Form 425

Filed by The First American Corporation

Pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933

Subject Company: First Advantage Corporation

Commission File No.: 001-31666

 

LOGO        NEWS  

FOR

IMMEDIATE

RELEASE

THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION REPORTS

FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2009

—Reports Earnings Per Diluted Share of 75 Cents—

SANTA ANA, Calif., July 30, 2009 – The First American Corporation (NYSE: FAF), America’s largest provider of business information, today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2009.

Total revenues for the second quarter of 2009 were $1.5 billion, a decrease of 9 percent relative to the second quarter of 2008 and an increase of 12 percent relative to the first quarter of 2009. Net income was $70.3 million, or 75 cents per diluted share, compared with $19.6 million, or 21 cents per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2008. The current quarter results include net realized investment losses of $13.1 million, or 14 cents per diluted share, net of tax. Results for the second quarter of 2008 include net realized investment losses, employee separation costs and restructuring costs totaling $32.4 million, or 35 cents per diluted share, net of tax.

Current Quarter Highlights

 

   

Adjusted earnings per diluted share of 89 cents, or 75 cents including net realized investment losses

 

   

Financial Services and Information Solutions Groups experienced pretax earnings growth relative to both the second quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009

 

   

Title Insurance and Services segment adjusted pretax margin of 8.2 percent, or 6.6 percent including net realized investment losses

 

   

Cash flow from operations was $170.9 million in the second quarter, versus $71.2 million in the prior year

 

   

Debt-to-capital ratio was 20.8 percent as of June 30, 2009

 

   

Offer made to acquire minority interest in First Advantage Corporation

“First American showed meaningful revenue and earnings improvement led by continued enhancement in the performance of our title insurance business and steady growth in our Information Solutions Group,” stated Parker S. Kennedy, chairman and chief executive officer of The First American Corporation. “The company continues to build its capital base and is making progress on the split of our Financial Services and Information Solutions businesses, which we expect to occur during the first half of 2010.”

 

- more -


First American Reports Financial Results for the Second Quarter of 2009

Page 2

 

Financial Services Group

“Led by significant advances in our residential title businesses, our Title Insurance and Services segment demonstrated considerable earnings improvement during the quarter,” stated Dennis J. Gilmore, chief executive officer of the company’s Financial Services Group. “Though encouraged by the progress we have made, we maintained our focus on improving the profitability and efficiency of our business.”

Current Quarter Highlights:

 

   

Financial Services Group pretax income was $63.5 million, compared with $7.7 million in the prior year

 

   

Title Insurance and Services segment adjusted pretax margin of 8.2 percent, or 6.6 percent including net realized investment losses

Title Insurance and Services. During the second quarter of 2009, total revenues in the Title Insurance and Services segment were $935.3 million, a 16 percent decrease from the same quarter of 2008. The decrease was due to a decline in the average revenue per order closed, offset by an increase in the number of title orders closed. The company’s direct operations closed 438,100 title orders for the second quarter of 2009, an increase of 9 percent, when compared with 401,200 title orders closed in the second quarter of 2008. Average revenue per direct title order was $1,302, an 18 percent decline relative to the second quarter of 2008.

Salary and other personnel costs were $283.5 million, an 18 percent decrease, compared with the second quarter of 2008, primarily due to employee reductions. Other operating expenses were $223.0 million, a decrease of 21 percent, compared with the second quarter of 2008. The decrease was primarily due to a decline in title production costs, lower occupancy costs and other cost-containment programs. The company continued to realize operational efficiencies by leveraging its centralized onshore and offshore capabilities.

The loss provision for claims during the second quarter of 2009 was 6.5 percent of operating revenues, compared with 6.3 percent in the second quarter of 2008. The current quarter rate reflects the expected claims experience for policy year 2009, with no reserve estimate adjustments required for prior policy years.

Pretax income for the Title Insurance and Services segment was $62.2 million in the second quarter of 2009, compared with a pretax loss of $1.0 million in the second quarter of 2008. Results for the current quarter include net realized investment losses of $15.5 million. Results for the second quarter of 2008 include net realized investment losses, employee separation costs and lease termination costs totaling $51.8 million.

Specialty Insurance. Total revenues at First American’s Specialty Insurance segment were $64.4 million in the second quarter of 2009, a 16 percent decrease relative to the second quarter of 2008, reflecting a decline in business volume at both the property and casualty insurance business and the home

 

-more-


First American Reports Financial Results for the Second Quarter of 2009

Page 3

 

warranty business. Pretax income was $1.3 million in the second quarter of 2009, compared with $8.7 million in the second quarter of 2008. Results for the second quarter of 2008 include net realized investment losses of $6.3 million.

Information Solutions Group

“The Information Solutions Group increased pretax earnings by more than 27 percent as we experienced revenue growth from market share gains, adoption of new products and higher origination-related transaction levels, while maintaining our keen focus on efficiency,” stated Frank V. McMahon, chief executive officer of the company’s Information Solutions Group. “We also announced the intention to acquire the minority interest in First Advantage and completed our acquisition of BasePoint Analytics, both of which will enhance our ability to develop cutting-edge analytic solutions for our clients.”

Current Quarter Highlights:

 

   

Information Solutions Group generated revenues of $570.7 million, an 8.1 percent increase relative to the prior year

 

   

Information Solutions Group pretax income was $115.3 million, a 27.2 percent increase relative to the prior year

 

   

Information and Outsourcing Solutions segment pretax margin of 24.9 percent

 

   

Data and Analytic Solutions segment pretax margin of 21.8 percent

 

   

Offer made to acquire minority interest in First Advantage Corporation

Information and Outsourcing Solutions. Total revenues at the Information and Outsourcing Solutions segment were $259.7 million in the second quarter of 2009, a 34 percent increase from the prior year. The increase was primarily due to an acquisition of a previously unconsolidated investment, as well as market share gains and an increase in volume at the appraisal and the default-related businesses. Pretax income during the quarter was $64.6 million, a 43 percent increase from the prior year.

Data and Analytic Solutions. Total revenues at the Data and Analytic Solutions segment were $133.0 million in the second quarter of 2009, a 3 percent decrease relative to the second quarter of 2008. Revenues associated with sales of property information, as well as analytic products were down relative to the same period in the prior year. These decreases were primarily due to the continued deterioration of the segment’s customer base due to economic conditions, the ongoing tightening of the credit markets and the higher cancellation rate from clients on subscription revenues. These decreases were offset in part by increased demand for title and document products due to improved loan origination activity. Pretax income was $29.0 million in the second quarter of 2009, an 18 percent increase relative to the second quarter of 2008.

Risk Mitigation and Business Solutions. Total revenues at the Risk Mitigation and Business Solutions segment were $178.0 million in the second quarter of 2009, a 10 percent decrease relative to the second quarter of 2008. The overall decrease in revenue is directly related to the downturn in domestic and international hiring, the decline in the mortgage industry, weakness in the credit markets and the

 

- more -


First American Reports Financial Results for the Second Quarter of 2009

Page 4

 

overall economic slowdown. These events led, in particular, to revenue decline in the credit, employer, multifamily and investigative/litigation support lines of business. These declines were offset to an extent by increased revenues in 2009 due to improvements in the segment’s lead generation business. Pretax income was $21.7 million in the second quarter of 2009, compared with $21.0 million in the second quarter of 2008.

Teleconference/Webcast

First American’s second quarter results will be discussed in more detail on Thursday, July 30, 2009, at 11 a.m. ET, via teleconference. The toll-free dial-in number is (888) 790-3384. Callers from outside the United States may dial (630) 395-0148. The pass code for the event is FIRST AMERICAN. The live audio webcast of the call and the accompanying slide presentation will be available on First American’s Web site at www.firstam.com/investor. An audio replay of the conference call will be available through Aug. 7, 2009, by dialing (203) 369-1047. An audio archive of the call and the accompanying financial presentation will also be available for replay on First American’s investor Web site.

About First American

The First American Corporation (NYSE: FAF) is a FORTUNE 500® company that traces its history to 1889. With total revenues of approximately $6.2 billion in 2008, it is America’s largest provider of business information. First American combines advanced analytics with its vast data resources to supply businesses and consumers with valuable information products to support the major economic events of people’s lives, such as getting a job, renting an apartment, buying a car or house, securing a mortgage and opening or buying a business. The First American Family of Companies, many of which command leading market share positions in their respective industries, operate within five primary business segments, including: Title Insurance and Services, Specialty Insurance, Information and Outsourcing Solutions, Data and Analytic Solutions, and Risk Mitigation and Business Solutions. More information about the company and an archive of its press releases can be found at www.firstam.com.

Web Site Disclosure

First American posts information of interest to investors at www.firstam.com/investor. This includes opened and closed title insurance order counts for its direct title insurance operations, which are posted approximately 20 days after the end of each month.

Additional Information

First American intends to file a Registration Statement on Form S-4 and may file other documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in connection with the proposed First Advantage transaction. First Advantage stockholders should read those filings, and any other filings made by the company with the SEC in connection with the transaction, as they will contain important information. These documents, once filed, as well as the company’s other public SEC filings, can be obtained without charge at the SEC’s Web site at www.sec.gov and at the company’s Web site at www.firstam.com.

 

- more -


First American Reports Financial Results for the Second Quarter of 2009

Page 5

 

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this press release, including but not limited to those related to the consummation and timing of the split of the company’s Financial Services and Information Solutions businesses, and the effect of the company’s proposed acquisition of the minority interest in First Advantage Corporation and completed acquisition of BasePoint Analytics, are forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements may contain the words “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “plan,” “predict,” “estimate,” “project,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” or other similar words and phrases. Risks and uncertainties exist that may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the anticipated results to differ from those described in the forward-looking statements include: interest rate fluctuations; changes in the performance of the real estate markets; limitations on access to public records and other data; general volatility in the capital markets; changes in applicable government regulations; heightened scrutiny by legislators and regulators of the company’s Title Insurance and Services segment and certain other of the company’s businesses; the inability to consummate the spin-off transaction or to consummate it in the form originally proposed as a result of, among other factors, the inability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals, the failure to obtain the final approval of the company’s board of directors, the inability to obtain third-party consents or undesirable concessions or accommodations required to be made to obtain such consents, the landscape of the real estate and mortgage credit markets, market conditions, the inability to transfer assets into the entity being spun-off or unfavorable reactions from customers, ratings agencies, investors or other interested persons; the inability to realize the benefits of the proposed spin-off transaction as a result of the factors described immediately above, as well as, among other factors, increased borrowing costs, competition between the resulting companies, unfavorable reactions from employees, the inability of the financial services company to pay the anticipated level of dividends, the triggering of rights and obligations by the transaction or any litigation arising out of or related to the separation; consolidation among the company’s significant customers and competitors; changes in the company’s ability to integrate businesses which it acquires; unfavorable economic conditions; impairments in the company’s goodwill or other intangible assets; losses in the company’s investment portfolio; expenses of and funding obligations to the company’s pension plan; weakness in the commercial real estate market and increases in the amount or severity of commercial real estate transaction claims; the inability to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the First Advantage transaction, including obtaining any necessary approvals; failure to realize or delay in the realization of the expected cost savings and other synergies from the First Advantage transaction; operational disruption during the pendency of the First Advantage transaction; and other factors described in Part I, Item 1A of the company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2008, as updated in Part II, Item 1A of the company’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31 and June 30, 2009, in each case as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. The company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This news release contains certain financial measures that are not presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The company is presenting these non-GAAP financial measures because they provide the company’s management and investors with additional insight into the operational performance of the company relative to earlier periods and relative to the company’s competitors. The company does not intend for these non-GAAP financial measures to be a substitute for any GAAP financial information. In this news release, these non-GAAP financial measures have been presented with, and reconciled to, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. Investors should use these non-GAAP financial measures only in conjunction with the comparable GAAP financial measures.

 

- more -


First American Reports Financial Results for the Second Quarter of 2009

Page 6

 

The First American Corporation

Summary of Financial Results and Selected Information

(in thousands, except per share amounts and title orders)

(unaudited)

 

     For the Three Months Ended
June 30
   For the Six Months Ended
June 30
     2009    2008    2009    2008

Total revenues

   $ 1,537,382    $ 1,685,051    $ 2,915,194    $ 3,344,176

Income before income taxes

   $ 152,413    $ 63,609    $ 235,426    $ 133,183

Income taxes provision

   $ 58,478    $ 26,876    $ 86,533    $ 48,993

Net income

   $ 93,935    $ 36,733    $ 148,893    $ 84,190

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

     23,663      17,128      42,596      35,267
                           

Net income attributable to The First American Corporation (FAC)

   $ 70,272    $ 19,605    $ 106,297    $ 48,923
                           

Net income attributable to FAC stockholders:

           

Basic

   $ 0.75    $ 0.21    $ 1.14    $ 0.53

Diluted

   $ 0.75    $ 0.21    $ 1.13    $ 0.53

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

           

Basic

     93,260      92,503      93,141      92,252

Diluted

     94,005      93,205      93,758      92,951

Title orders opened

     566,300      532,300      1,129,300      1,127,600

Title orders closed

     438,100      401,200      807,300      790,800

Paid title claims

     78,173      76,590      148,908      141,930

 

- more -


First American Reports Financial Results for the Second Quarter of 2009

Page 7

 

The First American Corporation

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except share data)

(unaudited)

 

     June 30,
2009
    December 31,
2008
 

Assets

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 1,022,931      $ 934,945   
                

Accounts and accrued income receivable, net

     537,913        558,946   
                

Income tax receivable

     45,013        61,678   
                

Investments:

    

Deposits with savings and loan associations and banks

     118,523        182,117   

Debt securities

     1,608,650        1,718,320   

Equity securities

     140,192        110,126   

Other long-term investments

     378,802        371,157   
                
     2,246,167        2,381,720   
                

Loans receivable, net

     152,494        151,692   
                

Property and equipment, net

     629,141        665,305   
                

Title plants and other indexes

     690,511        685,090   
                

Deferred income taxes

     100,923        149,473   
                

Goodwill

     2,620,582        2,594,738   
                

Other intangible assets, net

     276,562        298,411   
                

Other assets

     244,485        248,057   
                
   $ 8,566,722      $ 8,730,055   
                

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

    

Demand deposits

   $ 1,167,857      $ 1,298,221   

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     890,973        994,093   

Deferred revenue

     702,738        728,844   

Reserve for known and incurred but not reported claims

     1,310,524        1,355,392   

Notes and contracts payable

     833,553        868,274   

Deferrable interest subordinated notes

     100,000        100,000   
                
     5,005,645        5,344,824   
                

Commitments and contingencies

    

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Preferred stock, $1 par value

    

Authorized—500,000 shares; outstanding—none

    

Common stock, $1 par value

    

Authorized—180,000,000 shares

    

Outstanding—93,357,000 and 92,963,000 shares

     93,357        92,963   

Additional paid-in capital

     817,388        801,228   

Retained earnings

     2,166,054        2,099,654   

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (221,236     (290,362
                

Total FAC stockholders’ equity

     2,855,563        2,703,483   
                

Noncontrolling interests

     705,514        681,748   
                

Total equity

     3,561,077        3,385,231   
                
   $ 8,566,722      $ 8,730,055   
                

 

- more -


First American Reports Financial Results for the Second Quarter of 2009

Page 8

 

The First American Corporation

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

(unaudited)

 

     For the Three Months Ended
June 30
    For the Six Months Ended
June 30
 
     2009     2008     2009     2008  

Revenues

        

Operating revenues

   $ 1,503,799      $ 1,668,548      $ 2,822,968      $ 3,263,817   

Investment and other income

     55,342        56,516        112,955        126,248   

Gain on stock issued by subsidiary

     —          1,325        —          1,325   

Net realized investment losses

     (21,759     (41,338     (20,729     (47,214
                                
     1,537,382        1,685,051        2,915,194        3,344,176   
                                

Expenses

        

Salaries and other personnel costs

     475,943        562,900        938,803        1,140,514   

Premiums retained by agents

     278,604        377,062        518,163        741,113   

Other operating expenses

     449,911        478,980        877,041        928,620   

Provision for policy losses and other claims

     104,616        114,883        194,007        221,982   

Depreciation and amortization

     51,532        59,703        103,534        117,226   

Premium taxes

     8,650        12,270        16,416        24,286   

Interest

     15,713        15,644        31,804        37,252   
                                
     1,384,969        1,621,442        2,679,768        3,210,993   
                                

Income before income taxes

     152,413        63,609        235,426        133,183   

Income taxes provision

     58,478        26,876        86,533        48,993   
                                

Net income

     93,935        36,733        148,893        84,190   

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

     23,663        17,128        42,596        35,267   
                                

Net income attributable to FAC

     70,272        19,605        106,297        48,923   
                                

Net income attributable to FAC stockholders:

        

Basic

   $ 0.75      $ 0.21      $ 1.14      $ 0.53   
                                

Diluted

   $ 0.75      $ 0.21      $ 1.13      $ 0.53   
                                

Cash dividends per share

   $ 0.22      $ 0.22      $ 0.44      $ 0.44   
                                

Weighted average number of shares:

        

Basic

     93,260        92,503        93,141        92,252   
                                

Diluted

     94,005        93,205        93,758        92,951   
                                

Net Income

     93,935        36,733        148,893        84,190   
                                

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

        

Unrealized gain (loss) on securities

     49,625        (23,483     50,249        (50,809

Unrealized gain (loss) on securities for which credit-related portion was recognized in net realized investment gains (losses)

     3,521        —          (1,199     —     

Foreign currency translation adjustments

     22,152        3,156        17,575        3,900   

Minimum pension liability adjustment

     3,771        2,083        7,378        4,166   
                                

Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

     79,069        (18,244     74,003        (42,743
                                

Comprehensive income

     173,004        18,489        222,896        41,447   

Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests

     26,897        13,171        47,473        26,240   
                                

Comprehensive income attributable to FAC

   $ 146,107      $ 5,318      $ 175,423      $ 15,207   
                                

 

- more -


First American Reports Financial Results for the Second Quarter of 2009

Page 9

 

The First American Corporation

Segment Information

(in thousands, except percentages)

(unaudited)

 

     For the Three Months Ended June 30  
     Total revenues    Pretax (A)     Margins  
     2009    2008    2009    2008     2009     2008  

Financial Services

               

Title Insurance and Services

   $ 935,345    $ 1,107,561    $ 62,183    $ (1,022   6.6   -0.1

Specialty Insurance

     64,402      76,537      1,312      8,685      2.0   11.3
                                         
   $ 999,747    $ 1,184,098    $ 63,495    $ 7,663      6.4   0.6
                                         

Information Solutions

               

Information and Outsourcing Solutions

   $ 259,747    $ 193,863    $ 64,592    $ 45,037      24.9   23.2

Data and Analytic Solutions

     133,016      137,543      28,979      24,622      21.8   17.9

Risk Mitigation and Business Solutions

     177,967      196,644      21,697      20,950      12.2   10.7
                                         
   $ 570,730    $ 528,050    $ 115,268    $ 90,609      20.2   17.2
                                         
     For the Six Months Ended June 30  
     Total revenues    Pretax (A)     Margins  
     2009    2008    2009    2008     2009     2008  

Financial Services

               

Title Insurance and Services

   $ 1,727,338    $ 2,181,375    $ 62,355    $ 6,196      3.6   0.3

Specialty Insurance

     134,618      152,618      9,424      17,175      7.0   11.3
                                         
   $ 1,861,956    $ 2,333,993    $ 71,779    $ 23,371      3.9   1.0
                                         

Information Solutions

               

Information and Outsourcing Solutions

   $ 466,618    $ 390,558    $ 120,500    $ 93,682      25.8   24.0

Data and Analytic Solutions

     265,080      274,748      56,488      44,480      21.3   16.2

Risk Mitigation and Business Solutions

     381,156      400,264      40,376      43,088      10.6   10.8
                                         
   $ 1,112,854    $ 1,065,570    $ 217,364    $ 181,250      19.5   17.0
                                         

 

(A) - (Loss) income before income tax, minority interest and corporate expenses

 

Media Contact:   Investor Contact:

Carrie Gaska

Corporate Communications

The First American Corporation

(714) 250-3298 • cgaska@firstam.com

 

Mark Seaton

Investor Relations

The First American Corporation

(714) 250-4264 • mseaton@firstam.com

# # #