8-K
INVESTORS TITLE CO (ITIC)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
__________________________________
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): August 4, 2021
INVESTORS TITLE COMPANY
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
| North Carolina | 0-11774 | 56-1110199 |
|---|---|---|
| (State or Other Jurisdiction | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
| of Incorporation) | ||
| 121 North Columbia Street, Chapel Hill, North Carolina<br> 27514 | ||
| --- | ||
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code) |
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (919) 968-2200
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered |
|---|---|---|
| Common Stock, no par value | ITIC | The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |
| Rights to Purchase Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock | The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition
Attached as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference is a copy of the press release of Investors Title Company, dated August 4, 2021, reporting Investors Title Company's financial results for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2021.
The information in this Current Report is being furnished and shall not be deemed "filed" for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section, nor shall it be deemed to be incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d) Exhibits. The following exhibit accompanies this Report:
Exhibit 99.1 - Press Release of Investors Title Company dated August 4, 2021
Exhibit 104 - Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| INVESTORS TITLE COMPANY | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date: August 4, 2021 | By: | /s/ James A. Fine, Jr. |
| James A. Fine, Jr. | ||
| President, Principal Financial Officer and | ||
| Principal Accounting Officer |
EXHIBIT INDEX
| Exhibit No. | Description |
|---|---|
| 99.1 | Press release issued by<br> Investors Title Company on August 4, 2021 |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
Exhibit 99.1
Investors Title Company Announces Record Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--August 4, 2021--Investors Title Company today announced results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2021. The Company reported net income of $19.8 million, or $10.42 per diluted share, compared to $14.5 million, or $7.65 per diluted share, for the prior year period. The Company set all-time quarterly records for total revenues, net premiums written and net income.
Revenues for the quarter increased 37.6% to $85.0 million, compared with $61.7 million for the prior year quarter. Net premiums written increased 42.2% versus the prior year period, as lower average interest rates and ongoing economic recovery continued to drive strong levels of refinance activity and home sales. Higher transaction volumes drove a 72.8% increase in escrow and other title-related fees. Non-title services increased 21.9% due primarily to higher levels of property exchange transaction volumes and higher income levels from management services. Other investment income increased $957,000 due to earnings from partnership investments. Changes in the estimated fair value of equity security investments resulted in a benefit of $4.8 million, which was $3.1 million lower than the prior year quarter, as equity markets continued to rally following the dip from initial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in the prior year period. Other income increased $4.0 million due to a gain on the sale of property.
Operating expenses increased 36.2%, as commissions to agents increased commensurate with the increase in agent premium volume. Notwithstanding higher premium volumes, claims expense decreased 28.0% due to improved incurred claims experience and higher levels of favorable loss development related to prior policy years. Personnel costs were 29.9% higher than the prior year period due to staffing additions in support of strategic growth initiatives and volume increases. Higher premium volumes and ongoing technology initiatives drove the increase in other operating expenses.
Income before income taxes increased 41.1% to $25.3 million for the current quarter versus $17.9 million in the prior year period. Excluding the impact of changes in the estimated fair value of equity security investments, income before income taxes (non-GAAP) increased 105.6% to $20.5 million for the current quarter versus $10.0 million in the prior year period (see Appendix A for a reconciliation of this non-GAAP measure to the most directly comparable GAAP measure).
For the six months ended June 30, 2021, net income increased $26.1 million to $33.6 million, or $17.70 per diluted share, versus $7.5 million, or $3.95 per diluted share, for the prior year period. Revenues increased 71.3% to $157.0 million, versus $91.6 million in the prior year period. Operating expenses increased 39.1% to $114.4 million, mainly due to increases in agent commissions and personnel expenses. Aside from changes in the estimated fair value of equity security investments and claims expense, overall results for the year-to-date period have been shaped predominantly by the same factors that affected the second quarter.
Chairman J. Allen Fine added, “We are pleased to announce another quarter of record operating results for the Company. Overall, the trends that began last year following the onset of the pandemic continued to fuel strong demand for housing as well as high levels of refinance activity. The Company experienced revenue growth in all of its key markets and across all channels.
“The outlook for real estate activity for the remainder of the year continues to be generally positive. The pace of existing home sales has slowed in recent months as prices have continued to rise, however mortgage interest rates continue to hover near record low levels, and have offset some of the impact of higher prices. The economy overall is showing clear signs of recovery amid strong government stimulus measures, with more than half of the population receiving vaccinations, more establishments reopening, and unemployment levels continuing to fall. With these trends in mind, we believe 2021 will be another record year for the industry.”
Investors Title Company’s subsidiaries issue and underwrite title insurance policies. The Company also provides investment management services and services in connection with tax-deferred exchanges of like-kind property.
Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained herein constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by the use of words such as “plan,” expect,” “aim,” “believe,” “project,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “should,” “could,” “would,” and other expressions that indicate future events and trends. Such statements include, among others, any statements regarding the Company’s expected performance for this year, projections regarding U.S. recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, future home price fluctuations, changes in home purchase or refinance demand, activity and the mix thereof, interest rate changes, expansion of the Company’s market presence, enhancing competitive strengths, positive development in housing affordability, wages, unemployment or overall economic conditions or statements regarding our actuarial assumptions and the application of recent historical claims experience to future periods. These statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated and historical results. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation: the severity and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic (including any of its variants) and its effects (and the effects of measures undertaken to combat it) on the economy and the Company’s business; the cyclical demand for title insurance due to changes in the residential and commercial real estate markets; the occurrence of fraud, defalcation or misconduct; variances between actual claims experience and underwriting and reserving assumptions, including the limited predictive power of historical claims experience; declines in the performance of the Company’s investments; government regulations; changes in the economy; changes resulting from President Biden’s administration and Congress; loss of agency relationships, or significant reductions in agent-originated business; difficulties managing growth, whether organic or through acquisitions and other considerations set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in subsequent filings.
| Investors Title Company and Subsidiaries<br><br> <br>Consolidated Statements of Operations<br><br> <br>For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 and 2020<br><br> <br>(in thousands, except per share amounts)<br><br> <br>(unaudited) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||
| Revenues: | |||||||||
| Net premiums written | $ | 67,527 | $ | 47,479 | $ | 129,004 | $ | 86,106 | |
| Escrow and other title-related fees | 3,487 | 2,018 | 6,285 | 3,860 | |||||
| Non-title services | 2,408 | 1,975 | 4,486 | 4,522 | |||||
| Interest and dividends | 898 | 1,105 | 1,914 | 2,282 | |||||
| Other investment income | 1,483 | 526 | 2,424 | 966 | |||||
| Net realized investment gains | 182 | 553 | 503 | 141 | |||||
| Changes in the estimated fair value of equity security investments | 4,829 | 7,972 | 8,068 | (6,486 | ) | ||||
| Other | 4,147 | 120 | 4,355 | 258 | |||||
| Total Revenues | 84,961 | 61,748 | 157,039 | 91,649 | |||||
| Operating Expenses: | |||||||||
| Commissions to agents | 34,346 | 24,089 | 64,888 | 44,276 | |||||
| Provision for claims | 1,436 | 1,994 | 3,027 | 2,900 | |||||
| Personnel expenses | 15,914 | 12,248 | 32,067 | 24,057 | |||||
| Office and technology expenses | 3,211 | 2,457 | 5,953 | 4,872 | |||||
| Other expenses | 4,766 | 3,038 | 8,501 | 6,151 | |||||
| Total Operating Expenses | 59,673 | 43,826 | 114,436 | 82,256 | |||||
| Income before Income Taxes | 25,288 | 17,922 | 42,603 | 9,393 | |||||
| Provision for Income Taxes | 5,506 | 3,427 | 8,998 | 1,909 | |||||
| Net Income | $ | 19,782 | $ | 14,495 | $ | 33,605 | $ | 7,484 | |
| Basic Earnings per Common Share | $ | 10.44 | $ | 7.66 | $ | 17.74 | $ | 3.96 | |
| Weighted Average Shares Outstanding – Basic | 1,894 | 1,892 | 1,894 | 1,891 | |||||
| Diluted Earnings per Common Share | $ | 10.42 | $ | 7.65 | $ | 17.70 | $ | 3.95 | |
| Weighted Average Shares Outstanding – Diluted | 1,899 | 1,895 | 1,898 | 1,895 |
| Investors Title Company and Subsidiaries<br> <br>Consolidated Balance Sheets<br><br> <br>As of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020<br><br> <br>(in thousands)<br><br> <br>(unaudited) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 30, <br><br> 2021 | December 31, <br><br> 2020 | |||
| Assets | ||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 31,583 | $ | 13,723 |
| Investments: | ||||
| Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale, at fair value | 88,982 | 117,713 | ||
| Equity securities, at fair value | 69,915 | 64,919 | ||
| Short-term investments | 44,446 | 15,170 | ||
| Other investments | 15,031 | 15,493 | ||
| Total investments | 218,374 | 213,295 | ||
| Premiums and fees receivable | 21,388 | 19,427 | ||
| Accrued interest and dividends | 850 | 1,038 | ||
| Prepaid expenses and other receivables | 13,800 | 9,418 | ||
| Property, net | 15,010 | 11,160 | ||
| Goodwill and other intangible assets, net | 9,980 | 9,771 | ||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets | 3,383 | 3,533 | ||
| Other assets | 1,767 | 1,560 | ||
| Current income taxes receivable | 804 | — | ||
| Total Assets | $ | 316,939 | $ | 282,925 |
| Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity | ||||
| Liabilities: | ||||
| Reserve for claims | $ | 35,303 | $ | 33,584 |
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | 34,724 | 36,020 | ||
| Operating lease liabilities | 3,510 | 3,669 | ||
| Current income taxes payable | — | 638 | ||
| Deferred income taxes, net | 11,464 | 8,592 | ||
| Total liabilities | 85,001 | 82,503 | ||
| Stockholders’ Equity: | ||||
| Common stock – no par value (10,000 authorized shares; 1,894 and 1,892 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, excluding in each<br> period 292 shares of common stock held by the Company's subsidiary) | — | — | ||
| Retained earnings | 228,133 | 196,096 | ||
| Accumulated other comprehensive income | 3,805 | 4,326 | ||
| Total stockholders’ equity | 231,938 | 200,422 | ||
| Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity | $ | 316,939 | $ | 282,925 |
| Investors Title Company and Subsidiaries<br> <br>Net Premiums Written By Branch and Agency<br><br> <br>For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 and 2020<br><br> <br>(in thousands)<br><br> <br>(unaudited) | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | |||||||||||
| 2021 | % | 2020 | % | 2021 | % | 2020 | % | |||||
| Branch | $ | 17,048 | 25.2 | $ | 12,973 | 27.3 | $ | 34,408 | 26.7 | $ | 22,868 | 26.6 |
| Agency | 50,479 | 74.8 | 34,506 | 72.7 | 94,596 | 73.3 | 63,238 | 73.4 | ||||
| Total | $ | 67,527 | 100.0 | $ | 47,479 | 100.0 | $ | 129,004 | 100.0 | $ | 86,106 | 100.0 |
Investors Title Company and Subsidiaries Appendix A Non-GAAP Measures Reconciliation For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands) (unaudited)
Management uses various financial and operational measurements, including financial information not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), to analyze Company performance. This includes adjusting revenues to remove the impact of changes in the estimated fair value of equity security investments, which are recognized in net income under GAAP. Management believes that these measures are useful to evaluate the Company's internal operational performance from period to period because they eliminate the effects of external market fluctuations. The Company also believes users of the financial results would benefit from having access to such information, and that certain of the Company’s peers make available similar information. This information should not be used as a substitute for, or considered superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP, and may be different from similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies.
The following tables reconcile non-GAAP financial measurements used by Company management to the comparable measurements using GAAP:
| Three Months Ended <br><br> June 30, | Six Months Ended <br><br> June 30, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||
| Revenues | |||||||||||
| Total revenues (GAAP) | $ | 84,961 | $ | 61,748 | $ | 157,039 | $ | 91,649 | |||
| (Subtract) Add: Changes in the estimated fair value of equity security investments | (4,829 | ) | (7,972 | ) | (8,068 | ) | 6,486 | ||||
| Adjusted revenues (non-GAAP) | $ | 80,132 | $ | 53,776 | $ | 148,971 | $ | 98,135 | |||
| Income before Income Taxes | |||||||||||
| Income before income taxes (GAAP) | $ | 25,288 | $ | 17,922 | $ | 42,603 | $ | 9,393 | |||
| (Subtract) Add: Changes in the estimated fair value of equity security investments | (4,829 | ) | (7,972 | ) | (8,068 | ) | 6,486 | ||||
| Adjusted income before income taxes (non-GAAP) | $ | 20,459 | $ | 9,950 | $ | 34,535 | $ | 15,879 |
Contacts
Elizabeth B. Lewter
Telephone: \(919\) 968-2200