UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 1O-Q
(Mark One)
| x | Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2008
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: 1-9518
THE PROGRESSIVE CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Ohio | 34-0963169 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
| 6300 Wilson Mills Road, Mayfield Village, Ohio | 44143 | |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
| (440) 461-5000 | ||
| (Registrants telephone number, including area code) | ||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one): Large accelerated filer x Accelerated filer ¨ Non-accelerated filer ¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) Smaller reporting company ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨ No x
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuers classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
Common Shares, $1.00 par value: 675,630,230 outstanding at October 31, 2008
PART IFINANCIAL INFORMATION
| Item 1. | Financial Statements. |
The Progressive Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income
(unaudited)
| Three Months | Nine Months | |||||||||||||||||
|
Periods Ended September 30, |
2008 | 2007 |
%
Change |
2008 | 2007 |
%
Change |
||||||||||||
| (millionsexcept per share amounts) | ||||||||||||||||||
|
Revenues |
||||||||||||||||||
|
Net premiums earned |
$ | 3,416.2 | $ | 3,461.8 | (1) | $ | 10,217.4 | $ | 10,464.8 | (2) | ||||||||
|
Investment income |
163.5 | 183.9 | (11) | 488.6 | 514.8 | (5) | ||||||||||||
|
Net realized gains (losses) on securities |
(1,373.4 | ) | 58.5 | NM | (1,385.8 | ) | 75.2 | NM | ||||||||||
|
Service revenues |
3.8 | 5.4 | (30) | 12.4 | 17.5 | (29) | ||||||||||||
|
Total revenues |
2,210.1 | 3,709.6 | (40) | 9,332.6 | 11,072.3 | (16) | ||||||||||||
|
Expenses |
||||||||||||||||||
|
Losses and loss adjustment expenses |
2,517.6 | 2,509.1 | | 7,472.9 | 7,398.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||
|
Policy acquisition costs |
339.3 | 347.7 | (2) | 1,019.5 | 1,058.1 | (4) | ||||||||||||
|
Other underwriting expenses |
391.9 | 387.2 | 1 | 1,155.7 | 1,154.3 | | ||||||||||||
|
Investment expenses |
2.0 | 2.9 | (31) | 6.4 | 10.3 | (38) | ||||||||||||
|
Service expenses |
6.0 | 5.4 | 11 | 16.5 | 15.3 | 8 | ||||||||||||
|
Interest expense |
34.2 | 34.7 | (1) | 102.8 | 74.1 | 39 | ||||||||||||
|
Total expenses |
3,291.0 | 3,287.0 | | 9,773.8 | 9,710.1 | 1 | ||||||||||||
|
Net Income (Loss) |
||||||||||||||||||
|
Income (loss) before income taxes |
(1,080.9 | ) | 422.6 | NM | (441.2 | ) | 1,362.2 | NM | ||||||||||
|
Provision (benefit) for income taxes |
(396.7 | ) | 123.4 | NM | (211.9 | ) | 415.8 | NM | ||||||||||
|
Net income (loss) |
$ | (684.2 | ) | $ | 299.2 | NM | $ | (229.3 | ) | $ | 946.4 | NM | ||||||
|
COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS PER SHARE |
||||||||||||||||||
|
Basic: |
||||||||||||||||||
|
Average shares outstanding |
666.3 | 702.6 | (5) | 668.4 | 720.6 | (7) | ||||||||||||
|
Per share |
$ | (1.03 | ) | $ | .43 | NM | $ | (.34 | ) | $ | 1.31 | NM | ||||||
|
Diluted: |
||||||||||||||||||
|
Average shares outstanding |
666.3 | 702.6 | (5) | 668.4 | 720.6 | (7) | ||||||||||||
|
Net effect of dilutive stock-based compensation |
6.5 | 8.2 | (21) | 6.2 | 8.3 | (25) | ||||||||||||
|
Total equivalent shares |
672.8 | 710.8 | (5) | 674.6 | 728.9 | (7) | ||||||||||||
|
Per share 1 |
$ | (1.03 | ) | $ | .42 | NM | $ | (.34 | ) | $ | 1.30 | NM | ||||||
|
Dividends declared per share 2 |
$ | | $ | | NM | $ | | $ | 2.00 | NM | ||||||||
NM = Not Meaningful
|
1 |
Since we reported a net loss for both the third quarter and first nine months of 2008, the calculated diluted earnings per share was antidilutive; therefore, basic earnings per share is disclosed. For the same periods in 2007, diluted earnings per share is disclosed. |
|
2 |
See Note 8Dividends for further discussion. |
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
2
The Progressive Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(unaudited)
| September 30, |
December 31,
2007 |
||||||||
| 2008 | 2007 | ||||||||
| (millions) | |||||||||
|
Assets |
|||||||||
|
InvestmentsAvailable-for-sale, at fair value: |
|||||||||
|
Fixed maturities (amortized cost: $9,557.3, $9,664.2 and $9,135.6) |
$ | 9,367.4 | $ | 9,677.1 | $ | 9,184.9 | |||
|
Equity securities: |
|||||||||
|
Nonredeemable preferred stocks (cost: $1,357.0, $2,358.7 and $2,578.1) |
1,310.9 | 2,312.9 | 2,270.3 | ||||||
|
Common equities (cost: $903.5, $1,388.5 and $1,361.0) |
1,322.6 | 2,453.1 | 2,327.5 | ||||||
|
Short-term investments (amortized cost: $733.8, $374.1 and $382.4) |
733.8 | 374.1 | 382.4 | ||||||
|
Total investments |
12,734.7 | 14,817.2 | 14,165.1 | ||||||
|
Cash |
6.6 | 7.7 | 5.8 | ||||||
|
Accrued investment income |
130.3 | 140.8 | 142.1 | ||||||
|
Premiums receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $106.3, $116.0 and $118.1 |
2,584.8 | 2,614.0 | 2,395.1 | ||||||
|
Reinsurance recoverables, including $35.0, $45.5 and $47.6 on paid losses |
290.3 | 355.3 | 335.1 | ||||||
|
Prepaid reinsurance premiums |
63.5 | 78.1 | 69.8 | ||||||
|
Deferred acquisition costs |
448.8 | 461.1 | 426.3 | ||||||
|
Income taxes |
724.5 | | 106.0 | ||||||
|
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $647.2, $592.2 and $605.7 |
1,001.5 | 990.1 | 1,000.4 | ||||||
|
Other assets |
654.6 | 201.2 | 197.4 | ||||||
|
Total assets |
$ | 18,639.6 | $ | 19,665.5 | $ | 18,843.1 | |||
|
Liabilities and Shareholders Equity |
|||||||||
|
Unearned premiums |
$ | 4,499.2 | $ | 4,547.4 | $ | 4,210.4 | |||
|
Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves |
6,146.3 | 5,920.8 | 5,942.7 | ||||||
|
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities |
1,558.4 | 1,629.0 | 1,580.6 | ||||||
|
Income taxes |
| 50.9 | | ||||||
|
Debt 1 |
2,175.1 | 2,173.5 | 2,173.9 | ||||||
|
Total liabilities |
14,379.0 | 14,321.6 | 13,907.6 | ||||||
|
Common Shares, $1.00 par value (authorized 900.0; issued 797.9, 798.2 and 798.1, including treasury shares of 122.3, 100.1 and 117.9) |
675.6 | 698.1 | 680.2 | ||||||
|
Paid-in capital |
874.9 | 834.2 | 834.8 | ||||||
|
Accumulated other comprehensive income: |
|||||||||
|
Net unrealized gains on securities |
143.9 | 672.6 | 465.0 | ||||||
|
Net unrealized gains on forecasted transactions |
25.6 | 28.5 | 27.8 | ||||||
|
Retained earnings |
2,540.6 | 3,110.5 | 2,927.7 | ||||||
|
Total shareholders equity |
4,260.6 | 5,343.9 | 4,935.5 | ||||||
|
Total liabilities and shareholders equity |
$ | 18,639.6 | $ | 19,665.5 | $ | 18,843.1 | |||
|
1 |
Consists of long-term debt. See Note 4Debt . |
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
3
The Progressive Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(unaudited)
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
2008 | 2007 | ||||||
| (millions) | ||||||||
|
Cash Flows From Operating Activities |
||||||||
|
Net income (loss) |
$ | (229.3 | ) | $ | 946.4 | |||
|
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities: |
||||||||
|
Depreciation |
72.1 | 80.1 | ||||||
|
Amortization of fixed maturities |
188.3 | 208.5 | ||||||
|
Amortization of stock-based compensation |
25.8 | 20.8 | ||||||
|
Net realized (gains) losses on securities |
1,385.8 | (75.2 | ) | |||||
|
Net loss on disposition of property and equipment |
1.5 | .3 | ||||||
|
Changes in: |
||||||||
|
Premiums receivable |
(189.7 | ) | (115.8 | ) | ||||
|
Reinsurance recoverables |
44.8 | 78.5 | ||||||
|
Prepaid reinsurance premiums |
6.3 | 11.4 | ||||||
|
Deferred acquisition costs |
(22.5 | ) | (20.1 | ) | ||||
|
Income taxes |
(445.5 | ) | 14.9 | |||||
|
Unearned premiums |
288.8 | 212.4 | ||||||
|
Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves |
203.6 | 195.8 | ||||||
|
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities |
69.1 | 126.1 | ||||||
|
Other, net |
39.4 | (6.9 | ) | |||||
|
Net cash provided by operating activities |
1,438.5 | 1,677.2 | ||||||
|
Cash Flows From Investing Activities |
||||||||
|
Purchases: |
||||||||
|
Fixed maturities |
(3,337.3 | ) | (7,391.4 | ) | ||||
|
Equity securities |
(568.8 | ) | (1,076.5 | ) | ||||
|
Short-term investmentsauction rate securities |
(631.5 | ) | (7,156.6 | ) | ||||
|
Sales: |
||||||||
|
Fixed maturities |
2,382.3 | 7,106.0 | ||||||
|
Equity securities |
834.4 | 553.8 | ||||||
|
Short-term investmentsauction rate securities |
631.5 | 7,325.4 | ||||||
|
Maturities, paydowns, calls and other: |
||||||||
|
Fixed maturities |
337.5 | 466.6 | ||||||
|
Equity securities |
82.4 | 5.1 | ||||||
|
Net (purchases) sales of short-term investmentsother |
(351.1 | ) | 38.3 | |||||
|
Net unsettled security transactions |
(494.7 | ) | 94.6 | |||||
|
Purchases of property and equipment |
(75.5 | ) | (98.8 | ) | ||||
|
Sale of property and equipment |
.8 | 1.7 | ||||||
|
Net cash used in investing activities |
(1,190.0 | ) | (131.8 | ) | ||||
|
Cash Flows From Financing Activities |
||||||||
|
Proceeds from exercise of stock options |
19.7 | 16.7 | ||||||
|
Tax benefit from exercise/vesting of stock-based compensation |
8.4 | 9.9 | ||||||
|
Proceeds from debt 1 |
| 1,021.7 | ||||||
|
Dividends paid to shareholders 2 |
(98.3 | ) | (1,406.5 | ) | ||||
|
Acquisition of treasury shares |
(177.5 | ) | (1,185.1 | ) | ||||
|
Net cash used in financing activities |
(247.7 | ) | (1,543.3 | ) | ||||
|
Increase in cash |
.8 | 2.1 | ||||||
|
Cash, January 1 |
5.8 | 5.6 | ||||||
|
Cash, September 30 |
$ | 6.6 | $ | 7.7 | ||||
|
1 |
Includes a $34.4 million pretax gain received upon closing a forecasted debt issuance hedge. See Note 4Debt in our 2007 Annual Report to Shareholders, which is filed as Exhibit 13 to our 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K, for further discussion. |
|
2 |
See Note 8Dividends for further information. |
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
4
The Progressive Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(unaudited)
Note 1 Basis of Presentation These financial statements and the notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and accompanying notes in The Progressive Corporations Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.
The
consolidated financial statements reflect all normal recurring adjustments which, in the opinion of management, were necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. The results of operations for the periods ended
Note 2 Investments The composition of the investment portfolio at September 30 was:
($ in millions)
| Cost |
Gross
Unrealized Gains |
Gross
Unrealized Losses |
Net
Realized Gains (Losses) 4 |
Fair
Value |
% of Total
Portfolio (at Fair Value) |
|||||||||||||||
|
2008 |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Fixed maturities 1 |
$ | 9,557.3 | $ | 62.5 | $ | (252.4 | ) | $ | | $ | 9,367.4 | 73.5 | % | |||||||
|
Equity securities: |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Nonredeemable preferred stocks |
1,357.0 | 1.3 | (9.2 | ) | (38.2 | ) | 1,310.9 | 10.3 | ||||||||||||
|
Common equities |
903.5 | 457.5 | (38.4 | ) | | 1,322.6 | 10.4 | |||||||||||||
|
Short-term investments: |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Other short-term investments |
733.8 | | | | 733.8 | 5.8 | ||||||||||||||
|
Total portfolio 2, 3 |
$ | 12,551.6 | $ | 521.3 | $ | (300.0 | ) | $ | (38.2 | ) | $ | 12,734.7 | 100.0 | % | ||||||
|
2007 |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Fixed maturities 1 |
$ | 9,664.2 | $ | 80.0 | $ | (67.1 | ) | $ | | $ | 9,677.1 | 65.3 | % | |||||||
|
Equity securities: |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Nonredeemable preferred stocks |
2,358.7 | 12.4 | (55.2 | ) | (3.0 | ) | 2,312.9 | 15.6 | ||||||||||||
|
Common equities |
1,388.5 | 1,068.1 | (3.5 | ) | | 2,453.1 | 16.6 | |||||||||||||
|
Short-term investments: |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Other short-term investments |
374.1 | | | | 374.1 | 2.5 | ||||||||||||||
|
Total portfolio 2, 3 |
$ | 13,785.5 | $ | 1,160.5 | $ | (125.8 | ) | $ | (3.0 | ) | $ | 14,817.2 | 100.0 | % | ||||||
|
1 |
Includes $49.1 million and $20.2 million for 2008 and 2007, respectively, of collateral in the form of Treasury Notes delivered to a counterparty on an open derivative position. See the Derivative Instruments section in Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for further discussion. |
|
2 |
At September 30, 2008, we had $484.7 million of net unsettled security sales (offset in other assets) and $67.0 million of unsettled security transactions (offset in other liabilities), compared to $136.5 million of net unsettled security purchases (offset in other liabilities) at September 30, 2007. |
|
3 |
September 30, 2008 and 2007 totals include $1.0 billion and $1.9 billion, respectively, of securities in the portfolio of a consolidated, non-insurance subsidiary of the holding company, net of any unsettled security transactions. |
|
4 |
Represents net holding period gains (losses) on certain hybrid securities (discussed below). |
5
Our fixed-maturity securities include debt securities and redeemable preferred stocks. The nonredeemable preferred stock portfolio also includes certain perpetual preferred stocks that have call features with fixed-rate coupons, whereby the change in value of the call features is a component of the overall change in value of the preferred stocks (i.e., hybrid securities). At September 30, 2008 and 2007, our nonredeemable preferred stock portfolio included $55.4 million and $55.5 million in fair value, respectively, of such hybrid securities. Short-term investments can include auction rate securities (i.e., certain municipal bonds and preferred stocks) and other short-term investments. We held no auction rate securities at September 30, 2008 or 2007. Our other short-term investments include Eurodollar deposits, commercial paper and other investments which are expected to mature within one year. Common equities include common stocks and other risk investments (i.e., private equity investments and limited partnership interests in private equity and mezzanine funds).
Our securities are reported at fair value, with the changes in fair value of these securities (other than hybrid securities and derivative instruments) reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income, net of deferred income taxes. The change in fair value of the hybrid securities and derivative instruments is recorded as a component of net realized gains (losses) on securities.
During the third quarter and first nine months of 2008, we wrote-down $1,426.4 million and $1,521.7 million, respectively, in securities determined to have had other-than-temporary declines in fair value. For the third quarter 2008, the write-downs included $1,347.6 million in redeemable and nonredeemable preferred stocks, $20.5 million of common equities and $58.3 million of fixed-maturity asset-backed and corporate debt securities. For the first nine months of 2008, the write-downs included $1,415.8 million in redeemable and nonredeemable preferred stocks, $33.8 million of common equities and $72.1 million of fixed-maturity asset-backed and corporate debt securities. These write-downs were the result of fundamental matters related to either specific issues or issuers and/or the significant decline in the credit and mortgage-related market, and were taken because we were unable to objectively determine that these securities would substantially recover in the near term. See the Other-Than-Temporary Impairment section in Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for further discussion.
Associated with the decline in fair value during the quarter, we recognized an increase in our deferred tax asset. Our net deferred tax asset was $724.0 million at September 30, 2008, compared to $92.2 million at December 31, 2007, primarily reflecting the write-downs on securities during the quarter that have not yet been recognized for tax purposes, as well as the decrease in net unrealized gains. Although realization of the deferred tax asset is not assured, management believes it is more likely than not that the deferred tax asset will be realized based on our expectation that we will be able to fully use the deductions.
Note 3 Fair Value In the first quarter 2008, we adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) 157, Fair Value Measurements, which became effective on January 1, 2008. SFAS 157, which applies to financial assets and liabilities, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, establishes a fair value hierarchy based on inputs used to measure fair value and expands disclosure about fair value measurements. Adopting this statement has not had an effect on our financial condition, cash flows or results of operations.
In accordance with SFAS 157, we have categorized our financial instruments, based on the degree of subjectivity inherent in the valuation technique, into a fair value hierarchy of three levels, as follows:
| |
Level 1 : Inputs are unadjusted, quoted prices in active markets for identical instruments at the measurement date (e.g., U.S. Government securities and active exchange-traded equity securities). |
6
| |
Level 2 : Inputs (other than quoted prices included within Level 1) that are observable for the instrument either directly or indirectly. This includes: (i) quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, (ii) quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, (iii) inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the instruments, and (iv) inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means (e.g., certain corporate and municipal bonds and certain preferred stocks). |
| |
Level 3 : Inputs that are unobservable. Unobservable inputs reflect the reporting entitys subjective evaluation about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the financial instrument (e.g., certain structured securities and privately held investments). |
The composition of the investment portfolio as of September 30, 2008, was:
| Fair Value | ||||||||||||
| (millions) | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | ||||||||
|
Fixed maturities |
$ | 2,333.3 | $ | 6,932.1 | $ | 102.0 | $ | 9,367.4 | ||||
|
Nonredeemable preferred stocks |
481.5 | 829.4 | | 1,310.9 | ||||||||
|
Common equities |
1,309.0 | | 13.6 | 1,322.6 | ||||||||
| $ | 4,123.8 | $ | 7,761.5 | $ | 115.6 | 12,000.9 | ||||||
|
Other short-term investments 1 |
733.8 | |||||||||||
|
Total portfolio |
$ | 12,734.7 | ||||||||||
|
1 |
These securities are not subject to fair value measurement since they are cash equivalents (e.g., mature within one business day); therefore, we report these securities at cost, which approximates fair value. |
Our portfolio valuations classified as either Level 1 or Level 2 in the above table are priced exclusively by external sources, including: pricing vendors, broker/dealers and exchange quoted prices.
Vendor quoted prices represent approximately 56% of our Level 1 classifications and almost 96% of our Level 2 classifications. The balance of our Level 1 pricing comes from quotes obtained directly from trades made on an active exchange. We reviewed independent documentation detailing the pricing techniques, models and methodologies used by these pricing vendors and believe that their policies adequately consider market activity, either based on specific transactions for the issue valued or based on modeling of securities with similar credit quality, duration, yield and structure that were recently transacted. We continue to monitor any changes or modifications to their process due to the recent market events.
Broker quoted prices represent the remaining 4% of the Level 2 classification. We typically use broker/dealers because the security issue we hold is not widely held or frequently traded and thus are not serviced by the pricing vendors. We reviewed the methodology used by broker/ dealers and determined that they used the same modeling characteristics as the external vendor pricing sources. The broker/dealers contain back office pricing desks, separate from the day-to-day traders that buy and sell the securities. This process creates uniformity in pricing when they quote externally to their various customers. The broker/dealer valuations are quoted in terms of spreads to various indexes and the spreads are based off recent transactions adjusted for movements since the last trade or based off similar characteristic securities currently trading in the market. These quotes are not considered binding offers to transact.
During each valuation period, we create internal estimations of portfolio valuation (performance returns), based on current market-related activity (i.e., interest rate and credit spread movements and other credit-related factors) within each major sector of our portfolio. We compare our internally generated portfolio results with those generated based on quotes we received externally and research material valuation differences. We will, from time to time, obtain more than one broker quote for a security, when we feel it is necessary. We believe this additional step ensures we are reporting the most representative price.
7
When we feel it is necessary to challenge a quote from either a pricing vendor or broker/dealer by using internal estimates to augment those external prices, we review the internal assumptions and to the extent those estimates are determined to not contain sufficient observable market information, we will reclassify the affected security valuations to Level 3.
Based on the criteria described above, we believe that the current level classifications are appropriate based on the valuation techniques used and that our fair values accurately reflect current market assumptions in the aggregate.
We currently have no material financial liabilities that would require categorization.
The following tables provide a summary of changes in fair value associated with Level 3 assets for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008:
|
Level 3 Fair Value
Three months ended September 30, 2008 |
||||||||||||||||
| (millions) |
Fixed
Maturities |
Nonredeemable
Preferred Stocks |
Common
Equities |
Total | ||||||||||||
|
Fair value at June 30, 2008 |
$ | 149.3 | $ | | $ | 13.8 | $ | 163.1 | ||||||||
|
Calls/maturities/paydowns |
(3.3 | ) | | (.7 | ) | (4.0 | ) | |||||||||
|
Sales |
(14.3 | ) | | | (14.3 | ) | ||||||||||
|
Realized (gain) loss |
.5 | | | .5 | ||||||||||||
|
Change in valuation |
(7.6 | ) | | .5 | (7.1 | ) | ||||||||||
|
Transfers in (out) 1 |
(22.6 | ) | | | (22.6 | ) | ||||||||||
|
Fair value at September 30, 2008 |
$ | 102.0 | $ | | $ | 13.6 | $ | 115.6 | ||||||||
|
Level 3 Fair Value
Nine months ended September 30, 2008 |
||||||||||||||||
| (millions) |
Fixed
Maturities |
Nonredeemable
Preferred Stocks |
Common
Equities |
Total | ||||||||||||
|
Fair value at December 31, 2007 |
$ | 119.4 | $ | 115.6 | $ | 13.7 | $ | 248.7 | ||||||||
|
Calls/maturities/paydowns |
(8.6 | ) | | (.7 | ) | (9.3 | ) | |||||||||
|
Sales |
(14.3 | ) | | | (14.3 | ) | ||||||||||
|
Realized (gain) loss |
.5 | | | .5 | ||||||||||||
|
Change in valuation |
(19.1 | ) | | .6 | (18.5 | ) | ||||||||||
|
Transfers in (out) 1 |
24.1 | (115.6 | ) | | (91.5 | ) | ||||||||||
|
Fair value at September 30, 2008 |
$ | 102.0 | $ | | $ | 13.6 | $ | 115.6 | ||||||||
|
1 |
Represents movement between the fair value hierarchy levels during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, reflecting changes in the inputs used to measure fair value during the period. |
There were no purchases associated with the Level 3 securities during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008.
8
Note 4 Debt Debt at September 30 consisted of:
| (millions) | 2008 | 2007 | ||||||||||
|
Carrying
Value |
Fair
Value |
Carrying
Value |
Fair
Value |
|||||||||
|
6.375% Senior Notes due 2012 |
$ | 348.8 | $ | 359.9 | $ | 348.5 | $ | 363.7 | ||||
|
7% Notes due 2013 |
149.3 | 156.6 | 149.2 | 161.1 | ||||||||
|
6 5 / 8 % Senior Notes due 2029 |
294.5 | 279.2 | 294.4 | 310.1 | ||||||||
|
6.25% Senior Notes due 2032 |
394.0 | 356.1 | 393.9 | 396.9 | ||||||||
|
6.70% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2067 |
988.5 | 681.6 | 987.5 | 985.4 | ||||||||
|
Total |
$ | 2,175.1 | $ | 1,833.4 | $ | 2,173.5 | $ | 2,217.2 | ||||
Note 5 Supplemental Cash Flow Information We paid income taxes of $223.0 million and $391.0 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Total interest paid was $93.4 million and $59.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Non-cash activity includes changes in net unrealized gains (losses) on investment securities and declared, but unpaid, dividends to shareholders (see Note 8Dividends for further discussion).
Note 6 Segment Information Our Personal Lines segment writes insurance for private passenger automobiles and recreational vehicles through the Agency and Direct channels. Our Commercial Auto segment writes primary liability and physical damage insurance for automobiles and trucks owned by small businesses in the specialty truck and business auto markets. Our other indemnity businesses primarily include writing professional liability insurance for community banks and managing our small run-off businesses. Our service businesses include providing insurance-related services, primarily policy issuance and claims adjusting services for Commercial Auto Insurance Procedures/Plans (CAIP), which are state-supervised plans serving the involuntary market. All segment revenues are generated from external customers.
Following are the operating results for the periods ended September 30:
| (millions) | Three Months | Nine Months | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008 | 2007 | 2008 | 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenues |
Pretax
Profit (Loss) |
Revenues |
Pretax
Profit (Loss) |
Revenues |
Pretax
Profit (Loss) |
Revenues |
Pretax
Profit (Loss) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Personal Lines |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Agency |
$ | 1,840.5 | $ | 75.7 | $ | 1,900.5 | $ | 110.8 | $ | 5,534.5 | $ | 283.7 | $ | 5,772.3 | $ | 406.6 | ||||||||||||||
|
Direct |
1,129.1 | 77.3 | 1,091.6 | 67.9 | 3,336.2 | 211.2 | 3,285.3 | 284.4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total Personal Lines 1 |
2,969.6 | 153.0 | 2,992.1 | 178.7 | 8,870.7 | 494.9 | 9,057.6 | 691.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Commercial Auto |
441.1 | 13.6 | 464.3 | 38.1 | 1,331.1 | 73.4 | 1,391.0 | 161.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Other indemnity |
5.5 | .8 | 5.4 | 1.0 | 15.6 | 1.0 | 16.2 | 2.4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total underwriting operations |
3,416.2 | 167.4 | 3,461.8 | 217.8 | 10,217.4 | 569.3 | 10,464.8 | 854.4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Service businesses |
3.8 | (2.2 | ) | 5.4 | | 12.4 | (4.1 | ) | 17.5 | 2.2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
Investments 2 |
(1,209.9 | ) | (1,211.9 | ) | 242.4 | 239.5 | (897.2 | ) | (903.6 | ) | 590.0 | 579.7 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
Interest expense |
| (34.2 | ) | | (34.7 | ) | | (102.8 | ) | | (74.1 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
|
Consolidated total |
$ | 2,210.1 | $ | (1,080.9 | ) | $ | 3,709.6 | $ | 422.6 | $ | 9,332.6 | $ | (441.2 | ) | $ | 11,072.3 | $ | 1,362.2 | ||||||||||||
|
1 |
Private passenger automobile insurance accounted for 90% of the total Personal Lines segment net premiums earned in both the third quarter 2008 and 2007 and 90% in the first nine months of 2008, compared to 91% in the first nine months of 2007. |
|
2 |
Revenues represent recurring investment income and net realized gains (losses) on securities; pretax profit (loss) is net of investment expenses. |
9
Progressives management uses underwriting margin and combined ratio as primary measures of underwriting profitability. The underwriting margin is the pretax underwriting profit (loss) expressed as a percentage of net premiums earned (i.e., revenues). Combined ratio is the complement of the underwriting margin. Following are the underwriting margins/combined ratios for our underwriting operations for the periods ended September 30:
| Three Months | Nine Months | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2008 | 2007 | 2008 | 2007 | |||||||||||||||||
|
Under-
writing Margin |
Combined
Ratio |
Under-
writing Margin |
Combined
Ratio |
Under-
writing Margin |
Combined
Ratio |
Under-
writing Margin |
Combined
Ratio |
|||||||||||||
|
Personal Lines |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Agency |
4.1 | % | 95.9 | 5.8 | % | 94.2 | 5.1 | % | 94.9 | 7.0 | % | 93.0 | ||||||||
|
Direct |
6.8 | 93.2 | 6.2 | 93.8 | 6.3 | 93.7 | 8.7 | 91.3 | ||||||||||||
|
Total Personal Lines |
5.2 | 94.8 | 6.0 | 94.0 | 5.6 | 94.4 | 7.6 | 92.4 | ||||||||||||
|
Commercial Auto |
3.1 | 96.9 | 8.2 | 91.8 | 5.5 | 94.5 | 11.6 | 88.4 | ||||||||||||
|
Other indemnity 1 |
NM | NM | NM | NM | NM | NM | NM | NM | ||||||||||||
|
Total underwriting operations |
4.9 | 95.1 | 6.3 | 93.7 | 5.6 | 94.4 | 8.2 | 91.8 | ||||||||||||
|
1 |
Underwriting margins/combined ratios are not meaningful (NM) for our other indemnity businesses due to the low level of premiums earned by, and the variability of losses in, such businesses. |
Note 7 Comprehensive Income Total comprehensive income (loss) was $(556.4) million and $353.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and $(552.6) million and $1,043.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
Note 8 Dividends In January 2008, Progressive paid dividends of $98.3 million, or $.1450 per common share, pursuant to a December 2007 declaration by the Board of Directors under our annual variable dividend policy.
Progressives policy is to pay an annual variable dividend, if appropriate, shortly after the close of each year. This annual dividend will be based on a target percentage of after-tax underwriting income, multiplied by a companywide performance factor (Gainshare factor), subject to the limitations discussed below. The Gainshare factor can range from zero to two and will be determined by comparing our operating performance for the year to certain predetermined profitability and growth objectives approved by the Board. The Gainshare factor is aligned with the variable cash incentive program currently in place for our employees.
For 2008, the Board established that the variable dividend will be based on 20% of after-tax underwriting profit. Through the third quarter 2008, the Gainshare factor was .73. Since the final factor will be determined based on our results for the full year, the final factor may vary significantly from the factor at the end of any interim period. However, if the Gainshare factor is zero or if our after-tax comprehensive income (which includes net investment income, as well as both realized gains and losses in securities and the change in unrealized gains and losses during the period) is less than after-tax underwriting income, no dividend will be paid. For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, our after-tax comprehensive loss was $(552.6) million, which is lower than the $370.0 million of after-tax underwriting income for the same period.
The declaration of the dividend remains within the Boards discretion and they could alter the policy at any time prior to the declaration of the dividend for the year. Nevertheless, the Board is expected to apply the provisions of the policy and, if appropriate given both our underwriting and investment performance, declare the 2008 annual dividend in December 2008, with a record date in January 2009 and payment shortly thereafter. Based on results as of September 30, 2008, no dividend would be payable for 2008 under our variable dividend policy.
10
On September 14, 2007, The Progressive Corporation paid a $2.00 per common share extraordinary cash dividend in the aggregate amount of $1.4 billion, which was declared by the Board of Directors on June 13, 2007, and paid to shareholders of record as of the close of business on August 31, 2007.
Note 9 Litigation One or more of The Progressive Corporations insurance subsidiaries are named as defendants in various lawsuits arising out of their insurance operations. All legal actions relating to claims made under insurance policies issued by our subsidiaries are considered in establishing our loss and loss adjustment expense reserves.
In addition, various Progressive entities are named as a defendant in a number of class action or individual lawsuits, the outcomes of which are uncertain at this time. These cases include those alleging damages as a result of our use of consumer reports (such as credit reports) in underwriting and related notice requirements under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act; charging betterment in first party physical damage claims; the adjusting of personal injury protection and medical payment claims; the use of automated database vendors or products to assist in evaluating certain bodily injury claims; policy implementation, renewal and cancellation procedures; and cases challenging other aspects of our claims, marketing and other business practices.
We plan to contest the outstanding suits vigorously, but may pursue settlement negotiations where appropriate. In accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP), we have established accruals for lawsuits as to which we have determined that it is probable that a loss has been incurred and we can reasonably estimate our potential exposure. Pursuant to GAAP, we have not established reserves for those lawsuits where the loss is not probable and/or we are currently unable to estimate our potential exposure. If any one or more of these lawsuits results in a judgment against or settlement by us in an amount that is significantly in excess of the reserve established for such lawsuit (if any), the resulting liability could have a material effect on our financial condition, cash flows and results of operations.
For a further discussion on our pending litigation, see Item 3-Legal Proceedings in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.
11
| Item 2. | Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. |
I. OVERVIEW
The third quarter 2008 results reflected solid returns in The Progressive Corporations subsidiaries underwriting operations, but significant losses in our investment portfolio, which led to a net loss for the quarter of $684.2 million, or $1.03 per share, compared to net income of $299.2 million, or $.42 per share, in the same period last year. Our insurance operations generated $167.4 million of pretax underwriting profitability, despite $82.4 million of weather-related catastrophe losses. However, we recognized nearly $1.4 billion of net losses on our investment portfolio driven by write-downs in securities (primarily preferred stocks) that were determined to be other-than-temporarily impaired.
A. Operations
During the third quarter 2008, we realized a year-over-year increase of 3% in our companywide policies in force and 1% in net premiums written. This quarter marks the first time in the past eight quarters in which both of these growth measures were positive. Net premiums earned, which lags written premiums, decreased 1% for the quarter.
Premium growth reflects a combination of new business applications (i.e., issued policies), premium per policy (i.e., rates) and customer retention. On a quarter-over-prior-year-quarter basis, companywide new business applications decreased 4%, while renewal applications increased 5%. New business acquisition continues to be a challenge, especially in our Agency and Commercial Auto businesses. Our Commercial Auto business is being adversely affected by the downturn in the economy, primarily the housing and construction sectors.
We currently have several initiatives underway aimed at providing distinctive new auto business options, including the expansion of our usage-based insurance product, referred to as MyRate sm , the introduction of Name Your Price ® , a program that provides customers the opportunity to select the price they would like to pay for auto insurance, and the roll-out of a new product in our Agency auto business which is designed to help improve competitiveness.
On a year-over-year basis, for the third quarter 2008, we have seen an overall decrease in average written premium per auto policy of 1%. The rate of decrease declined over the past year, as we started to raise rates where necessary to meet our loss cost inflation expectations. We will continue to evaluate future rate needs and react quickly as we recognize changing trends.
Our effort to increase customer retention continues to be one of our most significant initiatives, and we are continuing to see the benefits. Policy life expectancy, which is our actuarial estimate of the average length of time that a policy will remain in force before cancellation or non-renewal, is one measure of customer retention. The policy life expectancy for our Agency and Direct auto businesses has been on a continuing upward trend over the past few quarters and is now about 12% and 13% higher, respectively, than at the end of the third quarter last year. Commercial Autos retention is relatively flat compared to the same period last year.
Policies in force, our primary growth metric, increased 3% on a companywide basis since the third quarter last year, reflecting the strides we have made in our retention efforts. We achieved policy growth in Personal Auto, Special Lines and Commercial Auto. Direct auto, which currently represents about 39% of our Personal Auto policies in force, increased 8%, while the Agency auto business decreased 2%. Our fastest Personal Auto growth area continues to be our Internet-produced business.
Our third quarter 2008 profit margin was 4.9%, which exceeded our profitability goal of an aggregate companywide underwriting margin of 4%. During the quarter, we incurred 2.4 points of weather-related catastrophe losses, primarily related to hurricanes Ike and Gustav and tropical storm Fay, compared to only .3 points of catastrophe losses for the third quarter last year. The higher catastrophe losses were partially offset by a decrease in auto accident frequency, which likely reflects fewer miles driven, due primarily to relatively higher gas prices during the period. On a quarter-over-prior-year-quarter basis, total auto paid severity was relatively flat, with increases in bodily injury and personal injury protection severity and a decrease in collision coverage severity.
12
B. Investments and Capital Management
The fair value of our investment portfolio was $12.7 billion at September 30, 2008, including $1.8 billion of redeemable and nonredeemable preferred stocks ($.5 billion and $1.3 billion, respectively). During the quarter, our investment portfolio produced a fully taxable equivalent total return of (6.9)%, with a (6.6)% total return in our fixed-income portfolio, which include both redeemable and nonredeemable preferred stocks, and a (8.7)% total return in our common stock portfolio, primarily reflecting overall market value declines. At September 30, 2008, the fixed-income portfolio duration was 2.8 years with a weighted average credit quality of AA.
The price of most risk assets declined during the quarter, in some cases materially. Our portfolios fair value, especially the value of our preferred stocks, was negatively affected by a series of shocks to the financial markets, including the decision to place Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in conservatorship, the failure of Lehman Brothers and the near collapse of American International Group, as well as several major financial firms suffering a crisis of confidence. As a result, during the third quarter 2008, we recognized $1.4 billion in net realized losses, primarily the result of write-downs of securities determined to have had other-than-temporary declines in fair value. The majority of the affected securities had been in a decline for three quarters or more and, based on the market declines that occurred during the quarter, we were unable to objectively determine that the securities would substantially recover in the near term.
In addition to reducing the value of our investment portfolio, the investment losses during the quarter, which include both those that we have incurred through security sales, as well as through changes in the fair value of the securities we continue to hold, reduced our overall capital position. We continue to manage our investing and financing activities in order to maintain sufficient capital to support all the insurance we can profitably underwrite and service. As of September 30, 2008, we had total capital (debt plus equity) of $6.4 billion to meet our capital requirements, as described below.
In an effort to manage this risk, beginning in September and concluding in the early part of October, we adjusted the allocation of our investment portfolio and reduced our exposure to common equities. We continue to maintain our financial policy, which targets an allocation of 75% to 100% for fixed-income securities, with the balance in common equities. At September 30, 2008, our common equities represented 10.4% of the total portfolio, whereas they previously represented about 15%.
We continued to feel the effect of these highly volatile market conditions during October, particularly in the equity markets. While the high credit quality and short duration of our fixed-income portfolio, as well as our reduced exposure to common stocks, should provide some protection from market volatility, any extreme swings in market prices could further affect our results going forward. Should economic conditions deteriorate further, the credit quality and value of our portfolio could decline. However, the vast majority of our asset-backed securities are senior positions with a substantial buffer of junior, subordinated securities to help protect us from loss and the credit quality of our corporate holdings is high. In addition, the majority of our bank preferred stock holdings are in eight of the firms that the U.S. Treasury Department has deemed to be systemically important and these banks have agreed to receive preferred capital from the Treasury Department at a seniority level equal or subordinate to our holdings. While these factors should provide some protection against possible future losses, we cannot be certain that there will be sufficient protection if the credit crisis deepens or in a deep and protracted recession.
13
II. FINANCIAL CONDITION
A. Liquidity and Capital Resources
Progressives insurance operations create liquidity by collecting and investing premiums from new and renewal business in advance of paying claims. For the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, operations generated positive cash flow of $1,438.5 million and $1,677.2 million, respectively. The decrease primarily reflects the lower underwriting income earned during the first nine months of 2008. During the third quarter 2008, we did not repurchase any of our common shares outside of our equity compensation plans. Year-to-date, we have repurchased 9.8 million common shares, at a total cost of $177.5 million (average cost of $18.13 per share).
In January 2008, we paid shareholder dividends of $98.3 million, or $.1450 per common share, pursuant to a December 2007 declaration by our Board of Directors under our annual variable dividend policy (see Note 8Dividends for further discussion of our policy). Based on our results as of September 30, 2008, no dividend would be payable under our variable dividend policy for 2008.
We believe that we have sufficient capital resources, cash flows from operations and borrowing capacity to support our current and anticipated business, scheduled principal and interest payments on our debt and expected capital requirements. The covenants on our existing debt securities do not include any rating or credit triggers that would require an adjustment of the interest rate or an acceleration of principal payments in the event our securities are downgraded.
Continuing volatility in the capital markets presents challenges to us as we seek to manage our portfolio and our capital position. See Item 1A below, Risk Factors, for a discussion of certain matters that may affect our portfolio and capital position.
Management views our capital structure as consisting of three levels, each with a specific size and purpose. The first layer of capital, which we refer to as regulatory capital, is the amount of capital we need to satisfy regulatory requirements and support our objective of writing all the business we can write, consistent with our underwriting discipline of achieving a 96 combined ratio. This capital is held largely within our various insurance entities.
The second layer of capital we call extreme contingency. While our regulatory capital is, by definition, a cushion for absorbing financial consequences of adverse events such as loss reserve development, litigation, weather catastrophes or investment market corrections, we view that as a base and hold additional capital for even more extreme conditions. The modeling used to quantify capital needs for these conditions is quite extensive, including tens of thousands of simulations, but it still represents our best estimates of such contingencies based on historical experience. This capital is held at the holding company and, at times, in our insurance entities potentially eligible for a dividend to the holding company.
The third layer of capital is capital in excess of the sum of the first two layers and provides maximum flexibility to repurchase stock, consider acquisitions and pay dividends to shareholders and for other purposes. This capital is largely held at the holding company.
At all times during the third quarter 2008, and throughout October, our total capital exceeded the sum of our regulatory capital layer plus our self-constructed extreme contingency load. However, due to the recent significant declines in the valuation of our investment portfolio, the third layer has been diminished, along with the flexibility provided by that level of capital.
The speed by which the market valuations changed, and continue to change, is of great concern and a basis for our ongoing review of portfolio risk. To help manage these risks and preserve our capital base, as of October month end, we held approximately $4 billion in cash and treasury bonds, double the amount we held at the start of the third quarter, as we have sought to reduce overall risk and volatility in the portfolio.
14
B. Commitments and Contingencies
During the first nine months of 2008, we completed construction of two new service centers that provide our concierge level of claims service, including one center completed during the third quarter; both of these centers replaced previously leased service center locations. In total, we have 54 service centers in 41 metropolitan areas across the United States serving as our primary approach to damage assessment and coordination of vehicle repairs at authorized repair facilities in these markets. We expect to construct one new service center to replace an existing leased facility in 2009.
There is currently no other significant construction under way. We own additional land in both Colorado Springs, Colorado and Mayfield Village, Ohio for possible future development; both properties are near current corporate operations.
All such construction projects have been funded internally through operating cash flows.
Off-Balance-Sheet Arrangements
Our off-balance-sheet leverage includes derivative positions, open investment funding commitments and operating leases and purchase obligations. See the Derivative Instruments section of this Managements Discussion and Analysis for a summary of our derivative activity since year-end 2007. There have been no material changes in the other off-balance-sheet items since the discussion in the notes to the financial statements in Progressives Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.
Contractual Obligations
During the first nine months of 2008, our contractual obligations have not changed materially from those discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.
During the first quarter 2008, we entered into two contracts to expand our brand building efforts. In January 2008, we entered into a 16-year contract for the ballpark naming rights and a sponsorship deal with the Cleveland Indians Major League Baseball team. Over the contract term, Progressive will pay an average of approximately $3.6 million per year. In addition, in March 2008, we announced our title sponsorship of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE competition. The Automotive X PRIZE is a two and one half year international competition designed to inspire a new generation of safe, low emissions vehicles capable of achieving the equivalent of at least 100 miles per gallon in fuel efficiency. The total cost of the sponsorship is expected to be approximately $12.5 million, which includes the prize for the winning team or teams, as well as the funding of some operational expenses over the course of the competition.
15
III. RESULTS OF OPERATIONSUNDERWRITING
A. Growth
| (millions) |
Three Months Ended
September 30, |
Nine Months Ended
September 30, |
||||||||||||||||
| 2008 | 2007 | % Change | 2008 | 2007 | % Change | |||||||||||||
|
NET PREMIUMS WRITTEN |
||||||||||||||||||
|
Personal Lines |
||||||||||||||||||
|
Agency |
$ | 1,884.5 | $ | 1,908.1 | (1 | ) | $ | 5,661.6 | $ | 5,860.5 | (3 | ) | ||||||
|
Direct |
1,211.0 | 1,131.8 | 7 | 3,489.3 | 3,375.9 | 3 | ||||||||||||
|
Total Personal Lines |
3,095.5 | 3,039.9 | 2 | 9,150.9 | 9,236.4 | (1 | ) | |||||||||||
|
Commercial Auto |
409.8 | 437.0 | (6 | ) | 1,346.4 | 1,435.0 | (6 | ) | ||||||||||
|
Other indemnity |
6.1 | 6.3 | (3 | ) | 15.2 | 17.2 | (12 | ) | ||||||||||
|
Total underwriting operations |
$ | 3,511.4 | $ | 3,483.2 | 1 | $ | 10,512.5 | $ | 10,688.6 | (2 | ) | |||||||
|
NET PREMIUMS EARNED |
||||||||||||||||||
|
Personal Lines |
||||||||||||||||||
|
Agency |
$ | 1,840.5 | $ | 1,900.5 | (3 | ) | $ | 5,534.5 | $ | 5,772.3 | (4 | ) | ||||||
|
Direct |
1,129.1 | 1,091.6 | 3 | 3,336.2 | 3,285.3 | 2 | ||||||||||||
|
Total Personal Lines |
2,969.6 | 2,992.1 | (1 | ) | 8,870.7 | 9,057.6 | (2 | ) | ||||||||||
|
Commercial Auto |
441.1 | 464.3 | (5 | ) | 1,331.1 | 1,391.0 | (4 | ) | ||||||||||
|
Other indemnity |
5.5 | 5.4 | 2 | 15.6 | 16.2 | (4 | ) | |||||||||||
|
Total underwriting operations |
$ | 3,416.2 | $ | 3,461.8 | (1 | ) | $ | 10,217.4 | $ | 10,464.8 | (2 | ) | ||||||
Net premiums written represent the premiums generated from policies written during the period less any premiums ceded to reinsurers. Net premiums earned, which are a function of the premiums written in the current and prior periods, are earned as revenue over the life of the policy using a daily earnings convention. During the third quarter, we experienced positive written premium growth, reflecting the effect of the rate changes we have been taking over the past year and our efforts to increase retention, as well as other initiatives we have underway to provide distinctive new auto business options (discussed below).
Policies in force represents all policies under which coverage was in effect as of the end of the periods specified.
| (thousands) | At September 30, | ||||||
| 2008 | 2007 | % Change | |||||
|
POLICIES IN FORCE |
|||||||
|
Personal Lines |
|||||||
|
Agency auto |
4,348.1 | 4,459.2 | (2 | ) | |||
|
Direct auto |
2,770.9 | 2,571.9 | 8 | ||||
|
Total auto |
7,119.0 | 7,031.1 | 1 | ||||
|
Special lines 1 |
3,400.6 | 3,140.4 | 8 | ||||
|
Total Personal Lines |
10,519.6 | 10,171.5 | 3 | ||||
|
Commercial Auto |
554.4 | 540.9 | 2 | ||||
|
1 |
Includes insurance for motorcycles, recreational vehicles, mobile homes, watercraft, snowmobiles and similar items, as well as a personal umbrella product. |
16
To analyze growth, we review new policies, rate levels and the retention characteristics of our books of business. During the third quarter and year-to-date period, we experienced the following growth in new and renewal applications:
| Growth Over Prior Year | ||||||||||||
| Quarter | Year-to-date | |||||||||||
| 2008 | 2007 | 2008 | 2007 | |||||||||
|
Personal Lines: |
||||||||||||
|
New applications |
(4 | )% | 5 | % | (6 | )% | 3 | % | ||||
|
Renewal applications |
5 | % | 4 | % | 4 | % | 3 | % | ||||
|
Commercial Auto: |
||||||||||||
|
New applications |
(9 | )% | 6 | % | (6 | )% | 2 | % | ||||
|
Renewal applications |
3 | % | 5 | % | 4 | % | 6 | % | ||||
Returning to positive growth in new business remains a significant challenge. We have several initiatives underway aimed at providing distinctive new auto business options. During the third quarter 2008, we expanded our usage-based insurance product, MyRate, into four additional states. We now offer this product to our Direct auto customers in eight states and our Agency auto customers in four of the eight states; continued expansion is planned throughout the remainder of the year and during 2009. In addition, during the third quarter, we introduced a program called Name Your Price in four states that allows consumers to select a price they would like to pay for their auto insurance; we then will tell them the level of coverage that price provides. During the second quarter 2008, we entered Massachusetts with our Internet-only personal auto and boat products. We plan to expand the distribution methods to include independent agents and direct via the phone in this $4 billion market over time. We are also rolling out a new product model in our Agency auto business which is designed to help improve competitiveness.
During the third quarter and first nine months of 2008, total personal auto written premium per policy decreased 1% and 3%, respectively, compared to the prior year periods. We started to raise rates during the latter part of 2007 in order to meet our loss cost inflation expectations, and continued to raise rates during 2008. During the quarter, our rate activity slowed as we are getting closer to our desired rate levels. We remain ready to react quickly, and as often as necessary, should our expectations change.
Another important element affecting growth is customer retention. One measure of customer retention is policy life expectancy, which is our actuarial estimate of the average length of time that a policy will remain in force before cancellation or lapse in coverage. Efforts at increasing growth from customer retention have continued to produce positive outcomes. Our policy life expectancy measures for our Agency and Direct private passenger auto products have been on a continuing upward trend and are now approximately 12% and 13% higher, respectively, than the same measures a year ago. We are continuing to monitor our renewal acceptance rates in light of the rate increases we have taken earlier this year, as well as the overall economic conditions. In our Commercial Auto Business, the policy life expectancy has remained relatively flat as compared to the third quarter 2007. Realizing the importance that retention has on our ability to grow profitably, we continue to place increased emphasis on competitive pricing, quality service and other retention initiatives for our current customers.
17
B. Profitability
Profitability for our underwriting operations is defined by pretax underwriting profit, which is calculated as net premiums earned less losses and loss adjustment expenses, policy acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses. We also use underwriting profit margin, which is underwriting profit expressed as a percentage of net premiums earned, to analyze our results. For the periods ended September 30, our underwriting profitability measures were as follows:
| Three Months | Nine Months | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (millions) | 2008 | 2007 | 2008 | 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
Underwriting
Profit (Loss) |
Underwriting
Profit (Loss) |
Underwriting
Profit (Loss) |
Underwriting
Profit (Loss) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | Margin | $ | Margin | $ | Margin | $ | Margin | |||||||||||||||||
|
Personal Lines |
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|
Agency |
$ | 75.7 | 4.1 | % | $ | 110.8 | 5.8 | % | $ | 283.7 | 5.1 | % | $ | 406.6 | 7.0 | % | ||||||||
|
Direct |
77.3 | 6.8 | 67.9 | 6.2 | 211.2 | 6.3 | 284.4 | 8.7 | ||||||||||||||||
|
Total Personal Lines |
153.0 | 5.2 | 178.7 | 6.0 | 494.9 | 5.6 | 691.0 | 7.6 | ||||||||||||||||
|
Commercial Auto |
13.6 | 3.1 | 38.1 | 8.2 | 73.4 | 5.5 | 161.0 | 11.6 | ||||||||||||||||
|
Other indemnity 1 |
.8 | NM | 1.0 | NM | 1.0 | NM | 2.4 | NM | ||||||||||||||||
|
Total underwriting operations |
$ | 167.4 | 4.9 | % | $ | 217.8 | 6.3 | % | $ | 569.3 | 5.6 | % | $ | 854.4 | 8.2 | % | ||||||||
|
1 |
Underwriting margins are not meaningful (NM) for our other indemnity businesses due to the low level of premiums earned by, and the variability of losses in, such businesses. |
On a quarter-over-prior-year-quarter basis, the decrease in underwriting profitably reflects the catastrophe losses we incurred in 2008, primarily from hurricanes Ike and Gustav and tropical storm Fay. On a year-to-date basis, in addition to the catastrophe losses, we are seeing the effect of 2007 rate reductions on our underwriting profitability.
Further underwriting results for our Personal Lines Businesses, including its channel components, the Commercial Auto Business and other indemnity businesses, were as follows:
|
Three Months Ended
September 30, |
Nine Months Ended
September 30, |
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| 2008 | 2007 | Change | 2008 | 2007 | Change | |||||||
|
Underwriting Performance 1 |
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|
Personal LinesAgency |
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|
Loss & loss adjustment expense ratio |
74.5 | 73.0 | 1.5 pts. | 73.5 | 71.7 | 1.8 pts. | ||||||
|
Underwriting expense ratio |
21.4 | 21.2 | .2 pts. | 21.4 | 21.3 | .1 pts. | ||||||
|
Combined ratio |
95.9 | 94.2 | 1.7 pts. | 94.9 | 93.0 | 1.9 pts. | ||||||
|
Personal LinesDirect |
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|
Loss & loss adjustment expense ratio |
72.1 | 71.9 | .2 pts. | 72.8 | 70.2 | 2.6 pts. | ||||||
|
Underwriting expense ratio |
21.1 | 21.9 | (.8) pts. | 20.9 | 21.1 | (.2) pts. | ||||||
|
Combined ratio |
93.2 | 93.8 | (.6) pts. | 93.7 | 91.3 | 2.4 pts. | ||||||
|
Total Personal Lines |
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|
Loss & loss adjustment expense ratio |
73.5 | 72.6 | .9 pts. | 73.2 | 71.2 | 2.0 pts. | ||||||
|
Underwriting expense ratio |
21.3 | 21.4 | (.1) pts. | 21.2 | 21.2 | pts. | ||||||
|
Combined ratio |
94.8 | 94.0 | .8 pts. | 94.4 | 92.4 | 2.0 pts. | ||||||
|
Commercial Auto |
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|
Loss & loss adjustment expense ratio |
75.1 | 72.3 | 2.8 pts. | 73.0 | 68.1 | 4.9 pts. | ||||||
|
Underwriting expense ratio |
21.8 | 19.5 | 2.3 pts. | 21.5 | 20.3 | 1.2 pts. | ||||||
|
Combined ratio |
96.9 | 91.8 | 5.1 pts. | 94.5 | 88.4 | 6.1 pts. | ||||||
|
Total Underwriting Operations 2 |
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|
Loss & loss adjustment expense ratio |
73.7 | 72.5 | 1.2 pts. | 73.1 | 70.7 | 2.4 pts. | ||||||
|
Underwriting expense ratio |
21.4 | 21.2 | .2 pts. | 21.3 | 21.1 | .2 pts. | ||||||
|
Combined ratio |
95.1 | 93.7 | 1.4 pts. | 94.4 | 91.8 | 2.6 pts. | ||||||
|
Accident yearLoss & loss adjustment expense ratio |
73.9 | 72.0 | 1.9 pts. | 72.8 | 70.1 | 2.7 pts. | ||||||
|
1 |
Ratios are expressed as a percentage of net premiums earned. |
|
2 |
Combined ratios for the other indemnity businesses are not presented separately due to the low level of premiums earned by, and the variability of losses in, such businesses. These businesses generated an underwriting profit of $.8 million and $1.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and $1.0 million and $2.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. |
18
Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses (LAE)
| (millions) |
Three Months Ended
September 30, |
Nine Months Ended
September 30, |
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| 2008 | 2007 | 2008 | 2007 | |||||||||
|
Change in net loss and LAE reserves |
$ | 156.5 | $ | 92.5 | $ | 235.8 | $ | 247.4 | ||||
|
Paid losses and LAE |
2,361.1 | 2,416.6 | 7,237.1 | 7,150.6 | ||||||||
|
Total incurred losses and LAE |
$ | 2,517.6 | $ | 2,509.1 | $ | 7,472.9 | $ | 7,398.0 | ||||
Claims costs, our most significant expense, represent payments made, and estimated future payments to be made, to or on behalf of our policyholders, including expenses needed to adjust or settle claims. These costs include an estimate for costs related to assignments, based on current business, under state-mandated automobile insurance programs. Claims costs are defined by loss severity and frequency and are influenced by inflation and driving patterns, among other factors. Accordingly, anticipated changes in these factors are taken into account when we establish premium rates and loss reserves. Our reserves would differ if the underlying assumptions were changed.
On a year-over-year basis, our loss and loss adjustment expense ratios increased for both the third quarter and the first nine months, partially reflecting greater catastrophe losses in 2008, which include approximately $62 million of losses from hurricanes Gustav and Ike during the third quarter. Hail storms and floods in the Midwest and upper Great Plains during the second quarter 2008 also contributed to the catastrophe losses for the year-to-date period. The following table shows the total catastrophe losses incurred during the periods.
| (millions) |
Three Months Ended
September 30, |
Nine Months Ended
September 30, |
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| 2008 | 2007 | 2008 | 2007 | |||||||||||||
|
Catastrophe losses incurred |
$ | 82.4 | $ | 8.9 | $ | 151.7 | $ | 35.1 | ||||||||
|
Increase to calendar year combined ratio |
2.4 pts | . | .3 pts | . | 1.5 pts | . | .3 pts | . | ||||||||
During the third quarter 2008, total personal auto paid severity (i.e., average cost per claim) remained relatively flat compared to the third quarter 2007. We experienced an increase in bodily injury and personal injury protection severity and a decrease in severity for our collision coverage.
We experienced a significant decline in auto accident frequency in the third quarter 2008, compared to the same period last year, excluding the effect of the catastrophes during the period. We cannot predict the degree or direction of frequency change that we will experience in the future. We continue to analyze trends to distinguish changes in our experience from external factors, such as changes in the number of miles driven, the number of vehicles per household, greater vehicle safety and unemployment rates, versus those resulting from shifts in the mix of our business.
19
The table below presents the actuarial adjustments implemented and the loss reserve development experienced in the following periods:
| (millions) |
Three Months Ended
September 30, |
Nine Months Ended
September 30, |
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| 2008 | 2007 | 2008 | 2007 | |||||||||||||
|
ACTUARIAL ADJUSTMENTS |
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|
Favorable/(Unfavorable) |
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|
Prior accident years |
$ | (3.6 | ) | $ | (.8 | ) | $ | (37.2 | ) | $ | 32.9 | |||||
|
Current accident year |
| (4.1 | ) | 5.4 | (6.3 | ) | ||||||||||
|
Calendar year actuarial adjustment |
$ | (3.6 | ) | $ | (4.9 | ) | $ | (31.8 | ) | $ | 26.6 | |||||
|
PRIOR ACCIDENT YEARS DEVELOPMENT |
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|
Favorable/(Unfavorable) |
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|
Actuarial adjustment |
$ | (3.6 | ) | $ | (.8 | ) | $ | (37.2 | ) | $ | 32.9 | |||||
|
All other development |
10.1 | (17.8 | ) | 5.3 | (92.3 | ) | ||||||||||
|
Total development |
$ | 6.5 | $ | (18.6 | ) | $ | (31.9 | ) | $ | (59.4 | ) | |||||
|
(Increase) decrease to calendar year combined ratio |
.2 pts. | (.5) pts. | (.3) pts. | (.6) pts. | ||||||||||||
|   | ||||||||||||||||