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, 2010
 
 [   ]  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  0-11774
 
 INVESTORS TITLE COMPANY
 (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
 North Carolina

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)


56-1110199

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)
 
 121 North Columbia Street

Chapel Hill, North Carolina  27514

(919) 968-2200(Address and telephone number of principal executive office)Securities registered pursuant to section 12(b) of the Act:

Common Stock, no par value

Rights to Purchase Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
Name of each exchange on which registered:

NASDAQ Global Market

NASDAQ Global MarketSecurities registered pursuant to section 12(g) of the ActNoneIndicate by check mark whether the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities ActYes  [   ]
No  [X]Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.Yes [    ]
No  [X]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 whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (Section 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes [  ]   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 this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  [X]Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.  (Check one):  Large accelerated filer  [   ]     Accelerated filer  [   ]    Non-accelerated filer   [   ]   (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) Smaller reporting company [X]Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).  Yes  [   ]     No  [X]The aggregate market value of the common shares held by non-affiliates was $52,150,367 based on the closing sales price on the NASDAQ Global Market on the last business day of the registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter (June 30, 2010).
 
 As of February 15, 2011, there were 2,280,196 common shares of the registrant outstanding.
  DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
 
 Portions of Investors Title Company’s definitive proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 18, 2011 are incorporated by reference in Part III hereof.
  
  SAFE HARBOR FOR FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
  This Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as information included in future filings by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission and information contained in written material, press releases and oral statements issued by or on behalf of the Company, contains, or may contain, “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that reflect management’s current outlook for future periods.  These statements may be identified by the use of words such as "plan," "expect," "aim," "believe," "project," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "should," "could" and other expressions that indicate future events and trends. All statements that address expectations or projections about the future, including statements about the Company's strategy for growth, product and service development, market share position, claims, expenditures, financial results and cash requirements, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and expectations of future events that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual future results and trends may differ materially from historical results or those projected in any such forward-looking statements depending on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, the following:
 
 ●
the level of real estate transactions, the level of mortgage origination volumes (including refinancing) and changes to the insurance requirements of the participants in the secondary mortgage market, and the effect of these factors on the demand for title insurance;
 
 ●
changes in general economic, business, and political conditions, including the performance of the financial and real estate markets;
 
 ●
compliance with government regulation and significant changes to applicable regulations or in their application by regulators;
 
 ●
the possible inadequacy of provisions for claims to cover actual claim losses;
 
 ●
the incidence of fraud-related losses;
 
 ●
heightened regulatory scrutiny and investigations of the title insurance industry;
 
 ●
unanticipated adverse changes in securities markets, including interest rates, could result in material losses on the Company's investments;
 
 ●
the Company's dependence on key management personnel, the loss of whom could have a material adverse affect on the Company's business;
 
 ●
the Company’s ability to develop and offer products and services that meet changing industry standards in a timely and cost-effective manner;
 
 ●
statutory requirements applicable to the Company’s insurance subsidiaries which require them to maintain minimum levels of capital, surplus and reserves and restrict the amount of dividends that they may pay to the Company without prior regulatory approval;
 
 ●
significant competition that the Company’s operating subsidiaries face;
 
 ●
the Company’s business concentration in the State of North Carolina, the source of approximately 38% of our title insurance premiums;
 
 ●
weakness in the commercial real estate market and increases in the amount or severity of commercial real estate claims; and
 
 ●
other risks detailed elsewhere in this document and in the Company’s other filings with the SEC.
  For a description of factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements, see Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
 These and other risks and uncertainties may be described from time to time in the Company's other reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The Company is not under any obligation (and expressly disclaims any such obligation) and does not undertake to update or alter any forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made.  You should consider the possibility that actual results may differ materially from our forward-looking statements.
  
  INVESTORS TITLE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
 PART I

4ITEM 1.
BUSINESS
4EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY
9ITEM 1A.
RISK FACTORS
9ITEM 1B.
UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
12ITEM 2.
PROPERTIES
12ITEM 3.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
12PART II

13ITEM 5.
MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY; RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER
PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
13ITEM 6.
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
14ITEM 7.
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
15ITEM 7A.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
24ITEM 8.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
25ITEM 9.
CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
50ITEM 9A.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
50ITEM 9B.
OTHER INFORMATION
50PART III

51ITEM 10.
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
51ITEM 11.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
51ITEM 12.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
51ITEM 13.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
51ITEM 14.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
51PART IV

52ITEM 15.
EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
52SIGNATURES
53INDEX TO EXHIBITS
54
  3
 
 PART I
 ITEM 1.               BUSINESS
 
 GENERAL
 
 Investors Title Company (the "Company") is a holding company that operates through its subsidiaries and was incorporated in the state of North Carolina in 1973.  The Company became operational in 1976, when it acquired Investors Title Insurance Company ("ITIC"), which had itself been operating since 1972, as a wholly owned subsidiary under a plan of exchange of shares of common stock.  In 1983, the Company acquired National Investors Title Insurance Company (“NITIC”), formerly Northeast Investors Title Insurance Company, which had itself been operating since 1973, as a wholly owned subsidiary under a plan of exchange of shares of common stock.  The Company's executive offices are located at 121 North Columbia Street, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514 and its telephone number is (919) 968-2200.  The Company maintains a website at www.invtitle.com.
 
 OVERVIEW OF THE BUSINESS
 
 The Company engages in several lines of business.  Its primary business activity, and its only reportable operating segment, is the issuance of residential and commercial title insurance through ITIC and NITIC.  Additionally, the Company provides tax-deferred real property exchange services through its subsidiaries, Investors Title Exchange Corporation (“ITEC”) and Investors Title Accommodation Corporation (“ITAC”); investment management and trust services to individuals, trusts and other entities through its subsidiaries Investors Trust Company (“Investors Trust”) and Investors Capital Management Company (“ICMC”); and management services to title insurance agencies through its subsidiary, Investors Title Management Services (“ITMS”).    See “Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and Note 13 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information related to the revenues, income and assets attributable to the Company's primary operating segment.
 
 Title Insurance
 
 Through its two wholly owned title underwriting subsidiaries, ITIC and NITIC, the Company underwrites land title insurance for owners and mortgagees as a primary insurer.  ITIC and NITIC offer primary title insurance coverage to both owners and mortgagees of real estate, as well as the reinsurance of title insurance risks to other title insurance companies. Title insurance protects against loss or damage resulting from title defects affecting real property.  The commitments and policies are predominantly issued using standard forms approved by the American Land Title Association (“ALTA”).
 
 Upon a real estate closing, the seller executes a deed to the new owner. When real property is conveyed from one party to another, occasionally there is an undisclosed defect in the title or a mistake or omission in a prior deed, will or mortgage that may give a third party a legal claim against such property.  If a claim is made against the title to real property, title insurance provides indemnification against insured defects.
 
 Numerous types of defects could jeopardize the property owner's or mortgagee’s interest in the property, as defined in the title policy.  Such risks include title being vested in an individual or entity other than the insured, unmarketable title, lack of a right of access to the property, invalidity or unenforceability of the insured mortgage, or other defects, liens, or encumbrances against the property.  Examples of common types of covered risks include defects arising from prior unsatisfied mortgages, tax liens or confirmed assessments, judgments against the property or encumbrances against the property arising through easements, restrictions or other existing covenants.  Title insurance also generally protects against deeds or mortgages with inaccurate legal descriptions, that were forged or improperly acknowledged or delivered, that were executed by spouses without the other spouse’s signature or release of marital interest or that were conveyed by minors or incompetents.
 
 Title Insurance Policies.There are two basic types of title insurance policies - one for the mortgage lender and one for the real property owner.  A lender often requires property owners to purchase title insurance to protect its position as a holder of a mortgage loan, but the lender's title insurance policy does not protect the property owner.  The property owner has to purchase a separate owner's title insurance policy to protect his investment.  The Company issues title insurance policies on the basis of a title report.  The title report documents the current status of title to the property.
 
 Insured Risk on Policies in Force.Generally, the amount of the insured risk or “face amount” of insurance under a title insurance policy is equal to the lesser of the purchase price or the fair market value of the insured property.  If a claim is made against an insured property’s title, the insurer is responsible for paying the legal costs of eliminating covered title defects and defending the insured party against covered title defects affecting the property.  The insurer may choose to pay the policy limits to the insured or, if the loss is less than policy limits, the amount of the insured’s actual loss due to the title defect, at which time the insurer's duty to defend the claim and all other obligations of the insurer with respect to the claim are satisfied.
  4
 
 At any given time, the insurer's actual risk of monetary loss under outstanding policies is only a portion of the aggregate insured risk, or total face amount, of all policies in force.  The lower risk results primarily from the reissuance of title insurance policies by other underwriters over time when the property is subsequently conveyed or refinanced.  The coverage on a lender's title insurance policy is reduced and eventually terminated as the mortgage loan it secures is paid.  An owner's policy is effective as long as the insured has an ownership interest in the property or has liability under warranties of title.  Due to the variability of these factors, the aggregate contingent liability of a title underwriter on outstanding policies of the Company and its subsidiaries cannot be determined with any precision.
 
 Losses and Reserves.While most other forms of insurance provide for the assumption of risk of loss arising from unforeseen events, title insurance is based upon a process of loss avoidance.  Title insurance generally serves to protect the policyholder from the risk of loss from events that predate the issuance of the policy.  Losses on policies typically occur when a title defect is not discovered during the examination and settlement process or upon the occurrence of certain hidden risks which cannot be determined from an accurate search of public land records. The maximum amount of liability under a title insurance policy is generally the face amount of the policy plus the cost of defending the insured’s title against an adverse claim and any inflation protection clause associated with the policy.  Reserves for claim losses are established based upon known claims, as well as estimated losses incurred but not yet reported to the Company based upon historical experience and other factors.
 Title claims can often be complex, vary greatly in dollar amounts, are affected by economic and market conditions and may involve uncertainties as to ultimate exposure.  Therefore, reserve estimates are subject to variability.  For a more complete description of the Company’s reserves for claims, see “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
 Title Insurance Underwriting Operations.  ITIC and NITIC issue title insurance through branch operations or through partially owned or independent title insurance agents. The Company’s title insurance subsidiaries determine the terms and conditions upon which they will insure title to the real property according to their underwriting standards, policies and procedures. Title insurance premiums written reflect a one-time premium payment, with no recurring premiums.
 
 Generally, premiums for title insurance are recorded and recognized as revenue at the closing of the related transaction, when the earnings process is considered complete.  When the policy is issued directly through a branch office, the premiums collected are retained by the Company.  When the policy is issued through a title insurance agent, the agent retains a majority of the premium as a commission.  Title insurance commissions earned by the Company's agents are recognized as expense concurrently with premium recognition.  The percentage of the premium retained by agents varies from region to region and is sometimes regulated by the states.
 
 For a description of the level of net premiums written by direct and agency operations, refer to “Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
 
 Geographic Operations.ITIC was incorporated in North Carolina in 1972, and is licensed to write title insurance in 44 states and the District of Columbia.  It currently writes title insurance in 22 states and the District of Columbia, primarily in the eastern half of the United States.
 
 NITIC was incorporated in South Carolina in 1973, and is licensed to write title insurance in 20 states and the District of Columbia.  It currently writes title insurance as a primary insurer and as a reinsurer in the states of New York and Texas, and as a reinsurer for ITIC.
 
 Premiums from title insurance written on properties located in the State of North Carolina represent the largest source of revenue for the title insurance segment. In North Carolina, ITIC primarily issues title insurance commitments and policies through branch offices. In other states, title policies are primarily issued through issuing agents.  For a description of the level of net premiums written geographically for significant states, refer to “Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
 Each state license authorizing ITIC or NITIC to write title insurance must be renewed annually.  These licenses are necessary for the companies to operate as a title insurer in each state in which they write premiums.
 Ratings.The Company’s title insurance subsidiaries are regularly assigned ratings by independent agencies designed to indicate their financial condition and/or their claims paying ability.  The rating agencies determine ratings primarily by analyzing financial data.
 
 Reinsurance.The Company assumes and cedes reinsurance with other insurance companies in the normal course of business.  Reinsurance is a contractual arrangement whereby one insurer assumes some or all of the risk exposure written by another insurer.  Ceded reinsurance is comprised of excess of loss treaties, which protects against losses over certain amounts.
  5
 
 In the ordinary course of business, ITIC and NITIC reinsure certain risks with other title insurers to limit their risk exposure and to comply with state insurance regulations.  They also assume reinsurance for certain risks of other title insurers for which they receive additional income.  For the last two years, revenues from reinsurance activities accounted for less than 1% of total premium volume.
 
 Exchange Services, Investment Management and Trust Services, and Management Services
 
 The Company’s other lines of business include services offered by wholly owned subsidiaries ITEC, ITAC, Investors Trust, ICMC, and ITMS.
 
 In 1988,the Company established ITEC to provide services in connection with tax-deferred exchanges of like-kind property pursuant to Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code.  ITEC acts as an intermediary in tax-deferred exchanges of property held for productive use in a trade or business or for investments, and its income is derived from fees for handling exchange transactions and interest earned on client deposits held by the Company.ITAC provides services for accomplishing reverse exchanges when taxpayers decide to acquire replacement property before selling the relinquished property.  The services provided by the Company’s exchange division, ITEC and ITAC, are pursuant to provisions in the Internal Revenue Code.  From time to time, these laws are subject to review and changes, which may negatively affect the demand for tax-deferred exchanges in general, and consequently the revenues and profitability of the Company’s exchange division.
 
 Investors Trust and ICMC work together to provide investment management and trust services to individuals, companies, banks and trusts.
 
 ITMS offers various consulting services to provide clients with the technical expertise to start and successfully operate a title insurance agency.
 
 None of these subsidiaries is currently a reportable segment for which separate financial information is presented; instead, they are collectively included and reported in the category “All Other” in the Company’s financial statements.
 
 CYCLICALITY AND SEASONALITY
 
 Real estate activity, home sales and mortgage lending are cyclical in nature.  Title insurance premiums are closely related to the level of real estate activity and the average price of real estate sales.  The availability of funds to finance purchases directly affects real estate sales.  Other factors include mortgage interest rates, consumer confidence, economic conditions, supply and demand and family income levels.  The Company’s premiums in future periods are likely to fluctuate due to these and other factors which are beyond management’s control.
 
 Historically, the title insurance business tends to be seasonal as well as cyclical. Because home sales are typically strongest in periods of favorable weather, the first calendar quarter tends to have the lowest activity levels, while the remaining spring and summer quarters tend to be more active.  Refinance activity is generally less seasonal, but it is subject to interest rate fluctuations.
  Fluctuations in mortgage interest rates, as well as other economic factors, can cause cyclical shifts in real estate activity outside of the normal pattern of seasonality.  The Company anticipates that current market conditions, including the subprime lending crisis, rising foreclosures, weakening home sales, falling home prices and declining commercial real estate prices, will be the primary influences on the Company’s operations until further stabilization occurs.
 
 MARKETING
 
 The Company markets its title insurance services to a broad range of customers in the residential and commercial market sectors of the real estate industry.  Issuing agents are typically real estate attorneys or subsidiaries of community and regional mortgage lending institutions, depending on local customs and regulations and the Company’s marketing strategy in a particular territory.
 
 ITIC and NITIC strive to provide superior service to their customers and consider this an important factor in attracting and retaining customers.  Branch and corporate personnel strive to develop new business and agency relationships to increase market share, and ITIC's Commercial Services Division provides services to commercial clients.
  6
 
 REGULATION
 
 Title Insurance
 
 The Company is an insurance holding company and therefore it is subject to regulation in the states in which its insurance subsidiaries do business.  These regulations, among others, require insurance holding companies to register and file certain reports, and require prior regulatory approval of the payment of dividends and other intercompany distributions or transfers.
 
 Title insurance companies are extensively regulated under applicable state laws.  All states have requirements for admission to do business as an insurance company, including minimum levels of capital and surplus and establishing reserves.  State regulatory authorities monitor the stability and service of insurance companies and possess broad powers with respect to the licensing of title insurers and agents, approving rate schedules and policy forms, financial reporting and accounting practices, reserve requirements, investments and dividend restrictions, as well as examinations and audits of title insurers.  At December 31, 2010, both ITIC and NITIC met the statutory premium reserve requirements and the minimum capital and surplus requirements of the states in which they are licensed.  A substantial portion of the assets of the Company’s title insurance subsidiaries consists of their portfolios of investment securities. Both of these subsidiaries are required by various states’ laws to maintain assets of a defined minimum quality and amount.
 
 The Company's insurance subsidiaries are subject to examination at any time by the insurance regulators in the states where they are licensed.  These and other governmental authorities have the power to enforce state and federal laws to which the title insurance subsidiaries are subject, including but not limited to, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (“RESPA”), the primary federal regulatory guidance covering the real estate settlement industry.
 
 On July 22, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.  This legislation overhauls the regulations governing the real estate finance industry, and creates the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) as an independent agency within the Federal Reserve Bank.  The CFPB will have primary regulatory and enforcement authority over most consumer financial products and services, including the administration of RESPA. Within 12 months of the passage of the act, the CFBP must propose rules to harmonize the current RESPA disclosures with the required disclosures under the Truth in Lending Act.
 
 The CFPB will also have authority to identify and address, through regulation, unfair, deceptive and abusive practices in the mortgage industry and certain other settlement service industries. The CFPB has been given broad enforcement authority to impose civil penalties for violations of $5,000 per day for routine violations, $25,000 per day for knowing violations and $1,000,000 per day for reckless violations.
 
 Once fully established, the CFPB may propose rules which will potentially impact the business of the Company.  Further proposals to change regulations governing insurance holding companies and the title insurance industry are often introduced in Congress, in the state legislatures and before the various insurance regulatory agencies. The Company regularly monitors such proposals, but their likelihood and timing, and the impact they may have on the Company and its subsidiaries cannot be determined at this time.
 
 Any material change in the Company’s regulatory environment may have an adverse effect on its business.
 
 Exchange Services, Investment Management and Trust Services, and Management Services
 
 Exchange services are not federally regulated by any regulatory commission.  ITEC and ITAC provide services pursuant to Internal Revenue Service regulations providing taxpayers a safe harbor by using a qualified intermediary to structure tax-deferred exchanges of property and using an exchange accommodation titleholder to hold property in reverse exchange transactions.
  Investors Trust is regulated by the North Carolina Commissioner of Banks.  ICMC and ITMS are not regulated by any federal regulatory commission.
 
 COMPETITION
 
 The title insurance industry is highly competitive.  The four largest title insurance companies typically maintain greater than eighty percent of the market for title insurance in the United States, with smaller “regional” companies holding the balance of the market.  The number and size of competing companies varies in the respective geographic areas in which the Company conducts business.  Key competitive factors in the title insurance industry are the financial strength and size of the insurer, timeliness and quality of service, price and expertise in certain transactions.  Title insurance underwriters also compete for agents based upon service and commission levels.  Some title insurers currently have greater financial resources, larger distribution networks and more extensive computerized databases of property records and related information than the Company.  In addition, there are numerous industry-related regulations and statutes that set out conditions and requirements to conduct business.  Changes to or the removal of such regulations and statutes could result in additional competition from alternative title insurance products or new entrants into the industry that could materially affect the Company's business operations and financial condition.
  7
 
 CUSTOMERS
 
 The Company is not dependent upon any single customer or a few customers, and the loss of any single customer would not have a material adverse effect on the Company.
 
 INVESTMENT POLICIES
 
 The Company and its subsidiaries derive a substantial portion of their income from investments in federal and municipal government securities and investment grade corporate bonds and equity securities.  The Company’s investment policy is designed to maintain a high quality portfolio and maximize income.  Some state laws impose restrictions upon the types and amounts of investments that can be made by the Company's insurance subsidiaries.  The Company manages its investment portfolio via an affiliated entity.  The securities in the Company’s portfolio are subject to economic conditions and normal market risks.  The Company’s equity securities at December 31, 2010 and 2009 consisted of investments in various industry groups.  There were no significant investments in banks, trust and insurance companies at December 31, 2010.  Short-term investments, which consist primarily of money market instruments and certificates of deposit which have an original maturity of one year or less, are carried at cost, which approximates fair value due to the short duration to maturity.  In addition, at December 31, 2010 and 2009, the Company held investments that are accounted for using the equity method (see Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.)
 
 See Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the major categories of investments, scheduled maturities, fair values of investment securities and earnings by category.
 
 ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
 
 The title insurance policies ITIC and NITIC currently issue exclude any liability for environmental risks and contamination unless the Company issues a specific policy endorsement providing coverage for environmental liens recorded prior to the date of policy.  The Company has not experienced and does not anticipate that it or its subsidiaries will incur any significant expenses related to environmental claims.  In connection with tax-deferred exchanges of like-kind property, ITEC and ITAC may temporarily hold title to property pursuant to an accommodation titleholder agreement.  In such situations, the person or entity for which title is being held must execute an indemnification agreement under which it agrees to indemnify ITEC or ITAC for any environmental or other claims which may arise as a result of the arrangement.
 
 EMPLOYEES
 
 The holding company has no paid employees.  Officers of the holding company are full-time paid employees of ITIC.  The Company’s subsidiaries had 185 full-time employees and 11 part-time employees as of December 31, 2010.  None of the employees are covered by any collective bargaining agreements.  Management considers its relationship with its employees to be favorable.
 
 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
 The Company’s internet address is www.invtitle.com, the contents of which are not and shall not be deemed a part of this document or any other Securities and Exchange Commission filing.  The Company makes available free of charge through its internet website its annual reports on Form 10-K, its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, its current reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as soon as reasonably practicable after such materials are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and also makes available the Section 16 reports on Forms 3, 4 and 5 of its insiders no later than the end of the business day following such filings.  The information is free of charge and may be reviewed and downloaded from the website at any time.  The public may read any material it has filed with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549.  The “Investor Relations” section of the Company’s website also includes its code of business conduct and ethics and the charters of the Audit, Compensation and Nominating Committees of its Board of Directors.
  8
  EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY
 
 Following is information regarding the executive officers of the Company as of February 26, 2011.  Each officer is appointed at the annual meeting of the Board of Directors to serve until the next annual meeting of the Board or until his or her respective successor has been elected and qualified.
 
 Name

Age

Position with RegistrantJ. Allen Fine


76

Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the BoardJames A. Fine, Jr.


48

President, Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and DirectorW. Morris Fine


44

Executive Vice President, Secretary and Director
 
 J. Allen Fine has been Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of the Company since its incorporation in 1973.  Mr. Fine also served as President of the Company until May 1997.  Mr. Fine is the father of James A. Fine, Jr., President, Treasurer and Director of the Company, and W. Morris Fine, Executive Vice President, Secretary and Director of the Company.
 
 James A. Fine, Jr. was named Vice President of the Company in 1987.  In 1997, he was named President and Treasurer and appointed as a Director of the Company.  In 2002, he was appointed as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer.  He is the son of J. Allen Fine, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of the Company, and the brother of W. Morris Fine, Executive Vice President, Secretary and Director of the Company.
 
 W. Morris Fine was named Vice President of the Company in 1992.  In 1993, he was named Treasurer of the Company and served in that capacity until 1997.  In 1997, he was named Executive Vice President and Secretary of the Company.  In 1999, he was appointed as a Director of the Company.  W. Morris Fine is the son of J. Allen Fine, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of the Company, and the brother of James A. Fine, Jr., President, Treasurer and Director of the Company.
 
 ITEM 1A.   RISK FACTORS
 
 The risk factors listed in this section and other factors noted herein could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements or could result in a significant or material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations.
 
 The Company’s results of operations and financial condition are subject to cyclical demand for title insurance, which depends upon the volume of residential and commercial real estate transactions and mortgage refinancing transactions and economic factors.
 
 The demand for the Company’s title insurance and other real estate transaction products and services varies over time and from year to year and is dependent upon, among other factors, the volume of commercial and residential real estate transactions and mortgage financing and refinancing transactions.  The volume of these transactions has historically been influenced by factors such as the state of the overall economy, the average price of real estate sales, the availability of mortgage financing and mortgage interest rates.  During an economic downturn or recession, as currently exists in the United States, or when the availability of credit, including mortgage financing, is limited or mortgage interest rates are increasing, real estate activity typically declines. The cyclical nature of the Company’s business has caused volatility in revenue and profitability in the past and is expected to do so in the future.
 
 The real estate and credit markets have experienced significant volatility and disruption for more than 3 years and have created a difficult operating environment for the Company and other companies in industries related to real estate.  The value of residential real estate property and the volume of new and existing home sales have significantly declined since the market peak in 2005.  In addition, the Company holds investments in entities which may be negatively impacted by these conditions.  The ultimate depth and duration of the current economic instability is unknown.  If the current levels of real estate and credit market disruption and volatility continue or worsen, there can be no assurance that the Company will not experience adverse effects, which may be material, to its results of operations and financial condition.
 
 Demand for title insurance also depends in part upon the requirement by mortgage lenders and other participants in the secondary mortgage market that title insurance policies be obtained on residential and commercial real property.
  9
  The Company may experience material losses resulting from fraud, defalcation or misconduct.
 
 Fraud, defalcation and other misconduct by the Company’s agents, approved attorneys and employees are risks inherent in the Company’s business.  Agents and approved attorneys typically handle large sums of money in trust pursuant to the closing of real estate transactions and misappropriation of funds by any of these parties could result in large title claims.  During the recent economic downturn, the Company has experienced an increase in losses from these factors as compared to historical experience.  If current economic conditions continue or worsen, the Company could continue to experience greater-than-normal losses from fraud, defalcation and misconduct.
 
 Unfavorable claims experience will adversely affect the Company’s financial results.
 
 The Company’s net income is affected by the extent to which its actual claims experience is consistent with the assumptions used in establishing reserves for claims.  Reserves for claims are established based on actuarial estimates of how much the Company will need to pay for reported claims, as well as claims which have been incurred but not yet reported.  In addition, management considers factors such as the Company’s historical claims experience, case reserve estimates on reported claims, large claims and other relevant factors in determining loss provision rates and the aggregate recorded expected liability for claims. Due to the nature of the underlying risks and the high degree of uncertainty associated with the determination of reserves for claims, the Company cannot determine precisely the amounts which it will ultimately pay to settle its claims.  Such amounts may vary from the estimated amounts, particularly when those payments may not occur until well into the future.  To the extent that actual claims experience is less favorable than the underlying assumptions used in establishing such liabilities, the Company could be required to increase reserves.  Title claims can often be complex, vary greatly in dollar amounts and are affected by economic and market conditions and may involve uncertainties as to ultimate exposure, and therefore, reserve estimates are subject to variability.  Unfavorable economic conditions can lead to an increase in title insurance claims due to higher levels of defaults and foreclosures upon insured properties.  In addition, the Company may experience unexpected large losses periodically which require it to increase its loss reserves.
 
 Deterioration of economic and credit markets may cause a decline in the performance of the Company’s investments and could have a material adverse affect on net income.
 
 The Company and its subsidiaries derive a substantial portion of their income from short-term investments and investments in investment grade municipal and corporate bonds and equity securities. The Company’s investment policy is designed to balance the competing objectives of asset quality and investment income.  Changes in general economic conditions, interest rates, activity levels in securities markets and other external factors could adversely affect the value of the Company’s investment portfolio and, in turn, the Company’s operating results and financial condition.  Recent economic and credit market conditions have adversely affected the ability of some issuers of debt securities to repay their obligations and have affected the market values of the underlying securities.  If the carrying value of the Company’s investments exceeds the fair value, and the decline in fair value is deemed to be other-than-temporary, the Company will be required to write down the value of its investments, which could materially harm the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.  During the recent economic downturn, the Company has written down the value of some of its investment portfolio.
 
 The Company’s insurance subsidiaries are subject to complex government regulations.  Changes in regulations may have an adverse affect on the Company’s results of operations.
 
 The Company’s title insurance businesses are subject to extensive state laws and regulations by state insurance authorities in each state in which they operate.  These laws and regulations are primarily intended for the protection of policyholders and consumers.  The nature and extent of these laws and regulations typically involve, among other matters, licensing and renewal requirements and trade and marketing practices, including, but not limited to:
 
 ●
licensing of insurers and agents;
 ●
capital and surplus requirements;
 ●
approval of premium rates for insurance;
 ●
limitations on types and amounts of investments;
 ●
restrictions on the size of risks that may be insured by a single company;
 ●
deposits of securities for the benefit of policy holders;
 ●
filing of annual and other reports with respect to financial condition;
 ●
the amount of dividends and other payments made by insurance subsidiaries;
 ●
establishing reserves;
 ●
restrictions on the size of risks that may be insured by a single company;
 ●
regulation of insurance;
 ●
approval of policy forms; and
 ●
regulations regarding the use of personal information.
  10
 
 The Company’s other businesses operate within state and federal guidelines.  Any changes in the applicable regulatory environment or changes in existing regulations could restrict its existing or future operations or make it more burdensome to conduct them.
 
 Title insurance rate regulation could have an adverse affect on the Company’s results of operations.
 
 Rates for title insurance vary by state and are subject to extensive regulation.  The process of implementing a rate change in most states requires a pre-approval of the applicable state insurance regulator.  This regulation could impact the Company’s ability to adjust prices due to changing market conditions, which could adversely affect results of operations.
 
 Weakness in the commercial real estate market could have an adverse affect on the Company’s results of operations.
 
 Through the Company’s title insurance subsidiaries, it issues commercial title insurance policies in connection with real estate transactions.  The commercial real estate market is currently experiencing the effects of weak demand and availability of credit and, according to the MIT Center for Real Estate, commercial real estate prices are down 30.7% from their peak in mid-2007.  A study by SNL Financial LC found that the rate of delinquency for commercial real estate was 13.5%, above the national average for all real estate of 1.7%.   With the possibility of further declining values of commercial property, limited credit availability, increasing defaults and foreclosures on loans secured by commercial real estate, the Company could see an increase in the number of claims associated with these policies.  An increase in the amount or severity of claims could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations.
 
 A downgrade or a potential downgrade from a rating agency could result in a loss of underwriting business.
 
 The competitive positions of title insurance companies rely in part on the independent ratings of their financial strength and claims-paying ability.  The Company’s financial strength ratings are subject to continued periodic review by rating agencies and subject to change.  A significant downgrade in the ratings of either of the Company’s policy-issuing subsidiaries could negatively impact its ability to compete for new business and retain existing business and maintain licenses necessary to operate as title insurance companies in various states.
 
 Competition affects the Company’s results of operations.
 
 The title insurance industry is highly competitive.  Key competitive factors in the title insurance industry are quality of service, price within regulatory parameters, expertise, timeliness and the financial strength and size of the insurer.  Title companies compete for premiums by choosing various distribution channels which may include company-owned operations and issuing agency relationships with attorneys, lenders, realtors, builders and other settlement service providers.  Title insurance underwriters compete for agents on the basis of service and commission levels.  Some title insurers currently have greater financial resources, larger distribution networks and more extensive computerized databases of property records and information than the Company.  The number and size of competing companies varies in the different geographic areas in which the Company operates.  Competition among the major providers of title insurance or the acceptance of new alternatives to traditional title products by the marketplace could adversely affect the Company’s operations and financial condition.
 
 The Company’s success relies on its ability to attract and retain key personnel and agents.
 
 Competition for skilled and experienced personnel in the Company’s industry is high.  The Company may have difficulty hiring the necessary marketing and management personnel to support any future growth.  The loss of any key employee or the failure of any key employee to perform in their current position could prevent the Company from realizing future growth potential.  Also, the Company cannot provide assurance that it will succeed in attracting or retaining new agents.  Its results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected if it is unsuccessful in attracting and retaining agents.
 
 Insurance regulations limit the ability of the Company’s insurance subsidiaries to pay dividends to the holding company.
 
 The Company is an insurance holding company and it has no substantial operations of its own.  The Company’s ability to pay dividends and meet its obligations is dependent, among other factors, on the ability of its subsidiaries to pay dividends or repay intercompany loans to it.  The Company’s insurance subsidiaries are subject to insurance and other regulations that limit the amount of dividends, loans or advances to it based on the amount of adjusted unassigned surplus and net income and require these subsidiaries to maintain minimum amounts of capital, surplus and reserves.  In general, dividends in excess of prescribed limits are deemed “extraordinary” and require prior state insurance regulatory approval.  These dividend restrictions could limit the Company’s ability to pay dividends to its shareholders or grow its business.
  11
 
 The Company relies upon North Carolina for about 38% of its title insurance premiums.  Changes in the economic or regulatory environment in North Carolina could have an adverse affect on the Company.
 
 North Carolina is the largest source of revenue for the title insurance and, in 2010, North Carolina-based premiums accounted for approximately 38% of total premiums earned by the Company.  A decrease in the level of real estate activity in North Carolina, driven either by depressed economic conditions in the state, changes in its regulatory environment or other factors that could influence demand, could have a disproportionately negative impact on the Company’s financial results.
 
 Financial institution failures could adversely affect the Company.
 
 The Company has substantial deposits, including deposits that are owned by third parties in financial institutions.   There is no guarantee the Company, whether through the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or otherwise, would recover the funds it has deposited should one or more of the financial institutions at which the Company maintains deposits fail.
 
 The Company may encounter difficulties managing growth or technology changes, which could adversely affect its results.
 
 The Company has historically achieved revenue growth in part through a combination of developing related new products or services and increasing its market share for existing products. The Company’s future growth could come from services or geographic areas that are different from current business practices and locations with which management could be less familiar.  The expansion of the Company’s business, particularly in new services or geographic areas, or significant changes in technology may subject it to associated risks, such as the diversion of management’s attention, lack of substantial experience in operating such businesses and a change in competitive position resulting from technology changes.
 
 Certain provisions of the Company’s shareholder rights plan may make a takeover of the Company difficult.
 
 The Company has a shareholders rights plan which could discourage transactions involving actual or potential changes of control, including transactions that otherwise could involve payment of a premium over prevailing market prices to the Company’s shareholders for their common shares.
 
 ITEM 1B.   UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
 
 None
 
 ITEM 2.  PROPERTIES
 
 The Company owns two adjacent office buildings and property located on the corner of North Columbia and West Rosemary streets in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, which serve as the Company's corporate headquarters.  The main building contains approximately 23,000 square feet and has on-site parking facilities.  The Company's principal subsidiary, ITIC, leases office space in 30 locations throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, Nebraska and Texas.  The Company believes that each of the office facilities occupied by the Company and its subsidiaries are in good condition, adequately insured and adequate for its present operations.
 
 ITEM 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
 A class action lawsuit is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia against several title insurance companies, including Investors Title Insurance Company, entitled Backel v. Fidelity National Title Insurance et al. (6:2008-CV-00181).  The plaintiff in this case contends a lack of meaningful oversight by agencies with which title insurance rates are filed and approved.  There are further allegations that the title insurance companies have conspired to fix title insurance rates.  The plaintiffs seek monetary damages, including treble damages, as well as injunctive relief.  Similar suits have been filed in other jurisdictions, several of which, have already been dismissed. In West Virginia, the case has been placed on the inactive list pending the resolution of the bankruptcy of LandAmerica Financial Group, Inc.  The Company believes that this case is without merit, and intends to vigorously defend against the allegations. At this stage in the litigation, the Company does not have the ability to make a reasonable range of estimates in regards to potential loss amounts, if any.
 
 The Company and its subsidiaries are also involved in various other legal proceedings from time to time that are incidental to their business. In the Company's opinion, based on the present status of these proceedings, any potential liability of the Company or its subsidiaries with respect to these other legal proceedings will not, in the aggregate, be material to the Company's consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
  12
  PART II
 
 ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
 
 Common Stock Data and Dividends
 
 The Common Stock of the Company is traded under the symbol "ITIC" on the NASDAQ Global Market. The number of record holders of common stock at December 31, 2010 was 384.  The number of record holders is based upon the actual number of holders registered on the books of the Company at such date and does not include holders of shares in “street name” or persons, partnerships, associations, corporations or other entities identified in security position listings maintained by securities depositories. The following table shows, for the periods indicated, the high and low sales prices of the Company’s Common Stock as reported on the NASDAQ Global Market, and cash dividends declared.
 
 2010


2009High


Low


High


LowFirst Quarter

$
37.67


$
31.00


$
39.00


$
17.14Second Quarter

$
36.50


$
31.04


$
34.50


$
23.93Third Quarter

$
33.96


$
26.31


$
35.86


$
25.40Fourth Quarter

$
33.74


$
29.02


$
33.00


$
28.30
 
 The Company paid cash dividends of $0.07 per share in each of the four quarters in 2010 and 2009, respectively.
 
 The Company’s current dividend policy anticipates the payment of quarterly dividends in the future.  The declaration and payment of dividends will be in the discretion of the Board of Directors and will be dependent upon the Company’s future earnings, financial condition and capital requirements.  The Company’s ability to pay dividends is also subject to certain regulatory restrictions on the payment of dividends by its insurance subsidiaries as described in the “Liquidity and Capital Resources” section of “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
 
 The following table provides information about purchases by the Company (and all affiliated purchasers) during the quarter ended December 31, 2010 of equity securities that are registered by the Company pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act:
 
 
 Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
 
 Period

Total Number 
of Shares 
Purchased


Average Price Paid 
per Share


Total Number of

Shares Purchased as

Part of Publicly

Announced Plan


Maximum Number of

Shares that May Yet Be

Purchased Under the

PlanBeginning of period











475,12210/01/10 – 10/31/10


-


$
-



-



475,12211/01/10 – 11/30/10


239



31.38



239



474,88312/01/10 – 12/31/10


1,307



31.05



1,307



473,576Total


1,546


$
31.10



1,546



473,576
 
 
 For the quarter ended December 31, 2010, the Company purchased an aggregate of 1,546 shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to the purchase plan (the “Plan”) that was publicly announced on June 5, 2000.  On November 10, 2008, the Board of Directors of the Company approved the purchase of an additional 394,582 shares pursuant to the Plan, such that there was authority remaining under the Plan to purchase up to an aggregate of 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to the Plan immediately after this approval.  Unless terminated earlier by resolution of the Board of Directors, the Plan will expire when all shares authorized for purchase under the Plan have been purchased.  The Company anticipates making further purchases under this Plan from time to time in the future, depending on such factors as the prevailing market price of the Company’s common stock, the Company’s available cash and then existing alternative uses for such cash.
  13
  ITEM 6.  SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
 
 (dollars in thousands except per share data)
 For the Year

2010


2009


2008


2007


2006Net premiums written

$
61,462


$
62,155


$
63,662


$
69,984


$
70,196Revenues


71,309



71,308



71,123



84,942



84,662Investment income


3,671



3,783



4,559



5,197



4,326Net income (loss)


6,373



4,829



(1,183
)


8,402



13,185Per Share DataBasic earnings (loss) per common share

$
2.79


$
2.11


$
(0.50
)

$
3.39


$
5.22Weighted average shares outstanding—Basic


2,285



2,292



2,364



2,479



2,528Diluted earnings (loss) per common share

$
2.78


$
2.10


$
(0.50
)

$
3.35


$
5.14Weighted average shares outstanding—Diluted


2,290



2,299



2,364



2,509



2,564Cash dividends per share

$
.28


$
.28


$
.28


$
.24


$
.24At Year EndAssets

$
153,485


$
146,428


$
139,858


$
149,642


$
143,516Investments in securities


129,998



123,682



115,892



129,026



121,580Stockholders' equity


103,929



97,259



89,858



99,276



95,276Book value/share


45.53



42.56



39.18



41.17



38.00Performance RatiosNet income (loss) to:Average stockholders' equity


6.34
%


5.16
%


(1.25
%)


8.64
%


14.69
%Total revenues


8.94
%


6.77
%


(1.66
%)


9.89
%


15.57
%
  14
  ITEM 7.  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
 The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the related notes in this report.
 
 Overview
 
 Investors Title Company (the "Company") is a holding company that engages primarily in issuing title insurance through two subsidiaries, Investors Title Insurance Company ("ITIC") and National Investors Title Insurance Company ("NITIC").  Operating revenues from the title segment accounted for 94.8% of the Company’s operating revenues in 2010. Through ITIC and NITIC, the Company underwrites land title insurance for owners and mortgagees as a primary insurer. Title insurance protects against loss or damage resulting from title defects that affect real property.
 
 There are two basic types of title insurance policies - one for the mortgage lender and one for the real estate owner.  A lender often requires property owners to purchase title insurance to protect its position as a holder of a mortgage loan, but the lender's title insurance policy does not protect the property owner.  The property owner has to purchase a separate owner's title insurance policy to protect his investment.  When real property is conveyed from one party to another, occasionally there is an undisclosed defect in the title or a mistake or omission in a prior deed, will or mortgage that may give a third party a legal claim against such property.  If a claim is made against real property, title insurance provides indemnification against insured defects.
 
 The Company issues title insurance policies through issuing agencies and also directly through home and branch offices.  Issuing agents are typically real estate attorneys or subsidiaries of community and regional mortgage lending institutions, depending on local customs and regulations and the Company’s marketing strategy in a particular territory.  The ability to attract and retain issuing agents is a key determinant of the Company’s growth in premiums written.
 
 Revenues for this segment result from purchases of new and existing residential and commercial real estate, refinance activity and certain other types of mortgage lending such as home equity lines of credit.
 
 Volume is a factor in the Company's profitability due to fixed operating costs which are incurred by the Company regardless of premium volume. The resulting operating leverage tends to amplify the impact of changes in volume on the Company’s profitability.  The Company’s profitability also depends, in part, upon its ability to manage its investment portfolio to maximize investment returns and minimize risks such as interest rate changes, defaults and impairments of assets.
 
 The Company's volume of title insurance premiums is affected by the overall level of residential and commercial real estate activity, which includes sales, mortgage financing and mortgage refinancing.  In turn, real estate activity is generally affected by a number of factors, including the availability of mortgage credit, the cost of real estate, consumer confidence, employment and family income levels and general United States economic conditions.  Availability of credit and the resulting interest rate volatility also are important factors in the level of residential and commercial real estate activity.
 
 The cyclical nature of the residential and commercial real estate markets – and consequently, the land title industry - has historically caused fluctuations in revenues and profitability, and it is expected to continue to do so in the future. Additionally, there are seasonal influences in real estate activity and accordingly in revenue levels for title insurers.
 
 Other Services:  Services other than title insurance provided by operating divisions of the Company that are not required to be reported separately are reported in a category called “All Other.”  These other services include those offered by the Company and by its smaller wholly owned subsidiaries, Investors Title Exchange Corporation (“ITEC”), Investors Title Accommodation Corporation (“ITAC”), Investors Trust Company ("Investors Trust"), Investors Capital Management Company (“ICMC”) and Investors Title Management Services, Inc. (“ITMS”).
 
 The Company’s exchange services division, ITEC and ITAC, provides customer services in connection with tax-deferred real property exchanges through its subsidiaries.  ITEC serves as a qualified intermediary in like-kind exchanges of real or personal property under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  In its role as qualified intermediary, ITEC coordinates the exchange aspects of the real estate transaction, and its duties include drafting standard exchange documents, holding the exchange funds between the sale of the old property and the purchase of the new property, and accepting the formal identification of the replacement property within the required identification period.  ITAC serves as exchange accommodation titleholder in reverse exchanges.  An exchange accommodation offers a vehicle for accommodating a reverse exchange when the taxpayer must acquire replacement property before selling the relinquished property.
  15
 
  
 Business Trends and Recent Conditions
 
 By the mid 2000’s, there had been a long-term trend of rising home values in the United States that resulted in inflated home values in many areas of the country.  From 2001 to 2003, the Federal Reserve lowered short-term interest rates 13 times.  Sales of homes reached record highs and lenders began to loosen their loan underwriting standards, particularly in the non-traditional loan markets.  These lower underwriting standards, when combined with new methods of financing non-traditional loans, helped create a supply of inexpensive credit which led to a build up in mortgage loans to high-risk borrowers.  Subsequently, there was a substantial increase in loan defaults and mortgage foreclosures in the U.S. economy.  During September 2008, there were multiple financial firm failures, mergers or restructurings that led to a financial crisis and loss of confidence in the financial system.  Lenders responded to the financial crisis by implementing stricter loan underwriting standards.  In addition to these tighter lending standards, high unemployment and weakened consumer confidence have reduced the demand for homes.  These factors have contributed to a lower demand for title insurance and a decline in premium volume.
 
 In an attempt to stabilize the struggling economy, the U.S. government took steps to provide economic stimulus during the past two years.  The Economic Stimulus Bill included an $8,000 tax credit available for certain first time home buyers for the purchase of a principal residence on or after January 1, 2009.  On July 2, 2010, the President signed a law which extended the first-time homebuyer credit to persons who signed a binding purchase contract by April 30, 2010 and closed on the purchase of their residence by September 30, 2010.  A similar credit of $6,500 was also extended for homebuyers who had owned their current home at least five of the prior eight years.
 
 According to data published by Freddie Mac, the average 30-year fixed mortgage interest rate in the United States decreased to 4.69% for 2010, compared with 5.04% for 2009.  Mortgage originations were $1,505 billion and $1,995 billion in 2010 and 2009, respectively. The Mortgage Bankers Association (“MBA”) January 14, 2011 Mortgage Finance Forecast projects 2011 mortgage originations to be $966 billion, a decrease of approximately 36% compared with 2010.  In 2010 and 2009, refinancing activity accounted for approximately two thirds of all mortgage originations.  In 2011, refinancing transactions are estimated to account for only one third of total mortgage originations due to forecasted increases in mortgage interest rates. Refinancing activity is projected to decrease 66% and purchasing activity is projected to increase 30% from 2010 levels.  Many experts predict the overall state of the economy to improve in 2011.  The Federal Reserve has announced that it will purchase more U.S. Treasury bonds in order to reduce long-term interest rates and federal lawmakers have agreed to extend certain provisions of the Bush-era tax cuts.  According to the January 14, 2011 MBA Economic Forecast, projections show improvement in real gross domestic product, consumer spending, business and residential investments and the unemployment rate; however, due to foreclosures, tighter lending standards and continued high unemployment levels, real estate activity is expected to remain sluggish in 2011.
 
 Historically, activity in real estate markets has varied over the course of market cycles in response to evolving economic factors.   Operating results can vary from year to year based on cyclical market conditions and do not necessarily indicate the Company's future operating results and cash flows.
 
 Critical Accounting Estimates and Policies
 
 This discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations is based upon the Company’s accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.  The Company's management makes various estimates and judgments when applying policies affecting the preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant accounting policies of the Company are discussed in Note 1 to the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements. Following are those accounting estimates and policies considered critical to the Company.
 
 Reserves for Claim Losses:
 
 The Company’s reserves for claims are established using estimates of amounts required to settle claims for which notice has been received (reported) and the amount estimated to be required to satisfy incurred claims of policyholders which may be reported in the future (incurred but not reported, or “IBNR”).  The total reserve for all losses incurred but unpaid as of December 31, 2010 is represented by the reserve for claims of approximately $38,199,000 on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.  Of that total, approximately $6,122,000 was reserved for specific claims which have been reported to the Company, and approximately $32,077,000 was reserved for IBNR claims.
  16
 
 A provision for estimated future claims payments is recorded at the time the related policy revenue is recorded.  The Company records the claims provision as a percentage of net premiums written.  This provisional rate is set to provide for losses on current year policies.  By their nature, title claims can often be complex, vary greatly in dollar amounts, vary in number due to economic and market conditions such as an increase in mortgage foreclosures and involve uncertainties as to ultimate exposure.  In addition, some claims may require a number of years to settle and determine the final liability for indemnity and loss adjustment expense.  The payment experience may extend for more than twenty years after the issuance of a policy.  Events such as fraud, defalcation and multiple property defects can substantially and unexpectedly cause increases in estimates of losses.  Due to the length of time over which claim payments are made and regularly occurring changes in underlying economic and market conditions, these estimates are subject to variability.
 
 Management considers factors such as the Company’s historical claims experience, case reserve estimates on reported claims, large claims, actuarial projections and other relevant factors in determining its loss provision rates and the aggregate recorded expected liability for claims.  In establishing reserves, actuarial projections are compared with recorded reserves to evaluate the adequacy of such recorded claims reserves and any necessary adjustments are then recorded in the current period’s income statement.  As the most recent claims experience develops and new information becomes available, the loss reserve estimate related to prior periods will change to more accurately reflect updated and improved emerging data.  The Company reflects any adjustments to reserves in the results of operations in the period in which new information (principally claims experience) becomes available.
 
 The Company initially reserves for each known claim based upon an assessment of specific facts and updates the reserve amount as necessary over the course of administering each claim.  Loss ratios for earlier years tend to be more reliable than recent policy years as those years are more fully developed.  In making loss estimates, management determines a loss provision rate, which it then applies to net premiums written.
 
 There are key assumptions that materially affect the reserve estimates.  The Company assumes the aggregate reported liability for known claims and IBNR, in the aggregate, will be comparable to its historical claims experience unless factors, such as loss experience, change significantly.  The factors the Company considered for the recently completed fiscal year did not cause any of its key assumptions to change from assumptions used in the immediately preceding period.  Also affecting the Company’s assumptions are large losses related to fraud and defalcation, as these can cause significant variances in loss emergence patterns.  Management defines a large loss as one where incurred losses exceed $250,000.  Due to the small volume of large claims, the long-tail nature of title insurance claims and the inherent uncertainty in loss emergence patterns, large claim activity can vary significantly between policy years.  The estimated development of large claims by policy year is therefore subject to significant changes as experience develops.  The Company has generally followed the same methodology for estimating loss reserves.  The loss provision rate is set to provide for losses on current year policies and to provide for estimated positive or negative development on prior year loss estimates.
 
 Management also considers actuarial analyses in evaluating claims reserves.  The actuarial methods used to evaluate reserves are loss development methods, expected loss methods and Cape Cod methods, all of which are accepted actuarial methods for estimating ultimate losses and, therefore, loss reserves.  In the loss development method, each policy year’s paid or incurred losses are projected to an “ultimate” level using loss development factors.  In the Cape Cod method, expected losses for one policy year are estimated based on the loss results for the other policy years, trended to the level of the policy year being estimated.  Expected loss methods produce more stable ultimate loss estimates than do loss development methods, which are more responsive to the current loss data.  The Cape Cod method, a special case of the Bornhuetter-Ferguson method, blends the results of the loss development and expected loss methods. For more recent policy years, more weight is given to the results of the expected loss methods; for older policy years, more weight is given to the loss development method results.
 
 The key actuarial assumptions are principally loss development factors and expected loss ratios.  The selected loss development factors are based on a combination of the Company’s historical loss experience and title industry loss experience.  Expected loss ratios are estimated for each policy year based on the Company’s own experience and title industry loss ratios.  When updated data is incorporated into the actuarial models, the resulting loss development factors and expected loss ratios will likely change from the prior values.  Changes in these values from 2009 through 2010 have been the result of actual Company and industry experience during the calendar year and not changes in assumptions.
 
 If one or more of the variables or assumptions used changed such that the Company’s recorded loss ratio, or loss provision as a percentage of net title premiums, increased or decreased two loss ratio percentage points, the impact on after-tax income for the year ended December 31, 2010, would be as follows.  Company management believes that using a sensitivity of two loss percentage points for the loss ratio provides a reasonable benchmark for analysis of the calendar year loss provision of the Company based on historical loss ratios by year.
 
 Increase in Loss Ratio of two percentage points
$(811,000)Decrease in Loss Ratio of two percentage points
$ 811,000
 
 Despite the variability of such estimates, management believes that, based on historical claims experience and actuarial analysis, the reserves are adequate to cover claim losses resulting from pending and future claims for policies issued through December 31, 2010.  The ultimate settlement of policy and contract claims will likely vary from the reserve estimates included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.  The Company continually reviews and adjusts its reserve estimates to reflect its loss experience and any new information that becomes available. There are no known claims that are expected to have a materially adverse effect on the Company's financial position or operating results.
  17
  Premiums Written and Commissions to Agents:
 
 Generally, title insurance premiums are recognized at the time of closing of the related real estate transaction, as the earnings process is then considered complete.  Policies or commitments are issued upon receipt of final certificates or preliminary reports with respect to titles. Title insurance commissions earned by the Company's agents are recognized as expenses concurrent with recognition of related premium revenue.
 
 Valuation and Impairment of Investments in Securities:
 
 Securities for which the Company has the intent and ability to hold to maturity are classified as held-to-maturity and are reported at cost, adjusted for amortization of premiums or accretion of discounts and other-than-temporary declines in fair value.  Securities held principally for resale in the near term are classified as trading securities and recorded at fair values.  Realized and unrealized gains and losses on trading securities are included in other income. Securities not classified as either trading or held-to-maturity are classified as available-for-sale and reported at fair value with unrealized gains and losses, adjusted for other-than-temporary declines in fair value, reported as accumulated other comprehensive income.  As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, substantially all of the Company’s invested assets were classified as available-for-sale.  Realized gains and losses on the sale of investments are determined using the specific identification method.
 
 Securities are regularly evaluated and reviewed for differences between the cost and estimated fair value of each security for factors that may indicate that a decline in fair value is other-than-temporary.  When, in the opinion of management, a decline in the fair value of an investment is considered to be other-than-temporary, such investment is written down to its fair value.  Some factors considered in evaluating whether or not a decline in fair value is other-than-temporary include, but are not limited to:
 
 ●
the duration and extent to which the fair value has been less than cost;
 ●
with respect to equity securities, whether the Company’s ability and intent to retain the investment for a period of time is sufficient to allow for a recovery in value; and
 ●
with respect to fixed maturity securities, whether the Company has the intent to sell or will more likely than not be required to sell a particular security before recovery in value.
 
 These factors are reviewed quarterly and any material degradation in the prospect for recovery will be considered in the other-than-temporary impairment analysis.  Such reviews are inherently uncertain and the value of the investment may not fully recover or may decline in future periods resulting in a realized loss.  The fair values of the majority of the Company’s investments are based on quoted market prices from independent pricing services.   See Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for further information on the Company’s valuation techniques.
 
 Deferred Tax Asset:
 
 The Company recorded net deferred tax assets at December 31, 2010 and 2009 related primarily to reserves for claims, allowance for doubtful accounts, employee benefits and other-than-temporary impairment of assets.  Based upon the Company's historical results of operations, the existing financial condition of the Company and management's assessment of all other available information, management believes that it is more likely than not that the benefit of these assets will be realized.
  Results of Operations
 
 Operating Revenues
 
 Operating revenues include net premiums written plus other fee income, trust income, management services income, and exchange services income.  Investment income and realized investment gains and losses are not included in operating revenues and are discussed separately following operating revenues.  Following is a summary of the Company's operating revenues.  Intersegment eliminations have been netted with each segment; therefore, the individual segment amounts will not agree to Note 13 in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements.
  18
 
 2010


2009Title Insurance

$
63,502,167



94.8
%

$
64,303,556



94.5
%All Other


3,481,336



5.2
%


3,719,577



5.5
%$
66,983,503



100.0
%

$
68,023,133



100.0
%
 
 Title Insurance
 
 Net Premiums: Net premiums written decreased 1.1% in 2010 from 2009.  Purchase transactions increased approximately 6.7% in 2010 from 2009 levels however, this was offset by a decrease of 13.9% in refinancing activity, resulting in an overall decrease in premium volume.
 
 Title Orders: The volume of title orders decreased 3.5% in 2010 to 206,384 compared with 213,824 in 2009.  The Company believes that the weak housing market and the decrease in refinancing activity were the primary reasons for the decline in order counts.
 
 Title insurance companies typically issue title insurance policies directly through branch offices or through title agencies.  Following is a breakdown of premiums generated by branch and agency operations for the years ended December 31:
  2010


%


2009


%Branch

$
17,961,144



29.2
%

$
21,474,082



34.5
%Agency


43,501,297



70.8
%


40,681,169



65.5
%Total

$
61,462,441



100.0
%

$
62,155,251



100.0
%
 
 Home and Branch Office Net Premiums: In the Company’s home and branch operations, the Company issues the insurance policy and retains the entire premium, as no commissions are paid.  Home and branch office net premiums written as a percentage of total net premiums written, were 29.2% and 34.5% in 2010 and 2009, respectively.  Net premiums written from home and branch operations decreased 16.4% in 2010 compared with 2009.  The decrease in 2010 primarily reflects a decline in mortgage refinancing from the prior year.  All of the Company’s home office operations and the majority of branch offices are located in North Carolina; as a result, the home and branch office net premiums written are primarily from North Carolina business.
 Agency Net Premiums: Agents retain the majority of the title premium collected, with the balance remitted to the title underwriter for bearing the risk of loss in the event that a claim is made under the title insurance policy.  Agency net premiums written as a percentage of total net premiums written were 70.8% and 65.5% in 2010 and 2009, respectively.  Net premiums written from agency operations increased 6.9% in 2010 compared with 2009.  The increase in the percentage of total premiums written by agencies in 2010 is primarily due to the Company’s strategy of growth through expansion of its agency base and the influence of local geographic trends.
 
 Following is a schedule of net premiums written in select states where the Company’s two insurance subsidiaries ITIC and NITIC currently underwrite title insurance:
 
 State

2010


2009North Carolina

$
23,458,494


$
27,134,685South Carolina


6,333,057



5,755,790Virginia


4,267,550



5,015,185Michigan


4,151,277



4,382,209Kentucky


3,209,708



3,194,530All Others


20,211,078



16,756,725Direct Premiums


61,631,164



62,239,124Reinsurance Assumed


33,184



11,650Reinsurance Ceded


(201,907
)


(95,523
)Net Premiums Written

$
61,462,441


$
62,155,251
 
 Premiums for all other states increased primarily from the Company’s 2010 agency expansion into the State of Texas.
 
 19
 
 Other Revenues
 
 Other revenues primarily include other fee income, trust income, management services income, exchange services income, and income related to the Company’s equity method investments.  Other revenues were $5,521,062 and $5,867,882 for 2010 and 2009, respectively.   The decline in 2010 is related primarily to decreases in exchange service revenues and equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates, partially offset by an increase in management services income.
  Cyclicality and Seasonality
 
 Title insurance premiums are closely related to the level of real estate activity and real estate values. The availability of credit directly affects real estate sales.  Home sales and mortgage lending are highly cyclical businesses. Other factors include mortgage interest rates, consumer confidence, economic conditions, supply and demand of real estate, and family income levels.  The Company’s premiums in future periods will continue to be subject to these and other factors which are beyond management’s control and, as a result, likely to fluctuate.
 Historically, real estate transactions have produced seasonal premium levels for title insurers.  Residential real estate activity has been generally slower in the fall and winter months because fewer real estate transactions occur, while the spring and summer months are more active. Refinance activity is generally less seasonal than purchase activity, but it is more subject to interest rate volatility and is therefore more cyclical.  However, fluctuations in mortgage interest rates, as well as other economic factors, can cause shifts in real estate activity outside of the normal traditional seasonal pattern.
 
 Non-operating Revenues
 
 Investment income and realized gains and losses from investments are included in non-operating revenues.
 
 Investment Income
 
 The Company derives a substantial portion of its income from investments in municipal and corporate bonds and equity securities.  The Company's title insurance subsidiaries are required by statute to maintain minimum levels of investments in order to protect the interests of policyholders.  Bonds totaling approximately $6,570,000 and $6,960,000 at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, are deposited with the insurance departments of the states in which business is conducted.
 
 In formulating its investment strategy, the Company has emphasized after-tax income.  The Company’s investments are primarily in bonds and, to a lesser extent, equity securities.  The effective maturity of the majority of the bonds is within 10 years.  The Company’s invested assets are managed to fund its obligations and evaluated to ensure long term stability of capital accounts.
 
 As the Company generates cash from operations, it is invested in accordance with the Company’s investment policy and corporate goals.  The Company’s investment policies have been designed to balance multiple goals, including the assurance of a stable source of income from interest and dividends, the preservation of principle, and the provision of liquidity sufficient to meet insurance underwriting and other obligations as they become payable in the future.  Securities purchased may include a combination of taxable bonds, tax-exempt bonds and equity securities.  The Company strives to maintain a high quality investment portfolio.  Interest and investment income levels are primarily a function of general market performance, interest rates and the amount of cash available for investment.
 
 Investment income was $3,671,178 in 2010 compared with $3,783,116 in 2009.  The decline in investment income in 2010 was due primarily to lower levels of interest earned on short-term funds and the maturity of older securities which yielded higher rates of interest relative to current investments.  See Note 3 in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements for the major categories of investments, scheduled maturities, amortized cost, fair values of investment securities and earnings by security category.
 
 Net Realized Gain (Loss) on Investments
 
 Dispositions of equity securities at a realized gain or loss reflect such factors as industry sector allocation decisions, ongoing assessments of issuers’ business prospects and tax planning considerations.  Additionally, the amounts of net realized investment gains and losses are affected by assessments of securities’ valuation for other-than-temporary impairment.  As a result of the interaction of these factors and considerations, net realized investment gains or losses can vary significantly from period to period.
 
 Net realized gain on investments was $654,674 for 2010, compared with a net realized loss of $498,089 for 2009.  The 2010 year-to-date net gain included impairment charges of $382,692 on certain investments in the Company’s portfolio that were deemed to be other-than-temporarily impaired, offset by net realized gains on the sales of investments of $1,037,366.  The 2009 net loss included impairment charges of $758,661 on certain investments offset by net realized gains on the sales of investments of $260,572.  Management believes unrealized losses on remaining fixed income and equity securities at December 31, 2010 are temporary in nature.
  20
 
 The securities in the Company’s portfolio are subject to economic conditions and market risks.  The Company considers relevant facts and circumstances in evaluating whether a credit or interest-related impairment of a security is other-than-temporary.  Relevant facts and circumstances include the extent and length of time the fair value of an investment has been below cost.
 
 There are a number of risks and uncertainties inherent in the process of monitoring impairments and determining if an impairment is other-than-temporary.  These risks and uncertainties include the risk that the economic outlook will be worse than expected or have more of an impact on the issuer than anticipated, the risk that the Company’s assessment of an issuer’s ability to meet all of its contractual obligations will change based on changes in the characteristics of that issuer, the risk that information obtained by the Company or changes in other facts and circumstances leads management to change its intent to hold the equity security until it recovers in value or its intent to sell the debt security, and the risk that management is making decisions based on misstated information in the financial statements provided by issuers.
 
 Expenses
 
 The Company’s operating expenses consist primarily of commissions to agents, salaries, employee benefits and payroll taxes, provisions for claims and office occupancy and operations.  Operating expenses in 2010 decreased 4.1% compared with 2009 primarily due to decreases in the provision for claims, salaries, employee benefits and payroll taxes and office occupancy and operations, partially offset by an increase in commissions.  Following is a summary of the Company's operating expenses. Intersegment eliminations have been netted; therefore, the individual segment amounts will not agree to Note 13 in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
 2010


2009Title Insurance

$
58,028,574



92.6
%

$
61,152,624



93.5
%All Other


4,665,155



7.4
%


4,239,757



6.5
%$
62,693,729



100.0
%

$
65,392,381



100.0
%
 
 The Company’s net profit margin was 8.9% in 2010 and 6.8% in 2009.  Total revenues remained relatively unchanged for 2010 and operating expenses decreased, contributing to a higher combined profit margin for 2010.  The Company continually strives to enhance its competitive strengths and market position, including ongoing initiatives to reduce its operating expenses.
 
 Title Insurance
  Profit Margin:  The Company’s title insurance profit margin varies according to a number of factors, including the volume and type of real estate activity.  Profit margins for the title insurance segment were 10.4% and 7.7% in 2010 and 2009, respectively.
 
 Commissions:  Agent commissions represent the portion of premiums retained by agents pursuant to the terms of their respective agency contracts.  Commissions to agents increased 6.6% from 2009 to 2010 primarily due to increased premiums from agency operations in 2010.  Commission expense as a percentage of net premiums written by agents was 71.7% and 71.9% in 2010 and 2009, respectively.  Commission rates vary by the geographic area in which the commission is paid and may be influenced by state regulations.
 
 Provisions for Claims: The provision for claims as a percentage of net premiums written was 7.2% and 13.6% in 2010 and 2009, respectively. Factors resulting in the lower loss provision rate in 2010 include a lower estimated loss ratio for 2010, favorable experience related to prior policy years and a recovery of approximately $1,540,000 related to a claim filed against the Company’s fidelity bond for losses recognized in a prior year.
 
 The decrease in the loss provision in 2010 from the 2009 level resulted in approximately $3,900,000 less in reserves than would have been recorded at the higher 2009 level.  Loss provision ratios are subject to variability and are reviewed and adjusted as experience develops.
 
 Title claims are typically reported and paid within the first several years of policy issuance.  The provision for claims reflects actual payments of claims, net of recovery amounts, plus adjustments to the specific and incurred but not reported claims reserves, the latter of which are actuarially determined based on historical claims experience.  Actual payments of claims, net of recoveries, were $5,726,366 and $8,213,123 in 2010 and 2009, respectively.
 
 Changes in the expected liability for claims for prior periods reflect the uncertainty of the claims environment, as well as the limited predictive power of historical data.  The Company continually updates and refines its reserve estimates as current experience develops and credible data emerges.  Adjustments may be required as new information develops which often varies from past experience.
  21
 
 Movements in the reserves related to prior periods were primarily the result of changes to estimates to better reflect the latest reported loss data, rather than as a result of material changes to underlying key actuarial assumptions or methodologies.  Such changes include payments on claims closed during the quarter, new details that emerge on still-open cases that cause claims adjusters to increase or decrease the case reserves and the impact that these types of changes have on the Company’s total loss provision.   See “Critical Accounting Estimates and Policies” for further discussion related to the Company’s reserves for claim losses and the related changes.
 
 Salaries, Employee Benefits and Payroll Taxes: Personnel costs include base salaries, benefits and bonuses paid to employees.  Salaries, employee benefits and payroll taxes were $17,695,956 and $18,189,483 for 2010 and 2009, respectively.  Salaries and related costs decreased by approximately $500,000, or 2.7% in 2010 compared with 2009.  The decrease in 2010 was primarily due to a reduction in headcount and a related reduction in employee benefit expenses.  On a consolidated basis, salaries and employee benefits as a percentage of total revenues were 24.8% and 25.5% in 2010 and 2009, respectively.
 
 Office Occupancy and Operations: Overall office occupancy and operations as a percentage of total revenues was 5.5% and 6.1% in 2010 and 2009, respectively.  The decrease in office occupancy and operations expense in 2010 compared with 2009 was due primarily to decreases in depreciation related to assets becoming fully depreciated, telecommunications, rent and printing.  Telecommunications, rent and printing decreased primarily due to initiatives to reduce operating costs.
 
 Premium and Retaliatory Taxes: Title insurance companies are generally not subject to state income or franchise taxes.  However, in most states they are subject to premium and retaliatory taxes, as defined by statute. Premium tax rates vary from state to state; accordingly, the total premium tax burden is dependent upon the geographical mix of operating revenues.  Premium and retaliatory taxes as a percentage of net premiums written were 2.1% and 2.0% for 2010 and 2009, respectively.
 Professional and Contract Labor Fees: Professional and contract labor expenses for 2010 increased $148,577 compared with 2009 primarily due to increases in fees associated with contract labor related to the expansion into the State of Texas and banking industry professional fees.
 
 Business Development:  Business development expenses for 2010 increased $146,531 compared with 2009 primarily due to increases in travel related expenses related to the expansion into the State of Texas and a higher level of marketing efforts.
  Other Expenses: Other operating expenses primarily include miscellaneous operating expenses of the trust division and other miscellaneous expenses of the title segment.  These amounts typically fluctuate with transaction volume of the title segment and the trust division.
 
 Income Taxes
 
 The provision for income taxes was $2,243,000 and $1,087,000 for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  Income tax expense as a percentage of earnings before income taxes was 26.0% and 18.4%, for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  The increase for 2010 from 2009 was primarily due to a higher proportion of taxable to tax-exempt investment income.  The effective income tax rate for both 2010 and 2009 was below the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate (34%), primarily due to the effect of tax exempt income.  Tax-exempt income lowers the effective tax rate.
  The Company believes it is more likely than not that the tax benefits associated with recognized, impairment and unrecognized losses recorded through December 31, 2010 will be realized.  However, this judgment could be impacted by further market fluctuations.  Information regarding the components of the income tax expense and items included in the reconciliation of the effective rate with the federal statutory rate can be found in Note 8 to the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
 Net Income
 
 The Company reported net income of $6,372,626 and $4,828,779, or $2.78 and $2.10 per share on a diluted basis in 2010 and 2009, respectively.  Total revenues for 2010 remained virtually unchanged while expenses for 2010 decreased 4.1% to $62,693,729 from $65,392,381. Operational expenses compared favorably to the prior year period primarily due to decreases in the provisions for claims, salaries, employee benefits and payroll taxes and office occupancy and operations.
 
 Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
 Liquidity:  Cash flows from operating activities decreased from 2009 to 2010, primarily due to a recovery of current income taxes receivable in 2009, a decrease in premiums collected in 2010 coupled with an increase in receivables and other assets, partially offset by an increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities.  Cash and cash equivalents at year end decreased approximately $600,000 from the prior year to approximately $8,100,000, due to cash provided by operating activities in 2009.
  22
 
 Due to the Company’s historical consistent ability to generate positive cash flows from its consolidated operations and investment income, management believes that funds generated from operations will enable the Company to adequately meet its current operating needs for the foreseeable future.  However, there can be no assurance that future experience will be similar to historical experience, since it is  influenced by such factors as the interest rate environment, the Company’s claims-paying ability and its financial strength ratings.  The Company is unaware of any trend that is likely to result in material adverse liquidity changes, but continually assesses its capital allocation strategy, including decisions relating to repurchasing the Company’s stock and/or conserving cash.  The Company’s current cash requirements include general operating expenses, income taxes, capital expenditures, dividends on its common stock declared by the Board of Directors and share repurchases of its common stock.
 
 In addition to operational liquidity, the Company maintains a high degree of liquidity within its investment portfolio in the form of short-term investments and other readily marketable securities.
 
 The Company’s investment portfolio is considered as available-for-sale.  The Company reviews the status of each of its securities quarterly to determine whether an other-than-temporary impairment has occurred.
 Cash Flows:  Net cash flows provided by operating activities were $4,226,501 and $7,381,269 in 2010 and 2009, respectively.  The primary use of cash in operations was payments of claims of $5,726,366 and $8,213,123 in 2010 and 2009, respectively.   Cash flows from operations have historically been the primary source of financing for expanding operations, additions to property and equipment, dividends to shareholders, and operating requirements.
 
 The principal non-operating use of cash and cash equivalents in 2010 and 2009 was for purchases to the investment portfolio and, to a lesser extent, dividends paid and repurchases of common stock.  The net effect of all activities on total cash and cash equivalents was a decrease of $616,190 for 2010 and an increase of $3,578,175 for 2009.  As of December 31, 2010, the Company held cash and cash equivalents of $8,117,031, short-term investments of $27,203,550, fixed maturity securities of $86,033,557 and equity securities of $13,872,370.
 
 As noted previously, the Company’s operating results and cash flows are heavily dependent on the real estate market.  The Company’s business has certain fixed costs such as personnel; therefore, changes in the real estate market are monitored closely and operating expenses such as staffing levels, are managed and adjusted accordingly.  The Company believes that its significant working capital position and management of operating expenses will aid its ability to manage cash resources through fluctuations in the real estate market.
 
 Receipt of Dividends from Subsidiaries: The Company believes that all anticipated cash requirements for current operations will be met from internally generated funds, through cash dividends and distributions from subsidiaries and cash generated by investment securities.  The Company’s significant sources of funds are dividends and distributions from its subsidiaries.  The holding company receives cash from its subsidiaries in the form of dividends and as reimbursements for operating and other administrative expenses that it incurs.  The reimbursements are executed within the guidelines of management agreements between the holding company and its subsidiaries.
 
 The Company's ability to pay dividends and operating expenses is dependent on funds received from the insurance subsidiaries, which are subject to regulation in the states in which they do business.  Each state of domicile regulates the extent to which the Company’s title underwriters can pay dividends or make distributions. As of December 31, 2010, approximately $65,297,000 of the consolidated stockholders' equity represented net assets of the Company's subsidiaries that cannot be transferred in the form of dividends, loans or advances to the parent company under statutory regulations without prior insurance department approval.  These regulations, among other things, require prior regulatory approval of the payment of dividends and other intercompany transfers.  The Company believes, however, that amounts available for transfer from the insurance and other subsidiaries are adequate to meet the Company's current operating needs.
 
 The maximum dividend permitted by law is not necessarily indicative of an insurer’s actual ability to pay dividends, which may be constrained by regulatory and business considerations, such as the impact of dividends on surplus, which could affect an insurer’s ratings.  Further, depending on regulatory and business conditions, the Company may in the future need to retain cash in its underwriters in order to maintain their ratings or their statutory capital position.  Such requirements could be the result of adverse financial results, changes in interpretation of statutory accounting requirements by regulators, reserve charges or investment losses.
 
 Purchase of Company Stock:  On November 10, 2008, the Board of Directors of the Company approved the purchase of an additional 394,582 shares pursuant to the Company’s stock repurchase plan, such that there was authority remaining under the plan to purchase up to an aggregate of 500,000 shares of the Company's common stock pursuant to the plan immediately after the approval.  Pursuant to this approval, the Company purchased 12,138 shares in the twelve months ended December 31, 2010 and 13,754 shares in the twelve months ended December 31, 2009 at an average per share price of $31.21 and $31.11, respectively.
  23
 
 Capital Expenditures: During 2011, the Company has plans for various capital improvement projects, including hardware purchases and software projects that are anticipated to be funded via cash flows from operations.  All material anticipated capital expenditures are subject to periodic review and revision and may vary depending on a number of factors.
 
 Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
 
 As a service to its customers, the Company, through ITIC, administers escrow and trust deposits representing earnest money received under real estate contracts, undisbursed amounts received for settlement of mortgage loans and indemnities against specific title risks.  Cash held by the Company for these purposes was approximately $17,472,000 and $19,947,000 as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  These amounts are not considered assets of the Company and, therefore, are excluded from the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.  However, the Company remains contingently liable for the disposition of these deposits.
 
 In addition, in administering tax-deferred property exchanges, ITEC serves as a qualified intermediary for exchanges, holding the net sales proceeds from relinquished property to be used for purchase of replacement property. ITAC serves as exchange accommodation titleholder and, through limited liability companies that are wholly owned subsidiaries of ITAC, holds property for exchangers in reverse exchange transactions.  Like-kind exchange deposits and reverse exchange property held by the Company for the purpose of completing such transactions totaled $23,044,000 and $16,518,000 as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  These exchange deposits are held at third-party financial institutions.  These amounts are not considered assets of the Company for accounting purposes and, therefore, are excluded from the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.  Exchange services revenues include earnings on these deposits; therefore, investment income is shown as exchange services revenue, rather than investment income.  The Company remains contingently liable to customers for the transfers of property, disbursements of proceeds, and the return on the proceeds at the agreed upon rate.
 
 External assets managed by the Investors Trust Company totaled over $600,000,000 and $500,000,000 for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  These amounts are not considered assets of the Company and, therefore, are excluded from the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
 
 Recent Accounting Standards
 
 In February 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) updated the reporting requirements for subsequent events to no longer require the inclusion of a date through which events have been evaluated in the notes to the financial statements.  This update was effective immediately and did not have an impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.
 
 In January 2010, the FASB updated the requirements for fair value measurements and disclosures to provide for additional disclosure related to transfers in and out of securities valuation hierarchy Levels 1 and 2, and to require companies to present Level 3 securities purchases, sales, issuances and settlements on a gross rather than net basis. Refer to Note 3 for a discussion of valuation hierarchy levels. The new disclosures are clarifications of existing disclosures and are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except that the disclosures requiring the presentation of Level 3 securities trading activity on a gross basis are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010. This update did not have an impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.
 
 In June 2009, the FASB changed the methodology used to determine whether or not an entity is a primary beneficiary with respect to a variable interest entity and introduced a requirement to reassess on an ongoing basis whether an entity is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity. This update was implemented January 1, 2010, and did not have an impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.   As a result of this update, the Company evaluated its variable interests in other entities which it has an equity ownership position, and has determined that it does not have an interest in any variable interest entities.
 
 ITEM 7A.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
 
 The Company is a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act and is not required to provide the information required under this item.
  24
 
 ITEM 8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
 
 1.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
262.
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
273.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
284.
Consolidated Statements of Income
295.
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
306.
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
317.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
328.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
34
  25
 
 REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
 
 
 To the Board of Directors and Stockholders
 Investors Title Company
 Chapel Hill, North Carolina
 
 We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Investors Title Company and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the years then ended. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.
 
 We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated 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 Investors Title Company and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
 
 We were not engaged to examine management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting and, accordingly, we do not express an opinion thereon.
 
 
 
 /s/ Dixon Hughes PLLC
 High Point, North Carolina
 March 9, 2011
  26
 
 Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
 
 Management of Investors Title Company and Subsidiaries is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in the Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15(d)-15-(f). The Company’s internal control over financial reporting has been designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of the Company’s financial reporting and the preparation of published financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
 
 The Company’s internal control over financial reporting includes policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect transactions and dispositions of assets of the Company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, and that receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorization of management and directors of the Company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
 
 Because of its inherent limitation, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with policies or procedures may deteriorate.
 
 Management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in “Internal Control-Integrated Framework” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”) and concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2010.
 
 27
 
 Investors Title Company and Subsidiaries
 Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
 As of  December 31,

2010


2009AssetsInvestments in securitiesFixed maturitiesHeld-to-maturity, at amortized cost (fair value: 2010: $0; 2009: $2,000)

$
-


$
2,000Available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost: 2010: $81,784,262; 2009: $85,047,483)


86,033,557



88,801,186Equity securities, available-for-sale at fair value (cost: 2010: $9,458,773; 2009: $8,241,767)


13,872,370



11,854,301Short-term investments


27,203,550



20,717,434Other investments


2,888,958



2,307,220Total investments


129,998,435



123,682,141Cash and cash equivalents


8,117,031



8,733,221Premium and fees receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts:

2010: $1,421,000; 2009: $1,486,000)


7,253,786



5,170,476Accrued interest and dividends


1,150,602



1,122,806Prepaid expenses and other assets


2,688,723



1,815,653Property acquired in settlement of claims


127,938



175,476Property, net


3,672,317



3,894,724Deferred income taxes, net


476,534



1,833,207Total Assets

$
153,485,366


$
146,427,704Liabilities and Stockholders’ EquityLiabilitiesReserves for claims

$
38,198,700


$
39,490,000Accounts payable and accrued liabilities


10,301,495



9,008,337Current income taxes payable


1,056,356



670,290Total liabilities


49,556,551



49,168,627Commitments and ContingenciesStockholders’ EquityClass A Junior Participating preferred stock (shares authorized 100,000; no shares issued)


-



-Common stock-no par value (shares authorized 10,000,000; 2,282,596 and 2,285,289shares issued and outstanding 2010 and 2009, respectively, excluding 291,676 sharesfor 2010 and 2009, respectively of common stock held by the Company’s subsidiary)


1



1Retained earnings


98,240,109



92,528,818Accumulated other comprehensive income


5,688,705



4,730,258Total stockholders’ equity


103,928,815



97,259,077Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

$
153,485,366


$
146,427,704
 
 See notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
  28
 
 Investors Title Company and Subsidiaries
 Consolidated Statements of Income
 
 For the Years Ended December 31,

2010


2009RevenuesUnderwriting income:Premiums written

$
61,664,348


$
62,250,774Less-premiums for reinsurance ceded


201,907



95,523Net premiums written


61,462,441



62,155,251Investment income-interest and dividends


3,671,178



3,783,116Net realized gain (loss) on investments


654,674



(498,089
)Other


5,521,062



5,867,882Total Revenues


71,309,355



71,308,160Operating ExpensesCommissions to agents


31,189,207



29,254,311Provision for claims


4,435,066



8,465,123Salaries, employee benefits and payroll taxes


17,695,956



18,189,483Office occupancy and operations


3,935,563



4,333,579Business development


1,544,588



1,398,057Filing fees, franchise and local taxes


573,075



571,677Premium and retaliatory taxes


1,279,400



1,268,301Professional and contract labor fees


1,511,283



1,362,706Other


529,591



549,144Total Operating Expenses


62,693,729



65,392,381Income before Income Taxes


8,615,626



5,915,779Provision for Income Taxes


2,243,000



1,087,000Net Income

$
6,372,626


$
4,828,779Basic Earnings per Common Share

$
2.79


$
2.11Weighted Average Shares Outstanding – Basic


2,284,657



2,291,816Diluted Earnings per Common Share

$
2.78


$
2.10Weighted Average Shares Outstanding – Diluted


2,289,847



2,299,429Cash Dividends Paid per Common Share

$
0.28


$
0.28
 
 See notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
  29
  Investors Title Company and Subsidiaries
 Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
 
 AccumulatedCommon Stock


Retained


Other Comprehensive


Total Stockholders’For the Years Ended December 31, 2009 and 2010

Shares


Amount


Earnings


Income


EquityBalance, January 1, 2009


2,293,268


$
1


$
88,248,452


$
1,609,435


$
89,857,888Net income










4,828,779







4,828,779Dividends ($.28 per share)










(641,577
)






(641,577
)Shares of common stock repurchased and retired


(13,754
)






(427,875
)






(427,875
)Stock options exercised


5,775







91,873







91,873Share-based compensation expense










429,166







429,166Amortization related to postretirement health benefits














14,783



14,783Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation adjustment














(10,094
)


(10,094
)Net unrealized gain on investments














3,116,134



3,116,134Balance, December 31, 2009


2,285,289


$
1


$
92,528,818


$
4,730,258


$
97,259,077Net income










6,372,626







6,372,626Dividends ($.28 per share)










(639,734
)






(639,734
)Shares of common stock repurchased and retired


(12,138
)






(378,770
)






(378,770
)Stock options exercised


9,445







140,500







140,500Share-based compensation expense










216,669







216,669Amortization related to postretirement health benefits














15,160



15,160Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation adjustment














107,913



107,913Net unrealized gain on investments














835,374



835,374Balance, December 31, 2010


2,282,596


$
1


$
98,240,109


$
5,688,705


$
103,928,815
 
 See notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
  30
 
 Investors Title Company and Subsidiaries
 Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
 
 For the Years Ended December 31,

2010


2009Net income

$
6,372,626


$
4,828,779Other comprehensive income, before tax:Amortization related to prior year service cost


20,388



20,388Amortization of unrecognized loss


2,572



2,014Accumulated postretirement expense (benefit) obligation adjustment


163,503



(15,295
)Unrealized gains on investments arising during the year


1,951,329



4,276,719Reclassification adjustment for net (gains) losses realized in netincome


(654,674
)


498,089Other comprehensive income, before tax


1,483,118



4,781,915Income tax expense related to postretirement health benefits


63,398



2,418Income tax expense related to unrealized gains oninvestments arising during the year


680,503



1,476,426Income tax expense related to reclassification adjustment for(gains) losses realized in net income


(219,230
)


182,248Net income tax expense on other comprehensive income


524,671



1,661,092Other comprehensive income


958,447



3,120,823Comprehensive income

$
7,331,073


$
7,949,602
 See notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
  31
 
 Investors Title Company and Subsidiaries
 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
 
 For the Years Ended December 31,

2010


2009Operating ActivitiesNet income

$
6,372,626


$
4,828,779Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:Depreciation


508,450



658,136Amortization, net


343,397



291,283Amortization related to postretirement benefits obligation


22,961



22,402Share-based compensation expense related to stock options


216,669



429,166(Benefit) allowance provision for doubtful accounts on premiums receivable


(65,000
)


189,000Net loss on disposals of property


6,774



27,992Net realized (gain) loss on investments


(654,674
)


498,089Net earnings from other investments


(987,632
)


(1,137,771
)Provision for claims


4,435,066



8,465,123Provision for deferred income taxes


832,000



347,000Changes in assets and liabilities:Increase in receivables and other assets


(2,920,497
)


(703,668
)Decrease in current income taxes receivable


-



2,777,829Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued liabilities


1,456,661



(1,769,258
)Increase in current income taxes payable


386,066



670,290Payments of claims, net of recoveries


(5,726,366
)


(8,213,123
)Net cash provided by operating activities


4,226,501



7,381,269Investing ActivitiesPurchases of available-for-sale securities


(16,047,885
)


(8,939,050
)Purchases of short-term securities


(10,371,686
)


(9,121,249
)Purchases of other investments


(560,602
)


(561,186
)Proceeds from sales and maturities of available-for-sale securities


18,497,720



10,206,464Proceeds from maturities of held-to-maturity securities


2,000



460,000Proceeds from sales and maturities of short-term securities


3,885,570



4,129,328Proceeds from sales and distributions of other investments


923,013



1,158,712Purchases of property


(317,530
)


(171,050
)Proceeds from disposals of property


24,713



12,516Net cash used in investing activities


(3,964,687
)


(2,825,515
)Financing ActivitiesRepurchases of common stock


(378,770
)


(427,875
)Exercise of options


140,500



91,873Dividends paid


(639,734
)


(641,577
)Net cash used in financing activities


(878,004
)


(977,579
)Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents


(616,190
)


3,578,175Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Year


8,733,221



5,155,046Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Year

$
8,117,031


$
8,733,221
  
 32
  
 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, continuedFor the Years Ended December 31,

2010


2009Supplemental DisclosuresCash Paid During the Year forIncome Taxes, payments (refunds), net

$
1,079,000


$
(2,708,000
)Non cash net unrealized gain on investments, net of deferred tax

provision of ($461,281) and ($1,658,674) for 2010 and 2009,

respectively

$
(835,374
)

$
(3,116,134
)Adjustments to postretirement benefits obligation, net of deferred tax benefit                      
   (provision) of  $55,591 and ($5,201) for 2010 and 2009, respectively

$
(107,913
)

$
10,094
 
 See notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
  33
 
 Investors Title Company and Subsidiaries
 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
 1. Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 
 Description of Business—Investors Title Company's (the "Company") primary business, and only reportable segment, is title insurance. The title insurance segment, through its two subsidiaries, Investors Title Insurance Company ("ITIC") and National Investors Title Insurance Company ("NITIC"), is licensed to insure titles to residential, institutional, commercial and industrial properties. The Company issues title insurance policies primarily through approved attorneys from underwriting offices and through independent issuing agents in 24 states and the District of Columbia primarily in the eastern half of the United States. The majority of the Company's business is concentrated in Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.
 
 Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation—The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries and are prepared in accordance with smaller reporting company filing requirements. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.
 
 Reclassification—Certain 2009 amounts in the accompanying consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the 2010 classifications. These reclassifications had no effect on stockholders’ equity or net income as previously reported.
 
 Significant Accounting Policies—The significant accounting policies of the Company are summarized below.
 
 Cash and Cash Equivalents
 For the purpose of presentation in the Company's consolidated statements of cash flows, cash equivalents are highly liquid instruments with original maturities of three months or less. The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents is a reasonable estimate of fair value due to the short-term maturity of these instruments.
 
 Investments in Securities
 Securities for which the Company has the intent and ability to hold to maturity are classified as held-to-maturity and reported at cost, adjusted for amortization of premiums or accretion of discounts, and other-than-temporary declines in fair value. Securities held principally for resale in the near term are classified as trading securities and recorded at fair values. Realized and unrealized gains and losses on trading securities are included in other income. Securities not classified as either trading or held-to-maturity are classified as available-for-sale and reported at fair value with unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, adjusted for other-than-temporary declines in fair value, reported as accumulated other comprehensive income. Securities are regularly reviewed for differences between the cost and estimated fair value of each security for factors that may indicate that a decline in fair value is other-than-temporary. Some factors considered in evaluating whether or not a decline in fair value is other-than-temporary include the duration and extent to which the fair value has been less than cost and the Company’s ability and intent to retain the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for a recovery in value. Such reviews are inherently uncertain and the value of the investment may not fully recover or may decline in future periods resulting in a realized loss. Fair values of the majority of investments are based on quoted market prices. Realized gains and losses are determined on the specific identification method.  Refer to Note 3.
 
 Short-term Investments
 Short-term investments comprise money market accounts which are invested in short-term funds, time deposits with banks and savings and loan associations, and other investments expected to have maturities or redemptions greater than three months and less than twelve months. The Company monitors any events or changes in circumstances that may have a significant adverse effect on the fair value of these investments.
 
 Other Investments
 Other investments consist primarily of investments in title insurance agencies structured as limited liability companies (“LLCs”), which are accounted for under the equity or cost method of accounting. The aggregate cost of the Company’s cost method investments totaled $1,107,115 and $902,022 at December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. The Company monitors any events or changes in circumstances that may have had a significant adverse effect on the fair value of these investments and makes any necessary adjustments.
 
 Property Acquired in Settlement of Claims
 Property acquired in settlement of claims is held for sale and valued at the lower of cost or market. Adjustments to reported estimated realizable values and realized gains or losses on dispositions are recorded as increases or decreases in claim costs.
 
 Property and Equipment
 Property and equipment are recorded at cost and are depreciated principally under the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives (three to twenty-five years) of the respective assets. Maintenance and repairs are charged to operating expenses and improvements are capitalized.
 
 Reserves for Claims
 The total reserve for all reported and unreported losses the Company incurred through December 31, 2010 is represented by the reserves for claims. The Company's reserves for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses are established using estimated amounts required to settle claims for which notice has been received (reported) and the amount estimated to be required to satisfy incurred claims of policyholders which may be reported in the future. Despite the variability of such estimates, management believes that the reserves are adequate to cover claim losses resulting from pending and future claims for policies issued through December 31, 2010.  The Company continually reviews and adjusts its reserve estimates as necessary to reflect its loss experience and any new information that becomes available. Adjustments resulting from such reviews may be significant.
  34
 
 Claims and losses paid are charged to the reserves for claims. Although claims losses are typically paid in cash, occasionally claims are settled by purchasing the interest of the insured or the claimant in the real property. When this event occurs, the acquiring company carries assets at the lower of cost or estimated realizable value, net of any indebtedness on the property.
 
 Income Taxes
 The Company makes certain estimates and judgments in determining income tax expense (benefit) for financial statement purposes. These estimates and judgments occur in the calculation of certain tax assets and liabilities which arise from differences in the timing of recognition of revenue and expense for tax and financial statement purposes. The Company provides for deferred income taxes (benefits) for the tax consequences in future years of temporary differences between the financial statements' carrying values and the tax bases of assets and liabilities using currently enacted tax rates.  The Company establishes valuation allowances if it believes that it is more likely than not that some or all of its deferred tax assets will not be realized.  Refer to Note 8.
 
 Premiums Written and Commissions to Agents
 Premiums are generally recorded and recognized as revenue at the time of closing of the related transaction as the earnings process is then considered complete. Title insurance commissions earned by the Company's agents are recognized as expense concurrently with premium recognition.
 
 Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
 Company management continually evaluates the collectibility of receivables and provides an allowance for doubtful accounts equal to estimated losses expected to be incurred in the collection of amounts receivable.
 
 Exchange Services Revenue
 Fees are recognized at the signing of a binding agreement and investment earnings are recognized as they are earned.
 
 Fair Values of Financial Instruments
 The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, premiums receivable, accrued interest and dividends, accounts payable, commissions and reinsurance payable and current income taxes payable approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of these assets and liabilities.  Fair values for the majority of investment securities are based on quoted market prices.  Auction rate securities, (“ARS”) are valued using discounted cash flow models to determine the estimated fair value of these investments.  Some of the inputs to determining the fair value of ARS are unobservable in the securities markets and are significant.
 
 Comprehensive Income
 The Company's accumulated other comprehensive income is comprised of unrealized holding gains/losses on available-for-sale securities, net of tax, and unrecognized prior service cost and unrealized gains/losses associated with postretirement benefit liabilities, net of tax.  Accumulated other comprehensive income as of December 31, 2010 consists of $5,675,516 of unrealized holding gains on available-for-sale securities and $13,189 of unrecognized prior service cost and unrealized gains associated with postretirement benefit liabilities.  Accumulated other comprehensive income as of December 31, 2009 consists of $4,840,142 of unrealized holding gains on available-for-sale securities and $(109,884) of unrecognized prior service cost and unrealized losses associated with postretirement benefit liabilities.
 
 Share-Based Compensation
 The Company accounts for share-based compensation in accordance with the fair value based principles required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”).  The Company uses a modified prospective application, which provides for certain changes to the method for valuing share-based compensation. Under the modified prospective application, prior periods are not revised for comparative purposes. The valuation provisions apply to new awards and to awards that are outstanding on the effective date and subsequently modified or cancelled. Estimated compensation expense for awards outstanding at the effective date are recognized over their remaining service period using the compensation cost.  Share-based compensation cost is generally measured at the grant date, based on the estimated fair value of the award, and is recognized as expense over the employee’s requisite service period.
 
 As share-based compensation expense recognized in the consolidated statements of income is based on awards ultimately expected to vest, it has been reduced for estimated forfeitures.  Forfeitures are estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates.
 
 Subsequent Events
 The Company has evaluated and concluded that there were no material subsequent events requiring adjustment to or disclosure in its consolidated financial statements.
 
 Recent Accounting Standards
 In January 2010, the FASB updated the requirements for fair value measurements and disclosures to provide for additional disclosure related to transfers in and out of securities valuation hierarchy Levels 1 and 2, and to require companies to present Level 3 securities purchases, sales, issuances and settlements on a gross rather than net basis. Refer to Note 3 for a discussion of valuation hierarchy levels. The new disclosures are clarifications of existing disclosures and are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except that the disclosures requiring the presentation of Level 3 securities trading activity on a gross basis are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010. This update did not have an impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.
 
 In June 2009, the FASB changed the methodology used to determine whether or not an entity is a primary beneficiary with respect to a variable interest entity and introduced a requirement to reassess on an ongoing basis whether an entity is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity. This update was implemented January 1, 2010, and did not have an impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.   As a result of this update, the Company evaluated its variable interests in other entities which it has an equity ownership position, and has determined that it does not have an interest in any variable interest entities.
  35
 
 Use of Estimates and Assumptions
 The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates and assumptions used.  The more significant of these estimates and assumptions include the following:
 
 Claims
 The Company's reserves for claims are established using estimated amounts required to settle claims for which notice has been received (reported) and the amount estimated to be required to satisfy incurred claims of policyholders which may be reported in the future (incurred but not reported,  or “IBNR”).  A provision for estimated future claims payments is recorded at the time policy revenue is recorded as a percentage of premium income. By their nature, title claims can often be complex, vary greatly in dollar amounts, vary in number due to economic and market conditions such as an increase in mortgage foreclosures, and involve uncertainties as to ultimate exposure. In addition, some claims may require a number of years to settle and determine the final liability for indemnity and loss adjustment expense. The payment experience may extend for more than 20 years after the issuance of a policy. Events such as fraud, defalcation and multiple property defects can substantially and unexpectedly cause increases in estimates of losses. Due to the length of time over which claim payments are made and regularly occurring changes in underlying economic and market conditions, these estimates are subject to variability.
 
 Management considers factors such as the Company’s historical claims experience, case reserve estimates on reported claims, large claims, actuarial projections and other relevant factors in determining loss provision rates and the aggregate recorded expected liability for claims. In establishing reserves, actuarial projections are compared with recorded reserves to evaluate the adequacy of such recorded claims reserves and any necessary adjustments are then recorded in current operations. As the most recent claims experience develops and new information becomes available, the loss reserve estimate related to prior periods will change to more accurately reflect updated and improved emerging data. The Company reflects any adjustments to reserves in the results of operations in the period in which new information (principally claims experience) becomes available.
 
 Impairments
 Securities are regularly evaluated and reviewed for differences between the cost and estimated fair value of each security for factors that may indicate that a decline in fair value is other-than-temporary.  When, in the opinion of management, a decline in the fair value of an investment is considered to be other-than-temporary, such investment is written down to its fair value. Some factors considered in evaluating whether or not a decline in fair value is other-than-temporary include the duration and extent to which the fair value has been less than cost, the probability that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due under the contractual terms of the security; with respect to equity securities, whether the Company’s ability and intent to retain the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for a recovery in value; with respect to fixed maturity securities, whether the Company has the intent to sell or will more likely than not be required to sell a particular security before recovery in value; and the financial condition and prospects of the issuer (including credit ratings).  These factors are reviewed quarterly and any material degradation in the prospect for recovery will be considered in the other-than-temporary impairment analysis.  Such reviews are inherently uncertain and the value of the investment may not fully recover or may decline in future periods resulting in a realized loss.  The fair values of the majority of the Company’s investments are based on quoted market prices from independent pricing services.
 
 2. Statutory Restrictions on Consolidated Stockholders' Equity and Investments
 
 The Company has designated approximately $41,892,000 and $41,474,000 of retained earnings as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, as appropriated to reflect the required statutory premium reserve.  See Note 8 for the tax treatment of the statutory premium reserve.
 
 As of December 31, 2010 and 2009 approximately $65,297,000 and $62,822,000, respectively, of consolidated stockholders' equity represents net assets of the Company's subsidiaries that cannot be transferred in the form of dividends, loans or advances to the parent company under statutory regulations without prior insurance department approval.
 
 Bonds totaling approximately $6,570,000 and $6,960,000 at December 31, 2010 and 2009 respectively, are deposited with the insurance departments of the states in which business is conducted.
  36
 
 3. Investments in Securities and Fair Value
 
 The aggregate fair value, gross unrealized holding gains, gross unrealized holding losses, and amortized cost for securities by major security type at December 31 were as follows:
 
 Gross


Gross


EstimatedAmortized


Unrealized


Unrealized


FairDecember 31, 2010

Cost


Gains


Losses


ValueFixed Maturities-Available-for-sale, at fair value:Obligations of states and political subdivisions

$
64,120,509


$
3,248,821


$
166,690


$
67,202,640Corporate debt securities


12,258,359



1,123,051



22,737



13,358,673Auction rate securities


5,405,394



66,850



-



5,472,244Total

$
81,784,262


$
4,438,722


$
189,427


$
86,033,557Equity Securities, available-for-sale at fair value-Common stocks and nonredeemable preferred stocks

$
9,458,773


$
4,430,175


$
16,578


$
13,872,370Total

$
9,458,773


$
4,430,175


$
16,578


$
13,872,370Short-term investments-Certificates of deposit and other

$
27,203,550


$
-


$
-


$
27,203,550Total

$
27,203,550


$
-


$
-


$
27,203,550
   Gross
Gross
EstimatedAmortized
Unrealized
Unrealized
FairDecember 31, 2009
Cost
Gains
Losses
Value
 Fixed Maturities-Held-to-maturity, at amortized cost-Obligations of states and political subdivisions

$
2,000


$
-


$
-


$
2,000Total

$
2,000


$
-


$
-


$
2,000Fixed Maturities-Available-for-sale, at fair value:Obligations of states and political subdivisions

$
62,440,011


$
3,373,339


$
87,703


$
65,725,647Corporate debt securities


11,949,192



1,028,552



-



12,977,744Auction rate securities


10,658,280



27,850



588,335



10,097,795Total

$
85,047,483


$
4,429,741


$
676,038


$
88,801,186Equity Securities, available-for sale at fair value-Common stocks and nonredeemable preferred stocks

$
8,241,767


$
3,643,832


$
31,298


$
11,854,301Total

$
8,241,767


$
3,643,832


$
31,298


$
11,854,301Short-term investments-Certificates of deposit and other

$
20,717,434


$
-


$
-


$
20,717,434Total

$
20,717,434


$
-


$
-


$
20,717,434
  The
  Available-for-SaleAmortized


FairCost


ValueDue in one year or less

$
2,725,664


$
2,758,583Due after one year through five years


31,155,501



32,859,537Due five years through ten years


35,016,694



37,068,889Due after ten years


12,886,403



13,346,548Total

$
81,784,262


$
86,033,557
 
 
 Earnings on investments for the years ended December 31 were as follows:
 
 2010


2009Fixed maturities

$
3,411,888


$
3,459,975Equity securities


234,598



249,932Invested cash and other short-term investments


23,433



68,563Miscellaneous interest


1,259



4,646Investment income

$
3,671,178


$
3,783,116
 
 
 37
 
 Gross realized gains and losses on sales of available-for-sale securities for the years ended December 31 are summarized as follows:
 
 2010


2009Gross realized gains:Obligations of states and political subdivisions

$
19,927


$
5,496Auction rate securities


78,270



-Common stocks and nonredeemable preferred stocks


1,193,029



438,982Total


1,291,226



444,478Gross realized losses:Obligations of states and political subdivisions


-



(38,000
)Auction rate securities


(392,656
)


-Common stocks and nonredeemable preferred stocks


(151,552
)


(630,581
)Total


(544,208
)


(668,581
)Net realized gain (loss)

$
747,018


$
(224,103
)
 
 Also included in net realized gain (loss) on investments in the Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 is ($92,344) and ($273,986), respectively, of losses from the sale of other investments.
 
 The following table presents the gross unrealized losses on investment securities and the fair value of the related securities, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous loss position at December 31, 2010 and 2009.
 
 Less than 12 Months


12 Months or Longer


TotalDecember 31, 2009

Fair Value


Unrealized loss


Fair Value


Unrealized loss


Fair Value


Unrealized lossObligations of states and 
political subdivisions

$
8,086,081


$
(189,427
)

$
-


$
-


$
8,086,081


$
(189,427
)Total Fixed Maturity Securities

$
8,086,081


$
(189,427
)

$
-


$
-


$
8,086,081


$
(189,427
)Equity Securities


746,388



(7,710
)


220,635



(8,869
)


967,023



(16,579
)Total temporarily
impaired securities

$
8,832,469


$
(197,137
)

$
220,635


$
(8,869
)

$
9,053,104


$
(206,006
)
   December 31, 2009Obligations of states and
political subdivisions

$
4,343,398


$
(87,703
)

$
-


$
-


$
4,343,398


$
(87,703
)Auction rate securities


-



-



7,283,395



(588,335
)


7,283,395



(588,335
)Total Fixed Maturity Securities

$
4,343,398


$
(87,703
)

$
7,283,395


$
(588,335
)

$
11,626,793


$
(676,038
)Equity Securities


494,367



(15,284
)


285,874



(16,014
)


780,241



(31,298
)Total temporarily
impaired securities

$
4,837,765


$
(102,987
)

$
7,569,269


$
(604,349
)

$
12,407,034


$
(707,336
)
 
 
 As of December 31, 2010, the Company held $8,086,081 in fixed maturity securities with unrealized losses of $189,427.  As of December 31, 2009, the Company held $11,626,793 in fixed maturity securities with unrealized losses of $676,038.  The decline in fair value of the fixed maturity securities can be attributed primarily to changes in market interest rates and changes in credit spreads over Treasury securities.  Because the Company does not have the intent to sell these securities and likely will not be compelled to sell them before it can recover its cost basis, the Company does not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired.
 
 As of December 31, 2010, the Company held $967,023 in equity securities with unrealized losses of $16,579.  As of December 31, 2009, the Company held $780,241 in equity securities with unrealized losses of $31,298.  The unrealized losses related to holdings of equity securities were caused by market changes that the Company considers to be temporary.  Since the Company has the intent and ability to hold these equity income securities until a recovery of fair value, the Company does not consider these investments other-than-temporarily impaired.
 
 Factors considered in determining whether a loss is temporary include the length of time and extent to which fair value has been below cost, the financial condition and prospects of the issuer (including credit ratings and analyst reports) and macro-economic changes.  A total of 26 and 31 securities had unrealized losses at December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.  Reviews of the values of securities are inherently uncertain and the value of the investment may not fully recover, or may decline in future periods resulting in a realized loss.  During 2010, the Company recorded an other-than-temporary impairment charge in the amount of $382,692 related to securities, of which, $281,156 was related to Level 3 auction rate securities (“ARS”) that have had a history of being below cost and a change in intent not to sell.  During 2009, the Company recorded an other-than-temporary impairment charge in the amount of $758,661 related to securities.  Other-than-temporary impairment charges are included in net realized gain (loss) on investments in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
 
 Valuation Hierarchy.  The FASB has established a valuation hierarchy for disclosure of the inputs to valuation used to measure fair value of financial assets and liabilities, such as securities. This hierarchy categorizes the inputs into three broad levels as follows.  Level 1 inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.  Level 2 inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly through market corroboration, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument.  Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs based on the Company’s own assumptions used to measure assets and liabilities at fair value.
  38
 
 Valuation Techniques.  A financial instrument’s classification within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement—consequently, if there are multiple significant valuation inputs that are categorized in different levels of the hierarchy, the instrument’s hierarchy level is the lowest level (with Level 3 being the lowest level) within which any significant input falls.
 
 The Level 1 category includes equity securities that are measured at fair value using quoted active market prices.
 
 The Level 2 category includes fixed maturity investments such as corporate bonds, U.S. government and agency bonds and municipal bonds.  Their fair value is principally based on market values obtained from a third party pricing service.  Factors that are used in determining their fair market value include benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two sided markets, benchmark securities, bids, offers and reference data.  The Company receives one quote per security from the pricing service, although as discussed below, the Company does consult other price resources when confirming that the prices it obtains reflect the fair values of the instruments in accordance with ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures.  Generally, quotes obtained from the pricing service for instruments classified as Level 2 are not adjusted and are not binding.  As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, the Company did not adjust any Level 2 fair values.
 
 A number of the Company’s investment grade corporate bonds are frequently traded in active markets, and trading prices are consequently available for these securities.  However, these securities were classified as Level 2 because the third party pricing service from which the Company has obtained fair values for these instruments uses valuation models which use observable market inputs in addition to traded prices.  Substantially all of the input assumptions used in the service’s model are observable in the marketplace or can be derived or supported by observable market data.
 
 The Level 3 category only includes the Company’s investments in student loan ARS because quoted prices were unavailable due to the failure of auctions.  Some of the inputs to this model are unobservable in the market and are significant—therefore, the Company utilizes another third party pricing service to assist in the determination of fair market value of these securities.  That service uses a proprietary valuation model that considers factors such as the following: the financial standing of the issuer; reported prices and the extent of public trading in similar financial instruments of the issuer or comparable companies; the ability of the issuer to obtain required financing; changes in the economic conditions affecting the issuer; pricing by other dealers in similar securities; time to maturity; and interest rates.  The following table summarizes some key assumptions the service used to determine fair value as of December 31, 2010 and 2009:
 
 2010


2009Cumulative probability of earning maximum rate until maturity


0.0-0.8
%


0.0-0.1
%Cumulative probability of principle returned prior to maturity


85.3-98.6
%


90.8-98.6
%Cumulative probability of default at some future point


1.4-14.7
%


1.4-9.2
%
 
 Based upon these inputs and assumptions, the pricing service provides a range of values to the Company for its ARS.  The Company records the fair value based on the midpoint of the range and believes that this valuation is the most reasonable estimate of fair value.  In 2010 and 2009, the difference in the low and high values of the ranges was approximately three percent of the carrying value of the Company’s ARS.
 
 The credit quality of the ARS the Company holds is high and comprised entirely of student loan ARS.  All are investment grade and have a rating of AAA with at least one national rating service. The par value of the ARS bonds was $5,900,000 and $10,950,000 as of December 31, 2010 and  2009, respectively, with approximately 82.2% and 86.8% as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Education.
  The following table presents, by level, the financial assets carried at fair value measured on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2010 and 2009.  The table does not include cash on hand and also does not include assets which are measured at historical cost or any basis other than fair value.
 As of December 31, 2010

Level 1


Level 2


Level 3


TotalEquityCommon stock and nonredeemable preferred stock

$
13,872,370


$
-


$
-


$
13,872,370Fixed MaturitiesObligations of states and political subdivisions*


-



67,202,641



2,618,844



69,821,485Corporate Debt Securities*


-



13,358,672



2,853,400



16,212,072Total

$
13,872,370


$
80,561,313


$
5,472,244


$
99,905,927
  As of December 31, 2009

Level 1


Level 2


Level 3


TotalEquity SecuritiesCommon stock and nonredeemable preferred stock

$
11,854,301


$
-


$
-


$
11,854,301Fixed MaturitiesObligations of states and political subdivisions*


-



66,658,347



6,350,695



73,009,042Corporate Debt Securities*


-



12,045,044



3,747,100



15,792,144Total

$
11,854,301


$
78,703,391


$
10,097,795


$
100,655,487
   from pricing services.
 39
 
 There were no transfers into or out of Levels 1 and 2 during 2010.  The following table presents a reconciliation of the Company’s assets measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) as defined for the period ended December 31, 2010 and 2009:
  Changes in fair value during the year ended December 31:

2010


2009Beginning balance at January 1

$
10,097,795


$
7,596,920Transfers into Level 3


-



3,708,280Redemptions and sales


(4,938,500
)


(1,200,000
)Realized loss – included in realized gain (loss) on investments


(314,386
)


-Unrealized gain (loss )- included in other comprehensive income


627,335



(7,405
)Ending balance at December 31

$
5,472,244


$
10,097,795
  Certain investments are measured at estimated fair value on a non-recurring basis, such as investments that are impaired during the period and recorded at estimated fair value in the consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2010 and 2009.  The following table summarizes the corresponding estimated fair value hierarchy of such investments at December 31, 2010 and 2009 and the related impairments recognized:
   December 31, 2010
Valuation 
Method
Impaired

Level 1


Level 2


Level 3


Total 
Estimated 
Fair 
Market 
Value


Impairment
LossesCost method
investment
Fair Value
Yes

$
-


$
-


$
52,625


$
52,625


$
(47,141
)Total cost method 
investments



$
-


$
-


$
52,625


$
52,625


$
(47,141
)December 31, 2009Cost method investment
Fair Value
Yes

$
-


$
-


$
72,534


$
72,534


$
(254,373
)Total cost method 
investments



$
-


$
-


$
72,534


$
72,534


$
(254,373
)
 
 To help ensure that fair value determinations are consistent with ASC 820 Fair Value Measurements, prices from our pricing services go through multiple review processes to ensure appropriate pricing.  Pricing procedures and inputs used to price each security include, but are not limited to the following: unadjusted quoted market prices for identical securities such as stock market closing prices, non-binding quoted prices for identical securities in markets that are not active, interest rates, yield curves observable at commonly quoted intervals, volatility, prepayment speeds, loss severity, credit risks and default rates.  The Company reviews the procedures and inputs used by its pricing services and verifies a sample of the services’ quotes by comparing them to values obtained from other pricing resources.  In the event the Company disagrees with a price provided by its pricing services, the service reevaluates the price to corroborate the market information and then reviews inputs to the evaluation in light of potentially new market data.  The Company believes that these processes and inputs result in appropriate classifications and fair values consistent with ASC 820.
 
 4. Property and Equipment
 
 Property and equipment and estimated useful lives at December 31 are summarized as follows:
 2010


2009Land

$
1,107,582


$
1,107,582Office buildings and improvements (25 years)


3,196,546



3,186,567Furniture, fixtures and equipment (3 to 10 years)


4,975,753



4,926,727Automobiles (3 years)


704,417



636,157Total


9,984,298



9,857,033Less accumulated depreciation


(6,311,981
)


(5,962,309
)Property and equipment, net

$
3,672,317


$
3,894,724
  40
 
 5. Reinsurance
 
 The Company assumes and cedes reinsurance with other insurance companies in the normal course of business.  Premiums assumed and ceded were approximately $33,000 and $202,000, respectively, for 2010 and $12,000 and $96,000, respectively, for 2009. Ceded reinsurance is comprised of excess of loss treaties, which protects against losses over certain amounts. The Company remains liable to the insured for claims under ceded insurance policies in the event that the assuming insurance companies are unable to meet their obligations under these contracts.  The Company has not paid or recovered any reinsured losses during the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009.
 
 6. Reserves for Claims
 
 Changes in the reserves for claims for the years ended December 31 are summarized as follows based on the year in which the policies were written:
 
 2010


2009Balance, beginning of year

$
39,490,000


$
39,238,000Provisions related to:Current year


6,744,917



7,726,693Prior years


(2,309,851
)


738,430Total provision charged to operations


4,435,066



8,465,123Claims paid, net of recoveries, related to:Current year


(303,800
)


(424,364
)Prior years


(5,422,566
)


(7,788,759
)Total claims paid, net of recoveries


(5,726,366
)


(8,213,123
)Balance, end of year

$
38,198,700


$
39,490,000
 
 The Company continually refines its reserve estimates as current loss experience develops and credible data emerges.  Movements in the reserves related to prior periods were primarily the result of claim recoveries, as well as changes to estimates to better reflect the latest reported loss data.  The Company does not recognize claim recoveries until an actual payment has been received by the Company.   During 2010, the Company realized claim recoveries of approximately $3,100,000 related to prior periods.   Of these 2010 claim recoveries, approximately $1,540,000 pertains to a recovery under the Company’s fidelity bond related to a defalcation that occurred in 2008.
 
 The provision for claims as a percentage of net premiums written was 7.2% and 13.6% in 2010 and 2009, respectively.  The change in estimate for calendar year 2010 from 2009 resulted mostly from claim recoveries increasing from $1,347,000 in 2009 to $3,100,000 in 2010.  Additional decreases to the provision for claims resulted from a decrease in premium volume and a favorable adjustment to the current year loss provision rate.  Not considering the claim recoveries, there was unfavorable development in 2010 versus prior year related primarily to policy years 2005 and 2006, offset by favorable development for policy year 2009.  Due to variances between actual and expected loss payments, loss development is subject to significant variability.
 
 A large claim is defined as a claim with incurred losses exceeding $250,000.  Due to the small volume of large claims, the long-tail nature of title insurance claims and the inherent uncertainty in loss emergence patterns, large claim activity can vary significantly between policy years.  The estimated development of large claims by policy year is therefore subject to significant changes as experience develops.
  A summary of the Company’s loss reserves, broken down into its components of known title claims and IBNR claims follows:
  2010


Percentage


2009


PercentageKnown title claims

$
6,121,941



16.0
%

$
6,398,623



16.2
%IBNR


32,076,759



84.0
%


33,091,377



83.8
%Total loss reserves

$
38,198,700



100.0
%

$
39,490,000



100.0
%
 
 In management's opinion, the reserves are adequate to cover claim losses which might result from pending and future claims.
  41
 
 7. Earnings Per Share and Stock Options
 
 Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period.  Diluted earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income by the combination of dilutive potential common stock, comprised of shares issuable under the Company’s share-based compensation plans and the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period.  Dilutive common share equivalents includes the dilutive effect of in-the-money share-based awards, which are calculated based on the average share price for each period using the treasury stock method.  Under the treasury stock method, the exercise price of a share-based award, the amount of compensation cost, if any, for future service that the Company has not yet recognized, and the amount of estimated tax benefits that would be recorded in additional paid-in capital, if any, when the share-based awards are exercised are assumed to be used to repurchase shares in the current period.  The incremental dilutive potential common shares, calculated using the treasury stock method was 5,190 and 7,613 for 2010 and 2009, respectively.  The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the years ended December 31:
 
 For the Years Ended December 31,

2010


2009Net income

$
6,372,626


$
4,828,779Weighted average common shares outstanding - Basic


2,284,657



2,291,816Incremental shares outstanding assumingthe exercise of dilutive stock options and SARs (share settled)


5,190



7,613Weighted average common shares outstanding - Diluted


2,289,847



2,299,429Basic earnings per common share

$
2.79


$
2.11Diluted earnings per common share

$
2.78


$
2.10
 
 In 2010 and 2009, 13,500 and 17,200 awards, respectively, were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because their exercise price was greater than the stock price and therefore considered anti-dilutive.
 The Company has adopted Employee stock award plans (the "Plans") under which restricted stock, and options or stock appreciation rights (“SARS”) to purchase shares (not to exceed 500,000 shares) of the Company's stock may be granted to key employees or directors of the Company at a price not less than the market value on the date of grant.  SARs and options (which have predominantly been incentive stock options) awarded under the Plans thus far are exercisable and vest immediately or within one year or at 10% to 20% per year beginning on the date of grant and generally expire in five to ten years.  All SARs issued to date have been share settled only.  No SARs were exercised in 2010 or 2009.
 
 A summary of share-based award transactions for all share-based award plans follows:
 
 Weighted


AverageAverage


Remaining


AggregateNumber


Exercise


Contractual


Intrinsicof Shares


Price


Term (years)


ValueOutstanding as of January 1, 2009


47,070


$
24.83



3.67


$
666,079SARs granted


78,000



28.13Options exercised


(5,775
)


15.91Options/SARs cancelled/forfeited/expired


(2,050
)


20.61Outstanding as of December 31, 2009


117,245


$
27.54



5.10


$
541,543SARs granted


3,000



33.31Options exercised


(9,445
)


14.88Options/SARs cancelled/forfeited/expired


-



-Outstanding as of December 31, 2010


110,800


$
28.77



4.51


$
353,955Unvested as of December 31, 2010


20,306


$
27.68



4.83


$
59,997
 
 The aggregate intrinsic value is calculated as the difference between the exercise price of the underlying awards and the quoted price of the Company’s common stock at December 31, 2010.  The intrinsic values of options exercised during 2010 and 2009 were approximately $158,000 and $89,000, respectively.
  42
 
 The following tables summarize information about fixed stock options outstanding at December 31, 2010:
 
 Options Outstanding at Year-End

Options Exercisable at Year-EndWeighted
Weighted


WeightedAverage
Average


AverageNumber
Remaining
Exercise

Number
ExerciseRange of Exercise Prices
Outstanding
Contractual Life
Price

Exercisable
Price$  10.00
-
$  19.99

5,300
0.58
$         15.39

4,950
$            15.1320.00
-
27.96

10,300
2.10
22.33

8,750
22.4727.98
-
31.99

3,700
3.43
31.08

2,710
31.0833.32
-
36.79

2,500
4.38
36.79

2,500
36.79$  10.00
-
$  36.79

21,800
2.22
$        23.79

18,910
$            23.67
 SARs Outstanding at Year-End

SARs Exercisable at Year-EndWeighted
Weighted


WeightedAverage
Average


AverageNumber
Remaining
Exercise

Number
ExerciseRange of Exercise Prices
Outstanding
Contractual Life
Price

Exercisable
Price$  27.97
-
$  27.97

75,000
5.17
$         27.97

58,334
$             27.9732.00
-
32.00

3,000
5.39
32.00

3,000
32.0033.31
-
33.31

3,000
6.39
33.31

2,250
33.3136.80
-
49.04

8,000
3.44
46.96

8,000
46.96$  27.97
-
$  49.04

89,000
5.07
$         29.99

71,584
$            30.43
 
 In 2010, 22,036 options and SARs vested with a fair value of approximately $201,609.
 
 During the second quarter of 2010, the Company issued 3,000 share settled SARs to select officers and directors of the Company.  During the first and second quarter of 2009, the Company issued 78,000 share settled SARs to select officers and directors of the Company.  SARs give the holder the right to receive stock equal to the appreciation in the value of shares of stock from the grant date for a specified period of time, and as a result, are accounted for as equity instruments.  As such, the SARs were valued using the Black-Scholes option valuation model.  The fair value of each award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option valuation model with the weighted-average assumptions noted in the following table. Expected volatilities are based on both the implied and historical volatility of the Company’s stock. The Company uses historical data to estimate option exercise and employee termination within the valuation model. The expected term of awards represents the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding. The interest rate for periods during the expected life of the award is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the grant.
 
 The weighted-average fair values for the SARs issued during 2010 and 2009 were $12.30 and $8.50, respectively, and were estimated using the following weighted-average assumptions:
 
 2010


2009Expected Life in Years


5.0



5.0Expected Volatility


42.4
%


32.8-38.8
%Weighted-Average Volatility


42.4
%


34.4
%Interest Rate


2.13
%


1.87
%Yield Rate


0.83
%


0.92
%
 There was approximately $217,000 and $429,000 of compensation expense relating to shares vesting on or before December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively, included in salaries, employee benefits and payroll taxes of the Consolidated Statements of Income.  As of December 31, 2010, there was approximately $209,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested share-based compensation arrangements granted under the Company’s stock awards plans. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 8 months.
 
 The estimated weighted-average grant-date fair value of SARs granted for the years ended December 31 was as follows:
 
 For the Years Ended December 31,

2010


2009Exercise price equal to market price on date of grant:Weighted-average market price

$
33.31


$
28.13Weighted-average grant-date fair value


12.30



8.50
 
 There are no stock options or SARS granted where the exercise price is less than the market price on the date of grant.
  43
 
 8. Income Taxes
 
 The components of income tax expense for the years ended December 31 are summarized as follows:
 
 For the Years Ended December 31,

2010


2009Current:Federal

$
1,388,000


$
717,000State


23,000



23,000Total


1,411,000



740,000Deferred:Federal


825,465



329,203State


6,535



17,797Total


832,000



347,000Total

$
2,243,000


$
1,087,000
 
 For state income tax purposes, ITIC and NITIC generally pay only a gross premium tax found in premium and retaliatory taxes in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
 
 At December 31, the approximate tax effect of each component of deferred income tax assets and liabilities is summarized as follows:
 
 For the Years Ended December 31,

2010


2009Deferred income tax assets:Recorded reserves for claims, net of statutory premium reserves

$
29,911


$
612,740Accrued benefits and retirement services


2,215,857



2,122,144Postretirement benefit obligation


-



56,605Other-than-temporary impairment of assets


420,305



459,662Reinsurance and commissions payable


25,302



2,610Allowance for doubtful accounts


483,140



505,240Net operating loss carryforward


49,000



55,000AMT


-



35,000Capital loss carryforward


-



166,763Excess of book over tax depreciation


90,352



99,183Other


416,214



378,560Total


3,730,081



4,493,507Deferred income tax liabilities:Net unrealized gain on investments


2,986,999



2,525,717Postretirement benefit obligation


6,785



-Discount accretion on tax-exempt obligations


23,813



20,204Other


235,950



114,379Total


3,253,547



2,660,300Net deferred income tax assets

$
476,534


$
1,833,207
 
 At December 31, 2010 and 2009, no valuation allowance was recorded. Based upon the Company’s historical results of operations, the existing financial condition of the Company and management’s assessment of all other available information, management believes that it is more likely than not that the benefit of these net deferred income tax assets will be realized.
 
 A reconciliation of income tax as computed for the years ended December 31 at the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate (34%) to income tax expense follows:
 
 For the Years Ended December 31,

2010


2009Anticipated income tax expense

$
2,929,313


$
2,011,365Increase (decrease) related to:State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit


15,180



15,180Tax-exempt interest income (net of amortization)


(743,025
)


(822,274
)Other, net


41,532



(117,271
)Provision for income taxes

$
2,243,000


$
1,087,000
 
 In accounting for uncertainty in income taxes, the Company is required to recognize in its financial statements the impact of a tax position if that position is more likely than not of being sustained on an audit, based on the technical merits of the position.  As a result of the implementation, the Company made a comprehensive review of its uncertain tax positions in accordance with recognition standards. In this regard, an uncertain tax position represents the Company’s expected treatment of a tax position taken in a filed tax return, or planned to be taken in a future tax return, that has not been reflected in measuring income tax expense for financial reporting purposes.  There were no unrecognized tax benefits or liabilities as of December 31, 2010.
  44
 
 The amount of unrecognized tax benefit or liability may increase or decrease in the future for various reasons, including adding amounts for current tax year positions, expiration of open income tax returns due to the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, changes in management’s judgment about the level of uncertainty, status of examinations, litigation and legislative activity and the additions or eliminations of uncertain tax positions.
 
 The Company’s policy is to report interest and penalties related to income taxes in the Other line item in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
 
 The Company, or one of its subsidiaries, files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various states.  With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal or state and local examinations by taxing authorities for years before 2007.
 
 9. Leases
 
 The Company leases certain office facilities and equipment under operating leases. Rental expense also includes occasional rental of automobiles. Rent expense totaled approximately $773,000 and $887,000 in 2010 and 2009, respectively. The future minimum lease payments under operating leases that have initial or remaining noncancelable lease terms in excess of one year as of December 31, 2010, are summarized as follows:
  Year Ended:2011

$
372,9942012


226,3882013


108,0872014


83,3342015


78,835Thereafter


47,068Total

$
916,706
 
 10. Retirement Agreements and Other Postretirement Benefit Plan
 
 In 2008, the Company adopted a 401(k) savings plan.  To participate, individuals must be employed for one full year and work at least 1,000 hours annually.  The Company makes a 3% Safe Harbor contribution and also has the option annually to make a discretionary profit share contribution.  Individuals may elect to make contributions up to the maximum deductible amount as determined by the Internal Revenue Code. Expenses related to the 401(k) were $484,000 and $443,000 for 2010 and 2009, respectively.
 
 In November 2003, ITIC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into employment agreements with the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Operating Officer of ITIC. These individuals also serve as the Chairman, President and Executive Vice President, respectively, of the Company.  The agreements provide compensation and life, health, dental and vision benefits upon the occurrence of specific events, including death, disability, retirement, termination without cause or upon a change in control. The agreements provide for annual salaries to be fixed by the Compensation Committee and, among other benefits, required ITIC to make quarterly contributions pursuant to a supplemental executive retirement account on behalf of each executive equal to 22% of the base salary and bonus paid to each during each quarter through September 30, 2008.  The obligation to make contributions to the supplemental executive retirement agreements has expired and has been removed from the amended employment agreement effective January 1, 2009.  The employment agreements also prohibit each of these executives from competing with ITIC and its parent, subsidiaries and affiliates in the State of North Carolina while employed by ITIC and for a period of two years following termination of their employment.
 
 In addition, during the second quarter of 2004, ITIC entered into nonqualified deferred compensation plan agreements with these executives.  The amount accrued for all agreements at December 31, 2010 and 2009 was approximately $5,134,000 and $4,826,000, respectively, which includes postretirement compensation and health benefits, and was calculated based on the terms of the contract.  Both the 2010 and 2009 accruals are included in the accounts payable and accrued liability line item of the Consolidated Balance Sheets.  These executive contracts are accounted for on an individual contract basis.  On December 24, 2008, the executive contracts were amended effective January, 1, 2009 to bring them into compliance with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, and to permit a special 2008 distribution election as permitted under Section 409A.  The special distribution election provided that each participant may elect, no later than December 31, 2008, to receive a one-time lump sum distribution on January 15, 2009 of all amounts in the participant’s account.  Payouts in January 2009 associated with this distribution were approximately $2,456,000.  In addition, the nonqualified deferred compensation agreement was amended and restated to terminate all Company contributions to this plan beginning January 1, 2009.   In connection with such termination, the employment agreements were amended and restated to provide for an annual cash payment to the officers equal to the amounts the Company would have contributed to their accounts under its 401(k) Plan if such contributions were not limited by the federal tax laws, less the amount of any contributions that the Company actually makes to their accounts under the Company’s 401(k) Plan.
 
 On November 17, 2003, ITIC entered into employment agreements with key executives that provide for the continuation of certain employee benefits upon retirement.  The executive employee benefits include health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance and life insurance.   The benefits are unfunded.  Estimated future benefit payouts expected to be paid for each of the next five years are $3,507 in 2011, $4,520 in 2012, $5,742 in 2013, $6,254 in 2014, $6,749 in 2015 and $73,340 in the next five years thereafter.
 
 Cost of the Company’s postretirement benefits included the following components:
  2010


2009Net periodic benefit costService cost – benefits earned during the year

$
25,698


$
23,832Interest cost on projected benefit obligation


30,755



26,970Amortization of unrecognized prior service cost


20,388



20,388Amortization of unrecognized loss


2,572



2,014Net periodic benefit cost at end of year

$
79,413


$
73,204
 
 45
 
 The Company is required to recognize the funded status (i.e., the difference between the fair value of the assets and the accumulated postretirement benefit obligations of its postretirement benefits) in its consolidated balance sheet, with a corresponding adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax.  The net amount in accumulated other comprehensive income is $19,977 ($13,189 net of tax) and $166,487 ($109,881 net of tax) for December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and represents the net unrecognized actuarial losses and unrecognized prior service costs.  The effects of the funded status on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2010 and 2009 are presented in the following table:
 
 2010


2009Funded statusActuarial present value of future benefits:Fully eligible active employee

$
(36,253
)

$
(44,089
)Non-eligible active employees


(393,442
)


(492,657
)Plan assets


-



-Funded status of accumulated postretirement benefit obligation, recognized in other liabilities

$
(429,695
)

$
(536,746
)
 
 Development of the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 includes the following:
 
 2010


2009Accrued postretirement  benefit obligation at beginning of year

$
(536,746
)

$
(470,649
)Service cost – benefits earned during the year


(25,698
)


(23,832
)Interest cost on projected benefit obligation


(30,755
)


(26,970
)Plan amendments


25,665



-Actuarial (gain) loss


137,839



(15,295
)Accrued postretirement benefit obligation at end of year

$
(429,695
)

$
(536,746
)
 
 The changes in amounts related to accumulated other comprehensive income, pre-tax, are as follows:
 
 2010


2009Balance at beginning of year

$
166,487


$
173,594Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive IncomeUnrecognized prior service cost


(20,388
)


(20,388
)Amortization of loss, net


(2,572
)


(2,014
)Actuarial (gain) loss


(137,839
)


15,295Plan amendments


(25,665
)


-Balance at end of year

$
(19,977
)

$
166,487
 
 For 2010, the amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income, pre-tax, to be recognized as components of net periodic benefit costs are:
 
 Projected

2011Amortization of unrecognized prior service cost

$
13,038Amortization of unrecognized gain


(318
)Net periodic benefit cost at end of year

$
12,720
 
 Assumed health care cost trend rates do have an effect on the amounts reported for the postretirement benefit obligations.  The following illustrates the effects on the net periodic postretirement benefit cost (NPPBC) and the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation (APBO) of a one percentage point increase and one percentage point decrease in the assumed health care cost trend rate as of December 31, 2010:
 
 One-
Percentage 
Point 
Increase


One-
Percentage 
Point 
Decrease1. Net periodic postretirement benefit costEffect on the service cost component

$
4,508


$
(3,433
)Effect on interest cost


5,238



(4,024
)Total effect on the net periodic postretirement benefit cost

$
9,746


$
(7,457
)2. Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation (including active

employees who are not fully eligible)Effect on those currently receiving benefits (retirees and spouses)

$
-


$
-Effect on active fully eligible


2,264



(2,041
)Effect on actives not yet eligible


88,847



(67,935
)Total effect on the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation

$
91,111


$
(69,976
)
  46
 
 11. Commitments and Contingencies
 
 A class action lawsuit is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia against several title insurance companies, including Investors Title Insurance Company, entitled Backel v. Fidelity National Title Insurance et al. (6:2008-CV-00181).The plaintiff in this case contends a lack of meaningful oversight by agencies with which title insurance rates are filed and approved.  There are further allegations that the title insurance companies have conspired to fix title insurance rates.  The plaintiffs seek monetary damages, including treble damages, as well as injunctive relief.  Similar suits have been filed in other jurisdictions, several of which, have already been dismissed. In West Virginia, the case has been placed on the inactive list pending the resolution of the bankruptcy of LandAmerica Financial Group, Inc.  The Company believes that this case is without merit, and intends to vigorously defend against the allegations. At this stage in the litigation, the Company does not have the ability to make a reasonable range of estimates in regards to potential loss amounts, if any.
 
 The Company and its subsidiaries are involved in various routine legal proceedings that are incidental to their business. In the Company’s opinion, based on the present status of these proceedings, any potential liability of the Company or its subsidiaries with respect to these legal proceedings, will not, in the aggregate, be material to the Company’s consolidated financial condition or operations.
 
 Regulation.  The Company’s title insurance and trust subsidiaries are regulated by various federal, state and local governmental agencies and are subject to various audits and inquiries.  It is the opinion of management that these audits and inquiries will not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial condition or operations.
 
 Escrow and Trust Deposits.  As a service to its customers, the Company, through ITIC, administers escrow and trust deposits representing earnest money received under real estate contracts, undisbursed amounts received for settlement of mortgage loans and indemnities against specific title risks. Cash held by the Company for these purposes was approximately $17,472,000 and $19,947,000 as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  These amounts are not considered assets of the Company and are excluded from the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.  However, the Company remains contingently liable for the disposition of these deposits.
 
 Like-Kind Exchange Proceeds.  In administering tax-deferred property exchanges, the Company’s subsidiary, ITEC, serves as a qualified intermediary for exchanges, holding the net proceeds from sales transactions from relinquished property to be used for purchase of replacement property.  Another Company subsidiary, ITAC, serves as exchange accommodation titleholder and, through limited liability companies (“LLCs”) that are wholly owned subsidiaries of ITAC, holds property for exchangers in reverse exchange transactions. Like-kind exchange deposits and reverse exchange property totaled approximately $23,044,000 and $16,518,000 as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. These amounts are not considered assets of the Company and, therefore, are excluded from the accompanying consolidated balance sheets; however, the Company remains contingently liable for the disposition of the transfers of property, disbursements of proceeds and the return on the proceeds at the agreed upon rate. Exchange services revenues include earnings on these deposits; therefore, investment income is shown as exchange services revenue, rather than investment income. These like-kind exchange funds are primarily invested in money market and other short-term investments, including approximately $1,950,000 of par value auction rate securities, as of December 31, 2010.  The Company does not believe the current illiquidity of the ARS will impact its operations, as it believes it has sufficient capital to provide continuous and immediate liquidity as necessary.
 
 12. Statutory Accounting
 
 The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America which differ in some respects from statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted in the preparation of financial statements for submission to insurance regulatory authorities.
 
 Combined capital and surplus on a statutory basis was $93,626,173 and $87,278,340 as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Net income on a statutory basis was $5,797,068 and $5,180,443 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2010 and 2009.
 
 13. Segment Information
 
 Consistent with the requirements of reporting segment information, the Company has one reportable segment, title insurance services.  The remaining immaterial segments have been combined into a group called “All Other.”
 
 The title insurance segment primarily issues title insurance policies through approved attorneys from underwriting offices and through independent issuing agents. Title insurance policies insure titles to residential, institutional, commercial and industrial properties.
 
 Provided below is selected financial information about the Company's operations by segment for the two years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009:
 
 Title


All


Intersegment2010

Insurance


Other


Elimination


TotalOperating revenues

$
63,502,167


$
4,271,433


$
(790,097
)

$
66,983,503Investment income


3,149,932



602,915



(81,669
)


3,671,178Net realized gain (loss) on investments


728,508



(73,834
)


-



654,674Total revenues

$
67,380,607


$
4,800,514


$
(871,766
)

$
71,309,355Operating expenses


58,765,581



4,718,245



(790,097
)


62,693,729Income before taxes

$
8,615,026


$
82,269


$
(81,669
)

$
8,615,626Assets

$
112,664,322


$
40,821,044


$
-


$
153,485,366
  47
  Title


All


Intersegment2009

Insurance


Other


Elimination


TotalOperating revenues

$
64,303,556


$
4,496,493


$
(776,916
)

$
68,023,133Investment income


3,155,822



776,454



(149,160
)


3,783,116Net realized loss on investments


(214,627
)


(283,462
)


-



(498,089
)Total revenues

$
67,244,751


$
4,989,485


$
(926,076
)

$
71,308,160Operating expenses


61,843,530



4,393,258



(844,407
)


65,392,381Income before taxes

$
5,401,221


$
596,227


$
(81,669
)

$
5,915,779Assets

$
109,380,484


$
37,047,220


$
-


$
146,427,704
 
 14. Stockholders' Equity
 
 On November 12, 2002, the Company's Board of Directors amended the Company's Articles of Incorporation, creating a series of Class A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (the "Class A Preferred Stock"). There are 1,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock authorized and 100,000 of these shares have been designated Class A Junior Participating Preferred Stock. The Class A Preferred Stock is senior to common stock in dividends or distributions of assets upon liquidations, dissolutions or winding up of the Company. Dividends on the Class A Preferred Stock are cumulative and accrue from the quarterly dividend payment date. Each share of Class A Preferred Stock entitles the holder thereof to 100 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders of the Company. These shares were reserved for issuance under the Shareholder Rights Plan (the "Plan"), which was adopted on November 21, 2002, by the Company's Board of Directors. Under the terms of the Plan, the Company's common stock acquired by a person or a group buying 15% or more of the Company's common stock would be diluted, except in transactions approved by the Board of Directors.
 
 In connection with the Plan, the Company's Board of Directors declared a dividend distribution of one right (a "Right") for each outstanding share of the Company's common stock paid on December 16, 2002, to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 2, 2002. Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company a unit (a "Unit") consisting of one one-hundredth of a share of Class A Preferred Stock at a purchase price of $80 per Unit. Under the Plan, the Rights detach and become exercisable upon the earlier of (a) ten (10) days following public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons has acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of the Company's common stock, or (b) ten (10) business days following the commencement of, or first public announcement of the intent of a person or group to commence, a tender offer or exchange offer that would result in a person or group beneficially owning 15% or more of such outstanding shares of the Company's common stock. The exercise price, the kind and the number of shares covered by each right are subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events described in the Plan.
 
 If any person or group of affiliated or associated persons acquires beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding common stock, each holder of a Right (other than the acquiring person or group) will have the right to buy, at the exercise price, common stock of the Company having a market value of twice the exercise price.  If the Company is acquired in a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving corporation, or the Company engages in a merger or consolidation in which the Company is the surviving corporation and the Company's common stock is changed or exchanged, or more than 50% of the Company's assets or earning power is sold or transferred, the Rights entitle a holder (other than the acquiring person or group) to buy, at the exercise price, stock of the acquiring company having a market value equal to twice the exercise price.  At any time after a person or group of affiliated or associated persons has acquired beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding common stock and prior to the acquisition by such person or group of 50% or more of the outstanding common stock, the Company's Board of Directors may exchange the Rights (other than the Rights owned by such person or group), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one share of the Company's common stock, or one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock, per Right.
 
 The Rights expire on November 11, 2012, and are redeemable upon action by the Board of Directors at a price of $0.01 per right at any time before they become exercisable. Until the Rights become exercisable, they are evidenced only by the common stock certificates and are transferred with and only with such certificates.
 
 15. Concentration of Risk
 
 Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents.  The Company invests its cash and cash equivalents into high credit quality security instruments.  On November 9, 2010, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, (“FDIC”) issued a Final Rule implementing section 343 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act that provides for unlimited insurance coverage of noninterest-bearing transaction accounts.  Beginning December 31, 2010, through December 31, 2012, all noninterest bearing transaction accounts are fully insured, regardless of the balance of the account, at all FDIC insured institutions.  All other deposits which exceed $250,000, including noninterest bearing transaction accounts prior to December 31, 2010, at each institution are not insured by the FDIC.  Of the $8.1 million in cash and cash equivalents on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2010, $3.4 million was not insured by the FDIC.  Of the $8.7 million in cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2009, $4.7 million was not insured by FDIC.
 
 The Company generates a significant amount of title insurance premiums in North Carolina.  In 2010 and 2009, North Carolina accounted for 38.1% and 43.6% of total direct title premiums, respectively.
  48
 
 16. Related Party Transactions
 
 The Company does business with unconsolidated LLCs that it has investments in that are accounted for under the equity method of accounting.  These unconsolidated companies are primarily title insurance agencies.  The following table sets forth the approximate values by year found within each financial statement classification:
 
 Financial Statement Classification,

Consolidated Balance Sheets

2010


2009Other investments

$
1,682,000


$
1,305,000Premium and fees receivable

$
739,000


$
545,000Financial Statement Classification,

Consolidated Statements of Income


2010



2009Net premiums written

$
11,970,000


$
12,278,000Other income

$
1,526,000


$
1,708,000
  49
 
 ITEM 9.  CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
 
 None
 
 ITEM 9A.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
 
 Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
 An evaluation was performed by the Company's management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2010 for the purpose of providing reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed in the reports the Company files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”) (i) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms and (ii) is accumulated and communicated to the Company's management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.
 
 Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
 
 During the quarter ended December 31, 2010, there were no changes in the Company's internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
 
 Management’s Assessment of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
 
 Management has assessed the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010.  The unqualified report of management thereon is included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and incorporated by reference herein.
 
 ITEM 9B.  OTHER INFORMATION
 
 There was no information required to be disclosed in a report on Form 8-K during the fourth quarter of the year that has not been reported.
  50
  PART III
 
 ITEM 10.  DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
 
 The information called for by this item is incorporated by reference to the material under the captions “Proposals Requiring Your Vote – Proposal 1 – Election of Directors” “General Information - Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance,” “Corporate Governance – Board of Directors and Committees – The Audit Committee” and “Corporate Governance – Code of Business Conduct and Ethics” in the Company's definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 18, 2011.  Other information with respect to the executive officers of the Company is included at the end of Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K under the separate caption “Executive Officers of the Company.”
 
 ITEM 11.  EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
 The information called for by this item is set forth under the captions “Executive Compensation” and “Compensation of Directors” in the Company's definitive Proxy Statement relating to the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 18, 2011 and is incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
 ITEM 12.  SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
 
 The information pertaining to securities ownership of certain beneficial owners and management is set forth under the caption “Stock Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” in the Company's definitive Proxy Statement relating to the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 18, 2011 and is incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
 The following table provides information about the Company’s compensation plans under which equity securities are authorized for issuance as of December 31, 2010.  The Company does not have any equity compensation plans that have not been approved by its shareholders.
 
 Equity Compensation Plan Information
 
 Plan Category

Number of Securities to 
be Issued Upon 
Exercise of 
Outstanding Options,

Warrants and Rights


Weighted-Average

Exercise Price of

Outstanding Options,

Warrants and Rights


Number of Securities

Remaining Available
for Future Issuance
Under Equity 
Compensation PlansEquity compensation plans approved by shareholders


110,800


$
28.77



379,300Equity compensation plans not approved by shareholders


-



-



-Total


110,800


$
28.77



379,300
 
 ITEM 13.  CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
 
 The information called for by this item is set forth under the captions “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” and “Corporate Governance – Independent Directors” set forth in the Company's definitive Proxy Statement relating to the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 18, 2011 and is incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
 ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
 
 The information pertaining to principal accountant fees and services is set forth under the caption “Proposals Requiring Your Vote – Proposal 2 – Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in the Company's definitive Proxy Statement relating to the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 18, 2011 is incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
  51
  PART IV
 
 ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
 
 (a)(1)  Financial Statements.
  The following financial statements are filed under Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K:
  Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
 Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2010 and 2009
 Consolidated Statements of Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2010 and 2009
 Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2010 and 2009
 Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2010 and 2009
 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2010 and 2009
 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
 (a)(2)  Financial Statement Schedules.
    Exhibits
 52
  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.
 
 INVESTORS TITLE COMPANY(Registrant)By:
/s/ J. Allen FineJ. Allen Fine, Chairman and Chief ExecutiveOfficer (Principal Executive Officer)
  March 9, 2011
 
 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 indicated on the 9th day of March, 2011.
 
 
 /s/ J. Allen Fine

/s/ R. Horace JohnsonJ. Allen Fine, Chairman of the Board and

R. Horace Johnson, DirectorChief Executive Officer(Principal Executive Officer)/s/ James A. Fine, Jr.

/s/ H. Joe King, Jr.James A. Fine, Jr., President, Treasurer and

H. Joe King, Jr., DirectorDirector (Principal Financial Officer andPrincipal Accounting Officer)/s/ W. Morris Fine

/s/ James R. MortonW. Morris Fine, Executive Vice President,

James R. Morton, DirectorSecretary and Director/s/ David L. Francis

/s/ James H. Speed, Jr.David L. Francis, Director

James H. Speed, Jr., Director/s/ Richard M. Hutson, IIRichard M. Hutson, II, Director
  53
  INDEX TO EXHIBITS
 
 Exhibit

Number
Description3(i)
Articles of Incorporation dated January 22, 1973, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Form S-8 filed August 10, 2009, File No. 333-1612093(ii)
Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation, dated February 8, 1973, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Form S-8 filed August 10, 2009, File No. 333-1612093(iii)
Articles of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation, dated May 14, 1987, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Form S-8 filed August 10, 2009, File No. 333-1612093(iv)
Articles of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(iii) to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 20023(v)
Articles of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(iv) to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 20033(vi)
Amended and Restated Bylaws, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 12, 20104
Amended and Restated Rights Agreement dated August 9, 2010, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A (Amendment No. 1) filed on August 12, 201010(i)*
1997 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(viii) to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 199610(ii)*
Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement to Non-employee Directors dated May 13, 1997 under the 1997 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(ix) to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 199710(iii)*
Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement under 1997 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(xi) to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 199710(iv)*
2001 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan, as amended and restated effective May 17, 2006, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed on May 23, 200610(v)*
Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement under the 2001 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(i) to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 200610(vi)*
Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement to Non-employee Directors under the 2001 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(ii) to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 200610(vii)*
Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement under the 2001 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(iii) to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 200610(viii)*
Form of Stock Appreciation Right Award Agreement under 2001 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Form 8-K filed on May 23, 200610(ix)*
Form of Stock Appreciation Rights Agreement under 2001 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed on March 6, 200910(x)*
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement effective January 1, 2009 for J. Allen Fine, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(vii) to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008
  54
  10(xi)*
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement effective January 1, 2009 for James A. Fine, Jr., incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(viii) to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 200810(xii)*
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement effective January 1, 2009 for W. Morris Fine, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(ix) to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 200810(xiii)*
Amended and Restated Death Benefit Plan Agreement effective January 1, 2009 for J. Allen Fine, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(x) to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 200810(xiv)*
Amended and Restated Death Benefit Plan Agreement effective January 1, 2009 for James A. Fine, Jr., incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(xi) to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 200810(xv)*
Death Benefit Plan Agreement effective January 1, 2009 for W. Morris Fine, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(xii) to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 200810(xvi)*
Amended and Restated Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan effective January 1, 2009, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(xiii) to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 200810(xvii)*
Amended and Restated Nonqualified Supplemental Retirement Benefit Plan effective January 1, 2009, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(xiv) to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 200810(xviii)*
2009 Stock Appreciation Right Plan, incorporated by reference to Appendix A to the Company’s Proxy Statement dated May 26, 200921
Subsidiaries of Registrant, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 21 to Form 10-k for the year ended December 31, 200923
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm filed herewith31(i)
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith31(ii)
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith32
Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith* - Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.