FORM 8-K
Table of Contents



United States
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

Current Report
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (date of earliest event reported):
February 4, 2009

Fidelity National Financial, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

001-32630
(Commission File Number)

     
Delaware   16-1725106
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)   (IRS Employer Identification Number)

601 Riverside Avenue
Jacksonville, Florida 32204

(Addresses of Principal Executive Offices)

(904) 854-8100
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)


(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

     
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
 
   
o
  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 
   
o
  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 
   
o
  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 
   
o
  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))



 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits
SIGNATURE
EXHIBIT INDEX
EX-99.1


Table of Contents

Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition

On February 4, 2009, Fidelity National Financial, Inc. issued an earnings release announcing its financial results for the three-month and twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2008. The information in this Current Report is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section. The information in this Current Report shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

A copy of the earnings release is attached as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c) Exhibits

     
Exhibit
  Description
99.1
  Press release announcing Fidelity National Financial, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter 2008 Earnings.

 


Table of Contents

SIGNATURE

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

         
  Fidelity National Financial, Inc.
 
 
Date: February 4, 2009  By:   /s/ Anthony J. Park  
    Name: Anthony J. Park
Title: Chief Financial Officer
 
       
 

 


Table of Contents

EXHIBIT INDEX

     
Exhibit
  Description
99.1
  Press release announcing Fidelity National Financial, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter 2008 Earnings.

 

EX-99.1
Exhibit 99.1
     
(FIDELITY LOGO)   PRESS RELEASE
Fidelity National Financial, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter 2008 EPS of ($0.01)
Jacksonville, Fla. — (February 4, 2009) — Fidelity National Financial, Inc. (NYSE:FNF), a leading provider of title insurance, specialty insurance, claims management services and information services, today reported operating results for the three-month and twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2008. These reported results include the impact of Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Company, Lawyers Title Insurance Corporation and United Capital Title Insurance Company from their acquisition date of December 22, 2008.
                         
    Three Months   Three Months   Three Months
    Ended   Ended   Ended
    December 31,   December 31,   December 31,
    2008   2008*   2007
Total revenue
  $1.02 billion   $978.8 million   $1.30 billion
Net earnings (loss)
  $(1.7 million)   $1.2 million   $(44.9 million)
Net earnings (loss) per diluted share
  $ (0.01 )   $ 0.01     $ (0.21 )
Cash flow from operations
  $60.5 million     N/A     $37.4 million
 
*   This column represents the results for the three months ended December 31, 2008, excluding the impact of Commonwealth Land Title, Lawyers Title and United Capital Title from their acquisition date of December 22, 2008. Those operations contributed $46 million in revenue and a net loss of $2.8 million that have been excluded from the results in this column.
                 
    Twelve Months Ended   Twelve Months Ended
    December 31, 2008   December 31, 2007
Total revenue
  $4.33 billion   $5.52 billion
Net earnings (loss)
  $(165.8 million)   $129.8 million
Net earnings (loss) per diluted share
  $ (0.79 )   $ 0.59  
Cash flow from operations
  $4.6 million   $341.9 million
     The following are summary financial and operational results for the operating segments of FNF for the three-month and twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2008 and 2007:

 


 

     Fidelity National Title Group (“FNT”)
                 
    Three Months Ended   Three Months Ended
    December 31, 2008   December 31, 2007
Total revenue
  $898.6 million   $1.17 billion
 
Pre-tax earnings (loss)
  $7.0 million   $(66.4 million)
 
Pre-tax margin
    0.8 %     N/A  
                 
    Twelve Months Ended   Twelve Months Ended
    December 31, 2008   December 31, 2007
Total revenue
  $3.82 billion   $5.00 billion
 
Pre-tax earnings (loss)
  $(214.3 million)   $183.5 million
 
Pre-tax margin
    N/A       3.7 %
                         
Month**   Direct Orders Opened   Direct Orders Closed   Closing %
October 2008
    122,700       89,300       73 %
 
November 2008
    101,400       66,800       66 %
 
December 2008
    204,100       89,100       44 %
 
                       
 
Fourth Quarter 2008
    428,200       245,200       57 %
 
                       
                         
Month   Direct Orders Opened   Direct Orders Closed   Closing %
October 2007
    172,000       105,500       61 %
 
November 2007
    155,700       92,700       60 %
 
December 2007
    134,300       98,400       73 %
 
                       
 
Fourth Quarter 2007
    462,000       296,600       64 %
 
                       
                                 
    Open   Closed   Commercial    
    Commercial   Commercial   Revenue   Commercial
    Orders   Orders   (In thousands)   Fee Per File
4th Quarter 2008**
    13,800       8,000     $ 39,200     $ 4,900  
 
4th Quarter 2007
    17,100       11,200     $ 107,000     $ 9,500  

 


 

 
**   The order count and commercial data do not include the impact of Commonwealth Land Title, Lawyers Title and United Capital Title from their acquisition date of December 22, 2008
     Specialty Insurance
                 
    Three Months Ended   Three Months Ended
    December 31, 2008   December 31, 2007
Total revenue
  $97.3 million   $92.9 million
 
Pre-tax earnings
  $18.2 million   $3.4 million
 
Pre-tax margin
    18.7 %     3.7 %
                 
    Twelve Months Ended   Twelve Months Ended
    December 31, 2008   December 31, 2007
Total revenue
  $383.3 million   $402.7 million
 
Pre-tax earnings
  $35.0 million   $53.0 million
 
Pre-tax margin
    9.1 %     13.2 %
     “We continued to operate in challenging markets during the fourth quarter as low order volumes in October and November caused us to continue to aggressively reduce expenses in our title operations,” said Chairman William P. Foley, II. “However, there were two positive events which occurred during the month of December that provide momentum and renewed optimism as we enter 2009.
     First, we closed on the acquisition of Commonwealth Land Title, Lawyers Title and United Capital Title on December 22, 2008. The acquisition of these underwriters makes FNF the nation’s largest title insurer by market share. We now have reserve for claim losses of more than $2.6 billion, which are approximately twice that of any other title company, reserves plus stockholders’ equity of approximately $5.4 billion and a cash and investment portfolio of more than $4.7 billion. In the first month since the acquisition, we have been very aggressive on reducing costs in those underwriters. Through the end of January, we have eliminated approximately 1,500 of the 5,500 employees that we inherited at closing, a reduction of approximately 27 percent of the existing workforce. We have also closed about 125 offices in

 


 

the first month of ownership. In total, we have eliminated run-rate savings of approximately $180 million. We will continue to evaluate the cost structure of the acquired underwriters in the first quarter, but we believe the largest costs have been taken out in the first month of ownership.
     The second positive event was the significant increase in open order counts in the months of December and January. Absolute total open order counts more than doubled in December versus their November level, with per day open orders of 9,300 increasing by approximately 65 percent. January open order counts improved further from the significant December increase, as we opened approximately 14,200 orders per day in the month of January, more than a fifty percent increase over December. The significantly stronger order count levels and the acquisition of Commonwealth Land Title, Lawyers Title and United Capital Title both provide significant opportunities for our title business as we move into 2009.”
     Fidelity National Financial, Inc. (NYSE:FNF), is a leading provider of title insurance, specialty insurance, claims management services and information services. FNF is the nation’s largest title insurance company through its title insurance underwriters — Fidelity National Title, Chicago Title, Commonwealth Land Title, Lawyers Title, Ticor Title, Security Union Title and Alamo Title — that collectively issue more title insurance policies than any other title company in the United States. FNF also provides flood insurance, personal lines insurance and home warranty insurance through its specialty insurance business. FNF also is a leading provider of outsourced claims management services to large corporate and public sector entities through its minority-owned subsidiary, Sedgwick CMS. FNF is also a leading information services company in the human resource, retail and transportation markets through another minority-owned subsidiary, Ceridian Corporation. More information about FNF can be found at www.fnf.com.
     This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about our beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s beliefs, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management. Because such statements are based on expectations as to future economic

 


 

performance and are not statements of fact, actual results may differ materially from those projected. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The risks and uncertainties which forward-looking statements are subject to include, but are not limited to: the possibility that the increased volume of open orders will not continue; the possibility that the acquisition of Commonwealth Land Title, Lawyers Title and United Capital Title will have unforeseen negative effects, including if those companies have undisclosed liabilities, if we are not successful in retaining key producers or if we are not able to reach desired levels of cost savings; changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; weakness or adverse changes in the level of real estate activity, which may be caused by, among other things, high or increasing interest rates, a limited supply of mortgage funding or a weak U. S. economy; our potential inability to find suitable acquisition candidates, acquisitions in lines of business that will not necessarily be limited to our traditional areas of focus, or difficulties in integrating acquisitions; our dependence on operating subsidiaries as a source of cash flow; significant competition that our operating subsidiaries face; compliance with extensive government regulation of our operating subsidiaries; and other risks detailed in the “Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information,” “Risk Factors” and other sections of the Company’s Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
SOURCE: Fidelity National Financial, Inc.

CONTACT: Daniel Kennedy Murphy, Senior Vice President and Treasurer, 904-854-8120, dkmurphy@fnf.com

 


 

FIDELITY NATIONAL FINANCIAL, INC.
SUMMARY OF EARNINGS
(In thousands, except per share amounts and order information)
                                 
    Three months ended     Twelve months ended  
    December 31,     December 31,  
    2008     2007     2008     2007  
    (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)  
Direct title premiums
  $ 227,896     $ 343,602     $ 1,140,266     $ 1,601,768  
Agency title premiums
    383,623       521,084       1,554,743       2,198,690  
 
                       
Total title premiums
    611,519       864,686       2,695,009       3,800,458  
Escrow, title-related and other fees
    291,467       295,935       1,148,539       1,132,415  
 
                       
Total title and escrow
    902,986       1,160,621       3,843,548       4,932,873  
 
                               
Specialty insurance
    94,502       88,854       373,392       386,427  
Interest and investment income
    31,419       44,403       134,370       185,417  
Realized gains and losses
    (4,062 )     6,009       (19,824 )     18,458  
 
                       
Total revenue
    1,024,845       1,299,887       4,331,486       5,523,175  
 
                               
Personnel costs
    289,904       385,240       1,355,845       1,700,935  
Other operating expenses
    297,599       294,848       1,194,377       1,109,438  
Agent commissions
    306,352       399,875       1,218,044       1,698,215  
Depreciation and amortization
    34,449       37,198       141,128       130,092  
Claim loss expense
    82,808       240,381       630,404       653,876  
Interest expense
    14,416       17,747       65,351       54,941  
 
                       
Total expenses
    1,025,528       1,375,289       4,605,149       5,347,497  
 
                               
Earnings (loss) before income taxes
    (683 )     (75,402 )     (273,663 )     175,678  
Income tax expense
    (5,529 )     (34,665 )     (117,675 )     46,776  
 
                       
Earnings (loss) before equity investments and minority interest
    4,846       (40,737 )     (155,988 )     128,902  
 
                               
Earnings (loss) from equity investments
    (5,990 )     (3,785 )     (13,375 )     835  
Minority interest
    513       415       (3,574 )     (32 )
 
                       
 
                               
Net earnings (loss)
  $ (1,657 )   $ (44,937 )   $ (165,789 )   $ 129,769  
 
                       
 
                               
Net earnings (loss) per share — basic
  $ (0.01 )   $ (0.21 )   $ (0.79 )   $ 0.60  
 
                       
Net (loss) earnings per share — diluted
  $ (0.01 )   $ (0.21 )   $ (0.79 )   $ 0.59  
 
                       
 
                               
Weighted average shares — basic
    209,283       212,363       209,974       216,583  
 
                       
Weighted average shares — diluted
    209,283       212,363       209,974       219,989  
 
                       
 
                               
Direct operations orders opened
    428,200       462,000       1,860,400       2,259,800  
Direct operations orders closed
    245,200       296,600       1,121,200       1,434,800  
Fee per file
  $ 1,455     $ 1,693     $ 1,503     $ 1,635  
Actual title claims paid
  $ 50,331     $ 95,450     $ 278,162     $ 303,061  

 


 

FIDELITY NATIONAL FINANCIAL, INC.
SEGMENT INFORMATION
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
                                   
Three Months Ended                     Specialty   Corporate
December 31, 2008   Consolidated     FNT   Insurance   and Other
Gross operating revenue
  $ 997,488       $ 872,614     $ 94,502     $ 30,372  
Interest and investment income
    31,419         28,978       2,662       (221 )
Realized gains and losses
    (4,062 )       (2,975 )     102       (1,189 )
           
Total revenue
    1,024,845         898,617       97,266       28,962  
 
                                 
Personnel costs
    289,904         266,865       10,775       12,264  
Other operating expenses
    297,599         238,279       37,088       22,232  
Agent commissions
    306,352         306,352              
Depreciation and amortization
    34,449         27,319       671       6,459  
Claim loss expense
    82,808         52,251       30,557        
Interest expense
    14,416         581       24       13,811  
           
Total expenses
    1,025,528         891,647       79,115       54,766  
 
                                 
Earnings (loss) before income taxes
    (683 )       6,970       18,151       (25,804 )
Income tax expense
    (5,529 )       (97 )     3,915       (9,347 )
           
Earnings (loss) before equity investments and minority interest
    4,846         7,067       14,236       (16,457 )
Earnings (loss) from equity investments
    (5,990 )       (1,910 )           (4,080 )
Minority interest
    513         959             (446 )
           
 
                                 
Net earnings (loss)
  $ (1,657 )     $ 4,198     $ 14,236     $ (20,091 )
           
Open orders
    428,200         428,200              
Closed orders
    245,200         245,200              
                                   
Three Months Ended                     Specialty   Corporate
December 31, 2007   Consolidated     FNT   Insurance   and Other
Gross operating revenue
  $ 1,249,475       $ 1,129,064     $ 88,854     $ 31,557  
Interest and investment income
    44,403         39,691       3,979       733  
Realized gains and losses
    6,009         2,934       26       3,049  
           
Total revenue
    1,299,887         1,171,689       92,859       35,339  
 
                                 
Personnel costs
    385,240         358,216       11,252       15,772  
Other operating expenses
    294,848         242,466       36,484       15,898  
Agent commissions
    399,875         399,875              
Depreciation and amortization
    37,198         33,545       1,623       2,030  
Claim loss expense
    240,381         200,588       39,793        
Interest expense
    17,747         3,382       281       14,084  
           
Total expenses
    1,375,289         1,238,072       89,433       47,784  
 
                                 
Earnings (loss) before income taxes
    (75,402 )       (66,383 )     3,426       (12,445 )
Income tax expense
    (34,665 )       (30,925 )     1,165       (4,905 )
           
Earnings (loss) before equity investments and minority interest
    (40,737 )       (35,458 )     2,261       (7,540 )
Earnings from equity investments
    (3,785 )       520             (4,305 )
Minority interest
    415         1,534             (1,119 )
           
 
                                 
Net earnings (loss)
  $ (44,937 )     $ (36,472 )   $ 2,261     $ (10,726 )
           
Open orders
    462,000         462,000              
Closed orders
    296,600         296,600              

 


 

FIDELITY NATIONAL FINANCIAL, INC.
SEGMENT INFORMATION
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
                                   
Twelve Months Ended                     Specialty   Corporate
December 31, 2008   Consolidated     FNT   Insurance   and Other
Gross operating revenue
  $ 4,216,940       $ 3,729,259     $ 373,392     $ 114,289  
Interest and investment income
    134,370         120,157       12,929       1,284  
Realized gains and losses
    (19,824 )       (30,498 )     (3,007 )     13,681  
           
Total revenue
    4,331,486         3,818,918       383,314       129,254  
 
                                 
Personnel costs
    1,355,845         1,253,563       45,228       57,054  
Other operating expenses
    1,194,377         950,006       158,269       86,102  
Agent commissions
    1,218,044         1,218,044              
Depreciation and amortization
    141,128         114,989       4,896       21,243  
Claim loss expense
    630,404         490,952       139,452        
Interest expense
    65,351         5,657       487       59,207  
           
Total expenses
    4,605,149         4,033,211       348,332       223,606  
 
                                 
Earnings (loss) before income taxes
    (273,663 )       (214,293 )     34,982       (94,352 )
Income tax expense
    (117,675 )       (87,408 )     11,658       (41,925 )
           
Earnings (loss) before equity investments and minority interest
    (155,988 )       (126,885 )     23,324       (52,427 )
Earnings (loss) from equity investments
    (13,375 )       1,073             (14,448 )
Minority interest
    (3,574 )       1,518             (5,092 )
           
 
                                 
Net earnings (loss)
  $ (165,789 )     $ (127,330 )   $ 23,324     $ (61,783 )
           
Open orders
    1,860,400         1,860,400              
Closed orders
    1,121,200         1,121,200              
                                   
Twelve Months Ended                     Specialty   Corporate
December 31, 2007   Consolidated     FNT   Insurance   and Other
Gross operating revenue
  $ 5,319,300       $ 4,835,032     $ 386,427     $ 97,841  
Interest and investment income
    185,417         164,874       16,231       4,312  
Realized gains and losses
    18,458         5,080       23       13,355  
           
Total revenue
    5,523,175         5,004,986       402,681       115,508  
 
                                 
Personnel costs
    1,700,935         1,594,516       45,499       60,920  
Other operating expenses
    1,109,438         891,838       144,992       72,608  
Agent commissions
    1,698,215         1,698,085             130  
Depreciation and amortization
    130,092         120,223       6,046       3,823  
Claim loss expense
    653,876         502,250       151,626        
Interest expense
    54,941         14,597       1,478       38,866  
           
Total expenses
    5,347,497         4,821,509       349,641       176,347  
 
                                 
Earnings (loss) before income taxes
    175,678         183,477       53,040       (60,839 )
Income tax expense
    46,776         49,275       19,271       (21,770 )
           
Earnings (loss) before equity investments and minority interest
    128,902         134,202       33,769       (39,069 )
Earnings from equity investments
    835         2,467             (1,632 )
Minority interest
    (32 )       2,889             (2,921 )
           
 
                                 
Net earnings (loss)
  $ 129,769       $ 133,780     $ 33,769     $ (37,780 )
           
Open orders
    2,259,800         2,259,800              
Closed orders
    1,434,800         1,434,800              

 


 

FIDELITY NATIONAL FINANCIAL, INC.
SUMMARY BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
                 
    December 31,   December 31,
    2008*   2007
    (unaudited)        
Cash and investment portfolio
  $ 4,705,227     $ 4,671,383  
Goodwill
    1,355,250       1,339,705  
Title Plant
    427,971       331,888  
Total assets
    8,257,116       7,587,853  
Notes payable
    1,350,849       1,167,739  
Reserve for claim losses
    2,607,180       1,419,910  
Secured trust deposits
    474,073       689,935  
Total stockholders’ equity
    2,816,842       3,244,088  
Book value per share
    13.11       15.23  
 
*   Balance sheet amounts are preliminary and may change subject to the completion of the purchase accounting analysis for the acquisition of Commonwealth Land Title, Lawyers Title and United Capital Title
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