United Fire Group
UFCS
#5638
Rank
C$1.99 B
Marketcap
C$77.82
Share price
1.26%
Change (1 day)
84.89%
Change (1 year)
Text size:
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

X Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
- --- of 1934 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000

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 2-39621

UNITED FIRE & CASUALTY COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Iowa 42-0644327
- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------
(State of Incorporation) (IRS Employer Identification No.)

118 Second Avenue, S.E.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52407-3909
- ---------------------------------------- --------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)



Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (319) 399-5700

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None Securities

Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

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.

YES X NO
--- ---

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405
of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of the Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. X
---

As of March 1, 2001, 10,035,819 shares of common stock were outstanding. The
aggregate market value of voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant
as of March 1, 2001, was approximately $91,181,583.

Documents Incorporated by Reference:

Portions of the annual stockholders report for the year ended December 31,
2000, are incorporated by reference into Part II.
FORM 10-K TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
----
<S> <C> <C>
PART I:
Item 1. Business 1

Item 2. Properties 8

Item 3. Legal Proceedings 8

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders 8

PART II:

Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related
Stockholder Matters 8

Item 6. Selected Financial Data 8

Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations 8

Item 7a. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 8

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 8

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on
Accounting and Financial Disclosure 15

PART III:

Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant 15

Item 11. Executive Compensation 17

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and
Management 21

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions 21

PART IV:

Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on
Form 8-K 22

Signatures 23
</TABLE>
PART I.
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
GENERAL DESCRIPTION

"United Fire" or "the Company" refers to United Fire & Casualty Company or
United Fire & Casualty Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, as the context
requires. The Company is engaged in the business of writing property, casualty
and life insurance. The Company is an Iowa corporation incorporated in January
1946. Its principal executive office is located at 118 Second Avenue SE, P.O.
Box 73909, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52407-3909. Telephone: 319-399-5700.

The Company's property and casualty segment includes the following companies,
all of which are wholly owned by United Fire: Addison Insurance Company, an
Illinois property and casualty insurer, Lafayette Insurance Company, a Louisiana
property and casualty insurer, and American Indemnity Financial Corporation, a
Delaware holding company.

Addison Insurance Company is the sole owner of Addison Insurance Agency, an
Illinois general agency.

Lafayette Insurance Company is the sole owner of Insurance Brokers & Managers,
Inc., a Louisiana general agency.

American Indemnity Financial Corporation owns in excess of 99.9 percent of
American Indemnity Company, a Texas property and casualty insurer. American
Indemnity Company has three wholly owned subsidiaries, Texas General Indemnity
Company, a Colorado property and casualty insurer, American Fire and Indemnity
Company, a Texas property and casualty insurer, and American Computing Company,
a non-insurer utilized for inter-company equipment financing. United Fire
Lloyds, a Texas property and casualty insurer, is an affiliate of and
operationally and financially controlled by the Company.

The Company's life insurance segment subsidiary is United Life Insurance
Company ("United Life"), a wholly owned Iowa life insurance company.

A table reflecting premiums, operating results and assets attributable to the
Company's segments is included in Note 11 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements. As of December 31, 2000, the Company and its subsidiaries employed
737 full-time employees.

MARKETING

The Company markets its products principally through the following five
regional locations:

1) Cedar Rapids, Iowa - 118 Second Avenue SE, P.O. Box 73909, Cedar Rapids, IA
52407-3909 (which also serves as the Company's home office)
2) Westminster, Colorado - 7301 N. Federal, Suite 302, P.O. Box 850,
Westminster, CO 80030-4919
3) Lincoln, Nebraska - 1314 O Street, Suite 500, P.O. Box 82540, Lincoln, NE
68501
4) New Orleans, Louisiana - 2626 Canal Street, P.O. Box 53265, New Orleans, LA
70153-3265
5) Galveston, Texas - 2115 Winnie, P.O. Box 1259, Galveston, TX 77550

The Company is licensed as a property and casualty insurer in 40 states,
primarily in the Midwest, West and South. Approximately 2,124 independent
agencies represent the Company and its property and casualty subsidiaries. The
life insurance subsidiary is licensed in 24 states, primarily Midwestern and
Western, and is represented by approximately 1,280 independent agencies.

The regional offices of the Company are staffed with underwriting, claims and
marketing representatives and administrative technicians, all of whom provide
support and assistance to the independent agencies. Also, home office staff
technicians and specialists provide support to the subsidiaries, regional
offices and independent agencies. The Company uses management reports to monitor
subsidiary and regional offices for overall results and conformity to Company
policy.

The Company competes in the United States property and casualty insurance
market with more than 3,500 other insurers. The industry is highly competitive,
with insurers competing on the basis of service, price and coverage. Because the
Company relies heavily on independent agencies, it utilizes a profit-sharing
plan as an incentive to place high-quality property and casualty business with
the Company. For 2000, property and casualty agencies will receive profit-
sharing commissions of an estimated $8,767,000. To compete in the service arena,
the Company has an agency interface system for utilization by its agency force
allowing on-line application and acceptance of risks - a system which has
greatly reduced processing time for both the Company and its agents. In
addition, the Company's web-site allows for on-line quotes and billing inquiry.

The life segment also operates in a highly competitive industry. The Company
encounters significant competition in all lines of business from other life
insurance companies and from other providers of financial services. The life
segment utilizes competitive commission rates and other sales inducements to
attract and maintain its relationship with independent agencies.

1
In 2000, direct premium writings on a statutory basis by state were as follows.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars in Thousands)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Life, Accident and
Property and Health Insurance Segment,
Casualty Insurance Segment Including Annuities
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percent Percent
Amount of Total Amount of Total
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Alabama $ 3,780 1.2% $ - - %
Arkansas 6,056 1.9 12 -
California 5,119 1.6 - -
Colorado 21,610 6.7 5,127 2.7
Florida 6,046 1.9 7 -
Idaho 2,621 0.8 - -
Illinois 23,424 7.3 15,618 8.1
Indiana 2,616 0.8 - -
Iowa 44,533 13.8 94,150 48.7
Kansas 14,308 4.4 3,207 1.7
Louisiana 41,934 13.0 94 -
Minnesota 18,338 5.7 15,584 8.1
Mississippi 10,037 3.1 44 -
Missouri 27,564 8.6 4,301 2.2
Nebraska 16,863 5.2 13,131 6.8
New Mexico 1,121 0.3 - -
North Dakota 3,722 1.2 9,466 4.9
South Dakota 9,692 3.0 4,116 2.1
Texas 40,596 12.6 3,608 1.9
Utah 2,662 0.8 - -
Wisconsin 11,613 3.6 15,414 8.0
Wyoming 3,575 1.1 440 0.2
Other 4,448 1.4 8,856 4.6
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$322,278 100.0% $193,175 100.0 %
======================================================================================
</TABLE>

2
PRODUCTS
PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE SEGMENT

The Company writes both personal and commercial lines of insurance. Personal
lines are composed mostly of automobile and homeowners, but also include
recreational vehicles, watercraft, dwelling fire and umbrella policies. The
majority of commercial insurance consists of business packages, which include
property, liability, inland marine, commercial automobile, workers' compensation
and umbrella. The Company also writes fidelity and surety bonds. Specialty
policies written include the Commercial Uni-Saver; TRADE-PRO for Contractors;
GARAGE-PRO; Blanket Mortgage; and some forms of Errors and Omissions insurance.

The following table sets forth statutory property and casualty net premiums
earned, net losses incurred (excluding net loss adjustment expenses) and the
loss ratio (ratio of net losses incurred to net premiums earned), by lines of
insurance written, for the three years ended December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars in Thousands)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Years Ended December 31 2000 1999 1998
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fire and allied lines (1)
Net premiums earned $ 96,894 $ 76,557 $ 69,977
Net losses incurred 60,076 40,176 51,418
Loss ratio 62.0% 52.5% 73.5%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Automobile
Net premiums earned $ 85,323 $ 64,558 $ 54,042
Net losses incurred 53,412 44,824 37,828
Loss ratio 62.6% 69.4% 70.0%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other liability
Net premiums earned $ 57,720 $ 38,922 $ 31,804
Net losses incurred 18,667 17,266 12,400
Loss ratio 32.3% 44.4% 39.0%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Workers' compensation
Net premiums earned $ 25,858 $ 20,524 $ 20,797
Net losses incurred 12,567 15,119 16,275
Loss ratio 48.6% 73.7% 78.3%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity and surety
Net premiums earned $ 18,087 $ 18,129 $ 17,669
Net losses incurred 2,138 387 1,748
Loss ratio 11.8% 2.1% 9.9%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reinsurance
Net premiums earned $ 22,539 $ 27,739 $ 25,708
Net losses incurred 36,547 34,003 24,647
Loss ratio 162.2% 122.6% 95.9%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other
Net premiums earned $ 850 $ 625 $ 533
Net losses incurred 712 66 8
Loss ratio 83.8% 10.6% 1.5%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total property and casualty
Net premiums earned $307,271 $247,054 $220,550
Net losses incurred 184,119 151,841 144,324
Loss ratio 59.9% 61.5% 65.4%
==========================================================================================================
</TABLE>
(1) "Fire and allied lines" includes farmowners, homeowners, commercial multiple
peril and inland marine.

3
The combined ratios below, which relate to property and casualty insurance,
are the sum of the following: the loss ratio, calculated by dividing net losses
incurred by net premiums earned; the loss adjustment expense ratio, calculated
by dividing net loss adjustment expenses incurred by net premiums earned; and
the underwriting expense ratio, calculated by dividing underwriting expenses
incurred by net premiums written. The ratios in the table below have been
prepared on both a statutory basis and a generally accepted accounting
principles ("GAAP") basis. Generally, if the combined ratio is below 100
percent, there is an underwriting profit; if it is above 100 percent, there is
an underwriting loss.

STATUTORY COMBINED RATIOS

[A bar graph displaying statutory combined ratios for the company as compared
with the Insurance Industry from 1996 to 2000 appears here.] Statutory Combined
Ratios

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Company Industry
<S> <C> <C>
1996 104.4 105.8
1997 98.0 101.6
1998 114.8 105.6
1999 109.0 107.8
2000 105.9 110.3
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
================================================================================================================
(Dollars in Thousands)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statutory GAAP
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Years Ended December 31 2000 1999 1998 2000 1999 1998
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net premiums written $325,052 $254,214 $221,002 $325,052 $254,214 $221,002
Net premiums earned 307,271 247,054 220,550 307,271 247,054 220,550
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loss and loss adjustment expense ratio 74.2% 75.6% 81.9% 73.6% 75.1% 81.2%
Underwriting expense ratio 31.7 33.4 32.9 31.7 34.1 34.0
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Combined ratio 105.9% 109.0% 114.8% 105.3% 109.2% 115.2%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Underwriting loss (5.9)% (9.0)% (14.8)% (5.3)% (9.2)% (15.2)%
================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

LIFE INSURANCE SEGMENT

United Life underwrites and markets single-premium whole life insurance, term
life and universal life insurance, annuities, credit life insurance and
individual disability income products. While United Life's lead annuity product
is a single-premium deferred annuity, it also offers flexible premium annuities.
The credit life insurance business involves the sale of credit life and credit
accident and health products, working in conjunction to satisfy the need for
debt protection in the event of disability and/or death. United Life also offers
an individual disability income rider that is attached to the ordinary life
insurance products.

Total life insurance in force, before reinsurance, is $3,930,948,000 as of
December 31, 2000. Universal life insurance represents 47 percent of insurance
in force at December 31, 2000, compared to 49 percent at December 31, 1999. The
following table presents information on United Life net premiums earned for the
last three years on a GAAP basis.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
======================================================================================================================
(Dollars in Thousands)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percent Percent Percent
Years Ended December 31 2000 of total 1999 of total 1998 of total
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Universal life $ 9,016 34.3% $ 8,696 33.3% $10,524 41.6%
Ordinary life (other than universal) 4,753 18.1 5,199 19.9 4,917 19.4
Accident and health 5,341 20.3 5,271 20.2 4,398 17.4
Annuities 2,422 9.2 2,264 8.7 1,613 6.4
Credit life 4,537 17.2 4,493 17.2 3,694 14.6
Group accident and health 235 0.9 177 0.7 149 0.6
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL NET PREMIUMS EARNED $26,304 100.0% $26,100 100.0% $25,295 100.0%
======================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

4
CONSOLIDATED NET PREMIUMS WRITTEN

The following table shows the statutory consolidated net premiums written and
annuity deposits during the last three years by major category.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars in
Thousands)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percent Percent Percent
Years Ended December 31 2000 of total 1999 of total 1998 of total
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Fire and allied lines (1) $103,385 20.0% $ 77,270 18.1% $ 69,606 18.5%
Automobile 89,925 17.4 65,730 15.4 54,902 14.6
Other liability 62,313 12.1 43,433 10.2 31,738 8.4
Workers' compensation 27,855 5.4 21,735 5.1 20,332 5.4
Fidelity and surety 19,365 3.7 18,395 4.3 17,839 4.7
Reinsurance 21,244 4.1 26,944 6.3 26,052 6.9
Other Property and Casualty 965 0.2 707 0.2 533 0.1
Life and accident and health 26,427 5.1 27,293 6.3 34,961 9.5
Annuity deposits 165,181 32.0 145,810 34.1 119,717 31.9
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$516,660 100.0% $427,317 100.0% $375,680 100.0%
==============================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1) "Fire and allied lines" includes farmowners, homeowners, commercial
multiple peril and inland marine.

REINSURANCE

Property and casualty insurance segment

The Company has acted as a reinsurer, assuming both property and casualty
reinsurance from other insurance or reinsurance companies. The bulk of the
business assumed is property reinsurance with the emphasis on catastrophe
covers. During the second quarter of 2000, the Company decided to significantly
reduce its writings in assumed reinsurance business. A small portion of the
business expired on July 1, 2000, and the bulk of the business expired on
December 31, 2000. Contracts will be renewed with a very limited number of
brokers to continue writing assumed reinsurance business. The Company will
continue to have exposure related to the assumed reinsurance contracts that were
previously written.

The Company follows the industry practice of reinsuring a portion of its
direct and assumed reinsurance exposure and cedes to reinsurers a portion of the
premium received. Reinsurance is purchased to reduce the net liability on
individual risks to predetermined limits and to protect against catastrophic
losses such as hurricanes and tornadoes. Such catastrophe protection is
purchased on both direct and assumed business. The Company uses many reinsurers,
both domestic and foreign. There are no concentrations of credit risk associated
with reinsurance. Principal reinsurers include Employers Reinsurance
Corporation, AXA Reassurance, Continental Casualty Company and Partner
Reinsurance Company of the U.S.

The limits on risks retained by the Company's property and casualty segment
vary by line of business, and risks in excess of the retention limits are
reinsured. For the property lines of business, the retention is $1,000,000.

The following table presents the casualty business retention levels.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Accident Years Casualty Retention
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
1983 and prior $ 225,000
1984 through 1986 300,000
1987 through 1991 500,000
1992 through 1994 750,000
1995 and later 1,000,000
================================================================
</TABLE>

The ceding of reinsurance does not legally discharge the Company from
primary liability under its policies, and the Company must pay the loss if the
reinsurer fails to meet its obligation. The Company monitors the financial
condition of its reinsurers. At December 31, 2000 and 1999, there are no
uncollectable reinsurance balances that would result in a material impact on the
Company's financial statements. In accordance with GAAP and industry practice,
the Company accounts for insurance written and losses incurred net of
reinsurance ceded.

The table on the following page sets forth the statutory aggregate direct
and assumed premiums written, ceded reinsurance and net premiums written for the
three years ended December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998.

5
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars in Thousands)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percent Percent Percent
Years ended December 31 2000 of total 1999 of total 1998 of total
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Fire and allied lines (1) $116,429 35.8% $ 87,594 34.5% $ 81,229 36.8%
Automobile 90,747 27.9 69,557 27.4 56,452 25.5
Other liability 65,801 20.2 48,157 18.9 35,010 15.8
Workers' compensation 28,385 8.7 22,192 8.7 20,736 9.4
Fidelity and surety 20,776 6.4 19,751 7.8 19,000 8.6
Reinsurance assumed 24,179 7.4 29,950 11.8 28,979 13.1
Other 1,483 0.5 1,044 0.4 800 0.4
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aggregate direct and assumed
premiums written $347,800 106.9% $278,245 109.5% $242,206 109.6%
Reinsurance ceded 22,748 6.9 24,031 9.5 21,204 9.6
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net premiums written $325,052 100.0% $254,214 100.0% $221,002 100.0%
=============================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1) "Fire and allied lines" includes farmowners, homeowners, commercial
multiple peril and inland marine.

Life insurance segment

United Life reinsures a portion of its exposure and cedes to reinsurers a
portion of the premium received on the policies reinsured. United Life enters
into reinsurance agreements to reduce the net liability on individual risks to
predetermined limits. United Life retains $200,000 per insured and reinsures the
excess.

The ceding of reinsurance does not legally discharge United Life from
primary liability under its policies. United Life must pay the loss if the
reinsurer fails to meet its obligation. The Company monitors the financial
condition of its reinsurers. At December 31, 2000 and 1999, there are no
uncollectable reinsurance balances that would result in a material impact on the
Company's financial statements. United Life follows the GAAP and industry
practice of accounting for insurance written and losses incurred net of
reinsurance ceded. United Life's primary reinsurance companies are ERC
Reinsurance Company, RGA Reinsurance Company and Business Men's Assurance
Company of America. These companies insure both life and disability risks.

RESERVES

Property and casualty insurance segment

Applicable insurance laws require the Company's property and casualty
segment to maintain reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses with
respect to both reported and unreported losses.

The Company's property and casualty segment establishes reserves for
reported losses one of two ways. For some classes of claims under $5,000
reserves are set based upon a schedule, determined by averaging claims paid over
a 13-month period. All other reserves are established on an individual case
basis. These reserves are based upon policy provisions, accident facts, injury
or damage exposure, trends in the legal system, and other factors. The amount of
reserves for unreported losses is determined for each line of insurance by using
the probable number and nature of losses arising from occurrences on the basis
of historical and statistical information. Once reserves have been established,
they are closely monitored and adjusted as needed.

Loss reserves are estimates at a given time of the ultimate amount expected
to be paid on incurred losses. Estimates are based on facts and circumstances
known when the estimates are made. Reserves are not discounted for the time
value of money. The loss settlement period on insurance losses may be many
years, and as additional facts regarding individual losses become known, it
often becomes necessary to refine and adjust the estimates of liability on a
loss. Inflation is implicitly provided for in the reserving function through
review of cost trends, historical reserving results and projections of future
economic conditions.

Reserves for loss adjustment expenses are intended to cover the actual cost
of investigating losses and defending lawsuits arising from losses. These
reserves are continuously revised based on historical analysis and management's
expectations.

The table on the following page presents a development of net loss and loss
adjustment expense reserve liabilities and payments for the years 1991 through
2000. The top line of the table shows the estimated liability for unpaid losses
and loss adjustment expenses recorded at December 31 for each of the indicated
years. This liability represents the estimated amount of losses and loss
adjustment expenses for losses arising in all prior years that are unpaid at
December 31, including losses that had been incurred but not yet reported, net
of applicable ceded reinsurance. The upper portion of the table shows the re-
estimated amount of the previously recorded liability based on experience as of
the end of each succeeding year. The estimate is increased or decreased as more
information becomes known. Conditions and trends that have affected development
of the liability in the past may not necessarily occur in the future.
Accordingly, it may not be appropriate to extrapolate future redundancies or
deficiencies based on this table. The second half of the table displays
cumulative losses paid and loss adjustment expenses paid for each of the years
indicated on a GAAP basis.

6
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Years Ended December 31
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars in Thousands)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Liability for Unpaid
Losses and LAE $123,219 $158,825 $170,798 $180,653 $188,700 $209,876 $218,912 $243,006 $310,637 $320,506
Liability re-
estimated as of:
One year later 128,042 154,572 153,691 160,776 159,571 176,332 192,297 213,047 273,706
Two years later 125,888 148,507 142,572 172,546 145,486 169,348 185,700 233,325
Three years later 124,428 144,159 158,312 164,133 142,877 164,030 198,298
Four years later 122,384 134,309 155,313 161,961 140,639 172,366
Five years later 118,568 132,075 154,849 162,424 147,412
Six years later 117,648 132,747 157,005 169,472
Seven years later 119,123 135,559 161,898
Eight years later 122,230 140,038
Nine years later 126,953
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Redundancy
(Deficiency) $ (3,734) $ 18,787 $ 8,900 $ 11,181 $ 41,288 $ 37,510 $ 20,614 $ 9,681 $ 36,931
==========================================================================================================================
Cumulative amount of
liability paid through:
One year later $ 44,694 $ 54,291 $ 51,550 $ 80,246 $ 56,618 $ 61,694 $ 62,988 $ 71,251 $ 97,021
Two years later 69,296 84,074 102,637 109,281 83,071 93,599 97,142 123,965
Three years later 87,052 96,976 119,349 123,469 97,763 110,531 122,818
Four years later 95,059 107,420 127,333 132,414 106,770 122,413
Five years later 99,483 112,360 133,531 137,597 112,456
Six years later 102,677 116,929 137,295 141,524
Seven years later 105,907 119,657 140,127
Eight years later 108,287 121,861
Nine years later 110,248
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

LIFE INSURANCE SEGMENT

United Life's reserves meet, or exceed, the minimum statutory Iowa
Insurance Law requirements. These reserves are developed and analyzed by
independent consulting actuaries. The reserves reflected in the Company's
Consolidated Financial Statements are calculated in accordance with GAAP. These
reserves are determined based upon the Company's best estimates of mortality and
morbidity, persistency, expenses and investment income. Statutory reserves are
determined based upon mortality rates and interest rates specified by state law.

INVESTMENTS

The Company must comply with state insurance laws that prescribe the kind,
quality and concentration of investments that may be made by insurance
companies. The Company determines the mix of its investment portfolio based upon
these state laws, liquidity needs, tax position, and general market conditions.
The Company must also consider the timing of when liability obligations are due.
Modifications are made to the investment portfolio as the conditions listed
above change. Invested assets relating to the property and casualty segment are
invested to meet liquidity needs and maximize after-tax returns with appropriate
risk diversification. Assets relating to the life insurance segment are invested
to meet liquidity needs, maximize the investment return and achieve a matching
of assets and liabilities. Substantially, all bond purchases in 2000 were
taxable bonds rather than municipal bonds, due to the more attractive yields
offered by taxable bonds.

7
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Investment results for the years indicated are summarized in the following table.

- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars in Thousands)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Annualized Yield
Years Ended Average Investment on Average
December 31 Invested Assets (1) Income, Net (2) Invested Assets
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
2000 $1,316,906 $86,867 6.6%
1999 1,157,414 75,317 6.5
1998 1,040,008 67,928 6.5
=======================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1) Average of amounts at beginning and end of year.

(2) Investment income after deduction of investment expenses, but before
applicable income tax.

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

The Company owns two buildings in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, which it occupies as
its home office. One building is a five-story building occupied entirely by the
Company. The other is an eight-story office building in which the first floor is
leased to tenants. The Company occupies the second through eighth floors of this
building. The two buildings are connected with a skywalk.

Lafayette Insurance Company owns one building in New Orleans, Louisiana,
which serves as its home office. The building consists of two floors of office
space and a floor of parking.

American Indemnity Company, a subsidiary of American Indemnity Financial
Corporation, owns two adjacent and connected buildings in Galveston, Texas,
which serve as its home office. One building is seven stories and the other one
is three stories. The facility is substantially occupied by American Indemnity
Company, with a small percentage leased.

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The registrant has no pending legal proceedings other than ordinary routine
litigation incidental to the business.

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

There were no matters submitted to a vote of the shareholders during the
fourth quarter of 2000.

PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

Incorporated herein by reference to the information included in the "MARKET
FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS" section of the
2000 annual report to stockholders.

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

Incorporated herein by reference to the information included in the
"SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA" section of the 2000 annual report to stockholders.

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS

Incorporated herein by reference to the information included in the
"MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS" section of the 2000 annual report to stockholders.

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Incorporated herein by reference to the information included in the
"MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS" section of the 2000 annual report to stockholders.

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Incorporated herein by reference to the information included on pages 24
through 45 of the 2000 annual report to stockholders.

8
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
To the Stockholders and Board of Directors of United Fire & Casualty Company:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of UNITED FIRE &
CASUALTY COMPANY (an Iowa corporation) and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2000
and 1999, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders'
equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December
31, 2000. These consolidated financial statements and the supplementary
schedules referred to below are the responsibility of the Company's management.
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial
statements and supplementary schedules based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted
in the United States. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit
to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free
of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence
supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit
also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates
made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement
presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our
opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of United Fire &
Casualty Company and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2000 and 1999, and the
results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in
the period ended December 31, 2000, in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States.

As explained in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, effective
January 1, 1999, the Company and its subsidiaries changed their method of
accounting for derivative instruments and hedging activities.

Our audit was made for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial
statements of the Company taken as a whole. The supplementary schedules
(Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts, Schedule III - Supplementary
Insurance Information, Schedule IV - Reinsurance, and Schedule VI - Supplemental
Information Concerning Property and Casualty Insurance Operations) are presented
for purposes of additional analysis and are not a required part of the basic
financial statements. This information has been subjected to the auditing
procedures applied in our audit of the basic financial statements and, in our
opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic
financial statements taken as a whole.

Arthur Andersen LLP

Chicago, Illinois
February 15, 2001

9
INDEX TO SUPPLEMENTARY SCHEDULES

Consolidated Schedules
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts 11

III - Supplementary Insurance Information 12

IV - Reinsurance 13

VI - Supplemental Information Concerning Property and Casualty Insurance
Operations 14
</TABLE>

All other schedules have been omitted as not required, not applicable, not
deemed material or because the information is included in the Consolidated
Financial Statements.

10
SCHEDULE II. VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A B C D E
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at Charged to
Descrip- beginning of costs and Charged to Balance at end
tion period expenses other accounts Deductions of period
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
2000
Allowance
for bad
debts $ 899 $ 274 $ - $ - $ 1,173

Deferred
tax asset
valuation
allowance 15,139 - - 3,769 (2) 11,370

Restructuring
liability 972,000 - - 972,000 -

1999
Allowance
for bad
debts 731 168 - - 899

Deferred
tax asset
valuation
allowance - - 15,139 (1) - 15,139

Restructuring
liability - 972,000 (4) - - 972,000

1998
Allowance
for bad
debts 1,030 - - 299 (3) 731
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

(1) Recorded in connection with purchase of American Indemnity Financial
Corporation.
(2) Primarily attributable to the utilization of deferred tax assets
related to the Company's investment in American Indemnity Financial
Corporation.
(3) Reversal of allowance due to subsequent collections.
(4) A liability for employee termination benefits and future contractual lease
payments related to abandoned facilities in connection with the purchase of
American Indemnity Financial Corporation.

11
SCHEDULE III. SUPPLEMENTARY INSURANCE INFORMATION

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
========================================================================================================================
(Dollars in Thousands)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Future
Policy
Benefits, Benefits,
Deferred Losses, Realized Claims,
Policy Claims Earned Investment Net Losses and
Acquisition and Loss Unearned Premium Gains and Investment Settlement
Costs Expenses Premiums Revenue (Losses) Income Expenses
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Year Ended
December 31, 2000


Property and casualty $23,385 $ 358,032 $150,453 $307,271 $ 2,927 $25,536 $226,168

Life, accident and health(1) 75,014 822,158 14,759 26,094 (4,752) 61,331 16,880
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total $98,399 $1,180,190 $165,212 $333,365 $(1,825) $86,867 $243,048
========================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
===============================================================================
(Dollars in Thousands)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amortization
of Deferred Other Interest on
Policy Under- Policy-
Acquisition writing holders' Premiums
Costs Expenses Accounts Written
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Year Ended
December 31, 2000


Property and casualty $48,080 $ 54,784 $ - $325,052

Life, accident and health(1) 10,314 4,594 42,410 25,010

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total $58,394 $ 59,378 $ 42,410 $350,062
===============================================================================
</TABLE>
(1) Annuity deposits are included in future policy benefits, losses, claims,
and loss expenses.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
========================================================================================================================
(Dollars in Thousands)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Future
Policy
Benefits, Benefits,
Deferred Losses, Realized Claims,
Policy Claims Earned Investment Net Losses and
Acquisition and Loss Unearned Premium Gains and Investment Settlement
Costs Expenses Premiums Revenue (Losses) Income Expenses
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Year Ended
December 31, 1999


Property and casualty $20,533 $ 338,243 $132,846 $247,054 $ 2,444 $23,477 $185,643

Life, accident and health(1) 69,541 701,350 15,626 25,997 492 51,840 16,805
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total $90,074 $1,039,593 $148,472 $273,051 $ 2,936 $75,317 $202,448
========================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
===============================================================================
(Dollars in Thousands)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amortization
of Deferred Other Interest on
Policy Under- Policy-
Acquisition writing holders' Premiums
Costs Expenses Accounts Written
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Year Ended
December 31, 1999


Property and casualty segment $39,998 $ 46,559 $ - $254,214

Life, accident and health(1) 9,865 4,842 32,286 25,359
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total $49,863 $ 51,401 $ 32,286 $279,573
===============================================================================
</TABLE>
(1) Annuity deposits are included in future policy benefits, losses, claims,
and loss expenses.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
========================================================================================================================
(Dollars in Thousands)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Future
Policy
Benefits, Benefits,
Deferred Losses, Realized Claims,
Policy Claims Earned Investment Net Losses and
Acquisition and Loss Unearned Premium Gains and Investment Settlement
Costs Expenses Premiums Revenue (Losses) Income Expenses
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Year Ended
December 31, 1998


Property and casualty segment $16,339 $ 251,117 $100,080 $220,550 $20,981 $23,157 $179,089

Life, accident and health(1) 51,253 575,189 16,338 25,177 1,815 44,771 16,006
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total $67,592 $ 826,306 $116,418 $245,727 $22,796 $67,928 $195,095
========================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
===============================================================================
(Dollars in Thousands)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amortization
of Deferred Other Interest on
Policy Under- Policy-
Acquisition writing holders' Premiums
Costs Expenses Accounts Written
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Year Ended
December 31, 1998


Property and casualty segment $39,001 $ 36,084 $ - $221,002

Life, accident and health(1) 8,891 4,231 26,568 31,927

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total $47,892 $ 40,315 $ 26,568 $252,929
===============================================================================
</TABLE>
(1) Annuity deposits are included in future policy benefits, losses, claims, and
loss expenses.

Certain amounts included in this schedule for earlier years have been
reclassified to conform with the 2000 financial statement presentation.

12
SCHEDULE IV. REINSURANCE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars in Thousands)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percentage
Ceded to Assumed of Amount
Gross Other From Other Net Assumed to
Amount Companies Companies Amount Net Earned
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Year ended December 31, 2000

Life insurance in force $3,930,948 $422,577 $ - $3,508,371

Premiums earned:
Property and casualty $ 303,378 $ 27,765 $31,658 $ 307,271 10.30%
Life insurance 21,899 1,071 - 20,828
Accident and health insurance 5,410 144 - 5,266
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total $ 330,687 $ 28,980 $31,658 $ 333,365 9.50%
=============================================================================================

Year Ended December 31, 1999

Life insurance in force $3,839,897 $396,382 $ - $3,443,515

Premiums earned:
Property and casualty $ 239,971 $ 27,206 $34,289 $ 247,054 13.88%
Life insurance 22,080 1,316 - 20,764
Accident and health insurance 5,408 175 - 5,233
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total $ 267,459 $ 28,697 $34,289 $ 273,051 12.56%
=============================================================================================

Year Ended December 31, 1998

Life insurance in force $3,672,130 $358,022 $ - $3,314,108

Premiums earned:
Property and casualty $ 209,328 $ 22,349 $33,571 $ 220,550 15.22%
Life insurance 21,856 959 - 20,897
Accident and health insurance 4,414 134 - 4,280
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total $ 235,598 $ 23,442 $33,571 $ 245,727 13.66%
=============================================================================================
</TABLE>

Certain amounts included in this schedule for earlier years have been
reclassified to conform with the 2000 financial statement presentation.

13
SCHEDULE VI. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION CONCERNING PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE
OPERATIONS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

=================================================================================================================
(Dollars in Thousands)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reserves
for Unpaid
Affiliation with Registrant: Deferred claims and
Company and Policy Claim Realized Net
consolidated property and Acquisition Adjustment Unearned Earned Investment Investment
casualty subsidiaries Costs Expenses Premiums Premiums Gains Income
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 2000 $23,385 $358,032 $150,453 $307,271 $2,927 $25,536
=================================================================================================================
Year Ended
December 31, 1999 $20,533 $338,243 $132,846 $247,054 $2,444 $23,477
=================================================================================================================
Year Ended
December 31, 1998 $16,339 $251,117 $100,080 $220,550 $20,981 $23,157
=================================================================================================================

<CAPTION>

=================================================================================================================
(Dollars in Thousands)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Claims and Claim
Adjustment Expenses
Incurred Related to Amortization
Affiliation with Registrant: ------------------- of Deferred Paid Claims
Company and (1) (2) Policy and Claim
consolidated property and Current Prior Acquisition Adjustment Premiums
casualty subsidiaries Year Years Costs Expenses Written
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 2000 $264,891 $(36,931) $48,080 $218,091 $325,052
============================================================================================================
Year Ended
December 31, 1999 $211,575 $(25,135) $39,998 $170,470 $254,214
============================================================================================================
Year Ended
December 31, 1998 $206,603 $(26,615) $39,001 $155,894 $221,002
============================================================================================================
</TABLE>
Certain amounts included in this schedule for earlier years have been
reclassified to conform with the 2000 financial statement presentation.

14
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON
ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE None

PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

Directors of the Company (Age), Present Position, Served as
Business Experience Director Since

Scott McIntyre Jr. (67), Chairman of the Board, 1956
United Fire & Casualty Company
Mr. McIntyre has been employed by the Company since 1954. Mr. McIntyre's term as
a director of the Company expires in May 2002.

Christopher R. Drahozal ( 39), Professor, 1997
University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas
Professor of Law at the University of Kansas, where he has been teaching since
1994. Mr. Drahozal was in private practice in Washington, D.C., 10-91/4-94. Mr.
Drahozal is the son-in-law of Scott McIntyre Jr., Chairman, United Fire &
Casualty Company. Mr. Drahozal's term as director of the Company expires in May
2003.

Jack B. Evans (52), President, 1995
Hall-Perrine Foundation, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Mr. Evans has been President of the Hall-Perrine Foundation, Cedar Rapids, Iowa,
since January 1, 1996. Prior to that, Mr. Evans was employed by SCI Financial
Group, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, serving as its President from 1993 to 1996. Mr.
Evans' term as director of the Company expires in May 2003.

Kyle D. Skogman (50), President, Skogman Construction Co. of Iowa 2000
Mr. Skogman is President of Skogman Construction Co. of Iowa and has served in
that capacity since 1990. Mr. Skogman was appointed to fill an unexpired board
term in December 2000. Mr. Skogman's term as director of the Company expires in
May 2001.

Casey D. Mahon (49), Adjunct Professor of Law, University of Iowa, 1993
Iowa City, Iowa
Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Iowa. Employed as Senior Vice
President & General Counsel of McLeodUSA, Inc. from 6/93 until she retired
2/1/98. Ms. Mahon's term as a director of the Company expires in May 2002.

Leonard J. Marshall (71), Retired 1988
Mr. Marshall, who was employed by General Accident Insurance Company of
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from 1-83/10-91, retired in October 1991. Mr.
Marshall's term as a director of the Company expires in May 2002.

Thomas K. Marshall (67), Retired 1983
Mr. Marshall, who was Vice President-Development of Grinnell College, Grinnell,
Iowa, from 1982 to August 31, 1992, is retired. Mr. Marshall's term as director
of the Company expires in May 2003.

George D. Milligan (44), President, 1999
The Graham Group, Inc., Des Moines, Iowa
Mr. Milligan has been the President of The Graham Group, Inc. since March 1985.
Prior to that Mr. Milligan was Merchandising Manager for Continental Grain Co.,
New York, New York from October 1979 to March 1985. Mr. Milligan's term as
director of the Company expires in May 2003.

Mary K. Quass (50), President & CEO, Quass Communications, 1998
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Ms. Quass held the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of Quass
Broadcasting Company from 1988 to 1998. In January 1998, Quass Broadcasting
Company merged with Capstar Broadcasting Partners to form Central Star
Communications, Inc. In July 1999, Central Star Communications, Inc. merged with
AM-FM, Inc. Ms. Quass's term as a director of the Company expires in May 2001.

John A. Rife (58), President & CEO United Fire & Casualty Company, 1988
United Life Insurance Company
Mr. Rife started with the Company in September 1976. He became Prsesident of
United Life Insurance Company in December 1984, in May 1997 he was appointed
President of the Company, in May 2000 he was appointed as Chief Executive
Officer of the Company, and in August 1999 he was named President of the
American Indemnity Companies. Mr. Rife's term as director of the Company expires
in May 2001.

Byron G. Riley (70), Attorney, Bradley & Riley, P.C., 1983
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Mr. Riley is an attorney with the law firm of Bradley & Riley, P.C., Cedar
Rapids, Iowa, and has practiced law with that law firm since September 1981.
Mr. Riley's term as a director of the Company expires in May 2002.

15
Executive Officers of the Company:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name (Age) Office Held
<S> <C>
Scott McIntyre Jr. (67) Chairman of the Board since 1980, Director since
1956

John A. Rife (58) Chief Executive Officer, United Fire & Casualty
Company since May 2000; President of United Fire
& Casualty Company since May 1997; President of
United Life Insurance Company since 1984

Richard B. Swain (43) Senior Vice President since February 1999; Vice
President Underwriting at Hastings Mutual Ins.
Company, Hastings, Michigan, from May 1998 to
February 1999; employed by the Company as Vice
President, Lincoln Regional Office, from
October 1993 to May 1998

Kent G. Baker (57) Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since
1984

John R. Cruise (59) Vice President, Reinsurance, since 1986

E. Dean Fick (56) Vice President, Claims, since 1991

Shona Frese (56) Corporate Secretary since December 1996;
employed by the Company since 1966

David L. Hellen (48) Resident Vice President, Denver regional office,
since 1987

Wilburn J. Hollis (60) Vice President, Human Resources, since June
1996; Director of Human Resources at Norwest
Financial in Des Moines, Iowa, from 1989 to 1996

E. Addison Hulit (61) Vice President since May 1995; employed by the
Company since 1993

Robert B. Kenward (58) Vice President, Information Services, since 1992

Kevin L. Kubik (46) Vice President and Chief Investment Officer
since June 1997; employed by Van Kampen
American Capital Investment Advisory Inc. from
1989 to 1997

David A. Lange (43) Corporate Secretary since February 1997;
Fidelity and Surety Claim Manager since 1987

Dianne M. Lyons (37) Controller since November 1999; employed by the
Company as Accounting Manager and Financial
Accountant since 1983.

James A. Mason (53) Resident Vice President since February 2000;
Branch Manager, Reliance Insurance Company, New
Orleans, from January 1999 to January 2000;
Regional President, Southern Region, from 1995
to 1998 and Vice President / General Manager
from 1992 to 1994, St. Paul Insurance Company,
Dallas Texas

Galen E. Underwood (60) Treasurer since 1979

Stanley A. Wiebold (56) Vice President, Underwriting, since 1986

Michael T. Wilkins (37) Resident Vice President since 1998; employed by
the Company since 1985
</TABLE>

16
ITEM 11.  EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Executive Compensation includes the amount expensed for financial reporting
purposes under the Company's qualified profit sharing (401(k)) plan. All
employees of the Company are eligible to participate after they have completed
one hour of service with the Company and have attained twenty-one years of age.
The plan is not integrated with Social Security, and provides for employer
contributions in such amounts as the Board of Directors may annually determine.
The benefit payable under the plan is equal to the vested account balance.

Executive Compensation includes the amounts expensed for financial
reporting purposes as contributions to the Company's pension plan for the named
individuals. The pension plan is a noncontributory plan, which is integrated
with social security. All employees of the Company are eligible to participate
after they have completed one year of service, attained twenty-one years of age
and have met hourly requirements with the Company. In 1995 through October,
1996, the normal retirement pension payable under the plan was based on the
employee's highest annual earnings for five (5) consecutive years of employment,
and provided a benefit of 1.25 percent of monthly compensation times years of
benefit service with a maximum of 32 years. Effective November 1, 1996, the
pension plan was amended. The normal retirement benefit was changed from 1.25
percent of average monthly compensation, times years of benefit service, to 1.25
percent of average monthly compensation, plus 0.5 percent of average monthly
compensation in excess of the covered compensation limit, all multiplied by
years of benefit service. Years of benefit service was changed from a cap of 32
years to 35 years. Early retirement eligibility was changed from age 59-1/2 to
age 55 with five years of service. Early retirement benefits were previously
reduced actuarially for all retirees. Now, early retirement benefits have a
subsidized reduction if the employee retires with 20 years or more of service.

The pension plan owned 101,029 shares of the Company common stock as of
December 31, 2000, and has made deposits with United Life Insurance Company to
be used by the plan to purchase retirement annuities from that company. The
annuity fund, maintained by United Life Insurance Company, is credited with
compound interest on the average fund balance for the year. The interest rate
will be equivalent to the ratio of net investment income to mean assets of
United Life Insurance Company.

In 1983, the Company adopted the United Lafayette Employee Stock Ownership
Plan. Effective January 1, 1988, the Plan was amended to convert the Tax Credit
Employee Stock Ownership Plan to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan. The Plan is
for the benefit of eligible employees and their beneficiaries. All employees are
eligible to participate in the Plan upon completion of one year of service,
attaining age twenty-one and meeting hourly requirements with the Company.
Contributions to this plan are made at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
These contributions are based upon a percentage of total payroll and are
allocated to participants on the basis of compensation. Contributions are made
in cash, which is used by the Trustee to acquire shares of the Company stock to
allocate to participants' accounts. As of December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998, the
Trustee owned 127,386, 123,733 and 120,333 shares of Company stock,
respectively. The Company made contributions to the plan of $50,000, $60,000,
and 1,050,000 in 2000, 1999 and 1998 respectively.

On August 21, 1998, the Company adopted a nonqualified employee stock
option plan, which authorizes the issuance of up to 500,000 shares of the
Company's common stock to employees. The granting of the options will help to
attract and retain the best available persons for positions of substantial
responsibility and will provide certain employees with an additional incentive
to contribute to the success of the Company and its subsidiaries. As of December
31, 2000, 16,771 options had been granted under the plan.

17
The following table summarizes the compensation of the Company's Chief Executive
Officer and the four most highly compensated executive officers (other than the
Chief Executive Officer) for the last three years.

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>



Annual Compensation Options
Name and Principal Position Year Salary Bonus Granted
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Scott McIntyre, Jr. (7) 2000 $290,000(1) $ (2) 5,000
Chairman, United Fire &
Casualty Co. 1999 $290,000(1) $ -(2) -
1998 $290,000(1) $ -(2) -

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

John A. Rife (7) 2000 $233,333(1)(5) $ (2) 5,000
President/CEO, United Fire &
Casualty Co. 1999 $210,000(1) $ - (4) 1,181
President, United Life
Insurance Company 1998 $190,000(3) $ 3,032(4) -
President,
American Indemnity Companies

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

E. Dean Fick 2000 $147,750 $ (4)(6) -
Vice President-Claims, 1999 $141,750 $ 7,088(4) -
United Fire &
Casualty Company 1998 $135,000 $ -(4) -

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kevin L. Kubik 2000 $133,500 $ (4)(6) -
Vice President-Chief
Investment Officer, 1999 $125,000 $ 9,375(4) 500
United Fire &
Casualty Company 1998 $113,500 $ 3,513(4) -

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

E. Addison Hulit 2000 $121,500 $ 5,775(4)(6) -
Vice President,
United Fire &
Casualty Co. 1999 $115,500 -(4) 500
President,
Addison Insurance Company 1998 $110,000 18,700(4) -

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>


Footnotes to summary compensation table:

(1) Recommended by the Compensation Committee and approved by the Board of
Directors in February of each year.

(2) Bonus, if any, determined at the regular meeting of the Directors in
February of each year based on recommendation of the Compensation Committee
and prior year performance.

(3) Determined by the Chairman based on annual review in December of each year.

(4) Determined by the bonus plan in effect for all salaried employees based on
the performance for the preceding year.

(5) Compensation from 1/1/00-5/31/00 of $210,000 and from 6/1/00-12/31/00 of
$250,000; reflecting mid-year promotion and raise.

(6) Calculated and paid in April 2001.

(7) Director and Officer of United Fire & Casualty Company.


18
Compensation committee

The Company's compensation committee is responsible for recommending the
salary and bonus of the Chairman and President to the Board of Directors. The
members of the Compensation Committee are Casey D. Mahon, Leonard J. Marshall
and George D. Milligan. In establishing a salary and bonus, factors such as
earnings, underwriting ratios, return on equity and growth in shareholder value
are considered. Consideration is also given to the salaries and bonuses paid to
comparable executives in the insurance industry and in other similarly sized
companies in Iowa.

Aggregate Option Exercises in 2000 and Year-End Values

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Securities (1) Value of Unexercised
Underlying In-the-
Number of shares Value Unexercised Options Money Options
Acquired on Realized at December 31, 2000 at December 31, 2000
Name Exercise Exercisable Unexercisable Exercisable Unexercisable
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Scott McIntyre Jr. 0 0 0 5,000 0 NA
John A. Rife 0 0 0 6,181 0 NA
E. Dean Fick 0 0 0 0 0 NA
Kevin L. Kubik 0 0 0 500 0 NA
E. Addison Hulit 0 0 0 500 0 NA
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) None of the employee unexercised options are in-the-money.
</TABLE>

Option Grants in 2000
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of % of Total Potential Realizable Value
Securities Options Exercise At Assumed Annual Rates
Options Granted to Price Expiration Of Stock Appreciation for
Granted Employees $/Shares Date Option Term
Name 5% 10%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Scott McIntyre Jr. 5,000 47% $20.12 February, 2010 $63,267 $160,330
John A. Rife 5,000 47% $20.12 February, 2010 63,267 160,330
E. Dean Fick 0 0% $ 0.00 -- --
Kevin L. Kubik 0 0% $ 0.00 -- --
E. Addison Hulit 0 0% $ 0.00 -- --
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>


PENSION PLAN TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Years of Service
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary 15 20 25 30 35
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
100,000 $23,618 $31,490 $39,363 $47,235 $55,108
110,000 26,243 34,990 43,738 52,485 61,233
135,000 32,805 43,740 54,675 65,610 76,545
150,000 36,743 48,990 61,238 73,485 85,733
170,000 41,993 55,990 69,988 83,985 97,983
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

The credited years of service on December 31, 2000, for the persons named in
the Summary Compensation Table are as follows: Mr. McIntyre, 35 years (maximum
allowed); Mr. Rife, 24 years; Mr. Fick, 10 years; Mr. Kubik, 4 years; and Mr.
Hulit, 7 years.

The pension plan provides a benefit of 1.25 percent of average annual earnings,
plus 0.5 percent of average annual earnings in excess of Covered Compensation
multiplied by years of service or 35 years, whichever is lesser. Earnings are
limited to $170,000 for pension plan purposes by the IRS. This limit is adjusted
with inflation based upon the CPI and is scheduled to remain the same for
participants retiring before December 31, 2001. Bonuses paid to officers are not
included in pensionable earnings.

The 2000 Covered Compensation table was used for the calculations in the table
above. Pension figures for Scott McIntyre Jr., Chairman, and John A. Rife,
President, are based upon $170,000 of pensionable earnings.

Benefit amounts in the Pension Plan Table are computed assuming payments are
made on the normal life annuity basis. Benefits listed in the table are not
subject to deduction for Social Security or other offset amounts.

Director Compensation

Nonemployee directors are paid a fee of $500 per meeting attended, plus direct
expenses, for attendance at director's meetings. When there is a committee
meeting, the director serving on that committee receives an additional $400. An
annual retainer of $2,500 is paid to each nonemployee director with the
exception of the Vice Chairman who receives an annual retainer of $10,000.

19
The following graph compares the cumulative total stockholder return on Common
Stock for the last five fiscal years with the cumulative total return of the
S&P 500 Index and S&P Property-Casualty Insurance Index, assuming an investment
of $100 in each of the above at their closing prices on December 31, 1995 and
reinvestment of dividends.

TOTAL SHAREHOLDER RETURNS

[PERFORMANCE GRAPH APPEARS HERE]

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INDEXED RETURNS
---------------------------------------------------
BASE
PERIOD YEARS ENDING
------ ------------------------------------------
COMPANY / INDEX DEC 95 DEC 96 DEC 97 Dec 98 DEC 99 DEC 00
- ------------------------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
UNITED FIRE & CAS CO 100 128.14 163.62 126.62 87.61 79.40
S&P 500 INDEX 100 122.96 163.98 210.85 255.21 231.98
INSURANCE (PPTY-CAS)-500 100 121.51 176.76 164.47 122.60 190.95
</TABLE>

20
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

(a) Security ownership of certain beneficial owners.

The following table sets forth information as of March 1, 2001, with respect to
ownership of the Company's $3.33 1/3 par value common stock by principal
security holders. Except as otherwise indicated, each of the persons named below
has sole voting and investment powers with respect to the shares indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amount and
Nature of Percent
Beneficial of
Name of Beneficial Owner Address of Beneficial Owner Ownership Class (1)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Scott McIntyre Jr. (1) 2222 1st Ave. NE, Apt. 1004 1,539,223 15.34%
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52402

Mildred R. McIntyre (1) Cottage Grove Place 1,129,406 11.25
2115 1st Ave. SE, Apt. 2217
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52402

General Accident Corporation of America 436 Walnut St. 2,025,680 20.18
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19105-1109

Susan M. Carlton (1) 29 Pine Terrace 355,241 3.54
Orchard Park, New York 14127

Margaret Pless (1) 3726 Bentley Dr. 312,125 3.11
Durham, North Carolina 27707
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

(1) Scott McIntyre Jr., Mildred R. McIntyre, Susan M. Carlton and Margaret
Pless are all members of the same family. Included in the number of shares
owned by Scott McIntyre, Jr. are 371,812 shares which he owns in his
capacity as trustee of three trusts, one of which his children are the
beneficiaries, one of which his wife is the beneficiary, and the other of
which all of Mildred R. McIntyre's grandchildren are the beneficiaries.
Included in the number of shares owned by Mildred R. McIntyre are 533,245
shares which she owns in her capacity as trustee of a trust in which she
also has a life interest, and in which Scott McIntyre Jr., Susan M. Carlton
and Margaret Pless each have an equal interest in the remainder.

(b) Security ownership of management.

The following table sets forth information as of March 1, 2001, with respect to
ownership of the Company's $3.33 1/3 par value common stock by management.
Except as otherwise indicated, each of the persons named below has sole voting
and investment powers with respect to the shares indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amount and Nature of Percent Of
Name of Beneficial Owner Beneficial Ownership Class (1)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Scott McIntyre Jr. (1) 1,539,223 15.34%
Kyle D. Skogman 500 -
Byron G. Riley, Jr. 3,306 0.03
George D. Milligan 200 -
Thomas K. Marshall 2,346 0.02
Leonard J. Marshall 1,000 0.01
Casey D. Mahon 2,000 0.02
Jack B. Evans 6,134 0.06
John A. Rife 2,184 0.02
Christopher R. Drahozal 115,394 1.15
Mary K. Quass 600 .01
Kevin L. Kubik 3,000 .03
E. Dean Fick 1,000 .01
E. Addison Hulit 255 -
36 officers and directors as a group 1,689,342 16.83
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

(1) Included in the number of shares owned by Scott McIntyre Jr., are 121,500
shares held in the name of J. Scott McIntyre, Trustee of the Mildred
Reynolds McIntyre Trust, 225,000 shares held in the name of Scott McIntyre
Jr., or successor, Dee Ann McIntyre Trust, 25,312 shares held in the name
of Scott McIntyre Jr., Irrevocable Trust and 50,035 shares held by the
McIntyre Foundation.


ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

None

21
PART IV

ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

Page
----
(a) 1. and 2. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 8

(a) 3. Exhibits

3.1 Articles of Incorporation of United Fire & Casualty
Company, incorporated by reference from Registrant's
form S-8 Registration Statement, filed with the
Commission on December 19, 1997.

3.2 By Laws of United Fire & Casualty Company, as
amended, incorporated by reference from the
Registrant's form S-8 Registration Statement, filed
with the Commission on December 19, 1997.

10.1 United Fire & Casualty Company Nonqualified Employee
Stock Option Plan, incorporated by reference from
Registrant's form S-8 Registration Statement, filed
with the Commission on September 9, 1998.

10.2 United Fire & Casualty Company Employee Stock
Purchase Plan, incorporated by reference from
Registrant's form S-8 Registration Statement, filed
with the Commission on December 22, 1997.

11 Statement re: computation of per share earnings.

13 The following portions of the Registrant's Annual
Report to Stockholders for the year ended December
31, 2000, which are incorporated herein by
reference:

13.1 Market For Registrant's Common Equity and
Related Stockholder Matters, page 22.

13.2 Selected Financial Data, page 4.

13.3 Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations,
pages 8 to 14.

13.4 Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about
Market risk, pages 11 to 13.

13.5 Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,
pages 24 to 41.

21 Subsidiaries of the registrant. 24

23 Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP, independent auditors 25

28 Information from reports furnished to State
Insurance Regulatory Authorities. This information
will be filed by paper. 26


(b) No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the last quarter
of the period covered by this report.

22
SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.

UNITED FIRE & CASUALTY COMPANY

By /s/ John A. Rife
----------------------------------
John A. Rife, President, Director

Date 2/16/01
--------------------------------

By /s/ Kent G. Baker
----------------------------------
Kent G. Baker, Vice-President, Principal
Accounting Officer and Chief Financial Officer

Date 2/16/01
--------------------------------

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report
has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and
in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

By /s/ Scott McIntyre Jr. By /s/ Kyle D. Skogman
-------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Scott McIntyre Jr., Chairman and Director Kyle D. Skogman, Director

Date 2/16/01 Date 2/16/01
----------------------------- ------------------------------

By /s/ George D. Milligan By /s/ Casey D. Mahon
-------------------------------- ---------------------------------
George D. Milligan, Director Casey D. Mahon, Director

Date 2/16/01 Date 2/16/01
----------------------------- ------------------------------

By /s/ Leonard J. Marshall By /s/ Byron G. Riley
------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Leonard J. Marshall, Director Byron G. Riley, Director

Date 2/16/01 Date 2/16/01
----------------------------- ------------------------------

By /s/ Thomas K. Marshall By /s/ Jack B. Evans
------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Thomas K. Marshall, Director Jack B. Evans, Vice Chairman
and Director
Date 2/16/01
----------------------------- Date 2/16/01
------------------------------
By /s/ Mary K. Quass
- --------------------------------
Mary K. Quass, Director

Date 2/16/01
-------------------------------
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION TO BE FURNISHED WITH REPORTS FILED PURSUANT TO SECTION
15(D) OF THE ACT BY REGISTRANTS WHICH HAVE NOT REGISTERED SECURITIES PURSUANT TO
SECTION 12 OF THE ACT

(a),(b),(c) Four copies of the annual stockholders report for the year ended
December 31, 2000, and four copies of the proxy statement will be
furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission when they are
mailed to security holders. The annual report and proxy statement
(foregoing material) shall not be deemed to be "filed" with the
Commission or otherwise subject to the liabilities of Section 18
of the Act, except for that which is incorporated from the annual
stockholders report on this Form 10-K by reference.






24
2000 10-K REFERENCED

FINANCIAL INFORMATION
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars in Thousands Except Per Share Data)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Years Ended December 31 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total assets $1,662,494 $1,467,716 $1,250,594 $1,157,922 $1,024,835

Operating revenues
Net premiums earned 333,365 273,051 245,727 244,939 234,797
Investment income, net 86,867 75,317 67,928 61,686 56,936
Realized investment gains (losses) and other (1,825) 2,936 22,796 2,676 6,726
income
Commission and policy fee income 2,172 1,912 1,815 1,829 1,815

Net income 15,527 15,384 23,677 28,732 21,960

Basic and diluted earnings per common share 1.55 1.53 2.28 2.68 2.04

Cash dividends declared
per common share 0.71 0.68 0.67 0.63 0.60
===============================================================================================================
</TABLE>

The selected financial data herein has been derived from the financial
statements of the Company and its subsidiaries. The data should be read in
conjunction with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations" and the "Consolidated Financial Statements and
related notes."

[A bar graph displaying earnings per common share and dividends declared for
the five years ended December 31, 2000 appears here.]

Earnings Per Common Share


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Earnings Per Common Share Dividends Declared
<S> <C> <C>
1996 2.04 0.60
1997 2.68 0.63
1998 2.28 0.67
1999 1.53 0.68
2000 1.55 0.71
</TABLE>
ITEM 6

MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

The Company's common stock is traded on NASDAQ under the symbol UFCS. On March
1, 2001, there were 923 holders of record of the Company's common stock. The
following table sets forth, for the calendar periods indicated, the high and low
bid quotations for the common stock and cash dividends declared. These
quotations reflect inter-dealer prices without retail markups, markdowns or
commissions and may not necessarily represent actual transactions.

The Company's policy has been to pay quarterly cash dividends, and the Company
intends to continue that policy. The table set forth below shows the quarterly
dividends paid in 1999 and 2000. Payments of any future dividends and the
amounts of such dividends, however, will depend upon factors such as net income,
financial condition, capital requirements and general business conditions. The
Company has paid dividends every quarter since March 1968.

State law permits the payment of dividends only from statutory accumulated
earned profits arising from business. The Company's subsidiaries are also
subject to state law restrictions on dividends. See Note 8 in the Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
========================================================================
Cash
Share Price Dividends
High Low Declared
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
2000
Quarter Ended
March 31 $23.31 $17.38 $0.17
June 30 19.69 15.50 0.18
September 30 20.50 15.50 0.18
December 31 20.63 16.19 0.18

1999
Quarter Ended
March 31 $35.50 $25.50 $0.17
June 30 26.88 22.25 0.17
September 30 26.50 22.19 0.17
December 31 23.38 19.25 0.17
========================================================================
</TABLE>
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which are not historical facts, and involve
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those expected and projected. Such risks and uncertainties include the
following: 1) the uncertainties of the loss reserving process; 2) the occurrence
of catastrophic events or other insured or reinsured events with a frequency or
severity exceeding the Company's estimates; 3) the actual amount of new and
renewal business; 4) the competitive environment in which the Company operates;
5) developments in global financial markets that could affect the Company's
investment portfolio and financing plans; 6) estimates of the financial
statement impact due to regulatory actions; 7) uncertainties relating to
government and regulatory policies; 8) legal developments; 9) changing rates of
inflation and other economic conditions; and 10) the impact of mergers and
acquisitions, including the ability to successfully integrate acquired
businesses and achieve cost savings. The words "believe," "anticipate,"
"estimate," "expect," "intend," or "will continue" and variations thereof and
similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned
not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak
only as of their dates. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update
or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.


RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2000, COMPARED TO THE YEAR
ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999

For the twelve months ended December 31, 2000, net income was $15,527,000 or
$1.55 per share, compared to $15,384,000 or $1.53 per share for 1999. A
hailstorm in New Orleans occurring January 23 contributed $3,829,000 of after-
tax net losses to the 2000 results. Operating earnings (after-tax net income,
excluding realized investment gains (losses) and other income) improved in 2000
to $16,713,000 or $1.67 per share (from $13,476,000 or $1.34 per share in the
prior year), primarily as a result of increased premium revenue and a reduction
of operating expenses due to the consolidation of certain company functions.
However, realized investment gains (losses) and other income of $(1,186,000) on
an after-tax basis, compared to realized investment gains and other income of
$1,908,000 in 1999 on an after-tax basis, weakened net income for the year ended
December 31, 2000.

In August 1999, the Company acquired American Indemnity Financial Corporation
("American Indemnity"), a holding company that owns four property and casualty
insurance companies. The year 2000 results presented in the Consolidated
Statements of Operations and certain tables and charts within this report
include twelve months of results of operations of American Indemnity. The 1999
results include five months of results of operations of American Indemnity.
Results presented for years prior to 1999 have not been restated for the effect
of the purchase.

Property and casualty insurance segment

For the year 2000, the property and casualty segment recorded net income of
$9,810,000, compared to net income of $6,062,000 for 1999. Despite the New
Orleans hailstorm catastrophe, the Company's property and casualty results
improved in 2000 in several lines of business. The loss ratio (net losses
incurred divided by net premiums earned) decreased (showed improvement) in the
following areas: automobile, other liability, and workers' compensation. In each
of these lines of business, the 2000 loss ratio was lower than in 1999.
Improvements in the Company's underwriting function and a decrease in the
severity of claims has led to enhanced profitability in these lines.

Three lines of business deteriorated in 2000, when compared to 1999:

Fire and allied lines business was negatively impacted by the New Orleans
hailstorm, with a loss ratio of 62 percent in 2000, compared to 52.5 percent in
1999.

The fidelity and surety line of business had a loss ratio of 11.8 percent in
2000, compared to 2.1 percent percent in 1999. Despite this increase, the
Company's results in the fidelity and surety line were considerably better than
those to be reported for the fidelity and surety industry. The estimated loss
ratio for fidelity and surety for the industry is 27.5 percent. The continued
growth of construction projects, coupled with shortages in the construction
labor market, have contributed to increased losses in these lines, both for the
Company and for the industry as a whole.

The reinsurance line of business has also deteriorated, with a loss ratio of
162.2 percent in 2000, compared to 122.6 percent in 1999. The bulk of the
business assumed was property reinsurance with the emphasis on catastrophe
covers. In response to the tighter margins in this particular line, the Company
has decided to significantly reduce its writings in assumed reinsurance
business. A small portion of the business expired on July 1, 2000, and the bulk
of the business expired on December 31, 2000. Contracts will be renewed with a
very limited number of brokers to continue writing assumed reinsurance business.
The Company will continue to have exposure, primarily the catastrophe covers,
related to the assumed reinsurance contracts that were previously written.
Management believes that as of December 31, 2000, the loss reserves established
for the assumed reinsurance business are adequate. The assumed reserves will be
adjusted as additional facts become known.
Net premiums (direct plus assumed reinsurance less ceded reinsurance) written
by the property and casualty segment increased by $70,838,000 to $325,052,000
between 2000 and 1999, due to price increases, new and renewal business and
twelve months of business from American Indemnity Company. Net premiums written
increase in every line of business, with the exception of reinsurance. The
largest dollar growth in net premiums written was reported in fire and allied
lines, which increased from $77,270,000 in 1999 to $103,385,000 in 2000. The
largest percentage growth was in other liability, with a 43 percent increase in
net premiums written due in part to price firming in the commercial lines of
business.

Direct premiums written by the property and casualty segment increased
$77,405,000 or 32 percent over 1999. The state of Iowa remains the segment's
largest volume state, with direct premiums of $44,533,000. In 2000, Texas became
our third state in terms of direct premium volume for the property and casualty
segment, with direct premiums of $40,596,000, compared to $13,730,000 in 1999.
Management expects continued growth in property and casualty premiums for 2001,
due to price increases in the industry and less fierce competition. Should
industry conditions change, with falling prices and increased competition (as
has been the market situation for the past few years), the growth that
management anticipates may not develop.

To measure underwriting profitability, the property and casualty industry uses
the combined ratio, which is calculated by dividing net losses and net loss
adjustment expenses incurred by net premiums earned, plus other underwriting
expenses incurred divided by net premiums written. Generally, if the combined
ratio is below 100 percent, the Company experiences an underwriting profit; if
it is above 100 percent an underwriting loss exists. In 2000, the segment's GAAP
combined ratio was 105.3 percent, compared to 109.2 percent in 1999. The
improvement resulted from the growth in premiums, a lower underwriting expense
ratio, due in part to the consolidation of functions, and the closing of
southern branch offices of the American Indemnity group of companies.

Catastrophes, including the New Orleans hailstorm, negatively affected the
combined ratio, adding eight percent to the ratio in 2000 and six percent in
1999, and resulted in after-tax net incurred losses and expenses of $15,778,000
or $1.57 per share in 2000, compared to $9,561,000 or $.95 per share in 1999.

Life insurance segment

The life insurance segment reported net income of $5,717,000 for the year
ended 2000, compared to $9,322,000 for the year ended 1999. During the third
quarter of 2000, write-downs on two fixed maturity securities contributed
significantly to the segments' realized investment gain (losses) and other
income of $(3,089,000), net of tax. Net premiums earned by the life segment
(after intercompany eliminations) in 2000 totaled $26,094,000, compared to
$25,997,000 in 1999. On a statutory basis, annuity deposits increased to
$165,181,000, compared to $145,810,000 in 1999. GAAP reported premium revenue
does not reflect annuity deposits. GAAP revenues for annuities consist of
policy surrender charges and investment income earned.

The life segment's largest expenditure is interest credited to annuities and
universal life policies. In 2000, two primary factors; growth in new and
existing account balances and higher interest rates, contributed to the increase
in interest credited of $42,410,000, which was a 31 percent increase from
$32,286,000 in 1999.

Investment results

The Company reported net investment income of $86,867,000 in 2000, compared to
$75,317,000 in 1999 primarily as a result of growth in the Company's investment
portfolio. Over 90 percent of the Company's investment income originated in 2000
from interest on fixed income securities (the portfolio balance grew by
$124,761,000). The remaining investment revenue was derived from dividends on
equity securities, interest on other long-term investments, interest on policy
loans and rent earned from tenants in the Company's home office. The investment
yield (investment income divided by average invested assets) was 6.6 percent in
2000 and 6.5 percent in 1999.

The Company's realized investment gains (losses) and other income was
$(1,825,000) in 2000, compared to $2,936,000 in 1999. Losses recognized on the
sale of securities held by the American Indemnity group of companies, and two
security write-downs were the major factors in the 2000 results. Included as
other income is interest of $257,000 and $632,000, respectively, related to a
refund in connection with a federal income tax Revenue Agent Review for previous
tax years.

Federal income taxes

The provision for Federal income taxes for the year ended 2000 and 1999 was
$1,822,000 and $1,834,000, respectively. Pre-tax income was very similar between
the two years, as were the components of Federal income tax expense. At December
31, 2000, the Company has $29,709,000 of net operating loss ("NOLs")
carryforwards, the utilization of which is limited (pursuant to Section 382 of
the Internal Revenue Code) and was generated by the purchase of American
Indemnity Company in August, 1999. The NOL's will expire in various future
years, beginning in 2001 through 2019. The Company has recorded a net deferred
tax liability of $12,245,000 at December 31, 2000 and $7,430,000 at December 31,
1999. The deferred tax liability increased primarily due to net unrealized
appreciation on investment securities. The Company has a valuation allowance of
$11,370,000 as of December 31, 2000 related to American Indemnity NOLs. The
valuation allowance recorded on the Company's deferred tax asset decreased
$3,769,000 between years, due primarily to the utilization of NOL carryforwards.
If the Company determines that the benefit of the American Indemnity NOLs can be
realized in the future, the related reduction in the deferred tax asset
valuation allowance will be recorded as a reduction to goodwill.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999, COMPARED TO THE YEAR
ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998

On August 10, 1999, the Company acquired American Indemnity Financial
Corporation ("American Indemnity") as a wholly owned subsidiary for
approximately $30,212,000 in cash in exchange for 1,962,410 shares of common
stock. Common stockholders of American Indemnity received approximately $14.35
per share of common stock at the closing of the transaction and deferred
consideration of up to $1.00 to be paid per share in August 2001, subject to
adjustments relating to indemnities. An escrow account with a balance of
$1,990,000 is included in the Company's consolidated balance sheets in other
assets for payment of the deferred consideration.

The transaction was accounted for using the purchase method of accounting.
Loss reserve increases and the write-off of uncollectible balances were also
made, which were not considered purchase accounting. These
costs were recorded in operations in 1999. Management believes that all material
one-time adjustments (other than purchase accounting) were identified and
properly reflected in 1999 operations. A schedule summarizing the assets
acquired and the liabilities assumed as of August 10, 1999, as well as proforma
results of operations, can be found in Note 15 of the Notes to Consolidated
Financial Statements.

Results presented in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and certain
tables and charts within this report include approximately five months of
results of operations of American Indemnity in 1999 and 12 months of operation
of American Indemnity in 2000. Amounts in years prior to 1999 have not been
restated for the effect of the purchase.

Property and casualty insurance segment

The property and casualty segment reported an increase in net premiums earned
of $26,504,000 or 12 percent in 1999, when compared to 1998. The purchase of
American Indemnity contributed $19,413,000 of the growth. Net premiums earned in
each line of business increased, with the exception of workers' compensation,
which decreased slightly between years. With the purchase of American Indemnity,
and the resulting expansion into southern and southeastern states in 1999,
management anticipated that property and casualty net premiums earned would
increase into 2000.

The property and casualty segment's largest expenditures are for losses and
loss adjustment expenses. These costs increased by $6,554,000 in 1999, or 4.0
percent. Without the American Indemnity purchase, losses and expenses would
have decreased by $8,032,000. Subsequent to the purchase of American Indemnity,
the Company's management reviewed and increased that subsidiary's direct case
loss reserves by approximately $10,000,000. This measure was necessary to raise
American Indemnity's loss reserves to a level that was in accordance with the
reserving philosophy of the Company.

The Company had exposure to 23 catastrophes, in both 1999 and 1998. The
catastrophes negatively impacted net income (net of tax) by $9,561,000 or $.95
per share in 1999, and $19,188,000 or $1.85 per share in 1998.

All but three lines of business showed improvement in the loss ratio (lower
loss ratios) in 1999, compared to 1998. The three lines that deteriorated were
other liability, reinsurance and all other. Catastrophe activity negatively
impacted the Company's reinsurance line of business. The loss ratio for net
assumed reinsurance, which constitutes business assumed from other insurance
companies, deteriorated to 122.6 percent in 1999, from 95.9 percent in 1998.

In 1999, the segment's GAAP combined ratio was 109 percent, compared to
115 percent in 1998. The catastrophes discussed above added 6.0 percent to the
combined ratio in 1999 and 11 percent in 1998.

Life insurance segment

The life insurance segment reported net income after consolidating
eliminations of $9,322,000 in 1999, compared to $10,614,000 in 1998. Investment
income increased by $7,069,000 or 16 percent over 1998.

The life segment's largest expenditure is interest credited to annuities and
universal life policies. As new premiums and existing account balances increase,
the interest credited to policies will grow proportionately. The interest
credited to these two products during 1999 totaled $32,286,000, which was a 21
percent increase over 1998. Losses incurred, resulting primarily from death
claims, is the second largest cost incurred by the life insurance segment.
Losses incurred decreased slightly to $11,647,000 in 1999 compared to
$12,299,000 in 1998.

Investment results

The Company reported net investment income of $75,317,000 in 1999, compared to
$67,928,000 in 1998. More than 90 percent of the Company's investment income
originates from interest on fixed income securities. The remaining investment
revenue is derived from dividends on equity securities, interest on other long-
term investments, interest on policy loans and rent earned from tenants in the
Company's home office. The investment yield (investment income divided by
average invested assets) was 6.5 percent in 1999 and 1998.

Realized gains were $2,936,000 in 1999, compared to $22,796,000 in 1998.
During the second quarter of 1998, the Company took advantage of market
conditions and sold some of its equity securities. The proceeds were used to
purchase 625,000 shares of its common stock. The sales generated realized gains
of $16,858,000, which contributed to the 1998 results.



FINANCIAL CONDITION
Investments

The Company invests primarily in fixed-income and equity securities with the
objective of maximizing after-tax investment income, matching assets to
liabilities and maintaining liquidity. The Company maintains its portfolio in
compliance with Company and state insurance department investment guidelines. At
December 31, 2000, the
Company held investment grade securities (as defined by the National Association
of Insurance Commissioners "NAIC" - Securities Valuation Office and having NAIC
ratings of Class 1 or Class 2) with a carrying value of $1,117,080,000,
representing 90 percent of total fixed maturity investments. Purchases of fixed
maturity investments with credit ratings below investment grade are securities
that the Company views as having the potential for upgrade in the future. The
Company minimizes its risk associated with below-investment-grade securities by
monitoring credit risk of the issuers and by spreading the exposure among
various issuers.

Fixed income securities that the Company has the ability and intent to hold to
maturity are classified as held-to-maturity. The remaining fixed income
securities and all of the Company's equity securities are classified as
available-for-sale. The Company did not have trading securities at December 31,
2000, or at December 31, 1999. At December 31, 2000, $283,431,000 or 23 percent
of the fixed maturity portfolio was classified as held-to-maturity, compared to
$311,152,000 or 29 percent at December 31, 1999. The held-to-maturity securities
are reported at amortized cost, while available-for-sale securities are reported
at market value. Unrealized appreciation, net of tax of $37,051,000 from the
Company's available-for-sale investments and other invested assets is reflected
in a separate component of stockholders' equity. The increase in unrealized
appreciation over 1999 resulted from a general improvement in market prices.

Effective January 1, 1999, the Company reclassified a portion of its held-to-
maturity investment portfolio to available-for-sale in conjunction with the
adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 133,
"Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities." Generally,
reclassifications are allowed only in rare circumstances. However, given the new
restrictions that SFAS No. 133 has on hedging interest rate risk for held-to-
maturity securities, all companies adopting SFAS No. 133 were allowed to
reassess their held-to-maturity portfolios without "tainting" the remaining
securities classified as held-to-maturity. The reclassification from held-to-
maturity to available-for-sale increased the carrying value of available-for-
sale fixed-income securities by approximately $9,250,000, and increased other
comprehensive income by approximately $6,013,000, net of deferred income taxes.

At December 31, 2000, the Company's fixed maturity portfolio included
collateralized mortgage obligations (CMO) of $101,596,000, or 8.0 percent of the
fixed-income portfolio, compared to $126,232,000, or 12 percent, as of December
31, 1999. The decreases have been the result of sales and prepayments of CMOs in
2000 and 1999, which were subsequently replaced with corporate bonds.

Market risk

The main objectives in managing the investment portfolios of the Company and
its subsidiaries are to maximize after-tax investment income and total
investment returns. Investment strategies are developed based on a number of
factors, including estimated duration of reserve liabilities, short and long-
term liquidity needs, projected tax status, general economic conditions,
expected rates of inflation and regulatory requirements. Investment decisions
are managed based on investment guidelines approved by Company management.

The Company's investment portfolio is subject to market risk arising from the
potential change in the value of the various securities held within the
portfolio. Market risk comprises many factors, such as interest rate risk,
liquidity risk, foreign exchange risk, credit risk and equity price risk. The
Company's primary market risk exposure is interest rate risk. Interest rate
risk is the price sensitivity of a fixed income security or portfolio to changes
in interest rates. The Company also has limited exposure to equity price risk
and foreign exchange risk.

The active management of market risk is integral to the Company's operations.
The potential changes in the value of the Company's investment portfolio due to
the market risk factors noted above are analyzed within the overall context of
asset and liability management. A technique used by the Company to aid in the
management of its investment and reserve portfolios is the calculation of
duration. Our actuaries estimate the payout pattern of our reserve liabilities
to determine their duration, which is the present value of the weighted average
payments expressed in years. A target duration is then established for the
Company's investment portfolio so that the estimated cash inflows of the
investment portfolio will match the estimated cash outflows of the reserve
portfolio at any given point in time. The investment manager of the Company then
structures the investment portfolio to meet the target duration to achieve the
required cash inflow based on liquidity and market risk factors.

Duration relates primarily to our life insurance segment because the long-term
nature of its reserve liabilities increases the importance of projecting
estimated cash inflows over an extended time frame. The Company's life segment
had $634,551,000 in deferred annuity liabilities that are specifically allocated
to fixed income securities. The management of the life segment investments
concentrates primarily on matching the duration of the investments to that of
the deferred annuity obligations. The duration for the investment portfolio must
take into consideration interest rate risk. This is done through the use of
sensitivity analysis, which measures the price sensitivity of the fixed income
securities to changes in interest rates. The alternative valuations of the
investment portfolio given the various hypothetical interest rate changes
utilized by the sensitivity analysis allow management to revalue the potential
cash flow from the investment portfolio under varying market interest-rate
scenarios. Duration can then be recalculated at the differing levels of
projected cash inflows.
Amounts set forth in Table 1 detail the material impact of hypothetical
interest rate changes on the fair value of certain core fixed income investments
held at December 31, 2000. The sensitivity analysis measures the change in fair
values arising from immediate changes in selected interest rate scenarios.
Hypothetical parallel shifts in the yield curve of plus or minus 100 and 200
basis points (BP) were employed in the simulations. Additionally, based upon the
yield curve shifts, estimates of prepayment speeds for the mortgage related
products and likelihood of call or put options being exercised were employed in
the simulations. According to this analysis, at current levels of interest
rates, the duration of the investments supporting the deferred annuity
liabilities is 0.39 years shorter than the projected duration of the
liabilities. If interest rates increase by 100 basis points, this difference
would be expected to narrow to .38 years. The selection of a 100-basis-point
increase in interest rates should not be construed as a prediction by the
Company's management of future market events, but rather to illustrate the
potential impact of an event.

TABLE 1--SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS (IN THOUSANDS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Interest Rate Risk
ASSET -200 BP -100 BP BASE +100 BP +200 BP
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>

Estimated Fair Value
of Fixed Maturities $1,343,112 $1,285,665 $1,231,209 1,172,805 $1,114,365
</TABLE>

Table 2 details the effect on fair value for a positive or negative 10 percent
price change on the Company's common equity portfolio.

TABLE 2 (IN THOUSANDS)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Equity Price Risk
Asset -10% Base +10%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Common Stock $100.19 $111,132 $122,245
</TABLE>

To the extent that actual results differ from the assumptions utilized, the
Company's duration and rate increase measures could be significantly impacted.
Additionally, the Company's calculation assumes that the current relationship
between short-term and long-term interest rates (the term structure of interest
rates) will remain constant over time. As a result, these calculations may not
fully capture the impact of non-parallel changes in the term structure of
interest rates and/or large changes in interest rates.

Foreign currency exchange rate risk arises from the possibility that changes
in foreign currency exchange rates will affect the fair value of financial
instruments. The Company has limited foreign currency exchange rate risk in its
transactions with foreign reinsurers. This activity relates to the settlement of
amounts due to or from foreign reinsurers in the normal course of business.
Management considers this risk to be immaterial to the Company's operations.

Equity price risk is the potential loss arising from changes in the fair value
of equity securities. The Company's exposure to this risk relates to its equity
securities portfolio and covered call options that have been written at various
times. Covered call options have been written at various times to generate
additional portfolio income. The market risk associated with the Company's
covered call options is minimized, as the covered call options are written on
common stocks that are held in the portfolio and that are "out of the money"
(written above the stock's market value at time of contract). If the market
price of this underlying common stock were to decline, it would be unusual for
the option to be exercised since this exercise price would be higher than the
market price. At December 31, 2000, there were no open covered call options.

OTHER ASSETS

Commissions and other costs of underwriting insurance, which vary with and are
primarily related to the production of business, have been deferred and
capitalized to the extent recoverable. The resulting asset is referred to as
deferred acquisition costs (DAC), and constitutes the Company's second largest
asset, after investments. The DAC asset is amortized over the life of the
insurance policies written, to attain a matching of revenue to expenses. The
Company's life segment had an increase in deferred acquisition costs of
$5,473,000, or 8.0 percent, to $75,014,000, due principally to its growth in
statutory premium volume. Deferred acquisition costs of the property and
casualty segment increased in 2000 by $2,852,000, or 14 percent, to $23,385,000,
also attributable to an increase in premium volume.

Accounts receivable are amounts due from property and casualty insurance
agents and brokers for premiums written, less commissions paid. These
receivables increased by 25 percent or $12,651,000, from $51,304,000 to
$63,955,000 between 2000 and 1999. The increase in property and casualty
writings accounted
for the growth in this asset. An allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,173,000
has been established at December 31, 2000, compared to $899,000 at December 31,
1999. The Company did not experience difficulties in collecting balances from
its agents in 2000 or 1999.

The Company's other assets are composed primarily of accrued investment
income, property and equipment (primarily land and buildings), and reinsurance
receivables (amounts due from the Company's reinsurers for losses and expenses).


Liabilities

The Company's largest liability is that of future policy benefits, which
relates exclusively to the life segment, and is established to provide for the
payment of policy benefits that are to be paid in the future. With respect to
annuity and most universal life products, the Company records a liability equal
to the amount of the premiums paid by policyholders, less insurance charges and
expense loads, plus interest credited to the policy. As deposits from annuities
and universal life products have grown, future policy benefits have grown. The
liability increased by $120,808,000, or 17 percent, to $822,158,000 between
December 31, 1999 and 2000.

Claims and settlement expenses, which relate to the property and casualty
segment, also increased in 2000. Direct and assumed reserves established for
losses and expenses have increased by $19,789,000, or 6.0 percent, to
$358,032,000 from 1999 to 2000.

Accrued expenses and other liabilities have increased from $22,043,000 at
December 31, 1999, to $34,303,000 at December 31, 2000, due primarily to the
inclusion of a net negative cash balance of $9,307,000. Positive cash balances
have been netted against checks issued for claims that have not yet cleared the
banking system. Short-term investments are available for the Company's cash
needs - see following section "Cash flow and liquidity".

Deferred income taxes have increased by $4,815,000 to $12,245,000, due in
large part to growth in unrealized appreciation of $17,944,000. Federal income
taxes on the net unrealized appreciation are deferred until such time that the
securities are sold.

The Company has had limited involvement with derivative financial instruments
and does not engage in the derivative market for hedging purposes. The Company
has, at times, written covered call options to generate additional portfolio
income. There were no open covered call options at December 31, 2000, and
December 31, 1999.

Stockholders' equity

The Company's stockholders' equity increased from $237,793,000 at December 31,
1999, to $257,429,000 at December 31, 2000, an increase of 8.0 percent in 2000.
Decreases to equity included $7,134,000 of declared dividends and $421,000 due
to the retirement of 24,265 shares of common stock. Increases to equity included
net income of $15,527,000 and net unrealized appreciation of $11,664,000 (net of
tax).

In February 2000, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase
of an additional 100,000 shares of its common stock through open market or
privately negotiated transactions, which brought the total number of shares
authorized for repurchase to 114,075. During 2000, the Company purchased 24,865
shares of its common stock at a cost of $430,000. This brings the remaining
repurchase authorization to 89,210 shares as of December 31, 2000.

Cash flow and liquidity

Cash flow and liquidity is primarily derived from the operating cash flows of
the Company's property and casualty and life insurance operations. Premiums are
invested in assets maturing at regular intervals in order to meet the Company's
obligations to pay policy benefits, claims and claim adjusting expenses. Net
cash provided by the Company's operating activities was $42,543,000 in 2000,
compared to $34,452,000 in 1999.

Funds which the Company has available for short-term cash needs are invested
primarily in money market accounts and fixed-income securities. At December 31,
2000, the Company's consolidated invested assets included $58,290,000 of short-
term investments. In addition, the Company maintains a $20 million bank line of
credit. During 2000, the Company did not utilize the line of credit. During
1999, the Company borrowed funds against the line of credit, with a maximum
outstanding balance of $4,000,000. Under the terms of the agreement, interest on
outstanding notes is payable at the lender's prevailing prime rate, minus 1.0
percent. Interest expense in connection with the line of credit borrowing was
$22,000 in 1999. Management believes that the Company's liquid assets and net
cash provided by operations will enable it to meet any foreseeable cash
requirements.

Regulation

The insurance industry is governed by the NAIC and individual state insurance
departments. All of the insurance departments of the states in which the Company
is domiciled have adopted codification of insurance Statutory Accounting
Principles effective January 1, 2001. Previously, these principles were
prescribed in a variety of publications, as well as state laws, regulations and
general administrative rules. Subject to final interpretation by the NAIC and
the individual state insurance departments, the effect on the
statutory financial statements as of January 1, 2001, is estimated to be an
increase to stockholders' equity of approximately $10,900,000. This change does
not affect the accompanying financial statements, which are based on generally
accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). Pursuant to codification rules,
permitted statutory accounting practices may be utilized, with approval from an
insurer's state of domicile insurance department. The Company does not use
permitted practices that individually or in the aggregate materially affect
statutory surplus or risk-based capital.

The NAIC annually calculates a number of financial ratios to assist state
insurance regulators in monitoring the financial condition of insurance
companies. A "usual range" of results for each ratio is used as a benchmark.
Departure from the usual range on four or more of the ratios could lead to
inquiries from individual state insurance commissioners as to certain aspects of
a company's business. American Indemnity had four ratios which were out of the
"usual range". Two of the ratios, "change in net writings" and "change in
surplus," resulted from a 100 percent reinsurance quota share contract between
American Indemnity and the Company which was effective January 1, 2000, for all
new and renewal policies. This arrangement had the effect of decreasing premium
writings, thus resulting in a decrease in net writings ("change in writings") of
100%. The quota share arrangement also contributed to a substantial increase in
the statutory surplus ("change in surplus") of American Indemnity Company. The
quota share agreement contributed to the improved statutory financial condition
of American Indemnity Company.

To comply with NAIC and state insurance departments' solvency regulations, the
Company is required to calculate a minimum capital requirement based on
insurance risk factors. The risk-based capital results are used to identify
companies that merit regulatory attention or the initiation of regulatory
action. At December 31, 2000, both the life segment and the property and
casualty segment had capital well in excess of the required levels. The Company
is not aware of any other current recommendations by the NAIC or other
regulatory authorities in the states in which the Company conducts business
that, if or when implemented, would have a material effect on the Company's
liquidity, capital resources or operations.
Item 8

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Consolidated Balance Sheets
December 31, 2000 and 1999

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
======================================================================================================
(Dollars in Thousands
Except Number of Shares)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASSETS 2000 1999
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Investments (Notes 2, 3 and 4)
Fixed maturities
Held-to-maturity, at amortized cost (market value $292,857 in 2000
and $314,168 in 1999) $ 283,431 $ 311,152
Available-for-sale, at market (amortized cost $952,949 in 2000 and
$800,467 in 1999) 928,947 768,307
Equity securities, at market (cost $30,667 in 2000 and $38,755 in 1999) 111,132 109,148
Policy loans 8,437 8,645
Other long-term investments, at market (cost $12,326 in 2000 and
$12,841 in 1999) 12,864 13,328
Short-term investments 58,290 20,131
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$1,403,101 $1,230,711
Cash and Cash Equivalents - 9,749
Accrued Investment Income (Note 4) 22,578 19,857
Accounts Receivable, (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,173 in
2000 and $899 in 1999) 63,955 51,304
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs 98,399 90,074
Property and Equipment, primarily land and buildings, at cost,
less accumulated depreciation of $27,172 in 2000 and $23,912 in 1999 16,732 16,863
Reinsurance Receivables (Note 6) 41,487 29,715
Prepaid Reinsurance Premiums 2,846 3,019
Intangibles 6,459 8,044
Income Taxes Receivable (Note 9) 658 1,169
Other Assets 6,279 7,211
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL ASSETS $1,662,494 $1,467,716
======================================================================================================
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Liabilities
Future policy benefits and losses, claims and settlement expenses
(Notes 6 and 7)
Property and casualty insurance $ 358,032 $ 338,243
Life insurance (Note 4) 822,158 701,350
Unearned premiums 165,212 148,472
Accrued expenses and other liabilities 34,303 22,043
Employee benefit obligations (Note 10) 13,115 12,385
Deferred income taxes (Note 9) 12,245 7,430
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL LIABILITIES $1,405,065 $1,229,923
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Common stock, $3.33 1/3 par value; authorized 20,000,000 shares
(Note 13)
10,035,819 shares issued and outstanding in 2000
10,060,084 shares issued and outstanding in 1999 $ 33,453 $ 33,534
Additional paid-in capital 6,912 7,252
Retained earnings (Note 8) 172,346 163,953
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax 44,718 33,054
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY $ 257,429 $ 237,793
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY $1,662,494 $1,467,716
======================================================================================================
</TABLE>

The Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these
statements.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Years Ended December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars in Thousands Except Per Share Data
and Number of Shares)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999 1998
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Revenues
Net premiums earned (Note 6) $ 333,365 $ 273,051 $ 245,727
Investment income, net (Note 2) 86,867 75,317 67,928
Realized investment gains (losses) and other income (Note 2) (1,825) 2,936 22,796
Commission and policy fee income 2,172 1,912 1,815
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 420,579 $ 353,216 $ 338,266
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Benefits, Losses and Expenses
Losses and settlement expenses $ 236,807 $ 197,291 $ 191,388
Increase in liability for future policy benefits 6,241 5,157 3,707
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs 58,394 49,863 47,892
Other underwriting expenses 59,378 51,401 40,315
Interest on policyholders' accounts 42,410 32,286 26,568
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 403,230 $ 335,998 $ 309,870
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income before income taxes $ 17,349 $ 17,218 $ 28,396
Federal income taxes (Note 9) 1,822 1,834 4,719
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Income $ 15,527 $ 15,384 $ 23,677
============================================================================================================================
Earnings available to common shareholders (Note 13) $ 15,527 $ 15,384 $ 23,677
============================================================================================================================
Weighted average common shares outstanding (Note 13) 10,047,248 10,079,563 10,393,930
============================================================================================================================
Basic and diluted earnings per common share (Note 13) $ 1.55 $ 1.53 $ 2.28
============================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

The Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these
statements.
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity
Years Ended December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars in Thousands Except Per Share Data and Number of Shares)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accumulated
Other
Additional Comprehensive
Common Paid-In Retained Income,
Stock Capital Earnings Net of Tax Total
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Balances, December 31, 1997 $35,758 $ 9,331 $161,906 $ 70,213 $277,208
Net income - - 23,677 - 23,677
Change in net
unrealized depreciation (1) - - - (10,918) (10,918)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total comprehensive income (Note 14) 12,759
Cash dividend declared on
common stock, $.67 per share - - (6,964) - (6,964)
Purchase and retirement of
635,601 shares of common stock (2,119) (1,404) (23,198) - (26,721)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balances, December 31, 1998 $33,639 $ 7,927 $155,421 $ 59,295 $256,282
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Transition adjustment for the
effect of a change in accounting
principle, net of tax (Note 1) - - - 6,013 6,013
Net income - - 15,384 - 15,384
Change in net
unrealized depreciation (1) - - - (32,254) (32,254)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total comprehensive loss (Note 14) (10,857)
Cash dividend declared on
common stock, $.68 per share - - (6,852) - (6,852)
Purchase and retirement of
31,637 shares of common stock (105) (675) - - (780)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balances, December 31, 1999 $33,534 $ 7,252 $163,953 $33,054 $237,793
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income - - 15,527 - 15,527
Change in net
unrealized appreciation (1) - - - 11,664 11,664
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total comprehensive income (Note 14) 27,191
Cash dividend declared on
common stock, $.71 per share - - (7,134) - (7,134)
Purchase and retirement of
24,265 shares of common stock (81) (340) - - (421)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balances, December 31, 2000 $33,453 $ 6,912 $172,346 $44,718 $257,429
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

(1) The change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is net of
reclassification adjustments and income taxes (see Note 14).

The Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these
statements.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Years Ended December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars in Thousands)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999 1998
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Cash Flows From Operating Activities
Net Income $ 15,527 $ 15,384 $ 23,677
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
provided by operating activities
Net bond discount accretion (370) 88 (1,428)
Depreciation and amortization 4,452 3,078 468
Realized net investment (gains) losses 2,082 (2,303) (22,793)
Changes in:
Accrued investment income (2,721) (2,795) (1,971)
Accounts receivable (12,651) 6,338 (808)
Deferred policy acquisition costs (8,325) (18,092) (7,377)
Reinsurance receivables (11,772) 5,493 1,520
Prepaid reinsurance premiums 173 3,174 1,141
Income taxes receivable/payable 511 2,588 (7,064)
Other assets 932 (1,372) 3,044
Future policy benefits and losses, claims and settlement expenses 25,969 19,300 20,258
Unearned premiums 16,740 3,275 8,122
Accrued expenses and other liabilities 12,260 (14,214) 549
Employee benefit obligations 730 2,572 1,148
Deferred income taxes (1,465) (1,293) 609
Other, net 471 13,231 (1,034)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total adjustments $ 27,016 $ 19,068 $ (5,616)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash provided by operating activities $ 42,543 $ 34,452 $ 18,061
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash Flows From Investing Activities
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale investments $ 68,963 $ 35,653 $ 78,471
Proceeds from call and maturity of held-to-maturity investments 31,614 35,398 101,180
Proceeds from call and maturity of available-for-sale investments 68,038 95,762 31,084
Proceeds from sale of other investments 126,035 102,256 38,956
Purchase of held-to-maturity investments (3,482) (1,682) (14,461)
Purchase of available-for-sale investments (284,116) (295,670) (258,744)
Purchase of other investments (163,036) (86,856) (55,972)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment 104 1,469 3,009
Purchase of property and equipment (3,485) (1,429) (2,120)
Acquisition of property and casualty company, net of cash acquired - (22,249) -
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash used in investing activities $ (159,365) $ (137,348) $ (78,597)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash Flows From Financing Activities
Policyholders' account balances
Deposits to investment and universal-life-type contracts $ 218,951 $ 189,715 $ 158,491
Withdrawals from investment and universal-life-type contracts (104,323) (69,432) (66,648)
Purchase and retirement of common stock (421) (780) (26,721)
Payment of cash dividends (7,134) (6,858) (6,964)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash provided by financing activities $ 107,073 $ 112,645 $ 58,158
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents $ (9,749) $ 9,749 $ (2,378)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year 9,749 - 2,378
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year $ - $ 9,749 $ -
=======================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

The Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these
statements.
Note 1.
Significant Accounting Policies Nature of operations, principles of
consolidation and basis of reporting

The Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared on the basis of
generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), which differ in some respects
from those followed in reports to insurance regulatory authorities.

United Fire & Casualty Company (the "Company") and its insurance subsidiaries
are engaged in the business of property and casualty insurance and life
insurance.

The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements include United Fire &
Casualty Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries, United Life Insurance
Company, Lafayette Insurance Company, Insurance Brokers & Managers, Inc.,
Addison Insurance Company, Addison Insurance Agency, UFC Premium Finance
Company, American Indemnity Financial Corporation, American Indemnity Company,
American Fire and Indemnity Company, Texas General Indemnity Company, American
Computing Company, and the affiliate United Fire Lloyds, which is financially
and operationally controlled by the Company. All material intercompany items
have been eliminated in consolidation.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires
management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of
assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at
the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and
expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those
estimates.

Certain amounts included in the Consolidated Financial Statements for prior
years have been reclassified to conform with the 2000 financial statement
presentation.

Property and casualty segment

Premiums are reflected in income on a daily pro rata basis over the terms of
the respective policies. Unearned premium reserves are established for the
portion of premiums written applicable to the unexpired term of policies in
force.

Certain costs of underwriting new business, principally commissions, premium
taxes and variable underwriting and policy issue expenses, have been deferred.
Such costs are being amortized as premium revenue is recognized. The method
followed in computing deferred policy acquisition costs limits the amount of
such deferred costs to their estimated realizable value, which gives effect to
the premium to be earned, losses and expenses, and certain other costs expected
to be incurred as the premium is earned.

Unpaid losses and settlement expenses are based on estimates of reported and
unreported claims and related settlement expenses. While management believes the
reserve for claims and settlement expenses is adequate, the reserve is
continually reviewed and, as adjustments become necessary, they are reflected in
current operations. Changes in assumptions used in estimating reserves could
cause the reserves to change in the near term.

Life segment

On whole life and term insurance (traditional business), premiums are reported
as earned when due, and benefits and expenses are associated with premium income
so as to result in the recognition of profits over the lives of the related
contracts. On universal life and annuity (nontraditional) business, income and
expenses are reported as charged and credited to policyholder account balances
through the use of the retrospective deposit method. This method results in the
recognition of profits over the lives of the related contracts, which is
accomplished by means of the provision for future policy benefits and the
deferral and subsequent amortization of life policy acquisition costs.

The costs of acquiring new life business, principally commissions and certain
variable underwriting, agency and policy issue expenses, have been deferred.
These costs are being amortized to income over the premium paying period of the
related traditional policies in proportion to the ratio of the expected annual
premium revenue to the expected total premium revenue, and over the anticipated
lives of nontraditional policies in proportion to the ratio of the expected
annual gross margins to the expected total gross margins. The expected premium
revenue and gross margins are based upon the same mortality and withdrawal
assumptions used in determining future policy benefits. For nontraditional
policies, changes in the amount or timing of expected gross margins will result
in adjustment to the cumulative amortization of these costs.

The effect on the amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs for
revisions to estimated gross profits is reflected in earnings in the period such
estimated gross profits are revised. The effect on the deferred policy
acquisition costs that would result from realization of unrealized gains
(losses) is recognized with an offset to accumulated other
comprehensive income in the Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity as
of the balance sheet date. As of December 31, 2000, an adjustment to decrease
deferred policy acquisition costs by $336,000 was made with a corresponding
decrease to accumulated other comprehensive income. In 1999, the adjustment was
to increase deferred policy acquisition costs by $12,808,000.

Liabilities for future policy benefits are computed by the net level premium
method using interest assumptions ranging from 4.5% to 8.0% and withdrawal,
mortality and morbidity assumptions appropriate at the time the policies were
issued. Health reserves are stated at amounts determined by estimates on
individual cases and estimates of unreported claims based on past experience.
Liabilities for universal-life-type and investment contracts are stated at
policyholder account values before surrender charges. Liabilities for
traditional immediate annuities are based primarily upon statutory reserves.

Policy claim liabilities are determined using actuarial estimates. These
estimates are based on historical information, along with certain assumptions
about future events. Changes in assumptions for such things as medical costs,
environmental hazards and legal actions, as well as changes in actual
experience, could cause these estimates to change in the near term.

Investments

Investments in held-to-maturity fixed-income securities are recorded at
amortized cost. The Company has the ability and intent to hold these investments
until maturity. Available-for-sale fixed-income securities, equity securities
and other long-term investments are recorded at fair value. If an other-than-
temporary impairment occurs in a security, the Company writes the security down
to the new value and recognizes a loss in current earnings. Policy loans and
short-term investments are recorded at cost. Included in investments at
December 31, 2000 and 1999, are securities on deposit with various regulatory
authorities, as required by law, with carrying values of $896,059,000 and
$755,436,000, respectively.

Realized gains or losses on disposition of investments are included in the
computation of net income. Cost of investments sold is determined by the
specific identification method. Changes in unrealized appreciation and
depreciation, resulting from available-for-sale fixed-income securities, equity
securities, other long-term investments and certain life deferred policy
acquisition costs, are reported as direct increases or decreases in
stockholders' equity, less applicable income taxes.

Reinsurance

Premiums earned and losses and settlement expenses are reported net of
reinsurance ceded and are accounted for on a basis consistent with those used in
accounting for the original policies issued and the terms of the reinsurance
contracts.

Cash and cash equivalents

For purposes of reporting cash flows, cash and cash equivalents include cash
and non-negotiable certificates of deposit with original maturities of three
months or less. Negative cash balances are included in accrued expenses and
other liabilities. Net income taxes paid during 2000, 1999 and 1998 were
$2,088,000, $505,000 and $11,201,000, respectively. Through December 31, 2000,
tax and interest payments received in connection with the settlement of a
federal income tax Revenue Agent Review were $1,160,000 and $889,000,
respectively. There were no significant payments of interest other than interest
credited to policyholders' accounts in 2000, 1999 or 1998.

Property, equipment and depreciation

Property and equipment is carried at cost less accumulated depreciation.
Depreciation is computed primarily by the straight-line method over the
estimated useful lives of the underlying assets.

Depreciation expense totaled $3,512,000, $2,458,000, and $203,000 for the
years ending December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998, respectively.

Amortization of intangibles

Intangibles, including goodwill and agency relationships, are being amortized
by the straight-line method over periods of up to 10 years. The carrying value
of goodwill and other intangibles is reviewed regularly for impairment in the
recoverability of the underlying asset. Any impairment of goodwill would be
charged to operations in the period that the impairment was recognized. The
Company did not take an impairment write-down of goodwill or other intangibles
in 2000, 1999 or 1998.

Amortization expense totaled $940,000, $620,000, and $265,000 for the years
ending December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998, respectively. During 2000, the Company
reduced goodwill by $645,000 as a result of an adjustment to the deferred tax
asset valuation allowance related to the acquisition of American Indemnity
Financial Corporation. Refer to Note 9 for further discussion.

Income taxes

The Company files a consolidated federal income tax return. Deferred tax
assets and liabilities are determined at the end of each period, based on
differences between the financial statement bases of assets and liabilities and
the tax bases of those same assets and liabilities, using the currently enacted
statutory tax rates. Deferred income tax expense is measured by the change in
the net deferred income tax asset or liability during the year.

Contingent liabilities

The Company is a defendant in legal actions arising from normal business
activities. Management, after consultation with legal counsel, is of the opinion
that any liability resulting from these actions will not have a material impact
on the financial condition and operating results of the Company.
Accounting changes

In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 133, "Accounting for
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities." In June 1999, SFAS No.133 was
amended by SFAS No. 137, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging
Activities - Deferral of the Effective Date of FASB No. 133 - an amendment of
FASB Statement No. 133". SFAS No. 133 is now effective for all fiscal quarters
of fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2000. A company may also implement SFAS
No. 133 as of the beginning of any fiscal quarter after issuance. SFAS No. 133
cannot be applied retroactively. The new statement requires all derivatives
(including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts) to be
recorded on the balance sheet as either an asset or a liability at fair value
and establishes special accounting for certain types of hedges. The Company has
had limited involvement with derivative financial instruments, and does not
engage in the derivative market for hedging purposes. Effective January 1, 1999,
the Company early adopted SFAS No. 133. As part of the implementation of SFAS
No. 133, the Company was allowed to reassess its held-to-maturity portfolio
without "tainting" the remaining securities classified as held-to-maturity. The
impact on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements due to the
reclassification from held-to-maturity to available-for-sale, effective
January 1, 1999, increased the carrying value of available-for-sale fixed-income
securities by approximately $9,250,000 and other comprehensive income by
approximately $6,013,000, net of deferred income taxes. This is shown as a
change in accounting principle in the Consolidated Statements of Stockholders'
Equity. There was no other material effect on the Company's Consolidated
Financial Statements. Refer to Note 3 for further discussion.

In June 2000, the FASB issued SFAS No. 138, "Accounting for Certain Derivative
Instruments and Certain Hedging Activities - an amendment of FASB Statement No.
133", which was effective for all fiscal quarters beginning after June 15, 2000,
due to the Company's early adoption of SFAS No. 133. This statement amends the
accounting and reporting standards of SFAS No. 133 for certain derivative
instruments and certain hedging activities. Because the Company has limited
involvement with derivative financial instruments, and does not engage in the
derivative market for hedging purposes, the impact of adopting SFAS No. 138 did
not have a material effect on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

Effective January 1, 2000, the Company adopted Statement of Position ("SOP")
98-7, "Deposit Accounting: Accounting for Insurance and Reinsurance Contracts
That Do Not Transfer Insurance Risk." The SOP provides guidance on accounting
for insurance and reinsurance contracts that do not transfer insurance risk. All
of the Company's reinsurance agreements are risk-transferring arrangements,
accounted for according to SFAS No. 113, "Accounting and Reporting for
Reinsurance of Short-Duration and Long-Duration Contracts." The impact of
adopting SOP 98-7 had no effect on the Company's Consolidated Financial
Statements.

Effective December 31, 2000, the Company adopted Staff Accounting Bulletin
("SAB") No. 101, "Revenue Recognition." The impact of adopting SAB No. 101 had
no effect on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

Effective July 1, 2000, the Company adopted FASB Interpretation ("FIN") No.
44, "Accounting for Certain Transactions Including Stock Compensation (an
Interpretation of Accounting Principles Board ("APB") Opinion No. 25)". FIN No.
44 clarifies the application of APB Opinion No. 25 for only certain issues, such
as (a) the definition of employee for purposes of applying APB Opinion No. 25,
(b) the criteria for determining whether a plan qualifies as a noncompensatory
plan, (c) the accounting consequence of various modifications to the terms of a
previously fixed stock option or award, and (d) the accounting for an exchange
of stock compensation awards in a business combination. The adoption of FIN No.
44 had no impact on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.
Note 2.
SUMMARY OF INVESTMENTS

A reconciliation of the amortized cost (cost for equity securities) to fair
values of investments in held-to-maturity and available-for-sale fixed
maturities, equity securities and other long-term investments as of December 31,
2000 and 1999 is as follows.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year Ended December 31, 2000 (Dollars in Thousands)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gross Gross
Amortized Unrealized Unrealized Fair
Type of Investment Cost Appreciation Depreciation Value
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Held-to-maturity
Fixed maturities
Bonds
United States
Government, government agencies and authorities
Collateralized mortgage obligations $ 15,099 $ 127 $ 46 $ 15,180
Mortgage-backed securities 7,832 507 1 8,338
All others 1,838 288 - 2,126
States, municipalities and political subdivisions 167,554 7,479 542 174,491
Foreign 3,024 102 - 3,126
Public utilities 17,966 330 23 18,273
Corporate bonds
Collateralized mortgage obligations 12,785 209 66 12,928
All other corporate bonds 57,333 1,180 118 58,395
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total held-to-maturity $283,431 $10,222 $ 796 $ 292,857
=================================================================================================================================
Available-for-sale
Fixed maturities
Bonds
United States
Government, government agencies and authorities
Collateralized mortgage obligations $ 27,992 $ 459 $ 45 $ 28,406
Mortgage-backed securities 12 1 - 13
All others 34,228 966 165 35,029
States, municipalities and political subdivisions 81,496 1,545 247 82,794
All foreign bonds 35,572 399 2,216 33,755
Public utilities 161,865 3,578 2,610 162,833
Corporate bonds
Collateralized mortgage obligations 45,344 665 703 45,306
All other corporate bonds 566,440 8,064 33,693 540,811
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total available-for-sale fixed maturities $952,949 $15,677 $39,679 $ 928,947
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Equity securities
Common stocks
Public utilities $ 2,644 $ 6,626 $ - $ 9,270
Banks, trust and insurance companies 8,999 44,409 114 53,294
All other common stocks 18,652 30,475 916 48,211
Nonredeemable preferred stocks 372 1 16 357
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total available-for-sale equity securities $ 30,667 $81,511 $ 1,046 $ 111,132
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total available-for-sale $983,616 $97,188 $40,725 $1,040,079
=================================================================================================================================
Other long-term investments $ 12,326 $ 1,061 $ 523 $ 12,864
=================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year Ended December 31, 1999 (Dollars in Thousands)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gross Gross
Amortized Unrealized Unrealized Fair
Type of Investment Cost Appreciation Depreciation Value
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Held-to-maturity
Fixed maturities
Bonds
United States Government, government agencies and
authorities
Collateralized mortgage obligations $ 12,385 $ - $ 581 $ 11,804
Mortgage-backed securities 9,475 599 3 10,071
All others 1,804 205 - 2,009
States, municipalities and political subdivisions 177,580 4,521 1,279 180,822
Foreign 3,035 4 47 2,992
Public utilities 19,473 70 258 19,285
Corporate bonds
Collateralized mortgage obligations 17,747 208 364 17,591
All other corporate bonds 69,653 894 953 69,594
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total held-to-maturity $311,152 $ 6,501 $ 3,485 $ 314,168
=================================================================================================================================
Available-for-sale
Fixed maturities
Bonds
United States Government, government agencies and
authorities
Collateralized mortgage obligations $ 30,326 $ 6 $ 730 $ 29,602
Mortgage-backed securities 14,899 2 282 14,619
All others 33,290 - 799 32,491
States, municipalities and political subdivisions 89,335 735 5,078 84,992
All foreign bonds 28,898 22 2,032 26,888
Public utilities 113,142 377 3,927 109,592
Corporate bonds
Collateralized mortgage obligations 66,157 1,800 1,459 66,498
All other corporate bonds 424,420 984 21,779 403,625
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total available-for-sale fixed maturities $800,467 $ 3,926 $36,086 $ 768,307
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Equity securities
Common stocks
Public utilities $ 8,639 $ 7,758 $ 1,860 $ 14,537
Banks, trust and insurance companies 12,486 35,281 464 47,303
All other common stocks 16,696 30,412 609 46,499
Nonredeemable preferred stocks 934 - 125 809
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total available-for-sale equity securities $ 38,755 $73,451 $ 3,058 $ 109,148
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total available-for-sale $839,222 $77,377 $39,144 $ 877,455
=================================================================================================================================
Other long-term investments $ 12,841 $ 913 $ 426 $ 13,328
=================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
The amortized cost and fair value of held-to-maturity and available-for-
sale fixed maturities at December 31, 2000, by contractual maturity, are shown
below. Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because
borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call
or prepayment penalties.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars in Thousands)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year Ended December 31, 2000 Held-to-maturity Available-for-sale
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amortized Cost Fair Value Amortized Cost Fair Value
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Due in one year or less $ 16,631 $ 16,752 $ 16,452 $ 16,565
Due after one year through five years 54,202 55,617 364,673 357,036
Due after five years through ten years 67,267 69,990 320,496 308,388
Due after ten years 109,615 114,052 177,980 173,233
Mortgage-backed securities 7,832 8,338 12 13
Collateralized mortgage obligations 27,884 28,108 73,336 73,712
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$283,431 $292,857 $952,949 $928,947
============================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale investments during 2000, 1999 and
1998 were $68,963,000, $35,653,000, and $78,471,000, respectively. Gross gains
of $8,172,000, $2,920,000, and $23,208,000, respectively, were realized on those
sales. Gross losses of $10,987,000, $895,000 and $385,000, respectively, were
realized on those sales in 2000, 1999 and 1998.
There were no sales of held-to-maturity securities during 2000, 1999 or
1998.

A summary of realized investment gains (losses) resulting from sales, calls and
maturities and net changes in unrealized investment appreciation (depreciation),
less applicable income taxes, is as follows.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars in Thousands)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Years Ended December 31 2000 1999 1998
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Realized investment gains (losses)
Fixed maturities $(4,366) $ 577 $ (145)
Equity securities 1,847 1,678 22,448
Other investments 437 48 490
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$(2,082) $ 2,303 $ 22,793
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net changes in unrealized investment appreciation (depreciation)
Available-for-sale fixed maturities,
equity securities and other long-term investments $18,281 $(53,552) $(15,491)
Deferred policy acquisition costs (336) $ 13,181 (726)
Income taxes (6,281) 14,130 5,299
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$11,664 $(26,241) $(10,918)
===============================================================================================================================
Net changes in unrealized investment appreciation
(depreciation), fixed maturities $14,568 $(65,882) $ 2,318
===============================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

The net investment income for the years ended December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998
is composed of the following.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars in Thousands)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Years Ended December 31 2000 1999 1998
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Investment income
Interest on fixed maturities $82,493 $70,134 $63,748
Dividends on equity securities 3,305 2,899 2,571
Interest on other long-term investments 2,318 3,332 2,867
Interest on mortgage loans - 105 218
Interest on policy loans 654 676 666
Other 2,102 1,688 1,232
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total investment income $90,872 $78,834 $71,302
Less investment expenses 4,005 3,517 3,374
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment income, net $86,867 $75,317 $67,928
==============================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
Note 3.
Derivative Instruments
The Company writes covered call options on its equity portfolio to generate
additional portfolio income and does not use these instruments for hedging
purposes. Covered call options are recorded at fair value and included in
accrued expenses and other liabilities. Any income or gains or losses, including
the change in the fair value of the covered call options, is recognized
currently in earnings and included in realized investment gains and other
income. At December 31, 2000 and 1999, there were no open covered call options.
In assessing the impact of any embedded derivative instruments, the Company has
elected to apply SFAS No. 133 only to those instruments or contracts with
embedded derivative instruments issued, acquired, or substantively modified by
the Company after December 31, 1997. The Company has analyzed its financial
instruments and contracts in accordance with SFAS No. 133 and determined there
is no material effect on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements. As
part of the implementation of SFAS No. 133, the Company was allowed to reassess
its held-to-maturity portfolio without "tainting" the remaining securities
classified as held-to-maturity. The cumulative effect of the impact on the
Company's Consolidated Financial Statements, due to the reclassification of
$246,623,000 of fixed-income securities from held-to-maturity to available-for-
sale, effective January 1, 1999, increased the carrying value of available-for-
sale fixed-income securities by approximately $9,250,000 and other comprehensive
income by approximately $6,013,000, net of deferred income taxes.
Note 4.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The Company estimated the fair value of its financial instruments based on
relevant market information or by discounting estimated future cash flows at
estimated current market discount rates appropriate to the particular asset or
liability shown.
In most cases, quoted market prices were used in determining the fair value of
fixed maturities, equity securities and short-term investments. Where quoted
market prices were unavailable, the estimate was based on recent trading. Other
long-term investments, consisting primarily of holdings in limited partnership
funds, are valued by the various fund managers. In management's opinion, these
values reflect fair value at December 31, 2000 and 1999.
Policy loans are carried at the actual amount loaned to the policyholder. No
policy loans are made for amounts in excess of the cash surrender value of the
related policy. Accordingly, in all instances, the policy loans are fully
collateralized by the related liability for future policy benefits for
traditional insurance policies and by the policyholders' account balance for
interest-sensitive policies.
For accrued investment income, carrying value is a reasonable estimate of fair
value, due to its short-term nature.
The fair value of the liabilities for annuity products, which are in a benefit
payment phase, guaranteed investment contracts and structured settlements, is
based on a discount rate of 7.0 percent at December 31, 2000 and 1999. The fair
value of annuities currently in an accumulation phase is based on the net cash
surrender value.
A summary of the carrying value and estimated fair value of assets and
liabilities meeting the definition of financial instruments at December 31, 2000
and 1999 is as follows.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
=========================================================================================================================
(Dollars in Thousands)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At December 31 2000 1999
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fair Carrying Fair Carrying
Assets Value Value Value Value
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Investments
Held-to-maturity fixed maturities $292,857 $283,431 $314,168 $311,152
Available-for-sale fixed maturities 928,947 928,947 768,307 768,307
Equity securities 111,132 111,132 109,148 109,148
Policy loans 8,437 8,437 8,645 8,645
Other long-term investments 12,864 12,864 13,328 13,328
Short-term investments 58,290 58,290 20,131 20,131
Other Assets
Accrued investment income 22,578 22,578 19,857 19,857
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Liabilities
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Policy Reserves
Annuity (Accumulations) $599,610 $634,551 $493,962 $520,274
Annuity (On-Benefits) 4,658 3,225 2,883 3,098
Structured settlements 893 1,041 795 940
Guaranteed investment contracts 3,251 3,245 2,741 2,761
=========================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
Note 5.
Short-Term Borrowings
The Company maintains a $20 million bank line of credit. During 2000, the
Company did not borrow against this available line of credit. Under the terms of
the agreement, interest on outstanding notes is payable at the lender's
prevailing prime rate minus 1.0 percent. There is no loan balance outstanding as
of December 31, 2000. During 1999, the Company borrowed funds against the line
of credit, with a maximum outstanding balance of $4,000,000, and recorded
interest expense of $22,000. There was no loan balance outstanding as of
December 31, 1999.
Note 6.
Reinsurance
Property and casualty segment
The property and casualty insurance companies cede portions of their insurance
business to other insurance companies on both a pro rata and excess of loss
basis. Insurance ceded by the property and casualty insurance companies does not
relieve their primary liability as the originating insurers. Written premiums
ceded were $22,748,000, $24,031,000 and $21,204,000 for the years ended December
31, 2000, 1999 and 1998, respectively. Earned premiums ceded were $27,765,000,
$27,206,000 and $22,349,000 for the years ended December 31, 2000, 1999 and
1998, respectively. The Company believes all amounts are collectible and
realizable with regard to reinsurance receivables and prepaid reinsurance
premiums, respectively. There are no concentrations of credit risk associated
with reinsurance.
The property and casualty insurance companies also assume portions of their
insurance business from other insurance companies. Written premiums assumed for
the years ended December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998 were $25,522,000, $33,372,000
and $33,751,000, respectively. Assumed premiums earned for the years ended
December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998 were $31,658,000, $34,289,000 and $33,571,000,
respectively.
The Company's reinsurance assumed from foreign insurance companies is
accounted for using the periodic method, whereby premiums are recognized as
revenue over the policy term, and claims, including an estimate of claims
incurred but not reported, are recognized as they occur. The amount of
reinsurance business assumed from foreign insurance companies is not material to
the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

Life Segment
United Life follows the policy of reinsuring that portion of the risk in
excess of $200,000 on the life of any individual. Policy benefit reserves and
claims are stated after deduction of reserves and claims applicable to
reinsurance ceded to other companies; however, United Life is contingently
liable for these amounts in the event such companies are unable to pay their
portion of the claims and is contingently liable for ceded insurance in force of
$422,577,000 and $396,382,000 at December 31, 2000 and 1999, respectively.
Approximately 56 percent of ceded life insurance in force has been ceded to two
reinsurers. The Company believes all amounts are collectible with regard to
reinsurance receivables.
Note 7.
Liability for Property and Casualty Losses and Settlement Expenses
The table below provides an analysis of changes in losses and loss adjustment
expenses ("LAE") reserves for 2000 and 1999 (net of reinsurance amounts). The
decrease in estimated losses and LAE for claims occurring in prior years
indicates that the Company's property and casualty loss and LAE reserves were
slightly redundant at December 31, 1999 and 1998. Changes in the reserves are
reflected in the income statement for the year when the changes are made. In
2000, underwriting profit (before tax) benefited by $36,931,000. In 1999, the
benefit (before tax) was $25,135,000. These gains resulted primarily from
settling reported and unreported reserves (established in prior years) for less
than expected.
During 1999, subsequent to the purchase of American Indemnity, the Company
reviewed that company's loss and LAE case reserves and increased the liabilities
to a level that was consistent with the reserving philosophies of the Company. A
portion of the reserve increases was for losses that occurred in prior accident
years. This would have negatively impacted the 1999 change in estimated losses
and LAE for claims occurring in prior years. As a condition of the purchase of
American Indemnity, an adverse development reinsurance agreement was negotiated
that protects the Company against adverse development of the losses and LAE
acquired.
Conditions and trends that have affected the reserve development reflected in
the table may change, and care should be exercised in extrapolating future
reserve redundancies or deficiencies from such development.
The Company is not aware of any significant contingent liabilities as far as
environmental issues are concerned. Because of the type of property coverage the
Company writes, there exists the potential for exposure to environmental
pollution and asbestos claims. The Company's underwriters are aware of these
exposures and use limited riders or endorsements to limit exposure.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars in Thousands)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At December 31, 2000 1999
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Gross liability for losses and LAE at beginning of year $338,243 $251,117
Less reinsurance receivables 27,606 8,111
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net liability for losses and LAE at beginning of year $310,637 $243,006
Net liability for losses and LAE at acquisition date - 51,661
Provision for losses and LAE for claims occurring in the current year 263,099 210,778
Decrease in estimated losses and LAE for claims occurring in prior years (36,931) (25,135)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$536,805 $480,310
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Losses and LAE payments for claims occurring during
Current year $119,278 $ 93,646
Prior years 97,021 76,027
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$216,299 $169,673
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net liability for losses and LAE at end of year $320,506 $310,637
Plus reinsurance receivables 37,526 27,606
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gross liability for losses and LAE at end of year $358,032 $338,243
========================================================================================================
</TABLE>
Note 8.
Statutory Reporting, Capital Requirements and Dividend and Retained Earnings
Restrictions

Statutory stockholders' surplus and net income at December 31, 2000, 1999 and
1998 and for the years then ended are as follows.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars in Thousands)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statutory Statutory
Stockholders, Surplus Net Income (Loss)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000
Property and casualty $183,604 $7,829
Life, accident and health 66,217 (819)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1999
Property and casualty $179,689 $ 191
Life, accident and health 53,912 2,605
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998
Property and casualty $202,342 $9,990
Life, accident and health 53,038 2,052
================================================================================

The insurance industry is governed by the NAIC and individual state insurance
departments. All of the insurance departments of the states in which the Company
is domiciled have adopted codification of insurance Statutory Accounting
Principles effective January 1, 2001. Previously, these principles were
prescribed in a variety of publications, as well as state laws, regulations, and
general administrative rules. Subject to final interpretation by the NAIC and
the individual state insurance departments, the effect on the statutory
financial statements as of January 1, 2001, is estimated to be an increase to
stockholders' equity of approximately $10,900,000. This change does not affect
the accompanying financial statements, which are based on GAAP. Pursuant to
codification rules, permitted statutory accounting practices may be utilized,
with approval from an insurer's state of domicile insurance department. The
Company does not use permitted practices that individually or in the aggregate
materially affect statutory surplus or risk-based capital.
As part of the NAIC and state insurance department's solvency regulations, the
Company is required to calculate a minimum capital requirement based on
insurance risk factors. The risk-based capital results are used by the NAIC and
state insurance departments to identify companies that merit regulatory
attention or the initiation of regulatory action. At December 31, 2000, both the
life segment and the property and casualty companies had capital well in excess
of their required levels.
The State of Iowa Insurance Department governs the amount of dividends that
may be paid to stockholders without prior approval by the Insurance Department.
Based on these restrictions, the Company could make a maximum of $138,873,000 in
dividend distributions to stockholders in 2000. Dividend payments by the
insurance subsidiaries to the Company are subject to similar restrictions in the
states in which they are domiciled. The Company received no dividends from its
subsidiaries in 2000 or 1999.
In the fourth quarter of 2000, the Company contributed $15,000,000 in cash to
United Life Insurance Company to support the growth of life insurance premiums
and annuity deposits.
Note 9.
Federal Income Tax

Federal income tax expense is composed of the following.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars in Thousands)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Years Ended December 31 2000 1999 1998
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current $ 357 $ 541 $4,110
Deferred 1,465 1,293 609
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total $1,822 $1,834 $4,719
===================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

A reconciliation of income tax expense computed at the applicable Federal tax
rate of 35 percent in 2000, 35 percent in 1999, and 34 percent in 1998 to the
amount recorded in the Consolidated Financial Statements is as follows.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars in Thousands)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Years Ended December 31 2000 1999 1998
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Computed expected rate $ 6,072 $ 6,026 $ 9,655
Reduction for tax-exempt municipal bond interest (4,572) (4,994) (5,023)
income
Reduction for nontaxable dividend income (724) (631) (557)
Other, net 1,046 1,433 644
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Federal income taxes, as provided $ 1,822 $ 1,834 $ 4,719
=======================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

The significant components of the net deferred tax liability at December 31,
2000 and 1999 are as follows.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars in Thousands)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
At December 31 2000 1999
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deferred tax liabilities
Deferred acquisition costs $ 26,802 $ 24,039
Net unrealized appreciation on investment securities 24,024 17,743
Depreciation on assets 1,503 1,216
Net bond discount accretion and premium amortization 1,735 1,177
Other 2,170 3,151
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gross deferred tax liability $ 56,234 $ 47,326
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deferred tax assets
Financial statement reserves in excess of income tax reserves $ 22,696 $ 22,765
Unearned premium adjustment 10,352 9,107
Postretirement benefits other than pensions 3,160 2,761
Salvage and subrogation 956 662
Pension 1,421 1,685
Alternative minimum tax (AMT) credit carryforwards 2,106 -
Net operating loss carryforwards (NOL) 10,020 14,641
Other 4,648 3,414
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gross deferred tax assets $ 55,359 $ 55,035
Valuation Allowance (11,370) (15,139)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net deferred tax liability $ 12,245 $ 7,430
===================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
The Company has tax net operating loss ("NOL") carryforwards totaling
$29,709,218 as of December 31, 2000. These NOL carryforwards were purchased by
the Company when it acquired American Indemnity. The NOL carryforwards expire as
follows: 2001, $1,564,975; 2002, $621,205; 2003, $2,508,745; 2004, $1,246,728;
2005, $118,137; 2006, $43,352; 2007, $13,450; 2008, $13,410; 2009, $4,604,277;
2010, $989,347; 2011, $5,516,449; 2017, $6,882,190; 2018, $4,180,254; 2019,
$1,406,699. The Company is required to establish a valuation allowance for any
portion of the deferred tax asset that management believes will not be realized.
The Company has a valuation allowance of $11,370,000 for deferred tax assets
primarily relating to American Indemnity's NOLs, which can only be used to
offset future income of the property and casualty segment. If the Company
determines that the benefit of the American Indemnity NOLs can be realized in
the future, the related reduction in the deferred tax asset valuation allowance
will be recorded as a reduction to goodwill. The Company has AMT credit
carryforwards of $2,106,000, which do not expire.

Under prior federal income tax law, one-half of the excess of a life insurance
company's income from operations over its taxable investment income was not
taxed, but was set aside in a special tax account designated as "Policyholders'
Surplus". At December 31, 2000, the Company had approximately $2,121,000 of
untaxed "Policyholders' Surplus" on which no payment of federal income taxes
will be required unless it is distributed as a dividend, or under other
specified conditions. Barring the enactment of new tax legislation, the Company
does not believe that any significant portion of the account will be taxed in
the near future; therefore, no deferred tax liability has been recognized
relating to the Policyholders' Surplus balance. If the entire Policyholders'
Surplus balance became taxable at the current federal rate, the tax would be
approximately $742,000.
Note 10.
Employee Benefit Obligations

Effective December 31, 1999, the pension plans of the Company and American
Indemnity were merged. The merged defined benefit pension plan covers
substantially all employees. Under this plan, retirement benefits are primarily
a function of the number of years of service and the level of compensation. It
is the Company's policy to fund this plan on a current basis to the extent
deductible under existing tax regulations. The Company used December 31 as the
date for measuring plan assets and liabilities.

Effective January 1, 2000, the postretirement health care plans of the Company
and American Indemnity were merged. This merger brought all non-retired American
Indemnity employees into the Company's plan; retired American Indemnity
employees were not affected by this merger and will retain their full benefits
accrued under the American Indemnity plan. The merged defined benefit
postretirement health care plan covers substantially all benefit-eligible
employees. The plan pays stated percentages of most necessary medical and
dental expenses incurred by retirees, after subtracting payments by Medicare or
other providers and after the stated deductible has been met. Participants
become eligible for the benefits if they retire from the Company after reaching
age 55 with 10 or more years of participation in the plan and 10 years of
employment with the plan sponsor. The plan is contributory, with retiree
contributions adjusted annually.

Under the merged plan, the employment date of the non-retired American
Indemnity employees is considered to be January 1, 2000 for purposes of
determining eligibility for plan benefits. The effect of the merger was the
termination of the future accrual of medical and dental benefits and the
forfeiture of said benefits previously accrued for these employees under the
American Indemnity postretirement health care plan. The change and elimination
of medical and dental benefits resulted in a negative plan amendment of
$253,000, which is considered negative prior service cost that will be amortized
over a period of 11 years as a reduction to the net periodic postretirement
benefit cost recognized in earnings. In addition, these employees will not be
eligible for postretirement life insurance as previously accrued for under the
American Indemnity postretirement health care plan. The elimination of the
accrued life insurance benefit resulted in a curtailment gain of $103,000, which
is reflected as a current gain in 2000 earnings, and a negative plan amendment
of $391,000, which is considered negative prior service cost that will be
amortized to earnings over a period of 12 years. The retirees of American
Indemnity retained their health care and life insurance benefits provided under
the American Indemnity postretirement health care plan, having reached age 55
with 25 years of service, or age 60 with 20 years of service, or age 65 with 15
years of service as of December 31, 1999.

The following table provides a reconciliation of the changes in the plan's
benefit obligations and fair value of plan assets and a statement of the funded
status for 2000 and 1999. The table includes the obligations and fair values
acquired in connection with the purchase of American Indemnity. The amounts
related to the acquisition are based on valuations as of December 31, 1999,
which approximates the valuation had it been measured as of the acquisition
date.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(Dollars in Thousands)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pension benefits Other benefits
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At December 31 2000 1999 2000 1999
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Reconciliation of benefit obligation
Obligation at beginning of year $ 23,618 $ 23,277 $ 9,118 $ 7,993
Service Cost 1,127 921 384 365
Interest Cost 1,837 1,523 596 479
Plan amendments - - (723) -
Actuarial (gain) loss 1,316 (3,214) (758) (1,907)
Benefit payments and adjustments (1,472) (690) (285) 101
Acquisition - 1,801 - 2,087
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Obligation at December 31 $ 26,426 $ 23,618 $ 8,332 $ 9,118
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reconciliation of fair value of plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year $ 19,857 $ 17,296 $ - $ -
Actual return on plan assets (590) (147) - -
Employer contributions 1,303 500 203 (101)
Participant contribution - - 82 -
Benefits payments and adjustments (1,472) (690) (285) 101
Acquisition - 2,898 - -
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fair value of plan assets at December 31 $ 19,098 $ 19,857 $ - $ -
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Funded status
Funded status at December 31 $ (7,328) $ (3,761) $ (8,332) $ (9,118)
Unrecognized prior service cost 840 937 102 832
Unrecognized (gain) loss 2,791 (784) (1,188) (491)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accrued benefit cost $ (3,697) $ (3,608) $ (9,418) $ (8,777)
=========================================================================================================
</TABLE>
The following table provides the components of net periodic benefit cost for the
plans for 2000, 1999 and 1998.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars in Thousands)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pension benefits Other benefits
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Years Ended December 31 2000 1999 1998 2000 1999 1998
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Plan costs
Service cost $ 1,127 $ 921 $ 935 $ 384 $ 365 $ 424
Interest cost 1,837 1,523 1,425 596 480 523
Expected return on plan assets 590 (1,407) (1,324) - - -
Amortization of transition (asset) obligation - (42) (48) - - -
Amortization of prior service cost 97 97 97 87 142 173
Amortization of net (gain) loss (2,246) - - (39) 4 68
Effect of curtailment - - - (103) - -
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net periodic benefit cost $ 1,405 $ 1,092 $ 1,085 $ 925 $ 991 $ 1,188
===============================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

The unrecognized prior service cost and the actuarial loss are being amortized
on a straight-line basis over an average period of eight years. This period
represents the average remaining employee service period until the date of full
eligibility. The assumptions used in the measurement of the Company's benefit
obligations are shown in the following table.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weighted-average assumptions as of Pension benefits Other benefits
December 31 2000 1999 2000 1999
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Discount rate 7.50% 7.50% 7.50% 7.50%
Expected return on plan assets 8.25% 8.25% N/A N/A
Rate of compensation increase 4.00% 4.00% N/A N/A
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

For measurement purposes, an 8.25 percent pre-65 annual rate of increase in
the per capita cost of covered health care benefits was assumed for 2000. The
rate was assumed to decrease gradually each year to a rate of 5.25 percent for
2005 and remain at that level thereafter. A 6.75 percent post-65 annual rate of
increase in the per capita cost of covered health care benefits was assumed for
2000. The rate was assumed to decrease gradually each year to a rate of 5.25
percent in 2004 and remain at that level thereafter. For dental claims, a 6.0
percent annual rate of increase was assumed for 2000, decreasing gradually to
4.8 percent for 2004 and thereafter.

Assumed health care cost trend rates have a significant effect on the amounts
reported for the health care plans. A 1.0 percent change in assumed health care
cost trend rates would have the following effects.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars in Thousands)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1% Increase 1% Decrease
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Effect on total of service and interest cost components of
net periodic postretirement health care benefit cost $ 177 $(140)
Effect on the health care component of the accumulated
postretirement benefit obligation 1,167 (949)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
The annual per capita contributions for the benefits provided to retired
American Indemnity employees are capped. As a result, increases in the assumed
health care cost trend rate will have no significant effect on the accumulated
postretirement benefit obligation or on the net periodic postretirement benefit
cost as of December 31, 2000.
The Company has a profit-sharing plan in which employees who meet service
requirements are eligible to participate. The amount of the Company's
contribution is discretionary and is determined annually, but cannot exceed the
amount deductible for federal income tax purposes. The Company's contribution to
the plan for the years ended December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998, was $793,000,
$503,000 and $883,000, respectively.

The Company also has an Employee Stock Ownership Plan ("ESOP") for the benefit
of eligible employees and their beneficiaries. All employees are eligible to
participate in the plan upon completion of one year of service, meeting the
hourly requirements with the Company and attaining age 21. Contributions to this
plan are made at the discretion of the Board of Directors. These contributions
are based upon a percentage of total payroll and are allocated to participants
on the basis of compensation. Contributions are made in stock or cash, which is
used by the Trustee to acquire shares of the Company stock to allocate to
participants' accounts. As of December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998, the ESOP owned
127,386, 123,733 and 120,333 shares of Company stock, respectively. Shares owned
by the ESOP are included in shares issued and outstanding for purposes of
calculating earnings per share and dividends paid on the shares are charged to
retained earnings. The Company made contributions to the plan of $50,000,
$60,000 and $1,050,000 in 2000, 1999 and 1998 respectively.

On August 21, 1998, the Company adopted a nonqualified employee stock option
plan which authorizes the issuance of up to 500,000 shares of the Company's
common stock to employees. The plan is administered by the Board of Directors.
The Board has the authority to determine which employees will receive options,
when options will be granted and the terms and conditions of the options. The
Board may also take any action it deems necessary and appropriate for the
administration of the plan.

Pursuant to the plan, the Board may, at its sole discretion, grant options to
any employees of the Company or any of its affiliated companies, including any
director. These options are granted to buy shares of the Company's stock at the
market value of the stock on the date of grant. The options vest and are
exercisable in installments of 20 percent of the number of shares covered by the
option award each year from the grant date the option is granted. To the extent
not exercised, installments shall accumulate and be exercisable by the optionee,
in whole or in part, in any subsequent year included in the option period, but
not later than 10 years from the grant date. The Company has elected to account
for its stock options under APB No. 25 and, as such, no compensation cost is
recognized since the exercise price of the Company's stock options is equal to,
or greater than, the market price of the underlying stock on the date of grant.

Stock options are generally granted free of charge to the eligible employees
of the Company as designated by the Board of Directors. However, during 1999,
eligible employees had the opportunity to purchase the options at $10 per option
in lieu of receiving a cash bonus for services rendered, up to the total amount
of bonus awarded for the year.

Options granted pursuant to the plan may not be sold, pledged, assigned or
transferred by the optionee. In cases of termination, any unexercised accrued
installments of the option granted under the plan to such terminated optionee
shall expire and become unexercisable as of the earlier of: (i) the expiration
of the applicable option period, or (ii) 30 days after the termination of
employment occurs, provided however, that the Company may, in its discretion,
extend said date up to and including a date one year following such termination
of employment. In cases of death or disability, any unexercised accrued
installments of the option granted under the plan to such optionee shall expire
and become unexercisable as of the earlier of: (i) the applicable option
expiration date, or (ii) the first anniversary of the date of death of such
optionee (if applicable), or (iii) the first anniversary of the date of the
termination of employment by reason of disability (if applicable).

The following table sets forth the activity of the Company's stock option plan
for the years ended December 31, 2000 and 1999.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weighted- Weighted-
Shares of Average Shares of Average
Common Price Common Price
Stock per Share Stock per Share
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Outstanding at beginning of year 6,021 $ 26.38 - $ -
Granted 10,750 20.09 6,021 26.38
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Outstanding at end of year(1) 16,771 $ 22.35 6,021 $ 26.38
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Options exercisable at year-end 1,204 $ 26.38 - $ -
Weighted-average grant date fair value of
options granted during the year $ 9.03 $ 10.88
=========================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1) There were no options exercised, forfeited or expired during 2000 and 1999

The weighted-average grant date fair value of the options granted under the
plan has been estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Under this
model, the following significant assumptions are used to estimate the fair value
of options as of the grant date: (1) the expected life of the options granted;
(2) the current risk-free interest rate over the expected life of the options;
(3) the expected volatility in the underlying stock price; and (4) the expected
annual dividend rate. The weighted average assumptions used for 2000 and 1999
were: (1) 10 years; (2) 6.5 percent; (3) 49 percent; (4) $.68 and (1) 10 years;
(2) 5.3 percent; (3) 38.9 percent; (4) $.68 respectively.
The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at
December 31, 2000.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Options Outstanding Options Exercisable
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number Weighted-Average Number
Range of Outstanding Remaining Weighted-Average Exercisable Weighted-Average
Exercise Prices at 12/31/00 Contractual Life (Yrs.) Exercise Price at 12/31/00 Exercise Price
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
$ 18 - 24 10,750 9.14 $ 20.09 - $ -
25 - 30 6,021 8.24 26.38 1,204 26.38
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 18 - 30 16,771 8.82 $ 22.35 1,204 $ 26.38
=========================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

The Company has elected to account for its stock options under APB No. 25 and,
as such, no compensation cost is recognized since the exercise price of the
Company's stock options is equal to, or greater than, the market price of the
underlying stock on the date of grant. Should the stock options have been
accounted for under SFAS No. 123, compensation cost would have been recorded
based on the grant-date fair value attributable to the number of options that
eventually vest. This cost is recognized over the period in which the options
vest, with the amount recognized at any date being at least equal to the value
of the vested portion of the award at that date. The amount of compensation cost
that would have been recognized as of December 31, 2000 and 1999 under SFAS No.
123 has been determined to have an immaterial impact on the net income and
earnings per share reported in the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.
NOTE 11.
Segment Information

The Company has two reportable business segments in its operations; property
and casualty insurance and life insurance. The property and casualty segment has
five locations from which it conducts its business. All offices target a similar
customer base and market the same products, using the same marketing strategies,
and are therefore aggregated. The life insurance segment operates from the
Company's home office. The accounting policies of the segments are the same as
those described in Significant Accounting Policies in Note 1. The two segments
are evaluated by management, based on both a statutory and a GAAP basis. Results
are analyzed, based on profitability, expenses and return on equity. The
Company's selling location is used in allocating revenues between foreign and
domestic and, as such, the Company has no revenues allocated to foreign
countries. The analysis that follows is reported on a GAAP basis and is
reconciled to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

The property and casualty segment markets most forms of commercial and
personal property and casualty insurance products, including fidelity and surety
bonds and reinsurance. Net premiums earned by the property and casualty segment
for the years ended December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998 were comprised mostly of
fire and allied lines, automobile and other liability (78.1 percent, 72.9
percent and 70.7 percent, respectively.) The business is generated through
approximately 2,124 independent agencies and brokers in 40 states, with 49% of
the Company's direct premiums originating in eight Midwestern states in 2000.

United Life underwrites and markets ordinary life (primarily universal life),
annuities (primarily single premium) and credit life products to individuals and
groups through approximately 1,280 independent agencies in 24 states. Net
premiums earned by the life segment for the years ended December 31, 2000, 1999
and 1998 were comprised mostly of ordinary life (including universal life),
accident and health and credit life (89.9 percent, 90.6 percent and 93.0
percent, respectively.) Total revenue by segment includes sales to both outside
customers and intersegment sales that are eliminated to arrive at the total
revenues as reported in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Intersegment sales are accounted for on the same basis as sales to outside
customers. The following tables set forth certain data for each of the Company's
business segments.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
===================================================================================================================================
(Dollars in Thousands)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Property and
Casualty Life
Insurance Insurance Consolidated
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Year Ended December 31, 2000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenues
Net premiums earned $ 307,271 $ 26,304 $ 333,575
Net investment income 25,536 61,468 87,004
Realized investment gains (losses) and other income 2,927 (4,752) (1,825)
Commission and policy fee income 2,172 - 2,172
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total reportable segments $ 337,906 $ 83,020 $ 420,926
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Intersegment eliminations (137) (210) (347)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total revenues $ 337,769 $ 82,810 $ 420,579
===================================================================================================================================
Net income before income taxes
Revenues $ 337,906 $ 83,020 $ 420,926
Benefits, losses and expenses 329,253 74,324 403,577
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total reportable segments $ 8,653 $ 8,696 $ 17,349
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Intersegment eliminations 85 (85) -
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total net income before income taxes $ 8,738 $ 8,611 $ 17,349
===================================================================================================================================
Income tax (benefit) expense (1,072) 2,894 1,822
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income $ 9,810 $ 5,717 $ 15,527
===================================================================================================================================
Assets
Total reportable segments $ 818,583 $971,594 $1,790,177
Intersegment eliminations (127,683) - (127,683)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total assets $ 690,900 $971,594 $1,662,494
===================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

Depreciation expense and property and equipment acquisitions for the years ended
December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998, are reflected in the property and casualty
insurance segment.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
===================================================================================================================================
(Dollars in Thousands)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Property and
Casualty Life
Insurance Insurance Consolidated
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Year Ended December 31, 1999
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenues
Net premiums earned $ 247,054 $ 26,100 $ 273,154
Net investment income 23,614 51,840 75,454
Realized investment gains and other income 2,444 492 2,936
Commission and policy fee income 1,912 - 1,912
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total reportable segments $ 275,024 $ 78,432 $ 353,456
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Intersegment eliminations (137) (103) (240)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total revenues $ 274,887 $ 78,329 $ 353,216
===================================================================================================================================
Net income before income taxes
Revenues $ 275,024 $ 78,432 $ 353,456
Benefits, losses and expenses 272,315 63,923 336,238
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total reportable segments $ 2,709 $ 14,509 $ 17,218
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Intersegment eliminations (22) 22 -
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total net income before income taxes $ 2,687 $ 14,531 $ 17,218
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income tax (benefit) expense (3,375) 5,209 1,834
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income $ 6,062 $ 9,322 $ 15,384
===================================================================================================================================
Assets
Total reportable segments $ 807,558 $825,293 $1,632,851
Intersegment eliminations (165,135) - (165,135)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total assets $ 642,423 $825,293 $1,467,716
===================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

Depreciation expense and property and equipment acquisitions for the years ended
December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998, are reflected in the property and casualty
insurance segment.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
===================================================================================================================================
(Dollars in Thousands)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Property and
Casualty Life
Insurance Insurance Consolidated
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Year Ended December 31, 1998
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenues
Net premiums earned $ 220,550 $ 25,295 $ 245,845
Net investment income 23,297 44,771 68,068
Realized investment gains and other income 20,981 1,815 22,796
Commission and policy fee income 1,815 - 1,815
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total reportable segments $ 266,643 $ 71,881 $ 338,524
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Intersegment eliminations (140) (118) (258)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total revenues $ 266,503 $ 71,763 $ 338,266
===================================================================================================================================
Net income before income taxes
Revenues $ 266,643 $ 71,881 $ 338,524
Benefits, losses and expenses 254,306 55,822 310,128
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total reportable segments $ 12,337 $ 16,059 $ 28,396
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Intersegment eliminations (10) 10 -
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total net income before income taxes $ 12,327 $ 16,069 $ 28,396
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income tax (benefit) expense (736) 5,455 4,719
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income $ 13,063 $ 10,614 $ 23,677
===================================================================================================================================
Assets
Total reportable segments $ 675,361 $709,460 $1,384,821
Intersegment eliminations (134,227) - (134,227)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total assets $ 541,134 $709,460 $1,250,594
===================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

Depreciation expense and property and equipment acquisitions for the years ended
December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998, are reflected in the property and casualty
insurance segment.
NOTE 12.
Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited)

The following table sets forth selected quarterly financial information of the
Company.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars in Thousands Except Per Share Data)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quarters First Second Third Fourth Total
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Fiscal year ended December 31, 2000
Total revenues $100,232 $101,611 $107,671 $111,065 $420,579
==================================================================================================
Net income $ 3,382 $ 949 $ 7,094 $ 4,102 $ 15,527
==================================================================================================
Basic and diluted earnings per common share $ 0.34 $ 0.09 $ 0.71 $ 0.41 $ 1.55
==================================================================================================
Fiscal year ended December 31, 1999
Total revenues $ 79,057 $ 79,828 $ 90,868 $103,463 $353,216
==================================================================================================
Net income $ 2,964 $ 541 $ 6,398 $ 5,481 $ 15,384
==================================================================================================
Basic and diluted earnings per common share $ 0.29 $ 0.05 $ 0.63 $ 0.54 $ 1.53
==================================================================================================
Fiscal year ended December 31, 1998
Total revenues $ 80,229 $ 94,448 $ 79,312 $ 84,277 $338,266
==================================================================================================
Net income $ 8,882 $ 12,610 $ (1,963) $ 4,148 $ 23,677
==================================================================================================
Basic and diluted earnings per common share $ 0.83 $ 1.18 $ (0.19) $ 0.41 $ 2.28
==================================================================================================
</TABLE>
Note 13.
Earnings and Dividends Per Common Share
Cash dividends per common share of $.71 and $.68 were declared in 2000 and
1999, respectively. In the calculation of earnings per share, stock options
granted to employees were not included in the computation of diluted earnings
per share because the option exercise prices were greater than the weighted
average market price of the common shares over the period the options were
outstanding during 2000. The options were still outstanding as of December 31,
2000.
Note 14.
Comprehensive Income
The following table sets forth the components of other comprehensive income
(loss), and the related tax effects, for the years 2000, 1999 and 1998.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars in Thousands)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amount Income Tax Amount
Before (Expense) Net of
Tax Benefit Tax
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
2000
Net unrealized appreciation arising during the period $ 15,863 $(5,552) $ 10,311
Less: reclassification for realized losses included in income (2,082) 729 (1,353)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other comprehensive income $ 17,945 $(6,281) $ 11,664
================================================================================================================
1999
Transition adjustment for the effect of a change in accounting principle $ 9,250 $(3,237) $ 6,013
Net unrealized depreciation arising during the period (47,318) 16,561 (30,757)
Less: reclassification for realized gains included in income 2,303 (806) 1,497
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other comprehensive loss $(40,371) $ 14,130 $(26,241)
================================================================================================================
1998
Net unrealized appreciation arising during the period $ 6,251 $ (2,125) $ 4,126
Less: reclassification for realized gains included in income 22,793 (7,749) 15,044
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other comprehensive loss $(16,542) $ 5,624 $(10,918)
================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
Note 15. Acquisition

On August 10, 1999, the Company acquired American Indemnity Financial
Corporation as a wholly owned subsidiary for approximately $30,212,000 in cash
in exchange for 1,962,410 shares of common stock. The transaction was accounted
for using the purchase method of accounting. Common stockholders of American
Indemnity Financial Corporation received approximately $14.35 per share of
common stock at the closing of the transaction and deferred consideration of up
to $1.00 per share to be paid in two years, subject to adjustments relating to
Indemnities. The purchase price paid for American Indemnity Financial
Corporation has been allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed,
based on their fair values, and the excess purchase price has been recorded as
goodwill. Goodwill of $7,846,000 is being amortized on a straight-line basis for
a period of 10 years. An escrow account with a balance of $1,990,000 is included
in the Company's consolidated balance sheets in other assets for payment of the
deferred consideration. Any payments out of this account to American Indemnity
Financial Corporation shareholders will be deemed additional consideration, and
as such, would be recorded as additional goodwill relating to the purchase of
American Indemnity Financial Corporation.

In connection with the purchase, the Company developed a plan (the "exit
plan") to close certain branches and involuntarily terminate certain employees
of American Indemnity. A liability of $972,000, to reflect employee termination
benefits of $626,000 and future contractual lease payments related to abandoned
facilities of $346,000, was included in the allocation of the purchase price.
The exit plan was completed by December 31, 1999. All of this liability was paid
as of December 31, 2000.

American Indemnity Financial Corporation, based in Galveston, Texas, is
a holding company that is made up of the following regional property and
casualty insurance companies: American Indemnity Company; American Fire and
Indemnity Company; Texas General Indemnity Company; and United Fire Lloyds. The
American Indemnity insurers offer personal and commercial lines of insurance
through independent agents.

The 1999 amounts in the consolidated statements of operations include American
Indemnity Financial Corporation's result for the period of August 10, 1999,
through December 31, 1999. The following schedule summarizes the assets acquired
and the liabilities assumed as of August 10, 1999.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Assets acquired (Dollars in Thousands)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Fixed maturity securities $ 68,499
Equity securities 14,344
Other assets 57,355
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total assets acquired $140,198
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Liabilities assumed
Policy reserves and unearned premiums $102,483
Other liabilities 17,340
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total liabilities assumed $119,823
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets acquired $ 20,375
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Excess of acquisition cost over net assets acquired 7,846
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total purchase price $ 28,221
===================================================================================
</TABLE>

The following table presents the unaudited proforma results of operations for
1999 and 1998 had the acquisition occurred on January 1, 1998.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars in Thousands Except Per Share Data)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
December 31, 1999 December 31, 1998
(Unaudited) (Unaudited)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Revenues $390,574 $407,555
Net income 11,748 17,831
Basic and diluted earnings per share 1.17 1.72
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

The pro forma financial information is presented for informational purposes
only and is not necessarily indicative of the operating results that would have
occurred had the acquisitions been consummated as of the above dates, nor are
such operating results necessarily indicative of future operating results.
Note 16.
Lease

At December 31, 2000, the future minimum payments under a noncancellable
operating lease arrangement are as follows (in thousands) :

<TABLE>
<S> <C>
2001 $1,197
2002 1,197
2003 698
--------------------------------------
Total $3,092
</TABLE>

This lease is for the use of mainframe equipment and software located at the
Cedar Rapids location, the initial term of which runs three years, with a
purchase option granting the right to purchase the leased equipment at fair
market value given a notice of ninety days. Total rental expense relating to
this lease for 2000 amounted to $502,000.