutive effect. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004, 0.7 million and 0.6 million stock options, respectively, were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share due to their antidilutive effect.

 

Note 5 – Employee Benefit Plans

 

Net periodic pension cost for the Company’s defined benefit pension and supplemental benefit plans includes the following components:

 

     For the Three Months
Ended September 30,


    For the Nine Months
Ended September 30,


 

(in thousands)


   2005

    2004

    2005

    2004

 

Expense:

                                

Service Cost

   $ 4,201     $ 3,594     $ 12,614     $ 11,628  

Interest Cost

     6,258       4,707       18,702       16,079  

Expected return on plan assets

     (4,262 )     (2,550 )     (12,787 )     (10,434 )

Amortization of prior service cost (benefit)

     (398 )     (563 )     (1,189 )     (2,745 )

Amortization of net loss

     2,940       167       8,877       6,966  
    


 


 


 


     $ 8,739     $ 5,355     $ 26,217     $ 21,494  
    


 


 


 


 

The Company has contributed $19.0 million to its pension plans for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and expects to contribute an additional $7.5 million during the remainder of 2005. These contributions are both those required by funding regulations as well as discretionary contributions necessary to provide benefit payments to participants of certain of the Company’s non-qualified supplemental benefit plans.

 

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Note 6 – Stock Options

 

Effective December 15, 2002, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation-Transition and Disclosure” (SFAS 148), which amends Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (SFAS 123). In accounting for its plans, the Company, as allowable under the provisions of SFAS 148, applies Accounting Principles Board Opinions No. 25, “Accounting for Stock issued to Employees” (APB 25). As a result of this election, the Company does not recognize compensation expense for its stock option plans. Had the Company determined compensation cost based on the fair value for its stock options at grant date, net income and earnings per share would have been reduced to the pro forma amounts as follows:

 

     For the Three Months
Ended September 30,


   For the Nine Months
Ended September 30,


(in thousands, except per share amounts)


   2005

   2004

   2005

   2004

Net income:

                           

Net income, as reported

   $ 149,122    $ 107,215    $ 367,777    $ 278,697

Less: stock based compensation expense, net of tax

     1,877      1,779      5,686      5,039
    

  

  

  

Pro forma net income

   $ 147,245    $ 105,436    $ 362,091    $ 273,658
    

  

  

  

Earnings per share:

                           

As reported

                           

Basic

   $ 1.56    $ 1.21    $ 3.92    $ 3.27

Diluted

   $ 1.51    $ 1.17    $ 3.79    $ 3.07

Pro forma

                           

Basic

   $ 1.54    $ 1.19    $ 3.86    $ 3.21

Diluted

   $ 1.49    $ 1.15    $ 3.73    $ 3.02

 

In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123R, “Shared-Based Payment” (SFAS No.123R). This standard is a revision of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” and supersedes Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” and its related implementation guidance. SFAS No. 123R focuses primarily on accounting for transactions in which an entity obtains employee services in share-based payment transactions. The standard requires a public entity to measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award (with limited exceptions). The cost will be recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide services in exchange for the award. In April 2005, the Securities and Exchange Commission deferred the effective date of SFAS 123R from the first interim period beginning after June 15, 2005 to the next fiscal year beginning after June 15, 2005. The Company will adopt the standard in the first quarter of 2006 and use the modified prospective method which will require the Company to use the same valuation method currently used for its pro forma disclosures for all unvested options as of December 31, 2005. The Company will be able to use the same valuation method or select a different method for any options granted after December 31, 2005. In addition to stock options, the Company has an employee stock purchase plan that allows eligible employees to purchase common stock of the Company at 85% of the closing price on the last day of each month. Under the provisions of SFAS 123R, commencing the first quarter of 2006 the Company will recognize an expense in the amount equal to the discount. For the nine months ended September 2005, the amount of the discount was $1.1 million. The Company believes that the implementation of SFAS 123R will not have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or results of operations.

 

Note 7 – Business Combinations

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, the Company completed 35 acquisitions. These acquisitions were not material, individually or in the aggregate. Of these acquisitions 23 have been included in the Company’s title insurance segment, 2 in the Company’s credit information segment, 2 in the Company’s property information segment, 1 in the Company’s mortgage information segment and 7 in the Company’s screening information segment. The aggregate purchase price for the 28 acquisitions included in the Company’s title insurance, credit information and property information segments was $164.8 million in cash, $49.8 million in notes payable and 2.0 million shares of the Company’s common stock valued at $73.3 million. The 7 acquisitions included in the Company’s screening information segment were completed by the Company’s publicly-traded subsidiary, First Advantage Corporation. The aggregate purchase price for these acquisitions was $31.0 million in cash, $16.9 million in notes payable and .7 million shares, valued at $16.2 million, of First Advantage’s Class A common stock. In accounting for the First Advantage shares issued in these acquisitions, the Company recorded a pretax gain of $8.0 million. The purchase price of each acquisition was allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed using a variety of valuation techniques including discounted cash flow analysis. As a result of the 35 acquisitions, the Company recorded approximately $247.3 million of goodwill and $37.9 million of intangible assets with definite lives.

 

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The Company is awaiting information necessary to finalize the purchase accounting adjustments for these acquisitions and the final purchase price allocations could change the recorded assets and liabilities.

 

In addition to the acquisitions discussed above, the Company also purchased the remaining minority interests in 6 companies already included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements and an equity interest in 12 companies. The total purchase price of these transactions was $25.3 million in cash, $16.3 million in notes payable and .4 million in shares of the Company’s common stock valued at $13.2 million. As a result of these transactions, the Company recorded $24.8 million in goodwill.

 

On September 14, 2005, the Company contributed its Credit Information Group to First Advantage in exchange for approximately 29.1 million shares of First Advantage Class B common stock. All of the parties involved were under common control and accordingly, the transaction was accounted for using historical values and no gain or loss was recognized. First Advantage also issued approximately 1 million Class B shares to the Company in a $20 million debt-to-equity conversion. These transactions increased the Company’s economic ownership interest in First Advantage from 67 percent to 80 percent. The Credit Information Group includes the Company’s mortgage, automotive, consumer and sub-prime credit businesses.

 

Note 8 – Segment Information

 

The Company has six reporting segments that fall within two primary business groups, Financial Services and Information Technology. The Financial Services Group includes Title Insurance and Services and Specialty Insurance. The Information Technology Group includes Mortgage Information, Property Information, Credit Information and Screening Information. Selected financial information by reporting segment is as follows:

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2005:

 

(in thousands)


   Revenues

   Income (loss)
before
income taxes
and minority
interests


    Depreciation
and
amortization


   Capital
expenditures


Financial Services:

                            

Title Insurance and Services

   $ 1,618,340    $ 195,549     $ 14,906    $ 15,369

Specialty Insurance

     78,873      13,605       573      398
    

  


 

  

       1,697,213      209,154       15,479      15,767
    

  


 

  

Information Technology:

                            

Mortgage Information

     153,616      34,933       5,815      658

Property Information

     142,269      42,698       7,355      8,836

Credit Information

     85,264      21,000       3,450      537

Screening Information

     84,984      5,544       3,685      4,562
    

  


 

  

       466,133      104,175       20,305      14,593
    

  


 

  

       2,163,346      313,329       35,784      30,360

Corporate

     4,836      (37,968 )     2,265      5,554
    

  


 

  

     $ 2,168,182    $ 275,361     $ 38,049    $ 35,914
    

  


 

  

 

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Table of Contents

For the three months ended September 30, 2004:

 

(in thousands)


   Revenues

  

Income (loss)
before
income taxes
and

minority
interests


    Depreciation
and
amortization


   Capital
expenditures


Financial Services:

                            

Title Insurance and Services

   $ 1,237,763    $ 123,509     $ 11,929    $ 23,641

Specialty Insurance

     64,838      8,334       538      407
    

  


 

  

       1,302,601      131,843       12,467      24,048
    

  


 

  

Information Technology:

                            

Mortgage Information

     174,508      52,690       6,173      4,160

Property Information

     106,396      30,309       5,979      5,731

Credit Information

     62,450      15,172       2,387      677

Screening Information

     71,936      7,177       3,282      2,346
    

  


 

  

       415,290      105,348       17,821      12,914
    

  


 

  

       1,717,891      237,191       30,288      36,962

Corporate

     3,594      (35,186 )     2,693      7,713
    

  


 

  

     $ 1,721,485    $ 202,005     $ 32,981    $ 44,675
    

  


 

  

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2005:

 

(in thousands)


   Revenues

  

Income (loss)
before
income taxes
and

minority
interests


    Depreciation
and
amortization


   Capital
expenditures


Financial Services:

                            

Title Insurance and Services

   $ 4,316,718    $ 467,490     $ 43,049    $ 69,548

Specialty Insurance

     210,421      36,463       1,669      967
    

  


 

  

       4,527,139      503,953       44,718      70,515
    

  


 

  

Information Technology:

                            

Mortgage Information

     450,277      107,158       18,213      9,996

Property Information

     396,813      120,288       20,970      22,521

Credit Information

     234,236      60,431       8,181      1,707

Screening Information

     240,735      14,450       10,770      9,766
    

  


 

  

       1,322,061      302,327       58,134      43,990
    

  


 

  

       5,849,200      806,280       102,852      114,505

Corporate

     7,441      (111,657 )     8,146      21,858
    

  


 

  

     $ 5,856,641    $ 694,623     $ 110,998    $ 136,363
    

  


 

  

 

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Table of Contents

For the nine months ended September 30, 2004:

 

(in thousands)


   Revenues

  

Income (loss)
before
income taxes
and

minority
interests


    Depreciation
and
amortization


   Capital
expenditures


Financial Services:

                            

Title Insurance and Services

   $ 3,542,755    $ 322,583     $ 33,002    $ 59,258

Specialty Insurance

     170,556      32,431       1,594      1,352
    

  


 

  

       3,713,311      355,014       34,596      60,610
    

  


 

  

Information Technology:

                            

Mortgage Information

     501,214      131,029       18,898      19,350

Property Information

     310,266      90,782       17,456      15,051

Credit Information

     192,709      42,192       7,461      1,570

Screening Information

     198,295      13,816       9,068      3,946
    

  


 

  

       1,202,484      277,819       52,883      39,917
    

  


 

  

       4,915,795      632,833       87,479      100,527

Corporate

     3,514      (100,507 )     6,198      20,751
    

  


 

  

     $ 4,919,309    $ 532,326     $ 93,677    $ 121,278
    

  


 

  

 

Note 9 – Litigation

 

The Company and its subsidiaries have been named in various class action lawsuits related to its title operations, including suits alleging that premiums charged to builders for title insurance policies violated the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act and that the Company violated the law by failing to disclose the cost of certain services obtained from third party vendors and any related mark-up of such services. The Company has assessed the potential loss associated with each case based on the existing facts and estimated range of exposure. In cases where the Company has determined that a loss is probable, the Company has recorded a reserve in the amount of the estimated loss; however, actual losses may materially differ from the amounts recorded. The Company does not believe that the ultimate resolution of these cases, either individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse affect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

On January 25, 2005, a jury in the case of Chicago Title Insurance Corporation v. James A. Magnuson, et al. awarded damages in the amount of $43.2 million against a subsidiary of the Company. This matter involved claims of violation of a non-competition agreement and intentional interference with contract. The judgment comprised a compensatory award of $10.8 million and a punitive damage award of $32.4 million. In October 2005 the trial court denied the Company’s motions to set aside the damage awards, among other matters. The Company has filed a notice of appeal with the United States Circuit Court of Appeals. The Company continues to believe it has strong grounds to overturn this judgment. Pending the outcome of our appeal, the Company reserved in a prior quarter $10.0 million in connection with this matter.

 

The Company is involved in numerous routine legal proceedings related to its operations. While the ultimate disposition of each proceeding is not determinable, the Company does not believe that any of such proceedings will have a material adverse affect on its financial condition or results of operations.

 

Note 10 – Stockholders’ Equity

 

On May 19, 2005, the Company announced that its board of directors authorized the increase of its May 18, 2004, $100.0 million stock buy-back plan to $200.0 million. As of September 30, 2005, the Company had repurchased and retired 2.5 million shares of its common stock for a total purchase price of $75.9 million.

 

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Table of Contents

Note 11 – Subsequent Event

 

On November 8, 2005, the Company and its publicly-traded subsidiary, First Advantage Corporation (First Advantage), announced the joint purchase of a 75% interest in LeadClick Media, Inc., an online lead-generation and marketing company (LeadClick) for $150 million. The Company contributed $45 million in cash in exchange for an equity stake in LeadClick. The remainder of the purchase price consisting of $55 million in cash, $30 million in notes payable, and $20 million in stock was paid by First Advantage.

 

Under the terms of the stock purchase agreement, the Company and First Advantage are obligated to purchase the additional twenty-five percent of LeadClick over the next three years unless the period is extended upon mutual agreement of the parties. The purchase price for the additional equity stake is based upon a multiple of LeadClick’s earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization.

 

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Table of Contents
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Critical accounting policies are those policies used in the preparation of the Company’s financial statements that require management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of certain assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and related disclosure of contingencies. A summary of these policies can be found in Management’s Discussion and Analysis in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004.

 

OVERVIEW

 

The Company reported record revenues and profits for the third quarter of 2005, exceeding the $2 billion mark in revenues for the first time in its history. Revenues increased 25.9% and profits before income taxes and minority interests 36.3% quarter over quarter. The Company’s positive performance was affected by strong mortgage origination volume, an increase in market share and in the average revenues per order closed at the title insurance operations, acquisition activity and organic growth at the Company’s specialty insurance, property information, credit information and screening information segments. These factors, coupled with solid expense controls, resulted in net income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005, of $149.1 million, or $1.51 per diluted share, and $367.8 million, or $3.79 per diluted share, respectively. Net income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004, was $107.2 million, or $1.17 per diluted share, and $278.7 million, or $3.07 per diluted share, respectively.

 

OPERATING REVENUES

 

Set forth below is a summary of operating revenues for each of the Company’s segments.

 

     Three Months Ended September 30,

   Nine Months Ended September 30,

     ($000)

   ($000)

     2005

   %

   2004

   %

   2005

   %

   2004

   %

Financial Services:

                                               

Title Insurance:

                                               

Direct operations

   $ 820,186    39    $ 645,203    38    $ 2,172,406    38    $ 1,820,654    38

Agency operations

     756,868    36      569,956    34      2,037,969    36      1,661,104    35
    

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
       1,577,054    75      1,215,159    72      4,210,375    74      3,481,758    73

Specialty Insurance

     74,678    4      61,617    4      198,972    3      159,956    3
    

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
       1,651,732    79      1,276,776    76      4,409,347    77      3,641,714    76
    

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

Information Technology:

                                               

Mortgage Information

     150,117    7      171,698    10      443,089    8      494,282    10

Property Information

     132,994    6      100,181    6      371,421    7      291,683    6

Credit Information

     83,854    4      60,322    4      228,549    4      185,686    4

Screening Information

     84,456    4      71,910    4      239,204    4      198,153    4
    

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
       451,421    21      404,111    24      1,282,263    23      1,169,804    24
    

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

Total

   $ 2,103,153    100    $ 1,680,887    100    $ 5,691,610    100    $ 4,811,518    100
    

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

 

Financial Services. Operating revenues from direct title operations increased 27.1% and 19.3% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005, respectively, when compared with the same periods of the prior year. These increases were primarily due to increases in the number of title orders closed by the Company’s direct operations and increases in the average revenues per order closed. The Company’s direct operations closed 555,600 and 1,546,500 title orders during the current three and nine month periods, respectively, increases of 12.4% and 8.7% when compared with the same periods of the prior year. These increases reflected strong mortgage origination volumes and market share gains resulting from organic growth and acquisitions. The average revenues per order closed were $1,476 and $1,405 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005, respectively, increases of 13.0% and 9.8% when compared with the same periods of the prior year. These increases were primarily due to a decreased mix of lower-premium refinance transactions, an increase in higher-premium resale and commercial activity, and appreciating home values. Operating revenues from agency operations increased 32.8% and 22.7% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005, respectively, when compared with the same periods of the prior year. These increases were primarily due to the same factors affecting direct title operations as well as the timing of the reporting of agency remittances.

 

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Table of Contents

Information Technology. Mortgage information operating revenues decreased $21.6 million and $51.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005, respectively, when compared with the same periods of the prior year. Included in operating revenues for the current nine-month period were $22.9 million of operating revenues contributed by new acquisitions. There was no acquisition activity for the current three-month period. Included in operating revenues for the prior year periods was a $13.0 million release of deferred revenue due to changes in contractual commitments with an outsourcing customer. Excluding the effects of these items, mortgage information operating revenues decreased $8.6 million, or 5.4%, and $61.1 million, or 12.7%, for the respective periods. These decreases primarily reflect an increase in estimated servicing life of the tax service loan portfolio due to a slowdown in prepayment speeds, which results in the deferral of a larger portion of the tax service fee in early years. Also impacting operating revenues for the mortgage information segment for the nine-month period was the decline in mortgage originations period over period. Operating revenues for the property information segment increased $32.8 million, or 32.8% and $79.7 million, or 27.3%, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005, respectively, when compared with the same periods of the prior year. These increases were primarily due to $8.3 million and $25.9 million of operating revenues contributed by new acquisitions for the respective periods and the continued strength in this segment’s subscription-based information businesses. Operating revenues for the credit information segment increased $23.5 million, or 39.0% and $42.9 million, or 23.1% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005, respectively, when compared with the same periods of the prior year. These increases were primarily due to $12.7 million and $20.9 million of operating revenues contributed by new acquisitions for the respective periods and organic growth. Screening information operating revenues increased $12.5 million, or 17.4% and $41.1 million, or 20.7% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005, respectively, when compared with the same periods of the prior year. These increases were primarily due to $6.5 million and $29.6 million of operating revenues contributed by new acquisitions for the respective periods as well as organic growth.

 

INVESTMENT AND OTHER INCOME

 

Investment and other income totaled $58.2 million and $152.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005, respectively, representing increases of $22.7 million, or 63.7%, and $53.8 million, or 54.6%, when compared with the same periods of the prior year. These increases resulted primarily from increases in interest income and earnings from unconsolidated affiliates, which are accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

 

NET REALIZED INVESTMENT GAINS

 

Net realized investment gains totaled $6.8 million and $12.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005, respectively, compared with gains totaling $5.1 million and $9.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004.

 

TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES

 

Financial Services. Salaries and other personnel costs for the Financial Services group, which primarily reflects the title insurance segment, were $459.2 million and $1,293.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005, respectively, increases of $69.8 million, or 17.9%, and $187.4 million, or 16.9%, when compared with the same periods of the prior year. Excluding new acquisitions, salaries and other personnel costs increased $50.8 million, or 13.1% and $112.3 million, or 10.2% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005, respectively. These increases were primarily due to costs incurred to service the increase in new title orders. Salaries and other personnel costs for the Financial Services group as a percentage of operating revenues were 27.8% and 30.5% for the three months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively, and 29.3% and 30.4% for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

 

Agents retained $607.2 million and $1,632.9 million of title premiums generated by agency operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005, respectively, which compares with $458.8 million and $1,341.5 million for the same periods of the prior year. The percentage of title premiums retained by agents ranged from 80.1% to 80.8% due to regional variances (i.e., the agency share varies from region to region and thus the geographical mix of agency revenues causes this variation).

 

Other operating expenses for the Financial Services group, which primarily reflect the title insurance segment, were $262.6 million and $698.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005, respectively, increases of $58.2 million, or 28.5%, and $101.7 million, or 17.1%, when compared with the same periods of the prior year. These increases were primarily due to $17.0 million and $49.6 million of other operating expenses associated with new acquisitions for the respective periods, $7.6 million of litigation related charges incurred during the third quarter 2005 and incremental costs incurred to service the increasing inventory of orders at the title insurance operations. Other operating expenses for the Financial Services group as a percentage of operating revenues were 15.9% and 16.0% for the three months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively, and 15.8% and 16.4% for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

 

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Table of Contents

The provision for policy losses and other claims primarily represents title insurance claims, home warranty claims and property and casualty insurance claims. For the title insurance segment, the Company increased the claims provision as a percentage of title insurance operating revenues to 5.0% for the current quarter, up from 4.1% for the same period of the prior year. This increase reflects the claims intensity of policy year 2005, which increased when compared with policy year 2004 as a result of the shift from a refinance market to a more claims intensive resale market. For the home warranty business, the claims provision as a percentage of home warranty operating revenues was 55.8% for the current three-month period and 49.4% for the same period of the prior year. This increase in rate was primarily due to an increase in the average cost per claim as a result of recent geographical expansion into higher claim-cost states. For the property and casualty business, the claims provision as a percentage of property and casualty insurance operating revenues was 47.1% for the current three-month period and 82.0% for the same period of the prior year. Included in the prior year period was $6.2 million of claims expense associated with the Florida hurricanes of 2004. The Company’s property and casualty business no longer writes business in the state of Florida.

 

Premium taxes, which relate to the title insurance and specialty insurance segments, were $17.0 million and $45.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Premium taxes as a percentage of title insurance and specialty insurance operating revenues were 1.0% and 1.1% for the current nine-month period and for the same period of the prior year, respectively.

 

Information Technology. Information technology personnel and other operating expenses were $332.4 million and $933.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005, respectively, increases of $49.8 million and $87.7 million when compared with the same periods of the prior year. Excluding acquisition activity, information technology personnel and other operating expenses increased $23.5 million, or 8.3% for the current three-month period and decreased $7.4 million, or 0.9% for the current nine-month period. The increase for the current three-month period was primarily due to $9.1 million of costs related to the Company’s default division. These costs included expenses associated with relocating and consolidating operations, the write down of certain software and other related expenses. Also contributing to the increase for the current quarter were expenses incurred primarily at the property information and screening information segments to service the increase in business volume. The decrease for the current nine-month period primarily reflects a decline in incremental costs at the Company’s mortgage information segment associated with its decreased business volume.

 

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND MINORITY INTERESTS

 

Set forth below is a summary of income before income taxes and minority interests for each of the Company’s segments (in thousands except percentages).

 

     Three Months Ended September 30,

   Nine Months Ended September 30,

     ($000)

   ($000)

     2005

    %

   2004

    %

   2005

    %

   2004

    %

Financial Services:

                                                   

Title Insurance

   $ 195,549     63    $ 123,509     52    $ 467,490     58    $ 322,583     51

Specialty Insurance

     13,605     4      8,334     4      36,463     5      32,431     5
    


 
  


 
  


 
  


 
       209,154     67      131,843     56      503,953     63      355,014     56
    


 
  


 
  


 
  


 

Information Technology:

                                                   

Mortgage Information

     34,933     11      52,690     22      107,158     13      131,029     21

Property Information

     42,698     13      30,309     13      120,288     15      90,782     14

Credit Information

     21,000     7      15,172     6      60,431     7      42,192     7

Screening Information

     5,544     2      7,177     3      14,450     2      13,816     2
    


 
  


 
  


 
  


 
       104,175     33      105,348     44      302,327     37      277,819     44
    


 
  


 
  


 
  


 

Total before corporate expenses

     313,329     100      237,191     100      806,280     100      632,833     100
            
          
          
          

Corporate expenses

     (37,968 )          (35,186 )          (111,657 )          (100,507 )    
    


      


      


      


   

Total

   $ 275,361          $ 202,005          $ 694,623          $ 532,326      
    


      


      


      


   

 

In general, the title insurance business is a lower profit margin business when compared to the Company’s other segments. The lower profit margins reflect the high cost of producing title evidence whereas the corresponding revenues are subject to

 

16


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regulatory and competitive pricing restraints. Due to this relatively high proportion of fixed costs, title insurance profit margins generally improve as closed order volumes increase. In addition, title insurance profit margins are affected by the composition (residential or commercial) and type (resale, refinancing or new construction) of real estate activity. Profit margins from resale and new construction transactions are generally higher than from refinancing transactions because in many states there are premium discounts on, and cancellation rates are higher for, refinance transactions. Title insurance profit margins are also affected by the percentage of operating revenues generated by agency operations. Profit margins from direct operations are generally higher than from agency operations due primarily to the large portion of the premium that is retained by the agent. Most of the businesses included in the Information Technology group are database intensive, with a relatively high proportion of fixed costs. As such, profit margins generally improve as revenues increase. Revenues for the mortgage information segment, like the title insurance segment, are primarily dependent on the level of real estate activity and the cost and availability of mortgage funds. Revenues for the property information segment are, in part, dependent on real estate activity, but are less cyclical than title insurance and mortgage information revenues as a result of a significant subscription-based revenue stream. Revenues for the credit information segment are in part impacted by real estate activity, but also by the consumer and automobile sectors. Corporate expenses totaled $38.0 million and $111.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005, respectively, increases of $2.8 million and $11.2 million when compared with the same periods of the prior year. These increases were primarily due to $2.9 million of costs incurred during the third quarter 2005 in connection with the contribution of the Company’s credit segment to its publicly traded subsidiary, First Advantage Corporation.

 

INCOME TAXES

 

The effective income tax rate (income tax expense as a percentage of pretax income after minority interest expense) was 41.0% for the nine months ended September 30, 2005, and 40.2% for the same period of the prior year. The increase in effective rate was primarily attributable to one-time expenses totaling $12.7 million incurred during the second and third quarters of 2005 that were not deductible for income taxes purposes. These one-time charges included the $5.0 million settlement reached with the California Department of Insurance and merger expenses totaling $6.9 million incurred by the Company and its subsidiary, First Advantage Corporation. A large portion of the Company’s minority interest expense is attributable to a limited liability company subsidiary which, for tax purposes, is treated as a partnership. Accordingly, no income taxes have been provided for that portion of the minority interest expense.

 

MINORITY INTERESTS

 

Minority interest expense was $25.1 million and $71.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005, respectively, increases of $1.1 million and $5.1 million when compared with the same periods of the prior year. These increases were primarily attributable to the increase in operating results of the Company’s joint venture with Experian.

 

NET INCOME

 

Net income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005, was $149.1 million, or $1.51 per diluted share, and $367.8 million, or $3.79 per diluted share, respectively. Net income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004, was $107.2 million, or $1.17 per diluted share, and $278.7 million, or $3.07 per diluted share, respectively.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Total cash and cash equivalents increased $292.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005, and increased $33.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004. The increase for the current year period was primarily due to cash provided by operating activities and deposits at the Company’s trust and thrift divisions, offset in part by purchases of debt and equity securities, cash paid for company acquisitions, and capital expenditures. The increase for the prior year period was due primarily to cash provided by operating activities, offset in part by cash paid for company acquisitions and capital expenditures.

 

Notes and contracts payable as a percentage of total capitalization decreased to 20.8% at September 30, 2005 from 22.7% at December 31, 2004. This decrease was primarily due to an increase in equity due primarily to net income for the current period and shares issued in connection with company acquisitions and employee benefit plans.

 

Management believes that all of its anticipated operating cash requirements for the immediate future will be met from internally generated funds.

 

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

The Company’s primary exposure to market risk relates to interest rate risk associated with certain financial instruments. Although the Company monitors its risk associated with fluctuations in interest rates, it does not currently use derivative financial instruments to hedge these risks.

 

The Company is also subject to equity price risk as related to its equity securities. Although the Company has operations in certain foreign countries, these operations, in the aggregate, are not material to the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

 

There have been no material changes in the Company’s risks since filing its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, after evaluating the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, have concluded that, as of the end of the fiscal quarter covered by this report on Form 10-Q, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurances that information required to be disclosed in the reports filed or submitted under such Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms.

 

There was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended September 30, 2005 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II: Other Information

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

 

The Company and its subsidiaries have been named in various class action lawsuits related to its title operations, including suits alleging that premiums charged to builders for title insurance policies violated the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act and that one of our subsidiaries violated the law by failing to disclose the cost of certain services obtained from third party vendors and any related mark-up of such services. We have assessed the potential loss associated with each case based on the existing facts and estimated range of exposure. In cases where we have determined that a loss is probable, we have recorded a reserve in the amount of the estimated loss; however, actual losses may materially differ from the amounts recorded. We do not believe that the ultimate resolution of these cases, either individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse affect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

On January 25, 2005, a jury in the case of Chicago Title Insurance Corporation v. James A. Magnuson, et al. awarded damages in the amount of $43.2 million against a subsidiary of the Company. This matter involved claims of violation of a non-competition agreement and intentional interference with contract. The judgment comprised a compensatory award of $10.8 million and a punitive damage award of $32.4 million. In October 2005 the trial court denied our motions to set aside the damage awards, among other matters. We have filed a notice of appeal with the United States Circuit Court of Appeals. We continue to believe we have strong grounds to overturn this judgment. Pending the outcome of our appeal, we reserved in a prior quarter $10.0 million in connection with this matter.

 

The Company is involved in numerous routine legal proceedings related to its operations. While the ultimate disposition of each proceeding is not determinable, the Company does not believe that any of such proceedings will have a material adverse affect on its financial condition or results of operations.

 

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

 

The following table describes purchases by the Company of the Company’s Common shares which settled during each period set forth in the table. Prices in column (b) include commissions. Purchases described in column (c) were made pursuant to the share repurchase program announced by the Company on May 18, 2004. On May 19, 2005, the Company announced an amendment to this plan, which amendment increased the amount of shares that the Company may repurchase by $100

 

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million. The amounts in column (d) reflect the effect of this amendment. Under this plan, which has no expiration date, the Company may repurchase up to $200 million of the Company’s issued and outstanding Common shares.

 

    

(a)

Total

Number of

Shares

Purchased


  

(b)

Average

Price Paid

per Share


  

(c)

Total Number

of Shares

Purchased as Part

of Publicly

Announced Plans

or Programs


  

(d)

Maximum

Approximate Dollar

Value of Shares that May

Yet Be Purchased Under

the Plans or Programs


Period

                       

July 1 to July 31, 2005

   —      $ —      —      $ 134,117,777

August 1 to August 31, 2005

   30,000    $ 41.08    30,000    $ 132,885,377

September 1 to September 30, 2005

   202,800    $ 43.35    202,800    $ 124,094,956
    
  

  
  

Total

   232,800    $ 43.05    232,800    $ 124,094,956
    
  

  
  

 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

See Exhibit Index.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

        THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION
        (Registrant)
        

/s/ Thomas A. Klemens

       

Thomas A. Klemens

       

Senior Executive Vice President,

Chief Financial Officer

        

/s/ Max O. Valdes

       

Max O. Valdes

Date: November 9, 2005

     

Vice President,

Chief Accounting Officer

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description


(3)   Bylaws of The First American Corporation, as amended
(10)(a)   Amendment No. 4, dated September 1, 2005, to Management Supplemental Benefit Plan
(10)(b)   Amendment No. 6, dated September 1, 2005, to Executive Supplemental Benefit Plan
(31)(a)   Certification by Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(31)(b)   Certification by Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(32)(a)   Certification by Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350
(32)(b)   Certification by Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350

 

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