CRAWFORD & CO
10-Q, 1996-11-06
INSURANCE AGENTS, BROKERS & SERVICE
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Form 10-Q                                                Crawford & Company
Quarter Ended September 30, 1996                         Page 2

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.  Financial Statements

Condensed Financial Statements:

Year-to-Date Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income for the Nine-Month 
     Periods ended September 30, 1996 and September 30, 1995:

                                                  (In Thousand of Dollars
                                              Except Share and Per Share Data)
<TABLE>
<S>                                                    <C>         <C>
                                                             1996        1995 

Revenues                                                 $474,089    $450,466

Costs and Expenses:

   Cost of services provided, less reimbursed expenses
   of $24,333 in 1996 and $25,698 in 1995                 340,871     327,135

   Selling, general and administrative expenses            80,407      80,615

           Total costs and expenses                       421,278     407,750

Income Before Income Taxes                                 52,811      42,716

Provision for Income Taxes                                 21,297      17,228

Net Income                                                $31,514     $25,488

Earnings Per Share                                          $0.92       $0.73

Weighted Average Shares Outstanding                    34,144,097  34,855,628


Declared Dividends Per Share - Class A Common Stock        $0.450      $0.435

Declared Dividends Per Share - Class B Common Stock        $0.435      $0.405
</TABLE>

          (See accompanying notes to condensed financial statements)


Form 10-Q                                               Crawford & Company
Quarter Ended September 30, 1996                        Page 3

Quarterly Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income for the Three-Month 
     Periods ended September 30, 1996 and September 30, 1995:

                                                  (In Thousand of Dollars
                                              Except Share and Per Share Data)
<TABLE>
<S>                                                    <C>         <C>
                                                             1996        1995 

Revenues                                                 $154,897    $150,954

Costs and Expenses:

   Cost of services provided, less reimbursed expenses
   of $8,466 in 1996 and $8,625 in 1995                   110,875     110,608

   Selling, general and administrative expenses            25,833      24,540

           Total costs and expenses                       136,708     135,148

Income Before Income Taxes                                 18,189      15,806

Provision for Income Taxes                                  7,334       6,375

Net Income                                                $10,855      $9,431

Earnings Per Share                                          $0.32       $0.27

Weighted Average Shares Outstanding                    34,022,615  34,878,976


Declared Dividends Per Share - Class A Common Stock        $0.150      $0.145

Declared Dividends Per Share - Class B Common Stock        $0.145      $0.135
</TABLE>

           (See accompanying notes to condensed financial statements)


Form 10-Q                                               Crawford & Company
Quarter Ended September 30, 1996                        Page 4

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 1996 and December 31, 1995:

                                                     (In Thousands of Dollars)

                                                     (Unaudited)
                                                     September 30 December 31 
                                                             1996        1995 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                      <C>         <C>
ASSETS

Current Assets:
   Cash and cash equivalents                              $53,312     $40,802
   Short-term investments, at fair value                      126       5,596
   Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful
      accounts of $10,978 in 1996 and $10,303 in 1995     109,387     111,636
   Unbilled revenues, at estimated billable amounts        67,611      60,486
   Prepaid income taxes                                     9,499       6,115
   Prepaid expenses and other current assets                9,363       9,745

       Total current assets                               249,298     234,380

Property and Equipment:
   Property and equipment, at cost:                       123,207     121,307
   Less accumulated depreciation and amortization         (90,768)    (84,859)

       Net property and equipment                          32,439      36,448

Other Assets:
   Intangible assets arising from acquisitions, less
      accumulated amortization of $8,976 in 1996 
      and $7,596 in 1995                                   53,989      55,731
   Prepaid pension obligation                              42,712      34,243
   Other                                                    7,100       6,181

       Total other assets                                 103,801      96,155

TOTAL ASSETS                                             $385,538    $366,983
</TABLE>

          (See accompanying notes to condensed financial statements)


Form 10-Q                                               Crawford & Company
Quarter Ended September 30, 1996                        Page 5

  Consolidated Balance Sheets - (Continued)

                                                     (In Thousands of Dollars)

                                                      (Unaudited)
                                                     September 30 December 31 
                                                             1996        1995 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                      <C>         <C>
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' INVESTMENT

Current Liabilities:
   Short-term borrowings                                   $8,547     $10,154
   Accounts payable                                        11,044      12,366
   Accrued compensation and related costs                  36,168      26,764
   Other accrued liabilities                               34,841      29,394
   Deferred revenues                                       16,364      15,504
   Current installments of long-term debt                     849         872

       Total current liabilities                          107,813      95,054

Noncurrent Liabilities:
   Long-term debt, less current installments                9,431       9,412
   Deferred income taxes                                   14,305      14,854
   Deferred revenues                                       12,261      10,498
   Postretirement medical benefit obligation                8,425       7,938
   Self-insured risks                                       9,037       7,347
   Other                                                    2,231       1,020

       Total noncurrent liabilities                        55,690      51,069

Shareholders' Investment:
   Class A Common Stock, $1.00 par value;  50,000,000
      shares authorized;  16,593,623 and 17,229,986
      shares issued in 1996 and 1995, respectively         16,594      17,230
   Class B Common Stock, $1.00 par value;  50,000,000
      shares authorized;  17,171,174 and 17,297,730
      shares issued in 1996 and 1995, respectively         17,171      17,298
   Retained earnings                                      191,574     189,294
   Cumulative translation adjustment                       (3,304)     (2,962)

       Total shareholders' investment                     222,035     220,860

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' INVESTMENT           $385,538    $366,983
</TABLE>

         (See accompanying notes to condensed financial statements)


Form 10-Q                                               Crawford & Company
Quarter Ended September 30, 1996                        Page 6

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine-Month Periods Ended
     September 30, 1996 and September 30, 1995:

                                                     (In Thousands of Dollars)
<TABLE>
<S>                                                       <C>         <C>
                                                             1996        1995 

Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
   Net income                                             $31,514     $25,488
   Reconciliation of net income to net cash
      provided by operating activities:
         Depreciation and amortization                     11,933      12,685
         Deferred income taxes                              1,336       6,359
         Loss on sales of property and equipment              324         691
         Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
            Short-term investments                          5,470      12,205
            Accounts receivable, net                        1,836      (5,447)
            Unbilled revenues                              (6,959)       (511)
            Prepaid or accrued income taxes                (1,511)     (3,247)
            Accounts payable and accrued liabilities       13,992      (5,963)
            Deferred revenues                               2,624       1,809
            Prepaid expenses and other assets             (10,944)    (16,154)
Net cash provided by operating activities                  49,615      27,915

Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
   Acquisitions of property and equipment                  (6,137)    (10,833)
   Net assets of companies acquired                             0      (4,206)
   Sales of property and equipment                            301         123
Net cash used in investing activities                      (5,836)    (14,916)

Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
   Dividends paid                                         (15,119)    (14,658)
   Repurchase of common stock                             (15,940)     (3,721)
   Issuance of common stock                                 1,063         910
   Decrease in short-term borrowings                       (1,357)       (265)
   Increase in long-term debt                                 126         274
Net cash used in financing activities                     (31,227)    (17,460)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash
   equivalents                                                (42)        230
Increase (Decrease) in cash and cash equivalents           12,510      (4,231)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period           40,802      38,968
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period                $53,312     $34,737

Cash payments for income taxes                            $21,461     $13,946
</TABLE>

           (See accompanying notes to condensed financial statements)


Form 10-Q                                              Crawford & Company
Quarter Ended September 30, 1996                       Page 7

                 NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS        

1.   The condensed financial statements included herein have been prepared 
by the Registrant, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of 
the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Certain information and footnote 
disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance 
with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted
pursuant to such rules and regulations.  These condensed financial statements
should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and related notes
contained in the Registrant's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1995.

     In the opinion of management, the condensed financial statements 
included herein contain all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring 
accruals) necessary to present fairly the financial position of the Registrant
as of September 30, 1996, and the results of its operations and cash flows for 
the three- and nine-month periods then ended.

2.   The results of operations for the nine-month period ended September, 1996,
are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected during the balance
of the year ending December 31, 1996.

3.   Net income per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted 
average number of shares outstanding during the respective periods.  The effect
of common stock equivalents was less than 3% dilutive in both 1996 and 1995 
and, therefore, the effect on primary earnings per share has not been shown.

4.   The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with a 
maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents for purposes of the 
statements of cash flows.

5.   Certain reclassifications of prior year amounts have been made in the 
accompanying balance sheets to conform to the current year presentation.  In 
addition, costs associated with the Company's distributed branch computer 
network totaling $17.0 million for the 1995 nine-month period, and $5.7 million
for the 1995 third quarter, were reclassified from selling, general and
administrative expenses to costs of services provided in the accompanying 
statements of income to conform to the 1996 presentation.


Form 10-Q                                           Crawford & Company
Quarter Ended September 30, 1996                    Page  8

PART 1 - FINANCIAL INFORMATION - (Continued)

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and 
Results of Operations.

Financial Condition

The Company's current assets at September 30, 1996, exceeded current 
liabilities by $141.5 million, a 1.5% increase from the working capital 
balance at December 31, 1995.  Cash and cash equivalents at September 30, 
1996, totaled $53.3 million, an increase of $12.5 million from the balance 
at the end of 1995.  Short-term investments totaled $126,000 at September 30,
1996, decreasing from $5.6 million at December 31, 1995.  Cash was generated 
primarily from operating activities, while the principal uses of cash were 
for repurchases of common stock, dividends paid to shareholders and 
acquisitions of property and equipment.  At September 30, 1996, the ratio of 
current assets to current liabilities was 2.3 to 1 compared with 2.5 to 1 at
the end of 1995.

During the first quarter of 1996, the Company completed its 1994 share 
repurchase program and, under that program, has reacquired 1,165,900 shares 
of its Class A Common Stock and 836,500 shares of its Class B Common Stock at
an average cost of $15.76 and $15.65 per share, respectively.  Additionally, 
during March of 1996, the Company announced a second share repurchase program 
to acquire up to an aggregate of 2,000,000 shares of its Class A or Class B 
Common Stock through open market purchases.  Through September 30, 1996, the 
Company has reacquired 437,200 shares of its Class A Common Stock and 155,700 
shares of its Class B Common Stock at an average cost of $18.13 and $18.57 per
share, respectively.  

On September 27, 1996, the Company announced the signing of a provisional 
agreement with Swiss Reinsurance Company of Zurich, Switzerland to merge their
existing claims service firms outside the United States.  The new entity will 
be a 60% owned subsidiary of the Company.  The transaction is expected to be
completed by the end of 1996, pending regulatory approval.  The Company will 
also acquire 100% of Swiss Reinsurance Company's Thomas Howell Group - Americas
unit based in the United States for approximately $9.0 million in notes 
payable.  As a result of this proposed transaction the Company intends to
evaluate the recoverability of its investment in its international operations 
during the fourth quarter of 1996, in accordance with Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 121, Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived 
Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of. 

The Company maintains credit lines with banks in order to meet the seasonal 
working capital requirements of its foreign subsidiaries or other financing 
needs that may arise.  Short-term borrowings outstanding as of September 30, 
1996, totaled $8.5 million, as compared to $10.2 million at the end of 1995. 
The Company believes that its current financial resources, together with 
funds generated from operations and existing and potential long-term borrowing
capabilities, will be sufficient to maintain its current operations. 

The Company does not engage in any hedging activities to compensate for the 
effect of exchange rate fluctuations on the operating results of its foreign 
subsidiaries.  Foreign currency denominated debt is maintained primarily to 
hedge the currency exposure of its net investment in foreign operations.


Form 10-Q                                              Crawford & Company
Quarter Ended September 30, 1996                       Page  9

Shareholders' investment at September 30, 1996 was $222.0 million, compared 
with $220.9 million at the end of 1995.  Long-term debt totaled $9.4 million 
at September 30, 1996, or approximately 4.2% of shareholders' investment.

Results of Operations

Revenues for the first nine months of 1996 were $474.1 million, increasing 5.2%
from the $450.5 million for the same period in 1995.  Third quarter 1996 
revenues were $154.9 million, an increase of 2.6% over the $150.9 million for
the related 1995 period.  Unit volume, measured principally by chargeable 
hours, increased 3.5% and 1.4% during the first nine months and third quarter 
of 1996, respectively.  These increases were complemented by changes in the mix
of services and in the rates charged for those services, the combined effects 
of which increased revenues by approximately 1.7% in the first nine months of 
1996 and 1.2% in the third quarter.  

The percentage of revenue derived from each of the Company's principal service
categories is shown in the following schedule:

                                        Nine-Month Period   Three-Month Period	
                                       Ended September 30   Ended September 30	
                                         1996       1995      1996       1995 
<TABLE>
<S>                                     <C>        <C>       <C>        <C>
Domestic Claims Services (including 
Risk Management Services)                73.7%      71.7%     74.6%      71.4% 

Domestic Disability Management 
  Services                               13.9       15.7      13.8       14.9 

International Operations                 12.4       12.6      11.6       13.7 

                                        100.0%     100.0%    100.0%     100.0% 
</TABLE>

Domestic revenues from claims services to insurance companies and risk 
management services to self insured clients totaled $349.2 million for the 
first nine months of 1996, increasing 8.0% from the $323.3 million reported 
in 1995.  Third quarter 1996 revenues totaled $115.4 million, an increase of 
7.2% from related 1995 revenues of $107.7 million.  These increases are largely
due to an increase in weather-related claims resulting from the severe weather 
in the United States during the first nine months of 1996, and offset continued
weakness in the domestic self-insured corporate market where revenues have
declined 5.4% compared to the related prior year-to-date period.  Revenues 
from services provided to an insurance holding company and its subsidiaries 
continued to decline, from 12% of total revenues in 1995 to nearly 10% in 1996.
However, this decline has been offset by services provided to other major 
insurers and self-insured entities who have outsourced their claims services
to the Company.  

Total revenues from domestic claims services include $29.0 million produced in
the first nine months of 1996 by the Company's catastrophe adjusters, 
increasing $6.5 million from the first nine months of 1995.  This increase 
reflects the impact of winter storm-related losses and the completion of
Hurricane Opal property claims during the 1996 first quarter, and the effects 

  
Form 10-Q                                             Crawford & Company
Quarter Ended September 30, 1996                      Page 10

Results of Operations - (Continued)

of Hurricanes Bertha and Fran in the 1996 third quarter.  In the third quarter
of 1996, revenues produced by the Company's catastrophe adjusters totaled 
$11.6 million, as compared to $7.2 million in the 1995 third quarter.

Domestic revenues from disability management services, which serves both the 
insurance company and self-insured markets, totaled $66.0 million for the first
nine months of 1996, a decrease of 6.6% from related 1995 revenues of $70.6 
million.  For the third quarter these revenues were $21.5 million, decreasing 
4.6% from the $22.5 million reported in 1995.  These declines reflect the 
continued strong competition in the self-insured corporate market.

Revenues from the Company's international operations were $58.9 million in 
the first nine months of 1996, a 4.1% increase over the $56.6 million for the 
same period in 1995.  This increase, largely generated during the 1996 first 
quarter, is primarily due to the increase in claims volume from the harsh 
winter experienced in the United Kingdom and the completion of Hurricanes Luis 
and Marilyn property claims in the Caribbean.  Third quarter 1996 revenues 
totaled $18.0 million, decreasing 13.2% from related 1995 revenues of $20.7 
million.  This decline is primarily due to the impact of recent legislation 
affecting the Canadian disability management market and lower claim volume in 
the United Kingdom. 

The Company's most significant expense is the compensation of its employees, 
including related payroll taxes and fringe benefits.  Such expense approximated
64.3% of revenues in the first nine months of 1996, up slightly from 64.0% for 
the related 1995 period, and 65.3% of revenues in the current quarter as 
compared to 64.4% of third quarter 1995 revenues.  These increases relate 
primarily to higher incentive compensation expense which is based primarily 
on growth in earnings.

Expenses other than compensation and related payroll taxes and fringe benefits 
approximated 24.6% of revenues for the first nine months of 1996, compared to 
26.5% of revenues for the same period in 1995, and 23.0% of third quarter 1996 
revenues, as compared to 25.1% of related 1995 revenues.  As a result of the
Company's cost control efforts, such expenses declined 2.3% and 6.2% for the 
nine-month period and third quarter of 1996, respectively, while revenues 
increased 5.2% and 2.6%, respectively, over the related 1995 periods. 


Form 10-Q                                              Crawford & Company
Quarter Ended September 30, 1996                       Page 11

Review by Independent Public Accountants.

Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public accountants, has performed a review 
of the interim financial information contained herein in accordance with 
established professional standards and procedures for such a review and has 
issued its report with respect thereto (see page 12).


Form 10-Q                                              Crawford & Company
Quarter Ended September 30, 1996                       Page 12

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

To the Stockholders and 
Board of Directors of
Crawford & Company:

We have made a review of the accompanying condensed consolidated balance 
sheet of CRAWFORD & COMPANY (a Georgia corporation) AND SUBSIDIARIES as of 
September 30, 1996 and the related condensed consolidated statements of 
income for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 1996 
and 1995 and the related condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for 
the nine-month periods ended September 30, 1996 and 1995.  These financial 
statements are the responsibility of the Company's management.

We conducted our review in accordance with standards established by the 
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.  A review of interim 
financial information consists principally of obtaining an understanding of 
the system for the preparation of interim financial information, applying 
analytical procedures to financial data and making inquiries of persons 
responsible for financial and accounting matters.  It is substantially less in
scope than an audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, 
the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial 
statements taken as a whole.  Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

Based on our review, we are not aware of any material modifications that 
should be made to the financial statements referred to above for them to be 
in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

We have previously audited, in accordance with generally accepted auditing 
standards, the consolidated balance sheet of Crawford & Company and 
subsidiaries as of December 31, 1995, and the related consolidated statements 
of income, shareholders' investment and cashflows for the year then ended 
(not presented separately herein), and in our report dated January 30, 1996, 
we expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.  In our 
opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying condensed consolidated 
balance sheet as of December 31, 1995 is fairly stated, in all material 
respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has 
been derived.

                                    /s/Arthur Andersen LLP 

Atlanta, Georgia
November 1, 1996  


Form 10-Q                                               Crawford & Company
Quarter Ended September 30, 1996                        Page 13

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 6.     Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K.

            (a)    Exhibits
                   15.1   Letter from Arthur Andersen LLP
                   27.1   Financial Data Schedule

            (b)    Reports on Form 8-K

                   Registrant filed no reports on Form 8-K during the period 
                   covered by this report.


Form 10-Q                                              Crawford & Company
Quarter Ended September 30, 1996                       Page 14

                                SIGNATURES

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

                                        Crawford & Company
                                           (Registrant)

Date:  November 6, 1996             /s/D. A. Smith                          
                                    D. A. Smith
                                    Chairman of the Board and
                                    Chief Executive Officer

Date:  November 6, 1996             /s/D. R. Chapman                     
                                    D. R. Chapman
                                    Executive Vice President - Finance
                                    (Principal Financial Officer)

Date:  November 6, 1996             /s/J. F. Giblin                       
                                    J. F. Giblin
                                    Vice President and Controller
                                    (Principal Accounting Officer)     


Form 10-Q                                              Crawford & Company
Quarter Ended September 30, 1996                       Page 15


                            INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.      Description 	                          Sequential Page No. 
   15.1          Letter from Arthur Andersen LLP               16 

   27.1          Financial Data Schedule  (for SEC use only) 	


<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<CIK> 0000025475
<NAME> CRAWFORD & COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                          53,312
<SECURITIES>                                       126
<RECEIVABLES>                                  187,976
<ALLOWANCES>                                    10,978
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               249,298
<PP&E>                                         123,207
<DEPRECIATION>                                  90,768
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 385,538
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          107,813
<BONDS>                                          9,431
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                        33,765
<OTHER-SE>                                     188,270
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   385,538
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               474,089
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  340,871
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                80,407
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 52,811
<INCOME-TAX>                                    21,297
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             31,514
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    31,514
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .92
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
        

</TABLE>


Form 10-Q                                              Crawford & Company
Quarter Ended September 30, 1996                       Page 16
                                                       Exhibit 15.1

To the Stockholders and 
Board of Directors of
Crawford & Company:

We are aware that Crawford & Company has incorporated by reference in its 
previously filed Registration Statement File No. 2-78989, Registration 
Statement File No. 33-22595, Registration Statement File No. 33-47536, 
Registration Statement File No. 33-36116, and Registration Statement File 
No. 333-2051, its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1996, which
includes our report dated November 1, 1996 covering the unaudited interim 
financial information contained therein.  Pursuant to Regulation C of the 
Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act"), that report is not considered a part of 
the Registration Statement prepared or certified by our firm or a report 
prepared or certified by our firm within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11
of the Act.
                                                                
                                  /s/Arthur Andersen LLP

Atlanta, Georgia
November 1, 1996



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