Exhibit 13
| alfa |
Selected Financial Data | |||
| ALFA CORPORATION |
Consolidated Summary of Operations & Related Data
(Dollars in Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)
| Years Ended December 31, | 2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
2000 | |||||||||
| Premiums - Property and Casualty Insurance |
$ | 459,057 | $ | 428,100 | $ | 396,862 | $ | 376,119 | |||||
| Premiums and policy charges - Life Insurance |
66,172 | 63,005 | 56,007 | 53,078 | |||||||||
| Net investment income |
83,509 | 88,506 | 84,714 | 72,891 | |||||||||
| Net realized investment gains |
6,264 | 5,160 | 6,448 | 5,268 | |||||||||
| Other income |
3,045 | 2,777 | 2,265 | 2,957 | |||||||||
| Total revenues |
618,047 | 587,548 | 546,296 | 510,313 | |||||||||
| Benefits and expenses |
511,450 | 488,203 | 448,202 | 415,567 | |||||||||
| Income before provision for income taxes |
106,597 | 99,345 | 98,094 | 94,746 | |||||||||
| Provision for income taxes |
28,128 | 27,637 | 28,132 | 27,925 | |||||||||
| Cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles |
| | (456 | ) | | ||||||||
| Net income |
$ | 78,469 | $ | 71,708 | $ | 69,506 | $ | 66,821 | |||||
| Balance sheet data at December 31: |
|||||||||||||
| Invested assets |
$ | 1,802,139 | $ | 1,663,688 | $ | 1,491,161 | $ | 1,355,026 | |||||
| Total assets |
$ | 2,045,075 | $ | 1,884,056 | $ | 1,697,604 | $ | 1,546,303 | |||||
| Future policy benefits, losses and claims, unearned premiums |
$ | 997,878 | $ | 916,616 | $ | 831,102 | $ | 774,222 | |||||
| Long-term obligations |
$ | 70,000 | $ | 70,000 | $ | | $ | | |||||
| Total liabilities |
$ | 1,406,562 | $ | 1,317,958 | $ | 1,188,492 | $ | 1,072,742 | |||||
| Stockholders equity |
$ | 638,513 | $ | 566,098 | $ | 509,112 | $ | 473,561 | |||||
| Per share data1 : |
|||||||||||||
| Net income - Basic |
$ | 0.98 | $ | 0.91 | $ | 0.89 | $ | 0.85 | |||||
| Net income - Diluted |
$ | 0.98 | $ | 0.90 | $ | 0.88 | $ | 0.85 | |||||
| Cash dividends paid |
$ | 0.315 | $ | 0.2975 | $ | 0.2825 | $ | 0.255 | |||||
| Annual dividend rate |
$ | 0.32 | $ | 0.30 | $ | 0.29 | $ | 0.26 | |||||
| Stockholders equity |
$ | 7.96 | $ | 7.14 | $ | 6.50 | $ | 6.05 | |||||
| Closing sales price at December 31 |
$ | 12.86 | $ | 12.01 | $ | 11.22 | $ | 9.19 | |||||
| Price/earnings ratio |
13.1x | 13.3x | 12.8x | 10.8x | |||||||||
| Weighted average shares outstanding - Basic |
79,809 | 78,804 | 78,316 | 78,336 | |||||||||
| Weighted average shares outstanding - Diluted |
80,390 | 79,547 | 78,963 | 78,814 | |||||||||
| Other data: |
|||||||||||||
| Life insurance in force |
$ | 18,271,509 | $ | 16,736,418 | $ | 15,167,308 | $ | 13,604,433 | |||||
| Number of agents |
615 | 618 | 613 | 596 | |||||||||
| 1 | Per share amounts have been restated where appropriate to reflect 2-for-1 stock splits in June 2002 and June 1993. |
1
| Selected Financial Data | alfa | |||
| ALFA CORPORATION |
| 1999 |
1998 |
1997 |
1996 |
1995 |
1994 |
1993 | |||||||||||||
| $ | 356,970 | $ | 345,740 | $ | 330,306 | $ | 298,939 | $ | 272,989 | $ | 214,326 | $ | 189,057 | ||||||
| 48,360 | 46,099 | 40,659 | 38,248 | 35,100 | 32,805 | 30,856 | |||||||||||||
| 67,807 | 62,512 | 57,529 | 54,194 | 50,923 | 45,554 | 44,902 | |||||||||||||
| 5,060 | 4,397 | 3,356 | 2,808 | 1,106 | 572 | 4,890 | |||||||||||||
| 4,064 | 2,238 | 2,160 | 2,148 | 2,645 | 3,057 | 2,918 | |||||||||||||
| 482,261 | 460,986 | 434,010 | 396,336 | 362,763 | 296,313 | 272,624 | |||||||||||||
| 390,184 | 377,721 | 357,210 | 350,482 | 331,771 | 248,481 | 209,309 | |||||||||||||
| 92,077 | 83,265 | 76,800 | 45,854 | 30,993 | 47,832 | 63,315 | |||||||||||||
| 27,520 | 26,549 | 24,006 | 13,665 | 8,675 | 14,965 | 20,999 | |||||||||||||
| | | | | | | 2,645 | |||||||||||||
| $ | 64,557 | $ | 56,716 | $ | 52,794 | $ | 32,189 | $ | 22,318 | $ | 32,867 | $ | 44,960 | ||||||
| $ | 1,155,214 | $ | 1,084,064 | $ | 1,027,660 | $ | 886,017 | $ | 841,123 | $ | 718,074 | $ | 653,819 | ||||||
| $ | 1,335,347 | $ | 1,246,659 | $ | 1,170,066 | $ | 1,019,330 | $ | 965,433 | $ | 847,870 | $ | 766,077 | ||||||
| $ | 723,031 | $ | 653,893 | $ | 596,057 | $ | 535,824 | $ | 487,659 | $ | 429,930 | $ | 365,148 | ||||||
| $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||
| $ | 926,679 | $ | 823,037 | $ | 787,135 | $ | 696,018 | $ | 656,823 | $ | 592,885 | $ | 505,091 | ||||||
| $ | 408,668 | $ | 423,622 | $ | 382,931 | $ | 323,312 | $ | 308,610 | $ | 254,985 | $ | 260,986 | ||||||
| $ | 0.81 | $ | 0.69 | $ | 0.65 | $ | 0.39 | $ | 0.27 | $ | 0.40 | $ | 0.55 | ||||||
| $ | 0.80 | $ | 0.69 | $ | 0.64 | $ | 0.39 | $ | 0.27 | $ | 0.40 | $ | 0.55 | ||||||
| $ | 0.2363 | $ | 0.2188 | $ | 0.1988 | $ | 0.1938 | $ | 0.1875 | $ | 0.1713 | $ | 0.14 | ||||||
| $ | 0.24 | $ | 0.225 | $ | 0.20 | $ | 0.195 | $ | 0.19 | $ | 0.18 | $ | 0.145 | ||||||
| $ | 5.16 | $ | 5.18 | $ | 4.69 | $ | 3.96 | $ | 3.78 | $ | 3.13 | $ | 3.20 | ||||||
| $ | 8.16 | $ | 12.13 | $ | 8.63 | $ | 6.31 | $ | 8.38 | $ | 5.50 | $ | 5.75 | ||||||
| 10.2x | 17.6x | 13.4x | 16.0x | 30.6x | 13.7x | 10.4x | |||||||||||||
| 79,962 | 81,668 | 81,574 | 81,572 | 81,572 | 81,572 | 81,572 | |||||||||||||
| 80,471 | 82,297 | 81,862 | 81,687 | 81,622 | 81,621 | 81,627 | |||||||||||||
| $ | 12,015,536 | $ | 11,000,049 | $ | 10,246,400 | $ | 9,463,055 | $ | 8,642,907 | $ | 7,867,808 | $ | 7,064,335 | ||||||
| 600 | 575 | 574 | 587 | 585 | 562 | 562 | |||||||||||||
2
| Managements Discussion and Analysis | alfa | |||
| ALFA CORPORATION |
Managements Discussion and Analysis is intended to update the reader on matters affecting the financial condition and results of operations of Alfa Corporation and its subsidiaries for the three years ended December 31, 2003. As a result, the following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes that are included in this annual report to stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2003.
The Company is a financial services holding company affiliated with the Alfa Mutual Insurance Companies, which own 55.0% of the Companys common stock. The Companys primary business is personal lines of property and casualty insurance and life insurance. At December 31, 2003, it also had noninsurance subsidiaries that engaged in consumer financing, commercial leasing, real estate investments, residential and commercial construction, and real estate sales. The Company and its subsidiaries together with the Alfa Mutual Insurance Companies currently service almost 1.3 million policyholders primarily in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi.
The Companys revenue consists mainly of premiums earned, policy charges and net investment income. Benefit and settlement expenses consist primarily of claims paid and claims in process and pending and include an estimate of amounts incurred but not yet reported along with loss adjustment expenses. Other operating expenses consist primarily of compensation expenses and other overhead business expenses.
Operating results are reported through three primary business segments: property and casualty insurance operations, life insurance operations and noninsurance operations. Property and casualty insurance operations accounted for 78.6% of revenues and 65.8% of net income in 2003. Life insurance operations generated 19.3% of revenues and 31.4% of net income in 2003. In addition to the three primary business segments, information is also included within the accompanying footnotes on corporate overhead expenses and eliminated intercompany transactions.
Future results of operations will depend in part on the Companys ability to predict and control benefit and settlement expenses through underwriting criteria, product design and negotiation of favorable vendor contracts. The Company must also seek timely and accurate rate changes from insurance regulators in order to meet strategic business objectives. Selection of insurable risks, proper collateralization of loans and leases and continued staff development also impact the operating results of the Company. The Companys inability to mitigate any or all risks mentioned above or other factors may adversely affect its profitability.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following table sets forth consolidated summarized income statement information for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001:
| Years Ended December 31, |
||||||||||||
| 2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
||||||||||
| (in thousands, except share and per share data) | ||||||||||||
| Revenues |
||||||||||||
| Property and casualty insurance premiums |
$ | 459,057 | $ | 428,100 | $ | 396,862 | ||||||
| Life insurance premiums and policy charges |
66,172 | 63,005 | 56,007 | |||||||||
| Total premiums and policy charges |
$ | 525,229 | $ | 491,105 | $ | 452,869 | ||||||
| Net investment income |
$ | 83,509 | $ | 88,506 | $ | 84,714 | ||||||
| Total revenues |
$ | 618,047 | $ | 587,548 | $ | 546,296 | ||||||
| Net income |
||||||||||||
| Insurance operations |
||||||||||||
| Property and casualty insurance |
$ | 53,116 | $ | 48,414 | $ | 45,989 | ||||||
| Life insurance |
19,058 | 18,384 | 19,792 | |||||||||
| Total insurance operations |
$ | 72,174 | $ | 66,798 | $ | 65,781 | ||||||
| Noninsurance operations |
4,027 | 4,635 | 3,552 | |||||||||
| Net realized investment gains |
4,071 | 3,354 | 4,191 | |||||||||
| Corporate |
(1,803 | ) | (3,079 | ) | (3,562 | ) | ||||||
| Cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles |
0 | 0 | (456 | ) | ||||||||
| Net income |
$ | 78,469 | $ | 71,708 | $ | 69,506 | ||||||
| Net income per share |
||||||||||||
| Basic |
$ | 0.98 | $ | 0.91 | $ | 0.89 | ||||||
| Diluted |
$ | 0.98 | $ | 0.90 | $ | 0.88 | ||||||
| Weighted average shares outstanding |
||||||||||||
| Basic |
79,808,669 | 78,804,265 | 78,316,112 | |||||||||
| Diluted |
80,390,001 | 79,546,788 | 78,963,282 | |||||||||
3
| alfa |
Managements Discussion and Analysis | |||
| ALFA CORPORATION |
Total premiums and policy charges increased $34.1 million, or 6.9% in 2003 and $38.2 million, or 8.4% in 2002. Property and casualty premiums grew $31.0 million, or 7.2% in 2003 and $31.2 million, or 7.9% in 2002. The growth was a result of increased production, the positive impact of rate increases and strong persistency. Life insurance premiums and policy charges increased $3.2 million, or 5.0% in 2003, and $7.0 million, or 12.5% in 2002. Excluding group premiums, the growth rates in life insurance premiums and policy charges were 5.5% and 11.4% in 2003 and 2002, respectively, and are due to production of new business. Net investment income declined 5.6% in 2003 due to lower market yields and a reduction in partnership income. Positive cash flows resulted in an increase in invested assets in both 2003 and 2002. Partially offsetting this asset growth in 2002 was a slight decline in yield that together with the change in invested assets led to an increase in net investment income of 4.5%. A lower overall portfolio yield partially offset growth in both the loan and lease portfolios in both 2003 and 2002.
Operating income for the property and casualty subsidiaries increased by approximately $4.7 million in 2003 on the strength of an increase in earned premiums of 7.2%. Management believes operating income, a non-GAAP financial measure, serves as a meaningful tool for assessing the profitability of the Companys ongoing operations as it eliminates the effect of securities market volatility from earnings. Operating income is defined by the Company as net income excluding realized investment gains and losses, net of applicable taxes. The property and casualty underwriting margin increased from 7.8% in 2002 to 9.0% in 2003. Excluding the 1.7% impact of catastrophic losses, the overall loss ratio would have been 60.0%, a decrease from the comparable ratio of 61.1% in 2002. An increase in the expense ratio was driven by changes in the contract the property and casualty subsidiaries maintain with each of its independent exclusive agents outside of Alabama. Investment income declined for the second consecutive year due to the reduction in partnership earnings and the low interest rate environment.
Life insurance operating income increased $674,000 or 3.7% in 2003 primarily due to a favorable development in a class action lawsuit. While premiums grew by 5.0%, net investment income declined by 5.4% as yields decreased. The mortality ratio increase from 92% in 2002 to 105% in 2003 was partially offset by the reduction in legal expenses leading to a 1.1% increase in benefits and expenses.
Noninsurance operating income decreased 13.1% in 2003 after increasing 30.5% in 2002. The decline in earnings in 2003 was partially attributable to additional bad debt reserves established in the commercial lease sector of the finance subsidiary. Conversely, income in 2002 was favorably impacted by higher earnings in the consumer financing and commercial leasing segments. While the real estate subsidiary generated 35.7% more in earnings in 2003, the construction and benefits subsidiaries operating earnings decreased by approximately $121,000 and $498,000, respectively. Corporate expenses decreased by $1.3 million in 2003 after falling by approximately $500,000 in 2002. Favorable interest rates lowered the costs associated with the Companys short-term borrowings in both years. In addition, in 2003, corporate expenses were positively impacted by onetime adjustments made to reserves for employee benefit costs of $1.7 million.
Net income improved 8.3% on a per diluted share basis in 2003 compared to 2002 and increased 2.4% on a similar basis in 2002 compared to 2001.
PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE OPERATIONS
The following table sets forth the components of property and casualty insurance earned premiums, net underwriting income, GAAP basis loss, expense and combined ratios, underwriting margin, net investment income and operating income for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001:
| Years Ended December 31, |
||||||||||||
| 2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||
| Earned premiums |
||||||||||||
| Personal lines |
$ | 441,668 | $ | 411,014 | $ | 379,933 | ||||||
| Commercial lines |
15,325 | 14,332 | 14,062 | |||||||||
| Pools, associations and fees |
4,732 | 4,596 | 4,363 | |||||||||
| Reinsurance ceded |
(2,668 | ) | (1,842 | ) | (1,496 | ) | ||||||
| Total |
$ | 459,057 | $ | 428,100 | $ | 396,862 | ||||||
| Net underwriting income |
$ | 41,122 | $ | 33,407 | $ | 31,368 | ||||||
| Loss ratio |
61.7 | % | 62.9 | % | 61.7 | % | ||||||
| LAE ratio |
3.9 | % | 4.3 | % | 3.6 | % | ||||||
| Expense ratio |
25.4 | % | 25.0 | % | 26.8 | % | ||||||
| GAAP basis combined ratio |
91.0 | % | 92.2 | % | 92.1 | % | ||||||
| Underwriting margin |
9.0 | % | 7.8 | % | 7.9 | % | ||||||
| Net investment income |
$ | 28,503 | $ | 30,434 | $ | 31,278 | ||||||
| Operating income before tax |
$ | 69,626 | $ | 64,232 | $ | 62,362 | ||||||
| Operating income, net of tax |
$ | 53,116 | $ | 48,414 | $ | 45,989 | ||||||
2003 Compared to 2002
Property and casualty premiums increased $31.0 million, or 7.2% in 2003, due to an increase in sales production of new business and the positive impact of homeowner rate increases. These factors have contributed to the growth in personal lines earned premiums of 7.5% and 8.2% in 2003 and 2002, respectively.
The property and casualty subsidiaries core underwriting results continued to be favorable in comparison to other insurance carriers due in part to a continued strong automobile loss ratio of 63.7%. As the largest line of business within the Company, automobile comprised 62.5% of property and casualty written premiums in 2003. The overall loss ratio decreased to 61.7% in 2003 from 62.9% in 2002. During 2003, the Alfa Group had approximately $69.0 million in gross catastrophe losses from tornadoes and other severe weather in the second quarter. The Companys earnings were negatively impacted by $7.9 million pre-tax, or $0.06 per share, as a result of this storm activity.
Loss adjustment expenses in 2003 were 3.9% of earned premiums compared to 4.3% in 2002. This decrease in the loss adjustment expense ratio (LAE) is primarily attributable to reserve reductions recorded following the Companys actuarial analysis of required reserves.
4
| Managements Discussion and Analysis | alfa | |||
| ALFA CORPORATION |
The increase in the expense ratio from 25.0% in 2002 to 25.4% in 2003 was due primarily to adjustments in reserves established to cover the cost of purchasing books of business from independent exclusive agents upon their separation from the Company. The expense ratio will continue to be an area where the Company will be challenged as it seeks to secure benefits from technology initiatives as each new system is implemented. The increased underwriting margin was primarily attributable to the improvement in the overall loss ratio as the changes in the LAE ratio and the expense ratio offset one another. Underwriting margin, a non-GAAP financial measure, represents the percentage of each premium dollar earned which remains after losses, loss adjustment expenses and other operating expenses.
Operating income increased by approximately $4.7 million as a decrease in net investment income of $1.9 million partially offset the favorable underwriting results. While the profitable underwriting results generated positive cash flows and an increase in invested assets of 7.1%, net investment income fell to $28.5 million in 2003. At December 31, 2003, the Companys property and casualty subsidiaries Adjusted Capital calculated in accordance with NAIC Risk-Based Capital (RBC) guidelines was $323.4 million compared to the Authorized Control Level (Required) RBC of $22.8 million. These measures serve as a benchmark for the regulation of an organizations solvency by state insurance regulators.
2002 Compared to 2001
Earned premiums increased $31.2 million, or 7.9% in 2002, due to sales production of new business, the positive impact of homeowner rate increases, and a favorable lapse ratio, the percentage of nonrenewing policies, of 3.86%. A rate increase in the fourth quarter of 2001 led to an increase in the proportion of earned premiums attributable to homeowner business as it grew from 20.4% in 2002 to 21.0% in 2002. As the largest line of business within the Company, automobile accounted for 64.4% of property and casualty earned premiums in 2002, a slight decline from 64.6% in 2001.
Operating income increased by approximately $2.4 million despite $7.5 million in pre-tax catastrophic storm losses in 2002. Over $7.4 million in similar losses were incurred in 2001. The underwriting margin of 7.8% in 2002 was the result of a 62.9% loss ratio (61.1% excluding storm losses), a 4.3% LAE ratio and a 25.0% expense ratio compared to a loss ratio of 61.7%, an LAE ratio of 3.6% and an expense ratio of 26.8% in 2001. The non-storm loss ratio increase was due primarily to a higher loss ratio in the automobile line of business.
The Alfa Group had approximately $41.7 million in gross catastrophe losses during 2002 due to the impact of tornadoes and other severe weather occurring in the second, third and fourth quarters. The effect of claims from these events impacted underwriting results by $7.5 million pre-tax, or $0.06 per share, based upon the intercompany pooling arrangement and Alfa group-wide reinsurance protection.
The increase in the LAE ratio of 0.7% of premium is primarily attributable to reserve adjustments made in 2001 following an analysis of the impact new mandatory insurance laws in Alabama had on expenses. The results in 2002 reflect a more normalized trend of costs associated with settling claims. Another factor in the relatively stable underwriting margin was a decrease in the expense ratio from 2001 levels despite additional expenses related to the Companys implementation of new financial reporting systems.
Invested assets grew 10.6% in 2002 while investment income decreased 2.7% due to a decline in distributions from partnerships. At December 31, 2002, the Companys property and casualty subsidiaries Adjusted Capital calculated in accordance with NAIC Risk-Based Capital (RBC) guidelines was $291.3 million compared to the Authorized Control Level (Required) RBC of $19.7 million.
LIFE INSURANCE OPERATIONS
The following table sets forth life insurance premiums and policy charges, by type of policy, net investment income, benefits and expenses and life insurance operating income for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001:
| Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||
| 2003 |
2002 |
2001 | |||||||
| (in thousands) | |||||||||
| Premiums and policy charges |
|||||||||
| Universal life policy charges |
$ | 18,823 | $ | 17,680 | $ | 16,279 | |||
| Universal life policy charges - COLI |
3,245 | 3,168 | 2,677 | ||||||
| Interest sensitive life policy charges |
10,475 | 10,697 | 10,105 | ||||||
| Traditional life insurance premiums |
33,087 | 30,748 | 26,682 | ||||||
| Group life insurance premiums |
542 | 712 | 264 | ||||||
| Total |
$ | 66,172 | $ | 63,005 | $ | 56,007 | |||
| Net investment income |
$ | 44,735 | $ | 47,290 | $ | 46,623 | |||
| Benefits and expenses |
$ | 76,368 | $ | 75,524 | $ | 66,929 | |||
| Operating income before tax |
$ | 25,751 | $ | 26,210 | $ | 27,653 | |||
| Operating income, net of tax |
$ | 19,058 | $ | 18,384 | $ | 19,792 | |||
2003 Compared to 2002
The Companys life insurance premiums and policy charges increased $3.2 million, or 5.0% in 2001. Universal life policy charges and traditional premiums increased by $1.2 million and $2.3 million, respectively. Meanwhile, interest sensitive life policy charges declined by approximately $222,000 or 2.1% and first year collected premiums decreased by 0.4%. Overall, new business premium decreased by 3.4% while persistency was unchanged at 92.9%.
Life insurance operating income, net of tax, increased approximately $674,000, or 3.7% in 2003. Death claims increased $5.3 million, or 27.4% in 2003, and mortality increased from 92% in 2002 to 105% in 2003. Mortality, a non-GAAP financial measure, represents the percentage of
5
| alfa |
Managements Discussion and Analysis | |||
| ALFA CORPORATION |
actuarially expected claims paid. Therefore, in 2003, the Company experienced unfavorable financial results due to the higher than anticipated mortality ratio. Investment income decreased 5.4% while invested assets grew by 8.3% due to positive cash flows. General expenses declined 26.9% as legal expenses decreased following the favorable conclusion of a class-action lawsuit against the Company. Amortization of deferred acquisition costs increased as costs for medical exam fees, commissions and other deferrable expenses from continued production over the past several years was amortized. At December 31, 2003, the life subsidiarys Adjusted Capital calculation in accordance with NAIC Risk-Based Capital (RBC) guidelines was $155.5 million compared to the Authorized Control Level (Required) RBC amount of $10.7 million.
2002 Compared to 2001
The Companys life insurance premiums and policy charges increased $7.0 million, or 12.5% in 2002. Universal life policy charges and traditional premiums increased by $1.9 million and $4.1 million, respectively. The increase in traditional premiums was due to continued increases in term product production. In addition, interest sensitive life policy charges grew by $592,000 or 5.9%. New business premium increased 4.2% while persistency declined slightly from 93.1% to 92.9%.
Life insurance operating income, net of tax, decreased approximately $1.4 million, or 7.1% in 2002. Death claims increased $252,000, or 1.3% in 2002, and mortality declined from 107% in 2001 to 92% in 2002. Investment income increased 1.4% while invested assets grew by 8.2% due to positive cash flows. General expenses increased by approximately $3.4 million or 35.0% primarily due to accruals established for pending litigation of $2.9 million. Amortization of deferred acquisition costs grew by 6.4%, a rate slightly higher than growth in new business as costs associated with prior production were amortized over the estimated policy lives.
At December 31, 2002, the life subsidiarys Adjusted Capital calculation in accordance with NAIC Risk-Based Capital (RBC) guidelines was $135.1 million compared to the Authorized Control Level (Required) RBC amount of $10.3 million.
NONINSURANCE OPERATIONS
2003 Compared to 2002
Earnings from noninsurance operations decreased approximately $608,000 or 13.1% in 2003. Growth of both the loan and lease portfolios was offset by lower yields and an increase in leases charged off resulting in a decrease in income of approximately $203,000, or 5.5%, in the consumer finance and commercial leasing subsidiary. The loan portfolio grew by 5.5% to $100.6 million while the yield on the portfolio at December 31 decreased 59 basis points in 2003. The commercial lease portfolio increased by 26.1% to $117.7 million in 2003 due to higher levels of production. Noninsurance earnings in 2003 were also impacted by declines in income from the construction and benefits subsidiaries of approximately $121,000 and $498,000, respectively. The realty subsidiary, however, benefitted from lower mortgage rates that yielded a $217,000 increase in income.
2002 Compared to 2001
Noninsurance earnings increased $1.1 million or 30.5% in 2002 due primarily to improved operating results in the consumer finance and commercial leasing subsidiary. More favorable interest rate spreads and gains on disposals of previously leased assets contributed to an increase in net income of approximately $1,060,000 from the finance subsidiary. The loan portfolio increased 16.6% to $95.4 million in 2002 while the yield at the end of the year had decreased 85 basis points. The commercial lease portfolio increased by 29.8% to $93.4 million in 2002.
Operating income from the construction subsidiary increased by approximately $62,000 in 2002 due to higher levels of commercial construction activity during the first half of the year. Income from the Companys subsidiary covering certain employee benefits decreased by approximately $81,000 while earnings from the real estate subsidiary increased by over $42,000.
CORPORATE
2003 Compared to 2002
Corporate expense decreased $1.3 million, or 41.4% in 2003 primarily due to one-time adjustments made to reserves for employee benefit costs of $1.7 million. In addition, interest expense on short-term borrowings declined slightly. While corporate debt decreased from $63.9 million at the end of 2002 to $52.6 million on December 31, 2003, the average rate decreased from 1.4% to 1.2%. As in 2002, other general corporate operating expenses remained relatively stable in 2003.
2002 Compared to 2001
In 2002, corporate expenses decreased approximately $483,000, or 13.6% due primarily to lower interest expense related to the Companys commercial paper borrowings. Favorable trends in short-term interest rates allowed the Companys interest expense to decline significantly from levels experienced in 2001. While corporate debt increased from $52.1
6
| Managements Discussion and Analysis | alfa | |||
| ALFA CORPORATION |
million at the end of 2001 to $63.9 million on December 31, 2002, the average rate decreased from 2.1% to 1.4%. Partially offsetting the decline in interest expense was the impact of an increase in corporate legal expenses in 2002. During 2001, corporate legal reserves were reduced by approximately $300,000, producing an unfavorable comparison between the two years. Other general corporate operating expenses remained relatively stable.
INVESTMENTS
The Company has historically produced positive cash flow from operations which has resulted in increasing amounts of funds available for investment and, consequently, higher investment income. Investment income is also affected by investment yields. Information about cash flows, invested assets and yields are presented below for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001:
| Years Ended December 31, |
|||||||||
| 2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
|||||||
| (Decrease) increase in cash flow from operations |
(4.9 | %) | 3.8 | % | (13.6 | %) | |||
| Increase in invested assets |
8.1 | % | 11.8 | % | 10.0 | % | |||
| Investment yield |
5.8 | % | 6.5 | % | 7.0 | % | |||
| Decrease(increase) in net investment income |
(5.6 | %) | 4.5 | % | 16.2 | % | |||
The decrease in cash flow from operations in 2003 was due primarily to a reduction in other liabilities including declines in accounts payable, amounts held for others and legal reserves. Property and casualty underwriting income of $41.1 million in 2003, $33.4 million in 2002 and $31.4 million in 2001 positively impacted cash flow from operations. In addition, the COLI plan in the life insurance subsidiary provided approximately $16 million in additional cash flow in 2003, $15 million in 2002 and $15 million in 2001. As a result of overall positive cash flows, invested assets based on amortized cost, which excludes the impact of Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (SFAS) No. 115, grew 7.5% in 2003, 11.4% in 2002 and 11.7% in 2001. Net investment income decreased 5.6% after increasing 4.5% in 2002 and 16.2% in 2001. The overall yield, calculated using amortized cost, decreased slightly in 2003 and 2002. Conversely, the yield increased slightly in 2001. The decrease in the yield in 2003 is partially due to prepayments within the Companys mortgage-backed portfolio. Higher yielding mortgages were paid off and reinvested at lower yields. In addition, corporate and municipal bonds that were called or matured were reinvested at lower yields. Furthermore, additional cash generated by operations in 2003 was invested at a rate lower than the portfolio rate due to the continuing decline in interest rates. The Company had realized investment gains of approximately $6.3 million in 2003, $5.2 million in 2002 and $6.4 million in 2001. These gains are from sales of equity securities, gains in the Companys put option and covered call option writing program and gains from sales of fixed maturities available for sale.
The composition of the Companys investment portfolio is as follows at December 31, 2003 and 2002:
| December 31, |
||||||
| 2003 |
2002 |
|||||
| Fixed maturities |
||||||
| Taxables |
||||||
| Mortgage-backed (CMOs) |
25.5 | % | 27.0 | % | ||
| Corporate bonds |
21.0 | 24.0 | ||||
| Total taxable |
46.5 | 51.0 | ||||
| Tax exempts |
18.2 | 16.8 | ||||
| Total fixed maturities |
64.7 | 67.8 | ||||
| Equity securities |
7.8 | 3.9 | ||||
| Real estate |
.1 | .2 | ||||
| Policy loans |
3.1 | 3.2 | ||||
| Collateral loans |
5.6 | 6.3 | ||||
| Commercial leases |
6.6 | 5.6 | ||||
| Other long-term investments |
6.2 | 6.9 | ||||
| Short-term investments |
5.9 | 6.1 | ||||
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | |||
The majority of the Companys investment portfolio consists of fixed maturities which are diverse as to both industry and geographic concentration. In 2003, the overall mix of investments remained relatively stable with the exceptions of a shift from fixed maturities to equity securities and the continued growth in the Companys lease portfolios.
The rating of the Companys portfolio of fixed maturities using the Standard & Poors rating categories is as follows at December 31, 2003 and 2002:
| December 31, |
||||||
| 2003 |
2002 |
|||||
| AAA to A- |
90.9 | % | 88.9 | % | ||
| BBB+ to BBB- |
8.4 | 10.8 | ||||
| BB+ and below (below investment grade) |
.7 | .3 | ||||
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | |||
At December 31, 2003, all securities in the fixed maturity portfolio were rated by an outside rating service. The Company considers bonds with a quality rating of BB+ and below to be below investment grade or high yield bonds (also called junk bonds).
At December 31, 2003, approximately 39.4% of fixed maturities were mortgage-backed securities. Such securities are comprised of Collateral Mortgage Obligations (CMOs) and pass through securities. Based on reviews of the Companys portfolio of mortgage-backed securities, the impact of prepayment risk on the Companys financial position is not believed to be significant. These risks are discussed in more detail below in the Market Risk Disclosures section. At December 31, 2003, the Companys total portfolio of fixed maturities had gross unrealized gains of $62.4 million and gross unrealized losses of $4.8 million. All securities are priced by nationally recognized pricing services or by broker/dealers securities firms. During 2003, the Company sold approximately $68.9 million in fixed maturities available for sale. These sales resulted in gross realized gains of $1,644,188 and gross realized losses of $2,519,043.
7
| alfa |
Managements Discussion and Analysis | |||
| ALFA CORPORATION |
During 2002, the Company sold approximately $108.2 million in fixed maturities available for sale. These sales resulted in gross realized gains of $4,866,178 and gross realized losses of $6,343,657.
The Company monitors its level of investments in high yield fixed maturities and its level of equity investments in companies that issue high yield debt securities. Management believes the level of such investments is not significant to the Companys financial condition. At December 31, 2003, the Company had unrealized gains in such investments of approximately $4.1 million compared to unrealized losses of approximately $98,000 at December 31, 2002. The Company recognized a net loss of $3,435,349 on disposals of high yield debt securities in 2002. No such disposals occurred in 2003.
It is the Companys policy to write down securities whose declines in value have been deemed to be other than temporary. The amount written down represents the difference between the cost or amortized cost and the fair value at the time of determining the security was impaired. Quarterly reviews are conducted by the Company to ascertain which securities, if any, have become impaired in value. Investments in securities entail general market risk as well as company specific risk. The year of 2003 represented a return to generally favorable equity markets after three consecutive years of decline. In 2003, the Company wrote down six equity securities totaling $953,349 whose declines in value were deemed to be other than temporary. Similarly, in 2002, the Company wrote down four bond issues totaling $1,169,570 and eleven equity securities totaling $3,653,050 whose declines in value were deemed to be other than temporary. There were no nonperforming bonds included in the portfolio at either December 31, 2003 or December 31, 2002.
Of the Companys approximately $4.8 million in gross unrealized losses on fixed maturities available for sale, approximately $149,000 or 3.1 % are related to corporate securities, $3.9 million or 80.3% to mortgage-backed securities, $469,000 or 9.7% to United States treasury securities and obligations of United States government corporations and agencies and $336,000 or 6.9% to obligations of states and political subdivisions. At December 31, 2003, gross unrealized losses of approximately $400,000 existed on equity securities directly owned by the Company. Of this amount, the greatest concentrations of gross unrealized losses were in the healthcare and consumer discretionary sectors where the Company had losses of approximately $129,000 and $107,000, respectively. In assessing each security, the Company analyzes the industry and earnings trends of the underlying issuer, the length of time the security has continuously been in a loss position, and the magnitude of the loss in comparison to its cost. Generally, the Company writes down securities that have been continuously in a loss position of at least 20% for six consecutive months. In addition, management reviews the underlying causes for any significant loss position within the debt securities to determine if the item is impaired. Due to the subjectivity of the write down process, there are risks and uncertainties that could impact the Companys future earnings and financial position. If recoveries in the price of securities fail to materialize, the Companys earnings and financial position will be negatively impacted. The Companys investment philosophy is one that generally looks for long-range growth based on the Companys willingness and ability to hold investments for extended periods of time.
No equity security or fixed maturity had experienced a reduction in value of at least 20% at the end of 2003. The Companys general practice is to re-evaluate any security written down on a periodic basis in order to determine whether additional impairment has occurred.
At December 31, 2003, the Company held non-investment grade fixed maturities with a cost of $7,994,039 and a fair value of $8,323,865. While these securities represent 0.7% of both the cost and fair value of the Companys fixed maturity portfolio, only one of these investments was in an unrealized loss position. Additionally, at December 31, 2003, the Company owned equity securities that have issued junk bonds with a cost of $7,046,928 and a fair value of $10,784,140. These securities had gross unrealized gains of $3,786,196 and gross unrealized losses of $48,984 at the end of the year. These unrealized losses comprised 7.7% of the total fair value of and 2.1% of the total gross unrealized losses from equity securities for the Company at December 31, 2003.
The table below shows a breakdown of the unrealized losses on fixed maturities at December 31, 2003 based on the maturity date of each.
| Gross Unrealized Loss | |||
| Less than 1 year |
$ | 552,888 | |
| Between 1 and 3 years |
309,063 | ||
| Between 3 and 5 years |
202,478 | ||
| Between 5 and 10 years |
466,288 | ||
| Between 10 and 20 years |
2,688,803 | ||
| Over 20 years |
628,604 | ||
| $ | 4,848,124 | ||
Of the fixed maturities experiencing declines in value at December 31, 2003, one was in a loss position of over $500,000. This security had an unrealized loss of approximately $708,000 at the end of 2003 with a carrying value of approximately $15.3 million and a maturity date in 2014. Of the equity securities directly owed by the Company with unrealized losses at December 31, 2003, none were in loss positions of over $100,000.
The Companys investment in collateral loans and commercial leases consists primarily of consumer loans and commercial leases originated by the finance subsidiary. These loans and leases are collateralized by automobiles, equipment and other property. At December 31, 2003, the delinquency ratio on the loan portfolio was 1.52%, or $1.5 million and the delinquency ratio on the lease portfolio was 2.29%, or $3.1 million. Loans charged off in 2003 totaled $385,846 or 0.4% of the average outstanding loan portfolio while leases charged off in 2003 were $2,265,023 or 2.1% of the average outstanding lease portfolio. At December 31, 2003, the Company maintained an allowance for loan losses of $1,183,587 or approximately 1.2% of the outstanding loan balance. In addition, at December 31, 2003, the Company maintained an allowance for lease losses of $3,487,123 or approximately 2.9% of the outstanding lease balance. Other significant long-term investments include assets leased under operating leases, partnership investments, monthly billing paper and certain other investments.
During the third quarter of 2002, the Companys finance subsidiary, Alfa Financial Corporation, invested $13.5 million in MidCountry Financial, a financial services holding company with one wholly-owned subsidiary, Heights Finance Corp. Heights Finance Corp. was acquired by MidCountry Financial on August 30, 2002 and is a consumer finance company doing business in five Midwestern states. Alfa Financials investment gave it a 42 percent ownership in the newly formed entity. As a result
8
| Managements Discussion and Analysis | alfa | |||
| ALFA CORPORATION |
of this significant ownership percentage, Alfa Financial accounts for earnings from MidCountry Financial using the equity method of accounting. Pretax operating income of approximately $965,000 positively impacted 2003 results.
MARKET RISK DISCLOSURES
The Companys investments and certain of its debt liabilities are financial instruments which are subject to market risk, or the risk of potential loss in fair value, future earnings or cash flow as a result of changes in equity prices, interest rates, foreign exchange rates and commodity prices. The primary market risks to the Company are equity price risk associated with investments in equity securities and interest rate risk associated with investments in fixed maturities. The Companys exposure to commodity risk or foreign exchange risk is immaterial.
INTEREST RATE RISK
The Companys fixed maturity investments and borrowings are subject to interest rate risk. Increases and decreases in interest rates typically result in decreases and increases in the fair value of these financial instruments.
The Companys fixed income portfolio is invested predominantly in high quality corporate, mortgage-backed, government and municipal bonds. The fixed income portfolio has an average effective duration of 5.56 years and an average quality rating of AA1. The changes in the fair value of the fixed maturity portfolio are presented as a component of stockholders equity in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of taxes.
The Company works to manage the impact of interest rate fluctuations on its fixed income portfolio. The effective duration of the portfolio is managed to diversify its distribution. This duration distribution, as well as the portfolios moderate duration, serves to curb the impact of large swings in interest rates on the fixed income portfolio.
EQUITY PRICE RISK
The Company invests in equity securities which have historically, over long periods of time, produced higher returns relative to fixed income investments. The Company seeks to invest at reasonable prices in companies with solid business plans and capable management. The Company intends to hold these investments over the long-term. This focus on long-term total investment returns may result in variability in the level of unrealized investment gains and losses from one period to the next. The changes in the estimated fair value of the equity portfolio are presented as a component of stockholders equity in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of taxes.
At December 31, 2003, the Companys equity portfolio was concentrated in terms of the number of issuers and industries. At December 31, 2003, the Companys top ten equity holdings represented $23.3 million or 27.1% of the equity portfolio. Investments in the healthcare sectors represented 19.6% while energy, consumer discretionary, and combined financial holdings represented 18.5%, 15.3%, and 14.3%, respectively, of the equity portfolio at December 31, 2003. No other sector represented over 10% of the equity portfolio. Such concentration can lead to higher levels of short-term price volatility. Due to its long-term investment focus, the Company is not as concerned with short-term volatility as long as its subsidiaries ability to write business is not impaired.
The table below summarizes the Companys equity price risk and shows the effect of a hypothetical 20% increase and a 20% decrease in market prices as of December 31, 2003. The selected hypothetical changes do not indicate what could be the potential best or worst case scenarios.
| Estimated Fair Value of Equity Securities at 12/31/03 |
Hypothetical Price Change |
Estimated Fair Value After Hypothetical Change in Prices |
Hypothetical Percentage Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders Equity | |||||
| (dollars in thousands) | ||||||||
| $ | 140,553 | 20% increase | $ | 168,664 | 2.9% | |||
| 20% decrease | $ | 112,443 | (2.9%) | |||||
INCOME TAXES
The effective tax rate was 26.4% in 2003, 27.8% in 2002 and 28.7% in 2001. The slight decrease in income tax expense in 2003 when compared to 2002 is due primarily to additional federal tax credits on certain investments and an adjustment in the Companys overall deferred tax liability. The slight increase in income tax expense in 2002 when compared to 2001 are due primarily to the changes in income before provision for income taxes adjusted by the fluctuation in the effective rate due to the relative mix of taxable versus tax-exempt income.
IMPACT OF INFLATION
Inflation increases consumers needs for both life and property and casualty insurance coverage. Inflation increases claims incurred by property and casualty insurers as property repairs, replacements and medical expenses increase. Such cost increases reduce profit margins to the extent that rate increases are not maintained on an adequate and timely basis. Since inflation has remained relatively low in recent years, financial results have not been significantly impacted by inflation.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Alfa Corporation receives funds from its subsidiaries consisting of dividends, payments for funding federal income taxes, and reimbursement of expenses incurred at the corporate level for the subsidiaries. These funds are used for paying dividends to stockholders, corporate interest and expenses, federal income taxes, and for funding additional investments in its subsidiaries operations.
Alfa Corporations subsidiaries require cash in order to fund policy acquisition costs, claims, other policy benefits, interest expense, general operating expenses, and dividends to Alfa Corporation. The major sources of the Companys liquidity are operations and cash provided by maturing or liquidated investments. A significant portion of the Companys investment portfolio consists of readily marketable securities which can be sold for cash. Based on a review of the Companys matching of asset and liability maturities and on the interest sensitivity of the majority of policies in force, management believes the ultimate exposure to loss from interest rate fluctuations is not significant.
Net cash provided by operating activities for the last three years approximated $102 million, $107 million, and $103 million, respectively.
9
| alfa |
Managements Discussion and Analysis | |||
| ALFA CORPORATION |
INTEREST RATE RISK VOLATILITY
The estimated fair value of the Companys investment portfolio at December 31, 2003 was $1.815 billion, 64.3% of which was invested in fixed maturities, 7.8% in equity securities, 6.2% in mortgage and collateral loans, 6.6% in commercial leases, 5.8% in short-term investments and 9.3% in other long-term investments.
The table below summarizes the Companys interest rate risk and shows the effect of a hypothetical change in interest rates as of December 31, 2003. The selected hypothetical changes do not indicate what would be the potential best or worst case scenarios.
| (Dollars in Thousands) |
Estimated Fair Value at December 31, 2003 |
Estimated Change In Interest Rate (bp=basis points) |
Estimated Fair Value After Hypothetical Change in Interest Rate |
Hypothetical Percentage Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders Equity |
|||||||
| FIXED MATURITY INVESTMENTS |
|||||||||||
| U.S. Treasury Securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies |
$ | 73,202 | 200 bp decrease 100 bp decrease 100 bp increase 200 bp increase |
$ |
77,877 75,882 68,941 64,496 |
0.3 0.2 (0.3 (0.6 |
% ) ) | ||||
| Tax-exempt obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions |
$ | 322,815 | 200 bp decrease 100 bp decrease 100 bp increase 200 bp increase |
$ |
372,518 347,810 298,055 274,838 |
5.2 2.6 (2.6 (5.0 |
% ) ) | ||||
| Mortgaged-backed securities |
$ | 460,111 | 200 bp decrease 100 bp decrease 100 bp increase 200 bp increase |
$ |
485,195 476,240 434,509 402,123 |
1.7 1.1 (1.7 (3.9 |
% ) ) | ||||
| Corporate, taxable municipal and other debt securities |
$ | 310,464 | 200 bp decrease 100 bp decrease 100 bp increase 200 bp increase |
$ |
342,719 325,749 294,593 280,244 |
2.2 1.0 (1.1 (2.0 |
% ) ) | ||||
| TOTAL FIXED MATURITIES |
$ | 1,166,952 | 200 bp decrease 100 bp decrease 100 bp increase 200 bp increase |
$ |
1,278,309 1,225,681 1,096,098 1,021,701 |
7.5 4.0 (4.8 (9.8 |
% ) ) | ||||
| MORTGAGE AND COLLATERAL LOANS |
$ | 112,234 | 200 bp decrease 100 bp decrease 100 bp increase 200 bp increase |
$ |
118,353 116,169 105,989 98,089 |
* * * * |
| ||||
| SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS |
$ | 105,782 | 200 bp decrease 100 bp decrease 100 bp increase 200 bp increase |
$ |
112,538 109,655 99,625 93,202 |
* * * * |
| ||||
| LIABILITIES |
|||||||||||
| 1.13% to 1.16% Commercial Paper |
$ | 164,444 | 200 bp decrease 100 bp decrease 100 bp increase 200 bp increase |
$ |
174,946 170,464 154,872 144,886 |
* * * * |
| ||||
| Short-Term Notes Payable |
$ | 37,094 | 200 bp decrease 100 bp decrease 100 bp increase 200 bp increase |
$ |
39,463 38,452 34,935 32,682 |
* * * * |
| ||||
| * | Changes in estimated fair value have no impact on stockholders equity |
10
| Managements Discussion and Analysis | alfa | |||
| ALFA CORPORATION |
In evaluating current and potential financial performance of any corporation, investors often wish to view the contractual obligations and commitments of the entity. The Company has a limited number of contractual obligations in the form of operating leases. These leases have primarily been originated by its commercial leasing and real estate sales subsidiaries. Operating leases supporting the corporate headquarters are the responsibility of Alfa Mutual Insurance Company (Mutual), an affiliate. In turn, the Company reimburses Mutual monthly for a portion of these and other expenses based on a management and operating agreement. There are currently no plans to change the structure of this agreement.
The Companys contractual obligations at December 31, 2003 are summarized below:
| Payments Due by Period | |||||||||||||||
| Total |
Less than 1 year |
1 - 3 years |
4 - 5 years |
After 5 years | |||||||||||
| Operating Leases |
$ | 249,354 | $ | 170,318 | $ | 79,036 | $ | | $ | | |||||
| Capital Lease Obligations |
| | | | | ||||||||||
| Unconditional Purchase Obligations |
| | | | | ||||||||||
| Notes Payable to Affiliates |
37,093,776 | 37,093,776 | | | | ||||||||||
| Long-Term Debt |
70,000,000 | | | | 70,000,000 | ||||||||||
| Other Long-Term Obligations |
| | | | | ||||||||||
| Total Contractual Obligations |
$ | 107,343,130 | $ | 37,264,094 | $ | 79,036 | $ | | $ | 70,000,000 | |||||
The Company maintains a variety of funding agreements in the form of lines of credit with affiliated entities. The chart below depicts, at December 31, 2003 the cash outlay by the Company representing the potential full repayment of lines of credit it has outstanding with others. Also included with the amounts shown as lines of credit are the potential amounts the Company would have to supply to other affiliated entities if they made full use of their existing lines of credit during 2004 with the Companys finance subsidiary, Alfa Financial Corporation. Other commercial commitments of the Company shown below include commercial paper outstanding, scheduled fundings of partnerships, funding of a policy administration system project of the life subsidiary and loans sold to members of the Alfa Mutual Group through which recourse against the finance subsidiary is available if repayment by the customer fails to occur.
| Amount of Commitment Expiration Per Period | |||||||||||||||
| Total Amounts Committed |
Less than 1 year |
1 - 3 years |
4 - 5 years |
After 5 years | |||||||||||
| Lines of Credit |
$ | 28,165,000 | $ | | $ | 8,165,000 | $ | 20,000,000 | $ | | |||||
| Standby Letters of Credit |
| | | | | ||||||||||
| Guarantees |
5,378,270 | 200,000 | 4,067,140 | 1,111,130 | | ||||||||||
| Standby Repurchase Obligations |
| | | | | ||||||||||
| Other Commercial Commitments |
240,907,112 | 212,415,659 | 26,234,981 | 2,019,871 | 236,601 | ||||||||||
| Total Commercial Commitments |
$ | 274,450,382 | $ | 212,615,659 | $ | 38,467,121 | $ | 23,131,001 | $ | 236,601 | |||||
11
| alfa |
Managements Discussion and Analysis | |||
| ALFA CORPORATION |
Such net positive cash flows provide the foundation of the Companys assets/liability management program and are the primary drivers of the Companys liquidity. As previously discussed, the Company also maintains a diversified portfolio of fixed maturity and equity securities which provide a secondary source of liquidity should net cash flows from operating activities prove inadequate to fund current operating needs. Management believes that such an eventuality is unlikely given the Companys product mix (primarily short-duration personal lines property and casualty products), its ability to adjust premium rates (subject to regulatory oversight) to reflect emerging loss and expense trends and its catastrophe reinsurance program, amongst other factors.
Assessment of credit risk is a critical factor in the Companys consumer loan and commercial leasing subsidiary. All credit decisions are made by personnel trained to limit loss exposure from unfavorable risks. In attempting to manage risk, the Company regularly reviews delinquent accounts and adjusts reserves for potential loan losses and potential lease losses. To the extent these reserves are inadequate at the time an account is written off, income would be negatively impacted. In addition, the Company monitors interest rates relative to the portfolio duration. Rising interest rates on commercial paper issued, the primary source of funding portfolio growth, could reduce the interest rate spread if the Company failed to adequately adjust interest rates charged to customers.
Total borrowings increased $25.6 million in 2003 to $271.5 million. The majority of the short-term debt is commercial paper issued by the Company. At December 31, 2003, the Company had approximately $164.6 million in commercial paper at rates ranging from 1.13% to 1.16% with maturities ranging from January 2, 2004 to March 3, 2004. The Company intends to continue to use the commercial paper program as a major source to fund the consumer loan portfolio, commercial lease portfolio and other corporate short-term needs. Backup lines of credit are in place up to $300 million. The backup lines agreements contain usual and customary covenants requiring the Company to meet certain operating levels. The Company has maintained full compliance with all such covenants. The Company has A-1+ and P-1 commercial paper ratings from Standard & Poors and Moodys Investors Service, respectively. The commercial paper is guaranteed by two affiliates, Alfa Mutual Insurance Company and Alfa Mutual Fire Insurance Company. In addition, the Company had $37.1 million in short-term debt outstanding to affiliates at December 31, 2003 with interest equal to commercial paper rates payable monthly.
Included in total borrowings is a variable rate note issued by the Company during the second quarter of 2002 in the amount of $70 million. This note is payable in its entirety at the end of fifteen years with interest payments due monthly. The Company is using the proceeds of this note to partially fund the consumer loan and commercial lease portfolios of its finance subsidiary. The Company has entered into an interest rate swap contract in order to achieve its objective of economically hedging 100 percent of its variable-rate long-term interest payments over the first five years of the note. Under the interest rate swap, the Company receives variable interest payments and makes fixed interest rate payments, thereby fixing the rate on such debt at 4.945%.
On October 25, 1993, the Company established a Stock Option Plan, pursuant to which a maximum aggregate of 4,000,000 shares of common stock have been reserved for grant of options to key personnel. On April 26, 2001, the plan was amended to increase the maximum aggregate number of shares available for grant to 6,400,000 shares. Under the plan, options ratably become exercisable annually over three years and may not be exercised after ten years from the date of award. At December 31, 2003, there had been 2,002,463 options exercised, 1,940,621 options were exercisable and 330,732 had been cancelled leaving 1,614,932 options available for grant under the plan.
In October 1989, the Companys Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of up to 4,000,000 shares of its outstanding common stock in the open market or in negotiated transactions in such quantities and at such times and prices as management may decide. The Board increased the number of shares authorized for repurchase by 4,000,000 in both March 1999 and September 2001, bringing the total number of shares authorized for repurchase to 12,000,000. During 2003, the Company repurchased 299,183 shares at a cost of $3,684,667. At December 31, 2003, the Company had repurchased 7,147,780 shares at a cost of $50,269,724. The Company has reissued 2,002,463 treasury shares as a result of option exercises and sold 1,595,609 shares through funding its dividend reinvestment plan.
All share information presented in this section has been adjusted to reflect the impact of the two-for-one stock split effected in the form of a 100% stock dividend which was paid on June 17, 2002.
Due to the sensitivity of the products offered by the life subsidiary to interest rate fluctuations, the Company must assess the risk of surrenders exceeding expectations factored into its pricing program. Internal actuaries are used to determine the need for modifying the Companys policies on surrender charges and assessing the Companys competitiveness with regard to rates offered.
Cash surrenders paid to policyholders on a statutory basis totaled $17.0 million in 2003 and $14.4 million in 2002. This level of surrenders is within the Companys pricing expectations. Historical persistency rates indicate a normal pattern of surrender activity in 2003, 2002 and 2001. The structure of the surrender charges is such that persistency is encouraged. The majority of the policies in force have surrender charges which grade downward over a 12 to 15 year period. In addition, the majority of the in-force business is interest sensitive type policies which generally have lower rates of surrender. At December 31, 2003, the total amount of cash that would be required to fund all amounts subject to surrender was approximately $548.6 million.
The Companys business is concentrated geographically in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi. Accordingly, unusually severe storms or other disasters in these contiguous states might have a more significant effect on the Company than on a more geographically diversified insurance company. Unusually severe storms, other natural disasters and other events could have an adverse impact on the Companys financial condition and operating results. However, the Companys current catastrophe protection program, which began November 1, 1996, reduces the earnings volatility caused by such catastrophe exposures.
The Companys management uses estimates in determining loss reserves for inclusion in its financial statements. Periodic reviews are conducted by internal actuaries to determine a range of reasonable loss reserves. In addition, the Companys current catastrophe protection program, which began November 1, 1996, was established to address the economics of catastrophe finance. This plan limits the Companys exposure to catastrophes which
12
| Managements Discussion and Analysis | alfa | |||
| ALFA CORPORATION |
might otherwise deplete the Companys surplus through the combination of shared catastrophe exposure within the Alfa Group and the purchase of reinsurance coverage from external reinsurers.
Reinsurance contracts do not relieve the Company from its obligations to policyholders. Failure of reinsurers to honor their obligations could result in losses to the Company; therefore, allowances are established if amounts are determined to be uncollectible. The Company evaluates the financial condition of its reinsurers and monitors concentration of credit risk arising from similar geographic regions, activities, or economic characteristics of the reinsurance to minimize exposure to significant losses from reinsurer insolvencies. At December 31, 2003, the Company does not believe there to be a significant concentration of credit risk related to its reinsurance program.
Lawsuits brought by policyholders or third-party claimants can create volatility in the Companys earnings. The Company maintains in-house legal staff and, as needed, secures the services of external legal firms to present and protect its position. Certain legal proceedings are in process at December 31, 2003. These proceedings involve alleged breaches of contract, torts, including bad faith and fraud claims, and miscellaneous other causes of action. These lawsuits involve claims for mental anguish and punitive damages. Costs for these and similar proceedings, including accruals for outstanding cases, are included in the financial statements of the Company. Management periodically reviews reserves established to cover potential costs of litigation including legal fees and potential damage assessments and adjusts them based on their best estimates. It should be noted that in Mississippi and Alabama, where the Company has substantial business, the likelihood of a judgment in any given suit, including a large mental anguish and/or punitive damage award by a jury, bearing little or no relation to actual damages, continues to exist, creating the potential for unpredictable material adverse financial results.
Increased public interest in the availability and affordability of insurance has prompted legislative, regulatory and judicial activity in several states. This includes efforts to contain insurance prices, restrict underwriting practices and risk classifications, mandate rate reductions and refunds, eliminate or reduce exemptions from antitrust laws and generally expand regulation. Because of Alabamas low automobile rates as compared to rates in most other states, the Company does not expect the type of punitive legislation and initiatives found in some states to be a factor in its primary market in the immediate future. In 1999, the Alabama legislature passed a tort reform package that should help to curb some of the excessive litigation experienced in recent years. In addition, a mandatory insurance bill was passed to require motorists to obtain insurance coverage beginning in June 2000. While this requirement will affect both the revenues and losses incurred by the Company in the future, the full extent or impact is not possible to predict and the Company believes any impact on future results will not be significant.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The Companys Summary of Significant Accounting Policies is presented in Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. As the Company operates in the property and casualty and life insurance industries, its accounting policies are well defined with industry-specific accounting literature governing the recognition of insurance-related revenues and expenses.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires the Companys management to make significant estimates and assumptions based on information available at the time the financial statements are prepared. In addition, management must ascertain the appropriateness and timing of any changes in these estimates and assumptions. Certain accounting estimates are particularly sensitive because of their significance to the Companys financial statements and because of the possibility that subsequent events and available information may differ markedly from managements judgments at the time financial statements are prepared. For the Company, the areas most subject to significant management judgments include reserves for property and casualty losses and loss adjustment expenses, reserves for future policy benefits, deferred policy acquisition costs, valuation of investments, and reserves for pending litigation. The application of these critical accounting estimates impacts the values at which 73% of the Companys assets and 59% of the Companys liabilities are reported and therefore have a direct effect on net earnings and stockholders equity.
Management has discussed the Companys critical accounting policies and estimates, together with any changes therein, with the Audit Committee of the Companys Board of Directors. The Companys Audit Committee has also reviewed the disclosures contained herein.
RESERVES FOR PROPERTY CASUALTY LOSSES AND LOSS ADJUSTMENT EXPENSES
The estimated liabilities for losses and loss adjustment expenses include the accumulation of estimates of losses for claims reported prior to the balance sheet dates, estimates of losses for claims incurred but not reported and the development of case reserves to ultimate values, and estimates of expenses for investigating, adjusting and settling all incurred claims. Amounts reported are estimates of the ultimate costs of settlement, net of estimated salvage and subrogation. The estimates are necessarily subject to the outcome of future events, such as changes in medical and repair costs as well as economic, political and social conditions that impact the settlement of claims. In addition, time can be a critical part of reserving determinations since the longer the span between the incidence of a loss and the payment or settlement of the claim, the more variable the ultimate settlement amount can be. Accordingly, short-tail claims, such as property damage claims, tend to be more reasonably predictable than long-tail liability claims. Due to the Companys current mix of exposures, the majority of claims are settled within twelve months of the date of loss. The amount of loss reserves for reported claims is based primarily upon a case-by-case evaluation of the risk involved, knowledge of the circumstances surrounding each claim and the insurance policy provisions related to the type of loss. The amounts of loss reserves for unreported claims and loss adjustment expenses are determined using historical information by line of business as adjusted to current conditions. Inflation is implicitly provided for in the reserving function through analysis of costs, trends and reviews of historical reserving results. Organized by accident year and evaluation dates, historical data on paid losses, loss adjustment expenses, case reserves, earned premium, catastrophe losses and carried reserves is provided to the Companys actuaries
13
| alfa |
Managements Discussion and Analysis | |||
| ALFA CORPORATION |
who apply standard actuarial techniques to estimate a range of reasonable reserves. The carried reserve is then compared to these estimates to determine whether it is reasonable and whether any adjustments need to be recorded. The Companys appointed actuary conducts his own analysis and renders an opinion as to the adequacy of the reserves. Reserve estimates are closely monitored and are rolled forward quarterly using the most recent information on reported claims. Each quarter, after the rolled forward analysis has been completed, a meeting is held to discuss the actuarial data. Management evaluates reserve level estimates across various segments and adjustments are made as deemed necessary. It is expected that such estimates will be more or less than the amounts ultimately paid when the claims are settled. Changes in these estimates are reflected in current operating results. An increase in the ending reserve for incurred but not reported losses of 1% would have negatively impacted income before income taxes by $426,812 at December 31, 2003. Similarly, increases of 1% in the reserves for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses would have reduced pretax earnings by $785,205 and $274,967, respectively. Due to the Companys geographically-concentrated operations, it is possible that changes in assumptions based on regional data could cause fluctuations in reported results. However, the Companys exposure to large adjustments in these reserves created by these assumption changes is partially limited by its participation in the Alfa Insurance Groups catastrophe protection program. Historically, the Companys reserves, in the aggregate, have been adequate when compared to actual results. Given the inherent variability in the estimates, management believes the aggregate reserves are within a reasonable and acceptable range of adequacy.
RESERVES FOR POLICYHOLDER BENEFITS
Benefit reserves for traditional life products are determined according to the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (SFAS) No. 60, Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises. The methodology used requires that the present value of future benefits to be paid to or on behalf of policyholders less the present value of future net premiums (that portion of the gross premium required to provide for all future benefits and expenses) be determined. Such determination uses assumptions, including provision for adverse deviation, for expected investment yields, mortality, terminations and maintenance expenses applicable at the time the insurance contracts are issued. These assumptions determine the level and the sufficiency of reserves. The Company annually tests the validity of these assumptions.
Benefit reserves for universal life products are determined according to the provisions of SFAS No. 97, Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises for Certain Long-Duration Contracts and for Realized Gains and Losses from the Sale of Investments. This standard directs that, for policies with an explicit account balance, the benefit reserve is the account balance without reduction for any applicable surrender charge. Benefit reserves for the Companys annuity products, like those for universal life products, are determined using the requirements of SFAS No. 97.
In accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 60 and the AICPA Audit and Accounting Guide, credit insurance reserves are held as unearned premium reserves calculated using the rule of 78 method. Reserves for supplementary contracts with life contingencies are determined using the 1971 Individual Annuity Mortality Table and an interest rate of 7.5%. Likewise, reserves for accidental death benefits are determined predominately by using the 1959 Accidental Death Benefit Mortality Table and an interest rate of 3%. Reserves for disability benefits, both active and disabled lives, are calculated primarily from the 1952 Disability Study and a rate of 2.5%. A small portion of the Companys disabled life reserves are calculated based on the 1970 Intercompany Group Disability Study and a rate of 3%.
Reserves for all other benefits are computed in accordance with presently accepted actuarial standards. Management believes that reserve amounts reflected in the Companys balance sheet related to life products:
| | are consistently applied and fairly stated in accordance with sound actuarial principles; |
| | are based on actuarial assumptions which are in accordance with contract provisions; |
| | make a good and sufficient provision for all unmatured obligations of the Company guaranteed under the terms of its contracts; |
| | are computed on the basis of assumptions consistent with those used in computing the corresponding items of the preceding year end; and |
| | include provision for all actuarial reserves and related items which ought to be established. |
VALUATION OF INVESTMENTS
Unrealized investment gains or losses on investments carried at fair value, net of applicable income taxes, are reflected directly in stockholders equity as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and, accordingly, have no effect on net income. Fair values for fixed maturities are based on quoted market prices. The cost of investment securities sold is determined by the specific identification method. The Company monitors its investment portfolio and conducts quarterly reviews of investments that have experienced a decline in fair value below cost to evaluate whether the decline is other than temporary. Such evaluations involve judgment and consider the magnitude and reasons for a decline and the prospects for the fair value to recover in the near term. Declines in market conditions or industry related events, and for which the Company has the intent to hold the investment for a period of time believed to be sufficient to allow a market recovery or to maturity, are considered to be temporary. Future adverse investment market conditions, or poor operating results of underlying investments, could result in an impairment charge in the future. Where a decline in fair value of an investment below its cost is deemed to be other than temporary, a charge is reflected in income for the difference between the cost or amortized cost and the estimated net realizable value. As a result, writedowns of approximately $953,000 were recorded in 2003 on equity securities. No write-downs on fixed maturities were recorded in 2003.
POLICY ACQUISITION COSTS
Policy acquisition costs, such as commissions, premium taxes and certain other underwriting and marketing expenses that vary with and are directly related to the production of business, are deferred and amortized over the effective period of the related insurance policies. The
14
| Managements Discussion and Analysis | alfa | |||
| ALFA CORPORATION |
method followed in computing deferred policy acquisition costs limits the amount of such deferred costs to their estimated realizable value, and gives effect to the costs associated with the production of premium. Future changes in estimates, such as the relative time certain employees spend in initial policy bookings, may require adjustments to the amounts deferred. Changes in underwriting and policy issuance processes may also give rise to changes in these deferred costs. These costs are estimated annually, and are periodically compared to actual expenditures to validate the accuracy of the estimate.
RESERVES FOR LITIGATION
The Company is subject to proceedings, lawsuits and claims in the normal course of business related to its insurance and noninsurance products. At the time a case becomes known, management evaluates the merits of the claimant and determines the need for establishing estimated reserves for potential settlements or judgments as well as reserves for potential costs of defending the Company against the claim. On a quarterly basis, management assesses all pending cases as a basis for evaluating reserve levels. At that point, any necessary adjustments are made to applicable reserves as determined by management and are included in current operating results. Reserves may be adjusted based upon outside counsels advice regarding the law and facts of the case, any revisions in the law applicable to the case, the results of depositions and/or other forms of discovery, whether or not an outside carrier provides a defense and/or indemnification, whether a verdict is rendered for or against the Company, whether management believes an appeal will be successful, or other factors that may affect the anticipated outcome of the case. Management believes adequate reserves have been established in known cases. However, due to the uncertainty of future events, there can be no assurance that actual outcomes will not differ from the assessments made by management.
FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING DEVELOPMENTS
In December 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation-Transition and Disclosure-an amendment of FASB Statement No. 123. While the Company continues to use the intrinsic value method to account for its stock options, Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements have been enhanced to comply with the requirements set forth by this statement.
Also, during 2002, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 45, Guarantors Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees. This interpretation clarifies the requirements of SFAS No. 5, Accounting for Contingencies relating to the guarantors accounting for, and disclosure of, the issuance of certain types of guarantees. The Company complied with the provisions of the interpretation and it did not have a significant impact on the Companys financial position or income.
In January 2003, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities and interpretation of ARB (Accounting Research Bulletin) No. 51. The interpretation addresses consolidation and disclosure issues associated with variable interest entities. In October 2003, the effective date of FIN 46 for variable interest entities in existence prior to February 1, 2003, was delayed to December 31, 2003. In December, the FASB issued a revised version of FIN 46 which effectively delayed implementation until March 2004, with earlier adoption permitted. The Company adopted the provisions of FIN 46 on December 31, 2003. The adoption of FIN 46 did not have a significant impact on the Companys financial position or income. The Company retains significant equity interests in certain variable interest entities that are not consolidated because the Company is not the primary beneficiary. The Companys maximum exposure to loss as of December 31, 2003 was $18,527,260, which was the amount of its carrying value in the financial instruments owned.
In April 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 149, Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities. The changes in this statement improve financial reporting by requiring that contracts with comparable characteristics be accounted for similarly. These changes will result in more consistent reporting of contracts as either derivatives or hybrid instruments. This statement is effective for contracts entered into or modified after September 30, 2003 and for hedging relationships designated after September 30, 2003. The Company has not experienced a significant impact on the Companys financial position or income from this statement.
In May 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 150, Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity. This statement establishes standards for how an issuer classifies and measures certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and equity and is effective for financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003. The Company did not experience a significant impact on the Companys financial position or income from this statement.
INFORMATION ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Any statement contained in this report which is not a historical fact, or which might otherwise be considered an opinion or projection concerning the Company or its business, whether expressed or implied, is meant as and should be considered a forward-looking statement as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and opinions concerning a variety of known and unknown risks, including but not necessarily limited to changes in market conditions, natural disasters and other catastrophic events, increased competition, changes in availability and cost of reinsurance, changes in governmental regulations, technological changes, political and legal contingencies and general economic conditions, as well as other risks and uncertainties more completely described in the Companys filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including this Annual Report on Form 10-K. If any of these assumptions or opinions prove incorrect, any forward-looking statements made on the basis of such assumptions or opinions may also prove materially incorrect in one or more respects and may cause actual future results to differ materially from those contemplated, projected, estimated or budgeted in such forward-looking statements.
15
| alfa |
Consolidated Balance Sheets | |||
| ALFA CORPORATION |
| December 31, |
||||||||
| 2003 |
2002 |
|||||||
| ASSETS |
||||||||
| Investments: |
||||||||
| Fixed Maturities held for investment, at amortized cost (fair value $173,214 in 2003 and $320,145 in 2002) |
$ | 158,623 | $ | 294,633 | ||||
| Fixed Maturities available for sale, at fair value (amortized cost $1,108,853,538 in 2003 and $1,064,816,587 in 2002) |
1,166,418,720 | 1,129,943,756 | ||||||
| Equity Securities available for sale, at fair value (cost $116,063,831 in 2003 and $63,037,993 in 2002) |
140,553,329 | 65,286,596 | ||||||
| Investment Real Estate (net of accumulated depreciation of $1,677,073 in 2003 and $1,575,711 in 2002) |
2,495,534 | 2,594,545 | ||||||
| Policy Loans |
55,282,441 | 53,324,458 | ||||||
| Collateral Loans |
101,876,180 | 105,431,900 | ||||||
| Commercial Leases |
118,121,257 | 93,945,299 | ||||||
| Other Long-term Investments |
111,450,952 | 111,169,362 | ||||||
| Short-term Investments |
105,782,453 | 101,697,650 | ||||||
| Total Investments |
1,802,139,489 | 1,663,688,199 | ||||||
| Cash |
10,892,516 | 9,761,820 | ||||||
| Accrued Investment Income |
15,569,095 | 15,704,004 | ||||||
| Accounts Receivable |
16,689,765 | 12,746,567 | ||||||
| Reinsurance Balances Receivable |
5,815,682 | 3,417,121 | ||||||
| Due from Affiliates |
2,203,955 | 2,177,759 | ||||||
| Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs |
176,252,537 | 159,716,008 | ||||||
| Other Assets |
15,511,547 | 16,844,416 | ||||||
| Total Assets |
$ | 2,045,074,586 | $ | 1,884,055,894 | ||||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY |
||||||||
| Policy Liabilities and Accruals - Property and Casualty Insurance |
$ | 153,831,653 | $ | 148,457,015 | ||||
| Policy Liabilities and Accruals - Life Insurance Interest-Sensitive Products |
508,592,148 | 461,915,553 | ||||||
| Policy Liabilities and Accruals - Life Insurance Other Products |
165,161,507 | 152,897,184 | ||||||
| Unearned Premiums |
170,292,775 | 153,345,832 | ||||||
| Dividends to Policyholders |
10,939,667 | 10,558,507 | ||||||
| Premium Deposit and Retirement Deposit Funds |
6,296,861 | 6,353,594 | ||||||
| Deferred Income Taxes |
50,383,545 | 40,969,533 | ||||||
| Other Liabilities |
53,460,552 | 81,993,685 | ||||||
| Due to Affiliates |
16,065,895 | 15,555,574 | ||||||
| Commercial Paper |
164,443,769 | 133,422,926 | ||||||
| Notes Payable |
70,000,000 | 70,000,000 | ||||||
| Notes Payable to Affiliates |
37,093,776 | 42,488,787 | ||||||
| Total Liabilities |
1,406,562,148 | 1,317,958,190 | ||||||
| Commitments and Contingencies (Notes 1, 3, 9 and 13) |
||||||||
| Stockholders Equity: |
||||||||
| Preferred Stock, $1 par value |
||||||||
| Shares Authorized: 1,000,000 |
||||||||
| Issued: None |
| | ||||||
| Common Stock, $1 par value |
||||||||
| Shares Authorized: 110,000,000 |
||||||||
| Issued: 83,783,024 |
||||||||
| Outstanding: 2003 - 80,217,316; 2002 - 79,278,345 |
83,783,024 | 83,783,024 | ||||||
| Capital in Excess of Par Value |
8,864,064 | 5,531,384 | ||||||
| Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (unrealized gains on securities available for sale, net of tax of $36,571,008 in 2003 and $27,286,998 in 2002 and unrealized losses on interest rate swap contracts, net of tax of $4,780,396 in 2003 and $5,545,256 in 2002) |
41,351,404 | 32,832,254 | ||||||
| Retained Earnings |
537,746,631 | 484,454,615 | ||||||
| Treasury Stock: at Cost (shares, 2003 - 3,565,708; 2002 - 4,504,679) |
(33,232,685 | ) | (40,503,573 | ) | ||||
| Total Stockholders Equity |
638,512,438 | 566,097,704 | ||||||
| Total Liabilities and Stockholders Equity |
$ | 2,045,074,586 | $ | 1,884,055,894 | ||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
16
| Consolidated Statements of Income | alfa | |||
| ALFA CORPORATION |
| Years Ended December 31, |
||||||||||
| 2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
||||||||
| Revenues |
||||||||||
| Premiums - Property and Casualty Insurance |
$ | 459,056,982 | $ | 428,099,586 | $ | 396,862,542 | ||||
| Premiums - Life Insurance |
33,628,724 | 31,460,209 | 26,946,091 | |||||||
| Policy Charges - Life Insurance |
32,543,328 | 31,545,185 | 29,060,722 | |||||||
| Net Investment Income |
83,508,811 | 88,506,032 | 84,714,083 | |||||||
| Realized Investment Gains |
6,263,618 | 5,159,791 | 6,447,517 | |||||||
| Other Income |
3,045,162 | 2,777,624 | 2,265,479 | |||||||
| Total Revenues |
618,046,625 | 587,548,427 | 546,296,434 | |||||||
| Benefits and Expenses |
||||||||||
| Benefits and Settlement Expenses |
364,533,345 | 346,455,505 | 312,943,875 | |||||||
| Dividends to Policyholders |
3,761,720 | 3,662,788 | 3,414,823 | |||||||
| Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs |
86,475,442 | 79,774,497 | 74,440,885 | |||||||
| Other Operating Expenses |
56,679,301 | 58,310,328 | 57,402,360 | |||||||
| Total Expenses |
511,449,808 | 448,203,118 | 448,201,943 | |||||||
| Income Before Provision for Income Taxes |
106,596,817 | 99,345,309 | 98,094,491 | |||||||
| Provision for Income Taxes |
28,127,869 | 27,637,303 | 28,132,594 | |||||||
| Net Income Before Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principle, Net of Income Tax Benefit |
78,468,948 | 71,708,006 | 69,961,897 | |||||||
| Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principle, |
||||||||||
| Net of Income Tax Benefit of $245,715 in 2001 |
| | (456,328 | ) | ||||||
| Net Income |
$ | 78,468,948 | $ | 71,708,006 | $ | 69,505,569 | ||||
| Net Income Per Share Before Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principle, Net of Tax Benefit |
||||||||||
| - Basic |
$ | 0.98 | $ | 0.91 | $ | 0.89 | ||||
| - Diluted |
$ | 0.98 | $ | 0.90 | $ | 0.89 | ||||
| Per Share Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principle, Net of Tax Benefit |
||||||||||
| - Basic |
| | | |||||||
| - Diluted |
| | ($ | 0.01 | ) | |||||
| Net Income Per Share |
||||||||||
| - Basic |
$ | 0.98 | $ | 0.91 | $ | 0.89 | ||||
| - Diluted |
$ | 0.98 | $ | 0.90 | $ | 0.88 | ||||
| Weighted Average Shares Outstanding - Basic |
79,808,669 | 78,804,265 | 78,316,112 | |||||||
| Weighted Average Shares Outstanding - Diluted |
80,390,001 | 79,546,788 | 78,963,282 | |||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
17
| alfa |
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income | |||
| ALFA CORPORATION |
| Years Ended December 31, |
|||||||||||
| 2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
|||||||||
| Net Income |
$ | 78,468,948 | $ | 71,708,006 | $ | 69,505,569 | |||||
| Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), net of tax: |
|||||||||||
| Change in Fair Value of Securities Available for Sale |
11,825,641 | 1,026,709 | (7,256,327 | ) | |||||||
| Unrealized Gain(Loss) on Interest Rate Swap Contracts |
764,860 | (5,545,255 | ) | | |||||||
| Less: Reclassification Adjustment for Realized Investment Gains |
4,071,351 | 3,353,864 | 4,190,886 | ||||||||
| Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) |
8,519,150 | (1,164,682 | ) | (11,447,213 | ) | ||||||
| Total Comprehensive Income |
$ | 86,988,098 | $ | 70,543,324 | $ | 58,058,356 | |||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
18
| Consolidated Statements of Stockholders Equity | alfa | |||
| ALFA CORPORATION |
| Common Stock |
Capital in Excess of Par Value |
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) |
Retained Earnings |
Treasury Stock |
Total |
||||||||||||||||||
| Balance, December 31, 2000 |
$ | 41,891,512 | $ | 24,076,380 | $ | 45,444,149 | $ | 398,705,679 | ($ | 36,556,480 | ) | $ | 473,561,240 | ||||||||||
| Comprehensive Income |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Income |
69,505,569 | 69,505,569 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Other Comprehensive Income, net of tax |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| Change in Net Unrealized Investment(Losses) |
(11,447,213 | ) | (11,447,213 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Dividends to Stockholders ($.2825 per share) |
(22,178,690 | ) | (22,178,690 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Purchase of Treasury Stock (355,900 shares) |
(3,575,198 | ) | (3,575,198 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Exercise of Stock Options (418,202 shares) |
2,359,788 | 886,342 | 3,246,130 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance, December 31, 2001 |
41,891,512 | 26,436,168 | 33,996,936 | 446,032,558 | (39,245,336 | ) | 509,111,838 | ||||||||||||||||
| Effect of Two-for-One Stock Split in June 2002 (Note 10) |
41,891,512 | (32,081,184 | ) | (9,810,328 | ) | | |||||||||||||||||
| Comprehensive Income |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Income |
71,708,006 | 71,708,006 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Other Comprehensive Income, net of tax |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| Change in Net Unrealized Investment(Losses) |
(1,164,682 | ) | (1,164,682 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Dividends to Stockholders ($.2975 per share) |
(23,475,621 | ) | (23,475,621 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of Shares for Dividend Reinvestment Plan (754,288 shares) |
7,520,695 | 2,113,804 | 9,634,499 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Purchase of Treasury Stock (402,497 shares) |
(4,932,330 | ) | (4,932,330 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Exercise of Stock Options (567,198 shares) |
3,655,705 | 1,560,289 | 5,215,994 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance, December 31, 2002 |
83,783,024 | 5,531,384 | 32,832,254 | 484,454,615 | (40,503,573 | ) | 566,097,704 | ||||||||||||||||
| Comprehensive Income |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Income |
78,468,948 | 78,468,948 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Other Comprehensive Income, net of tax |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| Change in Net Unrealized Investment Gains |
8,519,150 | 8,519,150 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Dividends to Stockholders ($.315 per share) |
(25,176,932 | ) | (25,176,932 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of Shares for Dividend Reinvestment Plan (841,321 shares) |
3,333,612 | 7,462,200 | 10,795,812 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Purchase of Treasury Stock (299,183 shares) |
(3,684,667 | ) | (3,684,667 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Exercise of Stock Options (396,833 shares) |
(932 | ) | 3,493,355 | 3,492,423 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Balance, December 31, 2003 |
$ | 83,783,024 | $ | 8,864,064 | $ | 41,351,404 | $ | 537,746,631 | ($ | 33,232,685 | ) | $ | 638,512,438 | ||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
19
| alfa |
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows | |||
| ALFA CORPORATION |
| Years Ended December 31, |
||||||||||||
| 2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
||||||||||
| Cash Flows from Operating Activities: |
||||||||||||
| Net Income |
$ | 78,468,948 | $ | 71,708,006 | $ | 69,505,569 | ||||||
| Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash |
||||||||||||
| Provided by Operating Activities: |
||||||||||||
| Policy Acquisition Costs Deferred |
(98,787,583 | ) | (94,532,074 | ) | (83,997,475 | ) | ||||||
| Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs |
86,475,442 | 79,774,497 | 74,440,885 | |||||||||
| Depreciation and Amortization |
664,549 | (1,177,736 | ) | (999,111 | ) | |||||||
| Provision for Deferred Taxes |
5,342,705 | (2,723,079 | ) | 5,239,406 | ||||||||
| Interest Credited on Policyholders Funds |
26,954,469 | 25,567,812 | 22,898,932 | |||||||||
| Net Realized Investment Gains |
(6,263,618 | ) | (5,159,791 | ) | (6,447,517 | ) | ||||||
| Other |
4,676,534 | (4,552,915 | ) | 487,615 | ||||||||
| Changes in Operating Assets and Liabilities: |
||||||||||||
| Accrued Investment Income |
134,909 | (1,563,907 | ) | (119,112 | ) | |||||||
| Accounts Receivable |
(3,943,198 | ) | 6,934,688 | (6,972,348 | ) | |||||||
| Reinsurance Balances Receivable |
(2,398,561 | ) | (86,990 | ) | (231,070 | ) | ||||||
| Due from Affiliates |
484,125 | (97,766 | ) | 3,819,784 | ||||||||
| Other Assets |
1,332,869 | (6,817,219 | ) | (943,281 | ) | |||||||
| Liability for Policy Reserves |
15,483,640 | 22,364,723 | 2,021,622 | |||||||||
| Liability for Unearned Premiums |
16,946,943 | 14,961,337 | 16,695,685 | |||||||||
| Amounts Held for Others |
324,427 | 1,243,649 | 270,971 | |||||||||
| Other Liabilities |
(24,245,127 | ) | 1,031,284 | 7,253,543 | ||||||||
| Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities |
101,651,473 | 106,874,519 | 102,924,098 | |||||||||
| Cash Flows from Investing Activities: |
||||||||||||
| Maturities and Redemptions of Fixed Maturities Held for Investment |
116,133 | 135,737 | 312,114 | |||||||||
| Maturities and Redemptions of Fixed Maturities Available for Sale |
635,219,130 | 175,198,318 | 121,915,065 | |||||||||
| Maturities and Redemptions of Other Investments |
4,548,307 | 5,540,387 | 48,048,038 | |||||||||
| Sales of Fixed Maturities Available for Sale |
68,916,066 | 108,160,531 | 70,123,319 | |||||||||
| Sales of Equity Securities |
126,036,887 | 62,086,923 | 90,475,020 | |||||||||
| Sales of Other Investments |
4,945,359 | 3,215,389 | 12,997,079 | |||||||||
| Purchases of Fixed Maturities Available for Sale |
(745,426,493 | ) | (411,894,610 | ) | (186,568,928 | ) | ||||||
| Purchases of Equity Securities |
(179,196,188 | ) | (73,139,312 | ) | (71,577,492 | ) | ||||||
| Purchases of Other Investments |
(14,882,461 | ) | (38,897,057 | ) | (84,022,525 | ) | ||||||
| Origination of Consumer Loans Receivable |
(59,061,709 | ) | (61,085,540 | ) | (61,921,031 | ) | ||||||
| Principal Payments on Consumer Loans Receivable |
62,617,429 | 44,214,725 | 43,382,931 | |||||||||
| Origination of Commercial Leases Receivable |
(76,828,008 | ) | (51,756,257 | ) | (56,536,907 | ) | ||||||
| Principal Payments on Commercial Leases Receivable |
52,652,050 | 29,744,408 | 21,294,812 | |||||||||
| Net Change in Short-term Investments |
(4,084,803 | ) | 48,557,626 | (94,321,565 | ) | |||||||
| Net Change in Receivable/Payable on Securities |
(7,323,609 | ) | 1,120,416 | (7,907,709 | ) | |||||||
| Net Cash Used in Investing Activities |
(131,751,910 | ) | (158,798,316 | ) | (154,307,779 | ) | ||||||
| Cash Flows from Financing Activities: |
||||||||||||
| Change in Commercial Paper |
31,020,843 | (31,992,979 | ) | 47,773,344 | ||||||||
| Change in Notes Payable |
| 70,000,000 | (103,806 | ) | ||||||||
| Change in Notes Payable to Affiliates |
(5,395,011 | ) | 5,437,320 | 11,618,488 | ||||||||
| Stockholder Dividends Paid |
(25,176,932 | ) | (23,475,621 | ) | (22,178,690 | ) | ||||||
| Purchases of Treasury Stock |
(3,684,667 | ) | (4,932,330 | ) | (3,575,198 | ) | ||||||
| Proceeds from Exercise of Stock Options, Net of Tax |
2,436,738 | 3,542,658 | 2,541,106 | |||||||||
| Proceeds from Dividend Reinvestment Plan |
10,795,812 | 9,634,499 | | |||||||||
| Deposits of Policyholders Funds |
69,379,831 | 70,069,678 | 67,089,957 | |||||||||
| Withdrawal of Policyholders Funds |
(48,145,481 | ) | (46,822,435 | ) | (46,032,365 | ) | ||||||
| Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities |
31,231,133 | 51,460,790 | 57,132,836 | |||||||||
| Net Change in Cash |
1,130,696 | (463,007 | ) | 5,749,155 | ||||||||
| Cash - Beginning of Period |
9,761,820 | 10,224,827 | 4,475,672 | |||||||||
| Cash - End of Period |
$ | 10,892,516 | $ | 9,761,820 | $ | 10,224,827 | ||||||
| Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information: |
||||||||||||
| Cash Paid During the Year for: |
||||||||||||
| Interest |
$ | 6,647,905 | $ | 5,277,485 | $ | 7,303,126 | ||||||
| Income Taxes |
$ | 27,003,866 | $ | 27,333,374 | $ | 21,639,000 | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
20
| Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | alfa | |||
| ALFA CORPORATION |
1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The accompanying consolidated financial statements are prepared on the basis of accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Generally accepted accounting principles differ in certain respects from the statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by insurance regulatory authorities. Prescribed statutory accounting practices include state laws, regulations, and general administrative rules, as well as a variety of publications of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Permitted statutory accounting practices encompass all accounting practices that are not prescribed. Such practices differ from state-to-state, may differ from company-to-company within a state, and may change in the future. In 1994, the NAIC undertook a project to codify statutory accounting in an effort to develop a single uniform and comprehensive basis of statutory accounting. In its March 1998 meeting, the NAIC membership adopted the Codification of Statutory Accounting Principles Project (the Codification) as the NAIC-supported basis of accounting. The Codification was approved with a provision allowing for commissioner discretion in determining appropriate statutory accounting for insurers. Accordingly, such discretion will continue to allow prescribed or permitted accounting practices that may differ from state to state. The Companys adoption date for the Codification was January 1, 2001. The impact of Codification on the surplus position of the Companys insurance operating subsidiaries was a reduction, after tax, of $227,721.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include, after intercompany eliminations, Alfa Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Alfa Life Insurance Corporation (Life), Alfa Insurance Corporation, Alfa General Insurance Corporation, Alfa Financial Corporation (Financial), Alfa Investment Corporation, Alfa Builders, Inc. (Builders), Alfa Realty, Inc. (Realty), Alfa Agency Mississippi, Inc., Alfa Agency Georgia, Inc. and Alfa Benefits Corporation (ABC). On April 24, 2003, the Companys Board of Directors approved a written consent to dissolve Alfa Investment Corporation. The Company was the only stockholder of this entity which was consolidated in its financial statements. Alfa Investment Corporation had served as the parent of Alfa Builders, Inc. which continued to operate as the Companys wholly-owned construction subsidiary The Companys primary market area is Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi.
Nature of Operations
Alfa Corporation operates predominantly in the insurance industry. Its insurance subsidiaries write life insurance in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi and property and casualty insurance in Georgia and Mississippi. The Companys noninsurance subsidiaries are engaged in consumer financing, commercial leasing, real estate investments, residential and commercial construction, real estate sales and benefit services for the Alfa Group. During the first quarter of 2004, the Company sold its residential and commercial construction subsidiary (Builders) and its real estate sales subsidiary (Realty) to Southern Boulevard Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alfa Mutual Insurance Company for their independently-determined fair values of approximately $5.5 million and $2.6 million, respectively. No gain or loss was recorded on these transactions. As more fully discussed in Note 2, the Companys property and casualty insurance business is pooled with that of the Alfa Mutual Insurance Companies which write property and casualty business in Alabama. The Companys business is concentrated geographically in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi. Approximately $458 million of premiums and policy charges representing 87% of such amounts in 2003 were from policies written in Alabama. Accordingly, unusually severe storms or other disasters in this state might have a more significant effect on the Company than on a more geographically diversified insurance company and could have an adverse impact on the Companys financial condition and operating results. Increasing public interest in the availability and affordability of insurance has prompted legislative, regulatory and judicial activity in several states. This includes efforts to contain insurance prices, restrict underwriting practices and risk classifications, mandate rate reductions and refunds, eliminate or reduce exemptions from antitrust laws and generally expand regulation. Because of Alabamas low automobile rates as compared to rates in most other states, the Company does not expect the type of punitive legislation and initiatives found in some states to be a factor in its primary market in the immediate future.
Revenues, Benefits, Claims and Expenses
Traditional Life Insurance Products: Traditional life insurance products include those products with fixed and guaranteed premiums and benefits and consist principally of whole life insurance policies, term life insurance policies and certain annuities with life contingencies. Premiums are recognized as revenue over the premium-paying period of the policy when due. The liability for future policy benefits is computed using a net level method including assumptions as to investment yields, mortality, withdrawals, and other assumptions based on the Companys experience, modified as necessary, to reflect anticipated trends and to include provisions for possible unfavorable deviations. Policy benefit claims are charged to expense in the period that the claims are incurred.
Universal Life Products: Universal life products include universal life insurance and other interest-sensitive life insurance policies. Universal life revenues, which are considered operating cash flows, consist of policy charges for the cost of insurance, policy administration, and surrender charges that have been assessed against policy account balances during the period. The timing of revenue recognition is determined by the nature of the charge. Cost of insurance and policy administrative charges are assessed on a monthly basis and recognized as revenue when remittances are processed. Percent of premium charges are assessed at the time of payment by the policyholder and recognized as revenue when processed. Surrender charges are recognized as revenue upon surrender of a contract by the policyholder in accordance with contractual terms. Benefit reserves for universal life represent policy account balances before applicable surrender charges. Policy benefits and claims that are charged to expense include interest credited to policy account balances on a monthly basis and death claims reported in the period in excess of related policy account balances.
21
| alfa |
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | |||
| ALFA CORPORATION |
(Note 1, continued)
Property and Casualty Products: Property and casualty premiums are earned ratably over the term of the policies. The liability for unearned premiums represents the portion of premiums written which is applicable to the unexpired term of the policies.
The liability for estimated unpaid property and casualty losses and loss adjustment expenses is based upon an evaluation of reported losses and on estimates of incurred but not reported losses. Adjustments to the liability based upon subsequent developments are included in current operations.
Policy Acquisition Costs
Commissions and other costs of acquiring insurance that vary with and are primarily related to the production of new and renewal business have been deferred. Traditional life insurance acquisition costs are being amortized over the premium payment period of the related policies using assumptions consistent with those used in computing policy benefit reserves. Acquisition costs for universal life type policies are being amortized over the lives of the policies in relation to the present value of estimated gross profits which are determined based upon surrender charges and investment, mortality and expense margins. Acquisition costs for property and casualty insurance are amortized over the period in which the related premiums are earned. Investment income is considered, if necessary, in the determination of the recoverability of deferred policy acquisition costs.
Stock-Based Employee Compensation
At December 31, 2003, the Company has a stock-based employee compensation plan, which is described more fully in Note 15. The Company accounts for this plan using the recognition and measurement principles of the intrinsic value method. The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, to stock-based employee compensation.
| Years Ended December 31, |
||||||||||||
| 2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
||||||||||
| Net income as reported |
$ | 78,468,948 | $ | 71,708,006 | $ | 69,505,569 | ||||||
| Add: Total stock-based compensation expense included in reported net income, net of tax effect |
108,882 | 184,863 | 149,176 | |||||||||
| Less: Total stock-based compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of tax effect |
(1,462,938 | ) | (1,225,629 | ) | (1,002,073 | ) | ||||||
| Pro forma net income |
$ | 77,114,892 | $ | 70,667,240 | $ | 68,652,672 | ||||||
| Earnings per share, as reported - Basic |
$ | 0.98 | $ | 0.91 | $ | 0.89 | ||||||
| - Diluted |
$ | 0.98 | $ | 0.90 | $ | 0.88 | ||||||
| Pro forma earnings per share - Basic |
$ | 0.97 | $ | 0.90 | $ | 0.88 | ||||||
| - Diluted |
$ | 0.96 | $ | 0.89 | $ | 0.87 | ||||||
Investments
Fixed maturities held for investment include investments which the Company has both the ability and positive intent to hold until maturity; such securities are reported at amortized cost. Securities available for sale include investments which the Company may elect to sell prior to maturity and are reported at their current fair value. The unrealized gains or losses on these securities are reflected as accumulated other comprehensive income within stockholders equity, net of taxes. Furthermore, deferred acquisition costs for universal and other interest sensitive life insurance products are adjusted to reflect the effect that would have been recognized had the unrealized holding gains and losses been realized. This adjustment to deferred acquisition costs results in a corresponding adjustment to comprehensive income. Investment income on mortgage-backed securities includes amortization and accretion of premiums and discounts using a method that approximates a level yield, taking into consideration assumed prepayment patterns.
Partnerships accounted for using the equity method are a component of other long-term investments. Investments in partnerships and joint ventures are stated at the underlying audited equity value based on accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The table below summarizes the companys primary partnership interests.
| Ownership |
Carrying Value |
Equity in 2003 Net Earnings |
||||||||
| Alfa Investors |
27 | % | $ | 17,305,375 | ($ | 826,509 | ) | |||
| Alfa Ventures II, LLC |
20 | % | $ | 1,768,580 | $ | 237,454 | ||||
The partnerships above are affiliated with the Company and therefore do not have a readily determinable fair value. The partnerships are reviewed annually for impairments and adjusted accordingly.
22
| Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | alfa | |||
| ALFA CORPORATION |
Equity securities (common and non-redeemable preferred stocks) are carried at fair value, real estate is carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and mortgage loans and policy loans are carried at unpaid principal balances. Long term investments include installment loans, carried at unpaid principal balance, leased assets, carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and partnerships accounted for on the equity method.
Declines in fair values of fixed maturities and equity securities deemed to be other than temporary are recognized in the determination of net income. Realized gains and losses on sales of investments are recognized in net income using the specific identification method. Depreciation on real estate is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets.
The Company has a put option and covered call option writing program that is used in certain circumstances to produce additional income from the equity portfolio. Premiums received from options written are carried at fair value as a liability and any gain or loss is recognized as realized gains or losses. Upon settlement of the contract, the liability is removed and realized gains or losses is adjusted for the difference in fair value. The put option contract premium, if exercised, lowers the purchase price of the underlying security. However, until the contract is exercised or expires, the difference is recognized as realized gains or losses. The Company had $94,975 in options outstanding at December 31, 2003.
Realized investment gains and losses are reported on a pre-tax basis as a component of revenues. Income taxes applicable to net realized investment gains and losses are included in the provision for income tax.
Income Taxes
The Companys method of accounting for income taxes is the liability method. Under the liability method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted to reflect changes in statutory tax rates resulting in income adjustments in the period such changes are enacted. Deferred income taxes are recognized for temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and income tax basis of assets and liabilities, based on enacted tax laws and statutory tax rates applicable to the periods in which the temporary difference is expected to reverse.
Reinsurance
Amounts recoverable from property and casualty reinsurers are estimated in a manner consistent with the claim liability associated with the reinsured policy. Amounts paid for reinsurance contracts are expensed over the contract period during which insured events are covered by the reinsurance contracts.
Use of Estimates in the Preparation of the Financial Statements
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates and assumptions are particularly important in determining the reserves for future policy benefits, losses and loss adjustment expenses and deferred policy acquisition costs. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Earnings Per Share
Basic EPS is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares outstanding. Diluted EPS is computed similarly except that the shares outstanding is increased to give effect to all potentially dilutive shares that would have been outstanding if such shares had been issued. The weighted average diluted shares outstanding include, on a post-split basis, potentially diluted shares which total 581,332 shares in 2003, 742,523 shares in 2002 and 647,170 shares in 2001, all of which are stock options outstanding during each period presented (See Note 15).
Short-Term Investments
Short-term investments with maturities of three months or less are considered to be investments and are not considered to be cash or cash equivalents. The Companys short-term investments are predominately money markets funds and funds held by brokers on a temporary basis. Money market mutual funds seek to maintain a stable net asset value of $1.00 per share. There is no assurance that funds will be able to maintain a stable asset value of $1.00 per share. However, our policy is to invest in money market funds that are rated AAAm and/or Aaa by Standard & Poors and/or Moodys Investor Service, Inc., respectively, and are rated by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners as Class I. These funds are diversified money market funds investing in Tier 1 commercial paper and bank obligations, U.S. Treasury, U.S. government obligations, certificates of deposits and repurchase agreements.
Cash
Cash consists of demand deposits at a bank.
Other
Certain reclassifications have been made to 2002 and 2001 amounts in order to conform to 2003 classifications and descriptions. These reclassifications resulted in an immaterial change to total assets and total liabilities of $1,218 in 2002.
23
| alfa |
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | |||
| ALFA CORPORATION |
2. POOLING AGREEMENT
Effective August 1, 1987, the Company entered into a property and casualty insurance Pooling Agreement (the Pooling Agreement) with Alfa Mutual Insurance Company (Mutual), and other members of the Mutual Group (See Note 3). On January 1, 2001, Alfa Specialty Insurance Corporation (Specialty), a subsidiary of Mutual, also became a participant in the Pooling Agreement. The Mutual Group is a direct writer primarily of personal lines of property and casualty insurance in Alabama. The Companys subsidiaries similarly are direct writers in Georgia and Mississippi. Both the Mutual Group and the Company write preferred risk automobile, homeowner, farmowner and mobile home insurance, fire and allied lines, standard risk automobile and homeowner insurance, and a limited amount of commercial insurance, including church and businessowner insurance. Specialty is a direct writer primarily of nonstandard risk automobile insurance. Under the terms of the Pooling Agreement, the Company cedes to Mutual all of its property and casualty business. Substantially all of the Mutual Groups direct property and casualty business (together with the property and casualty business ceded by the Company) is included in the pool. Mutual currently retrocedes 65% of the pool to the Company and retains 35% within the Mutual Group. Effective January 1, 2001, Specialtys property and casualty business likewise became included in the pool. On October 1, 1996, the Pooling Agreement was amended in conjunction with the restructuring of the Alfa Insurance Groups catastrophe protection program. Effective November 1, 1996, the allocation of catastrophe costs among the members of the pool was changed to better reflect the economics of catastrophe finance. The amendment limited Alfa Corporations participation in any single catastrophic event or series of storms to its pool share (65%) of a lower catastrophe pool limit unless the loss exceeded an upper catastrophe pool limit. In cases where the upper catastrophe limit is exceeded on a 100% basis, the Companys share in the loss would be based upon its amount of surplus relative to other members of the group. Lower and upper catastrophe pool limits are adjusted periodically due to increases in insured property risks. The limits and participation levels since inception of the program are summarized below:
| Lower Catastrophe Pool Limit (millions) |
Upper Catastrophe Pool Limit (millions) |
Estimated Coinsurance Allocation of Catastrophes Exceeding Upper Catastrophe Pool Limit |
|||||||
| November 1, 1996 |
$ | 10.0 | $ | 249.0 | 13 | % | |||
| July 1, 1999 |
11.0 | 284.0 | 13 | % | |||||
| January 1, 2001 |
11.4 | 284.0 | 14 | % | |||||
| January 1, 2002 |
11.6 | 289.0 | 16 | % | |||||
| January 1, 2003 |
12.1 | 301.5 | 18 | % | |||||
| January 1, 2004 |
14.2 | 352.0 | 18 | % | |||||
Alfa Group pooled catastrophe losses of approximately $69 million in 2003, $42 million in 2002, and $39 million in 2001. The Companys share of such losses totaled $7.9 million, $7.5 million, and $7.4 million respectively. The Companys participation in the Pooling Agreement may be changed or terminated without the consent or approval of the Companys stockholders. The Pooling Agreement may be terminated only by mutual agreement of the parties in writing.
As a result of the Pooling Agreement, the Company had a receivable of $1,869,670 from and a payable of $4,097,265 to the Mutual Group at December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002, respectively, for transactions originating in December and settled the following month. Approximately 79.0%, 80.1% and 81.2% of the Companys property and casualty premium income and 69.0%, 69.8% and 71.1% of its total premium income were derived from the Companys participation in the Pooling Agreement in 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively.
3. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Mutual owns 42.8%, Alfa Mutual Fire (Fire) owns 11.4% and Alfa Mutual General (General) owns 0.8% of the Companys common stock. The Board of Directors of the Company consists of eleven members, six of whom serve as Directors of Mutual, Fire and General (collectively, the Mutual Group) and two of whom at December 31, 2003 were executive officers of the Company. One of the Companys directors and most of the Companys executive officers, including the Companys President, also hold the same positions with Mutual, Fire, General and Specialty. The Company paid stockholder dividends to the Mutual Group totaling $13,741,391 in 2003, $12,383,878 in 2002 and $11,571,038 in 2001.
The Mutual Group and the Companys insurance subsidiaries are considered an insurance company holding system with Mutual being the controlling party under the Alabama Insurance Holding Company Systems Regulatory Act and their activities and transactions are subject to reporting, examination and regulation thereunder.
Under a Management and Operating Agreement, Mutual provides substantially all facilities, management and other operational services to the Company and its subsidiaries and to other companies associated with Mutual. Most of the personnel providing management services to the Company are full-time employees of, and are directly compensated by, Mutual. The Companys business is substantially integrated with that of Mutual, Fire and General. Mutual periodically conducts time usage and other special expense allocation studies. Mutual charges the Company for both its allocated and direct salaries, employee benefits and other expenses, including those for the use of office facilities. The amounts paid by the Company to Mutual under the Management and Operating Agreement were approximately $46.9 million in 2003, $46.1 million in 2002 and $41.6 million in 2001. In Alabama, the Companys insurance agents are employees of Mutual. The Company reimburses Mutual for the full amount of all its agents commissions paid by Mutual for the sale of the Companys insurance products.
24
| Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | alfa | |||
| ALFA CORPORATION |
On February 1, 1997, Mutual began covering its employees with a Corporate Owned Life Insurance (COLI) plan utilizing Lifes universal life product. Premiums paid to Life totaled approximately $18.7 million in 2003, $17.8 million in 2002 and $16.7 million in 2001. Policy charges recorded from such premiums totaled approximately $3.2 million in 2003, $3.2 million in 2002 and $2.7 million in 2001. Policy reserves and insurance in force on the COLI plan at December 31, 2003 were approximately $109.6 million and $597.7 million, respectively. Certain of Mutuals employees and those of the affiliated Alabama Farmers Federation not covered by the COLI plan are covered by group life insurance provided by Life. During 2002, certain retired employees of Virginia Mutual Insurance Company, an affiliate of Mutual, began being covered by group life insurance provided by Life. Group life insurance premiums paid to Life totaled $542,167 in 2003, $711,791 in 2002 and $264,416 in 2001. Insurance in force under this plan at December 31, 2003 was approximately $45.5 million. Reserves for group life insurance represent the excess present value of future guaranteed benefits over future premiums plus any unearned premium. Since this one-year term contract renews on January 1 of each year at the discretion of each party, there is no future excess present value of future guaranteed benefits over future premiums at December 31. Since all of the certificates have a renewal date of January 1, the premium for each certificate is fully earned on the following December 31 and no unearned premium liability is present. This reserving method has been used since the Companys inception. The only change in resulting reserves in recent years occurred when the plan year was adjusted to coincide with the calendar year.
Certain of the Companys subsidiaries purchase property insurance and general liability insurance protection from Mutual and Fire. The annual premium paid for such policies totaled approximately $19,600 in 2003, $51,000 in 2002 and $195,000 in 2001.
During 1999, the Company formed a new subsidiary, Alfa Benefits Corporation (ABC), in an effort to improve the controls over employee benefits and related payments, to simplify and consolidate the accounting and recordkeeping function, and to improve operating efficiencies. As a result, the accrued benefit liabilities held by the various Alfa property and casualty entities and their related assets were transferred to ABC at that time. The amounts of net transfers from ABC to Mutual in 2003 and 2002 for payments of benefits totaled approximately $37,000 and $774,000, respectively.
The Companys consumer finance and leasing subsidiary (Financial) leases equipment, automobiles, furniture and other property to the Mutual Group. The Mutual Group paid $1,318,334 in 2003, $1,352,110 in 2002 and $1,490,136 in 2001 under these leases. The Mutual Group invests in automobile and other installment loans issued and serviced by Financial. The amount invested by the Mutual Group in such loans was $29,093,776 and $34,488,787 at December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Interest paid by Financial to the Mutual Group was $434,304 in 2003, $483,785 in 2002 and $894,209 in 2001. The Mutual Groups sponsoring organization, the Alabama Farmers Federation (Federation), and Alfa Services, Inc. (Services), a Federation subsidiary, invest in short-term lines of credit with the Company and Financial. The balance outstanding on these lines of credit included in notes payable to affiliates was $8,000,000 at both December 31, 2003 and 2002. Interest paid by the Company and Financial to the Federation and its subsidiary was $99,104 in 2003, $148,796 in 2002 and $370,660 in 2001.
The Mutual Group is a partner in a real estate partnership, which in 2000 established a revolving line of credit with Financial of $4.0 million at a rate of interest equal to the prime lending rate less 1.0%. During 2002, this line of credit was increased to $5.0 million. At December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002, the amount loaned to the partnership under the line of credit was $4,835,000 and $4,185,000, respectively. Interest paid in 2003 by the Mutual Group from such loan was $140,850 and the amount paid in 2002 was $138,822. The Companys real estate construction subsidiary (Builders) purchased 11 residential lots at fair value for $542,796 in 2003 and 12 residential lots in 2002 at fair value for $559,200 from this partnership and has agreed to purchase an additional 6 residential lots in 2004 at fair value of $292,207. The Companys real estate sales subsidiary (Realty) received commissions of $5,800 for the sale of lots in 2002 from this partnership. No such commissions were received in 2003.
Mutual, through its real estate subsidiary, Southern Boulevard Corporation (Southern), has also invested in a retirement facility partnership and a commercial real estate partnership. In 2002, Realty received $5,900 in commissions for leasing units in the retirement complex and $14,861 in commissions for commercial lot sales from these partnerships. Additionally, Southern paid $21,199 and $2,042 in rent to Realty in 2003 and 2002, respectively. Builders purchased 4 residential lots in 2003 at fair value for $213,000 from Southern and has agreed to purchase an additional 17 residential lots in 2004 at fair value for $965,500.
Southern has a partnership interest in Marshall Creek, Ltd., a real estate development. Financial established capital leases with this entity during 2002 and has received payments of $157,646 and $68,574 under these leases in 2003 and 2002, respectively.
The Companys property and casualty subsidiaries have agreed to guarantee payment on debt owed by three real estate partnerships affiliated with Fire. These guarantees expire between 2004 and 2008 and, in the unlikely circumstance of a guarantee call, could negatively impact the Company by up to $5.4 million.
During 2002, the Mutual Group purchased $1 million of debt securities of MidCountry Financial, an investment in which Financial owns 42% of the outstanding common stock.
In 1997, Mutual established a revolving line of credit with Financial of $20 million at a rate of interest equal to the one month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus .75%. No balance was unpaid at either December 31, 2003 or 2002. While no interest was paid to Financial in 2003 or 2002, interest of $211,706 was paid in 2001. During 2001, Mutual established a line of credit with Financial to fund progress deposits related to a future equipment purchase. Upon delivery, in September 2002, the progress payments and the remaining purchase commitment were rolled into an operating lease. The line of credit had a rate of LIBOR plus .75%. Interest paid to Financial was $17,769 in 2002.
Builders contracts with the Mutual Group for the construction of certain commercial facilities. The Mutual Group paid $299,471 in 2003, $4,423,915 in 2002 and $772,809 in 2001 to Builders under such contracts. In addition, Builders had a receivable from the Mutual Group of $38,246
25
| alfa |
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | |||
| ALFA CORPORATION |
(Note 3, continued)
for construction projects at December 31, 2002. No such receivable was held by Builders at December 31, 2003. Builders also received $25,797 in rental income from the Mutual Group during 2003.
Realty receives commissions for sales and leasing of certain of the Mutual Groups commercial facilities. The Mutual Group paid $9,224 in 2003, $58,340 in 2002 and $45,512 in 2001 for such services. During 2002, Realty received commissions of $11,520 from Services for the sale of commercial property.
The Company periodically has investment transactions with the Mutual Group. In 2003, the Company sold seven securities to the Mutual Group at fair value for a loss of $1,128,328. In addition, during 2002, the Company sold one security to the Mutual Group at fair value for a loss of $1,938,031. In 2001, the Company sold four securities to the Mutual Group at fair value for a loss of $2,264,270. The Company is also a partner in Alfa Investors Partnership with the Mutual Group. The amount invested in the partnership was $17.1 million and $25.2 million at December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The Company had committed to fund up to $7.3 million additional investment in the partnership at December 31, 2003. The Company received distributions from the partnership in 2003 of $2,956,893. In 2000, the Company became a member in Alfa Ventures II, L.L.C. with the Mutual Group. The amount invested in the limited liability company was approximately $1.8 million and $1.7 million at December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. During 2003, the Company received distributions from this partnership of $197,754.
The Companys life subsidiary is the general partner in two investment partnerships with a Charitable Remainder Unit Trust created by Mutual. The amount invested in the partnerships was $900,922 and $811,387 at December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively.
The Companys commercial paper is guaranteed by Mutual and Fire. Fees of $50,000 and $25,000 were paid by the Company to Mutual and Fire, respectively, for their guarantees in 2003.
4. INVESTMENTS
Net investment income by source is summarized as follows:
| 2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
||||||||||
| Fixed maturities: |
||||||||||||
| Held for investment |
$ | 15,929 | $ | 31,273 | $ | 52,411 | ||||||
| Available for sale |
68,422,691 | 73,042,767 | 71,547,155 | |||||||||
| Total fixed maturities |
68,438,620 | 73,074,040 | 71,599,566 | |||||||||
| Equity securities |
2,429,561 | 1,529,435 | 1,987,423 | |||||||||
| Mortgage loans on real estate |
2,211 | 6,123 | 1,489 | |||||||||
| Investment real estate |
377,538 | 334,426 | 368,104 | |||||||||
| Policy loans |
4,090,018 | 3,614,421 | 3,643,981 | |||||||||
| Collateral loans |
7,170,102 | 7,255,063 | 6,322,020 | |||||||||
| Commercial leases |
3,989,713 | 5,101,965 | 3,362,529 | |||||||||
| Other long-term investments |
9,100,770 | 8,909,591 | 10,440,059 | |||||||||
| Short-term investments |
2,631,122 | 2,055,820 | 2,483,401 | |||||||||
| Total investment income |
98,229,655 | 101,880,884 | 100,208,572 | |||||||||
| Interest expense |
(5,705,422 | ) | (5,089,180 | ) | (8,873,862 | ) | ||||||
| Investment expenses |
(9,015,422 | ) | (8,285,672 | ) | (6,620,627 | ) | ||||||
| Net investment income |
$ | 83,508,811 | $ | 88,506,032 | $ | 84,714,083 | ||||||
| Net realized investment gains (losses) are summarized as follows: |
| |||||||||||
| 2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
||||||||||
| Fixed maturities available for sale |
$ | (2,345 | ) | $ | (877,825 | ) | $ | (7,910,845 | ) | |||
| Equity securities |
5,343,876 | 4,095,345 | 10,301,376 | |||||||||
| Other investments |
922,087 | 1,942,271 | 4,056,986 | |||||||||
| Net realized investment gains |
$ | 6,263,618 | $ | 5,159,791 | $ | 6,447,517 | ||||||
26
| Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | alfa | |||
| ALFA CORPORATION |
Changes in net unrealized investment gains and losses on fixed maturities and equity securities, including options, are as follows:
| Increase (Decrease) |
||||||||||||
| 2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
||||||||||
| Fixed maturities: |
||||||||||||
| Held for investment |
$ | (10,921 | ) | $ | (10,170 | ) | $ | (2,827 | ) | |||
| Available for sale, net of tax |
$ | (3,319,155 | ) | $ | 42,727,824 | $ | 9,860,181 | |||||
| Equity securities, net of tax |
$ | 10,880,335 | $ | (16,586,086 | ) | $ | (21,307,394 | ) | ||||
Unrealized investment gains and losses are based on fair values which were determined using nationally recognized pricing services, broker/dealers securities firms and market makers.
At December 31, 2003 and 2002, gross unrealized gains for equity securities amounted to $20,766,924 and $9,935,424, respectively, while gross unrealized losses amounted to $1,778,350 and $7,685,822, respectively, and applicable deferred income taxes aggregated $6,662,380 and $803,743, respectively.
The Companys fixed maturity portfolio is predominantly comprised of investment grade securities. At December 31, 2003 approximately $8.0 million in fixed maturities (0.7% of the total fixed maturity portfolio) are considered below investment grade. The Company considers bonds with a quality rating of BB+ and below, based on Standard & Poors rating scale, to be below investment grade.
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of investments in fixed maturity securities are as follows:
| December 31, 2003 | |||||||||||||
| Amortized Cost |
Gross Unrealized Gains |
Gross Unrealized Losses |
Estimated Fair Value | ||||||||||
| Held for investment: |
|||||||||||||
| Mortgage-backed securities |
$ | 158,623 | $ | 14,591 | $ | | $ | 173,214 | |||||
| Available for sale: |
|||||||||||||
| U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. Government corporations and agencies |
$ | 69,345,782 | $ | 4,325,263 | $ | (468,974 | ) | $ | 73,202,071 | ||||
| Obligations of states and political subdivisions |
364,058,152 | 25,025,215 | (336,240 | ) | 388,747,127 | ||||||||
| Corporate securities |
218,141,635 | 25,933,374 | (148,875 | ) | 243,926,134 | ||||||||
| Mortgage-backed securities |
457,127,969 | 6,703,454 | (3,894,035 | ) | 459,937,388 | ||||||||
| Other debt securities |
180,000 | 426,000 | | 606,000 | |||||||||
| Totals |
$ | 1,108,853,538 | $ | 62,413,306 | $ | (4,848,124 | ) | $ | 1,166,418,720 | ||||
| December 31, 2002 | |||||||||||||
| Amortized Cost |
Gross Unrealized Gains |
Gross Unrealized Losses |
Estimated Fair Value | ||||||||||
| Held for investment: |
|||||||||||||
| Mortgage-backed securities |
$ | 294,633 | $ | 25,512 | $ | | $ | 320,145 | |||||
| Available for sale: |
|||||||||||||
| U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. Government corporations and agencies |
$ | 41,441,221 | $ | 5,996,057 | $ | | $ | 47,437,278 | |||||
| Obligations of states and political subdivisions |
317,035,265 | 23,079,734 | (69,625 | ) | 340,045,374 | ||||||||
| Corporate securities |
270,720,639 | 24,777,330 | (3,437,713 | ) | 292,060,256 | ||||||||
| Mortgage-backed securities |
435,439,462 | 14,805,698 | (329,312 | ) | 449,915,848 | ||||||||
| Other debt securities |
180,000 | 305,000 | | 485,000 | |||||||||
| Totals |
$ | 1,064,816,587 | $ | 68,963,819 | $ | (3,836,650 | ) | $ | 1,129,943,756 | ||||
27
| alfa |
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | |||
| ALFA CORPORATION |
(Note 4, continued)
The following table shows the Companys gross unrealized losses and fair value, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position, at December 31, 2003:
| Less Than 12 Months |
12 Months or More |
Total | ||||||||||||||||
| Fair Value |
Unrealized Losses |
Fair Value |
Unrealized Losses |
Fair Value |
Unrealized Losses | |||||||||||||
| U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. Government corporations and agencies |
$ | 31,207,524 | $ | 468,974 | $ | | $ | | $ | 31,207,524 | $ | 468,974 | ||||||
| Obligations of states and political subdivisions |
20,314,623 | 336,240 | | | 20,314,623 | 336,240 | ||||||||||||
| Corporate securities |
10,954,688 | 148,875 | | | 10,954,688 | 148,875 | ||||||||||||
| Mortgage-backed securities |
171,645,423 | 3,863,511 | 1,967,266 | 30,524 | 173,612,689 | 3,894,035 | ||||||||||||
| Total fixed maturities |
234,122,258 | 4,817,600 | 1,967,266 | 30,524 | 236,089,524 | 4,848,124 | ||||||||||||
| Equity Securities |
53,446,057 | 866,451 | 3,234,485 | 911,899 | 56,680,542 | 1,778,350 | ||||||||||||
| Total temporarily impaired securities |
$ | 287,568,315 | $ | 5,684,051 | $ | 5,201,751 | $ | 942,423 | $ | 292,770,066 | $ | 6,626,474 | ||||||
Of the sixty-eight fixed maturities in an unrealized loss position at December 31, 2003, most are mortgage-backed securities. Of the $3.9 million in unrealized losses on mortgage-backed securities, only 7% of the losses have been due to rating downgrades with the remainder attributable to the interest rate environment. The majority of the Companys mortgage-backed securities are issued by government agencies. Therefore, return of principal is not currently an issue. While unrealized gains and losses will fluctuate with interest rate changes, receipt of principal is highly probable if these securities are held to maturity. The Company reviews securities for impairment each quarter and considers its intent and ability to hold any debt securities in a loss position until the fair value recovers.
There were twenty-four equity positions with unrealized losses at December 31, 2003. The largest long-term position of $867,669 relates to a mutual fund that experienced a recovery proportionate with the general domestic equity markets during 2003. The mutual fund holding supports a non-qualified deferred compensation plan and it is the Companys intent to hold through the period of recovery.
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of fixed maturities available for sale at December 31, 2003 by contractual maturity, are shown below. Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
| December 31, 2003 | ||||||
| Amortized Cost |
Estimated Fair Value | |||||
| Available for sale: |
||||||
| Due in one year or less |
$ | 17,969,724 | $ | 18,370,302 | ||
| Due after one year through five years |
100,520,022 | 110,264,378 | ||||
| Due after five years through ten years |
146,539,991 | 161,382,796 | ||||
| Due after ten years |
386,695,832 | 416,463,856 | ||||
| 651,725,569 | 706,481,332 | |||||
| Mortgage-backed securities |
457,127,969 | 459,937,388 | ||||
| $ | 1,108,853,538 | $ | 1,166,418,720 | |||
28
| Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | alfa | |||
| ALFA CORPORATION |
Proceeds from sales of fixed maturities available for sale were $68,916,066 in 2003, $108,160,531 in 2002 and $70,123,319 in 2001. Gross gains of $1,644,188 in 2003, $4,866,178 in 2002 and $1,849,306 in 2001 and gross losses of $2,519,043 in 2003, $6,343,657 in 2002 and $7,712,034 in 2001 were realized on those sales. In addition, the Company recorded a loss of approximately $1,170,000 in 2002 and $1,371,000 in 2001 for fixed maturities available for sale whose valuation was deemed to be an other than temporary decline. No fixed maturities available for sale were written down during 2003. Proceeds from sales of equity securities were $248,501,960 in 2003, $72,498,502 in 2002 and $76,111,628 in 2001. Gross gains of $10,785,331 in 2003, $15,761,437 in 2002 and $22,378,473 in 2001 and gross losses of $4,488,106 in 2003, $8,013,042 in 2002 and $9,311,829 in 2001 were realized on those sales. The Company also recorded a loss of approximately $953,000 in 2003, $3,653,000 in 2002 and $2,765,000 in 2001 for equity securities whose valuation was deemed to be an other than temporary decline. At December 31, 2003, the Companys mortgage-backed securities were comprised of CMOs and pass through securities. The valuation of such securities is subject to significant fluctuations due to changes in interest rates. The Company has a history of positive cash flow and has the ability to hold such investments to maturity. Management performs periodic assessments of the portfolio to monitor interest rate fluctuations.
As of December 31, 2003 and 2002, the Companys mortgage loan portfolio totaled approximately $3,000 and $38,000, respectively, and the collateral loan portfolio totaled $101.9 million and $105.4 million, respectively. These portfolios consisted of mortgage and consumer loans in the Companys primary market area of Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi. Management evaluates the creditworthiness of customers on a case-by-case basis and obtains collateral as deemed necessary based on this evaluation. At December 31, 2003, the Company had charged off loans totaling $385,846 and had an allowance of $1,183,587.
The Company has estimated the fair value of the collateral loan portfolio to be approximately $102.0 million and $108.7 million at December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The estimated fair value was determined by discounting the estimated future cash flows from the loan portfolio at 5.78% for 2003 and 5.33% for 2002, the current interest rates offered for similar loans, and after allowing for estimated loan losses. At December 31, 2003, the Company had charged off leases totaling $2,265,023 and had an allowance for losses of $3,487,123 on the lease portfolio. The estimated fair value of the lease portfolio was determined by discounting the estimated future cash flows from the lease portfolio at 8.0% for both 2003 and 2002, the current interest rate offered for similar leases, and after allowing for estimated lease losses. The Company had no impaired loans and $1,986,631 in impaired leases subject to individual valuation at December 31, 2003. The Companys policy loans earn interest predominately at 8.0% but do range from 5.0% to 8.0% at December 31, 2003. Because the policy loans have no stated maturity and are often repaid by reductions to benefits and surrenders, it is not practicable to determine the fair value of the policy loan portfolio. Assets leased to affiliated companies are expected to be held until the lease terminates and, therefore, fair value is assumed to equal net cost.
Investments in partnerships and joint ventures are stated at the underlying audited equity value based on accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Income is recognized based on reported earnings by the partnerships and joint ventures. Short-term investments which are comprised almost exclusively of money market funds and holdings by brokers on a temporary basis are not discounted due to their liquidity and short-term nature. Therefore, the Company considers the fair value of its short-term investments to be equal to cost.
At December 31, 2003, the Company had $3,178,726 in investments on deposit with regulatory agencies in order to meet statutory requirements.
5. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
Information about specific valuation techniques and related fair value detail is provided in Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Note 4 - Investments and Note 8 - Notes Payable and Commercial Paper. The cost and estimated fair value of the financial instruments as of December 31 are summarized as follows:
| December 31, | ||||||||||||
| 2003 |
2002 | |||||||||||
| Cost |
Estimated Fair Value |
Cost |
Estimated Fair Value | |||||||||
| Investments: |
||||||||||||
| Fixed maturities held for investment |
$ | 158,623 | $ | 173,214 | $ | 294,633 | $ | 320,145 | ||||
| Fixed maturities available for sale |
$ | 1,108,853,538 | $ | 1,166,418,720 | $ | 1,064,816,587 | $ | 1,129,943,756 | ||||
| Equity securities |
$ | 116,063,831 | $ | 140,553,329 | $ | 63,037,993 | $ | 65,286,596 | ||||
| Short-term investments |
$ | 105,782,453 | $ | 105,782,453 | $ | 101,697,650 | $ | 101,697,650 | ||||
| Mortgage and Collateral loans |
$ | 101,879,385 | $ | 102,018,114 | $ | 105,470,232 | $ | 108,709,716 | ||||
| Commercial leases |
$ | 118,121,257 | $ | 120,520,796 | $ | 93,945,299 | $ | 95,513,692 | ||||
| Other long-term investments |
$ | 121,506,439 | $ | 111,447,747 | $ | 118,629,626 | $ | 114,581,012 | ||||
| Liabilities: |
||||||||||||
| Commercial paper |
$ | 164,443,769 | $ | 164,443,769 | $ | 133,422,926 | $ | 133,422,926 | ||||
| Notes payable |
$ | 107,093,776 | $ | 107,093,776 | $ | 112,488,787 | $ | 112,488,787 | ||||
| Interest rate swap contracts |
$ | | $ | 4,780,396 | $ | | $ | 5,545,256 | ||||
29
| .alfa |
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | |||
| ALFA CORPORATION |
6. POLICIES LIABILITIES AND ACCRUALS
The composition of the liability for future policy benefits and life and health claim reserves and the more significant assumptions used in its calculation are as follows:
| Insurance In Force |
Liability |
Years of Issue |
Basis of Assumption | ||||||||||||||
| December 31, |
Interest Rate |
Mortality |
With- | ||||||||||||||
| 2003 |
2002 |
||||||||||||||||
| Ordinary life |
$ | 10,082,790,825 | $ | 159,344,055 | $ | 148,807,086 | 1955 to 1978 |
5% | 1955-60 Basic Select and Ultimate Mortality Tables |
Company experience | |||||||
| 1979 and 1980 |
7% graded to 5% |
Modified 1965-70 Basic Select and Ultimate Mortality Tables |
Company experience | ||||||||||||||
| 1981 to 1993 |
9% graded to 7% |
Modified 1965-70 Basic Select and Ultimate Mortality Tables |
Company experience | ||||||||||||||
| 1994 to 2003 |
6% | Modified 1965-70 Basic Select and Ultimate Mortality Tables |
Company experience | ||||||||||||||
| Interest sensitive life |
2,223,204,852 | 223,874,289 | 211,440,786 | 1984 to 2003 |
5.35% to 6.25%* |
Modified 1965-70 Basic Select and Ultimate Mortality Tables |
Company experience | ||||||||||
| Universal life |
5,900,693,804 | 273,298,153 | 237,493,032 | 1987 to 2003 |
4.85% to 6.25%* |
Modified 1965-70 Basic Select and Ultimate Mortality Tables |
Company experience | ||||||||||
| Annuities w/o life contingencies |
11,901,614 | 11,924,556 | 1974 to 2003 |
4.85% to 5.75%* |
| | |||||||||||
| Group credit life |
10,554,384 | 315,424 | 284,778 | 1992 to 2003 |
3.0% | 1958 CET | | ||||||||||
| Group life |
45,505,028 | 187,406 | 229,336 | 2003 | 4.5% | 1960 CSG | | ||||||||||
| $ | 18,262,748,893 | $ | 668,920,941 | $ | 610,179,574 | ||||||||||||
| Accident & health |
265,125 | 260,730 | 5% | 1972 intercompany reports | 200% N&W III | ||||||||||||
| Life and health claim reserves |
4,567,589 | 4,372,433 | |||||||||||||||
| $ | 673,753,655 | $ | 614,812,737 | ||||||||||||||
| * | Rates are adjustable annually on policyholders anniversary dates. |
30
| Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | alfa | |||
| ALFA CORPORATION |
Participating policies represent approximately 1% of the ordinary life insurance in force and 5% of life insurance premium income. The amount of dividends paid to policyholders is fixed by the Board of Directors and allocated to participating policyholders. Activity in the liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses is summarized as follows:
| 2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| Property and Casualty |
Life |
Property and Casualty |
Life |
Property and Casualty |
Life |
|||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at January 1, |
$ | 148,457,015 | $ | 4,372,433 | $ | 140,438,285 | $ | 4,561,276 | $ | 145,077,064 | $ | 4,694,823 | ||||||||||||
| Less reinsurance recoverables on unpaid losses |
(2,648,790 | ) | (690,672 | ) | (2,199,925 | ) | (954,204 | ) | (1,681,098 | ) | (1,251,651 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Net balance at January 1, |
145,808,225 | 3,681,761 | 138,238,360 | 3,607,072 | 143,395,966 | 3,443,172 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Incurred related to: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current year |
316,474,214 | 24,427,420 | 299,419,001 | 18,915,015 | 281,868,794 | 18,912,632 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Prior years |
(14,983,674 | ) | 115,329 | (11,717,188 | ) | 345,553 | (22,713,788 | ) | 95,565 | |||||||||||||||
| Total incurred |
301,490,540 | 24,542,749 | 287,701,813 | 19,260,568 | 259,155,006 | 19,008,197 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Paid related to: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current year |
228,506,220 | 22,327,532 | 214,448,000 | 17,239,062 | 203,950,000 | 17,296,994 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Prior years |
70,094,142 | 1,873,367 | 65,683,948 | 1,946,817 | 60,362,612 | 1,547,303 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total paid |
298,600,362 | 24,200,899 | 280,131,948 | 19,185,879 | 264,312,612 | 18,844,297 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net balance at December 31, |
148,698,403 | 4,023,611 | 145,808,225 | 3,681,761 | 138,238,360 | 3,607,072 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Plus reinsurance recoverables on unpaid losses |
5,133,250 | 543,978 | 2,648,790 | 690,672 | 2,199,925 | 954,204 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, |
$ | 153,831,653 | $ | 4,567,589 | $ | 148,457,015 | $ | 4,372,433 | $ | 140,438,285 | $ | 4,561,276 | ||||||||||||
The liability for estimated unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses is based on a detailed evaluation of reported losses and of estimates of incurred but not reported losses. Adjustments to the liability based on subsequent developments are included in current operations. Because the Company is primarily an insurer of private passenger motor vehicles and of single family homes, it has limited exposure for environmental, product and general liability claims. The Company does not believe that any such claims will have a material impact on the Companys liquidity, results of operations, cash flows or financial condition. The table below summarizes the 2003 changes in estimated loss reserves by component and period in thousands of dollars.
| Reserves at January 1, 2003 |
Loss Development |
Paid Loss |
Reserves at December 31, 2003 | |||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
| Prior to |
1994 | $ | 4,457 | $ | 635 | $ | 312 | $ | 4,780 | |||||||
| 1994 | 866 | (110 | ) | 44 | 714 | |||||||||||
| 1995 | 1,312 | (178 | ) | 134 | 998 | |||||||||||
| 1996 | 1,824 | (1,082 | ) | (186 | ) | 928 | ||||||||||
| 1997 | 2,510 | (13 | ) | 338 | 2,158 | |||||||||||
| 1998 | 4,938 | (1,402 | ) | 713 | 2,823 | |||||||||||
| 1999 | 6,710 | (995 | ) | 1,620 | 4,096 | |||||||||||
| 2000 | 12,206 | (2,150 | ) | 3,849 | 6,206 | |||||||||||
| 2001 | 26,016 | (2,098 | ) | 10,388 | 13,529 | |||||||||||
| 2002 | 84,969 | (7,591 | ) | 52,882 | 24,498 | |||||||||||
| 2003 | | 316,474 | 228,506 | 87,968 | ||||||||||||
| Totals | $ | 145,808 | $ | 301,490 | $ | 298,600 | $ | 148,698 | ||||||||
There are inherent uncertainties in reserving for unpaid losses. Managements philosophy has been to establish reserves at a high level of confidence. Consequently, actual results have not generally reached the level of reserves established. As a result of the NAIC codification management performed a more detailed analysis of loss reserves levels. As a result, the Company increased the risk of non-exceedance of loss development with respect to held reserve amounts for statutory reporting, which flowed through to the financial statements prepared using accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These reserve adjustments were spread across accident years according to current actuarial estimates. There were no significant changes in the Companys reserving assumptions or methodologies or in the Companys historical payment patterns. The Company experienced no materially significant large losses or gains in its loss payments during 2001, 2002 or 2003 which led to changes in estimates.
31
| alfa |
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | |||
| ALFA CORPORATION |
7. INCOME TAXES
Below is a comparative analysis of the provisions for income tax appearing in the statements of income:
| 2003 |
2002 |
2001 | ||||||||
| Current |
$ | 22,785,164 | $ | 30,360,382 | $ | 22,893,188 | ||||
| Deferred |
5,342,705 | (2,723,079 | ) | 5,239,406 | ||||||
| Total |
$ | 28,127,869 | $ | 27,637,303 | $ | 28,132,594 | ||||
Reconciliations of the differences between income taxes computed at Federal statutory tax rates and provisions for income taxes are as follows:
| 2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
||||||||||
| Income taxes computed at Federal statutory tax rate |
$ | 37,308,886 | $ | 34,770,858 | $ | 34,333,072 | ||||||
| Dividends received deduction, tax exempt interest and proration |
(4,430,741 | ) | (3,719,861 | ) | (3,307,399 | ) | ||||||
| Tax Credits |
(4,005,681 | ) | (3,028,568 | ) | (2,677,784 | ) | ||||||
| Other, net |
(744,595 | ) | (385,126 | ) | (215,295 | ) | ||||||
| Total |
$ | 28,127,869 | $ | 27,637,303 | $ | 28,132,594 | ||||||
Income taxes are recorded in the Statements of Income and also directly in certain stockholders equity accounts. Income tax expense (benefit) for the years ended December 31 was recorded in the financial statements as follows:
| 2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
||||||||||
| Statements of Income: |
||||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes |
$ | 28,127,869 | $ | 27,637,303 | $ | 28,132,594 | ||||||
| Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle |
| | (245,715 | ) | ||||||||
| Statements of Comprehensive Income: |
||||||||||||
| Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the year |
4,071,306 | 2,379,931 | (6,194,065 | ) | ||||||||
| Statements of Stockholders Equity |
||||||||||||
| Capital in excess of par value: |
||||||||||||
| Exercise of stock options |
(1,055,685 | ) | (1,673,337 | ) | (705,024 | ) | ||||||
| Total income taxes |
$ | 31,143,490 | $ | 28,343,897 | $ | 20,987,790 | ||||||
The net deferred tax liabilities consist of the following:
| 2003 |
2002 |
|||||||
| Deferred Tax Assets: |
||||||||
| Reserve computational method differences |
$ | 28,323,881 | $ | 23,763,870 | ||||
| Unearned premium reserve |
11,912,555 | 10,706,964 | ||||||
| Other |
1,394,331 | 3,159,606 | ||||||
| Total deferred tax asset |
41,630,767 | 37,630,440 | ||||||
| Deferred Tax Liabilities: |
||||||||
| Unrealized gains |
24,624,482 | 20,553,176 | ||||||
| Deferred acquisition costs |
54,444,760 | 49,747,678 | ||||||
| Other |
12,945,069 | 8,299,119 | ||||||
| Total deferred tax liability |
92,014,311 | 78,599,973 | ||||||
| Net deferred tax liability |
($ | 50,383,544 | ) | ($ | 40,969,533 | ) | ||
The Company did not establish a valuation allowance related to the deferred tax assets due to the existence of sufficient taxable income related to future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences.
32
| Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | alfa | |||
| ALFA CORPORATION |
8. NOTES PAYABLE AND COMMERCIAL PAPER
Short-term debt at December 31, 2003 was $201.5 million. Of this amount, the Company had approximately $164.4 million in commercial paper at rates ranging from 1.13% to 1.16% with maturities ranging from January 2, 2004 to March 3, 2004. The Company intends to continue to use the commercial paper program to fund its short-term needs. However, backup lines of credit are in place up to $300 million. The backup lines agreements contain usual and customary covenants requiring the Company to meet certain operating levels. The Company has maintained full compliance with all such covenants. The Company has A-1+ and P-1 commercial paper ratings from Standard & Poors and Moodys Investors Service, respectively. The commercial paper is guaranteed by two affiliates, Alfa Mutual Insurance Company and Alfa Mutual Fire Insurance Company. In addition, the Company had $37.1 million in short-term debt outstanding to affiliates with interest equal to commercial paper rates payable monthly. Due to the short-term nature of the Companys borrowings, their fair values approximate their carrying values.
The Company uses variable-rate debt to partially fund its consumer loan and commercial lease portfolios. In particular, it has issued variable-rate long-term debt and commercial paper. These debt obligations expose the Company to variability in interest payments due to changes in interest rates. If interest rates increase, interest expense increases. Conversely, if interest rates decrease, interest expense also decreases.
As part of its funding efforts, the Company issued a $70 million long-term obligation maturing in fifteen years in the second quarter of 2002 which is included in total borrowings. Management believes it is prudent to limit the variability of a portion of its interest payments. It is the Companys objective to hedge 100 percent of its variable-rate long-term interest payments over the first five years of the life of the debt obligation.
To meet this objective, management entered into an interest rate swap to manage fluctuations in cash flows resulting from interest rate risk. The interest rate swap changes the variable-rate cash flow exposure of the variable-rate long term debt obligation to fixed-rate cash flows by entering into a receive-variable, pay-fixed interest rate swap. Under the interest rate swap, the Company receives variable interest payments and makes fixed interest rate payments, thereby creating fixed-rate long-term debt. The Company also uses derivative instruments through its covered call option program as a means of generating income.
The Company assesses interest rate cash flow risk by continually identifying and monitoring changes in interest rate exposures that may adversely impact expected future cash flows and by evaluating hedging opportunities.
The Company maintains risk management control systems to monitor interest rate cash flow risk attributable to both the Companys outstanding or forecasted debt obligations as well as the Companys offsetting hedge position. The risk management control systems involve the use of analytical techniques, including cash flow sensitivity analysis, to estimate the expected impact of changes in interest rates on the Companys future cash flows.
Interest expense for 2003 and 2002 include no gains or losses from the interest rate swap. Changes in fair value of the interest rate swap designated as a hedging instrument of the variability of cash flows associated with floating-rate, long-term debt obligation are reported in accumulated other comprehensive income. The interest rate swap involves a LIBOR for LIBOR exchange and meets the criteria for short-cut accounting. Therefore, the interest rate swap has no ineffectiveness, thereby eliminating the reclassification of this amount to interest expense in subsequent periods.
9. CONTINGENT LIABILITIES
The property and casualty subsidiaries participate in a reinsurance pooling agreement with Mutual and its affiliates. Should any member of the affiliated group be unable to meet its obligation on a claim for a policy written by the Companys property and casualty subsidiaries, the obligation to pay the claim would remain with the Companys subsidiaries.
Certain legal proceedings are in process at December 31, 2003. Costs for these and similar legal proceedings, including accruals for outstanding cases, totaled $1.1 million in 2003, $5.3 million in 2002, and $930,000 in 2001. These proceedings involve alleged breaches of contract, torts, including bad faith and fraud claims, and miscellaneous other causes of action. These lawsuits involve claims for unspecified amounts of compensation damages, mental anguish damages, and punitive damages. Approximately 22 legal proceedings against Alfa Life Insurance Corporation (Life) were in process at December 31, 2003. Of the 22 proceedings, nine were filed in 2003, eight were filed in 2002, one was in 2001, three were filed in 1999, and one was filed in 1996. In a case tried in January 2001, in Barbour County, Alabama, the jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff against Life for $500,000 in compensatory damages and $5,000,000 in punitive damages. After Life filed post-trial motions, the trial court reduced the punitive damage award to $1,500,000. Life has appealed the award to the Alabama Supreme Court. In a case tried in December 2001, in Bullock County, Alabama, the jury returned a verdict for the plaintiffs against Life for $300,000 in compensatory damages and $3,000,000 in punitive damages. After Life filed post-trial motions, the trial court reduced the punitive damage award to $900,000. Life appealed the award to the Alabama Supreme Court. In September 2003, the Alabama Supreme Court reversed the jury verdict and held that the trial court should have rendered a verdict for Life. The Supreme Court has overruled the plantiffs application for rehearing, concluding the case in favor of Life. In addition, one purported class action lawsuit is pending against both Alfa Builders, Inc. and Alfa Mutual Fire Insurance Company. Additionally, four purported class action lawsuits are pending against the property and casualty companies involving a number of issues and allegations which could affect the Company because of a pooling agreement between the companies. No class has been certified in any of these five purported class action cases. Management believes adequate reserves have been established in these known cases. However, it should be noted that in Mississippi and Alabama, where the Company has substantial business, the likelihood of a judgment in any given suit, including a large mental anguish and/or punitive damage award by a jury, bearing little or no relation to actual damages, continues to exist, creating the potential for unpredictable material adverse financial results.
Based upon information presently available, contingent liabilities arising from any other threatened litigation are not presently considered by management to be material.
33
| alfa |
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | |||
| ALFA CORPORATION |
(Note 9, continued)
The Company periodically invests in partnerships that invest in affordable housing tax credits. At December 31, 2003, the Company had committed to fund partnerships of this type in the amount of approximately $32.2 million.
10. STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY
In October 1989, the Companys Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of up to 4,000,000 shares of its outstanding common stock in the open market or in negotiated transactions in such quantities and at such times and prices as management may decide. In March 1999 and in September 2001, the Companys Board of Directors increased the number of shares authorized to be repurchased by 4,000,000 shares, bringing the total number of shares authorized to be repurchased to 12,000,000. At December 31, 2003, the Company had repurchased a total of 7,147,780 shares at a cost of $50,269,724 and due to the exercise of stock options had reissued 2,002,463 shares at a cost of $7,462,034 under this program. In addition, the Company began funding its dividend reinvestment plan through the sale of treasury stock during 2002 and therefore had reissued an additional 1,595,609 shares at a cost of $9,576,005 at December 31, 2003. These transactions increased the total number of shares outstanding to 80,217,316 shares. All share information presented in this section has been adjusted to reflect the impact of the two-for-one stock split effected in the form of a 100% stock dividend which was paid on June 17, 2002.
The amounts of statutory net income and stockholders equity for the Companys life and property and casualty insurance subsidiaries are as follows:
| 2003 |
2002 |
2001 | |||||||
| Statutory net income: |
|||||||||
| Life insurance subsidiary |
$ | 19,018,395 | $ | 13,003,788 | $ | 20,087,108 | |||
| Property and casualty subsidiaries |
$ | 46,309,213 | $ | 48,747,378 | $ | 43,669,715 | |||
| Statutory stockholders equity: |
|||||||||
| Life insurance subsidiary |
$ | 144,834,065 | $ | 132,468,334 | $ | 146,319,825 | |||
| Property and casualty subsidiaries |
$ | 323,362,343 | $ | 291,296,305 | $ | 269,756,206 | |||
Alfa Corporation is a holding company with no operations and, accordingly, any cash available for dividends or other distributions must be obtained by it from borrowings or in the form of distributions from its operating subsidiaries. Distributions to the Company from its insurance subsidiaries are subject to regulatory restrictions. Under applicable regulatory requirements, the Companys insurance subsidiaries can distribute to the Company an aggregate of approximately $61.1 million without prior regulatory approval in 2004 based on December 31, 2003 financial condition and results of operations.
At December 31, 2003, the life subsidiarys Adjusted Capital calculated in accordance with NAIC Risk-Based Capital guidelines was $155.5 million, compared to the Authorized Control Level amount of $10.7 million, and the property and casualty subsidiaries Adjusted Capital was $323.4 million, compared to the Authorized Control Level amount of $22.8 million. The Risk-Based Capital analysis serves as the benchmark for the regulation of insurance enterprises solvency by state insurance regulators.
34
| Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | alfa | |||
| ALFA CORPORATION |
11. OPERATING LEASES
The Company leases certain property and equipment to Mutual and its affiliates (Note 3) and to third parties under operating leases. Total rental income for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 was approximately $2,583,000, $2,772,000 and $2,476,000, respectively. The cost and net book value of major classes of leased property at December 31, 2003 were:
| Cost |
Net Book Value | |||||
| Transportation equipment |
$ | 16,174,575 | $ | 13,147,175 | ||
| Furniture and equipment |
13,962,634 | 7,052,895 | ||||
| Buildings |
3,271,033 | 1,716,778 | ||||
| Total |
$ | 33,408,242 | $ | 21,916,848 | ||
At December 31, 2003, the aggregate minimum rental payments to be received under leases having initial or remaining lease terms in excess of one year are approximately $3,101,791 in 2004, $2,088,938 in 2005, $1,354,500 in 2006, $794,856 in 2007, $209,899 in 2008 and $0 thereafter.
The Company also leases certain property and equipment from third parties under operating leases. At December 31, 2003 the aggregate minimum rental payments to be made under leases having initial or remaining lease terms in excess of one year are approximately $170,318 in 2004, $79,036 in 2005 and $0 thereafter. Lease expense was approximately $78,220 in 2003, $83,665 in 2002 and $77,475 in 2001.
12. CAPITAL LEASES
OFC Capital (OFC), a division of Financial is in the business of offering lease-financing services to commercial businesses. OFC attempts to offer rates competitive within the commercial leasing industry while providing specialized programs for end users, vendor manufacturers and wholesale brokers. OFC has customers in all 50 states at December 31, 2003. Customers typically have a minimum two-year business history and personally guarantee the transaction. Other products offered to qualified customers include 10% Purchase Upon Termination Leases and Fair Market Value Leases. Generally, the range of leases extend from 24 months to 60 months with the average being 45 months in length and containing a purchase option at the end of the lease term.
During 2002, Financial originated four leases for Marshall Creek, Ltd., one of Mutuals real estate joint ventures. These equipment leases have various expiration dates through 2007. The unearned income on these leases was $68,661 at December 31, 2002.
At December 31, 2003, future minimum lease payments to be received on capital leases with separate deductions for executory costs and allowance for uncollectible minimum lease payments receivable are approximately $47,290,617 in 2004, $36,447,568 in 2005, $25,380,175 in 2006, $13,284,461 in 2007, $5,275,042 in 2008 and $1,002,376 thereafter. Unguaranteed residual values accruing to the benefit of the lessor total $41,875 and $208,461 at December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Initial direct costs and unearned income at December 31, 2003 are $1,391,203 and $17,395,649, respectively. At December 31, 2002, initial direct costs and unearned income were $1,871,195 and $15,827,864, respectively. No contingent rentals have been included in income. At December 31, 2003, future minimum lease payments to be received on capital leases including interest are $48,530,755 in 2004, $37,403,361 in 2005, $26,045,739 in 2006, $13,632,830 in 2007, $5,413,374 in 2008 and $1,028,663 thereafter.
35
| alfa |
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | |||
| ALFA CORPORATION |
13. REINSURANCE
Life reinsures portions of its risks with other insurers. While the amount retained on an individual life will vary depending upon age and mortality prospects of the risk, Life generally will not retain more than $500,000 of individual life insurance on a single risk with the exception of COLI and group policies where the retention is limited to $100,000 per individual. Life has reinsured approximately $2,421,536,699 of its life insurance in force with other insurance companies and has taken reserve credits for approximately $6,406,203 on account of such reinsurance at December 31, 2003. Amounts paid or deemed to have been paid for Lifes reinsurance contracts are recorded as reinsurance receivables. The cost of reinsurance related to long-duration contracts is accounted for over the life of the underlying reinsured policies using assumptions consistent with those used to account for the underlying policies.
The Companys property and casualty insurance subsidiaries, together with Mutual and its affiliates, participate in catastrophe and other reinsurance ceded arrangements to protect them from abnormal losses. The Companys subsidiaries and Mutual and its affiliates are also required to participate in certain assigned risk pools and associations by the states in which they operate.
The following table summarizes the effects of reinsurance on premiums and losses for the three years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001:
| Years Ended December 31, |
||||||||||||
| 2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
||||||||||
| Direct premiums earned |
$ | 158,739,713 | $ | 147,591,913 | $ | 133,451,449 | ||||||
| Premiums ceded to nonaffiliates |
(5,988,558 | ) | (5,014,066 | ) | (5,915,215 | ) | ||||||
| Premiums ceded to pooling agreement |
(86,755,474 | ) | (79,699,905 | ) | (71,660,028 | ) | ||||||
| Premiums assumed from pooling agreement |
459,046,833 | 428,099,570 | 396,864,726 | |||||||||
| Premiums assumed from nonaffiliates |
186,520 | 127,468 | 128,423 | |||||||||
| Net premiums earned |
$ | 525,229,034 | $ | 491,104,980 | $ | 452,869,355 | ||||||
| Direct losses |
$ | 94,129,069 | $ | 81,915,341 | $ | 78,362,922 | ||||||
| Losses ceded to nonaffiliates |
(5,465,659 | ) | (2,177,430 | ) | (5,391,817 | ) | ||||||
| Losses ceded to pooling agreement |
(64,884,220 | ) | (61,811,977 | ) | (54,559,342 | ) | ||||||
| Losses assumed from pooling agreement |
284,289,313 | 270,407,110 | 245,333,906 | |||||||||
| Losses assumed from nonaffiliates |
84,266 | 73,838 | 53,203 | |||||||||
| Loss adjustment expenses, net |
17,935,187 | 18,555,498 | 14,364,331 | |||||||||
| Net losses incurred |
326,087,956 | 306,962,380 | 278,163,203 | |||||||||
| Surrender, maturities, interest and other benefits and settlement expenses |
38,445,389 | 39,493,125 | 34,780,672 | |||||||||
| Total benefits and settlement expenses |
$ | 364,533,345 | $ | 346,455,505 | $ | 312,943,875 | ||||||
Reinsurance contracts do not relieve the Company from its obligations to policyholders. Failure of reinsurers to honor their obligations could result in losses to the Company; therefore, allowances are established if amounts are determined to be uncollectible. The Company evaluates the financial condition of its reinsurers and monitors concentration of credit risk arising from similar geographic regions, activities, or economic characteristics of the reinsurance to minimize exposure to significant losses from reinsurer insolvencies. At December 31, 2003, the Company does not believe there to be a significant concentration of credit risk related to its reinsurance program.
36
| Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | alfa | |||
| ALFA CORPORATION |
14. SEGMENT INFORMATION
The Company reports operating segments based on the Companys legal entities, which are organized by line of business, with property and casualty insurance as one segment, life insurance as one segment, noninsurance businesses composed of consumer financing, commercial leasing, residential and commercial construction and real estate sales as one segment, and corporate operations as one segment. All investing activities are allocated to the segments based on the actual assets, investments and cash flows of each segment.
Segment profit or loss for the property and casualty operating segment is measured by underwriting profits and losses as well as by total net profit. Segment profit or loss for the life insurance segment, the noninsurance segment and the corporate segment is measured by total net profit. Segment expenses are borne by the segment which directly incurred such expense or are allocated based on the Management and Operating Agreement discussed in Note 3.
The following is a summary of segment profit (loss):
| Year Ended December 31, 2003 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Property & Casualty Insurance |
Life Insurance |
Non- Insurance |
Corporate |
Eliminations |
Total | ||||||||||||||||||
| Premiums |
$ | 459,056,982 | $ | 33,628,724 | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 492,685,706 | |||||||||||
| Policy charges |
| 32,543,328 | | | | 32,543,328 | |||||||||||||||||
| Segment expenses |
340,247,663 | 76,367,519 | | | (601,601 | ) | 416,013,581 | ||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of deferred acquisition expense |
77,687,018 | 8,788,424 | | | | 86,475,442 | |||||||||||||||||
| Underwriting income (loss) |
41,122,301 | (18,983,891 | ) | | | 601,601 | 22,740,011 | ||||||||||||||||
| Net investment income (interest expense) |
28,503,408 | 44,734,610 | 11,891,703 | (1,097,023 | ) | (523,887 | ) | 83,508,811 | |||||||||||||||
| Other income |
306,448 | | 2,816,428 | | (77,714 | ) | 3,045,162 | ||||||||||||||||
| Other expense |
276,500 | | 8,758,139 | (73,854 | ) | | 8,960,785 | ||||||||||||||||
| Segment operating income (loss) before tax |
69,655,657 | 25,750,719 | 5,949,992 | (1,023,169 | ) | | 100,333,199 | ||||||||||||||||
| Income tax provision (benefit) |
16,539,092 | 6,692,993 | 1,923,424 | 780,093 | | 25,935,602 | |||||||||||||||||
| Segment operating income (loss) |
53,116,565 | 19,057,726 | 4,026,568 | (1,803,262 | ) | | 74,397,597 | ||||||||||||||||
| Net realized gains (losses) after tax |
(1,486,074 | ) | 5,579,640 | (22,215 | ) | | | 4,071,351 | |||||||||||||||
| Segment net income (loss) |
$ | 51,630,491 | $ | 24,637,366 | $ | 4,004,353 | ($1,803,262) | $ | | $ | 78,468,948 | ||||||||||||
| Segment Assets |
$ | 732,074,595 | $ | 1,013,682,716 | $ | 300,897,197 | $ | 825,852,562 | ($ | 827,432,484 | ) | $ | 2,045,074,586 | ||||||||||
| Year Ended December 31, 2002 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Property & Casualty Insurance |
Life Insurance |
Non- Insurance |
Corporate |
Eliminations |
Total | ||||||||||||||||||
| Premiums |
$ | 428,099,586 | $ | 31,460,209 | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 459,559,795 | |||||||||||
| Policy charges |
| 31,545,185 | | | | 31,545,185 | |||||||||||||||||
| Segment expenses |
323,480,539 | 75,523,603 | | | (498,468 | ) | 398,505,674 | ||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of deferred acquisition expense |
71,211,930 | 8,562,567 | | | | 79,774,497 | |||||||||||||||||
| Underwriting income (loss) |
33,407,117 | (21,080,776 | ) | | | 498,468 | 12,824,809 | ||||||||||||||||
| Net investment income (interest expense) |
30,434,046 | 47,290,298 | 12,318,445 | (1,102,852 | ) | (433,905 | ) | 88,506,032 | |||||||||||||||
| Other income |
399,849 | | 2,442,338 | | (64,563 | ) | 2,777,624 | ||||||||||||||||
| Other expense |
9,335 | | 7,936,973 | 1,976,639 | | 9,992,947 | |||||||||||||||||
| Segment operating income (loss) before tax |
64,231,677 | 26,209,522 | 6,823,810 | (3,079,491 | ) | | 94,185,518 | ||||||||||||||||
| Income tax provision |
15,817,680 | 7,825,208 | 2,188,488 | | | 25,831,376 | |||||||||||||||||
| Segment operating income (loss) |
48,413,997 | 18,384,314 | 4,635,322 | (3,079,491 | ) | | 68,354,142 | ||||||||||||||||
| Net realized gains (losses) after tax |
943,712 | 2,355,239 | 54,913 | | | 3,353,864 | |||||||||||||||||
| Segment net income (loss) |
$ | 49,357,709 | $ | 20,739,553 | $ | 4,690,235 | ($3,079,491) | $ | | $ | 71,708,006 | ||||||||||||
| Segment Assets |
$ | 682,557,720 | $ | 932,129,076 | $ | 279,927,515 | $ | 727,701,165 | ($ | 738,259,582 | ) | $ | 1,884,055,894 | ||||||||||
37
| alfa |
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | |||
| ALFA CORPORATION |
(Note 14, continued)
| Year Ended December 31, 2001 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Property & Casualty Insurance |
Life Insurance |
Non- Insurance |
Corporate |
Eliminations |
Total |
|||||||||||||||||||
| Premiums |
$ | 396,862,542 | $ | 26,946,091 | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 423,808,633 | ||||||||||||
| Policy charges |
| 29,060,722 | | | | 29,060,722 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Segment expenses |
299,101,695 | 66,929,047 | | | (503,972 | ) | 365,526,770 | |||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of deferred acquisition expense |
66,392,582 | 8,048,303 | | | | 74,440,885 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Underwriting income (loss) |
31,368,265 | (18,970,537 | ) | | | 503,972 | 12,901,700 | |||||||||||||||||
| Net investment income (interest expense) |
31,278,295 | 46,623,273 | 9,653,134 | (2,400,559 | ) | (440,060 | ) | 84,714,083 | ||||||||||||||||
| Other income |
(438,028 | ) | | 2,767,599 | | (63,912 | ) | 2,265,479 | ||||||||||||||||
| Other expense |
(153,964 | ) | | 7,171,385 | 1,216,867 | | 8,234,288 | |||||||||||||||||
| Segment operating income (loss) before tax |
62,362,316 | 27,652,736 | 5,249,348 | (3,617,426 | ) | | 91,646,974 | |||||||||||||||||
| Income tax provision (benefit) |
16,373,327 | 7,860,734 | 1,697,243 | (55,341 | ) | | 25,875,963 | |||||||||||||||||
| Segment operating income (loss) |
45,988,989 | 19,792,002 | 3,552,105 | (3,562,085 | ) | | 65,771,011 | |||||||||||||||||
| Net realized gains (losses) after tax |
(180,719 | ) | 4,371,846 | (241 | ) | | | 4,190,886 | ||||||||||||||||
| Cumulative Effect of Changes in Accounting Principles, net of tax |
(283,782 | ) | (172,546 | ) | | | | (456,328 | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Segment net income (loss) |
$ | 45,524,488 | $ | 23,991,302 | $ | 3,551,864 | ($3,562,085) | $ | | $ | 69,505,569 | |||||||||||||
| Segment Assets |
$ | 615,877,907 | $ | 869,582,019 | $ | 222,388,886 | $ | 682,299,794 | ($ | 692,544,142 | ) | $ | 1,697,604,464 | |||||||||||
The following summary reconciles significant segment items to the Companys consolidated financial statements:
| Years Ended December 31, |
||||||||||||
| 2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
||||||||||
| Revenues: |
||||||||||||
| Premiums - Property & Casualty Insurance |
$ | 459,056,982 | $ | 428,099,586 | $ | 396,862,542 | ||||||
| Premiums - Life Insurance |
33,628,724 | 31,460,209 | 26,946,091 | |||||||||
| Policy charges - Life Insurance |
32,543,328 | 31,545,185 | 29,060,722 | |||||||||
| Net investment income |
83,508,811 | 88,506,032 | 84,714,083 | |||||||||
| Net realized investment gains |
6,263,618 | 5,159,791 | 6,447,517 | |||||||||
| Other income |
3,045,162 | 2,777,624 | 2,265,479 | |||||||||
| Total revenues |
$ | 618,046,625 | $ | 587,548,427 | $ | 546,296,434 | ||||||
| Income before income taxes: |
||||||||||||
| Underwriting profit |
$ | 22,740,011 | $ | 12,824,809 | $ | 12,901,700 | ||||||
| Other income |
3,045,162 | 2,777,624 | 2,265,479 | |||||||||
| Other expense |
(8,960,785 | ) | (9,922,947 | ) | (8,234,288 | ) | ||||||
| Net investment income |
83,508,811 | 88,506,032 | 84,714,083 | |||||||||
| Net realized investment gains |
6,263,618 | 5,159,791 | 6,447,517 | |||||||||
| Income before income taxes |
$ | 106,596,817 | $ | 99,345,309 | $ | 98,094,491 | ||||||
| Income taxes: |
||||||||||||
| Allocated to segments |
$ | 25,935,602 | $ | 25,831,376 | $ | 25,875,963 | ||||||
| Allocated to realized gains |
2,192,267 | 1,805,927 | 2,256,631 | |||||||||
| Total income tax |
$ | 28,127,869 | $ | 27,637,303 | $ | 28,132,594 | ||||||
| Assets: |
||||||||||||
| Allocated to segments |
$ | 2,872,507,070 | $ | 2,622,315,476 | $ | 2,390,148,606 | ||||||
| Eliminations |
(827,432,484 | ) | (738,259,582 | ) | (692,544,142 | ) | ||||||
| Total assets |
$ | 2,045,074,586 | $ | 1,884,055,894 | $ | 1,697,604,464 | ||||||
38
| Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | alfa | |||
| ALFA CORPORATION |
15. ACCOUNTING FOR STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
Consistent with the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, the Company uses the intrinsic value based method to account for its stock options and provides pro forma disclosures as if the fair value based method had been applied. On October 25, 1993, the Company established a Stock Incentive Plan, pursuant to which a maximum aggregate of 4,000,000 shares of common stock were reserved for grant to key personnel. On April 26, 2001, the plan was amended to increase the maximum aggregate number of shares available for grant to 6,400,000 shares. Under the plan, options ratably become exercisable annually over three years and may not be exercised after ten years from the date of the award.
All share and per share information presented in this footnote has been adjusted to reflect the impact of the two-for-one stock split effected in the form of a 100% stock dividend which was paid on June 17, 2002. The following tables and information summarize the stock option activity of the Companys plan and provide the pro forma disclosures of net income and earnings per share under the fair value based method of accounting.
Historical Summary of Option Grants
| Exercise Price |
Market Value at Date of |
Cumulative through December 31, 2003 | ||||||||||||||
| Options Cancelled |
Options Exercised |
Options Exercisable | ||||||||||||||
| Options Authorized |
6,400,000 | |||||||||||||||
| Options Granted During |
||||||||||||||||
| October 1993 |
1,130,800 | $ | 5.88 | $ | 5.88 | 167,600 | 963,200 | | ||||||||
| October 1993 |
436,000 | $ | 4.70 | $ | 5.88 | | 436,000 | | ||||||||
| March 1994 |
160,000 | $ | 5.75 | $ | 5.75 | | 127,000 | 33,000 | ||||||||
| March 1995 |
160,000 | $ | 5.75 | $ | 5.75 | | 66,199 | 93,801 | ||||||||
| April 1996 |
160,000 | $ | 6.13 | $ | 6.13 | 3,334 | 42,998 | 113,668 | ||||||||
| February 1997 |
150,000 | $ | 6.00 | $ | 6.00 | 8,000 | 50,666 | 91,334 | ||||||||
| March 1998 |
619,000 | $ | 8.88 | $ | 8.88 | 37,800 | 173,400 | 407,800 | ||||||||
| March 1998 |
286,000 | $ | 7.10 | $ | 8.88 | 10,665 | 26,668 | 248,667 | ||||||||
| April 1999 |
335,000 | $ | 8.22 | $ | 8.22 | 43,333 | 40,000 | 251,667 | ||||||||
| October 1999 |
16,000 | $ | 8.53 | $ | 8.53 | | 10,000 | 6,000 | ||||||||
| April 2000 |
386,000 | $ | 8.66 | $ | 8.66 | 60,000 | 49,001 | 276,999 | ||||||||
| August 2000 |
17,000 | $ | 8.50 | $ | 8.50 | | | 17,000 | ||||||||
| March 2001 |
389,000 | $ | 9.41 | $ | 9.41 | | 17,331 | 244,676 | ||||||||
| March 2001 |
15,000 | $ | 5.85 | $ | 9.41 | | | 15,000 | ||||||||
| March 2002 |
423,000 | $ | 13.93 | $ | 13.93 | | | 141,009 | ||||||||
| February 2003 |
433,000 | $ | 11.65 | $ | 11.65 | | | | ||||||||
| 330,732 | 2,002,463 | 1,940,621 | ||||||||||||||
| Less: Total Options Granted |
5,115,800 | |||||||||||||||
| Add: Options Cancelled |
330,732 | |||||||||||||||
| Available for Grant under Plan at December 31, 2003 |
1,614,932 | |||||||||||||||
To determine the fair value of the options granted during 2003, 2002 and 2001 the Company has used the Black-Scholes model for valuations. The significant assumptions used to estimate the total and per share fair value of such options at the date of grant are as follows:
| 433,000 Options Granted 2003 |
423,000 Options Granted 2002 |
404,000 Options Granted 2001 |
||||||||||
| Risk-free interest rate |
3.95 | % | 5.41 | % | 4.87 | % | ||||||
| Expected life (in years) |
10 | 10 | 10 | |||||||||
| Expected volatility |
0.49 | 0.49 | 0.49 | |||||||||
| Expected future dividend yield |
2.7 | % | 2.1 | % | 3.0 | % | ||||||
| Weighted average option exercise price |
$ | 11.65 | $ | 13.93 | $ | 9.28 | ||||||
| Fair value at date of grant |
$ | 2,186,433 | $ | 2,897,575 | $ | 1,689,306 | ||||||
| Fair value per share at date of grant |
$ | 5.05 | $ | 6.85 | $ | 4.18 | ||||||
39
| alfa |
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | |||
| ALFA CORPORATION |
(Note 15, continued)
The pro forma net income and earnings per share, as if compensation expense had been recorded using the fair value at the date of grant, is as follows:
| December 31, | |||||||||
| 2003 |
2002 |
2001 | |||||||
| Net income, as reported |
$ | 78,468,948 | $ | 71,708,006 | $ | 69,505,569 | |||
| Earnings per share, as reported - Basic |
$ | 0.98 | $ | 0.91 | $ | 0.89 | |||
| - Diluted |
$ | 0.98 | $ | 0.90 | $ | 0.88 | |||
| Pro forma net income |
$ | 77,114,892 | $ | 70,667,240 | $ | 68,652,672 | |||
| Pro forma earnings per share - Basic |
$ | 0.97 | $ | 0.90 | $ | 0.88 | |||
| - Diluted |
$ | 0.96 | $ | 0.89 | $ | 0.87 | |||
| Dilution - Basic |
$ | 0.01 | $ | 0.01 | $ | 0.01 | |||
| - Diluted |
$ | 0.02 | $ | 0.01 | $ | 0.01 | |||
The information shown below reflects activity for options outstanding at December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001:
| December 31, |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
|||||||||||||||||||
| Number of Options |
Weighted - average Exercise Price |
Number of Options |
Weighted - average Exercise Price |
Number of Options |
Weighted - average Price |
||||||||||||||||
| Outstanding |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Beginning of year |
2,790,838 | $ | 8.67 | 2,935,036 | $ | 7.45 | 2,950,836 | $ | 7.00 | ||||||||||||
| Add (deduct): |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Granted |
433,000 | $ | 11.65 | 423,000 | $ | 13.93 | 404,000 | $ | 9.28 | ||||||||||||
| Exercised |
(396,833 | ) | ($6.15 | ) | (567,198 | ) | ($ | 6.25 | ) | (418,200 | ) | ($ | 6.08 | ) | |||||||
| Cancelled |
(44,400 | ) | ($5.88 | ) | | | (1,600 | ) | ($ | 8.88 | ) | ||||||||||
| End of Period |
2,782,605 | $ | 9.54 | 2,790,838 | $ | 8.67 | 2,935,036 | $ | 7.45 | ||||||||||||
| Exercisable, end of period |
1,940,621 | $ | 8.44 | 1,971,848 | $ | 7.47 | 2,189,722 | $ | 6.95 | ||||||||||||
| Range of exercise prices |
$ | 5.75 to $13.93 | $ | 4.70 to $13.93 | $ | 4.70 to $9.41 | |||||||||||||||
| Weighted average remaining contractual life |
6.1 years | 5.8 years | 5.6 years | ||||||||||||||||||
| Compensation cost recognized during period |
$ | 167,510 | $ | 284,405 | $ | 229,502 | |||||||||||||||
Of the 2,782,605 options outstanding at December 31, 2003, 595,470 options are exercisable at prices between $5.75 and $7.10, 1,204,142 options are exercisable at prices between $8.22 and $9.41 and 141,009 options are exercisable at $13.93.
40
| Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | alfa | |||
| ALFA CORPORATION |
16. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
During 2003, one of Financials investments, MidCountry Financial Corporation, pursued the opportunity to purchase Bayside Financial Corp. In order for this purchase to take place, approval had to be secured from the Office of Thrift Supervision. Consequently, due to ownership levels, this transaction qualified Financial and the Company as unitary thrift holding companies. As a condition of approval, the Company agreed to sell Builders and Realty. These sales took place during the first quarter of 2004 as Southern purchased Builders and Realty for approximately $5.5 million and $2.6 million, respectively. These sales prices represented the fair value of each entity according to independent valuations. No gain or loss was recorded on these transactions.
17. FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING DEVELOPMENTS
In December 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation-Transition and Disclosure-an amendment of FASB Statement No. 123. While the Company continues to use the intrinsic value method to account for its stock options, Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements have been enhanced to comply with the requirements set forth by this statement.
Also, during 2002, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 45, Guarantors Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees. This interpretation clarifies the requirements of SFAS No. 5, Accounting for Contingencies relating to the guarantors accounting for, and disclosure of, the issuance of certain types of guarantees. The Company complied with provisions of the interpretation and it did not have a significant impact on the Companys financial position or income.
In January 2003, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities and interpretation of ARB (Accounting Research Bulletin) No. 51. The interpretation addresses consolidation and disclosure issues associated with variable interest entities. In October 2003, the effective date of FIN 46 for variable interest entities in existence prior to February 1, 2003, was delayed to December 31, 2003. In December, the FASB issued a revised version of FIN 46 which effectively delayed implementation until March 2004, with earlier adoption permitted. The Company adopted the provisions of FIN 46 on December 31, 2003. The adoption of FIN 46 did not have a significant impact on the Companys financial position or income. The Company retains significant equity interests in certain variable interest entities that are not consolidated because the Company is not the primary beneficiary. The Companys maximum exposure to loss as of December 31, 2003 was $18,527,260, which was the amount of its carrying value in the financial instruments owned.
In April 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 149, Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities. The changes in this statement improve financial reporting by requiring that contracts with comparable characteristics be accounted for similarly. These changes will result in more consistent reporting of contracts as either derivatives or hybrid instruments. This statement is effective for contracts entered into or modified after September 30, 2003 and for hedging relationships designated after September 30, 2003. The Company has not experienced a significant impact on the Companys financial position or income from this statement.
In May 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 150, Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity. This statement establishes standards for how an issuer classifies and measures certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and equity and is effective for financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003. The Company did not experience a significant impact on the Companys financial position or income from this statement.
41
| alfa |
Independent Auditors Report | |||
| ALFA CORPORATION |
To the Stockholders and Board of Directors
Alfa Corporation
Montgomery, Alabama
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Alfa Corporation and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2003 and 2002, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2003. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Companys management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Alfa Corporation and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2003 and 2002, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2003, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
KPMG LLP
Atlanta, Georgia
February 6, 2004
Quarterly Financial Information-Unaudited
| Quarter Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 31 |
June 30 |
September 30 |
December 31 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003 |
2002 |
2003 |
2002 |
2003 |
2002 |
2003 |
2002 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Premiums and Policy Charges |
$ | 129,187,339 | $ | 119,500,994 | $ | 129,845,410 | $ | 121,573,475 | $ | 132,337,421 | $ | 123,653,904 | $ | 133,858,864 | $ | 126,376,607 | ||||||||||
| Underwriting Profit |
$ | 5,158,387 | $ | 1,937,187 | $ | 1,538,139 | $ | (1,479,839 | ) | $ | 1,000,403 | $ | (1,409,894 | ) | $ | 6,082,296 | $ | 3,854,408 | ||||||||
| Net Investment Income |
$ | 21,654,487 | $ | 22,092,341 | $ | 21,336,596 | $ | 21,877,803 | $ | 20,803,254 | $ | 21,959,286 | $ | 19,714,474 | $ | 22,576,597 | ||||||||||
| Net Income |
$ | 18,729,628 | $ | 18,468,147 | $ | 19,187,821 | $ | 15,531,340 | $ | 18,771,056 | $ | 17,450,114 | $ | 21,780,443 | $ | 20,258,405 | ||||||||||
| Average Shares Outstanding |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic |
79,330,609 | 78,440,944 | 79,605,514 | 78,771,794 | 79,991,986 | 78,875,959 | 80,293,809 | 79,115,566 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Diluted |
79,903,268 | 79,242,060 | 80,226,873 | 79,605,279 | 80,587,725 | 79,567,532 | 80,827,936 | 79,760,663 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net Income Per Share* |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic |
$ | 0.24 | $ | 0.24 | $ | 0.24 | $ | 0.20 | $ | 0.23 | $ | 0.22 | $ | 0.27 | $ | 0.26 | ||||||||||
| Diluted |
$ | 0.23 | $ | 0.23 | $ | 0.24 | $ | 0.20 | $ | 0.23 | $ | 0.22 | $ | 0.27 | $ | 0.25 | ||||||||||
| * | Per share amounts have been restated where appropriate to reflect 2-for-1 stock split in June 2002. The sum of the quarters may not equal the annual earnings per share due to the rounding effects on a quarterly basis. |
42
STOCKHOLDER INFORMAION
Executive Offices
2108 East South Boulevard
Montgomery, Alabama 36116-2015
Telephone: (334) 288-3900
FAX: (334) 288-0905 or (334) 613-4709
Website: www.alfains.com
Form 10-K
The Companys Form 10-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, may be obtained by writing:
Al Scott, Senior Vice President
Secretary and General Counsel
Alfa Corporation
P.O. Box 11000
Montgomery, Alabama 36191-0001
Common Stock
The common stock of Alfa Corporation is traded on the NASDAQ National Market System under the symbol ALFA. Alfa Corporation has approximately 2,700 stockholders of record. Newspaper listings of NASDAQ stocks list Alfa Corporation as AlfaCp.
Stock Price and Dividend Information
| 2003 |
High |
Low |
Dividends Per Share | ||||||
| First Quarter |
$ | 12.84 | $ | 10.50 | $ | .075 | |||
| Second Quarter |
13.49 | 11.59 | .08 | ||||||
| Third Quarter |
13.60 | 12.32 | .08 | ||||||
| Fourth Quarter |
13.50 | 12.33 | .08 | ||||||
| 2002 |
High |
Low |
Dividends Per Share | ||||||
| First Quarter |
$ | 14.52 | $ | 10.43 | $ | .0725 | |||
| Second Quarter |
15.78 | 11.22 | .075 | ||||||
| Third Quarter |
13.42 | 11.46 | .075 | ||||||
| Fourth Quarter |
13.00 | 11.45 | .075 | ||||||
The Company has paid cash dividends annually since 1974 and quarterly since September 1977. There are no restrictions on the Companys present or future ability to pay dividends other than the usual statutory restrictions. There is a present expectation that the dividends will continue to be paid in the future, provided that operations of the Company continue to be profitable.
| NASDAQ Registered Market Makers |
| Boston Stock Exchange |
| BrokerageAmerica, LLC |
| Cincinnati Stock Exchange |
| Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown |
| Fox-Pitt, Kelton, Inc. |
| Goldman, Sachs & Co. |
| Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. |
| Knight Securities L.P. |
| McDonald & Co. Securities |
| Merrill Lynch |
| Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc. |
| Prudential Securities |
| Sandler ONeill & Partners, L.P. |
| Schwab Capital Markets |
| SunTrust Capital Markets, In.c. |
| Susquehanna Capital Group |
| Stock Transfer Agent | American Stock Transfer and Trust Co. | |||
| 1-800-937-5449 | ||||
| E-mail: info@amstock.com |
Address Stockholder Inquiries To:
American Stock Transfer and Trust Co.
59 Maiden Lane
New York, NY 10038
Send Certificates For Transfer & Address Changes To:
American Stock Transfer and Trust Co.
6201 15th Avenue
Second Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11219
Dividend Reinvestment Plan
Alfa Corporation stockholders can reinvest their dividends in additional shares of stock and also may purchase additional shares with optional cash payments. Alfa Corporation pays all costs and brokerage fees related to the purchases under the plan. For more information contact Investor Relations at the Companys Executive Office address or contact American Stock Transfer and Trust Co., Dividend Reinvestment Department, 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219.
| Ratings | A.M. Best |
Standard & Poors |
Moodys Investors Service |
Fitch |
|||||||
| Financial Strength |
|||||||||||
| - Property/Casualty |
A | ++ (Superior) | AA | Aa3 | |||||||
| - Life |
A | + (Superior) | AA | ||||||||
| Commercial Paper |
A-1 | + | P-1 | F1 | + |
Independent Accountants
KPMG LLP
303 Peachtree Street, N.E
Suite 2000
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
For Financial Information Please Contact:
Steve Rutledge
Senior Vice President, CFO and
Chief Investment Officer
Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting of Alfa Corporation stockholders will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, April 22, 2004 in the auditorium of the Companys executive offices in Montgomery, Alabama.
43