EX-99 2 l14504aexv99.htm EX-99 NEWS RELEASE DATED JUNE 16, 2005 Exhibit 99
 

Exhibit 99

     
(PROGRESSIVE LOGO)
  NEWS
RELEASE

     
The Progressive Corporation
  Company Contact:
6300 Wilson Mills Road
  Thomas A. King
Mayfield Village, Ohio 44143
  (440)395-2260
http://www.progressive.com
   

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MAYFIELD VILLAGE, OHIO — June 16, 2005 — The Progressive Corporation today reported the following results for May 2005:

                         
    May     May        
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts)   2005     2004     Change  
Net premiums written
  $ 1,070.9     $ 1,054.4       2 %
Net premiums earned
    1,062.5       998.2       6 %
Net income
    126.1       109.0       16 %
Per share
    .63       .50       27 %
Combined ratio
    85.8       86.6       .8 pts.  

See the “Income Statements” for further month and year-to-date information.

     The Company offers insurance to personal and commercial auto drivers throughout the United States. The Company’s Personal Lines business units write insurance for private passenger automobiles and recreation vehicles. The Company’s Commercial Auto business unit writes primary liability, physical damage and other auto-related insurance for automobiles and trucks owned by small businesses. See “Supplemental Information” for month and year-to-date results.

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THE PROGRESSIVE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
INCOME STATEMENT
May 2005

(millions – except per share amounts)
(unaudited)

                 
    Current Month     Comments on Monthly Results1  
Direct premiums written
  $ 1,094.2          
 
             
 
               
Net premiums written
  $ 1,070.9          
 
             
 
               
Revenues:
               
Net premiums earned
  $ 1,062.5          
Investment income
    42.1          
Net realized gains (losses) on securities
    3.2          
Service revenues
    3.2          
Total revenues
    1,111.0          
 
             
Expenses:
               
Losses and loss adjustment expenses
    691.9          
Policy acquisition costs
    112.5          
Other underwriting expenses
    107.2          
Investment expenses
    1.0          
Service expenses
    2.5          
Interest expense
    6.9          
 
             
Total expenses
    922.0          
 
             
 
               
Income before income taxes
    189.0          
Provision for income taxes
    62.9          
 
             
Net income
  $ 126.1          
 
             
 
               
COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS PER SHARE
               
Basic:
               
Average shares outstanding
    197.1          
 
             
Per share
  $ .64          
 
             
Diluted:
               
Average shares outstanding
    197.1          
Net effect of dilutive stock-based compensation
    2.9          
 
             
Total equivalent shares
    200.0          
 
             
Per share
  $ .63          
 
             


1   See the Monthly Commentary at the end of this release for additional discussion. For a description of the Company’s reporting and accounting policies, see Note 1 to the Company’s 2004 audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s 2004 Shareholders Report, which can be found at progressive.com/annualreport.

________________________

The following table sets forth the investment results for the month:

         
Fully taxable equivalent total return:
       
Fixed-income securities
    .7 %
Common stocks
    3.4 %
Total portfolio
    1.1 %
 
       
Pretax recurring investment book yield
    3.9 %

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THE PROGRESSIVE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
INCOME STATEMENTS
May 2005 Year-to-Date

(millions – except per share amounts)
(unaudited)

                         
    Year-to-Date        
                    %  
    2005     2004     Change  
Direct premiums written
  $ 6,240.2     $ 5,789.3       8  
 
                   
Net premiums written
  $ 6,106.1     $ 5,647.4       8  
 
                   
 
                       
Revenues:
                       
Net premiums earned
  $ 5,734.2     $ 5,322.1       8  
Investment income
    202.3       193.4       5  
Net realized gains (losses) on securities
    7.1       59.2       (88 )
Service revenues
    18.4       20.9       (12 )
 
                   
Total revenues
    5,962.0       5,595.6       7  
 
                   
Expenses:
                       
Losses and loss adjustment expenses
    3,716.7       3,392.6       10  
Policy acquisition costs
    609.2       574.0       6  
Other underwriting expenses
    561.4       504.3       11  
Investment expenses
    4.9       5.1       (4 )
Service expenses
    10.1       10.0       1  
Interest expense
    34.6       33.5       3  
 
                   
Total expenses
    4,936.9       4,519.5       9  
 
                   
 
                       
Income before income taxes
    1,025.1       1,076.1       (5 )
Provision for income taxes
    338.7       350.0       (3 )
 
                   
Net income
  $ 686.4     $ 726.1       (5 )
 
                   
 
                       
COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS PER SHARE
                       
Basic:
                       
Average shares outstanding
    198.4       216.4       (8 )
 
                   
Per share
  $ 3.46     $ 3.36       3  
 
                   
Diluted:
                       
Average shares outstanding
    198.4       216.4       (8 )
Net effect of dilutive stock-based compensation
    2.9       3.6       (19 )
 
                   
Total equivalent shares
    201.3       220.0       (9 )
 
                   
Per share
  $ 3.41     $ 3.30       3  
 
                   

The following table sets forth the investment results for the year-to-date period:

                 
    2005     2004  
Fully taxable equivalent total return:
               
Fixed-income securities
    1.7 %     .4 %
Common stocks
    (.1 )%     1.4 %
Total portfolio
    1.4 %     .6 %
 
               
Pretax recurring investment book yield
    3.8 %     3.8 %

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THE PROGRESSIVE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
May 2005

($ in millions)
(unaudited)

                                                 
Current Month
   
                            Commercial              
    Personal Lines     Auto     Other     Companywide  
    Agency     Direct     Total     Business     Businesses1     Total  
Net Premiums Written
  $ 614.7     $ 309.6     $ 924.3     $ 144.8     $ 1.8     $ 1,070.9  
% Growth in NPW
    (2 )%     6 %     %     10 %   NM       2 %
Net Premiums Earned
  $ 619.5     $ 313.8     $ 933.3     $ 127.1     $ 2.1     $ 1,062.5  
% Growth in NPE
    3 %     12 %     6 %     11 %   NM       6 %
 
                                               
GAAP Ratios
                                               
Loss/LAE ratio
    66.3       66.2       66.3       57.1     NM       65.1  
Expense ratio
    21.0       20.5       20.8       19.6     NM       20.7  
 
                                   
Combined ratio
    87.3       86.7       87.1       76.7     NM       85.8  
 
                                   
 
                                               
Actuarial Adjustments2
                                               
Reserve Decrease/(Increase)
                                               
Prior accident years
                                          $ 10.5  
Current accident year
                                            4.7  
 
                                             
Calendar year actuarial adjustment
  $ 7.9     $ 3.3     $ 11.2     $ 4.0     $     $ 15.2  
 
                                             
 
                                               
Prior Accident Years Development
                                               
Favorable/(Unfavorable)
                                               
Actuarial adjustment
                                          $ 10.5  
All other development
                                            16.4  
 
                                             
Total development
                                          $ 26.9  
 
                                             
 
                                               
Calendar year loss/LAE ratio
                                            65.1  
 
                                             
Accident year loss/LAE ratio
                                            67.6  
 
                                             
 
                                               
Statutory Ratios
                                               
Loss/LAE ratio
                                            65.2  
Expense ratio
                                            20.3  
 
                                             
Combined ratio
                                            85.5  
 
                                             

NM = Not Meaningful

1   Amounts primarily include professional liability insurance for community banks and the Company’s run-off businesses. The other businesses generated an underwriting profit of $.8 million for the month.

2   Represents adjustments solely based on the Company’s corporate actuarial review.

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THE PROGRESSIVE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
May 2005 Year-to-Date

($ in millions)
(unaudited)

                                                 
Year-to-Date
                            Commercial              
    Personal Lines     Auto     Other     Companywide  
    Agency     Direct     Total     Business     Businesses1     Total  
Net Premiums Written
  $ 3,520.2     $ 1,805.4     $ 5,325.6     $ 771.4     $ 9.1     $ 6,106.1  
% Growth in NPW
    4 %     13 %     7 %     14 %   NM       8 %
Net Premiums Earned
  $ 3,369.4     $ 1,675.3     $ 5,044.7     $ 677.9     $ 11.6     $ 5,734.2  
% Growth in NPE
    5 %     12 %     7 %     13 %   NM       8 %
 
                                               
GAAP Ratios
                                               
Loss/LAE ratio
    65.1       66.4       65.5       60.3     NM       64.8  
Expense ratio
    20.8       19.9       20.5       20.0     NM       20.4  
 
                                   
Combined ratio
    85.9       86.3       86.0       80.3     NM       85.2  
 
                                   
 
                                               
Actuarial Adjustments2
                                               
Reserve Decrease/(Increase)
                                               
Prior accident years
                                          $ 54.1  
Current accident year
                                            3.5  
 
                                             
Calendar year actuarial adjustment
  $ 33.7     $ 14.6     $ 48.3     $ 7.7     $ 1.6     $ 57.6  
 
                                             
 
                                               
Prior Accident Years Development
                                               
Favorable/(Unfavorable)
                                               
Actuarial adjustment
                                          $ 54.1  
All other development
                                            110.5  
 
                                             
Total development
                                          $ 164.6  
 
                                             
 
                                               
Calendar year loss/LAE ratio
                                            64.8  
 
                                             
Accident year loss/LAE ratio
                                            67.7  
 
                                             
 
                                               
Statutory Ratios
                                               
Loss/LAE ratio
                                            64.9  
Expense ratio
                                            19.4  
 
                                             
Combined ratio
                                            84.3  
 
                                             
 
                                               
Statutory surplus
                                          $ 5,330.4  
 
                                             

                         
    May     May        
Policies in Force   2005     2004     Change  
(in thousands)                        
Agency – Auto
    4,482       4,176       7 %
Direct – Auto
    2,252       1,984       13 %
Other Personal Lines3
    2,555       2,199       16 %
 
                   
Total Personal Lines
    9,289       8,359       11 %
 
                   
Commercial Auto Business
    449       400       12 %
 
                   


NM = Not Meaningful

1  The other businesses generated an underwriting profit of $7.7 million.

2   Represents adjustments solely based on the Company’s corporate actuarial review.

3   Includes insurance for motorcycles, recreation vehicles, mobile homes, watercraft, snowmobiles and similar items.

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THE PROGRESSIVE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
BALANCE SHEET AND OTHER INFORMATION

(millions– except per share amounts)
(unaudited)

         
    May  
    2005  
CONDENSED GAAP BALANCE SHEET:1
       
Investments - Available-for-sale, at market:
       
Fixed maturities (amortized cost: $9,148.2)
  $ 9,217.5  
Equity securities:
       
Preferred stocks (cost: $1,031.8)
    1,042.0  
Common equities (cost: $1,400.6)
    1,922.5  
Short-term investments (amortized cost: $1,979.8)
    1,980.7  
 
     
Total investments2
    14,162.7  
Net premiums receivable
    2,514.3  
Deferred acquisition costs
    465.4  
Other assets
    1,453.9  
 
     
Total assets
  $ 18,596.3  
 
     
 
       
Unearned premiums
  $ 4,480.3  
Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves
    5,465.3  
Other liabilities2
    1,843.0  
Debt
    1,284.6  
Shareholders’ equity
    5,523.1  
 
     
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 18,596.3  
 
     

         
Common Shares outstanding
    198.2  
Shares repurchased – May
    .8  
Average cost per share
  $ 94.62  
Book value per share
  $ 27.87  
Trailing 12-month return on average shareholders’ equity
    29.5 %
Net unrealized pre-tax gains on investments
  $ 602.3  
Increase (decrease) from April 2005
  $ 85.1  
Increase (decrease) from December 2004
  $ (67.1 )
Debt to total capital ratio
    18.9 %
Fixed-income portfolio duration
  2.7 years    
Weighted average credit quality
   AA+

 
1 Pursuant to SFAS 113, “Accounting and Reporting for Reinsurance of Short-Duration and Long-Duration Contracts,” loss and loss adjustment expense reserves are stated gross of reinsurance recoverables on unpaid losses of $340.1 million.
 
2 Amounts include net unsettled security acquisitions, including repurchase commitments, of $430.8 million.

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Monthly Commentary

    Written premium growth reflects the fact that the Memorial Day holiday fell in fiscal May 2005, as compared to fiscal June 2004. As previously reported, results for certain months in 2005 may not be directly comparable to the corresponding 2004 months due to the Company’s use of a fiscal calendar, which resulted in an additional week of activity in 2004. As a consequence, the Company may experience consecutive months, such as May and June, where comparisons to the prior year months are under or overstated. During months with such anomalies, net premiums earned and policies in force growth may be more representative measures.

The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies, in business since 1937, ranks third in the nation for auto insurance based on premiums written and provides drivers with competitive rates and 24/7, in-person and online service. The companies that offer insurance directly (by phone at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE and online at progressivedirect.com) market their products and services under the Progressive DirectSM brand, while the companies that offer insurance through more than 30,000 independent insurance agencies market their products and services under the Drive Insurance from Progressive brand. The Common Shares of The Progressive Corporation, the Mayfield Village, Ohio-based holding company, are publicly traded at NYSE:PGR. More information can be found at progressive.com.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this release that are not historical fact are forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those discussed herein. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, uncertainties related to estimates, assumptions and projections generally; inflation and changes in economic conditions (including changes in interest rates and financial markets); the accuracy and adequacy of the Company’s pricing and loss reserving methodologies; pricing competition and other initiatives by competitors; the Company’s ability to obtain regulatory approval for requested rate changes and the timing thereof; the effectiveness of the Company’s advertising campaigns; legislative and regulatory developments; disputes relating to intellectual property rights; the outcome of litigation pending or that may be filed against the Company; weather conditions (including the severity and frequency of storms, hurricanes, snowfalls, hail and winter conditions); changes in driving patterns and loss trends; acts of war and terrorist activities; the Company’s ability to maintain the uninterrupted operation of its facilities, systems (including information technology systems) and business functions; court decisions and trends in litigation and health care and auto repair costs; and other matters described from time to time by the Company in releases and publications, and in periodic reports and other documents filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, investors should be aware that generally accepted accounting principles prescribe when a company may reserve for particular risks, including litigation exposures. Accordingly, results for a given reporting period could be significantly affected if and when a reserve is established for one or more contingencies. Reported results, therefore, may appear to be volatile in certain accounting periods.

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