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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004

Commission File Number 0-6964

21ST CENTURY INSURANCE GROUP
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
95-1935264
(State or other jurisdiction of
(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)
Identification No.)
   
6301 Owensmouth Avenue
  
Woodland Hills, California
91367
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
   
(818) 704-3700
www.21st.com
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
(Registrant's Web site)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 (b) of the Act:
 
 
Name of each exchange on
Title of each class
which registered
Common Stock, Par Value $0.001
New York Stock Exchange

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 o

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes x No o
 
The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of 21st Century Insurance Group, based on the average high and low prices for shares of the registrant's Common Stock on June 30, 2004, as reported by the New York Stock Exchange, was approximately $401,000,000.

There were 85,489,061 shares of common stock outstanding on January 31, 2005.

Document Incorporated By Reference:
Part III of this Form 10-K incorporates by reference certain information from the registrant's definitive proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the close of the year ended December 31, 2004.
 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Description
  
Page Number
Part I
    
Item 1.
Business
4
Item 2.
Properties
19
Item 3.
Legal Proceedings
19
Item 4.
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
20
Part II
  
20
Item 5.
Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
20
Item 6.
Selected Financial Data
21
Item 7.
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
22
Item 7A.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
38
Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
40
Item 9.
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
76
Item 9A.
Controls and Procedures
76
Item 9B.
Other Information
77
Part III
  
77
Item 10.
Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant
77
Item 11.
Executive Compensation
77
Item 12.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
77
Item 13.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
77
Item 14.
Principal Accountant Fees and Services
77
Part IV
  
78
Item 15.
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
78
Schedule II - Condensed Financial Information of Registrant
81
Signatures of Officers and Board of Directors
85

2
 
Exhibits
  
86
10(i)
Short Term Incentive Plan.
  
10(r)
Summary of Director Compensation.
  
10(v)
Amendments to Lease Agreements for Registrant's Principal Offices.
  
10(w)
Registrant's Supplemental Pension Plan.
  
10(x)
Registrant's Supplemental 401(k) Plan.
  
10(y)
Settlement and Release Agreement between Registrant and G. Edward Combs.
  
10(z)
Registrant's Executive Medical Reimbursement Plan.
  
14
Code of Ethics.
  
21
Subsidiaries of Registrant.
  
23
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
  
31.1
Certification of President and Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a).
 
31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a).
  
32.1
Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
  
 
3
 
PART I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

General
21st Century Insurance Group (together with its subsidiaries, referred to hereinafter as the "Company", "we", "us" or "our") is an insurance holding company registered on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: TW).
 
We are a direct-to-consumer provider of personal auto insurance covering over 1.5 million vehicles in California and eight other Western, Southwestern and Midwestern states.1  We also provide motorcycle and personal umbrella insurance in California. Twenty-four hours per day, 365 days a year, customers have the option to purchase insurance, service their policy or report a claim over the phone directly through our licensed insurance professionals at 1-800-211-SAVE (English) or 1-888-920-2121 (Spanish) or through our full service bilingual Web site at www.21st.com. We believe that we deliver superior policy features and customer service at a competitive price.

21st Century Insurance Group was founded in 1958 and, effective December 4, 2003, was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware. Previously, the Company was incorporated in California. Several subsidiaries of American International Group, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as "AIG") together own approximately 63% of our outstanding common stock.

Copies of our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q, Form 8-K and proxy statements are available along with copies of earnings releases on the Company's Web site at www.21st.com. Copies may also be obtained free of charge directly from the Company's Investor Relations Department (6301 Owensmouth Avenue, Woodland Hills, California 91367, phone 818-673-3996).

Geographic Concentration of Business
We write private passenger automobile insurance primarily in California (96% of policyholders). We also currently write auto insurance in Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Texas1.
 
_________________________
1We began offering insurance in Texas on January 3, 2005. Results from Texas are not expected to be material in 2005.
4
 
The following table presents a geographical summary of our direct premiums written for the past five years (in millions):
 
   
Direct Premiums Written
  
Years Ended December 31,
  
2004
  
2003
  
2002
  
2001
  
2000
  
Personal auto lines1
                      
California
  
$
1,285.6
  
$
1,189.5
  
$
967.3
  
$
879.4
  
$
861.6
  
Arizona2
    
33.0
    
21.2
    
13.0
    
—
    
—
  
Nevada
    
6.3
    
6.7
    
8.1
    
8.9
    
7.7
  
Oregon
    
1.2
    
1.4
    
1.6
    
2.0
    
2.2
  
Washington
    
3.7
    
4.6
    
5.8
    
8.5
    
9.7
  
Ohio
    
1.6
    
—
    
—
    
—
    
—
  
Indiana
    
1.3
    
—
    
—
    
—
    
—
  
Illinois
    
4.4
    
—
    
—
    
—
    
—
  
Total personal auto lines
    
1,337.1
    
1,223.4
    
995.8
    
898.8
    
881.2
  
Lines in runoff
                                
Homeowner3 and Earthquake4
    
0.1
    
0.1
    
2.4
    
30.5
    
29.5
  
Total
  
$
1,337.2
  
$
1,223.5
  
$
998.2
  
$
929.3
  
$
910.7
  

The table below summarizes the concentrations of our California vehicles in force for the personal auto lines excluding the Assigned Risk program and personal umbrella and motorcycle coverages as of the end of each of the past five years. Our California market share reflects a weighted distribution that tracks the concentration of households and population. At the end of 2004, 30.3% of the vehicles insured by us were registered in Los Angeles County. In comparison, December 31, 2003 data from the California Department of Motor Vehicles (the most recent available) indicates that 24% of its registrations were for vehicles in Los Angeles County.

Voluntary Personal Auto Lines
  
Concentration of California Vehicles in Force
  
December 31,
  
2004
  
2003
  
2002
  
2001
  
2000
  
Los Angeles County
    
30.3
%
  
32.3
%
  
37.2
%
  
42.0
%
  
43.6
%
San Diego County
    
13.6
    
13.5
    
13.4
    
13.4
    
12.6
  
Southern California excluding Los Angeles and San Diego Counties5 
    
20.3
    
21.4
    
23.5
    
25.9
    
26.5
  
Central and Northern California6 
    
35.8
    
32.8
    
25.9
    
18.7
    
17.3
  
     
100.0
%
  
100.0
%
  
100.0
%
  
100.0
%
  
100.0
%

Types and Limits of Insurance Coverage
Our private passenger auto insurance contract generally covers: bodily injury liability; property damage; medical payments; uninsured and underinsured motorist; rental reimbursement; uninsured motorist property damage and collision deductible waiver; towing; comprehensive; and collision. All of these policies are written for a six-month term except for policies sold under the Assigned Risk Program, which are for twelve months.
_________________
1 Includes motorcycle and personal umbrella coverages, which are immaterial for all periods presented.
2 Excludes amounts not consolidated prior to our acquisition of a majority of the voting interests in 21st Century Insurance Company of the Southwest (previously named 21st Century Insurance Company of Arizona): $12.8 million in 2001 and $14.7 million in 2000.
3 We no longer have any California homeowner policies in force. See further discussion in Item 7 under the caption Underwriting Results - Homeowner and Earthquake Lines in Runoff.
4 We ceased writing earthquake coverage in 1994, but we have remaining loss reserves from the 1994 Northridge Earthquake that are subject to possible adverse development. See further discussion in Item 7 under the captions Underwriting Results - Homeowner and Earthquake Lines in Runoff, Critical Accounting Estimates, and in Note 16 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
5 Includes the following counties: Imperial, Kern, Orange, Riverside, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino and Ventura.
6 Includes all California counties other than Los Angeles County, San Diego County, and those specified in Footnote 5.
 
5
 
Minimum levels of bodily injury and property damage are required by state law and typically cover the other party's claims when our policyholder causes an accident. Uninsured and underinsured motorist are optional coverages and cover our policyholder when the other party is at fault and has no or insufficient liability insurance to cover the insured's injuries and loss of income. Comprehensive and collision coverages are also optional and cover damage to the policyholder's automobile whether or not the insured is at fault. In some states, we are required to offer personal injury protection coverage in lieu of the medical payments coverage required in California.

Various limits of liability are underwritten with maximum limits of $500,000 per person and $500,000 per accident. Our most popular bodily injury liability limits in force are $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident.

Our personal umbrella policy ("PUP") provides a choice of liability coverage limits of $1.0 million, $2.0 million or $3.0 million in excess of underlying automobile liability coverage that we write. Since May 2002, we have required minimum underlying automobile limits, written by us, of $250,000 per person and $500,000 per accident for PUP policies sold. We reinsure 90% of any PUP loss with unrelated reinsurers.

Personal Auto Product Innovations
Starting in May 2002, we began offering motorcycle coverage primarily to our auto policyholders in California. In August 2002, we introduced a new private passenger auto policy in California that does not have certain standard features found in our primary policy. This limited-feature product is similar in most respects to the product offered by many of our competitors, and is positioned as a lower-cost alternative for customers who believe they need less coverage than provided by our standard product. In October 2002, we enhanced our underwriting guidelines allowing us to provide quotes to more customers who do not meet California's statutory "good driver" definition, but who are considered to be insurable risks within our class plan.

The foregoing product innovations account for approximately 14% of new auto policies written in California in 2004. Each innovation was designed to earn an underwriting profit equivalent to the rest of the California auto product (with the exception of the Assigned Risk program). Initial results for each product innovation are in line with expected profit levels.

Marketing
While we offer personal auto policies in nine states, most of our marketing efforts are focused on the larger urban markets in California. Beginning in late 2001, we resumed active marketing in Arizona. We began offering personal auto insurance in Illinois, Indiana and Ohio on January 28, 2004, and in Texas on January 3, 2005. 

Our marketing and underwriting strategy is to appeal to careful and responsible drivers who desire a feature-rich product at a competitive price. We use direct mail, broadcast and print media, outdoor, community events and the Internet to generate inbound telephone calls, which are served by centralized licensed insurance agents. Because our sales agents are centralized, we can deliver a highly efficient and professional experience for our customers 24 hours per day, 365 days per year through a convenient, toll-free 800-211-SAVE telephone number. Customers may also obtain an auto rate quotation and purchase a policy on our Web site at www.21st.com.

Approximately 60% of all Spanish speaking residents in the United States live in the states of California, Arizona, Illinois, and Texas. We are the only significant auto insurer to provide full service in Spanish via our Web site and bilingual professionals 24 hours per day, 365 days per year through a dedicated toll-free telephone number at 888-920-2121. Additionally we utilize Spanish speaking advertising and materials to attract the Spanish speaking community.
 
6
 
The following table summarizes advertising expenditures (in millions) and total new auto policies written for the past five years:
 
Years Ended December 31,
  
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
2001
 
2000
  
Total advertising expenditures
 
$
66.7
 
$
53.9
 
$
43.3
 
$
16.9
 
$
9.8
 
New auto policies written 1
    
225,349
    
265,589
    
189,652
    
63,264
    
89,429
  

Consumer Advocacy
We have introduced several publications and community events designed to assist customers and potential customers in making choices about their auto insurance and automobile safety. Crash Course in Auto Insurance, available in both English and Spanish, compares coverage and service features of products offered by the Company and its major competitors for California, Arizona, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. The comparisons are explained in understandable language to help "demystify" the choices consumers must make in selecting their personal auto insurance carrier.

We also publish the Child Safety Seat Guide, Crash Test Ratings Guide, and The Golden Road - Today's Senior Drivers, which we distribute through county fairs, direct mail promotions and other venues.

For the past three years, 21st Century Insurance and the California Highway Patrol ("CHP") have conducted safety fairs in communities throughout California. In the last three years, the CHP has conducted nearly 3,900 inspections, removed and destroyed over 1,900 hazardous child safety seats, and we donated over 2,900 new seats to California families. Based on the success of this program in California, we entered into a partnership in 2004 with the state of Illinois to conduct safety fairs in communities throughout Illinois. In 2004, the state conducted nearly 500 inspections, removed and destroyed over 160 hazardous seats, and we donated 800 new seats to Illinois families. In January 2005, the Company also formed a partnership with the governor of Texas and the Texas Department of Public Safety to conduct safety fairs throughout the state.
 
21st Century Insurance has also partnered with the CHP and the Arizona Department of Public Safety to post billboards around the states encouraging drivers to be safe. Ads in English and Spanish feature lighthearted messages discussing a serious topic - Sober Driving. All of the materials are co-branded by the Company, the CHP and the Arizona Department of Public Safety, as applicable.

Customer Retention and Vehicles in Force
Customer retention in California, measured based on the number of vehicles in force, were as follows as of the end of each of the past five years:

December 31,
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
Average customer retention - California personal auto2
93%
92%
93%
92%
96%
California vehicles in force3
1,477,625
1,383,175
1,178,459
1,051,982
1,150,643
All other states vehicles in force
62,922
   
33,332
          
27,174
     
23,489
           
31,337
          
Total vehicles in force 
1,540,547
            
1,416,507
            
1,205,633
            
1,075,471
          
1,181,980
            
           
California auto base rate changes
None
+3.9%
April
+5.7%
May
+4.0%
July
+6.4%
November

From March 1996 to February 1999, we implemented six rate decreases which resulted in a cumulative reduction in rates of nearly 23% in our California Personal Auto Program. As a result of this series of rate decreases, retention rates rose to record levels for us through 2000. Growth in vehicles in force during this period was modest as our major competitors also lowered their rates. In the year 2000 we recognized that loss costs had stopped declining and were again rising. While our competitors took no action or, in some cases, continued to take rate decreases, we took decisive action to improve our results and resume profitable growth when the marketplace ultimately did react to these adverse trends. In 2000 we curtailed our advertising, adopted stricter underwriting measures, modified our class plan rating system, and increased our California auto program base rate by 6.4%, followed by a further rate increase of 4% in 2001. These actions contributed to a decline in retention and vehicles in force in 2001. Beginning in the latter half of 2001, our major California competitors began implementing rate increases and we restarted active marketing and advertising, both of which contributed to the increases in our retention and vehicles in force in 2002. In January 2003, the Company received approval for a 3.9% rate increase, which we implemented for new and renewal policies effective March 31, 2003. This increase did not significantly impact retention. We took no California rate increases or decreases in 2004.

____________________
1 Includes new PUP and motorcycle policies, which are insignificant for all periods presented.
2 Represents an overall measure of customer retention, including new customers as well as long-time customers. Retention rates for new customers typically are lower than for long-time customers.
3 Includes PUP and motorcycle.
 
7
 
Underwriting and Pricing
The regulatory system in California requires the prior approval of insurance rates. Within the regulatory framework, we establish our premium rates based primarily on actuarial analyses of our own historical loss and expense data. This data is compiled and analyzed to establish overall rate levels as well as classification differentials.

Our rates are established at levels intended to generate underwriting profits and vary for individual policies based on a number of rating characteristics. These rates are a blend of base rates and class plan filings made with the California Department of Insurance ("CDI"). Base rates are the primary amount projected to generate an adequate underwriting profit. Class plan changes are filings that serve to modify the factors that impact the base rates so that each individual receives a rate that reflects their respective losses and expenses. Class plan changes are generally meant to be revenue neutral to us, but ultimately are done in conjunction with a base rate filing.

California law requires that the primary rating characteristics that must be used for automobile policies are driving record (e.g., history of accidents and moving violations), annual mileage and number of years the driver has been licensed. A number of other "optional" rating factors are also permitted and used in California, which include characteristics such as automobile garaging location, make and model of car, policy limits and deductibles, and gender and marital status.

The following table summarizes increases in our premium rates for each of the past five years:

   
Increases in Our Premium Rates
  
Years Ended December 31,
  
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
2001
 
2000
  
Personal auto lines excluding PUP
                      
California
    
—
%
  
3.9
%
  
5.7
%
  
4.0
%
  
6.4
%
Arizona
    
4.8
    
3.0
    
3.7
    
16.5
    
20.0
  
Nevada
    
6.4
    
—
    
22.0
    
12.6
    
—
  
Oregon
    
—
    
—
    
3.1
    
14.0
    
21.0
  
Washington
    
7.4
    
—
    
10.7
    
44.9
    
—
  
Lines in runoff
                                
Homeowner
    
N/A
    
N/A
    
13.2
    
4.0
    
—
  
Earthquake
    
N/A
    
N/A
    
N/A
    
N/A
    
N/A
  

We are required to offer insurance to any California applicant who meets the statutory definition of a "good driver." This definition includes, but is not limited to, all drivers licensed the previous three years with no more than one violation point count under criteria contained in the California Vehicle Code. These criteria include a variety of moving violations and certain at-fault accidents.
 
8
 
We review many of our policies prior to the time of renewal and as changes occur during the policy period. Some mid-term changes may result in premium adjustments, cancellations or non-renewals because of a substantial increase in risk.

Competition
The personal automobile insurance market is highly competitive and is comprised of a large number of well-capitalized companies, many of which operate in more states and offer a wider variety of products than we do. Several of these competitors are larger and have greater financial resources than we do on a stand-alone basis. According to A.M. Best, we were the seventh largest writer of private passenger automobile insurance in California based on direct premiums written for 2003 (latest year for which information is available). Our main competition comes from other major writers who concentrate on the "good driver" market.
 
Market shares in California of the top ten writers of personal automobile insurance, based on direct premiums written, according to A.M. Best, for the past five years were as follows:
 
   
Market Share in California
Based on Direct Premiums Written
  
Years Ended December 31,
  
2003
 
2002
 
2001
 
2000
 
1999
  
21st Century Insurance Group
    
6
%
  
6
%
  
6
%
  
6
%
  
6
%
State Farm Group
    
14
    
14
    
13
    
13
    
14
  
Zurich/Farmers Group
    
10
    
11
    
12
    
13
    
14
  
Mercury General Group
    
9
    
9
    
8
    
8
    
8
  
Automobile Club of Southern California Group
    
9
    
9
    
9
    
9
    
9
  
California State Auto Group
    
9
    
9
    
10
    
10
    
10
  
Allstate Insurance Group
    
8
    
9
    
11
    
10
    
9
  
USAA Group
    
3
    
3
    
3
    
3
    
3
  
Progressive Insurance Group
    
3
    
2
    
2
    
2
    
3
  
Government Employees Group (GEICO)
    
3
    
3
    
3
    
3
    
2
  

Servicing of Business
Computerized systems provide the information resources, telecommunications and data processing capabilities necessary to manage our business. These systems support the activities of our marketing, sales, service and claims people who are dedicated to serving the needs of customers. New technology investments have been focused on making it faster and easier for customers to transact business while ultimately lowering our per-transaction costs.

Using our bilingual Web site, most customers are now able to receive and accept quotations, bind policies, pay their bills, inquire about the status of their policies and billing information, make most common policy changes, submit first notice of loss on a claim and access a wealth of consumer information. New technology provides our sales and service agents with integrated knowledge about customer contacts and enables speedier and even more convenient customer service.

Claims
Claims operations include the receipt and analysis of initial loss reports, assignment of legal counsel when necessary, and management of the settlement process. Whenever possible, physical damage claims are handled by our drive-in claims facilities, vehicle inspection centers and Direct Repair Program ("DRP") providers. The claims management staff administers the claims settlement process and oversees the work of the legal and adjuster personnel involved in that process. Each claim is carefully analyzed to provide for fair loss payments, compliance with our contractual and regulatory obligations and management of loss adjustment expenses. Liability and property damage claims are handled by specialists in each area.

We make extensive use of our DRP to expedite the repair process. Our program involves agreements with more than 200 independent repair facilities. We agree to accept the repair facility's damage estimate without requiring each vehicle to be reinspected by our adjusters. All DRP facilities undergo a screening process before being accepted, and we maintain an aggressive inspection audit program to assure quality results. Our inspection teams visit all repair facilities each month and perform a quality control inspection on approximately 45% of all repairable vehicles in this program. The customer benefits by getting the repair process started faster and by having the repairs guaranteed for as long as the customer owns the vehicle. We benefit by not incurring the overhead expense of a larger staff of adjusters and by negotiating repair prices we believe are beneficial. Currently, more than 30% of all damage repairs are handled using the DRP method.

9
 
Our policy is to use original equipment manufacturer ("OEM") parts for body repairs. As a result, we believe we do not have exposure to the types of class action suits some competitors have drawn over their use of after-market parts.

We have established 12 claims division service offices in areas of major customer concentrations. Our four vehicle inspection centers, located in Southern and Northern California, as well as Arizona, handle total losses, thefts and vehicles that are not drivable.

The claims services division is responsible for subrogation and medical payment claims. We also maintain a Special Investigations Unit as required by the California State Insurance Code, which investigates suspected fraudulent claims. We believe our efforts in this area have been responsible for saving several million dollars annually.

We utilize internal legal staff to handle most aspects of claims litigation. These attorneys handle approximately 80% of all lawsuits against our policyholders. Suits directly against the Company, and those which may involve a conflict of interest, are assigned to outside counsel.

Growth and Profitability Objectives
We have stated that our long-term goal is to build an organization that consistently produces a 96% combined ratio or better, using accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"), and at least 15% annual growth in direct written premiums. To achieve these goals, we have undertaken many steps since 1999 including:

·
Continued our multi-state expansion with the addition of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio in 2004, and Texas in 2005;
·
Restored pricing and underwriting discipline;
·
Successfully restarted active advertising for new customers;
·
Introduced product innovations to spur growth and profitability; and
·
Launched numerous initiatives to lower per-transaction costs.

Underwriting Expense Ratio - Personal Auto Lines
Under GAAP, the underwriting expense ratio is defined as underwriting expenses divided by net premiums earned as underwriting expenses are recognized over the period that net premiums are earned.  The statutory underwriting expense ratio is stated as a percentage of premiums written rather then premiums earned because most underwriting expenses are recognized when policies are written. Information extracted from statutory filings by A.M. Best for the top ten California personal automobile insurance companies for 2003, the most recent year available, indicates that our direct statutory underwriting expense ratio for private passenger auto (defined as direct underwriting expenses on a statutory basis divided by direct premiums written) was lower then seven of our nine largest competitors in the markets in which we served for 2003.  Our GAAP underwriting results and ratios are discussed in Item 6. Selected Financial Data and Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Results of Operations.
 
10
 
Losses and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves
The cost to settle a customer's claim is comprised of two major components: losses and loss adjustment expenses ("LAE").

Losses in connection with third party coverages represent damages as a result of an insured's acts that result in property damage or bodily injury. First party losses involve damage or injury to the insured's property or person. In either case, the ultimate cost of the loss is not always immediately known and, over time, may be higher or lower than initially estimated. When establishing initial and subsequent estimates, the amount of loss is reduced for salvage (e.g., proceeds from the disposal of the wrecked automobile) and subrogation (e.g., proceeds from another party who is fully or partially liable, such as the insurer of the driver who caused the accident involving one of our customers).

Loss adjustment expenses represent the costs of adjusting, investigating and settling claims, and are primarily comprised of the cost of our claims department, external inspection services, and internal and external legal counsel. Corporate support areas such as human resources, finance, and information technology provide services to our overall operations, and, accordingly, a portion of their operational costs are also allocated to LAE. The LAE allocable portion of such corporate support costs is reviewed periodically as changes occur in our organization, and we modify the allocation percentages as appropriate. During 2004, such changes effectively decreased our ratio of overhead LAE to earned premium by 2.7 percentage points from 4.4% in 2003 to 1.7% in 2004.
 
Accounting for losses and LAE is highly subjective because these costs must be estimated, often weeks, months or even years in advance of when the payments are actually made to claimants, attorneys, claims personnel and others involved in the claims settlement process.

Accounting principles require insurers to record estimates for losses and LAE in the periods in which the insured events, such as automobile accidents, occur. This estimation process requires us to estimate both the number of accidents that have occurred (called "frequency") and the ultimate amount of loss and LAE (called "severity") related to each accident. We employ actuaries who are professionally trained and certified in the process of establishing estimates for frequency and severity. Historically, our actuaries have not projected a range around the carried loss reserves. Rather, they have used several methods and different underlying assumptions to produce a number of point estimates for the required reserves. Management reviews the assumptions underlying the loss ratios and selects the carried reserves after carefully reviewing the appropriateness of the underlying assumptions.

Estimating the Frequency of Auto Accidents. By studying the historical lag between the actual date of loss and the date the accident is reported by the customer to the claims department, our actuaries can make a reasonable, yet never perfect, estimate for the number of claims that ultimately will be reported for a given period. This measurement is referred to as frequency. The difference between the estimated ultimate number of claims that will be made and the number that have actually been reported in any given period is referred to as incurred but not reported ("IBNR") claims.

Estimating the Severity of Auto Claims. For both property damage and injury claims our adjusters determine what exposures exist in open reserves. All property damage reserves and any injury reserves estimated to be less than $15,000 are set at "average amounts" determined by our actuaries. For both bodily injury and uninsured motorist claims estimated to have value in excess of $15,000, adjusters in our claims department establish loss estimates based upon various factors such as the extent of the injuries, property damage sustained, and the age of the claim. Our actuaries review these estimates, giving consideration to the adjusters' historical ability to accurately estimate the ultimate claim and length of time it will take to settle the claim, and provide for development in the adjusters' estimates as applicable. Generally, the longer it takes to settle a claim, the higher the ultimate claim cost. The ultimate amount of the loss is considered the "severity" of the claim. In addition, the actuaries estimate the severity of the IBNR claims.

The severities are estimated by our actuaries each month based on historical studies of average claim payments and the patterns of how the claims were paid. Again, the fundamental assumption used in making these estimates is that past events are reliable indicators of future outcomes.
 
11
 
Estimating Losses and LAE for Lines in Runoff. While the personal auto lines represent our core business, we also have losses and LAE relating to development on remaining loss reserves for homeowners and earthquake lines. These lines are said to be "in runoff" because we no longer have policies in force. As discussed in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, we have not written any earthquake policies since 1994 and we exited the homeowners insurance business at the beginning of 2002. Developing reserve estimates for the earthquake line is particularly subjective because most of the remaining earthquake claims are in litigation. Our actuaries evaluate the homeowners reserve requirement on a quarterly basis, while personnel in our legal and claims areas prepare monthly evaluations of the earthquake reserves.

Loss and LAE Reserve Development
Management believes that our reserves are adequate and represent our best estimate based on the information currently available. However, because reserve estimates are necessarily subject to the outcome of future events, changes in estimates are unavoidable in the property and casualty insurance business. These changes sometimes are referred to as "loss development" or "reserve development."

For the personal auto lines, our actuaries prepare a monthly evaluation of loss and LAE indications by accident year, and we assess whether there is a need to adjust reserve estimates. As claims are reported and settled and as other new information becomes available, changes in estimates are made and are included in earnings of the period of the change.
 
The changes in prior accident year estimates of losses and LAE incurred recorded in each of the past five calendar years, net of reinsurance, are summarized below (in thousands):
 
   
Changes in the Calendar Year of Prior
Accident Year Estimates, Net of Reinsurance
  
Years ended December 31,
 
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
2001
 
2000
  
Personal auto
  
$
(2,936
)
$
11,159
 
$
16,200
 
$
45,742
 
$
42,178
  
Homeowner and Earthquake1
    
2,831
    
40,048
    
56,158
    
72,265
    
2,845
  
Total
  
$
(105
)
$
51,207
 
$
72,358
 
$
118,007
 
$
45,023
  
 Positive amounts represent deficiencies in loss and LAE reserves, while negative amounts represent redundancies.

To understand these changes, it is useful to put them in the context of the cumulative reserve development experienced by the Company over a longer time frame. The tables on the following pages present the development of loss and LAE reserves for the personal auto lines (Table 1) and for the homeowner and earthquake lines in runoff (Table 2), for the years 1994 through 2004. The figures in both tables are shown gross of reinsurance.
 
_____________________
1 We no longer have any California homeowner policies in force. We ceased writing earthquake coverage in 1994, but we have remaining loss reserves from the 1994 Northridge Earthquake that are subject to possible adverse development. See further discussion in Item 7 under the captions Underwriting Results - Homeowner and Earthquake Lines in Runoff, Critical Accounting Estimates, and the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
12
 
In Tables 1 and 2 on the following pages, a redundancy (deficiency) exists when the original reserve estimate is greater (less) than the re-estimated reserves. Each amount in the tables includes the effects of all changes in amounts for prior periods. The tables do not present accident year or policy year development data. Conditions and trends that have affected the development of liabilities in the past may not necessarily occur in the future. Therefore, it would not be appropriate to extrapolate future deficiencies or redundancies based on the table. A detailed discussion of loss and LAE reserve development follows the tables.
 
The top line of each table shows the reserves at the balance sheet date for each of the years indicated. The upper portion of the table indicates the cumulative amounts paid as of subsequent year ends with respect to that reserve liability. The lower portion of the table indicates the re-estimated amount of the previously recorded reserves based on experience as of the end of each succeeding year, including cumulative payments made since the end of the respective year. The estimates change as more information becomes known about the frequency and severity of claims for individual years.
 
13
                                               
TABLE 1 - Auto Lines as of December 31,
                                              
(Amounts in thousands, except claims)
  
1994
  
1995
  
1996
  
1997
  
1998
  
1999
  
2000
  
2001
  
2002
  
2003
  
2004
  
                                               
Reserves for losses and LAE, direct
                                          
   
$
552,872
  
$
506,747
  
$
468,257
  
$
403,263
  
$
329,021
  
$
261,990
  
$
286,057
  
$
301,985
  
$
333,113
  
$
419,913
  
$
489,411
  
Paid (cumulative) as of:
                                                                    
One year later
    
329,305
   
318,273
   
260,287
   
253,528
   
247,317
   
242,579
   
268,515
   
239,099
    
249,815
    
280,534
        
Two years later
    
403,462
   
392,420
   
336,538
   
319,064
   
307,797
   
311,659
   
332,979
    
312,909
    
328,951
              
Three years later
    
429,595
   
416,541
   
354,854
   
333,349
   
324,778
   
324,740
    
352,592
    
333,955
                    
Four years later
    
435,795
   
422,393
   
357,913
   
340,907
   
326,932
    
327,745
    
358,806
                          
Five years later
    
437,041
   
423,429
   
363,068
   
341,446
    
327,418
    
328,557
                                
Six years later
    
437,052
   
427,723
   
362,824
    
341,374
    
327,162
                                      
Seven years later
    
437,015
    
427,355
    
362,508
    
341,076
                                            
Eight years later
    
436,737
    
427,059
    
362,216
                                                  
Nine years later
    
436,518
    
426,844
                                                        
Ten years later
    
436,307
                                                              
Reserves re-estimated as of:
                                                                    
One year later
    
465,934
   
440,158
   
365,566
   
359,262
   
313,192
   
309,953
   
352,709
    
323,791
   
348,865
    
417,225
        
Two years later
    
438,672
   
424,091
   
366,858
   
337,258
   
321,711
   
340,914
   
354,720
   
338,338
    
354,784
              
Three years later
    
439,125
   
425,404
   
359,925
   
335,246
   
341,695
   
328,190
   
361,264
    
339,965
                    
Four years later
    
438,895
   
424,643
   
357,607
   
355,605
   
326,506
   
329,182
    
361,068
                          
Five years later
    
436,397
   
422,389
   
377,414
   
340,537
   
326,565
    
329,318
                                
Six years later
    
435,878
   
442,024
   
361,980
   
340,552
    
327,626
                                      
Seven years later
    
451,478
   
426,719
   
361,865
    
341,396
                                            
Eight years later
    
448,972
   
426,636
    
362,541
                                                  
Nine years later
    
436,237
    
427,093
                                                        
Ten years later
    
436,540
                                                              
Redundancy (Deficiency)
  
$
116,332
  
$
79,654
  
$
105,716
  
$
61,867
  
$
1,395
  
$
(67,328
)
$
(75,011
)
$
(37,980
)
$
(21,671
)
$
2,688
        
                                                                     
Supplemental Auto Claims Data:
                                                                    
Claims reported during the year for CA only
    
352,182
    
324,143
    
294,615
    
279,211
    
295,905
    
307,403
    
323,395
    
298,417
    
293,955
    
331,734
    
354,156
  
Claims pending at year end for CA only
    
70,717
    
63,142
    
58,172
    
55,738
    
56,739
    
57,134
    
54,760
    
50,365
    
51,488
    
58,577
    
59,676
  

See Note 8 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
14
 
TABLE 2 - Homeowner and Earthquake Lines in Runoff as of December 31,
                                              
(Amounts in thousands)
  
1994
  
1995
  
1996
  
1997
  
1998
  
1999
  
2000
  
2001
  
2002
  
2003
  
2004
  
                                               
Reserves for losses and LAE, direct
                                          
   
$
203,371
  
$
78,087
  
$
75,272
  
$
34,624
  
$
52,982
  
$
14,258
  
$
12,379
  
$
47,305
  
$
50,896
  
$
18,410
  
$
6,131
  
Paid (cumulative) as of:
                                                                    
One year later
    
193,887
   
55,738
   
75,100
   
30,232
   
48,848
   
13,103
   
30,706
   
58,274
    
71,147
    
16,277
        
Two years later
    
236,406
   
119,211
   
100,296
   
74,127
   
58,281
   
37,404
   
78,647
    
125,447
    
87,343
              
Three years later
    
295,768
   
139,792
   
142,850
   
82,974
   
81,887
   
83,985
    
143,564
    
140,742
                    
Four years later
    
314,225
   
180,799
   
151,342
   
106,274
   
128,266
    
147,856
    
157,792
                          
Five years later
    
354,324
   
188,987
   
174,513
   
152,592
    
192,121
    
161,560
                                
Six years later
    
362,379
   
211,771
   
220,805
    
216,383
    
205,591
                                      
Seven years later
    
385,161
   
257,839
    
284,455
    
229,808
                                            
Eight years later
    
431,154
    
321,169
    
297,754
                                                  
Nine years later
    
494,260
    
334,053
                                                        
Ten years later
    
507,110
                                                              
Reserves re-estimated as of:
                                                                    
One year later
    
253,775
   
116,741
   
101,903
   
77,445
   
58,582
   
18,024
   
68,245
    
103,470
    
89,281
    
22,406
        
Two years later
    
290,526
   
142,071
   
145,635
   
82,716
   
61,393
   
72,546
    
121,176
    
142,211
    
93,388
              
Three years later
    
316,256
   
182,616
   
150,434
   
85,519
   
116,429
   
125,089
    
159,331
    
146,152
                    
Four years later
    
355,690
   
186,631
   
153,521
   
140,532
    
169,157
    
163,045
    
162,998
                          
Five years later
    
359,084
   
190,334
   
208,533
    
193,375
    
207,064
    
166,548
                                
Six years later
    
363,260
   
245,267
   
261,389
    
231,217
    
210,486
                                      
Seven years later
    
418,407
   
298,161
    
299,109
    
234,661
                                            
Eight years later
    
471,330
    
335,657
    
302,550
                                                  
Nine years later
    
508,639
    
338,735
                                                        
Ten years later
    
511,724
                                                              
Redundancy (Deficiency)
  
$
(308,353
)
$
(260,648
)
$
(227,278
)
$
(200,037
)
$
(157,504
)
$
(152,290
)
$
(150,619
)
$
(98,847
)
$
(42,492
)
$
(3,996
)
      

NOTE: Costs associated with claims that were re-opened as a result of SB 1899 are displayed in the table as a 1994 event (since they all related to the Northridge Earthquake) even though the legislation allowing the re-opening of these claims was not passed until almost seven years later.
 
See Notes 8 and 16 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
15
 
Auto Lines Reserve Development. As shown in the ten-year development table, our auto lines historically developed redundancies prior to 1999 and have exhibited adverse development for 1999 through 2002. For 2003, there was favorable development of $2.7 million. The period from 1993 to 1999 was quite unusual in that, during that time, we experienced declining frequencies and declining severities in our auto line. As Table 1 shows, we did not immediately have confidence in these declining trends and did not immediately lower our reserve estimates.

Much of the decline in trend occurred between 1996 and 1998 because of moderation in health care costs due to greater use of HMO's and laws that were enacted in California that limited the ability of uninsured motorists and drunk drivers to collect non-economic damages. During 1999, we assumed that the past trend of declining frequencies and severities would continue. However, in retrospect, it can now be seen that the favorable decline in trends ended and loss costs began to increase. In 2000, we continued to assume lower loss severity primarily because of what then seemed to be an acceleration in the pattern of claims payments and the uncertainty inherent in identifying a change in multi-year patterns. In 2001, we experienced significant, unexpected development in our uninsured motorist coverage while the actuarial indications for most prior accident years were adjusted upward as more data became available. The changes in injury trends affected the entire California market and occurred, to a greater or lesser degree, in virtually every state in the country.

Starting in 2001, we improved the quality and timeliness of the data available to make initial estimates and periodic changes in estimates. We have dedicated more resources to better understand the underlying drivers of the changes in frequency and severity trends as they begin emerging. For example, in the second quarter of 2003 we began making accident month actuarial analyses of our reserves for the auto lines. Our improved methodology is reflected in the small favorable development of $2.7 million recorded in 2004 with respect to 2003 and prior accident years.

Homeowner and Earthquake Lines in Runoff. In Table 2, substantially all of the development relates to the earthquake line. A major earthquake occurred on January 17, 1994, centered in the San Fernando Valley community of Northridge (the "Northridge Earthquake"). Through December 31, 2004, we have settled over 46,000 Northridge Earthquake claims (including auto claims) at a total cost (i.e., loss plus LAE) of over $1.2 billion.

In September 2000, the State of California enacted Senate Bill 1899 ("SB 1899"), which allowed Northridge Earthquake claims barred by contract and the statute of limitations to be reopened during calendar year 2001. Please see Note 16 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional background on the Northridge Earthquake and SB 1899, including a discussion of factors that have contributed to the difficulty of obtaining accurate loss and LAE estimates in the wake of that legislation.

The loss development in Table 2 is easiest to understand by dividing it into "pre-SB 1899" and "post-SB 1899" segments. This is because the costs relating to the reopened claims are displayed in the table as a 1994 event (since they all related to the Northridge Earthquake), even though the legislation allowing the re-opening of certain claims was not passed until almost seven years later. Before SB 1899 was passed in late 2000, we had only approximately 50 earthquake claims remaining to be resolved out of an initial 35,000 homeowner earthquake claims. Although we settled 98% of the claims within a year of the quake, many upward changes in estimates were required in 1994 and beyond as new information emerged on the severity of the damages and as settlements of litigated claims occurred. As a result, we recorded the following upward changes in loss estimates after 1994, but before SB 1899 came into play: 1995 - $57 million; 1996 - $40 million; 1997 - $24.8 million; 1998 - $40 million; 1999 - $2.5 million; and 2000 - $3.5 million.

Calendar year 2001 was the one-year window SB 1899 permitted for claimants to bring additional insurance claims and legal actions allegedly arising out of the Northridge Earthquake. Prior to the enactment of this law, such claims were considered by previously applicable law to be fully barred, or settled and closed. Any additional legal actions with respect to such claims were barred under the policy contracts, settlement agreements, and/or applicable statutes of limitation. As a result of the enactment of this unprecedented legislation, claimants asserted additional claims against the Company allegedly related to damages that occurred in the 1994 earthquake but which were now being reported seven years later in 2001. Plaintiff attorneys and public adjusters conducted extensive advertising campaigns to solicit claimants. Hundreds of claims were filed in the final days and hours before the December 31, 2001 deadline.

16
 
During 2001, the Company recorded an additional $70.0 million of pre-tax losses related to the 1994 earthquake, including $50 million in the fourth quarter to cover the indemnity and inspection portion of the claims. In the first two quarters of 2002, we expensed an additional $11.9 million of legal defense costs as they were paid. The Company lacked sufficient information to record a reasonable estimate of the related legal defense costs until the third quarter of 2002, at which time an additional provision of $46.9 million was recorded. Based on subsequent developments, we recorded an additional provision of $37.0 million in the first quarter of 2003 and $2.2 million in 2004 (see additional discussion in Note 16 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements).

At the end of each month, legal and claims personnel within the Company review the adequacy of the remaining SB 1899 reserves based on the most current information available. Based on that review, we believe our remaining earthquake reserves are adequate as of December 31, 2004. More than ninety-eight percent of the claims submitted and litigation brought against the Company as a result of SB 1899 have been resolved. Substantially all of the Company's remaining 1994 Earthquake claims are in litigation. No class actions have been certified and the trial court has denied class action status for the two remaining cases seeking class action status. While the reserves established are the Company's current best estimate of the cost of resolving its 1994 Earthquake claims, including claims arising as a result of SB 1899, these reserves continue to be highly uncertain because of the difficulty in predicting how the remaining litigated cases will be resolved.

Reinsurance
A reinsurance transaction occurs when an insurer transfers or cedes a portion of its exposure to a reinsurer for a premium. The reinsurance cession does not legally discharge the insurer from its liability for a covered loss, but provides for reimbursement from the reinsurer for the ceded portion of the risk. We periodically monitor the continuing appropriateness of our reinsurance arrangements to determine that our retention levels are reasonable and that our reinsurers are financially sound, able to meet their obligations under the agreements and that the contracts are competitively priced.

The majority of our cessions are with AIG subsidiaries, which have earned A.M. Best's highest financial rating of A++. The A.M. Best financial ratings of our other reinsurers range from A- to A+. Our reinsurance arrangements are discussed in more detail in Note 10 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Our net retention of insurance risk after reinsurance for 2005 and the preceding five years is summarized below:
 
   
Contracts Incepting During
  
Net Retention
  
2005
 
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
2001
 
2000
  
Auto and motorcycle lines
   
100
%
  
100
%
  
100
%
  
97
 %1  
94
%
  
92
%
Personal umbrella policies2
    
10
    
10
    
10
    
10
    
16
    
37
  
Homeowner line in runoff
    
—
    
—
    
—
    
—
    
94
    
92
  
 
We also have catastrophe reinsurance agreements relating to the auto line with Endurance Specialty Insurance Company, National Union Insurance Company of Pittsburg, PA and Transatlantic Reinsurance Company, which reinsure any covered events up to $45.0 million in excess of $20.0 million ($30.0 million in excess of $15.0 million prior to January 1, 2004).
 
_________________________
1 Effective September 1, 2002, we entered into an agreement to cancel future cessions under our quota share with AIG subsidiaries. The treaty would have ceded 4% of premiums for the auto and motorcycle lines to AIG subsidiaries in the remainder of 2002 and would have declined to 2% in 2003. After September 1, 2002, 100% of auto and motorcycle premiums are retained by us.
2 Personal umbrella coverage is only available to our auto customers. Approximately 1% of auto customers have umbrella coverage.
 
17
 
State Regulation of Insurance Companies
Insurance companies are subject to regulation and supervision by the insurance departments of the various states. The insurance departments have broad regulatory, supervisory and administrative powers, such as:

·
Licensing of insurance companies, agents and customer service employees;
·
Prior approval, in California and some other jurisdictions, of premium rates;
·
Establishment of capital and surplus requirements and standards of solvency;
·
Nature of, and limitations on, investments insurers are allowed to hold;
·
Periodic examinations of the affairs of insurers;
·
Annual and other periodic reports of the financial condition and results of operations of insurers;
·
Establishment of statutory accounting rules;
·
Issuance of securities by insurers;
·
Restrictions on payment of dividends; and
·
Restrictions on transactions with affiliates.

Currently, the California Department of Insurance ("CDI") has primary regulatory jurisdiction over our subsidiaries, 21st Century Insurance Company and 21st Century Casualty Company, including prior approval of premium rates. The CDI typically conducts a financial examination of our affairs every three years. The most recently completed triennial examination, for the three years ended December 31, 2002, contained no findings or adjustments. In general, the current regulatory requirements in the other states in which our subsidiaries are licensed insurers are less restrictive than in California. 21st Century Insurance Company of the Southwest (formerly 21st Century Insurance Company of Arizona) changed its state of domicile from Arizona to Texas effective December 31, 2004.

In addition to regulation by the CDI, the Company and the personal lines insurance business in general are also subject to legislative, judicial and political action in addition to the normal business forces of competition between companies and the choices consumers make based on their preferences.

To our knowledge, no new laws were enacted in 2004 by any state in which we do business that are expected to have a material impact on the auto insurance industry. However, during 2004, hearings were conducted by the CDI, which could ultimately result in regulations that would restrict the use of territory in automobile insurance rating. Such regulations, if implemented, could negatively affect our book of business.

Holding Company Regulation
Our subsidiaries are also subject to regulation by the CDI pursuant to the provisions of the California Insurance Holding Company System Regulatory Act (the "Holding Company Act"). Many transactions defined to be of an "extraordinary" nature may not be effected without the prior approval of the CDI. In addition, the Holding Company Act limits the amount of dividends our insurance subsidiaries may pay. An extraordinary transaction includes a dividend which, together with other dividends or distributions made within the preceding twelve months, exceeds the greater of (i) 10% of the insurance company's policyholders' surplus as of the preceding December 31 or (ii) the insurance company's statutory net income for the preceding calendar year.

The insurance subsidiaries currently have $199.6 million of statutory unassigned surplus. Up to $109.8 million of this amount could be paid as dividends to the parent company without prior written approval from insurance regulatory authorities in 2005. Our insurance subsidiaries have not paid any dividends to our holding company since 2001 due to the previous uncertainty surrounding the taxability of dividends received by holding companies from their insurance subsidiaries (see further discussion in Note 5 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements).

Non-Voluntary Business
Automobile liability insurers in California are required to participate in the California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan ("CAARP"). Drivers whose driving records or other relevant characteristics make them difficult to insure in the voluntary market may be eligible to apply to CAARP for placement as "assigned risks." The number of assignments for each insurer is based on the total applications received by the plan and the insurer's market share. As of December 31, 2004, the number of assigned risk insured vehicles was 2,254 compared to 3,678 at the end of 2003. The CAARP assignments have historically produced underwriting losses. As of December 31, 2004, this business represented less than 1% of our total direct premiums written, and the underwriting losses were $0.9 million in 2004, $0.5 million in 2003 and $0.5 million in 2002.

18
 
Insurers offering homeowner insurance in California are required to participate in the California FAIR Plan ("FAIR Plan"). FAIR Plan is a state administered pool of difficult-to-insure homeowners. Each participating insurer is allocated a percentage of the total premiums written and losses incurred by the pool according to its share of total homeowner direct premiums written in the state. Participation in the current year FAIR Plan operations is based on the pool from two years prior. Since we ceased writing direct homeowners business in 2002, the Company will continue to receive assignments in the 2005 calendar year. Our FAIR Plan underwriting results for 2003, 2002 and 2001 were immaterial.

Employees
We had approximately 2,800 full and part-time employees at December 31, 2004. We provide medical, pension and 401(k) savings plan benefits to eligible employees, according to the provisions of each plan.

Debt Offering
In December 2003, the Company completed a private offering of $100 million principal amount of 5.9 percent Senior Notes due in December 2013 at a discount of $0.8 million. The effective interest rate on the Senior Notes, when all offering costs are taken into account and amortized over the term of the Senior Notes, is approximately 6 percent per annum. Of the $99.2 million in net proceeds from the offering, $85.0 million was used to increase the statutory surplus of 21st Century Insurance Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and the balance was retained by the holding company.

On April 6, 2004, pursuant to a registration rights agreement executed in connection with the offering, the Company filed a registration statement with the SEC enabling holders to exchange the private offering notes for publicly registered notes. On July 8, 2004, the Company completed an exchange offer in which all of the private offering notes were exchanged for publicly registered notes having the same terms.

 
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

We lease approximately 406,000 square feet of office space for our headquarters facilities, which are located in Woodland Hills, California. The lease term expires in February 2015, and the lease may be renewed for two consecutive five-year periods.

We also lease office space in 15 other locations, of which 12 locations are in California primarily for claims-related employees. We anticipate no difficulty in extending these leases or obtaining comparable office facilities in suitable locations.

Our newest location is a customer service, sales and claims center in Lewisville, Texas. The facility opened in mid-2004 and represents a strategic expansion of our service and sales resources.

On December 31, 2002, the Company entered into a sale-leaseback transaction for $15.8 million of equipment and leasehold improvements and $44.2 million of software. The leaseback transaction has been accounted for as a capital lease. For a summary of the Company's lease obligations, see discussion under Item 7 of this report and Notes 9 and 12 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

In the normal course of business, the Company is named as a defendant in lawsuits related to claims and insurance policy issues, both on individual policy files and by class actions seeking to attack the Company's business practices. A description of the legal proceedings to which the Company and its subsidiaries are a party is contained in Note 12 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
19
 
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

No matters submitted during the fourth quarter of 2004.

PART II

ITEM 5.
MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Price Range of Common Stock
The Company's common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") under the ticker symbol "TW". The following table sets forth the high and low bid prices on the NYSE for the common stock for the indicated periods.

   
2004
  
2003
  
   
High
 
Low
 
High
 
Low
 
Fourth Quarter
 
$
13.82
 
$
12.39
 
$
14.50
 
$
13.00
  
Third Quarter
    
14.15
    
12.50
    
16.05
    
13.03
  
Second Quarter
    
15.35
    
12.50
    
17.25
    
12.00
  
First Quarter
    
14.90
    
13.19
    
13.50
    
11.20
  


(b) Holders of Common Stock
The approximate number of holders of our common stock on December 31, 2004 was 600.

(c) Dividends
Quarterly dividends of $0.02 per share were declared from the first quarter of 2003 through the fourth quarter of 2004. The Company's Board of Directors considers a variety of factors in determining the timing and amount of dividends. Accordingly, the Company's past history of dividend payments does not assure that future dividends will be paid. In addition, there are limits on the insurance subsidiaries' dividend paying capacity. In 2005, the Company estimates that one of its insurance subsidiaries has capacity to pay approximately $109.8 million in dividends to its parent, before the effect of California state income taxes, without prior approval of the CDI.

(d) Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans

Securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans at December 31, 2004 are as follows:
 
 
COLUMN A
COLUMN B
COLUMN C
       
Plan Category
Number of Securities to be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights
(in thousands)
Weighted-Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights
Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans (Excluding Securities Reflected in Column (A))
(in thousands)
Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders
8,109
$16.49
5,367
Equity compensation plans not approved by stockholders
None
N/A
N/A
Total
8,109
$16.49
5,367
See Note 14 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
 
20
 
ITEM 6.
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The following selected financial data for each of the years in the five-year period ended December 31, 2004 should be read in conjunction with the Company's consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes included in Item 8 of this report. All amounts set forth in the following tables are in thousands, except for ratios and per share data.

Years Ended December 31,
  
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
2001
 
2000
  
Personal Auto Lines Data
                      
Direct premiums written
  
$
1,337,190
  
$
1,223,377
  
$
995,794
  
$
898,862
  
$
881,212
  
Ceded premiums written1 
   
(4,815
)
  
(4,858
)
  
(18,902
)
  
(56,205
)
  
(72,675
)
Net premiums written
    
1,332,375
    
1,218,519
    
976,892
    
842,657
    
808,537
  
Net premiums earned
    
1,313,551
    
1,172,679
    
924,559
    
838,489
    
803,770
  
                                 
Loss and LAE ratio2
    
75.4
%
  
78.6
%
  
82.9
%
  
88.1
%
  
90.8
%
Underwriting expense ratio3 
   
19.7
    
17.9
    
15.6
    
14.9
    
14.2
  
Combined ratio4
    
95.1
%
  
96.5
%
  
98.5
%
  
103.0
%
  
105.0
%
                                 
All Lines Data
                                
Direct premiums written
  
$
1,337,198
  
$
1,223,484
  
$
998,248
  
$
929,315
  
$
910,720
  
Ceded premiums written5
    
(4,814
)
  
(4,854
)
  
(32,949
)
  
(60,359
)
  
(78,592
)
Net premiums written
    
1,332,384
    
1,218,630
    
965,299
    
868,956
    
832,128
  
Net premiums earned
    
1,313,670
    
1,172,677
    
924,559
    
864,145
    
825,486
  
Total revenues
    
1,383,332
    
1,246,464
    
981,295
    
914,078
    
869,762
  
                                 
Loss and LAE ratio
   
75.6
%
  
82.0
%
  
89.4
%
  
96.7
%
  
90.8
%
Expense ratio3
    
19.7
    
17.9
    
15.5
    
15.0
    
14.4
  
Combined ratio6
    
95.3
%
  
99.9
%
  
104.9
%
  
111.7
%
  
105.2
%
                                 
Net Income (Loss)
  
$
88,225
  
$
53,575
  
$
(12,256
)
$
(27,568
)
$
12,945
  
                                 
Earnings (Loss) per Share
                                
Basic
  
$
1.03
  
$
0.63
  
$
(0.14
)
$
(0.32
)
$
0.15
  
Diluted
    
1.03
    
0.63
    
(0.14
)
  
(0.32
)
  
0.15
  
Dividends declared per Share
    
0.08
    
0.08
    
0.26
    
0.32
    
0.48
  


__________________________
1 The decrease in premiums ceded from 2000 through 2004 was caused primarily by scheduled decreases in the AIG subsidiaries quota share program, which was terminated effective September 1, 2002.
2 The loss and LAE ratios have decreased since 2000 primarily due to increases in net premiums earned and the favorable impact on claim frequency of drought conditions that have largely prevailed in southern California.
3 The increase in the 2002 to 2004 expense ratios is primarily due to increased advertising expenditures, increased costs for improving customer service and opening a call center in Texas. The increase in the expense ratio from 2000 to 2001 reflects higher depreciation charges due to investments in new technology.
4 The combined ratio for the personal auto lines was impacted by the following items: $13.6 million of costs associated with workforce reductions and the settlement of litigation matters in 2001; Year 2000 remediation costs of $2.4 million in 1999; and (favorable) unfavorable prior accident year loss and LAE development of $(2.9) million, $11.2 million, $16.2 million, $45.7 million, and $42.2 million in 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, and 2000, respectively.
5 In addition to the AIG subsidiaries cession discussed in footnote 1 above, our homeowners line was 100% reinsured in 2002.
6 In addition to the effect of the items described in footnote 4 above, the combined ratio for all lines was impacted by adverse development on remaining loss reserves from the homeowner and earthquake lines, which are in runoff, of $2.8 million in 2004, $40.2 million in 2003, $58.8 million in 2002, $77.6 million in 2001, and $2.7 million in 2000.
 
21
 
December 31,
 
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
2001
 
2000
  
Balance Sheet Data:
                      
Total investments and cash
  
$
1,418,912
  
$
1,284,686
  
$
1,030,478
  
$
884,633
  
$
920,328
  
Total assets
    
1,864,314
    
1,738,132
    
1,470,037
    
1,354,398
    
1,340,916
  
Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses
    
495,542
    
438,323
    
384,009
    
349,290
    
298,436
  
Unearned premiums
    
331,036
    
312,254
    
266,477
    
236,473
    
236,519
  
Debt1
    
138,290
    
149,686
    
60,000
    
—
   
—
 
Total liabilities
    
1,089,913
    
1,037,442
    
814,429
    
695,092
    
620,355
  
Stockholders' equity
    
774,401
    
700,690
    
655,608
    
659,306
    
720,561
  
Book value per common share
    
9.06
    
8.20
    
7.67
    
7.72
    
8.46
  
Statutory surplus2
    
614,893
    
535,026
    
397,381
    
393,119
    
475,640
  
Net premiums written to surplus ratio3
    
2.2:1
    
2.3:1
    
2.4:1
    
2.2:1
    
1.7:1
  


ITEM 7.
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Overview
We are a direct-to-consumer provider of personal auto insurance in California and eight other Western, Southwestern and Midwestern states. We also provide motorcycle and personal umbrella insurance in California. We believe that we deliver superior policy features and customer service at a competitive price. We began offering personal auto insurance in Illinois, Indiana and Ohio on January 28, 2004, and in Texas on January 3, 2005.4

Our primary goals include achieving and sustaining 15% annual growth in premiums written and a 96% (or better) combined ratio in our personal auto lines. For 2004, our net premiums earned for personal auto grew 12% ($140.9 million) to $1,313.6 million from $1,172.7 million in 2003. The combined ratio for personal auto improved 1.4% to 95.1% in 2004 compared to 96.5% in 2003.

Net income for 2004 was $88.2 million, compared to net income of $53.6 million in 2003 and a net loss in 2002 of $12.3 million. The 2003 full year results include a first quarter after-tax charge of $24.1 million to strengthen earthquake reserves and certain nonrecurring, nonoperational items that increased second quarter net income by $9.6 million after-tax.

Cash flow from operations for the fourth quarter of 2004 was $34.1 million compared to $43.2 million from the fourth quarter of 2003. For the year ended December 31, 2004, cash flow from operations was $203.4 million compared to $188.5 million for 2003. Total assets also increased to $1.86 billion at December 31, 2004, from $1.74 billion at December 31, 2003. In December 2003, the Company completed a $100 million senior debt offering and used $85 million of the proceeds to increase the statutory surplus of its principal insurance subsidiary.

See "Results of Operations" for more details as to our overall and personal auto lines results.

___________________________
1 Amount shown for 2002 is a capital lease obligation (see Note 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements).
2 Amount shown for 2002 would be $343,661 were it not for the sale-leaseback transaction described in Note 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
3 Amount shown for 2002 would be 2.8:1 were it not for the sale-leaseback transaction referred to above.
4 Results from the Texas market are not expected to be material in 2005.
 
22
 
The remainder of our Management's Discussion and Analysis provides a narrative on the Company's financial condition and performance that should be read in conjunction with the accompanying financial statements. It includes the following sections:

·
Financial Condition
·
Liquidity and Capital Resources
·
Contractual Obligations and Commitments
·
Off Balance Sheet Arrangements
·
Results of Operations
·
Underwriting Results
·
Losses and LAE Incurred
·
Investment Income
·
Other Income
·
Critical Accounting Estimates
·
Recent Accounting Standards
·
Forward-Looking Statements
 
Financial Condition
Investments and cash increased $134.2 million (10.4%) since the prior year primarily due to the $203.4 million of operating cash flow offset by cash outflows of $40.4 million for fixed assets, $20.0 million for debt servicing, $8.5 million in shareholder dividends, and $0.3 million net change in various accounts.

The Company's investment portfolio of $1,384.2 million contained $42.0 million of equity securities, which are a new investment vehicle for the Company.

At December 31, 2004, investment-grade bonds comprised substantially all of the fair value of the fixed maturity portfolio. As of December 31, 2004, eleven fixed maturity securities were rated below BBB. These securities represent less than 1% of our total investments. Of our total investments at December 31, 2004, approximately 22.3% were invested in tax-exempt, fixed-income securities, compared to 61.7% at December 31, 2003.

Increased advertising, compensation and other operating costs through December 31, 2004, associated with increased customer volume, contributed to an increase in deferred policy acquisitions costs ("DPAC") of $5.7 million to $58.8 million, compared to $53.1 million at December 31, 2003. The Company's DPAC is estimated to be fully recoverable (see Critical Accounting Estimates - Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs).

Our loss and LAE reserves, gross and net of reinsurance, are summarized in the following table:

AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS
  
2004
  
2003
  
December 31,
  
Gross
  
Net
  
Gross
  
Net
  
Unpaid Losses and LAE:
                  
Personal auto lines
  
$
489,411
  
$
485,759
  
$
419,913
  
$
413,348
  
Homeowner and earthquake lines in runoff
    
6,131
    
5,138
    
18,410
    
16,011
  
Total
 
$
495,542
  
$
490,897
  
$
438,323
  
$
429,359
  

Gross unpaid losses and LAE increased by $57.2 million in 2004 primarily due to a reserve increase of $69.5 million in the personal auto lines as a result of growth in our customer base. The increase in the personal auto lines was offset by the $12.3 million net decrease in the homeowner and earthquake lines, which are in runoff (see Results of Operations - Loss and LAE Incurred for a description of the Company's reserving process).

23
 
Unearned premiums increased 6.0% to $331.0 million at the end of 2004 compared to $312.3 million at the end of 2003 due to higher volume in our personal auto lines.

Debt consists of a $38.4 million capital lease obligation with GE Capital Corporation and the $99.9 million senior note offering issued in December 2003, aggregating $138.3 million (see Note 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). The primary purpose of both borrowings was to increase the statutory surplus of 21st Century Insurance Company, our wholly-owned subsidiary, which had significant adverse earthquake and auto reserve development in 2000, 2001, and 2002. The decrease in debt of $11.4 million from the prior year is attributable to principal payments on the capital lease.

Stockholders' equity and book value per share increased to $774.4 million and $9.06, respectively, at December 31, 2004, compared to $700.7 million and $8.20 at December 31, 2003. The increase for the year ended December 31, 2004, was primarily due to net income of $88.2 million, offset by a decrease in accumulated other comprehensive income of $8.9 million and dividends to stockholders of $6.8 million.

Effective December 4, 2003, we changed our state of incorporation from California to Delaware. In connection with the change, our common stock was assigned a par value of $0.001 per share, resulting in a reclassification of $419.2 million from common stock to additional paid-in capital. There was no change in the location of company operations, location of employees, or the way we do business as a result of the reincorporation.

Liquidity and Capital Resources
21st Century Insurance Group. Our holding company's main sources of liquidity historically have been dividends received from our insurance subsidiaries and proceeds from issuance of debt or equity securities. Apart from the exercise of stock options and restricted stock grants to employees, the effects of which have not been significant, we have not issued any equity securities since 1998 when AIG exercised its warrants to purchase common stock for cash of $145.6 million. Our insurance subsidiaries have not paid any dividends to our holding company since 2001 due to the previous uncertainty surrounding the taxability of dividends received by holding companies from their insurance subsidiaries (see further discussion in Note 5 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements).

In December 2003, we completed a private offering of $100 million principal amount of 5.9 percent Senior Notes due in December 2013. The effective interest rate on the Senior Notes when all offering costs are taken into account and amortized over the term of the Senior Notes is approximately 6 percent per annum. Of the $99.2 million net proceeds from the offering, $85.0 million was used to increase the statutory surplus of our wholly-owned insurance subsidiary, 21st Century Insurance Company, and the balance was retained by our holding company. On July 8, 2004, the Company completed an exchange offer in which all of the private offering notes were exchanged for publicly registered notes having the same terms.

Effective December 31, 2003, the California Department of Insurance approved an intercompany lease whereby 21st Century Insurance Company leases certain computer software from our holding company. The monthly lease payment, currently $0.6 million, started in January 2004 and is subject to upward adjustment based on the cost incurred by the holding company to complete certain enhancements to the software.

Our holding company's significant cash obligations over the next several years consist of interest payments on the Senior Notes ($5.9 million annually) and the estimated cost of $22.0 million to implement our California policy servicing system in 2005, exclusive of any dividends to stockholders that the holding company may declare, and the repayment of the $100 million principal on the Senior Notes due in 2013. The holding company expects to be able to meet those obligations from sources of cash currently available (i.e., payments received from the intercompany lease and cash and investments at the holding company. Total cash and investments at the holding company were $16.2 million at December 31, 2004.), additional funds obtainable from the capital markets or from dividends received from its insurance subsidiaries. California currently levies state income taxes of approximately 1.8% on the amount of any such dividends received.

24
 
Our insurance subsidiaries could pay $109.8 million in 2005 as dividends to the holding company without prior written approval from insurance regulatory authorities.

Insurance Subsidiaries. We have achieved underwriting profits in our core auto insurance operations for the last twelve quarters and have thereby enhanced our liquidity. Our cash flow from operations and short-term cash position generally are more than sufficient to meet obligations for claim payments, which by the nature of the personal automobile insurance business tend to have an average duration of less than a year. In California, where approximately 96.5% of our premium is written, underwriting profit improved in 2004 without additional rate increases. We implemented a 3.9% auto premium rate increase effective March 31, 2003 and a 5.7% rate increase in May of 2002, both of which continued a series of actions we began taking in 2000 to restore underwriting profitability.

Although in the past years we have been successful in gaining regulatory approval for rate increase, there can be no assurance that insurance regulators will grant future rate increases that may be necessary to offset possible future increases in claims cost trends. Also, we remain exposed to possible upward development in previously recorded reserves for claims pursuant to SB 1899. As a result of such uncertainties, underwriting losses could occur in the future. Further, we could be required to liquidate investments to pay claims, possibly during unfavorable market conditions, which could lead to the realization of losses on sales of investments. Adverse outcomes to any of the foregoing uncertainties would create some degree of downward pressure on the insurance subsidiaries' earnings or cash flows, which in turn could negatively impact our liquidity.

As of December 31, 2004, our insurance subsidiaries had a combined statutory surplus of $614.9 million compared to $535.0 million at December 31, 2003. The change in statutory surplus was primarily due to statutory net income of $110.3 million. This was partially offset by a decrease in net deferred tax assets of $20.9 million and an increase in nonadmitted assets of $10.0 million. Our ratio of net premiums written to statutory surplus improved to 2.2 at December 31, 2004, compared to 2.3 at December 31, 2003.

On June 15, 2004, the CDI finalized its examination reports on the statutory financial statements for the Company's California-domiciled insurance subsidiaries for the three-year period ended December 31, 2002. The reports did not contain any findings or adjustments.

Transactions with Related Parties. Since 1995, we have entered into several transactions with AIG subsidiaries, including various reinsurance agreements, which are discussed under Item 1. Business. At December 31, 2004, reinsurance recoverables, net of payables, from AIG subsidiaries were $1.4 million, compared to $5.8 million at December 31, 2003. Other transactions with AIG subsidiaries, which are immaterial, have resulted from competitive bidding processes for certain corporate insurance coverages and certain software and data processing services. In October 2003, as a result of a competitive bidding process, we entered into an agreement with an AIG subsidiary to provide investment management services to us; the agreement was approved by the California Department of Insurance. 

Contractual Obligations and Commitments
We have various contractual obligations that are recorded as liabilities in our consolidated financial statements. Certain contractual obligations, such as operating lease obligations, are not recognized as liabilities in our consolidated financial statements, but are required to be disclosed.

25
 
The following table summarizes our significant contractual obligations and commitments at December 31, 2004 and the future periods in which such obligations are expected to be settled in cash. In addition, the table reflects the timing of principal payments on outstanding senior notes.
 
       
Payments Due by Period
  
AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS
 
Total
 
2005
 
2006
 through
2007
 
2008
through
2009
 
Remaining
years after
2009
  
Senior notes
 
$
153.1
 
$
5.9
 
$
11.8
 
$
11.8
 
$
123.6
  
Capital lease obligation
    
41.9
    
14.0
    
27.9
    
– 
    
– 
  
Debt
    
195.0
    
19.9
    
39.7
    
11.8
    
123.6
  
Operating Leases1 
    
194.3
    
27.2
    
42.8
    
34.1
    
90.2
  
Total
 
$
389.3
 
$
41.1
 
$
82.5
 
$
45.9
 
$
213.8
  

The table above excludes periodic contributions to pension plans and payments to settle claims, which are discussed below. The capital lease obligation above resulted from the sale-leaseback transaction discussed earlier (see further discussion of these items in Notes 9 and 12 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). We have no material purchase obligations or other on or off balance sheet long-term liabilities or obligations at December 31, 2004 (see discussion about variable interest entities in Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements).

Our largest insurance subsidiary is responsible for making payments on both the capital lease obligation and most of the operating lease obligations. The holding company is the obligor on the home office subsidiary leases in Woodland Hills, California.

We sponsor defined benefit pension plans that may obligate us to make contributions to the plans from time to time. Total contributions to the plans were $2.7 million in 2004, $7.0 million in 2003 and $21.5 million in 2002. For the past several years we have followed the practice of contributing sufficient amounts to the qualified defined benefit pension plan to meet or exceed statutory funding requirements, without exceeding the maximum amount that would be deductible for corporate income tax purposes, and while maintaining plan assets at a level at least equal to the actuarial present value of accumulated plan benefits. The amount and timing of future contributions to our qualified defined benefit pension plan depends on a number of unpredictable factors including statutory funding requirements, the market performance of the plan's assets, cash requirements for benefit payments to retirees, and future changes in interest rates that affect the actuarial measurement of the plan's obligations. Contributions to our non-qualified defined benefit pension plan generally are limited to amounts needed to make benefit payments to retirees, which are expected to total approximately $1.1 million in 2005.

We had estimated liabilities for losses and LAE of $495.5 million at December 31, 2004, the majority of which will be required to be paid in 2005 as the related claims are settled. We expect operating cash flow to be sufficient to meet our obligations to pay claims and we have readily marketable investments available for sale should operating cash flows prove to be inadequate.

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements
We currently have no letters of credit, have issued no guarantees on behalf of others (other than the guarantee by 21st Century Insurance Group of the capital lease obligation described above), have no trading activities involving non-exchange-traded contracts accounted for at fair value, and have no obligations under any derivative financial instruments. In addition, the Company has no material retained interests in assets transferred to any unconsolidated entity (see further discussion in Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements).
 
_________________________
1

Includes amounts due under long-term software license agreements of approximately $15.1 million.

26
 
Results of Operations
Overall Results. We reported an increase of 64.7% in net income to $88.2 million, or $1.03 earnings per share, on direct premiums written of $1,337.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2004, compared to a net income of $53.6 million, or $0.63 earnings per share, on direct premiums written of $1,223.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2003. For the year ended December 31, 2002, we reported a net loss of $12.3 million, or $0.14 loss per share, on direct premiums written of $998.2 million. The results for 2003 and 2002 include: (i) after-tax charges of $24.1 million in the first quarter of 2003 and $34.2 million in the third quarter of 2002 to strengthen earthquake reserves; (ii) after-tax net income of $9.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2003, resulting from nonrecurring, nonoperational items and a favorable tax settlement with the IRS; and (iii) an after-tax charge of $24.2 million, for the year ended December 31, 2002, relating to a write-off of software.

Personal Auto Lines Results. The following table presents the components of our personal auto lines underwriting profit or loss and the components of the combined ratio for the past three years:

AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS
  
Personal Auto Lines
  
Years Ended December 31,
  
2004
  
2003
  
2002
  
Direct premiums written
 
$
1,337,190
 
$
1,223,377
 
$
995,794
  
Net premiums written
    
1,332,375
    
1,218,519
    
976,892
  
Net premiums earned
    
1,313,551
    
1,172,679
    
924,559
  
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses
    
991,008
    
922,122
    
768,277
  
Underwriting expenses incurred
    
258,571
    
209,551
    
142,899
  
Personal auto lines underwriting profit
 
$
63,972
 
$
41,006
 
$
13,383
  
Ratios:
                    
Loss and LAE ratio
    
75.4
%
  
78.6
%
  
82.9
%
Underwriting expense ratio
    
19.7
%
  
17.9
%
  
15.6
%
Combined ratio
    
95.1
%
  
96.5
%
  
98.5
%
 
The following table reconciles our personal auto lines underwriting profit to our consolidated net income (loss):

AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS
              
Years Ended December 31,
  
2004
  
2003
  
2002
  
Personal auto lines underwriting profit
 
$
63,972
 
$
41,006
 
$
13,383
  
Homeowner and earthquake lines in runoff, underwriting loss
    
(2,714
)
  
(40,175
)
  
(58,768
)
Net investment income
    
58,831
    
45,833
    
46,345
  
Realized investment gains
    
10,831
    
13,177
    
10,391
  
Write-off of software
    
–  
    
–  
    
(37,177
)
Other income
    
–  
    
14,777
    
–  
  
Interest and fees expense
    
(8,627
)
  
(3,471
)
  
–  
  
Federal income tax (expense) benefit
    
(34,068
)
  
(17,572
)
  
13,570
  
Net income (loss)
 
$
88,225
 
$
53,575
 
$
(12,256
)
 
Comments relating to the underwriting results of the personal auto and the homeowner and earthquake lines in runoff are presented below.

Underwriting Results
The tables presented in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements summarize the Company's unaudited quarterly results of operations for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2004. The following discussion of underwriting results by line of business should be read in conjunction with the information presented in those tables and elsewhere herein.

27
 
Personal Auto. Personal automobile insurance is our primary line of business. Vehicles insured outside of California accounted for less than 4% of our direct premiums written in 2004, 2003 and 2002.

Our management remains focused on achieving sustainable 15% direct premium written growth and a combined ratio of 96%. In 2004, we met our profitability goals, posting our best combined ratio since 1999, and our direct premiums written grew 9.3% despite an increasingly competitive California marketing climate.

Direct premiums written grew 9.3% in 2004, 22.8% in 2003 and 10.8% in 2002, for a three-year compound average growth rate of 14.1%, or slightly less than our long-term goal of 15%. Market conditions in California were somewhat less favorable for growth in 2004 than in the preceding two years; for example, some major competitors sought rate decreases in 2004 in contrast with the market-wide rate increases, which helped to spur consumers' shopping activity in 2003 and 2002. As we proceed with our multi-state expansion, we believe that achieving our long-term growth goal will steadily depend less on the California marketplace.

California auto retention was 93% for the year ended December 31, 2004, compared to 92% and 93% for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The increase in 2004 is primarily due to a decline in the growth rate of new customers who typically have a lower retention rate than long-time customers.

Net premiums earned increased $140.9 million (12.0%) to $1,313.6 million in 2004, compared to $1,172.7 million in 2003 and $924.6 million in 2002. The combined ratio was 95.1% for the year ended December 31, 2004, compared to 96.5% and 98.5% for 2003 and 2002, respectively.

Net losses and LAE incurred increased $68.9 million (7.5%) to $991.0 million in 2004 compared to $922.1 million and $768.3 million in 2003 and 2002, respectively. The loss and LAE ratios were 75.4%, 78.6% and 82.9% for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The effects on the loss and LAE ratios of changes in estimates relating to insured events of prior years were as follows: 0.2% favorable in 2004; 1.0% unfavorable in 2003; and 1.8% unfavorable in 2002. For additional discussion of the factors that led to these changes in estimates, please see Item 1 of this report under the heading Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves. In general, changes in estimates are recorded in the period in which new information becomes available indicating that a change is warranted, usually in conjunction with our monthly actuarial review.

The ratios of underwriting expenses to net premiums earned were 19.7%, 17.9% and 15.6% for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The increase from 2002 to 2003 was primarily due to growth in advertising expenditures and costs associated with increasing the number of new sales agents to handle record volume of new business during the latter half of 2002 and all of 2003. The increase from 2003 to 2004 consists primarily of increased advertising costs, additional sales workforce costs, and facility and support costs to improve service and support the Texas call center. Several productivity enhancement initiatives are underway aimed at reducing per unit process costs and lowering fixed costs in corporate support areas.

Homeowner and Earthquake Lines in Runoff. We have not written any earthquake policies since 1994 and we exited the homeowners insurance business at the beginning of 2002. The homeowner and earthquake lines, which are in runoff, experienced adverse development on the remaining loss reserves of $2.8 million, compared to adverse development of $40.1 million in 2003 and $56.2 million in 2002. Of these amounts, $2.2 million, $36.9 million, and $52.6 million, respectively, related to SB 1899 earthquake claims. We caution that the recorded loss and LAE estimates for our earthquake lines are subject to a greater than normal degree of uncertainty for a variety of reasons (see Note 16 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements).

We have executed various transactions to exit from our homeowner line. Under a January 1, 2002 agreement with Balboa Insurance Company ("Balboa"), a subsidiary of Countrywide Financial Corporation ("Countrywide"), 100% of homeowner unearned premium reserves and losses on or after that date were ceded to Balboa. Under the terms of this agreement, we retain certain loss adjustment expenses. We began non-renewing homeowner policies expiring on February 21, 2002, and thereafter. Substantially all of these customers were offered homeowner coverage through an affiliate of Countrywide. We have completed this process and no longer have any homeowner policies in force.

28
 
Losses and LAE Incurred
The following table summarizes losses and LAE incurred, net of reinsurance, for the periods indicated:

AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS
              
Years Ended December 31,
  
2004
  
2003
  
2002
  
Net Losses and LAE incurred related to insured events of:
              
Current year:
              
Personal auto lines
  
$
993,944
  
$
910,963
  
$
752,077
  
Homeowner and earthquake lines in runoff
   
2
    
141
    
2,222
  
Total current year
  
$
993,946
    
911,104
    
754,299
  
                     
Prior years:
                    
Personal auto lines
    
(2,936
)
  
11,159
    
16,200
  
Homeowner and earthquake lines in runoff
    
2,831
    
40,048
    
56,158
  
Total prior years' reserve (redundancy) deficiency recorded in current year
    
(105
)
  
51,207
    
72,358
  
Total
  
$
993,841
  
$
962,311
  
$
826,657
  

Net favorable reported loss development for the prior accident years was $0.1 million, which resulted from favorable development on the personal auto lines that was offset by adverse development on the homeowner and earthquake lines in runoff. The methods used to determine such estimates and to establish the resulting reserves are continually reviewed and updated. Any adjustments resulting therefrom are reflected in current operating income. It is management's belief that the unpaid losses and LAE are adequate to cover unpaid losses and LAE as of December 31, 2004. While we perform quarterly reviews of the adequacy of established unpaid losses and LAE, there can be no assurance that our ultimate unpaid losses and LAE will not develop redundancies or deficiencies and possibly differ materially from our unpaid losses and LAE as of December 31, 2004. In the future, if the unpaid losses and LAE develop redundancies or deficiencies, such redundancy or deficiency would have a positive or adverse impact, respectively, on future results of operations.

The process of making changes to unpaid losses and LAE begins with the preparation of several point estimates of unpaid losses and LAE, a review of the actual claims experience in the quarter, actual rate changes achieved, actual changes in coverage, mix of business, and changes in certain other factors such as weather and recent tort activity that may affect the loss ratio. Our actuaries prepare several point estimates of unpaid losses and LAE for each of the coverages, and they use their experience and judgment to arrive at an overall actuarial point estimate of the unpaid losses and LAE for that coverage. Meetings are held with appropriate departments to discuss significant issues as a result of the review. This process culminates in a reserve meeting to review the unpaid losses and LAE. Other relevant internal and external factors considered include a qualitative assessment of inflation and other economic conditions, changes in the legal, regulatory, judicial and social environments, underlying policy pricing, exposure and policy forms, claims handling, and geographic distribution shifts. As a result of the meeting, unpaid losses and LAE are finalized and we record quarterly changes in unpaid losses and LAE for each of our coverages. The change in unpaid losses and LAE for the quarter for each coverage is the difference between net ultimate losses and LAE and the net paid losses and LAE recorded through the end of the quarter. The overall change in our unpaid losses and LAE is based on the sum of these coverage level changes.

The point estimate methods include the use of paid loss triangles, incurred loss triangles, claim count triangles, and severity triangles, as well as expected loss ratio methods. Quantitative techniques frequently have to be supplemented by subjective consideration, including managerial judgment, to assure that the overall unpaid losses and LAE are adequate to meet projected losses. For example, in property damage coverages, repair cost trends by geographic region vary significantly. These factors are periodically reviewed and subsequently adjusted, as appropriate, to reflect emerging trends which are based upon past loss experience. Thus, many factors are implicitly considered in estimating the loss costs recognized.

29
 
Judgment is required in analyzing the appropriateness of the various methods and factors to avoid overreacting to data anomalies that may distort such prior trends. For example, changes in limits distributions or development in the most recent accident quarters would require more actuarial judgment. We do not believe disclosure of specific point estimates calculated by the actuaries would be meaningful. Any one actuarial point estimate is based on a particular series of judgments and assumptions of the actuary. Another actuary may make different assumptions, and therefore reach a different point estimate.

There is a potential for significant variation in developing unpaid losses and LAE. Most automobile claims are reported within two to three months whereas the estimate of ultimate severities exhibits greater variability at the same maturity. Generally, actual historical loss development factors are used to project future loss development, and there can be no assurance that future loss development patterns will be the same as in the past. However, we believe that our reserving methodologies are in line with other personal lines insurers and would normally expect ultimate unpaid losses and LAE development to vary by as much as 5% of the carried unpaid losses and LAE.

As a result of the significant growth in the non-Los Angeles County regions, the Company has experienced changes in the mix of business relative to geography and policy limits. We believe that the assumption with the highest likelihood of change that could materially affect carried unpaid losses and LAE is property damage and collision severity in the San Francisco and Bay Area regions, which have significantly different repair costs and have exhibited significant policy growth. A 5% change in the severity assumption for these regions would result in an increase or decrease in total unpaid losses and LAE of 0.14%, or $1.8 million.

While we have settled over 98% of Northridge Earthquake claims and related litigation, estimates of both the litigation costs and ultimate settlement or judgment amounts related to these claims are subject to a high degree of uncertainty. Please see Note 16 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional background on the Northridge Earthquake and SB 1899.

Investment Income
We utilize a conservative investment philosophy. No derivatives or nontraditional securities are held in our investment portfolio and only 3% of the portfolio consists of equity securities. Substantially all of the fixed maturity portfolio is investment grade. Net investment income was $58.8 million in 2004, compared to $45.8 million in 2003 and $46.3 million in 2002. Average invested assets increased 23.2% in 2004, 17.9% in 2003 and 1.3% in 2002. The average annual pre-tax yields on invested assets were 4.4% in 2004, 4.2% in 2003, and 5.1% in 2002. The average annual after-tax yields on invested assets were 3.3% in 2004, 3.6% in 2003, and 4.3% in 2002.

Net realized gains on the sale of investments1 were $10.8 million in 2004 (gross realized gains were $14.1 million and gross realized losses were $3.3 million), compared to net realized gains of $13.2 million in 2003 (gross realized gains were $13.7 million and gross realized losses were $0.5 million), and net realized gains of $10.4 million in 2002 (gross realized gains were $13.1 million and gross realized losses were $2.7 million). At December 31, 2004, $308.0 million (22.3%) of our total fixed maturity investments at fair value were invested in tax-exempt bonds, compared to 64.9% at December 31, 2003 and 60.7% at December 31, 2002, with the remainder, representing 77.7% of the portfolio, invested in taxable securities, compared to 35.1% at December 31, 2003 and 39.3% at December 31, 2002. The shift to taxable securities in 2004 was made to reduce the average duration of the portfolio and to accelerate the realization of the Company's NOL carryforward.

_______________________________
1 Includes loss on disposal of fixed assets of $849, $156 and $479 in 2004, 2003, and 2002, respectively.

30
 
We recognized no other-than-temporary impairments in 2004, 2003, or 2002 (see discussion under Critical Accounting Estimates).

Other Income
Other income of $14.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2003, included $9.3 million resulting from a nonrecurring, nonoperational item from the settlement of litigation, interest income of $4.8 million relating to a favorable settlement with the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS"), and miscellaneous items of $0.7 million. No other income was reported in 2004 and 2002.

Critical Accounting Estimates
Our financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The financial information contained within those statements is, to a significant extent, financial information that is based on approximate measures of the financial effects of transactions and events that have already occurred. Our significant accounting policies are described in Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and are essential to understanding Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.  Some of our accounting policies require significant judgment to estimate values of either assets or liabilities. In addition, significant judgment may be needed to apply what often are complex accounting principles to individual transactions to determine the most appropriate treatment. We have established procedures and processes to facilitate making the judgments necessary to prepare the financial statements.

The following is a summary of the more judgmental and complex accounting estimates and principles. In each area, we have discussed the assumptions most important in the estimation process. We have used the best information available to estimate the related items involved. Actual performance that differs from our estimates and future changes in the key assumptions could change future valuations and materially impact our financial condition and results of operations.

Management has discussed our critical accounting policies and estimates, together with any changes therein, with the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors.

Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses. The estimated liabilities for losses and loss adjustment expenses ("LAE") include the accumulation of estimates of losses for claims reported on or prior to the balance sheet dates, estimates (based upon actuarial analysis of historical data) of losses for claims incurred but not reported, 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 estimated liabilities are necessarily subject to the outcome of future events, such as changes in medical and repair costs, as well as economic 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 relatively longer-tail liability claims. For our current mix of auto exposures, which include both property and liability exposures, an average of approximately 80% of the ultimate losses are settled within twelve months of the date of loss. Given the inherent variability in the estimates, management believes the aggregate reserves are adequate, although we continue to caution that the reserve estimates relating to SB 1899 are subject to a greater than normal degree of variability and possible future material adjustment as new facts become known. The methods of making such estimates and establishing the resulting reserves are reviewed and updated monthly and any resulting adjustments are reflected in current operations. Changes in these recorded liabilities flow directly to the income statement on a dollar-for-dollar basis. For example, an upward revision of $1 million in the estimated recorded liability for unpaid losses and LAE would decrease underwriting profit, and pre-tax income, by the same $1 million amount. Conversely, a downward revision of $1 million would increase pre-tax income by the same $1 million amount.

Property and Equipment. Accounting standards require a write-off to be recognized when an asset is abandoned or an asset group's carrying value exceeds its fair value. For purposes of recognition and measurement of an impairment loss, a long-lived asset or assets are grouped with other assets and liabilities at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities. Accounting standards require asset groups to be tested for possible impairment under certain conditions. In the third quarter of 2002, we recorded a pre-tax charge to write off $37.2 million of previously capitalized software costs for abandoned portions of an advanced personal lines processing system. As such, in 2002, we assessed the asset group that included the advanced personal lines processing system for impairment. However, an impairment was not triggered by the abandonment as we determined that the impairment recognition criterion had not been met. Future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset group exceeded its carrying amount. There have been no events or circumstances in 2004 that would require a reassessment of the asset group for impairment.

31
 
Income Taxes. Determining the consolidated provision for income tax expense, deferred tax assets and liabilities and any related valuation allowance involves judgment. Generally accepted accounting principles require deferred tax assets and liabilities ("DTAs" and "DTLs," respectively) to be recognized for the estimated future tax effects attributed to temporary differences and carryforwards based on provisions of the enacted tax law. The effects of future changes in tax laws or rates are not anticipated. Temporary differences are differences between the tax basis of an asset or liability and its reported amount in the financial statements. For example, we have a DTA because the tax bases of our loss and LAE reserves are smaller than their book bases. Similarly, we have a DTL because the book basis of our capitalized software exceeds its tax basis. Carryforwards include such items as alternative minimum tax credits, which may be carried forward indefinitely, and net operating losses ("NOLs"), which can be carried forward 15 years for losses incurred before 1998 and 20 years thereafter. A summary of the significant DTAs and DTLs relating to the Company's temporary differences and carryforwards is included in Note 5 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

At December 31, 2004, our DTAs total $136.7 million, and our DTLs total $80.6 million. The net of those amounts, $56.1 million, represents the net deferred tax asset reported in the consolidated balance sheet.

We are required to reduce DTAs (but not DTLs) by a valuation allowance to the extent that, based on the weight of available evidence, it is "more likely than not" (i.e., a likelihood of more than 50%) that any DTAs will not be realized. Recognition of a valuation allowance would decrease reported earnings on a dollar-for- dollar basis in the year in which any such recognition were to occur. The determination of whether a valuation allowance is appropriate requires the exercise of management judgment. In making this judgment, management is required to weigh the positive and negative evidence as to the likelihood that the DTAs will be realized.

Portions of our NOL carryforward are scheduled to expire beginning in 2017, as shown in the table below (amounts in millions):

Year of Expiration
  
NOL Excluding 21st of Southwest
  
SRLY1  NOL of 21st of Southwest
  
Consolidated NOL
  
2017
 
$
– 
 
$
1,794
 
$
1,794
  
2018
    
– 
   
1,068
    
1,068
  
2019
    
– 
    
1,466
    
1,466
  
2020
    
35,061
    
3,172
    
38,233
  
2021
    
134,647
    
2,180
    
136,827
  
2022
    
37,316
    
– 
    
37,316
  
Totals
 
$
207,024
 
$
9,680
 
$
216,704
 

Our core business has generated an underwriting profit for the past three years. Management believes it is reasonable to expect future underwriting profits and to conclude it is at least more likely than not that we will be able to realize the benefits of our DTAs. If necessary, we believe we could implement tax-planning strategies, such as investing a higher proportion of our investment portfolio in taxable securities, in order to generate sufficient future taxable income to utilize the NOL carryforwards prior to their expiration. Accordingly, no valuation allowance has been recognized as of December 31, 2004 and 2003. However, generating future taxable income is dependent on a number of factors, including regulatory and competitive influences that may be beyond our ability to control. Future underwriting losses could possibly jeopardize our ability to utilize our NOLs. In the event adverse development or underwriting losses due to either SB 1899 matters or other causes were to occur, management might be required to reach a different conclusion about the realization of the DTAs and, if so, recognize a valuation allowance at that time.

___________________________
1 “SRLY” stands for Separate Return Limitation Year. Under the Federal tax code, only future income generated by 21st of Southwest (formerly 21st of Arizona) may be utilized against this portion of our NOL.

32
 
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs. Deferred policy acquisition costs ("DPAC") include premium taxes and other variable costs incurred with writing business. These costs are deferred and amortized over the 6-month policy period in which the related premiums are earned.

Management assesses the recoverability of deferred policy acquisition costs on a quarterly basis. The assessment calculates the relationship of actuarially estimated costs incurred to premiums from contracts issued or renewed for the period. We do not consider anticipated investment income in determining the recoverability of these costs. Based on current indications, no reduction in DPAC is required.

The loss and LAE ratio used in the recoverability estimate is based primarily on expected ultimate ratios provided by our actuaries. While management believes that is a reasonable assumption, actual results could differ materially from such estimates.

Investments. Temporary unrealized investment gains and losses, net of applicable tax effects, are included as an element of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), which is classified as a separate component of stockholders' equity. For investments with unrealized losses due to market conditions or industry-related events, where the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow a market recovery or to maturity, declines in value below cost are not assumed to be other-than-temporary.

Where declines in values of securities below cost or amortized cost are considered to be other-than-temporary, a charge is required to be reflected in income for the difference between cost or amortized cost and the fair value. The determination of whether a decline in market value is "other-than-temporary" is necessarily a matter of subjective judgment. No such charges were recorded in 2004, 2003 or 2002. The timing and amount of realized losses and gains reported in income could vary if conclusions other than those made by management were to determine whether an other-than-temporary impairment exists. However, there would be no impact on equity because any unrealized losses are already included in accumulated other comprehensive income.

The following is a summary by issuer of non-investment grade securities and unrated securities held (at fair value):

AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS
          
December 31,
  
2004
  
2003
  
Non-investment grade securities (i.e., rated below BBB):
          
Cox Communications, Inc.
  
$
2,240
  
$
—
  
Ford Motor Credit Company
    
4,615
    
—
  
General Motors Acceptance Corp
    
5,643
    
—
  
Unrated securities:
              
Impact Community Capital LLC1
    
2,023
    
2,023
  
Impact C.I.L. Parent
    
5,111
    
2,444
  
Total non-investment grade and unrated securities2
  
$
19,632
  
$
4,467
  
_______________________________
1 Impact Community Capital LLC, is a limited partnership that was established under California’s COIN program (California Organized Investment Network), a voluntary association of California insurers providing funding for low cost housing projects.
2 The total net unrealized gain (loss) for these securities as of December 31, 2004 and 2003 was $0.4 million and $0, respectively.
 
33
 
The following table summarizes realized gains and losses for the past three years. Additional information has been provided with respect to how long investments that were sold at a loss in each year were in an unrealized loss position.

AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS
              
Years Ended December 31,
  
2004
  
2003
 
2002
  
Realized (losses) on sales of investments:
              
Held for less than one year
  
$
(1,062
)
$
(229
)
$
(322
)
Held one year or more
                    
In an unrealized loss position at December 31, 2003
    
(1,251
)
  
–  
    
–  
  
In an unrealized loss position at December 31, 2002
    
(19
)
  
(148
)
  
–  
  
In an unrealized loss position at December 31, 2001
    
–  
    
–  
    
(83
)
In an unrealized loss position at December 31, 2000
    
–  
    
 –  
    
–  
  
In an unrealized loss position at December 31, 1999
    
–  
    
 –  
    
(196
)
In an unrealized loss position at December 31, 1998
    
–  
    
  –  
    
(1,567
)
In an unrealized gain position at December 31, 2003
    
(133
)
  
–  
    
–  
  
In an unrealized gain position at December 31, 2002
    
–  
    
(5
)
  
–  
  
In an unrealized gain position at December 31, 2001
    
–  
    
 – 
    
(15
)
Total realized losses on sales of investments held one year or more1 
    
(1,403
)
  
(153
)
  
(1,861
)
Total realized losses on sales of investments
    
(2,465
)
  
(382
)
  
(2,183
)
Total realized gains on sales of investments
    
14,145
    
13,715
    
13,053
  
Realized gain (loss) on disposal of property and equipment
    
(849
)
  
(156
)
  
(479
)
Total realized investment gains
  
$
10,831
  
$
13,177
  
$
10,391
  
 
The following table summarizes the fair values of investments sold at a loss or at a gain on the date of sale:
 
AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS
  
Fair Value of
Investments Sold
  
December 31,
  
2004
 
2003
 
2002
  
Fair value of investments sold at a loss on date of sale
  
$
142,222
  
$
21,002
  
$
111,144
  
Fair value of investments sold at a gain on date of sale
    
585,252
    
297,230
    
470,043
  

The following table summarizes investments held by us, having an unrealized loss of $0.1 million or more, and aggregate information relating to all other investments in unrealized loss positions:

   
2004
  
2003
  
AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS,
EXCEPT NUMBER OF ISSUES
December 31,
  
# issues
Fair Value
  
Unrealized Loss
# issues
Fair Value
 
Unrealized Loss
Investments with unrealized losses:
                         
Exceeding $0.1 million and for:
                          
Less than 6 months
    
    7
  
$
88,258
  
$
1,045
    
  4
  
$
50,512
  
$
680
  
6-12 months
    
  15
 
  
154,284
    
3,415
    
  2
    
8,509
    
662
  
More than 1 year
    
    2
    
4,765
    
326
    
–
    
– 
    
–
  
Less than $0.1 million
    
  91
    
306,984
    
2,387
    
83
    
179,166
    
2,074
  
Total fixed maturity securities2
    
115
    
554,291
    
7,173
    
89
    
238,187
   
3,416
 
Equity securities less than $0.1 million
    
   64
    
15,479
    
293
    
–
    
–
    
 –
  
Total investments
    
179
  
$
569,770
  
$
7,466
    
89
  
$
238,187
  
$
3,416
  

_______________________________
1 Amount represents less than 0.001% of total carrying value of investments.
2 Unrealized losses represent less than 0.5% of the total carrying value of investments.

34
 
A summary by contractual maturity of bonds in an unrealized loss position by year of maturity follows:
 
   
2004
  
2003
  
AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS
December 31,
  
Amortized Cost
 
Carrying Value
 
Unrealized Loss
 
Amortized Cost
 
Carrying Value
 
Unrealized Loss
  
Bond Maturities
                          
Due in one year or less
  
$
9,778
  
$
9,738
  
$
40
  
$
2,519
  
$
2,515
  
$
4
  
Due after one year through five years
    
26,537
    
26,073
    
464
    
78,687
    
77,590
    
1,097
  
Due after five years through ten years
    
318,644
    
314,898
    
3,746
    
47,026
    
45,975
    
1,051
  
Due after ten years
    
206,505
    
203,582
    
2,923
    
113,371
    
112,107
    
1,264
  
   
$
561,464
  
$
554,291
  
$
7,173
  
$
241,603
  
$
238,187
  
$
3,416
  

Stock-based compensation. Under the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standard ("SFAS") No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, we have elected to continue using the intrinsic-value method of accounting for stock-based awards granted to employees in accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees. Accordingly, we have not recognized in income any compensation expense for the fair value of stock options awarded to employees. Companies electing to continue to follow the intrinsic-value method must make pro forma disclosures, as if the fair value based method of accounting had been applied. A summary of the expense that would have been recorded, together with the underlying assumptions, had we recognized for the fair value of stock-based awards, is included in Notes 2 and 14 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Recent Accounting Standards
In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard ("SFAS") No. 123 (revised 2004) ("SFAS No. 123R"), Share-based Payment, which replaces SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, and supersedes APB No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees. As a result of SFAS No. 123R, the Company will be required to recognize the cost of its stock options as an expense in the consolidated statement of operations beginning in the third quarter 2005. The Company is currently assessing the impact that the adoption of SFAS No. 123R will have on its consolidated results of operations. Although this assessment is ongoing, management believes the effect of adopting SFAS No. 123R will be material to the Company's consolidated results of operations.

On September 30, 2004, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position EITF No. 03-1-1, Effective Date of Paragraphs 10-20 of EITF No. 03-1, The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments, delaying the effective date of this guidance until the FASB has resolved certain implementation issues with respect to this guidance. The disclosure requirements of EITF No. 03-1 were previously adopted by the Company as of December 31, 2003 and reflected in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for that year for the Company's investments.

In January 2003, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an interpretation of Accounting Research Bulleting No. 51, and amended it in December 2003 ("FIN 46R"). An entity is subject to the consolidation rules of FIN 46R and is referred to as a variable interest entity ("VIE") if it lacks sufficient equity to finance its activities without additional financial support from other parties or if its equity holders lack adequate decision making ability based on criteria set forth in the interpretation. FIN 46R requires an investor with a majority of the variable interests in a VIE to consolidate the entity.

FIN 46R also requires disclosures about VIEs that companies are not required to consolidate, but in which a company has a significant variable interest. On August 29, 2003, the Company funded a revolving loan agreement with Impact C.I.L., LLC ("Impact C.I.L."), a VIE. At present, the Company has contributed $5.1 million to be used to purchase mortgage loans in economically disadvantaged areas. The Company is not the primary beneficiary of the VIE and participates at an 11.11% level in the entity's funding activities. Potential losses are limited to the amount invested as well as associated operating fees.

35
 
The Company's maximum commitment is for up to 11.1% ($24 million) of $216 million of participation. The mortgages purchased with these funds may be securitized.

Impact C.I.L. is a subsidiary of Impact Community Capital, LLC ("Impact"), whose charter is to provide real estate loans in economically disadvantaged areas. At present, the Company has a $2.0 million note receivable from Impact in addition to the $5.1 million investment noted above. If the mortgages purchased with these funds are not securitized, the note receivable will be liquidated in ten years from the initial date of the agreement. The Company has voting rights and ownership of Impact in proportion to its investment (approximately 10%).

The Company does not have any other material VIEs that it needs, or will need, to consolidate or disclose.

Forward-Looking Statements
This report contains statements that constitute forward-looking information. Investors are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or results and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results or developments may differ materially from the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. The reader should not rely on forward-looking statements in this annual report on Form 10-K. Forward-looking statements are statements not based on historical information and which relate to future operations, strategies, financial results or other developments. You can usually identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "intend," "potential," or "continue" or with the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology.

Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee our future results, level of activity, performance or achievements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, discussions concerning our potential expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions. Forward-looking statements may address, among other things:

·
Our strategy for growth;
·
Underwriting results;
·
Our expected combined ratio and growth of written premiums;
·
Product development;
·
Computer systems;
·
Regulatory approvals;
·
Market position;
·
Financial results;
·
Dividend policy; and
·
Reserves.

It is possible that our actual results, actions and financial condition may differ, possibly materially, from the anticipated results, actions and financial condition indicated in these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and actions to differ, possibly materially, from those in the specific forward-looking statements include those discussed in this report under the heading "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" as well as:

·
The effects of competition and competitors' pricing actions;
·
Adverse underwriting and claims experience, including as a result of revived earthquake claims under SB 1899;
·
Customer service problems;
·
The impact on our operations of natural disasters, principally earthquake, or civil disturbance, due to the concentration of our facilities and employees in Woodland Hills, California;

36
 
·
Information system problems, including failures to implement information technology projects on time and within budget;
·
Internal control failures;
·
Adverse developments in financial markets or interest rates;
·
Results of legislative, regulatory or legal actions, including the inability to obtain approval for rate increases and product changes and adverse actions taken by state regulators in market conduct examinations; and
·
Our ability to service the senior notes, including our ability to receive dividends and/or sufficient payments from our subsidiaries to service our obligations.

We do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
 
37
 
ITEM 7A.   QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Market risk is the risk of loss from adverse changes in market prices and interest rates. In addition to market risk we are exposed to other risks, including the credit risk related to the issuers of our financial instruments, the underlying insurance risk related to our core business and the exposure of the personal lines insurance business, as a regulated industry, to legal, legislative, judicial, political and regulatory action. Financial instruments are not used for trading purposes. The following disclosure reflects estimated changes in value that may result from selected hypothetical changes in market rates and prices. Actual results may differ.

Our cash flow from operations and short-term cash position generally are more than sufficient to meet our projected obligations for claim payments, which by the nature of the personal automobile insurance business tend to have an average duration of less than one year. As a result, it has been unnecessary for us to employ elaborate market risk management techniques involving complicated asset and liability duration matching or hedging strategies. Accordingly, the Company primarily invests in fixed maturity investments, which at December 31, 2004, comprised almost 97% of the fair value of the Company's total investments. The remainder of the Company's investments, representing approximately 3% of total investments at market value, is held in equity securities.

For all of our fixed maturity investments, we seek to provide for liquidity and diversification while maximizing income without sacrificing investment quality. The value of the fixed maturity portfolio is subject to interest rate risk where the value of the fixed maturity portfolio decreases as market interest rates increase, and conversely, when market interest rates decrease, the value of the fixed maturity portfolio increases. Duration is a common measure of the sensitivity of a fixed maturity security's value to changes in interest rates. The higher the duration, the more sensitive a fixed maturity security is to market interest rate fluctuations. Effective duration also measures this sensitivity, but it takes into account call terms, as well as changes in remaining term, coupon rate, and cash flow.

Since fixed maturity investments with longer remaining terms to maturity tend to realize higher yields, the Company's investment philosophy typically resulted in a portfolio with an effective duration of over 6 years (almost 7 years as of December 31, 2001). Due to the current interest rate environment, management, in consultation with the Investment Committee, targeted a lower duration for the Company's fixed maturity investment portfolio to reduce the negative impact of potential increases in interest rates. As a result, the effective duration of the fixed maturity portfolio declined from approximately 6 years as of December 31, 2003 to 5.4 years at December 31, 2004.

The Company has also obtained long-term fixed rate financing as a means of increasing the statutory surplus of the Company's largest insurance subsidiary.

The following table shows the financial statement carrying values of our fixed maturity investments, which are reported at fair value, and our debt, which is reported at historical value. The table also presents estimated carrying values at adjusted market rates assuming a 100 basis point increase in market interest rates, given the effective duration noted above, for the fixed maturity investment portfolio and a 100 basis point decrease in market interest rates for the debt determined from a present value calculation. The following sensitivity analysis summarizes only the exposure to market interest rate risk:

 
AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS
December 31, 2004
  
Carrying Value
Estimated Carrying Value at Adjusted Market Rates/Prices Indicated Above
Change in Value as a Percentage of Carrying Value
Fixed maturity investments available for sale
  
$
1,342.1
  
$
1,268.1
    
(5.51
%)
Debt
    
138.3
    
146.4
    
5.86
%
 
38
 
The common equity portfolio, which represents approximately 3% of total investments at market value, consists primarily of public utility common stocks. Beta is a measure of a security's systematic (non-diversifiable) risk, which is the percentage change in an individual security's return for a 1% change in the return of the market. The average Beta for the Company's common stock holdings was 0.50.

The following table presents the financial statement carrying value of our equity portfolio and the effect of a hypothetical 20% reduction in the overall value of the stock market using the Beta noted above and accordingly summarizes only the exposure to equity price risk for the Company's equity securities:
 
 
AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS
December 31, 2004
  
Carrying Value
Estimated Carrying Value at Hypothetical 20% Reduction in Overall Value of Stock Stock Market
Change in Value as a Percentage of Carrying Value
Equity securities available for sale
  
$
42.1
  
$
37.8
    
(10.1
%)

The discussion above provides only a limited, point-in-time view of the market risk sensitivity of our financial instruments. The actual impact of market interest rate and price changes on the financial instruments may differ significantly from those shown.
 
39

ITEM 8.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA:

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

STOCKHOLDERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS
21ST CENTURY INSURANCE GROUP
 
We have completed an integrated audit of 21st Century Insurance Group's 2004 consolidated financial statements and of its internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, and audits of its 2003 and 2002 consolidated financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Our opinions, based on our audits, are presented below.

Consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements listed in the index appearing under Item 15(a)(1) present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of 21st Century Insurance Group and its subsidiaries (the "Company") at December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2004, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. In addition, in our opinion, the financial statement schedule listed in the index appearing under Item 15(a)(2) presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein when read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements. These financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit of financial statements includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Internal control over financial reporting

Also, in our opinion, management's assessment, included in Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 9A, that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission ("COSO"), is fairly stated, in all material respects, based on those criteria. Furthermore, in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the COSO. The Company's management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to express opinions on management's assessment and on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We conducted our audit of internal control over financial reporting in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. An audit of internal control over financial reporting includes obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, evaluating management's assessment, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control, and performing such other procedures as we consider necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinions.
 
40
 
A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
 
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Los Angeles, California
February 16, 2005
 
41
 
21ST CENTURY INSURANCE GROUP
          
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
          
           
AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA
          
December 31,
  
2004
  
2003
  
Assets
          
Fixed maturity investments available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost: $1,320,592 and $1,183,526)
  
$
1,342,130
  
$
1,219,676
  
Equity securities available-for-sale, at fair value (cost: $41,450)
    
42,085
    
– 
  
Total investments
   
1,384,215
    
1,219,676
  
Cash and cash equivalents
    
34,697
    
65,010
  
Accrued investment income
    
16,161
    
14,746
  
Premiums receivable
    
105,814
    
104,638
  
Reinsurance receivables and recoverables
    
7,160
    
12,135
  
Prepaid reinsurance premiums
    
1,787
    
1,719
  
Deferred income taxes
    
56,135
    
76,611
  
Deferred policy acquisition costs
    
58,759
    
53,079
  
Leased property under capital lease, net of deferred gain of $3,116 and $4,698 and net of accumulated amortization of $24,794 and $12,397
    
31,719
    
42,534
  
Property and equipment, at cost less accumulated depreciation of $68,529 and $60,070
    
129,372
    
101,237
  
Other assets
    
38,495
    
46,747
  
Total assets
  
$
1,864,314
  
$
1,738,132
  
               
Liabilities and stockholders' equity
              
Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses
  
$
495,542
  
$
438,323
  
Unearned premiums
    
331,036
    
312,254
  
Debt
    
138,290
    
149,686
  
Claims checks payable
    
38,737
    
45,702
  
Reinsurance payable
    
633
    
1,761
  
Other liabilities
    
85,675
    
89,716
  
Total liabilities
    
1,089,913
    
1,037,442
  
               
Commitments and contingencies
              
               
Stockholders' equity:
              
Common stock, par value $0.001 per share; 110,000,000 shares authorized; shares issued & outstanding 85,489,061 and 85,435,505
    
85
    
85
  
Additional paid-in capital
    
420,425
    
419,245
  
Retained earnings
    
341,196
    
259,808
  
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):
              
Net unrealized gains on available-for-sale investments, net of deferred income taxes of $7,760 and of $12,653
    
14,412
    
23,497
  
Minimum pension liability in excess of unamortized prior service cost, net of deferred income taxes of $925 and of $1,047
    
(1,717
)
  
(1,945
)
Total stockholders' equity
    
774,401
    
700,690
  
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
  
$
1,864,314
  
$
1,738,132
  

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
42
 
21ST CENTURY INSURANCE GROUP
              
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
              
               
AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA
              
Years Ended December 31,
  
2004
  
2003
  
2002
  
Revenues
              
Net premiums earned
  
$
1,313,670
  
$
1,172,677
  
$
924,559
  
Net investment income
    
58,831
    
45,833
    
46,345
  
Other
   
—
    
14,777
    
—
  
Net realized investment gains
    
10,831
    
13,177
    
10,391
  
Total revenues
    
1,383,332
    
1,246,464
    
981,295
  
Losses and expenses
                    
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses
    
993,841
    
962,311
    
826,657
  
Policy acquisition costs
    
222,479
    
202,189
    
123,642
  
Other operating expenses
    
36,092
    
7,346
    
19,645
  
Write-off of software
    
—
    
—
    
37,177
  
Interest and fees expense
    
8,627
    
3,471
    
—
 
Total losses and expenses
    
1,261,039
    
1,175,317
    
1,007,121
  
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes
    
122,293
    
71,147
    
(25,826
)
Provision for income taxes
    
34,068
    
17,572
    
(13,570
)
Net income (loss)
  
$
88,225
  
$
53,575
  
$
(12,256
)
                     
Earnings (loss) per common share
                    
Basic and diluted
  
$
1.03
  
$
0.63
  
$
(0.14
)
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic
    
85,466,127
    
85,432,838
    
85,414,076
  
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted
    
85,602,567
    
85,637,672
    
85,414,076
  

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
43
 
21ST CENTURY INSURANCE GROUP
                          
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
                          
                               
                               
   
Common Stock
          
Accumulated
     
AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS,
     
No par value
 
$0.001 par value
  
Additional Paid- in
 
Retained
 
Other Comprehensive
      
EXCEPT SHARE DATA
  
Shares
  
Amount
  
Amount
  
Capital
  
Earnings
  
Income (Loss)
  
Total
  
Balance - January 1, 2002
    
85,361,848
  
$
416,991
  
$
—
  
$
—
  
$
248,635
  
$
(6,320
)
$
659,306
  
Comprehensive (loss) income
                            
 (12,256
)(1)
  
 29,877
(2) 
  
 17,621
  
Cash dividends declared on common stock ($0.26 per share)
                            
(22,210
)
        
(22,210
)
Other
    
69,657
    
1,993
                
(1,102
)
        
891
  
Balance - December 31, 2002
    
85,431,505
    
418,984
    
—
    
—
    
213,067
    
23,557
    
655,608
  
Comprehensive income (loss)
                            
 53,575
(1) 
  
 (2,005
)(2)
  
 51,570
  
Cash dividends declared on common stock ($0.08 per share)
                            
(6,834
)
        
(6,834
)
Other
    
4,000
    
346
                            
346
  
Effects of reincorporation
          
(419,330
)
  
85
    
419,245
                
—
  
Balance - December 31, 2003
    
85,435,505
    
—
   
85
    
419,245
    
259,808
    
21,552
    
700,690
  
Comprehensive income (loss)
                            
 88,225
(1) 
  
 (8,857
)(2)
  
 79,368
  
Cash dividends declared on common stock ($0.08 per share)
                            
(6,837
)
        
(6,837
)
Other
    
53,556
                
1,180
                
1,180
  
Balance - December 31, 2004
    
85,489,061
  
$
—
  
$
85
  
$
420,425
  
$
341,196
  
$
12,695
  
$
774,401
  
(1) Net (loss) income for the year.
 
(2) Net change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for 2004, 2003 and 2002 is as follows:
 
Years Ended December 31,
  
2004
  
2003
  
2002
  
Unrealized holding (losses) gains arising during the period, net of tax (benefit) expense of $(804), $3,833, and $17,811, respectively
  
$
(1,493
)
$
7,116
  
$
33,078
  
Reclassification adjustment for investment gains included in net income (loss), net of tax expense of $4,089, $4,667, and $3,805, respectively
    
(7,592
)
  
(8,666
)
  
(7,065
)
Change in minimum pension liability in excess of unamortized prior service cost, net of deferred income tax expense (benefit) of $123, $(245), and $2,081, respectively
    
228
    
(455
)
  
3,864
  
Total
  
$
(8,857
)
$
(2,005
)
$
29,877
  
 
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
44
 
 
21ST CENTURY INSURANCE GROUP
              
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
              
               
AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA
              
Years Ended December 31,
  
2004
  
2003
  
2002
  
Operating activities
              
Net income (loss)
 
$
88,225
  
$
53,575
  
$
(12,256
)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash
                    
provided by operating activities:
                    
Depreciation and amortization
    
22,260
    
20,206
    
19,341
  
Net amortization of investment premiums
   
7,011
    
3,756
    
1,000
  
Write-off of software
    
—
    
—
    
37,177
  
Amortization of restricted stock grants
    
604
    
346
    
506
  
Provision (benefit) for deferred income taxes
    
25,246
    
13,406
    
(5,370
)
Realized gains on sale of investments
    
(10,831
)
  
(13,177
)
  
(10,391
)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
                    
Reinsurance balances
    
3,779
    
12,953
    
17,542
  
Federal income taxes
    
3,801
    
(2,825
)
  
4,670
  
Other assets
    
(9,835
)
  
(25,562
)
  
(38,068
)
Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses
    
57,219
    
54,314
    
34,720
  
Unearned premiums
    
18,782
    
45,777
    
30,004
  
Claims checks payable
    
(6,965
)
  
6,398
    
3,198
  
Other liabilities
    
4,060
    
19,293
    
(7,490
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
    
203,356
    
188,460
    
74,583
  
Investing activities
                    
Investments available-for-sale
                    
Purchases
    
(937,010
)
  
(641,433
)
  
(625,690
)
Calls or maturities
    
52,579
    
38,592
    
41,850
  
Sales
    
710,586
    
314,648
    
564,398
  
Purchases of property and equipment
    
(40,445
)
  
(23,355
)
  
(19,140
)
Net cash used in investing activities
    
(214,290
)
  
(311,548
)
  
(38,582
)
Financing activities
                    
Proceeds from issuance of debt
    
—
    
99,871
    
60,000
  
Repayment of debt
   
(11,409
)
  
(10,185
)
  
—
  
Payment of debt issuance costs
    
—
    
(650
)
  
—
  
Dividends paid (per share: $0.10; $0.08; and $0.24)
    
(8,546
)
  
(6,835
)
  
(20,501
)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options
    
576
    
—
   
1,488
  
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
    
(19,379
)
  
82,201
    
40,987
  
                     
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
    
(30,313
)
  
(40,887
)
  
76,988
  
                     
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
    
65,010
    
105,897
    
28,909
  
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year
  
$
34,697
  
$
65,010
  
$
105,897
  
                     
                     
Supplemental information
                    
Net income taxes paid (refunded)
  
$
3,912
  
$
—
  
$
(12,920
)
Interest paid
    
8,612
    
2,975
    
—
 
 
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

45
 
21ST CENTURY INSURANCE GROUP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2004
DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT WHERE NOTED
NOTE 1.  DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

21st Century Insurance Group is an insurance holding company founded in 1958 and, effective December 4, 2003, was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware. Previously, the Company was incorporated in California. The term "Company," unless the context requires otherwise, refers to 21st Century Insurance Group and its consolidated subsidiaries, all of which are wholly-owned: 21st Century Insurance Company, 21st Century Casualty Company, 21st Century Insurance Company of the Southwest, 20th Century Insurance Services, Inc., and i21 Insurance Services. The latter two companies are not property and casualty insurance subsidiaries, and their results are immaterial.

The common stock of the Company is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "TW." Through several of its subsidiaries, American International Group, Inc. ("AIG") currently owns approximately 63% of the Company's outstanding common stock.

NOTE 2.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Consolidation and Presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts and operations of the Company. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

On October 16, 2003, the board of directors voted to change 21st Century Insurance Group's state of incorporation from California to Delaware. There was no change in the location of Company operations, location of employees, or the way the Company does business. Shareholders holding a majority of the voting power approved the reincorporation by written consent on October 17, 2003. The reincorporation became effective December 4, 2003.

21st Century Insurance Company of the Southwest
21st Century Insurance Company of Arizona ("21st of Arizona") changed its name to 21st Century Insurance Company of the Southwest on September 30, 2004, and re-domesticated from Arizona to Texas on December 31, 2004. 21st of Arizona was a joint venture between the Company and AIG from 1995 to 2001. On January 1, 2002, the Company acquired AIG's 51% interest in 21st of Arizona for $4.4 million.

Transactions with Related Parties
Since 1995, the Company has entered into several transactions with AIG subsidiaries, including various reinsurance agreements, which are discussed in Note 10 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. At December 31, 2004, reinsurance recoverables, net of payables, from AIG subsidiaries were $1.4 million, compared to $5.8 million at December 31, 2003. Other transactions with AIG subsidiaries have resulted from competitive bidding processes for certain corporate insurance coverages and certain software and data processing services. In October 2003, as a result of a competitive bidding process, the Company entered into an agreement with an AIG subsidiary whereby AIG provides the Company with investment management services; the agreement was approved by the California Department of Insurance.
 
46
 
21ST CENTURY INSURANCE GROUP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
DECEMBER 31, 2004
DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT WHERE NOTED
 
Investments
The Company classifies its investment portfolio as available-for-sale and carries it at fair value. Investments available-for-sale include securities that management intends to hold for indefinite periods, but which may be sold in response to changes in interest rates, tax planning considerations, or other aspects of asset/liability management. Fair values for fixed maturity and equity securities are based on quoted market prices, broker quotes and other valuation techniques. Realized gains and losses are included in the consolidated statements of operations based on the specific identification method.

Temporary unrealized investment gains and losses, net of applicable tax effects, are included as an element of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), which is classified as a separate component of stockholders' equity. For investments with unrealized losses due to market conditions or industry-related events, where the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow a market recovery or to maturity, declines in value below cost are not assumed to be other-than-temporary.

Where declines in values of securities below cost or amortized cost are considered to be other-than-temporary, a charge is required to be reflected in income for the difference between cost or amortized cost and the fair value. The determination of whether a decline in market value is other-than-temporary is necessarily a matter of subjective judgment. No such charges were recorded in 2004, 2003 or 2002. Realized losses and gains reported in income could vary if conclusions other than those made by management were used to determine whether an other-than-temporary impairment exists. However, there would be no impact on equity because any unrealized losses are already included in accumulated other comprehensive income.

Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include cash, demand deposits and short-term investments in money market mutual funds having a maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase.

Recognition of Revenues
Insurance premiums and reinsurance ceding commissions are recognized pro rata over the terms of the policies. The unearned portion of premiums is included in the consolidated balance sheets as a liability for unearned premiums. Installment and other fees for services are recognized in the periods the services are rendered.

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs
Deferred policy acquisition costs ("DPAC") include premium taxes and other variable costs incurred in connection with writing business. These costs are deferred and amortized over the 6-month policy period in which the related premiums are earned.

Management assesses the recoverability of deferred policy acquisition costs on a quarterly basis. The assessment calculates the relationship of actuarially estimated costs incurred to premiums from contracts issued or renewed for the period. We do not consider anticipated investment income in determining the recoverability of these costs. Based on current indications, no reduction in DPAC is required. The loss and loss adjustment expense ratio used in the recoverability estimate is the expected ultimate ratio provided by our actuaries. While management believes that is a reasonable assumption, actual results could differ materially from such estimate.

47
 
21ST CENTURY INSURANCE GROUP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
DECEMBER 31, 2004
DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT WHERE NOTED
Leased Property under Capital Lease
Leased property under capital lease is recorded as a capital asset and amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the property, which range from 3 to 10 years. The related lease obligation is included in debt on the balance sheet.

Property and Equipment
Property and equipment is recorded at cost and depreciated on a straight-line basis. We capitalize certain consulting costs, payroll and payroll-related costs for employees related to computer software developed for internal use. The estimated useful lives used for depreciation purposes are: furniture and leasehold improvements - 7 years; equipment - 3 to 5 years; automobiles - 5 years; software currently in service - 3 to 15 years.

Management assesses the Company's property and equipment, including software development projects in progress, for impairment. The assessment of impairment involves a two-step process, whereby an initial assessment for potential impairment is performed, by comparing the carrying value and cost to complete, if any, to estimates of future undiscounted cash flows from operations at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities. If future undiscounted cash flows are insufficient, an impairment write down is recorded for the difference between the carrying value and estimated fair value of the asset group. There have been no events or circumstances in 2004 that would require a reassessment of any asset group for impairment.

Intangible Asset
On June 24, 2004, the Company paid $1.5 million to acquire the business name "21st Century Insurance and Financial Services," which will be used as a fictitious business name for 20th Century Insurance Services. The payment has been capitalized as an intangible asset, in accordance with SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, and is included in "Other Assets" on the accompanying balance sheet as of December 31, 2004.

The business name has an indefinite useful life, and in accordance with SFAS No. 142 will not be amortized until its useful life is determined to no longer be indefinite. Under SFAS No. 142, an intangible asset is to be carried at fair value and has to be tested for impairment on an annual basis. The impairment test as of December 31, 2004 indicated that the asset was not impaired.

Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses
The estimated liabilities for losses and loss adjustment expenses ("LAE") include the accumulation of estimates of losses for claims reported prior to the balance sheet dates, estimates (based upon actuarial analysis of historical data) of losses for claims incurred but not reported, 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. These estimated liabilities are necessarily subject to the outcome of future events, such as changes in medical and repair costs as well as economic and social conditions that impact the settlement of claims. Management believes that the aggregate reserves are adequate and represent our best estimate based on the information currently available. The methods of making such estimates and for establishing the resulting reserves are reviewed and updated as applicable, and any adjustments resulting therefrom are reflected in current operations.

A necessarily more subjective process is used to estimate earthquake losses arising out of California Senate Bill 1899 ("SB 1899") because most of the remaining earthquake claims are in litigation. See Note 16 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of the factors considered by management in establishing those liabilities.

48
 
21ST CENTURY INSURANCE GROUP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
DECEMBER 31, 2004
DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT WHERE NOTED
 
Reinsurance
In the normal course of business, the Company seeks to reduce its exposure to losses that may arise from catastrophes and to reduce its overall risk levels by obtaining reinsurance from other insurance enterprises or reinsurers. Reinsurance premiums and reserves on reinsured business are accounted for on a basis consistent with those used in accounting for the original policies issued and the terms of the reinsurance contracts.

Reinsurance contracts do not relieve the Company from its obligations to policyholders. The Company periodically reviews the financial condition of its reinsurers to minimize its exposure to losses from reinsurer insolvencies.

Reinsurance receivables and recoverables include balances due from other insurance companies for paid losses and LAE as well as ceded unpaid losses and LAE under the terms of reinsurance agreements. Amounts applicable to ceded unearned premiums are reported as prepaid reinsurance premiums in the accompanying balance sheets. The Company believes the fair value of its reinsurance recoverables approximates their carrying amounts.

Income Taxes
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years the differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Quarterly, the Company reviews its deferred tax assets for recoverability.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The carrying value of financial assets and liabilities reported in the accompanying balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents, accrued investment income and trade accounts receivable and payable at December 31, 2004 and 2003, approximate fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments. Investments available-for-sale are carried at fair value in the accompanying balance sheets. The fair value of notes payable is estimated based on the quoted market prices for the same or similar issues, or on the current rates offered to us for debt with the same remaining maturities. The carrying values of our debt were $138.3 million and $149.7 million and the estimated fair values were $140.9 million and $150.9 million as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. Considerable judgment is required to develop estimates of fair value. Accordingly, the estimates are not necessarily indicative of the amounts we could realize in a current market exchange. The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts.
 
49
 
21ST CENTURY INSURANCE GROUP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
DECEMBER 31, 2004
DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT WHERE NOTED
Stock-Based Compensation
SFAS No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation-Transition and Disclosure, amends the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, to require prominent disclosures in both annual and interim financial statements about the method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation and the effect of the method used on reported results. As permitted by SFAS No. 148, the Company accounts for its fixed stock options using the intrinsic-value method, prescribed in Accounting Principles Board ("APB") Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, which generally does not result in compensation expense recognition for stock options. Under the intrinsic-value method, compensation cost for stock options is measured at the date of grant as the excess, if any, of the quoted market price of the Company's stock over the exercise price of the options.

In addition to stock options, we also grant restricted stock awards to certain officers and employees. Upon issuance of grants under the plan, unearned compensation equivalent to the market value on the date of grant is charged to paid-in capital and subsequently amortized over the vesting period of the grant. The Company becomes entitled to an income tax deduction in an amount equal to the taxable income reported by the holders of the restricted shares when the restrictions are released. Restricted shares are forfeited if officers and employees terminate prior to the lapsing of restrictions. We record forfeitures of restricted stock as treasury share repurchases and any compensation cost previously recognized with respect to unvested stock awards is reversed in the period of forfeiture. This accounting treatment results in compensation expense being recorded in a manner consistent with that required under SFAS No. 123, and, therefore, pro forma net income and earnings per share amounts for the Restricted Share Plan would be unchanged from those reported in the financial statements.

Had compensation cost for the Company's stock-based compensation plans been determined based on the estimated fair value at the grant dates of stock-based compensation, net income and earnings per share would have been reduced to the pro forma amounts indicated below:

Years Ended December 31,
  
2004
  
2003
  
2002
  
Net income (loss), as reported
  
$
88,225
  
$
53,575
  
$
(12,256
)
                     
Add: Stock-based employee compensation expense included in reported net income (loss), net of related tax effects
    
381
    
215
    
329
  
                     
Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects
    
(5,904
)
  
(4,908
)
  
(5,637
)
                     
Net income (loss), pro forma
  
$
82,702
  
$
48,882
  
$
(17,564
)
                     
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share
                    
As reported
  
$
1.03
  
$
0.63
  
$
(0.14
)
Pro forma
  
$
0.97
  
$
0.55
  
$
(0.21
)

Earnings Per Share
Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if options or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock.

50
 
21ST CENTURY INSURANCE GROUP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
DECEMBER 31, 2004
DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT WHERE NOTED
Recent Accounting Standards
In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard ("SFAS") No. 123 (revised 2004) ("SFAS No. 123R"), Share-based Payment, which replaces SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, and supersedes APB No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees. As a result of SFAS No. 123R, the Company will be required to recognize the cost of its stock options as an expense in the consolidated statement of operations beginning in the third quarter 2005. The Company is currently assessing the impact that the adoption of SFAS No. 123R will have on its consolidated results of operations. Although this assessment is ongoing, management believes the effect of adopting SFAS No. 123R will be material to the Company's consolidated results of operations.

On September 30, 2004, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position EITF No. 03-1-1, Effective Date of Paragraphs 10-20 of EITF No. 03-1, The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments, delaying the effective date of this guidance until the FASB has resolved certain implementation issues with respect to this guidance. The disclosure requirements of EITF No. 03-1 were previously adopted by the Company as of December 31, 2003 and reflected in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for that year for the Company's investments.

In January 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued FASB Interpretation No. 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an interpretation of Accounting Research Bulleting No. 51, and amended it in December 2003 ("FIN 46R). An entity is subject to the consolidation rules of FIN 46R and is referred to as a variable interest entity ("VIE") if it lacks sufficient equity to finance its activities without additional financial support from other parties or if its equity holders lack adequate decision making ability based on criteria set forth in the interpretation. FIN 46R requires an investor with a majority of the variable interests in a VIE to consolidate the entity.

FIN 46R also requires disclosures about VIEs that companies are not required to consolidate, but in which a company has a significant variable interest. On August 29, 2003, the Company funded a revolving loan agreement with Impact C.I.L., LLC ("Impact C.I.L."), a VIE. At present the Company has contributed $5.1 million to be used to purchase mortgage loans in economically disadvantaged areas. The Company is not the primary beneficiary of the VIE and participates at an 11.11% level in the entity's funding activities. Potential losses are limited to the amount invested as well as associated operating fees.

The Company's maximum commitment is for up to 11.1% ($24 million) of $216 million of participation. The mortgages purchased with these funds may be securitized.

Impact C.I.L. is a subsidiary of Impact Community Capital, LLC ("Impact"), whose charter is to provide real estate loans in economically disadvantaged areas. At present, the Company has a $2.0 million note receivable from Impact in addition to the $5.1 million investment noted above. If the mortgages purchased with these funds are not securitized, the note receivable will be liquidated in 10 years from the initial date of the agreement. The Company has voting rights and ownership of Impact in proportion to its investment (approximately 10%).

The Company does not have any other material VIEs that it needs, or will need, to consolidate or disclose.

Reclassifications
Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

51
 
21ST CENTURY INSURANCE GROUP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
DECEMBER 31, 2004
DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT WHERE NOTED
NOTE 3.  EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE ("EPS")

For each of the three years ended December 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002, the numerator for the calculation of both basic and diluted EPS is equal to net income (loss) reported for that year. The difference between basic and diluted EPS denominators is due to dilutive stock options. The denominator for the computation of basic EPS was 85,466,127 shares, 85,432,838 shares, and 85,414,076 shares for 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The denominator for diluted EPS was 85,602,567 shares, 85,637,672 shares, and 85,414,076 shares for 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

Options to purchase an aggregate of 6,156,772 shares, 5,121,446 shares, and 5,010,411 shares of common stock were considered anti-dilutive during 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively, and were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because the options' exercise prices were greater than the average market price of the common stock for each respective period. These options expire at various points in time through December 2014 (see Note 14 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements).

NOTE 4.  INVESTMENTS

A summary of net investment income follows:
 
Years Ended December 31,
  
2004
  
2003
  
2002
  
Interest on fixed maturities
  
$
57,188
  
$
45,668
  
$
45,777
  
Interest on cash equivalents
    
1,484
    
857
    
922
  
Dividends on equity securities
    
1,126
    
—
    
—
  
Investment expense
    
(967
)
  
(692
)
  
(354
)
Net investment income
  
$
58,831
  
$
45,833
  
$
46,345
  
 
A summary of net realized investment gains (losses) follows:

Years Ended December 31,
  
2004
  
2003
  
2002
  
Realized gains on sales of fixed maturity securities
  
$
11,419
  
$
13,715
  
$
13,053
  
Realized gains on equity securities
    
2,726
    
—
    
—
  
Total realized gains on sales of investments
    
14,145
    
13,715
    
13,053
  
Realized losses on sales of fixed maturity securities
    
(1,708
)
  
(382
)
  
(2,183
)
Realized losses on equity securities
    
(757
)
  
—
    
—
  
Total realized losses on sales of investments
    
(2,465
)
  
(382
)
  
(2,183
)
Realized losses on disposal of property and equipment
    
(849
)
  
(156
)
  
(479
)
Total net realized investment gains
  
$
10,831
  
$
13,177
  
$
10,391
  
 
52
 
21ST CENTURY INSURANCE GROUP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
DECEMBER 31, 2004
DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT WHERE NOTED
A summary of investments follows:
 
       
Gross
  
Gross
      
   
Amortized
  
Unrealized
  
Unrealized
  
Fair
  
   
Cost
  
Gains
  
Losses
  
Value
  
December 31, 2004
                  
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S.
                  
Government corporations and agencies
  
$
204,990
  
$
1,420
  
$
(1,345
)
$
205,065
  
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
    
292,149
    
20,057
    
(51
)
  
312,155
  
Corporate securities
    
823,453
    
7,234
    
(5,777
)
  
824,910
  
Total fixed maturity investments
    
1,320,592
    
28,711
    
(7,173
)
  
1,342,130
  
Equity securities
    
41,450
    
928
    
(293
)
  
42,085
  
Total investments
  
$
1,362,042
  
$
29,639
  
$
(7,466
)
$
1,384,215
  
December 31, 2003
                          
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S.
                          
Government corporations and agencies
  
$
192,936
  
$
2,312
  
$
(970
)
$
194,278
  
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
    
834,058
    
32,679
    
(1,392
)
  
865,345
  
Corporate securities
    
156,532
    
4,575
    
(1,054
)
  
160,053
  
Total fixed maturity investments
    
1,183,526
    
39,566
    
(3,416
)
  
1,219,676
  
Equity securities
    
—
    
—
    
—
    
—
  
Total investments
  
$
1,183,526
  
$
39,566
  
$
(3,416
)
$
1,219,676
  
 
The Company has no non-interest bearing fixed maturity investments, investments accounted for on a non-accrual basis or any individual securities in excess of 10% of stockholders' equity. Fixed maturities available-for-sale, at December 31, 2004, are summarized by contractual maturity year as follows:
 
   
Amortized
  
Fair
  
   
Cost
  
Value
  
Fixed maturities due:
          
2005
  
$
11,300
  
$
11,279
  
2006-2009
    
53,869
    
54,681
  
2010-2014
    
696,477
    
703,705
  
2015 and thereafter
    
233,322
    
248,593
  
Asset-backed securities
    
325,624
    
323,872
  
Total
  
$
1,320,592
  
$
1,342,130
  
 
Expected maturities of the Company's investments may differ from contractual maturities because certain borrowers have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
 
53
 
21ST CENTURY INSURANCE GROUP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
DECEMBER 31, 2004
DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT WHERE NOTED
 
The following table summarizes the Company's gross unrealized losses and estimated fair values on investments, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position.

   
    Less than 12 Months
 
    12 Months or More
 
    Total
  
December 31, 2004
  
Fair Value
 
Unrealized Losses
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized Losses
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized Losses
  
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S.
                         
Governmentcorporations and agencies
 
$
128,491
 
$
1,277
 
$
1,927
 
$
68
 
$
130,418
 
$
1,345
  
Obligations of states and political                                      
subdivisions
    
—
    
—
    
1,030
    
51
    
1,030
    
51
  
Corporate securities
    
412,119
    
5,249
    
10,724
    
528
    
422,843
    
5,777
  
Total fixed maturity investments
    
540,610
    
6,526
    
13,681
    
647
    
554,291
    
7,173
  
Equity securities
    
15,479
    
293
    
—
    
—
    
15,479
    
293
  
Total Investments
 
$
556,089
 
$
6,819
 
$
13,681
 
$
647
 
$
569,770
 
$
7,466
 
 
The Company held 179 investment positions with unrealized losses as of December 31, 2004. Of the 179 investment positions, 64 positions were in equity securities, which have been held for less than one year, as the Company typically holds equity securities for 90 days or less. The remaining 115 investment positions were fixed maturity securities and are all investment grade; none of the unrealized losses are considered credit related and given the length of time in an unrealized loss position do not appear to represent other-than-temporary impairment. Of the 115 fixed maturity securities in an unrealized loss position, the Company had 8 investments that were in an unrealized loss position for 12 months or more, however, the unrealized loss for such investments, which are all investment grade, comprised less than 5% of amortized cost.

Cash and securities with carrying values of $7.1 million and $6.7 million as of December 31, 2004 and 2003 were on deposit with state regulatory authorities in accordance with the related statutory insurance requirements.
 
54
 
21ST CENTURY INSURANCE GROUP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
DECEMBER 31, 2004
DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT WHERE NOTED
  
NOTE 5.  INCOME TAXES

Income tax expense (benefit) consists of:
 
Years Ended December 31,
  
2004
  
2003
  
2002
  
Current tax expense (benefit)
  
$
8,822
  
$
4,166
  
$
(8,200
)
Deferred tax expense (benefit)
    
25,246
    
13,406
    
(5,370
)
Total tax expense (benefit)
  
$
34,068
  
$
17,572
  
$
(13,570
)

A reconciliation of income tax computed at the federal statutory tax rate of 35% to total income tax expense (benefit) follows:

Years Ended December 31,
  
2004
  
2003
  
2002
  
Federal income tax expense (benefit) at statutory rate
  
$
42,803
  
$
24,902
  
$
(9,039
)
Tax-exempt income, net
    
(4,888
)
  
(8,581
)
  
(9,377
)
State and local taxes, net of federal benefit
    
(4,477
)
  
560
    
5,151
  
Dividends received deduction
    
(294
)
  
—
    
—
  
Research and experimentation tax credit
    
—
    
(374
)
  
(1,040
)
Nondeductible political contributions
    
497
    
135
    
766
  
Effect on prior years of settlement of tax dispute
    
—
    
949
    
—
  
Effect of nondeductible executive compensation
    
435
    
—
    
—
  
Other - net
    
(8
)
  
(19
)
  
(31
)
Income tax expense (benefit)
  
$
34,068
  
$
17,572
  
$
(13,570
)

In a December 21, 2000, court ruling, Ceridian Corporation v. Franchise Tax Board, a California statute that allowed a tax deduction for the dividends received from wholly-owned insurance subsidiaries was held unconstitutional on the grounds that it discriminated against out-of-state insurance holding companies. Subsequent to the court ruling, the staff of the California Franchise Tax Board ("FTB") took the position that the discriminatory sections of the statute are not severable and the entire statute is invalid. As a result, the FTB began disallowing dividend-received deductions for all insurance holding companies, regardless of domicile, for open tax years ending on or after December 1, 1997. Although the FTB made no formal assessment, the Company anticipated a retroactive disallowance that would result in additional tax assessments and recorded a provision for this contingency in a prior year. In the third quarter of 2004, California enacted AB 263, which will allow the Company to file certain amended California tax returns and claim a dividends received deduction. As a result, the Company re-estimated its liability and reduced its tax provision by approximately $4.9 million in the third quarter 2004, which reduced the effective tax rate for 2004.

Income tax payments for the year ended December 31, 2004 totaled $16.4 million. No income tax payments were required in the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002. During 2004, we received $12.5 million from the IRS to settle the majority of the prior year receivable. As of December 31, 2004, the Company's federal income tax refund receivable was $2.8 million.

55
 
21ST CENTURY INSURANCE GROUP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
DECEMBER 31, 2004
DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT WHERE NOTED
 
The Company's net deferred tax asset is comprised of:
 
December 31,
  
2004
  
2003
  
Deferred tax assets ("DTAs"):
          
Net operating loss carryforward
  
$
75,847
  
$
105,317
  
Alternative minimum tax credit
    
24,142
    
10,717
  
Unearned premiums
    
23,825
    
22,377
  
Unpaid losses and LAE
    
7,828
    
8,107
  
Research credit
    
2,423
    
2,607
  
Minimum pension liability
    
925
    
1,047
  
Other DTAs - net
    
1,778
    
14
  
Total DTAs
    
136,768
    
150,186
  
               
Deferred tax liabilities ("DTLs"):
              
EDP software development costs
    
48,871
    
40,729
  
Deferred policy acquisition costs
    
20,566
    
18,578
  
Unrealized investment gains
    
7,760
    
12,653
  
Other DTLs - net
    
3,436
    
1,615
  
Total DTLs
    
80,633
    
73,575
  
Net deferred tax asset
  
$
56,135
  
$
76,611
  
 
As of December 31, 2004, the Company had a tax net operating loss ("NOL") carryforward of $216.7 million for regular tax purposes, all of which expires on or after 2017, and an alternative minimum tax credit carryforward of $24.1 million. Alternative minimum tax credits may be carried forward indefinitely to offset future regular tax liabilities.

We are required to reduce DTAs (but not DTLs) by a valuation allowance to the extent that, based on the weight of available evidence, it is "more likely than not" (i.e., a likelihood of more than 50%) that any DTAs will not be realized. Recognition of a valuation allowance would decrease reported earnings on a dollar-for- dollar basis in the year in which any such recognition were to occur. The determination of whether a valuation allowance is appropriate requires the exercise of management judgment. In making this judgment, management is required to weigh the positive and negative evidence as to the likelihood that the DTAs will be realized.

Our core business has generated an underwriting profit for the past three years. Management believes it is reasonable to expect future underwriting profits and to conclude it is at least more likely than not that we will be able to realize the benefits of our DTAs. If necessary, we believe we could implement tax-planning strategies to generate sufficient future taxable income to utilize the NOL carryforwards prior to their expiration. Accordingly, no valuation allowance has been recognized as of December 31, 2004. However, generating future taxable income is dependent on a number of factors, including regulatory and competitive influences that may be beyond our ability to control. Future underwriting losses could possibly jeopardize our ability to utilize our NOLs. If so, management might be required to reach a different conclusion about the realization of the DTAs and recognize a valuation allowance at that time.
 
56
 
21ST CENTURY INSURANCE GROUP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
DECEMBER 31, 2004
DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT WHERE NOTED
 

NOTE 6.  DEFERRED POLICY ACQUISITION COSTS

Following is a summary of policy acquisition costs deferred for amortization against future income and the related amortization charged to income from operations (policy acquisition costs are amortized over the 6-month policy period):

Years Ended December 31,
  
2004
  
2003
  
2002
  
Deferred policy acquisition costs, beginning of year
  
$
53,079
  
$
46,190
  
$
30,631
  
Acquisition costs deferred
    
228,159
    
209,078
    
139,201
  
Acquisition costs amortized and charged to income
                    
during the year
    
(222,479
)
  
(202,189
)
  
(123,642
)
Deferred policy acquisition costs, end of year
  
$
58,759
  
$
53,079
  
$
46,190
  
 
Total advertising costs included in acquisition costs deferred during 2004, 2003 and 2002 were $66.7 million, $53.9 million, and $43.3 million, respectively.

NOTE 7.  PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

A summary of property and equipment follows:

December 31,
  
2004
  
2003
  
Furniture and equipment
  
$
38,676
  
$
37,666
  
Automobiles
    
881
    
1,505
  
Leasehold improvements
    
14,245
    
11,890
  
Software currently in service
    
87,283
    
34,136
  
Software development projects in progress
    
56,816
    
76,110
  
Subtotal
    
197,901
    
161,307
  
Less accumulated depreciation, including $25,506 and $19,057 for software currently in service
    
(68,529
)
  
(60,070
)
Total
  
$
129,372
  
$
101,237
  
 
Depreciation expense on software currently in service was $7.0 million, $4.2 million, and $9.6 million in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. In the third quarter of 2002, we recorded a pre-tax charge to write off $37.2 million of previously capitalized software costs for abandoned portions of an advanced personal lines processing system. Substantially all software development projects in progress, which primarily relate to the advanced personal lines processing system, are expected to be implemented during 2005.

NOTE 8.  UNPAID LOSSES AND LOSS ADJUSTMENT EXPENSES

Accounting for losses and LAE is highly subjective because these costs must be estimated, often weeks, months or even years in advance of when the payments are actually made to claimants, attorneys, claims personnel and others involved in the claims settlement process.

Accounting principles require insurers to record estimates for loss and LAE in the periods in which the insured events, such as automobile accidents, occur. This estimation process requires the Company to estimate both the number of accidents that have occurred (called "frequency") and the ultimate amount of loss and LAE (called "severity") related to each accident. The Company employs actuaries who are professionally trained and certified in the process of establishing estimates for frequency and severity.

57
 
21ST CENTURY INSURANCE GROUP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
DECEMBER 31, 2004
DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT WHERE NOTED
 
The methods used to determine such estimates and to establish the resulting reserves are continually reviewed and updated. Any adjustments resulting therefrom are reflected in current operating income. It is management's belief that the unpaid losses and LAE are adequate to cover unpaid losses and LAE as of December 31, 2004. While the Company performs quarterly reviews of the adequacy of established unpaid losses and LAE, there can be no assurance that ultimate amounts will not differ materially, higher or lower, from the recorded liability for unpaid losses and LAE as of December 31, 2004. In the future, if the unpaid losses and LAE develop redundancies or deficiencies, such redundancy or deficiency would have a positive or adverse impact, respectively, on future results of operations.

The following analysis provides a reconciliation of the activity in the reserve for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses:

Years Ended December 31,
  
2004
  
2003
  
2002
  
At beginning of year:
              
Reserve for losses and LAE, gross of reinsurance
  
$
438,323
  
$
384,009
  
$
349,290
  
Reinsurance recoverable
    
(8,964
)
  
(20,351
)
  
(23,512
)
Acquisition of 21st of Arizona
    
—
    
—
    
6,749
  
Reserve for losses and LAE, net of reinsurance
  
$
429,359
    
363,658
    
332,527
  
Losses and LAE incurred, net of reinsurance:
                    
Current year
    
993,946
    
911,104
    
754,299
  
Prior years
    
(105
)
  
51,207
    
72,358
  
Total
    
993,841
    
962,311
    
826,657
  
Losses and LAE paid, net of reinsurance:
                    
Current year
    
642,664
    
590,678
    
513,738
  
Prior years
    
289,639
    
305,932
    
281,788
  
Total
    
932,303
    
896,610
    
795,526
  
At end of year:
                    
Reserve for losses and LAE, net of reinsurance
    
490,897
    
429,359
    
363,658
  
Reinsurance recoverable
    
4,645
    
8,964
    
20,351
  
Reserve for losses and LAE, gross of reinsurance
  
$
495,542
  
$
438,323
  
$
384,009
  

The change in prior accident year estimates recorded in each of the past three years, net of applicable reinsurance, are summarized below:

Years ended December 31,
 
2004
  
2003
  
2002
  
Personal auto
  
$
(2,936
)
$
11,159
  
$
16,200
  
Homeowner and earthquake 1
   
2,831
    
40,048
    
56,158
  
Total
  
$
(105
)
$
51,207
  
$
72,358
  
Positive amounts represent deficiencies in loss and LAE reserves, while negative amounts represent redundancies.

The provision for losses and LAE recorded in 2003 and 2002 for insured events of prior years primarily resulted from the Company's recognition of earthquake losses under SB 1899, as discussed in Note 16 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, and from adverse development in personal auto loss severity.

_____________________
1 The Company no longer has any California homeowners policies in force. The Company ceased writing earthquake coverage in 1994, but has remaining loss reserves from the 1994 Northridge Earthquake that are subject to adverse development.

58

21ST CENTURY INSURANCE GROUP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
DECEMBER 31, 2004
DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT WHERE NOTED
 
The process of making periodic changes to unpaid losses and LAE begins with the preparation of several point estimates of unpaid losses and LAE, a review of the actual claims experience in the period, actual rate changes achieved, actual changes in coverage, mix of business, and changes in certain other factors such as weather and recent tort activity that may affect the loss ratio. Other relevant internal and external factors considered include a qualitative assessment of inflation and other economic conditions, changes in the legal, regulatory, judicial and social environments, underlying policy pricing, exposure and policy forms, claims handling, and geographic distribution shifts. The Company's actuaries prepare several point estimates of unpaid losses and LAE for each of the coverages, and use experience and judgment to arrive at an overall actuarial point estimate of the unpaid losses and LAE for that coverage. Meetings are held with appropriate departments to discuss significant issues as a result of the review. This process culminates in a reserve meeting to review the unpaid losses and LAE. The basis for carried unpaid losses and LAE is the overall actuarial point estimate.

As a result of this process, unpaid losses and LAE are finalized and periodic changes are recorded for each of our coverages. The change in unpaid losses and LAE for the period for each coverage is the difference between net ultimate losses and LAE and the net paid losses and LAE recorded through the end of the period. The overall change in our unpaid losses and LAE is based on the sum of these coverage level changes.

The following table shows unpaid losses and LAE gross and net of reinsurance:

   
2004
  
2003
  
December 31,
  
Gross
  
Net
  
Gross
  
Net
  
Unpaid Losses and LAE
                  
Personal auto lines
  
$
489,411
  
$
485,759
  
$
419,913
  
$
413,348
  
Homeowner and earthquake
    
6,131
    
5,138
    
18,410
    
16,011
  
Total
 
$
495,542
  
$
490,897
  
$
438,323
  
$
429,359
  

The $69.5 million increase in the gross auto reserves for the year ended December 31, 2004, is comprised of growth in reserves attributable to the higher number of insured automobiles of approximately $36.8 million, the effects of higher average loss costs of approximately $35.6 million and the favorable development in prior accident year reserves of approximately $2.9 million.

NOTE 9. DEBT

Debt at December 31 consisted of:

   
2004
  
2003
  
Senior Notes (5.9%; maturing in 2013)
  
$
99,884
  
$
99,871
  
Obligation under capital lease (5.7%; maturing through 2007)
    
38,406
    
49,815
  
Total debt
  
$
138,290
  
$
149,686
  

The primary purpose of both of the borrowings enumerated above was to increase the statutory surplus of the Company's largest insurance subsidiary.

In December 2003, the Company completed a private offering of $100 million principal amount of 5.9 percent Senior Notes due in December 2013 at a discount of $0.8 million. The effective interest rate on the Senior Notes, when all offering costs are taken into account and amortized over the term of the Senior Notes, is approximately 6 percent per annum. Of the $99.2 million in net proceeds from the Senior Notes, $85.0 million was used to increase the statutory surplus of 21st Century Insurance Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and the balance was retained by the holding company.

59
 
21ST CENTURY INSURANCE GROUP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
DECEMBER 31, 2004
DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT WHERE NOTED
 
The Senior Notes are redeemable at the Company's option, at any time in whole, or from time to time in part, prior to maturity at a redemption price equal to the greater of (A) 100% of the principal amount of the notes or (B) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon (exclusive of interest accrued through the date of redemption) discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate, plus 25 basis points (plus in each case, accrued interest thereon to the date of redemption).

On April 6, 2004, pursuant to a registration rights agreement executed in connection with the offering, the Company filed a registration statement with the SEC enabling holders to exchange the private offering notes for publicly registered notes. On July 8, 2004, the Company completed an exchange offer in which all of the private offering notes were exchanged for publicly registered notes having the same terms.

On December 31, 2002, the Company entered into a sale-leaseback transaction for $15.8 million of equipment and leasehold improvements and $44.2 million of software. The transaction is accounted for as a capital lease under SFAS No. 13, Accounting for Leases, as amended by SFAS No. 28, Accounting for Sales with Leasebacks. The lease includes a covenant that if AIG ceases to have a majority interest in the Company, or if statutory surplus falls below $300.0 million, or if the net premiums written to surplus ratio is greater than 3.8:1, or if claims paying ratings fall below BBB+ (as rated by Standard & Poor's), Baa1 (as rated by Moody's) or B++ (as rated by A.M. Best), the Company will either deliver a letter of credit to the lessor or pay the lessor the then outstanding balance, including a prepayment penalty of up to 3%. The lessor has been granted a security interest in the property and equipment, subject to the sale-leaseback, and also certain software in process of development. See Note 12 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the related contractual commitment schedule.

Depreciation expense for leased property under capital lease was $12.4 million for the years 2004 and 2003. There was no depreciation expense on leased property under capital lease for 2002.

NOTE 10. REINSURANCE

Effective September 1, 2002, the Company entered into an agreement to cancel future cessions under its quota share reinsurance treaty with AIG subsidiaries resulting in a pre-tax charge of $0.9 million. The treaty would have ceded 4% of premiums and losses and LAE to AIG subsidiaries in the remainder of 2002 and 2% in 2003.

The Company has a catastrophe reinsurance agreement for its auto lines with Endurance Specialty Insurance Ltd. (20%) and AIG subsidiaries Transatlantic Reinsurance Company (20%) and National Union Insurance Company of Pittsburg, PA (60%), which reinsures any covered events up to $45.0 million in excess of $20.0 million effective January 1, 2004. In 2003 and 2002, covered events were up to $30.0 million in excess of $15.0 million and the reinsurers were Folksamerica Reinsurance Company (6.7%), Endurance Specialty Insurance Ltd. (16.7%), Transatlantic Reinsurance Company (16.7%) and National Union Insurance Company of Pittsburg, PA (60%).

Effective January 1, 2004, the 90% quota share reinsurance treaty covering the Company's Personal Umbrella Policies ("PUP") was amended so that the reinsurers are as follows: Swiss RE Underwriters - 55%, Hannover Ruckversicherungs - 35%.

60
 
21ST CENTURY INSURANCE GROUP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
DECEMBER 31, 2004
DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT WHERE NOTED

The following summarizes the approximate percentage of business retained and ceded under various reinsurance programs with AIG subsidiaries and unrelated insurers. Most programs provide for ceding commissions that approximate the Company's direct policy acquisition costs and other operating expenses.

   
Contracts Incepting During
  
   
2004
 
2003
 
2002
  
Auto Policies
              
Retained
    
100
%
  
100
%
  
97
%
Ceded
    
—
    
—
    
3
%
Catastrophe cover in excess of $20 million in 2004 and
$15 million in 2003 and 2002
  
$
45,000
  
$
30,000
  
$
30,000
  
Homeowner Policies1 
                   
Retained
    
—
    
—
    
—
  
Ceded
    
—
 
  
—
 
  
100
%
PUP Policies
                    
Retained
    
10
%
  
10
%
  
10
%
Ceded
    
90
%
  
90
%
  
90
%

The effect of reinsurance on premiums written and earned is as follows:

   
2004
  
2003
  
2002
  
Years Ended December 31,
  
Written
Earned
Written
Earned
Written
Earned
Gross
  
$
1,337,198
  
$
1,318,417
  
$
1,223,484
  
$
1,177,705
  
$
998,248
  
$
971,059
  
Ceded
    
(4,814
)
  
(4,747
)
  
(4,854
)
  
(5,028
)
  
(32,949
)
  
(46,500
)
Net
  
$
1,332,384
  
$
1,313,670
  
$
1,218,630
  
$
1,172,677
  
$
965,299
  
$
924,559
  

Gross losses and loss adjustment expenses have been reduced by reinsurance ceded as follows:

Years Ended December 31,
  
2004
2003
2002
Gross losses and LAE incurred
  
$
997,612
  
$
966,512
  
$
870,402
  
Ceded losses and LAE incurred
    
(3,771
)
  
(4,201
)
  
(43,745
)
Net losses and LAE incurred
  
$
993,841
  
$
962,311
  
$
826,657
  

At December 31, 2004 and 2003, the Company's reinsurance recoverables, net of payables, from AIG subsidiaries were $1.5 million and $5.8 million, respectively. The Company ceded $1.1 million, $0.9 million, and $29.1 million in net premiums earned to AIG subsidiaries in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Losses and LAE incurred of $0.1 million, $1.6 million, and $28.4 million were ceded to AIG subsidiaries in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

NOTE 11. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

The Company has both funded and unfunded non-contributory defined benefit pension plans, which together cover essentially all employees who have completed at least one year of service. For certain key employees designated by the Board of Directors, the Company sponsors an unfunded non-qualified supplemental executive retirement plan. The supplemental plan benefits are based on years of service and compensation during the three highest of the last ten years of employment prior to retirement and are reduced by the benefit payable from the pension plan and 50% of the social security benefit. For other eligible employees, the pension benefits are based on employees' compensation during all years of service. The Company's funding policy is to make annual contributions as required by applicable regulations. In 2004, 2003, and 2002, the Company made additional contributions to fully fund the accumulated benefit obligation of its qualified plan.
____________________
1 The Company’s homeowner policies did not include any earthquake coverage.

61
 
21ST CENTURY INSURANCE GROUP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
DECEMBER 31, 2004
DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT WHERE NOTED
 
Other information regarding the Company's defined benefit pension plans follows:

Years Ended December 31,
  
2004
  
2003
  
Change in projected benefit obligation:
          
Benefit obligation at beginning of year
  
$
100,933
  
$
78,684
  
Service cost
    
6,493
    
4,607
  
Interest cost
    
6,639
    
5,627
  
Plan amendments
    
—
    
85
  
Actuarial loss
    
4,873
    
14,161
  
Benefits paid
    
(2,463
)
  
(2,230
)
Projected benefit obligation at end of year
  
$
116,475
  
$
100,934
  
Change in plan assets:
              
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year
  
$
77,099
  
$
58,276
  
Actual return on plan assets net of expenses
    
9,290
    
14,053
  
Employer contributions
    
2,659
    
7,000
  
Benefits paid
    
(2,463
)
  
(2,230
)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year
  
$
86,585
  
$
77,099
  
Reconciliation of funded status:
              
Funded status
  
$
(29,890
)
$
(23,835
)
Unrecognized net loss
    
36,267
    
36,026
  
Unrecognized prior service cost
    
678
    
788
  
Net pension asset recognized at year end
  
$
7,055
  
$
12,979
  
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet consist of:
             
Prepaid pension cost - qualified plan
  
$
16,610
  
$
19,849
  
Accrued benefit liability - non-qualified plan
    
(9,555
)
  
(6,870
)
Additional minimum liability - non-qualified plan
    
(3,285
)
  
(3,742
)
Intangible asset
    
643
    
750
  
Accumulated other comprehensive income, pre-tax
    
2,642
    
2,992
  
Net pension asset recognized at year end
  
$
7,055
  
$
12,979
  

The accumulated benefit obligation for all defined benefit pension plans was $95.3 million and $83.4 million at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, of which 90.7% and 92.0%, respectively, were vested.

Information for the unfunded supplemental executive retirement plan, which has an accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets, is as follows:

Years Ended December 31,
  
2004
  
2003
  
Projected benefit obligation
  
$
19,232
  
$
16,552
  
Accumulated benefit obligation
    
12,840
    
11,586
  
Fair value of plan assets
    
—
    
974
  

 
62
 
21ST CENTURY INSURANCE GROUP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
DECEMBER 31, 2004
DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT WHERE NOTED
 
Net periodic benefit costs for all plans were comprised of the following:

Years Ended December 31,
  
2004
  
2003
  
2002
  
Service cost
  
$
6,493
  
$
4,607
  
$
3,788
  
Interest cost
    
6,638
    
5,627
    
5,008
  
Expected return on plan assets
    
(6,441
)
  
(4,857
)
  
(4,193
)
Amortization of unrecognized transition obligation
    
—
    
—
    
181
  
Amortization of prior service cost
    
111
    
105
    
105
  
Amortization of net loss
    
2,163
    
2,012
    
1,012
  
Net periodic benefit cost
  
$
8,964
  
$
7,494
  
$
5,901
  

Additional information

The (decrease) increase in minimum liability included in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of deferred income taxes, for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003 was $(0.2) and $0.5 million, respectively.

Assumptions

December 31,
  
2004
 
2003
  
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine the benefit obligations:
          
Discount rate
    
6.00
%
  
6.10
%
Rate of compensation increase
    
4.60
%
  
4.60
%

Years Ended December 31,
  
2004
 
2003
  
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine the net cost:
          
Discount rate
    
6.10
%
  
6.75
%
Expected return on plan assets
    
8.50
%
  
8.50
%
Rate of compensation increase
    
4.60
%
  
5.60
%

December 31 is the measurement date for the plans. The discount rate can vary from year to year and is determined by developing a hypothetical bond portfolio matched to our projected benefit costs.

The overall expected long-term rate of return on assets is a weighted-average expectation for the return on plan assets. The Company considers historical performance and current benchmarks to arrive at expected long-term rates of return in each asset category. The Company assumed that 75% of its portfolio would be invested in equity securities, with the remainder invested in debt securities.

63
 
21ST CENTURY INSURANCE GROUP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
DECEMBER 31, 2004
DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT WHERE NOTED
 
Plan Assets
The Company's pension plan weighted-average asset allocations for 2004 and 2003, and target allocation for 2005, by asset category are as follows:

   
Target
Allocation
  
Percentage of Plan
Assets at December 31,
  
Asset Category
  
2005
  
2004
2003
Equity Securities
    
66-84
%
    
76
%
  
72
%
Debt Securities
    
22-28
      
21
    
19
  
Other
    
0-12
      
3
    
9
  
Total
    
 
      
100
%
  
100
%

The Company's pension plan assets are managed by outside investment managers. The Company's investment strategy is to maximize return on investments while minimizing risk. The Company believes the best way to accomplish this goal is to take a conservative approach to its investment strategy by investing in high-grade equity and debt securities.

Pension Plan Contributions
During 2004, the Company contributed $2.7 million to its pension plans. Based on current assumptions, the Company does not expect to be required to contribute to its qualified plan in 2005. However, the amount and timing of future contributions to our qualified defined benefit pension plan depends on a number of unpredictable factors including statutory funding requirements, the market performance of the plan's assets, cash requirements for benefit payments to retirees, and future changes in interest rates that affect the actuarial measurement of the plan's obligations. Contributions to our non-qualified defined benefit pension plan generally are limited to amounts needed to make benefit payments to retirees, which are expected to total approximately $1.1 million in 2005.

Estimated Future Benefit Payments
Benefit payments for the Company's defined benefit pension plans, which reflect expected future service, are expected to be paid as follows:

Years ended December 31,
  
Pension Plans
  
2005
  
$
2,666
  
2006
    
2,882
  
2007
    
3,174
  
2008
    
3,435
  
2009
    
3,795
  
2010-2014
    
29,876
  
Total
  
$
45,828
  

Defined Contribution Plans
The Company sponsors a contributory savings and security plan for eligible employees and officers. The Company provides matching contributions equal to 75% of the lesser of 6% of an employee's compensation or the amount contributed by the employee up to the maximum allowable under IRS regulations. Company matching contributions charged against operations were $4.9 million, $4.4 million, and $4.2 million in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The plan offers a variety of investment types among which employees exercise complete discretion as to choice and investment duration, including any amounts the employee elects to invest in Company common stock.
 
64
 
21ST CENTURY INSURANCE GROUP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
DECEMBER 31, 2004
DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT WHERE NOTED
 
NOTE 12. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Contractual Commitments
The Company leases office space in Woodland Hills, California. The lease for the Company's corporate office expires in February 2015 and may be renewed for two consecutive five-year periods. During the current year, the Company entered into a lease for a call center in Lewisville, Texas, which expires in 2016. The Company also leases automobiles and office equipment as well as office space in several other locations throughout California, primarily for claims services. The Company also has software license agreements with terms greater than one year. Minimum amounts due under the Company's noncancelable commitments at December 31, 2004 are as follows:

   
Operating Leases1 
Capital Lease
2005
  
$
27,248
  
$
13,962
  
2006
    
24,791
    
13,962
  
2007
    
17,982
    
13,962
  
2008
    
17,063
    
—
  
2009
    
17,003
    
—
  
Thereafter
    
90,245
    
—
  
   
$
194,332
  
$
41,886
  
Less: amount representing interest
          
3,480
  
Present value of minimum lease payments
        
$
38,406
  

Total rental expense charged to operations for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 was $24.4 million, $17.5 million, and $16.4 million, respectively.

The Company owns an 11.11% interest in Impact, an entity whose purpose is to provide real estate loans in economically disadvantaged areas. Through one of Impact's subsidiaries, Impact C.I.L., the Company has a commitment to fund up to an additional $24.0 million in loans over the next ten years.

Legal Proceedings
In the normal course of business, the Company is named as a defendant in lawsuits related to claims and insurance policy issues, both on individual policy files and by class actions seeking to attack the Company's business practices. Many suits seek unspecified extracontractual and punitive damages as well as contractual damages under the Company's insurance policies in excess of the Company's estimates of its obligations under such policies. The Company cannot estimate the amount or range of loss that could result from an unfavorable outcome on these suits and it denies liability for any such alleged damages. The Company has not established reserves for potential extracontractual or punitive damages, or for contractual damages in excess of estimates the Company believes are correct and reasonable under its insurance policies. Nevertheless, extracontractual and punitive damages, if assessed against the Company, could be material in an individual case or in the aggregate. The Company may choose to settle litigated cases for amounts in excess of its own estimate of contractual damages to avoid the expense and risk of litigation. Other than possibly for the contingencies discussed below and in Note 16 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company does not believe the ultimate outcome of these matters will be material to its results of operations, financial condition or cash flows. The Company denies liability and has not established a reserve for the matters discussed below. A range of potential losses in the event of a negative outcome is discussed where known.
___________________
1 Includes total amounts due under long-term software license agreements of approximately $15.1 million.

65
 
21ST CENTURY INSURANCE GROUP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
DECEMBER 31, 2004
DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT WHERE NOTED
 
Poss v. 21st Century Insurance Company was filed on June 13, 2003, in Los Angeles Superior Court. The Complaint requests injunctive and restitutionary relief against the Company under Business and Professions Code ("B&P") Sec. 17200 for alleged unfair business practices in violation of California Insurance Code ("CIC") Sec. 1861.02(c) relating to company rating practices. The plaintiffs are seeking injunctive relief and unspecified restitutionary relief. Based on the passage of California's Proposition 64 in November 2004, we have filed a motion to dismiss the complaint. Because this matter is in the pleading stages and no discovery has taken place, no estimate of the range of potential losses in the event of a negative outcome can be made at this time.

Cecelia Encarnacion, individually and as the Guardian Ad Litem for Nubia Cecelia Gonzalez, a Minor, Hilda Cecelia Gonzalez, a Minor, and Ramon Aguilera v. 20th Century Insurance was filed on July 3, 1997, in Los Angeles Superior Court. Plaintiffs allege bad faith, emotional distress, and estoppel involving the Company's (the Company was formerly named 20th Century Insurance) handling of a 1994 homeowner's claim. On March 1, 1994, Ramon Aguilera shot and killed Mr. Gonzalez (the minor children's father) and was later sued by Ms. Encarnacion for wrongful death. On August 30, 1996, judgment was entered against Ramon Aguilera for $5.6 million. The Company paid for Aguilera's defense costs through the civil trial; however, the homeowner's policy did not provide indemnity coverage for the shooting incident, and the Company refused to pay the judgment. After the trial, Aguilera assigned a portion of his action against the Company to Encarnacion and the minor children. Aguilera and the Encarnacion family then sued the Company alleging that the Company had promised to pay its bodily injury policy limit if Aguilera pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter. In August 2003, the trial court held a bench trial on the limited issues of promissory and equitable estoppel, and policy forfeiture. On September 26, 2003, the trial court issued a ruling that the Company cannot invoke any policy exclusions as a defense to coverage. On May 14, 2004, the court granted the Encarnacion plaintiffs' motion for summary adjudication, ordering that the Company must pay the full amount of the underlying judgment of $5.6 million, plus interest, for a total of $10.5 million. The Company disagrees with this ruling as it appears inconsistent with the court's simultaneous ruling denying the Company's motion for summary judgment on grounds that there are triable issues of material fact as to whether plaintiffs are precluded from recovering damages as a consequence of Aguilera's inequitable conduct. The Company also believes that the court's decision was not supported by the evidence in the case demonstrating that no promise to settle was ever made. The Company has appealed the judgment as to the Encarnacions. The trial as to Aguilera is set for May 2005 on his claims for bad faith, emotional distress, punitive damages and attorney fees. The Company believes it has meritorious defenses to these additional claims, but expects plaintiff's attorney fee claim alone to approach $4.0 million.

Bryan Speck, individually, and on behalf of others similarly situated v. 21st Century Insurance Company, 21st Century Casualty Company, and 21st Century Insurance Group, was filed on June 20, 2002, in Los Angeles Superior Court. Plaintiff seeks California class action certification, injunctive relief, and unspecified actual and punitive damages. The complaint contends that 21st Century uses "biased" software in determining the value of total-loss automobiles. Plaintiff alleges that database providers use improper methodology to establish comparable auto values and populate their databases with biased figures and that the Company and other carriers allegedly subscribe to the programs to unfairly reduce claims costs. This case is consolidated with similar actions against other insurers for discovery and pre-trial motions. The Company intends to vigorously defend the suit with other defendants in the coordinated proceedings. This matter is in the discovery stage of litigation and no reasonable estimate of potential losses in the event of a negative outcome can be made at this time.

66
 
21ST CENTURY INSURANCE GROUP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
DECEMBER 31, 2004
DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT WHERE NOTED

Thomas Theis, on his own behalf and on behalf of all others similarly situated v. 21st Century Insurance, was filed on June 17, 2002, in Los Angeles Superior Court. Plaintiff seeks California class action certification, injunctive relief, and unspecified actual and punitive damages. The complaint contends that after insureds receive medical treatment, the Company used a medical-review program to adjust expenses to reasonable and necessary amounts for a given geographic area. Plaintiff alleges that the adjusted amount is "predetermined" and "biased," creating an unfair pretext for reducing claims costs. This case is consolidated with similar actions against other insurers for discovery and pre-trial motions. The Company intends to vigorously defend the suit with other defendants in the coordinated proceedings. This matter is in the discovery stage of litigation and no reasonable estimate of potential losses in the event of a negative outcome can be made at this time.

NOTE 13.   CAPITAL STOCK

Effective December 4, 2003, the Company changed its state of incorporation from California to Delaware. In connection with the change, the Company's stock was assigned a par value of $0.001 per share, resulting in a reclassification of $419.2 million from common stock to additional paid-in capital. There was no impact to the Company's financial condition or results of operations as a result of the reincorporation.

The Company is authorized to issue up to 500,000 shares of preferred stock, $1 par value, and 376,126 shares of Series A convertible preferred stock, $1 par value, none of which were outstanding at December 31, 2004 or 2003.

Shares of common stock issued pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options and restricted stock grants were 53,556 in 2004, 4,000 in 2003, and 69,657 in 2002. No shares were repurchased in 2004 or 2003.

NOTE 14.   STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

2004 Stock Option Plan 
The stockholders approved the 2004 Stock Option Plan (the "2004 Plan") at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders on May 26, 2004. The 2004 Plan supersedes the 1995 Stock Option Plan, which will remain in effect only as to outstanding awards under it. The 2004 Plan authorizes a Committee of the Board of Directors to grant stock options in respect of 4,000,000 shares to eligible employees and nonemployee directors, subject to the terms of the 2004 Plan. Additionally, under the 2004 Plan, the Committee may grant stock options in respect of shares that were subject to outstanding awards under the 1995 Stock Option Plan to the extent such awards expire, are terminated, are cancelled, or are forfeited for any reason without shares being issued.

At December 31, 2004, 5,366,518 stock options remain available for future grants under the 2004 Plan. Options granted to employees generally have ten-year terms and vest over various periods, generally three years. Options granted to nonemployee directors expire one year after a nonemployee director ceases service with the Company, or ten years from the date of grant, whichever is sooner. Nonemployee director options vest over one year, provided that the nonemployee director is in the service of the Company at that time. Currently, the Company uses the intrinsic-value method to account for stock-based compensation paid to employees for their services.

67
 
21ST CENTURY INSURANCE GROUP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
DECEMBER 31, 2004
DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT WHERE NOTED
 
A summary of securities issuable and issued for the Company's stock option plans and the Restricted Shares Plan at December 31, 2004, follows:

AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS
  
1995 Stock
Option Plan
  
2004 Stock
Option Plan
  
Restricted
Shares Plan
  
Total securities authorized
    
10,000
    
4,000
    
1,422
  
Number of securities issued
    
(524
)
  
—
    
(1,053
)
Number of securities issuable upon the exercise of all outstanding options and rights
    
(7,940
)
  
(169
)
  
—
  
Number of securities forfeited
    
(1,821
)
  
—
    
—
  
Number of securities forfeited and returned to plan
    
1,821
    
—
    
156
  
Unused options assumed by 2004 Stock Option Plan
    
(1,536
)
  
1,536
    
—
  
Number of securities remaining available for future grants under each plan
    
—
    
5,367
    
525
  

A summary of the Company's stock option activity and related information follows:

       
Weighted-
   
Number of
  
Average
   
Options
  
Exercise Price
Options outstanding January 1, 2002
    
3,999,938
  
$
19.75
  
Granted in 2002
    
1,523,708
    
16.09
  
Exercised in 2002
    
(86,881
)
  
16.46
  
Forfeited in 2002
    
(294,865
)
  
18.93
  
Options outstanding December 31, 2002
    
5,141,900
  
$
18.77
  
Granted in 2003
    
1,801,556
    
12.03
  
Exercised in 2003
    
—
   
—
  
Forfeited in 2003
    
(199,538
)
  
17.07
  
Options outstanding December 31, 2003
    
6,743,918
  
$
17.05
  
Granted in 2004
    
1,799,034
    
14.23
  
Exercised in 2004
    
(49,056
)
  
13.94
  
Forfeited in 2004
    
(385,338
)
  
16.07
  
Options outstanding December 31, 2004
    
8,108,558
  
$
16.49
  
 
68
 
21ST CENTURY INSURANCE GROUP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
DECEMBER 31, 2004
DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT WHERE NOTED
 
The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at December 31, 2004:

   
Outstanding
  
Exercisable
  
Range of Exercise
   Prices
  
Number of
Options
 
 
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life
 
 
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
  
Number of
Options
  
 
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
  
$11.68-$13.00
    
1,754,164
    
8.2 Years
  
$
11.85
    
574,675
  
$
11.74
  
13.01 - 15.00
    
1,530,450
    
9.1 Years
    
14.40
    
55,733
    
14.56
  
15.01 - 17.00
    
1,635,740
    
6.9 Years
    
16.12
    
1,249,881
    
16.14
  
17.01 - 19.00
    
1,934,122
    
5.8 Years
    
18.06
    
1,934,122
    
18.06
  
19.01 - 22.00
    
447,582
    
2.3 Years
    
20.43
    
447,582
    
20.43
  
22.01 - 29.25
    
806,500
    
4.4 Years
    
25.39
    
806,500
    
25.39
  
$11.68-$29.25
    
8,108,558
    
6.8 Years
  
$
16.49
    
5,068,493
  
$
18.21
  

Options exercisable at the end of 2003 numbered 3,861,123.

The weighted average fair value for options granted during 2004, 2003 and 2002 was $5.95, $4.80, and $6.33, respectively. The fair value of each option grant was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions:

Years Ended December 31,
  
2004
2003
2002
Risk-free interest rate:
              
Minimum
    
3.43
%
  
2.65
%
  
3.75
%
Maximum
    
4.24
%
  
3.75
%
  
4.79
%
Dividend yield
    
0.56
%
  
0.67
%
  
2.49
%
Volatility factor of the expected market price of the Company's common stock:
                    
Minimum
    
0.33
    
0.38
    
0.35
  
Maximum
    
0.41
    
0.40
    
0.38
  
  Weighted-average expected life of the options
   
6 Years
    
6 Years
    
8 Years
  

Restricted Shares Plan
The Restricted Shares Plan, which was approved by the Company's stockholders, currently authorizes grants of up to 1,421,920 shares of common stock to be made available to key employees. In general, twenty percent of the number of shares granted vest on the anniversary date of each of the five years following the year of grant. Total amortization expense relating to the Restricted Shares Plan was $0.6 million, $0.4 million, and $0.5 million in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Unamortized deferred compensation in connection with outstanding restricted stock grants totaled $0.1 million, $0.7 million, and $1.0 million at the end of 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.
 
69
 
21ST CENTURY INSURANCE GROUP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
DECEMBER 31, 2004
DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT WHERE NOTED
 
A summary of activity under the Restricted Shares Plan from 2002 through 2004 follows:
   
Common
  
Market Price Per
   
Shares
  
Share on Date of Grant
Outstanding, January 1, 2002
    
103,091
        
Granted in 2002
    
—
   
—
  
Vested and distributed in 2002
    
(25,629
)
      
Canceled or forfeited
   
(17,224
)
      
Outstanding, December 31, 2002
    
60,238
        
Granted in 2003
    
4,000
  
$
14.45
  
Vested and distributed in 2003
    
(19,345
)
      
Canceled or forfeited
   
—
        
Outstanding, December 31, 2003
    
44,893
        
Granted in 2004
    
4,500
  
$
13.67
  
Vested and distributed in 2004
    
(33,137
)
      
Canceled or forfeited
   
—
        
Outstanding, December 31, 2004
    
16,256
        


NOTE 15. STATUTORY FINANCIAL DATA
Statutory surplus and statutory net income (loss) for the Company's insurance subsidiaries were as follows:

Years Ended December 31,
  
2004
  
2003
  
2002
  
Statutory surplus
  
$
614,893
  
$
535,026
  
$
397,381
  
Statutory net income (loss)
    
110,339
    
76,063
    
(39,771
)
 
The Company's insurance subsidiaries file financial statements prepared in accordance with Statutory Accounting Principles ("SAP") prescribed or permitted by domestic insurance regulatory agencies. The Company's financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP and differ from amounts reported under SAP primarily as a result of the following:

 
·
Commissions, premium taxes and other variable costs incurred in connection with writing new and renewal business are capitalized and amortized on a pro rata basis over the period in which the related premiums are earned under GAAP, rather than expensed as incurred, as required by SAP.
     
 
·
Certain assets are included in the GAAP consolidated balance sheets, but are charged directly against statutory surplus under SAP. These assets consist primarily of premium receivables that are outstanding over 90 days, federal deferred tax assets in excess of statutory limitations, furniture, equipment, application computer software, leasehold improvements and prepaid expenses.
     
 
·
Amounts related to ceded reinsurance, such as prepaid reinsurance premiums and reinsurance recoverables, are shown gross, rather than netted against unearned premium reserves and loss and loss adjustment expense reserves, respectively, as required by SAP.
     
 
·
Investments, which are classified as available-for-sale, are reported at current market values, rather than at amortized cost, or the lower of amortized cost or market, depending on the specific type of security, as required by SAP. Equity securities are reported at quoted market values, which may differ from the NAIC market values as required by SAP.

70
 
21ST CENTURY INSURANCE GROUP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
DECEMBER 31, 2004
DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT WHERE NOTED

 
·
The differing treatment of income and expense items results in a corresponding difference in federal income tax expense. Both current and deferred taxes are recognized in the income statement for GAAP, while deferred taxes are posted directly to surplus for SAP.
     
 
·
Costs for application computer software developed or obtained for internal use are capitalized and amortized over their useful life, rather then expensed as incurred, as required by SAP.

The following table reconciles consolidated GAAP net income (loss) to statutory net income (loss).

Years Ended December 31,
  
2004
  
2003
  
2002
  
Net income (loss) - GAAP basis
  
$
88,225
  
$
53,575
  
$
(12,256
)
Deferred federal income tax expense (benefit)
   
23,130
    
24,323
    
(10,816
)
Change in deferred policy acquisition costs
    
(5,680
)
  
(6,889
)
  
(19,032
)
Net loss from non-insurance entities
    
634
    
2,369
    
4,319
  
Other, net
    
4,030
    
2,685
    
(1,986
)
Net income (loss) - SAP basis
  
$
110,339
  
$
76,063
  
$
(39,771
)

The following table reconciles consolidated GAAP stockholders' equity to statutory surplus.

December 31,
  
2004
  
2003
  
Stockholders' equity - GAAP
  
$
774,401
  
$
700,690
  
Assets/gains (liabilities/losses) recognized under GAAP but not under SAP:
              
Net book value of fixed assets under sale-leaseback transaction
    
(34,834
)
  
(47,231
)
Deferred gain under sale-leaseback transaction
    
(610
)
  
(305
)
Capital lease obligation
    
38,405
    
49,814
  
Non admitted net deferred tax assets
    
(67,260
)
  
(91,935
)
Net deferred tax assets relating to items nonadmitted under SAP
    
50,712
    
53,309
  
Intercompany receivables
    
(19,917
)
  
214
  
Fixed assets
    
(25,017
)
  
(12,162
)
Deferred policy acquisition costs
    
(58,759
)
  
(53,079
)
Prepaid pension costs and intangible pension asset
    
(17,253
)
  
(19,413
)
Unrealized gains on bonds
    
(21,709
)
  
(35,690
)
Other prepaid expenses
    
(12,235
)
  
(9,612
)
Equity in non-insurance entities
    
8,082
    
1,680
  
Other, net
    
887
    
(1,254
)
Statutory Surplus
  
$
614,893
  
$
535,026
  

The Company is also regulated by the provisions of the California Insurance Holding Company System Regulatory Act (the "Holding Company Act"). Many transactions that are defined to be of an "extraordinary" nature may not be effected without the prior approval of the California Department of Insurance. In addition, there are limits on the insurance subsidiaries' dividend paying capacity. In 2005, the Company estimates that one of its insurance subsidiaries has capacity to pay approximately $109.8 million in dividends to its parent without prior approval of the California Department of Insurance.

71
 
21ST CENTURY INSURANCE GROUP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
DECEMBER 31, 2004
DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT WHERE NOTED
 
On June 15, 2004 the CDI finalized its examination reports on the statutory financial statements for the Company's California-domiciled insurance subsidiaries for the three-year period ended December 31, 2002. The reports did not contain any findings or adjustments.

NOTE 16. NORTHRIDGE EARTHQUAKE

California Senate Bill 1899 ("SB 1899"), effective from January 1, 2001, to December 31, 2001, allowed the re-opening of previously closed earthquake claims arising out of the 1994 Northridge earthquakeIn the first two quarters of 2002, we expensed $11.9 million of legal defense costs as they were paid. The Company lacked sufficient information to record a reasonable estimate of the related legal defense costs until the third quarter of 2002, at which time an additional provision of $46.9 million was recorded. The discovery stay imposed in early 2002 was lifted in the first quarter of 2003 and the Company obtained more information with which to estimate the ultimate cost of resolving its SB 1899 claims. Based on events occurring during the first quarter of 2003, the Company increased its SB 1899 reserves by $37.0 million, resulting in an after-tax charge of $24.1 million. The revised estimate at that point was based on the pace and cost of settlements reached thus far, the actual costs incurred during that quarter, and the Company's assessment of the expected length and intensity of the litigation arising out of the remaining claims. The estimate was subsequently increased by $1.0 million during the first quarter of 2004 based on the Company's reassessment of its remaining estimated litigation costs. Based upon information obtained in connection with settlement discussions and mediations conducted during the fourth quarter of 2004, the Company updated its case-by-case review of the remaining cases and reevaluated remaining litigation costs for resolving outstanding matters. As a result of this reassessment, the Company increased its reserve by $1.2 million during the fourth quarter of 2004. The Company's total reserve for SB 1899 claims as of December 31, 2004 and 2003 was approximately $4.0 million and $14.2 million, respectively.

More than ninety-eight percent of the claims submitted and litigation brought against the Company as a result of SB 1899 have been resolved. Substantially all of the Company's remaining 1994 Earthquake claims are in litigation. No class actions have been certified and the trial court has denied class action status for the two remaining cases seeking class action status. While the reserves established are the Company's current best estimate of the cost of resolving its 1994 Earthquake claims, including claims arising as a result of SB 1899, these reserves continue to be highly uncertain because of the difficulty in predicting how the remaining litigated cases will be resolved. The estimate currently recorded by the Company assumes that relatively few of the remaining cases will require a full trial to resolve, that any trial costs will approximate those encountered by the Company in the past, that most cases will be settled without need for extensive pre-trial preparation, and that the trial court's denial of class action status for those cases seeking such status will be upheld on any appeal. Current reserves contain no provisions for extracontractual or punitive damages, bad faith judgments or similar unpredictable hazards of litigation that possibly could result in the event an adverse verdict were to be sustained against the Company1. To the extent these and other underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, the ultimate amount to resolve these claims could exceed the Company's current reserves, possibly by a material amount. The Company continues to seek reasonable settlements of claims brought under SB 1899 and other Northridge earthquake related theories, but will vigorously defend itself against excessive demands and fraudulent claims. The Company may, however, settle cases in excess of its assessment of its contractual obligations in order to reduce the future cost of litigation.
_____________________
1 The Company believes that the “ex post facto” clause of the U.S. Constitution prohibits the assessment of punitive damages in cases brought under SB 1899. A California Court of Appeal has accepted the Company’s petition for a writ of mandate on this issue. A hearing is currently set for March 8, 2005.

72

21ST CENTURY INSURANCE GROUP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
DECEMBER 31, 2004
DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT WHERE NOTED
  
The Company has received some Northridge earthquake claims reported after the closing of the window established by SB 1899 which are based upon alternative legal theories. The Company is contesting these claims and has only nominal reserves for them. Should the courts determine that these claims, or additional claims brought in the future, are not barred by the applicable statute of limitations and the provisions of SB 1899, additional reserves may be needed to resolve these claims.

On October 10, 2002, a Los Angeles Superior Court granted the Company's motion for summary judgment in the matter of 21st Century Insurance Company vs. People of the State of California ex rel.Bill Lockyer, Attorney General et al. The court determined that the Company's April 21, 1999, settlement with the California Department of Insurance ("CDI") with respect to regulatory actions arising out of the 1994 Northridge Earthquake was fully valid and enforceable. The Court denied the Attorney General's motion seeking to have the settlement declared void and unenforceable, a result that may have allowed the CDI to reinstitute regulatory proceedings with respect to the Company's handling of claims arising out of the 1994 Northridge Earthquake. The CDI appealed the ruling. On October 28, 2004, the California Court of Appeal unanimously upheld the decision of the Superior Court. The CDI did not seek review by the California Supreme Court and this matter has now been finally resolved in favor of the Company.

NOTE 17. UNAUDITED QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The summarized unaudited quarterly results of operations were as follows:

Quarters Ended
  
March 31,
  
June 30,
  
September 30,
  
December 31,
  
2004
                  
Net premiums earned
  
$
318,220
  
$
327,021
  
$
333,440
  
$
334,989
  
Net investment income
    
13,146
    
14,315
    
15,118
    
16,252
  
Realized investment gains (losses)
    
7,646
    
1,337
    
(162
)
  
2,010
  
Net income
   
19,825
    
21,374
    
24,559
    
22,467
  
Earnings per share1 
  
$
0.23
  
$
0.25
  
$
0.29
  
$
0.26
  
2003
                          
Net premiums earned
  
$
271,441
  
$
287,231
  
$
303,675
  
$
310,330
  
Net investment income
    
11,637
    
11,673
    
11,350
    
11,173
  
Realized investment gains
    
4,580
    
7,700
    
836
    
61
  
Net (loss) income
    
(6,711
)
  
29,151
    
12,709
    
18,426
  
(Loss) earnings per share1
  
$
(0.08
)
$
0.34
  
$
0.15
  
$
0.22
  

Third quarter 2004 results were increased by $4.9 million due to the effect of recent California legislation relating to holding company taxes on dividends from insurance subsidiaries (see additional discussion in Note 5 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). First quarter 2003 results were impacted by adverse development related to SB 1899 reserves of $37.0 million (pre-tax). Second quarter 2003 results include nonrecurring, nonoperational income of $9.3 million (pre-tax) resulting from the settlement of litigation and interest income of $4.8 million relating to a favorable settlement with the Internal Revenue Service.

NOTE 18.   SEGMENT INFORMATION

The Company's "Personal Auto Lines" reportable segment primarily markets and underwrites personal automobile, motorcycle and umbrella insurance. The Company's "Homeowner and Earthquake Lines in Runoff" reportable segment, which is in runoff, manages the wind-down of the Company's homeowner and earthquake programs. The Company has not written any earthquake coverage since 1994 and ceased writing homeowner policies in February 2002.
__________________
1 Basic and diluted amounts are the same for all periods presented.

73
 
21ST CENTURY INSURANCE GROUP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
DECEMBER 31, 2004
DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT WHERE NOTED
  
Insurers offering homeowner insurance in California are required to participate in the California FAIR Plan ("FAIR Plan"). FAIR Plan is a state administered pool of difficult to insure homeowners. Each participating insurer is allocated a percentage of the total premiums written and losses and LAE incurred by the pool according to its share of total homeowner direct premiums written in the state. Participation in the current year FAIR Plan operations is based on the pool from two years prior. Since the Company ceased writing homeowners business in 2002, the Company will continue to receive assignments in the 2005 calendar year.

The Company evaluates segment performance based on pretax underwriting profit (loss). The Company does not allocate assets, net investment income, net realized investment gains (losses), other revenues, nonrecurring items, interest and fees expense, or income taxes to operating segments. Depreciation and amortization expense was $22.3 million in 2004, $20.2 million in 2003 and $19.3 million in 2002. The accounting policies of the reportable segments are the same as those described in Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. All revenues are generated from external customers and the Company does not rely on any major customer.

The following table presents net premiums earned, depreciation and amortization expense, and segment profit (loss) for the Company's segments for the years ended December 31.

       
Homeowner and
    
   
Personal
Earthquake
    
AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS
  
Auto Lines
Lines in Runoff
Total
2004
              
Net premiums earned
  
$
1,313,551
  
$
119
  
$
1,313,670
  
Depreciation and amortization expense
    
22,156
    
104
    
22,260
  
Segment profit (loss)
    
63,972
    
(2,714
)
  
61,258
  
                     
2003
                    
Net premiums earned
    
1,172,679
    
(2
)
  
1,172,677
  
Depreciation and amortization expense
    
19,886
    
320
    
20,206
  
Segment profit (loss)
    
41,006
    
(40,175
)
  
831
  
                     
2002
                    
Net premiums earned
    
924,559
    
—
   
924,559
  
Depreciation and amortization expense
    
18,465
    
876
    
19,341
  
Segment profit (loss)
    
13,383
    
(58,768
)
  
(45,385
)
                     
 
74

21ST CENTURY INSURANCE GROUP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
DECEMBER 31, 2004
DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT WHERE NOTED

The following table reconciles our segment profit (loss) to our consolidated income before provision for income taxes for the years ended December 31:

AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS
  
2004
  
2003
  
2002
  
Segment profit (loss)
  
$
61,258
  
$
831
  
$
(45,385
)
Net investment income
   
58,831
    
45,833
    
46,345
  
Net realized investment gains
    
10,831
    
13,177
    
10,391
  
Other revenues
    
—
    
14,777
    
—
  
Write-off of software
    
—
    
—
    
(37,177
)
Interest and fees expense
    
(8,627
)
  
(3,471
)
  
—
  
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes
  
$
122,293
  
$
71,147
  
$
(25,826
)
 
Personal Auto Lines. The growth in segment profit for the personal auto lines in 2004, 2003, and 2002 was due to an increase in the number of insured vehicles, rate increases and favorable claim frequency.

Homeowner and Earthquake Lines in Runoff. The significant segment loss for the homeowner and earthquake lines in runoff relates to adverse earthquake development stemming from the claims submitted and litigation brought against the Company as a result of SB 1899. See Notes 8 and 16 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

75
 
ITEM 9.   CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

None.

ITEM 9A.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We have established disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to the officers who certify the Company's financial reports and to other members of senior management and the Board of Directors.

Based on their evaluation of the effectiveness of 21st Century Insurance Group's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) as of December 31, 2004, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of 21st Century Insurance Group have concluded that such disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by 21st Century Insurance Group in reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms.

The Company intends to review and evaluate the design and effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures on an ongoing basis and to improve its controls and procedures over time and to correct any deficiencies that may be discovered in the future in order to ensure that senior management has timely access to all material financial and non-financial information concerning the Company's business. While the present design of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures is effective to achieve these results, future events affecting the Company's business may cause management to modify its disclosure controls and procedures.

Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on our evaluation under the framework in Internal Control - Integrated Framework, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2004.
 
Our management's evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is included herein.
 
Changes in Internal Controls
There were no changes in the Company's internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the fourth quarter that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect internal controls over financial reporting.
 
76
 
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

None.
 
PART III

ITEM 10.
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

Information related to directors, executive officers, and beneficial ownership required in Item 10 is incorporated by reference from the Company's definitive proxy statement to be filed in connection with the Company's 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders pursuant to Instruction G(3) of Form 10-K.

In the wake of well-publicized corporate scandals, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the New York Stock Exchange have issued multiple regulations that require the implementation of policies and procedures in the corporate governance area. The Company has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines and charters for its Audit Committee, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and other Committees of its Board of Directors. It has also adopted a Code of Business Conduct covering all Employees and a Code of Ethics for the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Financial Managers. Each of these documents are available on the Company's Web site, www.21st.com, and a copy will be mailed upon request from the Company's Investor Relations Department (6301 Owensmouth Avenue, Woodland Hills, California 91367, phone 818-673-3996). The Company intends to disclose any amendments to, or waivers of, the Code of Ethics on behalf of the Company's Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Controller, and persons performing similar functions on the Company's Web site, at www.21st.com under the "About Us" caption, promptly following the date of any such amendment or waiver.

ITEM 11.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Information in response to Item 11 is incorporated by reference from the Company's definitive proxy statement to be filed in connection with the Company's 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders pursuant to Instruction G(3) of Form 10-K.

ITEM 12.  SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

Information in response to Item 12 is incorporated by reference from the Company's definitive proxy statement to be filed in connection with the Company's 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders pursuant to Instruction G(3) of Form 10-K.

ITEM 13.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

Certain Information in response to Item 13 is incorporated by reference from the Company's definitive proxy statement to be filed in connection with the Company's 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders pursuant to Instruction G(3) of Form 10-K. All related party transactions, which require disclosure, are included in the Management's Discussion and Analysis or the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

ITEM 14.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

Information in response to Item 14 is incorporated by reference from the Company's definitive proxy statement to be filed in connection with the Company's 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders pursuant to Instruction G(3) of Form 10-K.

77
 
PART IV


ITEM 15.
EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

(a)
DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THIS REPORT
(1) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The following consolidated financial statements of the Company are filed as a part of this report:

   
PAGE
(i)
Report of independent registered public accounting firm
40
(iii)
Consolidated balance sheets - December 31, 2004 and 2003;
42
(iv)
Consolidated statements of operations - Years ended December 31,
 
 
2004, 2003 and 2002;
43
(v)
Consolidated statements of stockholders' equity - Years ended
  
 
December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002;
44
(vi)
Consolidated statements of cash flows - Years ended December 31,
 
 
2004, 2003 and 2002;
45
(vii)
Notes to consolidated financial statements
46


(2)
SCHEDULES
The following financial statement schedule required to be filed by Item 8 and by paragraph (d) of Item 15 of Form 10-K is submitted as a separate section of this report:

Schedule II - Condensed Financial Information of Registrant
81

Schedules I, III, IV, V and VI have been omitted as all required data is included in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

All other schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission are not required under the related instructions or are inapplicable and, therefore, have been omitted.

(b)
EXHIBITS REQUIRED
The following exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K and by paragraph (c) of Item 15 of Form 10-K are listed by number corresponding to the Exhibit Table of Item 601 of Regulation S-K and are filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K or are incorporated herein by reference:

3(i)
Certificate of Incorporation incorporated herein by reference to Appendix B from the Registrant's Information Statement on Form DEF 14C filed on November 13, 2003.
3(ii)
By-laws incorporated herein by reference to Appendix C from the Registrant's Information Statement on Form DEF 14C dated November 13, 2003.
4.1
Indenture, dated December 9, 2003, between 21st Century Insurance Group and The Bank of New York, as trustee, incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant's Form 10-K for year ended December 31, 2003.
4.2
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, dated December 9, 2003, incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant's Form 10-K for year ended December 31, 2003.
10(a)
Amendment to Registrant's Restricted Shares Plan incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant's Form 10-K for year ended December 31, 2001.
10(b)
Split Dollar Insurance Agreement between Registrant and Stanley M. Burke, as trustee of the 1983 Foster Insurance Trust incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant's Form 10-K for year ended December 31, 2001.
 
78
 
10(c)
Registrant's Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan as amended incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant's Form 10-K for year ended December 31, 2001.
10(d)
Registrant's Pension Plan, 1994 Amendment and Restatement, incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant's Form 10-K for year ended December 31, 2001.
10(e)
Investment and Strategic Alliance Agreement incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant's Form 10-K for year ended December 31, 2001.
10(f)
Amendment to the Investment and Strategic Alliance Agreement incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant's Form 10-K for year ended December 31, 2001.
10(g)
Registrant's 1995 Stock Option Plan incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant's Form S-8 dated July 26, 1995.
10(e)
Investment and Strategic Alliance Agreement incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant's Form 10-K for year ended December 31, 2001.
10(f)
Amendment to the Investment and Strategic Alliance Agreement incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant's Form 10-K for year ended December 31, 2001.
10(g)
Registrant's 1995 Stock Option Plan incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant's Form S-8 dated July 26, 1995.
10(h)
Amendment to Registrant's 1995 Stock Option Plan incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant's DEF 14A dated April 18, 1997.
10(i)
Short Term Incentive Plan.
10(j)
Amendment to Registrant's 1995 Stock Option Plan incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant's DEF 14A dated April 30, 2001.
10(k)
Registrant's Savings and Security Plan incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant's Form 10-K for year ended December 31, 2001.
10(l)
Lease Agreements for Registrant's Principal Offices substantially in the form of this Exhibit incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant's Form 10-K for year ended December 31, 2003.
10(m)
Forms of Amended and Restated Stock Option Agreements incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant's Form 10-K for year ended December 31, 2003.
10(n)
Form of Restricted Shares Agreement incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant's Form 10-K for year ended December 31, 2003.
10(o)
Retention agreement substantially in the form of this exhibit for executives Richard A. Andre, Michael J. Cassanego, G. Edward Combs and Dean E. Stark incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant's Form 10-K for year ended December 31, 2003.
10(p)
Sale and Leaseback Agreement between 21st Century Insurance Company and General Electric Capital Corporation, for itself, and as agent for Certain Participants, as amended, dated December 31, 2002 incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant's Form 10-K for year ended December 31, 2003.
10(q)
Registrant's 2004 Stock Option Plan incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant's DEF 14A dated April 21, 2004.
10(r)
Summary of Director Compensation.
10(s)
Chief Executive Officer Short Term Incentive Plan incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant's DEF 14A dated April 21, 2004.
10(t)
Retention Agreement between Lawrence P. Bascom, CFO, and 21st Century Insurance Group, dated November 29, 2004 incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant's Form 8-K dated December 1, 2004.
10(u)
License Agreement between Registrant and Century 21 Real Estate Corporation, dated November 30, 2004 incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant's Form 8-K dated December 9, 2004.
10(v)
Amendments to Lease Agreements for Registrant's Principal Offices substantially in the form of these Exhibits.
10(w)
Registrant's Supplemental Pension Plan, Restatement No. 1, effective as of January 1, 1996.
 
79
 
10(x)
Supplemental 401(k) Plan, of 21st Century Insurance Company, Amendment and Restatement dated January 1, 2001 and Amendment dated January 1, 2004.
10(y)
Settlement Agreement and Release between Registrant and G. Edward Combs dated December 8, 2004.
10(z)
Registrant's Executive Medical Reimbursement Plan.
14
Code of Ethics.
21
Subsidiaries of Registrant.
23
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
31.1
Certification of President and Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a).
31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a).
32.1
Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
80

SCHEDULE II
 
21ST CENTURY INSURANCE GROUP (PARENT COMPANY ONLY)
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT
BALANCE SHEETS
 
AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS
          
December 31,
  
2004
  
2003
  
Assets
          
Cash
  
$
1,693
  
$
24,361
  
Fixed maturity investments available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized
cost: $14,681)
    
14,510
    
—
  
Accounts receivable from subsidiaries
    
—
    
242
  
Unamortized debt issuance costs
    
1,147
    
1,274
  
Investment in unconsolidated insurance subsidiaries and affiliates, at equity
    
784,348
    
702,580
  
Property and equipment, at cost less accumulated depreciation
        of $23,769 and $19,430, including software leased to a subsidiary of $100,498
        and $84,242 (net of accumulated depreciation of $23,108 and $18,591, respectively)
    
100,525
    
84,361
  
Other assets
    
956
    
5
  
Total assets
  
$
903,179
  
$
812,823
  
Liabilities and stockholders' equity
              
Debt
 
$
117,884
  
$
99,871
  
Dividends payable
    
—
    
1,709
  
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
    
6,701
    
10,324
  
Deferred tax liabilities
    
2,387
    
229
  
Accounts payable to subsidiaries
    
1,806
    
—
  
Total liabilities
    
128,778
    
112,133
  
               
Stockholders' equity
    
774,401
    
700,690
  
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
  
$
903,179
  
$
812,823
  

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Financial Information of Registrant.
 
81

SCHEDULE II
 
21ST CENTURY INSURANCE GROUP (PARENT COMPANY ONLY)
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS
              
Years Ended December 31,
  
2004
  
2003
  
2002
  
Revenues
              
Interest and other income
  
$
663
  
$
792
  
$
1,100
  
Realized investment (losses) gains
   
(58
)
  
—
    
289
  
Total revenues
    
605
    
792
    
1,389
  
Expenses
                    
Loan interest and fees
    
6,035
    
378
    
—
 
General and administrative
    
2,428
    
3,198
    
72
  
Total expenses
    
8,463
    
3,576
    
72
  
(Loss) income before provision for income taxes
    
(7,858
)
  
(2,784
)
  
1,317
  
Provision for income taxes
   
(7,267
)
  
415
    
5,436
  
Net loss before equity in undistributed income (loss) of
        subsidiaries
    
(591
)
  
(3,199
)
  
(4,119
)
Equity in undistributed income (loss) of subsidiaries
    
88,816
    
56,774
    
(8,137
)
Net income (loss)
  
$
88,225
  
$
53,575
  
$
(12,256
)
 
See accompanying Notes to Condensed Financial Information of Registrant.

82
 
SCHEDULE II

21ST CENTURY INSURANCE GROUP (PARENT COMPANY ONLY)
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS
              
Years Ended December 31,
  
2004
  
2003
  
2002
  
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
  
$
22,133
    
(2,912
)
  
(1,276
)
Investing activities
                    
Capital contributed to subsidiaries
    
—
    
(37,917
)
  
(1,000
)
Net proceeds from investments available for sale
    
(14,768
)
  
1,000
    
23,726
 
Net (purchases) proceeds from property and equipment
    
(22,960
)
  
3,641
   
(236
)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities
    
(37,728
)
  
(33,276
)
  
22,490
  
Financing activities
                    
Proceeds from exercise of options
    
576
    
—
    
1,488
  
Proceeds from issuance of debt
    
18,000
    
99,871
    
—
  
Payment of debt issuance costs
   
—
    
(650
)
  
—
  
Advance from subsidiary
    
—
    
9,300
    
—
  
Repayment of advance from subsidiary
    
(17,103
)
  
(47,083
)
  
(2,688
)
Dividends paid
    
(8,546
)
  
(6,835
)
  
(22,210
)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
    
(7,073
)
  
54,603
    
(23,410
)
Net (decrease) increase in cash
    
(22,668
)
  
18,415
    
(2,196
)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
    
24,361
    
5,946
    
8,142
  
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year
  
$
1,693
  
$
24,361
  
$
5,946
  
 
See accompanying Notes to Condensed Financial Information of Registrant.

83

SCHEDULE II
 
21ST CENTURY INSURANCE GROUP (PARENT COMPANY ONLY)
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT
DECEMBER 31, 2004
 
NOTE A.   BASIS OF PRESENTATION

21st Century Insurance Group's (the "Registrant") investment in subsidiaries is stated at cost plus equity in undistributed income (loss) of subsidiaries. The accompanying condensed financial statements of the Registrant should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto of 21st Century Insurance Group and subsidiaries included in the Registrant's 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

NOTE B.   DEBT

Debt at December 31 consisted of:

Amounts in Thousands
  
2004
  
2003
  
Senior Notes (5.9%; maturing in 2013)
  
$
99,884
  
$
99,871
 
Intercompany term loan payable (4.06%; maturing in 2007)
    
18,000
    
—
  
Total debt
  
$
117,884
  
$
99,871
  
 
The senior notes represent amounts the Registrant has borrowed and contributed to the capital of its insurance subsidiaries or borrowed for other long-term purposes. The entire principal amount is due at maturity.

In December 2004, the Registrant made an initial $18.0 million draw on the intercompany term loan line that was structured in October 2004. Under the term loan agreement, the Registrant's subsidiary (21st Century Insurance Company) will make funds available to the Registrant, which can draw up to $40.0 million under the line. Proceeds from the loan will be used to provide working capital for projects to modify, update and improve information technology for use by the Registrant and its affiliates.

The term of the line is twelve months with automatic renewal, while the note's term is three years. The effective interest rate on the note is the three-year Applicable Federal Rate ("AFR") at the time of a draw, plus a margin of 1.58%. The AFR is the minimum interest rate under tax law that avoids the IRS below-market interest loan rules. At the date the $18.0 million draw was taken, the AFR was 2.48%. Interest is accrued and payable at the end of the term of the note.

The Registrant has also guaranteed the obligation under capital lease of 21st Century Insurance Company.

84
 
SIGNATURES OF OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15 (d) 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.

Date: February 16, 2005
21ST CENTURY INSURANCE GROUP
 
(Registrant)
 
By: /s/ Bruce W. Marlow
 
Bruce W. Marlow
 
President and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated on the 16th of February 2005.

Signature
  
Title
     
/s/ Bruce W. Marlow
    
Bruce W. Marlow
  
President and Chief Executive Officer and Director
   
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Lawrence P. Bascom
    
Lawrence P. Bascom
  
Sr. Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
   
(Principal Financial Officer)
/s/ Robert M. Sandler
    
Robert M. Sandler
  
Chairman of the Board
     
/s/ John B. De Nault, III
    
John B. De Nault, III
  
Director
     
/s/ Carlene M. Ellis
    
Carlene M. Ellis
  
Director
     
/s/ R. Scott Foster, M.D.
    
R. Scott Foster, M.D.
  
Director
     
/s/ Roxani M. Gillespie
    
Roxani M. Gillespie
  
Director
     
/s/ Jeffrey L. Hayman
    
Jeffrey L. Hayman
  
Director
     
/s/ Phillip L. Isenberg
    
Phillip L. Isenberg
  
Director
     
/s/ James P. Miscoll
    
James P. Miscoll
  
Director
     
/s/ Keith W.Renken
    
Keith W. Renken
  
Director
     
/s/ Howard I. Smith
    
Howard I. Smith
  
Director


85