10-Q 1 a05-17614_110q.htm 10-Q

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

 

Washington, D.C.  20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 

ý  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

 

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

 

Commission file number 1-11840

 

THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

36-3871531

(State of Incorporation)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

 

 

2775 Sanders Road

 

 

Northbrook, Illinois

 

60062

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:   847/402-5000

 

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 ý       No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

 

Yes ý       No o

 

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

 

Yes o       No ý

 

As of October 28, 2005, the registrant had 648,640,752 common shares, $.01 par value, outstanding.

 

 



 

THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION

INDEX TO QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q

September 30, 2005

 

 

 

 

PAGE

PART I

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Financial Statements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three-Month and Nine-Month Periods Ended September 30, 2005 and 2004 (unaudited)

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position as of September 30, 2005 (unaudited) and December 31, 2004

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine-Month Periods Ended September 30, 2005 and 2004 (unaudited)

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

21

 

 

 

 

Item 2.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Highlights

 

22

 

Property-Liability Highlights

 

23

 

Allstate Protection Segment

 

26

 

Discontinued Lines and Coverages Segment

 

38

 

Property-Liability Investment Results

 

40

 

Allstate Financial Highlights

 

41

 

Allstate Financial Segment

 

41

 

Investments

 

51

 

Capital Resources and Liquidity

 

54

 

Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors

 

56

 

 

 

 

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

 

60

 

 

 

 

PART II

OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

 

61

 

 

 

 

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

61

 

 

 

 

Item 6.

Exhibits

 

61

 



 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

(in millions, except per share data)

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property-liability insurance premiums earned

 

$

6,781

 

$

6,551

 

$

20,201

 

$

19,382

 

Life and annuity premiums and contract charges

 

505

 

508

 

1,525

 

1,508

 

Net investment income

 

1,457

 

1,333

 

4,264

 

3,906

 

Realized capital gains and losses

 

199

 

50

 

448

 

261

 

 

 

8,942

 

8,442

 

26,438

 

25,057

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property-liability insurance claims and claims expense

 

8,529

 

5,661

 

16,706

 

13,668

 

Life and annuity contract benefits

 

395

 

401

 

1,209

 

1,174

 

Interest credited to contractholder funds

 

608

 

505

 

1,784

 

1,455

 

Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs

 

1,160

 

1,124

 

3,557

 

3,251

 

Operating costs and expenses

 

713

 

738

 

2,266

 

2,241

 

Restructuring and related charges

 

10

 

(1

)

36

 

26

 

Interest expense

 

85

 

76

 

251

 

223

 

 

 

11,500

 

8,504

 

25,809

 

22,038

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss on disposition of operations

 

(4

)

(6

)

(12

)

(17

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Loss) income from operations before income tax (benefit) expense and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, after-tax

 

(2,562

)

(68

)

617

 

3,002

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax (benefit) expense

 

(1,014

)

(124

)

(107

)

788

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Loss) income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, after-tax

 

(1,548

)

56

 

724

 

2,214

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, after-tax

 

 

 

 

(175

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net (loss) income

 

$

(1,548

)

$

56

 

$

724

 

$

2,039

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net (loss) income per share - Basic

 

$

(2.36

)

$

0.10

 

$

1.09

 

$

2.92

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average shares - Basic

 

654.8

 

692.1

 

666.3

 

698.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net (loss) income per share - Diluted

 

$

(2.36

)

$

0.09

 

$

1.08

 

$

2.90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average shares - Diluted

 

654.8

 

696.8

 

671.9

 

703.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash dividends declared per share

 

$

0.32

 

$

0.28

 

$

0.96

 

$

0.84

 

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

1



 

THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION

 

(in millions except par value data)

 

September 30,
2005

 

December 31,
2004

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Investments

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed income securities, at fair value
(amortized cost $95,934 and $90,657)

 

$

99,707

 

$

95,715

 

Equity securities, at fair value (cost $4,770 and $4,566)

 

6,095

 

5,895

 

Mortgage loans

 

8,485

 

7,856

 

Short-term

 

3,274

 

4,133

 

Other

 

1,845

 

1,931

 

Total investments

 

119,406

 

115,530

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash

 

408

 

414

 

Premium installment receivables, net

 

4,959

 

4,721

 

Deferred policy acquisition costs

 

5,610

 

4,968

 

Reinsurance recoverables, net

 

4,552

 

4,323

 

Accrued investment income

 

1,094

 

1,014

 

Property and equipment, net

 

1,024

 

1,018

 

Goodwill

 

825

 

825

 

Other assets

 

3,347

 

2,535

 

Separate Accounts

 

14,906

 

14,377

 

Total assets

 

$

156,131

 

$

149,725

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Reserve for property-liability insurance claims and claims expense

 

$

23,469

 

$

19,338

 

Reserve for life-contingent contract benefits

 

12,390

 

11,754

 

Contractholder funds

 

58,952

 

55,709

 

Unearned premiums

 

10,490

 

9,932

 

Claim payments outstanding

 

708

 

787

 

Other liabilities and accrued expenses

 

10,576

 

9,842

 

Deferred income taxes

 

329

 

829

 

Short-term debt

 

 

43

 

Long-term debt

 

4,892

 

5,291

 

Separate Accounts

 

14,906

 

14,377

 

Total liabilities

 

136,712

 

127,902

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and Contingent Liabilities (Note 3 and Note 6)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, $1 par value, 25 million shares authorized, none issued

 

 

 

Common stock, $.01 par value, 2.0 billion shares authorized and 900 million issued, 650 million and 683 million shares outstanding

 

9

 

9

 

Additional capital paid-in

 

2,823

 

2,685

 

Retained income

 

24,129

 

24,043

 

Deferred compensation expense

 

(135

)

(157

)

Treasury stock, at cost (250 million and 217 million shares)

 

(9,343

)

(7,372

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized net capital gains and losses

 

2,301

 

2,988

 

Unrealized foreign currency translation adjustments

 

24

 

16

 

Minimum pension liability adjustment

 

(389

)

(389

)

Total accumulated other comprehensive income

 

1,936

 

2,615

 

Total shareholders’ equity

 

19,419

 

21,823

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

$

156,131

 

$

149,725

 

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

2



 

THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

(in millions)

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

724

 

$

2,039

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation, amortization and other non-cash items

 

(37

)

8

 

Realized capital gains and losses

 

(448

)

(261

)

Loss on disposition of operations

 

12

 

17

 

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

 

 

175

 

Interest credited to contractholder funds

 

1,784

 

1,455

 

Changes in:

 

 

 

 

 

  Policy benefits and other insurance reserves

 

4,193

 

2,085

 

  Unearned premiums

 

548

 

706

 

  Deferred policy acquisition costs

 

(188

)

(383

)

  Premium installment receivables, net

 

(234

)

(451

)

  Reinsurance recoverables, net

 

(228

)

(575

)

  Income taxes payable

 

(1,151

)

(414

)

  Other operating assets and liabilities

 

294

 

428

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

5,269

 

4,829

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from sales

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed income securities

 

15,711

 

14,648

 

Equity securities

 

3,152

 

2,565

 

Investment collections

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed income securities

 

4,545

 

4,441

 

Mortgage loans

 

971

 

564

 

Investment purchases

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed income securities

 

(23,964

)

(25,724

)

Equity securities

 

(3,206

)

(2,807

)

Mortgage loans

 

(1,604

)

(1,731

)

Change in short-term investments, net

 

446

 

(814

)

Change in other investments, net

 

(59

)

(106

)

Purchases of property and equipment, net

 

(186

)

(127

)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(4,194

)

(9,091

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

Change in short-term debt, net

 

(43

)

96

 

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

 

789

 

655

 

Repayment of long-term debt

 

(1,198

)

(13

)

Contractholder fund deposits

 

8,614

 

10,080

 

Contractholder fund withdrawals

 

(6,647

)

(5,197

)

Dividends paid

 

(621

)

(562

)

Treasury stock purchases

 

(2,247

)

(975

)

Other

 

272

 

182

 

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

 

(1,081

)

4,266

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net (decrease) increase in cash

 

(6

)

4

 

Cash at beginning of period

 

414

 

366

 

Cash at end of period

 

$

408

 

$

370

 

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

3



 

THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

 

1.              General

 

Basis of presentation

 

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of The Allstate Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiaries, primarily Allstate Insurance Company (“AIC”), a property-liability insurance company with various property-liability and life and investment subsidiaries, including Allstate Life Insurance Company (“ALIC”) (collectively referred to as the “Company” or “Allstate”).

 

The condensed consolidated financial statements and notes as of September 30, 2005, and for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2005 and 2004 are unaudited.  The condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals), which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for the fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods.  These condensed consolidated financial statements and notes should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004.  The results of operations for the interim periods should not be considered indicative of results to be expected for the full year.

 

To conform to the 2005 presentation, certain amounts in the prior year’s condensed consolidated financial statements and notes have been reclassified.

 

Non-cash investment exchanges and modifications, which primarily reflect refinancings of fixed income securities and mergers completed with equity securities, totaled $36 million and $86 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

 

Adopted accounting standard

 

Financial Accounting Standards Board Staff Position Nos. FAS 106-1 and FAS 106-2, “Accounting and Disclosure Requirements Related to the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003” (“FSP FAS 106-1” and “FSP FAS
106-2”)

 

In May 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FSP FAS 106-2, which supersedes FSP FAS 106-1, to provide guidance on accounting for the effects of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (“Act”).  FSP FAS 106-2, which the Company adopted in the third quarter of 2004, required reporting entities that elected deferral under FSP FAS 106-1 and were able to determine if their plans are actuarially equivalent to recognize the impact of the Act no later than the first interim or annual reporting period beginning after June 15, 2004.  In January 2005, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued the final regulations for the Act including the determination of actuarial equivalence.  In the first quarter of 2005, the Company determined that its plans are actuarially equivalent. As a result of the recognition of the subsidy provided by the Act, the Company’s accumulated postretirement benefit obligation (“APBO”) was reduced by $115 million for benefits attributable to past service and the estimated annual net periodic postretirement benefit cost for 2005 will be reduced by $17 million, of which $8 million is amortization of the actuarial experience gain attributable to past service, $4 million is a reduction of current period service cost, and $5 million is the reduction in interest cost on the APBO (see Note 7).

 

4



 

Pending accounting standards

 

Statement of Position 05-1, Accounting by Insurance Enterprises for Deferred Acquisition Costs in Connection with Modifications or Exchanges of Insurance Contracts (“SOP 05-1”)

 

  In October 2005, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants issued SOP 05-1.  SOP 05-1 provides accounting guidance for deferred policy acquisition costs on internal replacements of insurance and investment contracts other than those specifically described in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 97, Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises for Certain Long-Duration Contracts and for Realized Gains and Losses from the Sale of Investments.  SOP 05-1 defines an internal replacement as a modification in product benefits, features, rights or coverages that occurs by the exchange of a contract for a new contract, or by amendment, endorsement or rider to a contract, or by the election of a feature or coverage within a contract.  Internal replacement contracts are those that are substantially changed from the replaced contract and are accounted for as an extinguishment of the replaced contract.  Nonintegrated contract features are accounted for as separately issued contracts.  Modifications resulting from the election of a feature or coverage within a contract or from an integrated contract feature generally do not result in an internal replacement contract subject to SOP 05-1 provided certain conditions are met. The provisions of SOP 05-1 are effective for internal replacements occurring in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006.  The Company’s accounting policy for internal replacements is generally consistent with the accounting guidance prescribed in SOP 05–1; therefore, the SOP is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations or Financial Position.

 

Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 154, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections (“SFAS No. 154”)

 

In May 2005, the FASB issued SFAS No. 154, which replaces Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 20, Accounting Changes, and FASB Statement No. 3, Reporting Accounting Changes in Interim Financial Statements.  SFAS No. 154 requires retrospective application to prior periods’ financial statements for changes in accounting principle, unless determination of either the period specific effects or the cumulative effect of the change is impracticable.  SFAS No. 154 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005.  SFAS No. 154 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations or Financial Position.

 

Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment (“SFAS No. 123R”)

 

In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123R, which revises SFAS No. 123 and supersedes APB 25.  SFAS No. 123R requires all share-based payment transactions to be accounted for using a fair value based method.  In addition, although it does not require use of a binomial lattice model, SFAS No. 123R indicates that a binomial lattice model may be more effective in valuing employee stock options than the Black-Scholes model, which was primarily developed to value publicly traded options.  In the first quarter of 2005, the Company began using a binomial lattice model in place of the Black-Scholes model to determine the fair value of employee stock options.  In April 2005, the Securities and Exchange Commission deferred the effective date of SFAS No. 123R from the first interim or annual period beginning after June 15, 2005 to the next fiscal year beginning after June 15, 2005.  SFAS No. 123R is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations or Financial Position.

 

5



 

2.              Earnings per share

 

Basic earnings per share is computed based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding.  Diluted earnings per share is computed based on weighted average number of common and dilutive potential common shares outstanding.  For Allstate, dilutive potential common shares consist of the common shares underlying outstanding stock options and restricted stock units.

 

The computation of basic and diluted earnings per share is presented in the following table.

 

 

 

Three months ended
September 30,

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

 

(in millions, except per share data)

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

Numerator (applicable to common shareholders):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Loss) income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, after-tax

 

$

(1,548

)

$

56

 

$

724

 

$

2,214

 

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, after-tax

 

 

 

 

(175

)

Net (loss) income applicable to common shareholders

 

$

(1,548

)

$

56

 

$

724

 

$

2,039

 

Denominator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding

 

654.8

 

692.1

 

666.3

 

698.8

 

Effect of potential dilutive securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock options

 

 

4.7

 

5.2

 

4.7

 

Restricted stock units

 

 

 

0.4

 

 

Weighted average common and dilutive potential common shares outstanding

 

654.8

 

696.8

 

671.9

 

703.5

 

Earnings per share—Basic:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Loss) income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, after-tax

 

$

(2.36

)

$

0.10

 

$

1.09

 

$

3.17

 

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, after-tax

 

 

 

 

(0.25

)

Net (loss) income applicable to common shareholders

 

$

(2.36

)

$

0.10

 

$

1.09

 

$

2.92

 

Earnings per share—Diluted:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Loss) income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, after-tax

 

$

(2.36

)

$

0.09

 

$

1.08

 

$

3.15

 

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, after-tax

 

 

 

 

(0.25

)

Net (loss) income applicable to common shareholders

 

$

(2.36

)

$

0.09

 

$

1.08

 

$

2.90

 

 

As a result of the third quarter 2005 net loss, weighted average dilutive potential common shares outstanding, resulting from stock options and restricted stock units of 5.1 million and .5 million, respectively, were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share for the three-month period ended September 30, 2005 since inclusion of these securities would have an anti-dilutive effect.  In the absence of the net loss, weighted average common and dilutive potential common shares outstanding would have totaled 660.4 million.

 

Options to purchase 290.4 thousand and 33.5 thousand Allstate common shares, with exercise prices ranging from $58.47 to $61.90 and $47.26 to $50.72, were outstanding at September 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively, but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2005 and 2004 since inclusion of these options would have an anti-dilutive effect as the options’ exercise prices exceeded the average market price of Allstate common shares in the three-month period.  Options to purchase 481.9 thousand and 4.0 million Allstate common shares, with exercise prices ranging from $56.25 to $61.90 and $45.96 to $50.72, were outstanding at September 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively, but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2005 and 2004 since inclusion of these options would have an anti-dilutive effect.

 

6



 

3.              Reserve for Property-Liability Insurance Claims and Claims Expense

 

The Company establishes reserves for claims and claims expense (“loss”) on reported and unreported claims of insured losses.  The Company’s reserving process takes into account known facts and interpretations of circumstances and factors including the Company’s experience with similar cases, actual claims paid, historical trends involving claim payment patterns and pending levels of unpaid claims, loss management programs, product mix and contractual terms, law changes, court decisions, changes to regulatory requirements and economic conditions.  In the normal course of business, the Company may also supplement its claims processes by utilizing third party adjusters, appraisers, engineers, inspectors, other professionals and information sources to assess and settle catastrophe and non-catastrophe related claims.  The effects of inflation are implicitly considered in the reserving process.

 

  Because reserves are estimates of losses that have occurred, including incurred but not reported (“IBNR”) losses, the establishment of appropriate reserves, including reserves for catastrophes, is an inherently uncertain and complex process.  The ultimate cost of losses may vary materially from recorded amounts, which are based on management’s best estimates.  The highest degree of uncertainty is associated with reserves for the current reporting period as it contains the greatest proportion of losses that have not been reported or settled.  The Company regularly updates its reserve estimates as new information becomes available and as events unfold that may affect the resolution of unsettled claims.  Changes in prior period reserve estimates, which may be material, are reported in property-liability insurance claims and claims expenses in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations in the period such changes are determined.

 

Losses in the third quarter of 2005 include estimates of $3.68 billion related to Hurricane Katrina and $850 million, net of reinsurance recoverable of $205 million, related to Hurricane Rita.  The reinsurance is recoverable by Allstate Texas Lloyd’s (“ATL”), a syndicate insurance company.  ATL also has a 100% reinsurance agreement with AIC providing net benefits to AIC as reinsurer.  These estimates include losses on the Company’s standard auto, non-standard auto, homeowners, commercial and other products from approximately 216,000 and 90,000 expected claims of which over 178,000 and 66,000 claims have been reported as of October 28, 2005, related to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, respectively.  Loss estimates also include an accrual of $37 million for anticipated assessments from various state facilities, including $33 million for a regular assessment from the Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (see Note 6).

 

The Company’s estimates of losses for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita are generally based on claim adjuster inspections and the application of historical loss development factors to the extent the Company has been able to complete inspections in areas impacted by the hurricanes.  However, in areas where the Company has not yet been able to complete inspections, or the Company has reason to believe that its historical loss development factors may not be predictive, the Company has relied on analysis of actual claim notices received compared to the total policies in force, as well as visual, governmental and third party information including aerial photos, area observations and data on wind speeds and flood depth to the extent available.

 

The Company’s loss estimates for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita are calculated in accordance with the coverage provided by its policies.  The Company’s homeowners policies specifically exclude coverage for losses caused by flood, but generally provide coverage for physical damage caused by wind or wind driven rain.  The Company’s homeowners estimates, therefore, do not include estimates for losses caused by flood.  Auto policyholders generally have coverage for physical damage due to flood if they have purchased optional auto comprehensive coverage.

 

7



 

Management believes the estimated losses for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita are appropriately established and recorded based on available facts, information, laws and regulations.  However, actual results may differ materially from the amounts recorded because the estimation of the amount and extent of damage for the approximately 306,000 expected claims has been complicated by difficulties such as: the short amount of time that elapsed since these hurricane events occurred and the end of the quarter; the assessment of the extent of damage in the initial stages of adjusting residential property losses is particularly difficult; the policyholders’ ability to report claims and the Company’s ability to adjust claims have been impeded by the extent and nature of the devastation and certain restrictions on access to the affected areas;  increased costs due to the effects of increased demand for services and supplies in the affected areas could occur at a higher level than estimated; increased pressure on the Company’s catastrophe claims settlement management process due to the number and nature of the claims; and litigation recently filed by several parties including policyholders and state attorneys general (see Note 6).  In addition, the number of IBNR claims may be greater or less than anticipated.

 

The Company calculates and records a single best reserve estimate for losses from catastrophes, in conformance with generally accepted actuarial principles, and as a result management believes that no other estimate is better than the recorded amount.  Due to the uncertainties involved, including the factors described above, the ultimate cost of losses may vary materially from recorded amounts, which are based on management’s best estimates.  Accordingly, management believes that it is not practicable to develop a meaningful range for any such changes in losses incurred.

 

Management believes that the reserve for claims and claims expense, net of reinsurance recoverables, at September 30, 2005 is appropriately established in the aggregate and adequate to cover the ultimate net cost of reported and unreported claims arising from losses which had occurred by that date based on available facts, technology, laws and regulations.

 

Subsequent Event

 

On October 24, 2005, Hurricane Wilma made landfall in Florida.  Allstate Floridian Insurance Company and its subsidiaries (“AFIC”), subsidiaries of the Company, write property and casualty insurance in Florida.  AFIC maintains separate group ratings and is not reinsured by other Allstate subsidiaries that are not part of AFIC.  However, AIC has committed to make up to $375 million of additional capital available to AFIC through May of 2006 under specified circumstances.  In the event of a qualifying catastrophe, AFIC has access to reimbursement provided by the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (“FHCF”), for 90% of qualifying losses that exceed its retention of $233 million for the two largest hurricanes and $78 million for other hurricanes, up to an estimated maximum of $871 million.  As of September 30, 2005, none of the 2005 hurricanes covered by AFIC’s insurance policies have qualified for reimbursement from the FHCF as the estimated losses were below AFIC’s retention.  AFIC also has a multi-year reinsurance treaty that covers excess catastrophe losses in Florida whereby AFIC cedes 90% of losses in excess of the FHCF reimbursement up to $900 million and AFIC has reinsurance with Universal Insurance Company of North America (see Note 4).  Management believes it is not practicable, at the present time, to develop a meaningful loss estimate for Hurricane Wilma due to the short amount of time that has elapsed since this event.  In addition, the ultimate impact of Hurricane Wilma on Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (“Citizens”) is currently uncertain, but could result in Citizens recognizing a financial deficit.  Citizens may, in turn, levy a regular or emergency assessment on participating companies when the financial deficit occurs, adversely affecting the Company’s results of operations (see Note 6). The ultimate net cost of this event may be material to the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

8



 

4.              Reinsurance

 

Property-liability insurance premiums and life and annuity premiums and contract charges are net of the following reinsurance ceded:

 

 

 

Three months ended
September 30,

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

 

(in millions)

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property-liability insurance premiums earned

 

$

151

 

$

109

 

$

429

 

$

290

 

Life and annuity premiums and contract charges

 

171

 

181

 

511

 

464

 

 

Property-liability insurance claims and claims expense and life and annuity contract benefits are net of the following reinsurance recoveries:

 

 

 

Three months ended
September 30,

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

 

(in millions)

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property-liability insurance claims and claims expense

 

$

466

 

$

372

 

$

833

 

$

782

 

Life and annuity contract benefits (1)

 

135

 

125

 

429

 

347

 

 


(1)          Effective January 1, 2004, the Company adopted Statement of Position 03-1, “Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises for certain Nontraditional Long Duration Contracts and for Separate Accounts” and, in connection therewith, recorded a cumulative effect of change in accounting principle due to an increase in benefit reserves of $94 million, after-tax ($145 million, pre-tax).  The increase in benefit reserves was comprised of direct, assumed and ceded benefit reserves of $155 million, $4 million and $14 million, respectively.

 

Effective June 1, 2005, multi-year reinsurance treaties cover excess catastrophe losses in seven states: Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Florida.  These reinsurance treaties replaced the reinsurance contracts entered into in 2004 that reinsured losses from future catastrophic events in the state of Florida, which expired in May 2005, and five three-year cancelable excess of loss reinsurance contracts that reinsured personal property losses in other states.  In the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2005, the Company ceded $48 million and $64 million of premiums earned under the new reinsurance treaties, respectively.  The Company ceded $37 million of premiums earned under the expiring and cancelled programs in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2005.

 

AFIC reached a definitive agreement for a portion of its existing customers to have new policies available from Universal Insurance Company of North America when their existing policies expire and are not renewed.  AFIC is also ceding premiums and losses on these policies through their expiration date under an indemnity reinsurance agreement. In the nine-months ended September 30, 2005, AFIC ceded $32 million of unearned premiums on the policies subject to the agreement as of the agreement’s inception date and $34 million of premiums written since the inception date through September 30, 2005.  AFIC ceded $23 million and $37 million of premiums earned related to these policies in the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2005, respectively.

 

5.              Company Restructuring

 

The Company undertakes various programs to reduce expenses and increase productivity.  These programs generally involve a reduction in staffing levels, and in certain cases, office closures.  Restructuring and related charges include employee termination and relocation benefits, and post-exit rent expenses in connection with these programs, and a non-cash charge resulting from pension benefit payments made to agents in connection with the 1999 reorganization of Allstate’s multiple agency programs to a single exclusive agency program.

 

9



 

The following table illustrates the inception to date change in the restructuring liability at September 30, 2005:

 

(in millions)

 

Employee
costs

 

Exit
costs

 

Total
liability

 

Liability at inception

 

$

46

 

$

21

 

$

67

 

Net adjustments to liability

 

(1

)

(3

)

(4

)

Payments applied against the liability

 

(40

)

(14

)

(54

)

Liability at Septemebr 30, 2005

 

$

5

 

$

4

 

$

9

 

 

The payments applied against the liability for employee costs primarily reflect severance costs, and the payments for exit costs generally consist of post-exit rent expenses and contract termination penalties.

 

6.              Guarantees and Contingent Liabilities

 

State Facility assessments

 

The Company is required to participate in assigned risk plans, reinsurance facilities and joint underwriting associations in various states that provide insurance coverage to individuals or entities that otherwise are unable to purchase such coverage from private insurers.  Because of the Company’s participation, the Company may be exposed to losses that surpass the capitalization of these facilities and/or to assessments from these facilities.

 

AFIC is subject to assessments from Citizens, which was created by the state of Florida to provide insurance to property owners unable to obtain coverage in the private insurance market.  Citizens, at the discretion and direction of its Board of Governors (“Citizens Board”), can levy a regular assessment on participating companies for a deficit in any calendar year up to the greater of 10% of the deficit or 10% of Florida property premiums industry-wide for the prior year.  An insurer may recoup a regular assessment through a surcharge to policyholders.  In order to recoup its Citizens regular assessment, an insurer must file for a policy surcharge with the Florida Department of Insurance at least fifteen days prior to imposing the surcharge on policies.  If a deficit remains after the regular assessment, Citizens can also fund the remaining deficit by issuing bonds.  The costs of these bonds are then funded through emergency assessments in subsequent years.  Companies are required to collect the emergency assessments directly from residential property policyholders and remit them to Citizens as they are collected.  Participating companies are obligated to purchase any unsold bonds issued by Citizens.

 

Citizens reported losses from the hurricanes that struck Florida in the third quarter of 2004 and a deficit for the 2004 plan year.  When the Citizens Board met on April 21, 2005, they declared a deficit.  In August 2005, the Citizens Board declared and the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation approved a $515 million industry assessment to cover the deficit of which $43 million was assessed to the Company.  The Company accrued a liability of $43 million in the second quarter of 2005 based on the available information at that time since the state of Florida legislative session concluded on May 6, 2005 without adopting any legislative alternatives to an industry assessment by Citizens to eliminate the deficit, and the Board deferred any decision on assessment at their June 8, 2005 meeting until new Board members were installed in August 2005.  This assessment was paid in September 2005 and is expected to be partially recouped through premiums written in Florida in the fourth quarter of 2005 and in 2006.  These recoupments will be recorded in the consolidated financial statements as the related premiums are written.

 

The Company is also subject to assessments from the Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (“LA Citizens”).  LA Citizens was created to provide insurance coverage to individuals or entities that otherwise are unable to purchase such coverage from private insurers.  LA Citizens has estimated plan losses due to losses incurred from the hurricanes that struck Louisiana in the third quarter of 2005, and is thereby able to levy a regular and emergency assessment to participating companies and policyholders, respectively.  Based on information available through September 30, 2005, regarding the amount of the estimated deficiency and the Company’s market share, the Company accrued a liability of $33 million in the third quarter of 2005 for a regular assessment from LA Citizens.  Insurers are permitted to recoup a regular assessment through a surcharge to policyholders.  These recoupments will be recorded in the consolidated financial statements as the related premiums are written.  Insurers are required to collect emergency assessments, of which there have been none, directly from residential property policyholders and remit them to LA Citizens as they are collected.

 

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The Company is currently monitoring developments with respect to various state facilities such as guaranty funds, LA Citizens, the Mississippi Windstorm Underwriting Association, the Mississippi Residential Underwriting Association, the Alabama Insurance Underwriting Association, the Texas FAIR Plan Association and the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association.  The ultimate impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on these facilities is currently uncertain, but could result in the facilities recognizing a financial deficit different than the level currently estimated.  They may, in turn, have the ability to assess participating insurers when financial deficits occur, adversely affecting the Company’s results of operations.

 

These facilities are generally designed so that the ultimate cost is borne by policyholders, however the exposure to assessments and the availability of recoupments or premium rate increases may not offset each other in the Company’s financial statements.  Moreover, even if they do offset each other, they may not offset each other in the financial statements for the same fiscal period due to the ultimate timing of the assessments and recoupments or premium rate increases, as well as the possibility that affected policies will not be renewed in subsequent years.

 

Guarantees

 

The Company provides residual value guarantees on Company leased automobiles.  If all outstanding leases were terminated effective September 30, 2005, the Company’s maximum obligation pursuant to these guarantees, assuming the automobiles have no residual value, would be $18 million at September 30, 2005.  The remaining term of each residual value guarantee is equal to the term of the underlying lease that range from less than one year to three years.  Historically, the Company has not made any material payments pursuant to these guarantees.

 

The Company owns certain fixed income securities that obligate the Company to exchange credit risk or to forfeit principal due, depending on the nature or occurrence of specified credit events for the referenced entities.  In the event all such specified credit events were to occur, the Company’s maximum amount at risk on these fixed income securities, as measured by their par value was $173 million at September 30, 2005.  The obligations associated with these fixed income securities expire at various times during the next seven years.

 

Lincoln Benefit Life Company (“LBL”), a wholly owned subsidiary of ALIC, has issued universal life insurance contracts to third parties who finance the premium payments on the universal life insurance contracts through a commercial paper program.  LBL has issued a repayment guarantee on the outstanding commercial paper balance that is fully collateralized by the cash surrender value of the universal life insurance contracts.  At September 30, 2005, the amount due under the commercial paper program was $302 million and the cash surrender value of the policies was $307 million.  The repayment guarantee expires April 30, 2006.

 

In the normal course of business, the Company provides standard indemnifications to counterparties in contracts in connection with numerous transactions, including acquisitions and divestitures.  The types of indemnifications typically provided include indemnifications for breaches of representations and warranties, taxes and certain other liabilities, such as third party lawsuits.  The indemnification clauses are often standard contractual terms and were entered into in the normal course of business based on an assessment that the risk of loss would be remote.  The terms of the indemnifications vary in duration and nature.  In many cases, the maximum obligation is not explicitly stated and the contingencies triggering the obligation to indemnify have not occurred and are not expected to occur.  Consequently, the maximum amount of the obligation under such indemnifications is not determinable.  Historically, the Company has not made any material payments pursuant to these obligations.

 

The aggregate liability balance related to all guarantees was not material as of September 30, 2005.

 

Regulation

 

The Company is subject to changing social, economic and regulatory conditions.  From time to time regulatory authorities seek to influence and restrict premium rates, require premium refunds to policyholders, restrict the ability of insurers to cancel or non-renew policies, limit insurers’ ability to impose underwriting standards, impose additional regulations regarding agent and broker compensation and otherwise expand overall regulation of insurance products and the insurance industry.  The ultimate changes and eventual effects of these initiatives on the Company’s business, if any, are uncertain.

 

11



 

Legal and regulatory proceedings and inquiries

 

Background

 

The Company and certain subsidiaries are involved in a number of lawsuits, regulatory inquiries, and other legal proceedings arising out of various aspects of its business.  As background to the “Proceedings” sub-section below, please note the following:

 

                  These matters raise difficult and complicated factual and legal issues and are subject to many uncertainties and complexities, including but not limited to, the underlying facts of each matter; novel legal issues; variations between jurisdictions in which matters are being litigated, heard or investigated; differences in applicable laws and judicial interpretations; the length of time before many of these matters might be resolved by settlement, through litigation or otherwise and, in some cases, the timing of their resolutions relative to other similar matters involving other companies; the fact that many of the lawsuits are putative class actions in which a class has not been certified and in which the purported class may not be clearly defined; the fact that many of the lawsuits involve multi-state class actions in which the applicable law(s) for the claims at issue is in dispute and therefore unclear; and the current challenging legal environment faced by large corporations and insurance companies.

 

                  In the lawsuits, plaintiffs seek a variety of remedies including equitable relief in the form of injunctive and other remedies and monetary relief in the form of contractual and extra-contractual damages.  In some cases, the monetary damages sought include punitive or treble damages.  Often specific information about the relief sought, such as the amount of damages, is not available because plaintiffs have not requested specific relief in their pleadings.  When specific monetary demands are made, they are often set just below a state court jurisdictional limit in order to seek the maximum amount available in state court, regardless of the specifics of the case, while still avoiding the risk of removal to federal court. In our experience, monetary demands in pleadings bear little relation to the ultimate loss, if any, to the Company.

 

                  In connection with regulatory examinations and proceedings, government authorities may seek various forms of relief, including penalties, restitution and changes in business practices.  The Company may not be advised of the nature and extent of relief sought until the final stages of the examination or proceeding.

 

                  For the reasons specified above, it is not possible at this time to make meaningful estimates of the amount or range of loss that could result from the matters described below in the “Proceedings” subsection.  The Company reviews these matters on an on-going basis and follows the provisions of SFAS No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies” when making accrual and disclosure decisions.  When assessing reasonably possible and probable outcomes, the Company bases its decisions on its assessment of the ultimate outcome following all appeals.

 

                  In the opinion of the Company’s management, while the ultimate liability in some of the matters described below in the “Proceedings” subsection in excess of amounts currently reserved may be material to the Company’s operating results for any particular period if an unfavorable outcome results, none will have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial condition of the Company.

 

Proceedings

 

There is one active nationwide class action lawsuit pending against Allstate regarding its specification of after-market (non-original equipment manufacturer) replacement parts in the repair of insured vehicles.  This suit alleges that the specification of such parts constitutes breach of contract and fraud. The suit mirrors to a large degree lawsuits filed against other carriers in the industry.  The plaintiffs allege that after-market parts are not “of like kind and quality” as required by the insurance policy, and they are seeking actual and punitive damages.  The Company has been vigorously defending this lawsuit, but its outcome is uncertain.  A second aftermarket parts lawsuit has now been dismissed.  In that case, plaintiffs had alleged that Allstate and three co-defendants violated federal antitrust laws by conspiring to manipulate the price of auto physical damage coverages in such a way that not all savings realized by the use of aftermarket parts are passed on to the policyholders.  In a related development, the Illinois Supreme Court recently reversed the billion-dollar judgment entered against State Farm in a nationwide aftermarket parts class action, Avery

 

12



 

v. State Farm.  The Company believes that the Avery decision will be useful in its defense of the remaining aftermarket parts case discussed above, which is pending in Illinois.

 

There are several statewide and nationwide class action lawsuits pending against Allstate alleging that its failure to pay “inherent diminished value” to insureds under the collision, comprehensive, uninsured motorist property damage, or auto property damage liability provisions of auto policies constitutes breach of contract and fraud.  Plaintiffs define “inherent diminished value” as the difference between the market value of the insured automobile before an accident and the market value after repair.  Plaintiffs allege that they are entitled to the payment of inherent diminished value under the terms of the policy.  To a large degree, these lawsuits mirror similar lawsuits filed against other carriers in the industry.  These lawsuits are pending in various state and federal courts, and they are in various stages of development.  Classes have been certified in only two cases.  Both are multi-state class actions.  A trial in one of these multi-state class action cases involving collision and comprehensive coverage concluded on April 29, 2004, with a jury verdict in favor of the Company.  The plaintiffs made a motion for a new trial, which was denied, and have now filed an appeal from the judgment.  In the other certified class action lawsuit, which involves uninsured motorist property damage coverage, the appellate court granted the Company’s petition for review of the order of certification.  That appeal has been briefed and argued, and the Company is awaiting a decision by the court.  The Company has been vigorously defending all of these lawsuits and, since 1998, has been implementing policy language in more than 40 states reaffirming that its collision and comprehensive coverages do not include diminished value claims.  The outcome of these disputes remains uncertain.

 

There are a number of state and nationwide class action lawsuits pending in various state courts challenging the legal propriety of Allstate’s medical bill review processes on a number of grounds, including, among other things, the manner in which Allstate determines reasonableness and necessity.  One nationwide class action has been certified.  These lawsuits, which to a large degree mirror similar lawsuits filed against other carriers in the industry, allege these processes result in a breach of the insurance policy as well as fraud.  Plaintiffs seek monetary damages in the form of contractual and extra-contractual damages.  The Company denies these allegations and has been vigorously defending these lawsuits.  The outcome of these disputes is currently uncertain.

 

A number of nationwide and statewide putative class actions are pending against Allstate that challenge Allstate’s use of certain automated database vendors in valuing total loss automobiles.  To a large degree, these lawsuits mirror similar lawsuits filed against other carriers in the industry.  Plaintiffs allege that flaws in these databases result in valuations to the detriment of insureds.  The plaintiffs are seeking actual and punitive damages. The lawsuits are in various stages of development and Allstate has been vigorously defending them, but the outcome of these disputes is currently uncertain.

 

The Company is defending a putative nationwide class action that alleges that the Company discriminates against non-Caucasian policyholders, through underwriting and rate-making practices including the use of credit information, by charging them higher premiums.  The Company is also defending a putative statewide class action challenging its use of credit information under certain state insurance statutes.  The plaintiffs in these cases seek monetary and equitable relief, including actual and punitive damages and injunctive relief.  The Company removed the statewide class action to federal court. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has recently affirmed the trial court’s denial of the plaintiff’s motion to remand to state court.  The Company denies these allegations and has been vigorously defending these lawsuits.  The outcome of these disputes is currently uncertain.

 

Allstate is defending various lawsuits involving worker classification issues.  These lawsuits include a number of putative class actions and one certified class action challenging the overtime exemption claimed by the Company under the Fair Labor Standards Act or state wage and hour laws.  In these cases, plaintiffs seek monetary relief, such as penalties and liquidated damages, and non-monetary relief, such as injunctive relief and an accounting.  These class actions mirror similar lawsuits filed against other carriers in the industry and other employers, some of which have been settled recently.  In the one certified class action against Allstate, based on California law, the parties reached a tentative agreement on June 24, 2005 to settle the case.  The parties executed a definitive settlement agreement on August 30, 2005, which the trial court preliminarily approved.  The settlement is subject to a final fairness hearing and approval by the trial court.  With respect to this matter, Allstate established an accrual in the second quarter of 2005 of $120 million, including attorney fees and other costs. Allstate is continuing to vigorously defend its other worker classification lawsuits.  The outcome of these disputes is currently uncertain.

 

13



 

The Company is defending certain matters relating to the Company’s agency program reorganization announced in 1999.  These matters include a lawsuit filed in December 2001 by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) alleging retaliation under federal civil rights laws, a class action filed in August 2001 by former employee agents alleging retaliation and age discrimination under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, breach of contract and ERISA violations, and a lawsuit filed in October 2004 by the EEOC alleging age discrimination with respect to a policy limiting the rehire of agents affected by the agency program reorganization. The Company is also defending a certified class action filed by former employee agents who terminated their employment prior to the agency program reorganization.  These plaintiffs have asserted breach of contract and ERISA claims and are seeking actual damages including benefits under Allstate employee benefit plans and payments provided in connection with the reorganization, as well as punitive damages.  In late March 2004, in the first EEOC lawsuit and class action lawsuit, the trial court issued a memorandum and order that, among other things, certified classes of agents, including a mandatory class of agents who had signed a release, for purposes of effecting the court’s declaratory judgment that the release is voidable at the option of the release signer.  The court also ordered that an agent who voids the release must return to Allstate “any and all benefits received by the [agent] in exchange for signing the release.”  The court also “concluded that, on the undisputed facts of record, there is no basis for claims of age discrimination.”  The EEOC and plaintiffs have asked the court to clarify and/or reconsider its memorandum and order.  The case otherwise remains pending.  A putative nationwide class action has also been filed by former employee agents alleging various violations of ERISA, including a worker classification issue.  These plaintiffs are challenging certain amendments to the Agents Pension Plan and are seeking to have exclusive agent independent contractors treated as employees for benefit purposes.  This matter was dismissed with prejudice by the trial court, was the subject of further proceedings on appeal, and was reversed and remanded to the trial court in April 2005.  In these matters, plaintiffs seek compensatory and punitive damages, and equitable relief.  Allstate has been vigorously defending these lawsuits and other matters related to its agency program reorganization.  In addition, Allstate has been defending certain matters relating to its life agency program reorganization announced in 2000.  These matters have been the subject of an investigation by the EEOC with respect to allegations of age discrimination and retaliation and conciliation discussions between Allstate and the EEOC.  The outcome of these disputes is currently uncertain.

 

 The Company has resolved through mediation and settlement all but one of its lawsuits brought by plaintiffs challenging trading restrictions the Company adopted in an effort to limit market-timing activity in its variable annuity sub-accounts.  In the one lawsuit the Company is still defending, the plaintiff seeks a variety of remedies including monetary and equitable relief. The Company has been vigorously defending this matter, but the outcome is currently uncertain.

 

The Company is defending several matters filed in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, including several statewide putative class action lawsuits pending in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.  In addition, the Mississippi Attorney General filed a suit asserting that the flood exclusion found in Allstate’s and other insurance companies’ policies is either ambiguous, unenforceable as unconscionable or contrary to public policy, or inapplicable to the damage suffered in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.  These suits seek primarily declaratory relief, and in some cases, actual and punitive damages in an unspecified amount.  Additionally, in connection with a petition for injunctive relief filed by the Texas Attorney General, a temporary injunction was entered against Allstate on October 21, 2005, which prevents it from denying and failing to pay claims for loss of use (additional living expense) caused by Hurricane Rita if the insured property is rendered untenantable, regardless of whether direct physical loss or physical damage to the property occurred.  Allstate denies that there is coverage under these circumstances.  The Texas Court of Appeals stayed the temporary injunction on October 27, 2005, pending disposition of Allstate’s request for immediate review of the temporary injunction.  The matters described in this paragraph are in various stages of development and Allstate intends to vigorously defend them.  The outcome of these disputes is currently uncertain.

 

Other Matters

 

The Company and some of its subsidiaries have received interrogatories and demands for information from regulatory and enforcement authorities relating to various insurance products and practices. The areas of inquiry include variable annuity market timing, late trading and the issuance of funding agreements backing medium-term notes.  The Company and some of its subsidiaries have also received interrogatories and demands for information from authorities seeking information relevant to on-going investigations into the possible violation of antitrust or insurance laws by unnamed parties and, in particular, seeking information as to whether any person engaged in activities for the

 

14



 

purpose of price fixing, market allocation, or bid rigging.  The Company believes that these inquiries are similar to those made to many financial services companies as part of industry-wide investigations by various authorities into the practices, policies and procedures relating to insurance and financial services products.  The Company and its subsidiaries have responded and will continue to respond to these inquiries.

 

Various other legal and regulatory actions, including state market conduct exams, are currently pending that involve the Company and specific aspects of its conduct of business.  Like other members of the insurance industry, the Company is the target of a number of class action lawsuits and other types of proceedings, some of which involve claims for substantial or indeterminate amounts.  These actions are based on a variety of issues and target a range of the Company’s practices.  The outcome of these disputes is currently unpredictable.

 

However, at this time, based on their present status, it is the opinion of management that the ultimate liability, if any, in one or more of the actions described in this “Other Matters” subsection in excess of amounts currently reserved is not expected to have a material effect on the results of operations, liquidity or financial condition of the Company.

 

Asbestos and environmental

 

Allstate’s reserves for asbestos claims were $1.49 billion and $1.46 billion, net of reinsurance recoverables of $912 million and $963 million at September 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively.  Reserves for environmental claims were $219 million and $232 million, net of reinsurance recoverables of $44 million and $49 million at September 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively.  Approximately 66% and 62% of the total net asbestos and environmental reserves at September 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively, were for incurred but not reported estimated losses.

 

Management believes its net loss reserves for environmental, asbestos and other discontinued lines exposures are appropriately established based on available facts, technology, laws and regulations.  However, establishing net loss reserves for asbestos, environmental and other discontinued lines claims is subject to uncertainties that are greater than those presented by other types of claims. Among the complications are lack of historical data, long reporting delays, uncertainty as to the number and identity of insureds with potential exposure, unresolved legal issues regarding policy coverage, unresolved legal issues regarding the determination, availability and timing of exhaustion of policy limits, plaintiffs’ evolving and expanding theories of liability, availability and collectibility of recoveries from reinsurance, retrospectively determined premiums and other contractual agreements, and estimating the extent and timing of any contractual liability, and other uncertainties. There are also complex legal issues concerning the interpretation of various insurance policy provisions and whether those losses are covered, or were ever intended to be covered, and could be recoverable through retrospectively determined premium, reinsurance or other contractual agreements. Courts have reached different and sometimes inconsistent conclusions as to when losses are deemed to have occurred and which policies provide coverage; what types of losses are covered; whether there is an insurer obligation to defend; how policy limits are determined; how policy exclusions and conditions are applied and interpreted; and whether clean-up costs represent insured property damage.  Management believes these issues are not likely to be resolved in the near future, and the ultimate cost may vary materially from the amounts currently recorded resulting in an increase in loss reserves.  In addition, while the Company believes that improved actuarial techniques and databases have assisted in its ability to estimate asbestos, environmental, and other discontinued lines net loss reserves, these refinements may subsequently prove to be inadequate indicators of the extent of probable losses.  Due to the uncertainties and factors described above, management believes it is not practicable to develop a meaningful range for any such additional net loss reserves that may be required.

 

15



 

7.              Components of Net Periodic Pension and Postretirement Benefit Costs

 

The components of net periodic cost for the Company’s pension and postretirement benefit plans are as follows: 

 

 

 

Three months ended
September 30,

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

 

(in millions)

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pension benefits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service cost (1)

 

$

46

 

$

39

 

$

156

 

$

117

 

Interest cost

 

71

 

66

 

212

 

198

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

(79

)

(72

)

(235

)

(216

)

Amortization of:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prior service costs

 

(1

)

(1

)

(2

)

(2

)

Net loss

 

34

 

30

 

100

 

88

 

Settlement loss

 

9

 

9

 

27

 

32

 

Net periodic pension cost

 

$

80

 

$

71

 

$

258

 

$

217

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Postretirement benefits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service cost (1)

 

6

 

7

 

25

 

21

 

Interest cost

 

17

 

17

 

50

 

53

 

Amortization of:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prior service costs

 

 

 

(1

)

(1

)

Net loss

 

1

 

3

 

5

 

9

 

Net periodic postretirement cost

 

$

24

 

$

27

 

$

79

 

$

82

 

 


(1) In the three months ended March 31, 2005, the Company recognized $19 million and $4 million pretax for pension and postretirement benefits, respectively, related to a non-recurring increase in liability for future benefits of a discontinued benefit plan.

 

As a result of the subsidy provided by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003, the net periodic postretirement benefit cost for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2005 was reduced by $5 million and $11 million, respectively, of which $2 million and $3 million was a reduction of current period service cost, $1 million and $3 million was the reduction in interest cost on the APBO and $2 million and $5 million was amortization of the actuarial experience gain attributable to past service, respectively (see Note 1).

 

As of September 30, 2005, the Company contributed $70 million to its pension plans.  The Company plans to contribute a total of $356 million to its pension plans in 2005.

 

16



 

8.              Equity Incentive Plans

 

The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share as if the fair value based method, adopted prospectively by the Company on January 1, 2003, had been applied to all outstanding and unvested options in each period.

 

 

 

Three months ended
September 30,

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

 

(in millions, except per share data)

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net (loss) income, as reported

 

$

(1,548

)

$

56

 

$

724

 

$

2,039

 

Add: Employee stock option expense included in reported  net (loss) income, after-tax (1)

 

7

 

2

 

24

 

11

 

Deduct: Total employee stock option expense determined  under fair value based method for all awards, after-tax

 

(8

)

(7

)

(32

)

(27

)

Pro forma net (loss) income

 

$

(1,549

)

$

51

 

$

716

 

$

2,023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per share—Basic:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As reported

 

$

(2.36

)

$

0.10

 

$

1.09

 

$

2.92

 

Pro forma

 

(2.37

)

0.08

 

1.07

 

2.89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per share—Diluted:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As reported

 

$

(2.36

)

$

0.09

 

$

1.08

 

$

2.90

 

Pro forma

 

(2.37

)

0.08

 

1.07

 

2.87

 

 


(1) In the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2005, the Company recognized a total of $3 million and $19 million after-tax, respectively, related to the acceleration of deferred compensation expense on unvested stock awards granted to retirement eligible employees, including $2 million and $11 million after-tax, respectively, on unvested stock options (included in the table above) and $1 million and $8 million after-tax, respectively, on restricted stock.

 

17



 

9.              Business Segments

 

Summarized revenue data for each of the Company’s business segments are as follows:

 

 

 

Three months ended
September 30,

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

 

(in millions)

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property-Liability

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property-liability insurance premiums earned

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Standard auto

 

$

4,086

 

$

3,915

 

$

12,118

 

$

11,548

 

Non-standard auto

 

438

 

490

 

1,345

 

1,515

 

Auto

 

4,524

 

4,405

 

13,463

 

13,063

 

Homeowners

 

1,589

 

1,483

 

4,732

 

4,360

 

Other

 

667

 

662

 

2,006

 

1,955

 

Allstate Protection

 

6,780

 

6,550

 

20,201

 

19,378

 

Discontinued Lines and Coverages

 

1

 

1

 

 

4

 

Total property-liability insurance premiums earned

 

6,781

 

6,551

 

20,201

 

19,382

 

Net investment income

 

454

 

443

 

1,333

 

1,310

 

Realized capital gains and losses

 

163

 

100

 

385

 

400

 

Total Property-Liability

 

7,398

 

7,094

 

21,919

 

21,092

 

Allstate Financial

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Life and annuity premiums and contract charges

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Traditional life

 

68

 

81

 

204

 

246

 

Immediate annuities with life contingencies

 

37

 

66

 

160

 

209

 

Accident and health and other

 

113

 

100

 

325

 

290

 

Total life and annuity premiums

 

218

 

247

 

689

 

745

 

Interest-senstive life

 

196

 

187

 

581

 

540

 

Fixed annuities

 

16

 

13

 

49

 

41

 

Variable annuities

 

75

 

61

 

206

 

182

 

Total contract charges

 

287

 

261

 

836

 

763

 

Total life and annuity premiums and contract charges

 

505

 

508

 

1,525

 

1,508

 

Net investment income

 

974

 

866

 

2,838

 

2,520

 

Realized capital gains and losses

 

27

 

(51

)

52

 

(135

)

Total Allstate Financial

 

1,506

 

1,323

 

4,415

 

3,893

 

Corporate and Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service fees

 

3

 

3

 

7

 

9

 

Net investment income

 

29

 

24

 

93

 

76

 

Realized capital gains and losses

 

9

 

1

 

11

 

(4

)

Total Corporate and Other before reclassification of service fees

 

41

 

28

 

111

 

81

 

Reclassification of service fees (1)

 

(3

)

(3

)

(7

)

(9

)

Total Corporate and Other

 

38

 

25

 

104

 

72

 

Consolidated Revenues

 

$

8,942

 

$

8,442

 

$

26,438

 

$

25,057

 

 


(1)          For presentation in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, service fees of the Corporate and Other segment are reclassified to operating costs and expenses.

 

18



 

Summarized financial performance data for each of the Company’s reportable segments are as follows:

 

 

 

Three months ended
September 30,

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

 

(in millions)

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, after-tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property-Liability

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Underwriting (loss) income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allstate Protection

 

$

(3,227

)

$

(370

)

$

(1,218

)

$

1,707

 

Discontinued Lines and Coverages

 

(136

)

(315

)

(170

)

(639

)

Total underwriting (loss) income

 

(3,363

)

(685

)

(1,388

)

1,068

 

Net investment income

 

454

 

443

 

1,333

 

1,310

 

Income tax benefit (expense) on operations

 

1,124

 

167

 

291

 

(605

)

Realized capital gains and losses, after-tax

 

99

 

69

 

248

 

272

 

Property-Liability (loss) income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, after-tax

 

(1,686

)

(6

)

484

 

2,045

 

Allstate Financial

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Life and annuity premiums and contract charges

 

505

 

508

 

1,525

 

1,508

 

Net investment income

 

974

 

866

 

2,838

 

2,520

 

Periodic settlements and accruals on non-hedge derivative instruments

 

14

 

15

 

49

 

33

 

Contract benefits and interest credited to contractholder funds

 

(1,003

)

(906

)

(2,961

)

(2,626

)

Operating costs and expenses and amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs

 

(270

)

(259

)

(819

)

(818

)

Restructuring and related charges

 

(1

)

(1

)

(1

)

(5

)

Income tax expense on operations

 

(63

)

(72

)

(189

)

(203

)

Operating income

 

156

 

151

 

442

 

409

 

Realized capital gains and losses, after-tax

 

17

 

(33

)

33

 

(90

)

Deferred policy acquisition costs and deferred sales inducements amortization relating to realized capital gains and losses, after-tax

 

(2

)

(15

)

(106

)

(28

)

Non-recurring increase in liability for future benefits, after-tax (1)

 

 

 

(22

)

 

Reclassification of periodic settlements and accruals on non-hedge derivative instruments, after-tax

 

(10

)

(10

)

(32

)

(21

)

Loss on disposition of operations, after-tax

 

(7

)

(5

)

(11

)

(22

)

Allstate Financial income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, after-tax

 

154

 

88

 

304

 

248

 

Corporate and Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service fees (2)

 

3

 

3

 

7

 

9

 

Net investment income

 

29

 

24

 

93

 

76

 

Operating costs and expenses

 

(82

)

(82

)

(255

)

(241

)

Income tax benefit on operations

 

29

 

28

 

84

 

79

 

Operating loss

 

(21

)

(27

)

(71

)

(77

)

Realized capital gains and losses, after-tax

 

5

 

1

 

7

 

(2

)

Corporate and Other loss before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, after-tax

 

(16

)

(26

)

(64

)

(79

)

Consolidated (loss) income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle,
after-tax

 

$

(1,548

)

$

56

 

$

724

 

$

2,214

 

 


(1)          The non-recurring increase in liability for future benefits is for a discontinued benefit plan (see Note 7 for impact to pension and postretirement benefits).

 

(2)          For presentation in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, service fees of the Corporate and Other segment are reclassified to operating costs and expenses.

 

19



 

10.       Other Comprehensive Income

 

The components of other comprehensive income (loss) on a pretax and after-tax basis are as follows:

 

 

 

Three months ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

(in millions)

 

Pretax

 

Tax

 

After-
tax

 

Pretax

 

Tax

 

After-
tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized net holding (losses) gains arising during the period

 

$

(734

)

$

257

 

$

(477

)

$

1,229

 

$

(430

)

$

799

 

Less: reclassification adjustments

 

89

 

(31

)

58

 

50

 

(18

)

32

 

Unrealized net capital (losses) gains

 

(823

)

288

 

(535

)

1,179

 

(412

)

767

 

Unrealized foreign currency translation adjustments

 

23

 

(8

)

15

 

26

 

(9

)

17

 

Other comprehensive (loss) income

 

$

(800

)

$

280

 

(520

)

$

1,205

 

$

(421

)

784

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net (loss) income

 

 

 

 

 

(1,548

)

 

 

 

 

56

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive (loss) income

 

 

 

 

 

$

(2,068

)

 

 

 

 

$

840

 

 

 

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

(in millions)

 

Pretax

 

Tax

 

After-
tax

 

Pretax

 

Tax

 

After-
tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized net holding (losses) gains arising during the period

 

$

(761

)

$

266

 

$

(495

)

$

(148

)

$

52

 

$

(96

)

Less: reclassification adjustments

 

296

 

(104

)

192

 

349

 

(122

)

227

 

Unrealized net capital (losses) gains

 

(1,057

)

370

 

(687

)

(497

)

174

 

(323

)

Unrealized foreign currency translation adjustments

 

12

 

(4

)

8

 

17

 

(6

)

11

 

Other comprehensive (loss) income

 

$

(1,045

)

$

366

 

(679

)

$

(480

)

$

168

 

(312

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

724

 

 

 

 

 

2,039

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

$

45

 

 

 

 

 

$

1,727

 

 

11.       Debt Outstanding

 

In May 2005, the Company issued $800 million of 5.55% senior notes due 2035.  The net proceeds of this issuance were used for general corporate purposes, including funding the repayment of a portion of the $900 million of 7.875% senior notes, which were repaid at their scheduled maturity, May 1, 2005.

 

In July 2005, the Company liquidated its consolidated investment management variable interest entity (“VIE”).  As a result of the liquidation, long-term debt and assets decreased by $279 million and $305 million (of which $298 million was classified as investments), respectively.  In September 2005, the Company established a new investment management VIE that holds assets under the management of Allstate Investment Management Company, a subsidiary of the Company, on behalf of unrelated third party investors.  The VIE had assets consisting primarily of investments totaling $318 million and liabilities consisting primarily of long-term debt totaling $288 million at September 30, 2005.  The Company does not consolidate the VIE because it is not the primary beneficiary of this VIE. The Company’s maximum loss exposure related to its investment in the VIE is the current carrying value of its equity investment, which was $10 million at September 30, 2005.

 

20



 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of

The Allstate Corporation:

 

We have reviewed the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of financial position of The Allstate Corporation and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of September 30, 2005, and the related condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2005 and 2004.  These interim financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.

 

We conducted our reviews in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters.  It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole.  Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

 

Based on our reviews, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to such condensed consolidated interim financial statements for them to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

We have previously audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated statement of financial position of The Allstate Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2004, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the year then ended, not presented herein.  In our report dated February 24, 2005, which report includes an explanatory paragraph as to changes in the Company’s method of accounting for certain nontraditional long-duration contracts and separate accounts in 2004, method of accounting for stock-based compensation, embedded derivatives in modified coinsurance agreements and variable interest entities in 2003 and method of accounting for goodwill and other intangible assets in 2002, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.  In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of financial position as of December 31, 2004 is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated statement of financial position from which it has been derived.

 

 

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

 

 

Chicago, Illinois

November 1, 2005

 

21



 

Item 2.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE-MONTH AND NINE-MONTH PERIODS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2005 AND 2004

 

OVERVIEW

 

The following discussion highlights significant factors influencing the consolidated financial position and results of operations of The Allstate Corporation (referred to in this document as “we”, “our”, “us”, the “Company” or “Allstate”). It should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto found under Part I. Item 1. contained herein, and with the discussion, analysis, consolidated financial statements and notes thereto in Part I. Item 1. and Part II. Item 7. and Item 8. of The Allstate Corporation Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2004.  Analysis of our insurance segments is provided in Property-Liability Operations (which includes the Allstate Protection and the Discontinued Lines and Coverages segments) and in the Allstate Financial Segment (which represents the Allstate Financial segment) sections of Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”). The segments are consistent with the way in which we use financial information to evaluate business performance and to determine the allocation of resources.

 

HIGHLIGHTS

 

                  Catastrophe losses in the third quarter of 2005 totaled $4.71 billion compared to $1.71 billion in the same period of 2004.  Catastrophe losses in the first nine months of 2005 totaled $5.02 billion compared to $2.06 billion in the same period of 2004.  The effect of catastrophe losses on the combined ratio was 69.4 points and 26.0 points in the third quarter of 2005 and 2004, respectively, and 24.8 points and 10.6 points in the first nine months of 2005 and 2004, respectively.  Catastrophe losses in the third quarter of 2005 included the impacts of Hurricanes Katrina ($3.68 billion pre-tax or $2.39 billion after-tax), Rita ($850 million pre-tax or $553 million after-tax, net of reinsurance), Dennis and Ophelia.

                  Net loss per diluted share was $2.36 in the third quarter of 2005 compared to a net income per diluted share of $0.09 in the third quarter of last year, primarily due to higher catastrophes.  Net income per diluted share was $1.08 in the first nine months of 2005 compared to $2.90 in the first nine months of last year, primarily due to higher catastrophes.

                  Property-Liability premiums earned increased $230 million or 3.5% to $6.78 billion in the third quarter of 2005 from $6.55 billion in the third quarter of 2004 and increased $819 million or 4.2% to $20.20 billion for the first nine months of 2005 from $19.38 billion for the first nine months of 2004.

                  The Property-Liability combined ratio was 149.6 in the third quarter of 2005 compared to 110.5 in the third quarter of 2004 and 106.9 in the first nine months of 2005 compared to 94.5 in the first nine months of 2004.

                  Allstate Financial net income increased to $154 million in the third quarter of 2005 compared to $88 million in the third quarter of 2004 and to $304 million for the first nine months of 2005 compared to $73 million for the first nine months of 2004.  The increase in the first nine months of 2005 was partially due to a $175 million cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle, after-tax for the adoption of AICPA Statement of Position 03-1, “Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises for Certain Nontraditional Long-Duration Contracts and for Separate Accounts” in the first quarter of 2004.

                  Allstate Financial investments increased 4.6% as of September 30, 2005 compared to December 31, 2004 due primarily to increased contractholder funds and increased funds associated with securities lending.

                  Net realized capital gains were $199 million in the third quarter of 2005 compared to $50 million in the third quarter of 2004.  Net realized capital gains were $448 million in the first nine months of 2005 compared to $261 million in the first nine months of 2004.

                  For the twelve months ended September 30, 2005, return on equity declined 4.7 points to 9.2% from 13.9% for the twelve months ended September 30, 2004.  This decline is due to the increased level of hurricane losses incurred in the third quarter of 2005, which are included in our trailing twelve month calculation.  Return on equity for the twelve months ended June 30, 2005 was 16.1%.

 

22



 

CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

(in millions)

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property-liability insurance premiums earned

 

$

6,781

 

$

6,551

 

$

20,201

 

$

19,382

 

Life and annuity premiums and contract charges

 

505

 

508

 

1,525

 

1,508

 

Net investment income

 

1,457

 

1,333

 

4,264

 

3,906

 

Realized capital gains and losses

 

199

 

50

 

448

 

261

 

Total revenues

 

8,942

 

8,442

 

26,438

 

25,057

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property-liability insurance claims and claims expense

 

(8,529

)

(5,661

)

(16,706

)

(13,668

)

Life and annuity contract benefits

 

(395

)

(401

)

(1,209

)

(1,174

)

Interest credited to contractholder funds

 

(608

)

(505

)

(1,784

)

(1,455

)

Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs

 

(1,160

)

(1,124

)

(3,557

)

(3,251

)

Operating costs and expenses

 

(713

)

(738

)

(2,266

)

(2,241

)

Restructuring and related charges

 

(10

)

1

 

(36

)

(26

)

Interest expense

 

(85

)

(76

)

(251

)

(223

)

Total costs and expenses

 

(11,500

)

(8,504

)

(25,809

)

(22,038

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss on disposition of operations

 

(4

)

(6

)

(12

)

(17

)

Income tax benefit (expense)

 

1,014

 

124

 

107

 

(788

)

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle,
after-tax

 

 

 

 

(175

)

Net (loss) income

 

$

(1,548

)

$

56

 

$

724

 

$

2,039

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property-Liability

 

$

(1,686

)

$

(6

)

$

484

 

$

2,045

 

Allstate Financial

 

154

 

88

 

304

 

73

 

Corporate and Other

 

(16

)

(26

)

(64

)

(79

)

Net (loss) income

 

$

(1,548

)

$

56

 

$

724

 

$

2,039

 

 

PROPERTY-LIABILITY HIGHLIGHTS

 

                  Premiums written increased 2.9% in the third quarter of 2005 over the third quarter of 2004 and 3.5% in the first nine months of 2005 over the first nine months of 2004, primarily due to increases in the Allstate brand standard auto and homeowners policies in force (“PIF”) and average premiums.  Premiums written grew 3.7%, excluding the cost of catastrophe reinsurance programs purchased in 2005, impacts of Hurricane Katrina and business ceded to Universal Insurance Company of North America (“Universal”).  The impacts of Hurricane Katrina related to an estimate of policies expected to be canceled by the policyholder, which decreased premiums written by $14 million.  Allstate brand standard auto and homeowners premiums written increased 4.7% and 6.0%, respectively, in the third quarter of 2005 and 5.1% and 7.4%, respectively, in the first nine months of 2005, over the same periods of 2004.  Allstate brand standard auto new business premiums written increased 2.0% in the third quarter of 2005 and decreased 1.3% in the first nine months of 2005 over the same periods of 2004.  Allstate brand homeowners new business premiums written decreased 6.5% in the third quarter of 2005 and 6.8% in the first nine months of 2005 over the same periods of 2004.  The Allstate brand homeowner decrease was primarily due to declines in certain markets from proactive risk management actions.  Premiums written is an operating measure that is defined and reconciled to premiums earned on page 25.

 

23



 

                  Growth in PIF as of the third quarter of 2005 when compared to the third quarter of 2004 for Allstate brand standard auto and homeowners was 3.6% and 4.4%, respectively, and total Allstate brand personal lines PIF increased 2.9%.  The Allstate brand standard auto renewal ratio was 90.5 in the third quarter of 2005 compared to 90.9 in the third quarter of 2004 and 90.7 in the first nine months of 2005 compared to 90.8 in the first nine months of 2004.  The Allstate brand homeowners renewal ratio was 88.5 in the third quarter of 2005 compared to 88.6 in the third quarter of 2004 and 88.4 in the first nine months of 2005 compared to 88.3 in the first nine months of 2004.  The PIF and renewal ratio results exclude Allstate Canada.

                  Property-Liability underwriting loss was $3.36 billion in the third quarter of 2005 compared to $685 million in the third quarter of 2004 due to higher catastrophes, partially offset by higher premiums earned, favorable claim frequencies (rate of claim occurrence) excluding catastrophes and favorable reserve reestimates related to prior years.  The combined ratio was 149.6 in the third quarter of 2005 compared to 110.5 in the third quarter of 2004.  Property-Liability underwriting loss was $1.39 billion in the first nine months of 2005 compared to an underwriting income of $1.07 billion in the first nine months of 2004 due to higher catastrophes, increased severity (average cost per claim) of current year claims and a $120 million accrual for the anticipated settlement of a worker classification lawsuit, partially offset by higher premiums earned, favorable claim frequencies excluding catastrophes and favorable reserve reestimates related to prior years.  The combined ratio was 106.9 in the first nine months of 2005 compared to 94.5 in the first nine months in 2004.  Underwriting income (loss), a measure that is not based on generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), is defined below.

 

PROPERTY-LIABILITY OPERATIONS

 

Our Property-Liability operations consist of two business segments: Allstate Protection and Discontinued Lines and Coverages.  Allstate Protection is comprised of two brands, the Allstate brand and Encompass brand.  Allstate Protection is principally engaged in the sale of personal property and casualty insurance, primarily private passenger auto and homeowners insurance, to individuals in the United States and Canada.  Discontinued Lines and Coverages includes results from insurance coverage that we no longer write and results for certain commercial and other businesses in run-off.  These segments are consistent with the groupings of financial information that management uses to evaluate performance and to determine the allocation of resources.

 

Underwriting income (loss), a measure that is not based on GAAP and is reconciled to net income on page 25, is calculated as premiums earned, less claims and claims expense (“losses”), amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs (“DAC”), operating costs and expenses and restructuring and related charges, as determined using GAAP.  We use this measure in our evaluation of results of operations to analyze the profitability of the Property-Liability insurance operations separately from investment results.  It is also an integral component of incentive compensation.  It is useful for investors to evaluate the components of income separately and in the aggregate when reviewing performance.  Underwriting income (loss) should not be considered as a substitute for net income and does not reflect the overall profitability of the business.  Net income is the most directly comparable GAAP measure.

 

The table below includes GAAP operating ratios we use to measure our profitability.  We believe that they enhance an investor’s understanding of our profitability.  They are calculated as follows:

 

                  Claims and claims expense (“loss”) ratio - the ratio of claims and claims expense to premiums earned.  Loss ratios include the impact of catastrophe losses.

                  Expense ratio – the ratio of amortization of DAC, operating costs and expenses and restructuring and related charges to premiums earned.

                  Combined ratio – the ratio of claims and claims expense, amortization of DAC, operating costs and expenses and restructuring and related charges to premiums earned.  The combined ratio is the sum of the loss ratio and the expense ratio.  The difference between 100% and the combined ratio represents underwriting income (loss) as a percentage of premiums earned.

 

We have also calculated the following impacts of specific items on the GAAP operating ratios because of the volatility of these items between fiscal periods.

 

                  Effect of catastrophe losses on combined ratio – the percentage of catastrophe losses included in claims and claims expenses to premiums earned.

                  Effect of pretax reserve reestimates on combined ratio – the percentage of pretax reserve reestimates included in claims and claims expense to premiums earned.

                  Effect of restructuring and related charges on combined ratio – the percentage of restructuring and related charges to premiums earned.

 

24



 

                  Effect of Discontinued Lines and Coverages on combined ratio – the ratio of claims and claims expense and other costs and expenses in the Discontinued Lines and Coverages segment to Property-Liability premiums earned.  The sum of the effect of Discontinued Lines and Coverages on the combined ratio and the Allstate Protection combined ratio on page 36 is equal to the Property-Liability combined ratio.

 

Summarized financial data, a reconciliation of underwriting (loss) income to net income and GAAP operating ratios for our Property-Liability operations are presented in the following table.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

(in millions, except ratios)

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

Premiums written

 

$

7,158

 

$

6,958

 

$

20,733

 

$

20,032

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premiums earned

 

$

6,781

 

$

6,551

 

$

20,201

 

$

19,382

 

Net investment income

 

454

 

443

 

1,333

 

1,310

 

Realized capital gains and losses

 

163

 

100

 

385

 

400

 

Total revenues

 

7,398

 

7,094

 

21,919

 

21,092

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Claims and claims expense

 

(8,529

)

(5,661

)

(16,706

)

(13,668

)

Amortization of DAC

 

(1,029

)

(985

)

(3,061

)

(2,858

)

Operating costs and expenses

 

(577

)

(592

)

(1,787

)

(1,767

)

Restructuring and related charges

 

(9

)

2

 

(35

)

(21

)

Total costs and expenses

 

(10,144

)

(7,236

)

(21,589

)

(18,314

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax benefit (expense)

 

1,060

 

136

 

154

 

(733

)

Net (loss) income

 

$

(1,686

)

$

(6

)

$

484

 

$

2,045

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Underwriting (loss) income

 

$

(3,363

)

$

(685

)

$

(1,388

)

$

1,068

 

Net investment income

 

454

 

443

 

1,333

 

1,310

 

Income tax benefit (expense) on operations

 

1,124

 

167

 

291

 

(605

)

Realized capital gains and losses, after-tax

 

99

 

69

 

248

 

272

 

Net (loss) income

 

$

(1,686

)

$

(6

)

$

484

 

$

2,045

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Catastrophe losses

 

$

4,707

 

$

1,706

 

$

5,017

 

$

2,056

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GAAP operating ratios

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Claims and claims expense (“loss”) ratio

 

125.8

 

86.4

 

82.7

 

70.5

 

Expense ratio

 

23.8

 

24.1

 

24.2

 

24.0

 

Combined ratio

 

149.6

 

110.5

 

106.9

 

94.5

 

Effect of catastrophe losses on combined ratio

 

69.4

 

26.0

 

24.8

 

10.6

 

Effect of pretax reserve reestimates on combined ratio

 

(2.2

)

1.3

 

(1.6

)

(0.2

)

Effect of restructuring and related charges on combined ratio

 

0.1

 

 

0.2

 

0.1

 

Effect of Discontinued Lines and Coverages on combined ratio

 

2.0

 

4.9

 

0.9

 

3.3

 

 

Premiums written, an operating measure, is the amount of premiums charged for policies issued during a fiscal period.  Premiums earned is a GAAP measure.  Premiums are considered earned and are included in the financial results on a pro-rata basis over the policy period.  The portion of premiums written applicable to the unexpired terms of the policies is recorded as unearned premiums on our Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.

 

25



 

A reconciliation of premiums written to premiums earned is presented in the following table.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

(in millions)

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premiums written:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allstate Protection

 

$

7,158

 

$

6,957

 

$

20,732

 

$

20,029

 

Discontinued Lines and Coverages

 

 

1

 

1

 

3

 

Property-Liability premiums written

 

7,158

 

6,958

 

20,733

 

20,032

 

Increase in unearned premiums

 

(393

)

(450

)

(548

)

(696

)

Other

 

16

 

43

 

16

 

46

 

Property-Liability premiums earned

 

$

6,781

 

$

6,551

 

$

20,201

 

$

19,382

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premiums earned:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allstate Protection

 

$

6,780

 

$

6,550

 

$

20,201

 

$

19,378

 

Discontinued Lines and Coverages

 

1

 

1

 

 

4

 

Property-Liability

 

$

6,781

 

$

6,551

 

$

20,201

 

$

19,382

 

 

ALLSTATE PROTECTION SEGMENT

 

As we continue to use Tiered Pricing, which includes our Strategic Risk Management, and underwriting, the distinctions between standard and non-standard have become less important in certain states.  For this reason, we are shifting our managerial focus and believe it is useful for investors to analyze auto results that aggregate our standard and non-standard business.  However, we will continue to provide results for standard and non-standard auto.  Generally, standard auto customers are expected to have lower risks of loss than non-standard auto customers.  Our strategy for the Encompass brand focuses on those markets that give us the best opportunity to grow profitably, in part by using Tiered Pricing.  The integration of Encompass policies onto Allstate systems has resulted in a different counting process for PIF.  As a result, percent changes in PIF and average premium and the renewal ratio are subject to some distortion until the integration is fully complete.

 

Homeowners Catastrophe Management Strategy

 

The overarching intent of our catastrophe management strategy is to support profitable growth of our homeowners business.  While in many areas of the country we are currently achieving returns within acceptable risk management tolerances, our goal is to find solutions that support a continued yet prudent presence in catastrophe prone markets.  Allstate is introducing integrated enterprise risk management (“ERM”) capabilities as part of our continued commitment to effective management of our capital, returns and risk profile.  A principal ERM goal is to validate where and how we insure homeowners catastrophes and to further increase our return on equity, thereby lessening our earnings volatility and capital requirements.  In introducing integrated ERM capabilities, we are considering and adopting new performance measurements for managing our homeowners business.  These measurements currently include establishing an exposure limit based on hurricane and earthquake losses which have a one percent probability of occurring on an annual aggregate countrywide basis, refining acceptable targeted rates of return by line and by state and evaluating potential capital impairment measurements.  Actions resulting from the evaluation of these measurements will reduce our catastrophe risk and improve long-term returns.

 

We consider the greatest areas of potential catastrophe losses due to hurricanes to be major metropolitan centers near the eastern and gulf coasts of the United States, and the greatest areas of potential catastrophe losses due to earthquakes to be California, areas surrounding the New Madrid fault system in the states of Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee, and faults in and surrounding the states of Oregon, Washington and South Carolina.  While in most cases the areas we consider to have the greatest potential for catastrophe losses do not include an entire state, as of September 30, 2005, homeowners premiums earned in these states represented approximately 75% of our total homeowners premiums earned, with the states along the eastern and gulf coasts representing approximately 55% and the states with earthquake exposure listed above (excluding South Carolina) representing approximately 20%.

 

We are evaluating the implications of reducing our catastrophe exposure.  Possible actions we may undertake include additional purchases of reinsurance to mitigate potential exposure to major hurricane and earthquake

 

26



 

catastrophe risks, including assessments from the California Earthquake Authority (“CEA”); changes in rates, deductibles and coverage; limitations on new business writings; changes to underwriting requirements; non-renewal or withdrawal from certain markets; and/or pursuing alternative markets for placement of business or segments of risk exposure in certain areas.

 

We utilize reinsurance in order to reduce exposure to catastrophe risk and to support the required statutory surplus and the insurance financial strength ratings of certain subsidiaries, such as Allstate Floridian Insurance Company and Allstate New Jersey Insurance Company.  We purchase significant reinsurance where we believe the greatest benefit will be achieved in terms of our aggregate countrywide exposure limits based on our ERM model.  The price and terms of reinsurance are also considered in the purchase process, and whether the price can be included in future rates charged to policyholders.  Effective June 1, 2005, multi-year reinsurance treaties cover excess catastrophe losses in seven states: Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Florida.  The cost of these treaties is approximately $190 million per year, or $48 million per quarter.  The annual retentions and limits on these treaties are shown in the following table.

 

State

 

% Placed

 

Annual Retention

 

Limit

 

Connecticut

 

95

 

$ 100,000,000

 

$

200,000,000

 

New Jersey

 

95

 

100,000,000

 

100,000,000

 

New York

 

90

 

750,000,000

 

1,000,000,000

 

North Carolina

 

10

 

80,000,000

 

175,000,000

 

South Carolina

 

10

 

97,000,000

 

435,000,000

 

Texas(2)

 

95

 

320,000,000

 

550,000,000

 

Florida

 

90

 

Excess of FHCF Reimbursement(1)

 

900,000,000

 

 


(1) The Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (“FHCF”) provides 90% reimbursement of qualifying losses up to an estimated maximum.  For the current season, this maximum is estimated to be $871 million in excess of Allstate’s retention of $233 million for the two largest hurricanes and $78 million for other hurricanes.

 

(2) Reinsurance is recoverable by Allstate Texas Lloyd’s (“ATL”), a syndicate insurance company.  ATL also has a 100% reinsurance agreement with Allstate Insurance Company (“AIC”) providing net benefits to AIC as reinsurer.

 

These reinsurance treaties provide coverage per occurrence above each respective retention to the respective maximum coverage limit according to the percent placed.  Each of these treaties also has a reinstatement provision, none of which have been exercised to date; annual remeasurements, which could result in changes in retentions, limits and/or reinsurance premiums as a result of increases or decreases in our exposure levels from the previous year; and the New Jersey and Texas treaties have the option to expand coverage limits by $100 million per year in each of the two subsequent years.

 

Our exposure to certain potential losses from catastrophes is limited by our participation in various state facilities, such as the CEA, which provides insurance for California earthquake losses; the FHCF, which provides reimbursements on certain qualifying Florida hurricane losses; and other state facilities, such as wind pools.  In addition, in various states we are required to participate in assigned risk plans, reinsurance facilities and joint underwriting associations that provide insurance coverage to individuals or entities that otherwise are unable to purchase such coverage from private insurers.  Because of our participation, we may be exposed to losses that surpass the capitalization of these facilities and/or to assessments from these facilities.

 

We also continue to advocate for public policy solutions to help the country become better prepared for and protected from catastrophes.  These solutions include the development of state and national catastrophe funds; improved prevention and mitigation measures, including the adoption of more effective land use policies and stronger building codes; enhanced public education about catastrophe risk; better catastrophe relief, recovery and rebuilding processes; and a rigorous process of continuous improvement of public policy solutions.

 

Historical Catastrophe Experience  Since the beginning of 1992, the average annual impact of catastrophes on our Property-Liability loss ratio was 7.6 pts.  However, this average does not reflect the impact of some of the more significant actions we have taken to limit our catastrophe exposure.  Consequently, we think it is useful to consider the impact of catastrophes after excluding losses that are now partially or substantially covered by the CEA, FHCF or placed with a third party, such as hurricane coverage in Hawaii.  The average annual impact of all catastrophes, excluding losses from Hurricanes Andrew and Iniki and losses from California earthquakes, on our Property-Liability loss ratio was 6.0 points since the beginning of 1992.

 

27



 

Comparatively, the average annual impact of catastrophes on the homeowners loss ratio for the years 1992 through 2004 is shown in the following table.

 

 

 

Average annual impact of
catastrophes on the
homeowners loss ratio

 

Average annual impact of catastrophes on the
homeowners loss ratio excluding losses from
Hurricanes Andrew and Iniki, and losses
from California earthquakes

 

Eastern and gulf coast states

 

27.2

 

19.8

 

All other

 

24.1

 

15.4

 

Total

 

25.8

 

17.8

 

 

Premiums written by brand are shown in the following tables.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

(in millions)

 

New

 

Renewal

 

Total

 

New

 

Renewal

 

Total

 

Allstate brand:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Standard auto

 

$

357

 

$

3,544

 

$

3,901

 

$

350

 

$

3,375

 

$

3,725

 

Non-standard auto

 

63

 

335

 

398

 

70

 

384

 

454

 

Auto

 

420

 

3,879

 

4,299

 

420

 

3,759

 

4,179

 

Homeowners

 

216

 

1,462

 

1,678

 

231

 

1,352

 

1,583

 

Other personal lines

 

128

 

514

 

642

 

131

 

512

 

643

 

Total Allstate brand

 

764

 

5,855

 

6,619

 

782

 

5,623

 

6,405

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Encompass brand:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Standard auto

 

79

 

226

 

305

 

64

 

263

 

327

 

Non-standard auto (Deerbrook)

 

7

 

21

 

28

 

12

 

25

 

37

 

Auto

 

86

 

247

 

333

 

76

 

288

 

364

 

Homeowners

 

22

 

141

 

163

 

19

 

131

 

150

 

Other personal lines

 

11

 

32

 

43

 

10

 

28

 

38

 

Total Encompass brand

 

119

 

420

 

539

 

105

 

447

 

552

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Allstate Protection Premiums written

 

$

883

 

$

6,275

 

$

7,158

 

$

887

 

$

6,070

 

$

6,957

 

 

28



 

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

(in millions)

 

New

 

Renewal

 

Total

 

New

 

Renewal

 

Total

 

Allstate brand:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Standard auto

 

$

994

 

$

10,441

 

$

11,435

 

$

1,007

 

$

9,873

 

$

10,880

 

Non-standard auto

 

197

 

1,029

 

1,226

 

216

 

1,165

 

1,381

 

Auto

 

1,191

 

11,470

 

12,661

 

1,223

 

11,038

 

12,261

 

Homeowners

 

588

 

3,960

 

4,548

 

631

 

3,604

 

4,235

 

Other personal lines

 

380

 

1,558

 

1,938

 

441

 

1,510

 

1,951

 

Total Allstate brand

 

2,159

 

16,988

 

19,147

 

2,295

 

16,152

 

18,447

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Encompass brand:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Standard auto

 

214

 

686

 

900

 

168

 

764

 

932

 

Non-standard auto (Deerbrook)

 

26

 

64

 

90

 

42

 

77

 

119

 

Auto

 

240

 

750

 

990

 

210

 

841

 

1,051

 

Homeowners

 

62

 

401

 

463

 

51

 

365

 

416

 

Other personal lines

 

37

 

95

 

132

 

31

 

84

 

115

 

Total Encompass brand

 

339

 

1,246

 

1,585

 

292

 

1,290

 

1,582

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Allstate Protection premiums written

 

$

2,498

 

$

18,234

 

$

20,732

 

$

2,587

 

$

17,442

 

$

20,029

 

 

Standard auto premiums written increased 3.8% to $4.21 billion in the three months ended September 30, 2005 from $4.05 billion in the same period of 2004 and 4.4% to $12.34 billion during the first nine months of 2005 as compared to $11.81 billion in the first nine months of 2004.

 

 

 

Allstate brand

 

Encompass brand (2)

 

Standard Auto

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New business premiums ($ millions)

 

$

357

 

$

350

 

$

79

 

$

64

 

New business premiums (% change)

 

2.0

 

7.7

 

23.4

 

56.1

 

Renewal business premiums ($ millions)

 

$

3,544

 

$

3,375

 

$

226

 

$

263

 

Renewal ratio(1)

 

90.5

 

90.9

 

77.2

 

75.6

 

PIF (% change)(1)

 

3.6

 

5.4

 

(3.1

)

(6.0

)

Average premium (% change)(1)

 

1.4

 

0.8

 

7.2

 

20.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New business premiums ($ millions)

 

$

994

 

$

1,007

 

$

214

 

$

168

 

New business premiums (% change)

 

(1.3

)

24.6

 

27.4

 

55.6

 

Renewal business premiums ($ millions)

 

$

10,441

 

$

9,873

 

$

686

 

$

764

 

Renewal ratio(1)

 

90.7

 

90.8

 

75.5

 

78.2

 

PIF (% change)(1)

 

3.6

 

5.4

 

(3.1

)

(6.0

)

Average premium (% change)(1)

 

1.4

 

1.4

 

11.4

 

17.7

 

 


(1) Allstate brand statistic excludes business written by Allstate Canada and Allstate Motor Club.

(2) Encompass brand statistics are subject to some distortion due to continued integration of systems.

 

Allstate brand standard auto new business premiums written increased for the three months ended September 30, 2005 and decreased in the first nine months of 2005 compared to the same periods of 2004.  The increase for the third quarter of 2005 was primarily due to increases in average premium, partially offset by competitive pressures in certain states.  In addition to the effects of PIF and average premium, written premium is also affected by other impacts of lesser consequence, such as changes in coverage.  The decrease in the first nine months of 2005 was primarily due to competitive pressures in certain states and our proactive catastrophe risk management actions.  For example, we are continuing to experience a decline in New Jersey due to new entrants in that market.  Allstate brand standard auto

 

29



 

new business premiums grew 3.3% for the three months ended September 30, 2005 and 0.9% in the first nine months of 2005, excluding New Jersey, and increased in approximately 65% of the states.

 

The increase in Allstate brand standard auto PIF as of September 30, 2005 as compared to September 30, 2004 is the result of increases in renewal business, new business related to the implementation of a broader marketing approach and a decrease in rate activity.

 

The increase in the Allstate brand standard auto average premium for the three months ended September 30, 2005 and in the first nine months of 2005 compared to the same periods of 2004 is primarily due to higher average renewal premiums.  The rate of increase in average premium has declined over time due to the decrease in rate activity.

 

Encompass brand standard auto new business premiums written increased for the three months ended September 30, 2005 and in the first nine months of 2005 compared to the same periods of 2004 due to increases in new PIF and rate activity, the effect of which is declining due to the decrease in rate change activity.  We expect the rate of decline in Encompass brand standard auto PIF to moderate as we pursue growth opportunities in this channel.

 

We continue to pursue rate changes when indicated.  At the same time, we continue to expand the number of tiers used in our Tiered Pricing programs, which tends to result in lower net rate changes.  The following table shows the annual impact of net rate changes that were approved for standard auto during the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2005.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2005

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2005

 

 

 

# of States

 

Countrywide
(%)(1)

 

State Specific
(%)(2)

 

# of States

 

Countrywide
(%)(1)

 

State Specific
(%)(2)

 

Allstate brand

 

6

 

0.1

 

3.8

 

22

 

0.4

 

0.9

 

Encompass brand

 

8

 

0.3

 

2.1

 

21

 

0.6

 

1.3

 

 


(1) Represents the impact in the states where rate changes were approved during the three months ended September 30, 2005 and the first nine months of 2005 as a percentage of total countrywide prior year-end premiums written.

 

(2) Represents the impact in the states where rate changes were approved during the three months ended September 30, 2005 and the first nine months of 2005 as a percentage of total prior year-end premiums written in those states.

 

Non-standard auto premiums written decreased 13.2% to $426 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005 from $491 million in the same period of 2004 and 12.3% to $1.32 billion during the first nine months of 2005 as compared to $1.50 billion in the first nine months of 2004.

 

 

 

Allstate Brand

 

Encompass brand (Deerbrook)

 

Non-Standard Auto

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New business premiums ($ millions)

 

$

63

 

$

70

 

$

7

 

$

12

 

New business premiums (% change)

 

(10.0

)

4.5

 

(41.7

)

(36.8

)

Renewal business premiums ($ millions)

 

$

335

 

$

384

 

$

21

 

$

25

 

Renewal ratio(1)

 

77.5

 

78.2

 

64.5

 

60.8

 

PIF (% change)(1)

 

(12.2

)

(12.2

)

(19.6

)

(7.4

)

Average premium (% change)(1)

 

(0.3

)

3.4

 

(7.4

)

(6.5

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New business premiums ($ millions)

 

$

197

 

$

216

 

$

26

 

$

42

 

New business premiums (% change)

 

(8.8

)

 

(38.1

)

(37.3

)

Renewal business premiums ($ millions)

 

$

1,029

 

$

1,165

 

$

64

 

$

77

 

Renewal ratio(1)

 

78.0

 

78.3

 

64.7

 

61.1

 

PIF (% change)(1)

 

(12.2

)

(12.2

)

(19.6

)

(7.4

)

Average premium (% change)(1)

 

(0.2

)

2.3

 

(6.3

)

(6.3

)

 


(1) Allstate brand statistic excludes business written by Allstate Canada.

 

30



 

Declines in Allstate brand non-standard auto renewal business premiums during the three months ended September 30, 2005 and the first nine months of 2005 compared to the same periods of 2004 are primarily due to a decline in PIF.  Renewal PIF declined because new business production in prior periods was insufficient to make up for an inherently low renewal ratio in this business, and new business PIF declined due to continued agent focus on our standard auto business.  The decline in average premium during the three months ended September 30, 2005 and first nine months of 2005 compared to the same periods of 2004 is due to a decrease in rates.

 

Encompass brand (Deerbrook) non-standard premiums written have decreased in the three months ended September 30, 2005 and in the first nine months of 2005 compared to the same periods of 2004 primarily because of declines in new business.

 

We continue to pursue rate changes when indicated.  The following table shows the annual impact of net rate changes that were approved for non-standard auto during the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2005.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2005

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2005

 

 

 

# of States

 

Countrywide
(%)(1)

 

State Specific
(%)(2)

 

# of States

 

Countrywide
(%)(1)

 

State Specific
(%)(2)

 

Allstate brand

 

 

 

 

4

 

(0.4

)

(1.7

)

Encompass brand

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


(1) Represents the impact in the states where rate changes were approved during the three months ended September 30, 2005 and first nine months of 2005 as a percentage of total countrywide prior year-end premiums written.

 

(2) Represents the impact in the states where rate changes were approved during the three months ended September 30, 2005 and first nine months of 2005 as a percentage of total prior year-end premiums written in those states.

 

Auto premiums written increased 2.0% to $4.63 billion in the three months ended September 30, 2005 from $4.54 billion in the same period of 2004 and 2.5% to $13.65 billion during the first nine months of 2005 as compared to $13.31 billion in the first nine months of 2004.  Auto includes standard auto and non-standard auto business.

 

 

 

Allstate brand

 

Encompass brand (2)

 

Auto

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New business premiums ($ millions)

 

$

420

 

$

420

 

$

86

 

$

76

 

New business premiums (% change)

 

 

7.1

 

13.2

 

26.7

 

Renewal business premiums ($ millions)

 

$

3,879

 

$

3,759

 

$

247

 

$

288

 

Renewal ratio(1)

 

89.5

 

89.9

 

75.3

 

73.2

 

PIF (% change)(1)

 

2.4

 

3.9

 

(4.7

)

(6.1

)

Average premium (% change)(1)

 

0.7

 

0.5

 

6.8

 

16.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New business premiums ($ millions)

 

$

1,191

 

$

1,223

 

$

240

 

$

210

 

New business premiums (% change)

 

(2.6

)

19.4

 

14.3

 

20.0

 

Renewal business premiums ($ millions)

 

$

11,470

 

$

11,038

 

$

750

 

$

841

 

Renewal ratio(1)

 

89.7

 

89.7

 

73.9

 

75.4

 

PIF (% change)(1)

 

2.4

 

3.9

 

(4.7

)

(6.1

)

Average premium (% change)(1)

 

0.7

 

0.7

 

10.2

 

14.0

 

 


(1) Allstate brand statistic excludes business written by Allstate Canada and Allstate Motor Club.

(2) Encompass brand statistics are subject to some distortion due to continued integration of systems.

 

31



 

The following table shows the annual impact of net rate changes that were approved for auto (standard and non-standard) during the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2005.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2005

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2005

 

 

 

# of States

 

Countrywide
(%)(1)

 

State Specific
(%)(2)

 

# of States

 

Countrywide
(%)(1)

 

State Specific
(%)(2)

 

Allstate brand

 

6

 

0.1

 

3.8

 

22

 

0.3

 

0.8

 

Encompass brand

 

8

 

0.2

 

2.1

 

21

 

0.5

 

1.3

 

 


(1) Represents the impact in the states where rate changes were approved during the three months ended September 30, 2005 and first nine months of 2005 as a percentage of total countrywide prior year-end premiums written.

 

(2) Represents the impact in the states where rate changes were approved during the three months ended September 30, 2005 and first nine months of 2005 as a percentage of total prior year-end premiums written in those states.

 

Homeowners premiums written increased 6.2% to $1.84 billion in the three months ended September 30, 2005 from $1.73 billion in the same period of 2004 and 7.7% to $5.01 billion during the first nine months of 2005 as compared to $4.65 billion in the first nine months of 2004.  For the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2005, growth in Allstate Protection premiums written from the prior year periods was negatively impacted by reinsurance transactions, Hurricane Katrina and business ceded to Universal.

 

 

 

Allstate brand

 

Encompass brand (2)

 

Homeowners

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New business premiums ($ millions)

 

$

216

 

$

231

 

$

22

 

$

19

 

New business premiums (% change)

 

(6.5

)

10.5

 

15.8

 

46.2

 

Renewal business premiums ($ millions)

 

$

1,462

 

$

1,352

 

$

141

 

$

131

 

Renewal ratio(1)

 

88.5

 

88.6

 

88.6

 

87.5

 

PIF (% change)(1)

 

4.4

 

6.2

 

4.4

 

 

Average premium (% change)(1)

 

5.2

 

2.9

 

6.3

 

13.7

 

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New business premiums ($ millions)

 

$

588

 

$

631

 

$

62

 

$

51

 

New business premiums (% change)

 

(6.8

)

25.4

 

21.6

 

64.5

 

Renewal business premiums ($ millions)

 

$

3,960

 

$

3,604

 

$

401

 

$

365

 

Renewal ratio(1)

 

88.4

 

88.3

 

87.4

 

89.6

 

PIF (% change)(1)

 

4.4

 

6.2

 

4.4

 

 

Average premium (% change)(1)

 

5.3

 

3.4

 

8.9

 

13.4

 

 


(1) Allstate brand statistic excludes business written in Canada.

(2) Encompass brand statistics are subject to some distortion due to continued integration of systems.

 

Allstate brand homeowners new business premiums written declined in the three months ended September 30, 2005 and in the first nine months of 2005 compared to the same periods of 2004, primarily due to declines in certain markets, such as Florida, California and New York, from our proactive catastrophe risk management actions.  New business premiums grew 2.8% in the three months ended September 30, 2005 and 3.8% in the first nine months of 2005, excluding Florida, California and New York, and increased in approximately 60% of the states.

 

The increase in Allstate brand homeowners PIF in the three months ended September 30, 2005 and in the first nine months of 2005 compared to the same periods of 2004 is the result of new business.  PIF are expected to be impacted by the Universal transaction and the non-renewal of 95,000 of Allstate Floridian policies or approximately 1% of Allstate brand homeowners PIF.  These policies non-renewed at a rate of 13% in the third quarter of 2005 and are expected to non-renew at a rate of 23% in the fourth quarter of 2005, 23% in the first quarter of 2006, 28% in the second quarter of 2006 and 13% in the third quarter of 2006.

 

The increases in Allstate brand average premium during the three months ended September 30, 2005 and the first nine months of 2005 compared to the same periods of 2004 were primarily due to higher average renewal premiums.  Higher average renewal premiums were primarily related to increases in insured value.

 

32



 

Encompass brand homeowners new business premiums written increased in the three months ended September 30, 2005 and in the first nine months of 2005 compared to the same periods of 2004 due to increases in PIF and average premium.  The increase in Encompass brand homeowners average premium was due to rate actions taken during the current and prior year and increases in insured value.

 

The following table shows the annual impact of net rate changes that were approved for homeowners during the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2005.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2005

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2005

 

 

 

# of States

 

Countrywide
(%)(1)

 

State Specific
(%)(2)

 

# of States

 

Countrywide
(%)(1)

 

State Specific
(%)(2)

 

Allstate brand

 

4

 

0.6

 

6.6

 

11

 

1.0

 

5.8

 

Encompass brand

 

4

 

0.7

 

4.9

 

18

 

1.5

 

3.6

 

 


(1) Represents the impact in the states where rate changes were approved during the three months ended September 30, 2005 and the first nine months of 2005 as a percentage of total countrywide prior year-end premiums written.

(2) Represents the impact in the states where rate changes were approved during the three months ended September 30, 2005 and the first nine months of 2005 as a percentage of total prior year-end premiums written in those states.

 

Premiums earned by brand are shown in the following tables.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

Allstate brand

 

Encompass brand

 

Total Allstate
Protection

 

(in millions)

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

Standard auto

 

$

3,791

 

$

3,606

 

$

295

 

$

309

 

$

4,086

 

$

3,915

 

Non-standard auto

 

407

 

451

 

31

 

39

 

438

 

490

 

Auto

 

4,198

 

4,057

 

326

 

348

 

4,524

 

4,405

 

Homeowners

 

1,441

 

1,347

 

148

 

136

 

1,589

 

1,483

 

Other

 

626

 

628

 

41

 

34

 

667

 

662

 

Total

 

$

6,265

 

$

6,032

 

$

515

 

$

518

 

$

6,780

 

$

6,550

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

Allstate brand

 

Encompass brand

 

Total Allstate
Protection

 

(in millions)

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

Standard auto

 

$

11,225

 

$

10,639

 

$

893

 

$

909

 

$

12,118

 

$

11,548

 

Non-standard auto

 

1,248

 

1,391

 

97

 

124

 

1,345

 

1,515

 

Auto

 

12,473

 

12,030

 

990

 

1,033

 

13,463

 

13,063

 

Homeowners

 

4,301

 

3,966

 

431

 

394

 

4,732

 

4,360

 

Other

 

1,885

 

1,851

 

121

 

104

 

2,006

 

1,955

 

Total

 

$

18,659

 

$

17,847

 

$

1,542

 

$

1,531

 

$

20,201

 

$

19,378

 

 

33



 

Underwriting results are shown in the following table.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

(in millions)

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premiums written

 

$

7,158

 

$

6,957

 

$

20,732

 

$

20,029

 

Premiums earned

 

$

6,780

 

$

6,550

 

$

20,201

 

$

19,378

 

Claims and claims expense

 

(8,394

)

(5,347

)

(16,543

)

(13,032

)

Amortization of DAC

 

(1,029

)

(986

)

(3,061

)

(2,858

)

Other costs and expenses

 

(575

)

(589

)

(1,780

)

(1,760

)

Restructuring and related charges

 

(9

)

2

 

(35

)

(21

)

Underwriting (loss) income

 

$

(3,227

)

$

(370

)

$

(1,218

)

$

1,707

 

Catastrophe losses

 

$

4,707

 

$

1,706

 

$

5,017

 

$

2,056

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Underwriting (loss) income by brand

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allstate brand

 

$

(3,120

)

$

(389

)

$

(1,187

)

$

1,634

 

Encompass brand

 

(107

)

19

 

(31

)

73

 

Underwriting (loss) income

 

$

(3,227

)

$

(370

)

$

(1,218

)

$

1,707

 

 

Allstate Protection generated an underwriting loss of $3.23 billion during the three months ended September 30, 2005 compared to an underwriting loss of $370 million in the same period of 2004.  For the third quarter of 2005 as compared to the third quarter of 2004, increased premiums earned, declines in auto and homeowners claim frequency excluding catastrophes and higher favorable reserve reestimates related to prior years were more than offset by increased catastrophe losses and increased current year claim severity.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2005, Allstate Protection generated an underwriting loss of $1.22 billion compared to underwriting income of $1.71 billion for the first nine months of last year.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2005 as compared to the same period of 2004, increased premiums earned and declines in auto and homeowners claim frequency excluding catastrophes were more than offset by increased catastrophe losses and increased current year claim severity.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2005, claims and claims expense and the claims and claims expense ratio include the effect of $120 million or 0.6 points related to an accrual for a pending settlement of a worker classification lawsuit challenging our overtime exemption under California wage and hour laws (“accrual for litigation”).

 

Claim severity was impacted by inflation in medical costs and auto repair and home repair costs.  If future development of current year claim severity differs from the current reserve expectations by one percent, reserve reestimates would impact net income by approximately $110 million.

 

Impacts of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

 

Hurricane Katrina made initial landfall in Florida on August 25, 2005 and again in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama on August 29, 2005.  Hurricane Katrina is the costliest catastrophe in the United States’ history.

 

34



 

Catastrophe claims and claims expense estimates include losses from approximately 216,000 expected claims of which over 178,000 claims have been reported as of October 28, 2005 on our standard auto, non-standard auto, homeowners, commercial and other products.  The pre-tax estimates of catastrophe claims and claims expense by product are shown in the following table.

 

($ in millions)

 

Allstate
brand

 

Encompass
brand

 

Total

 

Hurricane Katrina

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Standard auto

 

$

219

 

$

16

 

$

235

 

Non-standard auto

 

17

 

 

17

 

Homeowners

 

2,886

 

101

 

2,987

 

Other

 

316

 

13

 

329

 

Total personal lines

 

$

3,438

 

$

130

 

$

3,568

 

Commercial

 

115

 

N/A

 

115

 

Total loss estimate

 

$

3,553

 

$

130

 

$

3,683

 

 

Our total loss estimate for Hurricane Katrina by state is approximately 70% in Louisiana, 24% in Mississippi, 4% in Alabama and 2% in Florida and other states.

 

Hurricane Rita made landfall near the border of Texas and Louisiana on September 24, 2005.  Our estimate of Hurricane Rita catastrophe claims and claims expense is $850 million, net of reinsurance.

 

Catastrophe claims and claims expense estimates include losses from approximately 90,000 expected claims of which over 66,000 claims have been reported as of October 28, 2005, on our standard auto, non-standard auto, homeowners, commercial and other products.  The pre-tax estimates of claims and claims expense by product are shown in the following table.

 

($ in millions)

 

Allstate
brand

 

Encompass
brand

 

Total

 

Hurricane Rita

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Standard auto

 

$

21

 

$

1

 

$

22

 

Non-standard auto

 

6

 

 

6

 

Homeowners

 

672

 

11

 

683

 

Other

 

102

 

 

102

 

Total personal lines

 

$

801

 

$

12

 

$

813

 

Commercial

 

37

 

N/A

 

37

 

Total loss estimate, net of reinsurance

 

$

838

 

$

12

 

$

850

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total loss estimate, gross of reinsurance

 

$

1,043

 

$

12

 

$

1,055

 

Reinsurance recoverable(1)

 

205

 

 

205

 

Total loss estimate, net of reinsurance

 

$

838

 

$

12

 

$

850

 

 


(1)          Reinsurance is recoverable by ATL, a syndicate insurance company.  ATL also has a 100% reinsurance agreement with AIC providing net benefits to AIC as reinsurer.

 

Our total net loss estimate for Hurricane Rita by state is approximately 50% in Louisiana, 49% in Texas and 1% in other states.  For details of our reinsurance program in Texas, see the Homeowners Catastrophe Management Strategy section.

 

Catastrophe claims and claims expense estimates also include an accrual of $37 million for anticipated assessments from various state facilities, including $33 million for a regular assessment from the Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (“LA Citizens”).  For further information, see Note 6 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

At September 30, 2005, a reserve reestimation resulting in a one percent increase or decrease in net reserves for Hurricane Katrina would impact net income by approximately $24 million, after-tax, and a reserve reestimation resulting in a one percent increase or decrease in net reserves for Hurricane Rita would impact net income by approximately $6 million, after-tax.  For further information on our loss estimation methodology, see Note 3 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

35



 

Loss ratios by product, and expense and combined ratios by brand, are shown in the following table.  These ratios are defined on page 24.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

Loss Ratio

 

Effect of
Catastrophe Losses
on the Loss Ratio

 

Loss Ratio

 

Effect of
Catastrophe Losses
on the Loss Ratio

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

Allstate brand loss ratio:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Standard auto

 

64.8

 

62.6

 

6.5

 

1.1

 

65.4

 

63.3

 

2.6

 

0.8

 

Non-standard auto

 

59.5

 

48.8

 

5.9

 

1.6

 

58.9

 

54.6

 

2.2

 

0.9

 

Auto

 

64.3

 

61.1

 

6.4

 

1.2

 

64.8

 

62.3

 

2.6

 

0.8

 

Homeowners

 

298.1

 

128.7

 

257.9

 

86.5

 

131.6

 

75.3

 

90.7

 

35.5

 

Other

 

148.6

 

123.1

 

91.3

 

68.2

 

89.9

 

82.3

 

33.1

 

24.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Allstate brand loss ratio

 

126.5

 

82.6

 

72.8

 

27.2

 

82.7

 

67.3

 

26.0

 

11.0

 

Allstate brand expense ratio

 

23.3

 

23.8

 

 

 

 

 

23.7

 

23.5

 

 

 

 

 

Allstate brand combined ratio

 

149.8

 

106.4

 

 

 

 

 

106.4

 

90.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Encompass brand loss ratio:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Standard auto

 

75.3

 

61.1

 

5.8

 

0.6

 

67.6

 

61.4

 

1.9

 

0.8

 

Non-standard auto (Deerbrook)

 

64.5

 

79.5

 

3.2

 

2.6

 

73.2

 

78.2

 

1.0

 

0.8

 

Auto

 

74.2

 

63.2

 

5.5

 

0.8

 

68.2

 

63.4

 

1.8

 

0.8

 

Homeowners

 

124.3

 

86.0

 

78.4

 

44.8

 

78.2

 

71.3

 

31.8

 

21.0

 

Other

 

102.4

 

73.5

 

34.1

 

2.9

 

81.0

 

85.6

 

14.1

 

2.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Encompass brand loss ratio

 

90.9

 

69.9

 

28.8

 

12.6

 

72.0

 

67.0

 

11.2

 

6.2

 

Encompass brand expense ratio

 

29.7

 

26.4

 

 

 

 

 

30.0

 

28.3

 

 

 

 

 

Encompass brand combined ratio

 

120.6

 

96.3

 

 

 

 

 

102.0

 

95.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Allstate Protection loss ratio

 

123.8

 

81.6

 

69.4

 

26.0

 

81.9

 

67.3

 

24.8

 

10.7

 

Allstate Protection expense ratio

 

23.8

 

24.0

 

 

 

 

 

24.1

 

23.9

 

 

 

 

 

Allstate Protection combined ratio

 

147.6

 

105.6

 

 

 

 

 

106.0

 

91.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

Standard auto loss ratio for the Allstate brand increased 2.2 points in the three months ended September 30, 2005 and 2.1 points during the first nine months of 2005 when compared to the same periods last year.  Standard auto loss ratio for Encompass brand increased 14.2 points in the three months ended September 30, 2005 and 6.2 points during the first nine months of 2005 when compared to the same periods last year.   The increases in the third quarter of 2005 were due to higher premiums earned, higher favorable reserve reestimates related to prior years and lower claim frequency excluding catastrophes, being more than offset by higher catastrophe losses and higher current year claim severity.  The increases during the first nine months of 2005 were due to higher premiums earned in Allstate brand and lower claim frequency excluding catastrophes being more than offset by higher catastrophe losses, lower favorable reserve reestimates related to prior years and higher current year claim severity.  The Allstate brand loss ratio for the first nine months of 2005 also included an accrual for litigation.  The Encompass brand standard auto loss ratio in the third quarter of 2005 was also unfavorably impacted by 8.2 points as a result of adopting procedures for establishing loss reserve estimates consistent with those used for the Allstate brand.  The third quarter of 2004 included lower estimates of current year Encompass brand claim severity.

 

Non-standard auto loss ratio for the Allstate brand increased 10.7 points in the three months ended September 30, 2005 and 4.3 points during the first nine months of 2005 when compared to the same periods last year due to decreases in premiums earned, higher catastrophe losses and higher current year claim severity.  The first nine months of 2005 included an accrual for litigation.  Non-standard auto loss ratio for Encompass brand decreased 15.0 points in the three months ended September 30, 2005 and 5.0 points during the first nine months of 2005 when compared to the same periods last year due to lower claim frequency, partially offset by higher current year claim severity.

 

36



 

Auto loss ratio for Allstate brand increased 3.2 points in the three months ended September 30, 2005 and 2.5 points during the first nine months of 2005 when compared to the same periods last year.  Auto loss ratio for Encompass brand increased 11.0 points in the three months ended September 30, 2005 and 4.8 points during the first nine months of 2005 when compared to the same periods of 2004.  The increases in the third quarter of 2005 were due to higher premiums earned in Allstate brand, higher favorable reserve reestimates related to prior years and lower claim frequency excluding catastrophes being more than offset by higher catastrophe losses and higher current year claim severity.  The increases during the first nine months of 2005 were due to higher premiums earned in Allstate brand and lower claim frequency excluding catastrophes being more than offset by higher catastrophe losses, lower favorable reserve reestimates related to prior years and higher current year claim severity.  The Allstate brand loss ratio for the first nine months of 2005 also included an accrual for litigation.  The Encompass brand auto loss ratio in the third quarter of 2005 was also unfavorably impacted as a result of adopting procedures for establishing loss reserve estimates consistent with those used for the Allstate brand.  The third quarter of 2004 included lower estimates of current year Encompass brand claim severity.

 

Homeowners loss ratio for the Allstate brand increased 169.4 points in the three months ended September 30, 2005 and 56.3 points during the first nine months of 2005 when compared to the same periods last year.  Homeowners loss ratio for the Encompass brand increased 38.3 points in the three months ended September 30, 2005 and 6.9 points in the first nine months of 2005 when compared to the same periods of 2004.  The increases in the third quarter of 2005 were due to higher premiums earned, higher favorable reserve reestimates related to prior years and lower claim frequency, excluding catastrophes, being more than offset by higher catastrophe losses and higher current year claim severity.    The increases during the first nine months of 2005 were due to higher premiums earned and lower claim frequency excluding catastrophes being more than offset by higher catastrophe losses, lower favorable reserve reestimates related to prior years and higher current year claim severity.  The Allstate brand loss ratio for the first nine months of 2005 also included an accrual for litigation.

 

Expense ratio for Allstate Protection decreased in the three months ended September 30, 2005 compared to the same period of 2004 due to a $35 million reduction in employee incentives due to lower anticipated financial results for 2005.  The expense ratio increased in the first nine months of 2005 when compared to the same period of 2004 primarily due to higher agent incentives.

 

The impact of specific costs and expenses on the expense ratio are included in the following table.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

Allstate brand

 

Encompass brand

 

Allstate brand

 

Encompass brand

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of DAC

 

14.8

 

14.7

 

20.6

 

19.4

 

14.7

 

14.3

 

20.6

 

19.3

 

Other costs and expenses

 

8.4

 

9.2

 

9.1

 

6.7

 

8.8

 

9.1

 

9.1

 

8.7

 

Restructuring and related charges

 

0.1

 

(0.1

)

 

0.3

 

0.2

 

0.1

 

0.3

 

0.3

 

Total expense ratio

 

23.3

 

23.8

 

29.7

 

26.4

 

23.7

 

23.5

 

30.0

 

28.3

 

 

37



 

Reserve reestimates

 

The tables below show net reserves representing the estimated cost of outstanding claims as they were recorded at the beginning of years 2005 and 2004, and the effect of reestimates in each year.

 

 

 

January 1
Reserves

 

(in millions)

 

2005

 

2004

 

Auto

 

$

10,228

 

$

10,419

 

Homeowners

 

1,917

 

1,873

 

Other personal lines

 

2,289

 

1,851

 

Total Allstate Protection

 

$

14,434

 

$

14,143

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allstate brand

 

$

13,204

 

$

12,866

 

Encompass brand

 

1,230

 

1,277

 

Total Allstate Protection

 

$

14,434

 

$

14,143

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

Reserve
Reestimate

 

Effect on
Combined
Ratio

 

Reserve
Reestimate

 

Effect on
Combined
Ratio

 

(in millions, except ratios)

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

Auto

 

$

(276

)

$

(194

)

(4.1

)

(3.0

)

$

(501

)

$

(551

)

(2.5

)

(2.8

)

Homeowners

 

(12

)

(5

)

(0.2

)

(0.1

)

(4

)

(112

)

 

(0.6

)

Other personal lines

 

4

 

(31

)

0.1

 

(0.4

)

21

 

(14

)

0.1

 

(0.1

)

Total Allstate Protection

 

$

(284

)

$

(230

)

(4.2

)

(3.5

)

$

(484

)

$

(677

)

(2.4

)

(3.5

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allstate brand

 

$

(275

)

$

(233

)

(4.1

)

(3.6

)

$

(485

)

$

(682

)

(2.4

)

(3.5

)

Encompass brand

 

(9

)

3

 

(0.1

)

0.1

 

1

 

5

 

 

 

Total Allstate Protection

 

$

(284

)

$

(230

)

(4.2

)

(3.5

)

$

(484

)

$

(677

)

(2.4

)

(3.5

)

 

DISCONTINUED LINES AND COVERAGES SEGMENT

 

The Discontinued Lines and Coverages segment includes results from insurance coverage that we no longer write and results for certain commercial and other businesses in run-off.  Our exposure to asbestos, environmental and other discontinued lines claims is reported in this segment.  This segment is managed by a designated group of professionals with expertise in claims handling, policy coverage interpretation and exposure identification.  As part of its responsibilities, this group is also regularly engaged in policy buybacks, settlements and reinsurance assumed and ceded commutations.

 

Summarized underwriting results are presented in the following table.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

(in millions)

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premiums written

 

$

 

$

1

 

$

1

 

$

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premiums earned

 

$

1

 

$

1

 

$

 

$

4

 

Claims and claims expense

 

(135

)

(314

)

(163

)

(636

)

Other costs and expenses

 

(2

)

(2

)

(7

)

(7

)

Underwriting loss

 

$

(136

)

$

(315

)

$

(170

)

$

(639

)

 

38



 

Underwriting loss of $136 million in the third quarter of 2005 and $170 million in the first nine months of 2005 were primarily related to a $139 million reestimate of asbestos reserves.  The underwriting loss in the third quarter of 2004 and the first nine months of 2004 was primarily related to reestimates of asbestos reserves and a related increase in the allowance for future uncollectible reinsurance recoverables.

 

During the quarter, we completed our annual comprehensive “ground up” review of reserves for the Discontinued Lines and Coverages segment.  This review employed established industry and actuarial best practices within the context of the legal, legislative and economic environment, and it was conducted in addition to quarterly assessments in which we review reserves to determine if any intervening significant events or developments require adjustments to reserves.  Reserve re-estimates are recorded in the reporting period in which they are determined.

 

Our net asbestos reserves by type of exposure and total reserve additions by quarter are shown in the following table.

 

 

 

September 30, 2005

 

December 31, 2004

 

($ in millions)

 

Number of
Active
Policyholders

 

Net
Asbestos
Reserves

 

% of
Asbestos
Reserves

 

Number of
Active
Policyholders

 

Net
Asbestos
Reserves

 

% of
Asbestos
Reserves

 

Direct policyholders(1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-Primary

 

50

 

$

19

 

1

%

52

 

$

23

 

2

%

-Excess

 

333

 

242

 

16

 

322

 

297

 

20

 

Total direct policyholders

 

383

 

261

 

17

%

374

 

320

 

22

%

Assumed reinsurance

 

 

 

230

 

16

 

 

 

222

 

15

 

Incurred but not reported claims (“IBNR”)

 

 

 

1,001

 

67

 

 

 

922

 

63

 

Total net reserves

 

 

 

$

1,492

 

100

%

 

 

$

1,464

 

100

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reserve additions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-First Quarter

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

-Second Quarter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

216

 

 

 

-Third Quarter

 

 

 

139

 

 

 

 

 

247

 

 

 

-Fourth Quarter

 

 

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year to date period

 

 

 

$

139

 

 

 

 

 

$

463

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net survival ratio

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-Annual

 

 

 

10.4

 

 

 

 

 

18.8

 

 

 

-3-Year

 

 

 

11.7

 

 

 

 

 

13.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net survival ratio excluding commutations, policy buy-backs and settlement agreements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-Annual

 

 

 

31.9

 

 

 

 

 

25.5

 

 

 

-3-Year

 

 

 

29.2

 

 

 

 

 

28.4

 

 

 

 


(1)          During the first nine months of 2005, 34 direct primary and excess policyholders reported new claims, and claims of 25 policyholders were closed, so the number of direct policyholders with active claims increased by 9.

 

Reserve additions for asbestos in the third quarter of 2005, totaling $139 million, were primarily for products-related coverage.  They were essentially a result of a continuing level of increased claim activity being reported by excess insurance policyholders with existing active claims, excess policyholders with new claims, and re-estimates of liabilities for increased assumed reinsurance cessions, as ceding companies (other insurance carriers) also experienced increased claim activity.  Increased claim activity over prior estimates has also resulted in an increased estimate for future claims reported.  These trends are consistent with the trends of other carriers in the industry, which we believe are related to increased publicity and awareness of coverage, ongoing litigation, potential congressional activity, and bankruptcy actions.  However, we are somewhat encouraged that the pace of industry asbestos claim activity seems to be slowing, perhaps reflecting various recent state legislative actions and increased legal scrutiny of the legitimacy of claims.  IBNR now represents 67% of total net asbestos reserves, 4 points higher than at December 31, 2004.  IBNR provides for estimated probable future unfavorable reserve development of

 

39



 

known claims and future reporting of additional unknown claims from current and new policyholders and ceding companies.

 

Our exposure to non-products-related losses represents approximately 5% of total asbestos case reserves.  We do not anticipate significant changes in this percentage as insureds’ retentions associated with excess insurance programs, which are our principal direct insurance, and assumed reinsurance exposure are seldom exceeded. We did not write direct primary insurance on policyholders with the potential for significant non-products-related loss exposure.

 

Our survival ratios, as updated above, are at levels we consider indicative of a strong asbestos reserve position.

 

To further limit our asbestos exposure, we have significant reinsurance, primarily to reduce our exposure to loss in our direct excess insurance business.  Our reinsurance recoverables are estimated to be approximately 38% of our gross estimated loss reserves.

 

As of September 30, 2005, the allowance for uncollectible reinsurance is $213 million, or approximately 17% of total recoverables from reinsurers in the Discontinued Lines and Coverages segment.

 

We believe that our reserves are appropriately established based on assessments of pertinent factors and characteristics of exposure (e.g. claim activity, potential liability, jurisdiction, products versus non-products exposure) presented by individual policyholders.  The ultimate cost of losses may vary materially from recorded amounts, which are based on our best estimates, due to uncertainties, such as changes in the legal, legislative or economic environment, which we are unable to predict.

 

PROPERTY-LIABILITY INVESTMENT RESULTS

 

Net investment income was $454 million in the third quarter of 2005 compared to $443 million in the same period of 2004, and $1.33 billion in the first nine months of 2005 compared to $1.31 billion in the same period of 2004.  Net investment income increased due to higher income from partnerships and higher portfolio balances resulting from positive cash flows from operations and investment activities, partially offset by lower portfolio yields.

 

Net realized capital gains and losses, after-tax were $99 million in the third quarter of 2005 compared to $69 million in the same period of 2004.  Net realized capital gains and losses, after-tax were $248 million in the first nine months of 2005 compared to $272 million in the same period of 2004.  The following table presents the factors driving the net realized capital gains and losses results.

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

(in millions)

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

Write-downs

 

$

(6

)

$

(19

)

$

(20

)

$

(34

)

Dispositions

 

125

 

189

 

385

 

522

 

Valuation of derivative instruments

 

23

 

(20

)

(4

)

(23

)

Settlements of derivative instruments

 

21

 

(50

)

24

 

(65

)

Realized capital gains and losses, pretax

 

163

 

100

 

385

 

400

 

Income tax expense

 

(64

)

(31

)

(137

)

(128

)

Realized capital gains and losses, after-tax

 

$

99

 

$

69

 

$

248

 

$

272

 

 

For a further discussion of investments and net realized capital gains and losses, see the Investments section of the MD&A.

 

40



 

ALLSTATE FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

                  Allstate Financial revenues increased 13.8% and 13.4% in the third quarter and first nine months of 2005, respectively, compared to the same periods in the prior year.  The increases in both periods were due to higher net investment income, improved realized capital gains and losses and increased contract charges, partially offset by lower premiums.

                  Net income increased 75.0% in the third quarter of 2005 compared to the same period in the prior year.  The increase was primarily attributable to improved realized capital gains and losses, higher gross margin and lower taxes, partially offset by higher amortization of DAC.  Net income improved by $231 million in the first nine months of 2005 compared to the same period in the prior year due primarily to an unfavorable cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle of $175 million, after-tax, that was recorded in the prior year and improved realized capital gains and losses in the current year.

                  Investments increased 4.6% to $75.88 billion at September 30, 2005 compared to December 31, 2004, due primarily to increased contractholder funds and increased balances associated with securities lending.

                  Contractholder fund deposits declined to $1.87 billion and $8.91 billion for the third quarter and first nine months of 2005, respectively, compared to $3.59 billion and $10.29 billion for the third quarter and first nine months of 2004, respectively.

 

ALLSTATE FINANCIAL SEGMENT

 

Summarized financial data is presented in the following table.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

(in millions)

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Life and annuity premiums and contract charges

 

$

505

 

$

508

 

$

1,525

 

$

1,508

 

Net investment income

 

974

 

866

 

2,838

 

2,520

 

Realized capital gains and losses

 

27

 

(51

)

52

 

(135

)

Total revenues

 

1,506

 

1,323

 

4,415

 

3,893

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Life and annuity contract benefits

 

(395

)

(401

)

(1,209

)

(1,174

)

Interest credited to contractholder funds

 

(608

)

(505

)

(1,784

)

(1,455

)

Amortization of DAC

 

(131

)

(139

)

(496

)

(393

)

Operating costs and expenses

 

(142

)

(143

)

(482

)

(465

)

Restructuring and related charges

 

(1

)

(1

)

(1

)

(5

)

Total costs and expenses

 

(1,277

)

(1,189

)

(3,972

)

(3,492

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss on disposition of operations

 

(4

)

(6

)

(12

)

(17

)

Income tax expense

 

(71

)

(40

)

(127

)

(136

)

Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, after-tax

 

154

 

88

 

304

 

248

 

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, after-tax

 

 

 

 

(175

)

Net income

 

$

154

 

$

88

 

$

304

 

$

73

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investments

 

$

75,881

 

$

70,934

 

$

75,881

 

$

70,934

 

Separate accounts assets

 

14,906

 

13,313

 

14,906

 

13,313

 

Investments, including separate accounts assets

 

$

90,787

 

$

84,247

 

$

90,787

 

$

84,247

 

 

41



 

We are pursuing the following actions and strategies to improve Allstate Financial’s return on equity: maintaining and developing focused top-tier products, deepening distribution partner relationships, improving our cost structure, advancing our enterprise risk management program and leveraging the strength of the Allstate brand name across products and distribution channels.  The execution of our business strategies has and may continue to involve simplifying our business model by changing the number and selection of products being marketed, for example, through such actions as our previously announced exit from the guaranteed investment contract market and the long-term care product market and the sale of our direct response distribution business in 2004; terminating underperforming distribution relationships; merging or disposing of unnecessary and/or non-strategic legal entities, such as the merger of Glenbrook Life and Annuity Company into Allstate Life Insurance Company (“ALIC”) in 2005 and the pending sales of four legal entities for which the anticipated losses are reflected in the current year financial statements; reducing policy administration software systems; and other actions that we may determine are appropriate to successfully execute our business strategies.

 

Life and annuity premiums and contract charges   Premiums represent revenues generated from traditional life, immediate annuities with life contingencies, accident and health and other insurance products that have significant mortality or morbidity risk.  Contract charges are revenues generated from interest-sensitive life, variable annuities, fixed annuities and institutional products for which deposits are classified as contractholder funds or separate accounts liabilities.  Contract charges are assessed against the contractholder account values for maintenance, administration, cost of insurance and surrender prior to contractually specified dates.   As a result, changes in contractholder funds and separate accounts liabilities are considered in the evaluation of growth and as indicators of future levels of revenues.

 

The following table summarizes life and annuity premiums and contract charges by product.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

(in millions)

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premiums

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Traditional life

 

$

68

 

$

81

 

$

204

 

$

246

 

Immediate annuities with life contingencies

 

37

 

66

 

160

 

209

 

Accident and health and other

 

113

 

100

 

325

 

290

 

Total premiums

 

218

 

247

 

689

 

745

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contract charges

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest-sensitive life

 

196

 

187

 

581

 

540

 

Fixed annuities

 

16

 

13

 

49

 

41

 

Variable annuities

 

75

 

61

 

206

 

182

 

Total contract charges

 

287

 

261

 

836

 

763

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Life and annuity premiums and contract charges

 

$

505

 

$

508

 

$

1,525

 

$

1,508

 

 

42



 

The following table summarizes life and annuity premiums and contract charges by distribution channel.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

(in millions)

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

Premiums

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allstate agencies

 

$

83

 

$

99

 

$

283

 

$

284

 

Independent agents

 

113

 

84

 

289

 

253

 

Specialized brokers

 

22

 

51

 

115

 

165

 

Other

 

 

13

 

2

 

43

 

Total premiums

 

218

 

247

 

689

 

745

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contract charges

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allstate agencies

 

129

 

115

 

388

 

344

 

Independent agents

 

78

 

77

 

224

 

226

 

Broker dealers

 

59

 

50

 

165

 

147

 

Banks

 

14

 

11

 

37

 

25

 

Specialized brokers

 

6

 

7

 

20

 

19

 

Other

 

1

 

1

 

2

 

2

 

Total contract charges

 

287

 

261

 

836

 

763

 

Life and annuity premiums and contract charges

 

$

505

 

$

508

 

$

1,525

 

$

1,508

 

 

Total premiums declined 11.7% and 7.5% in the third quarter and first nine months of 2005, respectively, compared to the same periods of 2004.  In both periods, increased supplemental accident and health and other premiums were more than offset by lower premiums on immediate annuities with life contingencies and traditional life products.

 

Contract charges increased 10.0% and 9.6% in the third quarter and first nine months of 2005, respectively, compared to the same periods of 2004.  These increases were primarily due to higher contract charges on interest-sensitive life, variable annuities and, to a lesser extent, fixed annuities.  The increases in the interest-sensitive life contract charges were attributable to in-force business growth resulting from deposits and credited interest more than offsetting surrenders and benefits.  Higher variable annuity contract charges were primarily the result of higher account values and participation fees.  Fixed annuity contract charges for the third quarter and first nine months of 2005 reflect higher surrender charges compared with the same periods in the prior year.

 

Contractholder funds represent interest-bearing liabilities arising from the sale of individual and institutional products, such as interest-sensitive life, fixed annuities, bank deposits and funding agreements. The balance of contractholder funds is equal to the cumulative deposits received and interest credited to the contractholder less cumulative contract maturities, benefits, surrenders, withdrawals and contract charges for mortality or administrative expenses.

 

43



 

The following table shows the changes in contractholder funds.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

(in millions)

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

Contractholder funds, beginning balance

 

$

59,182

 

$

51,457

 

$

55,709

 

$

47,071

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Impact of adoption of SOP 03-1(1)

 

 

 

 

421

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deposits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed annuities (immediate and deferred)

 

1,191

 

2,115

 

4,465

 

4,967

 

Institutional products (primarily funding agreements)

 

 

852

 

2,423

 

3,452

 

Interest-sensitive life

 

363

 

348

 

1,046

 

1,008

 

Variable annuity and life deposits allocated to fixed accounts

 

107

 

102

 

313

 

373

 

Bank and other deposits

 

211

 

175

 

659

 

485

 

Total deposits

 

1,872

 

3,592

 

8,906

 

10,285

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest credited

 

617

 

509

 

1,774

 

1,454

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maturities, benefits, withdrawals and other adjustments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maturities of institutional products

 

(909

)

(820

)

(2,202

)

(1,915

)

Benefits

 

(252

)

(192

)

(726

)

(533

)

Surrenders and partial withdrawals

 

(1,248

)

(863

)

(3,520

)

(2,429

)

Contract charges

 

(175

)

(170

)

(519

)

(488

)

Net transfers to separate accounts

 

(94

)

(94

)

(249

)

(328

)

Fair value hedge adjustments for institutional products

 

(64

)

66

 

(237

)

(53

)

Other adjustments

 

23

 

(7

)

16

 

(7

)

Total maturities, benefits, withdrawals and other adjustments

 

(2,719

)

(2,080

)

(7,437

)

(5,753

)

Contractholder funds, ending balance

 

$

58,952

 

$

53,478

 

$

58,952

 

$

53,478

 

 


(1)   The increase in contractholder funds due to the adoption of SOP 03-1 reflects the reclassification of certain products previously included as a component of separate accounts to contractholder funds, the reclassification of deferred sales inducements (“DSI”) from contractholder funds to other assets and the establishment of reserves for certain liabilities that are primarily related to income and other guarantees provided under fixed annuity, variable annuity and interest-sensitive life contracts.

 

Contractholder deposits decreased 47.9% and 13.4% in the third quarter and first nine months of 2005, respectively, compared to the same periods of 2004.   The declines in both periods were the result of lower deposits on institutional products and fixed annuities.  Fixed annuity deposits declined 43.7% and 10.1% in the third quarter and first nine months of 2005, respectively, due to lower deposits on traditional fixed annuities, partially offset by increased deposits on equity-indexed annuities.  The declines in traditional fixed annuities were primarily due to lower consumer demand and our continued focus on achieving higher returns.   Increases in short-term interest rates without corresponding increases in longer term rates have generally reduced the competitiveness of fixed annuity products relative to shorter term deposit products such as money market funds and certificates of deposit.  A continuation of this environment will impact the level of expected fixed annuity deposits.  We have prioritized the allocation of fixed income investments to support sales of retail products with the best sustainable growth and contribution margins and to maintain our retail market presence.  There were no sales of institutional products during the current quarter.  Our institutional business sales remain opportunistic.  Average contractholder funds increased 12.6% in the third quarter and 13.6% in the first nine months of 2005 compared to the same periods of 2004.

 

Surrenders and partial withdrawals increased 44.6% in the third quarter and 44.9% in the first nine months of 2005 compared to the same periods of 2004 reflecting an annualized withdrawal rate of 10.8% for the third quarter and 10.7% for the first nine months of 2005 based on the beginning of period contractholder funds balance excluding institutional product reserves.  This compares to an annualized withdrawal rate of 8.7% for the third quarter and 8.7% for the first nine months of 2004.  These increases were primarily attributable to higher surrenders of market value adjusted annuities as a portion of these contracts entered a 30-45 day window in which there were

 

44



 

no surrender charges or market value adjustments during the period.  Surrenders and withdrawals may vary with changes in interest rates and equity market conditions and the aging of our in-force contracts.

 

Separate accounts liabilities represent contractholders’ claims to the related separate accounts assets.  Separate accounts liabilities primarily arise from the sale of variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies.

 

The following table shows the changes in separate accounts liabilities.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

(in millions)

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

Separate accounts liabilities, beginning balance

 

$

14,341

 

$

13,564

 

$

14,377

 

$

13,425

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Impact of adoption of SOP 03-1(1)

 

 

 

 

(204

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Variable annuity and life deposits

 

486

 

361

 

1,414

 

1,322

 

Variable annuity and life deposits allocated to fixed accounts

 

(107

)

(102

)

(313

)

(373

)

Net deposits

 

379

 

259

 

1,101

 

949

 

Investment results

 

613

 

(152

)

691

 

209

 

Contract charges

 

(73

)

(64

)

(209

)

(189

)

Net transfers from fixed accounts

 

94

 

94

 

249

 

328

 

Surrenders and benefits

 

(448

)

(388

)

(1,303

)

(1,205

)

Separate accounts liabilities, ending balance

 

$

14,906

 

$

13,313

 

$

14,906

 

$

13,313

 

 


(1)   The decrease in separate accounts due to the adoption of SOP 03-1 reflects the reclassification of certain products previously included as a component of separate accounts to contractholder funds.

 

Separate accounts liabilities increased as of September 30, 2005 compared to December 31, 2004.  The increase was attributable to net deposits, positive investment results and transfers from fixed accounts more than offsetting surrenders and benefits and contract charges.  Net variable annuity and life deposits increased 46.3% and 16.0% in the third quarter and first nine months of 2005.  Variable product deposits may vary with equity market conditions and consumer preferences related to our product features.  Variable annuity contractholders often allocate a significant portion of their initial variable annuity contract deposit into a fixed rate investment option.  The level of this activity is reflected above in the deposits allocated to fixed accounts, while all other transfer activity between the fixed and separate accounts investment options is reflected in net transfers from fixed accounts.  The liability for the fixed portion of variable annuity contracts is reflected in contractholder funds.

 

Net investment income increased 12.5% in the three months ended September 30, 2005 and 12.6% in the first nine months of 2005 compared to the same periods of 2004.  The increases in both periods were primarily due to the effect of higher portfolio balances.  Portfolio yields increased slightly in the third quarter of 2005 compared to the same period in the prior year but were unchanged in the nine-month period.  Portfolio balances as of September 30, 2005, increased 4.6% from December 31, 2004 due primarily to increased contractholder funds and increased balances associated with securities lending.

 

45



 

Net income analysis is presented in the following table.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

(in millions)

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Life and annuity premiums and contract charges

 

$

505

 

$

508

 

$

1,525

 

$

1,508

 

Net investment income

 

974

 

866

 

2,838

 

2,520

 

Periodic settlements and accruals on non-hedge derivative instruments (1)

 

14

 

15

 

49

 

33

 

Contract benefits

 

(395

)

(401

)

(1,209

)

(1,174

)

Interest credited to contractholder funds (2)

 

(597

)

(501

)

(1,719

)

(1,430

)

Gross margin

 

501

 

487

 

1,484

 

1,457

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of DAC and DSI

 

(139

)

(120

)

(398

)

(375

)

Operating costs and expenses

 

(142

)

(143

)

(482

)

(465

)

Restructuring and related charges

 

(1

)

(1

)

(1

)

(5

)

Income tax expense

 

(63

)

(72

)

(183

)

(203

)

Realized capital gains and losses, after-tax

 

17

 

(33

)

33

 

(90

)

DAC and DSI amortization relating to realized capital gains and losses, after-tax

 

(2

)

(15

)

(106

)

(28

)

Reclassification of periodic settlements and accruals on non-hedge derivative instruments, after-tax

 

(10

)

(10

)

(32

)

(21

)

Loss on disposition of operations, after-tax

 

(7

)

(5

)

(11

)

(22

)

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, after-tax

 

 

 

 

(175

)

Net income

 

$

154

 

$

88

 

$

304

 

$

73

 

 


(1) Periodic settlements and accruals on non-hedge derivative instruments are reflected as a component of realized capital gains and losses on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

(2) Amortization of DSI is excluded from interest credited to contractholder funds for purposes of calculating gross margin.  Amortization of DSI totaled $11 million and $4 million in the three months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively, and $65 million and $25 million in the first nine months of 2005 and 2004, respectively.

 

Gross margin, a non-GAAP measure, represents life and annuity premiums and contract charges, net investment income and periodic settlements and accruals on non-hedge derivative instruments, less contract benefits and interest credited to contractholder funds excluding amortization of DSI.  We reclassify periodic settlements and accruals on non-hedge derivative instruments into gross margin to report them in a manner consistent with the economically hedged investments, replicated assets or product attributes (e.g. net investment income or interest credited to contractholder funds) and by doing so, appropriately reflect trends in product performance.  We use gross margin as a component of our evaluation of the profitability of Allstate Financial’s life insurance and financial product portfolio.  Additionally, for many of our products, including fixed annuities, variable life and annuities, and interest-sensitive life insurance, the amortization of DAC and DSI is determined based on actual and expected gross margin.  Gross margin is comprised of three components that are utilized to further analyze the business: investment margin, benefit margin, and contract charges and fees.  We believe gross margin and its components are useful to investors because they allow for the evaluation of income components separately and in the aggregate when reviewing performance.  Gross margin, investment margin and benefit margin should not be considered as a substitute for net income and do not reflect the overall profitability of the business.  Net income is the GAAP measure that is most directly comparable to these margins.  Gross margin is reconciled to Allstate Financial’s GAAP net income in the previous table.

 

46



 

The components of gross margin are reconciled to the corresponding financial statement line items in the following tables.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

Investment
Margin

 

Benefit
Margin

 

Contract Charges
and Fees

 

Gross
Margin

 

(in millions)

 

2005

 

2004 (3)

 

2005

 

2004 (3)

 

2005

 

2004 (3)

 

2005

 

2004

 

Life and annuity premiums

 

$

 

$

 

$

218

 

$

247

 

$

 

$

 

$

218

 

$

247

 

Contract charges

 

 

 

158

 

147

 

129

 

114

 

287

 

261

 

Net investment income

 

974

 

866

 

 

 

 

 

974

 

866

 

Periodic settlements and accruals on non-hedge derivative instruments (1)

 

14

 

15

 

 

 

 

 

14

 

15

 

Contract benefits

 

(135

)

(133

)

(260

)

(268

)

 

 

(395

)

(401

)

Interest credited to contractholder funds(2)

 

(597

)

(501

)

 

 

 

 

(597

)

(501

)

 

 

$

256

 

$

247

 

$

116

 

$

126

 

$

129

 

$

114

 

$

501

 

$

487

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

Investment
Margin

 

Benefit
Margin

 

Contract Charges
and Fees

 

Gross
Margin

 

(in millions)

 

2005

 

2004 (3)

 

2005

 

2004 (3)

 

2005

 

2004 (3)

 

2005

 

2004

 

Life and annuity premiums

 

$

 

$

 

$

689

 

$

745

 

$

 

$

 

$

689

 

$

745

 

Contract charges

 

 

 

465

 

420

 

371

 

343

 

836

 

763

 

Net investment income

 

2,838

 

2,520

 

 

 

 

 

2,838

 

2,520

 

Periodic settlements and accruals on non-hedge derivative instruments (1)

 

49

 

33

 

 

 

 

 

49

 

33

 

Contract benefits

 

(398

)

(391

)

(811

)

(783

)

 

 

(1,209

)

(1,174

)

Interest credited to contractholder funds(2)

 

(1,719

)

(1,430

)

 

 

 

 

(1,719

)

(1,430

)

 

 

$

770

 

$

732

 

$

343

 

$

382

 

$

371

 

$

343

 

$

1,484

 

$

1,457

 

 


(1) Periodic settlements and accruals on non-hedge derivative instruments are reflected as a component of realized capital gains and losses on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

(2) Amortization of DSI is excluded from interest credited to contractholder funds for purposes of calculating gross margin.  Amortization of DSI totaled $11 million and $4 million in the three months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively, and $65 million and $25 million in the first nine months of 2005 and 2004, respectively.

(3) The prior period has been restated to conform to the current period presentation.  In connection therewith, contract charges related to guaranteed minimum death, income, accumulation and withdrawal benefits on variable annuities have been reclassified to benefit margin from maintenance charges.  Additionally, amounts previously presented as maintenance charges and surrender charges are now presented in the aggregate as contract charges and fees.  Further, the Allstate Workplace Division margins were conformed.  These reclassifications did not result in a change in gross margin.

 

Gross margin increased 2.9% in the third quarter of 2005 and increased 1.9% in the first nine months of 2005 compared to the same periods of 2004.  The increases in both periods were the result of higher investment margin and contract charges and fees, partially offset by lower benefit margin.

 

Investment margin is a component of gross margin, both of which are non-GAAP measures.  Investment margin represents the excess of net investment income and periodic settlements and accruals on non-hedge derivative instruments over interest credited to contractholder funds and the implied interest on life-contingent immediate

 

47



 

annuities included in the reserve for life-contingent contract benefits.  Amortization of DSI is excluded from interest credited to contractholder funds for purposes of calculating investment margin.  We use investment margin to evaluate Allstate Financial’s profitability related to the difference between investment returns on assets supporting certain products and amounts credited to customers (“spread”) during a fiscal period.

 

Investment margin by product group is shown in the following table.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

(in millions)

 

2005

 

2004 (1)

 

2005

 

2004 (1)

 

Annuities

 

$

171

 

$

161

 

$

504

 

$

467

 

Life insurance

 

51

 

50

 

168

 

162

 

Institutional products

 

32

 

32

 

89

 

92

 

Bank and other

 

2

 

4

 

9

 

11

 

Total investment margin

 

$

256

 

$

247

 

$

770

 

$

732

 

 


(1) The prior period has been restated to conform to the current period presentation.

 

Investment margin increased 3.6% in the third quarter of 2005 and 5.2% in the first nine months of 2005 compared to the same periods of 2004 due to higher average contractholder funds, partially offset by lower weighted average investment spreads on interest-sensitive life and fixed annuities.  As of September 30, 2005, 73% of our interest-sensitive life and fixed annuity contracts, excluding market value adjusted annuities and equity indexed annuities, have a guaranteed crediting rate of 3% or higher.  Of these contracts, 80% have crediting rates that are at the minimum as of September 30, 2005.  For all interest-sensitive life and fixed annuity contracts, excluding market value adjusted annuities and equity indexed annuities, the approximate difference between the weighted average crediting rate and the average guaranteed crediting rate was 48 basis points as of September 30, 2005 compared to 49 basis points as of June 30, 2005.

 

The following table summarizes the annualized weighted average investment yield, interest crediting rates and investment spreads for the three months ended September 30.

 

 

 

Weighted Average
Investment Yield

 

Weighted Average
Interest Crediting Rate

 

Weighted Average
Investment Spreads

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

Interest-sensitive life

 

6.2

%

6.4

%

4.8

%

4.7

%

1.4

%

1.7

%

Fixed annuities – deferred annuities

 

5.4

 

5.8

 

3.8

 

4.1

 

1.6

 

1.7

 

Fixed annuities – immediate annuities with and without life contingencies

 

7.3

 

7.6

 

6.7

 

6.8

 

0.6

 

0.8

 

Institutional

 

5.0

 

3.1

 

3.9

 

2.1

 

1.1

 

1.0

 

Investments supporting capital, traditional life and other products

 

5.8

 

6.4

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

The following table summarizes the annualized weighted average investment yield, interest crediting rates and investment spreads for the nine months ended September 30.

 

 

 

Weighted Average
Investment Yield

 

Weighted Average
Interest Crediting Rate

 

Weighted Average
Investment Spreads

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

Interest-sensitive life

 

6.3

%

6.5

%

4.8

%

4.6

%

1.5

%

1.9

%

Fixed annuities – deferred annuities

 

5.5

 

5.9

 

3.8

 

4.1

 

1.7

 

1.8

 

Fixed annuities – immediate annuities with and without life contingencies

 

7.4

 

7.6

 

6.7

 

6.9

 

0.7

 

0.7

 

Institutional

 

4.4

 

3.0

 

3.4

 

2.0

 

1.0

 

1.0

 

Investments supporting capital, traditional life and other products

 

6.0

 

6.3

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

48



 

The following table summarizes the liabilities for these contracts and policies.

 

 

 

September 30,

 

(in millions)

 

2005

 

2004

 

Fixed annuities – immediate annuities with life contingencies

 

$

7,853

 

$

7,623

 

Other life contingent contracts and other

 

4,537

 

3,938

 

Reserve for life-contingent contract benefits

 

$

12,390

 

$

11,561

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest-sensitive life

 

$

8,930

 

$

8,071

 

Fixed annuities – deferred annuities

 

33,422

 

29,612

 

Fixed annuities – immediate annuities without life contingencies

 

3,433

 

3,115

 

Institutional

 

11,827

 

11,276

 

Allstate Bank

 

894

 

826

 

Market value adjustments related to derivative instruments and other

 

446

 

578

 

Contractholder funds

 

$

58,952

 

$

53,478

 

 

Benefit margin is a component of gross margin, both of which are non-GAAP measures.  Benefit margin represents life and life-contingent immediate annuity premiums, cost of insurance contract charges and variable annuity contract charges for contract guarantees less contract benefits.  Benefit margin excludes the implied interest on life-contingent immediate annuities, which is included in the calculation of investment margin.  We use the benefit margin to evaluate Allstate Financial’s underwriting performance, as it reflects the profitability of our products with respect to mortality or morbidity risk during a fiscal period.

 

Benefit margin by product group is shown in the following table.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

(in millions)

 

2005

 

2004(1)

 

2005

 

2004(1)

 

Life insurance

 

$

132

 

$

144

 

$

398

 

$

419

 

Annuities

 

(16

)

(18

)

(55

)

(37

)

Total benefit margin

 

$

116

 

$

126

 

$

343

 

$

382

 

 


(1) The prior period has been restated to conform to the current period presentation.

 

Benefit margin declined 7.9% in the third quarter of 2005 and 10.2% in the first nine months of 2005 compared to the same periods of 2004.  The decline in the third quarter was due primarily to the absence of margin on certain products resulting from the disposal of our direct response distribution business in the prior year and $6 million of losses on our credit business related to Hurricane Katrina, partially offset by improved mortality experience on immediate annuities with life contingencies.  The decline for the nine month period was primarily driven by the disposal of our direct response business and unfavorable mortality experience on immediate annuities with life contingences, partially offset by growth of our in-force business.  In addition, the nine-month period was unfavorably impacted by an increase in the reserve for guarantees related to variable contracts of $9 million that resulted from our annual comprehensive evaluation of the assumptions used in our valuation models, partially offset by better than anticipated equity market performance.  The evaluation resulted in a refined measurement of exposure.  There was no comparable 2004 adjustment to reserves for variable contract guarantees, because the reserves were established in the first quarter of 2004 as part of the cumulative effect of the change in accounting for such guarantees.

 

Upon the adoption of Statement of Position No. 03-1, “Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises for Certain Nontraditional Long-Duration Contracts and for Separate Accounts”, on January 1, 2004, reserves were established for death and income benefits provided under variable annuities and secondary guarantees on certain interest-sensitive life contracts and fixed annuities.  Annuity benefit margin will continue to be adversely impacted

 

49



 

by certain closed blocks of life-contingent immediate annuities whose benefit payments are anticipated to extend beyond their original pricing expectations.  The annuity benefit margin in future periods will fluctuate based on the timing of annuitant deaths on these life-contingent immediate annuities and the annual evaluation of assumptions used in our valuation models for variable and fixed annuity guarantees.

 

Amortization of DAC and DSI, excluding amortization related to realized capital gains and losses, increased 15.8% or $19 million in the three months ended September 30, 2005 and 6.1% or $23 million in the first nine months of 2005 compared to the same periods of 2004 as a result of higher gross margin.  DAC and DSI amortization related to realized capital gains and losses, after-tax, decreased $13 million in the third quarter and increased $78 million in the first nine months of 2005 compared to the same periods in the prior year.  The increase in the nine-month period was due to increased realized capital gains on investments supporting certain fixed annuities.

 

In the first quarter of 2005, we performed our annual comprehensive evaluation of the assumptions used in our valuation models for all investment products, including variable and fixed annuities and interest-sensitive and variable life products, which resulted in net DAC and DSI amortization acceleration of $7 million (commonly referred to as “DAC and DSI unlocking”).  The DAC and DSI unlocking includes amortization acceleration on fixed annuities of $62 million and $3 million on interest-sensitive and variable life products, partially offset by amortization deceleration on variable annuities of $58 million.  The amortization acceleration on fixed annuities was primarily due to higher than expected lapses on market value adjusted annuities and faster than anticipated investment portfolio yield declines.  The amortization deceleration on variable annuities was mostly attributable to better than anticipated equity market performance and persistency.

 

In the prior year, the comparable DAC and DSI unlocking was a net acceleration of amortization of $0.5 million, which included deceleration of amortization related to interest-sensitive life and acceleration of amortization related to fixed annuities.

 

Operating costs and expenses remained consistent in the three months ended September 30, 2005 compared to the same period in 2004 and increased 3.7% in the first nine months of 2005 compared to the same period in 2004.  The following table summarizes operating costs and expenses.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

(in millions)

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-deferrable acquisition costs

 

$

65

 

$

54

 

$

187

 

$

192

 

Other operating costs and expenses

 

77

 

89

 

295

 

273

 

Total operating costs and expenses

 

$

142

 

$

143

 

$

482

 

$

465

 

 

Non-deferrable acquisition costs for the third quarter of 2005 increased 20.4% compared to the same period in the prior year as a result of higher premium taxes and non-deferrable commissions.  For the first nine months of 2005, non-deferrable acquisition costs declined 2.6% compared to the same period in the prior year primarily as a result of a $15 million charge related to loss experience on certain credit insurance policies that was recorded in the third quarter of 2004.   The decline in other operating costs and expenses in the third quarter of 2005 compared to the same period in the prior year was attributable to lower employee and technology expenses.  The increase in total operating costs and expenses for the nine-month period was primarily attributable to an increase in a liability for future benefits of a previously discontinued benefit plan.

 

50



 

Net realized capital gains and losses are presented in the following table.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

(in millions)

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Write-downs

 

$

(10

)

$

(27

)

$

(23

)

$

(73

)

Dispositions

 

24

 

3

 

122

 

(9

)

Valuation of derivative instruments

 

(32

)

(23

)

(101

)

(49

)

Settlement of derivative instruments

 

45

 

(4

)

54

 

(4

)

Realized capital gains and losses, pretax

 

27

 

(51

)

52

 

(135

)

Income tax (expense) benefit

 

(10

)

18

 

(19

)

45

 

Realized capital gains and losses, after-tax

 

$

17

 

$

(33

)

$

33

 

$

(90

)

 

For further discussion of realized capital gains and losses, see the Investments section of MD&A.

 

INVESTMENTS

 

An important component of our financial results is the return on our investment portfolios.  Investment portfolios are segmented between the Property-Liability, Allstate Financial and Corporate and Other operations.  The investment portfolios are managed based upon the nature of each respective business and its corresponding liability structure.  The composition of the investment portfolios at September 30, 2005 is presented in the table below.

 

 

 

Property-Liability

 

Allstate Financial(3)

 

Corporate
and Other(3)

 

Total

 

(in millions)

 

 

 

Percent
to total

 

 

 

Percent
to total

 

 

 

Percent
to total

 

 

 

Percent
to total

 

Fixed income securities(1)

 

$

33,383

 

81.4

%

$

64,247

 

84.7

%

$

2,077

 

82.5

%

$

99,707

 

83.5

%

Equity securities(2)

 

5,728

 

14.0

 

304

 

0.4

 

63

 

2.5

 

6,095

 

5.1

 

Mortgage loans

 

501

 

1.2

 

7,984

 

10.5

 

 

 

8,485

 

7.1

 

Short-term

 

1,385

 

3.4

 

1,511

 

2.0

 

378

 

15.0

 

3,274

 

2.7

 

Other

 

10

 

 

1,835

 

2.4

 

 

 

1,845

 

1.6

 

Total

 

$

41,007

 

100.0

%

$

75,881

 

100.0

%

$

2,518

 

100.0

%

$

119,406

 

100.0

%

 


(1)          Fixed income securities are carried at fair value.  Amortized cost basis for these securities was $32.32 billion, $61.68 billion and $1.93 billion for Property-Liability, Allstate Financial and Corporate and Other, respectively.

(2)          Equity securities are carried at fair value.  Cost basis for these securities was $4.41 billion, $296 million, and $63 million for Property-Liability, Allstate Financial and Corporate and Other, respectively.

(3)          Balances reflect the elimination of related party investments between Allstate Financial and Corporate and Other.

 

Total investments increased to $119.41 billion at September 30, 2005 from $115.53 billion at December 31, 2004, primarily due to positive cash flows from operating activities and increased funds primarily associated with securities lending, partially offset by decreased net unrealized gains on fixed income securities.

 

The Property-Liability investment portfolio increased to $41.01 billion at September 30, 2005 from $40.27 billion at December 31, 2004, primarily due to positive cash flows from operating activities, partially offset by dividends paid by AIC to The Allstate Corporation.

 

The Allstate Financial investment portfolio increased to $75.88 billion at September 30, 2005 from $72.53 billion at December 31, 2004, primarily due to positive cash flows from operating and financing activities and increased funds associated with securities lending.

 

The Corporate and Other investment portfolio decreased to $2.52 billion at September 30, 2005 from $2.73 billion at December 31, 2004.  This decrease is primarily due to the liquidation of an investment management variable interest entity (“VIE”) in the third quarter, partially offset by additional investments made in the portfolio of

 

51



 

Kennett Capital, Inc. (“Kennett Capital”), a wholly owned subsidiary of The Allstate Corporation, the source of which was dividends from AIC.

 

Total investments at amortized cost related to collateral due to securities lending and other security repurchase and resale transactions increased to $5.59 billion at September 30, 2005, from $4.85 billion at December 31, 2004.

 

At September 30, 2005, 94.3% of the consolidated fixed income securities portfolio was rated investment grade, which is defined as a security having a rating from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) of 1 or 2; a rating of Aaa, Aa, A or Baa from Moody’s or a rating of AAA, AA, A or BBB from S&P, Fitch or Dominion; or a comparable internal rating if an externally provided rating is not available.

 

The unrealized net capital gains on fixed income and equity securities at September 30, 2005 were $5.10 billion, a decrease of $1.29 billion since December 31, 2004.  The net unrealized gain for the fixed income portfolio totaled $3.77 billion, comprised of $4.25 billion of unrealized gains and $482 million of unrealized losses at September 30, 2005.  This is compared to a net unrealized gain for the fixed income portfolio totaling $5.06 billion at December 31, 2004, comprised of $5.29 billion of unrealized gains and $228 million of unrealized losses.

 

Of the gross unrealized losses in the fixed income portfolio at September 30, 2005, $406 million or 84.2% were related to investment grade securities and are believed to be primarily a result of a rising interest rate environment.  Of the remaining $76 million of losses in the fixed income portfolio, $57 million or 75.0% were in the corporate fixed income portfolio, $10 million or 13.2% were in the municipal bond portfolio and $9 million or 11.8% were in the asset-backed securities portfolio.  The $57 million of corporate fixed income gross unrealized losses were primarily comprised of securities in the consumer goods, financial services, communications, and transportation sectors.  The gross unrealized losses in these sectors were primarily company specific and interest rate related.  Approximately $32 million of the total gross unrealized losses in the corporate fixed income portfolio were associated with the automobile industry, which includes direct debt issuances of automobile manufacturers, captive automotive financing companies and automobile parts and equipment suppliers, which are reported in the consumer goods and financial services sectors.  Values in the automobile industry were primarily depressed due to company specific conditions.  Additionally, approximately $7 million of the total gross unrealized losses in the corporate fixed income portfolio and $7 million of the total gross unrealized losses in the asset-backed securities portfolio were associated with the airline industry for which values were depressed due to company or issue specific conditions and economic issues, including fuel costs.  We expect eventual recovery of these securities.  Every security was included in our portfolio monitoring process.

 

The net unrealized gain for the equity portfolio totaled $1.33 billion, comprised of $1.35 billion of unrealized gains and $23 million of unrealized losses at September 30, 2005.  This is compared to a net unrealized gain for the equity portfolio totaling $1.33 billion at December 31, 2004, comprised of $1.34 billion of unrealized gains and $14 million of unrealized losses.  Within the equity portfolio, the losses were primarily concentrated in the consumer goods, financial services and technology sectors.  The losses in these sectors were company and sector specific.  We expect eventual recovery of these securities and the related sectors.  Every security was included in our portfolio monitoring process.

 

Our portfolio monitoring process identifies and evaluates fixed income and equity securities whose carrying value may be other than temporarily impaired.  The process includes a quarterly review of all securities using a screening process to identify those securities whose fair value compared to amortized cost for fixed income securities or cost for equity securities is below established thresholds for certain time periods, or which are identified through other monitoring criteria such as ratings downgrades or payment defaults.  We also recognize impairment on securities in an unrealized loss position for which we do not have the intent and ability to hold until recovery.

 

We also monitor the quality of our fixed income portfolio by categorizing certain investments as “problem”, “restructured” or “potential problem.”  Problem fixed income securities are securities in default with respect to principal or interest and/or securities issued by companies that have gone into bankruptcy subsequent to our acquisition of the security.  Restructured fixed income securities have rates and terms that are not consistent with market rates or terms prevailing at the time of the restructuring.  Potential problem fixed income securities are current with respect to contractual principal and/or interest, but because of other facts and circumstances, we have concerns regarding the borrower’s ability to pay future principal and interest, which causes us to believe these securities may be classified as problem or restructured in the future.

 

52



 

The following table summarizes problem, restructured and potential problem fixed income securities.

 

 

 

September 30, 2005

 

December 31, 2004

 

(in millions)

 

Amortized
cost

 

Fair
value

 

Percent of
total Fixed
Income
portfolio

 

Amortized
cost

 

Fair
value

 

Percent of
total Fixed
Income
portfolio

 

Problem

 

$

182

 

$

197

 

0.2

%

$

150

 

$

153

 

0.1

%

Restructured

 

30

 

30

 

 

75

 

75

 

0.1

 

Potential problem

 

190

 

205

 

0.2

 

265

 

269

 

0.3

 

Total net carrying value

 

$

402

 

$

432

 

0.4

%

$

490

 

$

497

 

0.5

%

Cumulative write-downs recognized(1)

 

$

342

 

 

 

 

 

$

351

 

 

 

 

 

 


(1) Cumulative write-downs recognized only reflects write-downs related to securities within the problem, potential problem and restructured categories.

 

We have experienced an increase in the amortized cost of fixed income securities categorized as problem as of September 30, 2005 compared to December 31, 2004.  The increase was primarily related to the addition of securities to the problem category as a result of company specific issues, including the third quarter bankruptcy filings of certain airlines.  The decrease in the amortized cost of fixed income securities categorized as restructured and potential problem as of September 30, 2005 compared to December 31, 2004 was primarily related to dispositions.  Dispositions included sales, where specific developments caused a change in our outlook and intent to hold the security, and calls.

 

We also evaluated each of these securities through our portfolio monitoring process at September 30, 2005 and recorded write-downs when appropriate.  We further concluded that any remaining unrealized losses on these securities were temporary in nature and that we have the intent and ability to hold until recovery.  While these balances may increase in the future, particularly if economic conditions are unfavorable, management expects that the total amount of securities in these categories will remain low relative to the total fixed income securities portfolio.

 

Net Realized Capital Gains and Losses  The following table presents the components of realized capital gains and losses and the related tax effect.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

(in millions)

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Write-downs

 

$

(16

)

$

(46

)

$

(43

)

$

(108

)

Dispositions

 

158

 

192

 

518

 

511

 

Valuation of derivative instruments

 

(9

)

(43

)

(105

)

(73

)

Settlement of derivative instruments

 

66

 

(53

)

78

 

(69

)

Realized capital gains and losses, pretax

 

199

 

50

 

448

 

261

 

Income tax expense

 

(78

)

(13

)

(160

)

(81

)

Realized capital gains and losses, after-tax

 

$

121

 

$

37

 

$

288

 

$

180

 

 

Dispositions in the above table include sales, losses recognized in anticipation of dispositions and other transactions such as calls and prepayments.  We may sell securities during the period in which fair value has declined below amortized cost for fixed income securities or cost for equity securities.  In certain situations new factors such as negative developments, subsequent credit deterioration, relative value opportunities, market liquidity concerns and portfolio reallocations can subsequently change our previous intent to continue holding a security.

 

A changing interest rate environment will also drive changes in our portfolio duration targets at a tactical level.  A duration target and range is established with an economic view of liabilities relative to a long-term portfolio view.  Tactical duration adjustments within management’s approved ranges are accomplished through both cash market transactions and derivative activities that generate realized gains and losses and through new purchases.  As a

 

53



 

component of our approach to managing portfolio duration, realized gains and losses on derivative instruments are most appropriately considered in conjunction with the unrealized gains and losses on the fixed income portfolio.  This approach mitigates the impacts of general interest rate changes to the overall financial condition of the corporation.

 

Because of the level of catastrophe losses experienced during the third quarter of 2005 and the possibility that we may need to have additional cash available to pay claims, we identified a portfolio of approximately $13.2 billion of securities from which we would consider selecting specific securities to sell to meet these needs.  Approximately $2.0 billion of these securities were in an unrealized loss position, and, therefore, with the change in our intention to hold these investments, we recognized $15 million of anticipated disposition write-downs during the third quarter of 2005.

 

Because of changes in existing market conditions and asset return assumptions, certain changes are planned within various investment portfolios impacting approximately $492 million of securities at the end of the third quarter of 2005.  These changes result from continued asset-liability management strategies, on-going comprehensive reviews of our portfolios, and changes being made to our strategic asset allocations.  Approximately $215 million of these securities were in an unrealized loss position, and, therefore, with the change in our intent to hold these investments, we recognized $14 million of anticipated disposition write-downs during the quarter.

 

In the first quarter of 2005, because of an anticipated rise in interest rates, as well as changes in existing market conditions and long-term asset return assumptions, certain changes were planned within various portfolios.  These included continued asset-liability management strategies; on-going comprehensive reviews of our portfolios; and changes being made to our strategic asset allocations, including Property-Liability duration, and we decided to pursue yield enhancement strategies for the Allstate Financial portfolio.  At that time, we identified, in total, approximately $12.6 billion of securities we would consider selling to achieve these objectives.  Of that $12.6 billion, approximately $4.3 billion of securities were in an unrealized loss position, for which we recognized $100 million of write-downs due to a change in intent to hold these securities until recovery.  Of the $4.3 billion of securities with write-downs in the first quarter, $764 million with write-downs of $24 million have been sold and we continue to consider selling approximately $72 million with write-downs of $8 million.  The remaining $3.5 billion of securities with write-downs of $68 million have been re-designated as being held to recovery within the available-for-sale category, primarily as a consequence of a lower than expected interest rate environment and market conditions that allowed for the intended achievement of the changes to the various portfolios with fewer dispositions.  The difference between the current carrying value and par value of the re-designated securities will be recognized in net investment income over the remaining life of the securities, pursuant to the guidance in Statement of Position 03-3, “Accounting for Certain Loans or Debt Securities Acquired in a Transfer”.

 

CAPITAL RESOURCES AND LIQUIDITY

 

Capital Resources consist of shareholders’ equity and debt, representing funds deployed or available to be deployed to support business operations or for general corporate purposes.  The following table summarizes our capital resources.

 

(in millions)

 

September 30, 2005

 

December 31, 2004

 

Common stock, retained earnings and other shareholders’ equity items

 

$

17,483

 

$

19,208

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

1,936

 

2,615

 

Total shareholders’ equity

 

19,419

 

21,823

 

Debt

 

4,892

 

5,334

 

Total capital resources

 

$

24,311

 

$

27,157

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratio of debt to shareholders’ equity

 

25.2

%

24.4

%

Ratio of debt to capital resources

 

20.1

%

19.6

%

 

Shareholders’ equity declined in the first nine months of 2005 when compared to December 31, 2004, due to share repurchases, decreases in unrealized net capital gains on investments and dividends paid to shareholders.  In January 2005, we commenced a $4.00 billion share repurchase program.  As of September 30, 2005, this program had $1.78 billion remaining and is expected to be completed in 2006.

 

54



 

Debt decreased in the first nine months of 2005 compared to December 31, 2004 primarily due to decreases in debt and commercial paper borrowings.  In May 2005, we issued $800 million of 5.55% Senior Notes due 2035, utilizing the registration statement filed with the SEC in August 2003.  The proceeds of this issuance were used for general corporate purposes including to fund the repayment of a portion of the $900 million of 7.875% Senior Notes due 2005, which were repaid at their scheduled maturity, May 1, 2005.  In July 2005, we liquidated our consolidated investment management variable interest equity (“VIE”).  As a result of the liquidation, long-term debt decreased by $279 million.

 

Financial Ratings and Strength  Our ratings are influenced by many factors including our operating and financial performance, asset quality, liquidity, asset/liability management, overall portfolio mix, financial leverage (i.e., debt), exposure to risks such as catastrophes and the current level of operating leverage.   There have been no changes to our debt, commercial paper and insurance financial strength ratings since December 31, 2004.

 

As a result of the catastrophe losses incurred in the third quarter of 2005, we remain engaged in discussions with A.M. Best about our financial condition and capital management plans.  In October 2005, Standard & Poor’s affirmed the A+ senior debt rating of The Allstate Corporation and the AA insurance financial strength ratings of AIC, ALIC and their rated affiliates, with a revised rating outlook of ‘Negative’ (from ‘Stable’).  Also in October 2005, Moody’s affirmed the A1 senior debt rating of The Allstate Corporation and the Aa2 insurance financial strength ratings of AIC, ALIC and their rated affiliates.

 

We have distinct groups of subsidiaries licensed to sell property and casualty insurance in New Jersey and Florida.  These groups maintain separate group ratings and are not reinsured by other Allstate subsidiaries that are not part of these respective groups.  Allstate New Jersey Insurance Company and Encompass Insurance Company of New Jersey are rated A- by A.M. Best.  Allstate New Jersey Insurance Company also has a Demotech rating of A”.  During the second quarter of 2005, A.M. Best affirmed its B+ ratings with a negative outlook for Allstate Floridian Insurance Company and Allstate Floridian Indemnity Company.  These companies have Demotech ratings of A’.  During the third quarter of 2005, A.M. Best assigned B+ ratings with a negative outlook to Encompass Floridian Insurance Company and Encompass Floridian Indemnity Company.  These companies have Demotech ratings of A.

 

Allstate’s domestic property-liability and life insurance subsidiaries prepare their statutory-basis financial statements in conformity with accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the insurance department of the applicable state of domicile.  Statutory surplus is a measure that is often used as a basis for determining dividend paying capacity, operating leverage and premium growth capacity, and it is also reviewed when determining financial ratings.  As of September 30, 2005, AIC’s statutory surplus is approximately $14.8 billion compared to $16.9 billion at December 31, 2004.  This decline is primarily due to the estimated catastrophe losses related to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

 

Liquidity Sources and Uses  The following table summarizes consolidated cash flow activities by business unit for the first nine months ended September 30.

 

 

 

Property-Liability

 

Allstate Financial

 

Corporate
and Other

 

Consolidated

 

(in millions)

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

Net cash provided by (used in):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating activities

 

$

3,288

 

$

3,738

 

$

1,639

 

$

1,310

 

$

342

 

$

(219

)

$

5,269

 

$

4,829

 

Investing activities

 

(873

)

(2,855

)

(3,541

)

(5,871

)

220

 

(365

)

(4,194

)

(9,091

)

Financing activities

 

(43

)

100

 

1,944

 

4,870

 

(2,982

)

(704

)

(1,081

)

4,266

 

Net (decrease) increase in consolidated cash

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

(6

)

$

4

 

 

Property-Liability  Lower operating cash flows of the Property-Liability business in the first nine months of 2005 when compared to the first nine months of 2004 were primarily due to increased claim payments, partially offset by increased premiums.  Cash used in investing activities decreased in the first nine months of 2005 primarily as a result of increased proceeds from sales of securities and lower operating cash flows, partially offset by increased investment purchases and higher dividends paid by AIC to its parent.  These dividends totaled $2.43 billion in the first nine months of 2005 compared to $1.25 billion in the first nine months of 2004.

 

We expect that AIC will have sufficient liquidity to pay estimated catastrophe claims and claims expenses from existing sources of funds including operating cash flows, proceeds from the issuance of commercial paper and maturities and sales of investments.

 

Allstate Financial  Higher operating cash flows for Allstate Financial in the first nine months of 2005 when compared to the first nine months of 2004 primarily related to higher investment income, partially offset by higher policy benefits and lower life and annuity premiums.  Cash flows used in investing activities decreased in the first nine months of 2005 due to increased proceeds from sales of securities and higher investment collections, partially offset by the investment of higher operating cash flows.

 

55



 

Lower cash flow from financing activities during the first nine months of 2005 when compared to the first nine months of 2004 reflect lower institutional and fixed annuity contractholder fund deposits, higher fixed annuity withdrawals including increased surrenders of market value adjusted annuities and institutional product maturities.  For quantification of the changes in contractholder funds, see the Allstate Financial Segment section of the MD&A.

 

Corporate and Other  Higher operating cash flows of the Corporate and Other segment in the first nine months of 2005 when compared to the first nine months of 2004 were primarily due to the timing of intercompany settlements.  Financing cash flows of the Corporate and Other segment reflect actions such as repayment of debt, fluctuations in short-term debt, proceeds from the issuance of debt, dividends to shareholders of The Allstate Corporation and share repurchases; therefore, financing cash flows are affected when we increase or decrease the level of these activities.    We expect that The Allstate Corporation will have sufficient liquidity in 2005 and 2006 to fund shareholder dividends, debt service and the remainder of the current share repurchase program.  The sources of liquidity for The Allstate Corporation include but are not limited to dividends from AIC and $2.29 billion of total investments at a subsidiary, Kennett Capital, Inc.

 

We have access to additional borrowing to support liquidity as follows:

 

                  A commercial paper program with a borrowing limit of $1.00 billion to cover short-term cash needs.  As of September 30, 2005, there were no balances outstanding and therefore the remaining borrowing capacity was $1.00 billion; however, the outstanding balance fluctuates daily.

                  A five-year revolving credit facility expiring in 2009 totaling $1.00 billion to cover short-term liquidity requirements.  This facility contains an increase provision that would make up to an additional $500 million available for borrowing provided the increased portion could be fully syndicated at a later date among existing or new lenders.  Although the right to borrow under the facility is not subject to a minimum rating requirement, the costs of maintaining the facility and borrowing under it are based on the ratings of our senior, unsecured, nonguaranteed long-term debt.  There were no borrowings during the first nine months of 2005. The total amount outstanding at any point in time under the combination of the commercial paper program and the credit facility cannot exceed the amount that can be borrowed under the credit facility.

                  The capacity to issue up to an additional $1.35 billion of debt securities, equity securities, warrants for debt and equity securities, trust preferred securities, stock purchase contracts and stock purchase units utilizing the shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in August 2003.

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND RISK FACTORS

 

This document contains “forward-looking statements” that anticipate results based on our estimates, assumptions and plans that are subject to uncertainty.  These statements are made subject to the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events or developments.

 

These forward-looking statements do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and may be identified by their use of words like “plans,” “seeks,” “expects,” “will,” “should,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “intends,” “believes,” “likely,” “targets” and other words with similar meanings.  These statements may address, among other things, our strategy for growth, product development, regulatory approvals, market position, expenses, financial results, litigation and reserves.  We believe that these statements are based on reasonable estimates, assumptions and plans.  However, if the estimates, assumptions or plans underlying the forward-looking statements prove inaccurate or if other risks or uncertainties arise, actual results could differ materially from those communicated in these forward-looking statements.  Factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by such forward-looking statements include but are not limited to those discussed or identified in this document (including the risks described below) and are incorporated in this Part I, Item 2 by reference to the information set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Part II, Item 7, under the caption “Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors”.

 

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Our third quarter hurricane loss estimate is subject to uncertainty.

 

Management believes the estimated impacts of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, including net loss reserves, are appropriately established and recorded based on available facts, information, laws and regulations.  However, actual results may differ materially from the amounts recorded for a variety of reasons, including the following:

 

             These hurricanes occurred near the end of the quarter, with Rita following relatively soon after Katrina.

             Our policyholders’ ability to report and our ability to adjust claims have been impeded by the extent of the devastation, the size of the area affected, and the fact that some communities were hit by both storms.

             Extensive and widespread floods in the New Orleans area and related government restrictions on access to the area have lengthened the claims adjusting process, complicating our ability to estimate losses.

             It is particularly difficult to assess the extent of damage in the initial stages of adjusting residential property losses.

             Our estimate for the ultimate costs of repairs may not prove to be correct because of increased demand for services and supplies in the areas affected by a hurricane.

             The number of IBNR claims may be greater or less than anticipated.

             The large number and nature of the claims and the need to have more claims adjusters to handle claims has increased pressure on our catastrophe claims settlement management process.

             Litigation has been filed by several parties including policyholders and state attorneys general, which if ultimately decided against us, could lead to a material increase in our catastrophe claims and claims expense estimate.

 

The nature and level of catastrophes in any period cannot be predicted.  Although the industry and we use models developed by third party vendors in assessing our personal lines homeowners exposure to catastrophe losses, which assume various conditions and probability scenarios, such models do not necessarily accurately predict future losses or accurately measure losses currently incurred.

 

Catastrophe models use historical information about hurricanes and earthquakes and also utilize detailed information about our in-force business.  These models have been evolving since the early 1990s.  While we use this information in connection with our pricing and risk management activities, there are limitations with respect to their usefulness in predicting losses in any reporting period.  These limitations are evidenced by significant variation in estimates between models and modelers; material increases and decreases in model results over time due to changes in the models and refinement of the underlying data elements and assumptions; questionable predictive capability over time intervals, and post event measurements that have provided ranges of estimates that have not been well understood or proven to be sufficiently reliable.  In addition, the models are not necessarily reflective of company or state-specific policy language, demand surge and loss adjustment expenses, which are subject to wide variation by storm, and to mold losses which also vary significantly by storm.

 

We are subject to assessments from state insurance facilities.

 

We are currently monitoring developments with respect to various state facilities such as guaranty funds, LA Citizens, the Mississippi Windstorm Underwriting Association, the Mississippi Residential Underwriting Association, the Alabama Insurance Underwriting Association, the Texas FAIR Plan Association and the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association.  The ultimate impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on these facilities is currently uncertain, but could result in the facilities recognizing a financial deficit or a financial deficit greater than the level currently estimated.  They may, in turn, have the ability to assess participating insurers when financial deficits occur, adversely affecting our results of operations. These facilities are generally designed so that the ultimate cost is borne by policyholders, however the exposure to assessments and the availability of recoupments or premium rate increases may not offset each other in our financial statements.  Moreover, even if they do offset each other, they may not offset each other in the financial statements for the same fiscal period due to the ultimate timing of the assessments and recoupments or premium rate increases, as well as the possibility that affected policies will not be renewed in subsequent years.

 

Impacts of catastrophes and our catastrophe management strategy may affect premium growth.

 

We expect the productivity of our Allstate agents and independent agents in portions of the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Texas, to be severely affected by the catastrophes that occurred in the quarter.  In addition, while we believe that the actions we are taking to support continued growth in the homeowners business in a profitable and prudent manner will be successful over the long term, it is possible that they will have a negative

 

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impact on near-term growth and earnings.  Homeowners premium growth rates and retention could be adversely impacted by adjustments to our business structure, size and underwriting practices in markets with significant catastrophe risk exposure.  In addition, due to the elimination of cross-selling opportunities, new business growth in our auto lines could be lower than expected.

 

A decrease in our financial strength ratings may have an adverse effect on our competitive position.

 

Financial strength ratings are important factors in establishing the competitive position of insurance companies and generally have an effect on an insurance company’s business.  On an ongoing basis, rating agencies review the financial performance and condition of insurers and could downgrade or change the outlook on an insurer’s ratings due to, for example, a change in an insurer’s statutory capital; a change in a rating agency’s determination of the amount of risk-adjusted capital required to maintain a particular rating; an increase in the perceived risk of an insurer’s investment portfolio; a reduced confidence in management or a host of other considerations that may or may not be under the insurer’s control.  The insurance financial strength ratings of both AIC and ALIC are A+, AA and Aa2 from A.M. Best, Standard and Poor’s and Moody’s, respectively.  Several other affiliates have been assigned their own financial strength ratings by one or more rating agencies.  Because all of these ratings are subject to continuous review, the retention of these ratings cannot be assured.  A multiple level downgrade in any of these ratings could have a material adverse effect on our sales, our competitiveness, the marketability of our product offerings, and our liquidity, operating results and financial condition.

 

We continue to be exposed to catastrophe losses that may be material.

 

We may continue to incur catastrophe losses in our homeowners insurance business in amounts in excess of those experienced this year, in excess of those that management projects would be incurred based on hurricane and earthquake losses which have a one percent probability of occurring on an annual aggregate countrywide basis, and in excess of those that modelers estimate would be incurred based on other levels of probability.

 

Reserve reestimates may impact future cash flows.

 

The declaration of dividends, the completion of the $4 billion stock repurchase program that we announced in November 2004, and our ability to service debt are subject to the impact of reserve reestimates on net income and cash flows.  In addition, the declaration of dividends is subject to the discretion of our board of directors and its assessment of alternative uses of available funds.  The completion of the stock repurchase program is subject to management discretion and their assessment of alternative uses of funds and the market price of Allstate’s common stock from time to time.

 

Actions taken to simplify our Allstate Financial business model and improve profitability may not be successful and may result in losses and costs.

 

Allstate Financial is pursuing strategies intended to improve its return on equity.  Actions that we have taken and may continue to take include changing the number and selection of products being marketed, terminating underperforming distribution relationships, merging or disposing of unnecessary and/or non-strategic legal entities, reducing policy administration software systems, and other actions that we may determine are appropriate to successfully execute our business strategies. The actions that we have taken and may take in the future may not achieve their intended outcome and could result in lower premiums and contract charges, restructuring costs, losses on disposition or losses related to the discontinuance of individual products or distribution relationships.

 

Changes in market interest rates may lead to a significant decrease in the sales and profitability of Allstate Financial’s spread-based products.

 

Our ability to manage the Allstate Financial investment margin for spread-based products is dependent upon maintaining profitable spreads between investment yields and interest crediting rates.  As interest rates decrease or remain at low levels, proceeds from investments that have matured or that have been prepaid or sold may be reinvested at lower yields, reducing investment margin.  Lowering interest-crediting rates can offset decreases in investment margin on some products.  However, these changes could be limited by market conditions, regulatory or contractual minimum rate guarantees on many contracts and may not match the timing or magnitude of changes in asset yields.  Decreases in the rates offered on products in the Allstate Financial segment could make those products less attractive, leading to lower sales and/or changes in the level of surrenders and withdrawals for these products.  Non-parallel shifts in interest rates, such as increases in short-term rates without accompanying increases in

 

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medium- and long-term rates, can influence customer demand for fixed annuities, which could impact the level and profitability of new customer deposits.  Increases in market interest rates can also have negative effects on Allstate Financial, for example by increasing the attractiveness of other investments, which can lead to higher surrenders at a time when the segment’s investment asset values are lower as a result of the increase in interest rates.  For certain products, principally fixed annuity and interest-sensitive life products, the earned rate on assets could lag behind market yields.  We may react to market conditions by increasing crediting rates, which could narrow spreads.  Unanticipated surrenders could result in DAC unlocking or affect the recoverability of DAC and thereby increase expenses and reduce profitability.

 

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Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.  We maintain disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report.  Based upon this evaluation, the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in providing reasonable assurance that material information required to be disclosed in our reports filed with or submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act is made known to management, including the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting.  During the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2005, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.    Legal Proceedings

 

Information required for Part II, Item 1 is incorporated by reference to the discussion under the heading “Regulation” and under the heading “Legal and regulatory proceedings and inquiries” in Note 6 of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.

 

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

 

Period

 

Total
Number of
Shares
(or Units)
Purchased(1)

 

Average Price
Paid per Share
(or Unit)

 

Total Number
of Shares
(or Units)
Purchased as Part
of Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs
(2)

 

Maximum Number
(or Approximate Dollar
Value) of Shares
(or Units) that May Yet
Be Purchased Under the
Plans or Programs

 

July 1, 2005 - July 31, 2005

 

5,015,572

 

$

61.3025

 

4,910,700

 

$

2.2 billion

 

August 1, 2005 - August 31, 2005

 

5,364,477

 

$

58.7885

 

5,164,900

 

$

1.9 billion

 

September 1, 2005 - September 30, 2005

 

2,053,000

 

$

54.3369

 

2,053,000

 

$

1.8 billion

 

Total

 

12,433,049

 

$

59.0676

 

12,128,600

 

 

 

 


(1)          July:  In accordance with the terms of its equity compensation plans, Allstate acquired 104,872 shares in connection with stock option exercises by employees and/or directors.  The stock was received in payment of the exercise price of the options and in satisfaction of withholding taxes due upon exercise.

 

August:  In accordance with the terms of its equity compensation plans, Allstate acquired 199,577 shares in connection with stock option exercises by employees and/or directors.  The stock was received in payment of the exercise price of the options and in satisfaction of withholding taxes due upon exercise.

 

September:  None.

 

(2)          On November 9, 2004, Allstate announced the approval of a new repurchase program for $4.00 billion, which is expected to be completed in 2006.  Repurchases under the program are, from time to time, executed under the terms of a pre-set trading plan meeting the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

Item 6.           Exhibits

 

(a)                                  Exhibits

 

An Exhibit Index has been filed as part of this report on page E-1.

 

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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.

 

 

 

The Allstate Corporation

 

(Registrant)

 

 

 

 

November 1, 2005

By

/s/ Samuel H. Pilch

 

 

Samuel H. Pilch

 

Controller

 

(chief accounting officer and duly

 

authorized officer of Registrant)

 

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Exhibit No.

 

Description

 

 

 

4

 

Registrant hereby agrees to furnish the Commission, upon request, with the instruments defining the rights of holders of each issue of long-term debt of the Registrant and its consolidated subsidiaries.

 

 

 

10.1

 

Class Action Settlement Agreement re: William Sekly vs. Allstate Insurance Company.

 

 

 

15

 

Acknowledgment of awareness from Deloitte & Touche LLP, dated November 1, 2005, concerning unaudited interim financial information.

 

 

 

31.1

 

Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Principal Executive Officer

 

 

 

31.2

 

Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Principal Financial Officer

 

 

 

32

 

Section 1350 Certification

 

E-1