body10-k.htm

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-K

(Mark One)
R
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008

or

£
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
Registrant, State of Incorporation
Address and Telephone Number
I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.
 
 
amerco logo
 
 
1-11255
AMERCO
88-0106815
 
(A Nevada Corporation)
 
 
1325 Airmotive Way, Ste. 100
 
 
Reno, Nevada 89502-3239
 
 
Telephone (775) 688-6300
 
     
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 
Registrant
 
Title of Class
Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
AMERCO
Series A 8 ½% Preferred Stock
New York Stock Exchange
AMERCO
Common
NASDAQ
     
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
 
None
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes £  No R
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Act.  Yes £  No R
 
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 R  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 the 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. £
 
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 definition of a “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” , “non-accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
 
Large Accelerated filer £                                                      Accelerated filer R                                           Non-accelerated filer £                                           Smaller reporting company £
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes £  No R
 
The aggregate market value of AMERCO common stock held by non-affiliates on September 30, 2007 was $284,291,154. The aggregate market value was computed using the closing price for the common stock trading on NASDAQ on such date. Shares held by executive officers, directors and persons owning directly or indirectly more than 5% of the outstanding common stock have been excluded from the preceding number because such persons may be deemed to be affiliates of the registrant. This determination of affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes.
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Section 12, 13, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court. Yes R  No £
 
19,631,314 shares of AMERCO Common Stock, $0.25 par value were outstanding at June 1, 2008.
 
Documents incorporated by reference: Portions of AMERCO’s definitive Proxy Statement for the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be filed within 120 days after AMERCO’s fiscal year ended March 31, 2008, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this report.


 
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
   
Page No.
 
PART I
 
     
Item 1.
Business                                                                                                                      
2 – 7
 
Item 1A.
Risk Factors                                                                                                                      
7 – 10
 
Item 1B.
Unresolved Staff Comments                                                                                                                      
10
 
Item 2.
Properties                                                                                                                      
10
 
Item 3.
Legal Proceedings                                                                                                                      
11 - 12
 
Item 4.
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders                                                                                                                      
12
 
       
 
PART II
   
Item 5.
12 – 14
 
Item 6.
Selected Financial Data                                                                                                                      
15
 
Item 7.
16 – 37
 
Item 7A.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk                                                                                                                      
38
 
Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data                                                                                                                      
38
 
Item 9.
38
 
Item 9A.
Controls and Procedures                                                                                                                      
39 – 40
 
Item 9B.
Other Information                                                                                                                      
40
 
       
 
PART III
   
Item 10.
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance                                                                                                                      
42
 
Item 11.
Executive Compensation                                                                                                                      
42
 
Item 12.
42
 
Item 13.
42
 
Item 14.
Principal Accounting Fees and Services                                                                                                                      
42
 
       
 
PART IV
   
Item 15.
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules                                                                                                                      
43 – 52
 


 
 

 
 


 
PART I
 
 
Item 1.    Business
 
 
Company Overview
 
We are North America’s largest “do-it-yourself” moving and storage operator through our subsidiary U-Haul International, Inc. (“U-Haul”). U-Haul is synonymous with “do-it-yourself” moving and storage and is a leader in supplying products and services to help people move and store their household and commercial goods. Our primary service objective is to provide the best product and service to the most people at the lowest cost.
 
We rent our distinctive orange and white U-Haul trucks and trailers as well as offer self-storage rooms through a network of nearly 1,450 Company operated retail moving centers and approximately 14,200 independent U-Haul dealers.  In addition, we have an independent storage facility network with over 3,300 active affiliates.  We also sell U-Haul brand boxes, tape and other moving and self-storage products and services to “do-it-yourself” moving and storage customers at all of our distribution outlets and through our eMove web site.
 
U-Haul is the most convenient supplier of products and services meeting the needs of North America’s “do-it-yourself” moving and storage market. Our broad geographic coverage throughout the United States and Canada and our extensive selection of U-Haul brand moving equipment rentals, self-storage rooms and related moving and storage products and services provide our customers with convenient “one-stop” shopping.
 
For more than sixty years, U-Haul has incorporated sustainable practices into its everyday operations. Our basic business premise of truck-sharing helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduces the need for total large-capacity vehicles. Today, we remain focused on reducing waste and are dedicated to manufacturing reusable components and recyclable products. The commitment to sustainability, through our products and services, has helped us to reduce our impact on the environment.
 
Through Republic Western Insurance Company (“RepWest”), our property and casualty insurance subsidiary, we manage the property, liability and related insurance claims processing for U-Haul.  Oxford Life Insurance Company (“Oxford”), our life insurance subsidiary, sells Medicare supplement, life insurance, annuities and other related products to non U-Haul customers and also administers the self-insured employee health and dental plans for  Arizona employees of the Company.
 
We were founded in 1945 under the name “U-Haul Trailer Rental Company.” Since 1945, we have rented trailers. Starting in 1959, we rented trucks on a one-way and in-town basis exclusively through independent U-Haul dealers. Since 1974, we have developed a network of U-Haul managed retail centers, through which we rent our trucks and trailers and sell moving and self-storage products and services to complement our independent dealer network.
 
Available Information
 
AMERCO and U-Haul are each incorporated in Nevada. U-Haul’s internet address is www.uhaul.com. On AMERCO’s investor relations web site, www.amerco.com, we post the following filings as soon as practicable after they are electronically filed with or furnished to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”): our annual report on Form 10-K, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, our current reports on Form 8-K, our proxy statement related to our annual meeting of stockholders, and any amendments to those reports or statements filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All such filings on our web site are available free of charge. Additionally, you will find these materials on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
 
Products and Rental Equipment
 
Our customers are primarily “do-it-yourself” household movers. U-Haul moving equipment is specifically designed, engineered and manufactured for the “do-it-yourself” household mover.  These “do-it-yourself” movers include individuals and families moving their belongings from one home to another, college students moving their belongings, vacationers and sports enthusiasts needing extra space or having special towing needs, people trying to save on home furniture and home appliance delivery costs, and “do-it-yourself” home remodeling and gardening enthusiasts who need to transport materials.
 
As of March 31, 2008, our rental fleet consisted of approximately 96,000 trucks, 75,000 trailers and 35,000 towing devices. This equipment and our U-Haul brand of self-moving products and services are available through our network of managed retail moving centers and independent U-Haul dealers. Independent U-Haul dealers receive rental equipment from the Company, act as a rental agent and are paid a commission based on gross revenues generated from their U-Haul rentals.

 
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Our rental truck chassis are manufactured by domestic and foreign truck manufacturers. These chassis are joined with the U-Haul designed and manufactured van boxes primarily at U-Haul operated manufacturing and assembly facilities strategically located throughout the United States. U-Haul rental trucks feature our proprietary Lowest DeckSM, which provides our customers with extra ease of loading. The loading ramps on our trucks are the widest in the industry, which reduce the effort needed to move belongings. Our trucks are fitted with convenient, padded rub rails with tie downs on every interior wall. Our Gentle Ride SuspensionSM helps our customers safely move delicate and prized possessions. Also, the engineers at our U-Haul Technical Center determined that the softest ride in our trucks was at the front of the van box. Consequently, they designed the part of the van box that hangs over the front cab of the truck to be the location for our customers to place their most fragile items during their move. We call this area Mom’s AtticSM.
 
Our distinctive orange trailers are also manufactured at these same U-Haul operated manufacturing and assembly facilities. These trailers are well suited to the low profile of many of today’s newly manufactured automobiles. Our engineering staff is committed to making our trailers easy to tow, aerodynamic and fuel efficient.
 
To provide our self-move customers with added value, our rental trucks and trailers are designed with fuel efficiency in mind. Many of our newer trucks are fitted with fuel economy gauges, another tool that assists our customers in conserving fuel. To help make our rental equipment more trouble free, we perform extensive preventive maintenance and repairs.
 
We also provide customers with equipment to transport their vehicle. We provide three towing options, including: auto transport, in which all four wheels are off the ground, tow dolly, in which the front wheels of the towed vehicle are off the ground, and tow bar, where all four wheels are on the ground.
 
To help our customers load their boxes and larger household appliances and furniture, we offer several accessory rental items. Our utility dolly has a lightweight design and is easy to maneuver. Another rental accessory is our four wheel dolly, which provides a large, flat surface for moving dressers, wall units, pianos and other large household items. U-Haul appliance dollies provide the leverage needed to move refrigerators, freezers, washers and dryers easily and safely. These utility, furniture and appliance dollies, along with the low decks and the wide loading ramps on U-Haul trucks and trailers, are designed for easy loading and unloading of our customers’ belongings.
 
The total package U-Haul offers the “do-it-yourself” household mover doesn’t end with trucks, trailers and accessory rental items. Our moving supplies include a wide array of affordably priced U-Haul brand boxes, tape and packing materials. We also provide specialty boxes for dishes, computers and sensitive electronic equipment, carton sealing tape, security locks, and packing supplies, like wrapping paper and cushioning foam. U-Haul brand boxes are specifically sized to make loading easier.
 
U-Haul is North America’s largest seller and installer of hitches and towing systems. In addition to towing U-Haul equipment, these hitching and towing systems can tow jet skis, motorcycles, boats, campers and horse trailers. Our hitches, ball mounts, and hitch balls undergo stringent testing requirements.  Each year, more than one million customers visit our locations for expertise on complete towing systems, trailer rentals and the latest in towing accessories.
 
U-Haul has one of North America’s largest propane barbeque-refilling networks, with over 1,000 locations providing this convenient service. We employ trained, certified personnel to refill all propane cylinders. Our network of propane dispensing locations is the largest automobile alternative refueling network in North America.
 
Self-storage is a natural outgrowth of the self-moving industry. Conveniently located U-Haul self-storage rental facilities provide clean, dry and secure space for storage of household and commercial goods, with storage units ranging in size from 6 square feet to 845 square feet. We operate nearly 1,075 self-storage locations in North America, with more than 387,000 rentable rooms comprising approximately 34.2 million square feet of rentable storage space. Our self-storage centers feature a wide array of security measures, ranging from electronic property access control gates to individually alarmed storage units. At many centers, we offer climate controlled storage rooms to protect temperature sensitive goods such as video tapes, albums, photographs and precious wood furniture.
 
Additionally, we offer moving and storage protection packages such as Safemove and Safetow, protecting moving and towing customers with a damage waiver, cargo protection and medical and life coverage, and Safestor, protecting storage customers from loss on their goods in storage. For our customers who desire additional coverage over and above the standard Safemove protection, we also offer our Super Safemove product. This package provides the rental customer with a layer of primary liability protection.

 
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Our eMove web site, www.eMove.com, is the largest network of customers and independent businesses in the self-moving and self-storage industry. The eMove network consists of channels where customers, businesses and service providers transact business. The eMove Moving Help marketplace connects “do-it-yourself” movers with independent service providers to assist movers pack, load, unload, clean, drive and other services. Thousands of independent service providers already participate in the eMove network.
 
Through the eMove Storage Affiliate Program, independent storage businesses can join the world’s largest storage reservation system. Self-storage customers making a reservation through eMove can access all of the U-Haul self-storage centers and all of our independent storage affiliate partners for even greater convenience to meet their self-storage needs.
 
Description of Operating Segments
 
AMERCO has four reportable segments. They are Moving and Storage (AMERCO, U-Haul and Amerco Real Estate Company (“Real Estate”)), Property and Casualty Insurance, Life Insurance and SAC Holding II Corporation and its subsidiaries (“SAC Holding II”). Refer to Note 2 Principles of Consolidation of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
Financial information for each of our Operating Segments is included in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements as part of “Item 8: Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this report.
 
Moving and Storage Operating Segment
 
Our “do-it-yourself” moving business consists of U-Haul truck and trailer rentals and U-Haul moving supply and service sales. Our Moving and Storage Operating Segment consists of the rental of trucks, trailers, specialty rental items and self-storage spaces primarily to the household mover as well as sales of moving supplies, towing accessories and propane. Operations are conducted under the registered trade name U-Haul® throughout the United States and Canada.
 
Net revenue from our Moving and Storage operating segment was approximately 90.6%, 89.9% and 90.3% of consolidated net revenue in fiscal 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
 
During fiscal 2008, the Company placed over 21,000 new trucks in service. These replacements were a combination of U-Haul manufactured vehicles and purchases. As new trucks were added to the fleet, the Company rotated out of the fleet older trucks. The size of the total rental truck fleet decreased from the end of fiscal 2007 primarily due to an increased focus on sales of older trucks.
 
Within our truck and trailer rental operation we are focused on expanding our independent dealer network to provide added convenience for our customers.  U-Haul has approximately 14,200 dealers which are independent businesses, and are exclusive to U-Haul International, Inc. U-Haul maximizes vehicle utilization by effective distribution of the truck and trailer fleets among the nearly 1,450 Company operated centers and approximately 14,200 independent dealers. Utilizing its sophisticated reservations management system, the Company’s centers and dealers electronically report their inventory in real-time, which facilitates matching equipment to customer demand. Approximately 55% of all U-Move rental revenue originates from the Company operated centers.
 
At our owned and operated retail centers we have implemented several customer service initiatives. These initiatives include improving management of our rental equipment to provide our retail centers with the right type of rental equipment, at the right time and at the most convenient location for our customers, effective marketing of our broad line of self-moving related products and services, maintaining longer hours of operation to provide more convenience to our customers, and increasing staff by attracting and retaining “moonlighters” (part-time U-Haul employees with full-time jobs elsewhere) during our peak hours of operation.
 
Effective marketing of our self-moving related products and services, such as boxes, pads and insurance, helps our customers have a better moving experience and helps them protect their belongings from potential damage during the moving process. We are committed to providing a complete line of products selected with the “do-it-yourself” moving and storage customer in mind.

 
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Our self-storage business consists of the rental of self-storage rooms, sales of self-storage related products, the facilitation of sales of services, and the management of self-storage facilities owned by others.
 
U-Haul is one of the largest North American operators of self-storage and has been a leader in the self-storage industry since 1974. U-Haul operates over 387,000 storage rooms, comprising approximately 34.2 million square feet of storage space with locations in 49 states and 10 Canadian provinces. U-Haul’s owned and managed self-storage facility locations range in size up to 171,500 square feet of storage space, with individual storage units in sizes ranging from 6 square feet to 845 square feet.
 
The primary market for storage rooms is the storage of household goods. We believe that our self-storage services provide a competitive advantage through such things as Maximum Security (“MAX”), an electronic system that monitors the storage facility 24 hours a day; climate control; individually alarmed rooms; extended hour access; and an internet-based customer reservation and account management system.
 
eMove is an online marketplace that connects consumers to over 3,700 independent Moving Help™ service providers and over 3,300 independent Self-Storage Affiliates. Our network of customer-rated affiliates provides pack and load help, cleaning help, self-storage and similar services, all over North America.
 
An individual or a company can connect to the eMove network by becoming an eMove Moving Help® Affiliate or an eMove Storage Affiliate™.  Moving Helpers assist customers with packing, loading, cleaning and unloading their truck or storage unit. The Storage Affiliate program enables independent self-storage facilities to expand their reach by connecting into a centralized 1-800 and internet reservation system and for a fee, receive an array of services including web-based management software, Secured Online Affiliated Rentals (S.O.A.R®), co-branded rental trucks, savings on insurance, credit card processing and more.
 
The marketplace includes unedited reviews of independent affiliates, and has facilitated thousands of Moving Help® and Self-Storage transactions all over North America. We believe that acting as an intermediary, with little added investment, serves the customer in a cost effective manner. Our goal is to further utilize our web-based technology platform to increase service to consumers and businesses in the moving and storage market.
 
Property and Casualty Insurance Operating Segment
 
RepWest provides loss adjusting and claims handling for U-Haul through regional offices across North America. Through the Company’s affiliation with RepWest, U-Haul offers its customers moving and storage contents insurance products, branded Safemove and Safestor, respectively. The Safemove policy provides moving customers with a damage waiver, cargo protection and medical and life coverage. Management believes that its Safemove product is competitive, as competing policies contain deductibles, higher premiums and more confusing layers of coverage. We continue to focus on increasing the penetration of these products. The business plan for RepWest includes offering property and casualty products for other U-Haul related programs.
 
Net revenue from our Property and Casualty Insurance operating segment was approximately 1.9%, 1.8% and 1.6% of consolidated net revenue in fiscal 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
 
Life Insurance Operating Segment
 
Oxford provides life and health insurance products primarily to the senior market through the direct writing or reinsuring of life insurance, Medicare supplement and annuity policies. Additionally, Oxford administers the self-insured employee health and dental plans for Arizona employees of the Company.
 
Net revenue from our Life Insurance operating segment was approximately 6.7%, 7.0% and 6.8% of consolidated net revenue in fiscal 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
 
SAC Holding II Operating Segment
 
SAC Holding Corporation and its subsidiaries, and SAC Holding II Corporation and its subsidiaries, collectively referred to as “SAC Holdings”, own self-storage properties that are managed by U-Haul under property management agreements and act as independent U-Haul rental equipment dealers. AMERCO, through its subsidiaries, has contractual interests in certain of SAC Holdings’ properties entitling AMERCO to potential future income based on the financial performance of these properties. With respect to SAC Holding II, AMERCO was considered the primary beneficiary of these contractual interests prior to November 2007. Consequently, for those reporting periods prior to November 2007, we included the results of SAC Holding II in the consolidated financial statements of AMERCO, as required by Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 46(R) (“FIN 46(R)”). While the deconsolidation affects AMERCO’s financial reporting, it has no operational or financial impact on the Company’s relationship with SAC Holding II.

 
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Substantially all of the equity interest of SAC Holdings is controlled by Blackwater Investments Inc. (“Blackwater”), wholly-owned by Mark V. Shoen, a significant shareholder and executive officer of AMERCO. In November 2007, Blackwater contributed additional capital to its wholly-owned subsidiary, SAC Holding II. This contribution was determined by us to be material with respect to the capitalization of SAC Holding II; therefore, triggering a requirement under FIN 46(R) for us to reassess the Company’s involvement with those subsidiaries. This required reassessment led to the conclusion that the Company was no longer the primary beneficiary of SAC Holding II as of the date of Blackwater’s contribution. Accordingly, the Company deconsolidated this entity. The deconsolidation, effective October 31, 2007 was accounted for as a distribution of the Company’s interests to Blackwater, the sole shareholder of SAC Holding II. Because of the Company’s continuing involvement with SAC Holding II, the distributions do not qualify as discontinued operations as defined by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) 144. It is possible that SAC Holdings could take future actions that would require us to re-determine whether SAC Holdings has become a variable interest entity (“VIE”) or whether we have become the primary beneficiary of SAC Holdings. Should this occur, we could be required to consolidate some or all of SAC Holdings with our financial statements.
 
Net revenue from our SAC Holding II operating segment was approximately 0.8%, 1.3% and 1.3% of consolidated net revenue in fiscal 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
 
Employees
 
As of March 31, 2008, we employed approximately 18,500 people throughout North America with approximately 98% of these employees working within our Moving and Storage operating segment. Approximately 40% of these employees work on a part-time status.
 
Sales and Marketing
 
We promote U-Haul brand awareness through direct and co-marketing arrangements. Our direct marketing activities consist of yellow pages, print and web based advertising as well as trade events, movie cameos of our rental fleet and boxes, and industry and consumer communications. Our rental equipment is our best form of advertisement.  We support our independent U-Haul dealers through advertising of U-Haul moving and self-storage rentals, products and services.
 
Our marketing plan includes maintaining our leadership position with U-Haul being synonymous with “do-it-yourself” moving and storage. We accomplish this by continually improving the ease of use and efficiency of our rental equipment, by providing added convenience to our retail centers through independent U-Haul dealers, and by expanding the capabilities of our eMove web sites.
 
A significant driver of U-Haul’s rental transaction volume is our utilization of an online reservation and sales system, through www.uhaul.com, www.eMove.com and our 24-hour 1-800-GO-U-HAUL telephone reservations system. The Company’s 1-800-GO-U-HAUL telephone reservation line is prominently featured on nationwide yellow page advertising, its websites and on the outside of its vehicles, and is a major driver of customer lead sources. Of our customers who made reservations in advance of their U-Move rental, nearly 30% of these reservations were completed through the Company’s websites.
 
Competition
 
Moving and Storage Operating Segment
 
The moving truck and trailer rental industry is large and highly competitive. Generally speaking, we consider there to be two distinct users of rental trucks: commercial and “do-it-yourself” residential users. We focus primarily on the “do-it-yourself” residential user. Within this segment, we believe the principal competitive factors are convenience of rental locations, availability of quality rental moving equipment, breadth of essential products and services, and total cost. Our major competitors in the moving equipment rental market are Avis Budget Group, Inc. and Penske Truck Leasing.
 
The self-storage market is large and highly fragmented. We believe the principal competitive factors in this industry are convenience of storage rental locations, cleanliness, security and price. Our primary competitors in the self-storage market are Public Storage Inc., Extra Space Storage, Inc., and Sovran Self-Storage Inc.

 
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Insurance Operating Segments
 
The highly competitive insurance industry includes a large number of life insurance companies and property and casualty insurance companies. In addition, the marketplace includes financial services firms offering both insurance and financial products. Some of the insurance companies are owned by stockholders and others are owned by policyholders. Many competitors have been in business for a longer period of time or possess substantially greater financial resources and broader product portfolios than our insurance companies. We compete in the insurance business based upon price, product design, and services rendered to agents and policyholders.
 
Recent Developments
 
Preferred Stock Dividends
 
 
On May 2, 2008, the Board of Directors of AMERCO (the “Board”) declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.53125 per share on the Company’s Series A 8½ % Preferred Stock. The dividend was paid on June 2, 2008 to holders of record on May 15, 2008.
 
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
 
This Annual Report on Form 10-K, contains “forward-looking statements” regarding future events and our future results. We may make additional written or oral forward-looking statements from time to time in filings with the SEC or otherwise. We believe such forward-looking statements are within the meaning of the safe-harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements may include, but are not limited to, projections of revenues, earnings or loss; estimates of capital expenditures, plans for future operations, products or services; financing needs and plans; our perceptions of our legal positions and anticipated outcomes of government investigations and pending litigation against us; liquidity; goals and strategies; plans for new business; growth rate assumptions, pricing, costs, and access to capital and leasing markets as well as assumptions relating to the foregoing. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statement was made.
 
Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified. Factors that could significantly affect results include, without limitation, the risk factors enumerated at the end of this section, as well as the following: the Company’s ability to operate pursuant to the terms of its credit facilities; the Company’s ability to maintain contracts that are critical to its operations; the costs and availability of financing; the Company’s ability to execute its business plan; the Company’s ability to attract, motivate and retain key employees; general economic conditions; fluctuations in our costs to maintain and update our fleet and facilities; our ability to refinance our debt; changes in government regulations, particularly environmental regulations; our credit ratings; the availability of credit; changes in demand for our products; changes in the general domestic economy; the degree and nature of our competition; the resolution of pending litigation against the Company; changes in accounting standards and other factors described in this report or the other documents we file with the SEC. The above factors, the following disclosures, as well as other statements in this report and in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, could contribute to or cause such risks or uncertainties, or could cause our stock price to fluctuate dramatically. Consequently, the forward-looking statements should not be regarded as representations or warranties by the Company that such matters will be realized. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any of the forward-looking statements, whether in response to new information, unforeseen events, changed circumstances or otherwise.
 
Item 1A.    Risk Factors
 
The following discussion of risk factors should be read in conjunction with Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”), the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes.  These risk factors may be important in understanding this Annual Report on Form 10-K or elsewhere.
 
We operate in a highly competitive industry.
 
The truck rental industry is highly competitive and includes a number of significant national, regional and local competitors. Competition is generally based on convenience of rental locations, availability of quality rental moving equipment, breadth of essential services and price. Financial results for the Company can be adversely impacted by aggressive pricing from our competitors. Some of our competitors may have greater financial resources than we have. We can not assure you that we will be able to maintain existing rental prices or implement price increases. Moreover, if our competitors reduce prices and we are not able or willing to do so as well, we may lose rental volume, which would likely have a materially adverse affect on our results of operations.

 
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The self-storage industry is large and highly fragmented. We believe the principle competitive factors in this industry are convenience of storage rental locations, cleanliness, security and price. Competition in the market areas in which we operate is significant and affects the occupancy levels, rental sales and operating expenses of our facilities. Competition might cause us to experience a decrease in occupancy levels, limit our ability to raise rental sales and require us to offer discounted rates that would have a material affect on operating results.
 
Entry into the self-storage business through acquisition of existing facilities is possible for persons or institutions with the required initial capital. Development of new self-storage facilities is more difficult however, due to land use, environmental and other regulatory requirements. The self-storage industry has in the past experienced overbuilding in response to perceived increases in demand. We cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully compete in existing markets or expand into new markets.
 
We are controlled by a small contingent of stockholders.
 
As of March 31, 2008, Edward J. Shoen, Chairman of the Board of Directors and President of AMERCO, James P. Shoen, a director of AMERCO, and Mark V. Shoen, an executive officer of AMERCO, collectively are the owners of 8,968,079 shares (approximately 45.7%) of the outstanding common shares of AMERCO. In addition, on June 30, 2006, Edward J. Shoen, James P. Shoen, Mark V. Shoen, Rosmarie T. Donovan (Trustee of the Shoen Irrevocable Trusts) and Southwest Fiduciary, Inc. (Trustee of the Irrevocable “C” Trusts) (collectively, the “Reporting Persons”) entered into a Stockholder Agreement in which the Reporting Persons agreed to vote as one as provided in the Stockholder Agreement. As of March 1, 2007, Adagio Trust Company replaced Southwest Fiduciary, Inc. as the trustee of the Irrevocable “C” Trusts, and became a signatory to the Stockholder Agreement. Pursuant to the Stockholder Agreement, the Reporting Persons appointed James P. Shoen as proxy to vote their collective 10,642,802 shares (approximately 54.2%) of the Company’s common stock as provided for in the agreement.  For additional information, refer to the Schedule 13D’s filed on July 13, 2006 and on March 9, 2007 with the SEC. In addition, 1,802,702 shares (approximately 9.2%) of the outstanding common shares of AMERCO are held by our Employee Savings and Employee Stock Ownership Trust.
 
As a result of their stock ownership and the Stockholder Agreement, Edward J. Shoen, Mark V. Shoen and James P. Shoen are in a position to significantly influence the business affairs and policies of the Company, including the approval of significant transactions, the election of the members of the Board and other matters submitted to our stockholders.  There can be no assurance that the interests of the Reporting Persons will not conflict with the interest of our other stockholders.  Furthermore, as a result of the Reporting Persons’ voting power, the Company is a “controlled company” as defined in the Nasdaq listing rules and, therefore, may avail itself of certain exemptions under Nasdaq Marketplace Rules, including rules that require the Company to have (i) a majority of independent directors on the Board; (ii) a compensation committee composed solely of independent directors; (iii) a nominating committee composed solely of independent directors; (iv) compensation of our executive officers determined by a majority of the independent directors or a compensation committee composed solely of independent directors; and (v) director nominees selected, or recommended for the Board’s selection, either by a majority of the independent directors or a nominating committee composed solely of independent directors. The Company currently exercises its right to an exemption from the Nasdaq rule requiring compensation of other executive officers, aside from the President, be determined by a majority of the independent directors or the compensation committee.
 
Our operations subject us to numerous environmental regulations and the possibility that environmental liability in the future could adversely affect our operations.
 
Compliance with environmental requirements of federal, state and local governments significantly affects our business. Among other things, these requirements regulate the discharge of materials into the water, air and land and govern the use and disposal of hazardous substances. Under environmental laws or common law principles, we can be held liable for hazardous substances that are found on real property we have owned or operated. We are aware of issues regarding hazardous substances on some of our real estate and we have put in place a remedial plan at each site where we believe such a plan is necessary, refer to Note 17 Contingencies of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. We regularly make capital and operating expenditures to stay in compliance with environmental laws. In particular, we have managed a testing and removal program since 1988 for our underground storage tanks.  Despite these compliance efforts, we believe that risk of environmental liability is part of the nature of our business.

 
8

 
 

 
Environmental laws and regulations are complex, change frequently and could become more stringent in the future. We cannot assure you that future compliance with these regulations, future environmental liabilities, the cost of defending environmental claims, conducting any environmental remediation or generally resolving liabilities caused by us or related third parties will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
Our quarterly results of operations fluctuate due to seasonality and other factors associated with our industry.
 
Our business is seasonal and our results of operations and cash flows fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter. Historically, revenues have been stronger in the first and second fiscal quarters due to the overall increase in moving activity during the spring and summer months. The fourth fiscal quarter is generally weakest, due to a greater potential for adverse weather conditions and other factors that are not necessarily seasonal. As a result, our operating results for a given quarterly period are not necessarily indicative of operating results for an entire year.
 
We obtain our rental trucks from a limited number of manufacturers.
 
In the last ten years, we purchased most of our rental trucks from Ford Motor Company and General Motors Corporation. Although we believe that we could obtain alternative sources of supply for our rental trucks, termination of one or both of our relationships with these suppliers could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations for an indefinite period of time or we may not be able to obtain rental trucks under similar terms, if at all. Additionally, our fleet rotation can be negatively affected by issues our manufacturers face within their own supply chain. Such issues may impair their ability to fulfill our orders in a timely fashion.
 
A.M Best financial strength ratings are crucial to our life insurance business.
 
A.M. Best downgraded Oxford and its subsidiaries during AMERCO’s restructuring to C+. Upon AMERCO’s emergence from bankruptcy in March 2004, Oxford and its subsidiaries were upgraded to B-. The ratings were again upgraded in October 2004 to B, in October 2005 to B+, and in November 2006 Oxford and Christian Fidelity Life Insurance Company (“CFLIC”), a subsidiary of Oxford, were upgraded to B++ with a stable outlook. In January 2008, A.M. Best affirmed the financial strength rating for Oxford and CFLIC of B++ with a stable outlook and assigned Dallas General Life Insurance Company (“DGLIC”), a subsidiary of CFLIC, with the same rating. Prior to AMERCO’s restructuring, Oxford was rated B++. Financial strength ratings are important external factors that can affect the success of Oxford’s business plans. Accordingly, if Oxford’s ratings, relative to its competitors, are not maintained or do not continue to improve, Oxford may not be able to retain and attract business as currently planned.
 
We bear certain risks related to our notes receivable from SAC Holdings.
 
At March 31, 2008, we held approximately $198.1 million of notes receivable from SAC Holdings, which consist of junior unsecured notes. SAC Holdings is highly leveraged with significant indebtedness to others. If SAC Holdings is unable to meet its obligations to its senior lenders, it could trigger a default of its obligations to us. In such an event of default, we could suffer a loss to the extent the value of the underlying collateral of SAC Holdings is inadequate to repay SAC Holding’s senior lenders and our junior unsecured notes.  We cannot assure you that SAC Holdings will not default on its loans to its senior lenders or that the value of SAC Holdings assets upon liquidation would be sufficient to repay us in full.
 
We are highly leveraged.
 
As of March 31, 2008, we had total debt outstanding of $1,504.7 million and total undiscounted lease commitments of $490.8 million. Although we believe that additional leverage can be supported by the Company’s operations, our existing debt could impact us in the following ways:
 
·  
require us to allocate a considerable portion of cash flows from operations to debt service payments;
 
·  
limit our ability to obtain additional financing; and
 
·  
place us at a disadvantage compared to our competitors who may have less debt.
 
Our ability to make payments on our debt depends upon our ability to maintain and improve our operating performance and generate cash flow. To some extent, this is subject to prevailing economic and competitive conditions and to certain financial, business and other factors, some of which are beyond our control. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow from operations to service our debt and meet our other cash needs, we may be forced to reduce or delay capital expenditures, sell assets, seek additional capital or restructure or refinance our indebtedness. If we must sell our assets, it may negatively affect our ability to generate revenue. In addition, we may incur additional debt that would exacerbate the risks associated with our indebtedness.

 
9

 
 

 
We seek to effectively hedge against interest rate changes in our variable debt.
 
In certain instances the Company seeks to manage its exposure to interest rate risk through the use of hedging instruments including interest rate swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements and forward swaps. The Company enters into these arrangements with counterparties that are significant financial institutions with whom we generally have other financial arrangements. We are exposed to credit risk should these counterparties not be able to perform on their obligations. Additionally, a failure on our part to effectively hedge against interest rate changes may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
 
Our fleet rotation program can be adversely affected by financial market conditions.
 
To meet the needs of our customers, U-Haul maintains a large fleet of rental equipment. Our rental truck fleet rotation program is funded internally through operations and externally from debt and lease financing. Our ability to fund our routine fleet rotation program could be adversely affected if financial market conditions limit the general availability of external financing. This could lead to the Company operating trucks longer than initially planned and reducing the size of the fleet, either of which could materially and negatively affect our results of operations.
 
We operate in a highly regulated industry and changes in existing regulations or violations of existing or future regulations could have a material adverse effect on our operations and profitability.
 
Our truck and trailer rental business is subject to regulation by various federal, state and foreign governmental entities. Specifically, the U.S. Department of Transportation and various state and federal agencies exercise broad powers over our motor carrier operations, safety, and the generation, handling, storage, treatment and disposal of waste materials. In addition, our storage business is also subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to environmental protection and human health and safety. The failure to adhere to these laws and regulations may adversely affect our ability to sell or rent such property or to use the property as collateral for future borrowings. Compliance with changing regulations could substantially impair real property and equipment productivity and increase our costs.
 
Item 1B.   Unresolved Staff Comments
 
We have no unresolved staff comments at March 31, 2008.
 
Item 2.    Properties
 
The Company, through its legal subsidiaries, owns property, plant and equipment that are utilized in the manufacture, repair and rental of U-Haul equipment and storage space, as well as providing office space for the Company. Such facilities exist throughout the United States and Canada. The Company also manages storage facilities owned by others. The Company operates nearly 1,450 U-Haul retail centers of which 495 are managed for other owners, and operates 13 manufacturing and assembly facilities. We also operate over 250 fixed-site repair facilities located throughout the United States and Canada. These facilities are used primarily for the benefit of our Moving and Storage segment.
 
SAC Holdings owns property, plant and equipment that are utilized in the sale of moving supplies, rental of self-storage rooms and U-Haul equipment. Such facilities exist throughout the United States and Canada. We manage the storage facilities under property management agreements whereby the management fees are consistent with management fees received by U-Haul for other properties owned by unrelated parties and previously managed by us.

 
10

 
 

 
Item 3.    Legal Proceedings
 
Shoen
 
In September 2002, Paul F. Shoen filed a shareholder derivative lawsuit in the Second Judicial District Court of the State of Nevada, Washoe County, captioned Paul F. Shoen vs. SAC Holding Corporation et al., CV02-05602, seeking damages and equitable relief on behalf of AMERCO from SAC Holdings and certain current and former members of the AMERCO Board of Directors, including Edward J. Shoen, Mark V. Shoen and James P. Shoen as Defendants. AMERCO is named as a nominal Defendant in the case. The complaint alleges breach of fiduciary duty, self-dealing, usurpation of corporate opportunities, wrongful interference with prospective economic advantage and unjust enrichment and seeks the unwinding of sales of self-storage properties by subsidiaries of AMERCO to SAC prior to the filing of the complaint. The complaint seeks a declaration that such transfers are void as well as unspecified damages. In October 2002, the Defendants filed motions to dismiss the complaint. In October 2002, Ron Belec filed a derivative action in the Second Judicial District Court of the State of Nevada, Washoe County, captioned Ron Belec vs. William E. Carty, et al., CV 02-06331 and in January 2003, M.S. Management Company, Inc. filed a derivative action in the Second Judicial District Court of the State of Nevada, Washoe County, captioned M.S. Management Company, Inc. vs. William E. Carty, et al., CV 03-00386. Two additional derivative suits were also filed against these parties. Each of these suits is substantially similar to the Paul F. Shoen case. The Court consolidated the five cases and thereafter dismissed these actions in May 2003, concluding that the AMERCO Board of Directors had the requisite level of independence required in order to have these claims resolved by the Board. Plaintiffs appealed this decision and, in July 2006, the Nevada Supreme Court reviewed and remanded the case to the trial court for proceedings consistent with its ruling, allowing the Plaintiffs to file an amended complaint and plead in addition to substantive claims, demand futility.
 
In November 2006, the Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint. In December 2006, the Defendants filed motions to dismiss, based on various legal theories. In March 2007, the Court denied AMERCO’s motion to dismiss regarding the issue of demand futility, stating that “Plaintiffs have satisfied the heightened pleading requirements of demand futility by showing a majority of the members of the AMERCO Board of Directors were interested parties in the SAC transactions.” The Court heard oral argument on the remainder of the Defendants’ motions to dismiss, including the motion (“Goldwasser Motion”) based on the fact that the subject matter of the lawsuit had been settled and dismissed in earlier litigation known as Goldwasser v. Shoen, CV 0205602, Washoe County, Nevada. In addition, in September and October 2007, the Defendants filed Motions for Judgment on the Pleadings or in the Alternative Summary Judgment, based on the fact that the stockholders of the Company had ratified the underlying transactions at the 2007 annual meeting of stockholders of AMERCO. In December 2007, the Court denied this motion. This ruling does not preclude a renewed motion for summary judgment after discovery and further proceedings on these issues. On April 7, 2008, the litigation was dismissed, on the basis of the Goldwasser Motion. On May 8, 2008, the Plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal of such dismissal to the Nevada Supreme Court. On May 20, 2008, AMERCO filed a cross appeal relating to the denial of its Motion to Dismiss in regards to Demand Futility. The appeals are currently pending.
 
Environmental
 
In the normal course of business, AMERCO is a defendant in a number of suits and claims. AMERCO is also a party to several administrative proceedings arising from state and local provisions that regulate the removal and/or cleanup of underground fuel storage tanks. It is the opinion of management, that none of these suits, claims or proceedings involving AMERCO, individually or in the aggregate, are expected to result in a material adverse effect on AMERCO’s financial position or results of operations.
 
Compliance with environmental requirements of federal, state and local governments significantly affects Real Estate’s business operations. Among other things, these requirements regulate the discharge of materials into the water, air and land and govern the use and disposal of hazardous substances. Real Estate is aware of issues regarding hazardous substances on some of its properties. Real Estate regularly makes capital and operating expenditures to stay in compliance with environmental laws and has put in place a remedial plan at each site where it believes such a plan is necessary. Since 1988, Real Estate has managed a testing and removal program for underground storage tanks.
 
Based upon the information currently available to Real Estate, compliance with the environmental laws and its share of the costs of investigation and cleanup of known hazardous waste sites are not expected to result in a material adverse effect on AMERCO’s financial position or results of operations. Real Estate expects to spend approximately $5.7 million in total through 2011 to remediate these properties.

 
11

 
 

 
Other
 
The Company is named as a defendant in various other litigation and claims arising out of the normal course of business. In management’s opinion, none of these other matters will have a material effect on the Company’s financial position and results of operations.
 
Item 4.    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
 
No matter was submitted to a vote of the security holders of AMERCO during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year covered by this report, through the solicitation of proxies or otherwise.
 
PART II
 
 
Item 5.    Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
 
As of March 31, 2008, there were approximately 3,600 holders of record of the common stock. AMERCO’s common stock is listed on NASDAQ Global Select Market under the trading symbol “UHAL”. The number of shareholders is derived using internal stock ledgers and utilizing Mellon Investor Services Stockholder listings.
 
The following table sets forth the high and the low sales price of the common stock of AMERCO for the periods indicated:
 

   
Year Ended March 31,
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
   
High
   
Low
   
High
   
Low
 
First quarter
  $ 83.87     $ 67.29     $ 106.95     $ 79.71  
Second quarter
  $ 78.78     $ 57.03     $ 105.35     $ 66.22  
Third quarter
  $ 79.86     $ 58.82     $ 96.89     $ 71.81  
Fourth quarter
  $ 71.98     $ 47.53     $ 89.96     $ 59.83  
 
 Dividends
 
AMERCO does not have a formal dividend policy. The Board periodically considers the advisability of declaring and paying dividends to common stockholders in light of existing circumstances.
 
Refer to Note 20 Statutory Financial Information of Insurance Subsidiaries of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of certain statutory restrictions on the ability of the insurance subsidiaries to pay dividends to AMERCO.
 
Refer to Note 11 Stockholders Equity of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of AMERCO’s preferred stock.

 
12

 
 

 
 Performance Graph
 
The following graph compares the cumulative total stockholder return on the Company’s Common Stock for the period March 31, 2003 through March 31, 2008 with the cumulative total return on the Dow Jones US Equity Market and the Dow Jones US Transportation Average.  The comparison assumes that $100 was invested on March 31, 2003 in the Company’s Common Stock and in each of comparison indices.  The graph reflects the closing price of the Common stock trading on NASDAQ on March 31, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008.
 
5 Year Graph
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fiscal year ending March 31:
                                   
   
2003
   
2004
   
2005
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
                                     
AMERCO
  $ 100     $ 584     $ 1,146     $ 2,449     $ 1,732     $ 1,413  
                                                 
Dow Jones US Total Market
    100       138       148       169       188       178  
                                                 
Dow Jones US Transportation Average
    100       137       178       222       236       238  
                                                 
* $100 invested on 3/31/03 in stock or index-including reinvestment of dividends.
                 
 


 
13

 
 

 
 Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
 
On September 13, 2006, we announced that our Board of Directors (the “Board”) had authorized us to repurchase up to $50.0 million of our common stock from time to time on the open market between September 13, 2006 and October 31, 2007. On March 9, 2007, the Board authorized an increase in the Company’s common stock repurchase program to a total aggregate amount, net of brokerage commissions, of $115.0 million (which amount is inclusive of the $50.0 million common stock repurchase program approved by the Board in 2006). During the first quarter of fiscal 2008, we repurchased 485,999 shares at the cost of $34.0 million. This program terminated on October 31, 2007.
 
The repurchases made by the Company under this plan were as follows:
 

Period
 
Total # of Shares Repurchased
   
Average Price Paid per Share (1)
   
Total # of Shares Repurchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plan
   
Total $ of Shares Repurchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plan
   
Maximum $ of Shares That May Yet be Repurchased Under the Plan
 
                               
April 1 - 30, 2007
    196,232     $ 69.94       196,232     $ 13,723,504     $ 52,170,394  
May 1 - 31, 2007
    218,090       69.85       218,090       15,234,536       36,935,858  
June 1 - 30, 2007
    71,677       69.87       71,677       5,008,018       31,927,840  
First Quarter Total
    485,999     $ 69.89       485,999     $ 33,966,058          
                                         
Cumulative Plan Total
    1,225,290     $ 67.80       1,225,290     $ 83,072,160          
                                         
(1) Represents weighted average purchase price for the periods presented.
                 

 
On December 5, 2007, we announced that the Board had authorized us to repurchase up to $50.0 million of our common stock. The stock may be repurchased by the Company from time to time on the open market between December 5, 2007 and December 31, 2008. The extent to which the Company repurchases its shares and the timing of such purchases will depend upon market conditions and other corporate considerations. The purchases will be funded from available working capital. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008, the Company repurchased 428,000 shares at a cost of $23.5 million.
 
The repurchases made by the Company under this plan were as follows:
 

Period
 
Total # of Shares Repurchased
   
Average Price Paid per Share (1)
   
Total # of Shares Repurchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plan
   
Total $ of Shares Repurchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plan
   
Maximum $ of Shares That May Yet be Repurchased Under the Plan
 
                               
January 1 - 31, 2008
    -     $ -       -     $ -     $ 50,000,000  
February 1 - 29, 2008
    428,000     $ 54.94       428,000     $ 23,512,380     $ 26,487,620  
March 1 - 31, 2008
    -     $ -       -     $ -     $ 26,487,620  
Fourth Quarter Total
    428,000     $ 54.94       428,000     $ 23,512,380          
                                         
(1) Represents weighted average purchase price for the periods presented.
                 

 
14

 
 

 
Item 6.    Selected Financial Data
 
 
The following selected financial data should be read in conjunction with the MD&A, and the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
Listed below is selected financial data for AMERCO and consolidated entities for each of the last five years ended March 31:

   
Year Ended March 31,
 
      2008(b), (c)  
2007
   
2006
   
2005
   
2004
 
   
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
 
Summary of Operations:
                               
Self-moving equipment rentals
  $ 1,451,292     $ 1,462,470     $ 1,489,429     $ 1,424,841     $ 1,368,814  
Self-storage revenues
    122,248       126,424       119,742       114,155       247,640  
Self-moving and self-storage products and service sales
    217,798       224,722       223,721       206,098       232,965  
Property management fees
    22,820       21,154       21,195       11,839       259  
Life insurance premiums
    111,996       120,399       118,833       126,236       145,082  
Property and casualty insurance premiums
    28,388       24,335       26,001       24,987       92,036  
Net investment and interest income
    62,110       59,696       48,279       49,171       31,992  
Other revenue
    32,522       30,098       40,325       30,172       38,523  
Total revenues
    2,049,174       2,069,298       2,087,525       1,987,499       2,157,311  
                                         
Operating expenses
    1,077,108       1,080,412       1,082,158       1,123,975       1,181,313  
Commission expenses
    167,945       162,899       165,961       159,253       134,616  
Cost of sales
    120,210       117,648       113,135       105,309       111,906  
Benefits and losses
    111,195       118,725       117,160       140,343       217,447  
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
    13,181       17,138       24,261       28,512       39,083  
Lease expense
    133,931       147,659       136,652       142,008       153,121  
Depreciation, net of (gains) losses on disposal
    221,882       189,589       142,817       121,103       148,813  
Restructuring expense
    -       -       -       -       44,097  
Total costs and expenses
    1,845,452       1,834,070       1,782,144       1,820,503       2,030,396  
                                         
Earnings from operations
    203,722       235,228       305,381       166,996       126,915  
Interest expense
    (101,420 )     (82,436 )     (69,481 )     (73,205 )     (121,690 )
Fees and amortization on early extinguishment of debt (a)
    -       (6,969 )     (35,627 )     -       -  
Litigation settlement, net of costs, fees and expenses
    -       -       -       51,341       -  
Pretax earnings
    102,302       145,823       200,273       145,132       5,225  
Income tax expense
    (34,518 )     (55,270 )     (79,119 )     (55,708 )     (8,077 )
Net earnings (loss)
    67,784       90,553       121,154       89,424       (2,852 )
Less:  Preferred stock dividends
    (12,963 )     (12,963 )     (12,963 )     (12,963 )     (12,963 )
Earnings (loss) available to common shareholders
  $ 54,821     $ 77,590     $ 108,191     $ 76,461     $ (15,815 )
Net earnings (loss) per common share basic and diluted
  $ 2.78     $ 3.72     $ 5.19     $ 3.68     $ (0.76 )
Weighted average common shares outstanding: Basic and diluted
    19,740,571       20,838,570       20,857,108       20,804,773       20,749,998  
Cash dividends declared and accrued
                                       
Preferred stock
  $ 12,963     $ 12,963     $ 12,963     $ 12,963     $ 12,963  
Balance Sheet Data:
                                       
Property, plant and equipment, net
    2,011,176       1,897,071       1,535,165       1,354,468       1,451,805  
Total assets
    3,832,487       3,523,048       3,367,218       3,116,173       3,394,748  
Capital leases
    -       -       -       -       99,607  
AMERCO's notes and loans payable
    1,504,677       1,181,165       965,634       780,008       862,703  
SAC Holdings II notes and loans payable, non re-course to AMERCO
    -       74,887       76,232       77,474       78,637  
Stockholders' equity
    758,431       718,098       695,604       572,839       503,846  
                                         
(a) Includes the write-off of debt issuance costs of $7.0 million in fiscal 2007 and $14.4 million in fiscal 2006.
         
(b) Fiscal 2008 summary of operations includes 7 months of activity for SAC Holding II which was deconsolidated effective October 31, 2007.
 
(c) Fiscal 2008 balance sheet data does not include SAC Holding II which was deconsolidated effective October 31, 2007
         

 

 
15

 
 

Item 7.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
 
General
 
We begin this MD&A with the overall strategy of AMERCO, followed by a description of our operating segments and the strategy of our operating segments to give the reader an overview of the goals of our business and the direction in which our businesses and products are moving. This is followed by a section entitled “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” that we believe is important to understanding the assumptions and judgments incorporated in our reported financial results. In the next section, we discuss our results of operations for fiscal 2008 compared with fiscal 2007, and for fiscal 2007 compared with fiscal 2006 beginning with an overview. We then provide an analysis of changes in our balance sheet and cash flows and discuss our financial commitments in the sections entitled “Liquidity and Capital Resources” and “Disclosures about Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments.” We conclude this MD&A by discussing our outlook for fiscal 2009.
 
This MD&A should be read in conjunction with the other sections of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including “Item 1: Business”, “Item 6: Selected Financial Data” and “Item 8: Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.” The various sections of this MD&A contain a number of forward-looking statements, as discussed under the caption “Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” all of which are based on our current expectations and could be affected by the uncertainties and risk factors described throughout this filing and particularly under the section “Item 1A: Risk Factors.” Our actual results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements.
 
AMERCO has a fiscal year that ends on the 31st of March for each year that is referenced. Our insurance company subsidiaries have fiscal years that end on the 31st of December for each year that is referenced. They have been consolidated on that basis. Our insurance companies’ financial reporting processes conform to calendar year reporting as required by state insurance departments. Management believes that consolidating their calendar year into our fiscal year financial statements does not materially affect the financial position or results of operations. The Company discloses any material events occurring during the intervening period. Consequently, all references to our insurance subsidiaries’ years 2007, 2006 and 2005 correspond to fiscal 2008, 2007 and 2006 for AMERCO.
 
Overall Strategy
 
Our overall strategy is to maintain our leadership position in the North American “do-it-yourself” moving and storage industry. We accomplish this by providing a seamless and integrated supply chain to the “do-it-yourself” moving and storage market. As part of executing this strategy, we leverage the brand recognition of U-Haul with our full line of moving and self-storage related products and services and the convenience of our broad geographic presence.
 
Our primary focus is to provide our customers with a wide selection of moving rental equipment, convenient self-storage rental facilities and related moving and self-storage products and services. We are able to expand our distribution and improve customer service by increasing the amount of moving equipment and storage rooms available for rent, expanding the number of independent dealers in our network and expanding and taking advantage of our growing eMove capabilities.
 
RepWest is focused on providing and administering property and casualty insurance to U-Haul, its customers, its independent dealers and affiliates.
 
Oxford is focused on long-term capital growth through direct writing and reinsuring of life, Medicare supplement and annuity products in the senior marketplace.

 
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Description of Operating Segments
 
AMERCO’s four reportable segments are:
 
(a)  
Moving and Storage, comprised of AMERCO, U-Haul and Real Estate and the subsidiaries of U-Haul and Real Estate
 
(b)  
Property and Casualty Insurance, comprised of RepWest and its wholly-owned subsidiaries
 
(c)  
Life Insurance, comprised of Oxford and its wholly-owned subsidiaries
 
(d)  
SAC Holding II and its subsidiaries (through October 2007)
 
Refer to Note 1 Basis of Presentation, Note 21 Financial Information by Geographic Area and Note 21A Consolidating Financial Information by Industry Segment of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K.
 
Moving and Storage Operating Segment
 
Our Moving and Storage Operating Segment consists of the rental of trucks, trailers, specialty rental items and self-storage spaces primarily to the household mover as well as sales of moving supplies, towing accessories and propane. Operations are conducted under the registered trade name U-Haul® throughout the United States and Canada.
 
With respect to our truck, trailer, specialty rental items and self-storage rental business, we are focused on expanding our dealer network, which provides added convenience for our customers and expanding the selection and availability of rental equipment to satisfy the needs of our customers.
 
U-Haul brand self-moving related products and services, such as boxes, pads and tape allow our customers to, among other things, protect their belongings from potential damage during the moving process. We are committed to providing a complete line of products selected with the “do-it-yourself” moving and storage customer in mind.
 
eMove is an online marketplace that connects consumers to over 3,700 independent Moving Help™ service providers and over 3,300 independent Self-Storage Affiliates. Our network of customer-rated affiliates provides pack and load help, cleaning help, self-storage and similar services, all over North America. Our goal is to further utilize our web-based technology platform to increase service to consumers and businesses in the moving and storage market.
 
Property and Casualty Insurance Operating Segment
 
RepWest provides loss adjusting and claims handling for U-Haul through regional offices across North America. RepWest also underwrites components of the Safemove, Safetow and Safestor protection packages to U-Haul customers. We continue to focus on increasing the penetration of these products. The business plan for RepWest includes offering property and casualty products in other U-Haul related programs.
 
Life Insurance Operating Segment
 
Oxford provides life and health insurance products primarily to the senior market through the direct writing or reinsuring of life insurance, Medicare supplement and annuity policies. Additionally, Oxford administers the self-insured employee health and dental plans for Arizona employees of the Company.
 
SAC Holding II Operating Segment
 
SAC Holding Corporation and its subsidiaries, and SAC Holding II Corporation and its subsidiaries, collectively referred to as “SAC Holdings”, own self-storage properties that are managed by U-Haul under property management agreements and act as independent U-Haul rental equipment dealers. AMERCO, through its subsidiaries, has contractual interests in certain SAC Holdings’ properties entitling AMERCO to potential future income based on the financial performance of these properties. With respect to SAC Holding II, AMERCO was considered the primary beneficiary of these contractual interests prior to November 2007. Consequently, for those reporting periods prior to November 2007 we included the results of SAC Holding II in the consolidated financial statements of AMERCO, as required by FIN 46(R).

 
17

 
 

 
Substantially all of the equity interest of SAC Holdings is controlled by Blackwater. In November 2007, Blackwater contributed additional capital to its wholly-owned subsidiary, SAC Holding II. This contribution was determined by us to be material with respect to the capitalization of SAC Holding II; therefore, triggering a requirement under FIN 46(R) for us to reassess the Company’s involvement with those subsidiaries. This required reassessment led to the conclusion that the Company was no longer the primary beneficiary of SAC Holding II as of the date of Blackwater’s contribution. Accordingly, the Company deconsolidated this entity. While the deconsolidation affects AMERCO’s financial reporting, it has no operational or financial impact on the Company’s relationship with SAC Holding II. The deconsolidation, effective October 31, 2007 was accounted for as a distribution of SAC Holding II interests to Blackwater, the sole shareholder of SAC Holding II. Because of the Company’s continuing involvement with SAC Holding II, the distributions do not qualify as discontinued operations as defined by SFAS 144.
 
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
 
The Company’s financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States. The methods, estimates and judgments we use in applying our accounting policies can have a significant impact on the results we report in our financial statements. Note 3 Accounting Policies of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in “Item 8: Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Form 10-K summarizes the significant accounting policies and methods used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. Certain accounting policies require us to make difficult and subjective judgments and assumptions, often as a result of the need to make estimates of matters that are inherently uncertain.
 
Below we have set forth, with a detailed description, the accounting policies that we deem most critical to us and that require management’s most difficult and subjective judgments. These estimates are based on historical experience, observance of trends in particular areas, information and valuations available from outside sources and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances and which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources.  Actual amounts may differ from these estimates under different assumptions and conditions; such differences may be material.
 
We also have other policies that we consider key accounting policies, such as revenue recognition; however, these policies do not meet the definition of critical accounting estimates, because they do not generally require us to make estimates or judgments that are difficult or subjective. The accounting policies that we deem most critical to us, and involve the most difficult, subjective or complex judgments include the following:
 
Principles of Consolidation
 
The Company applies FIN 46(R), “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities” and ARB 51, “Consolidated Financial Statements” in its principles of consolidation. FIN 46(R) addresses arrangements where a company does not hold a majority of the voting or similar interests of a VIE.  A company is required to consolidate a VIE if it has determined it is the primary beneficiary. ARB 51 addresses the policy when a company owns a majority of the voting or similar rights and exercises effective control.
 
As promulgated by FIN 46(R), a VIE is not self-supportive due to having one or both of the following conditions: a) it has an insufficient amount of equity for it to finance its activities without receiving additional subordinated financial support or b) its owners do not hold the typical risks and rights of equity owners.  This determination is made upon the creation of a variable interest and can be re-assessed should certain changes in the operations of a VIE, or its relationship with the primary beneficiary trigger a reconsideration under the provisions of FIN 46(R).  After a triggering event occurs the most recent facts and circumstances are utilized in determining whether or not a company is a VIE, which other company(s) have a variable interest in the entity, and whether or not the company’s interest is such that it is the primary beneficiary.
 
In fiscal 2003 and fiscal 2002, SAC Holdings were considered special purpose entities and were consolidated based on the provisions of Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) Issue No. 90-15. In fiscal 2004 the Company evaluated its interests in SAC Holdings utilizing the guidance promulgated in FIN 46(R). The Company concluded that SAC Holdings were VIE’s and that the Company was the primary beneficiary. Accordingly, the Company continued to include SAC Holdings in its consolidated financial statements.

 
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In February and March 2004 SAC Holding Corporation triggered a requirement to reassess AMERCO’s involvement in it, which led to the conclusion SAC Holding Corporation was not a VIE and AMERCO ceased to be the primary beneficiary.
 
In November 2007, Blackwater contributed additional capital to its wholly-owned subsidiary, SAC Holding II. This contribution was determined by us to be material with respect to the capitalization of SAC Holding II; therefore, triggering a requirement under FIN 46(R) for us to reassess the Company’s involvement with those subsidiaries. This required reassessment led to the conclusion that SAC Holding II has the ability to fund its own operations and execute its business plan without any future subordinated financial support; therefore, the Company was no longer the primary beneficiary of SAC Holding II as of the date of Blackwater’s contribution.
 
Accordingly, at the date AMERCO ceased to have a variable interest and ceased to be the primary beneficiary of SAC Holding II and its current subsidiaries, it deconsolidated these entities. The deconsolidation was accounted for as a distribution of SAC Holding II’s interests to the sole shareholder of the SAC entities. Because of AMERCO’s continuing involvement with SAC Holding II and its subsidiaries, the distribution does not qualify as discontinued operations as defined by SFAS 144.
 
It is possible that SAC Holdings could take actions that would require us to re-determine whether SAC Holdings has become a VIE or whether we have become the primary beneficiary of SAC Holdings. Should this occur, we could be required to consolidate some or all of SAC Holdings with our financial statements.
 
The consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2008 includes the accounts of AMERCO and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. The consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2007 includes the accounts of AMERCO and its wholly-owned subsidiaries and SAC Holding II and its subsidiaries. The March 31, 2008 statements of operations and cash flows include AMERCO and its wholly-owned subsidiaries for the entire year, and reflect SAC Holding II and its subsidiaries for the seven months ended October 31, 2007. The March 31, 2007 and 2006 statements of operations and cash flows include the accounts of AMERCO and its wholly-owned subsidiaries and SAC Holding II and its subsidiaries.
 
Recoverability of Property, Plant and Equipment
 
Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Interest expense incurred during the initial construction of buildings and rental equipment is considered part of cost. Depreciation is computed for financial reporting purposes using the straight-line or an accelerated method based on a declining balance formula over the following estimated useful lives: rental equipment 2-20 years and buildings and non-rental equipment 3-55 years. The Company follows the deferral method of accounting based in the AICPA’s Airline Guide for major overhauls in which engine overhauls are capitalized and amortized over five years and transmission overhauls are capitalized and amortized over three years. Routine maintenance costs are charged to operating expense as they are incurred. Gains and losses on dispositions of property, plant and equipment are netted against depreciation expense when realized. Equipment depreciation is recognized in amounts expected to result in the recovery of estimated residual values upon disposal, i.e., minimize gains or losses. In determining the depreciation rate, historical disposal experience, holding periods and trends in the market for vehicles are reviewed.

 
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We regularly perform reviews to determine whether facts and circumstances exist which indicate that the carrying amount of assets, including estimates of residual value, may not be recoverable or that the useful life of assets are shorter or longer than originally estimated. Reductions in residual values (i.e., the price at which we ultimately expect to dispose of revenue earning equipment) or useful lives will result in an increase in depreciation expense over the life of the equipment. Reviews are performed based on vehicle class, generally subcategories of trucks and trailers. We assess the recoverability of our assets by comparing the projected undiscounted net cash flows associated with the related asset or group of assets over their estimated remaining lives against their respective carrying amounts. We consider factors such as current and expected future market price trends on used vehicles and the expected life of vehicles included in the fleet. Impairment, if any, is based on the excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of those assets. If asset residual values are determined to be recoverable, but the useful lives are shorter or longer than originally estimated, the net book value of the assets is depreciated over the newly determined remaining useful lives.
 
Since fiscal 2006, the Company has been acquiring a significant number of moving trucks via purchase rather than lease. Management performed an analysis of the expected economic value of new rental trucks and determined that additions to the fleet resulting from purchase should be depreciated on an accelerated method based upon a declining formula. The salvage value and useful life assumptions of the rental truck fleet remain unchanged.  Under the declining balances method (2.4 times declining balance) the book value of a rental truck is reduced 16%, 13%, 11%, 9%, 8%, 7%, and 6% during years one through seven, respectively and then reduced on a straight line basis an additional 10% by the end of year fifteen. Whereas, a standard straight line approach would reduce the book value by approximately 5.3% per year over the life of the truck. For the affected equipment, the accelerated depreciation was $56.7 million, $33.2 million and $4.0 million greater than what it would have been if calculated under a straight line approach for fiscal 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
 
We typically sell our used vehicles at our sales centers throughout North America, on our web site at trucksales.uhaul.com or by phone at 1-866-404-0355. Although we intend to sell our used vehicles for prices approximating book value, the extent to which we realize a gain or loss on the sale of used vehicles is dependent upon various factors including the general state of the used vehicle market, the age and condition of the vehicle at the time of its disposal and depreciation rates with respect to the vehicle.
 
Insurance Reserves
 
Liabilities for life insurance and certain annuity and health policies are established to meet the estimated future obligations of policies in force, and are based on mortality, morbidity and withdrawal assumptions from recognized actuarial tables which contain margins for adverse deviation. In addition, liabilities for health, disability and other policies include estimates of payments to be made on insurance claims for reported losses and estimates of losses incurred, but not yet reported. Liabilities for annuity contracts consist of contract account balances that accrue to the benefit of the policyholders.
 
Insurance reserves for RepWest and U-Haul take into account losses incurred based upon actuarial estimates. These estimates are based on past claims experience and current claim trends as well as social and economic conditions such as changes in legal theories and inflation. Due to the nature of underlying risks and the high degree of uncertainty associated with the determination of the liability for future policy benefits and claims, the amounts to be ultimately paid to settle liabilities cannot be precisely determined and may vary significantly from the estimated liability.
 
Due to the long tailed nature of the assumed reinsurance and the excess workers compensation lines of insurance written by RepWest it may take a number of years for claims to be fully developed and finally settled.
 
Impairment of Investments
 
For investments accounted for under SFAS 115, in determining if and when a decline in market value below amortized cost is other-than-temporary, management makes certain assumptions or judgments in its assessment including but not limited to: ability and intent to hold the security, quoted market prices, dealer quotes or discounted cash flows, industry factors, financial factors, and issuer specific information such as credit strength. Other-than-temporary impairment in value is recognized in the current period operating results. The Company’s insurance subsidiaries recognized $0.5 million in other-than-temporary impairments for fiscal 2008, $1.4 million for fiscal 2007 and $5.3 million for fiscal 2006.

 
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Income Taxes
 
The Company’s tax returns are periodically reviewed by various taxing authorities. The final outcome of these audits may cause changes that could materially impact our financial results.
 
AMERCO files a consolidated tax return with all of its legal subsidiaries, except for DGLIC, a subsidiary of Oxford, which will file on a stand alone basis until 2012. SAC Holding Corporation and its legal subsidiaries and SAC Holding II Corporation and its legal subsidiaries file separate consolidated tax returns, which are in no way associated with AMERCO’s consolidated returns.
 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS 157, Fair Value Measurements which establishes how companies should measure fair value when they are required to use a fair value measure for recognition or disclosure purposes under GAAP. This statement is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 and interim periods within those years. The provisions of SFAS 157 which have not been deferred by the FASB are effective for us in April 2008. The Company does not believe that the adoption of this statement will have a material impact on our financial statements.
 
In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Liabilities, including an amendment of SFAS 115. This statement allows for a company to irrevocably elect fair value as the measurement attribute for certain financial assets and financial liabilities. Changes in the fair value of such assets are recognized in earnings. SFAS 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The provisions of SFAS 159 are effective for us in April 2008. The Company does not believe that the adoption of this statement will have a material impact on our financial statements.
 
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS 141(R), Business Combinations. SFAS 141(R) provides companies with principles and requirements on how an acquirer recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree as well as the recognition and measurement of goodwill acquired in a business combination. SFAS 141(R) also requires certain disclosures to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. Acquisition costs associated with the business combination will generally be expensed as incurred. SFAS 141(R) is effective for business combinations occurring in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, which will require us to adopt these provisions for business combinations occurring in fiscal 2010 and thereafter. Early adoption of SFAS 141(R) is not permitted.
 
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements — an amendment of ARB No. 51. This Statement clarifies that a noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary is an ownership interest in the consolidated entity that should be reported as equity in the consolidated financial statements. This Statement changes the way the consolidated income statement is presented by requiring net income to be reported at amounts that include the amounts attributable to both the parent and the noncontrolling interest and to disclose those amounts on the face of the income statement. SFAS 160 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. Early adoption of SFAS 160 is not permitted. The Company does not believe that the adoption of this statement will have a material impact on our financial statements.
 
In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities which amends SFAS 133 to require expanded disclosures about derivative instruments and hedging activities regarding (1) the ways in which an entity uses derivatives, (2) the accounting for derivatives and hedging activities, and (3) the impact that derivatives have (or could have) on an entity's financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. SFAS 161 is effective for financial statements of fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008, with early application encouraged. While disclosures for earlier comparative periods presented at initial adoption are not required, they are encouraged; following initial adoption, comparative disclosures are required only for periods after such adoption. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that SFAS 161 will have on our financial statements and disclosures.

 
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Results of Operations
 
AMERCO and Consolidated Entities
 
Fiscal 2008 Compared with Fiscal 2007
 
Listed below on a consolidated basis are revenues for our major product lines for fiscal 2008 and fiscal 2007:

   
Year Ended March 31,
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
   
(In thousands)
 
 Self-moving equipment rentals
  $ 1,451,292     $ 1,462,470  
 Self-storage revenues
    122,248       126,424  
 Self-moving and self-storage product and service sales
    217,798       224,722  
 Property management fees
    22,820       21,154  
 Life insurance premiums
    111,996       120,399  
 Property and casualty insurance premiums
    28,388       24,335  
 Net investment and interest income
    62,110       59,696  
 Other revenue
    32,522       30,098  
 Consolidated revenue
  $ 2,049,174     $ 2,069,298  
 
Self-moving equipment rental revenues decreased $11.2 million in fiscal 2008 compared with fiscal 2007. The majority of the year over year decline occurred during the first half of fiscal 2008 driven primarily by negative trends in average one-way revenue per transaction. During the second half of fiscal 2008 we experienced incremental improvements in pricing; however, we still finished the full year behind fiscal 2007 as it relates to average revenue per transaction. Partially offsetting the negative pricing environment was the extra business day in February 2008 and a marginal increase in total moving transactions compared with fiscal 2007.
 
Self-storage revenues decreased $4.2 million in fiscal 2008, compared with fiscal 2007 due to the deconsolidation of SAC Holding II which was effective as of October 31, 2007 and which accounted for an $8.5 million decrease in reported self-storage revenues in fiscal 2008 as compared with fiscal 2007. Self-storage revenues for AMERCO owned locations increased $4.3 million in fiscal 2008 as compared with fiscal 2007 driven primarily by favorable pricing. While average room occupancy rates at AMERCO owned locations for fiscal 2008 declined 2.6% from fiscal 2007 to 84.0%, the Company increased the total number of rooms rented, rooms available and square footage available in the same time period. The deconsolidation of SAC Holding II for GAAP reporting purposes reduces consolidated self-storage revenues; however, there has been no change in the economics of our operational or financial relationship with SAC Holding II.
 
Sales of self-moving and self-storage products and services decreased $6.9 million in fiscal 2008 as compared with fiscal 2007 with $6.0 million of the decrease related to the deconsolidation of SAC Holding II.  The remainder of the decline is related primarily to lower sales of hitch and towing accessories during the second half of fiscal 2008.
 
Premiums at Oxford decreased $8.4 million driven by the termination of the credit life and disability program and declining Medicare supplement premiums. During fiscal 2008, Oxford increased sales of its new life insurance products.
 
Premiums at RepWest increased $4.1 million due to U-Haul related business.
 
Net investment and interest income increased $2.4 million in fiscal 2008 as compared with fiscal 2007. The Company receives interest income from SAC Holdings for junior notes the Company holds. Prior to the deconsolidation of SAC Holding II in October 2007, the amounts earned from junior notes related to SAC Holding II were eliminated. After October 2007, this interest income is no longer eliminated resulting in an increase of $2.9 million. This was offset by decreases of the insurance companies’ investment income due to lower investment yields and a smaller invested asset base.
 
As a result of the items mentioned above, revenues for AMERCO and its consolidated entities were $2,049.2 million for fiscal 2008, compared with $2,069.3 million for fiscal 2007.

 
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Listed below are revenues and earnings from operations at each of our four operating segments for fiscal 2008 and fiscal 2007, the insurance companies years ended are December 31, 2007 and 2006.

   
Year Ended March 31,
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
   
(In thousands)
 
 Moving and storage
           
 Revenues
  $ 1,858,230     $ 1,861,751  
 Earnings from operations
    192,970       217,937  
 Property and casualty insurance
               
 Revenues
    40,478       38,486  
 Earnings from operations
    9,244       5,741  
 Life insurance
               
 Revenues
    137,448       148,820  
 Earnings from operations
    17,202       14,521  
 SAC Holding II (a)
               
 Revenues
    28,102       46,603  
 Earnings from operations
    7,926       13,854  
 Eliminations
               
 Revenues
    (15,084 )     (26,362 )
 Earnings from operations
    (23,620 )     (16,825 )
 Consolidated Results
               
 Revenues
    2,049,174       2,069,298  
 Earnings from operations
    203,722       235,228  
                 
(a) Fiscal 2008 includes 7 months of activity for SAC Holding II which was deconsolidated effective October 31, 2007.
 
 
Total costs and expenses increased $11.4 million in fiscal 2008 as compared with fiscal 2007. The largest increase was in depreciation expense associated with the rotation of our fleet. Conversely, with the shift in focus from operating leases to purchases of new rental trucks, lease expense decreased in fiscal 2008 as compared with fiscal 2007. The Company nets gains and losses from the disposal of property and equipment against depreciation. Included in depreciation are gains on the sale of real estate of $12.7 million and $4.4 million in fiscal 2008 and fiscal 2007, respectively. Repair and maintenance costs included in operating expenses declined for the year due to the rotation of older trucks out of the active rental fleet. Benefits and operating expenses decreased at each of the insurance companies as business volumes decline. Other operating costs including personnel, property tax and certain legal-related expenses increased in fiscal 2008 as compared with fiscal 2007.
 
As a result of the aforementioned changes in revenues and expenses, earnings from operations decreased to $203.7 million for fiscal 2008, compared with $235.2 million for fiscal 2007.
 
Interest expense for fiscal 2008 was $101.4 million, compared with $89.4 million in fiscal 2007. Fiscal 2007 results included a one-time, non-recurring charge of $7.0 million, before taxes, of deferred debt issuance costs related to a loan that was amended. The refinancing costs had the effect of decreasing on a non-recurring basis, earnings for the year ended March 31, 2007 by $0.33 per share before taxes, in which the tax effect was approximately $0.13 per share. Absent this charge, the increase in interest expense in fiscal 2008 is related to increased debt associated with the fleet rotation.
 
Income tax expense was $34.5 million in fiscal 2008, compared with $55.3 million in fiscal 2007.
 
Dividends accrued on our Series A preferred stock were $13.0 million in both fiscal 2008 and 2007, respectively.
 
As a result of the above mentioned items, net earnings available to common shareholders were $54.8 million in fiscal 2008, compared with $77.6 million in fiscal 2007.
 
The weighted average common shares outstanding: basic and diluted were 19,740,571 in fiscal 2008 and 20,838,570 in fiscal 2007.
 
Basic and diluted earnings per share in fiscal 2008 were $2.78, compared with $3.72 in fiscal 2007.

 
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Fiscal 2007 Compared with Fiscal 2006
 
Listed below on a consolidated basis are revenues for our major product lines for fiscal 2007 and fiscal 2006:

   
Year Ended March 31,
 
   
2007
   
2006
 
   
(In thousands)
 
 Self-moving equipment rentals
  $ 1,462,470     $ 1,489,429  
 Self-storage revenues
    126,424       119,742  
 Self-moving and self-storage product and service sales
    224,722       223,721  
 Property management fees
    21,154       21,195  
 Life insurance premiums
    120,399       118,833  
 Property and casualty insurance premiums
    24,335       26,001  
 Net investment and interest income
    59,696       48,279  
 Other revenue
    30,098       40,325  
Consolidated revenue
  $ 2,069,298     $ 2,087,525  
 
During fiscal 2007, self-moving equipment rental revenues decreased $27.0 million, compared with fiscal 2006 with the majority of the variance occurring during the second half of the year. The Company finished fiscal 2007 with increases in one-way transactions along with increases in the average inventory of the truck fleet. However, offsetting these factors were a decrease in average revenue per transaction primarily due to one-way pricing, the lack of certain mid-size trucks during the spring and summer months of fiscal 2007 and decreased fleet utilization. The Company’s response to competitive pricing issues further lowered self-moving rental revenues.
 
Self-storage revenues increased $6.7 million in fiscal 2007, compared with fiscal 2006 largely due to improved pricing. During fiscal 2007, the Company increased rooms and square footage available primarily through build-outs at existing facilities.
 
Sales of self-moving and self-storage products and services revenues increased $1.0 million in fiscal 2007, compared with fiscal 2006. The Company continues to improve its visibility as a leading provider of propane, moving supplies and towing accessories and offer new products and services in an effort to increase sales results.
 
Other revenues decreased $10.2 million in fiscal 2007, compared with fiscal 2006. Fiscal 2006 included several non-recurring items.
 
Premiums at RepWest decreased $1.7 million with increases in U-Haul related premiums offset by reductions in other lines.
 
Oxford’s premium revenues increased approximately $1.6 million primarily due to an increase in Medicare supplement premiums resulting from the acquisition of DGLIC.
 
As a result of the items mentioned above, revenues for AMERCO and its consolidated entities were $2,069.3 million for fiscal 2007, compared with $2,087.5 million for fiscal 2006.

 
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Listed below are revenues and earnings from operations at each of our four operating segments for fiscal 2007 and fiscal 2006; for the insurance companies years ended are December 31, 2006 and 2005:

   
Year Ended March 31,
 
   
2007
   
2006
 
   
(In thousands)
 
 Moving and storage
           
 Revenues
  $ 1,861,751     $ 1,886,328  
 Earnings from operations
    217,937       292,774  
 Property and casualty insurance
               
 Revenues
    38,486       37,358  
 Earnings from operations
    5,741       1,144  
 Life insurance
               
 Revenues
    148,820       148,080  
 Earnings from operations
    14,521       13,933  
 SAC Holding II
               
 Revenues
    46,603       46,239  
 Earnings from operations
    13,854       13,643  
 Eliminations
               
 Revenues
    (26,362 )     (30,480 )
 Earnings from operations
    (16,825 )     (16,113 )
 Consolidated Results
               
 Revenues
    2,069,298       2,087,525  
 Earnings from operations
    235,228       305,381  
 
Total costs and expenses increased $51.9 million in fiscal 2007, compared with fiscal 2006. This is due primarily to increases in depreciation expense associated with the acquisition of new trucks and the fleet rotation. Beginning in the second half of fiscal 2006, the Company began utilizing debt to finance the majority of new truck purchases rather than operating lease arrangements which were used primarily during the previous ten years. While the Company generates a cash flow benefit from utilizing the depreciation deduction for income taxes, as compared to what the lease expense would have been, the consolidated statement of operations reflects an increase in depreciation expense greater than what the corresponding lease expense would have been had we leased this equipment instead. For additional information on the Company’s depreciation policy refer to “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates”.
 
As a result of the aforementioned changes in revenues and expenses, earnings from operations decreased to $235.2 million for fiscal 2007, compared with $305.4 million for fiscal 2006.
 
Interest expense for fiscal 2007 was $89.4 million, compared with $105.1 million in fiscal 2006. The interest expense related to the increase in average borrowings was partially offset by a reduction in the average borrowing rate resulting from the refinancing activities in fiscal 2006. Fiscal 2007 results included a one-time, non-recurring charge of $7.0 million before taxes related to the full amortization of deferred debt issuance costs related to a loan that was amended.  The refinancing related charge had the effect of decreasing on a non-recurring basis, earnings for the year ended March 31, 2007 by $0.33 per share before taxes, in which the tax effect was approximately $0.13 per share. Fiscal 2006 results included a one-time, non-recurring charge of $35.6 million before taxes which includes fees for early extinguishment of debt of $21.2 million and the write-off of $14.4 million of debt issuance costs.  The refinancing costs had the effect of decreasing, on a non-recurring basis, earnings for the year ended March 31, 2006 by $1.71 per share before taxes, in which the tax effect was approximately $0.63 per share.
 
Income tax expense was $55.3 million in fiscal 2007, compared with $79.1 million in fiscal 2006.
 
Dividends accrued on our Series A preferred stock were $13.0 million in both fiscal 2007 and 2006, respectively.
 
As a result of the above mentioned items, net earnings available to common shareholders were $77.6 million in fiscal 2007, compared with $108.2 million in fiscal 2006.

 
25

 
 

 
The weighted average common shares outstanding: basic and diluted were 20,838,570 in fiscal 2007 and 20,857,108 in fiscal 2006.
 
Basic and diluted earnings per share in fiscal 2007 were $3.72, compared with $5.19 in fiscal 2006.
 
Moving and Storage
 
Fiscal 2008 Compared with Fiscal 2007
 
Listed below are revenues for the major product lines at our Moving and Storage Operating Segment for fiscal 2008 and fiscal 2007:
 
   
Year Ended March 31,
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
   
(In thousands)
 
 Self-moving equipment rentals
  $ 1,451,292     $ 1,462,470  
 Self-storage revenues
    110,779       106,498  
 Self-moving and self-storage product and service sales
    207,759       208,677  
 Property management fees
    24,520       23,951  
 Net investment and interest income
    34,906       34,161  
 Other revenue
    28,974       25,994  
 Moving and Storage revenue
  $ 1,858,230     $ 1,861,751  
 
Self-moving equipment rental revenues decreased $11.2 million in fiscal 2008 compared with fiscal 2007. The majority of the year over year decline occurred during the first half of fiscal 2008 driven primarily by negative trends in average one-way revenue per transaction. During the second half of fiscal 2008 we experienced incremental improvements in pricing; however, we still finished the full year behind fiscal 2007 as it relates to revenue per transaction. Partially offsetting the negative pricing environment was the extra business day in February 2008 and a marginal increase in total moving transactions compared to fiscal 2007.
 
Self-storage revenues increased $4.3 million in fiscal 2008 compared with fiscal 2007 primarily due to favorable pricing. While average room occupancy rates for fiscal 2008 declined 2.6% from fiscal 2007 to 84.0%, the Company increased the total number of rooms rented, rooms available and square footage available in the same time period.
 
Sales of self-moving and self-storage products and services decreased $0.9 million in fiscal 2008 as compared with fiscal 2007 primarily due to lower sales of hitch and towing accessories during the second half of fiscal 2008.
 
Other revenue increased $3.0 million for fiscal 2008, compared with fiscal 2007. Other revenue includes new programs that have not yet achieved a significant volume of reportable revenues and other revenues not directly related to any other reported line item.
 
The Company owns and manages self-storage facilities. Self-storage revenues reported in the consolidated financial statements for Moving and Storage represent Company-owned locations only. Self-storage data for our owned storage locations was as follows:
 
   
Year Ended March 31,
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
   
(In thousands, except occupancy rate)
 
Room count as of March 31
    131       127  
Square footage as of March 31
    10,533       10,062  
Average number of rooms occupied
    109       108  
Average occupancy rate based on room count
    84.0 %     86.6 %
Average square footage occupied
    8,767       8,653  
 


 
26

 
 

 
Total costs and expenses increased $31.2 million in fiscal 2008 as compared with fiscal 2007. The largest increase is in depreciation expense associated with the rotation of our fleet. Conversely, with the shift in focus from operating leases to purchases of new rental trucks lease expense decreased in fiscal 2008 as compared with fiscal 2007. The Company nets gains and losses from the disposal of property and equipment against depreciation. Included in depreciation are gains on the sale of real estate of $12.7 million and $4.4 million in fiscal 2008 and fiscal 2007, respectively. Repair and maintenance costs included in operating expenses declined for the year due to the rotation of older trucks out of the active rental fleet. These declines were offset by other operating costs including personnel, property tax and certain legal-related expenses.
 
Equity in the earnings of AMERCO’s insurance subsidiaries increased $10.0 million in fiscal 2008 as compared with fiscal 2007 primarily due to reduced operating expenses and benefits and losses.
 
As a result of the above mentioned changes in revenues and expenses, earnings from operations decreased to $193.0 million in fiscal 2008, compared with $217.9 million for fiscal 2007.
 
Fiscal 2007 Compared with Fiscal 2006
 
Listed below are revenues for our major product lines at our Moving and Storage Operating Segment for fiscal 2007 and fiscal 2006:
 
   
Year Ended March 31,
 
   
2007
   
2006
 
   
(In thousands)
 
 Self-moving equipment rentals
  $ 1,462,470     $ 1,489,429  
 Self-storage revenues
    106,498       100,873  
 Self-moving and self-storage product and service sales
    208,677       207,119  
 Property management fees
    23,951       23,988  
 Net investment and interest income
    34,161       30,025  
 Other revenue
    25,994       34,894  
 Moving and Storage revenue
  $ 1,861,751     $ 1,886,328  
 
 
During fiscal 2007, self-moving equipment rental revenues decreased $27.0 million, compared with fiscal 2006 with the majority of the variance occurring during the second half of the year. The Company finished fiscal 2007 with increases in one-way transactions along with increases in the average inventory of the entire fleet. However, offsetting these factors were a decrease in average revenue per transaction primarily due to one-way pricing, the lack of certain mid-size trucks during the spring and summer months of fiscal 2007 and decreased fleet utilization. The Company’s response to competitive pricing issues further lowered self-moving rental revenues.
 
Self-storage revenues increased $5.6 million for fiscal 2007, compared with fiscal 2006 primarily due to improved pricing.  The Company has increased the number of rooms and square footage available period over period through the expansion of existing facilities and the acquisition of new facilities.
 
Net investment and interest income increased $4.1 million primarily due to larger average invested cash balances combined with higher interest rates.
 
Other revenues decreased $8.9 million for fiscal 2007, compared with fiscal 2006.  Fiscal 2006 included several non-recurring items.
 
The Company owns and manages self-storage facilities. Self-storage revenues reported in the consolidated financial statements for Moving and Storage represent Company-owned locations only.  Self-storage data for our owned storage locations was as follows:
 
   
Year Ended March 31,
 
   
2007
   
2006
 
   
(In thousands, except occupancy rate)
 
Room count as of March 31
    127       123  
Square footage as of March 31
    10,062       9,592  
Average number of rooms occupied
    108       107  
Average occupancy rate based on room count
    86.6 %     87.9 %
Average square footage occupied
    8,653       8,516  
 


 
27

 
 

 
Total costs and expenses increased $50.3 million for fiscal 2007, compared with fiscal 2006.  Increases in depreciation, lease, licensing and freight costs resulting from the acquisition of new trucks and the rotation of the fleet were partially offset by reductions in maintenance and repair.
 
As a result of the above mentioned changes in revenues and expenses, earnings from operations decreased to $217.9 million in fiscal 2007, compared with $292.8 million for fiscal 2006.
 
Republic Western Insurance Company
 
2007 Compared with 2006
 
Net premiums were $28.4 million and $24.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. U-Haul related premiums were $26.4 million and $22.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Other lines of business were $2.0 million and $2.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
 
Net investment income was $12.1 million and $14.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The decrease is due to the sale of real estate in 2006, which resulted in gains in 2006.
 
Net operating expenses were $12.0 million and $8.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The increase is due to a $2.7 million increase in commissions on the additional liability program.
 
Benefits and losses incurred were $19.0 million and $21.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
 
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs were $0.2 million and $2.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The decrease is due to the termination of credit property business in March of 2006.
 
Earnings from operations were $9.2 million and $5.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

 
2006 Compared with 2005
 
Net premiums were $24.3 million and $26.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. U-Haul related premiums were $22.0 million and $20.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Other lines of business were $2.3 million and $5.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.
 
Net investment income was $14.2 million and $11.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The increase is due to an increase in short-term rates and sale of real estate.
 
Net operating expenses were $8.8 million and $10.8 million for years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The decrease is due to a reduction of general administrative expenses due to the exit of the non U-Haul lines of business.
 
Benefits and losses incurred were $21.9 million and $22.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.
 
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs were $2.1 million and $2.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The decrease is due to decreased premium writings.
 
Earnings from operations were $5.7 million and $1.1 million for years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 
28

 
 

 
The following table illustrates the change in unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses on a gross basis. The first line represents gross reserves (reserves prior to the effects of reinsurance) as originally reported at the end of the stated year. The second section, reading down, represents cumulative amounts paid as of the end of successive years with respect to that reserve. The third section, reading down, represents revised estimates of the original recorded gross reserve as of the end of successive years. The last section compares the latest revised estimate of gross reserves to the reserve amount as originally established for that year-end. The last section is cumulative and should not be totaled.
 
   
Unpaid Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses
 
                                                                   
   
December 31,
 
   
1997
   
1998
   
1999
   
2000
   
2001
   
2002
   
2003
   
2004
   
2005
   
2006
   
2007
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Unpaid Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses
  $ 384,816     $ 344,748     $ 334,858     $ 382,651     $ 448,987     $ 399,447     $ 416,259     $ 380,875     $ 346,928     $ 288,783     $ 288,410  
Paid (Cumulative) as of:
                                                                                       
One year later
    103,752       82,936       117,025       130,471       130,070       100,851       73,384       44,677       40,116       35,297       -  
Two years later
    174,867       164,318       186,193       203,605       209,525       164,255       114,246       83,230       73,235       -       -  
Three years later
    216,966       218,819       232,883       255,996       266,483       201,346       151,840       115,955       -       -       -  
Four years later
    246,819       255,134       264,517       299,681       295,268       233,898       184,219       -       -       -       -  
Five years later
    269,425       274,819       295,997       320,629       322,191       263,654       -       -       -       -       -  
Six years later
    282,598       297,354       314,281       341,543       346,733       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Seven years later
    300,814       311,963       331,385       358,882       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Eight years later
    314,322       327,141       346,270       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Nine years later
    326,805       340,190       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Ten years later
    337,163       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
                                                                                         
Reserved Re-estimated as of:
                                                                                       
One year later
    357,733       339,602       383,264       433,222       454,510       471,029       447,524       388,859       326,386       319,951          
Two years later
    361,306       371,431       432,714       454,926       523,624       480,713       456,171       368,756       357,135       -          
Three years later
    369,598       429,160       437,712       517,361       500,566       521,319       435,549       399,693       -       -          
Four years later
    398,899       413,476       480,200       543,554       571,045       502,922       466,709       -       -       -          
Five years later
    398,184       443,696       524,548       558,765       569,104       537,610       -       -       -       -          
Six years later
    428,031       477,975       520,675       559,873       608,159       -       -       -       -       -          
Seven years later
    450,728       485,228       527,187       583,904       -       -       -       -       -       -          
Eight years later
    461,082       496,484       550,333       -       -       -       -       -       -       -          
Nine years later
    469,869       521,403       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -          
Ten years later
    497,251       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -          
Cumulative Redundancy (Deficiency)
  $ (112,435 )   $ (176,655 )   $ (215,475 )   $ (201,253 )   $ (159,172 )   $ (138,163 )   $ (50,450 )   $ (18,818 )   $ (10,207 )   $ (31,168 )        
Retro Premium Recoverable
    3,037       (1,879 )     6,797       5,613       21,756       7,036       374       2,233       -       -          
Re-estimated Reserve: Amount (Cumulative)
  $ (109,398 )   $ (178,534 )   $ (208,678 )   $ (195,640 )   $ (137,416 )   $ (131,127 )   $ (50,076 )   $ (16,585 )   $ (10,207 )   $ (31,168 )        
 


 
29

 
 

 
Activity in the liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses for RepWest is summarized as follows:
 
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2007
   
2006
   
2005
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Balance at January 1
  $ 288,783     $ 346,928     $ 380,875  
Less: reinsurance recoverable
    144,950       181,388       189,472  
Net balance at January 1
    143,833       165,540       191,403  
Incurred related to:
                       
Current year
    7,094       6,006       6,429  
Prior years
    11,894       15,895       16,161  
Total incurred
    18,988       21,901       22,590  
Paid related to:
                       
Current year
    3,289       3,492       3,774  
Prior years
    35,303       40,116       44,679  
Total paid
    38,592       43,608       48,453  
Net balance at December 31
    124,229       143,833       165,540  
Plus: reinsurance recoverable
    164,181       144,950       181,388  
Balance at December 31
  $ 288,410     $ 288,783     $ 346,928  
 
 
The liability for incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses (net of reinsurance recoverable of $164.2 million) decreased by $19.6 million in 2007. The decrease is a result of resolving claims associated with terminated unprofitable programs.
 
Oxford Life Insurance Company
 
2007 Compared with 2006
 
Net premiums were $112.0 million and $121.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Medicare supplement premiums decreased by $4.1 million due to policy lapses and lower first year sales offset by an increase in life insurance premiums of $2.9 million due to increased sales. Oxford stopped writing new credit insurance business in 2006 and as a result, credit insurance premiums decreased by $5.9 million.
 
Net investment income was $20.9 million and $22.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The decrease was due to a net reduction in invested assets and lower investment yields.
 
Net operating expenses were $23.8 million and $30.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The decrease was primarily attributable to the reduction of expenses on credit insurance due to business discontinuance and additional costs in 2006 related to the acquisition of DGLIC.
 
Benefits incurred were $83.4 million and $88.3 million, for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. This decrease was the result of a $2.0 million decrease in Medicare supplement due to policy decrements and a decrease of $1.7 million in credit insurance due to decreased exposure, offset by life insurance benefits of $1.5 million due to increased sales.
 
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs (“DAC”) and the value of business acquired (“VOBA”) was $13.0 million and $15.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The credit business had a decrease of amortization of $3.9 million due to decreased business, offset by an increase of $2.3 million in annuities due to an update of DAC assumptions.
 
Earnings from operations were $17.2 million and $14.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

 
30

 
 

 
2006 Compared with 2005
 
Net premiums were $121.6 million and $120.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Medicare supplement premiums increased by $10.6 million primarily due to the acquisition of DGLIC. The Company stopped writing new credit insurance business in 2006 and as a result, credit insurance premiums decreased by $9.1 million.
 
Net investment income was $22.5 million and $22.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The increase was primarily due to a reduction in realized losses on disposals from 2005, offset by a net reduction in invested assets. Investment yields were consistent between the two years.
 
Other income was $4.7 million and $5.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. This decrease was the result of decreased surrender charge income of $0.5 million and a decrease in administrative income of $0.6 million.
 
Net operating expenses were $30.9 million and $27.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The increase is primarily due to the acquisition of DGLIC.
 
Benefits incurred were $88.3 million and $85.7 million, for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. This increase was primarily a result of a $3.8 million increase in Medicare supplement benefits due to the acquisition of DGLIC, partially offset by a slightly improved loss ratio. Credit insurance benefits decreased $4.4 million due to decreased exposure. Other health benefits increased $1.1 million during the current period due to an adjustment for current claim trends. Life insurance benefits increased $1.4 million due to increased sales.
 
Amortization of DAC and VOBA was $15.1 million and $21.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. During the fourth quarter of 2005 and 2006, the Company made adjustments to the assumptions for expected future profits for the annuity business. These included changes to the assumptions for lapse rates, interest crediting and investment returns. Amortization expense was reduced by $4.7 million during 2006 as a result of these changes, including $1.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2006. The credit business had a decrease of amortization of $3.2 million due to decreased business. VOBA amortization increased $0.7 million due to the acquisition of DGLIC. DAC amortization in the life segment increased due to increased new business.
 
Earnings from operations were $14.5 million and $13.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.
 
SAC Holding II
 
Fiscal 2008 Compared with Fiscal 2007
 
Listed below are revenues for the major product lines at SAC Holding II for fiscal 2008 and fiscal 2007:

   
Year Ended March 31,
 
   
2008 (a)
   
2007
 
   
(In thousands)
 
 Self-moving equipment rentals
  $ 5,846     $ 9,225  
 Self-storage revenues
    11,469       19,926  
 Self-moving and self-storage product and service sales
    10,039       16,045  
 Other revenue
    748       1,407  
 Segment revenue
  $ 28,102     $ 46,603  
                 
                 
(a) Activity for the seven months ended October 2007, prior to deconsolidation.
         
 
Revenues in fiscal 2008 decreased $18.5 million, compared with fiscal 2007. Total costs and expenses were $20.2 million in fiscal 2008, compared with $32.7 million in fiscal 2007. Earnings from operations were $7.9 million in fiscal 2008, compared with $13.9 million in fiscal 2007. Each of these decreases was due to the deconsolidation of SAC Holding II effective October 31, 2007.

 
31

 
 

 
Fiscal 2007 Compared with Fiscal 2006
 
Listed below are revenues for the major product lines at SAC Holding II for fiscal 2007 and fiscal 2006:
 
   
Year Ended March 31,
 
   
2007
   
2006
 
   
(In thousands)
 
 Self-moving equipment rentals
  $ 9,225     $ 9,498  
 Self-storage revenues
    19,926       18,869  
 Self-moving and self-storage product and service sales
    16,045       16,602  
 Other revenue
    1,407       1,270  
Segment revenue
  $ 46,603     $ 46,239  
 
Total revenues were $46.6 million in fiscal 2007, compared with $46.2 million in fiscal 2006 due primarily to increases in self-storage revenues.
 
Total costs and expenses were $32.7 million in fiscal 2007, compared with $32.6 million in fiscal 2006.
 
Earnings from operations were $13.9 million in fiscal 2007, compared with $13.6 million in fiscal 2006.
 
 Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
We believe our current capital structure is a positive factor that will enable us to pursue our operational plans and goals, and provide us with sufficient liquidity for the next three to five years. The majority of our obligations currently in place mature at the end of fiscal years 2014, 2015 or 2018. As a result, we believe that our liquidity is sufficient for our current and foreseeable needs. However, there is no assurance that future cash flows will be sufficient to meet our outstanding debt obligations and our other future capital needs.
 
At March 31, 2008, cash and cash equivalents totaled $206.6 million, compared with $75.3 million on March 31, 2007. The assets of our insurance subsidiaries are generally unavailable to fulfill the obligations of non-insurance operations (AMERCO, U-Haul and Real Estate). As of March 31, 2008 (or as otherwise indicated), cash and cash equivalents, other financial assets (receivables, short-term investments, other investments, fixed maturities, and related party assets) and obligations of each operating segment were:
 
   
Moving & Storage
   
RepWest (a)
   
Oxford (a)
 
   
(In thousands)
 
                   
Cash & cash equivalents
  $ 191,250     $ 6,848     $ 8,524  
Other financial assets
    343,358       402,329       590,320  
Debt obligations
    1,504,677       -       -  
                         
(a) As of December 31, 2007
                       
 

 
At March 31, 2008, our Moving and Storage operations (AMERCO, U-Haul and Real Estate) had cash available under existing credit facilities of $164.2 million and were comprised of:
 
   
March 31, 2008
 
   
(In millions)
 
       
Real estate loan (revolving credit)
  $ 100.0  
Construction loan (revolving credit)
    9.2  
Working capital loan (revolving credit)
    35.0  
Fleet loan (amortizing loan)
    20.0  
    $ 164.2  
 


 
32

 
 

 
A summary of our consolidated cash flows for fiscal 2008, 2007 and 2006 is shown in the table below:

   
Year Ended March 31,
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
   
(In thousands)
 
 Net cash provided by operating activities
  $ 329,287     $ 350,721     $ 270,508  
 Net cash used by investing activities
    (357,962 )     (517,619 )     (258,836 )
 Net cash provided by financing activities
    159,929