SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549
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Form 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 28, 2003
(October 27, 2003)
State Auto Financial Corporation
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Ohio
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(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
0-19289 31-1324304
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(Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)
518 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215-3976
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(Address of principal executive offices) (zip code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (614) 464-5000
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N/A
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(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
ITEM 12: Results of Operations and Financial Condition
On October 27, 2003, the Registrant issued a press release disclosing
the Registrant's results of operations for the three-month and nine-month
periods ended September 30, 2003 (the "Release"). The full text of the Release
is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is
incorporated by reference herein.
The Release included a non-GAAP financial measure, net operational
earnings per share. Net operational earnings per share is equal to GAAP net
earnings per share other than that net operational earnings excludes realized
capital gains and losses, net of applicable taxes, on investment activity for
the period being reported. As disclosed in the Release, for the three-month
periods ended September 30, 2003 and September 30, 2002, GAAP net earnings were
$0.38 per diluted share and $0.15 per diluted share, respectively, while net
operational earnings were $0.36 per diluted share and $0.14 per diluted share
for these same respective periods. For the three-month periods ended September
30, 2003 and September 30, 2002, the difference between GAAP net earnings per
share and net operational earnings per share was $0.02 and $0.01, respectively,
of realized capital gains. For the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2003
and September 30, 2002, GAAP net earnings were $1.12 per diluted share and $0.44
per diluted share, respectively, while net operational earnings were $0.97 per
diluted share and $0.43 per diluted share for these same respective periods. For
the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2003 and September 30, 2002, the
difference between GAAP net earnings per share and net operational earnings per
share was $0.15 and $0.01, respectively, of realized capital gains.
Management uses net operational earnings because it believes this
calculation better indicates the Company's operational performance than GAAP net
earnings because net operational earnings exclude sometimes volatile realized
capital gains/losses that are usually one time events. Net operational earnings
provide a more stable platform on which to predict future earnings of the
Company.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
State Auto Financial Corporation
Date: October 28, 2003 By: /s/ Robert H. Moone
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Robert H. Moone, Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. Description of Exhibit
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99.1 Press release issued by State Auto Financial Corporation on
October 27, 2003.