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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-K

 


 

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2004   Commission File Number 0-11773

 


 

ALFA CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware   63-0838024

(State or other jurisdiction

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S Employer

Identification No.)

2108 East South Boulevard

P.O. Box 11000, Montgomery, Alabama

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

 

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

 


 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 (b) of the Act: None

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 (g) of the Act: Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share

 


 

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

 

Indicate by check mark 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.  ¨

 

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

 

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by nonaffiliates of the Registrant as of June 30, 2004, was $502,584,161.

 

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

 

Class


 

Outstanding February 28, 2005


Common Stock, $1.00 par value   80,160,602 shares

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

  1. Portions of the Registrant’s Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 (the “Annual Report”) are incorporated by reference into Parts I, II, and III of this Form 10-K Report.

 

  2. Portions of the Registrant’s Proxy Statement relating to the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held April 28, 2005 are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K Report.

 



Part I

 

Item 1. Business.

 

Description of the Corporation. Alfa Corporation is a financial services holding company that offers property and casualty insurance, life insurance and financial services products through its wholly-owned subsidiaries Alfa Life Insurance Corporation (Life), Alfa Insurance Corporation (AIC), Alfa General Insurance Corporation (AGIC), Alfa Vision Insurance Corporation (AVIC), Alfa Agency Mississippi, Inc. and Alfa Agency Georgia, Inc. Other wholly-owned noninsurance subsidiaries include Alfa Financial Corporation (Financial) and Alfa Benefits Corporation (ABC), which are engaged in consumer financing, commercial leasing, and benefit services for the Alfa Group.

 

Alfa Corporation is affiliated with Alfa Mutual Insurance Company, Alfa Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and Alfa Mutual General Insurance Company (collectively, the Mutual Group). The Mutual Group owns 55.3% of Alfa Corporation’s common stock, their largest single investment. Alfa Corporation and its subsidiaries (the Company) together with the Mutual Group comprise the Alfa Group (Alfa). Alfa Virginia Mutual Insurance Company (Virginia Mutual) currently cedes 80% of its direct business to Alfa Mutual Fire Insurance Company (Fire) under an affiliate agreement signed in August 2001.

 

The Company’s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market’s National Market under the symbol ALFA.

 

Recent Developments. During 2003, MidCountry Financial Corporation (MidCountry), one of Financial’s investments, pursued the opportunity to purchase Bayside Financial Corp. In order for this purchase to take place, approval had to be secured from the Office of Thrift Supervision. Consequently, due to ownership levels, this transaction qualified Financial and the Company as unitary thrift holding companies. As a condition of approval, the Company agreed to sell its residential and commercial construction subsidiary and its real estate sales subsidiary. These sales took place during the first quarter of 2004 as Alfa Properties, Inc., the real estate subsidiary of Alfa Mutual Insurance Company (Mutual), purchased Alfa Builders, Inc. and Alfa Realty, Inc. for approximately $5.5 million and $2.6 million, respectively. These sales prices represented the fair value of each entity according to independent valuations. No gain or loss was recorded on these transactions. The consolidated financial statements and notes to consolidated financial statements on pages 16 through 46 of Exhibit 13, representing pages 32 through 62 of the Company’s annual report to stockholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, is hereby incorporated by reference, and includes the results of these subsidiaries for the first two months of 2004 as well as the years 2003 and 2002.

 

On April 24, 2003, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a written consent to dissolve Alfa Investment Corporation. The Company was the only stockholder of this entity which was consolidated in its financial statements. Alfa Investment Corporation had served as the parent of Alfa Builders, Inc. which continued to operate as the Company’s wholly-owned construction subsidiary until it was sold in February 2004.

 

During the third quarter of 2004, the Company signed a definitive agreement to acquire The Vision Insurance Group, LLC (Vision). Vision is a managing general agent writing new business in nine states. On January 3, 2005, the Company completed its acquisition of all of the limited liability company interests of Vision. Prior to the execution of the purchase agreement, no material relationship existed between the Company and the sellers. The Company purchased Vision for $20 million in cash and stock with an additional purchase consideration of up to $14 million based on future performance.

 

During the third quarter of 2004, the Company formed a new insurance subsidiary, Alfa Vision Insurance Corporation (AVIC), through which Vision will write its nonstandard automobile business. Vision currently operates in Texas, Missouri, Indiana, Ohio, Virginia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Florida. AVIC will participate in the Pooling Agreement with other companies currently participating in that arrangement effective January 1, 2005. AVIC will cede 100% of its direct business to the intercompany pool and receive in return 5% of the business included in the Alfa Group intercompany pool. AIC and AGIC, both wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company, reduced their respective pooling participations from the current 32.5% to 30.0% to allow for the Vision addition.

 

During the fourth quarter of 2004, the Company committed to a plan to sell the OFC Capital commercial leasing division of Financial. The Company expects to sell this operation during the second quarter 2005 and has reported them as held-for-sale under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 144 Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets. At December 31, 2004, assets classified as held for sale consisted primarily of commercial leases.

 

During the fourth quarter of 2004, the Company purchased 2.4 million shares of MidCountry equity securities for $36.1 million maintaining its ownership interest of approximately 44%. The Company accounts for the investment under the equity method.

 

I-1


Effective January 1, 2005, the property and casualty insurance Pooling Agreement was amended and restated to add AVIC to participate in the Pooling Agreement with other companies in the Alfa Group. In addition, Fire will retrocede the quota share business it receives from Virginia Mutual to the same intercompany pool.

 

Nature of Operations. Alfa Corporation’s insurance subsidiaries write life insurance in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi and property and casualty insurance in Georgia and Mississippi. Its property and casualty business is pooled with that of the Alfa Mutual Insurance Companies which write property and casualty business in Alabama. Approximately 78.2% of the Company’s property and casualty premium income and 68.3% of its total premium income for 2004 was derived from the Company’s participation with the Mutual Group in a Pooling Agreement.

 

Effective August 1, 1987, the Company entered into a property and casualty insurance Pooling Agreement (the “Pooling Agreement”) with Mutual, and other members of the Mutual Group. On January 1, 2002, Fire and Alfa Specialty Insurance Corporation (Specialty), a subsidiary of Mutual, became participants in the Pooling Agreement. On January 1, 2005, AVIC, a subsidiary of the Company, and the quota share business that Fire receives from Virginia Mutual became participants in the Pooling Agreement.

 

The Mutual Group is a direct writer primarily of personal lines of property and casualty insurance in Alabama. The Company’s subsidiaries similarly are direct writers in Georgia and Mississippi. Both the Mutual Group and the Company write preferred risk automobile, homeowner, farmowner and manufactured home insurance, fire and allied lines, standard risk automobile and homeowner insurance, and a limited amount of commercial insurance, including church and businessowner insurance. Specialty and AVIC are direct writers of nonstandard risk automobile insurance. Under the terms of the Pooling Agreement, the Company cedes to Mutual all of its property and casualty business. Substantially all of the Mutual Group’s direct property and casualty business (together with the property and casualty business ceded by the Company) is included in the pool. Mutual currently retrocedes 65% of the pool to the Company and retains 35% within the Mutual Group including Specialty.

 

On October 1, 1996, the Pooling Agreement was amended in conjunction with the restructuring of the Alfa Insurance Group’s catastrophe protection program. Effective November 1, 1996, the allocation of catastrophe costs among the members of the pool was changed to better reflect the economics of catastrophe finance. The amendment limited Alfa Corporation’s participation in any single catastrophic event or series of disasters to its pool share (65%) of a lower catastrophe pool limit unless the loss exceeded an upper catastrophe pool limit. In cases where the upper catastrophe limit is exceeded on a 100% basis, the Company’s share in the loss would be based upon its amount of surplus relative to other members of the group. Lower and upper catastrophe pool limits are adjusted periodically due to increases in insured property risks. The limits and participation levels since inception of the program are summarized below:

 

     Lower
Catastrophe
Pool Limit
(millions)


   Upper
Catastrophe
Pool Limit
(millions)


   Estimated
Coinsurance Allocation
of Catastrophes
Exceeding Upper
Catastrophe Pool Limit


 

November 1, 1996

   $ 10.0    $ 249.0    13 %

July 1, 1999

     11.0      284.0    13 %

January 1, 2001

     11.4      284.0    14 %

January 1, 2002

     11.6      289.0    16 %

January 1, 2003

     12.1      301.5    18 %

January 1, 2004

     14.2      352.0    18 %

January 1, 2005

     17.9      443.7    19 %

 

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

 

I-2


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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

I-3


Segment profit or loss for the property and casualty operating segment is measured by underwriting profits and losses as well as by total net profit. Segment profit or loss for the life insurance segment, the noninsurance segment and the corporate segment is measured by total net profit. Segment expenses are borne by the segment which directly incurred such expense or are allocated based on the Management and Operating Agreement (See Note 3 – Related Party Transactions in the consolidated notes to the financial statements of the Company’s annual report to stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2004, as included in Exhibit 13). Presented below is summarized financial information for the Company’s four business segments as of and for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002:

 

     Years Ended December 31,

 
     2004

    2003

    2002

 
     (in thousands, except share and per share data)  
Premiums and other revenues                         

Property and casualty insurance

   $ 521,280     $ 486,470     $ 461,181  

Life insurance

     132,466       119,491       113,919  

Noninsurance operations

     9,018       14,674       15,052  

Corporate

     (1,735 )     (1,097 )     (1,103 )
    


 


 


Premiums and revenues before eliminations

   $ 661,029     $ 619,538     $ 589,049  

Eliminations

     (661 )     (602 )     (705 )
    


 


 


Total premiums and other revenues

   $ 660,368     $ 618,936     $ 588,344  
    


 


 


Net income                         

Insurance operations

                        

Property and casualty insurance

   $ 68,750     $ 53,116     $ 48,414  

Life insurance

     18,763       19,058       18,384  
    


 


 


Total insurance operations

   $ 87,513     $ 72,174     $ 66,798  

Noninsurance operations

     2,087       4,027       4,635  

Net realized investment gains

     4,582       4,071       3,354  

Corporate expenses

     (4,737 )     (1,803 )     (3,079 )
    


 


 


Net income

   $ 89,445     $ 78,469     $ 71,708  
    


 


 


Net income per share

                        

Basic

   $ 1.12     $ 0.98     $ 0.91  
    


 


 


Diluted

   $ 1.11     $ 0.98     $ 0.90  
    


 


 


Weighted average shares outstanding

                        

Basic

     79,984,651       79,808,669       78,804,265  
    


 


 


Diluted

     80,489,502       80,390,001       79,546,788  
    


 


 


 

I-4


Property and Casualty Insurance:

 

The Alfa Insurance Group’s primary business is personal lines property and casualty insurance, which accounts for over 79% of total premiums and approximately 72% of total revenues. Automobile and homeowners insurance account for approximately 86% of property and casualty premiums. In Alabama, the Alfa Insurance Group enjoys approximately a 20% share of the personal automobile and homeowners markets, second only to State Farm. The Company is a direct writer and distributes its products utilizing an independent exclusive agent sales force. The following table shows the Company’s pooled share of premium distribution by product for property and casualty insurance for 2004:

 

Automobile

   62.0 %

Homeowner

   23.6 %

Farmowner

   5.0 %

Commercial

   4.5 %

Manufactured Home

   3.0 %

Other

   1.9 %
    

     100.0 %
    

 

The following table sets forth the components of property and casualty insurance earned premiums, net underwriting income, GAAP basis loss, expense and combined ratios, underwriting margin, net investment income and operating income for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002:

 

     Years Ended December 31,

 
     2004

    2003

    2002

 
     (in thousands)  

Earned premiums

                        

Personal lines

   $ 473,931     $ 441,668     $ 411,014  

Commercial lines

     16,135       15,325       14,332  

Pools, associations and fees

     4,771       4,732       4,596  

Reinsurance ceded

     (4,705 )     (2,668 )     (1,842 )
    


 


 


Total

   $ 490,132     $ 459,057     $ 428,100  
    


 


 


Net underwriting income

   $ 54,971     $ 40,233     $ 32,612  
    


 


 


Loss ratio

     60.7 %     61.7 %     62.9 %

LAE ratio

     4.2 %     3.9 %     4.3 %

Expense ratio

     23.9 %     25.6 %     25.2 %
    


 


 


GAAP basis combined ratio

     88.8 %     91.2 %     92.4 %
    


 


 


Underwriting margin

     11.2 %     8.8 %     7.6 %
    


 


 


Net investment income

   $ 34,746     $ 28,503     $ 30,434  
    


 


 


Operating income before tax

   $ 90,892     $ 69,656     $ 64,232  
    


 


 


Operating income, net of tax

   $ 68,750     $ 53,116     $ 48,414  
    


 


 


 

A discussion of the Company’s property and casualty insurance operating results shown above is included on pages 2 and 3 of Exhibit 13, representing pages 18 and 19 of the Company’s annual report to stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2004.

 

I-5


The Company’s strategy in property and casualty business has been to operate primarily in its niche, personal lines insurance, and to strive to be the low-cost producer, thereby marketing and underwriting to achieve a preferred, profitable book of business. The Company’s objective is to operate with an underwriting profit. Historically, this objective has been met except for five separate years, each of which was primarily impacted by catastrophic weather. In the wake of Hurricanes Opal and Erin, Alfa initiated intense studies of its catastrophe management strategy. Effective November 1, 1996, Alfa restructured the catastrophe program and amended the intercompany pooling agreement to allocate catastrophe losses among the members of the pool in a fashion that more equitably reflects the realities of catastrophe finance. As a result, Alfa Corporation’s share of the Alfa Group’s storm-related losses has been substantially reduced, thus providing much greater earnings stability and growth potential. The lower exposure also means a substantial reduction in reinsurance costs. Alfa Group pooled catastrophe losses for 2004, 2003 and 2002 totaled approximately $347 million, $69 million and $42 million, respectively. The Company’s share of such losses totaled $9.3 million, $7.9 million and $7.5 million in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

 

There are inherent uncertainties in reserving for unpaid losses. Management’s philosophy has been to establish reserves at a high level of confidence. Consequently, actual results have not generally reached the level of reserves established. The Company experienced no materially significant large losses or gains in its loss payments during 2002, 2003 or 2004 which led to changes in estimates.

 

The Company’s business is concentrated geographically in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi. Accordingly, unusually severe storms or other disasters in these contiguous states might have a more significant effect on the Company than on a more geographically diversified insurance company. Unusually severe storms, other natural disasters and other events could have an adverse impact on the Company’s financial condition and operating results. However, the Company believes that its current catastrophe protection program, which began November 1, 1996, reduces the earnings volatility caused by such catastrophe exposures.

 

Life Insurance:

 

Life directly writes individual life insurance policies consisting primarily of ordinary whole life, term life, interest sensitive whole life and universal life products in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi and distributes these products utilizing an employee/agent and independent exclusive agent sales force. In the highly fragmented life insurance market in Alabama, Alfa ranks among the leaders in market share.

 

Life offers several different types of whole life and term insurance products. As of December 31, 2004, Life had in excess of $19.7 billion of life insurance inforce. As of December 31, for each year indicated, the Company had insurance inforce as follows:

 

     2004

   2003

   2002

     (in thousands)

Ordinary life

   $ 19,719,825    $ 18,206,689    $ 16,681,050

Credit life

   $ 12,526    $ 10,554    $ 9,591

Group life

   $ 47,152    $ 45,505    $ 45,777

 

I-6


The following table sets forth life insurance premiums and policy charges, by type of policy, net investment income, benefits and expenses and life insurance operating income for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002:

 

     Years Ended December 31,

     2004

   2003

   2002

     (in thousands)

Premiums and Policy Charges

                    

Universal life policy charges

   $ 19,863    $ 18,823    $ 17,680

Universal life policy charges- COLI

     3,473      3,245      3,168

Interest sensitive life policy charges

     10,754      10,475      10,697

Traditional life insurance premiums

     36,642      33,087      30,748

Group life insurance premiums

     492      542      712
    

  

  

Total

   $ 71,224    $ 66,172    $ 63,005
    

  

  

Net investment income

   $ 49,129    $ 44,735    $ 47,290
    

  

  

Benefits and expenses

   $ 86,864    $ 76,368    $ 75,524
    

  

  

Operating income before tax

   $ 25,465    $ 25,751    $ 26,210
    

  

  

Operating income, net of tax

   $ 18,763    $ 19,058    $ 18,384
    

  

  

 

A discussion of the Company’s life insurance operating results shown above is included on pages 3 and 4 of Exhibit 13, representing pages 19 and 20 of the Company’s annual report to stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2004.

 

While the amount retained on an individual life will vary depending upon age and mortality prospects of the risk, Life generally will not retain more than $500,000 of individual life insurance on a single risk with the exception of company-owned life insurance (COLI) and group policies where the retention is limited to $100,000 per individual. These retention limits are set for the purpose of limiting the liability of Life with respect to any one risk and providing greater diversification of its exposure. When Life reinsures a portion of its risk it must cede the premium income to the reinsurer who reinsures the risk, thereby decreasing the income of Life.

 

Life performs various underwriting procedures and blood testing for AIDS and other diseases before issuance of insurance.

 

Investments:

 

The Company’s income is directly affected by its investment income and realized gains and losses from its investment portfolio. The capital and reserves of the Company are invested in assets comprising its investment portfolio. The insurance laws prescribe the nature and quality of investments that may be made and included in its investment portfolio. Such investments include qualified state, municipal and federal obligations, high quality corporate bonds and stocks, mortgage-backed securities, mortgages, consumer loans, commercial leases and certain other assets.

 

The Company’s investment philosophy is long-term and value oriented with focus on total return for both yield and growth potential. During the past ten years, invested assets have grown from approximately $718 million to over $1.8 billion at the end of 2004, a compound annual growth rate of 10%. During that same period investment income has almost doubled, growing from $45.6 million to over $89.3 million. At year end, the value of unrealized gains in Alfa’s portfolio was $39.4 million, net of tax. The portfolio was invested 73.0% in fixed income securities, 5.4% in equities, 4.4% in short-term investments and 17.2% in other investments which include consumer loans, commercial leases, partnerships and an interest in equity method investments.

 

I-7


The rating of the Company’s portfolio of fixed maturities using the Standard & Poor’s rating categories is as follows at December 31, 2004 and 2003:

 

     December 31,

 
     2004

    2003

 

AAA to A-

   92.8 %   90.9 %

BBB+ to BBB-

   6.8 %   8.4 %

BB+ and below (below investment grade)

   0.4 %   0.7 %
    

 

     100.0 %   100.0 %
    

 

 

A discussion of the Company’s investments is included on pages 5 though 7 of Exhibit 13, representing pages 21 through 23 of the Company’s annual report to stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2004.

 

Reserves:

 

The Company’s property and casualty insurance subsidiaries are required to maintain reserves to cover their estimated ultimate liability for losses and loss adjustment expenses with respect to reported and unreported claims incurred. The Company’s life insurance subsidiary is required to maintain reserves for future policy benefits. To the extent that reserves prove to be inadequate or excessive in the future, the Company would have to modify such reserves and incur a charge or credit to earnings in the period such reserves are modified which could have a material effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition. Establishing appropriate reserves is an inherently uncertain process and there can be no assurance that ultimate losses will not materially differ from the Company’s established loss reserves. Reserves are estimates involving actuarial and statistical projections at a given time of what the Company expects to be the cost of the ultimate settlement and administration of claims based on facts and circumstances then known, estimates of future trends in claims severity and other variable factors.

 

Property and Casualty Reserves. With respect to reported claims, reserves are established on a case-by-case basis. The reserve amounts on each reported claim are determined by taking into account the circumstances surrounding each claim and policy provision relating to the type of loss. Loss reserves are reviewed on a regular basis and, as new data becomes available, appropriate adjustments are made to reserves.

 

For incurred but not reported (“IBNR”) losses, a variety of methods have been developed in the insurance industry for determining estimates of loss reserves. One common method of actuarial evaluation, which is used by the Company, is the loss development method. This method uses the pattern by which losses have been reported over time and assumes that each accident year’s experience will develop in the same pattern as the historical loss development.

 

Reserves are computed by the Company based upon actuarial principles and procedures applicable to the lines of business written by the Company. These reserve calculations are reviewed regularly by management and as required by state law, the Company periodically engages an independent actuary to render an opinion as to the adequacy of reserves established by management, whose opinions are filed with the various jurisdictions in which the Company is licensed. Based upon practice and procedures employed by the Company, without regard to independent actuarial opinions, management believes that the Company’s reserves are adequate.

 

Life Reserves. The life insurance policy reserves reflected in the Company’s financial statements as future policy benefits are calculated based on accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These reserves, with the addition of premiums to be received and the interest thereon compounded annually at assumed rates, must be sufficient to cover policy and contract obligations as they mature. Generally, the mortality and persistency assumptions used in the calculation of reserves are based on company experience. A list of the assumptions used in the calculation of Life’s reserves are reported in the financial statements (See Note 6 -Policy Liabilities and Accruals in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company’s annual report to stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2004, as included in Exhibit 13).

 

I-8


Activity in the liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses, prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, is summarized as follows:

 

     2004

    2003

    2002

 
    

Property and

Casualty


    Life

   

Property and

Casualty


    Life

   

Property and

Casualty


    Life

 

Balance at January 1,

   $ 144,723,003     $ 4,567,589     $ 140,019,766     $ 4,372,433     $ 132,745,502     $ 4,561,276  

Less reinsurance recoverables on unpaid losses

     (5,133,250 )     (543,978 )     (2,648,790 )     (690,672 )     (2,199,925 )     (954,204 )
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net balance at January 1,

     139,589,753       4,023,611       137,370,976       3,681,761       130,545,577       3,607,072  
    


 


 


 


 


 


Incurred related to:

                                                

Current year

     325,446,874       27,089,443       312,309,956       24,427,420       294,232,846       18,915,015  

Prior years

     (7,280,159 )     28,369       (10,761,807 )     115,329       (6,530,751 )     345,553  
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total incurred

     318,166,715       27,117,812       301,548,149       24,542,749       287,702,095       19,260,568  
    


 


 


 


 


 


Paid related to:

                                                

Current year

     232,589,448       24,905,841       229,234,630       22,327,532       213,935,128       17,239,062  

Prior years

     74,310,336       1,958,927       70,094,742       1,873,367       66,941,568       1,946,817  
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total paid

     306,899,784       26,864,768       299,329,372       24,200,899       280,876,696       19,185,879  
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net balance at December 31,

     150,856,684       4,276,655       139,589,753       4,023,611       137,370,976       3,681,761  

Plus reinsurance recoverables on unpaid losses

     3,251,046       1,677,427       5,133,250       543,978       2,648,790       690,672  
    


 


 


 


 


 


Balance at December 31,

   $ 154,107,730     $ 5,954,082     $ 144,723,003     $ 4,567,589     $ 140,019,766     $ 4,372,433  
    


 


 


 


 


 


 

The liability for estimated unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses is based on a detail evaluation of reported losses and of estimates of incurred but not reported losses. Adjustments to the liability based on subsequent developments are included in current operations. The Company is primarily an insurer of private passenger motor vehicles and of single family homes and has limited exposure for difficult-to-estimate claims such as environmental, product and general liability claims. The Company does not believe that any such claims will have a material impact on the Company’s liquidity, results of operations, cash flows or financial condition.

 

Other Business:

 

The Company operates four other subsidiaries which are not considered to be significant by SEC Regulations for purposes of separate disclosure. These subsidiaries are Alfa Financial Corporation (Financial), a lending and leasing institution, Alfa Agency Georgia, Inc., Alfa Agency Mississippi, Inc. and Alfa Benefits Corporation, a provider of benefit services for the Alfa Group.

 

Financial is an institution engaged principally in making consumer loans and originating commercial leases. Loans are available through substantially all agency offices of the Company. These loans and leases are collateralized by automobiles and other property. The Company considers an account to be delinquent if it is thirty or more days late in its scheduled payments. At December 31, 2004, the delinquency ratio of the loan portfolio was 1.48%, or $1.6 million. Loans charged off in 2004 totaled $432,099 or 0.4% of the average outstanding loan portfolio. At December 31, 2004, the Company maintained an allowance for loan losses of $1,244,280 or approximately 1.1% of the outstanding loan balance. At December 31, 2004, the delinquency ratio of the lease portfolio was 10.67%, or $9.7 million. Leases charged off in 2004 were $8,303,396 or 7.8% of the average outstanding lease portfolio. At December 31, 2004, the Company maintained an allowance for lease losses of $9,727,546 or approximately 10.7% of the outstanding lease balance.

 

I-9


Alfa Agency Georgia, Inc. and Alfa Agency Mississippi, Inc. place substandard insurance risks with third party insurers for a commission.

 

Alfa Benefits Corporation serves as a record keeper by handling employee benefits for the Alfa Group.

 

Relationship with Mutual Group:

 

The Company’s business and operations are substantially integrated with and dependent upon the management, personnel and facilities of Mutual. Under a Management and Operating Agreement with Mutual, all management personnel are provided by Mutual and the Company reimburses Mutual for field office expenses and operations services rendered by Mutual in the areas of advertising, sales administration, underwriting, legal, sales, claims, management, accounting, securities and investment and other services rendered by Mutual to the Company.

 

Mutual periodically conducts time usage and related expense allocation studies. Mutual charges the Company for its allocable and directly attributable salaries and other expenses, including office facilities in Montgomery, Alabama.

 

The Board of Directors of the Company consisted at year end of eleven members, six of whom serve on the Executive Committee of the Boards of the Mutual Group and two of whom are Executive Officers of the Company.

 

At December 31, 2004, Mutual owned 34,296,747 shares, or 43.0%, Fire owned 9,187,970 shares, or 11.5%, and Alfa Mutual General Insurance Company owned 631,165 shares, or 0.8%, of the Company’s outstanding common stock.

 

Competition:

 

Both the life and property and casualty insurance businesses are highly competitive. There are numerous insurance companies in the Company’s area of operation and throughout the United States. Many of the companies which are in direct competition with the Company have been in business for a much longer period of time, have a larger volume of business, offer a more diversified line of insurance coverage, and have greater financial resources than the Company. In its life and property and casualty insurance businesses, the Company competes with other insurers in the sale of insurance products to consumers and the recruitment and retention of qualified agents. The Company believes that the main competitive factors in its business are price, name recognition and service. The Company believes that it competes effectively in these areas in Alabama. In Georgia and Mississippi, however, the Company’s name is not as well recognized, but such recognition is improving.

 

Financial Ratings:

 

The Company’s property and casualty subsidiaries have the highest A.M. Best rating of A++ and life has an A+ rating. The Company’s commercial paper program is rated A-1+ by Standard and Poor’s and P-1 by Moody’s, both the highest ratings for commercial paper.

 

Regulation:

 

The Mutual Group and the Company’s insurance subsidiaries are subject to the Alabama Insurance Holding Company Systems Regulatory Act and are subject to reporting to the Alabama Insurance Department and to periodic examination of their transactions and regulation under the Act with Mutual being considered the controlling party.

 

Additionally, the Company’s insurance subsidiaries are subject to licensing and supervision by the governmental agencies in the jurisdictions in which they do business. The nature and extent of such regulation varies, but generally has its source in State Statutes which delegate regulatory, supervisory and administrative powers to State Insurance Commissioners. Such regulation, supervision and administration relate, among other things, to standards of solvency which must be met and maintained, licensing of the companies, periodic examination of the affairs and financial condition of the Company, annual and other reports required to be filed on the financial condition and operation of the Company. Rates of property and casualty insurance are subject to regulation and approval of regulatory authorities. Life insurance rates are generally not subject to prior regulatory approval.

 

I-10


Restrictions on Dividends to Stockholders: The Company’s insurance subsidiaries are subject to various state statutory and regulatory restrictions, generally applicable to each insurance company in its state of incorporation, which limit the amount of dividends or distributions by an insurance company to its stockholders. The restrictions are generally based on certain levels of surplus, investment income and operating income, as determined under statutory accounting practices. Alabama law permits dividends in any year which, together with other dividends or distributions made within the preceding 12 months that do not exceed the greater of (i) 10% of statutory surplus as of the end of the preceding year or (ii) for property and casualty companies - the statutory net income for the preceding year, or for life companies - the statutory net gain from operations. Larger dividends are payable only after receipt of regulatory approval. Future dividends from the Company’s subsidiaries may be limited by business and regulatory considerations. However, based upon restrictions presently in effect, the maximum amount available for payment of dividends to the Company by its insurance subsidiaries in 2005 without prior approval of regulatory authorities is approximately $76.3 million based on December 31, 2004 financial condition and results of operations.

 

Risk-Based Capital Requirements: The National Association of Insurance Commissions (NAIC) adopted risk-based capital requirements that require insurance companies to calculate and report information under a risk-based formula which attempts to measure statutory capital and surplus needs based on the risks in a company’s mix of products and investment portfolio. The formula is designed to allow state insurance regulators to identify potential weakly capitalized companies. Under the formula, a company determines “risk-based capital” (RBC) by taking into account certain risks related to the insurer’s assets (including risks related to its investment portfolio and ceded reinsurance) and the insurer’s liabilities (including underwriting risks related to the nature and experience of its insurance business). Risk-based capital rules provide for different levels of regulatory attention depending on the ratio of a company’s total adjusted capital to its “authorized control level” of RBC. Based on calculations made by the Company, the risk-based capital levels for each of the Company’s insurance subsidiaries significantly exceed that which would require regulatory attention.

 

Personnel:

 

The Company has no management or operational employees. The Company and its subsidiaries have a Management and Operating Agreement with Mutual whereby it reimburses Mutual for salaries and expenses of employees provided to the Company under the Agreement. Involved are employees in the areas of Life Underwriting, Life Processing, Accounting, Sales, Administration, Legal, Files, Data Processing, Programming, Research, Policy Issuing, Claims, Investments and Management. At December 31, 2004, the Company was represented by 488 agents in Alabama who are employees of Mutual. The Company’s property and casualty subsidiaries had 128 independent exclusive agents in Georgia and Mississippi at December 31, 2004. The Company believes its employee relations are good.

 

Item 2. Properties.

 

(a) Physical Properties of the Company and Its Subsidiaries. The Company leases its home office facilities in Montgomery, Alabama, from Mutual.

 

Item 3. Legal Proceedings.

 

Certain legal proceedings are in process at December 31, 2004. Costs for these and similar legal proceedings, including accruals for outstanding cases, totaled $2.2 million in 2004, $1.1 million in 2003, and $5.3 million in 2002. These proceedings involve alleged breaches of contract, torts, including bad faith and fraud claims, and miscellaneous other causes of action. These lawsuits involve claims for unspecified amounts of compensation damages, mental anguish damages, and punitive damages.

 

Approximately 45 legal proceedings against Alfa Life Insurance Corporation (Life) were in process at December 31, 2004. Of the 45 proceedings, 32 were filed in 2004, eight were filed in 2003, one was in 2002, three were filed in 1999, and one was filed in 1996. One of the 45 pending cases was filed as a purported class action, but the plaintiffs dismissed the class allegation. In a case tried in January 2001, in Barbour County, Alabama, the jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff against Life for $500,000 in compensatory damages and $5,000,000 in punitive damages. After Life filed post-trial motions, the trial court reduced the punitive damage award to $1,500,000. On appeal, the Alabama Supreme Court issued an opinion further reducing the total judgment to $400,000. On Life’s Application for Rehearing the Supreme Court withdrew its earlier opinion and substituted a new opinion, rendering a judgment in favor of Life on plaintiff’s tort claims, and ordering a new trial on plaintiff’s breach of oral contract claims. Plaintiff subsequently filed an Application for Rehearing which was overruled (denied) by the Supreme Court.

 

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

 

I-11


Management believes adequate accruals have been established in these known cases. However, it should be noted that in Mississippi and Alabama, where the Company has substantial business, the likelihood of a judgment in any given suit, including a large mental anguish and/or punitive damage award by a jury, bearing little or no relation to actual damages, continues to exist, creating the potential for unpredictable material adverse financial results.

 

Based upon information presently available, management is unaware of any contingent liabilities arising from other threatened litigation that should be reserved or disclosed.

 

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

 

No matters were submitted to a vote of stockholders during the fourth quarter of 2004.

 

I-12


Part II

 

Item 5. Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

 

The “Stockholder Information” section on page 49 of Exhibit 13 representing the Inside Back Cover of the Company’s annual report to stockholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Stock repurchase activity for the three months ended December 31, 2004 is summarized below:

 

     Shares

   Average
Price per
Share


Total Shares Authorized to be Repurchased

             12,000,000       

Less: Total Shares Repurchased at September 30, 2004

        7,938,123            

Shares Repurchased -

                     

October 2004

   104,400              $ 13.65

November 2004

   5,100              $ 13.72

December 2004

   0              $ —  
    
                

Total Shares Repurchased in three months ended December 31, 2004

        109,500         $ 13.65
         
           

Total Shares Repurchased under Stock Repurchase Program

             8,047,623       
              
      

Total Shares Available for Repurchase

             3,952,377       
              
      

 

Item 6. Selected Financial Data.

 

The “Selected Financial Data” section on page 47 of Exhibit 13, representing page 63 of the Company’s annual report to stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2004, is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

 

The “Management’s Discussion and Analysis” section on pages 1 through 15 of Exhibit 13, representing pages 17 through 31 of the Company’s annual report to stockholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.

 

The “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk” section on pages 7 through 9 of Exhibit 13, representing pages 23 through 25 of the Company’s annual report to stockholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

 

The Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements on pages 16 through 46 of Exhibit 13, representing pages 32 through 62 of the Company’s annual report to stockholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, are incorporated herein by reference.

 

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.

 

II-1


Based on their evaluation of the effectiveness of Alfa Corporation’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 Alfa Corporation have concluded that such disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by Alfa Corporation 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 make all necessary improvements in controls and procedures 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

 

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 management, including the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer, the Company conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of its 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 the evaluation under the framework in Internal Control - Integrated Framework, management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2004.

 

Management’s evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004 has been audited by KPMG 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.

 

II-2


Part III

 

Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant.

 

For information with respect to the Directors of the Company, see Election of Directors on page 2 of the Proxy Statement for the annual meeting of stockholders to be held April 28, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Executive Officers of the Company:

 

The following is a list of names and ages of all of the executive officers of the Company indicating all positions and offices with the Company held by such person and each such person’s principal occupation or employment during the past five years. No person other than those listed below has been chosen to become an executive officer of the Company.

 

Name


  

Age


  

Position


  

Since


Jerry A. Newby

   57    Chairman of the Board and President; President of its subsidiaries and associated companies; President Alabama Farmers Federation, and farmer    1998

C. Lee Ellis

   53    Executive Vice President, Operations and Treasurer of Alfa Corporation and its subsidiaries    1999

Charles W. Hawkins

   67    Executive Vice President, Marketing; Prior to 2000, Senior Vice President, Marketing North Alabama    2000

Stephen G. Rutledge

   46    Senior Vice President, CFO and Chief Investment Officer; Prior to 2000, Senior Vice President, Investments    2000

Al Scott

   49    Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel    1997

James R. Azar

   68    Senior Vice President, Planning    1979

Thomas E. Bryant

   58    Senior Vice President, Human Resources; Prior to 2001, Vice President, Human Resources, American General Life & Accident Insurance Company    2001

Wyman Cabaniss

   53    Senior Vice President, Underwriting    1998

Bill Harper, Jr.

   60    Senior Vice President, Life Operations of Alfa Life Insurance Corporation, Vice President of Alfa Financial Corporation since 1978.    1986

John Jung

   58    Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer    1999

Terry McCollum

   68    Senior Vice President, Claims    1979

Ralph Forsythe

   50    Vice President, Finance and Assistant CFO, Chief Accounting Officer; Prior to 2001, Chief Financial Officer, Haights Cross Communications, DBA The Coriolis Group; Prior to 2000, Vice President, Accounting, The United Methodist Publishing House    2001

 

The information set forth under the caption “Code of Ethics” on page 27 of the Proxy Statement for the annual meeting of stockholders to be held April 28, 2005 is incorporated herein by reference.

 

The Board of Directors has determined that B. Phil Richardson and Larry E. Newman qualify as independent financial experts on the Audit Committee within the meaning of Securities and Exchange Commission rules.

 

Item 11. Executive Compensation.

 

The information set forth under the caption “Executive Compensation” on pages 5 through 11 of the Proxy Statement for the annual meeting of stockholders to be held April 28, 2005, except for the Report of the Committee on Executive Compensation, is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

 

The information appearing on pages 3 through 8 of the Proxy Statement for the annual meeting of stockholders to be held April 28, 2005, relating to the security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management, is incorporated herein by reference.

 

III-1


Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.

 

The information appearing on pages 5 through 17 of the Proxy Statement for the annual meeting of stockholders to be held April 28, 2005, is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

 

The information set forth under the caption “Fees” on page 12 of the Proxy Statement for the annual meeting of stockholders to be held April 28, 2005 is incorporated herein by reference.

 

III-2


Part IV

 

Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K.

 

  (a) The following documents are filed as part of this report:

 

  1. Financial Statements. (incorporated by reference from pages 16 through 48 of Exhibit 13 representing pages 32 through 64 of the Company’s annual report to stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2004)

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Consolidated Financial Statements and Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2004 and 2003.

Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002.

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002.

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Selected Financial Data.

 

  2. Financial Statement Schedules.

 

              

Page


Included in Part IV of this report

    
Report on Financial Statement Schedules of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm    IV-3

Schedule I -

   Summary of Investments Other Than Investments in Related Parties as of December 31, 2004    IV-4

Schedule II -

   Condensed Financial Information     
     Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2004 and 2003    IV-5
     Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002    IV-6
     Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002    IV-7

Schedule III -

   Supplemental Insurance Information for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002    IV-8

Schedule IV -

   Reinsurance for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002    IV-9

Schedule V -

   Valuation and Qualifying Accounts for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002    IV-10

 

Schedules other than those listed above have been omitted because the required information is contained in the financial statements and notes thereto, or because such schedules are not required or applicable.

 

IV-1


  3. Exhibits

 

Exhibit (3)    Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws of the Company are incorporated by reference from the Company’s 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1987.
Exhibit (10(a))    Amended and Restated Management and Operating Agreement effective January 1, 2001, Addendum No. 1 to the Amended and Restated Management and Operating Agreement dated as of August 9, 2001, Addendum No. 2 to the Amended and Restated Management and Operating Agreement dated as of August 23, 2004, and Addendum No. 3 to the Amended and Restated Management and Operating Agreement dated as of January 1, 2005
Exhibit (10(b))    Insurance Pooling Agreement Amended and Restated effective January 1, 2005
Exhibit (10(c))    Amended and Restated Tax Allocation Agreement of Alfa Corporation dated March 1, 2004
Exhibit (10(d))    Managing General Agent’s Agreement effective January 1, 2005
Exhibit (10(e))    Amendment No. 1 to LLC Interest Purchase Agreement Converting To a Plan of Merger
Exhibit (10(f))    Amendment No. 2 to LLC Interest Purchase Agreement
Exhibit (10(g))    Alfa Corporation 2005 Amended and Restated Stock Incentive Plan
Exhibit (10(h))    Restricted Stock Agreement Under the Alfa Corporation 2005 Amended and Restated Stock Incentive Plan
Exhibit (11)    Statement of Computation of Per Share Earnings
Exhibit (13)    The Company’s Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004. Such report, except for the portions incorporated herein by reference, is furnished to the Commission for information only and is not deemed filed as part of this report.
Exhibit (19)    Employee Stock Purchase Plan and 1993 Stock Incentive Plan are incorporated by reference from the Company’s 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1993.
Exhibit (21)    Subsidiaries of the Registrant
Exhibit (23)    Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Exhibit (31.1)    Certification of Alfa Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Exhibit (31.2)    Certification of Alfa Corporation’s Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Exhibit (32)    Certification of Alfa Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

  (b) Reports on Form 8-K.

 

The Company furnished the following Current Report on Form 8-K during the Fourth Quarter of 2004:

 

  1. Current Report on Form 8-K, dated October 20, 2004, to furnish the text of a press release issued on October 20, 2004 regarding third quarter results of operations.

 

IV-2


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

The Board of Directors

Alfa Corporation:

 

Under date of March 9, 2005, we reported on the consolidated balance sheets of Alfa Corporation and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2004, as contained in the 2004 Annual Report to stockholders. These consolidated financial statements and our report thereon are incorporated by reference in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year 2004. In connection with our audits of the aforementioned consolidated financial statements, we also audited the related financial statement schedules as listed in the accompanying index. These financial statement schedules are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statement schedules based on our audits.

 

In our opinion, such financial statement schedules, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

 

/s/    KPMG LLP

 

Birmingham, Alabama

March 9, 2005

 

IV-3


ALFA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

SCHEDULE I - SUMMARY OF INVESTMENTS - OTHER THAN

INVESTMENTS IN RELATED PARTIES

December 31, 2004

 

Type Of Investment


  

Cost Or

Amortized Cost


  

Fair

Value


  

Amount At
Which Shown

In Balance

Sheet


Fixed maturities:

                    

Bonds:

                    

United States Government and government agencies

   $ 81,723,108    $ 84,802,252    $ 84,802,252

States, municipalities and political subdivisions

     372,575,346      395,085,801      395,085,801

Public utilities

     21,913,132      24,517,401      24,517,401

All other corporate bonds

     195,834,243      216,410,804      216,410,804

Mortgage-backed securities

     631,184,706      631,329,117      631,319,890

Redeemable preferred stocks

     2,172,200      2,486,050      2,486,050
    

  

  

Total fixed maturities

     1,305,402,735      1,354,631,425      1,354,622,198
    

  

  

Equity securities:

                    

Common stocks:

                    

Public utilities

     2,498,996      4,016,575      4,016,575

Banks, trusts and insurance companies

     5,122,193      5,685,850      5,685,850

Industrial, miscellaneous and all other

     72,551,390      85,797,825      85,797,825

Nonredeemable preferred stocks

     3,272,983      4,201,000      4,201,000
    

  

  

Total equity securities

     83,445,562      99,701,250      99,701,250
    

  

  

Real estate

     0      0      0

Policy loans

     58,476,569      58,476,569      58,476,569

Collateral loans

     110,792,974      113,917,064      110,792,974

Commercial leases

     4,155,791      4,338,074      4,155,791

Other long-term investments

     150,930,179      145,474,366      145,474,366

Short-term investments

     80,988,969      80,988,969      80,988,969
    

  

  

Total investments

   $ 1,794,192,779    $ 1,857,527,717    $ 1,854,212,117
    

  

  

 

See accompanying report on financial statement schedules of independent registered public accounting firm.

 

IV-4


ALFA CORPORATION (PARENT COMPANY)

SCHEDULE II - CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

BALANCE SHEETS

December 31, 2004 and 2003

 

     2004

    2003

 
ASSETS                 

Cash

   $ 66,106     $ 51,705  

Short-term investments

     567,355       4,553  

Investment in subsidiaries*

     764,129,907       701,871,804  

Note receivable from subsidiaries*

     215,874,984       181,729,824  

Accounts receivable and other assets

     693,718       389,202  
    


 


Total assets

   $ 981,332,070     $ 884,047,088  
    


 


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY                 

Liabilities:

                

Commercial paper

   $ 204,303,206     $ 164,443,769  

Notes payable

     81,600,000       74,600,000  

Other liabilities

     3,975,556       6,489,881  
    


 


Total liabilities

     289,878,762       245,533,650  
    


 


Stockholders’ Equity:

                

Common stock, $1 par value, shares authorized - 110,000,000; issued -83,783,024 outstanding - 2004 - 79,849,467; 2003 - 80,233,316

     83,783,024       83,783,024  

Capital in excess of par value

     10,961,782       8,864,064  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     38,060,371       41,351,404  

Retained earnings

     599,609,509       537,746,631  

Treasury stock, at cost (shares, 2004 – 3,933,557; 2003 – 3,549,708)

     (40,961,378 )     (33,231,685 )
    


 


Total stockholders’ equity

     691,453,308       638,513,438  
    


 


Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 981,332,070     $ 884,047,088  
    


 



* Eliminates in consolidation

 

(continued)

 

IV-5


ALFA CORPORATION (PARENT COMPANY)

SCHEDULE II - CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

STATEMENTS OF INCOME

For the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002

 

     2004

    2003

   2002

Revenues:

                     

Dividends from subsidiaries*

   $ 28,884,000     $ 26,777,219    $ 25,568,656

Interest from subsidiaries*

     5,358,335       4,479,580      3,583,310

Gross realized investment losses

     (19,270 )     —        —  

Other interest

     9,389       16,049      74,169
    


 

  

Total revenues

     34,232,454       31,272,848      29,226,135

Expenses:

                     

Interest expense

     6,332,393       5,242,459      4,538,786

Other expenses

     3,765,911       3,473,420      2,198,183
    


 

  

Income before equity in undistributed income of subsidiaries

     24,134,150       22,556,969      22,489,166

Equity in undistributed income of subsidiaries

     65,310,809       55,911,979      49,218,840
    


 

  

Net income

   $ 89,444,959     $ 78,468,948    $ 71,708,006
    


 

  


* Eliminates in consolidation

 

(continued)

 

IV-6


ALFA CORPORATION (PARENT COMPANY)

SCHEDULE II - CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

For the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002

 

     2004

    2003

    2002

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

                        

Net income

   $ 89,444,959     $ 78,468,948     $ 71,708,006  
    


 


 


Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

                        

Undistributed earnings of subsidiaries

     (65,310,809 )     (55,911,979 )     (49,218,840 )

Gross realized investment losses

     19,270       —         —    

Change in other assets and accounts receivable

     (323,786 )     10,561       (129,325 )

Change in other liabilities

     577,879       1,646,707       26,343  
    


 


 


Net cash provided by operating activities

     24,407,513       24,214,237       22,386,184  
    


 


 


Cash flows from investing activities:

                        

Net change in note receivable for subsidiaries

     (34,145,160 )     (42,324,761 )     (26,633,524 )

Net change in short-term investments

     (562,802 )     2,554,037       (2,170,583 )

Investment in subsidiaries

     (8,417,500 )     —         (16,500,000 )

Net proceeds from sales of subsidiaries

     8,055,609       —         —    

Dissolution of subsidiary

     —         27,018       —    
    


 


 


Net cash used in investing activities

     (35,069,853 )     (39,743,706 )     (45,304,107 )
    


 


 


Cash flows from financing activities:

                        

Net change in commercial paper

     39,859,437       31,020,844       (31,992,980 )

Change in notes payable

     7,000,000       —         70,000,000  

Purchases of treasury stock

     (12,152,909 )     (3,684,667 )     (4,932,330 )

Proceeds from exercise of stock options, net of tax

     3,498,294       2,436,738       3,542,656  

Proceeds from dividend reinvestment plan

     —         10,795,812       9,634,500  

Stockholder dividends paid

     (27,528,081 )     (25,122,932 )     (23,421,623 )
    


 


 


Net cash provided by financing activities

     10,676,741       15,445,795       22,830,223  
    


 


 


Net change in cash

     14,401       (83,674 )     (87,700 )

Cash, beginning of year

     51,705       135,379       223,079  
    


 


 


Cash, end of year

   $ 66,106     $ 51,705     $ 135,379  
    


 


 


Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

                        

Cash paid during the year for:

                        

Interest

   $ 6,171,845     $ 5,176,877     $ 4,692,686  
    


 


 


Income taxes

   $ 31,420,000     $ 26,712,900     $ 27,058,434  
    


 


 


 

See accompanying report on financial statement schedules of independent registered public accounting firm.

 

IV-7


ALFA CORPORATION

SCHEDULE III—SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE INFORMATION

For the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002

 

Segment


  

Deferred

Policy
Acquisition
Costs


  

Future Policy
Benefits,
Losses,

Claims And
Loss Expenses


   Unearned
Premium


   Other
Policy
Claims
And
Benefits
Payable


  

Premiums

And

Policy

Charges


   Net
Investment
Income


  

Benefits
Claims,

Losses And
Settlement
Expenses


   Amortization
Of Deferred
Policy
Acquisition
Costs


   Other
Operating
Expenses


   Premiums
Written


2004                                                                      

Life Insurance

   $ 158,015,747    $ 736,144,271    $ 0    $ 0    $ 71,224,395    $ 49,128,632    $ 71,894,833    $ 8,023,565    $ 11,095,240    $ 0

Property & casualty insurance

     25,242,477      154,107,730      185,856,467      0      490,131,645      34,746,264      318,073,775      82,430,944      34,697,658      502,935,280

Noninsurance and corporate

     0      0      0      0      0      5,480,003      0      0      9,648,296      0
    

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Total

   $ 183,258,224    $ 890,252,001    $ 185,856,467    $ 0    $ 561,356,040    $ 89,354,899    $ 389,968,608    $ 90,454,509    $ 55,441,194    $ 502,935,280
    

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

2003                                                                      

Life Insurance

   $ 146,174,862    $ 673,753,655    $ 0    $ 0    $ 66,172,052    $ 44,734,610    $ 63,054,252    $ 8,788,424    $ 9,551,547    $ 0

Property & casualty insurance

     23,457,958      144,723,003      170,292,775      0      459,056,982      28,503,408      301,479,093      77,687,018      39,934,603      471,793,911

Noninsurance and corporate

     0      0      0      0      0      9,853,614      0      0      8,082,684      0
    

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Total

   $ 169,632,820    $ 818,476,658    $ 170,292,775    $ 0    $ 525,229,034    $ 83,091,632    $ 364,533,345    $ 86,475,442    $ 57,568,834    $ 471,793,911
    

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

2002                                                                      

Life Insurance

   $ 133,570,205    $ 614,812,737    $ 0    $ 0    $ 63,005,394    $ 47,290,298    $ 58,795,881    $ 8,562,567    $ 13,064,933    $ 0

Property & casualty insurance

     21,294,880      140,019,766      153,345,832      0      428,099,586      30,434,046      287,659,624      71,211,930      36,625,339      439,513,871

Noninsurance and corporate

     0      0      0      0      0      10,380,305      0      0      9,415,145      0
    

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Total

   $ 154,865,085    $ 754,832,503    $ 153,345,832    $ 0    $ 491,104,980    $ 88,104,649    $ 346,455,505    $ 79,774,497    $ 59,105,417    $ 439,513,871
    

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

 

See accompanying report on financial statement schedules of independent registered public accounting firm.

 

IV-8


ALFA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

SCHEDULE IV - REINSURANCE

For years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002

 

     Gross Amount

   Ceded to Other
Companies


   

Amount Assumed

from Other
Companies


    Net Amount

   Percentage
of Assumed
From to
Net


 
2004                                     

Life insurance inforce

   $ 19,779,502,871    $ 2,447,827,354     $ 0     $ 17,331,675,517    0 %
    

  


 


 

  

Premiums and policy charges:

                                    

Life insurance

   $ 75,565,924    $ 4,905,705     $ 0     $ 70,660,219    0 %

Accident and health insurance

     1,032,011      467,835       0       564,176    0 %

Property and liability insurance

     96,556,107      96,792,334 *     490,367,872 *     490,131,645    100 %
    

  


 


 

  

     $ 173,154,042    $ 102,165,874     $ 490,367,872     $ 561,356,040    87 %
    

  


 


 

  

2003                                     

Life insurance inforce

   $ 18,262,748,893    $ 2,421,536,699     $ 0     $ 15,841,212,194    0 %
    

  


 


 

  

Premiums and policy charges:

                                    

Life insurance

   $ 71,475,302    $ 5,372,826     $ 0     $ 66,102,476    0 %

Accident and health insurance

     69,576      0       0       69,576    0 %

Property and liability insurance

     87,194,835      87,371,206 *     459,233,353 *     459,056,982    100 %
    

  


 


 

  

     $ 158,739,713    $ 92,744,032     $ 459,233,353     $ 525,229,034    87 %
    

  


 


 

  

2002                                     

Life insurance inforce

   $ 16,736,418,213    $ 2,244,954,104     $ 0     $ 14,491,464,109    0 %
    

  


 


 

  

Premiums and policy charges:

                                    

Life insurance

   $ 67,706,042    $ 4,770,167     $ 0     $ 62,935,875    0 %

Accident and health insurance

     69,519      0       0       69,519    0 %

Property and liability insurance

     79,816,337      79,959,757 *     428,243,006 *     428,099,586    100 %
    

  


 


 

  

     $ 147,591,898    $ 84,729,924     $ 428,243,006     $ 491,104,980    87 %
    

  


 


 

  


* These amounts are subject to the pooling agreement.

 

See accompanying report on financial statement schedules of independent registered public accounting firm.

 

IV-9


ALFA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

SCHEDULE V - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002

 

          Additions

         

Description


   Balance at
beginning of
period


  

Charged

to costs and
expenses


   Charged
to other
accounts


   Deductions

   Balance at
end of
period


Loan Losses:                                   

2004 Allowance for Loan losses

   $ 1,183,587    $ 524,820    $ 0    $ 464,127    $ 1,244,280
    

  

  

  

  

2003 Allowance for Loan losses

   $ 1,074,460    $ 473,444    $ 0    $ 364,317    $ 1,183,587
    

  

  

  

  

2002 Allowance for Loan losses

   $ 892,076    $ 576,634    $ 0    $ 394,250    $ 1,074,460
    

  

  

  

  

Leases Losses:                                   

2004 Allowance for Lease losses

   $ 3,487,123    $ 6,419,333    $ 0    $ 178,910    $ 9,727,546
    

  

  

  

  

2003 Allowance for Lease losses

   $ 2,125,035    $ 1,847,930    $ 0    $ 485,842    $ 3,487,123
    

  

  

  

  

2002 Allowance for Lease losses

   $ 1,310,041    $ 1,518,188    $ 0    $ 703,194    $ 2,125,035
    

  

  

  

  

 

See accompanying report on financial statement schedules of independent registered public accounting firm.

 

IV-10


SIGNATURES

 

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.

 

ALFA CORPORATION
By  

/s/ Jerry A. Newby


    Jerry A. Newby, President

 

Pursuant to the requirement 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.

 

/s/ Jerry A. Newby


(Jerry A. Newby)

  

Chairman of the Board

Director and Principal

Executive Officer

 

3/14/05

(Date)

/s/ C. Lee Ellis


(C. Lee Ellis)

  

Executive Vice President, Operations

Treasurer, Director

(Principal Operations Officer)

 

3/14/05

(Date)

/s/ Stephen G. Rutledge


(Stephen G. Rutledge)

  

Senior Vice President, CFO and

Chief Investment Officer, (Principal

Financial Officer)

 

3/14/05

(Date)

/s/ Hal F. Lee


(Hal F. Lee)

   Director  

3/14/05

(Date)

/s/ Jake Harper, III


(Jake Harper, III)

   Director  

3/14/05

(Date)

/s/ Steve Dunn


(Steve Dunn)

   Director  

3/14/05

(Date)

/s/ Dean Wysner


(Dean Wysner)

   Director  

3/14/05

(Date)

/s/ Russell R. Wiggins


(Russell R. Wiggins)

   Director  

3/14/05

(Date)

/s/ Larry E. Newman


(Larry E. Newman)

   Director  

3/14/05

(Date)

/s/ John R. Thomas


(John R. Thomas)

   Director  

3/14/05

(Date)

/s/ B. Phil Richardson


(B. Phil Richardson)

   Director  

3/14/05

(Date)

/s/ Boyd E. Christenberry


(Boyd E. Christenberry)

   Director  

3/14/05

(Date)