Prudential 2001 Annual Report Download - page 62

Prudential Financial, Inc.
including the effect of a $40 million reduction in 2000 premiums from the provision for premium refunds or credits
to certain New Jersey automobile policyholders, as noted above.
Automobile earned premiums increased by $250 million, or 22%, from 2000 to 2001, including $89 million from
the non-standard automobile business and the effect of the $40 million reduction in 2000 premiums mentioned
above. The remaining $121 million increase came primarily from new distribution channels we implemented during
1999 and 2000, including career agents focused on selling property and casualty insurance, workplace and affinity
marketing, direct distribution, and independent agents, many of whom were producers for the acquired subsidiary.
As discussed below under “—Benefits and Expenses,” commencing in the second half of 2001 we have suspended
our mailing solicitations for the direct distribution channel and limited the growth of new business from some of
these other distribution channels, based on our evaluation of the quality of the business. In October 2001, we
announced that we would no longer write business through our property and casualty insurance career agency
channel except in a few selected markets. We have also commenced re-underwriting and non-renewal of business
that has produced adverse loss experience, to the extent permitted contractually and by state insurance regulations.
Improved persistency in 2001 also contributed to the growth in earned premiums.
Homeowners earned premiums increased $35 million, or 8%, from 2000 to 2001 due to lower reinsurance premiums
ceded, as the number of policies in force was relatively unchanged. This stabilization of our policies in force
represents an improvement compared with declines in prior years, which reflects intense rate competition that
attracted customers to other companies.
Net investment income decreased by $35 million, or 18%, from $193 million in 2000 to $158 million in 2001, and
decreased by $41 million excluding the impact of the acquisition mentioned above. This decrease was primarily a
result of a lower average base of invested assets, reflecting lower attributed capital, and a decline in investment
yield.
2000 to 1999 Annual Comparison. Revenues increased $53 million, or 3%, from 1999 to 2000. Total revenues of
$1.800 billion for 2000 include revenues of $178 million from the subsidiary we acquired in May 2000 that
specializes in the non-standard automobile business. Excluding the impact on revenues from this newly-acquired
subsidiary, revenues declined by $125 million, or 7%, from $1.747 billion in 1999 to $1.622 billion in 2000, due
principally to a $117 million decrease in earned premiums on our existing automobile and homeowners business.
The $117 million decline in earned premiums resulted in part from the $40 million reduction in 2000 premiums
mentioned above, and a $30 million increase in reinsurance premiums ceded due to our purchase of additional
reinsurance coverage in 2000.
Automobile earned premiums increased $84 million, or 8%, from 1999 to 2000. Excluding the impact of the
acquisition and provision for premium refunds or credits mentioned above, automobile earned premiums declined
by $44 million, or 4%, from $1.069 billion in 1999 to $1.025 billion in 2000 primarily as a result of a decline in
average premium, due in part to the continued phase-in of a 15% rate reduction for New Jersey policyholders
mandated by New Jersey law that came into effect in March 1999. As of December 31, 2000, this premium
reduction was entirely reflected in our earned premiums. Our policies in force from our existing automobile
business, excluding the newly acquired subsidiary, increased 2% at December 31, 2000 from a year earlier. The
increase reflected improved persistency in 2000 as compared to 1999 as well as an increase in new policies sold,
representing an improvement from prior year declines.
Homeowners earned premiums decreased $34 million, or 8%, from 1999 to 2000. Excluding the impact of
reinsurance premiums ceded, which increased in 2000 from 1999, homeowners earned premiums were flat as the
number of policies in force was relatively unchanged.
Net investment income was $193 million for 2000, relatively unchanged from $197 million in 1999.
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