10-Q 1 itic_20140930x10q.htm 10-Q
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 September 30, 2014
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: 0-11774
INVESTORS TITLE COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

| North Carolina |  | 56-1110199 |
| (State of incorporation) |  | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |

121 North Columbia Street, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(919) 968-2200
(Registrant’s 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 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 (Section 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 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 |  |  | Accelerated filer | X |  | Non-accelerated filer |  |  | Smaller reporting company |
|  |  |  |  |  | (do not check if a 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
As of October 17, 2014, there were 2,028,818 common shares of the registrant outstanding.

INVESTORS TITLE COMPANY
AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX

PART I. | FINANCIAL INFORMATION |
Item 1. | Financial Statements: |
| Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 | 1
| Consolidated Statements of Income For the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 | 2
| Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income For the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 | 3
| Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 | 4
| Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 | 5
| Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | 7
Item 2. | Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | 23
Item 3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk | 34
Item 4. | Controls and Procedures | 34
PART II. | OTHER INFORMATION |
Item 1. | Legal Proceeding s | 35
Item 1a. | Risk Factors | 35
Item 2. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds | 35
Item 6. | Exhibits | 36
SIGNATURE |  | 37

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
Investors Title Company and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013
(Unaudited)

| September 30, 2014 |  | December 31, 2013
Assets: |  |  |
Investments in securities: |  |  |
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost: 2014: $90,366,745; 2013: $87,980,160) | $ | 94,995,138 |  |  | $ | 91,445,413 |
Equity securities, available-for-sale, at fair value (cost: 2014: $23,498,121; 2013: $22,200,369) | 37,461,674 |  |  | 36,144,065 |
Short-term investments | 6,154,749 |  |  | 7,926,373 |
Other investments | 7,950,676 |  |  | 7,247,831 |
Total investments | 146,562,237 |  |  | 142,763,682 |
Cash and cash equivalents | 23,622,522 |  |  | 23,626,761 |
Premium and fees receivable | 8,489,096 |  |  | 8,750,224 |
Accrued interest and dividends | 1,151,250 |  |  | 1,006,698 |
Prepaid expenses and other assets | 8,677,087 |  |  | 7,466,141 |
Property, net | 5,369,084 |  |  | 4,325,538 |
Current income taxes recoverable | 1,624,024 |  |  | 366,772 |
Total Assets | $ | 195,495,300 |  |  | $ | 188,305,816 |
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity |  |  |  |  |
Liabilities: |  |  |  |  |
Reserves for claims | $ | 36,252,000 |  |  | $ | 35,360,000 |
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | 18,683,691 |  |  | 20,324,190 |
Deferred income taxes, net | 5,893,471 |  |  | 4,013,983 |
Total liabilities | 60,829,162 |  |  | 59,698,173 |
Commitments and Contingencies | — |  |  | — |
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest | — |  |  | 545,489 |
Stockholders’ Equity: |  |  |  |  |
Preferred stock (1,000,000 authorized shares; no shares issued) | — |  |  | — |
Common stock - no par value (10,000,000 authorized shares; 2,028,818 and 2,037,135 shares issued and outstanding 2014 and 2013, respectively, excluding 291,676 shares for 2014 and 2013 of common stock held by the Company's subsidiary) | 1 |  |  | 1 |
Retained earnings | 122,545,561 |  |  | 116,714,749 |
Accumulated other comprehensive income | 12,120,576 |  |  | 11,347,404 |
Total stockholders’ equity | 134,666,138 |  |  | 128,062,154 |
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity | $ | 195,495,300 |  |  | $ | 188,305,816 |

See notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
1

Investors Title Company and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income
For the Three and Nine September 30, 2014 and 2013
(Unaudited)

| Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
| 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2014 |  | 2013
Revenues: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net premiums written | $ | 26,356,835 |  |  | $ | 30,431,560 |  |  | $ | 81,115,940 |  |  | $ | 84,787,318 |
Investment income - interest and dividends | 1,064,995 |  |  | 990,338 |  |  | 3,130,846 |  |  | 2,835,870 |
Net realized gain on investments | 8,689 |  |  | 261,938 |  |  | 592,908 |  |  | 333,554 |
Other | 2,077,711 |  |  | 1,921,403 |  |  | 6,344,163 |  |  | 6,190,170 |
Total Revenues | 29,508,230 |  |  | 33,605,239 |  |  | 91,183,857 |  |  | 94,146,912 |
Operating Expenses: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commissions to agents | 14,440,264 |  |  | 18,142,697 |  |  | 48,242,923 |  |  | 49,240,917 |
Provision (benefit) for claims | 1,507,814 |  |  | (3,037,101 | ) |  | 4,177,478 |  |  | (2,429,289 | )
Salaries, employee benefits and payroll taxes | 6,609,425 |  |  | 7,133,497 |  |  | 19,250,116 |  |  | 19,533,970 |
Office occupancy and operations | 1,257,009 |  |  | 1,165,772 |  |  | 3,683,980 |  |  | 3,266,112 |
Business development | 552,215 |  |  | 606,549 |  |  | 1,581,872 |  |  | 1,487,635 |
Filing fees, franchise and local taxes | 233,079 |  |  | 141,373 |  |  | 648,022 |  |  | 510,893 |
Premium and retaliatory taxes | 491,927 |  |  | 592,717 |  |  | 1,332,492 |  |  | 1,563,764 |
Professional and contract labor fees | 621,305 |  |  | 404,206 |  |  | 1,976,272 |  |  | 1,514,749 |
Other | 196,702 |  |  | 179,006 |  |  | 656,653 |  |  | 560,170 |
Total Operating Expenses | 25,909,740 |  |  | 25,328,716 |  |  | 81,549,808 |  |  | 75,248,921 |
Income before Income Taxes | 3,598,490 |  |  | 8,276,523 |  |  | 9,634,049 |  |  | 18,897,991 |
Provision for Income Taxes | 1,004,000 |  |  | 2,733,000 |  |  | 2,656,000 |  |  | 5,944,000 |
Net Income | 2,594,490 |  |  | 5,543,523 |  |  | 6,978,049 |  |  | 12,953,991 |
Net Income Attributable to Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest | — |  |  | (27,725 | ) |  | (23,523 | ) |  | (55,788 | )
Net Income Attributable to the Company | $ | 2,594,490 |  |  | $ | 5,515,798 |  |  | $ | 6,954,526 |  |  | $ | 12,898,203 |
Basic Earnings per Common Share | $ | 1.28 |  |  | $ | 2.67 |  |  | $ | 3.42 |  |  | $ | 6.26 |
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding – Basic | 2,028,818 |  |  | 2,069,081 |  |  | 2,033,637 |  |  | 2,059,226 |
Diluted Earnings per Common Share | $ | 1.28 |  |  | $ | 2.66 |  |  | $ | 3.41 |  |  | $ | 6.19 |
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding – Diluted | 2,032,644 |  |  | 2,074,940 |  |  | 2,038,875 |  |  | 2,083,560 |
Cash Dividends Paid per Common Share | $ | 0.08 |  |  | $ | 0.08 |  |  | $ | 0.24 |  |  | $ | 0.24 |

See notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
2

Investors Title Company and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
For the Three and Nine September 30, 2014 and 2013
(Unaudited)

| Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
| 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2014 |  | 2013
Net income | $ | 2,594,490 |  |  | $ | 5,543,523 |  |  | $ | 6,978,049 |  |  | $ | 12,953,991 |
Other comprehensive (loss) income, before tax: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amortization (accretion) related to prior year service cost | 554 |  |  | (380 | ) |  | 1,663 |  |  | (1,139 | )
Amortization of unrecognized loss | — |  |  | 1,573 |  |  | — |  |  | 4,720 |
Unrealized (losses) gains on investments arising during the period | (960,948 | ) |  | 1,115,120 |  |  | 2,023,167 |  |  | 1,864,591 |
Reclassification adjustment for sales of securities included in net income | (6,534 | ) |  | (261,938 | ) |  | (840,170 | ) |  | (367,624 | )
Reclassification adjustment for write-downs of securities included in net income | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 34,070 |
Other comprehensive (loss) income, before tax | (966,928 | ) |  | 854,375 |  |  | 1,184,660 |  |  | 1,534,618 |
Income tax expense related to postretirement health benefits | 188 |  |  | 415 |  |  | 565 |  |  | 1,228 |
Income tax (benefit) expense related to unrealized (losses) gains on investments arising during the year | (332,034 | ) |  | 385,115 |  |  | 699,001 |  |  | 645,438 |
Income tax benefit related to reclassification adjustment for sales of securities included in net income | (2,328 | ) |  | (89,575 | ) |  | (288,078 | ) |  | (126,173 | )
Income tax expense related to reclassification adjustment for write-downs of securities included in net income | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 13,134 |
Net income tax (benefit) expense on other comprehensive (loss) income | (334,174 | ) |  | 295,955 |  |  | 411,488 |  |  | 533,627 |
Other comprehensive (loss) income | (632,754 | ) |  | 558,420 |  |  | 773,172 |  |  | 1,000,991 |
Comprehensive Income | $ | 1,961,736 |  |  | $ | 6,101,943 |  |  | $ | 7,751,221 |  |  | $ | 13,954,982 |
Comprehensive income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest | — |  |  | (27,725 | ) |  | (23,523 | ) |  | (55,788 | )
Comprehensive Income Attributable to the Company | $ | 1,961,736 |  |  | $ | 6,074,218 |  |  | $ | 7,727,698 |  |  | $ | 13,899,194 |

See notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
3

Investors Title Company and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013
(Unaudited)

| Common Stock |  | Retained Earnings |  |  | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income |  |  | Total Stockholders’ Equity |
| Shares |  | Amount |  |  |
Balance, January 1, 2013 | 2,043,359 |  |  | $ | 1 |  |  | $ | 105,820,459 |  |  | $ | 8,818,430 |  |  | $ | 114,638,890 |
Net income attributable to the Company |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12,898,203 |  |  |  |  |  | 12,898,203 |
Dividends ($0.24 per share) |  |  |  |  |  |  | (494,903 | ) |  |  |  |  | (494,903 | )
Shares of common stock repurchased and retired | (26,436 | ) |  |  |  |  | (1,881,323 | ) |  |  |  |  | (1,881,323 | )
Stock options and stock appreciation rights exercised | 49,999 |  |  |  |  |  | 75,797 |  |  |  |  |  | 75,797 |
Share-based compensation expense |  |  |  |  |  |  | 62,108 |  |  |  |  |  | 62,108 |
Amortization related to postretirement health benefits |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,353 |  |  | 2,353 |
Net unrealized gain on investments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 998,638 |  |  | 998,638 |
Income tax benefit from share-based compensation |  |  |  |  | 938,090 |  |  |  |  | 938,090 |
Balance, September 30, 2013 | 2,066,922 |  |  | $ | 1 |  |  | $ | 117,418,431 |  |  | $ | 9,819,421 |  |  | $ | 127,237,853 |
Balance, January 1, 2014 | 2,037,135 |  |  | $ | 1 |  |  | $ | 116,714,749 |  |  | $ | 11,347,404 |  |  | $ | 128,062,154 |
Net income attributable to the Company |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6,954,526 |  |  |  |  |  | 6,954,526 |
Dividends ($0.24 per share) |  |  |  |  |  |  | (488,127 | ) |  |  |  |  | (488,127 | )
Shares of common stock repurchased and retired | (9,824 | ) |  |  |  |  | (652,657 | ) |  |  |  |  | (652,657 | )
Stock options and stock appreciation rights exercised | 1,507 |  |  |  |  |  | 27,100 |  |  |  |  |  | 27,100 |
Share-based compensation expense |  |  |  |  |  |  | 88,291 |  |  |  |  |  | 88,291 |
Amortization related to postretirement health benefits |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,098 |  |  | 1,098 |
Net unrealized gain on investments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 772,074 |  |  | 772,074 |
Purchase of redeemable noncontrolling interest of subsidiary |  |  |  |  | (114,320 | ) |  |  |  | (114,320 | )
Income tax benefit from share-based compensation |  |  |  |  |  |  | 15,999 |  |  |  |  |  | 15,999 |
Balance, September 30, 2014 | 2,028,818 |  |  | $ | 1 |  |  | $ | 122,545,561 |  |  | $ | 12,120,576 |  |  | $ | 134,666,138 |

See notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
4

Investors Title Company and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013
(Unaudited)

| Nine Months Ended September 30,
| 2014 |  | 2013
Operating Activities |  |  |
Net income | $ | 6,978,049 |  |  | $ | 12,953,991 |
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: |  |  |  |  |
Depreciation | 583,979 |  |  | 444,689 |
Amortization, net | 458,635 |  |  | 378,947 |
Amortization related to postretirement benefits obligation | 1,663 |  |  | 3,581 |
Share-based compensation expense related to stock options | 88,291 |  |  | 62,108 |
Net loss on the disposals of property | 6,487 |  |  | 778 |
Net realized gain on investments | (592,908 | ) |  | (333,554 | )
Net earnings from other investments | (990,657 | ) |  | (1,050,854 | )
Provision (benefit) for claims | 4,177,478 |  |  | (2,429,289 | )
Provision for deferred income taxes | 1,468,000 |  |  | 3,833,000 |
Changes in assets and liabilities: |  |  |  |  |
Decrease in receivables | 261,128 |  |  | 1,278,965 |
Increase in other assets | (1,407,762 | ) |  | (2,771,634 | )
Increase in current income taxes recoverable | (1,257,252 | ) |  | (1,708,257 | )
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities | (1,640,499 | ) |  | 5,853,711 |
Decrease in current income taxes payable | — |  |  | (1,336,824 | )
Payments of claims, net of recoveries | (3,285,478 | ) |  | (1,832,711 | )
Net cash provided by operating activities | 4,849,154 |  |  | 13,346,647 |
Investing Activities |  |  |  |  |
Purchases of available-for-sale securities | (13,572,217 | ) |  | (14,833,885 | )
Purchases of short-term investments | (2,923,269 | ) |  | (4,886,789 | )
Purchases of other investments | (1,036,110 | ) |  | (1,330,327 | )
Proceeds from sales and maturities of available-for-sale securities | 10,321,679 |  |  | 7,321,758 |
Proceeds from sales and maturities of short-term investments | 4,694,893 |  |  | 3,065,790 |
Proceeds from sales and distributions of other investments | 1,050,427 |  |  | 1,761,362 |
Proceeds from sales of other assets | 26,233 |  |  | 22,808 |
Purchase of redeemable noncontrolling interest of subsidiary | (515,275 | ) |  | — |
Purchases of property | (1,649,412 | ) |  | (1,063,985 | )
Proceeds from the sale of property | 15,400 |  |  | 17,335 |
Net cash used in investing activities | (3,587,651 | ) |  | (9,925,933 | )
Financing Activities |  |  |  |  |
Repurchases of common stock | (652,657 | ) |  | (1,881,323 | )
Exercises of stock options and SARs | 27,100 |  |  | 75,797 |
Distributions to noncontrolling interest | (168,057 | ) |  | — |
Excess tax benefits related to exercise of stock options and SARs | 15,999 |  |  | 938,090 |
Dividends paid | (488,127 | ) |  | (494,903 | )
Net cash used in financing activities | (1,265,742 | ) |  | (1,362,339 | )
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents | (4,239 | ) |  | 2,058,375 |
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period | 23,626,761 |  |  | 20,810,018 |
Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period | $ | 23,622,522 |  |  | $ | 22,868,393 |

5

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, continued |
| Nine Months Ended September 30,
| 2014 |  | 2013
Supplemental Disclosures: |  |  |
Cash Paid During the Year for: |  |  |
Income tax payments, net | $ | 2,443,000 |  |  | $ | 4,243,300 |
Non Cash Investing and Financing Activities |  |  |
Non cash net unrealized gain on investments, net of deferred tax provision of $(410,923) and $(532,399) for 2014 and 2013, respectively | $ | (772,074 | ) |  | $ | (998,638 | )

See notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
6

INVESTORS TITLE COMPANY
AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
September 30, 2014
(Unaudited)
Note 1 - Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies
Reference should be made to the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 of Investors Title Company (the “Company”) for a complete description of the Company’s significant accounting policies.
Principles of Consolidation – The accompanying unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts and operations of Investors Title Company and its subsidiaries, and have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information, with the instructions to Form 10-Q and with Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements have been condensed or omitted. Earnings attributable to the Company's redeemable noncontrolling interest in a majority-owned insurance agency are recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The redeemable noncontrolling interest representing the portion of equity not related to the Company's ownership interest is recorded as redeemable equity in a separate section of the Consolidated Balance Sheets. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company in the accompanying unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements have been included. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. Operating results for the quarter ended September 30, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2014.
Reclassification – Certain 2013 amounts in the accompanying unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements have been reclassified to conform to the 2014 classifications. These reclassifications had no effect on stockholders’ equity or net income as previously reported.
Immaterial Classification Correction – During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company realized $938,090 in excess tax benefits associated with the exercise of stock options and stock appreciation rights (“SARs”). Such amounts were mistakenly classified as part of operating activities rather than financing activities. Accordingly, the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows have been corrected. The correction resulted in a decrease to previously reported operating cash flows and an increase to financing cash flows in the amount of $938,090 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. There was no impact to the Consolidated Balance Sheets, Consolidated Statements of Income, Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity or to the Company’s cash position.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts – Company management continually evaluates the collectability of receivables and provides an allowance for doubtful accounts equal to estimated losses expected to be incurred in the collection of premiums and fees receivable. During the second quarter of 2014, the Company changed its presentation of gross premiums and fees receivable and related allowance for doubtful accounts and now reports them net of certain commitments not expected to result in issued title insurance policies. The change had no impact to net premium and fees receivable, net premiums written, operating expenses or net income.
Use of Estimates and Assumptions – The preparation of the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions used.
Subsequent Events – The Company has concluded that there were no material subsequent events requiring adjustment to or disclosure in its Consolidated Financial Statements.
7

Recently Issued Accounting Standards – In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) updated guidance to improve the comparability of revenue recognition practices for entities that either enter into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services or enter into contracts for the transfer of nonfinancial assets, unless those contracts are within the scope of other standards such as insurance contracts or lease standards. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. For public entities, this update becomes effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period. Early adoption is not permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the recently issued accounting standard will have on the Company's financial position and results of operations.
Note 2 - Reserves for Claims
Transactions in the reserves for claims for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and the year ended December 31, 2013 are summarized as follows:

| September 30, 2014 |  | December 31, 2013
Balance, beginning of period | $ | 35,360,000 |  |  | $ | 39,078,000 |
Provision (benefit), charged to operations | 4,177,478 |  |  | (571,596 | )
Payments of claims, net of recoveries | (3,285,478 | ) |  | (3,146,404 | )
Ending balance | $ | 36,252,000 |  |  | $ | 35,360,000 |

The total reserve for all reported and unreported losses the Company incurred through September 30, 2014 is represented by the reserves for claims. The Company's reserves for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses are established using estimated amounts required to settle claims for which notice has been received (reported) and the amount estimated to be required to satisfy claims that have been incurred but not yet reported (“IBNR”). Despite the variability of such estimates, management believes that the reserves are adequate to cover claim losses which might result from pending and future claims under title insurance policies issued through September 30, 2014. Management continually reviews and adjusts its reserve estimates to reflect its loss experience and any new information that becomes available. Adjustments resulting from such reviews may be significant.
A summary of the Company’s loss reserves, broken down into its components of known title claims and IBNR, follows:

| September 30, 2014 |  | % |  | December 31, 2013 |  | %
Known title claims | $ | 5,342,132 |  |  | 14.7 |  | $ | 4,670,809 |  |  | 13.2
IBNR | 30,909,868 |  |  | 85.3 |  | 30,689,191 |  |  | 86.8
Total loss reserves | $ | 36,252,000 |  |  | 100.0 |  | $ | 35,360,000 |  |  | 100.0

Claims and losses paid are charged to the reserves for claims. Although claims losses are typically paid in cash, occasionally claims are settled by purchasing the interest of the insured or the claimant in the real property. When this event occurs, the Company carries assets at the lower of cost or estimated realizable value, net of any indebtedness on the property.
Note 3 - Earnings Per Common Share and Share Awards
Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income attributable to the Company by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period. Diluted earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income attributable to the Company by the combination of dilutive potential common stock, comprised of shares issuable under the Company’s share-based compensation plans and the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period. Dilutive common share equivalents include the dilutive effect of in-the-money share-based awards, which are calculated based on the average share price for each period using the treasury stock method. Under the treasury stock method, when share-based awards are exercised, (a) the exercise price of a share-based award; (b) the amount of compensation cost, if any, for future services that the Company has not yet recognized; and (c) the amount of estimated tax benefits that would be recorded in retained earnings, if any, are assumed to be used to repurchase shares in the current period. The number of incremental dilutive potential common shares, calculated using the treasury stock method, was 3,826 and 5,859 for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and 5,238 and 24,334 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
8

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the three and nine months ended September 30:

| Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
| 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2014 |  | 2013
Net income attributable to the Company | $ | 2,594,490 |  |  | $ | 5,515,798 |  |  | $ | 6,954,526 |  |  | $ | 12,898,203 |
Weighted average common shares outstanding – Basic | 2,028,818 |  |  | 2,069,081 |  |  | 2,033,637 |  |  | 2,059,226 |
Incremental shares outstanding assuming the exercise of dilutive stock options and SARs (share-settled) | 3,826 |  |  | 5,859 |  |  | 5,238 |  |  | 24,334 |
Weighted average common shares outstanding – Diluted | 2,032,644 |  |  | 2,074,940 |  |  | 2,038,875 |  |  | 2,083,560 |
Basic earnings per common share | $ | 1.28 |  |  | $ | 2.67 |  |  | $ | 3.42 |  |  | $ | 6.26 |
Diluted earnings per common share | $ | 1.28 |  |  | $ | 2.66 |  |  | $ | 3.41 |  |  | $ | 6.19 |

There were 3,000 potential shares excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share for the three months ended September 30, 2014. There were no potential shares excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share for the three months ended September 30, 2013. There were no potential shares excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. There were 3,000 potential shares excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. These potential shares were anti-dilutive because the underlying share awards were out-of-the-money.
The Company has adopted employee stock award plans under which restricted stock, and options or SARs to acquire shares (not to exceed 500,000 shares) of the Company's stock, may be granted to key employees or directors of the Company at a price not less than the market value on the date of grant. SARs and options (which have predominantly been incentive stock options) awarded under the plans thus far generally expire in five to ten years from the date of grant and are exercisable and vest: immediately; within one year; or at 10% to 20% per year beginning on the date of grant. All SARs issued to date have been share-settled only.
A summary of share-based award transactions for all share-based award plans follows:

| Number Of Shares |  | Weighted Average Exercise Price |  | Average Remaining Contractual Term (Years) |  | Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding as of January 1, 2013 | 98,150 |  |  | $ | 30.74 |  |  | 3.17 |  | $ | 2,871,710 |
SARs granted | 3,000 |  |  | 71.59 |  |  |  |  |  |
SARs exercised | (79,500 | ) |  | 28.77 |  |  |  |  |  |
Options exercised | (2,650 | ) |  | 28.63 |  |  |  |  |  |
Options/SARs canceled/forfeited/expired | — |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  |
Outstanding as of December 31, 2013 | 19,000 |  |  | $ | 45.74 |  |  | 3.43 |  | $ | 669,610 |
SARs granted | 4,500 |  |  | 68.70 |  |  |  |  |  |
SARs exercised | (1,500 | ) |  | 49.04 |  |  |  |  |  |
Options exercised | (1,000 | ) |  | 27.21 |  |  |  |  |  |
Options/SARs canceled/forfeited/expired | — |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  |
Outstanding as of September 30, 2014 | 21,000 |  |  | $ | 51.30 |  |  | 3.90 |  | $ | 459,810 |
Exercisable as of September 30, 2014 | 18,750 |  |  | $ | 49.22 |  |  | 3.57 |  | $ | 449,685 |
Unvested as of September 30, 2014 | 2,250 |  |  | $ | 68.70 |  |  | 6.64 |  | $ | 10,125 |

9

During the second quarters of both 2014 and 2013, the Company issued a total of 3,000 share-settled SARs to the directors of the Company. SARs give the holder the right to receive stock equal to the appreciation in the value of shares of stock from the grant date for a specified period of time, and as a result, are accounted for as equity instruments. The fair value of each award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option valuation model with the weighted average assumptions noted in the table shown below. Expected volatilities are based on both the implied and historical volatility of the Company's stock. The Company uses historical data to project SAR exercises and pre-exercise forfeitures within the valuation model. The expected term of awards represents the period of time that SARs granted are expected to be outstanding. The interest rate assumed for the expected life of the award is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the grant. The weighted average fair values for the SARs issued during 2014 and 2013 were $28.98 and $27.55, respectively.
The weighted average fair values for SARs issued during 2014 and 2013 were estimated using the weighted average assumptions shown in the table below:

| 2014 |  | 2013
Expected life in years | 6.9 |  |  | 5.0 |
Volatility | 39.9 | % |  | 44.6 | %
Interest rate | 2.1 | % |  | 1.3 | %
Yield rate | 0.4 | % |  | 0.5 | %

There was approximately $88,000 and $62,000 of compensation expense relating to SARs or options vesting on or before September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, included in salaries, employee benefits and payroll taxes in the Consolidated Statements of Income. As of September 30, 2014, there was approximately $65,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested share-based compensation arrangements granted under the Company’s stock award plans. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 5 months.
There have been no stock options or SARs granted where the exercise price was less than the market price on the date of grant.
Note 4 – Segment Information
The Company has one reportable segment, title insurance services. The remaining immaterial segments have been combined into a group called “All Other.”
The title insurance segment primarily issues title insurance policies through approved attorneys from underwriting offices and through independent issuing agents. Title insurance policies insure titles to real estate.
Provided below is selected financial information about the Company's operations by segment for the periods ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:

Three Months Ended September 30, 2014 | Title Insurance |  | All Other |  | Intersegment Eliminations |  | Total
Insurance and other services revenues | $ | 27,381,759 |  |  | $ | 1,517,927 |  |  | $ | (465,140 | ) |  | $ | 28,434,546 |
Investment income | 956,894 |  |  | 131,435 |  |  | (23,334 | ) |  | 1,064,995 |
Net realized gain on investments | 5,781 |  |  | 2,908 |  |  | — |  |  | 8,689 |
Total revenues | $ | 28,344,434 |  |  | $ | 1,652,270 |  |  | $ | (488,474 | ) |  | $ | 29,508,230 |
Operating expenses | 24,940,774 |  |  | 1,416,685 |  |  | (447,719 | ) |  | 25,909,740 |
Income before income taxes | $ | 3,403,660 |  |  | $ | 235,585 |  |  | $ | (40,755 | ) |  | $ | 3,598,490 |
Total assets | $ | 152,813,417 |  |  | $ | 42,681,883 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 195,495,300 |

Three Months Ended September 30, 2013 | Title Insurance |  | All Other |  | Intersegment Eliminations |  | Total
Insurance and other services revenues | $ | 31,343,108 |  |  | $ | 1,396,309 |  |  | $ | (386,454 | ) |  | $ | 32,352,963 |
Investment income | 919,819 |  |  | 93,854 |  |  | (23,335 | ) |  | 990,338 |
Net realized gain on investments | 250,600 |  |  | 11,338 |  |  | — |  |  | 261,938 |
Total revenues | $ | 32,513,527 |  |  | $ | 1,501,501 |  |  | $ | (409,789 | ) |  | $ | 33,605,239 |
Operating expenses | 24,212,255 |  |  | 1,485,494 |  |  | (369,033 | ) |  | 25,328,716 |
Income before income taxes | $ | 8,301,272 |  |  | $ | 16,007 |  |  | $ | (40,756 | ) |  | $ | 8,276,523 |
Total assets | $ | 151,795,001 |  |  | $ | 37,362,629 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 189,157,630 |

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Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 | Title Insurance |  | All Other |  | Intersegment Eliminations |  | Total
Insurance and other services revenues | $ | 84,257,427 |  |  | $ | 4,418,659 |  |  | $ | (1,215,983 | ) |  | $ | 87,460,103 |
Investment income | 2,823,098 |  |  | 377,750 |  |  | (70,002 | ) |  | 3,130,846 |
Net realized gain on investments | 536,309 |  |  | 56,599 |  |  | — |  |  | 592,908 |
Total revenues | $ | 87,616,834 |  |  | $ | 4,853,008 |  |  | $ | (1,285,985 | ) |  | $ | 91,183,857 |
Operating expenses | 78,256,239 |  |  | 4,457,289 |  |  | (1,163,720 | ) |  | 81,549,808 |
Income before income taxes | $ | 9,360,595 |  |  | $ | 395,719 |  |  | $ | (122,265 | ) |  | $ | 9,634,049 |
Total assets | $ | 152,813,417 |  |  | $ | 42,681,883 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 195,495,300 |

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013 | Title Insurance |  | All Other |  | Intersegment Eliminations |  | Total
Insurance and other services revenues | $ | 88,063,272 |  |  | $ | 4,004,766 |  |  | $ | (1,090,550 | ) |  | $ | 90,977,488 |
Investment income | 2,626,642 |  |  | 279,231 |  |  | (70,003 | ) |  | 2,835,870 |
Net realized gain (loss) on investments | 341,674 |  |  | (8,120 | ) |  | — |  |  | 333,554 |
Total revenues | $ | 91,031,588 |  |  | $ | 4,275,877 |  |  | $ | (1,160,553 | ) |  | $ | 94,146,912 |
Operating expenses | 71,657,966 |  |  | 4,629,241 |  |  | (1,038,286 | ) |  | 75,248,921 |
Income (loss) before income taxes | $ | 19,373,622 |  |  | $ | (353,364 | ) |  | $ | (122,267 | ) |  | $ | 18,897,991 |
Total assets | $ | 151,795,001 |  |  | $ | 37,362,629 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 189,157,630 |

Note 5 – Retirement Agreements and Other Postretirement Benefits
The Company’s subsidiary, Investors Title Insurance Company ("ITIC"), is party to employment agreements with key executives that provide for the continuation of certain employee benefits and other payments due under the agreements upon retirement estimated to total $7,001,000 and $6,580,000 as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. The executive employee benefits include health insurance, dental, vision and life insurance and are unfunded. These amounts are classified as accounts payable and accrued liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The following sets forth the net periodic benefits cost for the executive benefits for the periods ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:

| Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
| 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2014 |  | 2013
Service cost – benefits earned during the year | $ | 3,666 |  |  | $ | 3,946 |  |  | $ | 11,000 |  |  | $ | 11,837 |
Interest cost on the projected benefit obligation | 7,618 |  |  | 7,103 |  |  | 22,854 |  |  | 21,309 |
Amortization (accretion) of unrecognized prior service cost | 554 |  |  | (380 | ) |  | 1,663 |  |  | (1,139 | )
Amortization of unrecognized losses | — |  |  | 1,573 |  |  | — |  |  | 4,720 |
Net periodic benefits costs | $ | 11,838 |  |  | $ | 12,242 |  |  | $ | 35,517 |  |  | $ | 36,727 |

Note 6 - Fair Value Measurement
Valuation of Financial Assets and Liabilities
The FASB has established a valuation hierarchy for disclosure of the inputs to valuation used to measure fair value of financial assets and liabilities, such as securities. This hierarchy categorizes the inputs into three broad levels as follows. Level 1 inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly through market corroboration, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs based on the Company’s own assumptions used to measure assets and liabilities at fair value.
A financial instrument’s classification within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement – consequently, if there are multiple significant valuation inputs that are categorized in different levels of the hierarchy, the instrument’s hierarchy level is the lowest level (with Level 3 being the lowest level) within which any significant input falls.
11

Debt and Equity Securities
The Level 1 category includes equity securities that are measured at fair value using quoted active market prices.
The Level 2 category includes fixed maturity investments such as corporate bonds, U.S. government and agency bonds and municipal bonds. Fair value is principally based on market values obtained from a third party pricing service. Factors that are used in determining fair market value include benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, bids, offers and reference data. The Company receives one quote per security from a third party pricing service, although as discussed below, the Company does consult other pricing resources when confirming that the prices it obtains reflect the fair values of the instruments in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures. Generally, quotes obtained from the pricing service for instruments classified as Level 2 are not adjusted and are not binding. As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company did not adjust any Level 2 fair values.
A number of the Company’s investment grade corporate bonds are frequently traded in active markets, and trading prices are consequently available for these securities. However, these securities were classified as Level 2 because the pricing service from which the Company has obtained fair values for these instruments uses valuation models which use observable market inputs in addition to traded prices. Substantially all of the input assumptions used in the service’s model are observable in the marketplace or can be derived or supported by observable market data.
The Level 3 category only includes the Company’s investments in student loan auction rate securities (“ARS”) because quoted prices were unavailable due to the failure of auctions. The Company’s ARS portfolio is comprised entirely of investment grade student loan ARS. The par value of these securities was $1,000,000 as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, with approximately 97.0% as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Education.
Some of the inputs to ARS valuation are unobservable in the market and are significant – therefore, the Company utilizes another third party pricing service to assist in the determination of the fair market value of these securities. This service uses a proprietary valuation model that considers factors such as the following: the financial standing of the issuer; reported prices and the extent of public trading in similar financial instruments of the issuer or comparable companies; the ability of the issuer to obtain required financing; changes in the economic conditions affecting the issuer; pricing by other dealers in similar securities; time to maturity; and interest rates. The following table summarizes some key assumptions the service used to determine fair value as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013:

| 2014 |  | 2013
Cumulative probability of earning maximum rate until maturity | —% |  | —%
Cumulative probability of principal returned prior to maturity | 95.3% |  | 95.6%
Cumulative probability of default at some future point | 4.7% |  | 4.4%

Significant increases or decreases in any of the inputs in isolation could result in significant changes to the fair value measurement. Generally, increases in default probabilities and liquidity risk premiums lower the fair market value while increases in principal being returned and earning maximum rates increase fair market values.
Based upon these inputs and assumptions, the pricing service provides a range of values to the Company for its ARS. The Company records the fair value based on the midpoint of the range and believes that this valuation is the most reasonable estimate of fair value. In 2014 and 2013, the difference in the low and high values of the ranges was between approximately zero and four percent of the carrying value of the Company’s ARS.
The following table presents, by level, the financial assets carried at fair value measured on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013. The table does not include cash on hand and also does not include assets which are measured at historical cost or any basis other than fair value. Level 3 assets are comprised solely of ARS.
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As of September 30, 2014 | Level 1 |  | Level 2 |  | Level 3 |  | Total
Short-term Investments | $ | 6,154,749 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 6,154,749 |
Equity Securities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common stock and nonredeemable preferred stock | 37,461,674 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 37,461,674 |
Fixed Maturities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Obligations of states and political subdivisions* | — |  |  | 73,611,895 |  |  | — |  |  | 73,611,895 |
Corporate debt securities* | — |  |  | 20,449,843 |  |  | 933,400 |  |  | 21,383,243 |
Total | $ | 43,616,423 |  |  | $ | 94,061,738 |  |  | $ | 933,400 |  |  | $ | 138,611,561 |

As of December 31, 2013 | Level 1 |  | Level 2 |  | Level 3 |  | Total
Short-term Investments | $ | 7,926,373 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 7,926,373 |
Equity Securities |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common stock and nonredeemable preferred stock | 36,144,065 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 36,144,065 |
Fixed Maturities |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Obligations of states and political subdivisions* | — |  |  | 72,091,721 |  |  | — |  |  | 72,091,721 |
Corporate debt securities* | — |  |  | 18,417,992 |  |  | 935,700 |  |  | 19,353,692 |
Total | $ | 44,070,438 |  |  | $ | 90,509,713 |  |  | $ | 935,700 |  |  | $ | 135,515,851 |

*Denotes fair market value obtained from pricing services.
There were no transfers into or out of Levels 1, 2 or 3 during the period.
To help ensure that fair value determinations are consistent with ASC 820 fair value measurements, prices from our pricing services go through multiple review processes. Pricing procedures and inputs used to price each security include, but are not limited to, the following: unadjusted quoted market prices for identical securities such as stock market closing prices; non-binding quoted prices for identical securities in markets that are not active; interest rates; yield curves observable at commonly quoted intervals; volatility; prepayment speeds; loss severity; credit risks and default rates. The Company reviews the procedures and inputs used by its pricing services and verifies a sample of the services’ quotes by comparing them to values obtained from other pricing resources. In the event the Company disagrees with a price provided by its pricing services, the service reevaluates the price to corroborate the market information and then reviews inputs to the evaluation in light of potentially new market data. The Company believes that these processes and inputs result in appropriate classifications and fair values consistent with ASC 820.
Other Financial Instruments
The Company uses various financial instruments in the normal course of its business. In the measurement of the fair value of certain financial instruments, other valuation techniques were utilized if quoted market prices were not available. These derived fair value estimates are significantly affected by the assumptions used. Additionally, ASC 820 excludes from its scope certain financial instruments, including those related to insurance contracts, pension and other postretirement benefits, and equity method investments.
In estimating the fair value of the financial instruments presented, the Company used the following methods and assumptions:
Cash and cash equivalents
The carrying amount for cash and cash equivalents is a reasonable estimate of fair value due to the short-term maturity of these investments.
Cost-basis investments
The estimated fair value of cost-basis investments is calculated from the book value of the underlying entities, which is not materially different from the fair market value of the underlying entity. These items are included in other investments in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
13

Accrued dividends and interest
The carrying amount for accrued dividends and interest is a reasonable estimate of fair value due to the short-term maturity of these assets.
Contingent consideration
The fair value of contingent consideration was estimated based on the discounted value of future cash flows. Contingent consideration consists of additional monies the Company may become obligated to pay based on the future performance of a business the Company acquired, as discussed in Note 10. This item is included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The carrying amounts and fair values of these financial instruments (please note investments are disclosed in a previous table) as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 are presented in the following table:

As of September 30, 2014 | Carrying Value |  | Estimated Fair Value |  | Level 1 |  | Level 2 |  | Level 3
Financial Assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash | $ | 23,622,522 |  |  | $ | 23,622,522 |  |  | $ | 23,622,522 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |
Cost-basis investments | 2,472,639 |  |  | 2,639,778 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 2,639,778 |
Accrued dividends and interest | 1,151,250 |  |  | 1,151,250 |  |  | 1,151,250 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Total Financial Assets | $ | 27,246,411 |  |  | $ | 27,413,550 |  |  | $ | 24,773,772 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 2,639,778 |

As of December 31, 2013 | Carrying Value |  | Estimated Fair Value |  | Level 1 |  | Level 2 |  | Level 3
Financial Assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash | $ | 23,626,761 |  |  | $ | 23,626,761 |  |  | $ | 23,626,761 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |
Cost-basis investments | 1,927,429 |  |  | 2,069,302 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 2,069,302 |
Accrued dividends and interest | 1,006,698 |  |  | 1,006,698 |  |  | 1,006,698 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Total Financial Assets | $ | 26,560,888 |  |  | $ | 26,702,761 |  |  | $ | 24,633,459 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 2,069,302 |
Financial Liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Contingent consideration | $ | 341,250 |  |  | $ | 341,250 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 341,250 |
Total Financial Liabilities | $ | 341,250 |  |  | $ | 341,250 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 341,250 |

The following table presents a reconciliation of the Company’s assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3), which are all ARS securities, for the period ended September 30, 2014 and the year ended December 31, 2013:

Changes in fair value during the period ended: | 2014 |  | 2013
Beginning balance at January 1 | $ | 935,700 |  |  | $ | 932,200 |
Redemptions and sales | — |  |  | — |
Realized gain – included in net realized gain on investments | — |  |  | — |
Unrealized (loss) gain - included in other comprehensive income | (2,300 | ) |  | 3,500 |
Ending balance, net | $ | 933,400 |  |  | $ | 935,700 |

The following table presents a reconciliation of the Company’s liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3), consisting solely of contingent acquisition consideration, for the period ended September 30, 2014 and the year ended December 31, 2013:

Changes in fair value during the period ended: | 2014 |  | 2013
Beginning balance at January 1 | $ | 341,250 |  |  | $ | 691,250 |
Addition of contingent consideration | — |  |  | — |
Payment for contingent consideration | (341,250 | ) |  | (350,000 | )
Ending balance, net | $ | — |  |  | $ | 341,250 |

14

Certain cost method investments are measured at estimated fair value on a non-recurring basis, such as investments that are determined to be other-than temporarily impaired during the period and recorded at estimated fair value in the Consolidated Financial Statements as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013. The following table summarizes the corresponding estimated fair value hierarchy of such investments at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 and the related impairments recognized:

As of September 30, 2014 | Valuation Method |  | Impaired |  | Level 1 |  | Level 2 |  | Level 3 |  | Total at Estimated Fair Value |  | Impairment Losses
Cost method investments | Fair Value |  | Yes |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 22,682 |  |  | $ | 22,682 |  |  | $ | (10,062 | )
Total cost method investments |  |  |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 22,682 |  |  | $ | 22,682 |  |  | $ | (10,062 | )

As of December 31, 2013 | Valuation Method |  | Impaired |  | Level 1 |  | Level 2 |  | Level 3 |  | Total at Estimated Fair Value |  | Impairment Losses
Cost method investments | Fair Value |  | Yes |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 32,744 |  |  | $ | 32,744 |  |  | $ | (34,070 | )
Total cost method investments |  |  |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 32,744 |  |  | $ | 32,744 |  |  | $ | (34,070 | )

Note 7 – Investments in Securities
The aggregate estimated fair value, gross unrealized holding gains, gross unrealized holding losses and cost or amortized cost for securities by major security type are as follows:

As of September 30, 2014 | Amortized Cost |  | Gross Unrealized Gains |  | Gross Unrealized Losses |  | Estimated Fair Value
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale, at fair value – |  |  |  |  |  |  |
General obligations of U.S. states, territories and political subdivisions | $ | 32,951,738 |  |  | $ | 1,712,365 |  |  | $ | 9,432 |  |  | $ | 34,654,671 |
Special revenue obligations of U.S. states, territories and political subdivisions | 36,825,975 |  |  | 2,198,181 |  |  | 66,932 |  |  | 38,957,224 |
Corporate debt securities | 19,667,522 |  |  | 828,301 |  |  | 45,980 |  |  | 20,449,843 |
Auction rate securities | 921,510 |  |  | 11,890 |  |  | — |  |  | 933,400 |
Total | $ | 90,366,745 |  |  | $ | 4,750,737 |  |  | $ | 122,344 |  |  | $ | 94,995,138 |
Equity securities, available-for-sale, at fair value – |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common stocks and nonredeemable preferred stocks | $ | 23,498,121 |  |  | $ | 14,093,549 |  |  | $ | 129,996 |  |  | $ | 37,461,674 |
Total | $ | 23,498,121 |  |  | $ | 14,093,549 |  |  | $ | 129,996 |  |  | $ | 37,461,674 |
Short-term investments – |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Certificates of deposit and other | $ | 6,154,749 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 6,154,749 |
Total | $ | 6,154,749 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 6,154,749 |

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As of December 31, 2013 | Amortized Cost |  | Gross Unrealized Gains |  | Gross Unrealized Losses |  | Estimated Fair Value
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale, at fair value – |  |  |  |  |  |  |
General obligations of U.S. states, territories and political subdivisions | $ | 38,449,309 |  |  | $ | 1,922,862 |  |  | $ | 184,351 |  |  | $ | 40,187,820 |
Special revenue obligations of U.S. states, territories and political subdivisions | 30,874,571 |  |  | 1,234,130 |  |  | 204,800 |  |  | 31,903,901 |
Corporate debt securities | 17,736,608 |  |  | 789,840 |  |  | 108,456 |  |  | 18,417,992 |
Auction rate securities | 919,672 |  |  | 16,028 |  |  | — |  |  | 935,700 |
Total | $ | 87,980,160 |  |  | $ | 3,962,860 |  |  | $ | 497,607 |  |  | $ | 91,445,413 |
Equity securities, available-for-sale, at fair value – |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common stocks and nonredeemable preferred stocks | $ | 22,200,369 |  |  | $ | 14,052,780 |  |  | $ | 109,084 |  |  | $ | 36,144,065 |
Total | $ | 22,200,369 |  |  | $ | 14,052,780 |  |  | $ | 109,084 |  |  | $ | 36,144,065 |
Short-term investments – |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Certificates of deposit and other | $ | 7,926,373 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 7,926,373 |
Total | $ | 7,926,373 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 7,926,373 |

The special revenue category for both periods presented includes at least 30 individual bonds with revenue sources from a variety of industry sectors.
The scheduled maturities of fixed maturity securities at September 30, 2014 were as follows:

| Available-for-Sale
| Amortized Cost |  | Fair Value
Due in one year or less | $ | 14,547,375 |  |  | $ | 14,803,090 |
Due after one year through five years | 44,788,571 |  |  | 47,138,500 |
Due five years through ten years | 29,035,883 |  |  | 30,523,431 |
Due after ten years | 1,994,916 |  |  | 2,530,117 |
Total | $ | 90,366,745 |  |  | $ | 94,995,138 |

Realized gains and losses on investments for the nine months ended September 30 are summarized as follows:

| 2014 |  | 2013
Gross realized gains: |  |  |  |  |
Corporate debt securities | $ | 4,286 |  |  | $ | — |
Common stocks and nonredeemable preferred stocks | 1,013,931 |  |  | 365,922 |
Total | $ | 1,018,217 |  |  | $ | 365,922 |
Gross realized losses: |  |  |  |  |
Common stocks and nonredeemable preferred stocks | $ | (178,047 | ) |  | $ | (21,106 | )
Total | $ | (178,047 | ) |  | $ | (21,106 | )
Net realized gain from securities | $ | 840,170 |  |  | $ | 344,816 |
Net realized (losses) gains on other investments: |  |  |
Impairments of other investments | $ | (10,062 | ) |  | $ | (34,070 | )
Gains on other investments | 26,234 |  |  | 25,308 |
Losses on other investments | (263,434 | ) |  | (2,500 | )
Total | $ | (247,262 | ) |  | $ | (11,262 | )
Net realized gain on investments | $ | 592,908 |  |  | $ | 333,554 |

Realized gains and losses are determined on the specific identification method.
16

The following table presents the gross unrealized losses on investment securities and the fair value of the securities, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous loss position at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013:

| Less than 12 Months |  | 12 Months or Longer |  | Total
As of September 30, 2014 | Fair Value |  | Unrealized Losses |  | Fair Value |  | Unrealized Losses |  | Fair Value |  | Unrealized Losses
General obligations of U.S. states, territories and political subdivisions | $ | 922,479 |  |  | $ | (682 | ) |  | $ | 1,116,489 |  |  | $ | (8,750 | ) |  | $ | 2,038,968 |  |  | $ | (9,432 | )
Special revenue obligations of U.S. states, territories and political subdivisions | 2,283,793 |  |  | (7,168 | ) |  | 1,169,553 |  |  | (59,764 | ) |  | 3,453,346 |  |  | (66,932 | )
Corporate debt securities | 4,450,175 |  |  | (45,980 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 4,450,175 |  |  | (45,980 | )
Total fixed income securities | $ | 7,656,447 |  |  | $ | (53,830 | ) |  | $ | 2,286,042 |  |  | $ | (68,514 | ) |  | $ | 9,942,489 |  |  | $ | (122,344 | )
Equity securities | $ | 1,295,803 |  |  | $ | (99,394 | ) |  | $ | 138,240 |  |  | $ | (30,602 | ) |  | $ | 1,434,043 |  |  | $ | (129,996 | )
Total temporarily impaired securities | $ | 8,952,250 |  |  | $ | (153,224 | ) |  | $ | 2,424,282 |  |  | $ | (99,116 | ) |  | $ | 11,376,532 |  |  | $ | (252,340 | )

| Less than 12 Months |  | 12 Months or Longer |  | Total
As of December 31, 2013 | Fair Value |  | Unrealized Losses |  | Fair Value |  | Unrealized Losses |  | Fair Value |  | Unrealized Losses
General obligations of U.S. states, territories and political subdivisions | $ | 4,198,012 |  |  | $ | (184,351 | ) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 4,198,012 |  |  | $ | (184,351 | )
Special revenue obligations of U.S. states, territories and political subdivisions | 11,010,093 |  |  | (204,800 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 11,010,093 |  |  | (204,800 | )
Corporate debt securities | 5,942,570 |  |  | (108,456 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 5,942,570 |  |  | (108,456 | )
Total fixed income securities | $ | 21,150,675 |  |  | $ | (497,607 | ) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 21,150,675 |  |  | $ | (497,607 | )
Equity securities | $ | 2,035,971 |  |  | $ | (72,998 | ) |  | $ | 244,929 |  |  | $ | (36,086 | ) |  | $ | 2,280,900 |  |  | $ | (109,084 | )
Total temporarily impaired securities | $ | 23,186,646 |  |  | $ | (570,605 | ) |  | $ | 244,929 |  |  | $ | (36,086 | ) |  | $ | 23,431,575 |  |  | $ | (606,691 | )

As of September 30, 2014, the Company held $9,942,489 in fixed maturity securities with unrealized losses of $122,344. As of December 31, 2013, the Company held $21,150,675 in fixed maturity securities with unrealized losses of $497,607. The decline in fair value of the fixed maturity securities can be attributed primarily to changes in market interest rates and changes in credit spreads over Treasury securities. Because the Company does not have the intent to sell these securities and will likely not be compelled to sell them before it can recover its cost basis, the Company does not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired.
As of September 30, 2014, the Company held $1,434,043 in equity securities with unrealized losses of $129,996. As of December 31, 2013, the Company held $2,280,900 in equity securities with unrealized losses of $109,084. The unrealized losses related to holdings of equity securities were caused by market changes that the Company considers to be temporary. Since the Company has the intent and ability to hold these equity securities until a recovery of fair value, the Company does not consider these investments other-than-temporarily impaired.
Factors considered in determining whether a loss is temporary include the length of time and extent to which fair value has been below cost, the financial condition and prospects of the issuer (including credit ratings and analyst reports) and macro-economic changes. A total of 21 and 26 securities had unrealized losses at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. Reviews of the values of securities are inherently uncertain and the value of the investment may not fully recover, or may decline in future periods resulting in a realized loss. During the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, the Company recorded no other-than-temporary impairment charges for securities. For the 2013 fiscal year, the Company recorded no other-than-temporary impairment charges for securities. Other-than-temporary impairment charges are included in net realized gain on investments in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
Note 8 – Commitments and Contingencies
Legal Proceedings – The Company and its subsidiaries are involved in legal proceedings that are incidental to their business. In the Company’s opinion, based on the present status of these proceedings, any potential liability of the Company or its subsidiaries with respect to these legal proceedings, will not, in the aggregate, be material to the Company’s consolidated financial condition or operations.
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Regulation – The Company’s title insurance and trust subsidiaries are regulated by various federal, state and local governmental agencies and are subject to various audits and inquiries. It is the opinion of management based on its present expectations that these audits and inquiries will not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial condition or operations.
Escrow and Trust Deposits – As a service to its customers, the Company, through ITIC, administers escrow and trust deposits representing earnest money received under real estate contracts, undisbursed amounts received for settlement of mortgage loans and indemnities against specific title risks. These amounts are not considered assets of the Company and, therefore, are excluded from the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. However, the Company remains contingently liable for the disposition of these deposits.
Like-Kind Exchanges Proceeds – In administering tax-deferred property exchanges, the Company’s subsidiary, Investors Title Exchange Corporation (“ITEC”), serves as a qualified intermediary for exchanges, holding the net sales proceeds from relinquished property to be used for purchase of replacement property. Another Company subsidiary, Investors Title Accommodation Corporation (“ITAC”), serves as exchange accommodation titleholder and, through limited liability companies that are wholly owned subsidiaries of ITAC, holds property for exchangers in reverse exchange transactions. Like-kind exchange deposits and reverse exchange property totaled approximately $106,475,000 and $76,037,000 as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. These amounts are not considered assets of the Company and, therefore, are excluded from the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets; however, the Company remains contingently liable for the disposition of the transfers of property, disbursements of proceeds and the return on the proceeds at the agreed upon rate. Exchange services revenues include earnings on these deposits; therefore, investment income is shown as other revenue rather than investment income. These like-kind exchange funds are primarily invested in money market and other short-term investments.
Note 9 – Related Party Transactions
The Company does business with, and has investments in, unconsolidated limited liability companies that are primarily title insurance agencies. The Company utilizes the equity method to account for its investment in these limited liability companies. The following table sets forth the approximate values by year found within each financial statement classification:

Financial Statement Classification, | As of September 30, 2014 |  | As of December 31, 2013
Consolidated Balance Sheets |
Other investments | $ | 5,478,000 |  |  | $ | 5,320,000 |
Premiums and fees receivable | $ | 708,000 |  |  | $ | 657,000 |

Financial Statement Classification, | For the Three Months Ended September 30, |  | For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
Consolidated Statements of Income | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2014 |  | 2013
Net premiums written | $ | 3,116,000 |  |  | $ | 3,328,000 |  |  | $ | 8,677,000 |  |  | $ | 10,686,000 |
Other income | $ | 447,000 |  |  | $ | 381,000 |  |  | $ | 1,423,000 |  |  | $ | 1,450,000 |
Commissions to agents | $ | 2,109,000 |  |  | $ | 2,311,000 |  |  | $ | 5,880,000 |  |  | $ | 7,324,000 |

During the second quarter of 2013, the Company repurchased 17,524 shares of Company common stock from officers of the Company at a price of $71.50 per share to cover withholding taxes payable by the officers upon the exercise of SARs.
Note 10 – Acquisition
In January 2012, a subsidiary of the Company, ITIC, entered into a membership interest purchase and sale agreement under which it agreed to acquire a majority ownership interest of United Title Agency Co., LLC (“United”). United, a Michigan limited liability company, is an insurance agency doing business in the State of Michigan. On April 2, 2012, ITIC purchased a 70% ownership interest in United, with both ITIC and the seller having the option to require ITIC to purchase the remaining 30% interest at a later date.
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The contingent payment arrangement in the membership interest purchase and sale agreement required that the purchase price for the 70% majority interest was to be paid over a two year period and was determined by multiplying United’s actual GAAP net income for the first full 24 calendar months subsequent to closing by an agreed upon factor. In no event was the purchase price for the majority interest to exceed $1,041,250. The acquisition date fair value of the total consideration to be transferred was $1,041,250. This fair value total was equal to $350,000 ITIC had already paid toward the purchase price, as well as $691,250 in estimated contingent payments. During the second quarter of 2013, ITIC paid an additional $350,000 toward the purchase price. During the second quarter of 2014, ITIC paid the remaining $341,250 of the purchase price. The resulting contingent payments of $0 and $341,250 are categorized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as accounts payable and accrued liabilities as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.
On May 21, 2014, ITIC purchased the remaining 30% ownership interest in United, making United a wholly owned subsidiary of ITIC. The purchase price of the redeemable noncontrolling interest was calculated by multiplying United’s GAAP net income for the full 24 calendar months immediately preceding the written notice of the option exercise by an agreed upon factor. The calculated purchase price of $515,275 was paid during the second quarter of 2014.
The following table provides the effects of changes in ITIC's ownership interest in United, and the resulting impact on the Company's equity:

| September 30, 2014 |  | December 31, 2013
Net income attributable to the Company | $ | 6,954,526 |  |  | $ | 14,708,210 |
Transfers from the redeemable controlling interest: |  |  |
Decrease in paid-in capital for purchase of redeemable noncontrolling interest | (114,320 | ) |  | — |
Net transfers from noncontrolling interest | (114,320 | ) |  | — |
Change from net income attributable to the Company and transfers from redeemable noncontrolling interest | $ | 6,840,206 |  |  | $ | 14,708,210 |

As certain provisions of the membership interest purchase and sale agreement placed the acquisition of the remaining 30% of United by ITIC out of ITIC’s control, the noncontrolling interest in United was deemed redeemable. The redeemable noncontrolling interest was presented outside of permanent equity, as redeemable equity in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. On the acquisition date, the fair value of the redeemable noncontrolling interest was $446,250. The fair value of the redeemable noncontrolling interest was based on the noncontrolling interest’s share of the value of net assets.
The following table provides a reconciliation of total redeemable equity for the periods ended September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013:

Changes in carrying value during the period ended: | September 30, 2014 |  | December 31, 2013
Beginning balance at January 1 | $ | 545,489 |  |  | $ | 493,861 |
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest | 23,523 |  |  | 88,528 |
Distributions to noncontrolling interest | (168,057 | ) |  | (36,900 | )
Purchase of redeemable noncontrolling interest | (515,275 | ) |  | — |
Additional paid-in capital for purchase of noncontrolling interest | 114,320 |  |  | — |
Balance, net | $ | — |  |  | $ | 545,489 |

Fair valuation methods used for the identifiable tangible net assets acquired in the acquisition make use of discounted cash flows using current interest rates. The fair value of identifiable net tangible assets at the acquisition date was $5,600. Identifiable assets acquired included cash and fixed assets. Liabilities assumed consisted of notes payable.
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The transaction was accounted for using the acquisition method required by ASC 805, Business Combinations. Accordingly, the Company recognized the required identifiable intangible assets of United. There was no goodwill recorded as a result of the acquisition. The fair values of intangible assets, all Level 3 inputs, are principally based on values obtained from a third party valuation service. At acquisition, intangible assets included $645,685 relating to a non-compete contract resulting from the acquisition and $836,215 from referral relationships. The non-compete contract is being amortized over a 10-year period using the straight-line method, starting at a future date when the related employment agreement is terminated. The referral relationships are being amortized over a 12-year period using the straight-line method. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, accumulated amortization of intangible assets was $174,210 and $121,947, respectively. Net intangible assets of $1,307,690 and $1,359,953 are categorized as prepaid expenses and other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013. In accordance with ASC 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other, management determined that no events or changes in circumstances occurred that would indicate the carrying amount may not be recoverable, and therefore determined that the intangible assets assigned to United were not impaired at September 30, 2014.
Note 11 – Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
The following tables provides changes in the balances of each component of accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, for the periods ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:

Three Months Ended September 30, 2014 | Unrealized Gains and Losses On Available-for-Sale Securities |  | Postretirement Benefits Plans |  | Total
Beginning balance at July 1 | $ | 12,800,951 |  |  | $ | (47,621 | ) |  | $ | 12,753,330 |
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications | (628,914 | ) |  | — |  |  | (628,914 | )
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income | (4,206 | ) |  | 366 |  |  | (3,840 | )
Net current-period other comprehensive (loss) income | (633,120 | ) |  | 366 |  |  | (632,754 | )
Ending balance | $ | 12,167,831 |  |  | $ | (47,255 | ) |  | $ | 12,120,576 |

Three Months Ended September 30, 2013 | Unrealized Gains and Losses On Available-for-Sale Securities |  | Postretirement Benefits Plans |  | Total
Beginning balance at July 1 | $ | 9,361,879 |  |  | $ | (100,878 | ) |  | $ | 9,261,001 |
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications | 730,005 |  |  | — |  |  | 730,005 |
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income | (172,363 | ) |  | 778 |  |  | (171,585 | )
Net current-period other comprehensive income | 557,642 |  |  | 778 |  |  | 558,420 |
Ending balance | $ | 9,919,521 |  |  | $ | (100,100 | ) |  | $ | 9,819,421 |

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 | Unrealized Gains and Losses On Available-for-Sale Securities |  | Postretirement Benefits Plans |  | Total
Beginning balance at January 1 | $ | 11,395,757 |  |  | $ | (48,353 | ) |  | $ | 11,347,404 |
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications | 1,324,166 |  |  | — |  |  | 1,324,166 |
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income | (552,092 | ) |  | 1,098 |  |  | (550,994 | )
Net current-period other comprehensive income | 772,074 |  |  | 1,098 |  |  | 773,172 |
Ending balance | $ | 12,167,831 |  |  | $ | (47,255 | ) |  | $ | 12,120,576 |

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Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013 | Unrealized Gains and Losses On Available-for-Sale Securities |  | Postretirement Benefits Plans |  | Total
Beginning balance at January 1 | $ | 8,920,883 |  |  | $ | (102,453 | ) |  | $ | 8,818,430 |
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications | 1,219,153 |  |  | — |  |  | 1,219,153 |
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income | (220,515 | ) |  | 2,353 |  |  | (218,162 | )
Net current-period other comprehensive income | 998,638 |  |  | 2,353 |  |  | 1,000,991 |
Ending balance | $ | 9,919,521 |  |  | $ | (100,100 | ) |  | $ | 9,819,421 |

The following tables provides significant amounts reclassified out of each component of accumulated other comprehensive income for the periods ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:

Three Months Ended September 30, 2014 |  |  |
Details about Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Components | Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income |  | Affected Line Item in the Consolidated Statements of Income
Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities: |  |  |
Net realized gain on investment | $ | 6,534 |  |  |
Other-than-temporary impairments | — |  |  |
Total | $ | 6,534 |  |  | Net realized gain on investment
Tax | (2,328 | ) |  | Provision for Income Taxes
Net of Tax | $ | 4,206 |  |  |
Amortization related to postretirement benefit plans: |  |  |  |
Prior year service cost | $ | (554 | ) |  |
Unrecognized gain (loss) | — |  |  |
Total | $ | (554 | ) |  | (a)
Tax | 188 |  |  | Provision for Income Taxes
Net of Tax | $ | (366 | ) |  |
Reclassifications for the period | $ | 3,840 |  |  |

Three Months Ended September 30, 2013 |  |  |
Details about Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Components | Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income |  | Affected Line Item in the Consolidated Statements of Income
Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities: |  |  |
Net realized gain on investment | $ | 261,938 |  |  |
Other-than-temporary impairments | — |  |  |
Total | $ | 261,938 |  |  | Net realized gain on investment
Tax | (89,575 | ) |  | Provision for Income Taxes
Net of Tax | $ | 172,363 |  |  |
Accretion (amortization) related to postretirement benefit plans: |  |  |  |
Prior year service cost | $ | 380 |  |  |
Unrecognized loss | (1,573 | ) |  |
Total | $ | (1,193 | ) |  | (a)
Tax | 415 |  |  | Provision for Income Taxes
Net of Tax | $ | (778 | ) |  |
Reclassifications for the period | $ | 171,585 |  |  |

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Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 |  |  |
Details about Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Components | Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income |  | Affected Line Item in the Consolidated Statements of Income
Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities: |  |  |
Net realized gain on investment | $ | 840,170 |  |  |
Other-than-temporary impairments | — |  |  |
Total | $ | 840,170 |  |  | Net realized gain on investment
Tax | (288,078 | ) |  | Provision for Income Taxes
Net of Tax | $ | 552,092 |  |  |
Amortization related to postretirement benefit plans: |  |  |  |
Prior year service cost | $ | (1,663 | ) |  |
Unrecognized gain (loss) | — |  |  |
Total | $ | (1,663 | ) |  | (a)
Tax | 565 |  |  | Provision for Income Taxes
Net of Tax | $ | (1,098 | ) |  |
Reclassifications for the period | $ | 550,994 |  |  |

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013 |  |  |
Details about Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Components | Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income |  | Affected Line Item in the Consolidated Statements of Income
Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities: |  |  |
Net realized gain on investment | $ | 367,624 |  |  |
Other-than-temporary impairments | (34,070 | ) |  |
Total | $ | 333,554 |  |  | Net realized gain on investment
Tax | (113,039 | ) |  | Provision for Income Taxes
Net of Tax | $ | 220,515 |  |  |
Accretion (amortization) related to postretirement benefit plans: |  |  |  |
Prior year service cost | $ | 1,139 |  |  |
Unrecognized loss | (4,720 | ) |  |
Total | $ | (3,581 | ) |  | (a)
Tax | 1,228 |  |  | Provision for Income Taxes
Net of Tax | $ | (2,353 | ) |  |
Reclassifications for the period | $ | 218,162 |  |  |

(a) | These accumulated other comprehensive income components are not reclassified to net income in their entirety in the same reporting period. The amounts are presented within salaries, employee benefits and payroll taxes on the Consolidated Statements of Income as amortized. Amortization and accretion related to postretirement benefit plans is included in the computation of net periodic pension costs, as discussed in Note 5.

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Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The Company's 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K should be read in conjunction with the following discussion since it contains information which is important for evaluating the Company's operating results and financial condition. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and expectations of future events that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may vary.
Overview
Investors Title Company (the "Company") is a holding company that engages primarily in issuing title insurance through two subsidiaries, Investors Title Insurance Company ("ITIC") and National Investors Title Insurance Company ("NITIC"). Total revenues from the title segment accounted for 95.4% of the Company's revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. Through ITIC and NITIC, the Company underwrites land title insurance for owners and mortgagees as a primary insurer. Title insurance protects against loss or damage resulting from title defects that affect real property.
There are two basic types of title insurance policies - one for the mortgage lender and one for the real estate owner. A lender often requires property owners to purchase title insurance to protect its position as a holder of a mortgage loan, but the lender’s title insurance policy does not protect the property owner. The property owner has to purchase a separate owner’s title insurance policy to protect its investment. When real property is conveyed from one party to another, occasionally there is an undisclosed defect in the title or a mistake or omission in a prior deed, will or mortgage that may give a third party a legal claim against such property. If a claim is made against real property, title insurance provides indemnification against insured defects.
The Company issues title insurance policies through issuing agencies and also directly through home and branch offices. Issuing agents are typically real estate attorneys or subsidiaries of community and regional mortgage lending institutions, depending on local customs and regulations and the Company’s marketing strategy in a particular territory. The ability to attract and retain issuing agents is a key determinant of the Company’s growth in title insurance premiums written.
Revenues for this segment primarily result from purchases of new and existing residential and commercial real estate, refinance activity and certain other types of mortgage lending such as home equity lines of credit.
Volume is a factor in the Company’s profitability due to fixed operating costs which are incurred by the Company regardless of title insurance premium volume. The resulting operating leverage tends to amplify the impact of changes in volume on the Company’s profitability. The Company’s profitability also depends, in part, upon its ability to manage its investment portfolio to maximize investment returns and minimize risks such as interest rate changes, defaults and impairments of assets.
The Company’s volume of title insurance premiums is affected by the overall level of residential and commercial real estate activity, which includes sales, mortgage financing and mortgage refinancing. In turn, real estate activity is affected by a number of factors, including the availability of mortgage credit, the cost of real estate, consumer confidence, employment and family income levels and general United States economic conditions. Interest rate volatility is also an important factor in the level of residential and commercial real estate activity.
Real estate activity, home sales and mortgage lending are cyclical in nature. Title insurance premiums are closely related to the level of real estate activity and the average price of real estate sales. The availability of funds to finance purchases directly affects real estate sales. Other factors include mortgage interest rates, consumer confidence, economic conditions, supply and demand and family income levels. The Company’s title insurance premiums in future periods are likely to fluctuate due to these and other factors which are beyond management’s control.
Historically, the title insurance business tends to be seasonal as well as cyclical. Because home sales are typically strongest in periods of favorable weather, the first calendar quarter tends to have the lowest activity levels, while the spring and summer quarters tend to be more active. Refinance activity is generally less seasonal, but is subject to interest rate fluctuations.
Services other than title insurance provided by operating divisions of the Company that are not required to be reported separately are reported in a category called “All Other.” These other services include those offered by the Company and by its wholly owned subsidiaries, Investors Title Exchange Corporation (“ITEC”), Investors Title Accommodation Corporation (“ITAC”), Investors Trust Company (“Investors Trust”), Investors Capital Management Company (“ICMC”) and Investors Title Management Services, Inc. (“ITMS”).
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The Company’s exchange services division, ITEC and ITAC, provides customer services in connection with tax-deferred real property exchanges. ITEC serves as a qualified intermediary in like-kind exchanges of real or personal property under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. In its role as qualified intermediary, ITEC coordinates the exchange aspects of the real estate transaction, and its duties include drafting standard exchange documents, holding the exchange funds between the sale of the old property and the purchase of the new property, and accepting the formal identification of the replacement property within the required identification period. ITAC serves as exchange accommodation titleholder in reverse exchanges. An exchange accommodation offers a vehicle for accommodating a reverse exchange when the taxpayer must acquire replacement property before selling the relinquished property.
The Company's trust services division, Investors Trust, provides investment management and trust services to individuals, companies, banks and trusts. In July 2013, Investors Trust assumed responsibility for the management of all accounts previously managed by ICMC.
ITMS offers various consulting services to provide clients with the technical expertise to start and successfully operate a title insurance agency.
Business Trends and Recent Conditions
Beginning in 2008, the United States economy experienced one of the worst economic downturns in history. Events leading to the recession were primarily the collapse of the housing market and frozen credit markets, prompting the federal government to take unprecedented monetary and fiscal action in an attempt to slow the economic rate of decline and instill consumer confidence. The economy has been gradually recovering from this downturn with the Dow Jones Industrial Average setting and remaining near the all-time high, housing values rebounding and the unemployment rate lowering.
The Mortgage Bankers Association's (“MBA”) September 17, 2014 Mortgage Finance Forecast ("MBA Forecast") projects 2014 mortgage originations to decrease 42.6% from 2013 levels to $1,007 billion, purchase activity to decrease 12.7% to $569 billion and refinance activity to decrease 60.3% to $438 billion. In 2013, refinance activity accounted for 62.8% of all mortgage originations and is projected to represent 43.5% of mortgage originations in 2014.
According to data published by Freddie Mac, the average 30-year fixed mortgage interest rate in the United States was 4.24% and 3.88% for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. According to the MBA Forecast, refinance activity is expected to be significantly lower in 2014 as mortgage interest rates rise to a projected 4.5% in the fourth quarter of 2014.
In efforts to stimulate the economy, the Federal Reserve announced in September 2012 Quantitative Easing, “QE3,” in which it would purchase mortgage-backed securities and longer-term Treasury securities. Through QE3, the Federal Reserve initially purchased mortgage-backed securities at a rate of $40 billion per month and longer-term Treasury securities at a rate of $45 billion per month. Beginning in 2014, the Federal Open Market Committee ("FOMC") of the Federal Reserve has been steadily tapering the purchases of securities. In September 2014, the FOMC announced that beginning in October, it would reduce the pace of asset purchases to $5 billion for mortgage-backed securities and $10 billion per month for longer-term Treasury securities. The FOMC voted at its October 2014 meeting to conclude the QE3 program at the end of the month. The FOMC is also issuing disclosures on a periodic basis that include projections of the federal funds rate and expected actions. At the October 2014 meeting, the FOMC reaffirmed its intent to keep the federal funds rate exceptionally low, between 0% and 0.25%, so long as progress is made toward its employment and inflation objectives.
In 2008, the federal government took control of The Federal National Mortgage Association ("Fannie Mae") and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("Freddie Mac") in an effort to keep these government sponsored entities from failing. The primary functions of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are to provide liquidity to the nation's mortgage finance system by purchasing mortgages on the secondary market, pooling them and selling them as mortgage-backed securities. In order to securitize, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac typically require the purchase of title insurance for loans they acquire. Since taking control, there have been various discussions and proposals regarding their reform. Changes to these entities could impact the entire mortgage loan process and, as a result, could affect the demand for title insurance. The timing and results of reform are currently unknown; however, any changes to these entities could affect the Company and its results of operations.
On October 20, 2014, the Federal Housing Finance Agency ("FHFA"), which regulates Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are negotiating guidelines with mortgage lenders that may result in less strict lending requirements and lower barriers to mortgage loans for borrowers who are seeking access to home loans. The FHFA has noted it intends to clarify the rules that allow Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to require mortgage lenders to repurchase troubled loans. The FHFA also seeks to increase the supply of credit, particularly to creditworthy lower and middle-income families, by collaborating with mortgage lenders to provide guidelines for mortgage loans with down payments as low as three percent.
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On November 20, 2013, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”), which enforces the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (“RESPA”), the primary federal regulatory guidance covering the real estate settlement industry, released a final rule to integrate mortgage disclosures under the RESPA and the Truth in Lending Act (“TILA”). The final rule goes into effect in August 2015. Under this rule, the early disclosure forms required by TILA and the good faith estimate required by RESPA have been combined into one form, titled the Loan Estimate. The final disclosure required by TILA and the HUD-1 settlement statement required by RESPA have been combined into one form, titled the Closing Disclosure. The Company is currently assessing the impact that this rule will have on both direct and agency operations in terms of processes and procedures, systems and compliance costs.
The CFPB, Office of the Comptroller of Currency and the Federal Reserve have issued memorandums to banks which have heightened their focus on vetting third party providers and may affect the Company's agents and approved providers. Further proposals to change regulations governing insurance holding companies and the title insurance industry are often introduced in Congress, in state legislatures and before various insurance regulatory agencies. The Company regularly monitors such proposals, but the likelihood and timing of passage of any such regulation, and the possible effects of any such regulation on the Company and its subsidiaries, cannot be determined at this time.
Overall, the economy has been recovering from the downturn with positive projections going forward. The MBA September 17, 2014 Economic Forecast projects 2014 real gross domestic product growth of approximately 2.0% and a decline in the unemployment rate to 5.9% by the end of 2014. The 10-Year Treasury rate is expected to increase slightly to 2.7% in the fourth quarter of 2014. Despite the overall positive economic projections, the housing sector continues to produce mixed results. Transactional volume continues to be low resulting from sluggish income growth, declining household mobility and rising student loan debt. Mortgage originations are declining; however, the national average loan size for mortgage applications continues to rise.
Historically, activity in real estate markets has varied over the course of market cycles by geographic region and in response to evolving economic factors. Operating results can vary from year to year based on cyclical market conditions and do not necessarily indicate the Company's future operating results and cash flows.
Critical Accounting Estimates and Policies
The preparation of the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of certain assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and related disclosures regarding contingencies and commitments. Actual results could differ from these estimates. During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company did not make any material changes in its critical accounting policies as previously disclosed in Management's Discussion and Analysis in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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Results of Operations
The following table presents certain income statement data for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:

|  | Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
|  | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2014 |  | 2013
Revenues: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net premiums written |  | $ | 26,356,835 |  |  | $ | 30,431,560 |  |  | $ | 81,115,940 |  |  | $ | 84,787,318 |
Investment income - interest and dividends |  | 1,064,995 |  |  | 990,338 |  |  | 3,130,846 |  |  | 2,835,870 |
Net realized gain on investments |  | 8,689 |  |  | 261,938 |  |  | 592,908 |  |  | 333,554 |
Other |  | 2,077,711 |  |  | 1,921,403 |  |  | 6,344,163 |  |  | 6,190,170 |
Total Revenues |  | 29,508,230 |  |  | 33,605,239 |  |  | 91,183,857 |  |  | 94,146,912 |
Operating Expenses: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commissions to agents |  | 14,440,264 |  |  | 18,142,697 |  |  | 48,242,923 |  |  | 49,240,917 |
Provision (benefit) for claims |  | 1,507,814 |  |  | (3,037,101 | ) |  | 4,177,478 |  |  | (2,429,289 | )
Salaries, employee benefits and payroll taxes |  | 6,609,425 |  |  | 7,133,497 |  |  | 19,250,116 |  |  | 19,533,970 |
Office occupancy and operations |  | 1,257,009 |  |  | 1,165,772 |  |  | 3,683,980 |  |  | 3,266,112 |
Business development |  | 552,215 |  |  | 606,549 |  |  | 1,581,872 |  |  | 1,487,635 |
Filing fees, franchise and local taxes |  | 233,079 |  |  | 141,373 |  |  | 648,022 |  |  | 510,893 |
Premium and retaliatory taxes |  | 491,927 |  |  | 592,717 |  |  | 1,332,492 |  |  | 1,563,764 |
Professional and contract labor fees |  | 621,305 |  |  | 404,206 |  |  | 1,976,272 |  |  | 1,514,749 |
Other |  | 196,702 |  |  | 179,006 |  |  | 656,653 |  |  | 560,170 |
Total Operating Expenses |  | 25,909,740 |  |  | 25,328,716 |  |  | 81,549,808 |  |  | 75,248,921 |
Income before Income Taxes |  | 3,598,490 |  |  | 8,276,523 |  |  | 9,634,049 |  |  | 18,897,991 |
Provision for Income Taxes |  | 1,004,000 |  |  | 2,733,000 |  |  | 2,656,000 |  |  | 5,944,000 |
Net Income Attributable to the Company |  | $ | 2,594,490 |  |  | $ | 5,515,798 |  |  | $ | 6,954,526 |  |  | $ | 12,898,203 |

Insurance and Other Services Revenues
Insurance and other services revenues include net premiums written plus other fee income, trust income, management services income and exchange services income. Investment income and realized investment gains and losses are not included in insurance and other services revenues and are discussed separately under “Investment Related Revenues” below.
Title Orders – Title orders issued decreased 17.5% in the first nine months of 2014 to 152,103 compared with 184,448 title orders in the same period in 2013. The decrease in title orders from 2013 is primarily attributable to a decline in the number of refinance transactions. Title orders did not move proportionally with premiums due to an increasing proportion of purchase transactions. Purchase transactions typically have higher premium rates than refinance transactions.
Title insurance companies typically issue title insurance policies directly through home and branch offices or through title agencies. Following is a breakdown of net premiums generated by home and branch offices and agency operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:

| Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
| 2014 |  | % |  | 2013 |  | % |  | 2014 |  | % |  | 2013 |  | %
Home and Branch | $ | 6,815,125 |  |  | 25.9 | % |  | $ | 6,630,345 |  |  | 21.8 | % |  | $ | 17,922,166 |  |  | 22.1 | % |  | $ | 19,746,738 |  |  | 23.3 | %
Agency | 19,541,710 |  |  | 74.1 | % |  | 23,801,215 |  |  | 78.2 | % |  | 63,193,774 |  |  | 77.9 | % |  | 65,040,580 |  |  | 76.7 | %
Total | $ | 26,356,835 |  |  | 100.0 | % |  | $ | 30,431,560 |  |  | 100.0 | % |  | $ | 81,115,940 |  |  | 100.0 | % |  | $ | 84,787,318 |  |  | 100.0 | %

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Home and Branch Office Net Premiums – In the Company's home and branch operations, the Company issues the title insurance policy and retains the entire premium, as no commissions are paid in connection with these policies. Net premiums written from home and branch operations increased 2.8% and decreased 9.2% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, compared with the same prior year periods. For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the decrease in net premiums for home and branch operations primarily reflects a decrease in refinance transactions, partially offset by an increase in purchase transactions. All of the Company's home office operations and the majority of its branch offices are located in North Carolina; as a result, the home and branch office net premiums written are primarily for North Carolina title insurance policies.
Agency Net Premiums – When a policy is written through a title agency, the premium is shared between the agency and the underwriter. Total premiums include an estimate of premiums for policies which have been issued, but not reported as of the balance sheet date. To determine the estimated premiums, the Company uses historical experience, as well as other factors, to make certain assumptions about the average elapsed time between the policy effective date and the date the policies are reported. From time to time, the Company adjusts the inputs to the estimation as agents report transactions and new information becomes available. In addition to estimating revenues, the Company also estimates and accrues agent commissions, claims provision, premium taxes, income taxes, and other expenses associated with the estimated revenues which have been accrued. The Company reflects any adjustments to the accruals in the result of operations in the period in which new information becomes available.
Agency net premiums written decreased 17.9% and 2.8% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, compared with the same prior year periods. For the three months ended September 30, 2014, agency net premiums written decreased primarily due to reductions in estimated unreported agency premiums of approximately $2,000,000, as well as a decrease in the number of refinance transactions. For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the decrease in net premiums written was primarily attributable to a decrease in the number of refinance transactions.
Following is a schedule of net premiums written for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 in select states in which the Company's two insurance subsidiaries, ITIC and NITIC, currently write insurance:

|  | Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
State |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2014 |  | 2013
Texas |  | $ | 6,900,659 |  |  | $ | 9,154,882 |  |  | $ | 29,874,149 |  |  | $ | 20,453,991 |
North Carolina |  | 8,717,897 |  |  | 8,419,776 |  |  | 23,375,703 |  |  | 25,545,497 |
South Carolina |  | 2,620,089 |  |  | 2,874,305 |  |  | 5,774,293 |  |  | 7,549,859 |
Virginia |  | 1,361,935 |  |  | 1,377,122 |  |  | 3,570,595 |  |  | 4,109,837 |
Georgia |  | 1,293,562 |  |  | 770,865 |  |  | 3,218,600 |  |  | 2,018,523 |
Michigan |  | 885,508 |  |  | 1,224,679 |  |  | 2,831,820 |  |  | 4,272,132 |
All Others |  | 4,621,412 |  |  | 6,648,730 |  |  | 12,547,606 |  |  | 20,969,485 |
Premiums |  | 26,401,062 |  |  | 30,470,359 |  |  | 81,192,766 |  |  | 84,919,324 |
Reinsurance Assumed |  | 6,895 |  |  | — |  |  | 35,367 |  |  | 3,470 |
Reinsurance Ceded |  | (51,122 | ) |  | (38,799 | ) |  | (112,193 | ) |  | (135,476 | )
Net Premiums Written |  | $ | 26,356,835 |  |  | $ | 30,431,560 |  |  | $ | 81,115,940 |  |  | $ | 84,787,318 |

For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, Texas premiums written have increased due to an increase in the number of purchase transactions, primarily in prior quarters, while the declines in most states relates primarily to the decline in the number of refinance transactions.
Other Revenues
Other revenues primarily include other fee income, trust income, management services income, exchange services income, and income related to the Company’s equity method investments. Other revenues were $2,077,711 and $6,344,163 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, compared with $1,921,403 and $6,190,170 for the same prior year periods. The increase for the three months ended September 30, 2014, primarily related to an increase in management services income, earnings of unconsolidated affiliates and exchange services revenues. The increase for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 primarily related to increases in exchange services income, trust income and management services income, partially offset by decreases in fee income and earnings of unconsolidated affiliates.
Investment Related Revenues
Investment income and realized gains and losses from investments are included in investment related revenues.
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Investment Income
The Company derives a substantial portion of its income from investments in municipal and corporate bonds and equity securities. The Company's title insurance subsidiaries are required by statute to maintain minimum levels of investments in order to protect the interests of policyholders.
In formulating its investment strategy, the Company has emphasized after-tax income. The Company’s investments are primarily in bonds and, to a lesser extent, equity securities. The effective maturity of the majority of the bonds is within 10 years. The Company’s invested assets are managed to fund its obligations and evaluated to ensure long-term stability of capital accounts.
As the Company generates cash from operations, it is invested in accordance with the Company’s investment policy and corporate goals. The Company’s investment policy has been designed to balance multiple goals, including the assurance of a stable source of income from interest and dividends, the preservation of principal and the provision of liquidity sufficient to meet insurance underwriting and other obligations as they become payable in the future. Securities purchased may include a combination of taxable bonds, tax-exempt bonds and equity securities. The Company strives to maintain a high quality investment portfolio. Interest and investment income levels are primarily a function of general market performance, interest rates and the amount of cash available for investment.
Investment income was $1,064,995 and $3,130,846 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, compared with $990,338 and $2,835,870 for the same periods in 2013. The increase in investment income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 was due primarily to higher levels of interest and dividends earned in conjunction with a larger portfolio of both fixed maturities and equity securities.
Net Realized Gain (Loss) on Investments
Dispositions of equity securities at a realized gain or loss reflect such factors as industry sector allocation decisions, ongoing assessments of issuers' business prospects and tax planning considerations. Additionally, the amounts of net realized investment gains and losses are affected by assessments of securities' valuation for other-than-temporary impairment. As a result of the interaction of these factors and considerations, net realized investment gains or losses can vary significantly from period to period.
The net realized gain on investments was $8,689 and $592,908 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, compared with $261,938 and $333,554 for the same periods in 2013. The 2014 year-to-date gain includes impairment charges of $10,062 on certain investments that were deemed to be other-than-temporarily impaired, offset by net realized gains on the sales of investments and other assets of $602,970. The 2013 year-to-date gain includes impairment charges of $34,070 on certain investments that were deemed to be other-than-temporarily impaired, offset by net realized gains on the sales of investments and other assets of $367,624. Management believes unrealized losses on remaining fixed income and equity securities at September 30, 2014 are temporary in nature.
The securities in the Company's portfolio are subject to economic conditions and market risks. The Company considers relevant facts and circumstances in evaluating whether a credit or interest-related impairment of a security is other-than-temporary. Relevant facts and circumstances include the extent and length of time the fair value of an investment has been below cost.
There are a number of risks and uncertainties inherent in the process of monitoring impairments and determining if impairments are other-than-temporary. These risks and uncertainties include the risk that the economic outlook will be worse than expected or have more of an impact on the issuer than anticipated, the risk that the Company's assessment of an issuer's ability to meet all of its contractual obligations will change based on changes in the characteristics of that issuer, the risk that information obtained by the Company or changes in other facts and circumstances leads management to change its intent to hold the security until it recovers in value, and the risk that management is making decisions based on misstated information in the financial statements provided by issuers.
Expenses
The Company's operating expenses consist primarily of commissions to agents, provision for claims, salaries, employee benefits and payroll taxes, and office occupancy and operations. Operating expenses increased 2.3% and 8.4% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2013. For the three months ended September 30, 2014, expenses increased primarily due to an increase in the provision for claims, partially offset by decreases in commissions, and salaries, employee benefits and payroll taxes. For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, expenses increased primarily due to increases in the provision for claims, professional fees, and office occupancy and operations, partially offset by decreases in commissions, and salaries, employee benefits and payroll taxes.
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Following is a summary of the Company's operating expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013. Inter-segment eliminations have been netted; therefore, the individual segment amounts will not agree to Note 4 in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements.

| Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
| 2014 |  | % |  | 2013 |  | % |  | 2014 |  | % |  | 2013 |  | %
Title Insurance | $ | 24,513,591 |  |  | 94.6 | % |  | $ | 23,856,076 |  |  | 94.2 | % |  | $ | 77,153,327 |  |  | 94.6 | % |  | $ | 70,658,484 |  |  | 93.9 | %
All Other | 1,396,149 |  |  | 5.4 | % |  | 1,472,640 |  |  | 5.8 | % |  | 4,396,481 |  |  | 5.4 | % |  | 4,590,437 |  |  | 6.1 | %
Total | $ | 25,909,740 |  |  | 100.0 | % |  | $ | 25,328,716 |  |  | 100.0 | % |  | $ | 81,549,808 |  |  | 100.0 | % |  | $ | 75,248,921 |  |  | 100.0 | %

On a combined basis, after-tax profit margins were 8.8% and 7.6% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, and 16.4% and 13.7% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively.
Commissions – Agent commissions represent the portion of premiums retained by agents pursuant to the terms of their respective agency contracts. Commissions to agents decreased 20.4% and 2.0% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, compared with the same prior year periods. Commission expense as a percentage of net premiums written by agents was 73.9% and 76.3% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, compared with 76.2% and 75.7% for the same period in 2013. Commissions decreased primarily due to a decrease in premiums written by agents. Commission rates may vary due to geographic locations, different levels of premium rate structures and state regulations.
Provision (benefit) for Claims – The provision (benefit) for claims as a percentage of net premiums written was 5.7% and 5.2% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, compared with (10.0)% and (2.9)% for the same periods in 2013. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, the increase in the provision for claims primarily related to the prior year reduction in the reserves for claims of approximately $2,400,000. The reduction in reserves during the prior year reflected a change in estimate related to certain actuarial assumptions stemming from improved claims experience in recent post-recession policy years.
The increase in the loss provision rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 from the 2013 level resulted in approximately $6,502,000 more in reserves than would have been recorded at the lower 2013 level. Loss provision ratios are subject to variability and are reviewed and adjusted as experience develops.
Title claims are typically reported and paid within the first several years of policy issuance. The provision for claims reflects actual payments of claims, net of recovery amounts, plus adjustments to the specific and incurred but not reported claims reserves, the latter of which are actuarially determined based on historical claims experience. Actual payments of claims, net of recoveries, were $3,285,478 and $1,832,711 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Reserves for Claims – At September 30, 2014, the total reserve for claims was $36,252,000. Of that total, approximately $5,342,000 was reserved for specific claims, and approximately $30,910,000 was reserved for claims for which the Company had no notice. Because of the uncertainty of future claims, changes in economic conditions and the fact that many claims do not materialize for several years, reserve estimates are subject to variability.
Changes from prior periods in the expected liability for claims reflect the uncertainty of the claims environment, as well as the limited predictive power of historical data. The Company continually updates and refines its reserve estimates as current experience develops and credible data emerges. Such data includes payments on claims closed during the quarter, new details that emerge on still-open cases that cause claims adjusters to increase or decrease the case reserves and the impact that these types of changes have on the Company's total loss provision. Adjustments may be required as new information develops which often varies from past experience.
Salaries, Employee Benefits and Payroll Taxes – Personnel costs include base salaries, benefits and payroll taxes, and bonuses paid to employees. Salaries, employee benefits and payroll taxes were $6,609,425 and $19,250,116 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, compared with $7,133,497 and $19,533,970 in the same prior year periods. On a consolidated basis, salaries, employee benefits and payroll taxes as a percentage of total revenues were 22.4% and 21.1% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, compared with 21.2% and 20.7% for the same prior year periods. The decreases in expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 primarily relate to a decline in incentive compensation, and accrued benefits and payroll taxes, partially offset by an increase in salaries.
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Office Occupancy and Operations – Office occupancy and operations expenses primarily include office rent and utilities, depreciation, maintenance, telecommunications and insurance expenses. Office occupancy and operations expenses were $1,257,009 and $3,683,980 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, compared with $1,165,772 and $3,266,112 for the same prior year periods. As a percentage of total revenues, office occupancy and operations expenses were 4.3% and 4.0% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, compared with 3.5% and 3.5% for the same prior year periods. The increases in expenses in 2014 primarily related to increases in depreciation, hardware upgrade projects, office rent and utilities, and contract services expenses.
Business Development – Business development expenses primarily include marketing and travel-related expenses. Business development expenses were $552,215 and $1,581,872 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, compared with $606,549 and $1,487,635 for the same prior year periods. Business development expenses decreased 9.0% and increased 6.3% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, compared with the same prior year periods. The decrease for the three months ended September 30, 2014 primarily related to a decrease in marketing expenses. The increase for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 primarily related to an increase in marketing expenses.
Filing Fees, Franchise and Local Taxes – Filing fees, franchise and local tax expenses include insurance filing and licensing fees, franchise taxes, excise taxes, and local taxes. Filing fees, franchise and local tax expenses were $233,079 and $648,022 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, compared with $141,373 and $510,893 for the same prior year periods.
Premium and Retaliatory Taxes – Title insurance companies are generally not subject to state income or franchise taxes. However, in most states they are subject to premium and retaliatory taxes, as defined by statute. Premium tax rates vary from state to state; accordingly, the total premium tax incurred is dependent upon the geographical mix of insurance revenues. Premium and retaliatory taxes as a percentage of net premiums written were 1.9% and 1.6% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared with 1.9% and 1.8% for the same prior year periods.
Professional and Contract Labor Fees – Professional and contract labor fees were $621,305 and $1,976,272 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, compared with $404,206 and $1,514,749 for the same prior year periods. The increases for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 were primarily attributable to increases in consulting fees associated with the Company's ongoing software initiatives.
Other Expenses – Other operating expenses primarily include miscellaneous operating expenses of the trust division and other miscellaneous expenses of the title segment. These amounts typically fluctuate in relation to transaction volume of the title segment and the trust division.
Income Taxes
The provision for income taxes was $1,004,000 and $2,656,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, compared with $2,733,000 and $5,944,000 for the same prior year periods. Income tax expense as a percentage of earnings before income taxes was 27.9% and 27.6% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, compared with 33.0% and 31.5% for the same prior year periods. The decrease in the effective rate for 2014 from 2013 was primarily due to a lower proportion of taxable to tax-exempt income. The effective income tax rate for both 2014 and 2013 was below the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate of 34%, primarily due to the effect of tax-exempt income. Tax-exempt income lowers the effective tax rate.
Management believes it is more likely than not that the tax benefits associated with recognized impairment and unrecognized losses recorded through September 30, 2014 will be realized. However, this judgment could be impacted by further market fluctuations.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Net cash flows provided by operating activities were $4,849,154 and $13,346,647 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Cash flows from operating activities decreased in 2014 from 2013, primarily due to a decrease in net income, the timing of payable disbursements, lower deferred tax expense, and higher claim payments, partially offset by an increase in the provision for claims. Cash flows from operations have historically been the primary source of financing for expanding operations, additions to property and equipment, dividends to shareholders and operating requirements.
Cash flows from non-operating activities have historically consisted of purchases and proceeds from investing activities, repurchases of common stock and the issuance of dividends. In 2014, the Company had a lower level of investment purchase activity and higher proceeds from investing activities compared with the prior year.
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The net effect of all activities on total cash and cash equivalents was a decrease of $4,239 in 2014 and an increase of $2,058,375 in 2013. As of September 30, 2014, the Company held cash and cash equivalents of $23,622,522, short-term investments of $6,154,749, fixed maturity securities of $94,995,138 and equity securities of $37,461,674.
Due to the Company’s historical ability to consistently generate positive cash flows from its consolidated operations and investment income, management believes that funds generated from operations will enable the Company to adequately meet its current operating needs for the foreseeable future. However, there can be no assurance that future experience will be similar to historical experience, since it is influenced by such factors as the interest rate environment, the Company’s claims-paying ability and its financial strength ratings. The Company is unaware of any trend that is likely to result in material adverse liquidity changes, but continually assesses its capital allocation strategy, including decisions relating to repurchasing the Company’s stock and/or conserving cash. The Company’s current cash requirements include general operating expenses, income taxes, capital expenditures, dividends on its common stock declared by the Board of Directors and repurchases of its common stock.
In addition to operational liquidity, the Company maintains a high degree of liquidity within its investment portfolio in the form of short-term investments and other readily marketable securities.
The Company’s investment portfolio is classified as available-for-sale. The Company reviews the status of each of its securities quarterly to determine whether an other-than-temporary impairment has occurred.
As noted previously, the Company’s operating results and cash flows are heavily dependent on the real estate market. The Company’s business has certain fixed costs such as personnel; therefore, changes in the real estate market are monitored closely, and operating expenses such as staffing levels are managed and adjusted accordingly. The Company believes that its significant working capital position and management of operating expenses will aid its ability to manage cash resources through fluctuations in the real estate market.
Receipt of Dividends from Subsidiaries – The Company believes that all anticipated cash requirements for current operations will be met from internally generated funds, through cash dividends and distributions from subsidiaries and cash generated by investment securities. The Company’s significant sources of funds are dividends and distributions from its subsidiaries. The holding company receives cash from its subsidiaries in the form of dividends and as reimbursements for operating and other administrative expenses that it incurs. The reimbursements are executed within the guidelines of management agreements between the holding company and its subsidiaries.
The Company's ability to pay dividends and operating expenses is dependent on funds received from the insurance subsidiaries, which are subject to regulation in the states in which they do business. Each state regulates the extent to which title underwriters can pay dividends or make distributions. These regulations require prior regulatory approval of the payment of dividends and other intercompany transfers. The Company believes, however, that amounts available for transfer from its insurance and other subsidiaries are adequate to meet the Company's current operating needs.
The maximum dividend permitted by law is not necessarily indicative of an insurer’s actual ability to pay dividends, which may be constrained by regulatory and business considerations, such as the impact of dividends on surplus, which could affect an insurer’s ratings. Further, depending on regulatory and business conditions, the Company may in the future need to retain cash in its title insurance subsidiaries in order to maintain their ratings or their statutory capital position. Such requirements could be the result of adverse financial results, changes in statutory accounting requirements by regulators, reserve charges or investment losses.
Purchase of Company Stock – On November 12, 2012, the Board of Directors of the Company approved the purchase of an additional 260,246 shares pursuant to the Company's repurchase plan, such that there was authority remaining under the plan to purchase up to an aggregate of 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to the plan immediately after this approval. Unless terminated earlier by resolution of the Board of Directors, the plan will expire when all shares authorized for purchase under the plan have been purchased. Pursuant to this approval, the Company purchased 9,824 shares for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 26,436 for the same period in 2013 at an average per share price of $66.43 and $71.17, respectively. The Company anticipates making further purchases under this plan from time to time in the future, depending on such factors as the prevailing market price of the Company’s common stock, the Company’s available cash and alternative uses for such cash.
Capital Expenditures – During 2014, the Company has plans for various capital improvement projects, including increased investment in a number of software technology and system development initiatives that are anticipated to be funded via cash flows from operations. All material anticipated capital expenditures are subject to periodic review and revision and may vary depending on a number of factors.
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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As a service to its customers, the Company, through ITIC, administers escrow and trust deposits representing earnest money received under real estate contracts, undisbursed amounts received for settlement of mortgage loans and indemnities against specific title risks. These amounts are not considered assets of the Company and, therefore, are excluded from the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. However, the Company remains contingently liable for the disposition of these deposits.
In addition, in administering tax-deferred property exchanges, ITEC serves as a qualified intermediary for exchanges, holding the net sales proceeds from relinquished property to be used for purchase of replacement property. ITAC serves as exchange accommodation titleholder and, through limited liability companies that are wholly owned subsidiaries of ITAC, holds property for exchangers in reverse exchange transactions. Like-kind exchange deposits and reverses exchange property held by the Company for the purpose of completing such transactions totaled approximately $106,475,000 and $76,037,000 as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. These exchange deposits are held at third-party financial institutions. These amounts are not considered assets of the Company for accounting purposes and, therefore, are excluded from the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Exchange services revenues include earnings on these deposits; therefore, investment income is shown as exchange services revenue, rather than investment income. The Company remains contingently liable to customers for the transfers of property, disbursements of proceeds, and the return on the proceeds at the agreed upon rate.
External assets under management of Investors Trust Company are not considered assets of the Company and, therefore, are excluded from the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.
It is not the general practice of the Company to enter into off-balance sheet arrangements or issue guarantees to third parties. The Company does not have any material source of liquidity or financing that involves off-balance sheet arrangements. Other than items noted above, off-balance sheet arrangements are generally limited to the future payments under noncancelable operating leases, payments due under various agreements with third party service providers and unaccrued obligations pursuant to certain executive employment agreements.
Recent Accounting Standards
For a description of recent accounting pronouncements, please refer to Note 1 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements herein.
Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as well as information included in future filings by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission and information contained in written material, press releases and oral statements issued by or on behalf of the Company, contains, or may contain, “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, that reflect management’s current outlook for future periods. These statements may be identified by the use of words such as “plan,” “expect,” “aim,” “believe,” “project,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “should,” “could” and other expressions that indicate future events and trends. All statements that address expectations or projections about the future, including statements about the Company’s strategy for growth, product and service development, market share position, claims, expenditures, financial results and cash requirements, are forward-looking statements. Without limitation, projected developments in mortgage interest rates and the overall economic environment set forth in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Business Trends and Recent Conditions” constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and expectations of future events that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties.
Actual future results and trends may differ materially from historical results or those projected in any such forward-looking statements depending on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, the following:

• | the level of real estate transactions, the level of mortgage origination volumes (including refinancing) and changes to the insurance requirements of the participants in the secondary mortgage market, and the effect of these factors on the demand for title insurance;

• | changes in general economic, business, and political conditions, including the performance of the financial and real estate markets;

• | the possible inadequacy of provisions for claims to cover actual claim losses;

• | the incidence of fraud-related losses;

• | unanticipated adverse changes in securities markets, including interest rates;

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• | significant competition that the Company’s operating subsidiaries face, including the Company’s ability to develop and offer products and services that meet changing industry standards in a timely and cost-effective manner and expansion into new geographic locations;

• | the Company relies upon the North Carolina and Texas markets for a significant portion of its premiums;

• | compliance with government regulation, including pricing regulation, and significant changes to applicable regulations or in their application by regulators;

• | the impact of governmental oversight of service providers' compliance with federal consumer financial laws, including title insurance agents;

• | downgrades from a rating agency;

• | the inability of the Company to manage, develop and implement technological advancements and prevent system interruptions or unauthorized systems intrusions;

• | statutory requirements applicable to the Company’s insurance subsidiaries that require them to maintain minimum levels of capital, surplus and reserves and restrict the amount of dividends that they may pay to the Company without prior regulatory approval;

• | heightened regulatory scrutiny and investigations of the title insurance industry;

• | the Company’s dependence on key management and marketing personnel;

• | the possible reform of government-sponsored entities;

• | the possible inadequacy of the Company' policies and procedures for the mitigation of risks;

• | the shareholder rights plan; and

• | other risks detailed elsewhere in this document and in the Company’s other filings with the SEC.

These and other risks and uncertainties may be described from time to time in the Company's other reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For more details on factors that could affect expectations, see the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013. The Company is not under any obligation (and expressly disclaims any such obligation) and does not undertake to update or alter any forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made. You should consider the possibility that actual results may differ materially from our forward-looking statements.
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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
The Company’s primary exposure to market risk relates to interest rate risk associated with certain financial instruments. Although the Company monitors its risk associated with fluctuations in interest rates, it does not currently use derivative financial instruments to hedge these risks.
No material changes in the Company’s market risk or market strategy occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2014.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company's disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in such reports is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
No system of controls, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide absolute assurance that the objectives of the system of controls are met, and no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that the system of controls has operated effectively in all cases. The Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, however, are designed to provide reasonable assurance that the objectives of disclosure controls and procedures are met.
Pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) under the Exchange Act, an evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of the Company's management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2014 to provide reasonable assurance that the objectives of disclosure controls and procedures are met.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
During the quarter ended September 30, 2014, there were no changes in the Company's internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
See discussion of legal proceedings in Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of Part I of this Report, which is incorporated by reference into this Part II, Item 1, as well as Item 3. Legal Proceedings, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.
Item 1a. Risk Factors
There have been no material changes in risks previously disclosed under Item 1a. of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2014 and Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 .
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
(a) None
(b) None
(c) The following table provides information about purchases by the Company (and all affiliated purchasers) during the quarter ended September 30, 2014 of equity securities that are registered by the Company pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act:

| Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities |  |
Period | Total Number of Shares Purchased |  | Average Price Paid per Share |  | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plan |  | Maximum Number of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plan
Beginning of period |  |  |  |  |  |  | 415,459 |
July 2014 | 1,001 |  |  | $ | 68.47 |  |  | 1,001 |  |  | 414,458 |
August 2014 | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | — |  |  | 414,458 |
September 2014 | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | — |  |  | 414,458 |
Total: | 1,001 |  |  | $ | 68.47 |  |  | 1,001 |  |  | 414,458 |

For the quarter ended September 30, 2014, the Company purchased an aggregate of 1,001 shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to the Company’s ongoing purchase program that was announced publicly on June 5, 2000. On November 12, 2012, the Board of Directors of the Company approved the purchase of an additional 260,246 shares pursuant to the Company's repurchase plan, such that there was authority remaining under the plan to purchase up to an aggregate of 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to the plan immediately after this approval. Unless terminated earlier by resolution of the Board of Directors, the plan will expire when all shares authorized for purchase under the plan have been purchased. The Company anticipates making further purchases under this plan from time to time in the future, depending on such factors as the prevailing market price of the Company’s common stock, the Company’s available cash and then existing alternative uses for such cash.
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Item 6. Exhibits

31(i) | Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31(ii) | Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101.INS* | XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH* | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL* | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.LAB* | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE* | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
101.DEF* | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

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

| INVESTORS TITLE COMPANY
| By: | /s/ James A. Fine, Jr.
|  | James A. Fine, Jr.
|  | President, Principal Financial Officer and
|  | Principal Accounting Officer

Dated: November 6, 2014
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