The First American Corporation
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

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

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2009

OR

 

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

For the transition period from              to             

Commission file number 001-13585

 

 

THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Incorporated in California   95-1068610

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

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

(714) 250-3000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

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

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  ¨    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “large accelerated filer” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer  x

  

Accelerated Filer  ¨

Non-accelerated filer  ¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

  

Smaller reporting company  ¨

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY

PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PRECEDING FIVE YEARS:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports to be filed by Section 12,13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court.    Yes  ¨    No  ¨

APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:

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

On April 27, 2009, there were 93,225,532 Common shares outstanding.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

INFORMATION INCLUDED IN REPORT

 

Part I:

   Financial Information    5

Item 1.

   Financial Statements (unaudited)    5
   A. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008    5
   B. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008    6
   C. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008    7
   D. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008    8
   E. Condensed Consolidated Statement of Equity    9
   F. Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements    10

Item 2.

   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    24

Item 3.

   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    35

Item 4.

   Controls and Procedures    35

Part II:

   Other Information    36

Item 1.

   Legal Proceedings    36

Item 1A.

   Risk Factors    37

Item 2.

   Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds    38

Item 6.

   Exhibits    38

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

CERTAIN STATEMENTS IN THIS QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THOSE RELATING TO:

 

   

THE IMPACT OF THE ADOPTION OF RECENT OR PENDING ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS;

 

   

THE CONSUMMATION OF THE PROPOSED SPIN-OFF TRANSACTION ANNOUNCED JANUARY 15, 2008 AND THE TIMING, FORM AND TAX FREE NATURE THEREOF;

 

   

LIABILITY FOR THE DISPOSITION OF ESCROW AND TRUST DEPOSITS;

 

   

THE EFFECT OF CURRENT MARKET VOLATILITY ON GOODWILL;

 

   

ESTIMATED AMORTIZATION EXPENSE FOR CERTAIN FINITE-LIVED INTANGIBLE ASSETS;

 

   

FUTURE COMPANY CONTRIBUTIONS TO ITS PENSION PLAN;

 

   

THE EFFECT OF LAWSUITS, REGULATORY AUDITS AND INVESTIGATIONS AND OTHER LEGAL PROCEEDINGS ON THE COMPANY’S FINANCIAL CONDITION, RESULTS OF OPERATIONS OR CASH FLOWS;

 

   

CHANGES IN UNRECOGNIZED TAX POSITIONS;

 

   

THE EFFECT OF CHANGES TO STATE TAX LAWS;

 

2


Table of Contents
   

THE EFFECTS OF THE UNCERTAINTY IN THE REAL ESTATE AND MORTGAGE MARKETS, INCLUDING THE IMPACT ON THE COMPANY’S REVENUES, CLAIMS, EARNINGS, LIQUIDITY, LINES OF BUSINESS, CUSTOMERS AND DEMAND FOR THE COMPANY’S PRODUCTS AND SERVICES;

 

   

THE COMPANY’S COST CONTROL INITIATIVES, BRAND STRATEGY, AGENCY RELATIONSHIPS, OFFSHORE LEVERAGE AND SALES EFFORTS AND THE EFFECTS THEREOF;

 

   

THE NON-RECURRENCE OF INCREASES IN CLAIMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE COMPANY’S TAX SERVICE OUTSOURCING BUSINESS;

 

   

THE REALIZATION OF TAX BENEFITS ASSOCIATED WITH CERTAIN LOSSES;

 

   

THE SUFFICIENCY OF THE COMPANY’S RESOURCES TO SATISFY OPERATIONAL CASH REQUIREMENTS;

 

   

FUTURE PAYMENT OF DIVIDENDS; AND

 

   

POTENTIAL WRITE-DOWNS OF THE COMPANY’S INVESTMENTS AND THE EFFECTS THEREOF;

ARE FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 27A OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND SECTION 21E OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED. THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS MAY CONTAIN THE WORDS “BELIEVE,” “ANTICIPATE,” “EXPECT,” “PLAN,” “PREDICT,” “ESTIMATE,” “PROJECT,” “WILL BE,” “WILL CONTINUE,” “WILL LIKELY RESULT,” OR OTHER SIMILAR WORDS AND PHRASES.

RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES EXIST THAT MAY CAUSE RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE SET FORTH IN THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. FACTORS THAT COULD CAUSE THE ANTICIPATED RESULTS TO DIFFER FROM THOSE DESCRIBED IN THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS INCLUDE:

 

   

INTEREST RATE FLUCTUATIONS;

 

   

CHANGES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE REAL ESTATE MARKETS;

 

   

LIMITATIONS ON ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS AND OTHER DATA;

 

   

GENERAL VOLATILITY IN THE CAPITAL MARKETS;

 

   

CHANGES IN APPLICABLE GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS;

 

   

HEIGHTENED SCRUTINY BY LEGISLATORS AND REGULATORS OF THE COMPANY’S TITLE INSURANCE AND SERVICES SEGMENT AND CERTAIN OTHER OF THE COMPANY’S BUSINESSES;

 

   

THE INABILITY TO CONSUMMATE THE SPIN-OFF TRANSACTION OR TO CONSUMMATE IT IN THE FORM ORIGINALLY PROPOSED AS A RESULT OF, AMONG OTHER FACTORS, THE INABILITY TO OBTAIN NECESSARY REGULATORY APPROVALS, THE FAILURE TO OBTAIN THE FINAL APPROVAL OF THE COMPANY’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS, THE INABILITY TO OBTAIN THIRD PARTY CONSENTS OR UNDESIRABLE CONCESSIONS OR ACCOMMODATIONS REQUIRED TO BE MADE TO OBTAIN SUCH CONSENTS, THE LANDSCAPE OF THE REAL ESTATE AND MORTGAGE CREDIT MARKETS, MARKET CONDITIONS, THE INABILITY TO TRANSFER ASSETS INTO THE ENTITY BEING SPUN-OFF OR UNFAVORABLE REACTIONS FROM CUSTOMERS, RATINGS AGENCIES, INVESTORS OR OTHER INTERESTED PERSONS;

 

   

THE INABILITY TO REALIZE THE BENEFITS OF THE PROPOSED SPIN-OFF TRANSACTION AS A RESULT OF THE FACTORS DESCRIBED IMMEDIATELY ABOVE, AS WELL AS, AMONG OTHER FACTORS, INCREASED BORROWING COSTS, COMPETITION BETWEEN THE RESULTING COMPANIES, UNFAVORABLE REACTIONS FROM EMPLOYEES, THE INABILITY OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPANY TO PAY THE ANTICIPATED LEVEL OF DIVIDENDS, THE TRIGGERING OF RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS BY THE TRANSACTION OR ANY LITIGATION ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THE SEPARATION;

 

3


Table of Contents
   

CONSOLIDATION AMONG THE COMPANY’S SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMERS AND COMPETITORS;

 

   

CHANGES IN THE COMPANY’S ABILITY TO INTEGRATE BUSINESSES WHICH IT ACQUIRES;

 

   

UNFAVORABLE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS;

 

   

IMPAIRMENTS IN THE COMPANY’S GOODWILL OR OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS;

 

   

LOSSES IN THE COMPANY’S INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO;

 

   

EXPENSES OF AND FUNDING OBLIGATIONS TO THE COMPANY’S PENSION PLAN; AND

 

   

OTHER FACTORS DESCRIBED IN PART I, ITEM 1A OF THE COMPANY’S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, AS UPDATED HEREIN.

THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS SPEAK ONLY AS OF THE DATE THEY ARE MADE. THE COMPANY DOES NOT UNDERTAKE TO UPDATE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS TO REFLECT CIRCUMSTANCES OR EVENTS THAT OCCUR AFTER THE DATE THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ARE MADE.

 

4


Table of Contents

PART I: FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements.

THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     March 31,
2009
    December 31,
2008
 

Assets

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 934,080     $ 934,945  
                

Accounts and accrued income receivable, net

     509,514       558,946  
                

Income tax receivable

     49,163       61,678  
                

Investments:

    

Deposits with savings and loan associations and banks

     206,516       182,117  

Debt securities

     1,670,593       1,718,320  

Equity securities

     104,618       110,126  

Other long-term investments

     383,777       371,157  
                
     2,365,504       2,381,720  
                

Loans receivable, net

     154,287       151,692  
                

Property and equipment, net

     638,018       665,305  
                

Title plants and other indexes

     688,261       685,090  
                

Deferred income taxes

     148,160       149,473  
                

Goodwill

     2,607,279       2,594,738  
                

Other intangible assets, net

     286,670       298,411  
                

Other assets

     247,995       248,057  
                
   $ 8,628,931     $ 8,730,055  
                

Liabilities and Equity

    

Demand deposits

   $ 1,358,196     $ 1,298,221  

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     873,081       994,093  

Deferred revenue

     702,644       728,844  

Reserve for known and incurred but not reported claims

     1,316,533       1,355,392  

Notes and contracts payable

     862,796       868,274  

Deferrable interest subordinated notes

     100,000       100,000  
                
     5,213,250       5,344,824  
                

Commitments and contingencies

    

Stockholders’ equity:

    

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

    

Common stock, $1 par value:

    

Authorized—180,000 shares

    

Outstanding—93,190 and 92,963 shares

     93,190       92,963  

Additional paid-in capital

     811,521       801,228  

Retained earnings

     2,115,544       2,099,654  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (297,324 )     (290,615 )
                

The First American Corporation (“FAC”) stockholders’ equity

     2,722,931       2,703,230  

Noncontrolling interests

     692,750       682,001  
                

Total equity

     3,415,681       3,385,231  
                
   $ 8,628,931     $ 8,730,055  
                

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

5


Table of Contents

THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

(unaudited)

 

     For the Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2009    2008  

Revenues

     

Operating revenues

   $ 1,319,169    $ 1,595,269  

Investment and other income

     57,613      69,732  

Net realized investment gains (losses)

     1,030      (5,876 )
               
     1,377,812      1,659,125  
               

Expenses

     

Salaries and other personnel costs

     462,860      577,614  

Premiums retained by agents

     239,559      364,051  

Other operating expenses

     427,130      449,640  

Provision for policy losses and other claims

     89,391      107,099  

Depreciation and amortization

     52,002      57,523  

Premium taxes

     7,766      12,016  

Interest

     16,091      21,608  
               
     1,294,799      1,589,551  
               

Income before income taxes

     83,013      69,574  

Income taxes provision

     28,055      22,117  
               

Net income

     54,958      47,457  

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

     18,933      18,139  
               

Net income attributable to FAC

   $ 36,025    $ 29,318  
               

Net income attributable to FAC stockholders (Note 7):

     

Basic

   $ 0.39    $ 0.32  
               

Diluted

   $ 0.38    $ 0.32  
               

Cash dividends per share

   $ 0.22    $ 0.22  
               

Weighted-average number of shares (Note 7):

     

Basic

     93,022      92,000  
               

Diluted

     93,695      92,725  
               

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

6


Table of Contents

THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     For the Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2009     2008  

Net income

   $ 54,958     $ 47,457  
                

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

    

Unrealized gain (loss) on securities

     624       (27,326 )

Unrealized loss on securities for which credit-related portion was recognized in net realized investment gains (losses)

     (4,720 )     —    

Foreign currency translation adjustments

     (4,577 )     744  

Minimum pension liability adjustment

     3,607       2,083  
                

Total other comprehensive (loss), net of tax

     (5,066 )     (24,499 )
                

Comprehensive income

     49,892       22,958  

Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests

     20,576       13,069  
                

Comprehensive income attributable to FAC

   $ 29,316     $ 9,889  
                

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

 

7


Table of Contents

THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     For the Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2009     2008  

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net income

   $ 54,958     $ 47,457  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by (used for) operating activities-

    

Provision for policy losses and other claims

     89,391       107,099  

Depreciation and amortization

     52,002       57,523  

Share-based compensation

     11,292       7,739  

Net realized investment (gains) losses

     (1,030 )     5,876  

Equity in earnings of affiliates

     (21,112 )     (15,263 )

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

    

Claims paid, including assets acquired, net of recoveries

     (128,250 )     (117,589 )

Net change in income tax accounts

     14,287       (63,467 )

Decrease (increase) in accounts and accrued income receivable

     49,433       (83,764 )

Decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     (109,604 )     (80,254 )

Decrease in deferred revenue

     (26,200 )     (19,960 )

Other, net

     (3,454 )     329  
                

Cash used for operating activities

     (18,287 )     (154,274 )
                

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Net cash effect of company acquisitions

     (20,485 )     (76,107 )

Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interests

     (7,997 )     —    

Sale of subsidiary shares to noncontrolling interest

     778       —    

Net increase in deposits with banks

     (24,399 )     (178,302 )

Net increase in loans receivable

     (2,595 )     (2,398 )

Purchases of debt and equity securities

     (91,620 )     (169,634 )

Proceeds from sales of debt and equity securities

     75,610       93,543  

Proceeds from maturities of debt securities

     60,299       60,883  

Net decrease in other long-term investments

     9,632       20,001  

Capital expenditures

     (18,770 )     (43,832 )

Purchases of capitalized data

     (6,094 )     (5,914 )

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment

     8,611       1,642  
                

Cash used for investing activities

     (17,030 )     (300,118 )
                

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Net change in demand deposits

     59,975       237,478  

Proceeds from issuance of debt

     45,006       125,102  

Repayment of debt

     (50,160 )     (119,740 )

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

     1,318       4,901  

Proceeds from the issuance of stock to employee benefit plans

     1,289       2,405  

Contributions from noncontrolling interests

     891       —    

Distributions to noncontrolling interests

     (3,499 )     (8,439 )

Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation

     84       —    

Cash dividends

     (20,452 )     (20,204 )
                

Cash provided by financing activities

     34,452       221,503  
                

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     (865 )     (232,889 )

Cash and cash equivalents—Beginning of period

     934,945       1,162,569  
                

Cash and cash equivalents—End of period

   $ 934,080     $ 929,680  
                

Supplemental information:

    

Cash paid during the quarter for:

    

Interest

   $ 18,337     $ 3,945  

Premium taxes

   $ 10,454     $ 17,423  

Income taxes

   $ 12,162     $ 64,564  

Noncash investing and financing activities:

    

Liabilities incurred in connection with Company acquisitions

   $ —       $ 950  

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

8


Table of Contents

THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Equity

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     First American Corporation Stockholders     Non-
controlling
interest
    Total  
     Shares    Common
Stock
   Additional
paid-in
capital
   Retained
earnings
    Accumulated
other
comprehensive
loss
     

Balance at December 31, 2008

   92,963    $ 92,963    $ 801,228    $ 2,099,654     $ (290,615 )   $ 682,001     $ 3,385,231  

Net income for three months ended March 31, 2009

              36,025         18,933       54,958  

Dividends on common shares

              (20,502 )         (20,502 )

Shares issued in connection with option, benefit and savings plans

   227      227      1,071            1,298  

Share-based compensation

           9,030            9,030  

Restricted stock unit dividend equivalents

           192      (192 )         —    

Dividends paid deduction

              559           559  

Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interest

                  (7,997 )     (7,997 )

Sale of subsidiary shares to noncontrolling interest

                  778       778  

Contributions from noncontrolling interest

                  891       891  

Distributions to noncontrolling interest

                  (3,499 )     (3,499 )

Other comprehensive loss

                (6,709 )     1,643       (5,066 )
                                                   

Balance at March 31, 2009

   93,190    $ 93,190    $ 811,521    $ 2,115,544     $ (297,324 )   $ 692,750     $ 3,415,681  
                                                   

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

9


Table of Contents

THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

Note 1 – Basis of Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

The condensed consolidated financial information included in this report has been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and with the instructions to Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Form 10-Q and Article 10 of SEC Regulation S-X. The principles for condensed interim financial information do not require the inclusion of all the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. Therefore, these financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008. The condensed consolidated financial statements included herein are unaudited; however, in the opinion of management, they contain all normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the consolidated results for the interim periods. Certain 2008 amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2009 presentation.

The Company has adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Staff Position 157-2, “Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157” (“FSP 157-2”), issued February 2008. FSP 157-2 delayed the effective date of FAS 157 for non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities until January 1, 2009. The provisions of FAS 157 for non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities were applied as of January 1, 2009, and had no effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In February 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” (“SFAS 159”). This statement permits companies to choose to measure many financial assets and liabilities at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected are reported in earnings. The Company adopted SFAS 159 effective January 1, 2008. The Company did not apply SFAS 159 to any assets or liabilities and, therefore, the adoption had no effect on its consolidated financial statements.

In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141(R), “Business Combinations” (“SFAS 141(R)”). Effective January 1, 2009, the Company adopted the provisions of SFAS 141(R). This statement retains the fundamental requirements in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141 “Business Combinations”, that the acquisition method of accounting, previously known as the purchase method, be used for all business combinations and for an acquirer to be identified for each business combination. SFAS 141(R) establishes principles and requirements for how the acquirer recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree; recognizes and measures the goodwill acquired in the business combination or a gain from a bargain purchase; and determines what information to disclose to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. SFAS 141(R) requires contingent consideration to be recognized at its fair value on the acquisition date and, for certain arrangements, changes in fair value to be recognized in earnings until settled. SFAS 141(R) also requires acquisition-related transaction and restructuring costs to be expensed rather than treated as part of the cost of the acquisition. The adoption of SFAS 141(R) had no impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In April 2009, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position FAS 141(R)-a, “Accounting for Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed in a Business Combination That Arise from Contingencies” (“FSP 141(R)-a”). The FASB carried forward the requirements in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. FAS 141, “Business Combinations” (“SFAS 141”), for acquired contingencies, which would require that such contingencies be recognized at fair value on the acquisition date if fair value can be reasonably estimated during the allocation period. Otherwise, companies would typically account for the acquired contingencies in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies” (“SFAS 5”). As a result of the requirement to use the guidance in SFAS 141, the accounting for preacquisition contingencies may be an exception to the recognition and fair value measurement principles of SFAS 141(R). Additionally, the FASB changed the accounting for an acquiree’s pre-existing contingent consideration arrangement that was assumed by the acquirer as part of the business combination. Such arrangements will now be accounted for as contingent consideration by the acquirer. FSP 141(R)-a had the same effective date as SFAS 141(R), and was effective for all business combinations for which the acquisition date was on or after January 1, 2009. The adoption of SFAS 141(R)-a had no impact on the consolidated financial statements.

 

10


Table of Contents

THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements—(continued)

(Unaudited)

 

In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interest in Consolidated Financial Statements—an amendment of ARB No. 51” (“SFAS 160”). The Company adopted the provisions of SFAS 160 effective January 1, 2009. SFAS 160 states that accounting and reporting for minority interests will be recharacterized as noncontrolling interests and classified as a component of equity. SFAS 160 also establishes reporting requirements that provide disclosures that identify and distinguish between the interests of the parent and the interests of the noncontrolling owners. SFAS 160 requires retroactive adoption of the presentation and disclosure requirements for existing minority interests. All other requirements of SFAS 160 are to be applied prospectively. Except for the required presentation and disclosures, the adoption of SFAS 160 had no material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In April 2009, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position FAS 115-2 and FAS 124-2, “Recognition and Presentation of Other-Than-Temporary Impairments” (“FSP 115-2 and FSP 124-2”). FSP 115-2 and FSP 124-2 collectively establish a new method of recognizing and reporting other-than-temporary impairments of debt securities. FSP 115-2 and FSP 124-2 also contain additional disclosure requirements related to debt and equity securities. FSP 115-2 and FSP 124-2 change existing impairment guidance under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 115, “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities” (“SFAS 115”). For debt securities, the “ability and intent to hold” provision is eliminated, and impairment is considered to be other-than-temporary if an entity (i) intends to sell the security, (ii) more likely than not will be required to sell the security before recovering its cost, or (iii) does not expect to recover the security’s entire amortized cost basis (even if the entity does not intend to sell). This new framework does not apply to equity securities (i.e., impaired equity securities will continue to be evaluated under previously existing guidance). The “probability” standard relating to the collectability of cash flows is eliminated, and impairment is now considered to be other-than-temporary if the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the debt security is less than the amortized cost basis of the security. FSP 115-2 and FSP 124-2 also provide that for debt securities which (i) an entity does not intend to sell and (ii) it is not more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell before the anticipated recovery of its remaining amortized cost basis, the impairment is separated into the amount related to estimated credit losses and the amount related to all other factors. The amount of the total impairment related to all other factors is recorded in other comprehensive loss and the amount related to estimated credit loss is recognized as a charge against current period earnings. FSP 115-2 and FSP 124-2 are effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2009, with early adoption permitted. The Company has elected to adopt FSP 115-2 and FSP 124-2 in the first quarter of 2009. See further discussion in Note 4 on the impact of adoption.

In April 2009, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position FAS 157-4, “Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly” (“FSP 157-4”). FSP 157-4 indicates that if an entity determines that either the volume and/or level of activity for an asset or liability has significantly decreased (from normal conditions for that asset or liability) or price quotations or observable inputs are not associated with orderly transactions, increased analysis and management judgment will be required to estimate fair value. FSP 157-4 is effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2009, with early adoption permitted. FSP 157-4 must be applied prospectively. The Company has elected to adopt FSP 157-4 in the first quarter of 2009. The adoption of FSP 157-4 had no material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In April 2009, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 111 (“SAB 111”) on Other-Than-Temporary Impairments (“OTTI”). SAB 111 amends Topic 5.M. in the Staff Accounting Bulletin Series entitled “Other-Than-Temporary Impairment of Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities” (“Topic 5. M.”). SAB 111 maintains the SEC staff’s previous views related to equity securities and amends Topic 5.M. to exclude debt securities from its scope. The Company elected to adopt SAB 111 in the first quarter of 2009. SAB 111 did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

Note 2 – Spin-off

On January 15, 2008, the Company announced its intention to separate its financial services companies from its information solutions companies via a spin-off transaction, resulting in two separate publicly traded entities.

The Company continues to proceed with preparations for the anticipated separation. However, because of negative trends and continued uncertainty in the real estate and mortgage credit markets and the Company’s desire to focus on responding to these conditions, among other factors, the Company’s Board of Directors determined on July 30, 2008, to delay the consummation of the transaction. While there has been no change to the intention to separate the Company’s financial services businesses from its information solutions businesses, the Company intends to monitor market conditions continuously and to consummate the transaction when such conditions warrant it.

The transaction remains subject to customary conditions, including final approval by the Board of Directors, filing and effectiveness of a Form 10 Registration Statement with the SEC, receipt of a tax ruling from the Internal Revenue Service and the approval of applicable regulatory authorities.

Note 3 – Escrow and Trust Deposits

The Company administers escrow and trust deposits as a service to its customers. Escrow deposits totaled $4.8 billion and $3.8 billion at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively, of which $1.06 billion and $1.04 billion were held at the Company’s federal savings bank subsidiary and thrift company. The escrow deposits held at the bank and thrift company are included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, with $178.1 million included in cash and cash equivalents and $880.2 million included in debt and equity securities at March 31, 2009 and $135.2 million included in cash and cash equivalents and $909.3 million included in debt and equity securities at December 31, 2008, with offsetting liabilities included in demand deposits. The remaining escrow deposits were held at third-party financial institutions.

Trust deposits totaled $2.5 billion and $3.4 billion at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively, and were held at the Company’s federal savings bank. Trust deposits, as well as escrow deposits held at third party financial institutions, are not considered assets of the Company and, therefore, are not included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. However, the Company could be held contingently liable for the disposition of these assets.

 

11


Table of Contents

THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements—(continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Note 4 – Debt and Equity Securities

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of investments in debt securities are as follows:

 

(in thousands)

   Amortized
cost
   Gross unrealized     Estimated
fair value
      gains    losses    

March 31, 2009

          

U.S. Treasury bonds

   $ 39,525    $ 2,980    $ (1 )   $ 42,504

Municipal bonds

     75,655      2,022      (1,029 )     76,648

Foreign bonds

     92,289      2,045      (45 )     94,289

Governmental agency bonds

     160,284      3,576      (445 )     163,415

Governmental agency mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities

     1,147,845      13,651      (19,719 )     1,141,777

Non-agency mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities

     133,042      —        (68,076 )     64,966

Corporate debt securities

     97,280      1,599      (11,885 )     86,994
                            
   $ 1,745,920    $ 25,873    $ (101,200 )   $ 1,670,593
                            

December 31, 2008

          

U.S. Treasury bonds

   $ 39,574    $ 3,436    $ (4 )   $ 43,006

Municipal bonds

     80,136      1,610      (2,448 )     79,298

Foreign bonds

     97,371      3,300      (78 )     100,593

Governmental agency bonds

     128,403      3,448      (381 )     131,470

Governmental agency mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities

     1,196,381      9,233      (33,225 )     1,172,389

Non-agency mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities

     137,696      —        (52,188 )     85,508

Corporate debt securities

     114,208      1,643      (9,795 )     106,056
                            
   $ 1,793,769    $ 22,670    $ (98,119 )   $ 1,718,320
                            

The cost and estimated fair value of investments in equity securities are as follows:

 

(in thousands)

   Cost    Gross unrealized     Estimated
fair value
      gains    losses    

March 31, 2009

          

Preferred stocks

   $ 53,993    $ 34    $ (23,758 )   $ 30,269

Common stocks

     89,452      6,992      (22,095 )     74,349
                            
   $ 143,445    $ 7,026    $ (45,853 )   $ 104,618
                            

December 31, 2008

          

Preferred stocks

   $ 52,056    $ 63    $ (15,206 )   $ 36,913

Common stocks

     89,443      4,201      (20,431 )     73,213
                            
   $ 141,499    $ 4,264    $ (35,637 )   $ 110,126
                            

The fair value of debt and equity securities was determined primarily using estimated market prices obtained from independent third party pricing services and quoted market prices. Sales of debt and equity securities resulted in realized gains of $1.9 million and $1.9 million and realized losses of $1.0 million and $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

 

12


Table of Contents

THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements—(continued)

(Unaudited)

 

The Company had the following gross unrealized losses as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008:

 

     12 months or less     12 months or longer     Total  

(in thousands)

   Fair value    Unrealized
losses
    Fair value    Unrealized
losses
    Fair value    Unrealized
losses
 

March 31, 2009

               

Debt securities

               

U.S. Treasury bonds

   $ 381    $ (1 )   $ —      $ —       $ 381    $ (1 )

Municipal bonds

     8,884      (596 )     7,618      (433 )     16,502      (1,029 )

Foreign bonds

     8,358      (16 )     15,692      (29 )     24,050      (45 )

Governmental agency bonds

     15,791      (435 )     590      (10 )     16,381      (445 )

Governmental agency mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities

     297,974      (4,738 )     396,742      (14,981 )     694,716      (19,719 )

Non-agency mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities

     7,130      (1,002 )     57,837      (67,074 )     64,967      (68,076 )

Corporate debt securities

     45,588      (5,650 )     17,451      (6,235 )     63,039      (11,885 )
                                             

Total debt securities

     384,106      (12,438 )     495,930      (88,762 )     880,036      (101,200 )

Equity securities

     41,214      (22,887 )     21,774      (22,966 )     62,988      (45,853 )
                                             

Total

   $ 425,320    $ (35,325 )   $ 517,704    $ (111,728 )   $ 943,024    $ (147,053 )
                                             

December 31, 2008

               

Debt securities

               

U.S. Treasury bonds

   $ 246    $ (4 )   $ —      $ —       $ 246    $ (4 )

Municipal bonds

     1,149      (8 )     20,550      (2,440 )     21,699      (2,448 )

Foreign bonds

     2,798      (1 )     6,329      (77 )     9,127      (78 )

Governmental agency bonds

     13,099      (75 )     296      (306 )     13,395      (381 )

Governmental agency mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities

     361,154      (10,854 )     399,210      (22,371 )     760,364      (33,225 )

Non-agency mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities

     29,263      (19,800 )     56,246      (32,388 )     85,509      (52,188 )

Corporate debt securities

     13,568      (1,029 )     61,078      (8,766 )     74,646      (9,795 )
                                             

Total debt securities

     421,277      (31,771 )     543,709      (66,348 )     964,986      (98,119 )

Equity securities

     37,915      (16,248 )     23,096      (19,389 )     61,011      (35,637 )
                                             

Total

   $ 459,192    $ (48,019 )   $ 566,805    $ (85,737 )   $ 1,025,997    $ (133,756 )
                                             

The current disruptions in the capital and credit markets have resulted in extreme volatility and disruption in the financial markets. These and other factors including the tightening of credit markets, failures of significant financial institutions, uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of governmental solutions, and a general slowdown in economic activity are contributing to decreases in the fair value of the investment portfolio as of March 31, 2009. It is possible that the Company could recognize impairment losses on some securities it owns at March 31, 2009 if future events or information cause the Company to determine that a decline in value is other-than-temporary.

The Company determines the fair value of its debt and equity in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157 “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS 157”). SFAS 157 provides a three-level hierarchy for fair value measurements that distinguishes between market participant assumptions developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (observable inputs) and the reporting entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions developed based on the best information available in the circumstances (unobservable inputs). The hierarchy level assigned to each security in the Company’s available-for-sale portfolio is based on management’s assessment of the transparency and reliability of the inputs used in the valuation of such instrument at the measurement date. The three hierarchy levels are defined as follows:

Level 1 – Valuations based on unadjusted quoted market prices in active markets for identical securities. The fair value of equity securities included in the Level 1 category was based on quoted prices that are readily and regularly available in an active market.

 

13


Table of Contents

THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements—(continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Level 2 – Valuations based on observable inputs (other than Level 1 prices), such as quoted prices for similar assets at the measurement date; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable, either directly or indirectly. The fair value of fixed maturity and short-term investments included in the Level 2 category was based on the market values obtained from an independent pricing service that were evaluated using pricing models that vary by asset class and incorporate available trade, bid and other market information and price quotes from well established independent broker-dealers. This pricing service is a leading provider of financial market data, analytics and related services to financial institutions. The independent pricing service monitors market indicators, industry and economic events, and for broker-quoted only securities, obtains quotes from market makers or broker-dealers that it recognizes to be market participants. The Level 2 category includes corporate bonds, foreign government bonds, and municipal bonds. When the value from an independent pricing service is utilized, management obtains an understanding of the valuation models and assumptions utilized by the service and has processes in place to determine that the values provided represent current values. Typical inputs and assumptions to pricing models used to value securities include, but are not limited to, benchmark yields, reported trades, broker-dealer quotes, issue spreads, benchmark securities, bids, offers, reference data and industry and economic events. For mortgage and asset-backed securities, inputs and assumptions may also include the structure of issuance, characteristics of the issuer, collateral attributes, prepayment speeds and credit ratings. The Company’s non-agency mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities consist of senior tranches of securitizations and the underlying borrowers are substantially all prime. At March 31, 2009, the Company performed a cash flow analysis of those securities using assumptions which management believes reasonable as to housing prices and default rates. The cash flow analysis was stress-tested for various increases in the frequency and severity of losses. The analysis indicates that all contractual amounts should be collected given this securities portfolio.

Level 3 – Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement, and involve management judgment. Currently the Company does not have any items classified as Level 3.

If the inputs used to measure fair value fall in different levels of the fair value hierarchy, a financial security’s hierarchy level is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. A number of the Company’s investment grade corporate bonds are frequently traded in active markets and market prices for these securities existed at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008. These securities were classified as Level 2 at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 because the valuation models use observable market inputs in addition to traded prices.

 

14


Table of Contents

THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements—(continued)

(Unaudited)

 

The following table presents the Company’s available-for-sale investments measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, classified using the SFAS 157 valuation hierarchy:

 

(in thousands)

   Carrying Balance as
of March 31, 2009
   Level 1    Level 2

Debt securities

        

U.S. Treasury bonds

   $ 42,504    $ —      $ 42,504

Municipal bonds

     76,648      —        76,648

Foreign bonds

     94,289      —        94,289

Governmental agency bonds

     163,415      —        163,415

Governmental agency mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities

     1,141,777      —        1,141,777

Non-agency mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities

     64,966      —        64,966

Corporate debt securities

     86,994      —        86,994
                    
     1,670,593      —        1,670,593
                    

Equity securities

        

Preferred stocks

     30,269      30,269      —  

Common stocks

     74,349      74,349      —  
                    
     104,618      104,618      —  
                    
   $ 1,775,211    $ 104,618    $ 1,670,593
                    

(in thousands)

   Carrying Balance as
of December 31, 2008
   Level 1    Level 2

Debt securities

        

U.S. Treasury bonds

   $ 43,006    $ —      $ 43,006

Municipal bonds

     79,298      —        79,298

Foreign bonds

     100,593      —        100,593

Governmental agency bonds

     131,470      —        131,470

Governmental agency mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities

     1,172,389      —        1,172,389

Non-agency mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities

     85,508      —        85,508

Corporate debt securities

     106,056      —        106,056
                    
     1,718,320      —        1,718,320
                    

Equity securities

        

Preferred stocks

     36,913      36,913      —  

Common stocks

     73,213      73,213      —  
                    
     110,126      110,126      —  
                    
   $ 1,828,446    $ 110,126    $ 1,718,320
                    

The Company had no securities at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 that were valued at Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy.

In the first quarter, the Company adopted the provisions of FSP 115-2 and FSP 124-2 and assessed the unrealized losses in its portfolio under this guidance, primarily the non-agency mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities portfolios. In determining whether a credit loss existed, the Company estimated the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the non-agency mortgage and asset-backed securities. The discounted cash flow analysis calculated the fair value of the securities using cash flow valuation models. The inputs into the model were developed using management’s expectations of the future performance of the underlying collateral (including, but not limited to, prepayments, defaults, and loss severity assumptions). In developing these expectations, management utilized publicly available information related to individual assets, analysts’ expectations on the expected performance of similar underlying collateral and the Company’s securities data and market analytic tools. The expected cash flows were discounted using the effective yield to maturity implicit in the securities at the valuation date. Based on management’s current assessment of the performance of these securities and other economic factors, management has recognized $2.4 million of losses associated with these securities in the current quarter, which amount relates to estimated credit losses on the securities. Unrealized losses of $40.8 million related to these securities are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss at March 31, 2009. For discussion of the methodology previously utilized to evaluate debt securities refer to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.

When, in the opinion of management, a decline in the fair value of an equity security is considered to be other-than-temporary, such equity security is written down to its fair value. When assessing if a decline in value is other-than-temporary, the factors considered include the length of time and extent to which fair value has been below cost, the probability that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due under the contractual terms of the security, the seniority and duration of the securities (including estimates of prepayments and credit losses and sensitivity analysis of those estimates), company-specific news and other developments, the financial condition and prospects of the issuer (including credit ratings), macro-economic changes (including the outlook for industry sectors, which includes government policy initiatives) and the Company’s ability and intent to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for anticipated recovery.

The following table presents the change in other-than-temporary credit related impairment charges on fixed maturity securities for which a portion of the other-than-temporary impairments related to other factors was recognized in other comprehensive loss:

 

     (in thousands)

Credit related impairments on fixed maturity securities as of December 31, 2008

   $ —  

Credit related impairments not previously recognized

     2,422
      

Credit related impairments on fixed maturity securities as of March 31, 2009

   $ 2,422
      

 

15


Table of Contents

THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements—(continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Note 5 – Goodwill

A reconciliation of the changes in the carrying amount of goodwill, by operating segment, for the three months ended March 31, 2009, is as follows:

 

(in thousands)

   Balance as of
December 31,
2008
   Dispositions     Other/
post acquisition
adjustments
    Balance as of
March 31,
2009

Financial Services:

         

Title Insurance and Services

   $ 700,204    $ (6,317 )   $ (1,335 )   $ 692,552

Specialty Insurance

     44,490      —         —         44,490

Information Solutions:

         

Information and Outsourcing Solutions

     649,605      —         2,000       651,605

Data and Analytic Solutions

     451,626      —         —         451,626

Risk Mitigation and Business Solutions

     748,813      —         18,193       767,006
                             
   $ 2,594,738    $ (6,317 )   $ 18,858     $ 2,607,279
                             

The Company’s reporting units, for purposes of applying the provisions of SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” (“SFAS 142”), are title insurance, home warranty, property and casualty insurance, trust and other services, data and analytic solutions, information and outsourcing solutions, lender services, data services, dealer services, employer services, multifamily services and investigative and litigation support services.

In accordance with SFAS 142 and consistent with prior years, the Company’s policy is to perform an annual goodwill impairment test for each reporting unit in the fourth quarter. Impairment analyses were not performed in the first quarter of 2009 or in any interim period in 2008 other than the fourth quarter as no triggering events requiring such an analysis occurred.

Note 6 – Other Intangible Assets

Other intangible assets consist of the following:

 

(in thousands)

   March 31,
2009
    December 31,
2008
 

Covenants not to compete

   $ 58,027     $ 59,884  

Customer lists

     359,549       359,805  

Trademarks and licenses

     61,685       61,679  
                
     479,261       481,368  

Accumulated amortization

     (192,591 )     (182,957 )
                
   $ 286,670     $ 298,411  
                

Amortization expense for other finite-lived intangible assets, with definite lives ranging from two to twenty years, was $11.5 million, and $12.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

 

16


Table of Contents

THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements—(continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Estimated amortization expense for other finite-lived intangible assets anticipated for the next five years is as follows:

 

Year

   (in thousands)

Remainder of 2009

   $ 39,486

2010

   $ 42,161

2011

   $ 38,204

2012

   $ 35,176

2013

   $ 31,547

2014

   $ 18,512

Note 7 – Earnings Per Share

 

     For the Three Months Ended
March 31,
 

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

   2009     2008  

Numerator for basic net income per share:

    

Net income attributable to The First American Corporation

   $ 36,025     $ 29,318  

Effect of dilutive securities:

    

Convertible debt—interest expense (net of tax)

     —         11  

Subsidiary potential dilutive shares

     (4 )     (13 )
                

Numerator for diluted net income per share

   $ 36,021     $ 29,316  
                

Denominator for basic net income per share:

    

Weighted-average shares

     93,022       92,000  

Effect of dilutive securities:

    

Employee stock options and restricted stock units

     673       689  

Convertible debt

     —         36  
                

Denominator for diluted net income per share

     93,695       92,725  
                

Basic net income per share

   $ 0.39     $ 0.32  
                

Diluted net income per share

   $ 0.38     $ 0.32  
                

For the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, 2.5 million and 1.5 million stock options and restricted stock units were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share due to their antidilutive effect.

Note 8 – Employee Benefit Plans

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

 

     For the Three Months Ended
March 31,
 

(in thousands)

   2009     2008  

Expense:

    

Service cost

   $ 1,497     $ 1,900  

Interest cost

     8,483       8,425  

Expected return on plan assets

     (4,875 )     (6,229 )

Amortization of prior service credit

     (323 )     (323 )

Amortization of net loss

     5,872       3,527  
                
   $ 10,654     $ 7,300  
                

The Company contributed $4.0 million to its pension plans in the three months ended March 31, 2009, and expects to contribute an additional $19.2 million during the remainder of 2009. These contributions are both those required by funding regulations as well as discretionary contributions necessary to provide benefit payments to participants of certain of the Company’s non-qualified supplemental benefit plans.

 

17


Table of Contents

THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements—(continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Note 9 – Share-Based Compensation

The Company currently utilizes restricted stock units (RSUs) as its share-based compensation for employees and directors. The fair value of any RSU grant is based on the market value of the Company’s shares on the date of grant and is recognized as compensation expense over the vesting period. RSUs receive dividend RSUs having the same vesting requirements as the RSUs initially granted.

The following table sets forth the share-based compensation expense recognized for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008.

 

     For the Three Months Ended
March 31,

(in thousands)

       2009            2008    

Stock options

   $ 456    $ 508

Restricted stock units

     8,347      4,133

Employee stock purchase plan

     227      424
             
   $ 9,030    $ 5,065
             

In addition to the share-based compensation above, the Company’s consolidated financial statements include $2.2 million and $2.7 million share-based compensation related to the Company’s publicly traded subsidiary, First Advantage Corporation and the Company’s subsidiary, First American CoreLogic Holdings, Inc., for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

RSU activity for the three months ended March 31, 2009, is as follows:

 

(in thousands, except weighted-average grant-date fair value)

   Shares    Weighted-average
grant-date
fair value

Restricted stock units unvested at December 31, 2008

   981    $ 37.32

Granted during 2009

   800    $ 25.30

Vested during 2009

   179    $ 39.56

Forfeited during 2009

   5    $ 36.49
           

Restricted stock units unvested at March 31, 2009

   1,597    $ 31.03
           

The following table summarizes stock option activity related to the Company’s plans:

 

(in thousands, except weighted-average exercise price and contractual term )

   Number
outstanding
   Weighted-average
exercise price
   Weighted-average
remaining
contractual term
   Aggregate
intrinsic
value

Balance at December 31, 2008

   3,050    $ 30.59      

Exercised during 2009

   51    $ 18.45      

Forfeited during 2009

   33    $ 31.93      
                 

Balance at March 31, 2009

   2,966    $ 30.79    4.7    $ 8,184
                       

Vested and expected to vest at March 31, 2009

   2,950    $ 30.72    4.7    $ 8,184
                       

Exercisable at March 31, 2009

   2,501    $ 28.90    4.3    $ 8,184
                       

Note 10 – Business Combinations

During the three months ended March 31, 2009, the Company purchased the remaining noncontrolling interests in three companies already included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The total purchase price of these transactions was $5.1 million in cash.

During the three months ended March 31, 2008, the Company completed one acquisition. This acquisition was not material and was included in the Company’s risk mitigation and business solutions segment. The purchase price for the acquisition was $16.3 million in cash and was allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed using a variety of valuation techniques including discounted cash flow analysis. As a result of the acquisition, the Company recorded approximately $13.0 million of goodwill and $2.1 million of intangible assets with finite lives.

 

18


Table of Contents

THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements—(continued)

(Unaudited)

 

In addition, during the three months ended March 31, 2008, the Company purchased noncontrolling interests in three companies already included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The total purchase price of these transactions was $41.7 million in cash. As a result of these three transactions, the Company recorded approximately $25.0 million of goodwill.

Note 11 – Segment Information

The Company currently presents the following business groups and underlying segments.

Financial Services Group

 

   

Title Insurance and Services: The title insurance and services segment issues residential and commercial title insurance policies and provides related escrow services, accommodates tax-deferred exchanges and provides investment advisory services, trust services, lending and deposit products and other related products and services. The Company, through First American Title Insurance Company and its affiliates, transacts the business of title insurance through a network of direct operations and agents. Through this network, the Company issues policies in all states (except Iowa) and the District of Columbia. In Iowa, the Company provides abstracts of title only, because title insurance is not permitted by law. The Company also offers title or related services, either directly or through joint ventures, in Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Ireland, Latin America, Mexico, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, the Slovak Republic, Turkey, Spain and other territories and countries. The international operations account for an immaterial amount of the Company’s income before income taxes and noncontrolling interests.

 

   

Specialty Insurance: The specialty insurance segment issues property and casualty insurance policies and sells home warranty products. Home warranty services are provided in 34 states throughout the United States and the District of Columbia. Property and casualty insurance is offered nationwide.

Information Solutions Group

 

   

Information and Outsourcing Solutions: The information and outsourcing solutions segment focuses on providing a wide-range of products and services including tax monitoring, flood zone certification and monitoring, default management services, loan administration and production services, business process outsourcing, asset valuation and management services, and building and maintaining geospatial proprietary software and databases. The products are provided nationwide.

 

   

Data and Analytic Solutions: The data and analytic solutions segment provides licenses and analyzes data relating to mortgage securities and loans and real property, offers risk management and collateral assessment analytics and provides database access tools and automated appraisal services.

 

   

Risk Mitigation and Business Solutions: The risk mitigation and business solutions segment, which is comprised entirely of the Company’s publicly traded First Advantage Corporation subsidiary, provides consumer credit reporting solutions for mortgage and home equity needs, transportation credit reporting, motor vehicle record reporting, criminal records reselling, specialty finance credit reporting, consumer credit reporting, lead generation services, consolidated consumer credit reports and automotive lead development services for the automotive dealer marketplace, employment background screening, hiring management solutions, occupational health services, tax incentive services, payroll and human resource management, resident screening services, property management software, renters’ insurance services, computer forensics, electronic discovery, data recovery, due diligence reporting and corporate and litigation investigative services.

Corporate consists primarily of investment gains and losses, personnel and other operating expenses associated with the Company’s corporate facilities, certain technology initiatives and unallocated interest expense. Eliminations consist of inter-segment revenues included in the results of the operating segments.

 

19


Table of Contents

THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements—(continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Selected financial information by reporting segment is as follows:

For the three months ended March 31, 2009:

 

(in thousands)

   Revenues     Income (loss)
before
income taxes
and noncontrolling
interests
    Depreciation
and
amortization
   Capital
expenditures

Financial Services:

         

Title Insurance and Services

   $ 792,404     $ 172     $ 17,680    $ 7,009

Specialty Insurance

     70,216       8,113       955      1,414
                             
     862,620       8,285       18,635      8,423
                             

Information Solutions:

         

Information and Outsourcing Solutions

     206,461       55,909       5,456      2,051

Data and Analytic Solutions

     132,063       27,509       14,700      3,166

Risk Mitigation and Business Solutions

     203,189       18,679       10,678      5,130
                             
     541,713       102,097       30,834      10,347
                             
     1,404,333       110,382       49,469      18,770

Corporate

     2,979       (27,369 )     2,533      —  

Eliminations

     (29,500 )     —         —        —  
                             
   $ 1,377,812     $ 83,013     $ 52,002    $ 18,770
                             

For the three months ended March 31, 2008:

 

(in thousands)

   Revenues     Income (loss)
before
income taxes
and noncontrolling
interests
    Depreciation
and
amortization
   Capital
expenditures

Financial Services:

         

Title Insurance and Services

   $ 1,074,328     $ 5,370     $ 18,775    $ 13,709

Specialty Insurance

     76,081       8,491       630      2,173
                             
     1,150,409       13,861       19,405      15,882
                             

Information Solutions:

         

Information and Outsourcing Solutions

     196,182       50,492       5,829      5,392

Data and Analytic Solutions

     137,204       19,858       17,961      10,628

Risk Mitigation and Business Solutions

     203,620       22,139       10,445      10,888
                             
     537,006       92,489       34,235      26,908
                             
     1,687,415       106,350       53,640      42,790

Corporate

     (1,405 )     (36,776 )     3,883      1,042

Eliminations

     (26,885 )     —         —        —  
                             
   $ 1,659,125     $ 69,574     $ 57,523    $ 43,832
                             

 

20


Table of Contents

THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements—(continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Note 12 – Litigation and Regulatory Contingencies

The Company and its subsidiaries have been named in various lawsuits, most of which relate to their title insurance operations. In cases where the Company has determined that a loss is both probable and reasonably estimable, the Company has recorded a liability representing its best estimate of the financial exposure based on facts known to the Company. In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies” (“SFAS 5”), the Company maintained a reserve for these lawsuits totaling $24.0 million at March 31, 2009. Actual losses may materially differ from the amounts recorded. The Company does not believe that the ultimate resolution of these cases, either individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

The Company’s title insurance, property and casualty insurance, home warranty, thrift, trust and investment advisory businesses are regulated by various federal, state and local governmental agencies. Many of the Company’s other businesses operate within statutory guidelines. Consequently, the Company may from time to time be subject to audit or investigation by such governmental agencies. Currently, governmental agencies are auditing or investigating certain of the Company’s operations. These audits or investigations include inquiries into, among other matters, pricing and rate setting practices in the title insurance industry, competition in the title insurance industry and title insurance customer acquisition and retention practices. With respect to matters where the Company has determined that a loss is both probable and reasonably estimable, the Company has recorded a liability representing its best estimate of the financial exposure based on facts known to the Company. In accordance with SFAS 5, the Company maintained a reserve for these matters totaling $2.4 million at March 31, 2009. While the ultimate disposition of each such audit or investigation is not yet determinable, the Company does not believe that individually or in the aggregate, they will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. These audits or investigations could result in changes to the Company’s business practices which could ultimately have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

The Company also is involved in numerous ongoing routine legal and regulatory proceedings related to its operations. While the ultimate disposition of each proceeding is not determinable, the Company does not believe that any of such proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Note 13 – Loss Reserves

A summary of the Company’s loss reserves, broken down into its components of known title claims, incurred but not reported claims and non-title claims, follows:

 

(in thousands except percentages)

   March 31,
2009
    December 31,
2008
 

Known title claims

   $ 230,673    17.5 %   $ 234,311    17.3 %

IBNR

     1,014,680    77.1 %     1,035,779    76.4 %
                          

Total title claims

     1,245,353    94.6 %     1,270,090    93.7 %

Non-title claims

     71,180    5.4 %     85,302    6.3 %
                          

Total loss reserves

   $ 1,316,533    100.0 %   $ 1,355,392    100.0 %
                          

Note 14 – Income Taxes

The Company adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (“FIN 48”), on January 1, 2007. FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in accordance with SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes,” and prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement process for financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in tax returns.

As of March 31, 2009, the liability for income taxes associated with uncertain tax positions was $28.3 million. This liability can be reduced by $3.8 million of offsetting tax benefits associated with the correlative effects of potential transfer pricing adjustments, state income taxes and timing adjustments. The net amount of $24.5 million, if recognized, would favorably affect the company’s effective tax rate.

 

21


Table of Contents

THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements—(continued)

(Unaudited)

 

The Company’s continuing practice is to recognize interest and penalties, if any, related to uncertain tax positions in tax expense. As of March 31, 2009, the Company had accrued $4.9 million of interest (net of tax benefit) related to uncertain tax positions.

The Company or one of its subsidiaries files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, various state jurisdictions, and various non-U.S. jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state, and non-U.S. income tax examinations by taxing authorities for years prior to 2005.

It is reasonably possible that the amount of the unrecognized benefit with respect to certain of the Company’s unrecognized tax positions will significantly increase or decrease within the next 12 months. These changes may be the result of items such as ongoing audits, competent authority proceedings related to transfer pricing, or the expiration of federal and state statute of limitation for the assessment of taxes.

The effective income tax rate (income tax expense as a percentage of income before income taxes) was 33.8% for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 31.8% for the same period of the prior year. The increase in the effective rate was primarily attributable to changes in the ratio of permanent differences to income before income taxes and the effect of interest and penalties recognized in the quarter relating to FIN 48.

The California 2009-2010 budget was passed by the legislature in February 2009, and included significant revisions to the state’s corporation franchise and income tax laws. Most of the provisions contained in the legislation are prospective in nature and take effect for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2011. California has not yet provided guidance on the implementation of several aspects of the new law and the application of certain aspects are highly complex, data intensive, and judgmental. The Company has estimated a $2 million benefit related to the impact of this legislation, which has been included in the tax provision for the current quarter. This estimate is subject to change as additional information becomes available.

Note 15 – Stockholders’ Equity

The Company has a plan authorizing the repurchase of $800.0 million of its common shares. Under the plan, which has no expiration date, the Company has repurchased and retired 10.5 million of its common shares for a total purchase price of $439.6 million and has the authority to repurchase an additional $360.4 million. No purchases have been made subsequent to December 31, 2007.

Note 16 – Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Comprehensive income is a more inclusive financial reporting methodology that includes disclosure of certain financial information that historically has not been recognized in the calculation of net income.

Components of other comprehensive income (loss) are as follows:

(in thousands)

   Net unrealized
gains (losses)
on securities
    Foreign
currency
translation
adjustment
    Pension
benefit
adjustment
    Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income (loss)
 

Balance at December 31, 2008

   $ (77,062 )   $ (29,407 )   $ (195,500 )   $ (301,969 )

Pretax change

     777       (4,577 )     5,549       1,749  

Pretax change in other-than-temporary impairments for which
credit-related portion was recognized in net realized investment gains (losses)

  

 

(7,262

)

    —         —      

 

(7,262

)

Tax effect

     2,389       —         (1,942 )     447  
                                

Balance at March 31, 2009

   $ (81,158 )   $ (33,984 )   $ (191,893 )   $ (307,035 )
                                

Allocated to The First American Corporation

   $ (81,527 )   $ (23,903 )   $ (191,893 )   $ (297,323 )

Allocated to noncontrolling interests

     369       (10,081 )     —         (9,712 )
                                

Balance at March 31, 2009

   $ (81,158 )   $ (33,984 )   $ (191,893 )   $ (307,035 )
                                

 

22


Table of Contents

THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements—(continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Note 17 – Pending Accounting Pronouncements

In April 2009, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position FAS 107-1 and APB 28-1, “Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments” (“FSP 107-1”). FSP 107-1 relates to fair value disclosures in public entity financial statements for financial instruments that are within the scope of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 107, “Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments” (“SFAS 107”). This guidance increases the frequency of those disclosures, requiring public entities to provide the disclosures on a quarterly basis (rather than just annually). The quarterly disclosures are intended to provide financial statement users with more timely information about the effects of current market conditions on an entity’s financial instruments that are not otherwise reported at fair value. FSP 107-1 is effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2009. FSP 107-1 must be applied prospectively. The Company does not believe the adoption of FSP 107-1 will have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

 

23


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

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis contains certain financial measures, in particular presentation of certain balances excluding the impact of acquisitions and other non-recurring items that are not presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The Company is presenting these non-GAAP financial measures because they provide the Company’s management and readers of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with additional insight into the operational performance of the Company relative to earlier periods and relative to the Company’s competitors. The Company does not intend for these non-GAAP financial measures to be a substitute for any GAAP financial information. Readers of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should use these non-GAAP financial measures only in conjunction with the comparable GAAP financial measures.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

Critical accounting policies are those policies used in the preparation of the Company’s financial statements that require management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of certain assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and related disclosure of contingencies. A summary of these policies can be found in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

The Company has adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Staff Position 157-2, “Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157” (“FSP 157-2”), issued February 2008. FSP 157-2 delayed the effective date of FAS 157 for non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities until January 1, 2009. The provisions of FAS 157 for non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities were applied as of January 1, 2009, which had no effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In February 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” (“SFAS 159”). This statement permits companies to choose to measure many financial assets and liabilities at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected are reported in earnings. The Company adopted SFAS 159 effective January 1, 2008. The Company did not apply SFAS 159 to any assets or liabilities and, therefore, the adoption had no effect on its consolidated financial statements.

In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141(R), “Business Combinations” (“SFAS 141(R)”). Effective January 1, 2009, the Company adopted the provisions of SFAS 141(R). This statement retains the fundamental requirements in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141, “Business Combinations”, that the acquisition method of accounting, previously known as the purchase method, be used for all business combinations and for an acquirer to be identified for each business combination. SFAS 141(R) establishes principles and requirements for how the acquirer recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree; recognizes and measures the goodwill acquired in the business combination or a gain from a bargain purchase; and determines what information to disclose to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. SFAS 141(R) requires contingent consideration to be recognized at its fair value on the acquisition date and, for certain arrangements, changes in fair value to be recognized in earnings until settled. SFAS 141(R) also requires acquisition-related transaction and restructuring costs to be expensed rather than treated as part of the cost of the acquisition. The adoption of SFAS 141(R) had no impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In April 2009, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position FAS 141(R)-a, “Accounting for Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed in a Business Combination That Arise from Contingencies” (“FSP 141(R)-a”). The FASB carried forward the requirements in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. FAS 141, “Business Combinations” (“SFAS 141”), for acquired contingencies, which would require that such contingencies be recognized at fair value on the acquisition date if fair value can be reasonably estimated during the allocation period. Otherwise, companies would typically account for the acquired contingencies in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies” (“SFAS 5”). As a result of the requirement to use the guidance in SFAS 141, the accounting for preacquisition contingencies may be an exception to the recognition and fair value measurement principles of SFAS 141(R). Additionally, the FASB changed the accounting for an acquiree’s pre-existing contingent consideration arrangement that was assumed by the acquirer as part of the business combination. Such arrangements will now be accounted for as contingent consideration by the acquirer. FSP 141(R)-a had the same effective date as SFAS 141(R), and was effective for all business combinations for which the acquisition date was on or after January 1, 2009. The adoption of SFAS 141(R)-a had no impact on the consolidated financial statements.

 

24


Table of Contents

In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interest in Consolidated Financial Statements—an amendment of ARB No. 51” (“SFAS 160”). The Company adopted the provisions of SFAS 160 effective January 1, 2009. SFAS 160 states that accounting and reporting for minority interests will be recharacterized as noncontrolling interests and classified as a component of equity. SFAS 160 also establishes reporting requirements that provide disclosures that identify and distinguish between the interests of the parent and the interests of the noncontrolling owners. SFAS 160 requires retroactive adoption of the presentation and disclosure requirements for existing minority interests. All other requirements of SFAS 160 are to be applied prospectively. Except for the required presentation and disclosures, the adoption of SFAS 160 had no material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In April 2009, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position FAS 157-4, “Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly” (“FSP 157-4”). FSP 157-4 indicates that if an entity determines that either the volume and/or level of activity for an asset or liability has significantly decreased (from normal conditions for that asset or liability) or price quotations or observable inputs are not associated with orderly transactions, increased analysis and management judgment will be required to estimate fair value. FSP 157-4 is effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2009, with early adoption permitted. FSP 157-4 must be applied prospectively. The Company has elected to adopt FSP 157-4 in the first quarter of 2009. The adoption of FSP 157-4 had no material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In April 2009, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position FAS 107-1 and APB 28-1, “Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments” (“FSP 107-1”). FSP 107-1 relates to fair value disclosures in public entity financial statements for financial instruments that are within the scope of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 107, “Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments” (“SFAS 107”). This guidance increases the frequency of those disclosures, requiring public entities to provide the disclosures on a quarterly basis (rather than just annually). The quarterly disclosures are intended to provide financial statement users with more timely information about the effects of current market conditions on an entity’s financial instruments that are not otherwise reported at fair value. FSP 107-1 is effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2009. FSP 107-1 must be applied prospectively. The Company does not believe the adoption of FSP 107-1 will have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In April 2009, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position FAS 115-2 and FAS 124-2, “Recognition and Presentation of Other-Than-Temporary Impairments” (“FSP 115-2 and FSP 124-2”). FSP 115-2 and FSP 124-2 collectively establish a new method of recognizing and reporting other-than-temporary impairments of debt securities. FSP 115-2 and FSP 124-2 also contain additional disclosure requirements related to debt and equity securities. FSP 115-2 and FSP 124-2 change existing impairment guidance under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 115, “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities” (“SFAS 115”). For debt securities, the “ability and intent to hold” provision is eliminated, and impairment is considered to be other-than-temporary if an entity (i) intends to sell the security, (ii) more likely than not will be required to sell the security before recovering its cost, or (iii) does not expect to recover the security’s entire amortized cost basis (even if the entity does not intend to sell). This new framework does not apply to equity securities (i.e., impaired equity securities will continue to be evaluated under previously existing guidance). The “probability” standard relating to the collectability of cash flows is eliminated, and impairment is now considered to be other-than-temporary if the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the debt security is less than the amortized cost basis of the security. FSP 115-2 and FSP 124-2 also provide that for debt securities which (i) an entity does not intend to sell and (ii) it is not more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell before the anticipated recovery of its remaining amortized cost basis, the impairment is separated into the amount related to estimated credit losses and the amount related to all other factors. The amount of the total impairment related to all other factors is recorded in other comprehensive loss and the amount related to estimated credit loss is recognized as a charge against current period earnings. FSP 115-2 and FSP 124-2 are effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2009, with early adoption permitted. The Company has elected to adopt FSP 115-2 and FSP 124-2 in the first quarter of 2009. See further discussion in Note 4 on the impact of adoption.

In April 2009, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 111 (“SAB 111”) on Other-Than-Temporary Impairments (“OTTI”). SAB 111 amends Topic 5.M. in the Staff Accounting Bulletin Series entitled “Other-Than-Temporary Impairment of Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities” (“Topic 5. M.”). SAB 111 maintains the SEC staff’s previous views related to equity securities and amends Topic 5.M. to exclude debt securities from its scope. The Company elected to adopt SAB 111 in the first quarter of 2009. SAB 111 did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

OVERVIEW

Results of Operations

Summary

The dollar amount of mortgage originations decreased 3.8% in the first quarter of 2009, when compared with the same period of the prior year according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s April 10, 2009, Long-term Mortgage Finance Forecast (the “MBA Forecast”). This decrease in mortgage originations primarily was due to continued softening in the purchase market, offset in part by an improvement in the refinance market. According to the MBA Forecast, the dollar amount of purchase originations decreased

 

25


Table of Contents

22.7% and refinance originations increased 9.2%, in the first quarter of 2009 when compared with the same quarter of the prior year. The overall decline in mortgage originations, as well as the continued decline in home values, impacted the Company’s financial services group, which experienced a 24.9% drop in operating revenues period over period. The information solutions group also was impacted by the decline in mortgage originations as well as by the continued difficulties in the credit and securitization markets. However, as a result of the growth in default-related revenues, increases in risk management related sales of data analytics and the relatively consistent revenues generated by subscription-based businesses, operating revenues for the information solutions group remained relatively flat period over period. On a consolidated basis, operating revenues decreased 17.3% quarter over quarter.

Total expenses for the Company, before income taxes, decreased 18.5% in the first quarter of 2009 when compared with the same period of the prior year. For the financial services group, the decrease was 24.8% and for the information solutions group, 1.1%. The benefits from cost saving initiatives at the information solutions group were partially offset by increased costs of goods sold associated with the increased default-related and lead generation revenues. The Company-wide decrease in total expenses in 2009 primarily reflected a decline in title insurance agent retention due in large part to the decline in title insurance agent revenues, reductions in employee compensation expense, primarily reflecting employee reductions and reduced benefit costs, a decline in other operating expenses due to overall cost-containment programs and a reduction in claims expense.

Net income was $55.0 million and $47.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Net income attributable to the Company for the three months ended March 31, 2009, was $36.0 million, or $0.38 per diluted share. Net income attributable to the Company for the three months ended March 31, 2008, was $29.3 million, or $0.32 per diluted share. Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests was $18.9 million and $18.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Declines in real estate prices and transactions, as well as tightening of mortgage credit and decreases in general economic conditions continue to impact the demand for many of the Company’s products and services. These conditions have also had an impact on, and continue to impact, the performance and financial condition of some of the Company’s customers in many of the segments in which the Company operates; should these parties continue to encounter significant issues, those issues may lead to negative impacts on the Company’s revenue, claims, earnings and liquidity.

FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP

The Company expects that the uncertainty in the real estate and mortgage markets will continue to impact many of the financial services group’s lines of business. However, the recently announced governmental programs and relatively low interest rate environment have, to some extent, provided an improved operating environment. The financial services group is maintaining its focus on controlling costs by reducing employee count, consolidating offices, centralizing agency and administrative functions, optimizing management structure and rationalizing its brand strategy. The financial services group plans to continue these efforts where appropriate. In addition, the financial services group will continue to scrutinize the profitability of its agency relationships, increase its offshore leverage and develop new sales opportunities. Beginning at the end of 2008, the title insurance and services segment also initiated an effort to optimize its claims handling process through, among other things, the centralization of claims handling, enhanced corporate control over the claims process and claims process standardization.

 

26


Table of Contents

Title Insurance and Services

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  

(in thousands except percentages)

   2009     2008     $ Change     % Change  

Revenues

        

Direct operating revenues

   $ 460,757     $ 571,700     $ (110,943 )   (19.4 )%

Agent operating revenues

     298,319       456,456       (158,137 )   (34.6 )

Investment and other income

     31,837       45,543       (13,706 )   (30.1 )

Net realized investment gains

     1,491       629       862     137.0  
                              
     792,404       1,074,328       (281,924 )   (26.2 )
                              

Expenses

        

Salaries and other personnel costs

     269,309       350,118       (80,809 )   (23.1 )

Premiums retained by agents

     239,559       364,051       (124,492 )   (34.2 )

Other operating expenses

     204,899       250,944       (46,045 )   (18.3 )

Provision for policy losses and other claims

     49,340       63,501       (14,161 )   (22.3 )

Depreciation and amortization

     17,680       18,775       (1,095 )   (5.8 )

Premium taxes

     6,681       10,943       (4,262 )   (38.9 )

Interest

     4,764       10,626       (5,862 )   (55.2 )
                              
     792,232       1,068,958       (276,726 )   (25.9 )
                              

Income before income taxes

   $ 172     $ 5,370     $ (5,198 )   (96.8 )%
                              

Margins

     0.0 %     0.5 %     (0.5 )%   (95.7 )%
                              

Operating revenues from direct title operations were $460.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009, a decrease of 19.4% for the current quarter when compared with the same period of the prior year. This decrease was due to a decline in the average revenues per order closed and in the number of title orders closed by the Company’s direct operations. The average revenues per order closed were $1,248 for the three months ended March 31, 2009, a decrease of 15.0% when compared with $1,467 for the three months ended March 31, 2008. There were a number of factors contributing to the decline in average revenues per order closed including an increase in the mix of lower-premium refinance transactions and a decrease in average home prices as well as a reduction in the mix of direct revenue coming from the international and commercial divisions. The Company’s direct operations closed 369,200 title orders during the current three month period, a decrease of 5.2% when compared with 389,600 title orders closed during the same period of the prior year. This decrease reflected the decline in mortgage originations.

Operating revenues from agency operations were $298.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009, a decrease of 34.6% for the current quarter when compared with the same period of the prior year. This decrease was primarily due to the same factors impacting direct operations and the cancellation of certain agency relationships. Management continued to analyze the terms and profitability of its title agent relationships and is working to amend certain agency agreements.

Investment and other income totaled $31.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009, a decrease of 30.1% when compared with the same period of the prior year. This decrease primarily reflected declining yields earned from the Company’s investment portfolio, a decrease in interest earned on certain escrow deposits and decreased net interest income at the Company’s trust division.

Salaries and other personnel costs for the title insurance segment were $269.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009, a decrease of $80.8 million, or 23.1%, when compared with the same period of the prior year. This decrease was primarily due to a reduction in base salary expense and bonus expense resulting from staff reductions. Staff reductions were approximately 3,900 since the end of the first quarter 2008, including approximately 365 reductions in the first quarter of 2009. In addition, effective March 30, 2008, the Company reduced the base salary of highly compensated title insurance employees. Employee separation costs included in salaries and other personnel costs for the current quarter totaled $3.9 million.

 

27


Table of Contents

Agents retained $239.6 million of title premiums generated by agency operations for the three months ended March 31, 2009, which compares with $364.1 million for the same period of the prior year. The percentage of title premiums retained by agents was 80.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2009, up from 79.8% for the three months ended March 31, 2008. This change primarily was due to increases in activity with agents operating in regions with less favorable premium splits.

Other operating expenses for the title insurance and services segment were $204.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009, a decrease of $46.0 million, or 18.3%, when compared with the same period of the prior year. This decrease was primarily due to a decline in title production costs associated with the decline in business volume, lower occupancy costs as a result of the consolidation of certain title branches and other cost-containment programs.

The provision for title insurance policy losses as a percentage of title insurance operating revenues was 6.5% for the current quarter and 6.2% for the same period of the prior year. The current quarter rate reflects the expected claims experience for policy year 2009, with no reserve estimate adjustments required for prior policy years.

Premium taxes were $6.7 million and $10.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Premium taxes as a percentage of operating revenues were 0.9% and 1.1% for the three month period and for the same period of the prior year, respectively.

In general, the title insurance business is a lower profit margin business when compared to the Company’s other segments. The lower profit margins reflect the high cost of producing title evidence whereas the corresponding revenues are subject to regulatory and competitive pricing restraints. Due to this relatively high proportion of fixed costs, title insurance profit margins generally improve as closed order volumes increase. Title insurance profit margins are affected by the composition (residential or commercial) and type (resale, refinancing or new construction) of real estate activity. In addition, profit margins from refinance transactions vary depending on whether they are centrally processed or locally processed. Profit margins from resale, new construction and centrally processed refinance transactions are generally higher than from locally processed refinancing transactions because in many states there are premium discounts on, and cancellation rates are higher for, refinance transactions. Title insurance profit margins are also affected by the percentage of operating revenues generated by agency operations. Profit margins from direct operations are generally higher than from agency operations due primarily to the large portion of the premium that is retained by the agent. Pre-tax margins were 0.0% and 0.5% for the three month period ending March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Specialty Insurance

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  

(in thousands except percentages)

   2009     2008     $ Change     % Change  

Revenues

        

Operating revenues

   $ 67,092     $ 71,607     $ (4,515 )   (6.3 )%

Investment and other income

     3,527       4,220       (693 )   (16.4 )

Net realized investment (losses) gains

     (403 )     254       (657 )   (258.7 )
                              
     70,216       76,081       (5,865 )   (7.7 )
                              

Expenses

        

Salaries and other personnel costs

     13,760       14,300       (540 )   (3.8 )

Other operating expenses

     12,709       12,655       54     0.4  

Provision for policy losses and other claims

     33,594       38,932       (5,338 )   (13.7 )

Depreciation and amortization

     955       630       325     51.6  

Premium taxes

     1,085       1,073       12     1.1  
                              
     62,103       67,590       (5,487 )   (8.1 )
                              

Income before income taxes

   $ 8,113     $ 8,491     $ (378 )   (4.5 )%
                              

Margins

     11.6 %     11.2 %     0.4 %   3.5 %
                              

Operating revenues for the specialty insurance segment decreased $4.5 million, or 6.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2009, when compared with the same period of the prior year. This decrease primarily reflected a decline in business volume impacting both the property and casualty insurance division and the home warranty division.

Investment and other income for the segment totaled $3.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009, a decrease of $0.7 million, or 16.4% when compared with the same period of the prior year. This decrease was primarily due to a decrease in yields earned from the portfolio.

Net realized investment losses for the specialty insurance segment totaled $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009, a decrease of $0.7 million when compared with the comparable period of the prior year.

 

28


Table of Contents

Specialty insurance personnel and other operating expenses were $26.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009, relatively unchanged when compared with the same period of the prior year.

For the home warranty business, the claims provision as a percentage of home warranty operating revenues was 51.3% for the current three-month period and 50.6% for the same period of the prior year. This increase in rate was primarily due to an increase in contractor and supplier claims coupled with reduced operating revenues. For the property and casualty business, the claims provision as a percentage of property and casualty insurance operating revenues was 48.3% for the current three-month period, a decrease when compared with 59.7% for the same period of the prior year. This decrease was primarily due to a decline in core or routine losses.

Premium taxes were $1.1 million for each of the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Premium taxes as a percentage of operating revenues were 1.6% and 1.5% for the current three-month period and for the same period of the prior year, respectively.

A large part of the revenues for the specialty insurance businesses are not dependent on the level of real estate activity, with a large portion generated from renewals. With the exception of loss expense, the majority of the expenses for this segment are variable in nature and therefore generally fluctuate consistent with revenue fluctuations. Accordingly, profit margins for this segment (before loss expense) are relatively constant, although as a result of some fixed expenses, profit margins (before loss expense) should nominally improve as revenues increase. Pre-tax margin for the current three-month period was 11.6%, up from 11.2% for the comparable period of the prior year. This increase primarily reflected decreased claims activity at the property and casualty business.

INFORMATION SOLUTIONS

The Company expects that the uncertainty in the real estate and mortgage markets will continue to impact many of the information solutions group’s lines of business. However, the recently announced governmental programs and relatively low interest rate environment have, to some extent, provided an improved operating environment. The information solutions group is maintaining its focus on controlling costs by reducing employee count, consolidating/exiting facilities, centralizing administrative functions, and streamlining its management structure. The information solutions group plans to continue these efforts where appropriate. In addition, the information solutions group will continue to focus on increasing its offshore leverage, developing new products and service offerings to meet the changing market needs and pursue the new sales opportunities present within the marketplace.

Information and Outsourcing Solutions

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  

(in thousands except percentages)

   2009     2008     $ Change     % Change  

Revenues

        

Operating revenues

   $ 188,080     $ 181,342     $ 6,738     3.7 %

Investment and other income

     18,695       14,878       3,817     25.7  

Net realized investment losses

     (314 )     (38 )     (276 )   (726.3 )
                              
     206,461       196,182       10,279     5.2  
                              

Expenses

        

Salaries and other personnel costs

     46,235       51,698       (5,463 )   (10.6 )

Other operating expenses

     94,033       85,051       8,982     10.6  

Provision for policy losses and other claims

     6,335       4,544       1,791     39.4  

Depreciation and amortization

     5,456       5,829       (373 )   (6.4 )

Interest

     (1,507 )     (1,432 )     (75 )   (5.2 )
                              
     150,552       145,690       4,862     3.3  
                              

Income before income taxes

   $ 55,909     $ 50,492     $ 5,417     10.7 %
                              

Margins

     27.1 %     25.7 %     1.3 %   5.2 %
                              

The information and outsourcing solutions segment had total operating revenues of $188.1 million in the three months ended March 31, 2009, an increase of $6.7 million, or 3.7%, when compared with the same period of the prior year. This increase primarily reflected an increase in volume at the appraisal and the default-related businesses due to the higher level of loan loss mitigation and foreclosure related activity occurring in the market. Offsetting these improvements were decreases in flood and tax service revenues due to the decline in mortgage originations in the first quarter and a higher percentage of revenues coming from refinancing. The information and outsourcing solutions segment provides services at different stages of the loan origination cycle, with revenues

 

29


Table of Contents

from valuation and flood certifications occurring earlier in the origination cycle and with tax service revenues generally being recognized after the loan has been closed by the lender. As a result, the tax service revenues for this segment typically lag the normal loan origination cycle.

Information and outsourcing solutions investment and other income totaled $18.7 million and $14.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The increase in investment income primarily reflects the continued strong results of the segment’s national joint ventures.

Information and outsourcing solutions salaries and other personnel costs were $46.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009, a decrease of $5.5 million, or 10.6%, when compared with the same period of the prior year. This decrease was primarily due to general expense reductions actions taken throughout 2008 and early 2009, a 8% decrease in domestic headcount from the previous year and continued offshoring initiatives. The reductions were offset in part by increased expenses at the appraisal and default-related businesses due to increased revenues at those entities due to the current market conditions.

Information and outsourcing solutions other operating expenses were $94.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009, an increase of $9.0 million, or 10.6%, when compared with the same period of the prior year. The increases were primarily driven by higher cost of goods sold associated with the higher volume of appraisal and default-related revenues, which offset the impact of the 2008 cost savings initiatives. Excluding the increase in cost of goods sold of $7.7 million, other operating expenses for the segment were up 1.5% in the current year with increased bad debt expense and other variable costs of sales offsetting the impact of the cost saving initiatives implemented by management.

The current year increase in the provision for policy losses and other claims was driven by an increase in claims associated with the segment’s tax service outsourcing business. Management does not anticipate the level of increases in claims to be recurring in future periods.

Most of the businesses included in the information and outsourcing solutions segment are database intensive, with a relatively high proportion of fixed costs. This segment’s appraisal and default-related businesses, in contrast, are less database intensive and, thus, have a higher level of variable costs. As such, profit margins generally decline as revenues decline. Revenues for the information and outsourcing solutions segment are primarily dependent on the level of mortgage origination and servicing activity. The information and outsourcing solutions segment had pre-tax margins for the current three-month period of 27.1%, up from 25.7% margin for the prior year three-month period. The margins were impacted by the 5% increase in revenues and a decrease in controllable costs within the segment relative to the first quarter of 2008.

Data and Analytic Solutions

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  

(in thousands except percentages)

   2009     2008     $ Change     % Change  

Revenues

        

Direct operating revenues

   $ 131,906     $ 135,659     $ (3,753 )   (2.8 )%

Investment and other income

     400       1,483       (1,083 )   (73.0 )

Net realized investment gains

     (243 )     62       (305 )   (491.9 )
                              
     132,063       137,204       (5,141 )   (3.7 )
                              

Expenses

        

Salaries and other personnel costs

     69,655       79,654       (9,999 )   (12.6 )

Other operating expenses

     18,580       17,704       876     4.9  

Provision for policy losses and other claims

     122       122       —       —    

Depreciation and amortization

     14,700       17,961       (3,261 )   (18.2 )

Interest

     1,497       1,905       (408 )   (21.4 )
                              
     104,554       117,346       (12,792 )   (10.9 )
                              

Income before income taxes

   $ 27,509     $ 19,858     $ 7,651     38.5 %
                              

Margins

     20.8 %     14.5 %     6.4 %   43.9 %
                              

Operating revenues for the data and analytic solutions segment decreased $3.8 million, or 2.8%, for the three months ended March 31, 2009, when compared with the same period of the prior year. This decrease was primarily due to the effects of the continued slowdown in mortgage originations, the continued tightening of the credit markets and the higher cancellation rate from clients (some of which are no longer in business) on subscription revenues. Also contributing to the decrease in revenues was deferred buying decisions by many of the segment’s investor clients who were waiting for clarity on what role the government would be playing in the mortgage finance field going forward. These decreases were offset in part by increased demand for title and document products in the latter part of the current quarter.

 

30


Table of Contents

Data and analytic solutions salaries and other personnel costs were $69.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009, a decrease of $10.0 million, or 12.6% when compared with the same period of the prior year. The decrease was driven by a 23% decrease in domestic headcount relative to the prior year due to management’s cost containment initiatives implemented in 2008 and year-to-date in 2009.

Data and analytic solutions other operating expenses were $18.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009, an increase of $0.9 million, or 4.9% when compared with the same period of the prior year. This increase was primarily due to increased foreign currency translation adjustments related to the India operations and a decrease in the amount of other operating expenses that are capitalized data acquisition costs.

Depreciation and amortization expense decreased $3.3 million or 18.2% relative to 2008 due to a one-time adjustment recorded in 2008 related to capitalized software.

Most of the businesses included in the data and analytic solutions segment are database intensive, with a relatively high proportion of fixed costs. As such, profit margins generally decline as revenues decrease. Revenues for the data and analytic solutions segment are, in part, dependent on real estate activity but are less cyclical as a result of a more diversified customer base and a greater percentage of subscription-based revenue. Pre-tax margin for the current three-month period of 2009 was 20.8%, up from 14.5% margin for the prior year three-month period. The impact of the lower revenues was offset by the impact of cost savings initiatives implemented in 2008 and year-to-date in 2009, resulting in the improved margins in 2009 relative to 2008.

Risk Mitigation and Business Solutions

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  

(in thousands except percentages)

   2009     2008     $ Change     % Change  

Revenues

        

Operating revenues

   $ 199,615     $ 204,414     $ (4,799 )   (2.3 )%

Investment and other income

     3,616       3,129       487     15.6  

Net realized investment losses

     (42 )     (3,923 )     3,881     98.9  
                              
     203,189       203,620       (431 )   (0.2 )
                              

Expenses

        

Salaries and other personnel costs

     53,215       68,871       (15,656 )   (22.7 )

Other operating expenses

     120,242       101,740       18,502     18.2  

Depreciation and amortization

     10,678       10,445       233     2.2  

Interest

     375       425       (50 )   (11.8 )%
                              
     184,510       181,481       3,029     1.7  
                              

Income before income taxes

   $ 18,679     $ 22,139       (3,460 )   (15.6 )
                              

Margins

     9.2 %     10.9 %     (1.7 )%   (15.4 )%
                              

Risk mitigation and business solutions operating revenues decreased $4.8 million, or 2.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2009, when compared with the same period of the prior year. Acquisitions generated $0.3 million of operating revenues for the period. The overall decrease in service revenue is directly related to the downturn in domestic and international hiring, the decline in the mortgage industry, weakness in the credit markets, and overall economic slowdown. These declines were offset to an extent by increased revenues in 2009 due to improvements in the segment’s lead generation business.

Risk mitigation and business solutions investment and other income totaled $3.6 million and $3.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Risk mitigation and business solutions net realized investment losses totaled $42 thousand and $3.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Prior year losses were mainly attributed to losses associated with the segment’s discontinued operations.

 

31


Table of Contents

Risk mitigation and business solutions salaries and other personnel costs were $53.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009, a decrease of $15.7 million, or 22.7% when compared with the same period of the prior year. Acquisition activity contributed $0.1 million of costs. The impact of this increase was offset by strategic reductions in employees, office consolidations, and a reduction in 401(k) match expense.

Risk mitigation and business solutions other operating expenses were $120.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009, an increase of $18.5 million, or 18.2% when compared with the same period of the prior year. Acquisition activity contributed $0.2 million of costs in the current year. The overall increase in other operating expenses was primarily driven by higher cost of goods sold associated with the lead generation business. Excluding the increase in cost of goods sold of $26.7 million, other operating expenses were down 8.1% in the current year due to the recognized benefits from the 2008 cost containment initiatives.

Many of the expenses incurred by the risk mitigation and business solutions segment are variable in nature and therefore generally decrease as revenues decrease. Most of the revenues for the risk mitigation and business solutions segment are unaffected by real estate activity, with the exception of the mortgage credit business, which is dependent on real estate activity. Pre-tax margins for the first quarter of 2009 were 9.2% compared to 10.9% in the same period in the prior year.

Corporate

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  

(in thousands except percentages)

   2009     2008     $ Change     % Change  

Revenues

        

Investment and other income

   $ 2,438     $ 1,455     $ 983     67.6 %

Net realized investment gains (losses)

     541       (2,860 )     3,401     118.9  
                              
     2,979       (1,405 )     4,384     312.0  
                              

Expenses

        

Salaries and other personnel costs

     10,686       12,973       (2,287 )   (17.6 )

Other operating expenses

     3,317       7,455       (4,138 )   (55.5 )

Depreciation and amortization

     2,533       3,883       (1,350 )   (34.8 )

Interest

     13,812       11,060       2,752     24.9  
                              
     30,348       35,371       (5,023 )   (14.2 )
                              

Loss before income taxes

   $ (27,369 )   $ (36,776 )   $ 9,407     25.6 %
                              

Corporate total salaries and other personnel costs and other operating expenses totaled $14.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009, a decrease of $6.4 million, or 31.5%, when compared with the same period of the prior year. This decrease was primarily due to changes in technology initiatives, salary reductions, employee reductions and the impact of other corporate-wide cost saving initiatives that have been implemented by the Company.

Interest expense was $13.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009, an increase of $2.8 million, or 24.9%, when compared with the same period of the prior year. Interest expense includes interest associated with inter-company notes issued to the home warranty business (a component of the specialty insurance segment) and the title insurance business. These amounts totaled $2.9 million and $1.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009, and 2008, respectively. Excluding inter-company interest expense, corporate interest expense increased relative to the prior periods due to incremental draws on the Company’s credit facility. The inter-company interest expense at the corporate level and related interest income which is included in the title insurance and specialty insurance segments are eliminated in the consolidated financial statements.

 

32


Table of Contents

Eliminations

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  

(in thousands except percentages)

   2009     2008     $ Change     % Change  

Revenues

        

Operating revenues

   $ (26,600 )   $ (25,909 )   $ (691 )   (2.7 )%

Investment and other income

     (2,900 )     (976 )     (1,924 )   (197.1 )
                              
     (29,500 )     (26,885 )     (2,615 )   (9.7 )
                              

Expenses

        

Other operating expenses

     (26,650 )     (25,909 )     (741 )   (2.9 )

Interest expense

     (2,850 )     (976 )     (1,874 )   (192.0 )
                              
     (29,500 )     (26,885 )     (2,615 )   (9.7 )%
                              

Income before income taxes

   $ —       $ —       $ —       —    
                              

Eliminations represent revenues and related expenses associated with inter-segment sales of services and products, as well as interest expense and related interest income associated with inter-company notes which are eliminated in the consolidated financial statements.

INCOME TAXES

The effective income tax rate (income tax expense as a percentage of income before income taxes) was 33.8% for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 31.8% for the same period of the prior year. The effective income tax rate includes a provision for state income and franchise taxes for noninsurance subsidiaries. The increase in the effective rate was primarily attributable to changes in the ratio of permanent differences to income before income taxes and the effect of interest and penalties recognized in the quarter relating to FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes”. A large portion of the Company’s income attributable to non-controlling interests is attributable to a limited liability company subsidiary, which for tax purposes, is treated as a partnership. Accordingly, no income taxes have been provided for that portion of the income attributable to non-controlling interests.

The Company evaluates the realizability of its deferred tax assets by assessing its valuation allowance and by adjusting the amount of such allowance, if necessary. The factors used to assess the likelihood of realization are the Company’s forecast of future taxable income and available tax planning strategies that could be implemented to realize the deferred tax assets. Failure to achieve forecasted taxable income in the applicable taxing jurisdictions could affect the ultimate realization of deferred tax assets and could result in an increase in the Company’s effective tax rate on future earnings. The Company continues to monitor the realizability of recognized, impairment, and unrecognized losses recorded through March 31, 2009. The Company believes it is more likely than not that the tax benefits associated with those losses will be realized. However, this determination is a judgment and could be impacted by further market fluctuations.

NET INCOME AND NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS

Net income was $55.0 million and $47.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Net income attributable to the Company for the three months ended March, 31, 2009, was $36.0 million, or $0.38 per diluted share. Net income attributable to the Company for the three months ended March 31, 2008, was $29.3 million, or $0.32 per diluted share. Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests was $18.9 million and $18.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Total cash and cash equivalents decreased $0.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009, and $232.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008. The decrease for the current year period was due primarily to an increase in deposits with banks, purchases of debt securities, cash paid for acquisitions and capital expenditures. The uses were offset by positive cash flow from operations in the quarter and a decrease in demand deposits. The decrease for the prior year period was due primarily to net cash used in operations for the quarter, an increase in deposits with banks, purchases of debt securities, cash paid for acquisitions and capital expenditures. The uses were offset by a decrease in demand deposits.

Notes and contracts payable as a percentage of total capitalization was 22.0% at March 31, 2009 and 22.2% at December 31, 2008.

 

33


Table of Contents

The Company has a plan authorizing the repurchase of $800.0 million of its common shares. Under the plan, which has no expiration date, the Company has repurchased and retired 10.5 million of its common shares for a total purchase price of $439.6 million and has the authority to repurchase an additional $360.4 million. No purchases have been made subsequent to December 31, 2007.

As of March 31, 2009, the Company’s debt and equity investment securities portfolio consists of approximately 94% of fixed income securities. As of that date, over 84% of the Company’s fixed income investments are held in securities that are United States government-backed or rated AAA by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, and approximately 97% of the fixed income portfolio is rated or classified as investment grade by one or more of the major ratings agencies or the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

In addition to its debt and equity investment securities portfolio, the Company maintains certain money-market and other short-term investments.

Due to the Company’s liquid-asset position and its ability to generate cash flows from operations, management believes that its resources are sufficient to satisfy its anticipated operational cash requirements and obligations. While, prior to the spin-off transaction, the Company expects to continue its policy of paying regular quarterly cash dividends, future dividends will be dependent on future earnings, financial condition and capital requirements.

 

34


Table of Contents
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

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

Although the Company is subject to foreign currency exchange rate risk as a result of its operations in certain foreign countries, the foreign exchange exposure related to these operations, in the aggregate, is not material to the Company’s financial condition or results of operations, and therefore, such risk is immaterial.

There have been no material changes in the Company’s market risks since the filing of its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer have concluded that, as of the end of the quarterly period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, were effective, based on the evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 13a-15(b) thereunder.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended March 31, 2009, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

35


Table of Contents

PART II: OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

The Company and its subsidiaries have been named in various lawsuits, most of which relate to their title insurance operations. In cases where the Company has determined that a loss is both probable and reasonably estimable, the Company has recorded a liability representing its best estimate of the financial exposure based on facts known to the Company. In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies” (“SFAS 5”), the Company maintained a reserve for these lawsuits totaling $24.0 million at March 31, 2009. Actual losses may materially differ from the amounts recorded. The Company does not believe that the ultimate resolution of these cases, either individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

The Company’s title insurance, property and casualty insurance, home warranty, thrift, trust and investment advisory businesses are regulated by various federal, state and local governmental agencies. Many of the Company’s other businesses operate within statutory guidelines. Consequently, the Company may from time to time be subject to audit or investigation by such governmental agencies. Currently, governmental agencies are auditing or investigating certain of the Company’s operations. These audits or investigations include inquiries into, among other matters, pricing and rate setting practices in the title insurance industry, competition in the title insurance industry and title insurance customer acquisition and retention practices. With respect to matters where the Company has determined that a loss is both probable and reasonably estimable, the Company has recorded a liability representing its best estimate of the financial exposure based on facts known to the Company. In accordance with SFAS 5, the Company maintained a reserve for these matters totaling $2.4 million at March 31, 2009. While the ultimate disposition of each such audit or investigation is not yet determinable, the Company does not believe that individually or in the aggregate, they will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. These audits or investigations could result in changes to the Company’s business practices which could ultimately have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

The Company also is involved in numerous ongoing routine legal and regulatory proceedings related to its operations. While the ultimate disposition of each proceeding is not determinable, the Company does not believe that any of such proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

36


Table of Contents
Item 1A. Risk Factors.

The Company has added the risk factors set forth below. You should carefully consider the risk factors set forth in Part I, Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, as updated hereby, as well as the other information contained in the Company’s Annual Report, as updated or modified in subsequent filings. The Company faces risks other than those listed in the Annual Report, as updated, including those that are unknown and others of which the Company may be aware but, at present, considers immaterial. Because of the factors set forth in Part I, Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report, as updated, as well as other variables affecting the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows, past financial performance may not be a reliable indicator of future performance, and historical trends should not be used to anticipate results or trends in future periods.

17. Unfavorable economic or other conditions could cause the Company to write off a portion of its goodwill and other intangible assets.

The Company performs an impairment test of the carrying value of goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets annually in the fourth quarter or sooner if circumstances indicate a possible impairment. Factors that may be considered in connection with this review include, without limitation, underperformance relative to historical or projected future operating results, reductions in the Company’s stock price and market capitalization, and negative macroeconomic, industry and Company-specific trends. These and other factors could lead to a conclusion that the Company’s goodwill or other indefinite-lived intangibles are no longer fully recoverable, in which case the Company would be required to write off the portion of goodwill believed to be unrecoverable. As of March 31, 2009, goodwill was approximately $2.6 billion, or 30.2% of the Company’s total assets. Any substantial goodwill impairments that may be required could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.

18. The Company’s investment portfolio is subject to certain risks and could experience losses.

The Company maintains a substantial investment portfolio, primarily consisting of fixed income securities, but also including money-market and other short-term investments, as well as some common and preferred stock. Securities in the Company’s investment portfolio are subject to certain economic and financial market risks, such as credit risk, interest rate (including call, prepayment and extension) risk and/or liquidity risk. The risk of loss associated with the portfolio is increased during periods, such as the present period, of instability in credit markets and economic conditions. If the carrying value of the investments exceeds the fair value, and the decline in fair value is deemed to be other-than-temporary, the Company will be required to write down the value of the investments, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.

19. The Company’s pension plan is currently underfunded and pension expenses and funding obligations could increase significantly as a result of the weak performance of financial markets and its effect on plan assets.

The Company has a defined benefit pension plan which was closed to new entrants effective December 31, 2001 and amended to “freeze” all benefit accruals as of April 30, 2008. The Company’s future funding obligations for this plan depend, among other factors, upon the future performance of assets held in trust for the plan. Due primarily to significant declines in financial markets which have led to a deterioration in the value of plan assets, the pension plan was underfunded as of December 31, 2008 by approximately $110.4 million and the Company may need to make significant contributions to the plan. In addition, pension expenses and funding requirements may also be greater than currently anticipated if the market value of the assets held by the pension plan continue to decline or if the other assumptions regarding plan earnings and expenses require adjustment. This could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.

 

37


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

The following table describes purchases by the Company of the Company’s Common shares which settled during each period set forth in the table. Prices in column (b) include commissions. Purchases described in column (c) were made pursuant to the share repurchase program initially announced by the Company on May 18, 2004, which was amended to add additional amounts to the repurchase authorization on May 19, 2005, June 26, 2006, and January 15, 2008. The amounts in column (d) reflect the effect of these amendments. Under this plan, which has no expiration date, the Company may repurchase up to $800 million of the Company’s issued and outstanding Common shares. During the quarter ended March 31, 2009, the Company did not repurchase any shares under this plan and cumulatively the Company has repurchased $439.6 million (including commissions) of its shares and had the authority to repurchase an additional $360.4 million (including commissions) under the plan.

 

      (a)
Total
Number of
Shares
Purchased
   (b)
Average
Price Paid
per Share
   (c)
Total Number

of Shares
Purchased as Part
of Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs
   (d)
Maximum
Approximate Dollar
Value of Shares that May
Yet Be Purchased Under
the Plans or Programs

Period

           

January 1 to January 31, 2009

   —      —      —      $ 360,369,939

February 1 to February 28, 2009

   —      —      —      $ 360,369,939

March 1 to March 31, 2009

   —      —      —      $ 360,369,939
                     

Total

   —      —      —      $ 360,369,939
                     

 

Item 6. Exhibits.

See Exhibit Index.

 

38


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

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

 

  THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION
  (Registrant)

By

 

/s/ Parker S. Kennedy

 

Parker S. Kennedy

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

By

 

/s/ Anthony S. Piszel

 

Anthony S. Piszel

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

(Principal Financial Officer)

Date: May 1, 2009

 

39


Table of Contents

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

  

Location

10(a)    Arrangement regarding salaries, bonuses, long term incentive restricted stock units and performance units for named executive officers, approved March 12, 2009.    Incorporated by reference herein to the description contained in the Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 13, 2009.
10(b)    Arrangement regarding bonus plan for named executive officers, approved April 6, 2009.    Incorporated by reference herein to the description contained in the Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 10, 2009.
(31)(a)    Certification by Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.    Attached.
(31)(b)    Certification by Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.    Attached.
(32)(a)    Certification by Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.    Attached.
(32)(b)    Certification by Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.    Attached.

 

40