EX-99 2 pgr20191231exhibit99ea.htm EXHIBIT 99 Exhibit

image0a04a01a60.jpg
 
 
NEWS RELEASE
 
 
 
 
The Progressive Corporation
 
 
Company Contact:
6300 Wilson Mills Road
 
 
Julia Hornack
Mayfield Village, Ohio 44143
 
 
(440) 395-2164
 
 
 
 
 
 

PROGRESSIVE REPORTS DECEMBER RESULTS

MAYFIELD VILLAGE, OHIO -- January 29, 2020 -- The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR) today reported the following results for December 2019 and the fourth quarter of 2019:
 
December
Quarter
(millions, except per share amounts and ratios; unaudited)
2019
 
2018
 
Change1
2019
 
2018
 
Change1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net premiums written
$
3,338.5

 
$
2,362.4

 
41
 %
$
9,590.3

 
$
7,941.8

 
21
 %
Net premiums earned
$
3,542.7

 
$
2,554.2

 
39
 %
$
9,895.7

 
$
8,194.6

 
21
 %
Net income attributable to Progressive
$
460.0

 
$
54.0

 
NM

$
1,070.8

 
$
264.7

 
305
 %
  Per share available to common shareholders
$
0.78

 
$
0.09

 
NM

$
1.81

 
$
0.44

 
312
 %
Total pretax net realized gains (losses) on securities
$
125.5

 
$
(330.8
)
 
(138)
 %
$
369.4

 
$
(572.2
)
 
(165)
 %
Combined ratio
89.4

 
89.5

 
(0.1) pts.

92.4

 
92.5

 
(0.1) pts.

Average diluted equivalent common shares
587.0

 
586.6

 
0
 %
587.0

 
586.7

 
0
 %
NM = Not Meaningful
1Operating results include 5 weeks of underwriting activity for December 2019 and 14 weeks for the fourth quarter 2019, for our non-Property businesses, compared to 4 weeks and 13 weeks for the same periods in 2018, respectively. Excluding the additional week of underwriting activity, companywide net premiums written growth would have been approximately 15% for the month and 13% for the fourth quarter, and net premiums earned growth would have been approximately 12% for both periods. See the “Supplemental Information” on pages 5 and 6, and the “Monthly Commentary” on page 8 for additional discussion.

 
December
 
December
 
 
(thousands; unaudited)
2019
 
2018
 
Change
Policies in Force
 
 
 
 
 
Personal Lines
 
 
 
 
 
Agency – auto
6,994.3
 
6,358.3
 
10 %
Direct – auto
7,866.5
 
7,018.5
 
12 %
Total personal auto
14,860.8
 
13,376.8
 
11 %
Total special lines
4,547.8
 
4,382.2
 
4 %
Total Personal Lines
19,408.6
 
17,759.0
 
9 %
Total Commercial Lines
751.4
 
696.9
 
8 %
Property business
2,202.1
 
1,936.5
 
14 %
Companywide Total
22,362.1
 
20,392.4
 
10 %
 
 
 
 
 
 

Progressive offers personal and commercial insurance throughout the United States. Our Personal Lines business writes insurance for personal autos and special lines products. Our Commercial Lines business writes primary liability, physical damage, and other auto-related insurance for autos and trucks owned and/or operated predominantly by small businesses. Our Property business writes residential property insurance for homeowners, other property owners, and renters.

See the “Comprehensive Income Statements” and “Supplemental Information” for further month and year-to-date information and the “Monthly Commentary” for additional information and discussion.

- 1 -

THE PROGRESSIVE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME STATEMENT
December 2019
(millions)
(unaudited)

 
Current Month1
 
Comments on Monthly Results
Net premiums written
$
3,338.5

 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues:
 
 
 
Net premiums earned
$
3,542.7

 
 
Investment income
85.1

 
 
Net realized gains (losses) on securities:
 
 
 
Net realized gains (losses) on security sales
70.7

 
 
Net holding period gains (losses) on securities
54.8

 
 
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings
0

 
 
Total net realized gains (losses) on securities
125.5

 
 
Fees and other revenues
53.2

 
 
Service revenues
18.8

 
 
Total revenues
3,825.3

 
 
 
 
 
 
Expenses:
 
 
 
Losses and loss adjustment expenses
2,477.6

 
 
Policy acquisition costs
293.7

 
 
Other underwriting expenses
449.5

 
 
Investment expenses
1.9

 
 
Service expenses
17.6

 
 
Interest expense
15.8

 
 
Total expenses
3,256.1

 
 
 
 
 
 
Income before income taxes
569.2

 
 
Provision for income taxes
107.5

 
Includes $13.0 million of tax benefits related to dividends that were declared in December, primarily on shares held in our ESOP, that are deductible for income tax purposes.
Net income
461.7

 
 
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest (NCI)
(1.7
)
 
 
Net income attributable to Progressive
460.0

 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive income (loss)
 
 
 
Changes in:
 
 
 
Total net unrealized gains (losses) on fixed-maturity securities
(81.8
)
 
 
Net unrealized losses on forecasted transactions
0.1

 
 
Other comprehensive income (loss)
(81.7
)
 
 
Other comprehensive (income) loss attributable to NCI
0.5

 
 
Total comprehensive income attributable to Progressive
$
378.8

 
 
 
 
 
 
1 Operating results include 5 weeks of underwriting activity. See the “Supplemental Information” on page 5 and the “Monthly Commentary” on page 8 for additional information and discussion.
    
For a description of our financial reporting and accounting policies, see Note 1 to our 2018 audited consolidated financial statements included in our 2018 Shareholders’ Report, which can be found at www.progressive.com/annualreport.

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THE PROGRESSIVE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME STATEMENTS
December 2019
(millions)
(unaudited)


 
Full Year1
 
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
% Change
Net premiums written
$
37,577.9

 
$
32,609.9

 
15
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
Net premiums earned
$
36,192.4

 
$
30,933.3

 
17
Investment income
1,042.0

 
820.5

 
27
Net realized gains (losses) on securities:
 
 
 
 
 
Net realized gains (losses) on security sales
334.6

 
170.7

 
96
Net holding period gains (losses) on securities
757.9

 
(507.9
)
 
(249)
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings
(63.3
)
 
(68.3
)
 
(7)
Total net realized gains (losses) on securities
1,029.2

 
(405.5
)
 
(354)
Fees and other revenues
563.7

 
472.2

 
19
Service revenues
195.0

 
158.5

 
23
Total revenues
39,022.3

 
31,979.0

 
22
 
 
 
 
 
 
Expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
Losses and loss adjustment expenses
25,470.5

 
21,721.0

 
17
Policy acquisition costs
3,023.2

 
2,573.7

 
17
Other underwriting expenses
4,975.1

 
4,195.8

 
19
Investment expenses
24.6

 
24.3

 
1
Service expenses
178.9

 
134.1

 
33
Interest expense
189.7

 
166.5

 
14
Total expenses
33,862.0

 
28,815.4

 
18
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income before income taxes
5,160.3

 
3,163.6

 
63
Provision for income taxes
1,180.3

 
542.6

 
118
Net income
3,980.0

 
2,621.0

 
52
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest (NCI)
(9.7
)
 
(5.7
)
 
70
Net income attributable to Progressive
3,970.3

 
2,615.3

 
52
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive income (loss)
 
 
 
 
 
Changes in:
 
 
 
 
 
Total net unrealized gains (losses) on fixed-maturity securities
466.4

 
(99.3
)
 
NM
Net unrealized losses on forecasted transactions
0.8

 
0.8

 
0
Other comprehensive income (loss)
467.2

 
(98.5
)
 
NM
Other comprehensive (income) loss attributable to NCI
(4.6
)
 
3.3

 
(239)
Total comprehensive income attributable to Progressive
$
4,432.9

 
$
2,520.1

 
76
 
 
 
 
 
 
NM = Not Meaningful
 
 
 
 
 
1Operating results for 2019 include 53 weeks of underwriting activity, compared to 52 weeks in 2018. See the “Supplemental Information” on page 6 and the “Monthly Commentary” on page 8 for additional information and discussion.

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THE PROGRESSIVE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
COMPUTATION OF NET INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME PER SHARE
&
INVESTMENT RESULTS
December 2019
(millions – except per share amounts)
(unaudited)




The following table sets forth the computation of per share results:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current
 
Full Year
 
 
Month
 
2019
 
2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income attributable to Progressive
$
460.0

 
$
3,970.3

 
$
2,615.3

 
Less: Preferred share dividends
2.3

 
26.9

 
21.4

 
Net income available to common shareholders
$
457.7

 
$
3,943.4

 
$
2,593.9

 
Per common share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
$
0.78

 
$
6.75

 
$
4.45

 
Diluted
$
0.78

 
$
6.72

 
$
4.42

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Progressive
$
378.8

 
$
4,432.9

 
$
2,520.1

 
Less: Preferred share dividends
2.3

 
26.9

 
21.4

 
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to common shareholders
$
376.5

 
$
4,406.0

 
$
2,498.7

 
Per common share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted
$
0.64

 
$
7.50

 
$
4.26

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average common shares outstanding - Basic
584.2

 
583.8

 
582.4

 
Net effect of dilutive stock-based compensation
2.8

 
3.4

 
4.3

 
Total average equivalent common shares - Diluted
587.0

 
587.2

 
586.7

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The following table sets forth the investment results for the period:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current
 
Full Year
 
 
 
Month
 
2019
 
2018
 
 
Fully taxable equivalent (FTE) total return:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed-income securities
0.1%
 
6.0%
 
1.5%
 
 
Common stocks
2.7%
 
30.5%
 
(4.4)%
 
 
     Total portfolio
0.3%
 
7.9%
 
1.2%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pretax annualized investment income book yield
2.8%
 
3.1%
 
2.8%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 




- 4 -

THE PROGRESSIVE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
December 2019
($ in millions)
(unaudited)



Current Month
 
 
 
 
Commercial
 
 
 
Personal Lines Business
Lines
Property
Companywide
 
Agency
Direct
Total
Business
Business
Total
Net Premiums Written
$
1,344.3

$
1,417.1

$
2,761.4

$
439.4

$
137.7

$
3,338.5

% Growth in NPW1
36
%
42
%
39
%
73
%
14
%
41
%
Net Premiums Earned
$
1,452.7

$
1,505.3

$
2,958.0

$
443.0

$
141.7

$
3,542.7

% Growth in NPE1
37
%
40
%
39
%
46
%
17%
39
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GAAP Ratios
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss/LAE ratio
69.4

71.4

70.4

68.0

64.02

69.9

Expense ratio
18.3

19.5

18.9

20.2

29.52

19.5

Combined ratio
87.7

90.9

89.3

88.2

93.52

89.4

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Actuarial Adjustments3
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reserve Decrease/(Increase)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prior accident years
 
 
 
 
 
$
(2.8
)
Current accident year
 
 
 
 
 
(18.7
)
Calendar year actuarial adjustment
$
(12.6
)
$
(6.5
)
$
(19.1
)
$
(11.3
)
$
8.9

$
(21.5
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prior Accident Years Development
 
 
 
 
 
 
Favorable/(Unfavorable)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Actuarial adjustment
 
 
 
 
 
$
(2.8
)
All other development
 
 
 
 
 
3.0

Total development
 
 
 
 
 
$
0.2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Calendar year loss/LAE ratio
 
 
 
 
 
69.9

Accident year loss/LAE ratio
 
 
 
 
 
69.9

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1 Excluding the extra week of underwriting activity during December 2019, growth would have been approximately:
 
 
 
 
Commercial
 
 
 
Personal Lines Business
Lines
Property
Companywide
 
Agency
Direct
Total
Business a
Business
Total
% Growth in NPW
9
%
14
%
11
%
46
%
N/A
15
%
% Growth in NPE
10
%
12
%
11
%
17
%
N/A
12
%
N/A - Our Property business results have a comparable number of operating days in 2019 and 2018.

a Our Commercial Lines business recognized $98 million of net premiums written, as a result of adding an additional state where we write commercial auto insurance coverage for an Uber Technologies subsidiary. Excluding this impact, net premiums written growth was approximately 7% for December 2019.

2The loss/LAE ratio includes an additional 18.7 points due to the reversal of a portion of the reinsurance recoverable under our aggregate stop-loss (ASL) agreements, which cover certain ARX losses and a portion of the LAE associated with those losses. The expense ratio includes 3.4 points of amortization expense predominantly associated with the acquisition of a controlling interest in ARX. Excluding these items, the Property business would have reported a loss/LAE ratio of 45.3, an expense ratio of 26.1, and a combined ratio of 71.4 for December 2019.

3 Represents adjustments solely based on our actuarial reviews. For our Property business, the actuarial reserving methodology includes changes to catastrophe losses, while the reviews in our vehicle businesses do not include catastrophes.

- 5 -

THE PROGRESSIVE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
December 2019
($ in millions)
(unaudited)



Full Year
 
 
 
 
Commercial
 
 
 
Personal Lines Business
Lines
Property
Companywide
 
Agency
Direct
Total
Business
Business
Total
Net Premiums Written
$
15,336.5

$
15,765.7

$
31,102.2

$
4,791.8

$
1,683.9

$
37,577.9

% Growth in NPW1
13
%
16
%
15
%
20
%
16
%
15
%
Net Premiums Earned
$
14,904.1

$
15,305.9

$
30,210.0

$
4,427.6

$
1,554.8

$
36,192.4

% Growth in NPE1
14
%
18
%
16
%
23
%
21%
17
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GAAP Ratios
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss/LAE ratio
69.8

71.4

70.6

68.5

71.2
70.4

Expense ratio
19.0

20.9

19.9

21.1

30.52
20.5

Combined ratio
88.8

92.3

90.5

89.6

101.72

90.9

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Actuarial Adjustments3
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reserve Decrease/(Increase)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prior accident years
 
 
 
 
 
$
(65.8
)
Current accident year
 
 
 
 
 
(120.4
)
Calendar year actuarial adjustment
$
(50.4
)
$
(51.1
)
$
(101.5
)
$
(56.0
)
$
(28.7
)
$
(186.2
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prior Accident Years Development
 
 
 
 
 
 
Favorable/(Unfavorable)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Actuarial adjustment
 
 
 
 
 
$
(65.8
)
All other development
 
 
 
 
 
(166.5
)
Total development
 
 
 
 
 
$
(232.3
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Calendar year loss/LAE ratio
 
 
 
 
 
70.4

Accident year loss/LAE ratio
 
 
 
 
 
69.8

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

1 The additional week of underwriting activity added approximately two percentage points to the Personal Lines, Commercial Lines, and Companywide written and earned premium growth rates for the year.

2 Included in both the expense ratio and combined ratio is 4.3 points of amortization expense predominately associated with the acquisition of a controlling interest in ARX. Excluding these additional expenses, the Property business would have reported an expense ratio of 26.2 and a combined ratio of 97.4.

3 Represents adjustments solely based on our actuarial reviews. For our Property business, the actuarial reserving methodology includes changes to catastrophe losses, while the reviews in our vehicle businesses do not include catastrophes.






- 6 -

THE PROGRESSIVE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
BALANCE SHEET AND OTHER INFORMATION
(millions - except per share amounts)
(unaudited)

 
December 2019
CONDENSED GAAP BALANCE SHEET:
 
Investments, at fair value:
 
Available-for-sale securities:
 
Fixed maturities1 (amortized cost: $32,643.1)
$
33,110.3

Short-term investments (amortized cost: $1,798.8)
1,798.8

Total available-for-sale securities
34,909.1

Equity securities:
 
Nonredeemable preferred stocks (cost: $971.3)
1,038.9

Common equities (cost: $1,125.5)
3,306.3

Total equity securities
4,345.2

Total investments2,3
39,254.3

Net premiums receivable
7,507.3

Reinsurance recoverables (including $3,212.2 on unpaid loss and LAE reserves)
3,378.9

Deferred acquisition costs
1,056.5

Goodwill and intangible assets
681.0

Other assets
3,017.3

Total assets
$
54,895.3

 
 
Unearned premiums
$
12,388.8

Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves
18,105.4

Other liabilities2, 4
6,095.2

Debt
4,407.1

Total liabilities
40,996.5

Redeemable noncontrolling interest (NCI)
225.6

Shareholders' equity
13,673.2

Total liabilities, NCI, and shareholders' equity
$
54,895.3

 
 
 
 
Common shares outstanding
584.6

Common shares repurchased - December
0

Average cost per common share
$
0

Book value per common share
$
22.54

Trailing 12-month return on average common shareholders' equity
 
Net income attributable to Progressive
31.3
%
Comprehensive income attributable to Progressive
35.0
%
Net unrealized pretax gains (losses) on fixed-maturity securities
$
459.4

Increase (decrease) from November 2019
$
(100.3
)
Increase (decrease) from December 2018
$
593.6

Debt-to-total capital ratio5
24.4
%
Fixed-income portfolio duration
3.0

Weighted average credit quality
AA

1 As of December 31, 2019, we held certain hybrid securities and recognized a change in fair value of $7.8 million as a realized gain during the period we held these securities.
2 At December 31, 2019, we had $11.9 million of net unsettled security transactions classified in “other liabilities.”
3 Includes $3.2 billion, net of unsettled securities transactions, of investments in a consolidated, non-insurance subsidiary of the holding company.
4 Includes dividends payable of $1.4 billion, which was paid on January 15, 2020.
5 Ratio reflects debt as a percent of debt plus shareholders' equity; redeemable noncontrolling interest is not part of this calculation.

- 7 -



Monthly Commentary
Pursuant to our accounting calendar for 2019, the fourth quarter has 14 weeks of underwriting activity, with December being a 5-week month. Progressive operates on an accounting calendar that typically consists of a 52-week year, with 13-week quarters and a 4-week December. Under this calendar, we periodically recognize an additional week of activity in the year, as is the case for 2019. Consequently, our annual, fourth quarter, and December periods for 2019 each include an additional week, which affects comparisons of those periods to prior years.

Events

We are currently scheduled to hold our quarterly Investor Relations event on Wednesday, March 4, 2020, at 9:30 a.m. eastern time.
The call and live webcast is scheduled to last 90 minutes and will begin with an approximate 45 minute presentation on our Property business, followed by a question and answer session with Tricia Griffith, our CEO, and John Sauerland, our CFO. We plan to
post our 2019 Shareholders' Report online and file our Annual Report on Form 10-K with the SEC on Monday, March 2, 2020.
Teleconference and webcast will be available at: http://investors.progressive.com/phoenix.zhtml? c=81824&p=irol-calendar.

We plan to release January results on Wednesday, February 19, 2020, before the market opens.

About Progressive
The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies makes it easy to understand, buy and use auto insurance. Progressive offers choices so consumers can reach us whenever, wherever and however it's most convenient - online at progressive.com, by phone at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE, on a mobile device or in-person with a local agent.

Progressive provides insurance for personal and commercial autos and trucks, motorcycles, boats, recreational vehicles, and homes. Home insurance is underwritten by select carriers, including our majority owned subsidiaries, American Strategic Insurance Corp. and its affiliates (ASI).
 
Progressive is the third largest auto insurer in the country; a leading seller of motorcycle and commercial auto insurance; and through ASI, one of the top 15 homeowners insurance carriers.

Founded in 1937, Progressive continues its long history of offering shopping tools and services that save customers time and money, like Name Your Price®, Snapshot®, and HomeQuote Explorer®.

The Common Shares of The Progressive Corporation, the Mayfield Village, Ohio-based holding company, trade publicly at NYSE:PGR.


- 8 -



Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Investors are cautioned that certain statements in this report not based upon historical fact are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements often use words such as “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” and other words and terms of similar meaning, or are tied to future periods, in connection with a discussion of future operating or financial performance. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and projections about future events, and are subject to certain risks, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those discussed herein. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, uncertainties related to estimates, assumptions, and projections generally; inflation and changes in general economic conditions (including changes in interest rates and financial markets); the possible failure of one or more governmental, corporate, or other entities to make scheduled debt payments or satisfy other obligations; our ability to access capital markets and financing arrangements when needed to support growth or other capital needs, and the favorable evaluations by credit and other rating agencies on which this access depends; the potential or actual downgrading by one or more rating agencies of our securities or governmental, corporate, or other securities we hold; the financial condition of, and other issues relating to the strength of and liquidity available to, issuers of securities held in our investment portfolios and other companies with which we have ongoing business relationships, including reinsurers and other counterparties to certain financial transactions or under certain government programs; the accuracy and adequacy of our pricing, loss reserving, and claims methodologies; the competitiveness of our pricing and the effectiveness of our initiatives to attract and retain more customers, including our efforts to enter into new business areas with which we have less experience; initiatives by competitors and the effectiveness of our response; our ability to obtain regulatory approval for the introduction of products to new jurisdictions, for requested rate changes and the timing thereof and for any proposed acquisitions; the effectiveness of our brand strategy and advertising campaigns relative to those of competitors; legislative and regulatory developments at the state and federal levels, including, but not limited to, matters relating to vehicle and homeowners insurance, health care reform and tax law changes; the outcome of disputes relating to intellectual property rights; the outcome of litigation or governmental investigations that may be pending or filed against us; severe weather conditions and other catastrophe events, and our ability to respond to changes in catastrophe loss trends; the effectiveness of our reinsurance programs; changes in vehicle usage and driving patterns, which may be influenced by oil and gas prices, changes in residential occupancy patterns, and the effects of the emerging “sharing economy”; advancements in vehicle or home technology or safety features, such as accident and loss prevention technologies or the development of autonomous or partially autonomous vehicles; our ability to accurately recognize and appropriately respond in a timely manner to changes in loss frequency and severity trends; technological advances; acts of war and terrorist activities; our ability to maintain the uninterrupted operation of our facilities, systems (including information technology systems), and business functions, and safeguard personal and sensitive information in our possession, whether from cyber attacks, other technology events or other means; our continued access to and functionality of third-party systems that are critical to our business; our ability to maintain adequate staffing levels, and the sources from which we obtain talent; our continued ability to access cash accounts and/or convert securities into cash on favorable terms when we desire to do so; restrictions on our subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends to The Progressive Corporation; possible impairment of our goodwill or intangible assets if future results do not adequately support either, or both, of these items; court decisions, new theories of insurer liability or interpretations of insurance policy provisions and other trends in litigation; changes in health care and auto and property repair costs; and other matters described from time to time in our releases and publications, and in our periodic reports and other documents filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, investors should be aware that generally accepted accounting principles prescribe when a company may reserve for particular risks, including litigation exposures. Accordingly, results for a given reporting period could be significantly affected if and when a reserve is established for one or more contingencies. Also, our regular reserve reviews may result in adjustments of varying magnitude as additional information regarding claims activity becomes known. Reported results, therefore, may be volatile in certain accounting periods.


- 9 -