Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 


 

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2005   Commission File Number 0-11773

 


 

ALFA CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware   63-0838024

(State or other jurisdiction

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S Employer

Identification No.)

 

2108 East South Boulevard

P.O. Box 11000, Montgomery, Alabama

  36191-0001
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip-Code)

 

Registrant’s Telephone Number including Area Code (334) 288-3900

 


 

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

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  x    No  ¨

 

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

 

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

 

Class


 

Outstanding October 31, 2005


Common Stock, $1.00 par value   80,146,405 shares

 



Table of Contents

ALFA CORPORATION

 

INDEX

 

            Page No.

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION    
    Item 1.   Financial Statements (unaudited)    
        Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets - September 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004   3
        Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income, Nine Months and Three Months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004   4
        Consolidated Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income, Nine Months and Three Months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004   5
        Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows, Nine Months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004   6
        Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements   7
        Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm   20
    Item 2.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations   21
    Item 3.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk   38
    Item 4.   Controls and Procedures   38
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION    
    Item 1.   Legal Proceedings   39
    Item 2.   Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds   39
    Item 3.   Defaults Upon Senior Securities   39
    Item 4.   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders   40
    Item 5.   Other Information   40
    Item 6.   Exhibits   40
SIGNATURES   41
EXHIBIT INDEX    42

 

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Table of Contents

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

 

ALFA CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

 

    

September 30,

2005


   

December 31,

2004 (1)


 
    
     (Unaudited)        

Assets

                

Investments:

                

Fixed Maturities Held for Investment, at amortized cost

                

(fair value $99,125 in 2005 and $123,935 in 2004)

   $ 93,291     $ 114,708  

Fixed Maturities Available for Sale, at fair value

                

(amortized cost $1,357,489,706 in 2005 and $1,305,288,027 in 2004)

     1,388,338,773       1,354,507,490  

Equity Securities Available for Sale, at fair value

                

(cost $102,876,099 in 2005 and $83,445,562 in 2004)

     116,609,665       99,701,250  

Policy Loans

     61,033,938       58,476,569  

Collateral Loans

     122,214,269       110,792,974  

Commercial Leases

     2,180,883       4,155,791  

Other Long-Term Investments

     147,896,392       145,474,366  

Short-Term Investments

     86,578,315       80,988,969  
    


 


Total Investments

     1,924,945,526       1,854,212,117  

Cash

     26,878,559       20,052,493  

Accrued Investment Income

     16,320,710       16,726,050  

Accounts Receivable

     79,884,611       50,452,538  

Reinsurance Balances Receivable

     2,543,567       5,279,560  

Due from Affiliates

     1,426,934       —    

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs

     200,843,207       183,258,224  

Assets Classified as Held for Sale

     69,800,889       77,450,278  

Goodwill

     13,924,306       —    

Other Intangible Assets (net of accumulated amortization of $509,600 in 2005)

     8,598,400       —    

Other Assets

     18,481,355       15,266,244  
    


 


Total Assets

   $ 2,363,648,064     $ 2,222,697,504  
    


 


Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

                

Policy Liabilities and Accruals - Property and Casualty Insurance

   $ 150,655,101     $ 154,107,730  

Policy Liabilities and Accruals - Life Insurance Interest-Sensitive Products

     593,042,567       555,733,736  

Policy Liabilities and Accruals - Life Insurance Other Products

     191,424,456       180,410,535  

Unearned Premiums

     226,998,055       185,856,467  

Dividends to Policyholders

     11,325,666       11,262,132  

Premium Deposit and Retirement Deposit Funds

     5,969,991       6,369,125  

Deferred Income Taxes

     38,631,806       43,100,038  

Liabilities Associated with Assets Classified as Held for Sale

     989,428       340,876  

Other Liabilities

     84,534,757       73,877,730  

Due to Affiliates

     —         29,995,986  

Commercial Paper

     223,793,160       204,303,206  

Notes Payable

     70,000,000       70,000,000  

Notes Payable to Affiliates

     27,539,017       15,887,635  
    


 


Total Liabilities

     1,624,904,004       1,531,245,196  
    


 


Commitments and Contingencies

                

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: 80,145,005 in 2005 and 79,833,467 in 2004

     83,783,024       83,783,024  

Capital in Excess of Par Value

     15,660,549       10,961,782  

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (unrealized gains on securities available for sale, net of tax, of $27,167,358 in 2005 and $39,450,553 in 2004; unrealized (losses) on interest rate swap contract, net of tax, of ($222,276) in 2005 and ($1,406,747) in 2004; unrealized gains/(losses) on other long-term investments, net of tax, of ($38,299) in 2005 and $16,565 in 2004)

     26,906,783       38,060,371  

Retained Earnings

     651,777,660       599,609,509  

Treasury Stock, at cost

                

(shares, 3,638,019 in 2005 and 3,949,557 in 2004)

     (39,383,956 )     (40,962,378 )
    


 


Total Stockholders’ Equity

     738,744,060       691,452,308  
    


 


Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

   $ 2,363,648,064     $ 2,222,697,504  
    


 


 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.


(1) Derived from the audited financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

ALFA CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Unaudited)

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30,

   Three Months Ended September 30,

     2005

   2004

   2005

   2004

Revenues

                           

Premiums - Property and Casualty Insurance

   $ 412,565,810    $ 362,892,190    $ 141,615,762    $ 122,908,311

Premiums - Life Insurance

     30,873,739      27,381,569      10,570,000      8,813,442

Policy Charges - Life Insurance

     26,724,411      25,677,169      8,701,242      8,234,689

Net Investment Income

     70,489,105      66,884,351      24,607,048      22,430,220

Realized Investment Gains

     4,356,678      5,198,740      1,359,094      1,811,197

Other Income

     17,228,139      6,302,792      5,280,320      1,983,300
    

  

  

  

Total Revenues

     562,237,882      494,336,811      192,133,466      166,181,159
    

  

  

  

Benefits, Losses and Expenses

                           

Benefits, Claims, Losses and Settlement Expenses

     323,277,862      291,231,267      110,019,051      99,704,264

Dividends to Policyholders

     2,945,396      2,855,278      923,570      892,324

Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs

     81,997,955      70,113,452      28,468,283      23,839,349

Other Operating Expenses

     50,685,119      38,562,920      18,171,081      13,807,450
    

  

  

  

Total Benefits, Losses and Expenses

     458,906,332      402,762,917      157,581,985      138,243,387
    

  

  

  

Income Before Provision for Income Taxes

     103,331,550      91,573,894      34,551,481      27,937,772

Provision For Income Taxes

     28,103,143      24,810,628      9,448,577      7,217,524
    

  

  

  

Net Income

   $ 75,228,407    $ 66,763,266    $ 25,102,904    $ 20,720,248
    

  

  

  

Net Income Per Share

                           

- Basic

   $ 0.94    $ 0.83    $ 0.31    $ 0.26
    

  

  

  

- Diluted

   $ 0.93    $ 0.83    $ 0.31    $ 0.26
    

  

  

  

Weighted Average Shares Outstanding

                           

- Basic

     80,115,937      80,024,581      80,099,751      79,938,616
    

  

  

  

- Diluted

     80,642,174      80,526,003      80,702,154      80,397,352
    

  

  

  

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

 

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Table of Contents

ALFA CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Unaudited)

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30,

    Three Months Ended September 30,

 
     2005

    2004

    2005

    2004

 

Net Income

   $ 75,228,407     $ 66,763,266     $ 25,102,904     $ 20,720,248  

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), net of tax:

                                

Change in Fair Value of Securities Available for Sale

     (9,451,355 )     (5,296,981 )     (11,292,913 )     11,694,281  

Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Interest Rate Swap Contract

     1,184,472       1,344,591       506,476       (480,131 )

Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Other Long-term Investments

     (54,864 )     (95,655 )     (46,000 )     (315,118 )

Less: Reclassification Adjustment for Realized Investment Gains

     2,831,841       3,379,181       883,412       1,177,278  
    


 


 


 


Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

     (11,153,588 )     (7,427,226 )     (11,715,849 )     9,721,754  
    


 


 


 


Total Comprehensive Income (Loss)

   $ 64,074,819     $ 59,336,040     $ 13,387,055     $ 30,442,002  
    


 


 


 


 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

 

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Table of Contents

ALFA CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
     2005

    2004

 

Cash Flows From Operating Activities:

                

Net Income

   $ 75,228,407     $ 66,763,266  

Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash

                

Provided by Operating Activities:

                

Policy Acquisition Costs Deferred

     (97,587,643 )     (81,139,328 )

Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs

     81,997,955       70,113,452  

Depreciation and Amortization

     2,942,092       2,209,044  

Stock-based Compensation

     265,975       27,359  

Provision for Deferred Taxes

     2,059,546       (192,528 )

Interest Credited on Policyholders’ Funds

     21,283,510       20,648,818  

Net Realized Investment Gains

     (4,356,678 )     (5,198,740 )

Other

     2,276,963       1,292,197  

Changes in Operating Assets and Liabilities:

                

Accrued Investment Income

     405,340       (916,125 )

Accounts Receivable

     (26,214,077 )     (7,671,104 )

Reinsurance Balances Receivable

     2,735,993       1,940,706  

Other Assets

     (2,818,897 )     (2,434,586 )

Liability for Policy Reserves

     5,497,345       12,501,753  

Liability for Unearned Premiums

     41,141,588       20,100,555  

Amounts Held for Others

     (335,600 )     21,920  

Other Liabilities

     17,557,849       5,535,875  

Due to/from Affiliates

     (31,422,920 )     (10,069,142 )
    


 


Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

     90,656,748       93,533,392  
    


 


Cash Flows from Investing Activities:

                

Maturities and Redemptions of Fixed Maturities Held for Investment

     21,285       38,141  

Maturities and Redemptions of Fixed Maturities Available for Sale

     310,445,474       256,747,942  

Maturities and Redemptions of Other Investments

     2,793,425       2,304,930  

Sales of Fixed Maturities Available for Sale

     90,906,484       13,901,529  

Sales of Equity Securities

     97,029,418       135,348,316  

Sales of Commercial Leases

     —         25,113,388  

Sales of Other Investments

     2,828,598       5,107,463  

Purchases of Fixed Maturities Available for Sale

     (452,604,836 )     (421,158,538 )

Purchases of Equity Securities

     (107,366,032 )     (93,180,258 )

Purchases of Other Investments

     (31,439,933 )     (16,346,155 )

Origination of Consumer Loans Receivable

     (56,562,331 )     (46,112,435 )

Principal Payments on Consumer Loans Receivable

     44,940,915       37,437,438  

Origination of Commercial Leases Receivable

     (19,742,371 )     (72,253,209 )

Principal Payments on Commercial Leases Receivable

     27,923,997       40,425,491  

Net Change in Short-term Investments

     (5,589,346 )     2,206,932  

Net Change in Receivable/Payable on Securities

     327,127       2,469,395  

Net Proceeds from Sales of Subsidiaries

     —         7,495,925  

Purchase of Subsidiary, Net of Cash Acquired

     (12,702,438 )     —    
    


 


Net Cash Used in Investing Activities

     (108,790,564 )     (120,453,705 )
    


 


Cash Flows From Financing Activities:

                

Change in Commercial Paper

     19,489,954       28,082,018  

Change in Notes Payable to Affiliates

     11,651,382       8,125,485  

Stockholder Dividends Paid

     (23,060,256 )     (20,590,145 )

Purchases of Treasury Stock

     (2,960,751 )     (10,658,310 )

Proceeds from Exercise of Stock Options

     1,767,337       3,116,105  

Deposits of Policyholders’ Funds

     58,632,294       57,077,275  

Withdrawal of Policyholders’ Funds

     (40,560,078 )     (38,871,599 )
    


 


Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities

     24,959,882       26,280,829  
    


 


Net Change in Cash

     6,826,066       (639,484 )

Cash - Beginning of Period

     20,052,493       10,892,516  
    


 


Cash - End of Period

   $ 26,878,559     $ 10,253,032  
    


 


Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information:

                

Cash Paid During the Period for:

                

Interest

   $ 8,458,889     $ 4,815,747  

Income Taxes

   $ 27,439,795     $ 23,131,864  

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

 

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Table of Contents

ALFA CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2005

 

1. Significant Accounting Policies

 

In the opinion of the Company, the accompanying consolidated condensed financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting primarily of normal recurring accruals, except as explained in Note 2) necessary to present fairly its financial position, results of operations and cash flows. The accompanying financial statements have been prepared on the basis of accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. A summary of the more significant accounting policies related to the Company’s business is set forth in the notes to its audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004. The results of operations for the nine-month and three-month periods ended September 30, 2005 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

 

The Company’s annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and all related amendments to those reports are made available on its website at www.alfains.com by first selecting “Invest in Alfa” and then selecting “Financial Reports.” Also available on the website is the Company’s Code of Ethics titled “Principles of Business Conduct” which can be accessed under such title.

 

Cash

 

Cash consists of demand deposits at a bank.

 

At September 30, 2005, The Vision Insurance Group, LLC – (see Note 3) had a carrier contract requiring them to fund a collateral trust based on a percentage of written premiums. The primary purpose was to provide collateral for the payment of all obligations and performance of all duties set forth in the contract. The amount in the trust is reviewed on an annual basis and adjusted accordingly. The amount of cash restricted at September 30, 2005 was $951,667.

 

Accounts Receivable

 

Accounts receivable are primarily comprised of premium installment plan receivables from policyholders, insurance carrier receivables and amounts due from brokers. The Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts related to policyholder and insurance carrier receivables at September 30, 2005 was $391,083. The Company had no allowance for doubtful accounts at December 31, 2004.

 

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.

 

Reclassifications

 

Certain amounts in prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the presentation adopted in the current fiscal year. Such reclassification did not impact earnings or total stockholders’ equity.

 

2. Pooling Agreement

 

Effective August 1, 1987, the Company’s property casualty insurance subsidiaries entered into a reinsurance Pooling Agreement (the “Pooling Agreement”) with Alfa Mutual Insurance Company (Mutual), and other members of the Mutual Group. On January 1, 2001, Alfa Mutual Fire Insurance Company (Fire) and Alfa Specialty Insurance Corporation (Specialty), a subsidiary of Mutual, became participants in the Pooling Agreement. On January 1, 2005, Alfa Vision Insurance Corporation (AVIC), a subsidiary of the Company, became a participant in the Pooling Agreement. In addition, the Quota Share Reinsurance Treaty between Fire and Alfa Virginia Mutual Insurance Company (Virginia Mutual), an affiliate of the Mutual Group, was added to the pool on January 1, 2005.

 

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Table of Contents

The Mutual Group is a direct writer primarily of personal lines of property and casualty insurance in Alabama. The Company’s subsidiaries similarly are direct writers in Georgia and Mississippi. The Mutual Group, Virginia Mutual and the Company write preferred risk automobile and homeowner insurance, farmowner and manufactured 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 and AVIC are direct writers primarily of nonstandard risk automobile insurance. Under the terms of the Pooling Agreement, the Company cedes to Mutual all of its property casualty business. Substantially all of the Mutual Group’s direct property casualty business (together with the property 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 including Specialty.

 

On October 1, 1996, the Pooling Agreement was amended in conjunction with the restructuring of the Alfa Insurance Group’s 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 Corporation’s participation in any single catastrophic event or series of disasters 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 Company’s 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 %

January 1, 2005

     17.9      443.7    19 %

 

The Boards of Directors of the Mutual Group and of the Company’s property casualty insurance subsidiaries have established the pool participation percentages and must approve any changes in such participation. The Alabama Insurance Department reviewed the Pooling Agreement and the Department determined that the implementation of the Pooling Agreement did not require the Department’s approval.

 

A committee consisting of two members of the Boards of Directors of the Mutual Group, two members of the Board of Directors of Specialty, two members of the Board of Directors of the Company and Jerry A. Newby, as chairman of each such Board, has been established to review and approve any changes in the Pooling Agreement. The committee is responsible for matters involving actual or potential conflicts of interest between the Company, Specialty and the Mutual Group and for attempting to ensure that, in operation, the Pooling Agreement is equitable to all parties. Conflicts in geographic markets are currently minimal because the Mutual Group writes property and casualty insurance only in Alabama and at present all of such insurance written by the Company is outside of Alabama. The Pooling Agreement is intended to reduce conflicts that could arise in the selection of risks to be insured by the participants by making the results of each participant’s operations dependent on the results of all of the pooled business. Accordingly, the participants should have substantially identical underwriting ratios for the pooled business excluding catastrophes as long as the Pooling Agreement remains in effect. See the “Property and Casualty Insurance” section within Management’s Discussion and Analysis for more information on the impact of catastrophes.

 

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Table of Contents

The participation of the Company in the Pooling Agreement may be changed or terminated without the consent or approval of the stockholders, and the Pooling Agreement may be terminated only by mutual agreement of the parties in writing. Any such termination, or a change in the Company’s allocated share of the pooled business, inclusion of riskier business or certain types of reinsurance assumed in the pool, or other changes to the Pooling Agreement, could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s earnings. Participants’ respective abilities to share in the pooled business are subject to regulatory capital requirements.

 

The following table sets forth the premiums and losses ceded to and assumed from the pool for the nine-month and three-month periods ended September 30, 2005 and 2004:

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30,

   Three Months Ended September 30,

     2005

   2004

   2005

   2004

     (in thousands)

Premiums ceded to pool

   $ 96,892    $ 71,648    $ 36,841    $ 24,383

Premiums assumed from pool

   $ 412,763    $ 363,026    $ 141,745    $ 122,953

Losses ceded to pool

   $ 115,745    $ 55,782    $ 67,170    $ 26,728

Losses assumed from pool

   $ 249,748    $ 222,507    $ 83,954    $ 76,676

 

The Company incurred catastrophe losses of $11.6 million and $9.2 million in the first quarter of 2005 and second quarter of 2004, respectively. These losses resulted in reductions to the Company’s net income of approximately $0.09 and $0.07 per diluted share, after reinsurance and taxes in the respective years. No catastrophe losses were incurred in the second or third quarters of 2005 or the first or third quarters of 2004.

 

3. Business Combinations

 

On January 3, 2005, the Company completed the purchase of The Vision Insurance Group, LLC (Vision), a managing general agency, by acquiring all of the member’s equity of Vision for a total purchase price of $24.6 million. Vision’s results of operations have been included in the consolidated financial statements since the date of acquisition. The Company has deemed this acquisition to be immaterial to its overall financial position.

 

The aggregate purchase price of $24.6 million consisted of $15.3 million in cash, 325,035 shares of common stock of the Company valued at $5 million, and contingent consideration of $4.3 million.

 

Vision is a full-service managing general agency that currently writes nonstandard automobile insurance policies in nine states. The company is headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee and provides all underwriting, claims, actuarial and financial services on behalf of its contracted carriers.

 

The Company views this acquisition as an opportunity to expand its personal lines business in new markets through Vision’s 2,100 independent agents. An insurance subsidiary, AVIC, was formed through which Vision will write its nonstandard automobile business. Vision operates in Texas, Missouri, Indiana, Ohio, Virginia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Florida. Both Vision and AVIC are wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company.

 

The Company has agreed to pay additional consideration in future periods, based upon the attainment of defined operating objectives by the acquired entity. At September 30, 2005, maximum potential future consideration pursuant to such arrangements, to be resolved over the five years ending December 31, 2009, is $14 million. The probable or expected contingency payout is recorded at $4.3 million and is included under the heading of “Other Liabilities” on the Company’s consolidated condensed balance sheet at September 30, 2005.

 

On October 31, 2005, the Company’s Board of Directors unanimously approved a resolution to authorize the President and/or Executive Vice President, Operations to execute and deliver any and all documents necessary to amend The Vision Insurance Group, LLC Interest Purchase Agreement dated August 2004. The amendment would change the maximum potential future consideration from $14 million to $11.2 million over the four years beginning January 1, 2006 and ending December 31, 2009.

 

Internal funds, short-term borrowings, and common stock financed the acquisition.

 

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4. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

 

The Company recorded goodwill related to the purchase of Vision in the amount of $13.9 million and other intangible assets in the amount of $9.1 million. These amounts are expected to be fully deductible for tax purposes.

 

Goodwill represents the excess cost over the fair value of the net assets acquired. Goodwill is not amortized but is subject to impairment testing at least annually. The impairment testing requires the Company to compare the fair value of its subsidiary to their carrying value to determine if there is potential impairment of goodwill. If the fair value of the subsidiary were less than its carrying value at the valuation date, an impairment loss would be recorded to the extent that the implied value of the goodwill is less than the recorded amount of goodwill. Fair value is estimated based on various valuation metrics.

 

Other intangible assets are classified into three categories:

 

    “Agent Relationships” intangible asset represents on-going contractual relationships between existing agents at acquisition date and the managing general agent.

 

    “Information Technology” intangible asset is software enhancements.

 

    “Restrictive Covenants” intangible asset is a covenant not to compete for one Vision executive.

 

As of September 30, 2005, other intangible assets by asset class are as follows:

 

     Agent
Relationships


    Information
Technology


    Restrictive
Covenants


    Total

 

Gross carrying amount

   $ 7,588,000     $ 400,000     $ 1,120,000     $ 9,108,000  

Accumulated amortization

     (281,600 )     (60,000 )     (168,000 )     (509,600 )
    


 


 


 


Net carrying amount

   $ 7,306,400     $ 340,000     $ 952,000     $ 8,598,400  
    


 


 


 


 

The cost of other intangible assets is being amortized over a range of 5 to 20 years, with a weighted average original life of 17.5 years. Amortization expenses for the nine-month and three-month periods ended September 30, 2005 were $509,600 and $167,900, respectively. Amortization expense for intangible assets for the years ending December 31, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 is estimated to be $683,400 per year.

 

At least annually, or when impairment indicators arise, the Company will assess the recoverability of its intangible assets through an analysis of expected cash flows.

 

5. Stockholders’ Equity

 

On January 1, 2005, the Company entered into a subscription agreement with John C. Russell, President and one of the owners of Vision, for the issuance of 325,035 non-registered shares of common stock related to the acquisition of Vision. The agreement places certain restrictions as to the sale, transfer, or disposal of such shares.

 

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6. Commercial Paper, Notes Payable and Hedging Activities

 

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. Short-term debt was $251.3 million and $220.2 million at September 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively, and long-term debt was $70 million at both September 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004.

 

Commercial Paper

 

The Company had $223.8 million in commercial paper outstanding at a weighted average rate of 3.78% at September 30, 2005. Rates ranged from 3.65% to 3.82% with maturities from October 3, 2005 to October 26, 2005. At December 31, 2004, the Company had $204.3 million in commercial paper outstanding at a weighted average rate of 2.32%. Rates ranged from 1.83% to 2.38% with maturities from January 4, 2005 to February 2, 2005. 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 to cover up to $230 million in commercial paper and the $70 million variable-rate demand note described below. The backup lines agreements contain usual and customary covenants requiring the Company to meet certain operating levels. Included in the financial covenants are requirements that the Company maintain minimum levels of stockholders’ equity and perform at a level that produces acceptable ratios of credit losses to reserves and indebtedness to capitalization. The Company has maintained full compliance with all such covenants. The Company has A-1+ and P-1 commercial paper ratings from Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s Investors Service, respectively. The commercial paper is guaranteed by two affiliates, Mutual and Fire.

 

Notes Payable

 

The Company issued a variable-rate $70 million long-term obligation maturing on June 1, 2017 in the second quarter of 2002 as a means of funding the collateral loan and commercial lease portfolios. In addition, the Company had $27.5 million and $15.9 million in short-term debt outstanding to affiliates at September 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively, with interest payable monthly at rates established using the existing commercial paper rate and renewable for multiples of 30-day periods at the commercial paper rate then applicable. Due to the short-term nature of the Company’s borrowings, their fair values approximate their carrying values.

 

Hedging Activities

 

Management believes it is prudent to limit the variability of a portion of its interest payments on the $70 million long-term obligation. The Company’s objective is 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 long-term debt with a fixed rate of 4.945%. During the first nine months of 2005, interest rates received ranged from 2.358% to 3.785%.

 

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 Company’s outstanding or forecasted debt obligations as well as the Company’s 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 Company’s future cash flows.

 

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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 Company accounts for the hedging instrument using the short-cut method. The fair value of the interest rate swap contract decreased by $1,822,264 in the first nine months of 2005 prior to a tax benefit of $637,792. During the third quarter of 2005, the fair value of the interest rate swap contract decreased by $779,193 prior to a tax benefit of $272,717.

 

If it is determined that the swap has ceased to be a highly effective hedge, is sold, or is terminated, the Company will discontinue hedge accounting prospectively. The change in fair value of the hedged item attributable to hedged risk, as has been reported in accumulated other comprehensive income, would be amortized to interest expense over the remaining life of the hedged item.

 

7. Contingent Liabilities

 

The property casualty subsidiaries participate in a reinsurance pooling agreement with Mutual and its affiliates as discussed in Note 2. Should any member of the affiliated group be unable to meet its obligation on a claim for a policy written by the Company’s property casualty subsidiaries, the obligation to pay the claim would remain with the Company’s subsidiaries.

 

The liability for estimated unpaid property and casualty losses and loss adjustment expenses is based on a detailed evaluation of reported losses and estimates of incurred but not reported losses. Adjustments to the liability based upon subsequent developments are included in current operations.

 

Certain legal proceedings are in process at September 30, 2005. Costs for these and similar legal proceedings, including accruals for outstanding cases, totaled approximately $1.8 million and $1.3 million for the first nine months of 2005 and 2004, respectively. 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 compensatory damages, mental anguish damages, and punitive damages.

 

Approximately 43 legal proceedings against the Company’s life subsidiary were in process at September 30, 2005. Of the 43 proceedings, one was filed in 2005, 31 were filed in 2004, seven were filed in 2003, three were filed in 1999, and one was filed in 1996.

 

In addition, one purported class action lawsuit is pending against both Alfa Builders, Inc. and Fire. Additionally, three purported class action lawsuits are pending against the property casualty companies involving a number of issues and allegations which could affect the Company because of a pooling agreement between the companies. Two purported class action lawsuits have been filed against the Company’s finance subsidiary. These relate to OFC Capital leases with customers of NorVergence, a telecommunications provider who filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in July 2004. No class has been certified in any of these six purported class action cases. In the event a class is certified in any of these purported class actions, reserves may need to be adjusted.

 

Management believes adequate accruals 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, management is unaware of any contingent liabilities arising from other threatened litigation that should be reserved or disclosed.

 

The Company’s property casualty subsidiaries entered into an agreement with Fire in 2000 with respect to a loan guarantee on Fire’s part, on behalf of EastChase Land Company, LLC to Whitney Bank. Fire’s guarantee amount to Whitney Bank is $1,000,000. In the unlikely event of a guarantee call, the Company’s property casualty subsidiaries would be liable to reimburse Fire a maximum of $200,000. Similarly, in 2003, the Company’s property casualty subsidiaries entered into a second agreement with Fire which agreed to guarantee, on behalf of Alfa Ventures II, LLC, the lesser of $25,000,000 or 50% of the total obligations of The Shoppes at EastChase, LLC and EastChase Plaza, LLC with Columbus Bank & Trust Company (CB&T). This second guarantee is known as the

 

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“bucket” guarantee, and supercedes all previous CB&T guarantees for each of these EastChase entities. In the unlikely event of a guarantee call, the Company’s property casualty subsidiaries would be liable to reimburse Fire a maximum of $5,000,000. During 2004, the Company’s property casualty subsidiaries entered into a third agreement with Fire in which Fire agreed to guarantee, on behalf of EastChase Office, LLC, an amount of $3,180,077 to CB&T. In the unlikely event of a guarantee call, the property casualty subsidiaries would be liable to reimburse Fire a maximum of $636,016.

 

The Company periodically invests in affordable housing tax credit partnerships. At September 30, 2005, the Company had legal and binding commitments to fund partnerships of this type in the amount of approximately $23.5 million. These commitments are included under the heading of “Other Liabilities” on the Company’s Balance Sheet at September 30, 2005.

 

8. Segment Information

 

The Company reports operating segments based on the Company’s legal entities, which are organized by line of business, with property and casualty insurance as a segment, life insurance as a segment, noninsurance business composed of consumer financing, commercial leasing, employee benefits administration, and agency operations as a segment, and corporate operations as a segment. All investing activities are allocated to the segments based on the actual assets, investments, and cash flows of each segment.

 

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Table of Contents

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

 

     Nine Months Ended
September 30,


    Three Months Ended
September 30,


 
     2005

    2004

    2005

    2004

 
     (in thousands)  

Revenues:

                                

Property and Casualty Insurance

                                

Earned premiums

                                

Automobile premiums

   $ 252,459     $ 226,358     $ 87,161     $ 76,205  

Homeowner premiums

     148,699       126,364       50,648       43,223  

Other premiums

     11,408       10,170       3,807       3,480  
    


 


 


 


Total earned premiums

     412,566       362,892       141,616       122,908  

Net investment income

     29,470       23,100       11,232       8,148  

Other income

     6,851       4,447       2,629       1,440  

Realized investment (losses)

     (466 )     (4,182 )     (791 )     (4,282 )
    


 


 


 


Total Property and Casualty Insurance

     448,421       386,257       154,686       128,214  
    


 


 


 


Life Insurance

                                

Premiums and policy charges

                                

Universal life policy charges

     15,479       14,849       5,199       4,972  

Universal life policy charges - COLI

     3,037       2,824       774       664  

Interest sensitive life policy charges

     8,208       8,005       2,728       2,599  

Traditional life insurance premiums

     30,357       26,889       10,570       8,813  

Group life insurance premiums

     517       492       —         —    
    


 


 


 


Total premiums and policy charges

     57,598       53,059       19,271       17,048  

Net investment income

     37,951       36,579       12,662       13,045  

Realized investment gains

     4,773       9,615       2,103       6,092  
    


 


 


 


Total Life Insurance

     100,322       99,253       34,036       36,185  
    


 


 


 


Noninsurance

                                

Net investment income

                                

Equity interest in MidCountry Financial (net of expense)

     1,278       597       372       164  

Loan income (net of expense)

     3,208       3,161       1,120       1,031  

Other investment income

     1,753       5,019       560       757  
    


 


 


 


Total net investment income

     6,239       8,777       2,052       1,952  
    


 


 


 


Other income

                                

Fee/commission income

     17,724       623       5,877       220  

Other income

     1,018       1,303       258       340  
    


 


 


 


Total other income

     18,742       1,926       6,135       560  
    


 


 


 


Realized investment gains (losses)

     50       (234 )     47       —    
    


 


 


 


Total Noninsurance

     25,031       10,469       8,234       2,512  
    


 


 


 


Corporate and Eliminations

                                

Net investment income (loss)

     (3,171 )     (1,572 )     (1,339 )     (714 )

Other income (loss)

     (8,365 )     (70 )     (3,484 )     (16 )
    


 


 


 


Total Corporate and Eliminations

     (11,536 )     (1,642 )     (4,823 )     (730 )
    


 


 


 


Total revenues

   $ 562,238     $ 494,337     $ 192,133     $ 166,181  
    


 


 


 


 

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Segment profit or loss for the property casualty segment is measured by underwriting profits and losses as well as by operating income. Segment profit or loss for the life insurance segment, the noninsurance segment and the corporate segment is measured by operating income. Management believes operating income serves as a meaningful tool for assessing the profitability of the Company’s ongoing operations. Operating income, a non-GAAP financial measure, is defined by the Company as net income excluding net realized investment gains and losses, net of applicable taxes. Realized investment gains and losses are somewhat controllable by the Company through the timing of decisions to sell securities. Therefore, realized investment gains and losses are not indicative of future operating performance.

 

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

 

     Nine Months Ended
September 30,


    Three Months Ended
September 30,


 
     2005

    2004

    2005

    2004

 
     (in thousands)  

Operating Income, net of tax:

                                

Property and Casualty Insurance

                                

Net underwriting income

   $ 45,192     $ 40,518     $ 15,394     $ 11,759  

Net investment income

     29,470       23,100       11,232       8,148  

Other income

     6,851       4,447       2,629       1,440  
    


 


 


 


Pretax operating income

     81,513       68,065       29,255       21,347  

Income tax expense

     20,286       16,942       7,567       5,013  
    


 


 


 


Operating income, net of tax

     61,227       51,123       21,688       16,334  

Realized investment (losses), net of tax

     (303 )     (2,718 )     (514 )     (2,783 )
    


 


 


 


Net income

     60,924       48,405       21,174       13,551  
    


 


 


 


Life Insurance

                                

Pretax operating income

     20,728       16,686       6,004       5,705  

Income tax expense

     6,084       4,450       1,494       1,499  
    


 


 


 


Operating income, net of tax

     14,644       12,236       4,510       4,206  

Realized investment gains, net of tax

     3,103       6,249       1,367       3,960  
    


 


 


 


Net income

     17,747       18,485       5,877       8,166  
    


 


 


 


Noninsurance

                                

Pretax operating income (loss)

     1,570       4,285       (15 )     451  

Income tax expense (benefit)

     456       1,597       (45 )     73  
    


 


 


 


Operating income, net of tax

     1,114       2,688       30       378  

Realized investment gains (losses), net of tax

     32       (152 )     30       —    
    


 


 


 


Net income

     1,146       2,536       60       378  
    


 


 


 


Corporate and Eliminations

                                

Pretax operating income (loss)

     (4,837 )     (2,663 )     (2,053 )     (1,375 )

Income tax expense (benefit)

     (248 )     —         (45 )     —    
    


 


 


 


Operating income, net of tax

     (4,589 )     (2,663 )     (2,008 )     (1,375 )

Realized investment gains, net of tax

     —         —         —         —    
    


 


 


 


Net (loss)

     (4,589 )     (2,663 )     (2,008 )     (1,375 )
    


 


 


 


Total net income

   $ 75,228     $ 66,763     $ 25,103     $ 20,720  
    


 


 


 


 

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Table of Contents

Segment assets are as follows:

 

     September 30,
2005


   December 31,
2004


Segment Assets:

             

Property and Casualty Insurance

   $ 877,300,557    $ 827,371,745

Life Insurance

     1,161,113,343      1,095,896,131

Noninsurance

     324,665,876      298,160,256

Corporate and Eliminations

     568,288      1,269,372
    

  

Total Assets

   $ 2,363,648,064    $ 2,222,697,504
    

  

 

9. Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation

 

As of September 30, 2005, the Company had adopted a new stock incentive plan, the Alfa Corporation 2005 Amended and Restated Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), which is described more fully in Note 10 to the Company’s notes to consolidated condensed financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. The Company accounts for this Plan under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, using the recognition and measurement principles of the fair value method. Compensation cost on fixed awards with prorata vesting is recognized using the straight-line method.

 

The Plan replaced the Company’s previous stock incentive plan, which went into effect in 1993 (the “1993 Plan”) and was subsequently amended and restated in 2001. The 1993 Plan is described more fully in the notes to the Company’s audited consolidated financial statement for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004. The Company accounts for this plan under SFAS No. 123, using the recognition and measurement principles of the intrinsic value method. Compensation cost on fixed awards with prorata vesting under the 1993 Plan is recognized using the straight-line method.

 

The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provision of SFAS No. 123 to all awards of stock-based employee compensation.

 

     Nine Months Ended
September 30,


    Three Months Ended
September 30,


 
     2005

    2004

    2005

    2004

 

Net income as reported

   $ 75,228,407     $ 66,763,266     $ 25,102,904     $ 20,720,248  

Add:

                                

Total stock-based compensation expense included in reported net income, net of tax effect

     254,330       60,447       96,339       27,436  

Less:

                                

Total stock-based compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of tax effect

     (1,727,394 )     (1,434,375 )     (578,272 )     (514,762 )
    


 


 


 


Pro forma net income

   $ 73,755,343     $ 65,389,338     $ 24,620,971     $ 20,232,922  
    


 


 


 


Earnings per share, as reported

                                

- Basic

   $ 0.94     $ 0.83     $ 0.31     $ 0.26  

- Diluted

   $ 0.93     $ 0.83     $ 0.31     $ 0.26  

Pro forma earnings per share

                                

- Basic

   $ 0.92     $ 0.82     $ 0.31     $ 0.25  

- Diluted

   $ 0.91     $ 0.81     $ 0.31     $ 0.25  

 

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10. Stock Incentive Plan

 

On April 28, 2005, the Company’s stockholders approved the Alfa Corporation 2005 Amended and Restated Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). This Plan amends and restates the Company’s 1993 Stock Incentive Plan and the Company’s Amended and Restated Stock Incentive Plan effective January 1, 2001 (the “1993 Plan”).

 

The Plan permits the grant of a variety of equity-based incentives based upon the Company’s common stock, par value $1.00 per share. These include stock options, which may be either “incentive stock options” as that term is defined in Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended or “nonqualified options”. The Plan also permits awards of Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units and Performance Shares. A maximum of 3,800,000 shares of stock may be issued under the Plan.

 

On February 28, 2005, the Company issued 427,000 nonqualified options under the 1993 Plan.

 

Also on February 28, 2005, the Company granted 52,000 awards of restricted stock to certain officers, subject to the approval of the Plan by the stockholders at the Company’s annual meeting. The value of the restricted stock is based upon the fair value of the common stock, $14.43 per share on February 28, 2005, the date the award was granted. These grants vest and are issuable on the third anniversary after the date of grant. Prior to issuance, the Company will vote the shares and dividends paid will be credited as additional shares of restricted stock that vest along with the original grant.

 

On June 1, 2005, the Company granted 24,500 awards of restricted stock to certain officers based on specified target levels of ownership at May 31, 2005 of Company common stock by those officers. The fair value of the common stock on June 1, 2005 was $14.90 per share. These grants vest on the third anniversary after the date of grant, but are not negotiable by the recipients until the recipients terminate employment with the Company. The Company will vote these shares until they are issued to the recipients and dividends paid will be credited as additional shares of restricted stock and held by the Company until such shares are issued.

 

On July 25, 2005, the Company issued 2,000 nonqualified options under the Plan.

 

11. Held for Sale Operations

 

During the second quarter of 2005, the Company signed a definitive agreement to sell a substantial portion of its commercial lease portfolio and other assets, net of related liabilities, to OFC Servicing Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of MidCountry Financial Corporation (MidCountry). The Company’s commercial leasing division operates under the name OFC Capital and is included in the Noninsurance segment. This transaction is subject to certain regulatory approvals, including from the Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

 

The Company expects to complete the sale of this operation after parties to the agreement receive approval from the OTS and FDIC. The Company has reported these net assets as held for sale under SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets. No gain or loss has been recognized and no amounts of revenue and pretax profit or loss have been reported in discontinued operations due to the Company’s significant continuing involvement through its equity-method investment in MidCountry. At September 30, 2005, assets classified as held for sale consisted primarily of commercial leases.

 

12. Other Long-term Investments

 

Included in the Company’s “Other Long-term Investments” are investments in partnerships of $70,008,996 and $71,948,707 at September 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively.

 

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13. Supplemental Disclosure for Statement of Cash Flows

 

The following table presents the Company’s noncash investing and financing activities for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2005 and 2004:

 

     Nine Months Ended
September 30,


     2005

   2004

Business combinations:

             

Treasury stock issued

   $ 5,000,000    $ —  

Contingent consideration

   $ 4,348,088    $ —  

 

14. Financial Accounting Developments

 

In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued SFAS No. 123R, Share-Based Payment, which replaces SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, and supercedes APB Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees. This statement requires the compensation cost related to share-based payments, such as stock options and employee stock purchase plans, be recognized in the financial statements. This statement was scheduled to be effective for all interim periods beginning after June 15, 2005. In April 2005, the Securities and Exchange Commission approved a delay in the required implementation date of the new standard. The statement will now be effective for all fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2005, and thus, will be effective for the Company beginning with the first quarter of 2006. The Company is continuing to evaluate the impact of SFAS No. 123R on its financial condition or results of operations. Information related to the pro forma effects on the Company’s reported net income and net income per share of applying the fair value recognition provisions of the previous SFAS No. 123 to stock-based compensation is included in Note 9 – Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.

 

In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS. No. 153, Exchanges of Nonmonetary Assets, an amendment of APB No. 29, Accounting for Nonmonetary Transactions. This statement requires that exchanges of nonmonetary assets be measured based on fair value and eliminates the exception for exchanges of nonmonetary, similar productive assets, and adds an exemption for nonmonetary exchanges that do not have commercial substance. SFAS No. 153 was effective for nonmonetary asset exchanges in periods beginning after June 15, 2005. This statement has not had a significant impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

 

In May 2005, the FASB issued SFAS No. 154, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections, a replacement for APB Opinion No. 20, Accounting Changes, and SFAS No. 3, Reporting Accounting Changes in Interim Financial Statements. This statement changes the requirements for the accounting for and reporting of a change in accounting principle. It applies to all voluntary changes in accounting principle as well as to changes required by an accounting pronouncement in the unusual instance that the pronouncement does not include specific transition provisions. This statement requires voluntary changes in accounting principles be recognized retrospectively to financial statements for prior periods, rather than recognition in the net income of the current period. Retrospective application requires restatements of prior period financial statements as if that accounting principle had always been used. This statement carries forward without change the guidance contained in Opinion 20 for reporting the correction of an error in previously issued financial statements and a change in accounting estimate. The provisions of SFAS No. 154 are effective for accounting changes and corrections of errors made in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005.

 

In June 2005, the FASB issued a final FASB Staff Position (FSP) EITF 03-1-a (retitled FSP FAS 115-1, The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments) which will replace the guidance set forth in paragraphs 10-18 of EITF Issue No. 03-1 and clarifies when an investor should recognize an impairment loss. The provisions of FSP FAS 115-1 are effective for other-than-temporary impairment analysis conducted in periods beginning after September 15, 2005. The Company does not anticipate that this statement will have a significant impact on its financial position or results of operations.

 

In June 2005, the FASB ratified the consensus on EITF Issue No. 04-5, Determining Whether a General Partner, or the General Partners as a Group, Controls a Limited Partnership or Similar Entity When the Limited Partners

 

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Have Certain Rights. This Issue affects accounting by general partners evaluating whether to consolidate limited partnerships. The EITF agreed on a framework for evaluating whether a general partner or a group of general partners controls a limited partnership and therefore should consolidate. The presumption of general-partner control would be overcome only when the limited partners have either “kick-out rights” or “participating rights”. This guidance was effective after June 29, 2005 for all new limited partnerships formed and for existing limited partnership agreements for which the partnership agreements are modified. For general partners in all other limited partnerships, the guidance in this Issue is effective no later than the beginning of the first reporting period in fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2005, and application of either one of two transition methods described in the Issue would be acceptable. The Company is evaluating the impact of EITF Issue No. 04-5 on its financial condition and results of operations. The Company’s life subsidiary is a general partner with one percent ownership interests in East South Boulevard Investors Limited Partnership I and East South Boulevard Investors Limited Partnership II, and accounts for these investments under the equity-method of accounting. The carrying values at September 30, 2005 were $799,077 and $174,384, respectively.

 

In addition, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (FSP) SOP 78-9-1, Interaction of AICPA Statement of Position 78-9 and EITF Issue No. 04-5 in June 2005. The guidance in this FSP was effective after June 29, 2005 for general partners of all new partnerships formed and for existing partnerships for which the partnership agreements are modified. For general partners in all other partnerships, the guidance in this FSP is effective no later than the beginning of the first reporting period in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005, and the application of either transition method as described in the FSP is permitted.

 

In August 2005, the FASB issued FSP Financial Accounting Standard 123(R)-1, Classification and Measurement of Freestanding Financial Instruments Originally Issued in Exchange for Employee Services under FASB Statement No. 123(R). This staff position defers the requirement under SFAS No. 123(R) that a freestanding financial instrument become subject to the recognition and measurement requirements of other applicable generally accepted accounting principles when the rights conveyed by the instrument to the holder are no longer dependent on the holder being an employee of the entity. The Company does not anticipate that this staff position will have a significant impact on its financial position or results of operations at the time SFAS No. 123(R) is adopted.

 

In September 2005, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants issued Statement of Position 05-1, Accounting by Insurance Enterprises for Deferred Acquisition Costs in Connection With Modifications or Exchanges of Insurance Contracts. This statement provides guidance on accounting for deferred acquisition costs on an internal replacement, defined as a modification in product benefits, rights, coverages, or features that occurs by the exchange of an existing contract for a new contract, or by amendment, endorsement, or rider to an existing contract, or by the election of a benefit, right, coverage, or feature within an existing contract. The guidance in this pronouncement is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The Company plans to adopt this statement for internal replacements beginning January 1, 2007. Due to its recent issuance, the Company is still assessing the impact this statement will have on its financial position or results of operations.

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

The Board of Directors and Shareholders

Alfa Corporation:

 

We have reviewed the accompanying consolidated condensed balance sheet of Alfa Corporation and subsidiaries as of September 30, 2005, the related consolidated condensed statements of income and comprehensive income for the nine months and three months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, and the related consolidated condensed statements of cash flows for the nine months and three months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004. These consolidated condensed financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.

 

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

 

Based on our review, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the consolidated financial statements referred to above for them to be in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

/s/ KPMG LLP

 

Birmingham, Alabama

November 8, 2005

 

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

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Management’s 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 nine-month and three-month periods ended September 30, 2005 and 2004. As a result, the following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes that are included in this 10-Q and in the annual report to stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2004.

 

Alfa Corporation, a financial services holding company is affiliated with Alfa Mutual Insurance Company (Mutual), Alfa Mutual Fire Insurance Company (Fire), and Alfa Mutual General Insurance Company (collectively, the Mutual Group). The Mutual Group owns 55.0% of Alfa Corporation’s common stock, their largest single investment. The Company’s primary business is personal lines of property and casualty insurance and life insurance. At September 30, 2005, it also had noninsurance subsidiaries that engaged in consumer financing, commercial leasing, benefits administration and agency operations.

 

The Company’s 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 casualty insurance operations, life insurance operations and noninsurance operations. Property casualty insurance operations accounted for 79.8% of revenues and 81.0% of net income in the first nine months of 2005. Life insurance operations generated 17.8% of revenues and 23.6% of net income during the same period. Noninsurance net income, combined with corporate expenses for the first nine months of 2005, resulted in a net loss of $3.4 million or 4.6% of net income.

 

Future results of operations will depend in part on the Company’s 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 Company’s inability to mitigate any or all risks mentioned above or other factors may adversely affect its profitability.

 

In evaluating the performance of the Company’s segments, management believes operating income serves as a meaningful tool for assessing the profitability of the Company’s ongoing operations. Operating income, a non-GAAP financial measure, is defined by the Company as net income excluding net realized investment gains and losses, net of applicable taxes. Realized investment gains and losses are somewhat controllable by the Company through the timing of decisions to sell securities. Therefore, realized investment gains and losses are not indicative of future operating performance.

 

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The following table sets forth consolidated summarized income statement information for the nine-month and three-month periods ended September 30, 2005 and 2004:

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30,

    Three Months Ended September 30,

 
     2005

    2004

    % Change

    2005

    2004

    % Change

 
     (in thousands, except share and per share data)  

Revenues

                                            

Property and casualty insurance premium

   $ 412,566     $ 362,892     14 %   $ 141,616     $ 122,908     15 %

Life insurance premiums and policy charges

     57,598       53,059     9 %     19,271       17,048     13 %
    


 


 

 


 


 

Total premiums and policy charges

   $ 470,164     $ 415,951     13 %   $ 160,887     $ 139,956     15 %
    


 


 

 


 


 

Net investment income

   $ 70,489     $ 66,884     5 %   $ 24,607     $ 22,430     10 %
    


 


 

 


 


 

Total revenues

   $ 562,238     $ 494,337     14 %   $ 192,133     $ 166,181     16 %
    


 


 

 


 


 

Net income

                                            

Insurance operations

                                            

Property and casualty insurance

   $ 61,227     $ 51,123     20 %   $ 21,688     $ 16,334     33 %

Life insurance

     14,644       12,236     20 %     4,510       4,206     7 %
    


 


 

 


 


 

Total insurance operations

   $ 75,871     $ 63,359     20 %   $ 26,198     $ 20,540     28 %

Noninsurance operations

     1,114       2,688     (59 )%     30       378     (92 )%

Net realized investment gains

     2,832       3,379     (16 )%     883       1,177     (25 )%

Corporate

     (4,589 )     (2,663 )   72 %     (2,008 )     (1,375 )   46 %
    


 


 

 


 


 

Net income

   $ 75,228     $ 66,763     13 %   $ 25,103     $ 20,720     21 %
    


 


 

 


 


 

Net income per share

                                            

- Basic

   $ 0.94     $ 0.83     13 %   $ 0.31     $ 0.26     21 %
    


 


 

 


 


 

- Diluted

   $ 0.93     $ 0.83     13 %   $ 0.31     $ 0.26     21 %
    


 


 

 


 


 

Weighted average shares outstanding

                                            

- Basic

     80,115,937       80,024,581             80,099,751       79,938,616        
    


 


       


 


     

- Diluted

     80,642,174       80,526,003             80,702,154       80,397,352        
    


 


       


 


     

 

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Total premiums and policy charges increased $54.2 million, or 13% in the first nine months of 2005 and increased $20.9 million, or 15%, for the third quarter as a result of increased premium production in both property casualty and life business and strong persistency. Net investment income increased 5.4% in the first nine months of 2005 and increased 9.7% in the third quarter due to increased partnership earnings and a stable yield. Positive cash flows resulted in an increase in invested assets of 3.8% in the nine months since December 31, 2004.

 

Operating income for the property casualty subsidiaries increased by approximately $10.1 million or 20% in the first nine months of 2005 and increased $5.4 million, or 33% in the third quarter due primarily to increased premium revenue, a strong core loss ratio and growth in investment income. Approximately $11.6 million in pretax storm losses were incurred during the first quarter of 2005. No catastrophic storm losses were incurred in the second or third quarters of the current year or the first or third quarters of 2004. Storm losses of approximately $9.2 million were incurred during the second quarter of 2004.

 

Life insurance operating income increased $2.4 million or 20% in the first nine months of 2005 partially due to a lower mortality ratio of 95% compared to 104% during the same period in 2004. Mortality, a non-GAAP financial measure, represents the ratio of actual to expected death claims. Therefore, in the first nine months of 2005, the Company experienced more favorable financial results when compared to 2004 due to the lower mortality ratio. For the third quarter, operating income increased approximately $304,000, or 7%, as a result of improved premium growth and despite a higher mortality ratio of 111% compared to 106% in the same period during the prior year.

 

Noninsurance operating income decreased $1.6 million or 59% in the first nine months of 2005. While pretax earnings from the finance subsidiary’s investment in MidCountry Financial Corporation (MidCountry) improved by approximately $681,000 when compared to the first nine months of 2004, earnings from the commercial leasing division declined by approximately $2.2 million due primarily to lower lease revenue as a result of the sale of approximately $64.2 million in commercial leases during 2004. For the third quarter, operating income decreased approximately $348,000, or 92%, due to a decline in earnings from the commercial leasing division of $412,000 offset by an increase in pretax earnings of $208,000 from MidCountry.

 

Corporate expenses increased by $1.9 million and approximately $633,000 for the nine-month and three-month periods of 2005 due primarily to increased borrowing costs and the elimination of profits generated by transactions between the property casualty segment and The Vision Insurance Group, LLC (Vision), the Company’s managing general agency acquired in January 2005.

 

Net income increased by 13% on a per diluted share basis in the first nine months of 2005 compared to 2004 and increased by 21% for the third quarter.

 

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Table of Contents

PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE OPERATIONS

 

The following table sets forth the components of property and casualty insurance earned premiums, net underwriting income, GAAP basis ratios, underwriting margin, net investment income, other income, operating income, net realized investment gains and losses, and net income for the nine-month and three-month periods ended September 30, 2005 and 2004:

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30,

    Three Months Ended September 30,

 
     2005

    2004

    % Change

    2005

    2004

    % Change

 
     (in thousands)  

Earned premiums

                                            

Personal lines

   $ 386,112     $ 352,836     9 %   $ 132,808     $ 119,612     11 %

Commercial lines

     12,635       11,985     5 %     4,224       4,056     4 %

Reinsurance ceded

     (2,627 )     (2,056 )   28 %     (967 )     (769 )   26 %

Reinsurance assumed

     16,446       127     12850 %     5,551       9     61578 %
    


 


 

 


 


 

Total earned premiums

   $ 412,566     $ 362,892     14 %   $ 141,616     $ 122,908     15 %
    


 


 

 


 


 

Net underwriting income

   $ 45,192     $ 40,518     12 %   $ 15,394     $ 11,759     31 %
    


 


 

 


 


 

Loss ratio

     60.5 %     61.3 %           59.2 %     62.4 %      

LAE ratio

     4.0 %     3.9 %           4.4 %     3.8 %      

Expense ratio

     24.5 %     23.6 %           25.5 %     24.2 %      
    


 


       


 


     

GAAP basis combined ratio

     89.0 %     88.8 %           89.1 %     90.4 %      
    


 


       


 


     

Underwriting margin

     11.0 %     11.2 %           10.9 %     9.6 %      
    


 


       


 


     

Net investment income

   $ 29,470     $ 23,100     28 %   $ 11,232     $ 8,148     38 %
    


 


 

 


 


 

Other income and fees

   $ 6,851     $ 4,447     54 %   $ 2,629     $ 1,440     83 %
    


 


 

 


 


 

Pretax operating income

   $ 81,513     $ 68,065     20 %   $ 29,255     $ 21,347     37 %
    


 


 

 


 


 

Operating income, net of tax

   $ 61,227     $ 51,123     20 %   $ 21,688     $ 16,334     33 %
    


 


 

 


 


 

Realized investment (losses), net of tax

   $ (303 )   $ (2,718 )   (89 )%   $ (514 )   $ (2,783 )   (82 )%
    


 


 

 


 


 

Net income

   $ 60,924     $ 48,405     26 %   $ 21,174     $ 13,551     56 %
    


 


 

 


 


 

 

Earned premiums increased $49.7 million, or 14% in the first nine months of 2005. This increase is due to an increase in sales production of core business of $20.7 million, the positive impact of business generated by AVIC, a subsidiary established to write nonstandard risk automobile insurance beginning in 2005 of $12.7 million, and $16.3 million from the addition of Fire’s quota share reinsurance treaty with Virginia Mutual to the Pooling Agreement on January 1, 2005. During the third quarter, earned premiums increased $18.7 million, or 15%, due to core business growth of 5.1%, or $6.3 million, AVIC production of $6.9 million and Virginia Mutual production of $5.5 million. Continued good persistency in the preferred and standard automobile and homeowner lines also contributed to premium increases.

 

Operating income increased by approximately $10.1 million in the first nine months of 2005 despite $11.6 million in pretax catastrophic storm losses incurred during the first quarter of 2005. Catastrophic storm losses of $9.2 were incurred in the second quarter of 2004. The property and casualty underwriting margin decreased from

 

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11.2% in the first nine months of 2004 to 11.0% in the same period of 2005. The underwriting margin in the first nine months of 2005 was the result of a 60.5% loss ratio (57.6% excluding storm losses), a 4.0% loss adjustment expense (LAE) ratio and a 24.5% expense ratio compared to a loss ratio of 61.3% (58.8% excluding storm losses), an LAE ratio of 3.9% and an expense ratio of 23.6% in the same period of 2004. 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 $5.4 million, or 33%, in the third quarter. No catastrophic losses were incurred in the third quarter of either 2005 or 2004. The underwriting margin of 10.9% in the third quarter of 2005 resulted from a 59.2% loss ratio, an LAE ratio of 4.4% and an expense ratio of 25.5%. The same period in 2004 yielded a loss ratio of 62.4%, an LAE ratio of 3.8% and an expense ratio of 24.2% for an overall underwriting margin of 9.6%.

 

The Alfa Group had approximately $234.7 million in gross catastrophe losses during the first nine months of 2005 and $323.0 million in 2004 due to the impact of hurricanes, tornadoes and other severe weather. The effect of claims from these events impacted underwriting results by $0.09 and $0.07 per share in 2005 and 2004, respectively, after taxes, based upon the intercompany pooling arrangement and the Alfa group-wide catastrophe protection program. For additional information on the intercompany pooling arrangement, refer to Note 2.

 

The property and casualty expense ratio has increased over the nine months and three months ended September 30, 2005, respectively, when compared to the same periods in 2004 due primarily to policy fee expense paid by AVIC to Vision through the Managing General Agent’s Agreement dated January 1, 2005. This fee income is reported as Other Income for segment reporting.

 

Invested assets declined 1.6% since December 31, 2004 while net investment income increased by $6.4 million or 28% for the first nine months of 2005 and $3.1 million or 38% for the third quarter of 2005 primarily due to an increase in earnings from partnerships and fixed maturities.

 

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Table of Contents

LIFE INSURANCE OPERATIONS

 

The following table sets forth life insurance premiums and policy charges, by type of policy, net investment income, benefits and expenses, amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs, operating income, net realized investments gains, and net income for the nine-month and three-month periods ended September 30, 2005 and 2004:

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30,

    Three Months Ended September 30,

 
     2005

   2004

   % Change

    2005

   2004

   % Change

 
     (in thousands)  

Premiums and policy charges

                                        

Universal life policy charges

   $ 15,479    $ 14,849    4 %   $ 5,199    $ 4,972    5 %

Universal life policy charges - COLI

     3,037      2,824    8 %     774      664    17 %

Interest sensitive life policy charges

     8,208      8,005    3 %     2,728      2,599    5 %

Traditional life insurance premiums

     30,357      26,889    13 %     10,570      8,813    20 %

Group life insurance premiums

     517      492    5 %     —        —      —   %
    

  

  

 

  

  

Total premiums and policy charges

   $ 57,598    $ 53,059    9 %   $ 19,271    $ 17,048    13 %
    

  

  

 

  

  

Net investment income

   $ 37,951    $ 36,579    4 %   $ 12,662    $ 13,045    (3 )%
    

  

  

 

  

  

Benefits and expenses

   $ 67,096    $ 66,098    2 %   $ 23,372    $ 22,118    6 %
    

  

  

 

  

  

Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs

   $ 7,725    $ 6,854    13 %   $ 2,557    $ 2,270    13 %
    

  

  

 

  

  

Pretax operating income

   $ 20,728    $ 16,686    24 %   $ 6,004    $ 5,705    5 %
    

  

  

 

  

  

Operating income, net of tax

   $ 14,644    $ 12,236    20 %   $ 4,510    $ 4,206    7 %
    

  

  

 

  

  

Realized investment gains, net of tax

   $ 3,103    $ 6,249    (50 )%   $ 1,367    $ 3,960    (65 )%
    

  

  

 

  

  

Net income

   $ 17,747    $ 18,485    (4 )%   $ 5,877    $ 8,166    (28 )%
    

  

  

 

  

  

 

The Company’s life insurance premiums and policy charges increased $4.5 million, or 8.6% in the first nine months of 2005. Issued annualized new business premium increased by 1.5% to $10.8 million while persistency declined from 91.7% to 91.1%. Persistency, a non-GAAP financial measure, represents the ratio of the annualized premium of policies inforce at September 30, 2005 and 2004 as a percentage of the annualized premium paid at September 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively. For the third quarter, premiums and policy charges increased $2.2 million, or 13%. Issued annualized new business premium increased by 4.6% to $3.3 million.

 

Life insurance operating income increased approximately $2.4 million or 20% in the first nine months of 2005. Death claims increased approximately $300,000, or 1.5% in the first three quarters of 2005, while mortality declined from 104% in the first nine months of 2004 to 95% for the same period in 2005. Investment income increased 3.8% while invested assets grew by 7.2% due to positive cash flows. General expenses decreased by approximately $601,000 or 6.9% primarily due to reductions in sales-related expenses and legal costs. Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs increased by 13% due to growth in deferred costs related to new business production.

 

Operating income increased $303,000, or 7.2%, for the third quarter. Death claims increased $1.9 million, or 31%, for the quarter as mortality increased from 106% in 2004 to 111% for 2005. Net investment income decreased 2.9% for the current quarter due to an adjustment made during the third quarter of 2004. General expenses increased $168,000, or 5.8%, due to increases in legal costs offset by reductions in sales-related expenses. Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs increased by 13%.

 

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NONINSURANCE OPERATIONS

 

Noninsurance operations decreased by $1.6 million or 59% for the first nine months of 2005 due primarily to unfavorable results in the finance subsidiary’s commercial leasing division. Earnings from the consumer financing operations increased from $2.2 million in the first three quarters of 2004 to $2.7 million in the same period of 2005, primarily due to earnings from the investment in MidCountry that yielded pretax income of approximately $1.3 million and $597,000 during the first nine months of 2005 and 2004, respectively. The commercial leasing division experienced a loss of approximately $2.0 million in the first three quarters of 2005 compared to earnings of approximately $180,000 in the same period of 2004. This loss was the result of lower lease revenue following the sale of approximately $64.2 million in leases in the last two quarters of 2004, credit loss reserve increases and additional legal fees related to the Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing of NorVergence, a telecommunications provider that previously serviced over 300 of the Company’s leasing customers. Alfa Benefits Corporation (ABC), the Company’s subsidiary covering certain employee benefits, generated operating income of approximately $377,000 during the first three quarters of 2005 compared to $347,000 for the same period in 2004. In addition, Vision, the Company’s new subsidiary engaged in agency operations generated an operating loss of approximately $26,000 during the first nine months of 2005.

 

Noninsurance operating income decreased $348,000, or 92%, for the third quarter. Income from consumer financing operations increased from $711,000 in the third quarter of 2004 to $1.0 million in 2005, primarily due to an increase in pretax earnings from MidCountry from $164,000 in 2004 to $372,000 in 2005. The commercial leasing division experienced a loss of $931,000 for the third quarter of 2005 compared to a loss of $519,000 in the same period of 2004 as a result of lower lease revenue and increased interest costs. ABC operating income decreased from $156,000 in the third quarter of 2004 to $5,000 in 2005 while Vision’s operations resulted in a loss of $63,000 for the third quarter due to reduced operating margins.

 

CORPORATE

 

Corporate expenses, including the impact of eliminations, increased $1.9 million and $633,000 for the nine-month and three-month periods of 2005, respectively, due primarily to an increase in borrowing costs and the elimination of profits generated by transactions between the property casualty segment and Vision. Unfavorable increases in short-term interest rates and an increase in the commercial paper borrowings attributable to corporate functions led the Company’s interest expense to rise by approximately $1.5 million from levels experienced in the first nine months of 2004.

 

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 yield rates. Information about cash flows, invested assets and yield rates is presented below for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004:

 

     Nine Months Ended
September 30,


 
     2005

    2004

 

Increase in invested assets since January 1, 2005 and 2004

   3.8 %   9.2 %

Investment yield rate (annualized)

   6.1 %   5.7 %

Increase in net investment income since September 30, 2004 and 2003

   5.4 %   5.4 %

 

As a result of the overall positive cash flows from operations, invested assets grew 3.8% since January 1, 2005 and 0.7% since September 30, 2004 while net investment income increased 5.4%. The positive cash flow from operations is due primarily to the improved operating results in the Company’s property casualty subsidiaries, which had $61.2 million in operating income in the first nine months of 2005. In addition to the favorable performance of the property casualty segment, the life subsidiary generated $14.6 million in operating income during the same period. The premium collection from the COLI plan in the life insurance subsidiary provided

 

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positive cash flow in the first quarter of both periods. Net increases in cash resulting from increased borrowings were primarily used to support growth in the loan portfolio of the finance subsidiary and to fund a portion of the acquisition costs of Vision. During the first nine months of 2005, the Company also increased its investment in debt securities by approximately $52.2 million. The Company’s increase in net investment income resulted primarily from earnings on fixed maturities, equity-method investments and partnerships offset by increased borrowing costs and lower lease revenues.

 

The overall yield rate, calculated using amortized cost, increased slightly during the third quarter of 2005 from the second quarter of 2005 to 6.1%. The Company had net realized investment gains before income taxes of approximately $4.4 million in the first nine months of 2005 compared to realized investment gains of approximately $5.2 million during the same period of 2004. These gains are primarily from sales of equity securities. Such realized gains on sales of equity securities are the result of market conditions and therefore can fluctuate from period to period.

 

The composition of the Company’s investment portfolio is as follows at September 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004:

 

     September 30,
2005


    December 31,
2004


 

Fixed maturities

            

Taxable

            

Mortgage-backed (CMO’s)

   31.8 %   34.0 %

Corporate bonds

   24.1     21.7  
    

 

Total taxable

   55.9     55.7  

Tax exempts

   16.2     17.3  
    

 

Total fixed maturities

   72.1     73.0  
    

 

Equity securities

   6.1     5.4  

Policy loans

   3.2     3.2  

Collateral loans

   6.3     6.0  

Commercial leases

   0.1     0.2  

Other long-term investments

   7.7     7.8  

Short-term investments

   4.5     4.4  
    

 

Total

   100.0 %   100.0 %
    

 

 

The rating of the Company’s portfolio of fixed maturities using the Standard & Poor’s rating categories is as follows at September 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004:

 

     September 30,
2005


    December 31,
2004


 

AAA to A-

   92.5 %   92.8 %

BBB+ to BBB-

   6.6     6.8  

BB+ and below (below investment grade)

   0.9     0.4  
    

 

     100.0 %   100.0 %
    

 

 

At September 30, 2005, 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 September 30, 2005, approximately 44.0% of fixed maturities were mortgage-backed securities. Such securities are comprised of Collateral Mortgage Obligations (CMO’s) and pass through securities. Based on reviews of the Company’s portfolio of mortgage-backed securities, the impact of prepayment risk on the Company’s financial position and results from operations is not believed to be significant. For further information on market risks, reference is made to Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations in Alfa Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004. At September 30, 2005, the Company’s total portfolio of fixed maturities had gross unrealized gains of $41.3 million and gross unrealized

 

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losses of $10.5 million. All securities are priced by nationally recognized pricing services or by broker/dealers securities firms. During the first nine months of 2005, the Company sold approximately $90.9 million in fixed maturities available for sale. These sales resulted in gross realized gains of $426,899 and gross realized losses of $1,962,459. During the same period in 2004, the Company sold approximately $13.9 million in fixed maturities available for sale. These sales resulted in gross realized gains of $237,275 and gross realized losses of $355,450.

 

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 Company’s financial condition. At September 30, 2005, the Company had unrealized gains in such investments of approximately $580,000 compared to approximately $3.5 million at December 31, 2004. The Company recognized a net gain of $80,256 on the disposal of high yield debt securities in the first nine months of 2005 after recognizing a net loss of $151,375 on similar disposals in the first three quarters of 2004.

 

It is the Company’s policy to write down securities for which 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. During the first nine months of 2005, the Company wrote down three bond issues totaling $671,367 and four equity securities totaling $637,519 for which declines in value were deemed to be other than temporary. During the first nine months of 2004, the Company wrote down one bond issue totaling $111,279 for which its decline in value was deemed to be other than temporary. There were no non-performing bonds included in the portfolio at either September 30, 2005 or December 31, 2004.

 

The Company’s investment in collateral loans and commercial leases consists primarily of consumer loans and commercial leases originated by the finance subsidiary. The majority of the commercial lease portfolio was reclassified to Assets Classified as Held for Sale at December 31, 2004. Automobiles, equipment and other property collateralize the Company’s loans and leases. At September 30, 2005, the delinquency ratio on the loan portfolio was 1.20%, or $1.3 million and the delinquency ratio on the lease portfolio was 11.27%, or $10.4 million. Loans charged off in the first nine months of 2005 totaled $582,362 while leases charged off in the same period were $2,049,842. At September 30, 2005, the Company maintained an allowance for loan losses of $1,401,366 or approximately 1.1% of the outstanding loan balance. Loans in a nonaccrual status at September 30, 2005 were $846,275. In addition, at September 30, 2005, the Company maintained an allowance for lease losses of $11,531,812 or approximately 13.9% of the outstanding lease balance. Repossessed assets, net of allowances for losses on disposal, included in other assets were $1,121,940 and $956,552 at September 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively. Leases in a nonaccrual status at September 30, 2005 were $9,980,887. All leases that were more than 90 days late were in nonaccrual status at September 30, 2005. Other significant long-term investments include assets leased under operating leases, partnership investments and other equity-method investments.

 

During the third quarter of 2002, the Company’s finance subsidiary, Alfa Financial Corporation (Financial), invested $13.5 million in MidCountry, a financial services holding company. Financial invested an additional $36.1 million in MidCountry during the fourth quarter of 2004 to maintain its approximate original ownership in the entity. Financial accounts for earnings from MidCountry using the equity method of accounting. Pretax operating income was approximately $1.3 million in the first nine months of 2005 compared to approximately $597,000 in the first three quarters of 2004.

 

INCOME TAXES

 

The effective tax rate in the first nine months of 2005 was 27.2% compared to 25.9% for the full year 2004 and 27.1% for the first nine months of 2004. The increase in the effective tax rate in the first nine months of 2005 from the same period in 2004 is due to increases in income before the provision for income taxes as compared to the relative mix of taxable income versus tax-exempt income. The increase from the 2004 full year effective rate is due to reductions in 2004 in the Company’s reserve for tax exposure items. Based on information available at September 30, 2005, the Company currently anticipates the effective tax rate recorded in the financial statements for the nine-month period ending September 30, 2005 to remain at 27.2% for all of 2005.

 

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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

 

The Company 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.

 

The Company’s subsidiaries require cash in order to fund policy acquisition costs, claims, other policy benefits, interest expense, general operating expenses, and dividends to the Company. The major sources of the subsidiaries’ liquidity are operations and cash provided by maturing or liquidated investments. A significant portion of the Company’s investment portfolio consists of readily marketable securities that can be sold for cash. Based on a review of the Company’s matching of asset and liability maturities and on the interest sensitivity of the majority of policies inforce, management believes the ultimate exposure to loss from interest rate fluctuations is not significant.

 

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 long-term debt and leases. These leases have primarily been originated by its commercial leasing subsidiary and Vision. Operating leases supporting the corporate operations are the responsibility of 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 Company’s contractual obligations at September 30, 2005 are summarized below:

 

     Payments Due by Period

     Total

   Less than 1 year

   1-3 years

   4-5 years

   After 5 years

Operating leases

   $ 3,745,789    $ 739,465    $ 1,531,724    $ 1,307,015    $ 167,585

Capital lease obligations

     177,405      124,858      52,547      —        —  

Unconditional purchase obligations

     —        —        —        —        —  

Notes payable to affiliates

     27,539,017      27,539,017      —        —        —  

Long-term debt

     70,000,000      —        —        —        70,000,000

Other long-term obligations

     —        —        —        —        —  
    

  

  

  

  

Total contractual obligations

   $ 101,462,211    $ 28,403,340    $ 1,584,271    $ 1,307,015    $ 70,167,585
    

  

  

  

  

 

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The Company maintains a variety of funding agreements in the form of lines of credit with affiliated entities. The chart below depicts, at September 30, 2005, 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 2005 with the Company’s finance subsidiary. Other commercial commitments of the Company shown below include commercial paper outstanding, scheduled fundings of partnerships, potential performance payouts related to Vision and funding of a policy administration system project of the life subsidiary.

 

     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

   $ 36,502,635    $ 20,615,000    $ —      $ 15,887,635    $ —  

Standby letters of credit

     75,000      75,000      —        —        —  

Guarantees

     5,836,016      200,000      5,000,000      636,016      —  

Standby repurchase obligations

     —        —        —        —        —  

Other commercial commitments

     286,103,844      265,614,441      10,948,705      6,483,679      3,057,019
    

  

  

  

  

Total commercial commitments

   $ 328,517,495    $ 286,504,441    $ 15,948,705    $ 23,007,330    $ 3,057,019
    

  

  

  

  

 

Certain commercial commitments in the table above include items that may, in the future, require recognition within the financial statements of the Company. Events leading to the call of a guarantee, the failure of the policy administration system being developed for use by the life insurance operations to perform properly and achievement of specific metrics by Vision are examples of situations that would impact the financial position and results of the Company.

 

Net cash provided by operating activities for the first nine months of 2005 and 2004 approximated $90.7 million and $93.5 million, respectively. Such net positive cash flows provide the foundation of the Company’s asset/liability management program and are the primary drivers of the Company’s liquidity. As previously discussed, the Company also maintains a diversified portfolio of fixed maturity and equity securities that 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 Company’s 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 Company’s 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 approximately $31.1 million in the first nine months of 2005 to $321.3 million. The majority of the short-term debt is commercial paper issued by the Company. At September 30, 2005, the Company had approximately $223.8 million in commercial paper at rates ranging from 3.65% to 3.82% with maturities ranging from October 3, 2005 to October 26, 2005. 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 & Poor’s and Moody’s Investors Service, respectively. The commercial paper is guaranteed by two affiliates, Mutual and Fire. In addition, the Company had $27.5 million in short-term debt outstanding to affiliates at September 30, 2005 with interest payable monthly at rates established using the existing commercial paper rate and renewable for multiples of 30-day periods at the commercial paper rate then applicable.

 

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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 on June 1, 2017 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 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 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. During February 2005, the Company issued 427,000 nonqualified options under this plan.

 

On April 28, 2005, the Company’s stockholders approved the Alfa Corporation 2005 Amended and Restated Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). Prior to the Plan’s adoption, on February 28, 2005, the Company granted 52,000 awards of restricted stock to certain officers, subject to the approval of the Plan by the stockholders at the Company’s annual meeting. On June 1, 2005, the Company granted 24,500 awards of restricted stock to certain officers based on specific target levels of ownership at May 31, 2005 of Company common stock by those officers. During July 2005, the Company issued 2,000 nonqualified options under the Plan.

 

In October 1989, the Company’s 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 the first nine months of 2005, the Company repurchased 219,000 shares at a cost of $2,960,751. At September 30, 2005, the total repurchased was 8,266,623 shares at a cost of $65,383,384. The Company has reissued 2,711,802 treasury shares as a result of option exercises and sold 1,607,767 shares through funding its dividend reinvestment plan. In January 2005, the Company issued 325,035 shares to fund a portion of the acquisition of Vision.

 

Stock repurchase activity for the three months ended September 30, 2005 is summarized below:

 

     Shares

   Average
Price
Per
Share


Total shares authorized to be repurchased

             12,000,000     

Less: Total shares repurchased at June 30, 2005

        8,266,623          

Shares repurchased –

                   

July 2005

   0              N/A

August 2005

   0              N/A

September 2005

   0              N/A
    
              

Total shares repurchased in three months ended September 30, 2005

        0         N/A
         
         

Total shares repurchased under stock repurchase program

             8,266,623     
              
    

Total shares available for repurchase at September 30, 2005

             3,733,377     
              
    

 

Due to the sensitivity of the products offered by the life subsidiary to interest rates 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 Company’s policies on surrender charges and assessing the Company’s competitiveness with regard to rates offered.

 

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Cash surrenders paid to policyholders on a statutory basis totaled $13.0 million and $12.9 million in the first nine months of 2005 and 2004, respectively. This level of surrenders is within the Company’s pricing expectations. Historical persistency rates indicate a normal pattern of surrender activity. The structure of the surrender charges is such that persistency is encouraged. The majority of the policies inforce have surrender charges which grade downward over a 12 to 15 year period. In addition, the majority of the inforce business is interest sensitive type policies that generally have lower rates of surrender. At September 30, 2005, the total amount of cash that would be required to fund all amounts subject to surrender was approximately $637.6 million.

 

The Company’s 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 Company’s financial condition and operating results. However, the Company’s current catastrophe protection program, which began November 1, 1996, reduced the potential adverse impact and earnings volatility caused by such catastrophe exposures.

 

The Company’s management uses estimates in determining loss reserves for inclusion in its financial statements. Internal actuaries conduct periodic reviews to determine a range of reasonable loss reserves. In addition, the Company’s current catastrophe protection program, which began November 1, 1996, was established to address the economics of catastrophe finance. This plan limits the Company’s exposure to catastrophes which might otherwise deplete the Company’s 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 September 30, 2005, 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 Company’s 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 September 30, 2005. 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 compensatory damages, mental anguish damages 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 Alabama’s 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.

 

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CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

The Company’s “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” is presented in the notes to its audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004. As the Company operates in the property casualty and life insurance industries, its accounting policies are 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 Company’s 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 Company’s financial statements and because of the possibility that subsequent events and available information may differ markedly from management’s 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 72% of the Company’s assets and 58% of the Company’s liabilities are reported at September 30, 2005 and therefore have a direct effect on net earnings and stockholders’ equity.

 

Management has discussed the Company’s critical accounting policies and estimates, together with any changes therein, with the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors. The Company’s Audit Committee has also reviewed the disclosures contained herein.

 

RESERVES FOR PROPERTY AND 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 Company’s 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 Company’s actuaries 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 Company’s 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 $426,714 at September 30, 2005. Similarly, increases of 1% in the reserves for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses would have reduced pretax earnings by $822,622 and $240,444, respectively.

 

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Due to the Company’s geographically-concentrated operations, it is possible that changes in assumptions based on regional data could cause fluctuations in reported results. However, the Company’s exposure to large adjustments in these reserves created by these assumption changes is partially limited by its participation in the Alfa Group’s catastrophe protection program. Historically, the Company’s 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 Company’s 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 Company’s 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 Company’s 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 that 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

 

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the cost or amortized cost and the estimated net realizable value. As a result, write-downs of approximately $638,000 and $671,000 were recorded in the first nine months of 2005 on equity securities and fixed maturities, respectively. No write-downs were recorded in the same period of 2004.

 

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 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 a thirty-year period in relation to the present value of estimated gross profits that are determined based upon surrender charges and investment, mortality and expense margins. Investment income is considered, if necessary, in the determination of the recoverability of deferred policy acquisition costs. Acquisition costs for property and casualty insurance are amortized over the period in which the related premiums are earned. Future changes in estimates, such as the relative time certain employees spend in initial policy bookings, may require adjustment to the amounts deferred. Changes in underwriting and policy issuance processes may also give rise to changes in these deferred costs.

 

RESERVES FOR LITIGATION

 

The Company is subject to lawsuits in the normal course of business related to its insurance and noninsurance products. At the time a lawsuit becomes known, management evaluates the merits of the case 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 allegations of the complaint. These reserves may be adjusted as the case develops. Periodically, and at least quarterly, 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, general developments as the case progresses such as a favorable or an adverse trial court ruling, 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 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued SFAS No. 123R, Share-Based Payment, which replaces SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, and supercedes APB Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees. This statement requires the compensation cost related to share-based payments, such as stock options and employee stock purchase plans, be recognized in the financial statements. This statement was scheduled to be effective for all interim periods beginning after June 15, 2005. In April 2005, the Securities and Exchange Commission approved a delay in the required implementation date of the new standard. The statement will now be effective for all fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2005, and thus, will be effective for the Company beginning with the first quarter of 2006. The Company is continuing to evaluate the impact of SFAS No. 123R on its financial condition or results of operations. Information related to the pro forma effects on the Company’s reported net income and net income per share of applying the fair value recognition provisions of the previous SFAS No. 123 to stock-based compensation is included in Note 9 – Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.

 

In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 153, Exchanges of Nonmonetary Assets, an amendment of APB No. 29, Accounting for Nonmonetary Transactions. This statement requires that exchanges of nonmonetary assets be measured based on fair value and eliminates the exception for exchanges of nonmonetary, similar productive assets, and adds an exemption for nonmonetary exchanges that do not have commercial substance. SFAS No. 153 was effective for nonmonetary asset exchanges in periods beginning after June 15, 2005. This statement has not had a significant impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

 

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In May 2005, the FASB issued SFAS No. 154, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections, a replacement for APB Opinion No. 20, Accounting Changes, and SFAS No. 3, Reporting Accounting Changes in Interim Financial Statements. This statement changes the requirements for the accounting for and reporting of a change in accounting principle. It applies to all voluntary changes in accounting principle as well as to changes required by an accounting pronouncement in the unusual instance that the pronouncement does not include specific transition provisions. This statement requires voluntary changes in accounting principles be recognized retrospectively to financial statements for prior periods, rather than recognition in the net income of the current period. Retrospective application requires restatements of prior period financial statements as if that accounting principle had always been used. This statement carries forward without change the guidance contained in Opinion 20 for reporting the correction of an error in previously issued financial statements and a change in accounting estimate. The provisions of SFAS No. 154 are effective for accounting changes and corrections of errors made in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005.

 

In June 2005, the FASB issued a final FASB Staff Position (FSP) EITF 03-1-a (retitled FSP FAS 115-1, The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments) which will replace the guidance set forth in paragraphs 10-18 of EITF Issue No. 03-1 and clarifies when an investor should recognize an impairment loss. The provisions of FSP FAS 115-1 are effective for other-than-temporary impairment analysis conducted in periods beginning after September 15, 2005. The Company does not anticipate that this statement will have a significant impact on its financial position or results of operations.

 

In June 2005, the FASB ratified the consensus on EITF Issue No. 04-5, Determining Whether a General Partner, or the General Partners as a Group, Controls a Limited Partnership or Similar Entity When the Limited Partners Have Certain Rights. This Issue affects accounting by general partners evaluating whether to consolidate limited partnerships. The EITF agreed on a framework for evaluating whether a general partner or a group of general partners controls a limited partnership and therefore should consolidate. The presumption of general-partner control would be overcome only when the limited partners have either “kick-out rights” or “participating rights”. This guidance was effective after June 29, 2005 for all new limited partnerships formed and for existing limited partnership agreements for which the partnership agreements are modified. For general partners in all other limited partnerships, the guidance in this Issue is effective no later than the beginning of the first reporting period in fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2005, and application of either one of two transition methods described in the Issue would be acceptable. The Company is evaluating the impact of EITF Issue No. 04-5 on its financial condition and results of operations. The Company’s life subsidiary is a general partner with one percent ownership interests in East South Boulevard Investors Limited Partnership I and East South Boulevard Investors Limited Partnership II, and accounts for these investments under the equity-method of accounting. The carrying values at September 30, 2005 were $799,077 and $174,384, respectively.

 

In addition, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (FSP) SOP 78-9-1, Interaction of AICPA Statement of Position 78-9 and EITF Issue No. 04-5 in June 2005. The guidance in this FSP was effective after June 29, 2005 for general partners of all new partnerships formed and for existing partnerships for which the partnership agreements are modified. For general partners in all other partnerships, the guidance in this FSP is effective no later than the beginning of the first reporting period in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005, and the application of either transition method as described in the FSP is permitted.

 

In August 2005, the FASB issued FSP Financial Accounting Standard 123(R)-1, Classification and Measurement of Freestanding Financial Instruments Originally Issued in Exchange for Employee Services under FASB Statement No. 123(R). This staff position defers the requirement under SFAS No. 123(R) that a freestanding financial instrument become subject to the recognition and measurement requirements of other applicable generally accepted accounting principles when the rights conveyed by the instrument to the holder are no longer dependent on the holder being an employee of the entity. The Company does not anticipate that this staff position will have a significant impact on its financial position or results of operations at the time SFAS No. 123(R) is adopted.

 

In September 2005, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants issued Statement of Position 05-1, Accounting by Insurance Enterprises for Deferred Acquisition Costs in Connection With Modifications or Exchanges of Insurance Contracts. This statement provides guidance on accounting for deferred acquisition costs on an internal replacement, defined as a modification in product benefits, rights, coverages, or features that occurs by

 

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the exchange of an existing contract for a new contract, or by amendment, endorsement, or rider to an existing contract, or by the election of a benefit, right, coverage, or feature within an existing contract. The guidance in this pronouncement is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The Company plans to adopt this statement for internal replacements beginning January 1, 2007. Due to its recent issuance, the Company is still assessing the impact this statement will have on its financial position or results of operations.

 

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 Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including this report on Form 10-Q. If any of these assumptions or opinions proves 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.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

The Company’s objectives in managing its investment portfolio are to maximize investment income and investment returns while minimizing overall credit risk. Investment strategies are developed based on many factors including underwriting results, overall tax position, regulatory requirements, and fluctuations in interest rates. Investment decisions are made by management and approved by the Board of Directors. Market risk represents the potential for loss due to adverse changes in the fair value of securities. The market risk related to the Company’s fixed maturity portfolio is primarily interest rate risk and prepayment risk. The market risk related to the Company’s equity portfolio is equity price risk. For further information, reference is made to Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

The Company has evaluated the disclosure controls and procedures (as defined under Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of the end of the period covered by this report. The evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s Disclosure Committee and Management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

 

There were no significant changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting identified in connection with the foregoing evaluation that occurred during the Company’s last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

 

Certain legal proceedings are in process at September 30, 2005. Costs for these and similar legal proceedings, including accruals for outstanding cases, totaled approximately $1.8 million and $1.3 million for the first nine months of 2005 and 2004, respectively. 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 compensatory damages, mental anguish damages, and punitive damages.

 

Approximately 43 legal proceedings against the Company’s life insurance subsidiary were in process at September 30, 2005. Of the 43 proceedings, one was filed in 2005, 31 were filed in 2004, seven were filed in 2003, three were filed in 1999, and one was filed in 1996.

 

In addition, one purported class action lawsuit is pending against both Alfa Builders, Inc. and Fire. Additionally, three purported class action lawsuits are pending against the property casualty companies involving a number of issues and allegations which could affect the Company because of a pooling agreement between the companies. Two purported class action lawsuits have been filed against the Company’s finance subsidiary. These relate to OFC Capital leases with customers of NorVergence, a telecommunications provider who filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in July 2004. No class has been certified in any of these six purported class action cases. In the event a class is certified in any of these purported class actions, reserves may need to be adjusted.

 

Management believes adequate accruals 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, management is unaware of any contingent liabilities arising from other threatened litigation that should be reserved or disclosed.

 

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

 

None

 

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

 

None

 

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Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

None

 

Item 5. Other Information

 

A Summary of the Revised Executive Bonus Plan is included at Exhibit 10.1

 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

10.1    Summary of Revised Executive Bonus Plan
11    Statement of Computation of Per Share Earnings
15    Letter Regarding Unaudited Interim Financial Information
21    Subsidiaries of the Registrant
31.1    Certification of Alfa Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2    Certification of the Alfa Corporation’s Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32    Certification of Alfa Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

Items other than those listed above are omitted because they are not required or are not applicable.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

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

 

    ALFA CORPORATION
Date 11/08/05   By:  

/s/ Jerry A. Newby


        Jerry A. Newby
        President
        (Chief Executive Officer)
Date 11/08/05   By:  

/s/ Stephen G. Rutledge


        Stephen G. Rutledge
        Senior Vice President
        (Chief Financial Officer and Chief Investment Officer)

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number


  

Description of Exhibit


10.1   

Summary of Revised Executive Bonus Plan

11   

Statement of Computation of Per Share Earnings

15   

Letter Regarding Unaudited Interim Financial Information

21   

Subsidiaries of the Registrant

31.1   

Certification of Alfa Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

31.2   

Certification of the Alfa Corporation’s Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32   

Certification of Alfa Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

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