UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
   
þ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended JuneSeptember 30, 2008
or
   
o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                    to                    
Commission file number 001-02658
 
STEWART INFORMATION SERVICES CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
   
Delaware74-1677330

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 74-1677330
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
   
1980 Post Oak Blvd., Houston TX77056

(Address of principal executive offices)
 77056
(Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (713)(713) 625-8100
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
 
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. Yesþ   Noo
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filerþ     Accelerated filero     Non-accelerated filero     Smaller reporting companyo
Large accelerated filerþAccelerated fileroNon-accelerated filero
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting companyo
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yeso   Noþ
On July 30,October 31, 2008, the following shares of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock were outstanding:
     
Common  17,095,98617,104,805 
Class B Common  1,050,012 
 
 

 


 

FORM 10-Q QUARTERLY REPORT
QUARTER ENDED JUNESEPTEMBER 30, 2008
TABLE OF CONTENTS
       
Item   Page 
  PART I -- FINANCIAL INFORMATION    
 
 Financial Statements  1 
 Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations  12 
 Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk  20 
 Controls and Procedures  20 
 
 
  PART II -- OTHER INFORMATION    
 
 Legal Proceedings  21 
 Risk Factors  21 
 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders  22 
 Other Information  22 
 Exhibits  22 
  Signature  23 
 Summary of Agreements as to Payments of Bonuses to Executive Officers
 Certification of Co-Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302
 Certification of Co-Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302
 Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302
 Certification of Co-Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 906
 Certification of Co-Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 906
 Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906
 Details of Investments
Item
Page
1
12
21
21
22
23
23
23
24
EXHIBIT 31.1
EXHIBIT 31.2
EXHIBIT 31.3
EXHIBIT 32.1
EXHIBIT 32.2
EXHIBIT 32.3
EXHIBIT 99.1
As used in this report, “we”, “us”, “our”,“we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company”, and “Stewart” mean Stewart Information Services Corporation and our subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.

 


STEWART INFORMATION SERVICES CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF
EARNINGSOPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGSLOSS
                                
 THREE MONTHS ENDED SIX MONTHS ENDED  THREE MONTHS ENDED NINE MONTHS ENDED
 JUNE 30 JUNE 30 JUNE 30 JUNE 30  SEPT 30 SEPT 30 SEPT 30 SEPT 30
 2008 2007 2008 2007  2008 2007 2008 2007
 ($000 omitted)  ($000 omitted) 
Revenues
  
Title insurance:  
Direct operations 200,688 270,428 381,275 500,042  176,381 234,161 557,655 734,203 
Agency operations 213,513 276,434 404,566 548,688  208,558 235,621 613,124 784,309 
 
Real estate information 11,302 16,497 26,018 33,030  9,110 16,510 35,128 49,540 
Investment income 7,456 9,168 15,534 18,219  7,015 8,800 22,551 27,018 
Investment and other (losses) gains — net  (4,412) 902  (4,709) 5,124   (5,832) 6,826  (10,541) 11,950 
                  
 428,547 573,429 822,684 1,105,103  395,232 501,918 1,217,917 1,607,020 
  
Expenses
  
Amounts retained by agencies 174,562 222,752 330,124 445,142  169,333 189,596 499,457 634,738 
Employee costs 146,076 179,096 298,039 355,888  140,006 170,422 438,045 526,310 
Other operating expenses 86,412 105,241 173,248 198,884  86,108 103,245 259,355 302,129 
Title losses and related claims 49,595 35,117 79,316 66,976  29,644 46,642 108,961 113,618 
Depreciation and amortization 8,950 10,149 18,041 20,034  8,360 10,403 26,401 30,437 
Impairment of other assets 6,011  6,011     6,011  
Interest 1,121 1,874 2,936 3,542  1,433 1,512 4,369 5,054 
                  
 472,727 554,229 907,715 1,090,466  434,884 521,820 1,342,599 1,612,286 
                  
  
(Loss) earnings before taxes and minority interests  (44,180) 19,200  (85,031) 14,637 
Income tax (benefit) expense  (17,526) 5,541  (34,288) 2,921 
Loss before taxes and minority interests  (39,652)  (19,902)  (124,682)  (5,266)
Income tax benefit  (11,269)  (9,162)  (45,556)  (6,241)
Minority interests 1,934 3,535 3,137 6,354  1,592 3,530 4,730 9,883 
                  
  
Net (loss) earnings
  (28,588) 10,124  (53,880) 5,362 
Net loss
  (29,975)  (14,270)  (83,856)  (8,908)
  
Other comprehensive (loss) earnings, net of taxes of
($4,122), ($154), ($4,036) and $294
  (7,654)  (286)  (7,496) 547 
Other comprehensive (loss) earnings, net of taxes of ($5,563), $3,963, ($9,600) and $4,258  (10,331) 7,360  (17,827) 7,907 
                  
  
Comprehensive (loss) earnings
  (36,242) 9,838  (61,376) 5,909 
Comprehensive loss
  (40,306)  (6,910)  (101,683)  (1,001)
                  
  
Basic (loss) earnings per share: 
Net (loss) earnings per share  (1.58) 0.55  (2.98) 0.29 
Basic and diluted loss per share: 
Net loss per share  (1.66)  (0.79)  (4.64)  (0.49)
 
Average shares outstanding 18,092 18,268 18,069 18,253  18,109 18,114 18,082 18,206 
                  
 
Diluted (loss) earnings per share: 
Net (loss) earnings per share  (1.58) 0.55  (2.98) 0.29 
Average shares outstanding 18,092 18,351 18,069 18,340 
         
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

- 1 -


STEWART INFORMATION SERVICES CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                
 JUNE 30 DEC 31  SEPT 30 DEC 31
 2008 2007  2008 2007
 ($000 omitted)  ($000 omitted)
Assets
  
Cash and cash equivalents 102,900 109,239  53,464 78,797 
Cash and cash equivalents — statutory reserve funds 145,697 30,442 
     
Total cash and cash equivalents 199,161 109,239 
 
Short-term investments 57,212 79,780  54,735 79,780 
Investments — statutory reserve funds 503,152 518,586  344,655 518,586 
Investments — other 83,721 98,511  75,730 98,511 
Receivables — premiums from agencies 37,968 48,040  35,903 48,040 
Receivables — income taxes 54,520 38,084  48,806 38,084 
Receivables — other 50,853 55,251  58,514 55,251 
Allowance for uncollectible amounts  (12,352)  (11,613)  (13,994)  (11,613)
Property and equipment 86,411 96,457 
Property and equipment — net 87,165 96,457 
Title plants 79,027 78,245  78,873 78,245 
Goodwill 209,879 208,824  210,033 208,824 
Intangible assets 12,986 17,157 
Intangible assets — net 11,999 17,157 
Other assets 103,986 105,413  122,477 105,413 
Investments — pledged 230,250  
     
      
 1,370,263 1,441,974  1,544,307 1,441,974 
          
  
Liabilities
  
Notes payable 116,799 108,714  146,811 108,714 
Line of credit 188,050  
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 93,501 122,167  92,933 122,167 
Estimated title losses 450,229 441,324  447,078 441,324 
Minority interests 14,775 15,710 
     
 675,304 687,915      
  874,872 672,205 
Contingent liabilities and commitments  
 
Minority interests 14,259 15,710 
  
Stockholders’ equity
  
Common and Class B Common Stock and additional paid-in capital 143,472 141,196  143,996 141,196 
Retained earnings 543,238 597,118  513,262 597,118 
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings 12,346 19,842  2,015 19,842 
Treasury stock — 330,407 Common shares  (4,097)  (4,097)  (4,097)  (4,097)
          
Total stockholders’ equity (18,145,998 and 18,031,110 shares outstanding) 694,959 754,059 
Total stockholders’ equity (18,154,817 and 18,031,110 shares outstanding) 655,176 754,059 
          
 1,370,263 1,441,974  
      1,544,307 1,441,974 
     
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

- 2 -


STEWART INFORMATION SERVICES CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                
 SIX MONTHS ENDED  NINE MONTHS ENDED
 JUNE 30 JUNE 30  SEPT 30 SEPT 30
 2008 2007  2008 2007
 ($000 omitted)  ($000 omitted)
Reconciliation of net (loss) earnings to cash (used) provided by operating activities: 
Net (loss) earnings  (53,880) 5,362 
Reconciliation of net loss to cash (used) provided by operating activities: 
Net loss  (83,856)  (8,908)
Add (deduct):  
Depreciation and amortization 18,041 20,034  26,401 30,437 
Impairment of other assets 6,011   6,011  
Other-than-temporary impairment of investments 2,647  
Net earnings from equity investees  (831)  (1,562)  (1,108)  (2,543)
Dividends received from equity investees 1,293 1,914  1,918 3,410 
Realized investment and other losses (gains) — net 4,709  (5,124) 7,894  (11,950)
Minority interests 3,137 6,354  4,730 9,883 
(Increase) decrease in receivables — net  (5,381) 5,980   (5,503) 3,517 
Increase in other assets — net  (168)  (5,149)
Decrease (increase) in other assets — net 6,316  (7,123)
Decrease in payables and accrued liabilities — net  (15,157)  (23,876)  (15,844)  (29,569)
Provisions for title losses in excess of payments 9,854 19,099  8,690 35,670 
Deferred income tax benefit  (16,755)  (6,156)  (34,561)  (9,695)
Other — net 2,487  (70) 4,559 1,681 
          
Cash (used) provided by operating activities
  (46,640) 16,806   (71,706) 14,810 
  
Investing activities:  
Purchases of investments  (418,831)  (161,490)
Proceeds from investments matured and sold 458,913 182,019 
Purchases of investments available-for-sale  (410,934)  (294,447)
Proceeds from investments available-for-sale matured and sold 602,975 316,593 
Purchases of investments — pledged  (241,525)  
Increases in notes receivable  (879)  (8,160)  (945)  (10,870)
Collections on notes receivable 4,245 1,150  4,564 1,340 
Purchases of property and equipment, title plants and real estate — net  (6,002)  (24,626)  (13,690)  (32,542)
Cash paid for acquisitions of subsidiaries — net (see below)  (357)  (9,165)  (514)  (9,664)
Cash paid for cost-basis investments, equity investees and related intangibles — net  (689)  (2,410)  (1,493)  (2,410)
Cash received for the sale of real estate 199  
Cash received for sale of real estate 333 4,971 
          
Cash provided (used) by investing activities
 36,599  (22,682)
Cash used by investing activities
  (61,229)  (27,029)
  
Financing activities:  
Proceeds from line of credit 199,325  
Proceeds from notes payable 16,913 16,453  45,756 18,116 
Payments on notes payable  (9,673)  (12,813)  (13,898)  (16,903)
Distributions to minority interests  (3,999)  (5,726)  (6,142)  (10,891)
Stock purchases   (9,472)
Proceeds from exercises of stock options 569 164  569 433 
          
Cash provided (used) by financing activities
 3,810  (1,922) 225,610  (18,717)
  
Effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates  (108)  (2,169)  (2,753) 6,898 
          
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents
  (6,339)  (9,967)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
 89,922  (24,038)
  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 109,239 136,137  109,239 136,137 
     
      
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 102,900 126,170  199,161 112,099 
          
  
Supplemental information:  
Assets acquired:  
Goodwill 1,024 11,999  1,178 12,848 
Investments  981   981 
Property and equipment  1,167   1,107 
Title plants  4,012   4,056 
Intangible assets  548   550 
Other 187 1,039 
Other — net 189 703 
Liabilities assumed   (5,477)   (5,477)
     
Debt issued  (854)  (5,104)  (853)  (5,104)
          
Cash paid for acquisitions of subsidiaries — net 357 9,165  514 9,664 
          
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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STEWART INFORMATION SERVICES CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1
Interim financial statements.The financial information contained in this report for the three and sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2008 and 2007, and as of JuneSeptember 30, 2008, is unaudited. This report should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.
A. Management’s responsibility.The accompanying interim financial statements were prepared by management, which is responsible for their integrity and objectivity. These financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), including management’s best judgments and estimates. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of this information for all interim periods, consisting only of normal recurring accruals, have been made. The Company’s results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year and actual results could differ from those estimates.
B. Reclassifications.Certain amounts in the 2007 interim financial statements have been reclassified for comparative purposes. Net earningsloss and stockholders’ equity, as previously reported, were not affected.
C. Consolidation.The condensed consolidated financial statements include all subsidiaries in which the Company owns more than 50% voting rights in electing directors and variable interest entities when required by FIN 46(R). All significant intercompany amounts and transactions have been eliminated and provisions have been made for minority interests. Unconsolidated investees, in which the Company typically owns 20% through 50% of the equity, are accounted for by the equity method.
NOTE 2
New significant accounting pronouncements.In May 2008, SFAS No. 163, “AccountingAccounting for Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts — an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 60,” was issued. SFAS 163 requires that an insurance enterprise recognizesenterprises recognize a claim liability prior to an event of default when there is evidence that credit deterioration has occurred in an insured financial obligation. SFAS 163 also clarifies how Statement 60 applies to financial guarantee insurance contracts, including the recognition and measurement to be used to account for premium revenue and claim liabilities, and requires expanded disclosures about financial guarantee insurance contracts. SFAS 163 is effective January 1, 2009, except for disclosures relating to risk-management activities of the insurance enterprise, which are effective for the first period beginning after issuance. The Company does not believe the adoption of SFAS 163 will have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.
In May 2008, SFAS No. 162, “TheThe Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles,” was issued. SFAS 162 identifies the sources of accounting principles and the framework for selecting the principles to be used in the preparation of financial statements of nongovernmental entities that are presented in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. SFAS 162 is effective 60 days following the SEC’s approval of the PCAOB’s amendments to AU §411, “The"The Meaning of Present Fairly in Conformity With Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.Principles.” The Company does not believe the adoption of SFAS 162 will have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.

- 4 -


In March 2008, SFAS No. 161, “DisclosuresDisclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities — an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133,” was issued. SFAS 161 amends and expands the disclosure requirements of SFAS 133, “AccountingAccounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.Activities.” SFAS 161 requires qualitative disclosures about objectives and strategies for using derivatives, quantitative disclosures about fair value amounts of gains and losses on derivative instruments and disclosures about credit risk-related contingent features in derivative agreements. SFAS 161 is effective January 1, 2009. The Company does not believe the adoption of SFAS 161 will have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.
In December 2007, SFAS No. 141(R), “BusinessBusiness Combinations,” was issued. SFAS 141(R) establishes principles and requirements for the financial statement recognition and measurement of identifiable assets acquired, liabilities assumed and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree. SFAS 141(R) also establishes the recognition and measurement of goodwill acquired in the business combination or gain from a bargain purchase and determines the financial statement disclosures related to the nature and financial effects of the business combination.
In December 2007, SFAS No. 160, “NoncontrollingNoncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements — an amendment of ARB No. 51,” was issued. SFAS 160 establishes accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling (minority) interest in, and the deconsolidation of, a subsidiary.
SFAS 141(R) and SFAS 160 are required to be adopted simultaneously and are effective January 1, 2009. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact that SFAS 141(R) and SFAS 160 will have on its consolidated financial statements.
NOTE 3
Fair value measurements.Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted SFAS No. 157, “FairFair Value Measurements,” which defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal, or most advantageous, market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. SFAS 157 establishes a three-level fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value. This hierarchy requires entities to maximize the use of observable inputs when possible. The three levels of inputs used to measure fair value are as follows:
  Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;
 
  Level 2 — observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data; and
 
  Level 3 — unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair values of the assets or liabilities, including certain pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies and similar techniques that use significant unobservable inputs.
The Company’s adoption of SFAS 157 did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements. The Company has segregated all financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis into the most appropriate level within the fair value hierarchy based on the inputs used to determine the fair value at the measurement date. FSP FAS 157-2 delayed the effective date for all nonfinancial assets and liabilities until January 1, 2009, except those that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis. Accordingly, the provisions of SFAS 157 were not applied to goodwill and other intangible assets that are measured annually for impairment testing purposes.

- 5 -


At JuneSeptember 30, 2008, assetsfinancial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below (in $ millions):below:
                 
              Fair value 
  Level 1  Level 2  Level 3  measurements 
Investments available-for-sale  195,517   364,358   26,998   586,873 
             
                 
              Fair value
  Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 measurements
      ($000 omitted)    
Short-term investments  54,735         54,735 
Investments available-for-sale  162,397   239,603   18,385   420,385 
Investments — pledged        230,250   230,250 
Line of credit        (188,050)  (188,050)
                 
                 
   217,132   239,603   60,585   517,320 
                 
At JuneSeptember 30, 2008, Level 1 investmentsfinancial instruments consist of short-term investments, U.S. and foreign government bonds and equity securities. Level 2 investmentsfinancial instruments consist of municipal and corporate bonds. Level 3 investmentsfinancial instruments consist of auction rate securities.securities and a line of credit.
Level 3 investmentsfinancial instruments are summarized below (in $ millions):below:
December 31, 2007
Purchases18,750
Transfers in9,450
Unrealized loss(1,202)
June 30, 200826,998
The total unrealized loss of $1.2 million relating to assets still held at June 30, 2008 is included in other comprehensive (loss) earnings — net in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings and comprehensive earnings for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, and accumulated other comprehensive earnings in the condensed consolidated balance sheet at June 30, 2008.
             
  Investments Investments –  
  available-for-sale pledged Line of credit
      ($000 omitted)    
December 31, 2007         
Purchased  28,693   241,525   (199,325)
Sold  (19,600)      
Transfers  9,450       
Unrealized (loss) gain  (158  (11,275)  11,275 
             
             
September 30, 2008  18,385   230,250   (188,050)
             
Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted SFAS No. 159, “TheThe Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities,” which provides entities the option to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. Entities that choose the fair value option will recognize in earnings, at each subsequent reporting date, any unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option was elected. The Company has chosen not to elect the fair value option for any items that are not already required to be measured at fair valuethe line of credit, which it entered into in accordanceSeptember 2008 in connection with U.S. GAAP.the auction rate securities settlement discussed in Note 7.
NOTE 4
Stock options.The Company accounts for its stock option plan in accordance with SFAS No. 123(R), “Share-BasedShare-Based Payment,” and uses the modified prospective method under which share-based compensation expense is recognized for new share-based awards granted and any outstanding awards that are modified, repurchased or cancelled subsequent to January 1, 2006. Compensation expense is based on the fair value of the options, which is estimated using the Black-Scholes Model. All options expire 10 years from the date of grant and are granted at the closing market price of the Company’s Common Stock on the date of grant. There are no unvested awards since all options are immediately exercisable.
There were no options granted during the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2008 and 2007, and accordingly, no compensation expense has been reflected in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements.

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A summary of the Company’s stock option plan follows:
                
 Weighted-  Weighted-
 average  average
 exercise  exercise
 Options prices ($)  Options prices ($)
December 31, 2007 426,400 29.69  426,400 29.69 
Granted      
Exercised  (29,000) 18.81   (29,000) 18.81 
        
June 30, 2008 397,400 30.48 
      
September 30, 2008 397,400 30.48 
     
At JuneSeptember 30, 2008, the weighted-average remaining contractual life of options outstanding was 5.04.7 years and the aggregate intrinsic value of dilutive options was $0.2$2.0 million. The aggregate intrinsic values of options exercised during the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2008 and 2007 were $0.3 million and $0.6 million, respectively. The tax benefits of options exercised during the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2008 and 2007 were not material.
During the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2008, the Company granted 42,000 shares of restricted Common Stock, at a fair value of $1.2 million, which will vest on December 31, 2008. Compensation expense associated with restricted stock awards will be recognized over the vesting period and approximated $0.4 million and $0.5$0.9 million for the three and sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2008, respectively.
NOTE 5
Earnings per share.The Company’s basic earnings per share isare calculated by dividing net earningsloss by the weighted-average number of shares of Common Stock and Class B Common Stock outstanding during the reporting period.
To calculate diluted earnings per share, the number of shares determined above is increased by assuming the issuance of all dilutive shares during the same reporting period. The treasury stock method is used to calculate the additional number of shares. The only potentially dilutive effect on earnings per share for the Company relates to its stock option plan.
In calculating the effect of dilutive options and determining diluted earnings per share, the weighted-average number of shares used in calculating basic earnings per share was increased by 83,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2007 and by 87,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2007. Options to purchase 133,000 shares were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007. These options were considered anti-dilutive since the exercise prices of the options were greater than the weighted-average market values of the shares.
As the Company reported a net loss for the three and sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2008 and 2007, there were no calculations of diluted per share amounts.

- 7 -


NOTE 6
Segment information.The Company’s two reportable segments are title insurance-related services (Title) and real estate information (REI). Selected financial information related to these segments follows:
                                
 Three months ended Six months ended  Three months ended Nine months ended
 June 30 June 30 June 30 June 30  Sept 30 Sept 30 Sept 30 Sept 30
 2008 2007 2008 2007  2008 2007 2008 2007
 ($000 omitted)  ($000 omitted) 
Revenues:  
Title 417,245 556,932 795,787 1,068,873 
Title(1)
 386,573 485,408 1,182,361 1,554,257 
REI(1)(2)
 11,302 16,497 26,897 36,230  8,659 16,510 35,556 52,763 
                  
 428,547 573,429 822,684 1,105,103  395,232 501,918 1,217,917 1,607,020 
                  
  
Intersegment revenues:  
Title 150 120 286 209  108 221 394 309 
REI 775 1,047 1,612 2,256  633 1,942 2,245 3,152 
                  
 925 1,167 1,898 2,465  741 2,163 2,639 3,461 
                  
  
Depreciation and amortization:  
Title 8,349 9,373 16,803 18,693  7,649 9,603 24,452 28,296 
REI 601 776 1,238 1,341  711 800 1,949 2,141 
                  
 8,950 10,149 18,041 20,034  8,360 10,403 26,401 30,437 
                  
  
(Loss) earnings before taxes and minority interests:  
Title  (35,763) 19,862  (77,308) 11,807 
REI(1) (2)
  (8,417)  (662)  (7,723) 2,830 
Title(1)
  (35,118)  (19,976)  (112,425)  (8,170)
REI(2) (3)
  (4,534) 74  (12,257) 2,904 
                  
  (44,180) 19,200  (85,031) 14,637   (39,652)  (19,902)  (124,682)  (5,266)
                  
 
(1) The six month periodsthree and nine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2007 include a $5.6 million gain from the sale of real estate, which is included in investment and other (losses) gains — net in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. The real estate was owned by a consolidated subsidiary, which has significant minority interest shareholders. After considering the effects of minority interests and taxes, the sale of real estate resulted in a net after-tax gain of approximately $2.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007.
(2)The nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 include pretax gains of $0.9$0.4 million and $3.2 million, respectively, from the sales of subsidiaries,non-operating activities, which are included in investment and other (losses) gains — net in the condensed consolidated statements of earningsoperations and comprehensive earnings.loss.
 
(2)(3) The three and sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2008 include a pretax charge of $6.0 million relating to the impairment of internally developed software that we subsequently determined will not be deployed into production.
                
 June 30 Dec 31  Sept 30 Dec 31
 2008 2007  2008 2007
 ($000 omitted)  ($000 omitted)
Identifiable assets:  
Title 1,309,618 1,369,649  1,253,941 1,369,649 
REI(4) 60,645 72,325  290,366 72,325 
          
 1,370,263 1,441,974  1,544,307 1,441,974 
          
(4)Identifiable assets at September 30, 2008 include $230.3 million in investments — pledged related to auction rate securities, which are used as security for a line of credit (see Note 7).

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NOTE 7
Contingent liabilities and commitments.The Company has qualified intermediaries providing tax-deferred property exchange services to its customers. Proceeds from tax-deferred property exchanges for customers are held in exchanger funds on behalf of customers until a qualifying exchange can occur, which resulted in a contingent liability to the Company of approximately $407.7$262.7 million at JuneSeptember 30, 2008 ($523.4407.7 million and $763.9 million at March 31,June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively). TheseAs required by federal income tax regulations, the Company takes legal title to these funds on behalf of the customer. However, due to the terms of these arrangements, these are exchangerconsidered to be the customers’ funds and, as is industry practice, are not included in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. However, theThe Company is obligated to its customers for the disbursements of the exchanger funds in accordance withpursuant to its customer agreements, and the Company is committed to fulfilling these obligations to its customers.
At JuneSeptember 30, 2008, after the execution of the line of credit agreement discussed below, the exchanger funds included approximately $355.0$121.4 million of auction rate securities (compared with $387.1$355.0 million at March 31,June 30, 2008). In October 2008, auction rate securities aggregating $20.4 million were redeemed resulting in a remaining balance of $101.0 million. These securities, purchased at par value, are comprised of $235.9 million of student loan funds substantially guaranteed by the U.S. government and $119.1 millionprimarily of preferred stocks issued by closed-end mutual funds. All of these auction rate securities are rated AAA or AA.
The amount of the Company’s contingent liability and liquidity relating to exchanger funds fluctuates based on the level of transaction volume, redemptions of auction rate securities and the completion (or cancellation) of transactions.
Since mid February 2008, there has not been a normal market for auction rate securities.securities, and the Company has not been able to sell its holdings as it normally would. The liquidity issue was caused by circumstances existing in the U.S. and global credit markets, which have been highly publicized. The Company believes that the absence of a normal market for auction rate securities has not materially affected the value or credit risk of the assets underlying the auction rate securities, and it continues to receive interest at contractually calculated rates.
Significant attention is currently being givenThe amount of the Company’s contingent liability and liquidity relating to exchanger funds fluctuates based on the level of transaction volume, redemptions or other means of restoring liquidity to auction rate securities byand the issuerscompletion (or cancellation) of the securities, the financial markets and federal and state government officials. However, no assurance can be given as to the timing of redemptions or the return to liquidity for these securities.transactions.
The Company hasbelieves that liquidity in the exchanger funds, in addition to the availability of certain corporate assets, and available borrowing capacity to provide liquidity for the exchanger funds.is adequate. When and as they occur, redemptions and conversions of auction rate securities would increase the liquidity of the exchanger accounts.
At JuneOn September 30, 2008, the Company entered into a $241.5 million line of credit agreement with a bank from which the Company had purchased $18.8 millionacquired auction rate securities. The line of credit is a demand loan in an amount equal to the full par value of the auction rate securities that secure the loan. The line of credit was initially drawn on September 30, 2008 in the amount of $199.3 million and on October 1, 2008 in the remaining amount of $42.2 million. The proceeds drawn from the line of credit on September 30, 2008 were used to provide liquidity of $79.8 million to the exchanger funds with the remaining amount used to refund the Company for auction rate securities previously purchased from the exchanger funds. Proceeds drawn on October 1, 2008 were utilized to repay the Company for cash advances of $42.2 million.
Under the terms of the line of credit agreement, the lender’s sole source of funds and included theseto repay the amounts drawn on the line of credit is limited to the auction rate securities pledged as collateral on the loan. The lender may sell or liquidate the collateral at any time in which case the lender’s only recourse is to the proceeds of that sale or liquidation. The line of credit is structured such that there is no anticipated net cost to the Company (the interest charged on the line of credit is expected to be offset by the interest earned on the auction rate securities). The lender may pursue a deficiency if certain recourse events occur, including an interest payment default (but not a default in payment of principal), breach of a covenant or an event of bankruptcy or insolvency. The Company expects the line of credit to be repaid in full by June 2010 through the transfer of collateral (the auction rate securities) at par value under the line of credit agreement or potentially sooner pursuant to the lender’s settlement with state regulatory agencies.

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As a result of the line of credit, the Company has recorded $241.5 million in auction rate securities on its consolidated balance sheet at JuneSeptember 30, 2008. These auction rate securities are currently classified as trading securities, and accordingly, any changes in the fair value of the securities are charged to earnings. For the three months ended September 30, 2008, an impairment charge of $11.2 million was recorded to investment income, which reduced the carrying value of the auction rate securities to $230.3 million. The Company has also elected to apply the fair value provisions of SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities,” to the related line of credit agreement, including the unfunded commitment. As a result, the line of credit was also reduced to its fair value ($188.1 million), which was determined based on the value of the underlying collateral that will be utilized to satisfy the obligation, and an offsetting reduction (credit) totaling $11.2 million of the line of credit balance was recorded to investment income. These fair value adjustments resulted in an unrealized lossno net impact in the consolidated statements of $0.8 million reflected in other comprehensive earningsoperations for the three and sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2008. Subsequent to June 30, 2008, the Company acquired an additional $81.2 million of auction rate securities from the exchanger funds and advanced $40.2 million of cash to the exchanger funds. While the Company cannot predict the amount of any additional securities that it may acquire from the exchanger funds or the amount of any impairment that may ultimately be recognized on these holdings, if any, the Company does not believe such amounts will be material to its consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
At JuneSeptember 30, 2008, the Company was contingently liable for guarantees of indebtedness owed primarily to banks and others by certain third parties. The guarantees primarily relate to business expansion and expire no later than 2019. At JuneSeptember 30, 2008, the maximum potential future payments on the guarantees amounted to $13.6$7.1 million. Management believes that the related underlying assets and available collateral, primarily corporate stock and title plants, would enable the Company to recover amounts paid under the guarantees. The Company believes no provision for losses is needed since no loss is expected on these guarantees.

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In the ordinary course of business, the Company guarantees the third-party indebtedness of certain of its consolidated subsidiaries. At JuneSeptember 30, 2008, the maximum potential future payments on the guarantees are not more than the related notes payable recorded in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Company also guarantees the indebtedness related to lease obligations of certain of its consolidated subsidiaries. The maximum future obligations arising from these lease-related guarantees are not more than the Company’s future minimum lease payments. In addition, at JuneSeptember 30, 2008, the Company had unused letters of credit amounting to $3.7$3.6 million primarily related to workers’ compensation coverage.
The Company is also subject to lawsuits incidental to its business, most of which involve disputed policy claims. In many of these lawsuits, the plaintiff seeks exemplary or treble damages in excess of policy limits based on the alleged malfeasance of an issuing agency. The Company does not expect that any of these proceedings will have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial condition or results of operations. Additionally, the Company has received various other inquiries from governmental regulators concerning practices in the insurance industry. Many of these practices do not concern title insurance and the Company does not anticipate that the outcome of these inquiries will materially affect its consolidated financial condition or results of operations. Along with the other major title insurance companies, the Company is party to a number of class actions concerning the title insurance industry and believes that it has adequate reserves for these contingencies and that the likely resolution of these matters will not materially affect its consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
NOTE 8
Regulatory and legal developments.In January 2007, the California Insurance Commissioner filed a rate reduction order that would have reduced title insurance rates in California by 26% commencing in 2009. However, the Company believes that California law requires rates to be established competitively and not by administrative order. This rate reduction order was rejected by the California Office of Administrative Law in February 2007. In May 2007, California’s Insurance Commissioner submitted revised regulations that, in addition to reducing rates effective in 2010, would have increased financial and operating data, market conduct examinations and other regulatory requests by the California Department of Insurance (CDOI). In October 2007, subsequent to several title insurance industry meetings with the CDOI, the state’s Insurance Commissioner proposed to reduce the requirements of data and market conduct requests, delay the effective date to 2011, and eliminate the interim rate reduction previously submitted to the CDOI. These proposals are contingent upon the ongoing work of the title insurance industry with the CDOI to identify alternative methods of providing the additional data and reforming the existing rate structure. In June 2008, the CDOI released for public notice and comment revised regulations that place certain limits on payments by title insurance marketing representatives to agents and brokers, eliminate the interim rate reduction and the maximum rate formula, and substantially scale back the proposed financial data call on title insurance companies. The final regulations are expected to be filed by the end of 2008.
The Company cannot predict the outcome of proposed regulations. However, to the extent that rate decreases are mandated in the future, the outcome could materially affect its consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
The Company also is subject to other administrative actions and inquiries into its conduct of business in certain of the states in which it operates. While the Company cannot predict the outcome of these matters, it believes that it has adequately reserved for these matters and that the outcome will not materially affect its consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

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In February 2008, an antitrust class action was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York against Stewart Title Insurance Company, Monroe Title Insurance Corporation, Stewart Information Services Corporation (SISCO), several other unaffiliated title insurance companies, and the Title Insurance Rate Service Association, Inc. (TIRSA). The complaint alleges that the defendants violated Section 1 of the Sherman Act by collectively filing proposed rates for title insurance in New York through TIRSA, a state-authorized and licensed rate service organization.
Complaints were subsequently filed in the federal district courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York and federal district courts in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, Florida, Massachusetts, Arkansas, California, Washington, West Virginia, and Texas. All of the complaints make similar allegations, except that certain of the complaints also allege violations of RESPA statutes and various state consumer protection laws. The complaints generally request treble damages in an unspecified amount, declaratory and injunctive relief, and attorneys’ fees. At least 7377 such complaints are currently pending, each of which names SISCO and/or one or more of its affiliates as a defendant. Although the Company cannot predict the outcome of these actions, it intends to vigorously defend itself against the allegations and does not believe that the outcome will materially affect its consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
The Company is also subject to lawsuits incidental to its business, most of which involve disputed policy claims. In many of these lawsuits, the plaintiff seeks exemplary or treble damages in excess of policy limits based on the alleged malfeasance of an issuing agency. The Company does not expect that any of these proceedings will have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial condition or results of operations. Additionally, the Company has received various other inquiries from governmental regulators concerning practices in the insurance industry. Many of these practices do not concern title insurance and the Company does not anticipate that the outcome of these inquiries will materially affect its consolidated financial condition or results of operations. Along with the other major title insurance companies, the Company is party to a number of class action lawsuits concerning the title insurance industry and believes that it has adequate reserves for these contingencies and that the likely resolution of these matters will not materially affect its consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Management’s overview.We incurred a net loss of $53.9$83.9 million for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2008 compared with a net earningsloss of $5.4$8.9 million for the same period in 2007. On a diluted per share basis, our net loss was $2.98$4.64 for the first sixnine months of 2008 compared with a net earningsloss of $0.29$0.49 for the first sixnine months of 2007. Revenues for the first sixnine months of 2008 decreased 25.6%24.2% to $822.7 million$1.2 billion from $1.1$1.6 billion for the same period last year.
Our year-to-date loss reflectsIssues in the continuing declinecredit markets intensified significantly during the third quarter of 2008, which resulted in our orders, and therefore revenues, resulting froma severe tightening of available credit. Residential building permits on an annualized basis have fallen to the decrease in new and existinglowest level since prior to 1980. Existing home sales homewere 7.7% less on a seasonally adjusted annualized basis in the third quarter of 2008 when compared with the same period in 2007. This is a direct result of oversupply, foreclosures, declining prices, constructioneconomic uncertainty and more stringent loan underwriting standards, in spite of lower interest rates. Commercial transactions have also been negatively impacted as a result of the financial market tightening and limited lending coupled with worsening policy claims payment experience and a software impairment charge in our REI segment.due to more stringent underwriting standards. Our international operations remainremained profitable for the third quarter and year-to-date periods, somewhat offsetting in part, ourthe loss in our U.S. residential operations. In addition, our overall results for the third quarter and year-to-date 2008 reflect the benefits of our ongoing cost reduction initiatives.
We continue to respond to declining market conditions by aggressively reducing variablecut operations that show continuing losses and fixed expenses, reducing our employee count and closing unprofitable branch and office locations. In addition, weunacceptable risk exposure. We have also canceled 1,750 independent agencies since June 1, 2008. The agencies being canceled are responding strategically to this downturn by implementing cost reductions throughout our Company and we remain committedrelatively minor to our long-term strategies and restructuring efforts in this extremely difficult real estate environment. Our shared-services initiatives are progressing and we have contracted several national relationships that will result in procurement savings. These initiatives and relationships have significant potential for process improvements and cost reductions. We are also consolidating manytotal revenues although they represent a sizeable portion of our separate corporate entities to better serveclaims and management-related expenses. These cancellations are being accompanied by significant staff and overhead expense reductions within our customers, streamline our administrative functions and reduce fixed costs.underwriting companies.
We are experiencing higher than expected payments of policy claims relating to certain prior policy years and are continuing to make progress in reducing our risk exposure through the review and cancellation of higher-risk title agencies and auditing potential title agencies prior to adding them to our agency network.
Fannie Mae and other industryIndustry experts expect the downturn in the real estate and related lending markets to continue through at least 2009.mid-2009. Therefore, we expect that our consolidated financial condition and results of operations will continue to be subject to adverse market conditions.
Critical accounting estimates.Actual results can differ from our accounting estimates. While we do not anticipate significant changes in our estimates, there is a risk that such changes could have a material impact on our consolidated financial condition or results of operations for future periods.
Title loss reserves
Our most critical accounting estimate is providing for title loss reserves. Our liability for estimated title losses at JuneSeptember 30, 2008 comprises both known claims ($119.3121.9 million) and our estimate of claims that may be reported in the future ($330.9325.2 million). The amount of the reserve represents the aggregate future payments (net of recoveries) that we expect to incur on policy and escrow losses and in costs to settle claims.
We base our estimates on reported claims, historical loss payment experience, title industry averages and the current legal and economic environment. In making estimates, we use moving-average ratios of recent actual policy loss payment experience (net of recoveries) to premium revenues.
Provisions for title losses, as a percentage of title operating revenues, were 10.1%9.3% and 6.4%7.5% for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Actual loss payment experience, including the impact of large losses, is the primary reason for increases or decreases in our loss provision. A change of 100 basis points in this percentage, a reasonably likely scenario based on our historical loss experience, would have changed our provision for title losses and pretax earningsloss approximately $7.9$11.7 million for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2008.

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Estimating future loss payments is difficult and our assumptions are subject to change. Claims, by their very nature, are complex and involve uncertainties as to the dollar amount and timing of individual payments. Our experience has been that most policy claims and claim payments are made in the first six years after the policy has been issued, although claims are incurred and paid many years later.

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We have consistently followed the same basic method of estimating and recording our loss reserves for more than 10 years. As part of our process, we also obtain input from third-party actuaries regarding our methodology and resulting reserve calculations. While we are responsible for determining our loss reserves, we utilize this actuarial input to assess the overall reasonableness of our reserve estimation.
Agency revenues
We recognize revenues on title insurance policies written by independent agencies (agencies) when the policies are reported to us. In addition, where reasonable estimates can be made, we accrue for revenues on policies issued but not reported until after period end. We believe that reasonable estimates can be made when recent and consistent policy issuance information is available. Our estimates are based on historical reporting patterns and other information about our agencies. We also consider current trends in our direct operations and in the title industry. In this accrual, we are not estimating future transactions. We are estimating revenues on policies that have already been issued by agencies but not yet reported to or received by us. We have consistently followed the same basic method of estimating unreported policy revenues for more than 10 years.
Our accruals for revenues on unreported policies from agencies were not material to our consolidated assets or stockholders’ equity at JuneSeptember 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007. The differences between the amounts our agencies have subsequently reported to us compared to our estimated accruals are substantially offset by any differences arising from prior years’ accruals and have been immaterial to consolidated assets and stockholders’ equity during each of the three prior years. We believe our process provides the most reliable estimate of the unreported revenues on policies and appropriately reflects the trends in agency policy activity.
Goodwill and other long-lived assets
Our goodwill evaluation is completed annually in the third quarter using June 30 balances and when events may indicate impairment. We also evaluate the carrying values of title plants and other long-lived assets when events occur that may indicate impairment. The process of determining impairment relies on projections of future cash flows, operating results and market conditions. Uncertainties exist in these projections and are subject to changes relating to factors such as interest rates and overall real estate market conditions. Actual market conditions and operating results may vary materially from our projections.
Based on this evaluation, we estimate and expense to current operations any loss in value of these assets. As part of our process, we obtain input from third-party appraisers regarding the fair value of our reporting units. While we are responsible for assessing whether an impairment of goodwill exists, we utilize the input from third-party appraisers to assess the overall reasonableness of our conclusions.
In the second quarter of 2008, our REI segment incurred an impairment charge of $6.0 million relating to its internally developed software that we subsequently determined will not be deployed into production. There were no other material impairment write-offs ofcharges for goodwill or other long-lived assets during the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2008 or 2007.

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Operations.Our business has two operating segments: title insurance-related services and real estate information (REI). These segments are closely related due to the nature of their operations and common customers.
Our primary business is title insurance and settlement-related services. We close transactions and issue title policies on homes and commercial and other real properties located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and in international markets. We also provide post-closing lender services, automated county clerk land records, property ownership mapping, geographic information systems, property information reports, document preparation, background checks and expertise in Internal Revenue Code Section 1031 tax-deferred exchanges.

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Factors affecting revenues.The principal factors that contribute to changes in operating revenues for our title and REI segments include:
  mortgage interest rates;
 
  ratio of purchase transactions compared with refinance transactions;
 
  home prices;
 
  consumer confidence;
 
  demand by buyers;
 
  number of households;
 
  availability of loans for borrowers;
 
  premium rates;
 
  market share;
 
  opening of new offices and acquisitions; and
 
  number of commercial transactions, which typically yield higher premiums.
To the extent inflation causes increases in the prices of homes and other real estate, premium revenues are also increased. Premiums are determined in part by the insured values of the transactions we handle. These factors may override the seasonal nature of the title insurance business. Historically, our first quarter is the least active and our fourth quarter is the most active in terms of title insurance revenues.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Comparisons of our results of operations for the three and sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2008 with the three and sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2007 follow. Factors contributing to fluctuations in our results of operations are presented in the order of their monetary significance and we have quantified, when necessary, significant changes. Results from our REI segment are included in our discussions regarding the three and sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2008 as those amounts are immaterial in relation to consolidated totals. WhenWhere relevant, we have discussed our REI segment’s results separately.
Our statements on home sales and loan activity are based on published industry data from sources including Fannie Mae, the National Association of Realtors®, the Mortgage Bankers Association and Freddie Mac. We also use information from our direct operations.
Operating environment.Sales of new and existing homes decreased 33.2% and 16.7%, respectively,33.1% for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2008 compared with the same period in 2007. JuneSeptember 2008 existing home sales were atincreased 1.4% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.865.18 million versus 5.755.11 million a year earlier. In addition, existing home prices have fallen 6.1%9.0% since JuneSeptember 2007. One-to-four family residential lending declined 24.0%23.8%, from an estimated $1.35$1.96 trillion in the first sixnine months of 2007 to $1.03$1.50 trillion in the first sixnine months of 2008. The decline in lending volume was primarily a result of decreasing home sales, lower home prices and reduced financing activity primarily due to tightening of mortgage lending practices and constrictions in the credit markets.more stringent loan underwriting standards. However, mortgage interest rates averaged 3028 basis points lower for the first sixnine months of 2008 compared with the same period in 2007.
Commercial transactionsThe Mortgage Bankers Association reported that commercial and multifamily mortgage loan originations and property sales nationwide experienced a decline of approximately 69.5%declined 63.0% and 68.0%, respectively, during the first foursix months of 2008 (latest available information) compared with the first foursix months of 2007 and are expected to decline approximately 40.0% for the year 2008.

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Fannie Mae and other industry2007. Industry experts expect the downturn in the real estate and related lending markets to continue through at least 2009.mid-2009. Therefore, our consolidated financial condition and results of operations will continue to be subject to adverse market conditions.

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SixNine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2008 compared with sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2007
Title revenues.Our revenues from direct operations decreased $118.8$176.5 million, or 23.8%24.0%, in the first sixnine months of 2008 compared with the first sixnine months of 2007. The largest revenue decreases were in California, Texas and New York, partially offset by increasesan increase in New Jersey and our Canadian operations.Jersey.
Revenues from commercial and other large transactions, which are included within direct operations, decreased $18.3$32.1 million, or 20.8%25.6%, in the first sixnine months of 2008 from prior-year levels, which was less than the overall decline in the nationwide commercial market, as noted above. Commercial revenues represented 18.3%16.7% and 17.6%17.1% of direct title premium revenues for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
Our order levels for the first sixnine months of 2008 compared with the first sixnine months of 2007 decreased 19.6%22.4% as a result of a significant decrease in home sales and reduced financing activity relating primarily to tightening of mortgage lending practices and constrictions in the credit markets.
The number of direct closings we handled decreased 21.9%23.4% in the first sixnine months of 2008 compared with the first sixnine months of 2007. The average revenue per closing decreased 4.2% in the first sixnine months of 2008 duewas comparable to lower home prices and a reduced numberthat of commercial transactions.the first nine months of 2007.
Revenues from agencies decreased $144.1$171.2 million, or 26.3%21.8%, for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2008 compared with the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2007. This decrease was due to the overall decline in business related to current market conditions, which resulted in a reduction in home sales and home prices in most markets. The largest decreases in revenues were in Florida, New York, Maryland and California.Pennsylvania, partially offset by increases in Ohio and Massachusetts.
REI revenues.Real estate information operating revenues were $26.0$35.1 million and $33.0$49.5 million in the first sixnine months of 2008 and 2007, respectively. The decrease of 21.2%29.1% from 2007 resulted primarily from the reduction in residential lending volume, which impacts our real estate-related transactions, and the reduction in number of Section 1031 tax-deferred property exchanges caused by the continued decline in the real estate markets.
In January 2007, we sold our mapping and aerial photography businesses. We recorded a pretax gain of $3.2 million from the sale of these subsidiaries, which is in investment and other (losses) gains — net in our consolidated statements of earningsoperations and comprehensive earnings.loss. The impact of the sale was not material to our consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Investments.Investment income decreased $2.7$4.5 million, or 14.7%16.5%, for the first sixnine months of 2008 compared with the first sixnine months of 2007 due to decreases in average invested balances and yields. Certain investment gains and losses, which are included in our results of operations in investment and other (losses) gains — net, were realized as part of the ongoing management of our investment portfolio for the purpose of improving performance.
Investment and other (losses) gains — net includes the sale of investment securities, as well as the disposition of other assets. We incurred a net realized investment loss of $4.7$10.5 million for the first sixnine months of 2008, which was a $9.8$22.5 million decrease from the first sixnine months of 2007. This decrease was primarily the result of charges totaling $4.4 million for office closures, $3.7 million for the write down of equity and cost-basis investments. investments and $2.6 million for an impairment of equity securities held for investment.
The first sixnine months ofended September 30, 2007 reflectedinclude a $5.6 million gain onfrom the sale of two REIreal estate (in addition to the gain on sale of subsidiaries as described above.noted above), which is included in our results of operations in investment and other gains — net. The real estate was owned by a consolidated subsidiary, which has significant minority interest shareholders. After considering the effects of minority interests and taxes, the sale of real estate resulted in a net gain of approximately $2.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007.

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Retention by agencies.The amounts retained by title agencies, as a percentage of revenues generated by them, were 81.6%81.5% and 81.1%80.9% in the first sixnine months of 2008 and 2007, respectively. Amounts retained by title agencies are based on agreements between agencies and our underwriters. This retention percentage may vary from year-to-year due to the geographical mix of agency operations, the volume of title revenues and, in some states, laws or regulations.

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Employee costs.Our employee costs and certain other operating expenses are sensitive to inflation. Employee costs for the combined business segments decreased $57.8$88.3 million, or 16.3%16.8%, to $298.0$438.0 million for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2008 from $355.9$526.3 million for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2007. We reduced our employee count company-wide by 810,1,300, or 9.6%15.2%, during the first sixnine months of 2008, which brings our total reduction to 2,400,2,900 employees, or 24.6 %,29.3%, since the beginning of 2007. The decline in employee costs for the first sixnine months of 2008 was due to the result of the closure of 68110 unprofitable branch and office locations and other cost reduction efforts.
In our REI segment, employee costs for the first sixnine months of 2008 decreased $6.2$8.8 million, or 24.4%23.9%, from the same period in 2007, which is consistent with the decrease in this segment’s businesses.
Other operating expenses.Most of our operating expenses are fixed in nature, although some follow, to varying degrees, the changes in transaction volume and revenues. Other operating expenses decreased $25.6$42.8 million, or 12.9%14.2%, in the first sixnine months of 2008 compared with the first sixnine months of 2007 primarily due to the overall decrease in our operations. This expense decline includes a reduction in outside search fees, relating to the decline in our commercial business in addition to reductions inpromotion, premium taxes due to the decline in our revenues, certain REI expenses, litigation related to regulatory and other matters, rent, including other occupancy costs, business promotion and office supplies. These decreases were offset somewhat by increases in insurance and bad debt expenses. Other operating expenses also include travel, telephone, attorneys’ fees, telephone,delivery fees, title plant expenses, auto expenses delivery fees, travel, reinsurance and title plant expenses.reinsurance.
Title losses.Provisions for title losses, as a percentage of title operating revenues, were 10.1%9.3% and 6.4%7.5% for the first sixnine months of 2008 and 2007, respectively. An increase in loss payment experience for recent policy years resulted in an increase in our loss ratio in 2008. The first sixnine months of 2008 includesalso include additions to our reserves of $15.8$14.0 million for prior policy years and $28.2 million relating to large title claims and agency defalcations and fraudulent transactions, and reserve adjustmentsdefalcations. These additions were offset by a reduction in title losses due to recoveries recorded of $12.0$10.0 million relating to higher than expected loss payment experience for certain prior policy years.from claims we filed against our fidelity bond. The first sixnine months of 2007 includesinclude additions to title loss reserves of $7.4$13.4 million relating to large claims.title claims and reserve adjustments totaling $11.1 million relating to 2007 and earlier prior year policies.
Impairment of other assets.In June 2008, our REI segment incurred an impairment charge of $6.0 million relating to its internally developed software that we subsequently determined will not be deployed into production.
Income taxes.Our effective tax rates, based on earningslosses before taxes and after deducting minority interests (a loss(losses of $88.2$129.4 million and earnings of $8.3$15.1 million for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively), were 38.9%35.2% and 35.3%41.2% for the first sixnine months of 2008 and 2007, respectively. Our effective income tax rate increased in the first six months of 2008 primarilyfluctuates due to the level of our operating losses compared with our significant permanent differences, such as tax-exempt interest, which remain relatively fixed in amount, and the ratio of earnings from our international operations compared with our consolidated U.S. operating losses. Our estimated effective tax rate for 2008 is 35.2% and our annual effective tax rate was 37.3% for 2007.
Three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2008 compared with three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2007
Title revenues.Our revenues from direct operations were $69.7$57.8 million, or 25.8%24.7%, lower in the secondthird quarter of 2008 compared with the secondthird quarter of 2007. The largest revenue decreases were in California, Texas and New York.Washington.

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Revenues from commercial and other large transactions decreased $14.6$13.7 million, or 29.0%36.8%, in the secondthird quarter of 2008 compared with the same period in the prior year. Commercial revenues represented 17.8%13.3% and 18.6%15.9% of direct title premium revenues for the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
Our order levels for the secondthird quarter of 2008 compared with the secondthird quarter of 2007 decreased 26.7%26.9% as a result of a significant decrease in home sales and reduced financing activity relating primarily to tightening of mortgage lending practices and constrictions in the credit markets.

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The number of direct closings we handled in the secondthird quarter of 2008 compared with the secondthird quarter of 2007 decreased 25.2%26.8%. The average revenue per closing in the secondthird quarter of 2008 was comparable to that of the secondthird quarter 2007.
Revenues from agencies were $62.9$27.1 million, or 22.8%11.5%, lower for the quarter ended JuneSeptember 30, 2008 compared with the quarter ended JuneSeptember 30, 2007. This decrease was due to the overall decline in business related to current market conditions resulting in a reduction in home sales and home prices in most markets. The largest decreases were in Florida, New YorkJersey and California,New York, partially offset by increasesan increase in Texas and Massachusetts.California.
REI revenues.Real estate information operating revenues were $11.3$9.1 million and $16.5 million for the secondthird quarters of 2008 and 2007, respectively. The 31.5%44.8% decrease from 2007 resulted primarily from the reduction in residential lending volume, which impacts our real estate-related transactions, and in the number of Section 1031 tax-deferred property exchanges caused by the continued decline in the real estate markets.
Investments.Investment income decreased $1.7$1.8 million, or 18.7%20.3%, for the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2008 compared with the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2007 due to decreases in yields and average invested balances. Certain investment gains and losses, which are included in our results of operations in investment and other (losses) gains — net, were realized as part of the ongoing management of our investment portfolio for the purpose of improving performance.
We incurred a net realized investment loss of $4.4$5.8 million for the secondthird quarter of 2008, which was a $5.3$12.7 million decrease from the secondthird quarter of 2007. This decrease was primarily the result of charges aggregating $2.4 million relating to office closures and a $2.6 million charge for other-than-temporary impairment of investments.
The three months ended September 30, 2007 include a $5.6 million gain from the write downsale of equityreal estate, which is included in our results of operations in investment and cost-basis investments.other (losses) gains — net. The real estate was owned by a consolidated subsidiary, which has significant minority interest shareholders. After considering the effects of minority interests and taxes, the sale of real estate resulted in a net gain of approximately $2.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007.
Retention by agencies.The amounts retained by title agencies, as a percentage of revenues generated by them, were 81.8%81.2% and 80.6%80.5% in the secondthird quarters of 2008 and 2007, respectively. Amounts retained by title agencies are based on agreements between agencies and our underwriters. This retention percentage may vary from year-to-year due to the geographical mix of agency operations, the volume of title revenues and, in some states, laws or regulations.
Employee costs.Our employee costs and certain other operating expenses are sensitive to inflation. Employee costs for the combined business segments decreased $33.0$30.4 million, or 18.4%17.8%, to $146.1$140.0 million for the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2008 from $179.1$170.4 million for the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2007. We reduced our employee count company-wide by 350470 employees during the secondthird quarter of 2008 as a result of the closure of 5140 unprofitable branch and office locations and other cost reduction efforts taken by us.
In our REI segment, total employee costs for the secondthird quarter of 2008 decreased $3.6$2.6 million, or 28.2%23.0%, from the same period in 2007, which is consistent with the decrease in this segment’s businesses.

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Other operating expenses.Most of our operating expenses are fixed in nature, although some follow, to varying degrees, the changes in transaction volume and revenues. Other operating expenses decreased $18.8$17.1 million, or 17.9%16.6%, in the secondthird quarter of 2008 compared with the secondthird quarter of 2007 primarily due to the overall decrease in our operations. This expense decline includes a reduction in outside search fees relating to the decline in our commercial business, in addition to reductions in business promotion, premium taxes due to the decline in our revenues,technology costs, rent, including other occupancy, certain REI expenses, office supplies, premium taxes and office supplies.travel, partially offset by an increase in insurance. Other operating expenses also include delivery fees, autotitle plant expenses, technology costs,outside searches, delivery, telephone and title plantauto expenses.
Title losses.Provisions for title losses, as a percentage of title operating revenues, were 12.0%7.7% and 6.4%9.9% in the secondthird quarters of 2008 and 2007, respectively. The quarter ended JuneSeptember 30, 2008 includes $11.2$10.5 million for loss reserves relating to large title agency defalcations and fraudulent transactionsclaims and a reserve adjustment$2.0 million charge to reserves relating to prior policy years. These increases were offset by a reduction in title losses due to recoveries recorded of $10.0 million relating to greater than expected loss payment experience for certain prior policy years.

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Impairment of other assets.In June 2008,from claims we filed against our REI segment incurred an impairment chargefidelity bond. The quarter ended September 30, 2007 includes charges of $6.0 million relating to its internally developed software that we subsequently determined will not be deployed into production.large title claims and $11.1 million relating to current and prior year policies.
Income taxes.Our effective tax rates, based on earnings before taxes and after deducting minority interests (a loss(losses of $46.1$41.2 million and earnings of $15.7$23.4 million for the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively), were 38.0%27.3% and 35.4%39.1% for the quarters ended JuneSeptember 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Our effective income tax rate increased in the second quarter of 2008 primarilyfluctuates due to the level of our operating losses compared with our significant permanent differences, such as tax-exempt interest, which remain relatively fixed in amount and the ratio of earnings from our international operations compared with our consolidated U.S. operating losses. Our estimated effective tax rate for 2008 is 35.2% and our annual effective tax rate was 37.3% for 2007.
Liquidity.Cash used by operations was $46.6$71.7 million for the first sixnine months of 2008 compared with cash provided by operations of $16.8$14.8 million for the first sixnine months of 2007. The decline in 2008 was due primarily to the decreaseincrease in our net earningsloss and the increase in payments of title claims. On an annualongoing basis, we believe our cash flow fromgenerated by operations, supplemented as needed by bank borrowings for operations, will continue to be the primary sources of financing for additions to property and equipment, expanding operations, dividends to stockholders purchases of our Common Stock and other requirements. We believe our current availability of cash and unrestricted investments is sufficient to meet these future cash needs.
The most significant non-operating source of cash in the first sixnine months of 2008 and 2007 was from the proceeds of investments matured and sold in the amounts of $458.9$603.0 million and $182.0$316.6 million, respectively. In the first sixnine months of 2008 and 2007, we used cash to purchase $418.8$410.9 million and $161.5$294.4 million of investments, respectively.
Unrealized gains and losses on investments available-for-sale, net of taxes, are reported in accumulated other comprehensive earnings, a component of stockholders’ equity, until realized. During the first sixnine months of 2008, and 2007, unrealized investment losses decreasedincreased our comprehensive loss $12.5 million, net of taxes, but increased comprehensive earnings $6.9$1.0 million, and $3.6 million, respectively, net of taxes.taxes, during the first nine months of 2007. The 2008 unrealized investment losses were related to temporary declines in market values of equity investments and changes in bond values caused by interest rate fluctuations. The 2007 unrealized investment lossesgains were primarily related to changes in bond values caused by interest rate increases.decreases.
Foreign currency exchange rates, primarily related to our Canadian operations, decreasedincreased comprehensive earnings $0.6loss by $5.3 million, net of taxes, for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2008 and increased comprehensive earnings $4.1by $6.9 million, net of taxes, for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2007.
During the first sixnine months of 2008, incremental investments in affiliates resulted in additions to goodwill of $1.0$1.2 million. During the first sixnine months of 2007, acquisitions resulted in additions to goodwill of $12.0$12.8 million.

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A substantial majority of our consolidated cash and investments at JuneSeptember 30, 2008 was held by Stewart Title Guaranty Company (Guaranty) and its subsidiaries. The use and investment of these funds, dividends to us and cash transfers between Guaranty and its subsidiaries and us are subject to certain legal restrictions. See Notes 2 and 3 to our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.
During 2008, we also purchased $241.5 million of investments from our exchanger funds (see Note 7 to condensed consolidated financial statements). In connection with these purchases, we drew $199.3 million of funds on September 30, 2008 under the related line of credit (and an additional $42.2 million on October 1, 2008). Under the terms of the line of credit, these borrowings are expected to be repaid from investments — pledged and are not expected to result in any future cash payments by us.
Our liquidity at JuneSeptember 30, 2008, excluding Guaranty and its subsidiaries, consisted of cash and short-term investments aggregating $11.4$13.3 million and short-term liabilities of $4.9$5.3 million. We know of no commitments or uncertainties that are likely to materially affect our ability to fund cash needs, except as discussed below in contingent liabilities and commitments.

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Loss reserves.Our title loss reserves are fully funded, segregated and invested in high-quality securities, and short-term investments and cash, as required by the insurance regulators of the states in which our underwriters are domiciled. At JuneSeptember 30, 2008, these investments and cash aggregated $461.9$598.7 million and our estimated title loss reserves were $450.2$447.1 million.
Historically, our operating cash flow has been sufficient to pay all title policy losses. Combining our expected annual cash flow providedgenerated by operating activitiesoperations with investments maturing in less than one year, we do not expect future loss payments to create a liquidity problem for us. Beyond providing funds for loss payments, we manage the maturities of our investment portfolio to provide safety of capital, improve earnings and mitigate interest rate risks.
Contingent liabilities and commitments.We have qualified intermediaries providing tax-deferred property exchange services to our customers. Proceeds from tax-deferred property exchanges for customers are held in exchanger funds on behalf of our customers until a qualifying exchange can occur, which resulted in a contingent liability to us of approximately $407.7$262.7 million at JuneSeptember 30, 2008 ($523.4407.7 million and $763.9 million at March 31,June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively). TheseAs required by federal income tax regulations, we take legal title to these funds on behalf of the customer. However, due to the terms of these arrangements, these are exchangerconsidered to be our customers’ funds and, as is industry practice, are not included in our consolidated balance sheets. However, weWe are obligated to our customers for the disbursements of the exchanger funds in accordance withpursuant to our customer agreements, and we are committed to fulfilling these obligations to our customers.
At JuneSeptember 30, 2008, after the execution of the line of credit agreement discussed below, the exchanger funds included approximately $355.0$121.4 million of auction rate securities (compared with $387.1$355.0 million at March 31,June 30, 2008). In October 2008, auction rate securities aggregating $20.4 million were redeemed resulting in a remaining balance of $101.0 million. These securities, purchased at par value, are rated AAA and AA and are comprised of $235.9 million of student loan funds substantially guaranteed by the U.S. government and $119.1 millionprimarily of preferred stocks issued by closed-end mutual funds. All of these auction rate securities are rated AAA or AA.
Since mid February 2008, there has not been a normal market for auction rate securities, and we have not been able to sell our holdings as we normally would. The liquidity issue was caused by circumstances existing in the U.S. and global credit markets, which have been highly publicized. We believe that the absence of a normal market for auction rate securities has not materially affected the value or credit risk of the assets underlying the auction rate securities, and we continue to receive interest at contractually calculated rates.
The amount of our contingent liability and liquidity relating to exchanger funds fluctuates based on the level of transaction volume, redemptions of auction rate securities and the completion (or cancellation) of transactions.

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Since mid February 2008, there has not been a normal market for auction rate securities. The
We believe that liquidity issue was caused by circumstances existing in the U.S. and global credit markets, which have been highly publicized. We believe the absence of a normal market for auction rate securities has not materially affected the value of the assets underlying the auction rate securities, and we continue to receive interest at contractually calculated rates.
Significant attention is currently being given to redemptions or other means of restoring liquidity to auction rate securities by the issuers of the securities, the financial markets and federal and state government officials. However, no assurance can be given asexchanger funds, in addition to the timingavailability of redemptions or the return to liquidity for these securities.
We have certain corporate assets, and available borrowing capacity to provide liquidity for the exchanger funds.is adequate. When and as they occur, redemptions and conversions of auction rate securities would increase the liquidity of the exchanger accounts.
At JuneOn September 30, 2008, we entered into a $241.5 million line of credit agreement with a bank from which we had purchased $18.8 millionacquired auction rate securities. The line of credit is a demand loan in an amount equal to the full par value of the auction rate securities that secure the loan. The line of credit was initially drawn on September 30, 2008 in the amount of $199.3 million and on October 1, 2008 in the remaining amount of $42.2 million. The proceeds drawn from the line of credit on September 30, 2008 were used to provide liquidity of $79.8 million to the exchanger funds and included thesewith the remaining amount used to refund us for auction rate securities previously purchased from the exchanger funds. Proceeds drawn on October 1, 2008 were utilized to repay us for cash advances of $42.2 million.
Under the terms of the line of credit agreement, the lender’s sole source of funds to repay the amounts drawn on the line of credit is limited to the auction rate securities pledged as collateral on the loan. The lender may sell or liquidate the collateral at any time in which case the lender’s only recourse is to the proceeds of that sale or liquidation. The line of credit is structured such that there is no anticipated net cost to us (the interest charged on the line of credit is expected to be offset by the interest earned on the auction rate securities). The lender may pursue a deficiency if certain recourse events occur, including an interest payment default (but not a default in payment of principal), breach of a covenant or an event of bankruptcy or insolvency. We expect the line of credit to be repaid in full by June 2010 through the transfer of collateral (the auction rate securities) at par value under the line of credit agreement or potentially sooner pursuant to the lender’s settlement with state regulatory agencies.
As a result of the line of credit, we have recorded $241.5 million in auction rate securities on our consolidated balance sheet at JuneSeptember 30, 2008. These auction rate securities are currently classified as trading securities, and accordingly, any changes in the fair value of the securities are charged to earnings. For the three months ended September 30, 2008, an impairment charge of $11.2 million was recorded to investment income, which reduced the carrying value of the auction rate securities to $230.3 million. We have also elected to apply the fair value provisions of SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities,” to the related line of credit agreement, including the unfunded commitment. As a result, the line of credit was also reduced to its fair value ($188.1 million), which was determined based on the value of the underlying collateral that will be utilized to satisfy the obligation, and an offsetting reduction (credit) totaling $11.2 million of the line of credit balance was recorded to investment income. These fair value adjustments resulted in an unrealized lossno net impact in the consolidated statements of $0.8 million reflected in other comprehensive earningsoperations for the three and sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2008. Subsequent to June
At September 30, 2008, we acquired an additional $81.2 millionwere contingently liable for guarantees of auction rate securities fromindebtedness owed primarily to banks and others by certain third parties. The guarantees relate to business expansion and expire no later than 2019. At September 30, 2008, the exchanger fundsmaximum potential future payments on the guarantees amounted to $7.1 million. We believe that the related underlying assets and advanced $40.2 million of cashavailable collateral, primarily corporate stock and title plants, would enable us to recover amounts paid under the exchanger funds. While we cannot predict the amount of any additional securities that we may acquire from the exchanger funds or the amount of any impairment that may ultimately be recognizedguarantees. We believe no provision for losses is needed since no loss is expected on these holdings, if any,guarantees.
In the ordinary course of business, we do not believe such amounts will be material toguarantee the third-party indebtedness of certain of our consolidated financial condition or resultssubsidiaries. At September 30, 2008, the maximum potential future payments on the guarantees are not more than the related notes payable recorded in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. We also guarantee the indebtedness related to lease obligations of operations.certain of our consolidated subsidiaries. The maximum future obligations arising from these lease-related guarantees are not more than our future minimum lease payments. In addition, at September 30, 2008, we have unused letters of credit amounting to $3.6 million primarily related to workers’ compensation coverage.

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Other-than-temporary impairments of investments.We have reviewed our investment portfolio asrecorded an other-than-temporary charge of June 30,$2.6 million for the three months ended September 2008 and determined that we do not hold any investments that we believe will be impaired as a result of the decline in financing activity relating to the subprime lending market orequity securities backed by subprime loans. In addition,held for the six months ended June 30, 2008, we have not recorded any material other-than-temporary impairments of our investments.investment.

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Capital resources.We consider our capital resources to be adequate. We expect external capital resources would be available, if needed, due to our low debt-to-equity ratio. We do not expect any material changes in the mix or relative cost of such external resources. Notes payable and stockholders’ equity were $116.8$334.9 million, which include a fully-collateralized line of credit of $188.1 million, and $695.0$655.2 million, respectively, at JuneSeptember 30, 2008 and we2008. We are not aware of any trends, either favorable or unfavorable, that would materially affect these balances, except as discussed above in contingent liabilities and commitments.
Off-balance sheet arrangements.We do not have any material source of liquidity or financing that involves off-balance sheet arrangements, other than our contractual obligations under operating leases.
Forward-looking statements.All statements included in this report, other than statements of historical facts, addressing activities, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future, are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties including, among other things, adverse changes in the level of real estate activity, technology changes, unanticipated title losses, adverse changes in governmental regulations, actions of competitors, general economic conditions and other risks and uncertainties discussed under Item 1A — Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
There have been no material changes during the quarter ended JuneSeptember 30, 2008 in our investment strategies, types of financial instruments held or the risks associated with such instruments that would materially alter the market risk disclosures made in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Our principal executive officers and principal financial officer, after evaluating the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) as of JuneSeptember 30, 2008, have concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures are adequate and effective to ensure that material information relating to us and our consolidated subsidiaries would be made known to them by others within those entities.
There have been no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting during the quarter ended JuneSeptember 30, 2008 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting. As a result, no corrective actions were required or undertaken.
All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Internal control over financial reporting is a process that involves human diligence and compliance and is subject to lapses in judgment and breakdowns resulting from human failures. Internal controls over financial reporting also can be circumvented by collusion or improper management override. Because of such limitations, there is a risk that material misstatements may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis by internal controls over financial reporting. However, these inherent limitations are known features of the financial reporting process. Therefore, it is possible to design into the process safeguards to reduce, though not eliminate, this risk.

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PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
In January 2007, the California Insurance Commissioner filed a rate reduction order that would have reduced title insurance rates in California by 26% commencing in 2009. However, we believe that California law requires rates to be established competitively and not by administrative order. This rate reduction order was rejected by the California Office of Administrative Law in February 2007. In May 2007, California’s Insurance Commissioner submitted revised regulations that, in addition to reducing rates effective in 2010, would have increased financial and operating data, market conduct examinations and other regulatory requests by the California Department of Insurance (CDOI). In October 2007, subsequent to several title insurance industry meetings with the CDOI, the state’s Insurance Commissioner proposed to reduce the requirements of data and market conduct requests, delay the effective date to 2011, and eliminate the interim rate reduction previously submitted to the CDOI. These proposals are contingent upon the ongoing work of the title insurance industry with the CDOI to identify alternative methods of providing the additional data and reforming the existing rate structure. In June 2008, the CDOI released for public notice and comment revised regulations that place certain limits on payments by title insurance marketing representatives to agents and brokers, eliminate the interim rate reduction and the maximum rate formula, and substantially scale back the proposed financial data call on title insurance companies. The final regulations are expected to be filed by the end of 2008.
We cannot predict the outcome of proposed regulations. However, to the extent that rate decreases are mandated in the future, the outcome could materially affect our consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
We are also subject to other administrative actions and inquiries into our conduct of business in certain of the states in which we operate. While we cannot predict the outcome of these matters, we believe that we have adequately reserved for these matters and that the outcome will not materially affect our consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
In February 2008, an antitrust class action was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York against Stewart Title Insurance Company, Monroe Title Insurance Corporation, Stewart Information Services Corporation (SISCO), several other unaffiliated title insurance companies, and the Title Insurance Rate Service Association, Inc. (TIRSA). The complaint alleges that the defendants violated Section 1 of the Sherman Act by collectively filing proposed rates for title insurance in New York through TIRSA, a state-authorized and licensed rate service organization.
Complaints were subsequently filed in the federal district courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York and federal district courts in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, Florida, Massachusetts, Arkansas, California, Washington, West Virginia, and Texas. All of the complaints make similar allegations, except that certain of the complaints also allege violations of RESPA statutes and various state consumer protection laws. The complaints generally request treble damages in an unspecified amount, declaratory and injunctive relief, and attorneys’ fees. At least 7377 such complaints are currently pending, each of which names SISCO and/or one or more of its affiliates as a defendant. Although we cannot predict the outcome of these actions, we intend to vigorously defend ourselves against the allegations and do not believe that the outcome will materially affect our consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

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We are also subject to lawsuits incidental to our business, most of which involve disputed policy claims. In many of these lawsuits, the plaintiff seeks exemplary or treble damages in excess of policy limits based on the alleged malfeasance of an issuing agency. We do not expect that any of these proceedings will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition or results of operations. Additionally, we have received various other inquiries from governmental regulators concerning practices in the insurance industry. Many of these practices do not concern title insurance and we do not anticipate that the outcome of these inquiries will materially affect our consolidated financial condition or results of operations. Along with the other major title insurance companies, we are party to a number of class action lawsuits concerning the title insurance industry and believe that we have adequate reserves for these contingencies and that the likely resolution of these matters will not materially affect our consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
There have been no changes during the quarter ended JuneSeptember 30, 2008 to our risk factors as listed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.

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Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
(a)Our Annual Meeting of Stockholders was held on May 9, 2008 for the purpose of electing our Board of Directors.
(b)Proxies for the meeting were solicited pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and there was no solicitation in opposition to management’s solicitations. All of our nominees were elected.
(c)Stockholder votes with respect to the election of directors at our Annual Meeting were as follows:
(i)Directors elected by Common stockholders:
         
  Number of shares voted: 
  For  Against/withheld 
Robert L. Clarke  15,004,747   823,074 
Nita B. Hanks  14,591,117   1,236,704 
Dr. E. Douglas Hodo  14,592,241   1,235,580 
Laurie C. Moore  15,005,051   822,770 
Dr. W. Arthur Porter  15,126,713   701,108 
(ii)    Directors elected by Class B Common stockholders:
  Number of shares voted: 
  For  Against/withheld 
Max Crisp  1,050,012    
Paul W. Hobby  1,050,012    
Malcolm S. Morris  1,050,012    
Stewart Morris, Jr.  1,050,012    
There were no broker non-votes with respect to the election of directors.
Item 5. Other Information
We had aOur book value per share of $38.30was $36.09 and $41.82 at JuneSeptember 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively. At JuneSeptember 30, 2008, our book value per share was based on approximately $695.0$655.2 million in stockholders’ equity and 18,145,99818,154,817 shares of Common and Class B Common Stock outstanding. At December 31, 2007, our book value per share was based on approximately $754.1 million in stockholders’ equity and 18,031,110 shares of Common and Class B Common Stock outstanding.
Item 6. Exhibits
Those exhibits required to be filed by Item 601 of Regulation S-K are listed in the Index to Exhibits immediately preceding the exhibits filed herewith and such listing is incorporated herein by reference.

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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, I have duly caused this report to be signed on our behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
      
August 4,November 5, 2008
 
     
Date     
      
 Stewart Information Services Corporation
      
    Registrant Registrant
      
  By: /s/ Max CrispJ. Allen Berryman
      
    J. Allen Berryman, Executive Vice President,
   Max Crisp, Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, Treasurer
and Principal Financial Officer and Director

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
     
Exhibit    
3.1
10.1 - Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, as amended March 19, 2001Joseph Allen Berryman offer letter dated August 25, 2008 (incorporated by reference in this report from Exhibit 3.1 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000)
3.2-By-Laws of the Registrant, as amended March 13, 2000 (incorporated by reference in this report from Exhibit 3.2 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000)
4.1-Rights of Common and Class B Common Stockholders (incorporated by reference to Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2 hereto)
10.1*
-Summary of agreements as to payments of bonuses to executive officers
10.2-Stewart Information Services Corporation 2008 Strategic Incentive Pool Plan (incorporated by reference in this report from Exhibit 10.2 to Stewart Information Services Corporation’s current report on Form 8-K, dated May 14,August 25, 2008 and filed with the SEC on May 14,August 28, 2008)
     
10.3-Stewart Information Services Corporation’s Stewart Salary Deferral Plan for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 (incorporated by reference in this report from Exhibit 10.3 to Stewart Information Services Corporation’s current report on Form 11-K, dated June 16, 2008 and filed with the SEC on June 16, 2008)
31.1*
 - Certification of Co-Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
     
31.2*
 - Certification of Co-Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
     
31.3*
 - Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
     
32.1*
 - Certification of Co-Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
     
32.2*
 - Certification of Co-Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
     
32.3*
 - Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
     
99.1*
 - Details of investments
 
* Filed herewith