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UNITED STATES

UNITED

STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 20192021

or

 

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 000‑10685001-39812

Midwest Holding Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

20-0362426

Nebraska

20‑0362426

(State or other jurisdiction of

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

incorporation or organization)

Identification No.)

2900 S. 70th, Suite 400, Lincoln, NE

68506

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip           (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (402) 489‑8266817-5701

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None

Title of each class:Trading Symbol(s):Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered

Voting Common Stock, $0.001 par valueMDWTThe NASDAQ Stock Market, LLC

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None.

Title of each class:Trading Symbol(s):

Voting Common Stock, $0.001 par valueMDWT

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes   No

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes No

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  No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405c of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes   No

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§ 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10‑K or any amendment to this Form 10‑K.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b‑212b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer 

Accelerated filer 

Large accelerated filer  ☐ 

Accelerated filer  ☐ 

Non-accelerated filer  ☐ 

Smaller reporting company 

(Do not check if a

Emerging growth company  ☒ 

smaller reporting company)

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or reviewed financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined byin Rule 12b‑212b-2 of the Act). Yes No

The aggregate market value of the shares of the registrant’s common stock held by non-affiliates as of the last day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter was $1,281,854$111.0 million calculated by reference to the average of the bid and ask price of such voting common stock on June 30, 2019.2021.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes    No

As of March 12, 2020,24, 2022, there were 1,023,408,5533,737,564 shares of voting common stock, par value $0.001 per share, issued and outstanding.outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

None.

Table of Contents

MIDWEST HOLDING INC.

FORM 10‑K10-K

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Item No.

     

Item Caption

    

Page

Item No.

Item Caption

Page

PART I

Item 1.

Business 

3

Item 1A.

Risk Factors 

11

Item 1B.

Unresolved Staff Comments 

17

Item 2.

Properties 

17

Item 3.

Legal Proceedings 

17

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures 

17

PART II

5

Item 5.1A.

Risk Factors 

18

Item 1B.

Unresolved Staff Comments 

33

Item 2.

Properties 

34

Item 3.

Legal Proceedings 

34

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures 

34

PART II

Item 5.

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities 

17

35

Item 6.

Selected Financial Data 

18

36

Item 7.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 

19

36

Item 7A.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 

29

52

Item 8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 

30

52

Item 9.

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure 

30

Item 9A.

Controls and Procedures 

30

Item 9B.

Other Information

30

PART III

53

Item 10.9A.

Controls and Procedures 

53

Item 9B.

Other Information

53

PART III

Item 10.

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance 

31

54

Item 11.

Executive Compensation 

34

60

Item 12.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters 

36

64

Item 13.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence 

38

Item 14.

Principal Accounting Fees and Services

38

PART IV 

65

Item 15.14.

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

67

PART IV 

Item 15.

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules 

38

69

Item 16.

Form 10‑K10-K Summary 

41

71

Signatures

41

72

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PART I.

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsSPECIAL CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements contained or incorporated by reference in this Form 10‑K10-K constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.statements. These statements are based on management’s expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology including “could,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “intend,” or “continue,” the negative of these terms, or other comparable terminology used in connection with any discussion of future operating results or financial performance. These statements are only predictions and reflect our management’s good faith present expectation of future events and are subject to a number of important factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.

Factors that may cause the Company’sour actual results to differ materially from those contemplated or projected, forecast, estimated or budgeted in such forward-looking statements include among others, the following possibilities:  (i) our new business plan particularly including our reinsurance strategy may not prove to be successful; (ii) our reliance on third party

our business plan, particularly including our reinsurance strategy, may not prove to be successful;
the success of our recent changes in executive leadership;
our reliance on third-party insurance marketing organizations to market and sell our insurance products through a network of independent agents;
adverse changes in the ratings obtained from independent rating agencies;
failure to maintain adequate reinsurance;
our inability to expand our insurance operations outside the 22 states and District of Columbia in which we are currently licensed;
our insurance products may not achieve significant market acceptance;
we may continue to experience operating losses in the foreseeable future;
the possible loss or retirement of one or more of our key executive personnel;
intense competition, including the intensification of price competition, the entry of new competitors, and the introduction of new products by new and existing competitors;
adverse state and federal legislation or regulation, including limitations on premium levels, increases in minimum capital and reserve requirements, benefit mandates and tax treatment of insurance products;
fluctuations in interest rates causing a reduction of investment income or increase in interest expense and in the market value of interest-rate sensitive investments;
failure to obtain new customers, retain existing customers, or reductions in policies in force by existing customers;
higher service, administrative, or general expense due to the need for additional marketing, administrative or management information systems expenditures related to implementation of our business plan;
changes in our liquidity due to changes in asset and liability matching;
possible claims relating to sales practices for insurance products;
accuracy of management’s assumptions and estimates;

3

Table of independent agents; (iii) our inability to expand our insurance operations outside the 15 states in which we are currently licensed; (iv) our insurance products may not achieve significant market acceptance; (v) we may continue to experience operating losses in the foreseeable future; (vi) the possible loss or retirement of one or more of our key executive personnel; (vii) intense competition, including the intensification of price competition, the entry of new competitors, and the introduction of new products by new and existing competitors; (viii) adverse state and federal legislation or regulation, including decreases in rates, limitations on premium levels, increases in minimum capital and reserve requirements, benefit mandates and tax treatment of insurance products; (ix) fluctuations in interest rates causing a reduction of investment income or increase in interest expense and in the market value of interest rate sensitive investment; (x) failure to obtain new customers, retain existing customers or reductions in policies in force by existing customers; (xi) higher service, administrative, or general expense due to the need for additional advertising, marketing, administrative or management information systems expenditures; (vii) loss or retirement of key executives or employees; (xiii) changes in the Company’s liquidity due to changes in asset and liability matching; (xiv) adverse changes in the ratings obtained by independent rating agencies; (xv) failure to maintain adequate reinsurance; (xvi) possible claims relating to sales practices for insurance products; and (xvii) lawsuits in the ordinary course of business. Contents

variability of statutory capital required to be held by insurance or reinsurance entities; and
lawsuits in the ordinary course of business.

See “Risk Factors” below in “Item 1. Business”beginning on page 18 for further discussion of the significantmaterial risks associated with our business.

You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this Form 10-K or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Unless the context otherwise requires, we use the terms “Midwest Holding,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” in this Form 10-K to refer to Midwest Holding Inc. together with its consolidated subsidiaries and any reference to “Midwest” relates to Midwest Holding Inc. (parent) only.

Summary of Risks Associated with our Business and Voting Common Stock

Our business andis subject to risks of which you should be aware before making an investment decision. These risks are discussed more fully in our common stock.the “Risk Factors” section of this report. A summary of these risks include, but are not limited to, the following:

Our reliance on third-party insurance marketing organizations to market and sell our insurance products could face difficulties that could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

Our reinsurance program was designed to enable us to write larger amounts of business while limiting our risk exposure and maximizing the use of our available regulatory capital. Market conditions beyond our control impact the availability and cost of the reinsurance we purchase. No assurances can be given that reinsurance will remain continuously available to us to the same extent and on the same terms and rates as currently available. We remain liable with respect to ceded insurance should any reinsurer fail to meet the obligations assumed by that reinsurer.

Financial strength ratings are important factors in establishing the competitive position of insurance companies and generally have an effect on an insurance company’s business. The inability to obtain an upgrade to our financial strength rating from A.M. Best, or the possibility of a downgrade in our rating, may have a material adverse effect on our competitive position, the marketability of our product offerings.

Our new insurance products and other products we may develop may not achieve market penetration.

Fluctuations in interest rates causing a reduction of investment income or increase in interest expense and the market value of interest-rate sensitive investments could adversely affect our business.

The insurance industry is highly regulated and our activities are restricted as a result. State insurance regulators are charged with protecting policyholders and have broad regulatory, supervisory and administrative powers over our business practices, including, among other things, the power to grant and revoke licenses to transact business, and the power to regulate and approve underwriting practices and rate changes, which may delay the implementation of premium rate changes or prevent us from making changes we believe are necessary to match rate to risk.

The domiciliary regulator of American Life, the Nebraska Department of Insurance, imposes risk-based capital requirements on us to ensure that insurance companies maintain appropriate levels of surplus to support our overall business operations and to protect customers against adverse developments. If the amount of our capital falls below this minimum, we may face restrictions with respect to soliciting new business and/or keeping existing business. Similar regulations will apply in other states in which American Life currently or may operate.

We are highly dependent upon Georgette Nicholas, our Chief Executive Officer, and Mike Minnich, our President, and the loss of either of these officers could materially and adversely affect our business.

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The annuity and life insurance industry is highly competitive. Many of the insurance companies authorized to do business in states where we conduct business are well-established companies with good reputations that offer broader lines of insurance products, have larger selling organizations, and possess significantly greater financial and human resources than we do. Our business will suffer if we are unable to compete effectively.

The ongoing events resulting from the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the uncertainty regarding future similar events, could have an adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.

Our business plan, seeking to become a capital efficient, technology-enabled and service-oriented solutions provider to the annuity and life markets, may not be successful.

We have experienced significant operating losses and may not be able to reverse them in the foreseeable future.

The impact on customers and vendors of sustained or significant deterioration in national or worldwide economic conditions could adversely affect our business.

We are exposed to significant financial and capital markets risk, including changes in interest rates, equity prices, market volatility, the performance of the economy in general, the performance of the specific obligors included in our investment portfolio and other factors outside our control. Our exposure to interest rate risk relates primarily to the market price and cash flow variability associated with changes in interest rates.

Our business success depends, in part, on safe and effective information technology systems and on continuing to develop and implement improvements in our technology.

The market price and trading volume of our voting common stock has been volatile, which has resulted in and could continue to result in, rapid and substantial losses for our stockholders.

Our failure to meet the continued listing requirements of the Nasdaq Capital Market could result in a delisting of our voting common stock.

There may be future issuances or resales of our voting common stock, including by our management, which may materially and adversely affect the market price of our voting common stock.

We do not expect to pay any cash dividends to stockholders.

ITEM 1. BUSINESS.

GeneralOur Company and Business Model

Midwest Holding Inc.We are a financial services company focused on helping people plan and secure their future by providing technology-enabled and services-oriented solutions to support individuals’ retirement through our annuity products. We currently distribute our annuities through independent distributors who are primarily independent marketing organizations (“Midwest,”IMOs”). Our operations are comprised of four distinct, inter-connected businesses. We seek to reinsure our annuity policies using a reinsurance platform that is attractive to traditional reinsurance entities and other institutional investors seeking above average risk-adjusted returns uncorrelated to the “Company,” “we,”equity markets. To date we have developed relationships with reinsurers who capitalize and manage their own reinsurance capital vehicles utilizing our infrastructure and expertise. Our long-term goal is to build a platform that provides competitive annuity and life insurance products via efficient technology resulting in a seamless customer experience.

We believe that our operating capabilities and technology platform provides annuity distributors and reinsurers with flexible and cost-effective solutions. We seek to create value through our ability to provide the distributors and reinsurers with annuity product innovation, speed to market for new products, competitive rates and commissions, and streamlined customer and agent experiences. Our capital model allows us to support increasing annuity sales volumes with capital capacity provided by reinsurers.

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We provide an end-to-end solution to manage annuity products that includes a broad set of product development, distribution support, policy administration, and asset/liability management services. Our technology platform enables us to efficiently develop, sell and administer a wide range of products. Our asset management services are also provided to third-party insurers and reinsurers.

We currently offer annuity products, consisting of multi-year guaranteed annuity (“MYGA”) and fixed indexed annuity (“FIA”) policies, through IMOs that in turn distribute our products and services to independent insurance agents in 22 states and the District of Columbia. We further provide IMOs with our product development expertise, administrative capabilities and technology platform.

We seek to reinsure substantially all of our annuity policies with third-party reinsurers and our captive reinsurance subsidiary, Seneca Reinsurance Company, LLC (“Seneca Re”). Our third-party reinsurers include traditional reinsurers and capital markets reinsurers, which are third-party investors seeking Our third-party reinsurers include traditional reinsurers and capital markets reinsurers, who are seeking exposure to reinsurance revenue and typically do not have their own reinsurance platforms or “us”) wasinsurance related operations.

We were formed in Nebraska in 2003 as a financial services holding company. company and began our insurance operations in 2009. Following a change in control transaction in 2018, we began implementing our current business model and strategic plan. In December 2020, our voting common stock was listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker symbol MDWT.

We have two subsidiaries that we operate our core business through; 1)through four subsidiaries under one reportable segment. American Life & Security Corp. (“American Life”), is a Nebraska-domiciled life insurance company, with executive offices at 2900 South 70th Street, Suite 400, Lincoln, Nebraska 68506, phone number (402) 489‑8266,that is also commercially domiciled in Texas and 2)is currently licensed to sell, underwrite, and market life insurance and annuity products in 22 states and the District of Columbia. American Life obtained a financial strength rating of B++ (“Good”) from A.M. Best Company (“A.M. Best”), a leading rating agency for insurance companies, in December 2018 that was affirmed in December 2020 and February 2022. A.M. Best also upgraded American Life’s long-term issuer credit rating to bbb+ from bbb in December 2020 and affirmed in February 2022. All of our annuities are written by American Life.

Our other insurance subsidiary, Seneca Re, is a Vermont-domiciled sponsored captive reinsurance company established in early 2020 to reinsure various types of risks on behalf of American Life and third-party capital providers through special purpose reinsurance entities known as “protected cells.”  Through Seneca Re, we assist capital market investors in establishing and licensing new protected cells. 1505 Capital LLC, (“1505 Capital”), a Delaware limited liability company (“1505 Capital”), is an SEC registered investment adviser that provides financial, and investment advisory, and management servicesservices.

We seek to deliver long-term value by growing our annuity volumes and generating profitable fee-based revenue. We generate fees and other revenue based on the gross deposits received on the annuity policies we issue, reinsure, and administer.

By reinsuring a significant portion of the annuity policies we issue, the level of capital needed for American Life is significantly less than retaining all of the business on its books. We believe this “capital light” approach has the potential to produce enhanced returns for our business compared to a traditional insurance company capital structure. This strategy helps alleviate our insurance regulatory capital requirements because policies that are reinsured require substantially less capital and surplus than policies retained by us. We also have the flexibility to selectively retain assets and liabilities associated with our policies for a period of time when we expect that doing so will provide an office at 100 Wall Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10038.attractive return on our capital.

As of December 31, 2019, statutory2021, approximately 50% of the deposits received, in the current year, relating to our annuity products were ceded to reinsurance vehicles capitalized by third party reinsurers or held in protected cells within Seneca Re for future reinsurance transactions.

For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, we generated $30.1 million and $10.6 million of revenue from investment income, realized gains on investments, ceding commissions earned, policy administration, and asset management fees.

In 2018, we launched our business plan to become a capital efficient, technology-enabled, and service-oriented solutions provider to the annuity and life markets. We provide insurance distributors and reinsurers with an end-to-end solution to develop, issue and administer annuity products.

We utilize our insurance and ancillary services businesses to develop and issue annuities through IMOs. We generally seek to reinsure substantially all of the financial risk associated with our policies to third-party reinsurers, including traditional and capital markets

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reinsurers, and Seneca Re. We also have the flexibility to selectively retain assets and liabilities associated with our policies for a period of time when we expect that doing so will provide an attractive return on our capital.

Through our ancillary services businesses we administer the policies we issue and offer asset management services to our reinsurance partners for a fee. Through Seneca Re, we also assist capital market investors in establishing and licensing new special purpose reinsurance entities. We believe our broad service offering provides a growing and valuable fee stream, and expect that our policy administration and asset management fee income will increase as we grow our number of administered policies and the associated assets that we manage. In the future, we expect to have opportunities to increase our policy administration and asset management revenue by providing these services on a stand-alone basis to new customers.

We seek to create value for our distribution and reinsurance partners by facilitating product innovation, rapid speed to market for new products, competitively-priced products, streamlined customer and agent experience, and efficient technology-enabled operations. We generate fee income from reinsurers in the form of ceding commissions, policy administration fees, and asset management fees. We typically receive upfront ceding commissions and expense reimbursements at the time the policies are reinsured and policy administration fees over the policy lifetimes. We also earn asset management fees on the assets we hold that support the obligations of many of our reinsurers.

Our reinsurance strategy helps alleviate our insurance regulatory capital requirements because policies that are reinsured require substantially less capital and surplus than policies retained by us. In investing on behalf of our insurance and reinsurance company subsidiaries, we seek to maximize yield by constructing portfolios that include a diversified portfolio of bonds, mortgages, private credit and structured securities, including collateralized loan obligations while minimizing the difference in duration between our investment assets and liabilities.

Our Products

Through American Life we presently issue several MYGA and FIA products. American Life presently offers five annuity products, two MYGAs, a FIA, and two bonus plans associated with the FIA product. It is not presently offering any traditional life insurance products. Fixed annuities are a type of insurance contract in which the policyholder makes one or more premium deposits, earning interest at a crediting rate determined in relation to a specific market index, on a tax deferred basis. MYGAs are insurance contracts under which the policyholder makes deposits and earns a crediting rate guaranteed for a specified number of years before it may be changed. American Life’s MYGA products are three and five-year single premium deferred individual annuity contracts, providing consumers with an attractive, low risk, predictable and tax-deferred investment option. American Life’s FIA products are long-term (7 and 10-year) annuity products with interest rates that are tied, in part, to published stock market indices chosen by customers. The FIA products are modified single premium annuity contracts designed for individuals seeking to benefit from potential market gains with fully protected principal. American Life began selling its MYGA and FIA products in 2019.

We introduced two new indexes into the selections on FIA products. The S&P 500 ESG index for fixed annuities, comprised of a subset S&P 500 companies built to meet the increasing needs of investors seeking socially responsible investments aligned with a mainstream index which is published by one of the foremost index authorities in the world, S&P Dow Jones Indices (S&P DJI).

The Goldman Sachs Xenith Index is a multi-asset strategy that uses the anticipated macro regime, as identified by a leading economic indicator, to make asset allocations. By using a leading economic indicator, the Goldman Sachs Xenith Index differs from indices that rely on a backward-looking methodology alone. Instead of relying purely on the S&P 500 Index for exposure to U.S. equities, the index employs an intraday overlay that can reduce equity exposure based on intra-day trading "signals". As a result, the strategy incorporates real-time market movements, in addition to other factors, in its rules-based methodology.

We expect to expand American Life’s product line in the future and we recently introduced two index FIAs, the “S&P 500 ESG Index” and the “Goldman Sachs Xenith Index.” Depending on market demand, we expect to consider having American Life write a wide variety of insurance products, including fixed deferred, fixed indexed and other annuities. Any new insurance products we create must be filed with and approved by appropriate state insurance regulatory authorities before being offered to the public. American Life’s MYGA and FIA products were developed using an independent consulting actuary, and we expect that any new products will utilize similar services. Our long-term plan is to broaden  our products to life and Medicare supplements under attractive market conditions.

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The table below sets forth American Life’s MYGA and FIA deposits received during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020:

Year ended December 31, 

2021

2020

(In thousands)

Deposits Received(1)

Deposits Received(1)

Annuity Premium

MYGA

$

126,588

$

114,661

FIA

345,058

300,900

Total issued

$

471,646

$

415,561

1)Under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”), these products are defined as deposit-type contracts; therefore, the deposits received are accounted for under GAAP as deposit-type liabilities on our balance sheet and are not recognized as revenue in our consolidated statement of comprehensive loss. Under Statutory Accounting Principles, the MYGA and FIA premiums are treated as premiums written and as revenue when earned.

Our Ancillary Services

Policy Administration

We provide a cloud-based policy administration solution called “m.pas,” which operates as a division of American Life. We built m.pas to provide a scalable policy administration solution for annuity products. Its policy administration platform is a flexible solution designed to aggregate and manage structured and unstructured data, and provide operational efficiencies that lead to lower policy administration costs relative to traditional insurance carriers. This technology-enabled solution also provides relatively shortened new product launch capabilities and our platform facilitates integration of asset/liability management into traditional asset portfolio risk systems. We are under contract with most of our reinsurers to administer all policies ceded under our various reinsurance agreements. We believe this solution creates an opportunity to expand these services into a broader business as a third-party administrator (“TPA”) for other insurers.

Asset Management

1505 Capital provides asset-liability management services to American Life, third-party reinsurers and third-party insurance clients. 1505 Capital provides its expertise, and infrastructure to develop and implement customized solutions for clients seeking to optimize risk-adjusted portfolio yields, liquidity, maturity profile, risk and capital monitoring, and asset-liability management. 1505 Capital also focuses on originating and managing commercial mortgages, private credit, and structured products. We generally require reinsurers to secure their obligations to American Life in the form of assets deposited on American Life’s balance sheet  or via assets held in trust to provide security for potential claims. Reinsurers may appoint 1505 Capital to manage these assets pursuant to guidelines adopted by us that are consistent with state investment statutes and reinsurance regulations. At December 31, 2021, 1505 Capital had approximately $405 million total third-party reinsurer assets under management.

Our Partners

Distributors

We currently have selling agreements with eight IMOs that contract with numerous independent agents to sell our annuity policies. The IMOs recruit, train and support independent agents who sell annuities, life insurance and other financial products to consumers. Although we contract with the IMOs, we also have contracts with each agent. We require agents who distribute our policies to complete our product and compliance training in anti-money laundering, annuity products and annuity suitability, and the annuity products we offer. As of December 31, 2021, we had 1,686 active agents under contract.

We support our distribution partners by enabling them to introduce additional products, meet the needs of independent agents and consumers, implement flexible policy designs and bring new products to market quickly. Our technology capabilities allow for flexible product design with speed to market to meet the needs of independent agents and consumers. We believe that if we are able to achieve

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an upgrade of American Life’s A.M. Best rating to A-, it would increase the demand for our annuities, and would attract additional distribution and reinsurance partners, including small to mid-sized banks and broker-dealers.

Reinsurance.

As indicated above, reinsurance is an integral part of our business plan. We market, underwrite and issue annuity products through American Life and seek to reinsure the policies with third-party reinsurers and Seneca Re. We partner with traditional third-party reinsurers and reinsurers sponsored by capital markets investors, including asset managers and institutional investors. We believe this strategy helps us preserve our capital while supporting sales growth because we have lower capital requirements when the policy liabilities are reinsured than when we retain all of the policy liabilities.

In some cases, we will retain our policies for a period of time in our captive reinsurance company in order to create block reinsurance transactions. We expect that our ability to accumulate and reinsure larger portfolios of policies over time should increase the size and number of reinsurers who seek to reinsure our liabilities.

Seneca Re was formed to operate as a sponsored captive insurance company for the purpose of reinsuring insurance policies through protected cells, under Vermont insurance regulations. Seneca Re provides an efficient structure for capital markets investors to reinsure our policies through protected cells that we manage. As of December 31, 2021, through Seneca Re and American Life we had five reinsurance agreements with third parties and a reinsurance agreement with an affiliate of Crestline Assurance Holdings LLC, discussed below.

Our Technology

Our business model utilizes a modern, end-to-end, cloud-based technology platform that we began implementing in 2018. This platform enables us to develop, sell and administer a broad range of competitive annuity products. We license key components of our technology from third-party software providers, including product development, new business, distribution management and policy administration applications. We believe this strategy allows us to provide high quality technology capabilities with limited capital investment and increased flexibility. In addition, we have added several core technology integrations to optimize the speed and efficiency of our interactions with IMOs, their agents and policyholders, including document management, electronic application capability, secure log-ins, and an agent and policyholder portal. We believe our technology platform provides cost effective product development, sales and administration that enables us to control the growth of our operating and other expenses while expanding our operations and growing our sales volume.

Our Market Opportunity

We participate in a large U.S. market that we expect to grow in part due to a number of demographic trends. As measured by annual premiums written, annuities are the largest product line in the life, annuity, and accident and health sector. Annuities play an important role in retirement planning by providing individuals with stable, tax-efficient sources of income. In 2020 annuity premiums, accounted for $295 billion of annual premiums, or approximately 31% of the $963 billion of total annual life, annuity, and accident and health premiums according to Insurance Information Institute.The most common annuities are fixed and variable and can be written on an individual or group basis. Our current products are FIA’s written on an individual basis.

An increasing portion of the U.S. population is of retirement age and is expected to increase the retirement income needs of retirees. The number of people of retirement age has increased significantly since 2010, driven by the aging of the “Baby Boomer” generation. The U.S. population over 65 years old is forecast to grow from 56 million in 2020 to an estimated 81 million in the next 20 years, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates and Projections.This study also forecasted that U.S. population aged over 65 years old is expected to grow by 44% from 2020 to 2040, while the total U.S. population is expected to grow by only 12%.

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Annuities in the U.S. are distributed through a number of channels, most of which are independent from the insurance companies that issue annuities. Independent distribution channels serve as the primary and a growing source of annuity distribution. In 2020, approximately 77% of U.S. individual annuity sales occurred through independent distributors, including independent agents, broker-dealers, and banks, representing an increase from approximately 70% in 2016 according to U.S. Individual Annuities, 2020 Year in Review, Life Insurance Marketing and Research Association (“LIMRA”), 2021.Independent agents are the second largest distribution channel, behind independent broker-dealers, accounting for approximately 19% of U.S. individual annuity sales in 2020. IMOs provide independent agents with access to annuity products along with operational support services and functionality to support the distribution services of the agents. The infrastructure and support services provided by IMOs to independent agents are critical to the success of independent agents and their ability to serve their customers and generate additional sales.

We believe that capital markets investors have been actively seeking investing in and acquiring insurance and reinsurance companies in recent years. Fixed annuities provide upfront premiums and stable, long-term payment obligations and are thus attractive sources of liability-funded assets for a variety of traditional and alternative asset managers and investors. However, there are significant regulatory and operational hurdles for capital providers looking to enter the insurance market. These hurdles are exacerbated by the limited legacy administrative capabilities, product development processes and technology systems, of traditional insurers and reinsurers. We provide asset managers and investors the ability to seamlessly access funding from annuities through a variety of reinsurance entities that we can form quickly and operate efficiently with lower upfront and ongoing regulatory and operating costs.

We operate in highly competitive markets with a variety of participants, including insurance companies, financial institutions, asset managers, and reinsurance companies. These companies compete in various forms in the annuity market, for investment assets and for services. We seek to build strong relationships along with offering technology-enabled and services-oriented solutions for our partners.

Our Competitive Strengths

Differentiated Value Proposition

We provide annuity product development and asset management services, enhanced by American Life’s A.M. Best financial strength rating and licenses to sell annuity products in 22 states and the District of Columbia. We have developed and implemented a technology platform and administrative services that we believe provides us with the opportunity to expand our revenue opportunities, lower our operating costs on a per policy basis and increase customer value for our distribution partners. We believe our business model and multi-service capabilities provide our reinsurance and capital provider participants with attractive capital deployment opportunities.

We  also believe our ongoing strategy to have American Life become licensed to sell insurance in additional states and seek a higher A.M. Best rating will further strengthen our value.

Multiple Revenue Sources

Our business model generates upfront ceding commissions and fee-based revenue from recurring policy administration and asset management fees. We receive ceding commissions and expense reimbursement from reinsurers at the time we cede our primary insurance liabilities to them, providing meaningful cash flow. During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, we generated $11.2 and $10.6 million, respectively, in upfront ceding commissions. On our balance sheet is an item “deferred gains on reinsurance” equaling $28.5 million and $18.2 million as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively which will be earned as revenue over the contract periods. Amortization of the deferred gain on reinsurance was $3.0 million and $1.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, and 2020, respectively, and was recognized as revenue under GAAP. We also receive policy administration fees on annuities that we issue and manage, and we receive asset management fees from most of our third-party reinsurers relating to assets they deposit as collateral to cover claims on the policies they reinsure. These fees are typically received over the life of our annuity products, usually over five to ten years, thereby providing a stable revenue stream.

Capital Structure

Our business model utilizes our insurance and reinsurance industry participants to transfer assets and liabilities associated with our issued annuities to third-party capital providers and Seneca Re via reinsurance agreements. This strategy reduces our regulatory capital and surplus requirements because policies that are reinsured require less capital and surplus reserves than policies retained by us, allowing us to grow our business without significant capital constraints.

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Table of Contents

Effective Use of Technology

We believe we are well-positioned to capitalize on the accelerating trend of digital transformation across the insurance industry. We believe our modern, fully functional technology platform provides us a significant opportunity to penetrate large addressable markets with our compressed product development cycles.

Scalable, Low-Cost Operations

We focus on investing in technology enhanced processes that improve the efficiency and effectiveness of developing, distributing, issuing and managing our annuity products. We believe our model allows us to develop attractively priced products that are desirable for our IMOs to market. We currently operate on a small scale in a large addressable market. Going forward, our technology platform and streamlined processes should enable us to be scalable and allow us to produce incremental premium volumes without significant additional investment in infrastructure and with low incremental fixed operating costs.

Lower-Risk, Business Model

We believe our business model enables us to operate with reduced risk because we reinsure a substantial portion of our business. While we would have to pay policy claims in the event of non-payment of them by any of our reinsurers, we often obtain collateral from reinsurers to provide for policy claims or use reinsurers who have creditworthy ratings.Further, we have designed American Life’s MYGA and FIA products to have fixed, predictable costs with low volatility and surrender charges that discourage redemptions prior to maturity and contain features to reward persistency.

We generate revenue through the ceding commissions and other fee income we receive from our reinsurance providers and the ancillary services we provide. Also, we incur minimal direct expenses associated with the ceding commissions we generate, and we incur low incremental expenses on additional policy volumes we produce. As a result, we believe we will be able to achieve profitable incremental fee-based revenue from additional premium volume. Because we have a fully integrated technology platform, we also expect that we will be able to increase our operating margins as we continue to scale our business.

Entrepreneurial, Highly Experienced and Aligned Management Team

Our highly experienced, entrepreneurial senior management team has extensive experience in insurance, technology, and investment management. Georgette Nicholas, our Chief Executive Officer has more than 30 years’ experience in the global financial services industry including insurance reinsurance and capital markets. She has a commitment to developing strong culture and leadership in organizations, supporting diversity and inclusion to grow engagement. Ms. Nicholas previously held the position of CEO and Managing Director for Genworth Mortgage Insurance Australia, a publicly listed Australian Securities Exchange Ltd company in Sydney, Australia. She also held various roles with Genworth Financial, Inc. in investor relations, chief financial officer roles in the mortgage insurance business and controllership. Ms. Nicholas also worked in public accounting, including as a firm director with Deloitte.

Michael Minnich, our President, has over 25 years of experience in asset management, insurance company management, technology and risk management. Prior to joining Midwest, Mr. Minnich served as managing member of Rendezvous Capital LLC, a New York firm advising insurers on capital and investments. Previously, he was a Managing Director at Swiss Re, where he managed a multibillion-dollar investment portfolio.

Our Growth Strategy

Expand Market Presence

We believe that our current product offerings should enable us to achieve policy sales growth as we increase the number of states in which we become licensed to sell insurance. Many of our IMOs distribute to insurance agents throughout the United States, and we expect they will increase their sales volume as American Life enters new states.

The 22 states and District of Columbia in which we currently operate represented over $113 billion in total annuity premiums during 2021. By comparison, we generated $417.6 million of total annuity premiums under SAP for the year ended December 31, 2021.

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Table of Contents

Develop Additional Distribution and Reinsurance Relationships

We currently distribute annuity products through eight third-party IMOs. We believe our product development, prompt policy processing, operating flexibility and speed to market make us a desirable partner for insurance distributors. We will seek to grow by increasing volumes with our current IMOs and by establishing new IMO relationships.

We are seeking to leverage the relationships we have with reinsurers, capital markets investors and reinsurance intermediaries to develop additional reinsurance relationships. In addition, as indicated above we established Seneca Re in early 2020 to operate as a sponsored captive insurance company for the purpose of insuring and reinsuring various types of insurance risks for American Life and various and third-party capital providers through protected cells. Also, in early 2020, we developed a strategic relationship with Crestline Assurance Holdings LLC and its affiliates discussed below to provide reinsurance capital and access to quality assets with attractive risk-adjusted returns.

Exploit Established Corporate Platform

We believe that we have the leadership and corporate culture, industry relationships, infrastructure and technology to achieve growth and improve operating margins with increased annuity sales. We believe we have an efficient corporate platform to support increased sales volumes, an expansion of our distribution relationships and the development of new annuity products without significant additional incremental costs.

Revenue from Policy Administration and Asset Management Services

In addition to the ceding commissions we receive through our reinsurance strategy, we generate recurring fee income for providing policy administration and asset management services to third-party reinsurers. We are contracted to administer all of our policies ceded under various reinsurance agreements. We also provide asset management services for most of our third-party reinsurers. We believe these complementary services provide a differentiated solution to third-party reinsurers that should assist us in developing additional reinsurer relationships.

Continue to Invest in Technology Capabilities

Our business strategy is centered upon our commitment to apply technology to improve and expand our business. We have developed a modern technology platform with a combination of proprietary and third-party systems that enables us to efficiently develop, sell and administer a broad range of annuity products. We expect to continue to develop our technology platform to expand the technology-enabled capabilities we offer to distributors and reinsurers.

History

We are a financial services holding company that was originally incorporated in Nebraska in October 2003. In September 2009, American Life was approximately $19.5 million and it was rated “B++” (“Good”) by A.M. Best.

Developmentissued a certificate of Businessauthority to conduct life insurance business in 2019

Our fiscal years ending December 31, 2019 and 2018 were transformative for us through a recapitalization and new business plan.

Change in Control in 2018 and Adoption of New Business Plan

Change in Control

OnNebraska. In June 28, 2018, we underwent a change in control as a result of the closing of a Loan, Convertible Preferred Stock and Convertible Senior Secured Note Purchase Agreement dated May 9, 2018 (the “Agreement”“Xenith Agreement”) with a then non-affiliated third party,third-party, Xenith Holdings LLC

3

a Delaware limited liability company (“Xenith”). Xenith iswas a wholly controlled subsidiary of Vespoint LLC a Delaware limited liability company (“Vespoint”), which iswas also the manager of Xenith. Vespoint is owned and managed by AMS Advisors LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Rendezvous Capital LLC, a New York limited liability company. Each of these three companies is a private investment company; they are controlled by Michael Minnich and A. Michael Salem, who are Co-Chief Executive Officers of Vespoint.

The terms and conditions of the Agreement are described in our Current Report on Form 8‑K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on May 14, 2018. The Agreement was filed as an exhibitPursuant to the referenced Current Report on Form 8‑K.

AtXenith Agreement, we issued Series C Preferred Stock and convertible senior secured notes to Xenith between June and December 2018. Of the funds received from Xenith, we contributed $20.5 million to American Life through capital contributions. Following the closing of the Xenith Agreement, we issued 1,500,000 shares of newly created Series C Convertible Preferred Stock (“embarked on implementing our current business plan.

In June 2019, the Xenith Series C Preferred Stock”) to Xenith for $1,500,000, which was rankedStock and convertible senior tosecured notes were converted into 145,709 shares and 1,855,361 shares of our voting common stock, on liquidation with a preferencerespectively. In August 2020, Xenith distributed all of $1.00 per share. Annual dividendsits shares of 8% of the Series C Preferred Stock liquidation preference were payable by us. Prior to conversion on June 18, 2019, and at any time after June 28, 2025, Xenith could have required us to redeem the Series C Preferred Stock at the liquidation preference (plus accrued dividends) or fair market value, whichever was greater. The Preferred Stock voted along with theour voting common stock on an “as converted” basis. Also, holders of Preferred Stock voting as a separate Series were entitled to elect five of the Company’s eightits members, including Vespoint. On November 10, 2020, Vespoint distributed all of its Boardshares of Directors. our voting common stock to its members.

In August 2020, we effected a 500 for one reverse stock split of our issued and outstanding shares of voting common stock, and we reincorporated in Delaware.

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Table of Contents

On June 18, 2019, allDecember 17, 2020, our voting common stock was listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “MDWT.”  On December 21, 2020, we completed a public offering of the Series C Preferred Stock shares were converted, at Xenith’s election, into 72,854,4741,000,000 shares of our voting common stock at approximately $0.02a price to the public of $70.00 per share. All accrued dividends were waived.

Also, at closingThe aggregate net proceeds of the offering were approximately $65.1 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions.

On November 10, 2021, Midwest purchased 1,000 shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value per share for a total purchase price of $5.7 million for 100% ownership in an intermediary holding company Midwest Capital Corporation. Also, on November 10, 2021, Seneca Re Protected Cell 2021-03 (“SRC3”) was granted a Certificate of Authority by the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation. The intermediary holding company contributed capital of $5.5 million to purchase 100% of SRC3 Class A and B capital stock. Also, on November 10, 2021, American Life and SRC3 entered into a Funds Withheld and Modified Coinsurance Agreement, Xenith loanedwhereby, SRC3 agreed to provide reinsurance funding for a quota share percentage of 45% of the liabilities of American Life arising from its MYGA and quota share percentage of 45% of American Life’s FIA products.

As discussed above, Midwest owned 100% in SRC1 by contributing a total of $600,000$21.4 million. On December 30, 2021, Midwest closed the sale of approximately 70% of Seneca Incorporate Cell, LLC 2020-01 (“SRC1”) to a subsidiary of ORIX Corporation USA “ORIX USA”) for $15.0 million. Under the terms of the agreement, Midwest repayable upon maturityholds a 30% ownership interest in 10 yearsSRC1. ORIX Advisers, LLC, another subsidiary of ORIX USA, will be the manager of the assets underlying SRC1’s reinsurance obligations going forward, replacing Midwest’s asset management arm, 1505 Capital LLC.

Crestline Relationship

On April 24, 2020, we entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with cash interestCrestline Assurance Holdings LLC (“Crestline”) an institutional alternative investment management firm under which we issued 444,444 shares of 4% per annum payable quarterly and accrued interest of another 4% per annum payable upon maturity. The loan was converted by Xenith into an aggregate 29,141,790our voting common stock to Crestline for aggregate proceeds of $10.0 million. Also, on April 24, 2020, we issued 231,655 shares on June 18, 2019.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares of Voting

 

 

 

 

Loan

 

Common Stock into

 

 

 

 

Principal

 

which Loans Were

 

 

Date of Loan and Preferred Stock

    

Amount

    

Converted

    

Conversion Date

June 28, 2018

 

$

500,000

 

24,284,825

 

June 18, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 28, 2018

 

 

100,000

 

4,856,965

 

June 18, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

October 10, 2018

 

 

1,000,000

 

48,569,650

 

June 18, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 7, 2018

 

 

17,500,000

 

849,968,875

 

June 18, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 28, 2018

 

 

1,500,000

 

72,854,474

 

June 18, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

20,600,000

 

1,000,534,789

 

  

Management Additions. At the closingof our voting common stock to various other investors in separate transactions for approximately $5.3 million. We contributed $5.0 million of the Agreement, Xenith appointed three membersnet proceeds to American Life’s five-personLife and used $3.3 million of the proceeds to capitalize Seneca Re and its first protected cell. We also entered into a Stockholders Agreement along with Xenith and Vespoint that grants Crestline certain rights. Also, Douglas K. Bratton, a principal of Crestline, was appointed as a director of both our board of directors including Messrs. Minnich and Salem, who were subsequently appointed as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, respectively,American Life board of American Life. Messrs. Minnich and Salem are control persons of Xenith. Information with regard to Messrs. Minnich and Salem is set forth in Item 10 – Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.directors.

Also, upon closing of the Agreement,In addition, on April 24, 2020, American Life entered into employment agreements with Messrs. Salema three-year master letter agreement and Minnich and we entered into an amended and restated employment agreement with our President, Mark A. Oliver.

Increased Capitalization. In connection with the Agreement, an amendment to increase the number of shares of our capital stock was approved by our shareholders at our annual meeting of shareholders held on November 13, 2018. The total number of shares of capital stock of all classes of which we have authority to issue is now 2,000,000,000, consisting of 1,970,000,000 shares of voting common stock, 20,000,000 shares of non-voting common stock, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock.

4

New Business Plan

Following the closing of the Agreement, we embarked on implementing our new business plan to leverage technology to create, sell and administer competitive life and annuity products through  independent marketing organizations (“IMO”) while reinsuring substantially all of the insurance policies we write with third-party reinsurers.

The Business Plan. We are currently implementing our plan to become a leading, technology-enabled, services-oriented, life and annuity insurance company, with complementary policy administrationrelated reinsurance, trust and asset management services. Our primary objective isagreement with Seneca Re and a Crestline affiliate regarding the flow of annuity reinsurance and related asset management, whereby Crestline agreed to leverageprovide reinsurance funding for a quota share percentage of 25% of the product-development and policy administration-capabilities and the “B++” (“Good”) A.M. Best ratingliabilities of American Life to createarising from its MYGA and sell life and annuity products through IMOs while reinsuring substantially allquota share percentage of the insurance policies we write with third-party reinsurers. This strategy is commonly referred to as “fronting.” The IMOs we have under contract offer life and annuity products, infrastructure and other services to independent insurance agents. A key component40% of our plan is to reinsure substantially all of the policies we write with third-party reinsurers, who assume the financial risk of our insurance and annuity policies. In a typical reinsurance transaction, we earn up front ceding commissions from the reinsurer and policy administration fees. In some cases, we earn asset management fees from reinsurers for managing assets they set aside to meet their reinsurance obligations. Our reinsurance strategy helps alleviate American Life’s regulatory capital and surplus requirements because policies that are reinsured by third parties require less capital and surplus reserves than policies retained by us. See “Reinsurance” below for further discussion. We are currently selling a multi-year guaranteed annuityFIA products. The Crestline affiliate contributed $40.0 million of assets to capitalize SRC2 now known as Crestline Re SP1 (“MYGA”Crestline SP1”) and a fixed index annuity (“FIA”) product through three IMOs.

We are seeking to create value through our ability to compete in the areas of:

·

life and annuity product innovation;

·

speed to market of new products;

·

competitive insurance rates and commissions;

·

streamlined customer and agent experience;

·

ease and efficient cost of doing business using our technology;

·

asset management for insurers and reinsurers; and

·

lower capital requirements through our use of reinsurance.

Technology. We have developed a modern technology platform that enables us to develop, sell and administer a broad range of life and annuity products. Functional implementation of the platform began in early 2019. We license key components of our technology from third-party software providers, including product development, new business, distribution management and policy administration modules that are hosted in the Amazon Web Services cloud. In addition, several core technology integrations were added, including document management, electronic application capability, secure log-ins and an agent and policyholder portal. Management believes this technology should result in cost effective product development, sales and administration as we scale up through increased product sales and management also believes it will also provide us with the ability to expand third party administrative services. We continue to refine the functionality of our technology on an ongoing basis.

2020 Plan. Our business objectives for 2020 are to develop additional insurance products in close consultation with our independent consulting actuary and IMOs that we believe have an in-depth understanding of the demands of the marketplace. Our goal is to create and adjust products quickly and cost effectively where we perceive (i) market demand, (ii) interest from IMOs and (iii) available reinsurance capacity. We may offer products exclusively through certain IMOs to develop specific products, giving the products a competitive advantage.

Reinsurance of our Legacy Insurance Business. In conjunction with implementing our new business plan, in late 2018. Through December 31, 2021, American Life closed a reinsurance agreement with Unified Life Insurance Company, an unaffiliated Texas insurance company. Termshad ceded $227.2 million face amount of this agreement are described in our Current Report on Form 8‑K, filed with the SEC on November 16, 2018. In the transaction,annuities to Crestline SP1. American Life received net proceedstotal ceding commissions of $3.5$12.9 million and expense reimbursements of $24.1 million in connection with these transactions for the reinsurer assumedyear ended December 31, 2021. Effective December 8, 2020, American Life entered into a novation agreement with SRC2 and Crestline Re SPC, an exempted segregated portfolio company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, for and on behalf of Crestline SP1, a segregated portfolio company of Crestline Re SPC, under which the above described reinsurance, trust and related asset management agreements were novated and replaced with substantially all ofsimilar agreements entered into by American Life’s existing life insuranceLife and annuity policies. Crestline SP1.

Employees

As of December 31, 2019, approximately 79% of the business2021, we had been converted from “coinsurance”64 full time employees. Our headquarters is in Lincoln, Nebraska and has an office in New York. We consider our relations with our employees to “assumption”, thereby relieving American Life from any contingent liabilities on that portion of the ceded policies. See “Reinsurance” below for further discussion.

5

Life and Annuity Insurance

Insurance Policiesbe good.

We presently offer two products: the “American Classic,” a multi-year guaranteed annuityare committed to creating an environment of diversity, equity and the “American Select,” a fixed indexed annuity. We expect to expand our annuity product line and introduce other insurance products into the market in 2020, and thereafter in order to meet anticipated market demand. Any new insurance products we create must be filed with and approved by appropriate state insurance regulatory authorities before being sold.

Our MYGA product is a five-year single premium deferred individual annuity contract. The guaranteed minimum cash surrender value is 87.5% of the single premium, less any partial withdrawal amounts, and accumulated at the nonforfeiture interest rate of 1.0% annually. A market value adjustment (“MVA”) is applied to the contract value and/or partial withdrawal amounts during any surrender charge period and is based on changes in the MVA index rate. The MYGA currently includes an Enhanced Interest Credit Rider, an Enhanced Liquidity Rider, a Surrender Charge Waiver Rider, and an Enhanced Death Benefit Rider. American Life began selling this MYGA product in the first quarter of 2019 and plans to continue selling the MYGA product in 2020 and subsequent years.

Our FIA product is a long-term annuity product with an interest rate that is tied, in part, to a published stock market index. The FIA is a modified single premium with a minimum premium amount of $20,000. The guaranteed minimum cash surrender value is 87.5% of the single premium, less any partial withdrawal amounts, and accumulated at the nonforfeiture interest rate of 1.0% annually. A MVA is applied to the contract value and/or partial withdrawal amounts during any surrender charge period and is based on changes in the MVA index rate. The FIA product currently includes an Enhanced Liquidity Rider and an Enhanced Interest Credit Rider.  American Life began selling the FIA product in November of 2019 and plans to continue selling it in 2020 and subsequent years.

In conjunction with our MYGA product launch, we executed selling agreements with three national IMOs that contract with numerous independent agents. These organizations are responsible for recruiting and training independent agents, although American Life also requires each agent to complete general courses in anti-money laundering, annuity products and annuity suitability, along with a specific training class on our annuity products.

Our MYGA and FIA products were developed using the services of an independent qualified consulting actuary, Milliman, and we expect that any new products will utilize similar services. In addition to product development, Milliman servesinclusion as valuation actuary to American Life and also oversees its compliance and regulatory filings with various insurance regulatory authorities.

The table below outlines American Life’s MYGA and FIA premiums earned by quarter during 2019 on statutory accounting principles basis:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MYGA

 

 

FIA

 

 

Premium(1)

 

 

Premium(1)(2)

First quarter 2019

$

8,292,617

 

$

 —

Second quarter 2019

 

29,946,263

 

 

 —

Third quarter 2019

 

41,261,292

 

 

 —

Fourth quarter 2019

 

66,247,565

 

 

15,616,831

Total issued as of December 31, 2019

$

145,747,737

 

$

15,616,831

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

Under statutory accounting principles, the MYGA and FIA premiums are treated as premium revenue.  Under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) these products are defined as deposit-type contracts; therefore, the premium revenue under statutory accounting principles is accounted under GAAP as deposit-type liabilities on our balance sheet and are never recognized in our income statement.

(2)

We began selling the FIA product in November 2019.

Depending on market demand, over time we expect to consider writing a wide variety of insurance products, including fixed deferred, fixed indexed and other annuities, in addition to life and Medicare supplemental insurance products. Using our technology based product development model, we believe we can generate new product sales quicker and with a relatively small capital outlay compared to traditional insurance carriers.

6

Reinsurance.

As indicated above, reinsurance is an integral part of our new business plan.  We expectfoundational values. Recruiting, developing and retaining talent is a key to reinsure substantially all ofsucceeding in growing our newbusiness.

Regulation

General

Our insurance policiessubsidiaries are subject to extensive regulation and supervision by the states in which they are domiciled, particularly with a variety of third party reinsurers in exchange for upfront ceding commissions, expense reimbursements and administrative fees.  Under these reinsurance agreements, we expect there will be a monthly or quarterly settlement of premiums, claims, surrenders, collateral and other administration fees. We believe this will help preserve American Life’s capital while supporting its growth because American Life has lower capital requirements when its business is reinsured duerespect to lower overall financial exposure versus retaining the insurance policy business itself.

There are two main categories of reinsurance transactions: 1) “indemnity,” where we cede a portion of our risk but retain the legal responsibility to our policyholders should our reinsurers not meet their financial obligations; and 2) “assumption,” where we transfer the risk and legal responsibilities to the reinsurers.  The reinsurers are required to acquire the appropriate regulatory and policyholder approvals to convert indemnity policies to assumption policies.

Our reinsurers may be domestic or foreign capital markets investors or traditional reinsurance companies seeking to assume U.S. insurance business. We plan to mitigate the credit risk relating to reinsurers generally by requiring other financial commitments from the reinsurers to secure the reinsured risks (such as posting substantial collateral). It should be noted that under indemnity reinsurance agreementsAmerican Life remains exposed to the credit risk of its reinsurers. If one or more reinsurers becomes insolvent or is otherwise unable or unwilling to pay claims under the terms of the applicable reinsurance agreement, American Life retains legal responsibility to pay policyholder claims, which, in such event would likely materially and adversely affect the capital and surplus of American Life.

Some reinsurers are not and may not be “accredited” or qualified as reinsurers under Nebraska Law. In order to enter into reinsurance agreements with such reinsurers and to reduce potential credit risk, American Life may hold a deposit or withhold funds from the reinsurer or require the reinsurer to maintain a trust that holds assets backing up the reinsurer’s obligation to pay claims on the business it assumes. The reinsurer may also appoint an investment manager for such funds, which is some cases may be our investment adviser subsidiary, 1505 Capital, to manage these assets pursuant to guidelines adopted by us that are consistent with state investment statutes and reinsurance regulations.

American Life currently has five reinsurance agreements in effect and has earned ceding commissions on four out of those agreements in the last two years.  See Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements in this report for further information on each of our reinsurance agreements. 

The table below shows the ceding commissions earned on the four most recent reinsurances transaction wherecondition. American Life is earning ceding commissions on a statutory accounting principles basis:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ceding Commission on Effective Date(2)

 

 

 

Earned as of the year ended
December 31, 2019

Reinsurer

    

Effective Date
of Transaction

 

Gross Ceding Commission

 

Earned
Income

 

Deferred Ceding Commission

 

 

Ceding
Commission

 

Expense
Allowances
(1)

US Alliance Life and Security Company

 

September 30, 2017

 

$

1,850,000

 

$

629,000

 

$

1,221,000

 

 

$

61,050

 

$

 —

Unified Life Insurance Company

 

July 1, 2018

 

 

3,500,000

 

 

735,000

 

 

2,765,000

 

 

 

2,172,108

 

 

 —

Ironbound Reinsurance Company Limited

 

July 25, 2019

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 

4,843,120

 

 

4,734,926

SDA Annuity & Life Re

 

November 5, 2019

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 

996,701

 

 

1,734,184

 

 

 

 

$

5,350,000

 

$

1,364,000

 

$

3,986,000

 

 

$

8,072,979

 

$

6,469,110

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

Includes: acquisition and administrative expenses, commission expense allowance and product development fees.

(2)

These reinsurance transactions received gross ceding commissions on the effective dates of the transaction. Of the gross amount $1,364,000 was recognized as earned in the year of the treaty with the remaining deferred and amortized over the lifetime of the blocks of business.

domiciled in Nebraska and commercially domiciled in Texas, where it is

713

The table below showsregulated and supervised by the ceding commissions earned on each reinsurance transaction on a GAAP accounting basis:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ceding Commission on
Effective Date

 

For the Year Ended
December 31, 2019

Reinsurer

    

Effective Date
of Transaction

 

Gross Ceding Commission

 

GAAP Reserve Adjustments

 

Deferred Ceding Commission

 

Gross Ceding Commission

 

Expense
Allowances
(1)

 

Commissions and Aquisition Expenses

 

Net Deferred Ceding Commission(2)

 

Earned
Ceding
Commission

US Alliance Life and Security Company(3)

 

September 30, 2017

 

$

1,850,000

 

$

882,479

 

$

967,521

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

858,675

 

$

48,376

Unified Life Insurance Company(3)

 

July 1, 2018

 

 

3,500,000

 

 

735,000

 

 

2,765,000

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

582,894

 

 

2,423,776

Ironbound Reinsurance Company Limited(4)

 

July 25, 2019

 

 

 -

 

 

 -

 

 

 -

 

 

4,843,120

 

 

4,734,926

 

 

4,469,363

 

 

5,060,359

 

 

125,635

SDA Annuity & Life Re(4)

 

November 5, 2019

 

 

 -

 

 

 -

 

 

 -

 

 

996,701

 

 

1,734,184

 

 

1,636,920

 

 

1,076,267

 

 

46,014

 

 

 

 

$

5,350,000

 

$

1,617,479

 

$

3,732,521

 

$

5,839,821

 

$

6,469,110

 

$

6,106,283

 

$

7,578,195

 

$

2,643,801

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

Includes: acquisition and administrative expenses, commission expense allowance and product development fees.

(2)

The amounts shown as net deferred ceding commissions on December 31, 2019 represent the gross ceding commissions plus the expense allowances minus the commission and acquisition expenses plus interest expense of $105,627 minus the earned ceding commission of $171,649.

(3)

These reinsurance transactions received gross ceding commissions on the effective dates of the transaction. The difference between the statutory net adjusted reserves and the GAAP adjusted reserves plus the elimination of DAC and VOBA related to these businesses reduces the gross ceding commission with the remaining deferred and amortized over the lifetime of the blocks of business.

(4)

These reinsurance transactions include the ceding commissions and expense allowances which are accounted for as described in (2) above.

Under statutory accounting principles, the ceding commission on the US Alliance Life and Security Company  (“US Alliance”)NDOI and the Unified LifeTexas Department of Insurance, Company (“Unified”) reinsurance transactions were accounted for as additionsrespectively. Seneca Re is domiciled in Vermont where it is regulated and supervised by the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation. Our insurance subsidiaries are also subject to surplus that will be amortized into income over the estimated liferegulation by all states in which they transact business, which oversight in practice often focuses on review of the transferred blocks of business. The GAAP treatment for the ceding commission was to defer it to the balance sheet and amortize it over the expected life of the closed blocks of business. The US Alliance reinsurance agreement was an indemnity contract and the Unified reinsurance agreement is assumptive through policyholder approval on a policy-by-policy basis.  As of December 31, 2019, 79% of the business under the Unified agreement had been converted from the indemnity to assumed category.

The Ironbound Reinsurance Company Limited “(Ironbound”) and the SDA Annuity & Life Re (“SDA”) reinsurance agreements relate to our MYGA and FIA products. Under statutory accounting principles the ceding commissions under these agreements are earned and immediately recognized in the income statement of American Life. 

Under GAAP, however, the ceding commissions received are not earned immediately but are recorded as a deferred liability and recognized as revenue over the estimated lives of the reinsured policies.  Under GAAP, the ceding commission received for the US Alliance and Unified transactions first reduced deferred acquisition costs (“DAC”) and the value of business acquired (“VOBA”) on the related blocks of business, and the remainder was recorded as a liability to be recognized as revenue over the estimated lives of the contracts.  The allowance earned on the Ironbound and the SDA contracts first reduced the effect of the capitalization of new business expense deferred and the remainder was classified as a liability similar to the ceding commission earned and is being recognized as revenue over the same period that American Life established to amortize the DAC balance.

Underwriting and Suitability.

Our current annuity products have limited mortality and morbidity risk compared to traditional life insurance products, therefore, our focus is based on applicability and suitability of annuity products for the client. We have worked with Milliman, MVP Advisors and Regulatory Insurance Advisors, LLC to develop appropriate suitability guidelines to evaluate the: (i) purpose for a client’s selection of a product, (ii)  financial resources of the client/owner, (iii)  age of the client, (iv) effect on liquidity of a client, (v)  duration of the

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product and (vi)  overall fit for the client. This information is captured through a questionnaire completed with a policy application that undergoes review at the IMOs and at American Life’s home office. Final determinations regarding suitability are made by American Life’s home office staff.

Competition.

The life and annuity insurance industry is highly competitive. Many of the life insurance companies authorized to do business in states where we conduct business are well-established companies with good reputations that offer broader lines of insurance products, have larger selling organizations, and possess significantly greater financial and human resources than Midwest and American Life.

Although we face significant competition on a product-by-product basis, we believe our business model, coupled with our relationships with IMOs, allows us to compete for insurance business due to our use of technology and small size, which we believe enables us to be nimble and adapt rapidly to changing insurancetheir market conditions. Further, American Life received a rating of B++ from A.M. Best in 2019 and 2018, which we believe is a prerequisite to attract IMOs to offer our insurance products.

Geographic Distribution.

conduct. American Life is licensed to sell, underwrite,conduct insurance business and market lifeis therefore subject to regulation and supervision by insurance and annuity productsregulators, in 1522 states and the District of Columbia. Seneca Re, a Vermont limited liability company, was formed by Midwest to operate as a sponsored captive insurance company for the purpose of reinsuring various types of risks of its participants through one or more special purpose reinsurance or “protected cell” entities and to conduct any other business that is actively seeking to expand its licenses in additional states.

Accounting.

Our operating results in this report are reported in accordance with GAAPpermitted for stock lifesponsored captive insurance companies althoughunder Vermont insurance regulations. The extent and scope of insurance regulation varies between jurisdictions, but most jurisdictions have laws and regulations governing the financial security of insurers, including admittance of assets for purposes of calculating statutory surplus, standards of solvency, reserves, reinsurance, capital adequacy and the business conduct of insurers.

In addition, statutes and regulations require the licensing of insurers and their agents, the approval of policy forms and related materials and the approval of rates. State statutes and regulations also prescribe the permitted types and concentrations of investments by insurers. The primary purpose of this insurance industry regulation is to protect policyholders. Life insurance companies are required to file detailed quarterly and annual financial statements with insurance regulatory authorities in each of the jurisdictions in which they are licensed to do business, and their operations are subject to periodic examination by such authorities. Regulators have discretionary authority, in connection with the continued licensing of insurance companies, to limit or prohibit the ability to continue to do business policies if, in their judgment, the regulators determine that an insurer is not maintaining necessary statutory surplus or capital or if the further transaction of business will be detrimental to its policyholders.

The amount of dividends that our insurance subsidiaries may pay in any twelve-month period, without prior approval by their respective domestic insurance regulators, is restricted under the laws of Nebraska, Texas and Vermont.

Under Nebraska law, dividends payable from American Life during any twelve-month period without the prior approval of the state’s Insurance Director are limited to the greater of 10% of American Life’s surplus as shown on the immediately preceding calendar year’s statutory financial statement on file with the NDOI or 100% of net gain from operations for the prior calendar year. Any dividend in excess of such limitation must be approved by the Insurance Director.

Insurance holding company regulation

We are an insurance holding company and, together with our insurance subsidiaries and our other subsidiaries and affiliates, are subject to the insurance holding company system laws of Nebraska, Texas and Vermont. These laws vary across jurisdictions, but generally require insurers that are members of such insurance holding company’s system to register with the jurisdiction’s insurance regulatory authorities, to file reports disclosing certain information, including their capital structure, ownership, management, financial condition, enterprise risk and own risk and solvency assessment.

These laws also prepares financial statements –require disclosure of certain qualifying transactions between or among our insurance subsidiaries and primarily manages its business – in accordance with statutory principles as adoptedus or any of our other subsidiaries or affiliates to which one or more of our insurance subsidiaries is a party. Such transactions could include loans, investments, sales, service agreements and reinsurance agreements among other similar inter-affiliate transactions. These laws also require that intercompany transactions be fair and reasonable and not adversely affect the interests of policyholders. In certain circumstances, the insurance company must give prior notice of the transaction to the insurance department in its state of domicile, Nebraska. and the insurance department must either approve or disapprove the subject intercompany transaction within defined periods. Further, these laws require that an insurer’s surplus following any dividends or distributions to shareholder affiliates is reasonable in relation to the insurer’s outstanding liabilities and its financial needs.

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The insurance holding company laws in some states, including Nebraska, Texas and Vermont, require regulatory approval of a direct or indirect change of control of an insurer or an insurer’s parent company. Generally, to obtain approval from the insurance commissioner for any acquisition of control of an insurance company or its parent company, the proposed acquirer must file with the applicable commissioner an application containing information regarding: (i) the identity and background of the acquirer and its affiliates; (ii) the nature, source and amount of funds to be used to carry out the acquisition; (iii) the financial statements of the acquirer and its affiliates; (iv) any potential plans for disposition of the securities or business of the insurer; (v) the number and type of securities to be acquired; (vi) any contracts with respect to the securities to be acquired; (vii) any agreements with broker-dealers; and (viii) other relevant matters. Different jurisdictions may have similar or additional requirements for prior approval of any acquisition of control of an insurance or reinsurance company licensed or authorized to transact business in those jurisdictions. Additional requirements may include re-licensing or subsequent approval for renewal of existing licenses upon an acquisition of control.

Credit for reinsurance

State insurance laws permit U.S. insurance companies, as ceding insurers, to take financial statement credit for reinsurance that is ceded, so long as the assuming reinsurer satisfies the state’s credit for reinsurance laws. Credit for reinsurance means the ceding company is permitted to reflect in its statutory financial statements a credit in an amount equal to the ceding company’s liability that is reinsured. In general, credit for reinsurance is allowed if the reinsurer is licensed or “accredited” in the state in which the ceding insurer is domiciled; or if neither of the above applies, to the extent that the reinsurance obligations of the reinsurer are collateralized appropriately, typically through the posting of a letter of credit for the benefit of the ceding insurer, or the deposit of assets into a trust fund established for the benefit of the ceding insurer.

Statutory accounting has many significant differences comparedexaminations

Our insurance subsidiaries are required to GAAP. For example,file detailed quarterly and annual financial statements, in accordance with SAP with regulatory officials in each of the incremental ceding commissions earned byjurisdictions in which they conduct business. As part of their routine regulatory oversight process, the NDOI, the Texas Department of Insurance and the Vermont Insurance Department conduct periodic detailed examinations, generally once every three to five years of the books, records, accounts and operations of our insurance subsidiaries domiciled in their states. The State of Nebraska began a scheduled examination of American Life for the period of 2017-2019 in January 2021. On September 30, 2021, the NDOI completed their examination for American Life through reinsurance of new business, which are amortized under GAAP, are deemed to be earned immediately under statutory accounting principles.2019 and issued the final report.

Investments.Financial tests

The type and amountNAIC has developed a set of investments that can be made by a life insurance company are specifically controlled by applicable state statutes and rules and regulations of the respective state departments of insurance. American Life has adopted investment policies in compliance with the insurance laws of the State of Nebraska.

American Life has a long-term investment policy aimed at protecting capital and earning risk adjusted returns while insuring compliance with Nebraska’s insurance investment laws. Our investments are managed by 1505 Capital, who has many years of asset management experience.

On April 2, 2019, we purchased a 51% ownership in 1505 Capital, a Delaware limited liability company, which was established in 2018 to provide investment advisory and management services to primarily U.S. insurance clients. 1505 Capital has been engagedfinancial relationships or “tests,” known as the investment advisorInsurance Regulatory Information System or IRIS, which is designed for American Life, Ironbound and SDA through investment management agreementsearly identification of companies that contain investment guidelines.  Such agreements have been approvedmay require special attention or action by insurance regulatory authorities as required.

Reserves.

American Life establishes as liabilities actuarially computed reservesauthorities. Insurance companies submit data annually to meet the obligations onNAIC, which in turn analyzes the policies it writes, in accordancedata by utilizing ratios. State insurance regulators review this statistical report, which is available to the public, together with the insurance lawsan analytical report, prepared by and the regulations of Nebraska, for statutory accounting and GAAP. Reserves, whether calculated under statutory accounting practices prescribed by variousavailable only to state insurance regulators, or GAAP, do not represent an exact calculationto identify insurance companies that appear to require immediate regulatory attention. A “usual range” of exposure, but instead represent our good faith estimates based onresults for each ratio is used as a benchmark.

Risk-based capital requirements

In order to enhance the relevant basisregulation of accounting, generally involving actuarial projections, of what we expect claims will be based on mortality, longevity and lapse assumptions. The various actuarial factors are determined from mortality tables and interest rates in effect wheninsurers’ solvency, the policies are issued and are applied against policy in force amounts. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) has adopted new reserve rulesa model law to be usedimplement Risk Based Capital (“RBC”) requirements for statutory accounting. As of May 3, 2019, 50 jurisdictionslife insurers. All states have adopted the revisedNAIC’s model laws.law or a substantively similar law. The newNAIC Risk-Based Capital Model Act requires insurance companies to submit an annual RBC Report, which compares an insurer’s total adjusted capital with its authorized control level RBC. A company’s RBC is calculated by using a specified formula that applies factors to various specified assets, premium, claim, expense and reserve items. The factors are higher for those items with greater underlying risk and lower for items with less underlying risk.

The RBC Report is used by insurance regulators to set in motion appropriate regulatory actions relating to insurers that show indications of weak or deteriorating conditions. RBC is an additional standard for minimum capital requirements that insurers must meet to avoid being placed in receivership by regulators. The annual RBC Report, and the information contained therein, is not intended by the NAIC as a means to rank insurers.

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RBC is a method referredof measuring the minimum amount of capital appropriate for an insurance company to support its overall business operations in light of its size and risk profile. It provides a means of setting the capital requirement in which the degree of risk taken by the insurer is the primary determinant. The value of an insurer’s Total Adjusted Capital, which is the sum of its year-end statutory capital and surplus, in relation to its RBC, together with its trend in its Total Adjusted Capital, is used as Principle-Based Reserving (“PBR”) replaces the current formula approach ona basis for determining policy reservesregulatory action that a state insurance regulator may be authorized or required to take with respect to an approach that reflects the riskinsurer.

Market Conduct Exams

Our insurance subsidiaries are subject to periodic market conduct exams (“MCE”) in any jurisdiction where they do business. A MCE typically entails review of highly complex products.

9

regulations governing such business activities. To date, neither American Life did not report lifenor Seneca Re have been the subject of such market conduct exam.

Form approvals

Our insurance reserves on a PBR basis at December 31, 2019, and is deferring to implement under the transitional rules stated in Section II of the Valuation Manual until January 1, 2020 for new policies written. We believe that PBR should not impact us until we introduce traditional life insurance products to our line of business.

Regulation.

American Life issubsidiaries are subject to state laws and regulations regarding form approvals. In most states, insurance policies are subject to prior regulatory approval in the regulation, supervision,state in which the policy is sold.

Unfair claims practices

Insurance companies are prohibited by state statutes from engaging in unfair claims practice. Unfair claims practices include, but are not limited to, misrepresenting pertinent facts or insurance policy provisions; failing to acknowledge and examination ofact reasonably promptly upon communications with respect to claims arising under insurance policies; and attempting to settle a claim for less than the amount to which a reasonable person would have believed such person was entitled.

Assessments against insurers

Under the insurance regulatory authorities of Nebraska, and other state insurance regulators where it is licensed to do business. This regulation is primarily for the benefit of policyholders rather than shareholders. The insurance regulators possess broad administrative powers, including the power to grant and revoke licenses to transact business, approve the form of insurance contracts, regulate capital requirements, regulate the character of permitted investments, and require deposits for the protection of investments. Applicable insuranceguaranty fund laws, require the filing of a detailed annual report with the department of insurancewhich exist in each state American Life isand the District of Columbia, licensed insurers can be assessed by insurance guaranty associations for certain obligations of insolvent insurance companies to do business.policyholders and claimants. Most of these laws provide for annual limits on the assessments and for an offset against state premium taxes. These premium tax offsets must be spread over future periods ranging from five to 20 years. Since these assessments typically are not made for several years after an insurer fails and depend upon the final outcome of liquidation or rehabilitation proceedings, we cannot accurately determine the amount or timing of any future assessments.

As the holderRegulation of a controlling interest in American Life, Midwest is alsoinvestments

Our insurance subsidiaries are subject to regulationstate laws that restrict the kinds of investments they can make. These laws require diversification of our investment portfolios and limit the amounts of investments in certain asset categories, such as an insurance holding company system under the insurance lawsbelow-investment grade fixed income securities, equity real estate, other equity investments and derivatives. Failure to comply with these requirements and limitations cause affected investments to be treated as non-admitted assets for purposes of the state of Nebraska, which generally provide for restrictions on a changemeasuring statutory surplus and, in control of the insurance holding company,some instances, could require the filingdivestiture of certain reportssuch nonqualifying investments. American Life’s investment guidelines, including its Derivative Use Plan, have been filed with the Nebraska Department of Insurance.

Statutory accounting practices

SAP are a basis of accounting developed to assist insurance regulators in monitoring and regulating the solvency of insurance companies. SAP is primarily concerned with measuring an insurer’s solvency. Statutory accounting focuses on valuing assets and liabilities of insurers at financial reporting dates in accordance with appropriate insurance law and regulatory provisions applicable in each insurer’s domiciliary state.

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GAAP is concerned with a company’s solvency, but is also concerned with other financial measurements, principally income and cash flows. Accordingly, GAAP gives more consideration to appropriately matching revenue and expenses and accounting for management’s stewardship of assets than does SAP. As a direct result, different assets and liabilities and different amounts of assets and liabilities will be reflected in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP as compared to SAP.

Unfair trade practices

State insurance laws prohibit insurers from engaging in unfair trade practices. The kinds of practices addressed are (i) misrepresentation and false advertising, (ii) unfair discrimination in premiums and policy benefits, (iii) boycott, coercion and intimidation, (iv) discrimination based on race, color, creed or national origin, sex or marital status, and (v) rebating of premium.

Enterprise risk and other developments

The NAIC, as part of its solvency modernization initiative, has engaged in a concerted effort to strengthen the ability of U.S. state insurance regulators to monitor U.S. insurance holding company groups. The holding company reform efforts at the NAIC culminated in December 2010 in the adoption of significant amendments to the NAIC’s Insurance and limit the amount of dividends which may be received by us from American Life.

Financial Reform.

Enacted in 2010, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer ProtectionHolding Company System Regulatory Act (the “Dodd-Frank“Model Holding Company Act”) reshapes U.S. financial regulations by creating new regulators, regulating new markets and firms,its Insurance Holding Company System Model Regulation (the “Model Holding Company Regulation”). Among other things, the revised Model Holding Company Act and providing enhanced enforcement powersModel Holding Company Regulation explicitly address “enterprise” risk — the risk that an activity, circumstance, event or series of events involving one or more affiliates of an insurer will, if not remedied promptly, be likely to regulators. Virtually all major areas of the Dodd-Frank Act are subject to regulatory interpretation and implementation rules requiring rulemaking. We do not believe that the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act or the regulations promulgated thereunder have a material adverse impact on our consolidatedeffect upon the financial resultscondition or financial condition.

Tax Reform.

U.S. tax legislation, Tax Cutsliquidity of the insurer or its insurance holding company system as a whole - and Jobsrequire annual reporting of potential enterprise risk as well as access to information to allow the state insurance regulator to assess such risk. In addition, the Model Holding Company Act (“New Tax Act”), was enacted on December 22, 2017. The New Tax Act made fundamental changesamendments include a requirement to the U.S. Internal Revenue Codeeffect that impactedany person divesting control over an insurer must provide 30 days’ notice to the Company.regulator and the insurer (with an exception for cases where a Form A is being filed). The primary impact on our 2018 financial results was associatedamendments direct the domestic state insurance regulator to determine those instances in which a divesting person will be required to file for and obtain approval of the transaction. Some form of the 2010 amendments to the Model Holding Company Act has been adopted in all states.

In 2012, the NAIC adopted the Risk Management and Own Risk and Solvency Assessment (“ORSA”) Model Act, which requires domestic insurers to maintain a risk management framework and establishes a legal requirement for domestic insurers to conduct an ORSA in accordance with the effectNAIC’s ORSA Guidance Manual. The ORSA Model Act provides that domestic insurers, or their insurance group, must regularly conduct an ORSA consistent with a process comparable to the ORSA Guidance Manual process. The ORSA Model Act also provides that, no more than once a year, an insurer’s domiciliary regulator may request that an insurer submit an ORSA summary report, or any combination of reducingreports that together contain the U.S. statutory tax rate from 35%information described in the ORSA Guidance Manual, with respect to 21%the insurer and the insurance group of which required usit is a member. The ORSA Model Act imposes more extensive filing requirements on parents and other affiliates of domestic insurers. Our insurance company subsidiaries are not subject currently to remeasure our deferred tax assets and liabilities using the lower rate at December 22, 2017, the date of enactment. Other provisionsrequirements of the New TaxORSA Model Act that will impact us, include, but are not limited to: 1) provisions reducing the dividends received deduction; 2) eliminating the corporate alternative minimum tax (“AMT”); 3) changing the rules regarding use of net operating losses;adopted in Nebraska, Texas and 4) changing the way in which tax reservesVermont, respectively, however, will be measured. To date this Act has not had a material adverse effect on us.

Employees

when their direct written premiums and unaffiliated assumed premiums, if any, exceed $500 million. As of December 31, 2019 we2021, had 24 full-time employees. Our insurance sales are made through independent agents selling through third-party IMOs.direct written premiums of approximately $472 million.

Third-Party ServicesPrivacy regulation

AsFederal and state law and regulation require financial institutions to protect the security and confidentiality of personal information, including health-related and customer information, and to notify customers and other individuals about their policies and practices relating to their collection and disclosure of health-related and customer information and their practices relating to protecting the security and confidentiality of that information. State laws regulate the use and disclosure of social security numbers and federal and state laws require notice to affected individuals, law enforcement, regulators and others if there is a small partbreach of our business over the past several years we have provided third party administrative services (“TPA”)security of certain personal information, including social security numbers. Federal and state laws and regulations regulate the ability of financial institutions to insurance providers. As part of our new business plan we expectmake telemarketing calls and to seeksend unsolicited e-mail or fax messages to expand this area of our business through leveraging our technology infrastructureconsumers and expertise in seeking to provide specialty administration services to other insurers. In 2019 we provided limited TPA services to one unaffiliated customer.

Available Information

Our principal executive offices are located at 2900 South 70th Street, Suite 400, Lincoln, Nebraska 68506. Our telephone number is (402) 489‑8266. Information filed with the SECcustomers. Federal and state lawmakers and regulatory bodies may be readexpected to consider additional or copied atmore detailed regulation regarding these subjects and the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Information on operationprivacy and security of personal information.

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Cybersecurity regulation

The NAIC adopted the Insurance Data Security Model Law in October 2017. This law establishes standards for data security and for the investigation and notification of certain cybersecurity events. As of the Public Reference Room maydate of this filing, 11 states have adopted the model law or a variation of it. We expect that additional regulations could be obtained by calling the SEC at

10

1‑800‑SEC‑0330 (1‑800‑732‑0330). The SEC also maintains a website at www.sec.govenacted in other jurisdictions that contains reports, proxy and information statements,could impact our cybersecurity program. Depending on these and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, including us.

Recent Developments

We continue to closely monitor developments related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak to assess any potential impact on our business. We currently do not anticipate that this outbreakimplementation requirements, we will have a material impact on our resultslikely incur additional costs of operations, financial condition or liquidity; however, due to the evolving and highly uncertain nature of this event, it currently is not possible to provide an estimate of potential insurance or reinsurance exposure or the indirect effects the outbreak may have on our results of operations, financial condition or liquidity.compliance.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS.

We face many significant risks in the operation of our business and may face significant unforeseen risks as well. It should be noted thatAlso, in the second half of 2018 we embarked upon a new business plan and, therefore, we face all of the risks of doing business with a new model in which we do not have a significant amount of operating experience. The material risks of this new business plan are set forth below, but there may be additional risks that we do not anticipate, which could materially adversely affect our results of operationoperations and financial condition. An investment in our voting common stock should be considered speculative.

Business Risks

Catastrophes May Adversely Impact Liabilities for Policyholder Claims and Reinsurance Availability

Claims resulting from catastrophic events could harm our financial results, profitability, and financial condition. Catastrophic events could impact our life and annuity business by significantly impacting our assumptions as to mortality, morbidity and other rates, as well as product sales. Catastrophic events may also reduce economic activity in affected areas, which could harm our prospects for new business.

Major public health issues, such as a pandemic (e.g. the novel coronavirus COVID-19) or other event that causes a large number of illnesses or deaths, could harm our insurance operations and have a major impact on the global economy and financial markets. Governmental and non-governmental organizations may not effectively combat the spread and severity of such a pandemic, increasing their harm to our insureds. An event that affects one or more of our customers could increase our mortality or morbidity claims and cause unanticipated financial strain on our insureds as well as increase the cost of reinsurance to us and decrease the availability of reinsurance, which could in turn harm our business, results of operations or financial condition.

Our strategy to reinsure substantially all of the insurance and annuity policies we write may not be successful.

As part of our new business plan, American Life intends to cede most of its insurance and annuity policies to other unaffiliated insurance companies through reinsurance agreements. However, American Life will remain liable with respect to ceded insurance should any reinsurer fail to meet the obligations assumed by the reinsurer. The failure of any one of American Life’s reinsurers would have a material adverse economic effect on American Life and the value of our voting common stock would likely decline significantly as well. Thus, it is critical for us that we adequately assess the financial strength of our reinsurers on an ongoing basis. If we fail to adequately assess payment risk relating to our reinsurers, we could be faced with severe economic consequences in the event any reinsurer does not meet its financial obligations to the policyholders of policies that we cede to the reinsurer. Also, we expect that in the first years of our new business plan’s implementation we will have a concentrated group of reinsurers, which will heighten the risks we face should any reinsurer not meet its obligations to insureds who purchase insurance products from us. In addition, under certain reinsurance agreements, a reinsurer may reduce the ceding commission it pays American Life for reinsurance. If the ceding commissions from reinsurance were to decrease with respect to policies for which American Life has guaranteed the revenue, American Life could be adversely affected, which would in turn adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

11

Our new business plan may not be successful.

As indicated above in this Item 1, in mid‑2018 we embarked upon our new business plan, seeking to become a leading, technology-enabled, services-oriented insurance company. Our business plan provides that we will seek to leverage American Life and its technology, product-development and administration capabilities to distribute insurance products through third party marketing organizations. As part of this plan, American Life has obtained a “B++” (“Good”) A.M. Best Rating and will seek to become licensed to sell insurance in additional states in 2020. We cannot assure you that our new business plan will achieve economic success and we anticipate implementation of our new business plan will take place over several years. If our results do not achieve economic success, the value of an investment in our voting common stock will deteriorate substantially. Some of these material risks include market non-acceptance of our new products, non-acceptance of our products by our independent third party marketing organizations (“IMOs”), shortcomings or failures in our technology or encountering other problems that we may not be able to overcome and unforeseen difficulties obtaining financially capable reinsurance providers with respect to our products.

We have limited operating history under our new business plan.

We have a limited operating history under our new business plan. plan and our business plan may not be successful.

We face all of the risks inherent in establishing an unseasoned business, including limited capital, unanticipated administrative costs, uncertain product markets, possible lack of market acceptance of new insuranceannuity products and corresponding lack of significant revenues, as well as fierceintense competition from better capitalizedbetter-capitalized and more seasoned companies with respect to any insuranceannuity products we may seek to create and distribute. We have no control over general economic conditions, competitors’ products or their pricing and customer demand and we have limited control over necessary costs of marketing in seeking to build and expand our new business. Such costs may be significantly higher than we anticipate. For example, our general and administrative costs in 2021 were significantly higher than we expected. There can be no assurance that our proposed insurance activitiesbusiness plan will be economically successful or result in any significant revenues to the extent that we achieve profits, and the likelihood of any success must be considered in light of our lack of operating history under our newrecently reconstituted executive leadership, our business plan and our limited capital. The lack of a seasoned operating history makes it difficult to predict our future revenues or results of operations.

Our plansbusiness plan provides that we will seek to utilize American Life and its technology, product development and administration capabilities to distribute insurance products through third-party marketing organizations. As part of this plan, American Life has obtained a “B++” (“Good”) A.M. Best financial strength rating and an A.M. Best bbb+ long-term issuer credit rating. American Life is seeking to become licensed to sell insurance in additional states. We cannot make any assurance that our business plan will achieve economic success and we anticipate implementation of our business plan will take place over several years. Some of these material risks include market non-acceptance of our new products, non-acceptance of our products by our IMOs and their agents, shortcomings or failures in our technology or encountering other problems that we may not be able to overcome and unforeseen difficulties obtaining financially capable reinsurance providers.

Our use of IMOs could face several difficulties that could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.condition.

Our new business plan provides that we willWe create and sell life and annuity products through IMOs who willthat provide the sales agents and infrastructure in order to sell our products. This strategy entails several significant risks, including the possibility that our IMOs will not be able to successfully sell our products or will not devote sufficient time and attention to sell our products. It should be noted that we will have no control over any IMOs and, therefore, any sales success regarding our products will be substantially dependent upon the efforts of those organizations and their sales agents. Also, we expect to utilize a small number of IMOs in the implementation of our business plan, thereby havinghave concentrated channels of product distribution.distribution because we have eight IMOs as of December 31, 2021. If any one of our IMOs does not perform within our expectations, our results of operation will likelycould be materially adversely affected and our financial condition would suffer.

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Our strategy to reinsure the annuity policies we write may not be successful.

As part of our business plan, American Life intends to cede its annuity policies to other companies through reinsurance agreements. However, American Life will suffer.remain liable with respect to ceded insurance should any reinsurer fail to meet the obligations assumed by that reinsurer. The failure of any one of American Life’s reinsurers would likely have a material adverse economic effect on American Life, and the value of our voting common stock would likely decline significantly as well. Thus, it is critical that we adequately assess the financial strength of our reinsurers on an ongoing basis. If we fail to adequately assess reinsurer payment risk including any amounts of collateral we may hold as security for claims payments we may require them to back up their potential obligations, we could be faced with severe economic consequences in the event any reinsurer does not meet its financial obligations to the policyholders of the annuities that we cede to the reinsurer. Also, we have a concentrated group of reinsurers, which heightens the risks we face should any reinsurer not meet its obligations to annuitants who purchase annuities from us.

We face a risk of non-availability and increased cost of reinsurance.

Market conditions beyond our control determine the availability and cost of the reinsurance we may seek to purchase. We can offer no assurance that reinsurance will remain continuously available to us to the same extent and on the same terms and rates as are currently available to us. If we are unable to maintain our current level of reinsurance or to purchase new reinsurance in amounts that we consider sufficient and at prices that we consider acceptable, we would either have to accept an increase in our net insurance liability exposures or reduce our insurance writings. A reinsurer’s insolvency or inability to make payments under the terms of a reinsurance treaty could subject us to credit risk with respect to our ability to recover amounts due from reinsurers. Because of these risks, we may not be able to collect all amounts due to us from reinsurers. Further, reinsurance coverage may not be available to us in the future at commercially reasonable rates or at all.

We may be unable to expand insurance operations to other states to any significant degree.

A significant part of our new business plan is expanding the ability of American Life to sell insurance in substantially more states. At present, American Life is licensed to sell insurance in 15 states. In 202022 states and subsequent years,the District of Columbia. While we intend to seekare seeking to expand to additional states. Westates, we cannot assure you that these efforts will be successful, and to the extent they are not, our ability to achieve product scale and significant annuity sales will be significantly adversely affected. Our results of operations and future prospects will in turn be adversely affected.

Our business success depends, in part, on effective information technology systems and on continuing to develop and implement improvements in our technology.

We depend in large part on our technology systems for conducting our business, as well as for providing the data and analytics we utilize to manage our business. Our business success is dependent on maintaining the effectiveness of existing technology systems and on continuing to develop and enhance technology systems in a cost efficient manner. System development projects may not deliver the benefits we expect, or may be replaced or become obsolete more quickly than expected, which could result in increased expenses. If we do not effectively and efficiently manage and upgrade our technology systems, or if the costs of doing so are higher than we expect, our ability to provide services to new and existing customers in a cost-effective manner and our ability to implement our business plan could be adversely impacted.

We are faced with credit risks of our counterparties, which may have a material adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition.

In our investments we are exposed to many different industries, issuers and counterparties, and we routinely execute transactions with counterparties in the financial services industry, including brokers and dealers, commercial banks, investment banks, and other institutions. Many of these transactions expose us to credit risk in the event of default of the counterparty. In addition, with respect to secured transactions, our credit risk may be exacerbated when the collateral that we hold cannot be realized upon or is liquidated at prices not sufficient to recover the full amount due to us. We may have further exposure to these issuers in our holdings in unsecured debt instruments and derivative transactions of these issuers. There can be no guarantee that any such realized losses or impairments to the carrying value of these assets would not materially and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

In addition to exposure to credit risks related to our investment portfolio, we are exposed to credit risks in several other areas of our business operations as discussed above and credit risks in our operations related to reinsurance. The collectability of reinsurance

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recoverables is subject to uncertainty arising from a number of factors, including changes in market conditions, whether insured losses meet the qualifying conditions of the reinsurance contract and whether reinsurers, or their affiliates, have the financial capacity and willingness to make payments under the terms of a reinsurance treaty or contract. Since we are primarily liable to an insured for the full amount of insurance coverage, our inability to collect a material recovery from a reinsurer could have a material adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition.

We operate in a highly competitive industry, and our business will suffer if we are unable to compete effectively.

The operating results of insurance companies are subject to significant fluctuations due to competition, economic conditions, interest rates, investment performance, maintenance of insurance ratings from rating agencies such as A.M. Best and other factors. The insurance business is intensely competitive. Our ability to compete with other insurance companies is dependent upon, among other things, our ability to attract and retain IMOs to market our insurance products, our ability to develop competitive and profitable products and our ability to obtain acceptable financial strength ratings. In connection with the development and sale of products, American Life encounters competition from other insurance companies, most of whom offer annuity products and have financial and human resources substantially greater than American Life’s, as well as competition from other investment alternatives available to potential annuitants.

American Life competes with several hundred other insurance companies in the United States. Most of these companies have greater financial resources, longer business histories, and more diversified lines of insurance coverage than American Life. These larger companies also generally have large sales forces. We also face competition from direct mail and email sales marketers. We may not be able to compete successfully against these competitors.

Changes in the tax laws could adversely affect our business.

Congress has from time to time considered possible legislation that would eliminate the deferral of taxation on the accretion of value within certain annuity products. This and similar legislation could adversely affect the sale of annuities and life insurance compared with other financial products if such legislation were to be enacted. In addition, we could be unable to attract reinsurance capital. There can be no assurance as to whether any such legislation will be enacted or, if enacted, whether such legislation would contain provisions with possible adverse effects on any annuity products that we develop.

Under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, income taxes payable by policyholders on investment earnings is deferred during the accumulation period of certain annuity and life insurance products. This favorable tax treatment may give certain insurance products a competitive advantage over other non-insurance products. To the extent that the Internal Revenue Code may be revised to reduce the tax-deferred status of annuity and life insurance products, or to increase the tax-deferred status of competing products, American Life and its industry as a whole would be adversely affected with respect to their ability to sell products. In addition, annuity and related life insurance products are often used to fund estate tax obligations. We cannot predict what future tax initiatives may be proposed with respect to the estate tax or other taxes that may materially adversely affect us.

Some of our investments are relatively illiquid.

We hold certain investments that may lack liquidity, such as certain fixed maturity securities (including collateralized loan obligations,  and mortgage loans). We do not have the present intent to sell, nor is it more likely than not that we will be required to sell, debt securities in an unrealized loss position. Investment losses, however, may be realized to the extent liquidity needs require the disposition of debt securities in unfavorable interest rate, liquidity or credit spread environments.

We have exposure to mortgage loans on real estate, which could cause declines in the value of our investment portfolio.

Securities and other capital markets products with respect to mortgage lending may become less liquid than conventional securities such as stocks and bonds. The value of our investments in mortgage loans may be negatively impacted by an unfavorable change in or increased uncertainty regarding delinquency rates, and refinancing availability. In addition, commercial mortgages are sensitive to the strength of the related underlying mortgage loans, the U.S. economy, and the supply and demand for commercial real estate. The value of our investments in mortgage loans and determination in loss allowances regarding such investments may be negatively impacted by declining loan to value ratios, especially with respect to loan to value ratios that exceed 80%. For the year ended December 31, 2021, our commercial mortgage loans investment portfolio had approximately $5.2 million in loans at or exceeding an 80% loan-to-value ratio compared to zero for the preceding year. Deterioration in the performance of the residential and commercial mortgage sector,

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including as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic or additional risk of loss in connection with increasing loan-to-value ratios, could cause declines in the value of that portion of our investment portfolio. The carrying value of our mortgage loans on real estate as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, was $183.2 million and $95.0 million, respectively. See “Management’s Discussion of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

Changes in regulations regarding suitability of product sales and fiduciary/best interest standards may affect our operations and profitability.

Our annuity sales practices are subject to strict regulation. State insurance regulators are becoming more active in adopting and enforcing suitability standards with respect to sales of annuities. In addition, our insurance operations may be impacted by actions taken by the NAIC, the U.S. standard setting and regulatory support organization created and governed by the chief insurance regulatory authorities of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and the five U.S. territories. Some states have enacted or proposed legislation to impose new or expanded fiduciary/best interest standards on broker dealers, investment advisors and/or insurance agents providing services to customers. Any material changes to the standards governing our sales practices, including applicable laws and regulations, could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

The inability to obtain upgrades to our financial strength and other ratings from A.M. Best, or the possibility of a downgrade in our ratings, may have a material adverse effect on our competitive position, the marketability of our annuity product offerings, and our liquidity, operating results, financial condition and prospects.

Financial strength ratings are important factors in establishing the competitive position of insurance companies and generally have an effect on an insurance company’s business. Many insurance buyers, agents, brokers, and secured lenders use the ratings assigned by A.M. Best and other agencies to assist them in assessing the financial strength and overall quality of the companies from which they are considering purchasing insurance or in determining the financial strength of the company that provides insurance with respect to the collateral they hold. American Life currently has an A.M. Best financial strength rating of B++ (Good) and long-term issuer credit rating of bbb+. A.M. Best ratings are derived from an in-depth evaluation of an insurance company’s balance sheet strengths, operating performances, and business profiles. A.M. Best evaluates, among other factors, the company’s capitalization, underwriting leverage, financial leverage, asset leverage, capital structure, quality and appropriateness of reinsurance, adequacy of reserves, quality and diversification of assets, liquidity, profitability, spread of risk, revenue composition, market position, management, market risk, and event risk. On an ongoing basis, rating agencies such as A.M. Best review the financial performance and condition of insurers and can downgrade or change the outlook on an insurer’s ratings due to, for example, a change in an insurer’s statutory capital, a reduced confidence in management or a host of other considerations that may or may not be under the insurer’s control. All ratings are subject to continuous review; therefore, the retention of these ratings cannot be assured. A downgrade in any of these ratings could have a material adverse effect on our competitiveness, the marketability of our product offerings, and our ability to grow in the marketplace.

Our new insurance products and other products we may develop may not achieve market penetration.

As discussed elsewhere in this report, we are embarkingAnnual Report on a newForm 10-K, our marketing strategy initiallyis focused on the sale of MYGA and FIA products through IMOs. These products may not achieve market acceptance or penetration to any meaningful degree, and any significant sales of these products cannot be assured, nor can we assure that any other insurance products we attempt to sell will achieve any degree of sustained marketing success. We are seeking to streamline the costs of developing and placing insuranceour annuity products into the marketplace to be sold by IMOs. We may encounter unexpected development costs or lack of IMO acceptance of our products, in which case our financial results would be disappointing.

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We have experienced significant operating losses and may not be able to reverse them in the foreseeable future.

We commenced our new business plan in mid‑2018 and introduced our first annuity products in 2019 which are being marketed by three IMOs. We made progress towards profitability on a GAAP basis in 2019; however, there can be no assurance of future profitability. Because ceding commissions from reinsurance are amortized over their life, we expect several years of insurance policy sales growth will be necessary until we achieve net income. There can be no assurance that our new business plan will lead to profitability.

We are highly dependent upon MikeGeorgette Nicholas and Michael Minnich, A. Michael Salem and Mark A. Oliver, and the loss of any of these officers could materially and adversely affect our business.

Our ability to operate successfully is dependent primarily upon the efforts of Georgette Nicholas and Mike Minnich, A. Michael Salem, and Mark A. Oliver,our key executive officers of American Life.officers. The loss of the services of any of these individuals could have a material adverse effect on our ability to pursue our business and the business of American Life.plan. We have “at will” employment agreements with all three of these individuals. WeMs. Nicholas and Mr. Minnich and we have limited “key man”person” life insurance on Messrs. MikeMr. Minnich, but there are no restrictions on their termination of employment with us.

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Midwest is a holding company whose principal operating subsidiary is American Life.

Midwest depends primarily on reimbursement of costs from American Life, Seneca Re, and A. Michael Salem.1505 Capital and has no other significant source of revenue. Our change in control that occurred in 2018 with the infusion of capital from Xenith, discussed above, along with net proceeds of 2020 public offering of our voting common stock, may not provide adequate long-term financing to support our contemplated expansion of American Life’s business or any continued reimbursements to Midwest. If there is not a substantial expansion of American Life’s business, it may not be able to provide funds to Midwest to enable Midwest to meet its obligations. American Life is also restricted by state insurance laws as to fund transfers, by way of dividends or otherwise, to Midwest.

Our investment adviser subsidiary is subject to numerous laws and regulations with substantial compliance costs.

Our wholly owned investment adviser subsidiary, 1505 Capital LLC, is subject to substantial regulation. It is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser and is required to file detailed reports with the SEC concerning its business. It is subject to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 as well as other state securities laws regarding the conduct of its business. Compliance with these regulations is time consuming and is a burden on the operations of 1505 Capital LLC. It is also subject to examination by the SEC. There can be no assurance that our investment adviser subsidiary will not be adversely affected by the results of any future examination.

We have experienced significant operating losses and may not be able to reverse them in the foreseeable future.

We commenced our business plan in mid-2018 and introduced our first annuity products in 2019. We incurred a substantial operating loss in 2021 and 2020 and there can be no assurance of our future profitability. Because ceding commissions from reinsurance are amortized over the life of the policy, we expect several years of insurance policy sales growth will be necessary until we achieve net income on a GAAP basis.

American Life may encounter regulatory difficulties or fail as a result of being inadequately capitalized.

American Life must have adequate capital and surplus capital, calculated in accordance with statutory accounting principles (“SAP”) prescribed by state insurance regulatory authorities to meet regulatory requirements in Nebraska, the state of domicile of American Life. It had approximately $19.5$74 million of capital and surplus (based upon statutory accounting principles) atSAP) as of December 31, 2019.2021. Because we have embarked upon a new business plan that seeks tounder which we write new insurance business and seek to cede a substantial amount of the risk to third partythird-party reinsurers, the Nebraska Department of InsuranceNDOI may require additional amounts of capital and surplus to support the expanded business of American Life going forward. The amount of capital and surplus of American Life ultimately required will be based on certain “risk-based capital” standards established by statute and regulation administered by the Nebraska Department of Insurance.NDOI. The “risk-based capital” system establishes a framework for evaluating the adequacy of the minimum amount of capital and surplus, calculated in accordance with statutory accounting principles,SAP, necessary for an insurance company to support its overall business operations. It identifies insurers that may be inadequately capitalized by reviewing certain inherent risks of each insurer’s assets and liabilities and its mix of net premiums written. Insurers falling below a calculated threshold may be subject to varying degrees of regulatory action, including supervision, rehabilitation, or liquidation. If American Life fails to maintain required capital levels in accordance with the “risk-based capital” system, its ability to conduct business would be compromised and our ability to expand our insurance business would be significantly reduced absent a prompt infusion of capital into American Life.

We may execute an acquisition strategy, which could cause our business and future growth prospects to suffer.

We may at some time pursue acquisitions of insurance-related companies. If we were to pursue acquisitions, we would compete with other companies, most of which have greater financial and other resources than us. Further, if we were to succeed in consummating acquisitions, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be negatively affected because:

some of the acquired businesses may not achieve anticipated revenues, earnings or cash flows;
we may have to assume liabilities that were not disclosed or exceed estimates;
we may be unable to integrate acquired businesses successfully and realize anticipated economic, operational, and other benefits in a timely manner;

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acquisitions could disrupt our on-going business, distract our management, and divert our financial and human resources;
we may experience difficulties operating in markets in which we have no or only limited direct experience; and
of the potential for loss of customers and key employees of any acquired company.

Risks Related to Our Voting Common Stock

Ownership of shares of Midwest voting common stock involves substantial risk, and the entire value of those shares may be lost.

Shares of our voting common stock constitute a high-risk, speculative investment in a business that has incurred substantial losses to date and expects to continue to incur losses in the foreseeable future. No assurance can be given that any of the potential benefits envisioned by our business plan will prove to be available to our stockholders, nor can any assurance be given as to the financial return, if any, which may result from ownership of our voting common stock. The entire value of your shares of Midwest voting common stock may be lost.

The market price and trading volume of our voting common stock may be volatile, which could result in rapid and substantial losses for our stockholders.

Trading and prices of our voting common stock was highly volatile in 2021 and could be subject to wide fluctuations in the future. There are many factors that will impact our stock price and trading volume, including, but not limited to, the factors listed above under “Risks Related to Our Business.” In addition, the low trading volume in our voting common stock may fluctuate and cause significant price variations to occur. If the market price of our voting common stock declines significantly, you may be unable to resell your shares at or above your purchase price, if at all. The market price of our voting common stock may fluctuate or decline significantly in the future. Some of the factors that could negatively affect our share price or result in fluctuations in the price or trading volume of our voting common stock include:

operating results that vary from the expectations of investors and securities analysts;
significant sales of our voting common stock or other securities in the open market;
lack of interest in our voting common stock from institutions, securities analysts, and retail investors;
quarterly variations in our operating results;
changes in investment valuations;
changes in the industries in which we operate;
announcements by us or companies in our industries of significant contracts, acquisitions, dispositions, strategic partnerships,      joint ventures, capital commitments, plans, prospects, service offerings or operating results;
additions or departures of key personnel;
future sales of our securities;
developments in the financial markets and worldwide or regional economies;
announcements of innovations or new products, solutions or services by us or our competitors;
variations in interest rates; and

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changes in accounting principles.

Stock markets in the United States have experienced significant price and volume fluctuations. Market fluctuations, as well as general political and economic conditions such as the global COVID-19 pandemic and the associated economic and market disruption, acts of terrorism, war, prolonged economic uncertainty, a recession or interest rate or currency rate fluctuations, could adversely affect the market price of our voting common stock.

Our failure to meet the continued listing requirements of the Nasdaq Capital Market could result in a delisting of our voting common stock.

Our shares of voting common stock are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market. If we fail to satisfy the continued listing requirements of the Nasdaq Capital Market, Nasdaq may take steps to delist our voting common stock. Such a delisting would likely have a negative effect on the price of our voting common stock, and would impair your ability to sell our voting common stock when you wish to do so. In the event of a delisting, we would take actions to restore our compliance with Nasdaq’s listing requirements, but we can provide no assurance that any such action taken by us would allow our voting common stock to become listed again, stabilize the market price or improve the liquidity of our voting common stock, or prevent future non-compliance with Nasdaq’s listing requirements.

As a smaller reporting company, we are subject to scaled disclosure requirements that may make it more challenging for investors to analyze our results of operations and financial prospects.

Currently, we are a “smaller reporting company,” which generally means that our outstanding common stock held by non-affiliates had a market value of less than $250 million as of the last business day of our second fiscal quarter. As a “smaller reporting company,” we are able to provide simplified executive compensation disclosures in our filings; are exempt from the provisions of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes Oxley Act requiring that independent registered public accounting firms provide an attestation report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting; and have certain other decreased disclosure obligations in our filings with the SEC, including being required to provide only two years of audited financial statements in annual reports. Consequently, it may be more challenging for investors to analyze our results of operations and financial prospects. Further, a material weakness in internal controls may remain undetected for a longer period because of our extended exemption from the auditor attestation requirements under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

There may be future issuances or resales of our voting common stock which may materially and adversely affect the market price of our voting common stock.

Subject to any required state insurance regulatory approvals, we are not restricted from issuing additional shares of our voting common stock in the future, including securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, shares of our voting common stock. Our issuance of additional shares of voting common stock in the future will dilute the ownership interests of our then existing stockholders.

The sale of a substantial number of shares of our voting common stock or securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, shares of our voting common stock, whether directly by us in future offerings or by our existing stockholders in the secondary market, the perception that such issuances or resales could occur or the availability for future issuances or resale of shares of our voting common stock or securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, shares of our voting common stock could materially and adversely affect the market price of our voting common stock and our ability to raise capital through future offerings of equity or equity-related securities on attractive terms or at all.

In addition, our board of directors is authorized to designate and issue preferred stock without further stockholder approval, and we may issue other equity and equity-related securities that are senior to our voting common stock in the future for a number of reasons, including, without limitation, to support operations and growth, to maintain our capital ratios, and to comply with any future changes in regulatory standards.

Our executive officers and directors own a substantial number of shares of our voting common stock. This will enable them to significantly influence the vote on all matters submitted to a vote of our stockholders.

As of December 31, 2021, our executive officers and directors beneficially owned 954,081 shares of our voting common stock, representing approximately 25.3% of the outstanding shares of our voting common stock.

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Accordingly, our executive officers and directors, through their beneficial ownership of our voting common stock, will be able to significantly influence the vote on all matters submitted to a vote of our stockholders, including the election of directors, amendments to our certificate of incorporation or bylaws, mergers or other business combination transactions, and certain sales of assets outside the regular course of business. The interests of our executive officers and directors may not coincide with the interests of our other stockholders, and they could take actions that advance their own interests to the detriment of our other stockholders.

The indemnification rights provided to our directors, officers and employees may result in substantial expenditures by us and may discourage lawsuits against them.

Our certificate of incorporation and Delaware law provide for broad indemnification of our directors, officers and employees. We have also entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors. Our indemnification obligations could result in us incurring substantial expenditures to cover the costs of settlement or damage awards against directors, officers and employees, which we may be unable to recoup. These provisions and resultant costs may also discourage us from bringing an action against our directors and officers for breaches of their fiduciary duties, and may similarly discourage the filing of derivative litigation by our stockholders against our directors or officers even though such actions, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders.

We do not expect to pay any cash dividends to stockholders.

To date, we have never declared or paid any cash dividends to our stockholders and do not expect to do so for the foreseeable future. The declaration, payment and amount of any future dividends will be made at the discretion of our board of directors, and will depend upon, among other things, the results of our operations, cash flows and financial conditions, operating and capital requirements, and other factors as the board of directors considers relevant. In addition, our ability to pay cash dividends depends, in part, upon on the ability of American Life to provide us with payments from its operations, which are subject to prior regulatory approval for the most part. American Life, as an insurance company is subject to significant regulatory restrictions limiting its ability to declare and make payments to Midwest, such as dividends.

If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports about our business, or if they issue adverse or misleading opinions regarding us, our voting common stock price and trading value could decline.

The trading market for our voting common stock is influenced by research and reports that industry or securities analysts publish about us or our business. If any of the analysts who cover us issue an adverse or misleading opinion regarding us, our business model or our voting common stock performance, or if our target operating results fail to meet the expectations of analysts, our voting common stock price would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of us or fail to publish reports on us regularly, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause our stock price and trading volume to decline.

Anti-takeover provisions and the regulations to which we may be subject may make it more difficult for a third-party to acquire control of us, even if the change in control would be beneficial to our stockholders.

We are a holding company incorporated in Delaware. Anti-takeover provisions in Delaware law and has no abilityour certificate of incorporation and bylaws, as well as regulatory approvals required under state insurance laws, could make it more difficult for a third-party to generate revenuesacquire control of us and may prevent stockholders from receiving a premium for their shares of voting common stock. Our certificate of incorporation provides that our board of directors may issue up to 2,000,000 shares of preferred stock, in one or more series, without stockholder approval and with such terms, preferences, rights and privileges as the board of directors may deem appropriate. These provisions, the control of our executive officers and directors over the election of our directors, and other than payments from American Life.

Midwest isfactors may hinder or prevent a holding company whose principal operating subsidiary is American Life. Midwest depends primarily on reimbursement of costs from American Life and has no other significant source of revenue except American Life. Our change in control, even if the change in control would be beneficial to, or sought by, our stockholders.

Nine individuals currently serve on our board of directors, which is divided into three classes with staggered three-year terms. At each annual meeting of stockholders, a class of directors is to be elected for a three-year term to succeed the directors of the same class whose terms are then expiring. As a result, a portion of our board of directors will be elected each year. Our certificate of incorporation authorizes our board of directors to fix the number of directors from time to time by a resolution of the majority of our board of directors. Any additional directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors will be distributed among the three classes so that, occurredas nearly as possible, each class shall consist of one-third of the directors. The division of our board of directors into three classes with staggered three-year terms may delay or prevent a change of our management or a change in 2018control. Between stockholder meetings, directors may be removed by our stockholders only for cause, and the board of directors may appoint new directors to fill

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the vacancies. These provisions may prevent a stockholder from removing incumbent directors and simultaneously gaining control of the board of directors by filling the resulting vacancies with its own nominees. Consequently, the existence of these provisions may have the effect of deterring hostile takeovers, which could depress the market price of our voting common stock.

General Risks

The ongoing events resulting from the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the uncertainty regarding future similar events, could have an adverse impact on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, liquidity and prospects.

We continue to closely monitor developments related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic to assess potential adverse impacts on our business. Due to the evolving and highly uncertain nature of this pandemic, it currently is not possible provide a longer-term estimate of potential insurance or reinsurance exposure or the indirect effects the pandemic may have on our results of operations, financial condition or liquidity. Management implemented the Company’s business continuity plan in early March 2020 and operated through July 2020 with the infusionmajority of employees working remotely. Operations continued as normal despite a sharp increase in sales during the period. We continue to monitor the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Nebraska guidelines regarding employee safety.

If the COVID-19 pandemic and associated economic slowdown continues it could adversely impact our future results of operations, financial condition, cash flows, liquidity and prospects in a number of ways, including:

Our investment portfolio (and, specifically, the valuations of investment assets we hold) could be materially, adversely affected as a result of market developments from the pandemic and uncertainty regarding its outcome. Moreover, changes in interest rates, reduced liquidity or a slowdown in the U.S. or global economic conditions may also adversely affect the values and cash flows of these assets. Our investments in mortgages and asset-backed securities could be negatively affected by delays or failures of borrowers to make payments of principal and interest when due or delays or moratoriums on foreclosures or enforcement actions with respect to delinquent or defaulted mortgages imposed by governmental authorities. Further, extreme market volatility may leave us unable to react to market events in a prudent manner consistent with accepted investment practices in dealing with more orderly markets;
Potential impacts on our operations due to efforts to mitigate the pandemic, including government mandated shutdowns, requests or orders for employees to work remotely, and other social distancing measures, which could result in an adverse impact on our ability to conduct our business, including our ability to sell policies, and adjust certain claims;
Potential impacts on morbidity could adversely affect the potential profitability of our annuity products;
We also outsource certain critical business activities to third parties such as our IMOs. As a result, we rely upon the successful implementation and execution of the business continuity planning of such entities in the current environment. While we monitor the business continuity activities of these third parties, successful implementation and execution of their business continuity strategies are largely outside our control. If one or more of the third parties on whom we rely for critical business activities experience operational difficulties or failures as a result of the impacts from the spread of COVID-19, it may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and cash flows; and
Potential impacts of COVID-19 on reinsurers and the cost and availability of reinsurance.

Finally, we cannot predict how legal and regulatory responses to concerns about COVID-19 and related public health issues, will impact our business. The continued spread of COVID-19 and its variants has led to disruption and volatility in the global capital markets which could increase our funding costs and limit our access to the capital markets. Accordingly, we may in the future have difficulty accessing capital on attractive terms, or at all, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.

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Catastrophes may adversely impact liabilities for policyholder claims and reinsurance availability.

Claims resulting from Xenith discussedcatastrophic events could harm our financial results, profitability, and financial condition. Catastrophic events could impact our insurance business by significantly impacting our assumptions as to mortality, morbidity, and other rates, as well as product sales. Catastrophic events may also reduce economic activity in affected areas, which could harm our prospects for new business. In addition, catastrophes could cause unanticipated financial strain on our insureds as well as increase the cost of reinsurance to us and decrease the availability of reinsurance, which could in turn harm our business, results of operations or financial condition.

Claims loss reserves may be inadequate.

We maintain loss reserves to cover estimated liabilities for unpaid losses and loss expenses, including legal and other fees, as well as other claims and settlement costs for reported and unreported claims incurred as of the end of each accounting period. Loss reserves do not represent an exact calculation of liability. Rather, reserves represent an estimate of what we expect the ultimate settlement and administration of claims will cost. These estimates, which generally involve actuarial projections, are based on the assessment of facts and circumstances then known, as well as estimates of future trends in claims severity, frequency, and other factors. The variables described above are affected by both internal and external events, such as changes in claims handling procedures, economic inflation, judicial and litigation trends and legislative changes. Many of these items are not directly quantifiable in advance. Additionally, there may not providebe a significant delay between the occurrence of the insured event and the time it is reported to us.

Reserve estimates are continually refined as experience develops and further claims are reported and settled. Adjustments to reserves are reflected in the results of the periods in which such estimates are changed. Because setting reserves is inherently uncertain, we cannot assure that our current reserves will prove adequate long-termin light of subsequent events, including for example the uncertainties relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. Accordingly, the ultimate settlement of losses may be significantly greater or less than the loss and loss expense reserves as of the date of the balance sheet. If our loss reserves are determined to be inadequate, we will be required to increase loss reserves at the time of such determination with a corresponding decrease in our profitability. If the increase in loss reserves is large enough, we could incur a net loss and a net reduction of our capital.

Adverse capital and credit market conditions may significantly affect our ability to meet liquidity needs and access the capital required to operate our business.

In the insurance industry, liquidity refers to the ability of an insurance company to generate adequate amounts of cash from its normal operations, including from its investment portfolio, in order to meet its financial commitments, which are principally obligations under the insurance policies it has written.

The capital and credit markets experienced significant volatility and disruption. In some cases, the markets have exerted downward pressure on the availability of liquidity and credit capacity. In the event that we need access to additional capital to pay our operating expenses, or increase the amount of insurance that we seek to underwrite, or otherwise grow our business, our ability to obtain such capital may be limited and the cost of any such capital may be significant. In addition, the availability of additional financing will depend on a variety of factors, including capital and credit market conditions, the availability of credit generally and specifically to supportthe financial services industries, market liquidity, our contemplated expansioncreditworthiness, as well as the possibility that customers or capital providers could develop a negative perception of American Life’sour long or short-term financial prospects if we incur large investment losses or if our level of business activity decreases. Similarly, our access to capital may be impaired if regulatory authorities or any continued reimbursementsrating agencies take negative actions against us. Our internal sources of liquidity may prove to Midwest. If there is not a substantial expansion of American Life’s business, itbe insufficient, and we may not be able to successfully obtain additional financing on favorable terms, or at all. As such, we may be forced to issue securities with terms and conditions that may be unfavorable to us, to accept an unattractive cost of capital or to sell certain assets, any of which could decrease our profitability and significantly reduce our financial flexibility. If a combination of these factors occurs, our internal sources of liquidity may prove to be insufficient and, in such case, we may not be able to successfully obtain additional financing on terms favorable to us.

The transition from LIBOR to alternative reference “benchmark” interest rates is uncertain and could adversely affect the value of or the interest rates on our investments and obligations indexed to LIBOR, as well as the revenue and expenses associated with those assets and obligations.

LIBOR is an interest rate benchmark that has been widely used in financial contracts around the world for decades. In July 2017, the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), which regulates the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), announced

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that it intended to phase out LIBOR by the end of 2021. Following discussions with the FCA and other official sector bodies, the Intercontinental Exchange Benchmark Administration announced in March 2021 the publication of certain USD LIBOR settings will continue through June 30, 2023. The Alternative Reference Rates Committee of the Federal Reserve Board (“ARRC”), a group of market participants convened to help ensure a successful transition away from LIBOR, has recommended the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) as its preferred alternative reference rate and has proposed a transition plan and timeline designed to encourage the adoption of SOFR from LIBOR.

We are in the process of analyzing and identifying our population of securities, financial instruments and contracts that utilize LIBOR (collectively “LIBOR Instruments”) to determine if we have any material exposure to the transition from LIBOR. To the extent we hold LIBOR Instruments, the terms of these instruments may have fallback provisions that provide fundsfor an alternative reference rate when LIBOR ceases to Midwestexist. For securities without adequate fallback provisions already in place, legislation governing securities under New York law has been enacted to enable Midwestprovide a safe harbor for transition to meet its obligations.the recommended alternative reference rate. In addition, federal legislation has been introduced to provide the same protection for securities not governed by New York law.

Notwithstanding, in preparation for the phase out of LIBOR, we may need to renegotiate our LIBOR Instruments that utilize LIBOR. However, these efforts may not be successful in mitigating the legal and financial risk from changing the reference rate in our LIBOR Instruments. Furthermore, the discontinuation of LIBOR may adversely impact our ability to manage and hedge exposures to fluctuations in interest rates using derivative instruments.

As a result, the transition of our LIBOR Instruments to alternative reference rates may result in adverse changes to the net investment income, fair market value and return on those investments. We intend to continue to evaluate and monitor the risks associated with the LIBOR transition which include identifying and monitoring our exposure to LIBOR, monitoring the market adoption of alternative reference rates and ensuring operational processes are updated to accommodate alternative rates. Due to uncertainty surrounding alternative rates, we are unable to predict the overall impact of this change at this time.

The insurance industry is subject to numerous laws and regulations, and compliance costs and/or changes in the regulatory environment that could adversely affect our business.

Our insurance operations are subject to government regulation in each of the states in which we conduct business. Such regulatory authority is vested in state agencies which have broad administrative power dealing with all aspects of the insurance business, including premium rates, policy forms, and capital adequacy, and whichthat are concerned primarily with the protection of policyholders rather than shareholders. These state insurance regulatory authorities have broad administrative powers dealing with all aspects of the insurance business, including, among other areas, regulation of the advertising and marketing of insurance, privacy of policyholders, acquisitions of regulated insurance entities, payment of dividends, reinsurance, the form and content of insurance policies (including pricing), operating and agent licenses, regulation of premium rates, premium tax increases, rating and underwriting restrictions and limitations, asset and reserve valuation requirements, enterprise risk management, surplus requirements, the type or amount of investments, accounting standards, Risk-Based Capital (“RBC”) requirements, statutory reserve and capital requirements, assessments by guaranty associations, affiliate transactions, and unfair trade and claims practice.

In addition, our insurance operations may be impacted by actions taken by the NAIC. A primary mandate of the NAIC is to benefit state insurance regulatory authorities and consumers by promulgating model insurance laws and regulations for adoption by the states. The NAIC also provides standardized insurance industry accounting and reporting guidance through the NAIC Accounting Manual. However, model insurance laws and regulations are only effective when adopted by the states, and statutory accounting and reporting principles continue to be established by individual state laws, regulations and permitted practices. Changes to the NAIC Accounting Manual or modifications by the various state insurance departments may adversely affect the statutory capital and surplus of American Life. See “Regulation” for further discussion.

The NAIC and state insurance regulators reexamine existing laws and regulations on an ongoing basis, and focus on insurance company investments and solvency issues, risk-based capital guidelines, interpretations of existing laws, the development of new laws, the implementation of non-statutory guidelines and the circumstances under which dividends may be paid. Future NAIC initiatives, and other regulatory changes, could have a material adverse impact on our insurance business. There can be no assurance that American Life will be able to satisfy the regulatory requirements of the Nebraska Department of InsuranceNDOI or a similar department in any other state in which it may wish to transacttransacts business. It should be noted that aA significant component of our new business plan is to reinsure substantially all of our new insurance business. It should be assumed that state regulators will monitor carefully the financial strength of any third party reinsurance companythird-party reinsurer and in certain instances may require that sufficient funds be reserved by us in order to

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alleviate risks associated with reinsurers being unable to meet their financial

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commitments in the case of claims on insurance policies with a reinsurer. This oversight may result in our operations being less economically successful than we anticipateare seeking and could adversely affect theour result of operations and therefore the value of your investmentour voting common stock.

In addition, as the owner of a life insurance subsidiary, Midwest is itself regulated by the NDOI and, to a lesser extent, by the various state insurance regulatory authorities of those U.S. jurisdictions where American Life is licensed. All U.S. states have enacted legislation that requires each insurance holding company and each insurance company in Midwest.an insurance holding company system to register with the insurance regulatory authority of the insurance company’s state of domicile (in the case of American Life, Nebraska and also commercially domiciled in Texas) and to furnish annually financial and other information concerning the operations of companies within the holding company system that materially affect the operations, management or financial condition of the insurers within such system (generally referred to as “insurance holding company acts”). Under such laws, among other requirements, transactions between Midwest and its regulated insurance subsidiaries and affiliates must be fair and reasonable and, if material or of a specified category, they require prior notice and approval or non-disapproval by the state of domicile of each insurance company that is party to the transaction. In addition, under such laws, a state insurance authority usually must approve in advance the direct or indirect acquisition of 10% or more of the voting securities of an insurance company domiciled in its state.

Individual state guaranty associations assess insurance companiesIn addition, American Life generally may not pay dividends without giving prior notice thereof to the NDOI and the Texas Department of Insurance and generally may not pay benefits to policyholders of insolventextraordinary dividends without obtaining the prior approval or failed insurance companies. The impactnon-disapproval of such assessments may be partly offset by credits against future state premium taxes. We cannot predict the amount of any future assessments, nor have we attempted to estimate the amount of assessments to be made from known insolvencies.

Our investment adviser subsidiary is subject to numerousregulators. The laws and regulations with substantial compliance costs.prohibit an insurer from, without regulatory approval, paying an “extraordinary” dividend, which is generally defined as any dividend paid from other than earned surplus or exceeding certain thresholds specified in the applicable state insurance laws.

Our majority owned investment adviser subsidiary, 1505 Capital, is subjectAs a component of its ongoing efforts to substantial regulation. It is registeredremain compliant with the SEC as an investment adviser and is required toU.S. insurance regulatory regime, we file detailed annual reports with respect to American Life with the SEC concerning its business. It is also subject to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 as well as other state securities laws regarding the conduct of its business. Compliance with these regulations is time consumingNDOI and is a burden on the operationsall of the subsidiary. Itstates in which American Life is alsolicensed. Also, the business and accounts of American Life are subject to examination by the SEC. There can be no assurance that the investment adviser subsidiary will not be adversely affected by the results of any examination.

Impairment or negative performance of other financial institutions could adversely affect us.

We have exposure to many different industries and counterparties, and we routinely execute transactions with counterparties in the financial services industry. The operations of U.S. and global financial services institutions are interconnected and a decline in the financial condition of one or more financial services institutions may expose us to credit losses or defaults, limit our access to liquidity or otherwise disrupt our business operations.

We operate in a highly competitive industry, and our business will suffer if we are unable to compete effectively.

The operating results of life insurance companies are subject to significant fluctuations due to competition, economic conditions, interest rates, investment performance, maintenance of insurance ratings from rating agencies such as A.M. Best and other factors. The insurance business is intensely competitive. Our ability to compete with other insurance companies is dependent upon, among other things, our ability to attract and retain IMOs to market our insurance products, our ability to develop competitive and profitable products and our ability to obtain acceptable ratings. In connection with the development and sale of products, American Life encounters competition from other insurance companies, most of whom have financial and human resources substantially greater than American Life’s,NDOI, as well as competition from other investment alternatives available to potential policyholders.

inquiries including investigations of the various insurance regulatory authorities of the states in which American Life competes with up to 775 otherare licensed.

Development of annuity and life insurance companies in the United States. Most of these companies have greater financial resources, longer business histories, and more diversified lines of insurance coverage than American Life. These larger companies also generally have large sales forces. We also face competition from direct mail and email sales marketers.

Development of life and annuity products involves the use of certain assumptions, and the inaccuracy of these assumptions could adversely affect profitability.

In our life and annuityinsurance business, we must make certain assumptions as to expected mortality, lapse rates, and other factors in developing the pricing and other terms of life and annuityinsurance products. These assumptions are based on industry experience and are reviewed and revised regularly to reflect actual experience on a current basis. However, variation of actual experience from that assumed in developing such terms may affect a product’s profitability or sales volume and in turn adversely impact our revenues.

If we underestimate our liability for future policy benefits, our results of operations could suffer.

Liabilities established for future life insurance policy benefits are based upon a number of factors, including certain assumptions such as mortality, morbidity, lapse rates, and crediting rates. Unforeseen events like epidemics or pandemics could arise and have an adverse effect on our assumptions as to morbidity and mortality. If we underestimate future policy benefits, we wouldwill incur additional expenses at the time we become aware of the inadequacy. As a result, our losses would increase and our ability to achieve profits would suffer.

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Fluctuations in interest rates could adversely affect our business.

Interest rate fluctuations couldcan impair an insurance company’s ability to pay policyholder benefits with operating and investment cash flows, cash on hand and other cash sources. Our annuity products expose us to the risk that changes in interest rates will reduce any spread, or the difference between the amounts that American Life is required to pay under the contracts and the amounts American Life is able to earn on its investments intended to support its obligations under theits annuity contracts. Spread is a key component of net revenues.

To the extent that interest rates credited are less than those generally available in the marketplace, policyholder lapses, policy loans and surrenders, and withdrawals of life insurance policies and annuity contracts may increase as contract holders seek to purchase products with perceived higher returns. This process may result in cash outflows requiring that American Life sell investments at a time when the prices of those investments are adversely affected by the increase in market interest rates, which may result in realized investment losses.

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Increases in market interest rates may also negatively affect profitability. In periods of increasing interest rates, we may not be able to replace invested assets with higher yielding assets needed to fund the higher crediting rates that may be necessary to keep interest sensitive products competitive. American Life, therefore, may have to accept a lower spread and thus lower profitability or face a decline in sales and greater losssurrender of existing annuity contracts.

Our investments are subject to risks of default and reductions in market values.

We are subject to credit riskextensive regulation.

As stated above, we are subject to extensive state regulatory oversight in the jurisdictions in which we do business, as well as federal oversight with respect to certain portions of our investment portfolio. Defaultsbusiness. Changes in state regulations, or in the interpretation or application of existing state laws or regulations, may adversely impact our pricing, capital requirements, reserve adequacy or exposure to litigation and could increase the costs of our regulatory compliance.

Changes are often implemented by state regulators in order to benefit policyholders to the detriment of insurers. State insurance regulators and the NAIC continually reexamine existing laws and regulations and may impose changes in the future that put further regulatory burdens on us and, thus, could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

In addition, state insurance laws, rather than federal bankruptcy laws, govern the liquidation or restructuring of insurance companies. Virtually all states in which we operate require that we bear a portion of the loss suffered by some insureds as the result of impaired or insolvent insurance companies via participation in state guaranty associations. The effect of these and similar arrangements could reduce our profitability in any given period and/or limit our ability to grow our business. Finally, some insurers of the programs or associations to make payments to insureds for losses could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

From time to time, increased scrutiny has been placed upon the U.S. insurance regulatory framework, and a number of state legislatures have considered or enacted legislative measures that alter, and in many cases increase, state authority to regulate insurance and reinsurance companies. In addition to legislative initiatives of this type, the NAIC and insurance regulators are regularly involved in a process of reexamining existing laws and regulations and their application to insurance and reinsurance companies.

We cannot predict the effect that any proposed or future legislation or change in the interpretation or application of existing laws or regulations may have on our financial condition or results of operations.

A failure to comply with rules and regulations in a jurisdiction could lead to disciplinary action, the imposition of fines or the revocation of the license, permission or authorization necessary to conduct our businesses in that jurisdiction, all of which could have a material adverse effect on the continued conduct of business in a particular jurisdiction.

The impact on potential customers and vendors of sustained or significant deterioration in economic conditions could adversely affect our business.

We are exposed to risks associated with the potential financial instability of our customers, many of whom may be adversely affected by an economic slowdown. As a result of macroeconomic challenges currently or potentially affecting the economy of the U.S. and other parts of the world, customers may experience serious cash flow problems and other financial difficulties. In addition, events in the U.S. or foreign markets, such as the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the United Kingdom’s exit from the EU, may continue to impact the global economy and capital markets. The impact of such events is difficult to predict. As a result, customers and potential customers may modify, delay, or cancel plans to purchase our products. Additionally, if customers are not successful in generating sufficient incomes, they may not be able to pay, or may delay payment of, premiums and other amounts that are owed to us. Any liability of current or potential customers to pay us for our products may adversely affect our earnings and cash flow.

A general economic slowdown could potentially adversely affect us in the form of consumer behavior, particularly through decreased demand for our products. In addition, we are susceptible to risks associated with the potential financial instability of the vendors on which we rely to provide services or to whom we delegate certain functions. The same conditions that may affect our customers also could adversely affect our vendors, causing them to significantly and quickly increase their prices or reduce their output. Our business depends on our ability to perform, in an efficient and uninterrupted fashion, our necessary business functions, and any interruption in the services provided by third parties could also adversely affect us.

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Defaults on commercial mortgage loans and volatility in the payment or performance of their obligations under these securities, bankruptcy filings and other events could reduce our investment income and realized investment gains or result in the recognition of investment losses and restrict our access to cash and investments. The value of our investments may be materially adversely affected by increases in interest rates, downgrades in bonds included in our portfolio, financial market performance, general economic conditions, and by other factors that may result in the recognition of other-than-temporary impairments. Each of these events may cause us to reduce the carrying value of our investment portfolio and may adversely affect our results of operations.operations and financial condition.

ChangesA decline in the tax lawscommercial real estate market within the U.S. resulting from changes in interest rates, real estate market conditions or an economic downturn may have a negative impact on the value of our commercial mortgage loan portfolio. Negative developments across a certain property type or the occurrence of a negative event within a geographic region may have a significant negative impact, based on concentration within that property type or geographic region. Our operations and financial condition may be adversely affected from an increase in borrower defaults within our commercial mortgage loan portfolio. See “Management’s Discussion of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

Our valuation of investments and the determinations of the amount of allowances and impairments taken on our investments may include methodologies, estimations and assumptions that are subject to differing interpretations and, if changed, could materially adversely affect our business.results of operations or financial condition.

CongressFixed maturities, equity securities and derivatives represent the majority of assets and liabilities reported at fair value on our Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (an exit price). Fair value estimates are made based on available market information and judgments about the financial instrument at a specific point in time. Considerable judgment is often required to develop estimates of fair value, and the use of different assumptions or valuation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts.

As an example, our registered independent accounting firm has fromidentified the valuation of embedded derivatives of fixed indexed annuities as a critical audit matter. Our FIA contracts allow the policyholder to elect a fixed interest rate return or an equity market component for which interest credited is based on the performance of certain stock market indices. The equity market option is an embedded derivative. The fair value of the embedded derivatives is computed as the present value of death, surrender and partial withdrawal benefits attributable to the excess of the projected policy contract values over the projected minimum guaranteed contract values. The projections of policy contract values are based on assumptions for future policy growth, which included assumptions for expected index credits on the next policy anniversary date, future equity option cost developed based on the participation rate, cap rate, strike rate, volatility assumption, time to time considered possible legislation that would eliminateexpiration, and risk-free rates using the deferralBlack Scholes formula and grow at the risk-free interest rates over the term of taxationthe index period, guaranteed minimum renewal interest rate, and policyholder assumptions including mortality, lapses, partial withdrawal rates, and the utilization of benefit riders.  Because of the significant subjectivity and estimation of the valuation inputs, the valuation of our embedded derivatives could vary significantly as conditions change and new information and  becomes available. Decreases in value may have a material adverse effect on our results of operation or financial condition.

Our determination of the accretionamount of allowances and impairments varies by investment type and is based on our periodic evaluations and assessments of known and inherent risks associated with the respective asset class. Such evaluations and assessments are revised as conditions change and new information becomes available. We update our evaluations regularly and make changes in allowances and impairments in operations. Market volatility, including as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, can make it more difficult to value within certain annuities and life insurance products. This and similar legislation, includingour securities if trading in such securities becomes less frequent. In addition, a simplified “flat tax” income tax structureforced sale by holders of large amounts of a security, whether due to insolvency, liquidity or other issues with an exemption from taxation for investment income,respect to such holders, could adversely affectresult in declines in the saleprice of life insurance and annuities compared with other financial products if such legislation were to be enacted. Plus, we could be unable to attract reinsurance capital.a security. There can be no assuranceguarantee that we have accurately assessed the level of impairments taken and allowances reflected in our financial statements. Furthermore, additional impairments may need to be taken or allowances provided for in the future. Impairments result in charges to earnings in the period taken, and historical trends may not be indicative of future impairments or allowances.

A breach of information security or other unauthorized data access could have an adverse impact on our business and reputation.

In the ordinary course of business, we collect, process, transmit, and store large quantities of personally identifiable information, customer financial and health information, and proprietary business information Sensitive Information. The secure processing, storage, maintenance, and transmission of Sensitive Information are vital to our operations and business strategies. Although we undertake substantial efforts to reasonably protect (“Sensitive Information”), including internal processes and technological defenses that are preventative, and other commercially reasonable controls designed to provide multiple layers of security and detection, Sensitive Information maintained by us may be vulnerable to attacks by computer hackers, to physical theft by other third-party criminals, or to other compromise due to employee error or malfeasance. Attacks may include both sophisticated cyber-attacks perpetrated by organized crime groups, “activists,” or state sponsored groups, as well as non-technical attacks ranging from sophisticated social

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engineering to whether such legislationsimple extortion or threats, which can lead to unauthorized access or disclosure, disruption or further attacks. Such events may expose us to civil and criminal liability, regulatory action, harm our reputation among customers, deter people from purchasing our products, cause system interruptions, require significant technical, legal, and other remediation expenses, and otherwise have an adverse impact on our business. Third parties to whom we outsource certain functions are also subject to the risks outlined above, and if a third-party suffers a breach of information security involving our Sensitive Information, the breach may result in substantial costs and other negative consequences, including a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and liquidity. We offer no guarantees that we will be enactedable to implement information security measures to prevent all breaches of information security.

Employee error, misconduct, or if enacted, whetherexcessive risks may be difficult to detect and prevent and could adversely affect us.

Persons who conduct our business, including executive officers and other members of management, other employees and our IMOs and their sales agents, do so in part by making decisions and choices that involve exposing us to risk. These include decisions such legislation would contain provisionsas setting underwriting guidelines and standards, product design and pricing, determining what assets to purchase for investment and when to sell them, deciding which business opportunities to pursue, and other business decisions. Losses may result from, among other things, excessive risk, fraud, errors, failure to document transactions properly, failure to obtain proper internal authorization, or failure to comply with regulatory requirements. Although we employ controls and procedures designed to monitor business decisions and prevent us from taking excessive risks, it is not always possible adverse effects on any annuityto deter or prevent employee misconduct or errors in judgment, and life insurance productsthe precautions that we take to prevent and detect this activity may not be effective in all cases. The impact of those losses and excessive risks could harm our reputation and have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and business operations.

We face a risk of noncompliance with and enforcement action under the anti-money laundering statutes and regulations.

A major focus of governmental policy on financial institutions in recent years has been aimed at combating money laundering and terrorist financing. The USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 substantially broadened the scope of United States anti-money laundering laws and regulations by imposing significant new compliance and due diligence obligations, creating new crimes and penalties and expanding the extra territorial jurisdiction of the United States, and by expanding the categories of financial institutions to which such laws and regulations apply to include some categories of insurance companies. Certain financial institutions are also prohibited from entering into specified financial transactions and account relationships and must use enhanced due diligence procedures in their dealings with certain types of high risk clients and implement a written client identification program. Financial institutions must take certain steps to assist government agencies in detecting and preventing money laundering and report certain types of suspicious transactions without notifying the affected clients. Regulatory authorities routinely examine financial institutions to ensure that they have policies and procedures reasonably designed to comply with applicable requirements and for compliance with the policies and procedures and these substantive obligations. Failure of a financial institution to maintain and implement adequate programs, including policies and procedures, to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, or to comply with all of the relevant laws or regulations, could have serious legal and reputational consequences for the institution. Regulatory authorities have imposed cease and desist orders and civil money penalties against institutions found to be violating these obligations. We and our subsidiaries are subject to anti-money laundering statutes and certain regulations, and our compliance obligations under these rules may result in increased costs and allocation of internal resources.

Litigation or regulatory actions could have a material adverse impact on us.

Current and future litigation or regulatory investigations and actions in the ordinary course of operating subsidiary develops.our business, including class action lawsuits, may negatively affect us by resulting in the payment of substantial awards or settlements, increasing legal and compliance costs, requiring us to change certain aspects of our business operations, diverting management attention from other business issues, harming our reputation with customers or making it more difficult to retain current customers and to recruit and retain employees or IMOs.

UnderGuarantees within certain of our products may adversely affect our financial condition or results of operations.

We offer guarantees which can include a return of no less than the Internal Revenue Code, income taxestotal deposits made on the contract less any customer withdrawals, total deposits made on the contract less any customer withdrawals plus a minimum return, or the highest contract value on a specified anniversary date minus any customer withdrawals following the contract anniversary. These guarantees can also include benefits payable by policyholders on investment earnings is deferredin the event of death, upon annuitization, upon periodic withdrawal or at specified dates during the accumulation periodperiod.

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Periods of significant and annuity products. This favorable tax treatment may give certain insurancesustained downturns in equity markets, increased equity volatility, and/or reduced interest rates could result in an increase in the valuation of the future policy benefit or policyholder account balance liabilities associated with such products, resulting in a competitive advantage over other non-insurance products. Toreduction of our potential profitability. We use risk management techniques including product design, asset liability management, reinsurance and hedge strategies to manage the extent thatrisk associated with liability exposures and the Internal Revenue Code may be revised to reducevolatility of net income associated with these liabilities.

We remain ultimately liable for the tax-deferred status of life insurancespecific guaranteed benefits and annuity products, or to increase the tax-deferred status of competing products, American Life and its industry as a whole would be adversely affected with respect to their ability to sell products. In addition, life insurance products are often used to fund estate tax obligations. We cannot predict what future tax initiatives may be proposed with respectsubject to the estate taxrisk that reinsurers or other taxes which may materially adversely affect us.

The insurance industry is highly regulated and our activitiesderivative counterparties are restricted as a result. We spend substantial amounts of time and incur significant expenses in connection with complying with applicable regulations, andunable or unwilling to pay. In addition, we are subject to the risk that more burdensome regulations could be imposed on us.

Compliancehedging and other risk management procedures prove ineffective, or the estimates and assumptions made in connection with insurance regulation by us is costly and time consuming. Insurance companies intheir use fail to reflect or correspond to the U.S.actual liability exposure, or that unanticipated policyholder behavior or mortality, combined with adverse market events, produces economic losses beyond the scope of the risk management techniques employed. We are also subject to extensive regulation in the states where they do business.risk that the cost of hedging these guaranteed minimum benefits may materially increase. These risks, individually or collectively, may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

We regularly analyze overall risk position at the enterprise level and decide how much risk to retain (that is, to hold capital) and how much risk to transfer off the balance sheet. This regulation primarily protects policyholders rather than shareholders. The regulations require:

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prior approval of acquisitions of insurance companies;

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certain solvency standards;

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licensing of insurers and their agents;

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investment limitations;

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deposits of securities for the benefit of policyholders;

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approval of policy forms and premium rates;

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periodic examinations; and

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reserves for unearned premiums, losses and other matters.

American Life is subjecttransferring risk, the concentration of the risk, and our tolerance for volatility. Residual risk for which we hold capital may lead to this regulation in each state in the U.S. in which it is licensed to do business. This regulation involves significant costs and restricts operations.earnings volatility. We cannot predict the form ofassure you that our hedging strategy will successfully mitigate any risks we may hedge.

Deviations from assumptions regarding future regulatory initiatives.

In addition, as the owner of a life insurance subsidiary, Midwest is regulated by various state insurance regulatory agencies under the Uniform Insurance Holding Company Act. Certain "extraordinary" intercorporate transfers of assetspersistency, mortality, morbidity, and dividend payments from American Life require prior approval by the applicable state insurance regulator. We also file detailed annual reports with the Nebraska Department of Insurance and all of the statesinterest rates used in which we are licensed. The business and accounts of American Life are subject to examination by the Nebraska Department of Insurance, as well as inquiries including investigations of the various insurance regulatory authorities of the states in which American Life is licensed.

Security breaches or interference with our technology infrastructure could harm our business.

Our new business plan is highly dependent upon technology systems and networks to conduct our business. Maintaining the integrity of our technology is critical to the success of our business operations, including product development, insurance policy sales, oversight, financial reporting and analysis and to the protection of our proprietary information and our clients’ personal information. Any failures by our technology or future security breaches or interference to our technology systems that may occur in the futurecalculating reserve amounts could have a material adverse impact on our business. Moreover, any unauthorized access to or the disclosure or loss of our proprietary information or our clients’ personal information may result in legal claims, damage to reputation, the incurrence of costs to eliminate or mitigate further exposure, or other damage to our business. Despite measures taken to address and mitigate these risks, we cannot assure that our systems and networks will not be subject to breaches or interference. We maintain insurance for data breaches seeking to cover the cost of any such breach, but such insurance may not be adequate to cover all liabilities resulting from data breaches.

We may execute an acquisition strategy, which could cause our business and future growth prospects to suffer.

We may at some time pursue acquisitions of insurance related companies. If we were to pursue acquisitions, we would compete with other companies, most of which have greater financial and other resources than us. Further, if we were to succeed in consummating acquisitions, our business, financial condition and results of operations or financial condition.

Our profitability depends significantly upon the extent to which the actual experience is consistent with the assumptions we use in setting prices for our products and establishing liabilities for future policy benefits and claims. Such amounts are established based on estimates by actuaries of how much we will need to pay for future benefits and claims. The process of calculating reserve amounts for a life insurance company involves the use of a number of assumptions, including those related to persistency (how long a contract stays with a company), mortality (the likelihood of death or the likelihood of survival), morbidity (likelihood of sickness or disability) and interest rates (the rates expected to be paid or received on financial instruments, including insurance or investment contracts).

Pricing of our annuity products is also based in part upon expected persistency of these products, which is the probability that a policy or contract will remain in force from one period to the next. Persistency within our annuities business may be negatively affected because:

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some of the acquired businesses may not achieve anticipated revenues, earnings or cash flows;

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we may have to assume liabilities that were not disclosed or exceed estimates;

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we may be unable to integrate acquired businesses successfully and realize anticipated economic, operational and other benefits in a timely manner;

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acquisitions could disrupt our on-going business, distract our management and divert our financial and human resources;

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we may experience difficulties operating in markets in which we have no or only limited direct experience; and

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of the potential for loss of customers and key employees of any acquired company.

Company Stock Ownership Risks

Ownership of shares of Midwest voting common stock involves substantial risk, and the entire value of those shares may be lost.

Shares of our voting common stock constitute a high-risk, speculative investment in a business that has incurred substantial losses to date and expects to continue to incur substantial losses in the foreseeable future. No assurance can be given that any of the potential benefits envisionedsignificantly impacted by our new business plan will prove to be available to our shareholders, nor can any assurance be given as to the financial return, if any, which may result from ownership of our voting common shares. The entire value of your shares of Midwest voting common stock may be lost.

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The Xenith Transaction has resulted in a change of control and stock ownership.

Xenith controls our Company and other shareholders have little ability to effect the Company’s decision making. Xenith owns over 98% of our issued and outstanding shares of voting common stock, and other shareholders own only 2% of our voting common stock. As a result, any possible appreciation in the value of guaranteed minimum benefits contained in many of our voting common stock will accrue onlyannuity products being higher than current account values, in light of poor equity market performance or extended periods of low interest rates, as well as other factors. Persistency could be adversely affected generally by developments affecting client perceptions of us, including perceptions arising from adverse publicity. Many of our products also provide our customers with wide flexibility with respect to the extentamount and timing of 2% to our pre-Xenith shareholders.premium deposits and the amount and timing of withdrawals from the policy’s value.

We do not intend to declare cash dividends on sharesSome of our voting common stock.

Weproducts and services are complex and are sold through IMOs and their agents, and a failure of the IMOs and their agents to properly explain our products and services or their misrepresentation in connection therewith could have never paid a cash dividendan adverse effect on our voting common stockbusiness, results of operations and we do not anticipate paying cash dividends. We intend to retain available funds to be used for operations. Moreover,financial condition.

Some of our products are complex and are sold through IMOs and their agents. Therefore, we are a holding company without independent operations and generate limited cash flow from our operations. You should not expect that we will pay cash dividendsprimarily reliant on our voting common stock.IMOs and their agents in our distribution channel to describe and explain our products to potential customers. The intentional or unintentional misrepresentation of our products and services in advertising materials or other external communications, or inappropriate activities by the IMOs or their agents, could adversely affect our business reputation and prospects, as well as lead to potential regulatory actions or litigation.

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.

None.

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Table of Contents

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES.

We currently lease approximately 10,13115,831 square feet of office space at 2900 South 70th Street, SuiteSuites 350 and 400, Lincoln, Nebraska 68506. This lease was executed October 17, 201316, 2021 and expires on January 31, 2024.October 16, 2031. We also rent approximately 455 square feet of office space at 405 Lexington Ave, Floor 9, New York, New York, 10174. This rental agreement was executed September 1, 2021 and renews on a month to month basis.

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

We are involved in litigation incidental to our operations from time to time. We are not presently a party to any legal proceedings other than litigation arising in the ordinary course of our business, and we are not aware of any claims that could materially adversely affect our financial position or results of operations.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.

Not applicable.

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Table of Contents

PART II.

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.

Market Information

OurHistorically our voting common stock was listed on the OTCQB as of mid‑2016Marketplace under the ticker symbol: MDWT. Our shares do not actively trade. As of March 12,symbol “MDWT’’ but had experienced very limited trading. On August 27, 2020, we had issuedcompleted a 500 for one reverse stock split and outstanding 1,023,408,553 sharesminimal trading of our voting common stock.

stock occurred after that date until December 17,

2020, when our voting common stock was listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “MDWT.” The following table shows the high and low bid prices of our voting common stock as reported by the OTCQB. ThisOTCQB through December 17, 2020 and afterward as reported information does not constitute an established trading market and does not necessarily reflect actual transactions. Any trading in our voting common stock has been limited, volatile and sporadic.by Nasdaq.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bid Price

Bid Price

Period

    

Year

    

High

    

Low

    

Year

    

High

    

Low

First Quarter

 

2018

 

$

0.08

 

$

0.02

2020

$

35.00

 

33.00

Second Quarter

 

2018

 

 

0.10

 

 

0.04

2020

41.25

 

25.00

Third Quarter

 

2018

 

 

0.04

 

 

0.02

 

2020

52.50

 

18.25

Fourth Quarter

 

2018

 

 

0.06

 

 

0.02

 

2020

 

63.00

 

25.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Quarter

 

2019

 

 

0.15

 

 

0.05

 

2021

 

50.29

 

49.14

Second Quarter

 

2019

 

 

0.06

 

 

0.05

 

2021

 

39.81

 

39.21

Third Quarter

 

2019

 

 

0.06

 

 

0.03

 

2021

��

39.80

 

38.90

Fourth Quarter

 

2019

 

 

0.10

 

 

0.03

 

2021

 

17.56

 

16.73

Holders of Record

As ofOn March 1, 2020,24, 2022, there were approximately 10,0004,195 holders of record of our voting common stock.

DividendsDividend Policy

Holders of our voting common stock are entitled to cash dividends when, as, and if declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available therefor. We have notnever paid cash dividends on our voting common stockstock. Future dividend policy will be subject to the discretion of our board of directors and do not anticipate payingwill be contingent upon future earnings, if any, our financial condition, capital requirements, general business conditions, and other factors. Therefore, we can give no assurance that future cash dividends of any kind will be paid to holders of our voting common stock. Our ability to pay cash dividends depends, in part, upon on the foreseeable future. Instead, we intendability of American Life to retain any future earnings for reinvestment in our business.pay cash dividends to us. American Life, as an insurance subsidiary is subject to significant regulatory restrictions limiting its ability to declare and pay cash dividends. These restrictions are related to surplus and net investment income.

Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans

The table below sets forth certain information regarding options and restricted stock awards granted to our employees, including officers, under our stock incentive plan.plans for 2021.

2020 Long-Term Incentive Plan(1)

2019 Long-Term Incentive Plan(1)

 

Options granted in 2019

-

17,900

Options granted in 2020

168,002

67,325

Options granted in 2021

139,028

24,000

Restricted stock granted in 2020

18,597

5,089

Vested

(77,175)

(8,782)

Forfeited

(12,100)

(24,667)

Non-vested at December 31, 2021

 

236,352

80,865

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plan Category

 

Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants, and rights

 

 

Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants, and rights

 

Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflect in column (a))

 

 

(a)

 

 

(b)

 

(c)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity compensation plan approved by security holders – options to purchase voting common stock

 

8,950,000

 

$

0.05

 

42,050,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity compensation plan not approved by security holders

 

 —

 

 

 -

 

 —

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

8,950,000

 

$

0.05

 

42,050,000

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Table of Contents

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.

Not applicable.

As a smaller reporting company, we are not required to provide disclosure pursuant to this Item.

18

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

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Except for certain historical information contained herein,The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes to those statements included in this report contains certain statements that may be considered “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”),Annual Report on Form 10-K and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and such statements are subject to the safe harbor created by those sections. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are statements that could be deemedit includes many forward-looking statements including without limitation: any projections of revenues, earnings, cash flows, capital expenditures, or other financial items; any statement of plans, strategies, and objectives of management for future operations; any statements concerning new services, or developments; any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance; and any statements of belief and any statement of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Words such as “believe,” “may,” “could,” “expects,” “hopes,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “anticipates,” and “likely,” and variations of these words, or similar expressions, terms, or phrases, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject towhich involve many risks assumptions, and uncertainties many of which cannot be predicted or quantified, which could cause future events andincluding those referred to herein. Our actual results tocould differ materially from those set forthindicated in contemplated by, or underlying the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” above.

All such forward-looking statements speak only as a result of certain factors, such as those set forth herein under “Summary of Risks Associated with our Business and Voting Common Stock” and “Risk Factors.” We are under no duty to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this Form 10‑K. You are cautioned notannual report to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. We expressly disclaim any obligationconform these statements to actual results.

Overview

Midwest Holding Inc. (“Midwest,” “the Company,” “we,” “our,” or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change“us”) was incorporated in our expectations with regard thereto or any change in the events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statements are based.

Overview

We were formedNebraska on October 31, 2003 for the primary purpose of becomingoperating a financial services company. We haveredomesticated from the State of Nebraska to the State of Delaware on August 27, 2020. We are in the annuity insurance business and operate through our wholly owned subsidiaries, American Life & Security Corp. (“American Life”), 1505 Capital LLC (“1505 Capital”), and our sponsored captive reinsurance company, Seneca Reinsurance Company, LLC (“Seneca Re”).

Management evaluates the Company as one reporting segment in the life insurance industry. We are primarily engaged in the underwriting and marketing of annuity products through American Life, and then reinsuring such products with third-party reinsurers, and since May 13, 2020, with Seneca Re protected cells as described below. American Life presently offers five annuity products, two subsidiariesMYGAs, a FIA, and two bonus plans associated with the FIA product. It is not presently offering any traditional life insurance products. American Life’s legacy product offerings consisted of a multi-benefit life insurance policy that we operate our business through: 1) combined cash value life insurance with a tax deferred annuity and a single premium term life product.

American Life is a Nebraska-domiciled life insurance company, and 2) 1505 Capital, a Delaware limited liability company in which we own a 51% interest and which provides investment advisory and related asset management services. In 2009, American Life was issued a certificate of authority to conduct life insurance business in Nebraska. We have incurred losses since inception that resulted primarily from costs incurred while raising capital and establishing and operating American Life and other entities.

On June 28, 2018 we underwent a change in control as a result of the closing of a Loan, Convertible Preferred Stock and Convertible Senior Secured Note Purchase Agreement dated May 9, 2018 (the “Agreement”) with a non-affiliated third party, Xenith Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Xenith”). Xenith is a wholly controlled subsidiary of Vespoint LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Vespoint”), which is also the manager of Xenith. Vespointcommercially domiciled in Texas, that is owned and managed by AMS Advisors LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Rendezvous Capital LLC, a New York limited liability company. Each of these three companies is a private investment company; they are controlled by Michael Minnich and A. Michael Salem, who are Co-Chief Executive Officers of Vespoint and executive officers and directors of Midwest and American Life.

The terms and conditions of the Agreement are described in our Current Report on Form 8‑K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on May 14, 2018. The Agreement was filed as an exhibit to the referenced Current Report on Form 8‑K.

At the closing of the Agreement, we issued 1,500,000 shares of newly created Series C Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series C Preferred Stock”) to Xenith for $1,500,000, which was ranked senior to our voting common stock on liquidation with a preference of $1.00 per share. Annual dividends of 8% of the Series C Preferred Stock liquidation preference were payable by us. Prior to conversion on June 18, 2019, and at any time after June 28, 2025, Xenith could have required us to redeem the Series C Preferred Stock at the liquidation preference (plus accrued dividends) or fair market value, whichever was greater. The Preferred Stock voted along with the voting common stock on an “as converted” basis. Also, holders of Preferred Stock voting as a separate Series were entitled to elect five of the Company’s eight members of its Board of Directors. On June 18, 2019, all of the Series C Preferred Stock shares were converted, at Xenith’s election, into 72,854,474 shares of our voting common stock at approximately $0.02 per share. All accrued dividends were waived.

19

Also, at closing of the Agreement, Xenith loaned a total of $600,000 to Midwest, repayable upon maturity in 10 years with cash interest of 4% per annum payable quarterly and accrued interest of another 4% per annum payable upon maturity. The loan was converted by Xenith into an aggregate 29,141,790 voting common shares on June 18, 2019.

The Agreement further provided that Xenith could loan up to an additional $23,500,000 to Midwest. Any loans made by Xenith under this election could also to be converted into voting common stock at the price of $0.02 per share. Xenith loaned an additional $18,500,000 in the fourth quarter of 2018 following the amendment of the Midwest Articles of Incorporation to increase its authorized voting common shares to 1,970,000,000. The additional loans were converted, at Xenith’s election, into 898,538,525 shares of our voting common stock on June 18, 2019. All interest on the notes through June 18, 2019, was waived and was accounted for as a capital contribution to Midwest.

The table below summarize the foregoing conversion of preferred stock and loans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares of Voting

 

 

 

 

Loan

 

Common Stock into

 

 

 

 

Principal

 

which Loans Were

 

 

Date of Loan and Preferred Stock

    

Amount

    

Converted

    

Conversion Date

June 28, 2018

 

$

500,000

 

24,284,825

 

June 18, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 28, 2018

 

 

100,000

 

4,856,965

 

June 18, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

October 10, 2018

 

 

1,000,000

 

48,569,650

 

June 18, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 7, 2018

 

 

17,500,000

 

849,968,875

 

June 18, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 28, 2018

 

 

1,500,000

 

72,854,474

 

June 18, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

20,600,000

 

1,000,534,789

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of the funds received from Xenith, we contributed $20,500,000 to American Life through capital contributions. See Note 3. – Change in Control in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.

Following the closing of the Agreement, we began implementation of a new business plan whose primary purpose is to leverage technology and reinsurance to distribute competitive insurance products through third-party marketing organizations.

The Business Plan.

In 2018, subsequent to the change in control described above, we embarked upon our new business plan to become a leading, capital efficient, technology-enabled, services-oriented life and annuity fronting insurance company. Our objective is to leverage American Life, and our ancillary services business, to create and sell life and annuity products through third party independent marketing organizations using third-party reinsurance as the primary form of capital to support our growth and to bear the financial risk associated with out insurance products. Our targeted third party field marketing organizations offer products, infrastructure and other services to independent insurance agents across the United States. Although we may retain some business, we expect third-party reinsurers to ultimately assume substantially all of the insurance risk on our business through reinsurance agreements. In connection with these arrangements we will earn ceding fees from the reinsurers. We currently offer multi-year guaranteed annuity (“MYGA”) and fixed index annuity (“FIA”) through three independent marketing organizations.

Our operating goals are to create value through our ability to compete in the areas of:

·

life and annuity product innovation;

·

speed to market of new products;

·

competitive insurance rates and commissions;

·

streamlined customer and agent experience;

20

·

ease and efficient cost of doing business using our technology;

·

asset management for insurers and reinsurers; and

·

lower capital requirements through our use of reinsurance.

Technology: As an integral part of our new business plan, American Life implemented and integrated a modern technology platform designed to facilitate our business activities. American Life contracted with a third-party software company to license a new policy administration system known as “FAST,” an end-to-end product development, new business, distribution, management and policy administration platform that utilizes state-of-the-art technology that American Life hosts in the Amazon Web Services cloud. Functional implementation was completed in November 2018, and testing completed in January 2019. In addition, several core technology integrations were added, including document management, electronic application capability, secure log-ins and an agent and policyholder portal. Management believes this new technology should enhance cost effective product sales and development and policy administration as we scale up, as well as provide American Life with the ability to seek to expand its third party administrative services (which were a minor part of our legacy business) in the future.

American Life is licensed to sell, underwrite, and market life insurance and annuity products in 1522 states and is seekingthe District of Columbia.

In early 2020, Seneca Re, a Vermont limited liability company, was formed by us to expand its licenses in additional states in 2020.

Balance Sheetoperate as a Vermont licensed sponsored captive insurance company to reinsure various types of risks on behalf of American Life and third party capital providers through one or more special purpose entities known as “protected cells.” On April 15, 2020, Midwest entered into an operating agreement with Converted Preferred StockSeneca Re and Notes

Below is a table showing the effect on stockholders’ equity if all the preferred convertible shares and convertible notes were converted as of year ended December 31, 2018. Conversions of the preferred stock and notes occurred on June 18, 2019 and are therefore reflected in the balance sheet as of December 31, 20192021, Seneca Re had two protected cells, Seneca Incorporated Cell, LLC 2020-01 (“SRC1”) and Seneca Incorporated Cell, LLC 2021-03 (“SRC3”) and both of which are consolidated in our financial statements.

1505 Capital LLC (“1505 Capital”), a Delaware limited liability company, is an SEC registered investment adviser. Its financial results have been consolidated with ours since the date of its acquisition on June 15, 2020. . At December 31, 2021, 1505 Capital had approximately $405 million total third-party assets under management.

On April 24, 2020, we entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with Crestline Assurance Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Crestline Assurance”), Xenith Holdings LLC, and Vespoint LLC, pursuant to which Crestline Assurance purchased 444,444 shares of our voting common stock, at $22.50 per share for $10.0 million. With the net proceeds we contributed $5.0 million to American Life. Also, effective as of April 24, 2020, in a separate transaction, we sold 231,655 shares of common stock to various investors in a private placement at $22.50 per share for $5.227 million

On July 27, 2020, American Life entered into a reinsurance agreement (the “Reinsurance Agreement”) with a new protected cell formed by Seneca Re (Seneca Incorporated Cell, LLC 2020-02 (“SRC2”)). SRC2 was capitalized by Crestline Management, L.P. (“Crestline”), a significant shareholder of Midwest via a Crestline subsidiary, Crestline Re SPC1. The Reinsurance Agreement, which was effective as of April 24, 2020, and was entered into pursuant to a Master Letter Agreement (the “Master Agreement”) dated and effective as of April 24, 2020, among American Life, Seneca Re and Crestline. The Reinsurance Agreement supports American Life’s new business

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Table of Contents

production by providing reinsurance capacity for American Life to write certain kinds of FIAs and MYGAs. Concurrently with the Reinsurance Agreement, American Life and SRC2 each entered into investment management agreements with Crestline, pursuant to which Crestline manages the assets that support the reinsured business; and American Life and SRC2 entered into a trust agreement whereby SRC2 maintains for American Life’s benefit a trust account that supports the reinsured business.

Under the Master Agreement, Crestline agreed to provide reinsurance funding for a quota share percentage of 25% of the liabilities of American Life arising from MYGAs and a quota share percentage of 40% for American Life’s FIAs. The Master Agreement expires on April 24, 2023.

In addition, pursuant to the Master Agreement, agreed to enter into a separate agreement whereby, among other things and subject to certain conditions, American Life will agree to reinsure additional new business production to one or more reinsurers formed and/or capitalized by Crestline, Midwest or an appropriate affiliate will refer potential advisory clients to Crestline, and American Life will consider investing in certain assets originated or sourced by Crestline.

Effective December 8, 2020, American Life entered into a novation agreement with SRC2 and Crestline Re SPC,  for and on behalf of Crestline Re SP1, under which the above-described reinsurance, trust and related asset management agreements were novated and replaced with substantially similar agreements entered into by American Life and Crestline Re SP1.

In December 2020, we completed a public offering of our voting common stock for gross proceeds of $70.0 million (see Note 17 to the Consolidated financial statements herein). In connection therewith, our common stock was approved for listing and began trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “MDWT.”

On June 26, 2021, the Nebraska Department of Insurance (‘NDOI”) issued its non-disapproval of the Modified Coinsurance Agreement (“Modco AEG Agreement”) of American Life with American Republic Insurance Company (“AEG”), an Iowa domiciled reinsurance company. The agreement closed on June 30, 2021.

Under the Modco AEG Agreement, American Life cedes to AEG, on a modified coinsurance basis, 20% quota share of certain liabilities with respect to its MYGA-5 business and an initial 20% quota share of certain liabilities with respect to its FIA products. American Life has established a Modco Deposit Account to hold the assets for the Modco Agreement. The initial settlement included net premium income of $37.5 million and net statutory reserves of $34.8 million for the modified coinsurance account. The amount paid to the Modified Deposit Account from AEG was $2.4 million.

On November 10, 2021, Midwest purchased 1,000 shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value per share for a total purchase price of $5.7 million for 100% ownership in Item 8an intermediary holding company. Also, on November 10, 2021, Seneca Re Protected Cell 2021-03 (“SRC3”) was granted a Certificate of Authority by the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation. The intermediary holding company contributed capital of $5.5 million to purchase 100% of SRC3 Class A and B capital stock. Also, on November 10, 2021, American Life and SRC3 entered into a Funds Withheld and Modified Coinsurance Agreement, whereby, SRC3 agreed to provide reinsurance funding for a quota share percentage of 45% of the liabilities of American Life arising from its MYGA and quota share percentage of 45% of American Life’s FIA products.

On December 30, 2021, Midwest closed the sale of approximately 70% of SRC1 to a subsidiary of ORIX Corporation USA for $15.0 million. Under the terms of the agreement, Midwest holds a 30% ownership interest in SRC1. ORIX Advisers, LLC, another subsidiary of ORIX USA, will be the manager of the assets underlying SRC1’s reinsurance obligations going forward, replacing Midwest’s asset management arm, 1505 Capital LLC.

COVID-19

We continue to closely monitor developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic to assess any potential adverse impact on our business. Due to the evolving and highly uncertain nature of this report.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes and Preferred

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock if Converted

 

    

December 31, 2018

    

Conversion

    

December 31, 2018

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Invested assets

 

$

17,428,026

 

$

 —

 

$

17,428,026

Cash

 

 

2,832,567

 

 

 —

 

 

2,832,567

Amounts recoverable from reinsurers

 

 

23,100,644

 

 

 —

 

 

23,100,644

Other assets

 

 

1,600,876

 

 

 —

 

 

1,600,876

Assets associated with business held for sale

 

 

20,937,071

 

 

 —

 

 

20,937,071

 

 

$

65,899,184

 

$

 —

 

$

65,899,184

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

Liabilities:

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

Policyholder liabilities

 

$

23,518,857

 

$

 —

 

$

23,518,857

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

 

1,125,840

 

 

 —

 

 

1,125,840

Notes payable

 

 

18,938,705

 

 

(18,938,705)

 

 

 —

Deferred gain on coinsurance transactions

 

 

3,899,999

 

 

 —

 

 

3,899,999

Liabilities associated with business held for sale

 

 

21,052,733

 

 

 —

 

 

21,052,733

 

 

 

68,536,134

 

 

(18,938,705)

 

 

49,597,429

Mezzanine Equity

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

Preferred stock

 

 

1,500,000

 

 

(1,500,000)

 

 

 —

Stockholders’ Equity:

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

Common stock, $0.001 par value

 

 

22,874

 

 

1,000,639

 

 

1,023,513

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

33,006,242

 

 

19,599,361

 

 

52,605,603

Accumulated deficit

 

 

(35,348,052)

 

 

(161,295)

 

 

(35,509,347)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

 

(1,818,014)

 

 

 —

 

 

(1,818,014)

Total stockholders’ (deficit) equity

 

 

(4,136,950)

 

 

20,438,705

 

 

16,301,755

Total liabilities, mezzanine and stockholders’ (deficit) equity

 

$

65,899,184

 

$

 —

 

$

65,899,184

pandemic, it currently is not possible to provide a longer-term estimate of potential insurance or reinsurance exposure or the indirect effects the pandemic may have on our results of operations, financial condition or liquidity. Management implemented our business continuity plan in early March 2020 and operated through July 2020 with the majority of employees working remotely. Operations continued as normal despite a sharp increase in sales during the period. We continue to monitor the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and State of Nebraska guidelines regarding employee safety. Our management continues to monitor our investments and cash flows to evaluate the impact as this pandemic evolves.

2137

Industry Trends and Market Conditions

Interest Rate Environment

Overall, interest rates remained at historically low levels in 2021, however the Federal Reserve is expected to begin increasing short-term interest rates in early 2022. We seek to address our interest rate risk through managing the duration of the liabilities and purchasing and holding high quality, long-term assets that mirror that duration.

Competition

We are operating in a highly competitive market with various sizes of diversified financial institutions, established insurance and reinsurance companies. Our annuity market is being impacted by the growing aging population and the need to evaluate their retirement options. We believe our technology and customer service along with our ability to structure solutions position us to provide value to annuity consumers through various distribution channels.

Discontinuation of Libor

The Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), the U.K. regulator of the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), previously indicated that it intends to stop persuading or compelling panel banks to submit quotes used to determine LIBOR after 2021. On November 30, 2020, the Intercontinental Exchange (“ICE”) Benchmark Administration (“IBA”), the administrator of LIBOR, announced a consultation regarding its intention to cease the publication of one week and two-month U.S. Dollar LIBOR settings at the end of December 2021, but to extend the publication of the remaining U.S. Dollar LIBOR settings (overnight and one, three, six and 12 month U.S. Dollar LIBOR) until the end of June 2023. The IBA intends to share the results of the consultation with the FCA and publish a summary of the responses. U.S. bank regulators acknowledged the announcement and, subject to certain limited exceptions, advised banks to cease writing new U.S. Dollar LIBOR contracts by the end of 2021.

We are in the process of analyzing and identifying our population of securities, financial instruments and contracts that utilize LIBOR (collectively “LIBOR Instruments”) to determine if we have any material exposure to the transition from LIBOR. To the extent we hold LIBOR Instruments, the terms of these instruments may have fallback provisions that provide for an alternative reference rate when LIBOR ceases to exist. For securities without adequate fallback provisions already in place, legislation governing securities under New York law has been enacted to provide a safe harbor for transition to the recommended alternative reference rate. In addition, federal legislation has been introduced to provide the same protection for securities not governed by New York law.

Notwithstanding, in preparation for the phase out of LIBOR, we may need to renegotiate our LIBOR Instruments that utilize LIBOR. However, these efforts may not be successful in mitigating the legal and financial risk from changing the reference rate in our LIBOR Instruments. Furthermore, the discontinuation of LIBOR may adversely impact our ability to manage and hedge exposures to fluctuations in interest rates using derivative instruments.

As a result, the transition of our LIBOR Instruments to alternative reference rates may result in adverse changes to the net investment income, fair market value and return on those investments. We intend to continue to evaluate and monitor the risks associated with the LIBOR transition which include identifying and monitoring our exposure to LIBOR, monitoring the market adoption of alternative reference rates and ensuring operational processes are updated to accommodate alternative rates. Due to uncertainty surrounding alternative rates, we are unable to predict the overall impact of this change at this time.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our accounting and reporting policies are in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”).GAAP. Preparation of our consolidatedConsolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. The following is a summary of our significant accounting policies and estimates. These accounting policies inherently require significant judgment and assumptions, and actual operating results could differ significantly from management’s estimates determined using these policies. We believe the following accounting policies, judgments and estimates are the most critical to the understanding of our results of operations and financial position. A detailedOur accounting policies, judgments and estimates have not changed significantly over our disclosed accounting periods. For further discussion of significantour accounting policies is provided in this report in Noteand estimates see “Note 1 — Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting PoliciesPolicies” to our Consolidated financial statements.

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Valuation of Investments

All fixed maturities owned by the Company are considered available-for-sale and are included in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Valuation of Investments

The type and amount of investments that can be made by a life insurance company are specifically controlled by applicable state statutes and rules and regulations of the respective state departments of insurance. American Life has adopted investment policies in compliance with the insurance laws of the State of Nebraska.

American Life has a long-term investment policy aimed at protecting capital and earning attractive risk adjusted returns while maintaining compliance with Nebraska’s insurance investment laws. Our investments are managed by our senior management team, who have many years of asset management experience. Trades are cleared through a common broker after competitive prices are solicited.

On April 2, 2019, we obtained a 51% ownership in 1505 Capital, a Delaware limited liability company, that was established in 2018 to provide financial and investment advisory and management services to clients and related investment, trading and financial activities. 1505 Capital has been engaged as the financial advisor for American Life, Ironbound and SDA.

Our investment portfolio has expanded in 2019 to include a broader class of fixed maturities (including collateralized loan obligations, corporate, asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities), mortgage loans, derivatives and other investments. Fixed maturities, which are classified as available-for-sale, are carriedstatements at their fair value inas of the consolidated balance sheets, with unrealizedfinancial statement date. Premiums and discounts on fixed maturity debt instruments are amortized using the scientific-yield method over the term of the bonds. Realized gains orand losses recordedon securities sold during the year are determined using the specific identification method. Unrealized holding gains and losses, net of applicable income taxes, are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Mortgage loans are carried and book value which is also used for their fair value in the consolidated balance sheets.  Derivatives are carried at fair market value with the realized gains or losses recorded in realized gains (losses) on the comprehensive income statement. We utilize external independent third-party pricing services to determine the fair values on investment securities available-for-sale. We have processes, and controls in place to review prices received from service providers for reasonableness and unusual fluctuations in prices. In the event that a price is not available from a third-party pricing service, we pursue external pricing from brokers. Generally, we pursue and utilize only one broker quote per security. In doing so, we solicit only brokers which have previously demonstrated knowledge and experience of the subject security.income.

The Company frequently reviews its investment portfolio for declines in the fair value.  The Company’s process for identifying declinesDeclines in the fair value of investments that are other-than-temporary involves consideration of several facts. These factors included (i) the timer period and extent to which the fair value has been less than theavailable-for-sale securities below their amortized cost basis, b) adverse conditions specifically relatedare evaluated to assess whether any other-than-temporary impairment loss should be recorded. In determining if these losses are expected to be other-than-temporary, the security, industryCompany considers severity of geographic are, c)impairment, duration of impairment, forecasted recovery period, issuer credit ratings, and the historicalintent and implied volatilityability of the fair valueCompany to hold the investment until the recovery of the security, d) payment structure of the security, e) failure of issuer of the security to make interest payments, f) changes to the rating of the security, and g) possible recoveries or additional declines in the fair value after the balance sheet date.cost.

The recognition of other-than-temporary impairment losses on debt securities is dependent on the facts and circumstances related to athe specific security. If we intendthe Company intends to sell a security or it is more likely than not that wethe Company would be required to sell a security prior to recovery of the amortized cost, the difference between amortized cost and fair value is recognized in the statement of comprehensive income statement as an other-than-temporary impairment. As it relates to debt securities, if we doIf the Company does not expect to recover the amortized basis, dodoes not plan to sell the security, and if it is not more likely than not that wethe Company would be required to sell a security before the recovery of its amortized cost, the recognition of the other-than-temporary impairment is bifurcated. We recognizeThe Company recognizes the credit loss portion through earnings in the income statementas realized losses and the noncredit loss portion in accumulated other comprehensive loss. The credit component of an other-than-temporary impairment is determined by comparing the net present value of projected cash flows with the amortized cost basis of the debt security. The net present value is calculated by discounting ourthe Company’s best estimate of projected future cash flows at the effective interest rate implicit

22

in the fixed income security at the date of acquisition. Cash flow estimates are driven by assumptions regarding probability of default, including changes in credit ratings, and estimates regarding timing and amount of recoveries associated with a default. As of December 31, 2020, the Company analyzed its securities portfolio and determined that an impairment of approximately $35,000 should be recorded for one debt security, an impairment of $500,000 was recognized on a preferred stock, and a valuation allowance of $777,000 established on one lease. The valuation allowance on the lease of $777,000 was released as of March 31, 2021 due to the sale of the investment. The Company had no impairment to recognize as of December 31, 2021.

Investment income consists of interest, dividends, gains and losses from the equity method of accounting for certain investments, and real estate income, which are recognized on an accrual basis along with the amortization of premiums and discounts.

Certain available-for-sale investments are maintained as collateral under funds withheld (“FW”) and modified coinsurance (“Modco”) agreements but the assets and total returns or losses on the asset portfolios belong to the third-party reinsurers. American Life has treaties with several third-party reinsurers that have FW and Modco provisions. In a Modco agreement, the ceding entity retains the assets equal to the modified coinsurance reserves retained. In a FW agreement, assets that would normally be paid over to a reinsurer are withheld by the ceding company to permit statutory credit for unauthorized reinsurers to reduce the potential credit risk. The unrealized gains/losses on those investments are passed through to the third-party reinsurers, through the fair value of our total return swap, as either a realized gain or loss on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss.

Intangibles

We assess the recoverability of indefinite-lived intangible assets at least annually or whenever events or circumstances suggest that the carrying value of an identifiable indefinite-lived intangible asset may exceed the sum of the future discounted cash flows expected to result from its use and eventual disposition. If the asset is considered to be impaired, the amount of any impairment is measured as the difference between the carrying value and the fair value of the impaired asset.

Our indefinite-lived intangible assets consist of American Life’s state licenses. We compared the carrying value to the current costs of obtaining licenses in those states. As of December 31, 2019,2021, the sum of the fair value of those licenses exceeded the carrying value of the indefinite-lived intangible assets. The assumptions and estimates used to determine future values are complex and subjective. They can be affected by various factors, including external factors such as industry and economic trends, and internal factors such as changes in our business strategy and our revenue forecasts.

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Table of Contents

Reinsurance

Generally, when it is cost effective, weWe expect to reinsure most of the risks associated with our assets and liabilities.issued annuities. Our reinsurers may be domestic, foreign or capital markets investors seeking to assume U.S. insurance business. We plan to mitigate the credit risk relating to reinsurers generally by either selecting well capitalized, highly rated authorized reinsurers or requiring that the reinsurer post substantial collateral or make other financial commitments to secure the reinsured risks. It should be noted thatIn most reinsurance transactions, American Life will remain exposed to the credit risk of reinsurers, or the risk that one or more reinsurers becomesmay become insolvent or otherwise unable or unwilling to pay for policyholder claims. We seek to mitigate the credit risk relating to reinsurers by generally either requiring that the reinsurer post substantial collateral or make other financial commitments as a security for the reinsured risks. Under these reinsurance agreements, there typically is a monthly or quarterly settlement of premiums, claims, surrenders, collateral, and other administration fees.

In a typical reinsurance transaction, we will receive a ceding commission and reimbursement of certain expenses at the time liabilities are reinsured, plus an ongoing feefees for the administration of the business. In some cases, ourbusiness ceded. Our reinsurers mayare typically not be “accredited” or qualified as reinsurers under Nebraska Law and inlaw. In order to permitreceive credit for reinsurance for transactions with these reinsurers and to reduce potential credit risk, we mayusually hold a deposit or withhold fundscollateral from the reinsurer on a FW basis or require the reinsurer to maintain a trust that holds assets backing up the reinsurer’sits obligation to pay claims on the business it assumes. In some cases, the reinsurer may appoint an investment manager to manage these assets pursuant to guidelines approved by us that are consistent with state investment statutes and regulations relating to reinsurance. We expect there would be a monthly or quarterly settlement of premiums, claims, surrenders and collateral.When our investment advisor subsidiary, 1505 Capital, is appointed to manage these assets, we receive additional ongoing asset management fees.

Future Policy Benefits

We establish liabilities for amounts payable under insuranceour policies, including traditional life insurance and annuities. Generally, amounts are payable over an extended period of time. Liabilities forUnder GAAP, our annuities are treated as deposit liabilities, where we use account value in lieu of future policy benefits of traditional life insurance have been computed by using a net level premium method based upon estimates at the time of issue for investment yields, mortality and withdrawals. These estimates include provisions for experience less favorable than initially expected. Mortality assumptions are based on industry experience expressed as a percentage of standard mortality tables. Such liabilities are reviewed quarterly by an independent consulting actuary. We currently do not have traditional life insurance products.  We have deposit-type liabilities on our annuities products where we are using the account value of those annuities.reserves. Our fixed indexed annuitiesFIA reserves are calculated by an independent consulting actuary and includesour MYGA reserves equal the embedded derivatives inaccount value from our GAAP reserves.policy administration system. We currently do not offer traditional life insurance products.

Income Taxes

Deferred tax assets are recorded based on the differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities at the enactedapplicable tax rates. The principal assets and liabilities giving rise to suchthese differences are investments, insurance reserves, and deferred acquisition costs. A deferred tax asset valuation allowance is established when there is uncertainty that such tax assets would be realized. We have no uncertain tax positions that we believe are more-likely-than not that the benefit will not to be realized.

23

Recognition of Revenues

Revenues on traditional life insurance products consist of direct and assumed premiums reported as earned when due. Amounts received as payment for annuities and/or non-traditional contracts such as interest sensitive whole life contracts and other contracts without life contingencies are recognized as deposits to policyholder account balances and included in future insurance policy benefits. Revenues from these contracts are comprised of fees earned for administrative and contract-holder services, which are recognized over the period of the contracts, and included in revenue. Depositsdeposit-type contract liabilities. Annuity premiums are shown as a financing activity in the consolidated statement of cash flows. Revenues from these contracts are comprised of fees earned for administrative and policyholder services, which are recognized over the period of the annuity contracts and included in other revenue. Through our reinsurance grants,contracts, revenues are earned through ceding commissions, which are capitalized, and our independent consulting actuary determines the amounts to be recognized inas income over the period of the annuity contracts.

New Accounting Standards

A discussion of certain new accounting standards is provided in Note 1 — Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Deferred coinsurance ceding commissions are shown as an operating activity in the Notesconsolidated statement of cash flows. Revenues from asset management services are recognized as earned.

Derivative Instruments

Derivatives are used to hedge the risks experienced in our ongoing operations, such as equity, interest rate, and cash flow risks, or for other risk management purposes, which primarily involve managing liability risks associated with our FIA product and reinsurance agreements. Derivatives are financial instruments whose values are derived from interest rates, foreign exchange rates, financial indices, or other underlying notional amounts. Derivative assets and liabilities are carried at fair value on the Consolidated Financial Statements.balance sheets.

Consolidated ResultsTo qualify for hedge accounting, at the inception of Operationsthe hedging relationship, we formally document our designation of the hedge as a cash flow or fair value hedge and our risk management objective and strategy for undertaking the hedging transaction identifying  how the hedging instrument is expected to hedge the designated risks related to the hedged item, the method to retrospectively, and prospectively assess the hedging instrument’s effectiveness and the method to be used to measure ineffectiveness. A derivative

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Table of Contents

designated as a hedging instrument must be assessed as being highly effective in offsetting the designated risk of the hedged item. Hedge effectiveness is also assessed periodically throughout the life of the designated hedging relationship.

In late 2019, we began investing in options to hedge our interest rate risks on our FIA product. Options typically do not qualify for hedge accounting; therefore, we chose not to use hedge accounting for the related options that we currently have. We value our derivatives at fair market value with the offset being recorded on our consolidated statement of comprehensive loss as a realized gain or (loss).

Additionally, reinsurance agreements written on a FW basis contain embedded derivatives on our FIA product. Gains or (losses) associated with the performance of assets maintained in the relevant deposit and funds withheld accounts are reflected as realized gains or (losses) in our consolidated statement of comprehensive loss.

Derivatives

The following should be readCompany entered into derivative instruments to hedge FIA products that guarantee the return of principal to the policyholders and credit interest based on a percentage of the gain in connection with our Consolidated Financial Statementsa specified market index. To hedge against adverse changes in equity indices, the Company entered into contracts to buy equity indexed options. The change in fair value of the derivatives for hedging the FIA index credits and Notes thereto under Item 8 of this report.

On June 28, 2018, Midwest closedthe related embedded derivative liability fluctuated from period to period based on the Agreementchange in the market interest rates. The indexed reserves are measured at fair value for the current period and future periods. We hedge with Xenithoptions that align with the terms of our FIA product which is between three and seven years. We have analyzed our hedging strategy on our FIA product and believe it is effective as discussed above. Following the closing, we embarked upon a new business plan that includes leveraging technology to distribute insurance products through IMOs.

We also reinsured our existing legacy block of insurance business through a reinsurance agreement with a third party reinsurer in exchange for a ceding commission of $3.5 million as described below (the “Legacy Reinsurance”). In addition, American Life obtained an A.M. Best Rating of B++ in December 2018 that was affirmed in 2019. We purchased and installed comprehensive new technology during the fourth quarter of 2018 and we began selling our first MYGA product in late January 2019 through the IMOs.31, 2021.

American Life closedalso has agreements with several third-party reinsurers that have FW and Modco provisions under which the Legacy Reinsurance agreement on December 10, 2018 with a third party insurance companyassets related to cede 100%the reinsured business are maintained by American Life as collateral; however, ownership of the remaining legacy block of business, withassets and the transaction being effective July 1, 2018. See Note 3 Assets and Liabilities Held for Sale intotal return on the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements below. Dueasset portfolios belong to the assumptive nature ofthird-party reinsurers. Under GAAP, this agreement, this transaction qualified to be reportedarrangement is considered an embedded derivative as Discontinued Operations under ASC 2014‑08 Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205); therefore, our 2018 income statement reflects net income from continuing operations and income from discontinued operations. The discussion below reflects continuing operations changes year over year.  See Note 10. Reinsurancediscussed in “Note 5 — Derivative Instruments” to our Consolidated Financial Statementsfinancial statements. Assets carried as investments on American Life’s financial statements for further discussion.

the third-party reinsurers contained unrealized gains as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, of approximately $ 161,000 and $2.9 million, respectively. The terms of the contracts with the third-party reinsurers provide that unrealized gains on the portfolios accrue to the third-party reinsurers. We account for these unrealized gains by recording equivalent realized gains or losses on our consolidated statement of comprehensive loss. Accordingly, the unrealized gains on the assets held by American Life began selling itson behalf of the third-party reinsurers were offset by recording an embedded derivative gain of $2.7 million and loss of $2.9 million as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. If prices of investments fluctuate, the unrealized gains or losses of the third-party reinsurers may also fluctuate; therefore, the associated embedded derivative gain (loss) recognized by us would be increased or decreased accordingly.

Net Loss

In this section, unless otherwise noted the discussion below first MYGA and FIA products during 2019 that resulted in gross premiums of $145,747,737 and $15,616,831, respectively, forcompares the year ended December 31, 2019 on2021 to the like year ended December 31, 2020.

We incurred a statutory basis. For GAAP, such premiums are considered deposits and are not shown as premium income.

On July 25, 2019, American Life closed a reinsurance agreementcomprehensive loss of $20.1 million in 2021 compared with a third party insurance companycomprehensive loss of $6.6 million in 2020. Our revenues increased to cede 95%$30.1 million from $10.6 million driven by an overall increase in investment income and realized gains along with fee revenue. But our expenses increased by an even greater amount in dollar terms – to $41.9 million from $21.4 million. Driving the increase in expenses was significant increases in our salaries and benefits and in our other operating expenses. The increase in expenses were to support potential growth of the MYGA business from increases costs to attract talent, legal and consulting to support transactions, investment structures, and state expansion along with the transaction being effective from inception of the sales of the MYGA product.  This transaction eliminates 95% of the interest credited on the MYGA deposit-type contracts. See Note 10. Reinsurance to our Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.technology initiatives.

On November 7, 2019 American Life closed a second reinsurance agreement with a third party insurance company to cede the remaining 5% of the MYGA product and 95% of the FIA product to a third party reinsurer through December 31, 2019, at which time the FIA product steps down to 30% ceded as of January 1, 2020.  See Note 10. Reinsurance to our Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.

2441

Other reasons for 2021’s increase in consolidated statement of comprehensive loss:

1)Taxes. Our GAAP effective tax rate was 35.6 % in 2021 compared with 14.7 % in 2020. Note 8 to our financial statements provides further information related to this increase in tax rate.
2)Change in Unrealized Investment Gains. This change was $4.4 million in 2021 compared with $7.4 million in 2020. The decline in interest rates in 2020 increased the value of our fixed-income investments to a much greater extent than was the case in 2021.

Our FIA products have three components influencing our consolidated statement of comprehensive loss:

Revenues:

The derivatives we purchase to hedge stock market risk we would otherwise face from our FIA. We carry these derivatives at fair value on our balance sheet, recording the change in fair value in our consolidated statement of comprehensive loss as either a realized gain or realized loss. In 2021, the increase in the market value of the derivative assets was $2.7 million compared to the market value of the derivative assets of $3.5 million in 2020 in our net realized gain on investments.

1)The embedded derivative in our FIAs. We carry this derivative at fair value, with the change in fair value recorded in the interest credited line of our consolidated statement of comprehensive loss. Across all of our products, interest credited was $7.0 million in 2021 compared with $4.2 million in 2020. The decrease in the value of the embedded derivative related to our FIAs was included in this overall interest credited. Reflecting our risk management, the change in the value of the embedded derivative equaled the change in the value of option contracts we use to hedge this exposure.
2)The option budget reinsurers pay us to purchase derivative assets. We mark these assets to market each period. Separately, we record a payable to the reinsurers that is owed to a reinsurer when a policy is surrendered, an annuitant dies, or a policy lapses. We compare what the reinsurer paid for the original option budget to the market value at the end of the period. The change in the market value is added to or subtracted from the payable to the reinsurer to cover the reinsurer’s obligations to the policyholder. This  change in market value resulted in a $2.4 million was included in our other operating expense in 2021 compared to a $3.4 million expense in the prior year.

American Life has treaties with several third-party reinsurers that have funds withheld and modified coinsurance provisions. As a result of changes in interest rates, assets held on behalf of the third-party reinsurers had unrealized gains of approximately $161,000 and $2.9 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The terms of the contracts with the third-party reinsurers provide that unrealized gains or losses on the asset portfolio accrue to the reinsurers. We account for the change in these unrealized gains or losses by recording equivalent realized gains or losses on our consolidated statement of comprehensive loss. We recorded the decrease in the unrealized gains as a realized gain of $2.7 million in 2021 compared to a realized loss of $2.9 million in 2020.

Consolidated Results of Operations - Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

Revenues

The following summarizes the sources of our revenue for the periods indicated:revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year ended December 31, 

 

    

2019

    

2018

Premiums

 

$

(152)

 

$

135,387

Investment income, net of expenses

 

 

120,581

 

 

515,888

Net realized gains (losses) on investments

 

 

353,602

 

 

47,824

Amortization of deferred gain on reinsurance

 

 

2,643,801

 

 

117,871

Miscellaneous income

 

 

281,956

 

 

58,842

 

 

$

3,399,788

 

$

875,812

Year ended December 31, 

(In thousands)

    

2021

    

2020

Investment income, net of expenses

$

15,737

$

4,047

Net realized gains on investments (See Note 4)

 

7,752

 

2,550

Amortization of deferred gain on reinsurance

 

3,022

 

1,836

Service fee revenue, net of expenses

2,343

1,960

Other revenue

 

1,209

 

189

$

30,063

$

10,582

Premium revenue:Premium revenue decreased primarily due to the premium in 2018 that was related to an assumed block of business which was commutated in July 2018. In 2019 the premium included above was a refund of premium that we had included in 2018. The introduction of our MYGA and FIA products discussed above generated a meaningfullarge volume of premiums;new business in 2021 and 2020; however, these products are considereddefined as investment contracts and GAAP requires thatunder U.S. GAAP. Accordingly the premium be deferred to deposit-type liabilitiesfunds we received from our customers under these contracts were recorded on our balance sheet.  American Life is expecting to introduce new products in 2020 primarily in the annuity business.  We expect thatsheet as a deposit-type liability – and not, importantly, as premium income from both the FIA and MYGA products will not be a significant sourcerevenue.

42

Table of revenue until American Life develops new life insurance products in the future and achieves significant additional product sales. The table below shows premium issued under statutory accounting on our two annuity products:Contents

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MYGA

 

 

FIA

 

 

Premium(1)

 

 

Premium(1)(2)

First quarter 2019

$

8,292,617

 

$

 —

Second quarter 2019

 

29,946,263

 

 

 —

Third quarter 2019

 

41,261,292

 

 

 —

Fourth quarter 2019

 

66,247,565

 

 

15,616,831

Total issued as of December 31, 2019

$

145,747,737

 

$

15,616,831

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

Under statutory accounting principles, the MYGA and FIA premiums are treated as premium revenue.  Under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) these products are defined as deposit-type contracts; therefore, the premium revenue under statutory accounting principles is accounted under GAAP as deposit-type liabilities on our balance sheet and are never recognized in our income statement.

(2)

We began selling the FIA product in November 2019.

Investment income, net of expenses: The components of net investment income for 20192021 and 20182020 were as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year ended December 31, 

    

2019

    

2018

Year ended December 31, 

(In thousands)

    

2021

    

2020

Fixed maturities

 

$

292,453

 

$

789,949

$

16,443

$

3,661

Other

 

 

38,397

 

 

44,614

Mortgage loans

 

185

 

992

Other invested assets

665

103

Other interest income

 

298

 

Gross investment income

 

 

330,850

 

 

834,563

 

17,591

 

4,756

Less investment expenses

 

 

(210,269)

 

 

(318,675)

Less: investment expenses

 

(1,854)

 

(709)

Investment income, net of expenses

 

$

120,581

 

$

515,888

$

15,737

$

4,047

Investment income, net of expenses consisted of investment income generated from our retained investment assets that are not ceded to reinsurers. The decreaseincrease was due to ceding the investment income earned on theour bonds and mortgage loans purchased with the sales of our MYGA and FIA products from inception throughthat were not ceded to reinsurers during the period, as well as deployment of excess cash towards credit investments with attractive yields and risk-return profiles. As of December 31, 2019 as required by2021 and 2020, on a gross consolidated basis, our coinsurance agreements. Our investment portfolio grew substantially in 2019 due to the increased sales(excluding cash) was $975.5 million and $518.2 million, respectively, as a result of theproceeds from our MYGA and FIA products which American Life used to purchase investments with higher rates of return.  The decrease in investment expenses was primarily related to the interest expense on the sale of certain real estate in 2018. The investment expense in 2019 related to the interest expense on the deferred ceding commissions which were calculated by our consulting actuary.product sales.

25

Net realized gains on investments: Net realized gains on investments were $7.8 million in 2021 compared with $2.6 million in 2020. The latter figure included  a gain of $2.7 million and a loss of $2.9 million from a total return swap embedded derivative in 2021 and 2020, respectively. In 2021, there were net realized gains increased primarily dueof $2.7 million related to not havingderivatives we own to sell bondshedge the obligations to coverFIA policyholders; such gains were partially offset by an increase in the mark-to-market change in embedded derivative liability within interest credited expense and an increase in FIA-related mark-to-market option allowance expense flowing through other operating expensesexpenses. The change in 2019 compared to 2018 when market conditions were poor priorfair value of FIA hedging derivatives is driven by the performance of the indices upon which our call options are based.

American Life has treaties with several reinsurers that have funds withheld coinsurance provisions, under which the assets backing the treaties are maintained by American Life as collateral but the assets and total return on the asset portfolios belong to the Xenith infusionreinsurers. Under GAAP this arrangement is considered an embedded derivative as discussed in Note 5 — Derivative Instruments to our Consolidated financial statements. The change in fair value of capital. Also, the Federal Reserve Bank decreased interest rates which resultedtotal return swap is included in improvement in bond prices in 2019. Ournet realized gains or losses on investments. Assets carried as investments on American Life’s financial statements for the third-party reinsurers contained unrealized losses were $1,818,014 atgains of approximately $161,000 and $2.9 million for years ended December 31, 2018. In 2019 we had $619,5842021 and 2020, respectively. The terms of the contracts with the third-party reinsurers provide that unrealized gains or losses on the portfolios accrue to the third-party reinsurers. We recorded the unrealized gains accruing to third-party reinsurers via a total return swap resulting in a realized gains. Management determinedgain of $2.7 million and a realized loss of $2.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2019 to sell bonds that were in gain positions.  We do not believe we will need to sell investments at a loss in the future.2021 and 2020, respectively.

Amortization of deferred gain on reinsurance:  The increase in 2021 to $3.0 million from $1.8 million in 2020 was due to 79%higher deferred gain on reinsurance, driven in part by higher reinsured premiums during 2021.

Service fee revenue, net of indemnity coinsurance policies cededexpenses: Service fee revenue, net of expenses, consists of fee revenue generated by 1505 Capital, for asset management services provided to Unifiedthird-party clients, some of whom are our reinsurers. The increase in 2018 being convertedthis revenue, to assumptive reinsurance where we no longer have a legal obligation for those policies. American Life released into income 79% of the remaining deferred ceding commission. This increase included $171,659 income$2.3 million in 2021 from amortization related$1.9 million in 2020, was due primarily to the new deferred ceding commissions earned from the reinsurance transactions with the third party reinsurers entered into during 2019.level of asset management services provided by 1505 Capital to third-party clients.

Miscellaneous income: Miscellaneous income increasedOther revenue: Other revenue consists of revenue generated by us for providing ancillary services such as third-party administration (“TPA”) to clients. The increase in 2021 was due to the consolidationan increased provision of 1505 Capital, our investment advisor subsidiary into Midwest asancillary services, including TPA, to clients and policy charges.

43

Table of April 2, 2019. This was offset by a decrease in TPA fees. We had only one customer for whom we performed these services during 2019. TPA fees earned during the year ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 were $48,300 and $89,240, respectively.Contents

Expenses

Our expenses for the periods indicated are summarized in the table below for the periods indicated:below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year ended December 31, 

    

2019

    

2018

Year ended December 31, 

(In thousands)

    

2021

    

2020

Interest credited

 

$

6,584

 

$

47,936

$

7,012

$

4,225

Death and other benefits

 

 

34,436

 

 

93,646

Increase in benefit reserves

 

 

34,500

 

 

(27,121)

Benefits

6

(5)

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs

 

2,886

 

670

Salaries and benefits

 

 

2,701,314

 

 

2,160,853

 

16,926

 

6,347

Other operating expenses

 

 

5,997,955

 

 

3,637,748

 

15,104

 

10,200

 

$

8,774,789

 

$

5,913,062

$

41,934

$

21,437

Interest credited: The decreaseincrease was primarily due to the 5% retention on the sale of the new FIA product during the year of 2019 that was classified as deposit-type funds. The interest credited in 20182021 relating to the MYGA product of $2.8 million. Interest credited related to a block of business assumed from an unaffiliated entity thatour retained FIA policies was commutated on July 31, 2018.

Deathapproximately positive $4.2 million and other benefits Death benefits decreased due$3.4 million for 2021 and 2020, respectively. The FIA interest credited is related to the commutation of a block of business as of July 31, 2018. The benefits incurred in 2019 were for policies that were not included with our July 1, 2018 reinsurance transaction.

Increase in benefit reserves: The change in benefit reserves was a resultfair market value of the commutation of certain business as of July 31, 2018. The additional reserves in 2019 were attributedembedded derivative which is owed to several policiespolicyholders. This was partially offset by the realized gain on our total return swap that were notis included in the reinsurance transactionnet realized gain on investment above.

Benefits: This refers to death benefits, on legacy life insurance policies, which did not change significantly in 2018. The MYGA product does not carry reserves as the premium was reclassified as a liability on the balance sheet on a GAAP basis.2021 compared with 2020’s death benefits.

Salaries and benefits: Amortization of deferred acquisition costs: The increase was due to the additionacquisition costs relating to the sale of remuneration for two executive officers as a resultAmerican Life’s MYGA and FIA products where we retained approximately 50% of the Xenith transaction as discussed belowbusiness in Note 3. Change2021 compared to the 45% retained in Control2020. These figures include the Seneca Re protected cells, SRC1 and SRC3, DAC amortization.

Salaries and benefits The significant increase to $16.9 million compared with $6.4 million was due to costs incurred to attract and add personnel to service our Consolidated Financial Statements as well as staff increasesbusiness growth and the cost related to meet the needs of our expanded business. 

Management expects salaries and benefits to increase modestly in 2020non-cash stock consideration. We are hiring more in-house expertise to service our growth initiatives.initiatives and reduce the reliance on third-party providers. Salaries and benefits in 2021 included non-cash stock consideration of approximately $5.0 million relating to the vesting of stock options of a former Co-CEOs, upon resigning from our Company. The remaining increase in salaries and benefits was related to bonuses to paid to retain talent.

Other operating expenses: Other operating expenses were approximately $4.9 million higher due primarily to:

Our FIA product has embedded derivatives included in the account value. Those derivatives are market driven. The reinsurers that reinsure the FIA products pay an option allowance to American Life to purchase derivatives. As of December 31, 2021, the mark-to-market on those allowances were in a positive position so American  Life incurred a $2.4 million expense and payable to the reinsurers for that mark-up. As the market fluctuates going forward, the mark up of the option allowance could go up or down.
Increases in other expenses related to legal fees of $2.1 million related primarily to regulatory matters and consultation on execution of potential reinsurance transactions partially or not completed.
Increases in other expenses related to taxes, licenses, and fees of approximately $1.1 million due to Nebraska state examination audit and actuarial increased costs; consultants to assist in implementing our business plan, and overhead office expenses to support our growth of the business.

Taxes

Income tax expense increased by $3.2 million to $4.8 million in 2021 from $1.6 million in 2020. This change in primarily due to approximately $1,300,000 of expenses incurred for consultants, continuing technology and software development, and portal and web design. We incurred approximately $845,536 of interest ondriven by the Xenith notes payable that included approximately $131,000 for 2018 that was not previously included. Also includedchange in the Xenith notes payable was $161,000reinsurance modified coinsurance tax reserves.

44

Table of deferred legal costs associated withContents

Investments

Most investments on our Consolidated balance sheets are held on behalf of our reinsurers as collateral under our reinsurance agreements. As a result, our investment allocations are largely a function of our collective reinsurer investment allocations. While the transaction in 2018 which was written off whenreinsurers own the notes were converted. Xenith forgaveinvestment risk on these assets, we typically restrict their investment allocations via control over the paymentselection of the interest accrued uponasset manager as well as asset restrictions set forth in investment guidelines and control over the conversioninvestment manager. In many of the notes payable; as a result the interest payable was treated as an additional capital contribution but the interest was required to be recognized for GAAP. Legal fees and license fees increased approximately $229,000 as a result of the state expansion initiatives, the settlement of the sale of real estate, and fees associated with negotiations with reinsurers. These legal fees were offset by legal costs related to the acquisition of Midwest by Xenith that occurred in 2018 that did not recur in 2019. The consolidation ofour reinsurance agreements, 1505 Capital resulted in an increase of expenses of $382,000. The Company has establishedacts as the asset manager for a long-term incentive plan described in Note 12. Long-Term Incentive Plan to our Consolidatedfee.

26

Financial Statements.  In July 2019, the Board of Directors approved options to purchase granting 8,950,000 shares of stock to our employees. The consideration recognized as expense for those options was approximately $68,000. The above increases were offset by consulting fees that were incurred in 2018 that did not occur in 2019 of approximately $148,000Our investment guidelines typically include U.S. government bonds, corporate bonds, commercial mortgages, asset backed securities, municipal bonds, and the expenses attributed to the commutation of an assumption agreement of approximately $154,000. Management expects to  incur additional product development and system related costs in 2020.

Net Loss: The change in net loss for continuing operations increased primarily due by increases in our salaries and benefits, the decrease in investment income caused by the transfer of assets on business ceded to Ironbound and SDA  These were offset by the release of $2,410,054 of deferred ceding commission into income due to 79% indemnity coinsurance being converted to assumptive by Unified, the additional amortization of deferred gains related to the Ironbound and SDA transactions, an increase in our miscellaneous income due to the consolidation of 1505 Capital, the decrease in our interest credited due to the Ironbound and SDA transaction, and an increase in our realized gains. 

Investments

The Company’s overall investment philosophy is reflected in the allocation of its investments. The Company emphasizes investment grade asset-backed securities, and debt securities, and mortgages, The Company has modified its investment strategy to purchase larger position securities with increased yields.collateral loans. The duration of our new investments will be less than tenis 5 to 10 years forin line with that of our liabilities. We do allow non-U.S. dollar denominated investments where the majority of those investments. 1505 Capital provides investment and related asset management servicesforeign exchange risk is hedged back to the Company under an Investment Management Agreement approved by the Nebraska Department of Insurance in 2019. U.S. dollars.

The following table shows the carrying value of our investments by investment category and cash and cash equivalents, and the percentage of each to total invested assets as of December 31, 20192021 and 2018.

2020. Increases in fixed maturity securities primarily resulted from the sale of our new MYGA and FIA products during 2019:2021.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2019

 

December 31, 2018

 

 

Carrying

 

Percent

 

Carrying

 

Percent

 

    

Value

    

of Total

    

Value

    

of Total

 

December 31, 2021

December 31, 2020

 

Carrying

Percent

Carrying

Percent

 

(In thousands)

    

Value

    

of Total

    

Value

    

of Total

 

Fixed maturity securities:

 

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Bonds:

U.S. government obligations

 

$

2,081,224

 

1.1

%  

$

1,995,951

 

9.9

%

$

1,882

 

0.2

%  

$

6,164

 

0.9

%

Mortgage-backed securities

 

 

798,608

 

0.4

 

 

1,004,051

 

5.0

 

 

55,280

 

4.9

 

14,757

 

2.2

Asset-backed securities

 

 

95,247,824

 

52.2

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

24,951

2.2

7,450

1.1

States and political subdivisions - general obligation

 

 

249,282

 

0.1

 

 

263,184

 

1.3

 

States and political subdivisions - special revenue

 

 

25,291

 

 —

 

 

25,173

 

0.1

 

Collateralized loan obligation

274,523

24.6

214,324

32.0

States and political subdivisions -- general obligations

 

114

 

 

118

 

States and political subdivisions -- special revenue

 

5,612

 

0.5

 

6,202

 

0.9

Corporate

 

 

18,839,632

 

10.4

 

 

14,095,824

 

69.5

 

 

37,139

 

3.3

 

125,863

 

18.9

Term Loans

267,468

23.9

Trust preferred

2,237

0.2

2,285

0.3

Redeemable preferred stock

14,090

1.3

-

Total fixed maturity securities

 

 

117,241,861

 

64.2

 

 

17,384,183

 

85.8

 

 

683,296

 

61.1

 

377,163

 

56.3

Mortgage loans on real estate, held for investment

 

 

13,810,041

 

7.6

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

183,203

16.4

94,990

14.2

Derivatives

 

 

575,294

 

0.3

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

23,022

2.1

11,361

1.7

Equity securities

21,869

2.0

-

Other invested assets

35,293

3.2

21,897

3.3

Investment escrow

 

 

3,899,986

 

2.1

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

3,611

0.3

3,174

0.5

Other invested assets

 

 

2,468,947

 

1.4

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) stock

500

Preferred stock

 

 

500,000

 

0.3

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

18,686

1.7

3,898

0.6

Notes receivable

5,960

0.5

5,666

0.8

Policy Loans

 

87

 

 

46

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

43,716,205

 

24.0

 

 

2,832,567

 

14.0

 

142,013

12.7

151,679

22.6

Policy Loans

 

 

106,014

 

0.1

 

 

43,843

 

0.2

 

 

$

182,318,348

 

100.0

%  

$

20,260,593

 

100.0

%

Total investments, including cash and cash equivalents

$

1,117,540

 

100.0

%  

$

669,874

 

100.0

%

2745

The following table shows the distribution of the credit ratings of our portfolio of fixed maturity securities by carrying value as of December 31, 20192021 and 2018.2020.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2019

 

December 31, 2018

 

 

Carrying

 

 

 

Carrying

 

 

 

    

Value

    

Percent

    

Value

    

Percent

 

December 31, 2021

December 31, 2020

 

Carrying

Carrying

 

(In thousands)

    

Value

    

Percent

    

Value

    

Percent

 

AAA and U.S. Government

 

$

2,885,004

 

2.5

%  

$

3,045,768

 

17.5

%

$

2,674

 

0.4

%  

$

3,071

 

0.8

%

AA

 

 

6,658,274

 

5.7

 

 

1,721,450

 

9.9

 

 

482

 

0.1

 

5,818

 

1.5

A

 

 

23,812,502

 

20.3

 

 

4,221,297

 

24.3

 

 

168,141

 

24.6

 

49,445

 

13.1

BBB

 

 

79,996,081

 

68.2

 

 

8,261,450

 

47.5

 

 

462,699

 

67.7

 

247,636

 

65.7

Total investment grade

 

 

113,351,861

 

96.7

 

 

17,249,965

 

99.2

 

 

633,996

 

92.8

 

305,970

 

81.1

BB and other

 

 

3,890,000

 

3.3

 

 

134,218

 

0.8

 

 

49,300

 

7.2

 

71,193

 

18.9

Total

 

$

117,241,861

 

100.0

%  

$

17,384,183

 

100.0

%

$

683,296

 

100.0

%  

$

377,163

 

100.0

%

Reflecting the quality of securities maintained by us, 96.7%92.8% and 99.2%81.1% of all fixed maturity securities were investment grade as of December 31, 20192021 and 2018,2020, respectively.

We expect that our MYGA and FIA products sales will result in an increase in investable assets in future periods.

Market Risks of Financial Instruments

We hold a diversified portfolio of investments that primarily includes cash, asset-backed securities, bonds, stocks, mortgage loans, and notes receivable. Each of these investments is subject to market risks that can affect their return and their fair value. A majority of the investments are fixed maturity securities including debt issues of corporations, U.S. Treasury securities, mortgage-backed securities, or securities issued by government agencies. The primary market risks affecting the investment portfolio are interest rate risk, credit risk equity risk, and liquidity risk. With respect to investments that we hold on our balance sheet as collateral, our reinsurers bear the market risks related to these investments, while we bear the market risks on any net retained investments.

Interest Rate Risk

Interest rate risk arises from the price sensitivity of investments to changes in interest rates. Interest and dividend income represent the greatest portion of an investment’s return for most fixed maturity securities in stable interest rate environments. The changes in the fair value of such investments are inversely related to changes in market interest rates. As interest rates fall, the interest and dividend streams of existing fixed-rate investments become more valuable and fair values rise. As interest rates rise, the opposite effect occurs. We attempt to mitigate our exposure to adverseOur liabilities also have interest rate movements through staggeringrisk though GAAP does not require our liabilities to be marked to market. We mitigate interest rate risk by monitoring and matching the maturitiesduration of the fixed maturity investments and through maintaining cash and other short term investments to assure sufficient liquidity to meet its obligations and to address reinvestment risk considerations. Dueassets compared to the compositionduration of our book of insurance business, we believe it is unlikely that we would encounter large surrender activity due to an interest rate increase that would force the disposal of fixed maturities at a loss.liabilities.

Credit Risk

We are exposed to credit risk through counterparties and within the investment portfolio. Credit risk relates to the uncertainty associated with an obligor’s ability to make timely payments of principal and interest in accordance with the contractual terms of an instrument or contract. We manage our credit risk through diversification of investments amongst many corporations and numerous industries. Additionally, our investment policy limits the size of our holdingsholding in any particular issuer.

Liquidity Risk

We are exposed to liquidity risk when liabilities come due. In order to pay a policyholder, we may need to liquidate assets. If our assets are illiquid assets, we might be unable to convert an asset into cash without giving up capital and income due to a lack of buyers or an inefficient market. We seek to mitigate this risk by keeping a portion of our investment portfolio in liquid investments.

Statutory Accounting and Regulations

Our primary insurance subsidiary, American Life, is required to prepare statutory financial statements in accordance with SAP prescribed by the NDOI. SAP primarily differs from GAAP by charging policy acquisition costs to expense as incurred, establishing future benefit liabilities using actuarial assumptions as well as valuing investments and certain assets and accounting for deferred taxes on a different basis. For further discussion regarding SAP as well as net income (loss) of American Life under SAP, see Note 14 to our

46

Table of Contents

consolidated financial statements. As of December 31, 2021, American Life maintained sufficient capital and surplus to comply with regulatory requirements.

State insurance laws and regulations govern the operations of all insurers and reinsurers such as our insurance and reinsurance company subsidiaries. These various laws and regulations require that insurance companies maintain minimum amounts of statutory surplus as regards policyholders and risk-based capital and determine the dividends that insurers can pay without prior approval from regulators. The statutory net income of American Life is one of the primary sources of additions to our statutory surplus as regards policyholders, in addition to capital contributions from us.

We have reported our insurance subsidiaries’ assets, liabilities and results of operations in accordance with GAAP, which varies from SAP. The following items are principal differences between SAP and GAAP. SAP:

requires that we exclude certain assets, called non-admitted assets, from the balance sheet.
requires us to expense policy acquisition costs when incurred, while GAAP allows us to defer and amortize policy acquisition costs over the estimated life of the policies.
dictates how much of a deferred income tax asset that we can admit on a statutory balance sheet.
requires that we record certain investments at cost or amortized cost, while we record other investments at fair value; however, GAAP requires that we record all investments at fair value.
allows bonds to be carried at amortized cost or fair value based on the rating received from the Securities Valuation Office of the NAIC, while they are recorded at fair value for GAAP.
allows ceding commission income to be recognized when written if the cost of acquiring and renewing the associated business exceeds the ceding commissions, but under GAAP such income is deferred and recognized over the coverage period.
requires that we record reserves in liabilities and expense for policies written, while we record all transactions related to the annuity products under GAAP as a deposit-type contract liabilities.
requires a provision for reinsurance liability be established for reinsurance recoverable on paid losses aged over 90 days and for unsecured amounts recoverable from unauthorized reinsurers. Under GAAP there is no charge for uncollateralized amounts ceded to a company not licensed in the insurance affiliate’s domiciliary state and a reserve for uncollectable reinsurance is charged through earnings rather than surplus or equity.
requires an additional admissibility test outlined in Statements on Statutory Accounting Principles, No. 101 and the change in deferred income tax is reported directly in capital and surplus, rather than being reported as a component of income tax expense under GAAP. Our insurance subsidiaries must file with the insurance regulatory authorities an “Annual Statement” which reports, among other items, net income (loss) and surplus as regards policyholders, which is called stockholders’ equity under GAAP.

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Table of Contents

The table below sets forth our SAP net income (loss) for 2021 and 2020 for each of our insurance subsidiaries and then reconciled to GAAP.

Year ended December 31, 

(In thousands)

2021

2020

Consolidated GAAP net loss

$

(16,637)

$

(12,440)

Exclude: Midwest non-insurance transaction entities (American Life & Seneca Re)

(6,961)

(342)

GAAP net loss of statutory insurance entities

$

(9,676)

$

(12,098)

GAAP net loss by statutory insurance entity:

American Life

$

(8,742)

$

(15,970)

Seneca Re Protected Cell 01

(321)

3,872

Seneca Re Protected Cell 03

(613)

SAP net loss

$

(9,676)

$

(12,098)

Reconciliation of GAAP and SAP

GAAP net loss of American Life

(8,742)

(15,970)

Increase (decrease) due to:

Deferred acquisition costs

(34,451)

(30,787)

Coinsurance transactions

171,687

91,331

Carrying value of reserves

(133,028)

(42,389)

Foreign exchange and derivatives

-

(3,944)

Gain on sale of investments, net of asset valuation reserve

(1,861)

7,160

Other

40

(19)

SAP net (loss) income of American Life

$

(6,355)

$

5,382

GAAP net (loss) income of Seneca Re Protected Cell 01

(321)

3,872

Increase (decrease) due to:

Deferred acquisition costs

(3,343)

(17,808)

Coinsurance transactions

37,763

147,503

Carrying value of reserves

(36,995)

(138,999)

Gain on sale of investments, net of asset valuation reserve

1,847

(4,001)

Other

45

SAP net loss of Seneca Re Protected Cell

$

(1,004)

$

(9,433)

GAAP net income of Seneca Re Protected Cell 03

(613)

Increase (decrease) due to:

Deferred acquisition costs

(10,325)

Coinsurance transactions

88,704

Carrying value of reserves

(84,865)

Gain on sale of investments, net of asset valuation reserve

282

Other

(34)

SAP net loss of Seneca Re Protected Cell 03

$

(6,851)

$

SAP net loss of statutory insurance entities

$

(14,210)

$

(4,051)

We discuss below non-GAAP financial measures that management uses in conjunction with GAAP financial measures as an integral part of managing our business and to, among other things:

• monitor and evaluate the performance of our business operations and financial performance;

• facilitate internal comparisons of the historical operating performance of our business operations;

• review and assess the operating performance of our management team;

• analyze and evaluate financial and strategic planning decisions regarding future operations; and

• plan for and prepare future annual operating budgets and determine appropriate levels of operating investments.

Non-GAAP financial measures used by us may be calculated differently from, and therefore may not be comparable to, similarly titled measures used by other companies. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered along with, but not as alternatives to, our operating performance measures as prescribed by GAAP.

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Table of Contents

Operating Metric – Annuity Premiums

We monitor annuity premiums as a key operating metric in evaluating the performance of our business. Annuity premiums, also referred to as sales or direct written premiums, do not correspond to revenues under GAAP, but are relevant metrics to understand our business performance. Under SAP, our annuity premiums received are treated as premium revenue. Our premium metrics include all sums paid into an individual annuity in a given period. We typically transfer all or a substantial portion of the premium and policy obligations to reinsurers. Ceded premium represents the premium we transfer to reinsurers in a given period. Retained premium represents the portion of premium received during a given period that was not ceded to reinsurers and will either be reinsured in a subsequent period or retained by us. We typically retain premiums prior to transferring them to reinsurers to facilitate block and other reinsurance transactions involving portfolios of annuity premiums.

The following table sets forth premiums received under SAP. Under GAAP these products are defined as deposit-type contracts; therefore, the premium revenue is accounted under GAAP as deposit-type liabilities on our Consolidated balance sheets and is not recognized in our consolidated statement of comprehensive loss

Year ended December 31, 

(In thousands)

2021

2020

Annuity Premiums (SAP)

Annuity direct written premiums

$

471,646

$

415,561

Ceded premiums

(237,411)

(228,125)

Net premiums retained

$

234,235

$

187,436

The increase in annuity direct written premiums reflect strong sales in the first half of 2021, while the third and fourth quarters encountered a challenging sales environment, in which competitors were pricing rates on annuity products aggressively. We sell annuities through the IMO channel. We aim to grow annuity direct written premiums by further developing our relationships with existing IMOs and increasing the number of IMO partners that distribute our annuity products, as well as increasing the number of states in which we are licensed to sell our annuity products. We also aim to distribute to new channels, including the registered investment advisor (RIA) channel as well as the bank and broker-dealer channels. The increase in ceded premiums was attributable primarily to the increase in annuity direct written premiums discussed above.

Operating Metric – Fees Received for Reinsurance

Year ended December 31, 

(In thousands)

2021

    

2020

Fees received for reinsurance(1)

Fees received for reinsurance - total

$

13,412

$

12,457

(1) Consists of: 1) amortization of deferred gain on reinsurance, which is a line item from our GAAP Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss; and 2) deferred coinsurance ceding commission, which is a line item from our GAAP Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Fees received for reinsurance is defined as the net fees received for reinsurance transactions completed during the period and includes ceding commission. We calculate fees received for reinsurance by summing two components: 1) amortization of deferred gain on reinsurance, which is a line item from our GAAP Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss; and 2) deferred coinsurance ceding commission, which is a line item from our GAAP Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

For the year ended December 31, 2021, fees received for reinsurance increased by $1.0 million compared to the prior year period due to higher ceded premiums. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the components of fees received for reinsurance included $3.0 million of amortization of deferred gain on reinsurance from our GAAP Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income and $10.4 million of deferred coinsurance ceding commission from our GAAP Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

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Table of Contents

Reconciliation – Management Expenses to GAAP Expenses

Year ended December 31, 

    

2021

    

2020

Management Expenses

  

 

  

G&A

$

24,632

$

12,942

Management interest credited

8,757

2,098

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs

2,886

670

Expenses related to retained business

11,643

2,768

Management expenses - total

$

36,275

$

15,710

Year ended December 31, 

    

2021

    

2020

G&A

Salaries and benefits - GAAP

$

16,926

$

6,347

Other operating expenses - GAAP

15,104

10,200

Subtotal

32,030

16,547

Adjustments:

Less: Stock-based compensation

(4,981)

(164)

Less: Mark-to-market option allowance

(2,417)

(3,441)

G&A

$

24,632

$

12,942

Year ended December 31, 

    

2021

    

2020

Management Interest Credited

Interest credited - GAAP

$

7,012

$

4,225

Adjustments:

Less: FIA interest credited - GAAP

(4,169)

(3,432)

Add: FIA options cost - amortized

5,914

1,305

Management interest credited

$

8,757

$

2,098

Year ended December 31, 

    

2021

    

2020

Reconciliation - Management Expenses to GAAP Expenses

Total expenses - GAAP

$

41,934

$

21,437

Adjustments:

Less: Benefits

(6)

5

Less: Stock-based compensation

(4,981)

(164)

Less: Mark-to-market option allowance

(2,417)

(3,441)

Less: FIA interest credited - GAAP

(4,169)

(3,432)

Add: FIA options cost - amortized

5,914

1,305

Management expenses - total

$

36,275

$

15,710

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Table of Contents

Operating Metric – Management and G&A Expenses

In addition to total expenses, we utilize management expenses as an economic measure to evaluate our financial performance. Management expenses consist of total GAAP expenses adjusted to eliminate items that fluctuate from quarter to quarter in a manner unrelated to core operations, which we believe are useful in analyzing operating trends. The most significant adjustments to arrive at management expenses include the use of management interest credited (as discussed below), the exclusion of stock-based compensation and the exclusion of the mark-to-market option allowance expense (included in other operating expenses) payable to reinsurers to cover their obligations under FIA policies we have reinsured with them. We believe the combined presentation and evaluation of total expenses together with management expenses provides information that can enhance an investor’s understanding of our underlying operating results.

For the year ended December 31, 2021, GAAP general and administrative expenses totaled $41.9 million compared to $21.4 million for the prior year. For the year ended December 31, 2021, as disclosed above, included in these expenses is mainly salaries, benefits and other operating expenses, along with $5.0 million of non-cash stock-based compensation and $2.4 million of non-cash mark-to-market expense of our derivative option allowance, which we exclude in our management G&A.

Operating Metric – Management Interest Credited

We utilize management interest credited, a component of management expenses, as an economic measure to evaluate our financial performance. GAAP interest credited contains significant technical considerations related to fair value accounting with respect to the mark-to-market change in the FIA embedded derivative liability and change in actuarial valuation of the FIA reserve, both of which are sensitive to changes in the market as well as changes in actuarial assumptions. Due to these technical considerations that we believe are less meaningful to management and investors, we exclude the GAAP interest credited expense related to our FIA products and include the amortized cost of options we purchase to service our FIA policy obligations. The sum of GAAP interest credited related to our multi-year guaranteed annuity (“MYGA”) products and the amortized cost of options we purchase to service our FIA products constitutes management interest credited.

For the year ended December 31, 2021, GAAP interest credited totaled $7.0 million compared to $4.2 million for the prior year. For the year ended December 31, 2021, as disclosed above, included in these expenses is GAAP interest credited related to our retained FIA policies of approximately positive $4.2 million. For the year ended December 31, 2021, as disclosed above in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

At December 31, 2019, the Company2021 and 2020, we had cash and cash equivalents totaling $43,716,205.$142.0 compared $151.7 million, respectively. We believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to fund theour anticipated operating expenses and capital transaction expenditures for the foreseeable future. We have not seen an impact on our cash flows related to the COVID-19 pandemic during the last two years. As our state expansion continues, we expect an increase in our sales of our MYGA and FIA products.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”)NAIC has established minimum capital requirements in the form of Risk-Based Capital (“RBC”). RBC that factors the type of business written by an insurance company, the quality of its assets and various other aspects of an insurance company’sits business to develop a minimum level of capital calledknown as “authorized control level risk-based

28

capital” and compares this level to adjusted statutory capital that includes capital and surplus as reported under statutory accounting principles,SAP, plus certain investment reserves. Should the ratio of adjusted statutory capital to control level RBC fall below 200%, a series of remedial actions by the affected company would be required. As of December 31, 20192021, and 2018,2020, the RBC ratio of American Life was 840%764.069% and 5,480%1,092,205%, respectively. In December, 2020, Midwest contributed $50.0 million of the capital raise which was reflected in the high 2020 RBC ratio.

EffectiveAmerican Life had a legacy block of business that was ceded off to a third-party reinsurer on July 1, 2018 through an indemnity reinsurance agreement that transferred 90% to the assumptive reinsurer, resulting in American Life completedtransferring all the 2018 Legacy Reinsurance transaction discussed above. We paid no commissions or brokerage fees relatingrisk and financial obligations of those policyholders to this transaction. While the third party reinsurer assumed certain liabilities and obligations, we are not relievedthird-party reinsurer.

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Comparative Cash Flows

Cash flow is an important component of our legal liability tobusiness model because we receive annuity premiums and invest them upon receipt for our reinsurers and us and for the policyholders until allbenefit of our policyholders.

The following table summarizes our cash flows from operational, investing and financing activities for the policies are transferred from “indemnity” to “assumptive.” Therefore,periods indicated. See the liabilities and obligations associated with the reinsured blocksConsolidated Statements of business remain onCash Flow in our Consolidated Balance Sheets under Assets and Liabilities Heldfinancial statements for Sale. We transferred $19,311,616 of GAAP net adjusted reserves as of July 1, 2018 to the third party reinsurer for cash of $14,320,817, which was net of a ceding allowance of $3,500,000 plus the accrued interest on the transaction from July 1, 2018 until it closed on December 10, 2018. The third party reinsurer assumed all responsibilities for incurred claims, surrenders and commission from the effective date. As of December 31, 2019, 79% of the reinsured block of business was converted from indemnity to assumptive reinsurance.more detailed information.

Year ended December 31, 

2021

    

2020

(In thousands)

Net cash used in operating activities

$

(25,338)

$

(16,244)

Net cash used in investing activities

(452,407)

(367,482)

Net cash provided by financing activities

468,079

491,689

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

(9,666)

107,963

Cash and cash equivalents:

Beginning of period

151,679

43,716

End of period

$

142,013

$

151,679

Surplus notes American Life had issued of $300,000 and $250,000 matured on August 1, 2016 and September 1, 2016, respectively. American Life reached an agreement with the holder of the notesCash Used in late 2018 to retire the surplus notes in full, including any accrued interest, through the transfer of 10 condominiums in Hawaii owned by American Life. This transaction received regulatory approval in December 2018. The book value at December 31, 2018 of the surplus notes was $876,400 and the book value of the 10 condominiums in Hawaii was $493,648 with an estimated market value of $830,000. We recognized a gain of $382,752 on the settlement of the transaction.Operating Activities

Net cash used for operating activities was $2,457,176$25.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2019,2021, which was comprised primarily byof an increase in policy liabilities of $2,963,219 primarily due to the increase in deposit-type contracts ceded to reinsurers, an increase in our other assetsreceivable and liabilities due to a payable for securities $14.2 million, capitalized DAC of $4,745,339$14.0 million, net realized gain on investments of $7.8 million, accrued investment income of $6.8 million, and amounts recoverable from reinsurers of $6.4 million, and. These were offset by deposit-type liabilities of $24.4 million, and an increase in deferred coinsurance ceding commission due to the Ironbound and SDAa third-party reinsurance transaction of $3,678,196 , partially offset$10.4 million.

Cash Used in by the amounts recoverable from reinsurers of $7,478,880 and accrued investment income of $1,310,492. Investing Activities

Net cash used for investing activities for 2021 was $117,890,852.$452.4 million. The primary source of cash used was from our purchase of investments from sales of the MYGA and FIA products of $139,139,215.$977.8 million. Offsetting this use of cash was our sale of investments in available-for-sale securities of $21,858,018. $525.7 million.

Cash Flow Provided by Financing Activities

Net cash provided by financing activities in 2021 was $161,231,666.$468.1 million. The primary source of cash was net receipts on the MYGA and FIA products.

Impactproducts of Inflation

Management believes that inflation has not had a material effect on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, except insofar as inflation may affect interest rates.

An increase in inflation could affect our business in several ways.  During inflationary periods, the value of our fixed income investments falls which could increase realized and unrealized losses.  Inflation also increases expenses for labor, potentially putting pressure on profitability if such increases cannot be passed through our product prices.  Prolonged inflation could constrain overall economic activity, inhibit revenue growth and reduce the number of investment opportunities.$453.2 million.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We do not have noany off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that is material to investors.

Contractual Obligations

As a smaller reporting company we are not required to provide the table of contractual obligations required pursuant to this Item.

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

As a smaller reporting company, we are not required to provide disclosure pursuant to this Item.

29

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.

The Company’s audited consolidatedConsolidated financial statements are included as a part of this report beginning on page F‑1.F-1.

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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.

None.

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

We have established disclosure controls and procedures to ensure, among other things, material information relating to our Company, including our consolidated subsidiary,subsidiaries, is made known to our officers who certify our financial reports and to the other members of our senior management and the Board of Directors.Board.

Management, (with the participation of our chief executive officer and principal executivefinancial officer), carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a‑15(e)13a-15(e) and 15d‑15(e)15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) as of December 31, 2019.2021. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officerand financial officers concluded that, as of the end of the period covered in this report, our disclosure controls and procedures along with the related internal controls over financial reporting were effective to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange CommissionSEC rules and forms, and is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal-principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Material Weakness Previously Identified

Refer to Item 9A of Part II of our 2017 Form 10‑K/A and Item 4 of our September 30, 2018 Form 10‑Q/A Amendment No. 2 for detail about previously identified material weaknesses in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting over timeliness of obtaining and assimilating all information and a complex and non-routine transaction. The Company has implemented the following remediation steps to address this material weakness: (i) meeting with our auditing firm on a timely schedule, (ii) established an enterprise risk management program, (iii) monitored and engaged an auditing advisor to assist with complex transactions, and (iv) retained consultants to verify and strengthen controls. The Company’s management determined these weaknesses were remediated as of June 30, 2019.

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION.

None.

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PART III.

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE.

Board Leadership Structure

Midwest does not have a formal policy regarding the separation of its Executive Chairman (principal executive office) and CEO positions. Our Board is responsible for the control and direction of the Company. The Board represents the Company's shareholders, and its primary purpose is to build long-term shareholder value. Mr. Minnich serves as Executive Chairman of the Board and Mr. Salem as Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The Board believes that these individuals are best situated to serve as Chairman  and CEO, respectively, because they are the individuals most familiar with the Company's business Plan and of effectively identifying strategic priorities and leading the discussion and execution of corporate strategy.

Board's Role in Risk Oversight

The Board of Directors as a whole has responsibility for risk oversight. The oversight responsibility of the Board is enabled by management reporting processes that are designed to provide visibility to the Board about the identification, assessment and management of critical risks. This reporting is designed to focus on areas that include strategic, operational, financial and reporting, compensation, compliance and other risks. For example, the Board of Directors regularly receives reports regarding the investments and securities held by Midwest's insurance subsidiary, as well as other reports regarding its insurance business. The Company has an active Enterprise Risk Management Committee that reports to the Board and focuses on risk identification and remediation.

Director Independence

Presently, we are not required to comply with the director independence requirements of any securities exchange. In determining whether our directors are independent, however, we intend to adhere to the rules of the New York Stock Exchange Market (“NYSE MKT”) America with respect to independent directors. The NYSE MKT American listing standards define an "independent director" generally as a person, other than an executive officer or employee of a company, who does not have a relationship with the company that would interfere with the director's exercise of independent judgment.

The NYSE MKT American listing requirements state that a majority of a company's Board of Directors must be independent. Our Board of Directors includes six independent directors, namely, Sachin Goel, John Hompe, Scott Morrison, Jack Theeler, Firman Leung and Dana Stapleton. These six independent directors constitute a majority of the Board of Directors.

Audit Committee

At a meeting on March 29, 2016, the Board established an Audit Committee and appointed three independent directors, John T. Hompe, Scott Morrison and Jack Theeler to serve as members. These directors currently serve as Audit Committee members.

Mr. Hompe was designated the Committee Chair and Financial Expert. The Board subsequently adopted an Audit Committee Charter that details the Audit Committee’s responsibilities as follows: (i) review all recommendation of our independent registered public accountants concerning Midwest's accounting principles, internal controls and accounting procedures and practices; (ii) review the scope of the annual audit; (iii) approve or disapprove each professional service or type of service other than standard auditing services to be provided by the independent registered public accountants; and (iv) review and discuss with the independent registered public accountants our annual audited financial statements. The Committee met five times in 2019. Our Audit Committee charter is available on our website at www.midwestholding.com.

Compensation Committee

The Board does not currently have a standing Compensation Committee and it does not have a Compensation Committee charter. The functions that would be performed by a Compensation Committee, including consideration of executive officer and director compensation, are performed by the entire Board of Directors.

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Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Executive officers, directors and “beneficial owners” of more than ten percent of Midwest’s voting common stock must file initial reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC under Section l6(a) of the Exchange Act. SEC regulations require these reporting persons to furnish us with copies of all Forms 3, 4 and 5, and amendments thereto, that they file with the SEC. We believe that during 2019 and through the date of this filing, all of our officers, directors and greater than ten percent beneficial owners complied with all filing requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act.

Code of Ethics

Midwest has adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to our officers, directors and employees in accordance with applicable federal securities laws. A copy of the Code of Ethics was filed as an exhibit to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, and may be reviewed by accessing Midwest’s public filings at the SEC’s web site www.sec.gov. In addition, a copy of the Code of Ethics will be provided to any shareholder without charge upon request. Midwest intends to disclose any amendments to or waivers of certain provisions of its Code of Ethics in a Current Report on Form 8-K.

Information Concerning Executive Officers and Directors

The following table sets forth, as of March 1, 2020,December 31, 2021, certain information regarding our directors and executive officersofficers.

Name

    

Age

Position

    

Director/Officer Since

Georgette Nicholas

 

57

Chief Executive Officer, Interim Chief Financial Officer,

 

2021

Director

Michael Minnich

 

50

President, Chief Investment Officer, Director

 

2019

Shyamal Somaroo

51

Chief Technology Officer

2020

Deb Havranek

 

65

Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer

 

2015

Eric J. Del Monaco

44

Chief Risk Officer

2020

Richard Vecchiolla

57

Head of Structuring 1505 Capital

2020

John T. Hompe

60

Director and Independent Board Chair

2015

Firman Leung

64

Director

2016

Jack Theeler

76

Director

2012

Sachin Goel

40

Director

2019

Douglas K. Bratton

62

Director

2020

Nancy Callahan

61

Director

2021

Diane Davis

54

Director

2021

Georgette Nicholas. Ms. Nicholas has more than 30 years experience in the global financial services industry including insurance, reinsurance and Directors.capital markets. She has acommitment to developing strong culture and leadership in organizations, supporting diversity and inclusion to grow engagement. Ms. Nicholas previously held the position of CEO and Managing Director for Genworth Mortgage Insurance Australia, a publicly listed ASX company in Sydney, Australia. She also held various roles with Genworth Financial, Inc. in investor relations, chief financial officer roles in the mortgage insurance business and controllership. Ms. Nicholas also worked in public accounting, including as a firm director with Deloitte.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name

    

Age

 

Position

    

Director/Officer Since

Mike Minnich

 

48

 

Executive Chairman, Director

 

2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A. Michael Salem

 

38

 

CEO, Director

 

2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John T. Hompe

 

59

 

Director

 

2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mark A. Oliver

 

61

 

President, Director

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Firman Leung

 

62

 

Director

 

2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scott Morrison

 

46

 

Director

 

2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sachin Goel

 

38

 

Director

 

2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jack Theeler

 

74

 

Director

 

2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dana Stapleton

 

52

 

Director

 

2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Todd Boeve

 

50

 

Vice President, Secretary

 

2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deb Havranek

 

63

 

Vice President, Treasurer

 

2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jennifer Hegemann

 

42

 

Vice President, Finance

 

2019

MIKE MINNICH:Michael Minnich. Mr. Minnich has over 25 years of experience in insurance, a private investment company, technology, risk-management, and investing. He was named Executive ChairmanChair of Midwest on April 30, 2019.2019 and Co-Chief Executive Officer on November 16, 2020. Mr. Minnich was named President and a member of the Board of American Life in June 2018. Mr. In November of 2021, Mr. Minnich wastransitioned from the Co-Chief Executive officer of Midwest and Executive Chair of Midwest, to the President and Chief Investment officer. Minnich is a Founder and has been Co-Chief Executive of Vespoint Capital LLC with Mr. Salem insince 2018. Since July 2010, he has been Managingmanaging member of Rendezvous Capital LLC, a New York firm advising insurers on capital and investments. From February 2013 to May 2017, he was Chief Investment Officer of A-Cap, an insurance holding and investment company. Mr. Minnich graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering in 1994 and an MBA in 1995 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

A. MICHAEL SALEM: Shyamal Somaroo. Mr. SalemSomaroo is our Chief Technology Officer and has 16over 20 years of experience across technology and quantitative finance. Prior to joining Midwest, he was the head of valuations at Barclays Africa where he oversaw valuations for all

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derivative positions across all African trading desks. Prior to Barclays, Mr. Somaroo was a Director at Merrill Lynch in New York overseeing valuations for the global credit derivative portfolio. Prior to that, he was a consultant at McKinsey & Co and a technology scout at Pfizer’s Discovery Technology Center in Cambridge, MA. Mr. Somaroo received his Ph.D. from Cambridge University (UK) and has held post-doctoral positions at Harvard and M.I.T.

Debra K. Havranek. Ms. Havranek is our Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer and has worked for us since 2014. She has more than 27 years of experience in Corporate Reporting in the life insurance, distribution, insurance investing,banking, and technology. He was namedconsumer packed goods industries. Previously, she served from April 2006 to June 2014 as Manager of Finance at Conagra Brands, a large publicly traded corporation. Ms. Havranek holds a B.S.B.A. in Accounting from the University of Nebraska Omaha and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Eric J. Del Monaco. Mr. Del Monaco is our Chief ExecutiveRisk Officer and has over 21 years of broad financial services experience. Prior to joining Midwest, Mr. Del Monaco was Head of Global Markets for Natixis Management Services-North America, a Director of Midwest on April 30, 2019.global asset management company from January 2019 to October 2020. He has also held senior positions at Nomura where he served as Chairman of American Life since

32

June 2018. Mr. Salem is Founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Vespoint LLC, ultimate controlling party of the Company since 2018. In addition, he has served as managing member of AMS Advisors LLC since January 2011. From July 2013on Nomura Americas Global Markets executive committee from 2009 to August 2017, he was Co-Founder, Managing Principal and Co-Head of Advisory Capital at Vanbridge LLC, an investment management firm.

MARK A. OLIVER:Mr. Oliver is currently the Vice President and Secretary and a member of the Board of Directors of American Life. He served as CEO since that company received its Certificate of Authority from the Nebraska Department of Insurance on September l, 2009 through June 2018. He was elected Chairman of American Life in March, 2017 and served in that capacity until June 2018. Mr. Oliver also serves as President and as a member of the Board of Directors of Midwest, a post he has held since 2010.2015. Prior to that,his employment with Nomura, he servedran Credit Structuring at Lehman Brothers and Barclays Capital in New York, where his specialties included credit derivatives, counterparty risk and complex repackagings. Mr. Del Monaco also spent five years as Chairmanpart of Citigroup’s European Structured Credit business in London from 2001 to 2006 where he focused on clients in Southern Europe, Turkey and CEO and Treasurer since 2015. From 1984 until June 2007the Middle East. He started his career at Chase Manhattan Bank. Mr. OliverDel Monaco holds a Bachelor of Science in Quantitative Economics from Tufts University.

Richard Vecchiolla. Mr. Vecchiolla is the head of structuring at  1505 Capital. He has been dedicated to the development of innovative solutions at financial companies for more than twenty-five years. Mr. Vecchiolla was employed by Citizens, Inc.,formerly a lifeprincipal on an insurance holding company & asset management platform with principal officesmore than $2 billion in Austin, Texas, serving as its Presidentinsurance product AUM. During his tenure, Mr. Vecchiolla headed up multiple acquisitions, reinsurance treaties and in various other executive capacitiesformed Haymarket Insurance Company. Mr. Vecchiolla prior experience also included: (i) Managing Director at Swiss Re (ii) VP at Morgan Stanley and (iii) legal counsel at Greenwich NatWest and Rogers & Wells. Richard has a JD from 1997 through 2007.Georgetown University, an MBA from Pepperdine University and an MS from Temple University.

JOHN

John T. HOMPE:Hompe. Mr. Hompe was the Managing Partner and co-founder of J.P. Charter Oak Advisors LLC, a private investment firm focused on the financial services industry from 2012 to 2019. Mr. Hompe has worked in the financial services sector for more than 3035 years. He has held numerous board positions with insurance companies during his career. From 2003 through 2012, Mr. Hompe worked in investment banking and asset management (KBW Asset Management from 2011 through 2012 as a Managing Director and Keefe Bruyette & Woods, Inc. from 2003 to 2011 as Co-Head of Insurance and Asset Management Investment Banking). Mr. Hompe servesserved as an observer on the boardBoard of directorsDirectors of International Planning Group, Ltd., an international life insurance broker, and Preparis Inc., a provider of business continuity services. From 2010 to 2012, he was an independent director of Island Capital, a Bermuda investment company. He also was a director and a member of the executive committee of Island'sIsland Capital’s predecessor company, EIC Corporation Ltd., a Bermuda-domiciled insurance holding company, and Exporters Insurance Company, a New York-based trade credit insurer from 2005 to 2010. He was an outside director of North American Insurance Leaders, Inc. (NASDAQ:(Nasdaq: NAIL), a special purpose acquisition corporation focused on the insurance distribution sector in 2007. He also served as a director of FIHC, a Barbados-domiciled insurance holding company, and Facility Insurance Company, a Texas workers compensation company from 2001 to 2003. Mr. Hompe was a Board Member of American Life from 2015 through June 2018. Mr. Hompe received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Politics (cum laude) from Princeton in 1983, with distinction in American Studies. Mr. Hompe was recently named Chair of the Board of Directors for both Midwest and American Life.

FIRMAN LEUNG:

Firman Leung.Mr. Leung has over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry as an Investment and Capital Markets Banker in New York, London and Hong Kong. SinceFrom 2016 through November 2020, he has served as the Managing Principal of Columbus Circle Capital, LLC in New York, and the Executive Managing Director of Investment Banking and Capital Markets at American Capital Partners, LLC, also in New York. From 2012 to 2015, he served as Managing Director, Investment Banking and Capital Markets at RCS Capital Corporation, New York. From 2002 to 2012, he was Managing Director, Capital Raising, at Sandler O’ Neill & Partners, L.P., New York. Mr. Leung received his BS in Economics from The Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania and his MBA degree from The Amos Tuck School at Dartmouth College. He has also been a product speaker at the Las Vegas MoneyShow in the main forum: “Building a Durable Income Portfolio.” Mr. Leung was a Board Member of American Life from 2015 through June 2018.

SCOTT MORRISON:Since 2006, Mr. Morrison has been Managing Partner of Oaks, Hartline & Daly law firm in Austin, Texas. Mr. Morrison is Texas board certified in estate planning and probate law. He practices law in the areas of estate administration and planning, probate and general business law. He has been named a "Texas Rising Star" by both Law and Politics Media, Inc. and Texas Monthly magazine. Mr. Morrison was a Board Member of American Life from 2015 through June 2018.

JACK THEELER:Jack Theeler. Mr. Theeler is a partner in the Morgan Theeler law firm of Mitchell, South Dakota where he has been employed since 1971. He has a bachelor’s degree in accounting (1968) and a law degree (1971) from the University of South Dakota. In law school he was Editor in Chief of the South Dakota Law Review and graduated magna cum laude.Review. He was the first ChairmanChair of the South Dakota Lottery Commission, serving from 1986 to 1992. He is a member of American Bar Association, the State Bar of South Dakota, the Association of Defense Trial Attorneys,

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the South Dakota Defense Lawyers Association and an associate in the American Board of Trial Advocates. Mr. Theeler has served on numerous boards and commissions including Dakota Wesleyan University, Mitchell Area Development Corporation and the Mitchell YMCA. Mr. Theeler has been inducted into the University of South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame, the Mitchell Area Ducks Unlimited Hall of Fame, and his high school basketball team has been inducted into the South Dakota High School Basketball Hall of Fame. Jack and Nancy Theeler received the 2007 Community Service Award presented annually by the Mitchell Area Chamber of Commerce. AHe was a founding Board Memberboard member of Great Plains Financial Corp. and Great Plains Life Assurance, he is also a Board Memberboard member of American Life.

33

DANA STAPLETON:Mr. Stapleton has been a farmer/rancher in Sisseton, South Dakota for over the past 30 years. In 2001 he was named the South Dakota Farmer of the Year and the 2002 National Farmer of the Year. He was a founding Board Member of Great Plains Financial Corp. and Great Plains Life Assurance Co. He was a Board Member of American Life from 2015 to June 2018.

SACHIN GOEL:Mr. Goel was nominated by Xenith to fill one of its slots on the Board in 2019. Sachin Goel. Mr. Goel is a CFA CharterholderCertified Financial Analyst and serves as a Managing Director on the investment team and leads the capital markets activity for Brightwood Capital Advisors, LLC in New York. He joined Brightwood in 2013. Prior to joining Brightwood, Mr. Goel was a Managing Director in Macquarie Capital USA’s credit trading division from 2009-2013, where he was responsible for a portfolio of distressed and high-yield corporate credits. Mr. Goel beganreceived a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Chicago in 2003 and earned his career at Credit Suisse.Certified Financial Analyst Charter in 2006.

DEBRA HAVRANEK: Ms. HavranekDouglas K. Bratton. Mr. Bratton is currently our Vicethe Founder, President, Chief Investment Officer and Treasurermajority owner of Crestline Investors, Inc., the general partner of Crestline Management, L.P., an institutional alternative investment management firm. Mr. Bratton is also sole director of Bratton Capital, Inc., which is the general partner of Bratton Capital Management L.P. Mr. Bratton has been an investment professional specializing in alternative asset strategies since 1983 and has worked for usmanaged assets on behalf of the Bass family of Fort Worth, Texas, since 2014. She1988. Mr. Bratton has more than 25 years of experience in Corporate Reporting in the life insurance, banking, and consumer packed goods industries. Previously, she served from April 2006 to June 2014 as Manager of Finance at Conagra Brands, a large publicly traded corporation.

TODD BOEVE: Mr. Boeve is currently our Vice President and Secretary and has worked for us since January 2010. He was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Board in April 2017 and served until March 2019.  He previously worked in the funeral industry for ten years as a licensed funeral director and was a PGA Golf Professional for nine years. Additionally, Mr. Boeve served on the Board of American LifeDirectors of Bounty Minerals Corporation, a private company, since 2014, and the Board of Visitors of Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business since 2013. Mr. Bratton received a B.S. from North Carolina State University in 1981 and an M.B.A. with Honors from Duke University in 1984

Nancy Callahan. Ms. Callahan has over 25 years of experience acting as a versatile business leader, delivering market differentiation through profit and loss oversight, general management, strategy, corporate governance, product development and business development. She is currently serving, and has been since 2021, as Global VP of Next-Generation Cloud Delivery for SAP Customer Success Services in St. Petersburg, FL. From 2017 to 2021, Ms. Callahan served as Global VP of Strategy for SAP Customer Success Services, and previously, Global VP of Strategy and Growth for SAP Digital Business Services, positions she has held since 2017. From 2015 to June 2018.

JENNIFER HEGEMANN:2017, Ms. Hegemann joined usCallahan served as Chief of Staff to an SAP Board Member for the SAP Business Networks and Applications Group. During 2014, she served as Chief of Staff to the President and COO of Concur Technologies (“Concur”). From 2013 to 2014, Ms. Callahan served as Senior Director of Platform and Web Services at Concur. From 2010 to 2012, she served as Senior Director of Product Development and Mobile Strategy with Concur. From 2001 to 2009, Ms. Callahan worked at American International Group (“AIG”), serving in November 2019many capacities including VP of Commercial Insurance with the Financial Institutions Division, VP of the Professional Liability Division and is currently our Vice PresidentVP of Finance. She has over 20 years’ experience in accounting, finance and financial reporting in a diverse group of industries. Previously she workedBusiness Development in the Defense Industry as the head of Finance and Accounting for a Lincoln, Nebraska based Strategic Business Unit.AIG Identity Theft & Fraud Division. Prior to that, she workedwas President of Reuters Futures Services, Inc., a business unit of Reuters Group which is now part of Thomson Reuters. Ms. Callahan received her BS in Systems Engineering from the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at the University of Virginia and her MBA in Finance from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. Additionally, she has completed the Women Board Directors Development Program with the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington.

Diane Davis. Ms. Davis has nearly 20 years of experience in executive positions utilizing her practical background in data governance, risk management, finance and leadership to be an engaged and thoughtful board member. She is currently serving, and has been since March 2020, as a Board Member with First Financial Northwest Bank. Additionally, Ms. Davis is currently serving, since 2014, as Board Member of the Habitat for Humanity for Seattle-King County. In this capacity, she serves as the Secretary and Governance Committee Chair. From 2016 to 2019, Ms. Davis served as President and CEO of Farmers New World Life Insurance Company. From 2013 to 2016, she served as Chief Risk Officer of Zurich Insurance Company’s Global Life North America region. From 2010 to 2013, Ms. Davis served as Chief Risk Officer of Farmers New World Life Insurance Company. From 2003 to 2010, she served in various senior executive roles at Kemper Investors Life Insurance Company. Prior to that, she gained experience through actuarial, marketing, distribution and strategic finance positions. Ms. Davis received her BS in Actuarial Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and her MBA from the University of Washington. She is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries.

Family Relationships and Other Arrangements

There are no family relationships among our directors and executive officers.

Board Composition

Our board currently consists of nine members. In accordance with our certificate of incorporation, our board is divided into three classes with staggered three-year terms. At each annual meeting of stockholders, the successors to directors whose terms then expire will be elected to serve from the time of election and qualification until the third annual meeting of stockholders following election. As of December 31, 2021, our directors were divided among the three classes as follows:

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the Class I directors are Firman Leung, Nancy Callahan and Diane Davis, and their terms will expire at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2024;
the Class II directors are John Hompe, Sachin Goel and Jack Theeler, and their terms will expire at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2022;
the Class III directors are Michael Minnich, Georgette Nicholas, and Douglas Bratton, and their terms will expire at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2023;

We expect that any additional directorships resulting from an increase in the insurance and banking industries and started her careernumber of directors will be distributed among the three classes so that, as nearly as possible, each class will consist of one-third of the directors. The division of our board into three classes with staggered three-year terms may delay or prevent a change of our management or a change in control.

Director Independence

Under the rules of the Nasdaq Capital Market, independent directors must comprise a majority of our board as a public accountant. She workedcompany within one year of listing.

Our board has undertaken a review of its composition, the composition of its committees and the independence of each director. Based upon information requested from June 2012and provided by each director concerning his background, employment and affiliations, including family relationships, our board has determined that Sachin Goel, John Hompe, Firman Leung, Jack Theeler, Diane Davis, and Nancy Callahan do not have any relationships that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director and that each of these directors is “independent” as that term is defined under the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and the listing requirements of the Nasdaq Listing Rules. In making this determination, our board considered the current and prior relationships that each non-employee director has with our company and all other facts and circumstances our board deemed relevant in determining their independence, including the beneficial ownership of our capital stock by each non-employee director. These six independent directors constitute a majority of the board.

Our board has determined that Michael Minnich and Georgette Nicholas are not independent due to October 2014their executive officer and employee positions with our company, and their personal and shared beneficial stock ownership makes them our largest stockholders. In addition, our board has determined that Douglas Bratton is not independent by virtue of his affiliation with one of our largest stockholders.

Board Meetings and Committees

The Board meets at Alliance Bernsteinsuch times as VP Technologyare necessary and Operations Finance,generally on the dates of regularly scheduled Board meetings and at such other times as may be necessary.

There are three standing committees appointed by the Board: the Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Each committee has the power to employ the services of outside consultants and to have discussions and interviews with personnel of the Company and others. The principal functions of the committees are summarized as follows:

Audit Committee

The primary purposes of our Audit Committee are to:

review and provide oversight regarding the integrity of our financial statements;

assess the qualifications and independence of our independent auditors and our internal financial and accounting controls;

appoint, and oversee compensation, retention (including termination) and oversight of our independent auditors, with our independent auditors reporting directly to the Audit Committee; and

prepare the audit committee report required to be included in our annual proxy statement.

Our Audit Committee consists of John Hompe, Firman Leung, Jack Theeler and Diane Davis. Our board has determined that all members are independent under the Nasdaq Listing Rules and Rule 10A-3(b)(1) of the Exchange Act. The chair of our Audit Committee

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is Diane Davis. Our board has determined that Diane Davis is an “audit committee financial expert” as such term is currently defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K. Our board has also determined that each member of our audit committee can read and understand fundamental financial statements, in accordance with applicable requirements. In arriving at these determinations, the board has examined each Audit Committee member’s scope of experience and the nature of their employment in the corporate finance and investment sector. The Audit Committee is governed by a charter that complies with the rules of Nasdaq.

Compensation Committee

The Compensation Committee of our board approves the compensation objectives for the Company, the compensation of our chief executive officer and approves, or recommends to our board for approval, the compensation for other executives. The Compensation Committee reviews all compensation components, including base salary, bonus, benefits and other perquisites.

Our Compensation Committee consists of John Hompe, Firman Leung, Sachin Goel, and Nancy Callahan. Our board has determined that all of its members are independent under the Nasdaq Listing Rules and are “nonemployee directors” as defined in Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act. The chair of our Compensation Committee is Sachin Goel. The Compensation Committee is governed by a charter that complies with the rules of Nasdaq.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

The board will also consider director candidates recommended for nomination by our stockholders during such times as they are seeking proposed nominees to stand for election at the next annual meeting of stockholders (or, if applicable, a special meeting of stockholders). Our stockholders that wish to nominate a director for election to our board of directors should follow the procedures set forth in our bylaws.

On January 28, 2021, our Board of Directors formed a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The primary purposes of our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are to assist the Board in:

identifying, screening and reviewing individuals qualified to serve as directors and recommending to the Board candidates for nomination for election at the annual meeting of stockholders or to fill vacancies on the Board;
 developing and recommending to the Board and overseeing implementation of our corporate governance guidelines;
coordinating and overseeing the annual self-evaluation of the Board, its committees, individual directors and management in the governance of Midwest; and
reviewing on a regular basis our overall corporate governance and recommending improvements as and when necessary.

Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee consists of Jack Theeler, John Hompe, Nancy Callahan, and Diane Davis. Our board has determined that all of its members are independent under Nasdaq Listing Rules and are “nonemployee directors” as defined in Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act. The chair of our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is Nancy Callahan.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is governed by a charter that complies with the rules of Nasdaq.

Board’s Role in Risk Oversight

Our board has an active role in overseeing the management of our risks. Our board is responsible for general oversight of risks and regular review of information regarding our risks, including liquidity risks and operational risks. This oversight responsibility of the board is enabled by management reporting processes that are designed to provide visibility to the board about the identification, assessment and management of critical risks. This reporting is designed to focus on areas that include strategic, operational, financial and reporting, compensation, compliance and other risks. For example, the board regularly receives reports regarding the investments and securities held by our insurance subsidiaries, as well as other reports regarding their insurance business.

Our board of directors is also responsible for overseeing the management of risks relating to our executive compensation plans and arrangements. The audit committee is responsible for overseeing the management of risks relating to accounting matters and financial reporting. Although the audit committee is responsible for evaluating certain risks and overseeing the management of such risks, the

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entire board is regularly informed through discussions from October 2014audit committee members about such risks. Our board believes its administration of its risk oversight function has not negatively affected our board’s leadership structure.

Stockholder Nominations for the Board of Directors

Midwest has not made any material changes to May 2018the procedures by which stockholders may recommend nominees to the Board of Directors.

Code of Ethics and Conflicts of Interest Policy

We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (“Code of Ethics”) that applies to all of our executive officers, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer and controller and persons performing similar functions in accordance with applicable federal securities laws. Our Code of Ethics provides general statements of our expectations regarding ethical standards that we expect our directors, officers and employees to adhere to while acting on our behalf. Our board is responsible for overseeing the Code of Ethics and granting any waivers applicable to any director, officer or employee.

The Code of Ethics is publicly available on our website at Ameritashttps://midwestholding.q4cdn.com/816399992/files/doc_downloads/gov_docs/MWH-Code-of-Business-Conduct-and-Ethics-2019_05_21.pdf.

We have also adopted a Code of Conduct and Conflicts of Interest Policy for all Members of the Boards of Directors of Midwest Holding Inc. and American Life & Security Corp. (“Conflicts of Interest Policy”), which includes provisions covering related person transactions. In general, any transaction, or proposed transaction, in which the Company (including any of its subsidiaries) is or will be a participant and any director, executive officer, more than 5% stockholder or immediate family member of any such persons had, has or will have a direct or indirect interest must be reviewed and approved or ratified by the nominating and corporate governance committee of our board.

The Conflicts of Interest Policy is publicly available on our website at https://midwestholding.q4cdn.com/816399992/files/doc_downloads/gov_docs/MWH-Conflicts-of-Interest-Policy-2019_05_21.pdf.

Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act of 1934, as Financeamended, requires our Directors, officers and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of our Common Stock to file certain reports of beneficial ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These reports show the Directors,’ officers’ and greater than 10% stockholders' ownership and the changes in ownership of our common stock and other equity securities. The SEC regulations also require that a copy of all such Section 16(a) forms filed must be furnished to us by the person or entity filing the report. To the Company’s knowledge, during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, all reports required to be filed pursuant to Section 16(a) were filed on a timely basis, except for the following:

John T. Hompe, Board member, filed a late Form 4 on March 9, 2021, which reported the purchase of voting common stock on December 17, 2020.
Debra Havranek, our Chief Financial Officer at the time, filed a late Form 4 on April 21, 2021 in connection with an employee stock option granted by the Company on March 11, 2021.

Interlocks

The Compensation Committee members are not officers or employees of our company, and there is not, nor was there during fiscal 2021, any compensation committee interlock (in other words, no executive of Midwest serves as a Director and from August 2018 to Novemberor on the compensation committee of 2019 at General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems as Senior Managera company that has one or more executives serving on our Board of Finance.Directors or our Compensation Committee).

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The following table sets forth the compensation paid or accrued in the years indicated by Midwest to its Principal Executive Officer ("PEO"), Mike Minnich and two other highest paidnamed executive offices of Midwest. Our Board of Directors reviews senior officer compensation on an annual basis.officers.

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE(2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name and Principal Position

    

Year

 

 

Salary

 

    

Bonus

 

 

Option Awards

 

 

All Other
Compensation

 

 

 

Total

Mike Minnich, Executive Chairman, Director (4)

 

2019

 

$

250,000

 

$

 -

 

$

 -

 

$

3,074

(5)

 

$

253,074

 

 

2018

 

 

125,000

 

 

 -

 

 

 -

 

 

 -

 

 

 

125,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A. Michael Salem, CEO, Director (4)

 

2019

 

$

250,000

 

$

 -

 

$

 -

 

$

 -

 

 

$

250,000

 

 

2018

 

 

125,000

 

 

 -

 

 

 -

 

 

 -

 

 

 

125,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mark A. Oliver, President, Director (3)

 

2019

 

$

250,000

 

$

50,000

 

$

7,300

(6)

$

25,400

(1)

 

$

332,700

 

 

2018

 

 

305,729

 

 

25,000

 

 

 -

 

 

25,250

(1)

 

 

355,979

Name and Principal Position

    

Year

Salary

    

Bonus

Option Awards/
Restricted Stock Options

All Other
Compensation

Total

Georgette Nicholas, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer,
Director(1)

 

2021

$

94,000

$

150,000

(4)

$

73,000

(5)

$

1,000

(6)

$

318,000

2020

Michael Minnich, President, Chief Investment Officer,
Director(2)

 

2021

$

300,000

$

225,000

(4)

$

-

$

11,000

(6)

$

536,000

2020

256,250

250,000

111,285

(5)

16,505

634,040

Richard Vecchiolla, Chief Executive Officer, 1505 Capital

2021

$

335,000

$

273,000

(4)

$

$

15,000

(6)

$

623,000

2020

$

568,343

$

$

$

8,530

(6)

$

576,873

Eric Del Monaco, Chief Risk Officer

2021

$

250,000

$

250,000

$

$

$

500,000

2020

$

250,000

$

41,667

$

113,907

(7)

$

$

405,574

A. Michael Salem, Former Co-Chief Executive Officer, Director(3)

2021

$

267,000

$

240,000

$

$

14,000

(6)

$

521,000

2020

$

256,250

$

250,000

$

111,285

(5)

$

7,987

(6)

$

625,522

(1)

1)

Includes automobile allowance, life insurance policy, reimbursement, and Company contributions to the executive officer’s 401(k).

(2)

In 2018 and 2019, none of the named executive officers received non-equity incentive plan compensation of non-qualified deferred compensation earnings as defined in Item 4.02 of Regulation S-K.

34

(3)

Mr. Oliver servedMs. Nicholas was appointed as our ChairmanChief Executive Officer on November 19, 2021. Prior to this date, Ms. Nicholas was our President and Chief Financial Officer from December 15, 2015September 8, 2021. Ms. Nicholas continues to act as our Interim Chief Financial Officer until April 30, 2019 when we appoint a replacement.

2)Mr. Minnich was elected Executive Chairman.

appointed as our President and CIO on November 22, 2021. Prior to this date, he was our Co-CEO.

(4)

3)

Elected to office April 30, 2019.

On November 19, 2021, Mr. Salem resigned as an employee and director of the Company.

(5)

4)
10,000 paid December 2021. Balance payable March 2022 once approved by the Board.

5)Indicates option awards granted under the 2019 and 2020 Long-Term Incentive Plans.

6)Represents Company contributions to executive officer’s 401(k).

officers’ 401K and reimbursement for health insurance premiums.

(6)

7)

Mr. Oliver was awardedIncludes restricted stock options with respect to purchase 3,000,00018,597 shares of our voting common stock in 2019.  Options vest one-third in 2021 and two-thirds in 2023. Amounts shown represent fair value at date of grant.

stock.

The Company sponsors

We sponsor a 401(k) Plan for all eligible employees who complete one year of employment with the Company.  Pursuantemployees. The Plan was amended in December 2020 to the 401(k) Plan, the company contributesallow for us to contribute 3% of the employee’s salary to the employee’s 401(k). and match up to 4% of the employee contributions up to the maximum allowed by law.

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Long-Term Incentive Plans

Material

We have adopted two equity incentive plans the Midwest Holding Inc. 2019 Long-Term Incentive Plan and the 2020 Long-Term Incentive Plan (collectively, the “Plans”). The 2019 Plan was approved by our stockholders at our annual meeting of stockholders in June 2019. The 2020 Plan was approved by the shareholders at our annual meeting of stockholders in 2021.

The terms of the employment agreements by and between Midwest and its executive officers, including payments to such executive officers at, following, or in connection with their resignation, retirement or other termination, or change in control,Plans are discussed underessentially the heading “Employment Agreements” below.

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End

On July 19,same except the 2019 options to purchase 8,950,000Plan provides that a maximum of 102,000 shares of our voting common stock at $0.05 per share were(“common stock”) may be issued in conjunction with awards granted under the 2019 Plan while the 2020 Plan provides that a maximum of 350,000 shares of our common stock may be issued in conjunction with awards granted under the 2020 Plan. In addition, the 2019 Plan will expire on March 26, 2029, while the 2020 Plan expires on November 16, 2030. However, the terms and conditions of the Plans will continue to apply after the relevant expiration dates to all 2019 and 2020 Plan awards granted prior to relevant expiration date until they are no longer outstanding pursuant to the terms of such awards.

The purposes of the Plans are to create incentives which are designed to motivate participants to put forth maximum effort toward our success and growth and to enable us to attract and retain experienced individuals who, by their position, ability and diligence are able to make important contributions to our officers, directors,success, and employees. thereby to enhance shareholder value.

Under the Plans, we may grant stock options, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, performance units, performance bonuses, stock awards and other incentive awards to our employees or those of our subsidiaries or affiliates. We may also grant nonqualified stock options, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, performance units, stock awards and other incentive awards to any persons rendering consulting or advisory services and non-employee directors.

Executive Outstanding Equity Awards at 2021 Fiscal Year End

The following table sets forth the options granted to its PEO,Georgette Nicholas, and Mike Minnich  and twoone other highest paid executive offices of Midwest. The estimated fair value of those options granted was $0.016 a share.

Option Awards

Name

Option awards

Stock awards

Number of securities underlying unexercised optionsSecurities Underlying Unexercised Options (#)
exercisable
Exercisable

Number of securities underlying unexercised options(#) unexercisable

Equity incentive plan awards: numberIncentive Plan Awards: Number of securities underlying unexercised unearned options(#)Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options(#)

Option exercise price($)

Option expiration date

Number of shares or units of stock that have not vested(#)

Market value of shares or units of stock that have not vested(#)

Equity incentive plan awards: number of unearned shares, units or other rights that have not vested(#)

Equity incentive plan awards: market or payout value of unearned shares, units or other rights that have not vested($)

Michael Minnich

 —

 —

 —74,751(1)

 —

 —$41.25
per share

 —

 —11/16/2030

Georgette Nicholas

30,000(2)
43,000
(2)

$16.37
$41.25
per share

12/22/2031
9/17/2031

A. Michael Salem(3)

 —

 —

 —74,751(3)

 —

 —

 —

 —

 —

Mark A. Oliver

 —

 —

3,000,000(1)

$0.05
41.25
per share

07/17/29

 —

 —

 —

 —11/16/2030

(1)

The options vest in equal installments 60 days after each of the first five anniversaries of the date of grant (11/16/2020), subject to accelerated vesting under certain circumstances.

(2)The 43,000 stock options vest in equal installments 60 days after each of the first seven anniversaries of the date of grant (9/08/2021), subject to accelerated vesting under certain circumstances. The 30,000 will vest in twofive equal installments beginning on November 19, 2022, subject to the terms of the Midwest Holding Inc. 2020 Long-Term Incentive Plan and related stock option agreement and the Reporting Person's continuous employment with one-third on July 17, 2021 and two-thirdsthe Company through the applicable vesting on July 17, 2023.

dates.

(3)Mr. Salem resigned as an employee and director on November 19, 2022. In connection with his resignation, all of his options became fully vested.

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Executive Employment Agreements

Upon ClosingOn September 8, 2021, we entered into an employment agreement with Georgette Nicholas, Chief Executive Officer. On November 16, 2020, we entered into an employment agreement with Michael Minnich, our President. A summary description of the Xenith Agreement, Midwest became party to an amended employment agreement (“Employment Agreement”) with Mark A. Oliver.is set forth below. Among other things, the Employment Agreement provides:employment agreements are “at will” and provide:

1.

a)

that Mr. Oliver is employedMs. Nicholas’s agreement, as anthe Chief Executive Officer of Midwest and as Secretary and Vice Presidentthe Company, is for a three-year term that will be extended automatically for one-year periods beginning on the third anniversary of its subsidiary American Life;

the term unless notice is given by either party;

2.

b)

aMs. Nicholas’ base salary to Mr. Oliver of $250,000$300,000 per year a possibleplus eligibility to receive an annual target bonus in the discretionof 50% of the Boardbase salary, with the annual bonus range from 0% to a maximum of Directors100% of Midwest or American Life;

the base salary, with each bonus to be determined based upon achievements of performance goals established by the compensation committee of our board;

3.

c)
that Mr. Minnich’s agreement, as the President and Chief Investment Officer of the Company, is for a three-year term that will be extended automatically for one-year periods beginning on the third anniversary of the term unless notice is given by either party;

d)Mr. Minnich’s base salary of $300,000 per year plus eligibility to receive an annual target bonus of 75% of the base salary, with the annual bonus range from 0% to a maximum of 150% of the base salary, with each bonus to be determined based upon achievements of performance goals established by the compensation committee of our board;

e)customary benefits including health insurance life insurance, car allowance and other fringe benefits and expense reimbursements;

35

4.

f)
stock options as summarized above under “2020 Long-Term Incentive Plan”;

g)

for termination of the Employment Agreementemployment agreement upon Mr. Oliver’sthe executive’s death, disability or for good cause (as defined therein) in which event he will be entitled only to his base salary and benefits through the date of termination;

5.

h)

for Mr. Oliver’sexecutive’s resignation without good reason (as defined therein) or retirement in which event hethey will be entitled only to histheir base salary and benefits throughfor 12 months after the date of termination;

6.

i)

for Mr. Oliver’sexecutive’s resignation for good reason or upon a change in control of Midwestthe Company (as defined therein) or their employment is terminated other than for death, disability or good cause (each a “Qualifying Termination”) in which event hethey will be entitled to a severance payment equal to sixas follows: (i) if the Qualifying Termination occurs at any time other than in connection with or within a 12-month period following a change in control, they will be paid for 12 months on a quarterly basis the pro rata amount of his base salary;salary and

target bonus for each quarter and all of his stock options and other equity awards will vest in full, and (ii) if the Qualifying Termination occurs within 12 months following a change in control, the executive will be paid a lump sum amount of two times their base salary and target bonus and all stock options and other equity awards will vest in full; and

7.

j)

customary confidentiality, non-compete and other provisions.

On June 28, 2018, uponDirector Compensation

As approved, per the closingrecommendation of the transaction with Xenith Holdings LLC mentioned above, American Life, Midwest’s principal operating subsidiary, entered into employment agreements with Michael Minnich and A. Michael Salem, newly elected Chairman and President of American Life, respectively. The terms and conditions of both agreements are substantiallyCompensation Committee, by the same as described in subparagraphs (1) through (7) above, with respect to Mr. Oliver’s Employment Agreement.Board during its meeting on March 11, 2021:

Director Compensation

Directors who are not employees received $1,000 for each meetingEach non-employee member of the Board shall receive:

An annual retainer of $30,000;

For every committee other than the Audit Committee, each member (other than the Chair) shall receive an additional $2,000 annually and the Chair shall instead receive an additional $4,000 per annum;

62

Table of Directors they attended in person and $350 per meeting they attend via telephone. Directors received an annual retainer of $5,000. Directors also are reimbursed for reasonable expenses related to their personal attendance at meetings. Our Board of Directors reviews director compensation on an annual basis.  Additionally, in 2019, Directors received an award of options.  Options are exercisable at $0.05 per share and vest one third in 2021 and two thirds in 2023.  See Note 12 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.Contents

Each member (other than the Chair) of the Audit Committee shall receive an additional $3,000 annually and the Chair shall instead receive an additional $6,000 per annum;

$30,000 restricted stock units or equivalent equity ownership, with one-year cliff vesting;

A stock ownership guideline of three times the annual cash retainer (i.e., $90,000), with a 100% retention requirement until this threshold is met;

Initially resulting in total annual compensation of $60,000, in addition to committee fees.

The following table sets forth the compensation paid or accrued by Midwestus to itsour directors, other than directors who are also named executive officers, for the last completed fiscal year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(In thousands, except option awards)

Name

    

Year

 

 

Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash

    

 

Option Awards

 

 

Total

    

Year

Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash

    

Restricted Stock Unit Awards(1)

John Hompe

2021

$

58,150

727

Firman Leung

2021

44,500

727

Jack Theeler

 

2019

 

$

9,250

 

 

2,500

 

$

11,750

2021

52,050

727

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve Conner (1)

 

2019

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dana Stapleton

 

2019

 

 

6,350

 

 

2,500

 

 

8,850

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John Hompe

 

2019

 

 

9,250

 

 

2,500

 

 

11,750

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scott Morrison

 

2019

 

 

9,250

 

 

2,500

 

 

11,750

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sachin Goel (2)

 

2019

 

 

1,350

 

 

2,500

 

 

3,850

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Firman Leung

 

2019

 

 

7,350

 

 

2,500

 

 

9,850

Sachin Goel

2021

41,750

727

Douglas Bratton

2021

36,000

727

Nancy Callahan(2)

2021

34,000

727

Diane Davis(2)

2021

35,000

727

(1)

1)

Mr. Conner served until June 2019.

Each outside director received a restricted stock unit awards of 727 shares of our voting common stock. The restricted stock units vest on the earlier of the first anniversary of its date of grant (November 11, 2021) and the next date of the annual meeting of stockholders, subject to the terms of the restricted stock unit agreement and the Long-Term Incentive Plan. Each restricted stock unit represents the contingent right to receive one share of our voting common stock upon vesting.

(2)

2)

Mr. GoelMs. Callahan and Ms. Davis were elected June 2019.

2021.

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.

The following table sets forth all holdings of Common Stockcertain information as of February 1, 2020December 31, 2021 regarding the beneficial ownership of our directorsvoting common stock by (i) each officer and director, and (ii) all of our named executive officers ourand directors and named executive officers as a group, and all persons known by us(iii) each person who we believe to be the beneficial ownersowner of more than five

36

percent5% of our Common Stock.outstanding voting common stock. Unless otherwise noted,indicated, the mailing address of each person or entity named belowbeneficial owner is c/o Midwest Holding, Inc., 2900 South 70th 70th Street, Suite 400, Lincoln, Nebraska 68506.

Voting Common Stock

Name

    

Number of Shares Beneficially Owned

Percentage of Shares Beneficially Owned

Named Executive Officers and Directors:

Georgette Nicholas(1)

*

Michael Minnich(2)

439,796

11.7%

Eric J. Del Monaco(3)

64,155

1.7%

Debra Havranek(4)

1,000

*

Shyamal Somaroo(5)

*

Richard Vecchiolla

*

John T. Hompe(9)

133

*

Firman Leung(6,9)

33

*

Jack Theeler(9)

33

*

Sachin Goel(7,9)

4,477

*

Douglas K. Bratton(8)

444,454

11.9%

Nancy Callahan(10)

*

Diane Davis(10)

*

Named Executive Officers and Directors as a Group

(10 persons):

954,081

25.3%

Beneficial Owners of More than Five Percent:

Crestline Assurance Holding LLC(8)

444,454

11.9%

A. Michael Salem(11)

278,049

7.44%

Knott Partners, L.P.(12)

243,937

6.53%

Wellington Management Group LLP, NA(13)

238,095

6.37%

Wellington Trust Company, National Association Multiple Common trust Funds Trust,

Micro Cap Equity Portfolio(14)

202,600

5.42%

We have determined* Represents beneficial ownership in accordance with the rules of the SEC. Except as indicated by footnotes below, we believe, based on the information furnished to us, that the persons and entities named in the table below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of Common Stock that they beneficially own, subject to applicable community property laws.

In computing the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by a person and the percentage ownership of that person, we deemed outstanding shares of Common Stock which such person has the right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days of February 1, 2020. We, however, did not deem these shares outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. Beneficial ownership representing less than 1% is denoted with an asterisk (*).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Stock

Name

    

Number

 

Percent

Named Executive Officers:

 

 

 

 

Mark A. Oliver

 

251,191

 

*

 

 

 

 

 

Michael Minnich

 

1,000,534,789

 

97.7% (1)

 

 

 

 

 

A. Michael Salem

 

1,000,534,789

 

97.7% (1)

 

 

 

 

 

Todd Boeve

 

40,862

 

*

 

 

 

 

 

Debra Havranek

 

 —

 

*

 

 

 

 

 

Jennifer Hagemann

 

 —

 

*

 

 

 

 

 

Non-Management Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sachin Goel

 

 —

 

*

 

 

 

 

 

John T. Hompe

 

 —

 

*

 

 

 

 

 

Firman Leung

 

 —

 

*

 

 

 

 

 

Scott Morrison

 

5,000

 

*

 

 

 

 

 

Dana Stapleton

 

33,863

 

*

 

 

 

 

 

Jack Theeler

 

54,180

 

*

 

 

 

 

 

Named Executive Officers and Directors as a Group

 

 

 

 

(twelve persons):

 

1,000,919,885

 

97.8%

 

 

 

 

 

Beneficial Owners of More than Five Percent:

 

 

 

 

Xenith Holdings LLC (1)

 

1,000,534,789

 

97.7%

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

1)
Ms. Nicholas has stock options granted of 73,000. None have vested or exercised as of December 31, 2021.

Through their joint control2)

Consists of Vespoint, LLC. Messrs.11,669 shares of voting common stock directly owned by Mr. Minnich and Salem control 100%413,176  shares of the voting rights of Xenith Holdings LLC.

common stock indirectly owned by Rendezvous Capital, LLC, an entity controlled by Mr. Minnich and owned by Mr. Minnich and his spouse. Does not include 74,751 shares underlying outstanding but unvested stock options. Mr. Minnich’s address is 19 Brookridge Dr., Greenwich, CT 06830  

3764

3)Includes 18,597 shares of voting common stock subject to vesting requirements pursuant to a restricted stock award granted to Mr. Del Monaco under the Company’s equity incentive plan.

4)Represents 1,000 shares underlying a vested stock option. Does not include 2,500 shares underlying outstanding but unvested stock options.

5)Does not include 4,200 shares underlying outstanding but unvested stock options.

6)Mr. Leung’s address is 241 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024

7)Held by the Goel Family LTD Partnership II, a family investment partnership, in which Mr. Goel’s father is the general partner and Mr. Goel is one of three limited partners.

8)The following information was obtained from a Schedule 13D filed by Douglas K. Bratton, Crestline Investors, Inc., Crestline Management, L.P. and Crestline Assurance Holdings LLC with the SEC on May 4, 2020. These securities are held directly by Crestline Assurance Holdings LLC (“Crestline”). The Manager of Crestline is Douglas K. Bratton and the sole member of Crestline is Crestline Management, L.P. (“Crestline Management”). Crestline Investors, Inc. (“Crestline Investors”) is the general partner of Crestline Management. Douglas K. Bratton is the sole director of Crestline Investors. Mr. Bratton has voting and investment power over all securities held by Crestline, except for, with respect to voting power, the 175,030 shares of voting common stock covered by the proxy granted to Vespoint LLC pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement described under “Certain Shareholder Relationships and Related Transactions” below. Crestline Management, Crestline Investors and Mr. Bratton may each be deemed to beneficially own the securities held by Crestline. Therefore, Crestline, Crestline Management, Crestline Investors and Mr. Bratton share the power to (i) vote and direct the vote of 269,414 shares of our voting common stock beneficially owned by Crestline and (ii) dispose of and direct the disposition of the 444,444 shares of voting common stock beneficially owned by Crestline. Mr. Bratton is a member of our board of directors. The address of Crestline is 201 Main Street, Suite 1900, Fort Worth, Texas 76102.

9)Does not include 67 shares underlying outstanding but unvested stock options and 727 shares underlying outstanding but unvested restricted stock units.

10)Does not include 727 shares underlying outstanding but unvested restricted stock units.

11)Consists of 203,298 shares of voting common stock indirectly owned through AMS Advisors, LLC an entity which Mr. Salem controls and owns. Mr. Salem’s and AMS Advisors, LLC’s address is 1075 Old Post Road, Bedford, New York 10507. Also includes 74,751 shares underlying vested outstanding stock options at $41.25 per share.

12)As reported in Amendment No. 1 to Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 11, 2022. The address of the filer is 485 Underhill Boulevard, Suite 205, Syosset, New York 11791.

13)As reported in Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 4, 2022. The address of the filer is c/o Wellington Management Company LLP, 280 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210.

14)As reported in Amendment No. 1 to Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 4, 2022. The address of the filer is c/o Wellington Management Company LLP, 280 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE.

These pastXenith  

On June 28, 2018, we underwent a change in control as a result of the closing of the Xenith Agreement. On June 18, 2019, Xenith converted preferred stock and present relationshipsloans of $20,600,000 into 2,001,070 shares of our voting common stock. Xenith is a controlled subsidiary of Vespoint, which is also the manager of Xenith. In August 2020, shares of our voting common stock owned by Xenith were distributed to its members, including Vespoint. Vespoint is owned and managed by AMS Advisors LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“AMS”), and Rendezvous Capital LLC, a New York limited liability company (“Rendezvous”). On November 10, 2020, shares of

65

our voting common stock owned by Vespoint were distributed to its members, including AMS and Rendezvous. Rendezvous is a private investment company controlled by Michael Minnich.

Crestline

On April 24, 2020, we entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Crestline Agreement”) with similar businesses could result inXenith, Vespoint and Crestline. Pursuant to the Crestline Agreement, Crestline purchased 444,444 shares of our voting common stock, at a potential conflictpurchase price of interest should Midwest decide to offer$22.50 per share for $10.0 million. In connection with the Crestline Agreement, on April 24, 2020, we entered into a stockholders agreement (the “Stockholders Agreement”) with Xenith, Vespoint, Michael Minnich (“Minnich”), A. Michael Salem (“Salem”) and Crestline.

We also entered into a customary director’s indemnification agreement with Douglas K. Bratton, a principal of Crestline, who, at the closing of the Agreement, was appointed as a director of both our board of directors and the board of directors of our life insurance products insubsidiary, American Life.

Among other things, the Stockholders Agreement provides:

Constituency and election to our board. As long as Crestline and its affiliates own at least 10% of our outstanding voting common stock, Vespoint, Xenith and Mr. Minnich and his affiliates (the “Vespoint Stockholders”) have agreed to vote their Company shares for one Crestline representative on our board of directors and, subject to reasonable committee member suitability standards and applicable regulatory qualification requirements, any committee thereof, with board of directors observer rights provided for an additional Crestline representative, and we appointed one Crestline designated member and a Crestline selected observer to the board of directors of American Life. Crestline agreed, so long as it and its affiliates own at least 10% of our outstanding voting common stock, to vote its shares for the election of Mr. Minnich to our board of directors as long as he separately owns at least 3% of the states inoutstanding shares of our voting common stock and is an executive officer of the Company.

Proxy. Crestline currently owns 444,444 shares of our voting common stock (the “Crestline Owned Shares”), which these companies do businessrepresent approximately 11.9% of our outstanding shares of voting common stock. However, Crestline has only full investment and voting authority with respect to the proportion of the Crestline Owned Shares which represent 9.9% of our outstanding voting common stock (the “Voting Threshold”). While Crestline currently holds the Crestline Owned Shares above the Voting Threshold as an economic investment, all voting authority with respect to such shares has been delegated to Vespoint under a voting proxy (the “Proxy”) granted to such entity pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement. As of November 16, 2020, 74,000 Crestline Owned Shares are subject to the Proxy.

This proxy will automatically terminate upon (a) receipt of Form A approval from the NDOI permitting Crestline to exercise full investment and voting authority with respect to all Crestline Owned Shares above the Voting Threshold or (b) the sale or transfer of Proxy Shares by Crestline to a third-party, but any such termination will be only with respect to the Proxy Shares.

Preemptive and First Rights of Refusal. For a period of three years following the date of the Stockholders Agreement, (i) the Company granted Crestline a pro rata preemptive right to purchase equity securities the Company may issue, (ii) Crestline granted us a right of first refusal to purchase our voting common stock owned by Crestline (including shares it may subsequently acquire) that it may offer to sell, and (iii) the Vespoint Stockholders granted Crestline a right of first refusal to purchase their shares of voting common stock they currently own or subsequently acquire that they may offer to sell.

Co-Sale Rights. For the earlier of (i) ten years following April 24, 2020 or (ii) the date on which Crestline and its affiliates own less than 5% of the outstanding shares of voting common stock of the Company, the Vespoint Stockholders granted Crestline a right of co-sale with respect to the Company shares they currently own or subsequently acquire. Pursuant to the provision, if a Vespoint Stockholder desires to transfer or sell shares to a third-party and to the extent such shares have not been purchased by Crestline pursuant to the right of first refusal described above but subject to the conditions indicated below, then Crestline has the right, on a pro rata basis, to participate in the transfer or sale on the same terms and conditions as being offered to a Vespoint Stockholder. However, Crestline may only exercise its co-sale right if (i) the amount of shares to be transferred or sold by the Vespoint Stockholder is equal to or exceeds, together with all sales of our shares sold by such stockholder within the preceding three months of the date of such proposed transfer, 1% of the total outstanding shares of our voting common stock (which shall be increased to 3% of the total outstanding voting common stock in the event that we consummate a relationshipfirm commitment underwritten public offering of our common stock which nets at least $15 million of proceeds to us) and (ii) our voting common stock is listed for trading on the NYSE or the Nasdaq Capital Market. Completion of this offering will trigger the increase from 1% to 3%.

66

Registration Rights. We granted customary demand and piggyback registration rights to Crestline and the Vespoint Stockholders to register future public sales of their voting common stock subject to certain terms and conditions.

Master Agreement. On July 27, 2020, American Life entered into a reinsurance agreement (the “Reinsurance Agreement”) with SRC2, a protective cell of Seneca Re that was capitalized by Crestline.

The Reinsurance Agreement, which was effective as of April 24, 2020, was entered into pursuant to a three-year Master Letter Agreement (the “Master Agreement”) dated and effective as of April 24, 2020, among American Life, Seneca Re and Crestline. The purpose of the Reinsurance Agreement is to support American Life’s new business production by providing reinsurance capacity for American Life to write MYGA and FIA products. Concurrently with the other companies is on-going. Reinsurance Agreement:

American Life and SRC2 each entered into investment management agreements with Crestline, pursuant to which Crestline manages the assets that support the reinsured business; and

American Life and SRC2 entered into a trust agreement whereby SRC2 maintains for American Life’s benefit a trust account that supports the reinsured business.

In addition, a potential conflict of interest could arise if any of those companies chose to do business in Nebraskapursuant to the extent thatMaster Agreement, the parties agreed to enter into a relationshipseparate agreement whereby, among other things and subject to certain conditions, American Life will agree to reinsure additional new business production to one or more reinsurers formed and/or capitalized by Crestline, Midwest or an appropriate affiliate will refer potential advisory clients to Crestline, and American Life will consider investing in certain assets originated or sourced by Crestline. Through December 31, 2021, American Life had ceded $273.7 million, inception to date, face amount of annuities to CL Re and/or its successor (which was funded with $40 million in capital by Crestline). American Life received ceding fees under SAP of $12.9 million and expense reimbursements under SAP of $24.6 million in connection with these reinsurance transactions during the other companies is on-going. For that reason, any decision relating to such business will be made byyear ended December 31, 2021. Effective December 8, 2020, American Life entered into a novation agreement with SRC2 and Crestline Re SPC, an exempted segregated portfolio company incorporated under the disinterested memberslaws of the BoardCayman Islands, for and on behalf of DirectorsCrestline SP1, a segregated portfolio company of Crestline Re SPC, under which the above described reinsurance, trust and any member of the Board having an interest in another company will recuse himself or herself from voting or discussing the matter.related asset management agreements were novated and replaced with substantially similar agreements entered into by American Life and Crestline SP1.

Director Independence

See Item 1 – Business – Changes in Control in 2018 and Adoption of New Business Plan10 above for information concerning the transactions that resulted in our Chairman and CEO and a company controlled by them acquiring a controlling interest in Midwest.Director independence.

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTINGACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

The principal independent registered public accounting firm utilized by Midwest during 20182021 and 2020 was RSM US LLP ("RSM", formerly "McGladrey"). RSM had served as our independent registered public accounting firm since December, 2009.  They were replaced in 2019 by Mazars USA LLP (“Mazars”). Midwest has signed engagement letters with Mazars outlining the expenses for both the audit work and the tax compliance services were approved by Midwest’s board of directors.

The aggregate fees billed by RSM and Mazars to Midwest for the fiscal years ended December 31, 20192021 and 20182020 were as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mazars

 

RSM

    

Fiscal 2019

    

Fiscal 2018

    

Fiscal 2021

    

Fiscal 2020

Audit Fees(1)

 

$

220,000

 

$

301,665

$

432,781

 

$

436,998

 

 

 

 

 

 

Audit-Related Fees(2)

 

 

8,671

 

 

 —

 

62,449

 

92,818

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tax Fees(3)

 

 

30,000

 

 

23,500

 

72,235

 

45,510

 

 

 

 

 

 

All Other Fees(4)

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

258,671

 

$

325,165

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

567,465

 

$

575,326

(1)

1)

Represents the aggregate fees billed and expenses for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for the audit of our annual financial statements and review of financial statements included in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and services that are normally provided by an independent registered public accounting firm in connection with statutory or regulatory filings or engagements for those fiscal years.

67

(2)

2)

Represents the aggregate fees billed for assurance and related services by the principal accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements and are not reported under "audit fees."

(3)

3)

Represents the aggregate fees billed for professional services provided by the principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning.

68

(4)

Represents the aggregate fees billed for products and services provided by the principal accountant, other than audit fees, audit-related fees and tax fees.

PART IV.

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.

(a)   1. Consolidated Financial Statements:

The list of financial statements filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10‑K10-K is provided on page F‑1.F-1.

2. Financial Statement Schedules:

38

The list of financial statement schedules filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10‑K10-K is provided on page FS‑1.FS-1.

(b)   Exhibits:

Exhibit No.

Description

EXHIBIT
NUMBER3.1

DESCRIPTION

3.1

Amended and Restated ArticlesCertificate of Incorporation dated March 29, 2010August 17, 2020 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Form 10 Registration Statement,8-K filed December 12, 2011.August 21, 2020.)

3.2

Articles of Amendment to the

Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, dated May 6, 2010. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Form 10 Registration Statement, filed December 12, 2011.)

3.3

Amended and Restated Bylaws. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Company’s Form 10 Registration Statement, filed December 12, 2011.)

3.4

Articles of Amendment to the amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Midwest Holding Inc.Bylaws (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Form 8‑K,8-K filed May 15, 2014.November 18, 2020.)

3.5

3.3

American Life & Security Corp. State of Nebraska Department of Insurance Amended Certificate of Authority, issued August 3, 2011. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to the Company’s Amendment No. 2 to Form 10 Registration Statement, filed March 20, 2012.)

3.6

3.4

Articles

Plan of Amendment toDomestication (as filed with the Amended and Restated ArticlesNebraska Secretary of Incorporation of Midwest Holding Inc.State) (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.6 to the Company’s Form 8‑K, filed July 3, 2018.

3.7

Articles of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Midwest Holding Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.62.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K, filed July 3,2018.on August 21, 2020.)

4.1*3.5

DescriptionArticles of securitiesCharter Surrender (as filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State) (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Company’s Form 8-K, filed on August 21, 2020.)

10.1

3.6

Certificate of Conversion (as filed with the Delaware Secretary of State) (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to the Company’s Form 8-K, filed on August 21, 2020.)

4.1

Specimen Stock Certificate evidencing the shares of voting common stock (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on November 3, 2020.)

10.1

Coinsurance Agreement  American Life & Security Corporation and US Alliance Life and Security Company dated September 30, 2017 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8‑K,8-K, filed October 6, 2017.)

10.2

Consulting and Advisory Agreement, dated September 1, 2009, by and between Midwest Holding Inc. and Bison Capital Corp. (f/K Corporate Development Inc.). (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Form 10 Registration Statement, filed December 12, 2011.)

10.3

Automatic Reinsurance Agreement, dated August 1, 2009, by and between American Life & Security Corp. and Optimum Re Insurance Company. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company’s Form 10 Registration Statement, filed December 12, 2011.)

10.4

Amendment Number One to Automatic Reinsurance Agreement, dated August 1, 2009, by and between American Life & Security Corp. and Optimum Re Insurance Company. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Company’s Form 10 Registration Statement, filed December 12, 2011.)

10.5

Amendment Number Two to Automatic Reinsurance Agreement, dated August 1, 2009, by and between American Life & Security Corp. and Optimum Re Insurance Company. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Company’s Form 10 Registration Statement, filed December 12, 2011.)

10.6

Bulk Reinsurance Agreement, dated September 1, 2009, by and between American Life & Security Corp. and Optimum Re Insurance Company. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Company’s Form 10 Registration Statement, filed December 12, 2011.)

10.7

Amendment to all Reinsurance Agreements, dated August 4, 2011, by and between American Life & Security Corp. and Optimum Re Insurance Company. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Company’s Form 10 Registration Statement, filed December 12, 2011.)

10.8

Automatic Reinsurance Agreement, dated August 1, 2009, by and between American Life & Security Corp. and Investors Heritage Life Insurance Company. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the Company’s Form 10 Registration Statement, filed December 12, 2011.)

10.9

Reinsurance Agreement, dated January 1, 2010, by and between American Life and Security National Life Insurance Company. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Company’s Form 10 Registration Statement, filed December 12, 2011.)

10.10

Master Reinsurance Agreement, dated December 20, 1999, by and between Old Reliance Insurance Company (now American Life & Security) and American Founders Life Insurance Company. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the Company’s Amendment No. 1 to Form 10 Registration Statement, filed February 3, 2012.)

39

EXHIBIT
NUMBER10.3

DESCRIPTION

10.11

Amendment Number One to Master Reinsurance Agreement, dated December 20, 1999, by and between Old Reliance Insurance Company (now American Life & Security) and American Founders Life Insurance Company. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to the Company’s Amendment No. 1 to Form 10 Registration Statement, filed February 3, 2012.)

10.12

10.4

Reinsurance Agreement Number One, dated December 31, 1999, by and between Old Reliance Insurance Company (now American Life & Security) and American Founders Life Insurance Company. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to the Company’s Amendment No. 1 to Form 10 Registration Statement, filed February 3, 2012.)

10.13

10.5

Amendment Number One to Reinsurance Agreement Number One, dated December 31, 1999, by and between Old Reliance Insurance Company (now American Life & Security) and American Founders Life Insurance Company. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to the Company’s Amendment No. 1 to Form 10 Registration Statement, filed February 3, 2012.)

10.14

10.6

Master Reinsurance Agreement, dated April 1, 2000, by and between Old Reliance Insurance Company (now American Life & Security) and American Founders Life Insurance Company. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to the Company’s Amendment No. 1 to Form 10 Registration Statement, filed February 3, 2012.)

10.15

Loan, Convertible Preferred Stock and Convertible Senior Secured Note Purchase Agreement between Midwest Holding Inc. and Xenith Holdings LLC dated May 9, 2018. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8‑K, filed May 14, 2018.)

10.16

Amended and Restated Employment Agreement among Mark A. Oliver, Midwest Holding, Inc. and American Life and Security Corp. dated June 28, 2018. (Incorporated by reference to

69

Exhibit 10.13 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8‑K, filed July 3, 2018.)No.

Description

10.17

10.7

Employment Agreement dated June 28, 2018 by and between A. Michael Salem and American Life and Security Corp. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8‑K, filed July 3, 2018.)

10.18

Employment Agreement dated June 28, 2018 by and between Michael Minnich and American Life and Security Corp. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8‑K, filed July 3, 2018.)

10.19

Assumption and Indemnity Reinsurance Agreement - American Life & Security Corporation and Unified Life Insurance Company dated November 30, 2018 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8‑K,8-K, filed December 6, 2018.)

10.20

10.8

Midwest Holding Inc. 2019 Long-Term Incentive Plan dated June 11, 2019 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8‑K, filed June 17, 2019.)

10.21

Funds Withheld Coinsurance and Modified Coinsurance Agreement between Ironbound Reinsurance Company Limited and American Life & Security Corp dated July 31, 2019 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8‑K,8-K, filed on August 8,7, 2019.)

10.9

14.1

CodeFunds Withheld and Funds Paid Coinsurance Agreement (MYGA and FIA Business) between US Alliance Life and Security Company and American Life & Security Corp., effective as of EthicsJanuary 1, 2020 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 14.110.1 to the Company’s Form 10‑K,8-K, filed on April 2, 2012.21, 2020.)

10.10

Securities Purchase Agreement dated April 24, 2020 by and among Midwest Holding Inc., Xenith Holdings LLC, Vespoint LLC and Crestline Assurance Holdings LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K, filed on April 24, 2020.)

10.11

Indemnification Agreement dated April 24, 2020 by and between Midwest Holding Inc. and Douglas K. Bratton (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K, filed on April 24, 2020.)

10.12

Stockholders Agreement dated April 24, 2020 between and among Midwest Holding Inc., Crestline Assurance Holdings LLC, Xenith Holdings LLC, Vespoint LLC, Michael Minnich and A. Michael Salem (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Form 8-K, filed on April 24, 2020.)

10.13

Funds Withheld and Modified Coinsurance Agreement between SDA Annuity & Life Re and American Life & Security Corp. effective as of September 30, 2019 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 10-Q, filed on May 14, 2020.)

10.14

Unit Purchase Agreement by and among the Company, Aurora Financial Services, a Delaware corporation (the “Seller”) and 1505 Capital LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“1505 Capital”) effective as of June 12, 2020 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K, filed on June 17, 2020.)

10.15†

Employment Agreement made and entered into, effective as of the 1st day of January, 2020, by and between Richard Vecchiolla and Midwest Holding Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K, filed on June 17, 2020.)

10.16

Master Letter Agreement among American Life & Security Corp., Seneca Reinsurance Company, LLC and Crestline Management, L.P. effective as of April 24, 2020 and Appendices (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K, filed on August 3, 2020.)

10.17†

Employment Agreement made and entered into on November 16, 2020 by and between Michael Minnich and Midwest Holding Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K, filed on November 18, 2020.)

10.18†

Midwest Holding Inc. 2019 Long-Term Incentive Plan dated June 11, 2019 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K, filed June 17, 2019.)

10.19†

2020 Long-Term Incentive Plan dated as of November 16, 2020 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Form 8-K, filed on November 18, 2020.)

10.20

Novation Agreement by and among American Life & Security Corp., Seneca Incorporated Cell, LLC 2020-02 (“SRC2”), and Crestline Re SPC, dated as of December 8, 2020. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on December 14, 2020.)

10.21

Amended and Restated Funds Withheld Coinsurance and Modified Coinsurance Agreement (MYGA and FIA Business) between Crestline Re SPC, for and on behalf of Crestline Re SP1 and American Life & Security Corp. dated December 8, 2020. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K/A filed on February 5, 2021.)

10.22

Amended and Restated Trust Agreement dated December 8, 2020, among Crestline Re SPC, for and on behalf of Crestline Re SP1, American Life & Security Corp. and U.S. Bank, National Association. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Form 8-K/A filed on February 5, 2021.)

10.23

Amended and Restated Investment Management Agreement dated December 8, 2020 (Modco and Funds Withheld Account). (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Form 8-K/A filed on February 5, 2021.)

70

Exhibit No.

Description

10.24†

Severance Agreement and Release between Midwest Holding Inc. and A. Michael Salem dated December 17, 2021 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 23, 2021.)

10.25†

Amended and Restated Executive Employment Agreement dated December 22, 2021 by and between Midwest Holding Inc. and Georgette C. Nicholas (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 23, 2021.)

14.1*

Code of Ethics.

15.1*

Conflicts of Interest

21.1*

List of Subsidiaries.

24

Power of Attorney (see Signature Page to this Report on Form 10-K.)

31.1*

Certification of Principal Executive OfficerOfficers pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2*

Certification of Principal Accounting Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.1*

Certification of Principal Executive OfficerOfficers pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.2*

Certification of Principal Accounting Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

101.INS **

Inline XBRL Instance Document.

101.SCH **

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.

101.CAL **

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.

101.LAB **

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.

101.PRE **

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.

101.DEF **

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.

104

Cover Page Interactive Data File. Formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101.

40


*  Filed herewith.

† Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

ITEM 16. Form 10‑K10-K Summary.

None.

SIGNATURES71

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Dated: March 12, 202024, 2022

MIDWEST HOLDING INC.

 

By: 

/s/ A. Michael SalemGeorgette Nicholas

Name:

A. Michael SalemGeorgette Nicholas

Title:

Chief Executive Officer,

(Principal Executive Officer)Chief Financial Officer

We, the undersigned, hereby severally constitute and appoint Georgette Nicholas, our true and lawful attorney with full power to sign for us, and in our names in the capacities indicated below, any and all amendments to the annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming her signature as she may be signed by our said attorney to any and all amendments to said Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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

Signature

Title

Date

Signature

Title

Date

/s/ Mike MinnichGeorgette Nicholas

Chairman of the BoardChief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer,

March 12, 202024, 2022

Mike MinnichGeorgette Nicholas

Director (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ A. Michael SalemMinnich

President and Chief Investment Officer, Director

March 12, 202024, 2022

A. Michael SalemMinnich

Chief Executive Officer;(President)

(Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Mark OliverDebra Havranek

DirectorChief Accounting Officer

March 12, 202024, 2022

Mark OliverDebra Havranek

Presidentand Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ Scott Morrison

Director

March 12, 2020

Scott Morrison

/s/ Firman Leung

Director

March 12, 2020

Firman Leung

/s/ John T. Hompe

Director and Independent Board Chair

March 12, 202024, 2022

John T. Hompe

/s/ Sachin Goel Firman Leung

Director

March 12, 202024, 2022

Sachin GoelFirman Leung

/s/ Jack Theeler

Director

March 12, 202024, 2022

Jack Theeler

41

/s/ Dana StapletonSachin Goel

Director

March 12, 202024, 2022

Dana StapletonSachin Goel

/s/ Douglas K Bratton

Director

March 24, 2022

Douglas K Bratton

/s/Nancy Callahan

Director

March 24, 2022

Nancy Callahan

/s/Diane Davis

Director

March 24, 2022

Diane Davis

4272

F-1

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of Midwest Holding Inc.

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheetsheets of Midwest Holding Inc. and Subsidiaries  (collectively, the “Company”) as of December 31, 2019,2021 and 2020, the related consolidated statements of comprehensive loss, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the year thentwo years in the period ended December 31, 2021, and the related notes and the schedules (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2019,2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the year thentwo years in the period ended December 31, 2021, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our auditaudits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our auditaudits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our auditaudits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matter

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

Valuation of embedded derivatives of fixed indexed annuities

As described in Notes 1 and 5 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company issues fixed indexed annuity products that contain embedded derivatives, valued at $123.7 million as of December 31, 2021. Fixed indexed annuity contracts allow the policyholder to elect a fixed interest rate return or an equity market component for which interest credited is based on the performance of certain stock market indices. The equity market option is an embedded derivative. The fair value of the embedded derivatives is computed as the present value of death, surrender and partial withdrawal benefits attributable to the excess of the projected policy contract values over the projected minimum guaranteed contract values. The projections of policy contract values are based on assumptions for future policy growth, which included assumptions for expected index credits on the next policy anniversary date, future equity option cost developed based on the participation rate, cap rate, strike rate,  volatility assumption, time to expiration, and risk-free rates using the Black Scholes

F-2

formula and grow at the risk-free interest rates over the term of the index period, guaranteed minimum renewal interest rate, and policyholder assumptions including mortality, lapses, partial withdrawal rates, and the utilization of benefit riders.

The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to the valuation of embedded derivatives of fixed indexed annuities is a critical audit matter are (i) the significant judgment by management in estimating the fair value of embedded derivatives, specifically the significant policyholder behavior assumptions related to deaths, lapses, partial withdrawals, and the utilization of benefit riders, which in turn led to a high degree of auditor judgment, subjectivity and effort in evaluating the audit evidence relating to the significant assumptions, and (ii) the audit effort involved the use of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge.

Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included, among others, testing the completeness and accuracy of key data underlying the development of the significant assumptions, and the involvement of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge to assist in testing management’s process for determining the valuation of embedded derivatives for fixed indexed annuities, which included (i) evaluating the appropriateness of the methods used in the valuation of the embedded derivatives of fixed indexed annuities, and (ii) evaluating the reasonableness of management’s significant assumptions of policyholder behavior assumptions related to deaths, lapses, partial withdrawals, and the use of benefit riders.

/s/ Mazars USA LLP

We have served as the Company’s auditor since May 2019.

Fort Washington, Pennsylvania

March 12, 202024, 2022

F-2

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors

Midwest Holding Inc.

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Midwest Holding Inc. and its subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2018, the related consolidated statements of comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the year then ended, and the related notes to the consolidated financial statements and schedules (collectively, the financial statements). In our opinion, before the effects of the adjustments to retrospectively apply the change in accounting described in Notes 2 and 15, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2018, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.  The 2018 financial statements before the effects of the adjustments discussed in Notes 2 and 15 are not presented herein.

Change in Accounting

We were not engaged to audit the adjustments to retrospectively apply the change in accounting described in Notes 2 and 15 to the financial statements, and accordingly, we do not express an opinion or any other form of assurance about whether such adjustments are appropriate and have been properly applied.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ RSM US LLP

We served as the Company’s auditor from 2010 to 2018.

Omaha, Nebraska

April 30, 2019

F-3

Midwest Holding Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

December 31, 20192021 and 20182020

    

December 31, 2021

    

December 31, 2020

(In thousands, except share information)

Assets

 

  

 

  

Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value
(amortized cost: $679,921 and $369,156, respectively) (See Note 4)

$

683,296

$

377,163

Mortgage loans on real estate, held for investment

 

183,203

 

94,990

Derivative instruments (See Note 5)

23,022

11,361

Equity securities, at fair value (cost: $22,158 in 2021 and 0 in 2020)

21,869

Other invested assets

35,293

21,897

Investment escrow

3,611

3,174

Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) stock

500

Preferred stock

18,686

3,898

Notes receivable

5,960

5,666

Policy loans

 

87

 

46

Total investments

 

975,527

 

518,195

Cash and cash equivalents

 

142,013

 

151,679

Deferred acquisition costs, net

24,530

13,456

Premiums receivable

354

314

Accrued investment income

13,623

6,807

Reinsurance recoverables (See Note 9)

38,579

32,146

Intangible assets

 

700

 

700

Property and equipment, net

 

386

 

104

Operating lease right of use assets

2,360

348

Receivable for securities sold

19,732

Other assets

 

2,113

 

1,533

Assets associated with business held for sale (See Note 2)

 

 

1,119

Total assets

$

1,219,917

$

726,401

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

 

  

 

  

Liabilities:

 

  

 

  

Benefit reserves

$

12,941

$

12,776

Policy claims

 

237

 

162

Deposit-type contracts (See note 11)

 

1,075,439

 

597,868

Advance premiums

 

1

 

2

Deferred gain on coinsurance transactions

 

28,589

 

18,199

Lease liabilities (See Note 13):

Operating lease

2,364

397

Payable for securities purchased

5,546

Other liabilities

9,044

9,553

Liabilities associated with business held for sale (See Note 2)

 

 

1,114

Total liabilities

 

1,134,161

 

640,071

Contingencies and Commitments (See Note 12)

 

  

 

  

Stockholders’ Equity:

 

 

Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; authorized 2,000,000 shares; 0 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2021 or December 31, 2020

 

 

Voting common stock, $0.001 par value; authorized 20,000,000 shares; 3,737,564 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively; non-voting common stock, $0.001 par value, 2,000,000 shares authorized; 0 shares issued and outstanding December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively

 

4

 

4

Additional paid-in capital

 

138,452

 

133,592

Treasury stock

(175)

(175)

Accumulated deficit

 

(70,159)

 

(53,522)

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

2,634

 

6,431

Total Midwest Holding Inc.'s stockholders' equity

70,756

86,330

Noncontrolling interests

15,000

Total stockholders' equity

 

85,756

 

86,330

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$

1,219,917

$

726,401

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

December 31, 2019

    

December 31, 2018

Assets

 

 

  

 

 

  

Investments, available for sale, at fair value fixed maturities
(amortized cost: $116,676,312 and $19,226,841, respectively) (see Note 6)

 

$

117,241,861

 

$

17,384,183

Mortgage loans on real estate, held for investment

 

 

13,810,041

 

 

 —

Derivatives

 

 

575,294

 

 

 —

Other invested assets

 

 

2,468,947

 

 

 —

Investment escrow

 

 

3,899,986

 

 

 —

Preferred stock

 

 

500,000

 

 

 —

Policy loans

 

 

106,014

 

 

43,843

Total investments

 

 

138,602,143

 

 

17,428,026

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

43,716,205

 

 

2,832,567

Premiums receivable

 

 

355,959

 

 

346,870

Accrued investment income

 

 

1,511,200

 

 

200,708

Reinsurance recoverables (Note 10)

 

 

30,579,524

 

 

23,100,644

Intangible assets

 

 

700,000

 

 

700,000

Property and equipment, net

 

 

85,395

 

 

91,414

Operating lease right of use assets

 

 

470,132

 

 

592,065

Other assets

 

 

241,580

 

 

261,884

Assets associated with business held for sale (see Note 4)

 

 

3,653,748

 

 

20,937,071

Total assets

 

$

219,915,886

 

$

66,491,249

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

 

 

  

 

 

  

Liabilities:

 

 

  

 

 

  

Benefit reserves

 

$

16,319,912

 

$

16,012,655

Policy claims

 

 

225,228

 

 

270,785

Deposit-type contracts

 

 

171,168,785

 

 

7,234,927

Advance premiums

 

 

261

 

 

490

Long-term debt

 

 

 —

 

 

18,938,705

Deferred gain on coinsurance transactions

 

 

7,578,195

 

 

3,899,999

Lease liabilities (See Note 15):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finance lease

 

 

1,860

 

 

9,299

Operating lease

 

 

524,248

 

 

646,519

Other liabilities

 

 

6,291,782

 

 

1,062,087

Liabilities associated with business held for sale (see Note 4)

 

 

3,646,867

 

 

21,052,733

Total liabilities

 

 

205,757,138

 

 

69,128,199

Commitments and Contingencies (See Note 14)

 

 

  

 

 

  

Mezzanine Equity:

 

 

  

 

 

  

Preferred stock, Series C, $0.001 par value; authorized 1,500,000 shares; none issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and 1,500,000 as of December 31, 2018

 

 

 —

 

 

1,500,000

Stockholders’ Equity:

 

 

 

 

 

  

Common stock, $0.001 par value; authorized 1,970,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 1,023,408,553 as of December 31, 2019 and 22,873,764 as of December 31, 2018.

 

 

1,023,409

 

 

22,874

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

53,472,988

 

 

33,006,242

Accumulated deficit

 

 

(41,081,710)

 

 

(35,348,052)

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

 

 

619,584

 

 

(1,818,014)

Total Midwest Holding Inc.'s stockholders' equity (deficit)

 

 

14,034,271

 

 

(4,136,950)

Noncontrolling interest

 

 

124,477

 

 

 —

Total stockholders' equity (deficit)

 

 

14,158,748

 

 

(4,136,950)

Total liabilities, mezzanine,  and stockholders' equity

 

$

219,915,886

 

$

66,491,249

F-4

Midwest Holding Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss

Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

Year ended December 31, 

(In thousands, except per share data)

    

2021

    

2020

Revenues

  

 

  

Investment income, net of expenses

$

15,737

$

4,047

Net realized gain on investments (See Note 4)

 

7,752

 

2,550

Amortization of deferred gain on reinsurance transactions

3,022

1,836

Service fee revenue, net of expenses

2,343

1,960

Other revenue

 

1,209

 

189

Total revenue

 

30,063

 

10,582

Expenses

 

  

 

  

Interest credited

 

7,012

4,225

Benefits

6

(5)

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs

 

2,886

 

670

Salaries and benefits

 

16,926

 

6,347

Other operating expenses

 

15,104

 

10,200

Total expenses

 

41,934

 

21,437

Loss from continuing operations before taxes

 

(11,871)

 

(10,855)

Income tax expense (See Note 8)

 

(4,766)

 

(1,585)

Net loss attributable to Midwest Holding, Inc.

(16,637)

(12,440)

Comprehensive income (loss):

 

  

 

  

Unrealized gains on investments arising during the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, net of offsets, (net of tax ($378) and $1.7 million, respectively)

 

(1,422)

 

7,398

Unrealized losses on foreign currency

(146)

Less: Reclassification adjustment for net realized gains on investments, net of offsets (net of tax $631 and $383, respectively)

 

(2,375)

 

(1,441)

Other comprehensive (loss) income

 

(3,797)

 

5,811

Comprehensive loss

$

(20,434)

$

(6,629)

Loss per common share

Basic

$

(4.45)

$

(4.88)

Diluted

$

(4.45)

$

(4.42)

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

F-4F-5

Midwest Holding Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive LossStockholders’ Equity

Years Ended December 31, 20192021 and 20182020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31, 

 

 

2019

    

2018

Revenues

 

 

  

 

 

  

Insurance premiums

 

$

(152)

 

$

135,387

Investment income, net of expenses

 

 

120,581

 

 

515,888

Net realized gains on investments

 

 

353,602

 

 

47,824

Amortization of deferred gain on reinsurance

 

 

2,643,801

 

 

117,871

Miscellaneous income

 

 

281,956

 

 

58,842

Total revenues

 

 

3,399,788

 

 

875,812

Expenses:

 

 

  

 

 

  

Death and other benefits

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest credited

 

 

6,584

 

 

47,936

Benefits

 

 

34,436

 

 

93,646

Increase in benefit reserves

 

 

34,500

 

 

(27,121)

Salaries and benefits

 

 

2,701,314

 

 

2,160,853

Other operating expenses

 

 

5,997,955

 

 

3,637,748

Total expenses

 

 

8,774,789

 

 

5,913,062

Loss from continuing operations before taxes

 

 

(5,375,001)

 

 

(5,037,250)

Federal income tax

 

 

(234,180)

 

 

 —

Loss from continuing operations

 

 

(5,609,181)

 

 

(5,037,250)

Loss from discontinued operations

 

 

 —

 

 

(28,284)

Net loss

 

 

(5,609,181)

 

 

(5,065,534)

Less: Gain attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

(124,477)

 

 

 —

Net loss attributable to Midwest Holding Inc.

 

 

(5,733,658)

 

 

(5,065,534)

Comprehensive loss:

 

 

  

 

 

  

Unrealized gains (losses) on investments arising during period, net of tax

 

 

2,645,015

 

 

(1,258,971)

Unrealized gains on foreign currency, net of tax

 

 

146,185

 

 

 —

Less:  reclassification adjustment for net realized gains on investments

 

 

(353,602)

 

 

(47,824)

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

 

 

2,437,598

 

 

(1,306,795)

Comprehensive loss:

 

$

(3,296,060)

 

$

(6,372,329)

Net loss per common share

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

(0.010)

 

$

(0.220)

Diluted

 

$

(0.010)

 

$

(0.005)

Year ended December 31, 

Additional

Treasury

Common

Paid-In

Retained

Noncontrolling

Total

(In thousands)

    

Stock

    

Stock

    

Capital

    

Earnings

    

AOCI*

    

Interest

    

Equity

Balance, December 31, 2019

$

$

2

$

54,494

$

(41,082)

$

620

$

124

$

14,158

Net loss

(12,440)

(12,440)

Capital raise, net of $5.9 million related expenses

2

79,310

79,312

Reverse stock split fractions retired

(175)

(175)

Employee stock options

164

164

Purchase of remaining 49% of 1505 Capital LLC

(376)

(124)

(500)

Unrealized gains on investments, net of taxes

5,957

5,957

Unrealized losses on foreign currency

(146)

(146)

Balance, December 31, 2020

$

(175)

$

4

$

133,592

$

(53,522)

$

6,431

$

$

86,330

Net loss

 

 

 

 

(16,637)

 

 

 

(16,637)

Additional capital raise related expenses

(121)

 

(121)

Employee stock options

4,981

4,981

Unrealized losses on investments, net of taxes

-

(3,797)

(3,797)

Noncontrolling interest

15,000

15,000

Balance, December 31, 2021

$

(175)

$

4

$

138,452

$

(70,159)

$

2,634

$

15,000

$

85,756

* Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

F-5F-6

Midwest Holding Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ EquityCash Flows

Years Ended December 31, 20192021 and 20182020

    

Year ended December 31, 

(In thousands)

2021

    

2020

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

 

  

 

  

Loss attributable to Midwest Holding, Inc.

$

(16,637)

$

(12,440)

Adjustments to arrive at cash provided by operating activities:

 

  

 

  

Net premium and discount on investments

 

(1,244)

 

(423)

Depreciation and amortization

 

50

 

57

Stock options

 

4,981

 

164

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs

2,886

464

Deferred acquisition costs capitalized

(14,018)

(13,975)

Net realized gain on investments

 

(7,752)

 

(2,550)

Deferred gain on coinsurance transactions

 

10,390

 

10,621

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

  

 

  

Reinsurance recoverables

(6,434)

(4,477)

Interest and dividends due and accrued

 

(6,816)

 

(5,296)

Premiums receivable

 

(40)

 

42

Deposit-type liabilities

24,371

Policy liabilities

 

239

 

10,042

Receivable and payable for securities

(14,185)

Other assets and liabilities

 

(1,133)

 

1,525

Other assets and liabilities - discontinued operations

 

4

 

2

Net cash used in operating activities

 

(25,338)

 

(16,244)

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:

 

  

 

  

Fixed maturities available for sale:

 

  

 

  

Purchases

 

(660,059)

 

(339,282)

Proceeds from sale or maturity

 

356,820

 

89,136

Mortgage loans on real estate, held for investment

 

 

Purchases

(160,714)

(99,356)

Proceeds from sale

72,064

18,392

Derivatives

Purchases

(23,944)

(8,589)

Proceeds from sale

14,578

1,269

Purchase of equity securities

(22,097)

Other invested assets

Purchases

(95,529)

(73,997)

Proceeds from sale

82,272

54,517

Purchase of restricted common stock in FHLB

(500)

Preferred stock

(14,926)

(3,898)

Notes receivable

-

(5,665)

Net change in policy loans

 

(41)

 

60

Net purchases of property and equipment

 

(331)

 

(69)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(452,407)

 

(367,482)

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

 

  

 

  

Net transfer to noncontrolling interest

15,000

Capital contribution

(121)

79,312

Repurchase of common stock

-

(175)

Acquisition of noncontrolling interest

-

(500)

Receipts on deposit-type contracts

 

471,646

 

415,561

Withdrawals on deposit-type contracts

 

(18,446)

 

(2,509)

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

468,079

 

491,689

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

(9,666)

 

107,963

Cash and cash equivalents:

 

  

 

  

Beginning

 

151,679

 

43,716

Ending

$

142,013

$

151,679

Supplementary information

 

  

 

  

Cash paid for taxes

$

6,450

$

350

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

Common

 

Paid-In

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

Noncontrolling

 

Stockholders’

 

    

Stock

    

Capital

    

Deficit

    

AOCI*

    

Interests

    

Equity (Deficit)

Balance, December 31, 2017

 

$

22,861

 

$

33,006,255

 

$

(30,282,518)

 

$

(511,219)

 

$

 —

 

$

2,235,379

Preferred stock conversion adjustment

 

 

13

 

 

(13)

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

Net loss

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(5,065,534)

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(5,065,534)

Unrealized losses on investments

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(1,306,795)

 

 

 —

 

 

(1,306,795)

Balance, December 31, 2018

 

 

22,874

 

 

33,006,242

 

 

(35,348,052)

 

 

(1,818,014)

 

 

 —

 

 

(4,136,950)

Net loss

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(5,733,658)

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(5,733,658)

Xenith note interest waived

 

 

 —

 

 

845,536

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

845,536

Xenith note conversion

 

 

927,680

 

 

18,172,320

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

19,100,000

Class C preferred stock conversion

 

 

72,855

 

 

1,427,145

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

1,500,000

Employee stock options

 

 

 —

 

 

21,745

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

21,745

Change in equity of noncontrolling interests

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

124,477

 

 

124,477

Unrealized gains on investments, net of taxes

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

2,291,413

 

 

 —

 

 

2,291,413

Unrealized gains on foreign currency, net of taxes

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

146,185

 

 

 —

 

 

146,185

Balance, December 31, 2019

 

$

1,023,409

 

$

53,472,988

 

$

(41,081,710)

 

$

619,584

 

$

124,477

 

$

14,158,748

*  Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

F-6

Midwest Holding Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

Year ended December 31, 

 

 

2019

    

2018

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

 

 

  

 

 

  

Net loss

 

$

(5,733,658)

 

$

(5,065,534)

Adjustments to arrive at cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

  

 

 

  

Net premium and discount on investments

 

 

113,880

 

 

102,285

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

58,761

 

 

147,761

Stock options

 

 

21,745

 

 

 —

Net transfers to noncontrolling interest

 

 

124,477

 

 

 —

Net realized gains on investments

 

 

(353,602)

 

 

334,928

Deferred coinsurance ceding commission

 

 

3,678,196

 

 

2,944,572

Notes payable interest accrued

 

 

845,536

 

 

 —

Commutation of assumed business

 

 

 —

 

 

(2,544,929)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

  

 

 

  

Reinsurance recoverables

 

 

(7,478,880)

 

 

(707,419)

Accrued investment income

 

 

(1,310,492)

 

 

22,458

Premiums receivable

 

 

(9,089)

 

 

21,507

Policy liabilities

 

 

2,963,219

 

 

254,614

Other assets and liabilities

 

 

4,745,274

 

 

175,344

Other assets and liabilities - discontinued operations

 

 

(122,543)

 

 

(16,055,335)

Net cash used for operating activities

 

 

(2,457,176)

 

 

(20,369,748)

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:

 

 

  

 

 

  

Securities available for sale:

 

 

  

 

 

  

Purchases

 

 

(103,078,444)

 

 

(8,382,284)

Proceeds from sale or maturity

 

 

5,780,475

 

 

10,243,118

Mortgage loans on real estate, held for investment purchases

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases

 

 

(15,036,179)

 

 

 —

Proceeds from sale

 

 

1,226,138

 

 

 —

Derivatives

 

 

(490,831)

 

 

 —

Other invested assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases

 

 

(20,533,761)

 

 

(100,000)

Proceeds from sale

 

 

14,849,555

 

 

104,892

Preferred stock purchased

 

 

(500,000)

 

 

 —

Net change in policy loans

 

 

(62,171)

 

 

9,630

Net purchases of property and equipment

 

 

(45,634)

 

 

(12,747)

Net cash (used in) or provided by investing activities

 

 

(117,890,852)

 

 

1,862,609

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

 

 

  

 

 

  

Finance lease

 

 

(444)

 

 

(444)

Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock

 

 

 —

 

 

1,500,000

Proceeds from issuance of notes payable

 

 

 —

 

 

18,938,705

Receipts on deposit-type contracts

 

 

161,392,700

 

 

650

Withdrawals on deposit-type contracts

 

 

(160,590)

 

 

(50,732)

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

 

161,231,666

 

 

20,388,179

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

 

40,883,638

 

 

1,881,040

Cash and cash equivalents:

 

 

  

 

 

  

Beginning

 

 

2,832,567

 

 

951,527

Ending

 

$

43,716,205

 

$

2,832,567

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental Disclosure of Non-Cash Information

 

 

  

 

 

  

Settlement of real estate and surplus notes:

 

 

  

 

 

  

Book value of real estate settled

 

$

 —

 

$

493,648

Book value of surplus notes (including interest)

 

 

 —

 

 

(876,400)

Gain from settlement of real estate and surplus notes

 

 

 —

 

 

382,752

Conversion of notes payable

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book value of note payable

 

 

(19,100,000)

 

 

 —

Common stock

 

 

927,680

 

 

 —

Additional paid in capital

 

 

18,172,320

 

 

 —

Conversion of preferred stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book value of preferred stock

 

 

(1,500,000)

 

 

 —

Common stock

 

 

72,855

 

 

 —

Additional paid in capital

 

 

1,427,145

 

 

 —

 

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

F-7

Note 1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of operations:

Midwest Holding Inc. (“Midwest,” “the Company,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) was incorporated in Nebraska on October 31, 2003 for the primary purpose of operating a financial services company. The Company redomesticated from the State of Nebraska to the State of Delaware on August 27, 2020. The Company is in the life and annuity insurance business and operates through its wholly owned subsidiary,subsidiaries, American Life & Security Corp. (“American Life”), and 1505 Capital LLC (“1505 Capital”) as well as through its sponsored captive reinsurance company, Seneca Reinsurance Company, LLC (“Seneca Re”). As discussed

American Life is a Nebraska-domiciled life insurance company, which is also commercially domiciled in Note 3,  on June 28, 2018, we underwentTexas, that is currently licensed to sell, underwrite, and market life insurance and annuity products in 22 states and the District of Columbia.

Effective March 12, 2020, Seneca Re, a change in control as a result of the closing of a Loan, Convertible Preferred Stock and Convertible Senior Secured Note Purchase Agreement dated May 9, 2018 with a non-affiliated third party, Xenith Holdings LLC, a DelawareVermont limited liability company, was formed by Midwest to operate as a sponsored captive insurance company for the purpose of insuring and reinsuring various types of risks of its participants through one or more protected cells and to conduct any other business or activity that is permitted for sponsored captive insurance companies under Vermont insurance regulations. On March 30, 2020, Seneca Re received its Certification of Authority to transact the business of a captive insurance company. On April 15, 2020, Midwest entered into an operating agreement with Seneca Re and as of December 31, 2021, Seneca Re has two incorporated cells, Seneca Incorporated Cell, LLC 2020-01 (“Xenith”SRC1”).  and Seneca Re Protected Cell 2021-03 (“SRC3”) which are consolidated in our financial statements. On May 12, 2020, Midwest contributed $300,000 to Seneca Re for a 100% ownership interest.

On April 2, 2019, we obtained a 51% ownership in 1505 Capital, a Delaware limited liability company, that was established in 2018 to provide financial and investment advisory and management services to clients and related investment trading and financial activities. On June 15, 2020, we purchased the remaining 49% ownership in 1505 Capital for $500,000. 1505 Capital’s financial results arehave been consolidated with the Company’s fromsince the date of its acquisition.

On April 24, 2020, Midwest entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with Crestline Assurance Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Crestline Assurance”), Xenith Holdings LLC, and Vespoint LLC, pursuant to which Crestline Assurance purchased 444,444 shares of the Company’s voting common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“common stock”), at a purchase price of $22.50 per share for $10.0 million. Under the agreement, the Company contributed $5.0 million to American Life. Also, effective as of April 24, 2020, in a separate transaction, Midwest sold 231,655 shares of common stock to various investors in a private placement at $22.50 per share for $5.227 million.

On July 27, 2020, American Life entered into a reinsurance agreement (the “Reinsurance Agreement”) with a new protected cell formed by Seneca Re (Seneca Incorporated Cell, LLC 2020-02 (“SRC2”)). SRC2 was capitalized by Crestline Management, L.P. (“Crestline”), a significant shareholder of Midwest via a Crestline subsidiary, Crestline Re SPC1. The Reinsurance Agreement, which was effective as of April 24, 2020, and was entered into pursuant to a Master Letter Agreement (the “Master Agreement”) dated and effective as of April 24, 2020, among American Life, Seneca Re and Crestline. The Reinsurance Agreement supports American Life’s new business production by providing reinsurance capacity for American Life to write certain kinds of fixed and multi-year guaranteed annuity products. Concurrently with the Reinsurance Agreement:

American Life and SRC2 each entered into investment management agreements with Crestline, pursuant to which Crestline manages the assets that support the reinsured business; and
American Life and SRC2 entered into a trust agreement whereby SRC2 maintains for American Life’s benefit a trust account that supports the reinsured business.

Under the Master Agreement, Crestline agreed to provide reinsurance funding for a quota share percentage of 25% of the liabilities of American Life arising from its multi-year guaranteed annuities (“MYGA”) and a quota share percentage of 40% for American Life’s fixed indexed annuity (“FIA”) products. The Master Agreement expires on April 24, 2023.

In addition, pursuant to the Master Agreement, the parties thereto have agreed to enter into a separate agreement whereby, among other things and subject to certain conditions, American Life will agree to reinsure additional new business production to one or more

F-8

reinsurers formed and/or capitalized by Crestline, Midwest or an appropriate affiliate will refer potential advisory clients to Crestline, and American Life will consider investing in certain assets originated or sourced by Crestline.

Effective December 8, 2020, American Life entered into a novation agreement with SRC2 and Crestline Re SPC,  for and on behalf of Crestline Re SP1, under which the above-described reinsurance, trust and related asset management agreements were novated and replaced with substantially similar agreements entered into by American Life and Crestline Re SP1.

In December 2020, the Company completed a public offering of its common stock for gross proceeds of $70.0 million (see Note 17). In connection therewith, the Company's common stock was approved for listing and began trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market (“NASDAQ”) upon the closing of the offering.

On June 26, 2021, the Nebraska Department of Insurance (‘NDOI”) issued its non-disapproval of the Modified Coinsurance Agreement (“Modco AEG Agreement”) of American Life with American Republic Insurance Company (“AEG”), an Iowa domiciled reinsurance company. The agreement closed on June 30, 2021.

Under the Modco AEG Agreement, American Life cedes to AEG, on a modified coinsurance basis, 20% quota share of certain liabilities with respect to its MYGA-5 business and an initial 20% quota share of certain liabilities with respect to its FIA products. American Life has established a Modco Deposit Account to hold the assets for the Modco Agreement. The initial settlement included net premium income of $37.5 million and net statutory reserves of $34.8 million for the modified coinsurance account. The amount paid to the Modified Deposit Account from AEG was $2.4 million.

On November 10, 2021, Midwest purchased 1,000 shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value per share for a total purchase price of $5.7 million for 100% ownership in an intermediary holding company. The intermediary holding company contributed capital of $5.5 million to purchase 100% of SRC3 Class A and B capital stock. Also, on November 10, 2021, American Life and SRC3 entered into a Funds Withheld and Modified Coinsurance Agreement, whereby, SRC3 agreed to provide reinsurance funding for a quota share percentage of 45% of the liabilities of American Life arising from its MYGA and quota share percentage of 45% of American Life’s FIA products.

As discussed above, Midwest owned 100% in SRC1 by contributing a total of $21.4 million. On December 30, 2021, Midwest closed the sale of approximately 70% of Seneca Incorporate Cell, LLC 2020-01 (“SRC1”) to a subsidiary of ORIX Corporation USA “ORIX USA”) for $15.0 million. Under the terms of the agreement, Midwest holds a 30% ownership interest in SRC1. ORIX Advisers, LLC, another subsidiary of ORIX USA, will be the manager of the assets underlying SRC1’s reinsurance obligations going forward, replacing Midwest’s asset management arm, 1505 Capital LLC.

Management evaluates the Company as one1 reporting segment in the life insurance industry. The Company is primarily engaged in the underwriting and marketing of life insurance and annuity products through American Life. The product offerings, the underwriting processes,Life, and the marketing processes are similar. The Company’s historicalthen reinsuring such products with third-party reinsurers, and since May 13, 2020, with Seneca Re protected cells. American Life’s legacy product offerings consisted of a multi-benefit life insurance policy that combined cash value life insurance with a tax deferred annuity and a single premium term life product. These product offerings were underwritten, marketed, and managed as a group of similar products on an overall portfolio basis. The CompanyAmerican Life presently offers two5 annuity products, a multi-year guaranteed annuity ("MYGA")2 MYGAs, 2 FIAs, and a fixed indexed annuity (“FIA”).2 bonus plans associated with the FIA product. It is not presently offering any traditional life insurance products.

Basis of presentation:

These consolidated financial statements which includefor the accounts of American Lifeyear ended December 31, 2021 and 1505 Capital,2020 have been prepared in conformity with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”)generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.America (“GAAP”). Preparation of our consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. The following is a summary of our significant accounting policies and estimates. These accounting policies inherently require significant judgment and assumptions, and actual operating results could differ significantly from management’s estimates determined using these policies. We believe the following accounting policies, judgments and estimates are the most critical to the understanding of our results of operations and financial position. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation and certain immaterial reclassifications have been made to the prior period results to conform to the current period’s presentation with no impact on results of operations or total stockholders’ equity.

Investments

F-9

Fixed Maturities

All fixed maturities and a portion of the equity securities owned by the Company are considered available-for-sale and are included in the consolidated financial statements at their fair value as of the financial statement date. Bond premiumsPremiums and discounts on fixed maturity instruments are amortized using the scientific-yield method over the term of the bonds.bonds, trust preferred, and redeemable preferred stock. Realized gains and losses on securities sold during the year are determined using the specific identification method. Unrealized holding gains and losses, net of applicable income taxes, are included in accumulated other comprehensive income.

Declines in the fair value of available-for-sale fixed maturity securities below their amortized cost are evaluated to assess whether any other-than-temporary impairment loss should be recorded. In determining if these losses are expected to be other-than-temporary, the Company considers severity of impairment, duration of impairment, forecasted recovery period, industry outlook, the financial condition of the issuer, issuer credit ratings, and the intent and ability of the Company to hold the investment until the recovery of the cost.

The recognition of other-than-temporary impairment losses on debt securities is dependent on the facts and circumstances related to the specific security. If the Company intends to sell a security or it is more likely than not that the Company would be required to sell a security prior to recovery of the amortized cost, the difference between amortized cost and fair value is recognized in the statement of comprehensive income as an other-than-temporary impairment. If the Company does not expect to recover the amortized basis, does not plan to sell the security, and if it is not more likely than not that the Company would be required to sell a security before the recovery of its amortized cost, the recognition of the other-than-temporary impairment is bifurcated. The Company recognizes the credit loss portion in the income statementas realized losses and the noncredit loss portion in accumulated other comprehensive loss. The credit component of an other-than-temporary impairment is determined by comparing the net present value of projected cash flows with the amortized cost basis of the debt security. The net present value is calculated by discounting the Company’s best estimate of projected future cash flows at the effective interest rate implicit in the fixed income security at the date of acquisition. Cash flow estimates are driven by assumptions regarding probability of default, including changes in credit ratings, and estimates regarding timing and amount of recoveries associated with a default. TheAs of December 31, 2020, the Company has analyzed theits securities portfolio and performed cash flow testing and determined that therean impairment of approximately $35,000 should be recorded for 1 debt security, an impairment of $500,000 was recognized on a preferred stock, and a valuation allowance of $777,000 established on 1 lease. The valuation allowance on the lease of $777,000 was released as of March 31, 2021 due to the sale of the investment. The Company believed the remaining investments were not an other-than-temporary impairment for the year endedimpaired as of December 31, 2019.

F-8

December 31, 2021.

Investment income consists of interest, dividends, gains and losses from equity method investments, and real estate income, which are recognized on an accrual basis andalong with the amortization of premiums and discounts.

Certain available-for-sale investments are maintained as collateral under FW and Modco agreements but the assets and total returns or losses on the asset portfolios belong to the third-party reinsurers. American Life has treaties with several third-party reinsurers that have FW and Modco provisions. In a Modco agreement, the ceding entity retains the assets equal to the modified coinsurance reserves retained. In a FW agreement, assets that would normally be paid over to a reinsurer are withheld by the ceding company to permit statutory credit for unauthorized reinsurers to reduce the potential credit risk. The unrealized gains/losses on those investments are passed through to the third-party reinsurers as either a realized gain or loss on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss.

Mortgage loans on real estate, held for investment

Mortgage loans on real estate, held for investment are carried at unpaid principal balances. Interest income on mortgage loans on real estate, held for investment is recognized in net investment income at the contract interest rate when earned. A mortgage loan is considered to be impaired when it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the mortgage agreement. Valuation allowances on mortgage loans are established based upon losses expected by management to be realized in connection with future dispositions or settlements of mortgage loans, including foreclosures. The Company establishes valuation allowances for estimated impairments on an individual loan basis as of the balance sheet date. Such valuation allowances are based on the excess carrying value of the loan over the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s original effective interest rate. These evaluations are revised as conditions change and new information becomes available. NoNaN such valuation allowance was established as of December 31, 2019.2021 or 2020, respectively.

Investment escrowF-10

The Company holds in escrow asTable of December 31, 2019, cash that will be used to settle a mortgage loan that did not close until January 2020.Contents

Other invested assets

The Company purchases and sells leases in its investment portfolio.  Within the third quarter 2019, the Company had invested in and sold two leases.  As of December 31, 2019, the Company owned one lease investment. 

Derivative Instruments

Derivatives are used to hedge the risks experienced in our ongoing operations, such as equity, interest rate and cash flow risks, or for other risk management purposes, which primarily involve managing liability risks associated with our indexed annuity products and reinsurance agreements. Derivatives are financial instruments whose values are derived from interest rates, foreign exchange rates, financial indices, or other underlying notional amounts. Derivative assets and liabilities are carried at fair value on the consolidated balance sheets.

To qualify for hedge accounting, at the inception of the hedging relationship, we would formally document our designation of the hedge as a cash flow or fair value hedge and our risk management objective and strategy for undertaking the hedging transaction. In this documentation, we would identify how the hedging instrument is expected to hedge the designated risks related to the hedged item, the method that would be used to retrospectively and prospectively assess the hedging instrument’s effectiveness and the method which would be used to measure ineffectiveness. A derivative designated as a hedging instrument must be assessed as being highly effective in offsetting the designated risk of the hedged item. Hedge effectiveness is formally assessed at inception and periodically throughout the life of the designated hedging relationship.

In the fourth quarter oflate 2019, the Company began investing in options to hedge our interest rate risks on our FIA product. Options typicallyWe did not have the formal documentation and hedge effectiveness completed at the time we entered into those equity options; therefore, they do not qualify for hedge accounting therefore we chose not to use hedge accounting for ouraccounting. The options that we currently have.  We value our derivatives at fair market value withvalues were recorded on our consolidated statement of comprehensive loss as realized gains or (losses).

During the offset beinglast quarter of 2020, the Company began investing in foreign currency futures to hedge the fluctuations in the foreign currency. The formal documentation and hedge effectiveness was also not completed at the date we entered into those futures contracts; therefore, they do not qualify for hedge accounting. The futures fair market values were recorded inon our consolidated statement of comprehensive income statementloss as a realized gaingains or (loss)(losses).

Additionally, reinsurance agreements written on a funds withheldFW or Modco basis contain embedded derivatives on our fixed indexed annuity product. Gains or (losses) associated with the performance of assets maintained in the modified coinsurance deposit and funds withheld accounts are reflected as realized gains or (losses) in the consolidated statement of comprehensive loss.

Equity Securities

Equity securities at December 31, 2021, consisted of exchange traded funds (“ETFs”). The ETF’s are carried at fair value with the change in fair value recorded through realized gains and losses in Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss. As of December 31, 2021, we held $21.9 million of ETFs and 0 as of December 31, 2020.

Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) stock

American Life purchased Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka (��FHLB”) common stock on May 5, 2021. This investment was to solidify our membership with FHLB Topeka. The carrying value of FHLB stock approximates fair value since the Company can redeem the stock with FHLB at cost. As a member of the FHLB, the Company is required to purchase this stock, which is carried at cost and classified as restricted equity securities.

Membership allows access to various funding arrangements to provide a source of additional liquidity. As of December 31, 2021, there were no outstanding funding arrangements.

Other Invested Assets

Other invested assets consists of approximately $35.3 million of various investments. Of this total, approximately $18.9 million are primarily collateral loans, private credit, and equipment leases. Also, at December 31, 2020, we had a $19.7 million investment in a private fund. Effective January 2021, this investment was repackaged into a special purpose vehicle between American Life and an unaffiliated entity, PF Collinwood Holdings, LLC (“PFC”), with American Life owning 100% of the entity. NaN gain or loss was recognized from the repackaging of PFC. The fair value or statement value of  PFC as of December 31, 2021 was $14.5 million with gains and losses being recorded in equity on the balance sheet.

F-11

Investment escrow

The Company held in escrow $3.6 million and $3.2 million as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The cash held at year end was used to purchased mortgages in January 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Preferred Stock

Preferred stock, of a non-affiliated company, was purchased during the third quarter of 2019.  The Company believesimpaired in full a preferred stock investment as of December 31, 2020. This was recorded as a reduction of the costasset on the Consolidated balance sheets of $500,000 and a corresponding loss on impairment on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss.

The company held a perpetual preferred stock investment of $10.0 million as of December 31, 2021. This investment is carried at fair market value.

In 2020 American Life entered into a series of transactions with an unaffiliated entity, Ascona Group Holdings Ltd (“AGH”). One of the transactions involved the acquisition of Pound Sterling (“GBP”) 3.6 million of preferred equity in Ascona Group Holdings Limited (“the Preferred Equity”) along with warrants bearing no initial assigned value (the “Warrants”). American Life initially created a special purpose vehicle, Ascona Asset Holding LLC (“AAH”), to hold the Preferred Equity and Warrants, and later created Ascona Collinwood HoldCo LLC (“ACH”) to be the sole member of AAH. American Life and Crestline Re SP1 own 74% and 26%, respectively, of ACH. We are carrying the preferred equity at a market value of $8.7 million as of December 31, 2021 and $3.9 million of December 31, 2020. The preferred stock and warrants had a market value of $4.9 million and $3.8 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2021 and 0 value as of December 31, 2020. The market value of the preferred stock equalsand warrants was recorded in net investment income on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss.

Notes receivable

The Company held notes receivable carried at fair market value of $6.0 million and $5.7 million as of December 31, 2019. 2021 and 2020, respectively, between American Life and a related party. The note receivable has an annual interest rate of 5% which is paid in kind (“PIK”) interest per annum that increases the outstanding note balance. This note was rated BBB+ by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization. This note matures on June 18, 2050.

F-9

Policy loans

Policy loans are carried at unpaid principal balances. Interest income on policy loans is recognized in net investment income at the contract interest rate when earned. No valuation allowance is established for these policy loans as the amount of the loan is fully secured by the death benefit of the policy and cash surrender value.

Cash and cash equivalents

The Company considers all liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. AtAs of December 31, 2018, the Company had no cash equivalents. At December 31, 2019,2021 and 2020, the Company held approximately 1.8GBP 2.2 million and GBP 500,000 in Great British Pounds (“GBP”) in cash in two of our custody accounts.accounts, respectively. The USD equivalent held was approximately $2.3 million.$3.0 million and $700,000, respectively. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company held approximately Euro 9.3 million and 90,000, respectively. The USD equivalent held was approximately $10.6 million and $110,000, respectively. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, we had gains of approximately $2.0 million and approximately $50,000, respectively, related to the change in the foreign currency exchange rate of the GBP and Euro that were recorded in realized (losses) gains on investments in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss. The Company had 0 money market investments of approximately $26.2 million as of December 31, 2019.2021 and $100.6 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Deferred acquisition costs

Deferred acquisition costs (“DAC”) consist of incremental direct costs, net of amounts ceded to third-party reinsurers, that result directly from and are essential to the contract acquisition transaction and would not have been incurred by the Company had the contract acquisition not occurred. These costs are capitalized, to the extent recoverable, and amortized over the life of the premiums produced. The Company evaluates the types of acquisition costs it capitalizes. The Company capitalizes agent compensation and benefits and other

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expenses that are directly related to the successful acquisition of contracts. The Company also capitalizes expenses directly related to activities performed by the Company, such as underwriting, policy issuance, and processing fees incurred in connection with successful contract acquisitions.

Recoverability of deferred acquisition costs is evaluated periodically by comparing the current estimate of the present value of expected pretax future profits to the unamortized asset balance. If this current estimate is less than the existing balance, the difference is charged to expense. The Company performs a recoverability analysis annually in the fourth quarter unless events occur which require an immediate review. TheA recovery analysis is completed by our Company had reinsurance contractsthird-party actuaries during their year-end processes and have found that no impairment existed in conjunction with commission and administration allowances from each reinsurer that offset allthe recovery of the DAC costs incurred during 2019, as a result no recovery analysis was deem necessary as of December 31, 2019.balances.

Property and equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost net of accumulated depreciation. Annual depreciation is primarily computed using straight-line methods for financial reporting and straight-line and accelerated methods for tax purposes. Furniture and equipment is depreciated over 3three to 7seven years and computer software and equipment is generally depreciated over 3 years. Depreciation expense totaled $40,000$49,000 and $49,309$48,000 for the years ended December 31, 20192021 and 2018,2020, respectively. The accumulated depreciation net of disposals totaled $975,480$1.1 million and $943,323$1.0 million as of December 31, 20192021 and 2018,2020, respectively.

During the first quarter of 2021, the Company began the implementation of a new cloud-based enterprise resource planning and enterprise performance management system. The Company expects to capitalize related consultation and support expenses relating to this system and will begin amortizing these fees over a period of five years from the date of implementation. The useful life of the system has been estimated at five years in accordance with guidance in ASC 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (as updated by ASU 2018-15). As December 31, 2021, the Company had capitalized approximately $1.2 million of expenses incurred. The expected date of implementation is first quarter 2022.

Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Replacements and improvements which extend the useful life of the asset are capitalized. The net book value of assets sold or retired are removed from the accounts, and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in earnings.

Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognized if the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable and exceeds estimated future undiscounted cash flows of the asset. A recognized impairment loss reduces the carrying amount of the asset to its fair value. The Company determined that no such events occurred that would indicate the carrying amounts may not be recoverable.

Reinsurance

In the normal course of business, the Company seeks to limit any single exposure to losses on large risks by purchasing reinsurance. The amounts reported in the consolidatedConsolidated balance sheets as reinsurance recoverable include amounts billed to reinsurers on losses paid as well as estimates of amounts expected to be recovered from reinsurers on insurance liabilities that have not yet been paid. Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses are estimated based upon assumptions consistent with those used in establishing the liabilities related to the underlying reinsured contracts. Insurance liabilities are reported gross of reinsurance recoverable. Management believes the recoverables are appropriately established. The Company generally strives to diversify its credit risks related to reinsurance ceded.

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Reinsurance premiums are generally reflected in income in a manner consistent with the recognition of premiums on the reinsured contracts. Reinsurance does not extinguish the Company’s primary liability under the policies written. Therefore, the Company regularly evaluates the financial condition of its reinsurers including their activities with respect to claim settlement practices and commutations, and establishes allowances for uncollectible reinsurance recoverablerecoverables as appropriate. There were no0 allowances established as of December 31, 20192021 or 2018.2020.

We expect to reinsure substantially all of our new insurance policies with a variety of reinsurers in exchange for upfront ceding commissions, expense reimbursements and administrative fees. Under these reinsurance agreements, we expect there will be a monthly or quarterly settlement of premiums, claims, surrenders, collateral, and other administration fees. We believe this strategy will help preserve American Life’s capital while supporting its growth because American Life will have lower capital requirements when its business is reinsured due to lower overall financial exposure versus retaining the insurance policy business itself. See Note 9 below for further discussion of our reinsurance activities.

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There are two main categories of reinsurance transactions: 1) “indemnity,” where we cede a portion of our risk but retain the legal responsibility to our policyholders should our reinsurers not meet their financial obligations; and 2) “assumption,” where we transfer the risk and legal responsibilities to the reinsurers. The reinsurers are required to acquire the appropriate regulatory and policyholder approvals to convert indemnity policies to assumption policies.

Our reinsurers may be domestic or foreign capital markets investors or traditional reinsurance companies seeking to assume U.S. insurance business. We plan to mitigate the credit risk relating to reinsurers generally by requiring other financial commitments from the reinsurers to secure the reinsured risks, such as posting substantial collateral. It should be noted that under indemnity reinsurance agreements American Life remains exposed to the credit risk of its reinsurers. If one or more reinsurers become insolvent or are otherwise unable or unwilling to pay claims under the terms of the applicable reinsurance agreement, American Life retains legal responsibility to pay policyholder claims, which, in such event would likely materially and adversely affect the capital and surplus of American Life.

Midwest formed Seneca Re in early 2020. Seneca Incorporated Cell, LLC 2020-01 (“SRC1”) and Seneca Incorporate Cell, LLC 2021-03 (“SRC3”)  which were consolidated in our financial statements. Midwest sold 70% of SRC1 to a ORIX Corporation USA on December 30, 2021 and retained 30% ownership. Midwest maintains control over SRC1 so we are still consolidating in our financial statements.

American Life entered into a novation agreement with SRC2 and Crestline Re SPC, for and on behalf of Crestline Re SP1, under which the above-described reinsurance, trust and related asset management agreements were novated and replaced with substantially similar agreements entered into by American Life and Crestline Re SP1.

Some reinsurers are not and may not be “accredited” or qualified as reinsurers under Nebraska law and regulations. In order to enter into reinsurance agreements with such reinsurers and to reduce potential credit risk, American Life holds a deposit or withholds funds from the reinsurer or requires the reinsurer to maintain a trust that holds assets backing up the reinsurer’s obligation to pay claims on the business it assumes. The reinsurer may also appoint an investment manager for such funds, which in some cases may be our investment adviser subsidiary, 1505 Capital, to manage these assets pursuant to guidelines adopted by us that are consistent with Nebraska investment statutes and reinsurance regulations.

American Life currently has treaties with several third-party reinsurers and one related party reinsurer. Of the third-party reinsurers, only four have FW or Modco provisions. In a Modco agreement, the ceding entity retains the assets equal to the modified coinsurance reserves retained. In a FW agreement, assets that would normally be paid over to a reinsurer are withheld by the ceding company to permit statutory credit for unauthorized reinsurers, to reduce the potential credit risk. Under those provisions with third-party reinsurers, the assets backing the treaties are maintained by American Life as investments but the assets and total returns or losses on the investments are owned by the reinsurers. Under GAAP, this arrangement is considered an embedded derivative as discussed in Comprehensive Loss and Note 5 below.

Assets carried as investments on American Life’s financial statements for the third-party reinsurers contained unrealized gains of approximately $161,000 and $2.9 million as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The terms of the contracts with the third-party reinsurers provide that unrealized gains on the portfolios accrue to the third-party reinsurers. Accordingly, the unrealized gains on the assets held by American Life were offset by gains in the embedded derivative of $2.7 million and losses of $2.9 million as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. We account for this unrealized gain (loss) pass-through by recording equivalent realized gains or (losses) on our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss and in amount payable to our third-party reinsurers on the Consolidated balance sheets. For further discussion see Note 5. Derivative Instruments below.

Benefit reserves

The Company establishes liabilities for amounts payable under insurance policies, including traditional life insurance and annuities. Generally, amounts are payable over an extended period of time. Liabilities for future policy benefits of traditional life insurance have been computed by a net level premium method based upon estimates at the time of issue for investment yields, mortality and withdrawals. These estimates include provisions for experience less favorable than initially expected. Mortality assumptions are based on industry experience expressed as a percentage of standard mortality tables.

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Policy claims

Policy claims are based on reported claims plus estimated incurred but not reported claims developed from trends of historical data applied to current exposure.

Deposit-type contracts

Deposit-type contracts consist of amounts on deposit associated with deferred annuity riders, premium deposit funds and supplemental contracts without life contingencies.

Notes payable

Notes payable consist of the convertible notes entered into due to the Xenith transaction and were recorded net of issuance costs.

Deferred gain on ceding commissionsreinsurance transactions

American Life has entered into several indemnity reinsurance contracts where it is earning ceding commissions. These ceding commissions are recorded as a deferred liability and amortized over the life of the business ceded. American Life receives commission, administrative, and option allowances from reinsurance transactions that represent recovery of acquisition costs. These allowances first reduce the DAC associated with that reinsured block of business with the remainder being included in the deferred gain on ceding commissionsreinsurance transactions to also be amortized.

Income taxes

The Company is subject to income taxes in the U.S. federal and various state jurisdictions. Tax regulations within each jurisdiction are subject to the interpretation of the related tax laws and regulations and require significant judgment to apply. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state, or local tax examinations by tax authorities for the years before 2015.2018. The Company is not currently under examination for any open years. The provision for income taxes is based on income as reported in the financial statements. The income tax provision is calculated under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets are recorded based on the differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities at the enacted tax rates. The principal assets and liabilities giving rise to such differences are investments, insurance reserves, and deferred acquisition costs. A deferred tax asset valuation allowance is established when there is uncertainty that such assets would be realized. The Company has no uncertain tax positions that it believes are more-likely-than not that the benefit will not to be realized. When applicable, the Company recognizes interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits and penalties in income tax expense.

Revenue recognition and related expenses

Revenues on traditional life insurance products consist of direct and assumed premiums reported as earned when due.

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Amounts received as payment for annuities are recognized as deposits to policyholder account balances and included in future insurance policy benefits. Revenues from these contracts are comprised of fees earned for administrative and contract-holder services and cost of insurance, which are recognized over the period of the contracts, and included in revenue. Deposits are shown as a financing activity in the consolidated statements of cash flows.

Revenues on traditional life insurance products consist of direct and assumed premiums reported as earned when due.

Liabilities for future policy benefits are provided and acquisition costs are amortized by associating benefits and expenses with earned premiums to recognize related profits over the life of the contracts. Acquisition costs are amortized over the expected life of the annuity contracts.

Service fee revenue is comprised of third-party administration (“TPA”) fees and investment management fees:

The TPA fees are related to accounting services performed based on service agreements with varying lengths. Revenue associated with TPA fees are only recognized when the services are performed, which is typically on a monthly or quarterly basis.
Fees for investment management fees are based on the total assets managed for each client at a contracted rate. The length of term on the contracts varies by client. The Company accrues investment advisory fees and recognizes revenue based on the market value of the client’s assets at the end of the applicable period, at the client’s contracted rate.

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Comprehensive loss

Comprehensive lossLoss is comprised of net loss and other comprehensive income (loss).loss. Other comprehensive loss includes unrealized gains and losses from marketable securitiesfixed maturities classified as available-for-sale,available for sale and unrealized gains and losses from foreign currency transactions, net of applicable taxes.

Common American Life has treaties with several third-party reinsurers that have FW and preferred stockModco provisions. Under those provisions, the assets backing the treaties are maintained by American Life as collateral but are owned by the third-party reinsurers, thus, the total return on the asset portfolio belongs to the third-party reinsurers. Under GAAP this is considered an embedded derivative as discussed above under “Reinsurance” and earnings (loss) per sharein Note 5 below.

The par value per each Company share is $0.001 with 1,970,000,000 voting common shares authorized, 20,000,000 non-voting common shares authorized, and 10,000,000 preferred shares authorized. On June 18, 2019, Xenith exercisedinvestments carried by American Life for the right to convert its 1,500,000 Series C preferred stock and the $19,100,000 notes payable to voting common stock at the conversion ratethird-party reinsurers contained unrealized gains of approximately $0.02 per common share. At$161,000 and $2.9 million as of December 31, 20192021 and December 31, 2018,2020, respectively. The terms of the Company had 1,023,408,553contracts with the third-party reinsurers provided that unrealized gains and 22,873,764 voting common shares issued and outstanding, respectively. At December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Company had none and 1,500,000 Series C preferred shares outstanding, respectively.

The Series C preferred shares were converted by Xenith to voting common shares on June 18, 2019 at a rate of approximately $0.02 per share for 72,854,474 voting common shares. The stated annual dividend ratelosses on the Series C preferred shares was 8%. At the time of the conversion, Xenith forgave all previously accrued dividends from June 28, 2018 through the conversion date.

Loss per basic share attributableportfolios accrue to the Company’s common stockholders was computed based onthird-party reinsurers. We account for a gain as a pass through to the weighted average numberthird-party reinsurer by booking equivalent embedded derivative realized losses or gains in our Consolidated Statements of shares outstanding during each period. The weighted average number of shares outstanding duringComprehensive Loss. For the years ended December 31, 20192021 and 20182020, such realized gains of $2.7 million and losses of $2.9 million, respectively, were 576,594,387recorded. The remaining investments retained by American Life as of December 31, 2021 and 22,873,764 shares, respectively.2020, had unrealized gains of approximately $1.2 million and $5.1 million, respectively, that included unrealized gains from assets held for SRC1 and SRC3.

LossBasic loss per diluted share attributable to the Company’s common stockholders for the year ended December 31, 20192021 and 2020 was computed based on($4.24) and ($4.86), respectively, which included the average shares outstandingaforementioned gain of $2.7 million and Long-Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”), as if all vested and converted, was 577,541,406.  The loss per diluted share attributable to the Company’s common stockholders for 2018 was computed based on the average shares outstanding plus the notes payable, the Preferred Shares, and the LTIP as converted as if all vested and converted.  The weighted average number of shares outstanding for the year ended December 31, 2018 was 998,738,023 shares. 

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and Statements of Comprehensive Loss for the year ended December 31, 2018. These reclassifications do not impact the overall Net loss or Net loss per common shares line items of the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss for the year ended December 31, 2018,

Note 2. New Accounting Standards$2.9 million, respectively.

Adoption of New Accounting Standards

In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-08, Compensation – Stock Compensation and Revenue from Contracts with Customers. This update requires an entity to measure and classify share-based payment awards that are granted to customers in accordance with Topic 718 whereby the amount recorded is measured as the fair value on the grant date. On June 19, 2019, the Company granted stock options which were recorded in accordance with this ASU at fair value on grant date

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016‑02, Leases (Topic 842). The guidance in this ASU supersedes the leasing guidance in Topic 840, Leases. Under the new guidance, lessees

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are required to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. The lease liability is measured at the present value of the lease payments over the lease term with the right-of-use asset measured as the lease liability amount and including adjustments for certain lease incentives and initial direct costs. Lease expense recognition will continue to differentiate between finance leases and operating leases resulting in a similar pattern of lease expense recognition as under current GAAP. This ASU permitted a modified retrospective adoption approach that includes a number of optional practical expedients that entities may elect upon adoption. On January 1, 2019, the Company adopted this standard using a modified retrospective adoption approach. The adoption resulted in the Company identifying three operating leases and one financial lease which were subject to this guidance. The impact to the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) was minimal. We identified four leases with net assets of $470,132 and $592,065 and lease liabilities of $526,108 and $655,818 for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

On February 14, 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018‑02, Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. It allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The ASU is effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in any interim period for public business entities for reporting periods for which financial statements have not yet been issued. The Company has evaluated the impact of this update and has determined that this does not impact us currently due to not recording unrealized losses or gains net of tax. The Company has incurred net operating losses since inception so it does not record deferred tax assets or deferred tax liabilities due to establishing a valuation allowance.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014‑09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2014‑09”), which outlines a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers. The core principle of ASU 2014‑09 is that an entity recognizes revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015‑14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date (“ASU 2015‑14”). This amendment deferred the effective date of the previously issued ASU 2014‑09 until the interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. In addition, the FASB has issued four related ASU’s on principal versus agent guidance (ASU 2016‑08), identifying performance obligations and the licensing implementation guidance (ASU 2016‑10) a revision of certain SEC Staff Observer comments (ASU 2016‑11) and implementation guidance (ASU 2016‑12). The guidance permits two methods of transition upon adoption: full retrospective and modified retrospective. The Company adopted ASU 2014‑09 on January 1, 2018, and utilized the modified retrospective method. Insurance contracts, lease contracts and investments are not within the scope of ASU 2014‑09; therefore, this standard does not apply to the majority of our consolidated revenues. For the Company’s miscellaneous income, which is within the scope of this guidance, the Company reviewed its service fee income revenue streams and compared its historical accounting policies and practices to the new adopted standard. The Company believes its historical revenue recognition was materially consistent with the way we recognized service fee income as of December 31, 2019.

Future adoption of New Accounting Standards

In January 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-1, Equity Securities (Topic 321), Investments-Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323), and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815)-Clarifying the Interactions between Topic 321, Topic 323, and Topic 815. The amendments in this Updateupdate clarify certain interactions between the guidance to account for certain equity securities under Topic 321, the guidance to account for investments under the equity method of accounting in Topic 323, and the guidance in Topic 815, which could change how an entity accounts for an equity security under the measurement alternative or a forward contract or purchased option to purchase securities that, upon settlement of the forward contract or exercise of the purchased option, would be accounted for under the equity method of accounting or the fair value option in accordance with Topic 825, Financial Instruments. For public business entities, the amendments in this Update areThis amendment was adopted effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, and interim periods within those fiscal years. We are unableJanuary 1, 2021 with no impact to determine the impact at this time of ASU No. 2020-1 as we are still in the process of evaluating the standard.our financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018‑15, 2018-15, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350‑40)350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computer Arrangement That is a Service Contract. Under ASU No. 2018‑15,2018-15, the amendment aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. The

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accounting for the service element of a hosting arrangement that is a service contract is not affected by the amendments in this update. In order to determine which costs can be capitalized, we are to follow the guidance in Subtopic 350‑40.350-40. Cost for implementation activities in the application development stage are capitalized depending on the nature of the costs, while costs incurred during the preliminary project and the post-implementation stage are expensed as the activities are performed. The amendments in this update are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The amendments in this update should be applied either retrospectively or prospectively to all implementation costs incurred after the date of adoption. Management has reviewed and evaluated the impact of this pending new standard and will implement this starting in fiscal year 2020. The Company has incurred substantial implementation costs relatedadopted this update during 2020 and analyzed all cloud-based computer agreements and determined that none qualified to be capitalized as of December 31, 2020. As of December 31, 2021, the new cloud based technology that was incurred in 2018Company had analyzed and decided not to early adopt this ASU. We are unable to determine the impact at this timecapitalized $1.2 million of ASU No. 2018‑12 as we are still in the processcloud-based software cost.

Future adoption of evaluating the standard.New Accounting Standards

In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-10, Financials Serivces Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), and Leases (topic 842). The board developed a philosophy to extend and simplify how effective dates are staggered between larger public companies and all other entities. For business entities that meet the definition of a smaller reporting company (“SRC”), the amendments in ASU 2018-12 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018‑12, 2018-12, Financial Services-Insurance (TopicServices—Insurance (Topic 944): Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts, as amended by ASU 2019-09, Financial Services —Insurance (Topic 944). This update 1) modifiesThe new guidance (i) prescribes the timeliness of recognizing changesdiscount rate to be used in measuring the liability for future policy benefits for traditional and modifies the rate usedlimited payment long-duration contracts, and requires assumptions for those liability valuations to discount future cash flows, 2) simplifies the accountingbe updated after contract inception, (ii) requires more market-based product guarantees on certain separate account and other account balance long-duration contracts to be accounted for certain market-based options or guarantees associated with deposit contracts, 3)at fair value, (iii) simplifies the amortization of deferred acquisition costs,DAC for virtually all long duration contracts, and 4) addresses the effectiveness(iv) introduces certain financial statement presentation requirements, as well as significant additional quantitative and qualitative disclosures. The new

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standard becomes effective for fiscal years,after December 15, 2024, and interim periods within thosefiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023.2024 for companies eligible as smaller reporting companies. Early application of the amendments in Update 2018-12 is permitted. We anticipate that the adoption of ASU 2018‑122018-12 will have a broad impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures and will require us to make changes to certain of our processes, systems and controls. We are unable to determine the impact at this time of ASU No. 2018‑122018-12 as we are still in the process of evaluating the standard.standard

In November 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018‑10, 2018-10, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses. The amendments in this update include items brought to the Board’sFASB’s attention by stakeholders to clarify the guidance in the amendments in ASU 2016‑13, 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326) which was issued in June 2016. These updated amendments clarify that receivables arising from operating leases are not within the scope of Subtopic 326‑20.326-20. Under ASU 2016‑13,2016-13, this replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology in current GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to perform credit loss estimates. This update changes the methodology from an incurred loss to an expected credit loss. An allowance for the expected credit loss will be set up and the net income will be impacted. The credit losses will be evaluated in the current period and an adjustment to the allowance can be made. The new standard becomes effective after December 15, 2022. We are currently evaluating the impact of our pending adoption of the new standard on our consolidated financial statements.

Note 3. Change in Control

On June 28, 2018, we underwent a change in control as a result of the closing of a Loan, Convertible Preferred Stock and Convertible Senior Secured Note Purchase Agreement dated May 9, 2018 (the “Agreement”) with a non-affiliated third party, Xenith Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Xenith”). Vespoint LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Vespoint”), owns 100% of the voting stock of Xenith. Vespoint is owned and managed by AMS Advisors LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Rendezvous Capital LLC, a New York limited liability company. Each of these three companies is a private investment company; they are controlled by Michael Minnich and A. Michael Salem, who are Co-Chief Executive Officers of Vespoint and Executive Officers of Midwest and American Life.

The terms and conditions of the Agreement were described in Midwest’s Current Report on Form 8‑K filed with the SEC on May 14, 2018. All conditions to consummation of the Agreement, including approval of the transactions contemplated therein by the State of Nebraska Department of Insurance (“NDOI”), were subsequently met and a closing was held pursuant to the Agreement on June 28, 2018 (the “Closing”).

At the closing of the Agreement, we issued 1,500,000 shares of newly created Series C Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series C Preferred Stock”) to Xenith for $1,500,000, which was recorded in our balance sheet as Mezzanine Equity, and it ranked senior to our voting common stock on liquidation with a preference of $1.00 per share. Subject to the availability of funds, annual dividends of 8% of the Series C Preferred Stock liquidation preference were payable by us; if not paid the dividends accrued. Prior to conversion on June

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18, 2019, at any time after June 28, 2025 and subject to Nebraska law, Xenith could have required us to redeem the Series C Preferred Stock at the liquidation preference (plus accrued dividends) or fair market value, whichever was greater. If the shares were not redeemed for any reason, an interest rate of 12% per year would have begun. The Preferred Stock voted along with the voting common stock as a single class on an “as converted” basis. Also, holders of Preferred Stock voting as a separate Series were entitled to elect five of the Company’s eight members of its Board of Directors. The Preferred Stock had several protections against the Company taking action that would adversely affect the rights of holders of Preferred Stock such as mergers, liquidation, and dilutive stock issuances, among others. On June 18, 2019, the Series C Preferred Stock shares were converted, at Xenith’s election, into 72,854,474 shares of our voting common stock at approximately $0.02 per share. All accrued dividends were waived.

Also, at closing of the Agreement, Xenith loaned a total of $600,000 to Midwest, repayable upon maturity in 10 years with cash interest of 4% per annum payable quarterly and accrued interest of another 4% per annum payable upon maturity. The loans were made under two notes of $500,000 and $100,000, respectively. Both notes were converted by Xenith into an aggregate 29,141,790 voting common shares on June 18, 2019.

The Agreement further provided that Xenith, in its sole discretion, could loan up to an additional $23,500,000 to Midwest. Any loans made by Xenith under this election (“Subsequent Loans”) could also to be converted into voting common stock at the price of $0.02 per share. Xenith loaned an additional $18,500,000 in the fourth quarter of 2018 following the amendment of the Midwest Articles of Incorporation to increase its authorized voting common shares to 1,970,000,000. The additional notes were converted, at Xenith’s election, into 898,538,525 shares of voting common stock on June 18, 2019. All interest on the notes through June 18, 2019 was waived for payment and was accounted for as a capital contribution to Midwest.

Substantially all the proceeds from the Loans and Series C Preferred Stock were contributed to our insurance subsidiary, American Life, to be used for general business purposes.

The table below summarizes conversion of the Notes and shares of Series C Preferred Stock into voting common stock and the total outstanding voting common stock as of December 31, 2019:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As Converted Voting Common Stock

 

 

    

Number

    

Percentage

 

Previous* company shareholders

 

22,873,764

 

2.2

%

Note conversion ($500,000)

 

24,284,825

 

2.4

%

Note conversion ($100,000)

 

4,856,965

 

0.5

%

Note conversion ($1,000,000)

 

48,569,650

 

4.7

%

Note conversion ($17,500,000)

 

849,968,875

 

83.1

%

Series C Preferred stock conversion

 

72,854,474

 

7.1

%

Total shares outstanding as of December 31, 2019

 

1,023,408,553

 

100.0

%

* Prior to note and stock conversions.

Note 4.2. Assets and Liabilities Associated with Business Held for Sale

On November 30, 2018, American Life entered into an Assumption and Indemnity Reinsurance Agreement (“Reinsurance Agreement”) with Unified Life Insurance Company (“Unified”), a Texas domiciled stock insurance company. The Reinsurance Agreement provides that American Life ceded and Unified agreed to reinsure, on an indemnity reinsurance basis, 100% of the liabilities and obligations under substantially all of American Life’s life, annuity and health policies (“Policies”). The Agreement closed on December 10, 2018, as previously disclosed in Midwest’s Current Report on Form 8‑K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on December 12, 2018. The effective date of the Agreement was July 1, 2018.

After the closing of the Reinsurance Agreement, Unified began the process of preparingprepared and deliveringdelivered certificates of assumption and other materials to policyholders of American Life in order to effect an assumption of the Policies by Unified such that all of American Life’s rights and obligations under the policies arising on and after July 1, 2018 would be completely assumed by Unified without further indemnification or other obligations, except for liabilities, claims and obligations incurred before July 1, 2018.Unified. Unified is obligated to indemnify American Life against all liabilities and claims and all of its policy obligations from and after the July 1, 2018.

F-15

the policyholder would convert to assumptive by the end of 2019.

The consideration paid by Unified to American Life under the Reinsurance Agreement upon closing was $3,500,000$3.5 million (“Ceding Commission”), subject to minor settlement adjustments. At closing, American Life transferred the Statutory Reserves and Liabilities, as defined in the Reinsurance Agreement, directly related to the policies, to Unified.

The Ceding Commission is being amortized on a straight-line basis over the life of the policies. When the policies are converted to assumptive, meaning American Life has no liability exposure for those policies, the remaining Ceding Commission will be recognized in our income statement.consolidated statement of comprehensive loss.

As of December 31, 2019, 79%2021, and 2020, 90% of the indemnity policies were converted to assumptive policies thereby releasing American Life from its legal obligations related to those policies.

The balance sheets were required to be restated for all periods shown with

An assessment of the assets and liabilities which were ceded by American Life to Unified into separate line items as assets and liabilities held for sale. sale was performed as of December 31, 2021 and management believes that the remaining policyholder contracts will not be converted; therefore, those remaining policy contracts should be reclassified to continuing operations and no longer called out as discontinued operations.

F-17

The table below summarizes the assets and liabilities that arewere included in discontinued operations for the years endedas of December 31, 20192021 and 2018:2020:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of December 31, 

 

As of December 31, 

    

2019

    

2018

As of December 31, 

As of December 31, 

(In thousands)

    

2021

    

2020

Carrying amounts of major classes of assets included as part of discontinued operations:

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

Policy loans

 

$

50,387

 

$

366,849

$

$

33

Reinsurance recoverables

 

 

3,569,849

 

 

20,359,326

 

 

1,062

Premiums receivable

 

 

33,512

 

 

210,896

 

 

24

Total assets held for sale in the Consolidated Balance Sheet

 

$

3,653,748

 

$

20,937,071

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets held for sale in the consolidated balance sheets

$

$

1,119

Carrying amounts of major classes of liabilities included as part of discontinued operations:

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

Benefit reserves

 

$

1,403,953

 

$

9,799,834

$

$

595

Policy claims

 

 

28,203

 

 

127,666

 

 

35

Deposit-type contracts

 

 

2,209,195

 

 

11,050,139

 

 

483

Advance premiums

 

 

2,226

 

 

21,699

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

 

3,290

 

 

53,395

 

 

1

Total liabilities held for sale in the Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

$

3,646,867

 

$

21,052,733

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets held for sale in the consolidated balance sheets

$

$

1,114

The income statement for 2018 was also required to be restated shown breaking out the net income between continuing operations and discontinued operations. There were no items in 20192021 or 2020 that were reclassified as discontinued operations.operations in the consolidated statement of comprehensive loss.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year ended December 31, 

 

    

2018

Major line items constituting pretax loss of discontinued operations:

 

 

  

Premiums

 

$

933,980

Death and other benefits

 

 

(421,448)

Interest credited

 

 

(192,008)

Increase in benefit reserves

 

 

(41,790)

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs

 

 

(202,913)

Other operating expenses

 

 

(104,105)

Loss on discontinued operations

 

$

(28,284)

Note 5.3. Non-controlling Interest

Purchase

On April 2, 2019, Midwest entered into a contract to acquire a 51% controlling ownership in 1505 Capital, a Delaware limited liability company, located in New York.Capital. 1505 Capital was organized to provide financial and investment advisory and management services to clients and any related investment, trading, or financial activities. 1505 Capital had 1,000 Class A Units available for issuance for which Midwest purchased for $1 a total of 510 of the Class A Units$1.00 its 51% ownership and Aurora Financial Services, Inc.on June 15, 2020, purchased the remaining 490 Class A Units.49% ownership in 1505 Capital for $500,000.

Disposal

On December 30, 2021, Midwest closed the sale of approximately 70% of SRC1 to a subsidiary of ORIX Corporation USA for $15.0 million. Under the terms of the agreement, Midwest holds a 30% ownership interest in SRC1. ORIX Advisers, LLC, another subsidiary of ORIX USA, will be the manager of the assets underlying SRC1’s reinsurance obligations going forward, replacing Midwest’s asset management arm, 1505 Capital LLC. Midwest is recognizing the $15.0 million as Noncontrolling interest in the equity section of the Consolidated balance sheets.

F-16F-18

Midwest has consolidated the 1505 Capital income of $252,113 into its consolidated financials from April 2, 2019, through December 31, 2019.  Midwest’s portion of income was $127,636 and the non-controlling interest income was $124,477.

Note 6.4. Investments

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of investments classified as available-for-sale as of December 31, 20192021 and 20182020 are as follows:

Gross

Gross

Amortized

Unrealized

Unrealized

Estimated

(In thousands)

    

Cost

    

Gains

    

Losses

    

Fair Value

December 31, 2021:

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Fixed maturities:

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Bonds:

U.S. government obligations

$

1,855

$

32

$

5

$

1,882

Mortgage-backed securities

 

55,667

 

368

 

755

 

55,280

Asset-backed securities

24,675

443

167

24,951

Collateralized loan obligation

272,446

2,928

851

274,523

States and political subdivisions -- general obligations

 

105

 

9

 

 

114

States and political subdivisions -- special revenue

 

4,487

 

1,129

 

4

 

5,612

Corporate

 

35,392

 

1,846

 

99

 

37,139

Term Loans

268,794

441

1,767

267,468

Trust preferred

2,218

19

2,237

Redeemable preferred stock

14,282

53

245

14,090

Total fixed maturities

$

679,921

$

7,268

$

3,893

$

683,296

Mortgage loans on real estate, held for investment

183,203

183,203

Derivatives

18,654

6,391

2,023

23,022

Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) stock

500

500

Equity securities

22,158

289

21,869

Other invested assets

34,491

813

11

35,293

Investment escrow

3,611

-

3,611

Preferred stock

14,885

3,801

18,686

Notes receivable

5,960

5,960

Policy loans

87

87

Total investments

$

963,470

$

18,273

$

6,216

$

975,527

December 31, 2020:

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Fixed maturities:

Bonds:

U.S. government obligations

$

5,744

$

426

$

6

$

6,164

Mortgage-backed securities

14,638

 

276

 

157

14,757

Asset-backed securities

7,277

173

7,450

Collateralized loan obligation

209,224

5,450

350

214,324

States and political subdivisions -- general obligations

107

 

11

 

118

States and political subdivisions -- special revenue

5,293

 

909

 

6,202

Corporate

17,401

 

1,379

 

171

18,609

Term Loans

107,254

107,254

Trust preferred

2,218

67

2,285

Total fixed maturities

$

369,156

$

8,691

$

684

$

377,163

Mortgage loans on real estate, held for investment

94,990

94,990

Derivatives

8,532

3,257

428

11,361

Other invested assets

21,897

21,897

Investment escrow

3,174

3,174

Preferred stock

3,898

3,898

Notes receivable

5,666

5,666

Policy loans

46

46

Total investments

$

507,359

$

11,948

$

1,112

$

518,195

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost or

 

Gross

 

Gross

 

 

 

 

 

Amortized

 

Unrealized

 

Unrealized

 

Estimated

 

    

Cost

    

Gains

    

Losses

    

Fair Value

December 31, 2019:

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

Fixed maturities:

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

U.S. government obligations

 

$

2,091,710

 

$

7,073

 

$

17,559

 

$

2,081,224

Mortgage-backed securities

 

 

819,678

 

 

 —

 

 

21,070

 

 

798,608

Asset-backed securities

 

 

95,006,241

 

 

646,335

 

 

404,752

 

 

95,247,824

States and political subdivisions -- general obligations

 

 

240,494

 

 

8,788

 

 

 —

 

 

249,282

States and political subdivisions -- special revenue

 

 

25,112

 

 

179

 

 

 —

 

 

25,291

Corporate

 

 

18,493,077

 

 

501,022

 

 

154,467

 

 

18,839,632

Total fixed maturities

 

$

116,676,312

 

$

1,163,397

 

$

597,848

 

$

117,241,861

Mortgage loans on real estate, held for investment

 

 

13,810,041

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

13,810,041

Derivatives

 

 

490,831

 

 

87,684

 

 

3,221

 

 

575,294

Investment Escrow

 

 

3,899,986

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

3,899,986

Other invested assets

 

 

2,468,947

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

2,468,947

Preferred stock

 

 

500,000

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

500,000

Total Investments

 

$

137,846,117

 

$

1,251,081

 

$

601,069

 

$

138,496,129

December 31, 2018:

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

Fixed maturities:

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

U.S. government obligations

 

$

2,112,816

 

$

247

 

$

117,112

 

$

1,995,951

Mortgage-back securities

 

 

1,068,976

 

 

 —

 

 

64,925

 

 

1,004,051

States and political subdivisions -- general obligations

 

 

265,473

 

 

 —

 

 

2,289

 

 

263,184

States and political subdivisions -- special revenue

 

 

25,231

 

 

 —

 

 

58

 

 

25,173

Corporate

 

 

15,754,345

 

 

14

 

 

1,658,535

 

 

14,095,824

Total fixed maturities

 

$

19,226,841

 

$

261

 

$

1,842,919

 

$

17,384,183

F-19

The Company had two securities that individually exceed 10%following table shows the distribution of the totalcredit ratings of the state and political subdivisions categoriesour portfolio of fixed maturity securities by carrying value as of December 31, 2019. The amortized cost, fair value, credit rating,2021 and description2020.

December 31, 2021

December 31, 2020

 

Carrying

Carrying

 

(In thousands)

    

Value

    

Percent

    

Value

    

Percent

 

AAA and U.S. Government

$

2,674

 

0.4

%  

$

3,071

 

0.8

%

AA

 

482

 

0.1

 

5,818

 

1.5

A

 

168,141

 

24.6

 

49,445

 

13.1

BBB

 

462,699

 

67.7

 

247,636

 

65.7

Total investment grade

 

633,996

 

92.8

 

305,970

 

81.1

BB and other

 

49,300

 

7.2

 

71,193

 

18.9

Total

$

683,296

 

100.0

%  

$

377,163

 

100.0

%

Reflecting the quality of each such security issecurities maintained by us, as follows:of December 31, 2021 and 2020, 92.8% and 81.1%, respectively, of all fixed maturity securities were investment grade.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortized

 

Estimated

 

 

 

    

Cost

    

Fair Value

    

Credit Rating

December 31, 2019:

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

Fixed maturities:

 

 

  

 

 

  

��

  

States and political subdivisions -- general obligations

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

Bellingham, Washington

 

$

107,709

 

$

115,597

 

AA+

Longview, Washington Refunding

 

 

132,785

 

 

133,685

 

Aa3

Total

 

$

240,494

 

$

249,282

 

  

F-17

The following table summarizes, for all securities in an unrealized loss position at December 31, 20192021 and 2018,2020 the estimated fair value, pre-tax gross unrealized loss and number of securities by length of time that those securities have been continuously in an unrealized loss position.

December 31, 2021

December 31, 2020

Gross

Number

Gross

Number

Estimated

Unrealized

of

Estimated

Unrealized

of

(In thousands)

    

Fair Value

    

Loss

    

Securities(1)

    

Fair Value

    

Loss

    

Securities(1)

Fixed Maturities:

Less than 12 months:

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

U.S. government obligations

$

104

$

2

 

 

1

$

55

$

 

2

Mortgage-backed securities

 

35,403

 

755

 

 

35

 

5,708

 

157

 

5

Asset-backed securities

12,355

167

13

14,878

247

19

Collateralized loan obligation

90,731

851

115

States and political subdivisions -- special revenue

 

217

4

 

 

0

 

6

 

 

1

Term loans

105,677

1,767

Redeemable preferred stock

10,837

245

6

Corporate

 

2,367

 

73

 

 

9

 

3,860

 

104

 

7

Greater than 12 months:

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

U.S. government obligations

 

66

 

3

 

 

3

 

120

 

6

 

4

Collateralized loan obligations

 

 

 

 

 

7,020

 

103

 

6

Corporate

 

324

26

 

 

2

 

287

67

 

3

Total fixed maturities

$

258,081

$

3,893

 

 

184

$

31,934

$

684

47

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2019

 

December 31, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

Gross

 

Number

 

 

 

 

Gross

 

Number

 

 

Estimated

 

Unrealized

 

of

 

Estimated

 

Unrealized

 

of

 

    

Fair Value

    

Loss

    

Securities(1)

    

Fair Value

    

Loss

    

Securities(1)

Fixed Maturities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less than 12 months:

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

U.S. government obligations

 

$

1,518,772

 

$

14,935

 

 

 9

 

$

7,862

 

$

430

 

 

 1

Asset-backed securities

 

 

39,114,732

 

 

404,752

 

 

26

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

Mortgage-back securities

 

 

160,010

 

 

4,844

 

 

 4

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

Corporate

 

 

2,800,815

 

 

13,618

 

 

 4

 

 

3,351,664

 

 

315,617

 

 

23

Greater than 12 months:

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

U.S. government obligations

 

 

353,834

 

 

2,624

 

 

 2

 

 

1,785,949

 

 

116,682

 

 

10

Mortgage-back securities

 

 

638,598

 

 

16,226

 

 

14

 

 

1,004,052

 

 

64,925

 

 

19

States and political subdivisions -- general obligations

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

263,183

 

 

2,289

 

 

 2

States and political subdivisions -- special revenue

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

25,173

 

 

58

 

 

 1

Corporate

 

 

2,201,658

 

 

140,849

 

 

13

 

 

10,628,745

 

 

1,342,918

 

 

58

Total fixed maturities

 

$

46,788,419

 

$

597,848

 

 

72

 

$

17,066,628

 

$

1,842,919

 

 

114

(1)We may reflect a security in more than one aging category based on various purchase dates.

(1)

We may reflect a security in more than one aging category based on various purchase dates.

Based on our reviewOur securities positions resulted in a gross unrealized loss position as of December 31, 2021 that was greater than the securities in angross unrealized loss position at December 31, 20192020 due to a decline in market values. We performed an analysis and 2018,determined that there were no other-than-temporary impairments were deemed necessary. Management believesindicators that we should perform a cash flow testing analysis and 0 impairment was required as of December 31, 2021. During the impairment analysis performed as of December 31, 2020 one of our assets had been in a loss position for over two years and had a decrease in its credit rating since 2019; cashflow testing on that security determined an impairment existed so we recorded an impairment of $35,000. As of December 31, 2021, management believed the Company willwould fully recover its cost basis in the remaining securities held at December 31, 2019,

F-20

and management doesdid not have the intent to sell, nor iswas it more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell, such securities beforeuntil they recover or mature.

See the discussion above under “Comprehensive loss” in Note 1 regarding unrealized gains/losses on investments that are owned by our reinsurers and the corresponding offset carried as a gain in the associated embedded derivatives.

The Company purchases and sells equipment leases in its investment portfolio. As of December 31, 2021, the Company owned several leases. An impairment analysis was completed on the only non-performing lease in the portfolio as of June 30, 2020 and it was determined that the underlying collateral value was less than the outstanding remaining lease payments of $3.6 million. The Company recognized a valuation allowance as of June 30, 2020 of $777,000 on that asset. During March 2021, the non-performing asset was sold for a loss of $2.4 million. The valuation allowance was released and a loss of $2.4 million was recognized; however, this asset was held on behalf of a third-party reinsurer. Therefore, due to the terms of the reinsurance agreements, the loss was passed through to the third-party reinsurer by reducing its investment income earned.

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of fixed maturities at December 31, 2019,2021, by contractual maturity, are shown below. Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. No securities are due in the next year to further support management’s decision not to recognize an other-than-temporary impairment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortized

 

Estimated

    

Cost

    

Fair Value

Amortized

Estimated

(In thousands)

    

Cost

    

Fair Value

Due in one year or less

 

$

101,205

 

$

100,958

$

43,011

$

42,868

Due after one year through five years

 

 

2,649,457

 

 

2,724,011

 

286,283

 

286,068

Due after five years through ten years

 

 

21,925,465

 

 

22,013,673

 

240,093

 

242,341

Due after ten years through twenty years

 

 

84,210,270

 

 

84,473,538

63,986

64,206

Due after twenty years

 

 

7,789,915

 

 

7,929,681

44,748

46,076

 

$

116,676,312

 

$

117,241,861

No maturity

1,800

1,737

$

679,921

$

683,296

The Company is required to hold assets on deposit for the benefit of policyholders in accordance with insurance rules and regulations. At December 31, 20192021 and 2018,2020, these required deposits had a total amortized cost of $3,611,292$3.0 million and $2,958,178$3.4 million, respectively, and fair values of $3,612,844$3.0 million and $2,772,809,$3.6 million, respectively.

Mortgage loans consist of the following:

(In thousands)

December 31, 2021

December 31, 2020

Industrial

$

$

1,250

Commercial mortgage loan - multi-family

101,809

66,916

Residential

50,000

Retail

13,824

Other

17,570

26,824

Total mortgage loans

$

183,203

$

94,990

Geographic Locations:

As of December 31, 2021, the commercial mortgages loans were secured by properties geographically dispersed (with the largest concentrations in loans secured by properties in Delaware (34%) New York (32%), Arizona (4%), California (4%), and non-US (9%). As of December 31, 2020, the commercial mortgages loans were secured by properties geographically dispersed (with the largest concentrations in New York (28%), Pennsylvania (14%), California (14%) and Europe (12%)).

The loan-to-value ratio is expressed as a percentage of the amount of the loan relative to the value of the underlying property. A loan-to-value ratio in excess of 100% indicates the unpaid loan amount exceeds the underlying collateral. The following represents the loan-to-value ratio of the commercial mortgage loan portfolio, excluding those under development, net of valuation allowances.

F-18F-21

Commercial Mortgage Loans

(In thousands)

December 31, 2021

December 31, 2020

Loan-to-Value Ratio:

0%-59.99%

$

91,104

$

49,280

60%-69.99%

42,819

22,349

70%-79.99%

44,106

23,361

80% or greater

5,174

Total mortgage loans

$

183,203

$

94,990

The components of net investment income for the years ended December 31, 20192021 and 20182020 are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31, 

 

 

2019

    

2018

Fixed maturities

 

$

292,453

 

$

789,949

Other

 

 

38,397

 

 

44,614

Gross investment income

 

 

330,850

 

 

834,563

Less investment expenses

 

 

(210,269)

 

 

(318,675)

Investment (loss) income, net of expenses

 

$

120,581

 

$

515,888

Year ended December 31, 

(In thousands)

    

2021

    

2020

Fixed maturities

$

16,443

$

3,661

Mortgage loans

185

992

Other invested assets

665

103

Other interest income

 

298

 

Gross investment income

 

17,591

 

4,756

Less: investment expenses

 

(1,854)

 

(709)

Investment income, net of expenses

$

15,737

$

4,047

Proceeds for the years ended December 31, 20192021 and 20182020 from sales of investments classified as available-for-sale were $5,752,910$356.8 million, and $10,043,118$89.1 million, respectively. Gross gains of $268,848$6.0 million and $27,972$2.2 million and gross losses of $30,885$1.4 million and $367,792$388,000 were realized on sales and the realized losses on sales during the yearyears ended December 31, 20192021 and 2018,2020, respectively.

The proceeds included those assets associated with the third-party reinsurers. The gains and losses relate only to the assets retained by Midwest.

Note 7.5. Derivative Instruments

The Company entered into derivative instruments to hedge fixed indexed annuity products that guarantee the return of principal to the policyholders and credit interest based on a percentage of the gain in a specified market index. To hedge against adverse changes in equity indices, the Company entered into contracts to buy equity indexed options.  The Company did not have any asset derivatives or embedded derivatives in policyholder contracts as of December 31, 2018.

The following is a summary of the asset derivatives not designated as hedges embedded derivatives in our FIA product as of December 31, 2019:2021 and 2020:  

    

December 31, 2021

December 31, 2020

Location in the

(In thousands, except number of contracts)

Consolidated

Derivatives Not Designated

Statement of

Notional

Number of

Estimated

Notional

Number of

Estimated

as Hedging Instruments

Balance Sheets

Amount

Contracts

Fair Value

Amount

Contracts

Fair Value

Equity-indexed options

Derivatives

$

526,096

482

$

23,766

$

272,854

252

$

11,361

Equity-indexed
embedded derivatives

Deposit-type
contracts

525,548

4,205

123,692

311,964

2,101

84,501

At December 31, 2021, the value of the embedded derivative considers all amounts projected to be paid in excess of the minimum guarantee (the amounts payable without any indexation increases) over future periods. The host contract reflects the minimum guaranteed values.

Due to price changes in the capital markets, our securities positions resulted in decreased unrealized gains at December 31, 2021, compared to 2020, reported in accumulated other comprehensive income on the balance sheet. The embedded derivative related to the asset portfolio belonging to the third-party reinsurers offset these unrealized gains. The unrealized gains as of December 31, 2021 was $161,000 compared to unrealized gains of $2.9 million as of December 31, 2020.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

December 31, 2019

Derivatives Not Designated

 

Location in the Consolidated

Notional

 

Number of

 

Estimated

as Hedging Instruments

 

Statement of Balance Sheets

Amount

 

Contracts

 

Fair Value

Equity-indexed options

 

Derivatives

$

9,698,863

 

24

 

$

575,294

Equity-indexed embedded derivative

 

Deposit-type contracts

 

10,720,324

 

108

 

 

576,634

F-22

The following table summarizes the impact of those embedded derivatives related to the funds withheld provision where the total return on the asset portfolio belongs to the third-party reinsurers:

    

December 31, 2021

December 31, 2020

(In thousands, except number of contracts)

Book Value

Market Value

Total Return

Book Value

Market Value

Total Return

Portfolio

Assets

Assets

Swap Value

Assets

Assets

Swap Value

American Republic Insurance Company

$

74,983

$

74,670

$

313

$

$

$

Crestline Re SP1

228,560

228,450

110

62,163

63,131

(968)

Ironbound

154,867

155,755

(888)

98,714

99,748

(1,034)

Ascendent Re

56,246

56,078

168

27,224

27,480

(256)

US Alliance

46,221

46,085

136

35,707

36,360

(653)

Total

$

560,877

$

561,038

$

(161)

$

223,808

$

226,719

$

(2,911)

The total return swap value was recorded as a decrease in our amounts recoverable from reinsurers of $161,000 compared to an increase of $2.9 million on our balance sheet as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and a realized gain of $2.7 million compared to realized loss of $2.9 million on our income statement for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.

Note 8.6. Fair Values of Financial Instruments

Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. We use valuation techniques that are consistent with the market approach, the income approach and/or the cost approach. Inputs to valuation techniques refer to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Inputs may be observable, meaning those that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from independent sources, or unobservable, meaning those that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. In that regard, accounting standards establish a fair value hierarchy for valuation inputs that gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs. The fair value hierarchy is as follows:

·

Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the entity has the ability to access as of the measurement date.

·

Level 2: Significant other observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.

·

Level 3: Significant unobservable inputs that reflect a reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability.

F-19

A review of fair value hierarchy classifications is conducted on a quarterly basis. Changes in the valuation inputs, or their ability to be observed, may result in a reclassification for certain financial assets or liabilities. Reclassifications impacting Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy are reported as transfers in/out of the Level 3 category as of the beginning of the period in which the reclassifications occur.

A description of the valuation methodologies used for assets measured at fair value, as well as the general classification of such instruments pursuant to the valuation hierarchy, is set forth below.

Level 1 measurements

Cash: The carrying value of cash andCash equivalents: Money market funds are valued at the closing price reported by the fund sponsor from an actively traded exchange. These are included within cash equivalents and short-term investments approximateas Level 1 measurements in the fair value becausetable below.

F-23

Level 2 measurements

Investment escrow: The Company had escrow funds of as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, of $3.6 million and $3.2 million, respectively. These escrow funds were used to settle mortgage loans that did not close until January 2022 and 2021. The money held in escrow at December 31, 2021and 2020 was carried at cost.

Fixed maturities: maturity securities: Fixed maturitiesmaturity securities are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis utilizing a third-party pricing source.source such as the Clearwater Automated Valuation Service (“AVS”) Securities Valuation Office (“SVO”) pricing. The valuations are reviewed and validated quarterly through random testing by comparisons to separate pricing models or other third partythird-party pricing services. For the periodyears ended December 31, 2019,2021 and 2020, there were no material changes to the valuation methods or assumptions used to determine fair values, and no broker or third partythird-party prices were changed from the values received.

Derivatives: Derivatives are reported at fair market value utilizing a third-party pricing source.source such as the Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) 500 index and the S&P Multi-Asset Risk Control (“MARC”) 5% index.

Investment escrow: Equity securities: Equity securities at December 31, 2021 consist of exchange traded funds (“ETFs”). The Company holdsETF’s are considered equity securities and recorded at fair value on a recurring basis utilizing a third-party pricing source with the change in escrowfair value recorded through realized gains and losses on the statement of operations. As of December 31, 2021 we had purchased $21.9 million of ETFs and NaN as of December 31, 2019, cash2020.

Notes receivable: The Company held in notes receivable as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, a note of $6.0 million and $5.7 million, respectively, that will beincludes paid-in-kind (“PIK”) interest. The note receivable is between American Life and Chelsea Holdings Midwest LLC with an interest rate of 5% per annum that was rated BBB+ by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”). This note is being carried at fair market value.

Level 3 measurements

Term loans: The assets classified as term loans are carried at unpaid principal net of amortization of discount or accretion, which approximates fair value or carried at fair market value based on a valuation using market standard valuation methodologies. The inputs used to settle a mortgage loan that did not close until January 2020.

measure the fair value of these assets are classified as Level 3 measurementswithin the fair value hierarchy.

Mortgage loans on real estate, held for investment: Mortgage loans are generally stated at principal amounts outstanding, net of deferred expenses and allowance for loan loss. Interest on loans is recognized on an accrual basis at the applicable interest rate on the principal amount outstanding. Loan origination fees and direct costs, as well as premiums and discounts, are amortized as level yield adjustments over the respective loan terms. Unamortized net fees or costs are recognized upon early repayment of the loans. Loan commitment fees are generally deferred and amortized on an effective yield basis over the term of the loan. Impaired loans are generally carried at theiron a non-accrual status. Loans are ordinarily placed on non-accrual status when, in management’s opinion, the collection of principal value as there are no traded market values for these loans.or interest is unlikely, or when the collection of principal or interest is 90 days or more past due.

Other invested assets: Short-termOther invested assets include collateral loans, private credit investments, equipment leases, and a private fund investment. The collateral loans, private credit investments, and equipment leases are carried at their principalamortized cost which approximates fair value. The private fund investment is carried at statement value with approximates fair value of the fund. The inputs used to measure these assets are classified as there are no traded market values for these leases.Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy.

Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) stock: American Life purchased Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka (“FHLB”) common stock on May 5, 2021. This investment was to solidify our membership with FHLB Topeka. The carrying value of FHLB stock approximates fair value since the Company can redeem such stock with FHLB at cost. As a member of the FHLB, the Company is required to purchase this stock, which is carried at cost and classified as restricted equity securities.

Preferred stock: The perpetual preferred stock investmentof $10.0 million is carried at fair market. As of December 31, 2021, the fair market value of the Ascona preferred stock and warrants was recorded at its principal value as there$4.9 million and $3.8. million, respectively. The Ascona preferred stock and warrants have no readily available market value; therefore a valuation of the investments was no traded market values for this stock. prepared by a third-party.

F-24

Policy loans: Policy loans are stated at unpaid principal balances. As these loans are fully collateralized by the cash surrender value of the underlying insurance policies, the carrying value of the policy loans approximates their fair value.

Deposit-type contracts: The fair value for direct and assumed liabilities under deposit-type insurance contracts (accumulation annuities) is calculated using a discounted cash flow approach. Cash flows are projected using actuarial assumptions and discounted to the valuation date using risk-free rates adjusted for credit risk and nonperformance risk of the liabilities. The fair values for insurance contracts other than deposit-type contracts are not required to be disclosed.

Embedded derivative for equity-indexed contracts: The Company has embedded derivatives in its FIA policyholder obligations. These embedded derivatives are carried at the fair market value as of December 31, 2021 and 2020. The fair value of the embedded derivative component of our FIA obligation is estimated at each valuation date by projecting policy contract values and minimum guaranteed contract values over the expected lives of the contracts and discounting the excess of projected contract value amounts at the applicable risk-free interest rates adjusted for our nonperformance risk related to those obligations. The projections of FIA policy contract values are based on best estimate assumptions for future policy growth and decrements including lapse, partial withdrawal and mortality rates. The best estimate assumptions for future policy growth include assumptions for expected index credits on the next policy anniversary date which are derived from fair values of the underlying equity call options purchased to fund such index credits and the present value of expected costs of annual call options purchased in the future by us to fund index credits beyond the next policy anniversary. The projections of minimum guaranteed contract values include the same best estimate assumptions for policy decrements as assumptions used to project policy contract values.

F-20F-25

The following table presents the Company’s fair value hierarchy for those financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 20192021 and 2018.2020.

Significant

Quoted

Other

Significant

In Active

Observable

Unobservable

Estimated

Markets

Inputs

Inputs

Fair

(In thousands, except number of contracts)

    

(Level 1)

    

(Level 2)

    

(Level 3)

    

Value

December 31, 2021

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Financial assets

Fixed maturity securities:

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Bonds

U.S. government obligations

$

$

1,882

$

$

1,882

Mortgage-backed securities

55,280

55,280

Asset-backed securities

24,951

24,951

Collateralized loan obligation

274,523

274,523

States and political subdivisions — general obligations

 

 

114

 

 

114

States and political subdivisions — special revenue

 

 

5,612

 

 

5,612

Corporate

 

 

37,139

 

 

37,139

Term Loans

 

267,468

 

267,468

Trust preferred

2,237

2,237

Redeemable preferred stock

14,090

14,090

Total fixed maturity securities

415,828

267,468

683,296

Mortgage loans on real estate, held for investment

183,203

183,203

Derivatives

23,022

23,022

Equity securities

21,869

21,869

Other invested assets

35,293

35,293

Investment escrow

3,611

3,611

Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) stock

500

500

Preferred stock

18,686

18,686

Notes receivable

5,960

5,960

Policy loans

87

87

Total Investments

$

$

470,290

$

505,237

$

975,527

Financial liabilities

Embedded derivative for equity-indexed contracts

$

$

$

123,692

123,692

December 31, 2020

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

Fixed maturity securities:

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Bonds

U.S. government obligations

$

$

6,164

$

$

6,164

Mortgage-backed securities

14,757

14,757

Asset-backed securities

7,450

7,450

Collateralized loan obligation

214,324

214,324

States and political subdivisions — general obligations

 

 

118

 

 

118

States and political subdivisions — special revenue

 

 

6,202

 

 

6,202

Corporate

 

 

18,609

 

 

18,609

Term loans

107,254

107,254

Trust preferred

2,285

2,285

Total fixed maturity securities

269,909

107,254

377,163

Mortgage loans on real estate, held for investment

94,990

94,990

Derivatives

11,361

11,361

Other invested assets

21,897

21,897

Investment escrow

3,174

3,174

Preferred stock

3,898

3,898

Notes receivable

5,666

5,666

Policy loans

46

46

Total Investments

$

$

290,110

$

228,085

$

518,195

Financial liabilities

Embedded derivative for equity-indexed contracts

$

$

$

84,501

84,501

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Significant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quoted

 

Other

 

Significant

 

 

 

 

 

In Active

 

Observable

 

Unobservable

 

Estimated

 

 

Markets

 

Inputs

 

Inputs

 

Fair

 

    

(Level 1)

    

(Level 2)

    

(Level 3)

    

Value

December 31, 2019

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

Financial assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities:

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

U.S. government obligations

 

$

 —

 

$

2,081,224

 

$

 —

 

$

2,081,224

Mortgage-backed securities

 

 

 —

 

 

798,608

 

 

 —

 

 

798,608

Asset-backed securities

 

 

 —

 

 

95,247,824

 

 

 —

 

 

95,247,824

States and political subdivisions — general obligations

 

 

 —

 

 

249,282

 

 

 —

 

 

249,282

States and political subdivisions — special revenue

 

 

 —

 

 

25,291

 

 

 —

 

 

25,291

Corporate

 

 

 —

 

 

18,839,632

 

 

 —

 

 

18,839,632

       Total fixed maturities

 

 

 —

 

 

117,241,861

 

 

 —

 

 

117,241,861

Mortgage loans on real estate, held for investment

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

13,810,041

 

 

13,810,041

Derivatives

 

 

 —

 

 

575,294

 

 

 —

 

 

575,294

Investment escrow

 

 

 —

 

 

3,899,986

 

 

 —

 

 

3,899,986

Other invested assets

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

2,468,947

 

 

2,468,947

Preferred stock

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

500,000

 

 

500,000

Total Investments

 

$

 —

 

$

121,717,141

 

$

16,778,988

 

$

138,496,129

Financial liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Embedded derivative for equity-indexed contracts

 

$

 —

 

$

576,634

 

$

 —

 

 

576,634

December 31, 2018

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Fixed maturities:

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

 

U.S. government obligations

 

$

 —

 

$

1,995,951

 

$

 —

 

$

1,995,951

Mortgage-back securities

 

 

 —

 

 

1,004,051

 

 

 —

 

 

1,004,051

States and political subdivisions - general obligations

 

 

 —

 

 

263,184

 

 

 —

 

 

263,184

States and political subdivisions - special revenue

 

 

 —

 

 

25,173

 

 

 —

 

 

25,173

Corporate

 

 

 —

 

 

14,095,824

 

 

 —

 

 

14,095,824

Total fixed maturities

 

$

 —

 

$

17,384,183

 

$

 —

 

$

17,384,183

F-26

There were no0 transfers of financialinstrumentsbetween Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3any levels during the yearsyear ended December 31, 2019 or 2018.2021. For the year ended December 31, 2020 we transferred third-party term loans in the aggregate amount of $107.2 million between from level 2 to level 3 as there is no active market for unrated term loans.

Accounting standards require disclosure of the fair value of financial assets and financial liabilities, including those financial assets and financial liabilities that are not measured and reported at fair value on a recurring basis or non-recurring basis. The methodologies for estimating the fair value of financial assets and financial liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis are discussed above. There were no financial assets or financial liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis.

F-21

The following disclosure contains the carrying values, estimated fair values and their corresponding placement in the fair value hierarchy, for financial assets and financial liabilities as of December 31, 20192021 and 2018,2020, respectively:

December 31, 2021

Fair Value Measurements Using

Quoted Prices in

Active Markets

Significant Other

Significant

for Identical Assets

Observable

Unobservable

Carrying

and Liabilities

Inputs

Inputs

Fair

(In thousands, except number of contracts)

    

Amount

    

(Level 1)

    

(Level 2)

    

(Level 3)

    

Value

Assets:

Policy loans

$

87

$

$

$

87

$

87

Cash equivalents

 

142,013

 

 

142,013

 

 

142,013

Liabilities:

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Policyholder deposits (deposit-type contracts)

 

1,075,439

 

 

 

1,075,439

 

1,075,439

December 31, 2020

Fair Value Measurements Using

Quoted Prices in

Active Markets

Significant Other

Significant

for Identical Assets

Observable

Unobservable

Carrying

and Liabilities

Inputs

Inputs

Fair

(In thousands, except number of contracts)

    

Amount

    

(Level 1)

    

(Level 2)

    

(Level 3)

    

Value

Assets:

Policy loans

$

46

$

$

$

46

$

46

Cash equivalents

 

151,679

 

100,567

 

51

 

 

151,679

Liabilities:

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Policyholder deposits (deposit-type contracts)

 

597,868

 

 

 

597,868

 

597,868

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurements Using

 

 

 

 

 

Quoted Prices in

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Active Markets

 

Significant Other

 

Significant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

for Identical Assets

 

Observable

 

Unobservable

 

 

 

 

 

Carrying

 

and Liabilities

 

Inputs

 

Inputs

 

Fair

 

    

Amount

    

(Level 1)

    

(Level 2)

    

(Level 3)

    

Value

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Policy loans

 

$

106,014

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

106,014

 

$

106,014

Cash

 

 

43,716,205

 

 

43,716,205

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

43,716,205

Liabilities:

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

Policyholder deposits (Deposit-type contracts)

 

 

171,168,785

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

171,168,785

 

 

171,168,785

F-27

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurements Using

 

 

 

 

 

Quoted Prices in

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Active Markets

 

Significant Other

 

Significant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

for Identical Assets

 

Observable

 

Unobservable

 

 

 

 

 

Carrying

 

and Liabilities

 

Inputs

 

Inputs

 

Fair

 

    

Amount

    

(Level 1)

    

(Level 2)

    

(Level 3)

    

Value

Assets:

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

Policy loans

 

$

43,843

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

43,843

 

$

43,843

Cash

 

 

2,832,567

 

 

2,832,567

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

2,832,567

Liabilities:

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

Policyholder deposits (Deposit-type contracts)

 

 

7,234,927

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

7,234,927

 

 

7,234,927

Notes payable

 

 

18,938,705

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

18,938,705

 

 

18,938,705

The following table presents a reconciliation from the opening balances to the closing balances with separate disclosure of changes during the period attributable to (a) total gains or losses for the period recognized in earnings and the line item(s) in the statement of comprehensive income in which such gains or losses are recognized; (b) total gains or losses for the period recognized in other comprehensive income and the line item(s) in other comprehensive income in which such gains or losses are recognized; (c) purchases, sales, issues, and settlements, with each type disclosed separately; and (d) the amounts of any transfers into or out of Level 3, the reasons for such transfers, and the policy for determining when transfers between levels have occurred during the year ended December 31, 2021:

As of

As of

December 31,

December 31,

(In thousands, except number of contracts)

    

2020

    

Additions

    

Sales

    

2021

Assets

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Term loans

$

107,254

$

231,089

$

70,875

267,468

Mortgage loans on real estate,

held for investment

94,990

160,277

72,064

183,203

Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) stock

500

500

Other invested assets

21,897

96,339

82,943

35,293

Preferred stock

3,898

14,788

-

18,686

Total Investments

$

228,039

$

502,993

$

225,882

$

505,150

The following tables present a reconciliation of the beginning balance for all investments measured at fair value on a recurring basis using level three inputs during the yearsyear ended December 31, 20192020:

As of

As of

December 31,

Valuation

December 31,

(In thousands, except number of contracts)

    

2019

    

Additions

    

Sales

    

Allowance

Impairment

2020

Assets

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

  

Term loans

$

$

107,254

$

$

$

$

107,254

Mortgage loans on real

estate, held for investment

13,810

99,357

18,177

94,990

Other invested assets

2,469

74,723

54,518

(777)

21,897

Preferred stock

500

3,898

(500)

3,898

Total Investments

$

16,779

$

285,232

$

72,695

$

(777)

$

(500)

$

228,039

Significant Unobservable Inputs—Significant unobservable inputs occur when we could not obtain or corroborate the quantitative detail of the inputs. This applies to fixed maturity securities, preferred stock, mortgage loans and 2018.certain derivatives, as well as embedded derivatives in liabilities. Additional significant unobservable inputs are described below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total gains

 

Total gains

 

 

Beginning

 

 

 

 

 

Included in

 

Ending Balance

 

    

Balance

    

Additions

    

Sales

    

Income

 

Value

Assets

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

Policy loans

 

$

43,843

 

$

62,171

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

106,014

Mortgage loans on real estate, held for investment

 

 

 —

 

 

15,036,179

 

 

1,226,138

 

 

 —

 

 

13,810,041

Other invested assets

 

 

 —

 

 

17,287,325

 

 

14,849,555

 

 

31,177

 

 

2,468,947

Preferred stock

 

 

 —

 

 

500,000

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

500,000

Total Investments

 

$

43,843

 

$

32,885,675

 

$

16,075,693

 

$

31,177

 

$

16,885,002

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest sensitive contract liabilities – embedded derivative – Significant unobservable inputs we use in the fixed indexed annuities embedded derivative of the interest sensitive contract liabilities valuation include:

Nonperformance risk – For contracts we issue, we use the credit spread, relative to the US Department of the Treasury (Treasury) curve based on our public credit rating as of the valuation date. This represents our credit risk for use in the estimate of the fair value of embedded derivatives.

Option budget – We assume future hedge costs in the derivative’s fair value estimate. The level of option budgets determines the future costs of the options and impacts future policyholder account value growth.

Policyholder behavior – We regularly review the lapse and withdrawal assumptions (surrender rate). These are based on our initial pricing assumptions updated for actual experience. Actual experience may be limited for recently issued products.

F-22F-28

Preferred equity and warrants – Significant unobservable inputs we use in include surrender rate, discount rates, and EBITA Multiples.

The following summarizes the unobservable inputs for the embedded derivatives of fixed indexed annuities and preferred stock (with associated datable warrants):

December 31, 2021

(In millions, except for percentages)

Fair value

Valuation technique

Unobservable inputs

Minimum

Maximum

Weighted average*

Impact of an increase in the input on fair value

Interest sensitive contract liabilities - fixed indexed annuities embedded derivatives

$123.7

Option Budget Method

Nonperformance risk

0.3%

1.1%

0.6%

Decrease

Option budget

1.1%

3.4%

2.4%

Increase

Surrender rate

0.5%

15% (base)
30% (add'l shock)

7.7%

Decrease

Preferred equity

$4.9

Yield analysis

Discount rates

17.5%

19.5%

18.5%

Increase

Detachable warrants

$2.8

Market Approach - GPCM

EBITA Multiple

9.0x

10.0x

100.0%

Increase

* Weighted by account value

December 31, 2020

(In millions, except for percentages)

Fair value

Valuation technique

Unobservable inputs

Minimum

Maximum

Weighted average*

Impact of an increase in the input on fair value

Interest sensitive contract liabilities - fixed indexed annuities embedded derivatives

$84.5

Option Budget Method

Nonperformance risk

0.3%

1.3%

0.7%

Decrease

Option budget

2.6%

3.4%

2.7%

Increase

Surrender rate

0.5%

15% (base)
30% (add'l shock)

7.6%

Decrease

* Weighted by account value

F-29

Note 7. Earnings Loss Per Share

The Company has 20.0 million voting common shares authorized, two million non-voting common shares authorized, and two million preferred shares authorized. There were 3,737,564 voting common shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2021 and 2020.

Year ended December 31, 

    

2021

    

2020

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

Numerator:

Net loss attributable to Midwest Holding, Inc.

$

(16,637)

$

(12,440)

Denominator:

Weighted average common shares outstanding

3,737,564

2,547,003

Effect of dilutive securities:

Stock options and deferred compensation agreements

40,850

Denominator for earnings (loss) per common share

3,737,564

2,587,853

Loss per common share

$

(4.45)

$

(4.88)

Note 9.8. Income Tax Matters

Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 20192021 and 20182020 are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

December 31, 2019

    

December 31, 2018

(in thousands)

    

December 31, 2021

    

December 31, 2020

Deferred tax assets:

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

Loss carryforwards

 

$

436,777

 

$

1,429,458

$

2,244

$

1,557

Capitalized costs

 

 

221,918

 

 

269,472

 

127

 

175

Stock option granted

 

 

4,566

 

 

 

1,060

14

Unrealized losses on investments

 

 

 —

 

 

390,349

 

1,534

 

1,534

Policy acquisition costs

 

 

1,468,030

 

 

 —

3,640

2,243

Charitable contribution carryforward

 

 

1,020

 

 

 —

2

General business credits

6

Derivative option allowance

510

Sec 163(j) limitation

171

154

Benefit reserves

 

5,186

 

3,569

Property and equipment

 

 

15,508

 

 

 —

33

Benefit reserves

 

 

848,643

 

 

192,858

Other

1,464

Total deferred tax assets

 

 

2,996,462

 

 

2,282,137

 

15,975

 

9,248

Less valuation allowance

 

 

(2,618,741)

 

 

(1,928,454)

 

(14,431)

 

(7,002)

Total deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance

 

 

377,721

 

 

353,683

 

1,544

 

2,246

Deferred tax liabilities:

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

Unrealized losses on investments

 

 

116,088

 

 

 —

 

1,084

 

1,994

Due premiums

 

 

81,789

 

 

117,144

 

 

82

Intangible assets

 

 

147,000

 

 

147,000

 

147

 

147

Policy loans

 

 

32,844

 

 

86,245

Bond Discount

313

20

Property and equipment

 

 

 —

 

 

3,294

 

 

3

Total deferred tax liabilities

 

 

377,721

 

 

353,683

 

1,544

 

2,246

Net deferred tax assets

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

$

$

At December 31, 20192021 and 2018,2020, the Company recorded a valuation allowance of $2,618,741$14.4 million and $1,928,454,$7.0 million, respectively, on the deferred tax assets to reduce the total to an amount that management believes will ultimately be realized. Realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon sufficient future taxable income during the period that deductible temporary differences and carry forwards are expected to be available to reduce taxable income.

F-30

There was income tax expense of $234,180$4.8 million and $1.6 million for the yearyears ended December 31, 2019,2021, and  no income tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2018.2020. This differed from the amounts computed by applying the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate of 21% to pretax income, as a result of the following:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year ended December 31, 

 

    

2019

    

2018

Computed expected income tax benefit

 

$

(1,154,890)

 

$

(1,063,749)

Increase (reduction) in income taxes resulting from:

 

 

 

 

 

  

Meals, entertainment and political contributions

 

 

6,170

 

 

8,402

Change in loss carryforward due to 382 limitation

 

 

 —

 

 

5,595,636

COD Interest

 

 

177,563

 

 

 —

Other

 

 

8,613

 

 

39,143

Subtotal of increases

 

 

192,346

 

 

5,643,181

Tax benefit before valuation allowance

 

 

(962,544)

 

 

4,579,432

Change in valuation allowance

 

 

1,196,724

 

 

(4,579,432)

Net income tax expenses

 

$

234,180

 

$

 —

Year ended December 31, 

(in thousands)

    

2021

    

2020

Computed expected income tax benefit

$

(2,815)

$

(2,238)

Increase (reduction) in income taxes resulting from:

 

 

  

State tax net of federal benefit

158

IMR and reinsurance

157

26

Nondeductible expenses

9

5

Gain on sale of SRC1

368

Change in valuation allowance

 

7,429

4,049

Dividends received deduction

(10)

Amended Return - 2019/2020

339

Adjustment to payable

(110)

Deferred tax adjustment

(382)

Prior year true-up

 

(229)

 

(405)

Subtotal of increases

 

7,581

 

3,823

Tax expense

$

4,766

$

1,585

Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code limits the utilization of U.S. net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards following a change of control, which occurred on June 28, 2018. As of December 31, 2019,2021, the deferred tax assets included the expected tax benefit attributable to federal NOLs of $2,079,888.$9.8 million. The federal NOLs generated prior to June 28, 2018 which are subject to Section 382 limitation can be carried forward. If not utilized, the NOLs of $798,236$907,363 prior to 2017 will expire through the year of 2032, and the NOLs generated from June 28, 2018 to December 31, 20192021 do not expire and will carry forward indefinitely, but their utilization in any carry

F-23

forward year is limited to 80% of taxable income in that year. The Company believes that it is more likely than not that the benefit from federal NOL

carryforwards will not be realized; thus, we have recorded a full valuation allowance of $436,777$2.1 million on the deferred tax assets related to these federal NOL carryforwards.

Loss carry forwards for tax purposes as of December 31, 2019, have expiration dates that range from 2024 through 2039.

Note 10.9. Reinsurance

A summary of significant reinsurance amounts affecting the accompanying consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 20192021 and 20182020 and for the years ended December 31, 20192021 and 2018,2020, is as follows (excluding Unified):follows:

(in thousands)

    

December 31, 2021

    

December 31, 2020

Assets:

 

  

 

  

Reinsurance recoverables

$

38,579

$

32,146

Liabilities:

Deposit-type contracts

Direct

$

1,075,439

597,868

Reinsurance ceded

(647,632)

(405,981)

Retained deposit-type contracts

$

427,807

$

191,887

Year ended December 31, 

2021

    

2020

(in thousands)

  

 

  

Premiums

Direct

$

258

$

884

Reinsurance ceded

(258)

(884)

Total Premiums

$

$

Future policy and other policy benefits

Direct

$

159

$

233

Reinsurance ceded

 

(159)

 

(233)

Total future policy and other policy benefits

$

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

December 31, 2019

    

December 31, 2018

Balance sheets:

 

 

  

 

 

  

Benefit and claim reserves ceded

 

$

30,579,524

 

$

23,100,644

F-31

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year ended December 31, 

 

    

2019

    

2018

Statements of comprehensive income:

 

 

  

 

 

  

Premiums assumed

 

$

 —

 

$

10,268

Premiums ceded

 

 

996,711

 

 

848,374

Benefits assumed

 

 

 —

 

 

92,792

Benefits ceded

 

 

201,823

 

 

141,896

Commissions assumed

 

 

 —

 

 

18

Commissions ceded

 

 

10,445

 

 

54,346

The following table provides a summary of the significant reinsurance balances recoverable on paid and unpaid policy claims by reinsurer except for Unified as it is accounted for as discontinued operations as of December 31, 2021:

Recoverable/

Total Amount

Recoverable

Recoverable

(Payable) on Benefit

Ceded

Recoverable/

(in thousands)

AM Best

on Paid

on Unpaid

Reserves/Deposit-

Due

(Payable) to/from

Reinsurer

    

Rating

    

Losses

    

Losses

    

type Contracts

    

Premiums

    

Reinsurer

Ironbound Reinsurance Company Limited

NR

$

$

$

(3,561)

$

$

(3,561)

Optimum Re Insurance Company

 

A

561

561

Sagicor Life Insurance Company

 

A-

 

 

157

 

10,901

 

303

 

10,755

Ascendant Re

NR

1,550

1,550

Crestline SP1

NR

18,288

18,288

American Republic Insurance Company

A

4,885

4,885

Unified Life Insurance Company

NR

45

1,013

21

1,037

US Alliance Life and Security Company

 

NR

 

 

 

5,090

 

26

 

5,064

$

$

202

$

38,727

$

350

$

38,579

The following table provides a summary of the significant reinsurance balances recoverable on paid and unpaid policy claims by reinsurer except for Unified as it is accounted for as discontinued operations as of December 31, 2019:2020:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recoverable on

 

 

 

 

Total Amount

 

 

 

 

Recoverable

 

Recoverable

 

Benefit

 

Ceded

 

Recoverable

 

AM Best

 

on Paid

 

on Unpaid

 

Reserves/Deposit-

 

Due

 

from

Recoverable on

Total Amount

Recoverable

Recoverable

Benefit

Ceded

Recoverable

(in thousands)

AM Best

on Paid

on Unpaid

Reserves/Deposit-

Due

from

Reinsurer

    

Rating

    

Losses

    

Losses

    

type Contracts

    

Premiums

    

Reinsurer

    

Rating

    

Losses

    

Losses

    

type Contracts

    

Premiums

    

Reinsurer

Ironbound Reinsurance Company Limited

 

 

NR

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

4,213,699

 

$

 —

 

$

4,213,699

Optimum Re Insurance Company

 

 

A

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

489,770

 

 

 —

 

 

489,770

 

A

$

$

$

525

$

$

525

Sagicor Life Insurance Company

 

 

A-

 

 

 —

 

 

130,538

 

 

11,347,962

 

 

270,273

 

 

11,208,227

 

A-

 

 

141

 

11,286

 

277

 

11,150

SDA Annuity & Life Re

 

 

NR

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

2,506,911

 

 

 —

 

 

2,506,911

Ascendant Re

NR

3,541

3,541

Crestline SP1

NR

9,695

9,695

US Alliance Life and Security Company

 

 

NR

 

 

 —

 

 

23,000

 

 

12,207,079

 

 

69,162

 

 

12,160,917

 

NR

 

 

 

7,264

 

29

 

7,235

 

 

 

 

$

 —

 

$

153,538

 

$

30,765,421

 

$

339,435

 

$

30,579,524

$

$

141

$

32,311

$

306

$

32,146

Our securities positions resulted in changes in the unrealized gains position as of December 31, 2021 compared to December 31, 2020, reported in accumulated other comprehensive income on the Consolidated balance sheets. As discussed in Note 1, American Life has treaties with several third-party reinsurers that have FW and Modco provisions. Under those provisions, the assets backing the treaties are maintained by American Life as collateral but the assets and total returns or losses on the asset portfolios belong to the third-party reinsurers. Under GAAP this arrangement is considered an embedded derivative as discussed in Note 5. The assets had unrealized gains of approximately $161,000 and $2.9 million as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The terms of the contracts with the third-party reinsurers provide that unrealized gains on the portfolios accrue to the third-party reinsurers. Accordingly, the unrealized gains on the assets held by American Life were offset by a gain in the embedded derivative of $2.7 million and a loss of $2.9 million, respectively. We account for this gain pass through by recording equivalent realized losses on our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss.

Effective November 7, 2019,April 15, 2020, American Life entered into a Funds Withheld Coinsurance and ModifiedFunds Paid Coinsurance Agreement (“FW/Modco SDAUS Alliance Agreement”) with SDA Annuity &US Alliance Life Re (“SDA”), an unaffiliatedand Security Company, a Kansas reinsurance company a Cayman Islands-domiciled reinsurance company. In a modified coinsurance arrangement (“Modco”US Alliance”), the ceding entity retains the assets equal to the modified coinsurance reserves retained. In a funds withheld coinsurance agreement (“FW”), assets that would normally be paid over to a reinsurer are withheld by the ceding company to permit statutory credit for unauthorized reinsurance, to reduce the potential credit risk.. Under the FW/Modco SDAUS Alliance Agreement, American Life will cede to SDA,US Alliance, on a funds withheld coinsurance and modifiedfunds paid coinsurance basis, the remaining (5%)an initial 49% quota share of certain liabilities with respect to American Life’s FIA business effective January 1, 2020 through March 31, 2020. Effective from March 1, 2020 through March 10, 2020, American Life ceded a 45.5% quota share of certain liabilities with respect to its multi-year guaranteedMYGA business to US Alliance. Effective March 11, 2020 through March 31, 2020, on a funds withheld and funds paid coinsurance basis, the quota share increased to 66.5% of certain liabilities with respect to its MYGA business. Effective April 1, 2020, the FIA quota share was reduced to 40% and the MYGA quota share was reduced to 25%. American Life established a US Alliance Funds Withheld Account to hold the assets for the US Alliance Agreement.

In addition, a trust account was established among American Life, US Alliance and Capitol Federal Savings Bank, for the sole benefit of American Life to fund the Funds Withheld Account for any shortage in required reserves.

F-32

The initial settlement included net premium income of $13.5 million and net statutory reserves of $14.7 million. The initial settlement for the Funds Withheld Account was $12.7 million and to the trust account was $800,000 from American Life and $5.0 million from US Alliance. Effective June 30, 2020, the FIA quota share was reduced to 0 and effective July 1, 2020, the MYGA quota share was reduced to 0.

Effective April 24, 2020, American life entered into a Master Letter Agreement with Seneca Re and Crestline Management regarding a flow of annuity reinsurance and related asset management, whereby Crestline Management agreed to provide reinsurance funding for a quota share percentage of 25% of the liabilities of American Life arising from the MYGA and a quota share percentage of 40% of the FIA products. This agreement expires on April 24, 2023.

On July 24, 2020, the Nebraska Department of Insurance (“MYGA”NDOI”) businessissued its non-disapproval of the Funds Withheld Coinsurance and Modified Coinsurance Agreement with Seneca Incorporated Cell, LLC 2020-02 (“SRC2”) of Seneca Re, now known as Crestline RE SP1. The agreement closed on July 27, 2020. Under the agreement, American Life ceded to SRC2, on a Funds Withheld and Modified Coinsurance basis, an initial ninety-five (95%)25% quota share of certain liabilities with respect to its fixed indexed annuity (“FIA”) through December 31, 2019American Life’s MYGA business and thirty (30%) thereafter.40% quota share of certain liabilities with respect to American Life’s FIA business effective April 24, 2020. Effective July 1, 2021, the quota share for FIA decreased from 40% to 25%. American Life has established two accounts to hold the assets for the FW/Modco Agreement, a SRC2 Funds Withheld Account and a Modco Deposit Account.Modified Coinsurance Account to hold the assets pursuant to the agreement. The NDOI approved the inclusion of the SRC2 coinsurance in American Life’s March 31, 2020 statutory financial statements.

In addition, a trust account was established on November 7, 2019July 23, 2020 among American Life, SDASRC2 and Wells FargoU.S. Bank, National Association for the sole benefit of American Life to fund the SDASRC2 Funds Withheld Account and the SDASRC2 Modco Deposit Accountdeposit account for any shortage in required reserves.

F-24

The initial settlement included net premium income of $3,970,509 and net statutory reserves of $3,986,411. The initial settlement for the Funds Withheld Account was $2,256,802 and for the Modco Deposit Account was $1,504,535 and the reserves required was $2,391,847 and $1,594,564, respectively. The amount owed to the Funds Withheld Account and the Modco Deposit Account from the trust account was $135,044 and $90,029, respectively which was funded at the closing of the Ironbound transaction. American Life earned a ceding commission of $996,701 and commission and administrative allowances of $1,734,184 as of December 31, 2019.  The commission and administrative allowances of $1,734,184 first reduced costs that would have been deferred acquisitions costs incurred and the remainder of the allowances were classified as deferred ceding commissions along with the $996,701 ceding commission earned.

Effective July 25, 2019, American Life entered into a Funds Withheld Coinsurance and Modified Coinsurance Agreement (“FW/Modco AEG Agreement”) with Ironbound ReinsuranceAmerican Republic Insurance Company Limited,(“AEG”), an unaffiliatedIowa domiciled reinsurance company organized undercompany. The agreement closed on June 30, 2021. Under the laws of Barbados (“Ironbound”). InModco AEG Agreement, American Life cedes to AEG, on a modified coinsurance arrangement, the ceding entity retains the assets equal to the modified coinsurance reserves retained. In a funds withheld coinsurance agreement, assets that would normally be paid over to a reinsurer are withheld by the ceding company to permit statutory credit for unauthorized reinsurance, to reduce the potential credit risk.  Under the FW/Modco Agreement, American Life will cede to Ironbound, on a funds withheld coinsurance and modified coinsurance basis, an initial ninety-five (95%)20% quota share of certain liabilities with respect to its MYGA business.multi-year guaranteed annuity MYGA-5 business and an initial 20% quota share of certain liabilities with respect to its fixed indexed annuity FIA. American Life has established two accountsa Modco Deposit Account to hold the assets for the FW/Modco Agreement, a Funds Withheld Account and a Modco Deposit Account.

In addition, a trust account was established on June 30, 2019 among American Life, Ironbound and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association for the sole benefit of American Life to fund the Funds Withheld Account and the Modco Deposit Account for any shortage in required reserves.

Agreement. The initial settlement included net premium income of $45,005,536 (gross premiums of $46,568,321 minus gross commissions paid of $1,562,786)$37.5 million and net statutory reserves of $47,271,267.$34.8 million for the modified coinsurance account. The amount paid to the Modified coinsurance deposit account from AEG was $2.4 million.

On November 10, 2021, the NDOI issued its non-disapproval of the Funds Withheld and Modified Coinsurance Agreement SRC3, whereby, SRC3 agreed to provide reinsurance funding for a quota share percentage of 45% of the liabilities of American Life arising from its MYGA products and a quota share percentage of 45% of American Life’s FIA products. American Life has established a FW and Modco Deposit Account to hold the assets for the FW and Modco Agreement. The initial settlement included net premium income of $37.5 million and net statutory reserves of $43.6 million.

Under GAAP, ceding commissions are deferred on the Consolidated balance sheets and are amortized over the period of the policyholder contracts. The tables below shows the ceding commissions from the reinsurers excluding SRC1 and what was earned on a GAAP basis for the Funds Withheld Account was $24,928,934 and for the Modco Deposit Account was $16,619,289 and the reserves required was $26,944,622 and $17,963,081, respectively. The amount owed to the Funds Withheld Account and the Modco Deposit Account from the trust account was $2,015,688 and $1,343,792, respectively which was funded at the closing of the Ironbound transaction. American Life earned a ceding commission of $4,843,120 and commission and administrative allowances of $4,734,926 as of December 31, 2019.  The commission and administrative allowances of $4,734,926 first reduced costs that would have been deferred acquisitions costs incurred and the remainder of the allowances were classified as deferred ceding commissions along with the $4,843,120 ceding commission earned.

Effective July 1, 2018, American Life entered into an assumptive and indemnity coinsurance transaction with Unified to transfer 100% of the risk related to the remaining legacy block of business, see Note 4 above for further discussion. We transferred $19,311,616 of GAAP net adjusted reserves as of July 1, 2018 to Unified for cash of $14,320,817, which was net of a ceding allowance of $3,500,000 plus the accrued interest on the transaction from July 1, 2018 until it closed on December 10, 2018. Unified assumed certain responsibilities for incurred claims, surrenders and commission from the effective date.

The ceding commission of $3,500,000 was recorded net of the difference between statutory and GAAP net adjusted reserves, the elimination of DAC of $1,890,013, VOBA of $338,536, and the remaining deferred profit from our legacy business of $26,896. The remaining $3,069,690 was reflected as a deferred gain and will be recognized into income over the expected duration of the legacy blocks of business. As of December 31, 2019, Unified had converted 79% of the indemnity coinsurance to assumptive coinsurance. American Life had amortization income for the yearyears ended December 31, 2019 of $2,410,054 as a result of2021 and 2020:

Year ended December 31, 

(in thousands)

2021

2020

Reinsurer

Gross Ceding Commission

Expense
Allowance(1)

Interest on Ceding Commission

Earned
Ceding
Commission

Gross Ceding Commission

Expense
Allowance

Interest on Ceding Commission

Earned
Ceding
Commission

Unified Life Insurance Company

$

-

$

$

$

35

$

$

$

$

Ironbound Reinsurance Company Limited

(461)

211

684

688

703

221

435

Ascendant Re

498

904

93

367

1,354

2,617

67

78

US Alliance Life and Security Company

2

(75)

60

401

2,279

4,030

39

139

Crestline SP1

6,699

12,321

255

1,185

6,243

11,799

48

191

American Republic Insurance Company

3,971

7,039

26

350

$

11,170

$

19,728

$

645

$

3,022

$

10,564

$

19,149

$

375

$

843

(1) Includes: acquisition and administrative expenses, commission expense allowance and product development fees.

The tables below shows the assumption of 79% of the indemnity policies. The endingceding commissions deferred ceding commission at December 31, 2019 was $582,894.

American Life and Security National Life Insurance (“SNL”) reached an agreement to commutate the assumed block of life business effective July 31, 2018. American Life recorded a GAAP loss of $154,780 due to the difference between the GAAP and statutory reserves and the write-off of the remaining VOBA. Net adjusted reserves transferred back to SNL totaled $2,543,898on each reinsurance transaction on a GAAP basis.

At December 31, 2019 and 2018, total benefit reserves, policy claims, deposit-type contracts, and due premiums ceded by American Life to Sagicor were $11,208,227 and $11,494,161, respectively. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, total benefit reserves, policy claims, deposit-type contracts, and due premiums ceded by American Life to US Alliance were $12,160,917 and $11,149,888, respectively. American Life remains contingently liable on the ceded reinsurance should Sagicor or US Alliance be unable to meet their respective obligations. At December 31, 2019, total deposit-type contract ceded by American Life to Ironbound and SDA were $4,213,699 and $2,506,991, respectively.

basis:

F-25F-33

(in thousands)

December 31, 2021

December 31, 2020

Reinsurer

    

Deferred Gain on Reinsurance Transactions

Deferred Gain on Reinsurance Transactions

US Alliance Life and Security Company(1)

 

$

162

$

172

Unified Life Insurance Company(1)

 

242

277

Ironbound Reinsurance Company Limited(2)

5,137

5,642

Ascendant Re

 

3,101

2,703

US Alliance Life and Security Company(2)

2,286

2,473

American Republic Insurance Company(2)

4,146

Crestline SP1(2)

13,515

6,932

$

28,589

$

18,199

1)These reinsurance transactions on our legacy life insurance business received gross ceding commissions on the effective dates of the transaction. The difference between the statutory net adjusted reserves and the GAAP adjusted reserves plus the elimination of DAC and value of business acquired related to these businesses reduces the gross ceding commission with the remaining deferred and amortized over the lifetime of the blocks of business.
2)These reinsurance transactions include the ceding commissions and expense allowances which are accounted for as described in (1).

The use of reinsurance does not relieve American Life of its primary liability to pay the full amount of the insurance benefit in the event of the failure of a reinsurer to honor its contractual obligation for all blocks of business except what is included in the Unified transaction. The reinsurance agreement with Unified discharges American Life’s responsibilities once all the policies have changed from indemnity to assumptive reinsurance. No reinsurer of business ceded by American Life has failed to pay policy claims (individually or in the aggregate) with respect to our ceded business.

American Life monitors several factors that it considers relevant to satisfy itself as to the ongoing ability of a reinsurer to meet all obligations of the reinsurance agreements. These factors include the credit rating of the reinsurer, the financial strength of the reinsurer, significant changes or events of the reinsurer, and any other relevant factors. If American Life believes that any reinsurer would not be able to satisfy its obligations with American Life, a separate contingency reservereserves may be established. At December 31, 20192021 and 2018, no2020, 0 contingency reserve wasreserves were established.

Note 11. Notes PayableAmerican Life expects to reinsure substantially all of its new insurance policies with a variety of reinsurers in exchange for upfront ceding commissions, expense reimbursements and administrative fees. American Life may retain some business with the intent to reinsure some or all at a future date.

At closing

F-34

Retained and $100,000, respectively. The Agreement further provided that Xenith, in its sole discretion, could loan up to an additional $23,500,000 to Midwest. Any loans made by Xenith under this election (“Subsequent Loans”) could also to be converted into our voting common stock at $0.02 per share. Xenith contributed an additional $18,500,000 in the fourth quarter of 2018 following the amendment of the Midwest Articles of Incorporation to increase its authorized voting common shares to 1,970,000,000.  All loans were later converted on June 18, 2019.Reinsurer Balance Sheets

The Company had total accrued interest of $845,536 ontables below shows the Xenith notes through June 18, 2019. This included interest not recorded from June 28, 2018 through December 31, 2018 of $131,711retained and interest from January 1, 2019 through June 18, 2019 of $713,825. All interest on the notes from inception through June 18, 2019 were waived by Xenith. The accrued interest was accounted for as an additional capital contribution. The legal fees of $161,000 associated with the Xenith transaction were capitalized and subsequently written off when the notes were converted.reinsurance consolidated balance sheets:

    

December 31, 2021

December 31, 2020

(in thousands)

Retained

Reinsurance

Consolidated

Retained

Reinsurance

Consolidated

Assets

 

  

 

  

Total investments

$

414,418

$

561,109

$

975,527

$

185,368

$

332,827

$

518,195

Cash and cash equivalents

95,406

46,607

142,013

102,335

49,344

151,679

Accrued investment income

3,853

9,770

13,623

1,956

4,851

6,807

Deferred acquisition costs, net

24,530

24,530

13,456

13,456

Reinsurance recoverables

38,579

38,579

32,146

32,146

Other assets

27,834

(2,189)

25,645

2,685

1,433

4,118

Total assets

$

566,041

$

653,876

$

1,219,917

$

305,800

$

420,601

$

726,401

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Policyholder liabilities

$

427,807

$

660,811

$

1,088,618

$

191,887

$

418,921

$

610,808

Deferred gain on coinsurance transactions

28,589

28,589

18,199

18,199

Other liabilities

23,889

(6,935)

16,954

9,384

1,680

11,064

Total liabilities

$

480,285

$

653,876

$

1,134,161

$

219,470

$

420,601

$

640,071

Stockholders’ Equity:

 

 

 

Voting common stock

4

4

4

4

Additional paid-in capital

138,277

138,277

133,417

133,417

Accumulated deficit

(70,159)

(70,159)

(53,522)

(53,522)

Accumulated other comprehensive income

2,634

2,634

6,431

6,431

Total Midwest Holding Inc.'s stockholders' equity

$

70,756

$

$

70,756

$

86,330

$

$

86,330

Noncontrolling interest

15,000

15,000

Total stockholders' equity

85,756

85,756

86,330

86,330

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$

566,041

$

653,876

$

1,219,917

$

305,800

$

420,601

$

726,401

The following table sets forth information regarding loans made to us by Xenith through June 18, 2019 and the number of shares of voting common stock each loan was converted into on June 28, 2019:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares of Common

 

 

Loan

 

Stock into which

 

 

Principal

 

Loans Were

Date of Loan

    

Amount

    

Converted

June 28, 2018

 

$

500,000

 

24,284,825

June 28, 2018

 

 

100,000

 

4,856,965

October 10, 2018

 

 

1,000,000

 

48,569,650

December 7, 2018

 

 

17,500,000

 

849,968,875

Total

 

$

19,100,000

 

927,680,315

As of December 31, 2019, Midwest had no notes outstanding to Xenith.

Note 12.10. Long-Term Incentive PlanPlans

On June 11, 2019, Midwest’sour Board of Directors approved the Midwest Holding Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan. The purposesPlan (the “2019 Plan”) that reserves up to 102,000 shares of this Long-Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”) is to create incentives which are designed to motivate participants to put forth maximum effort toward the success and growth of Midwest Holding Inc. (“Company”) and to enable the Company to attract and retain experienced individuals who by their position, ability and diligence are able to make important contributions to the Company’s success. Toward these objectives, this Planour voting common stock for award issuances. It provides for the grant of Options, Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Units, SARs, Performance Units, Performance Bonuses, Stock Awardsoptions, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, performance units, performance bonuses, stock awards and Other Incentive Awardsother incentive awards to Eligible Employeeseligible employees, consultants and the grant of Nonqualified Stock Options, Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Units, SARs, Performance Units, Stock Awards and Other Incentive Awards to Consultants and Eligible Directors,eligible directors, subject to the conditions set forth in thisthe 2019 Plan. Shareholder approval of the plan occurred on June 11, 2019. All awards are required to be established, approved, and/or granted by Midwest’sthe compensation committee of our Board.

On November 16, 2020, our Board of Directors (“Board”adopted a new equity incentive plan titled the 2020 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "2020 Plan"). that reserves up to 350,000 shares of voting common stock for award issuances. The terms of the 2020 Plan are essentially the same as the 2019 Plan. On June 29, 2021, the 2020 Plan was approved by the shareholders.

F-26

On July 19, 2019,In accordance with the Companystockholder-approved equity incentive plans above, we granted stock options to employees and directors for 8,950,000 sharesthe purchase of common stock at an exercisable conversion price of $0.05 per share with one-third exercisable after July 17, 2021 and two-thirds exercisable after July 17, 2023. The fair market valueexercise prices at the date of the shares was approximately $0.016 a share at grant date.

The Company’s management team consideredgrants. We calculate the stock options as compensation. Using the Black-Scholes Model we determined the consideration should be $143,200.  The factors we used to determine the consideration were the following:  the weighted average fair market value and compensation at grant date using the Black Scholes Model. Stock options become exercisable under various vesting schedules (typically two to four years) and generally expire in ten years after the date of $0.016grant. Using the Black Scholes Model, we calculate compensation expense for option share units on a share, exercisestraight-line basis over the requisite service periods, accounting for forfeitures as they occur. The restricted stock compensation expense is calculated using the stock price of $0.05 a share, time to maturity of 10 years, annual risk-free interest rate of 1.84% based upon the 10 year U.S. Treasury rate at grant date and amortizing on a 200% volatility basedstraight-line basis over the requisite service periods.

The table below identifies the assumptions used in the Black Scholes Model to calculate the compensation expense:

December 31, 

2021

2020

Expected volatility

4.4% - 66.3%

60% - 200%

Weighted-average volatility

38.9%

98.1%

Expected term (in years)

2 - 7

2 - 5

Risk-free rate

.8% - 1.5%

.9% - 1.8%

F-35

For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, we amortized the compensation expense related to the 2019 and 2020 Plans, from the stock grants on the change in price of the stock between the decision and grant date, the amount of shares and the closely held nature of the stock before the grant.  As of December 31, 2019, we have amortized the considerationdates above, over the two and four year vesting tranches forwhich resulted in expenses and an expense andincrease in additional paid in capital of $21,745.  No options have vested or been forfeitedapproximately $5.0 million and $164,000, respectively.

The tables below shows the remaining non-vested shares under the 2019  and 2020 Plans as of December 31, 2019.2021 and 2020, respectively:

 

Decmeber 31, 2021

Stock Options/
Restricted Stock
Outstanding

Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value

Weighted Average Excise Price

Nonvested stock options at December 31, 2020

100,972

$

22.91

$

34.70

Options granted

333,880

19.25

42.84

Restricted stock granted

5,089

24.34

24.34

Vested

(85,957)

17.32

30.20

Forfeited

(36,767)

23.91

40.42

Ending Balance at December 31, 2021

 

317,217

$

25.80

$

40.13

 

Decmeber 31, 2020

Stock Options/
Restricted Stock
Outstanding

Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value

Weighted Average Excise Price

Nonvested stock options at December 31, 2019

17,900

$

8.00

$

25.00

Options granted

68,025

21.85

33.13

Restricted stock granted

18,597

41.02

41.02

Vested

(200)

8.00

25.00

Forfeited

(3,350)

11.25

25.00

Ending Balance at December 31, 2020

 

100,972

$

22.91

$

34.70

Note 13.11. Deposit-Type Contracts

The Company’s deposit-type contracts represent the contract value that has accrued to the benefit of the policyholder as of the balance sheet date. Liabilities for these deposit-type contracts are included without reduction for potential surrender charges. This liability is equal to the accumulated account deposits, plus interest credited, and less policyholder withdrawals. The following table provides information about deposit-type contracts for the years ended December 31, 20192021 and 2018:2020:

    

As of

As of

(In thousands)

    

December 31, 2021

    

December 31, 2020

Beginning balance

$

597,868

$

171,169

US Alliance

 

1,873

 

(3,308)

Unified Life Insurance Company

468

Ironbound Reinsurance Company Limited

 

6,579

 

6,080

Ascendant Re

2,880

3,053

Crestline SP1

4,834

3,607

American Republic Insurance Company

1,567

Deposits received

 

471,646

 

415,561

Investment earnings (includes embedded derivative)

 

7,012

 

4,215

Withdrawals

 

(18,446)

 

(2,509)

Policy charges

(842)

Ending balance

$

1,075,439

$

597,868

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

Year ended December 31, 

 

    

2019

    

2018

Beginning balance

 

$

7,234,927

 

$

8,314,297

US Alliance

 

 

657,986

 

 

804,187

Commutation of assumption agreement

 

 

 —

 

 

(1,881,411)

Ironbound Reinsurance Company Limited

 

 

1,839,551

 

 

 —

SDA Annuity & Life Re (includes MVA adjustment and embedded derivative)

 

 

194,940

 

 

 —

Deposits received

 

 

161,392,700

 

 

650

Investment earnings (includes MVA adjustment and embedded derivative)

 

 

9,271

 

 

47,936

Withdrawals

 

 

(160,590)

 

 

(50,732)

Ending balance

 

$

171,168,785

 

$

7,234,927

F-36

Note 14.12. Commitments and Contingencies

Contingent Commitments: We have entered into commitments related to certain investments, where draws or additional funding can be requested under the terms of the agreements. These commitments are inclusive of third-party reinsurer commitments, and were approximately $145.9 million as of December 31, 2021. Of the approximately $145.9 million in unfunded commitments at 12/31/2021, approximately $23.3 million related to American Life. The remaining $122.6 million represented commitments that have been made by our reinsurance partners. The table shows when different dollar amounts of commitments will expire. The ability of borrowers to request additional funds under these lending agreements varies considerably from loan to loan.

Unfunded

(In thousands)

Commitment

Due in one year or less

$

19,245

Due in two years

 

26,753

Due in three years

 

4,705

Due in four years

8,741

Due in five years and after

86,497

$

145,941

Legal Proceedings:We are involved in litigation incidental to our operations from time to time. We are not presently a party to any legal proceedings other than litigation arising in the ordinary course of our business, and we are not aware of any claims that could materially affect our financial position or results of operations.

Regulatory Matters:Matters: State regulatory bodies and other regulatory bodies regularly make inquiries and conduct examinations or investigations concerning the Company’s compliance with laws in relation to, but not limited to, insurance and securities matters. American Life received a Certificate of Authority to conduct business in Iowa during the first quarter of 2019. American Life is seeking approvalreceived a Certificate of Authority to conduct business during 2020 from each of the following states and the District of Columbia: Utah, Montana, Louisiana and Ohio. American Life has pending applications in additional states during 2019.The Nebraska Department of Insurance (“NDOI”)states. The NDOI granted American Life approvalnon-disapproval to enter into the Funds Withheld Coinsurance and Modified Coinsurance Agreement with Ironbound prior to its closing of the agreement in July.July 2019. The NDOI granted American Life is waiting on approval fromnon-disapproval to enter into the NDOI for a second Funds Withheld Coinsurance and Modified Coinsurance Agreement with another reinsurer.SDA prior to closing of the agreement in December 2019. The NDOI granted American Life non-disapproval to enter into the Funds Withheld and Funds Paid Coinsurance Agreement with US Alliance prior to closing of the agreement on April 15, 2020. The NDOI granted American Life non-disapproval to enter into the Funds Withheld and Modified Coinsurance Agreement with Seneca Re through SRC1 prior to closing of the agreement on May 13, 2020. The NDOI granted American Life non-disapproval to enter into the FW and Modco Agreement with Seneca Re SRC2 prior to closing of the agreement on July 27, 2020. The NDOI granted American Life non-disapproval to enter into the  Modco Agreement with AEG prior to closing of the agreement on June 30, 2021. The NDOI granted American Life non-disapproval to enter into the FW and Modco Agreement with SRC3 prior to closing of the agreement on November 10, 2021.

F-27

Note 15.13. Leases

Our operating lease activities consist of leases for office space and equipment. Our finance lease activities consist of leases for hardware which we will own at the end of the lease agreement. NoneNaN of our lease agreements include variable lease payments. SeeAs of December 31, 2021, we have 1 remaining lease related to our office space. An amendment to the discussion of our January 1, 2019 implementation of a new accounting standardoffice space lease for leases and its impactadditional space was effective October 16, 2021 extending the term on our Consolidated Financial Statements at Note 2. New Accounting Standards.the lease another ten years.

Supplemental balance sheet information for our leases for the years ended December 31, 20192021 and 2018,2020, are as follows:

(In thousands)

As of

As of

Leases

    

Classification

    

December 31, 2021

    

December 31, 2020

Assets

 

  

 

  

 

  

Operating

 

Operating lease right-of-use assets

$

2,360

$

348

Liabilities

 

  

 

  

 

  

Operating lease

 

Operating lease liabilities

$

2,364

$

397

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of

 

As of

Leases

    

Classification

    

December 31, 2019

    

December 31, 2018

Assets

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

Noncurrent:

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

Finance

 

Office and other equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization

 

$

2,913

 

$

14,564

Operating

 

Operating lease right-of-use assets

 

 

470,132

 

 

592,065

Total leased assets

 

  

 

$

473,045

 

$

606,629

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

Current:

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

Finance lease

 

Finance lease liabilities

 

$

1,860

 

$

9,299

Noncurrent:

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

Operating lease

 

Operating lease liabilities

 

 

524,248

 

 

646,519

Total leased liabilities

 

  

 

$

526,108

 

$

655,818

F-37

The difference between assets and liabilities includes a $5,266 adjust to the finance lease and a $54,454 adjustment to an operating lease, both at the beginningTable of the period as part of the ASC 842 implementation adjustment discussed in Note 2. New Accounting Standards.Contents

Our operating and finance leases expenses for the years ended December 31, 20192021 and 2018,2020, are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year ended December 31, 

Leases

    

Classification

    

2019

    

2018

Operating

 

General and administrative expense

 

$

13,797

 

$

16,810

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finance lease cost:

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

Amortization expense

 

 

11,651

 

 

4,481

 

 

Interest expense

 

 

444

 

 

444

(In thousands)

Year ended December 31, 

Leases

    

Classification

    

2021

    

2020

Operating

 

General and administrative expense

$

8

$

9

Finance lease cost:

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

Amortization expense

 

 

3

Minimum contractual obligations for our leases as of December 31, 20192021 are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

Operating Leases

    

Finance Lease

2020 (excluding year ended December 31, 2019)

 

$

160,958

 

$

2,133

2021

 

 

164,081

 

 

 —

(in thousands)

    

Operating Leases

2022

 

 

156,608

 

 

 —

$

342

2023

 

 

161,674

 

 

 —

 

342

2024

 

 

13,508

 

 

 —

 

342

2025

342

2026

345

2027

353

2028

362

2029

371

2030

380

2031

292

Total remaining lease payments

 

$

656,829

 

$

2,133

$

3,471

Supplemental cash flow information related to leases was as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year ended December 31, 

    

2019

    

2018

Year ended December 31, 

(in thousands)

    

2021

    

2020

Cash payments

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

Operating cash flows from operating leases

 

$

(337)

 

$

4,306

$

(12)

$

(5)

Operating cash flows from finance leases

 

 

4,657

 

 

(2,514)

 

 

1

Financing cash flows from finance leases

 

 

(444)

 

 

(444)

F-28

The weighted average remaining lease terms of our finance and operating leases were six monthsapproximately ten years and approximately twoone and a half years, respectively as of December 31, 2019. As of December 31, 2018, the weighted average remaining lease terms of our finance2021 and operating leases were fifteen months and three and a half years, respectively.2020. The weighted average discount ratesrate used to determine the lease liabilities for finance leases was 6% and operating leases was 8% as of December 31, 20192021 and 2018,2020, respectively. The discount rate used for finance leases was based on the rates implicit in the leases. The discount rate used for operating leases was based on our incremental borrowing rate.

Note 16.14. Statutory Net Income and Surplus

American Life is required to prepare statutory financial statements in accordance with statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the Nebraska Department of Insurance and the Vermont Department of Insurance. Statutory practices primarily differ from GAAP by charging policy acquisition costs to expense as incurred, establishing future policy benefit liabilities using different actuarial assumptions as well as valuing investments and certain assets and accounting for deferred taxes on a different basis. As

The following table represents the net gains or (losses) as filed in the statutory-basis annual statement with the Nebraska Department of Insurance for American Life’s statutory net gains (losses)Life and the Vermont Department of Insurance for the year ended December 31, 2019SRC1 and 2018 were $1,843,725 and $(4,283,351), respectively.SRC3:

(In thousands)

Statutory Net Income/(Loss) as of December 31,

2021

2020

American Life

$

(6,355)

$

3,893

SRC1

$

(1,004)

$

(9,482)

SRC3

$

(6,851)

$

F-38

The following table represents the Capital and surplusSurplus as filed in the statutory-basis annual statement with the Nebraska Department of Insurance for American Life and the Vermont Department of Insurance for SRC1 and SRC3:

(In thousands)

Statutory Capital and Surplus as of December 31,

American Life

$

74,011

$

77,447

SRC1

$

8,415

$

5,518

SRC3

$

3,150

$

-

The following table represents the premiums sales as filed in the statutory-basis annual statement with the Nebraska Department of December 31, 2019 and 2018 was $20,033,157 and $20,979,285, respectively. The net gain was primarily due to the ceding commission and reserve adjustments earned on the Ironbound and SDA reinsurance transactions; offset by continuing expenses incurred to provide services on the new software and related technology to distribute products through national marketing organizations. The MYGA sales began late in January 2019 with $145,747,737 of face amount of MYGA policies and $15,616,831 of face amount of FIA policies issued during 2019. An additional $9,568,290 of MYGA and $2,571,687 of FIA sales was pending as of December 31, 2019.

As mentioned in Note 10. Reinsurance above,Insurance for American Life entered into the FW/Modco Agreement with Ironbound to cede 95% of the MYGA business.  Premiums net of commissions and ceding commission and administrative fees ceded to Ironbound was $128,760,161 and the reserve requirementVermont Department of $139,093,289 was ceded to Ironbound as of December 31, 2019.

Also included in Note 10. Reinsurance above, American Life entered into the FW/Modco Agreement with SDA to cede the addition 5% of the MYGAInsurance for SRC1 and 95% of the FIA business through December 31, 2019. Premiums net of commissions and ceding commission and administrative fees ceded to SDA was $18,984,045 and the reserve requirements of $20,822,364 was ceded to SDA as of December 31, 2019.SRC3:

Premiums Sales as of December 31,

(In thousands)

2021

2020

American Life

$

107,767

$

39,934

SRC1

$

37,764

$

147,502

SRC3

$

88,704

$

State insurance laws require our insurance subsidiaryAmerican Life to maintain certain minimum capital and surplus amounts on a statutory basis. Our insurance subsidiary is subject to regulations that restrict the payment of dividends from statutory surplus and may require prior approval from its domiciliary insurance regulatory authorities. Our insurance subsidiaryAmerican Life is also subject to risk-based capital (“RBC”) requirements that may further affect its ability to pay dividends. Our insurance subsidiary’sAmerican Life’s statutory capital and surplus as of December 31, 20192021 and 2018,2020, exceeded the amount of statutory capital and surplus necessary to satisfy regulatory requirements, including the RBC requirements.requirements as of those dates.

As of December 31, 20192020, American Life had an invested asset that was impaired as a result of the fair market of the underlying collateral being valued less that the book value. This was a non-admitted asset for statutory accounting purposes. This asset was held in our modified coinsurance account for Ironbound so it was passed through to the third-party reinsurer through as a reduction of the investment income earned by the third-party reinsurer. As of March 31, 2021, this invested asset was sold for a loss of $2.4 million that was passed through to the third-party reinsurer as a reduction of its investment income earned.

As of December 31, 2021 and 2018,2020, American Life did not hold any participating policyholder contracts where dividends were required to be paid.

Note 17. Surplus Notes

Our surplus notes of $300,000 and $250,000 matured on August 1, 2016 and September 1, 2016, respectively. The Company retired the notes in full, including accrued interest, through the transfer of condominiums in Hawaii owned by American Life in December 2018. The book value of the surplus notes, including interest, was $876,400. The book value of the condominiums in Hawaii was $493,648. We recognized a gain of $382,752 on the settlement of the surplus notes.

Note 15. Third-party Administration

Note 18. Third Party Administration

The Company commenced its third partythird-party administrative (“TPA”) services in 2012 as an additional revenue source. These services are offered to non-consolidatednon-affiliated entities. These agreements, for various levels of administrative services on behalf of each company, generate fee income for the Company. Services provided vary based on their needs and can include some or all aspects of back-office accounting and policy administration. TPA fee income associated with the administering of the Unified transactions from July 1, 2018

F-29

through December 31, 2018 was $90,796 and fees earned for other TPA administration duringservices for the year ended December 31, 20192021 and 20182020 were $48,300$523,000 and $89,240,$142,000, respectively.

Note 16. Reverse Stock Split

Note 19. Subsequent Events

AllOn August 10, 2020, Midwest filed Articles of Amendment of Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (“Amendment”) that changed the effectstotal number of subsequent eventsshares that provide additional evidence about conditionsthe Company is authorized to issue to 22 million shares of common stock, of which 20 million were designated as voting common stock with a par value of $0.001 per share and  2 million designated as non-voting common stock with a par value of $0.001 per share. The Amendment also provides for 2 million shares of preferred stock with a par value of $0.001 per share. The Amendment provided that existed ateach 500 shares of voting common stock either issued or outstanding would be converted into 1 share of voting common stock through a reverse stock split. Fractional shares were not issued in connection with the reverse stock split but were paid out in cash. The Company paid approximately $175,000 for those fractional shares and is now holding treasury stock represented by that amount. The effective date, August 27, 2020, for the reverse stock split was retrospectively applied to these financial statements. Outstanding shares of voting common stock as of December 31, 2019, including the estimates inherent in the process of preparing consolidated financial statements, are recognized in the consolidated financial statements. The Company does not recognize subsequent events that provide evidence about conditions that did not exist at the date of the consolidated financial statements but arose after, but before the consolidated financial statements2021 and 2020, were available to be issued. In some cases, non-recognized subsequent events are disclosed to keep the consolidated financial statements from being misleading.3,737,564.

F-30F-39

Note 17. Capital Raise

On December 21, 2020, Midwest completed a public offering of 1 million shares of its voting common stock at a price of $70.00 per share. The Midwest voting common stock was concurrently approved for listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker symbol “MDWT.”

Midwest raised $70.0 million of gross proceeds from the public offering and incurred commissions and expenses of approximately $6.0 million that were offset against those proceeds.

Note 18. Equity

Preferred stock

As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company had 2 million shares of preferred stock authorized but NaN were issued or outstanding.

Common Stock

The voting common stock is traded on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “MDWT.” Midwest has authorized 20 million shares of voting common stock and 2 million shares of non-voting common stock. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, Midwest had 3,737,564 shares of voting common stock issued and outstanding. As of those dates, there were 0 shares of Midwest’s non-voting common stock issued or outstanding.

Midwest holds approximately 4,500 shares of voting common stock in its treasury due to the reverse stock split discussed in Note 16 above.

Additional paid-in capital

Additional paid-in capital is primarily comprised of the cumulative cash that exceeds the par value received by the Company in conjunction with past issuances of its shares. It also is increased by the amortization expense of the consideration calculated at inception of the stock option grants as discussed in Note 10 – Long-Term Incentive Plans above.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (AOCI)

AOCI represents the cumulative Other Comprehensive Income (OCI) items that are reported separate from net loss and detailed on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss. AOCI includes the unrealized gains and losses on investments and DAC, net of offsets and taxes are as follows:

(In thousands)

Unrealized
investment gains
(losses) on fixed maturities,
net of offsets

    

Unrealized
gains on
foreign currency

    

Accumulated other
comprehensive
income (loss)

Balance at December 31, 2019

$

474

$

146

$

620

Other comprehensive income before Reclassifications

 

7,398

 

7,398

Unrealized gains on foreign currency

(146)

(146)

Less: Reclassification adjustments for losses realized in net income

(1,441)

(1,441)

Balance at December 31, 2020

6,431

6,431

Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax

(1,422)

(1,422)

Less: Reclassification adjustments for losses realized in net income, net of tax

(2,375)

(2,375)

Balance, December 31, 2021

$

2,634

$

$

2,634

F-40

Note 19. Deferred Acquisition Costs

The following table represents a roll forward of DAC, net of reinsurance:

(In thousands)

    

December 31, 2021

December 31, 2020

Beginning balance

$

13,456

$

0

Additions

13,402

13,919

Amortization

(2,886)

(670)

Interest

632

138

Impact of unrealized investment losses

(74)

69

Ending Balance

$

24,530

$

13,456

Note 20. Related Party

Crestline

On April 24, 2020, we entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with Crestline Assurance Holdings LLC (“Crestline”) an institutional alternative investment management firm under which we issued 444,444 shares of our voting common stock to Crestline. We contributed $5.0 million of the net proceeds to American Life and used $3.3 million of the proceeds to capitalize Seneca Re and its first protected cell. We also entered into a Stockholders Agreement along with Xenith and Vespoint that grants Crestline certain rights. Also, Douglas K. Bratton, a principal of Crestline, was appointed as a director of both our board of directors and the American Life board of directors.

In addition, on April 24, 2020, American Life entered into a three-year master letter agreement and related reinsurance, trust and asset management agreement with Seneca Re and a Crestline affiliate regarding the flow of annuity reinsurance and related asset management, whereby Crestline agreed to provide reinsurance funding for a quota share percentage of 25% of the liabilities of American Life arising from its MYGA and quota share percentage of 40% of American Life’s FIA products. The Crestline affiliate contributed $40.0 million of assets to capitalize SRC2 now known as Crestline Re SP1 (“Crestline SP1”). Through December 31, 2021, American Life had ceded $227.2 million face amount of annuities to Crestline SP1. American Life received total ceding commissions of $12.9 million and expense reimbursements of $24.1 million in connection with these transactions for the year ended December 31, 2021. Effective December 8, 2020, American Life entered into a novation agreement with SRC2 and Crestline Re SPC, an exempted segregated portfolio company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, for and on behalf of Crestline SP1, a segregated portfolio company of Crestline Re SPC, under which the above described reinsurance, trust and related asset management agreements were novated and replaced with substantially similar agreements entered into by American Life and Crestline SP1.

The Reinsurance Agreement also contains the following agreements:

American Life and Crestline SP1 each entered into investment management agreements with Crestline, pursuant to which Crestline manages the assets that support the reinsured business; and
American Life and Crestline SP1 entered into a trust agreement whereby SRC2 maintains for American Life’s benefit a trust account that supports the reinsured business.

Currently, Crestline has approximately $228 million assets under management and is a subadvisor on approximately $351 million of additional investments.

Chelsea  

On June 29, 2020, Midwest’s subsidiary, American Life, purchased a 17% interest in Financial Guaranty UK Limited  through an economic interest in Chelsea Holdings Midwest LLC. American Life has a note receivable from Chelsea Holdings Midwest LLC with an interest rate of 5% per annum that was rated BBB+ by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”). This note is being carried at fair market value of $5.9 million as of December 31, 2021.

F-41

FS-1

Midwest Holding Inc. and Subsidiaries

Summary of Investments — Other Than Investments in Related Parties

December 31, 20192021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amount

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recognized in

 

Amortized

 

 

 

 

Consolidated

    

Cost

    

Fair Value

    

Balance Sheets

Amount

Recognized in

Amortized

Consolidated

(In thousands)

    

Cost

    

Fair Value

    

Balance Sheets

Type of Investment

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Fixed maturity securities, available for sale:

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

Fixed maturities:

 

  

 

  

 

  

U.S. government obligations

 

$

2,091,710

 

$

2,081,224

 

$

2,081,224

$

1,855

$

1,882

$

1,882

Mortgage-back securities

 

 

819,678

 

 

798,608

 

 

798,608

Mortgage-backed securities

 

55,667

 

55,280

 

55,280

Asset-backed securities

 

 

95,006,241

 

 

95,247,824

 

 

95,247,824

24,675

24,951

24,951

Collateralized loan obligation

272,446

274,523

274,523

States and political subdivisions -- general obligations

 

 

240,494

 

 

249,282

 

 

249,282

 

105

 

114

 

114

States and political subdivisions -- special revenue

 

 

25,112

 

 

25,291

 

 

25,291

 

4,487

 

5,612

 

5,612

Corporate

 

 

18,493,077

 

 

18,839,632

 

 

18,839,632

 

35,392

 

37,139

 

37,139

Term Loans

268,794

267,468

267,468

Trust preferred

2,218

2,237

2,237

Redeemable preferred stock

14,282

14,090

14,090

Total fixed maturity securities

 

$

116,676,312

 

$

117,241,861

 

$

117,241,861

$

679,921

$

683,296

$

683,296

Mortgage loans on real estate, held for investment

 

 

13,810,041

 

 

 —

 

 

13,810,041

183,203

183,203

183,203

Derivatives

 

 

490,831

 

 

575,294

 

 

575,294

18,654

23,022

23,022

Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) stock

500

500

500

Equity securities

22,158

21,869

21,869

Other invested assets

 

 

2,468,947

 

 

 —

 

 

2,468,947

34,491

35,293

35,293

Investment escrow

 

 

3,899,986

 

 

 —

 

 

3,899,986

3,611

3,611

3,611

Preferred stock

 

 

500,000

 

 

 —

 

 

500,000

14,885

18,686

18,686

Notes receivable

5,960

5,960

5,960

Policy loans

 

 

106,014

 

 

 —

 

 

106,014

 

87

87

87

Total Investments

 

$

137,952,131

 

 

117,817,155

 

$

138,602,143

$

963,470

975,527

$

975,527

FS-2

Midwest Holding Inc. (Parent Company)

Condensed Financial Information of Parent

Balance Sheets

As of December 31, 

(In thousands)

    

2021

    

2020

Assets:

Investment in subsidiaries (1)

$

79,532

$

78,736

Cash and cash equivalents

 

7,540

 

7,682

Notes receivable

31

29

Property and equipment, net

 

334

 

39

Right of use assets

2,360

337

Other assets

 

3,257

 

1,590

Total assets

$

93,054

$

88,413

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

 

  

 

  

Liabilities:

 

  

 

  

Notes payable

 

500

 

500

Lease liability

2,364

386

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

4,434

 

1,197

Total liabilities

 

7,298

 

2,083

Stockholders’ Equity:

 

  

 

  

Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; authorized 2,000,000 shares; 0 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2021 or December 31, 2020

 

 

Voting common stock, $0.001 par value; authorized 20,000,000 shares; 3,737,564 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively; non-voting common stock, $0.001 par value, 2,000,000 shares authorized; 0 shares issued and outstanding December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively

 

4

 

4

Additional paid-in capital

 

138,452

 

133,592

Treasury stock

(175)

(175)

Accumulated deficit

 

(70,159)

 

(53,522)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

2,634

 

6,431

Total Midwest Holding Inc.'s stockholders' equity

70,756

86,330

Noncontrolling interest

 

15,000

 

Total stockholders' equity

$

85,756

$

86,330

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

93,054

88,413

(1)eliminated in consolidation.

FS-3

Table of Contents

Schedule II (Continued)

Midwest Holding Inc. (Parent Company)

Condensed Financial Information of Parent

Balance SheetsStatements of Comprehensive Loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of December 31, 

 

    

2019

    

2018

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment in subsidiaries (1)

 

$

14,417,498

 

$

16,199,089

Preferred stock

 

 

500,000

 

 

 —

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

4,446

 

 

79,247

Property and equipment, net

 

 

30,717

 

 

27,217

Right of use assets

 

 

446,835

 

 

556,264

Other assets

 

 

51,245

 

 

35,144

Total assets

 

$

15,450,741

 

$

16,896,961

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

 

 

  

 

 

  

Liabilities:

 

 

  

 

 

  

Notes payable

 

 

500,000

 

 

18,938,705

Lease 1iability

 

 

500,952

 

 

610,719

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

 

291,041

 

 

(15,513)

Total liabilities

 

 

1,291,993

 

 

19,533,911

Mezzanine Equity:

 

 

  

 

 

  

Preferred stock, Series C, $0.001 par value; authorized 1,500,000 shares; none issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and 1,500,000 as of December 31, 2018

 

 

 —

 

 

1,500,000

Stockholders’ Equity:

 

 

  

 

 

  

Common stock, $0.001 par value; authorized 1,970,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 1,023,408,553 as of December 31, 2019 and 22,873,764 as of December 31, 2018.

 

 

1,023,409

 

 

22,874

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

53,472,988

 

 

33,006,242

Accumulated deficit

 

 

(41,081,710)

 

 

(35,348,052)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

 

619,584

 

 

(1,818,014)

Noncontrolling interest

 

 

124,477

 

 

 —

Total stockholders’ equity  (deficit)

 

 

14,158,748

 

 

(4,136,950)

Total liabilities, mezzanine and stockholders’ equity

 

$

15,450,741

 

$

16,896,961


(1)

Eliminated in consolidation.

As of December 31, 

(In thousands)

    

2021

    

2020

Income:

 

  

 

  

Investment loss, net of expenses

$

$

Miscellaneous income

 

23

 

32

 

23

 

32

Expenses:

 

  

 

  

General

 

7,193

 

969

Loss from continuing operations before taxes

 

(7,170)

 

(937)

Income tax expense (See Note 8)

 

(4,766)

 

37

Loss before equity in loss of consolidated subsidiaries

 

(11,936)

 

(900)

Equity in loss of consolidated subsidiaries

 

(4,701)

 

(11,540)

Net loss

(16,637)

(12,440)

Less: Gain attributable to noncontrolling interest

Net loss

(16,637)

(12,440)

Comprehensive Income:

 

  

 

  

Unrealized gains on investments arising during period, net of tax

 

(1,422)

 

7,398

Unrealized gains on foreign currency, net of tax

(146)

Less: reclassification adjustment for net realized gains on investments

 

(2,375)

 

(1,441)

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

 

(3,797)

 

5,811

Comprehensive loss

$

(20,434)

$

(6,629)

FS-3FS-4

Table of Contents

Schedule II (Continued)

Midwest Holding Inc. (Parent Company)

Condensed Financial Information of Parent

Statements of Comprehensive Loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of December 31, 

 

    

2019

    

2018

Income:

 

 

  

 

 

  

Investment (loss) income, net of expenses

 

$

(270)

 

$

22

Miscellaneous income

 

 

48,368

 

 

133,692

 

 

 

48,098

 

 

133,714

Expenses:

 

 

  

 

 

  

General

 

 

1,385,608

 

 

 —

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Loss) income before income tax expense

 

 

(1,337,510)

 

 

133,714

Income tax expense

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

(Loss) income before equity in loss of consolidated subsidiaries

 

 

(1,337,510)

 

 

133,714

Equity in loss of consolidated subsidiaries

 

 

(4,396,148)

 

 

(5,199,248)

Net loss

 

$

(5,733,658)

 

$

(5,065,534)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive Income (Loss):

 

 

  

 

 

  

Unrealized gains (losses) on investments arising during period, net of tax

 

 

2,645,015

 

 

(1,258,971)

Unrealized gains on foreign currency, net of tax

 

 

146,185

 

 

 —

Less: reclassification adjustment for net realized gains on investments

 

 

(353,602)

 

 

(47,824)

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

 

 

2,437,598

 

 

(1,306,795)

Comprehensive loss

 

$

(3,296,060)

 

$

(6,372,329)

FS-4

Table of Contents

Schedule II (Continued)

Midwest Holding Inc. (Parent Company)

Condensed Financial Information of Parent

Statements of Cash Flows

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31, 

 

    

2019

    

2018

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

 

 

  

 

 

  

Net loss

 

$

(5,733,658)

 

$

(5,065,534)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash and cash equivalents used in operating activities:

 

 

  

 

 

  

Equity in net loss of consolidated subsidiaries

 

 

4,396,148

 

 

5,199,248

Depreciation

 

 

(3,500)

 

 

22,245

Preferred stock dividend

 

 

845,536

 

 

 —

Stock options

 

 

21,745

 

 

 —

Net transfers to noncontrolling interest

 

 

124,477

 

 

 —

Other assets and liabilities

 

 

274,451

 

 

(17,604)

Net cash (used) provided by operating activities

 

 

(74,801)

 

 

138,355

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:

 

 

  

 

 

  

Purchase of preferred stock

 

 

(500,000)

 

 

 —

Net (purchases) disposals of property and equipment

 

 

 —

 

 

(2,569)

Net cash used by investing activities

 

 

(500,000)

 

 

(2,569)

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

 

 

  

 

 

  

Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock

 

 

 —

 

 

1,500,000

Note payable to American Life

 

 

500,000

 

 

 —

Proceeds for issuance of notes

 

 

 —

 

 

18,938,705

Capital contribution to American Life

 

 

 —

 

 

(20,500,000)

Net cash provided (used) by financing activities

 

 

500,000

 

 

(61,295)

Net (decrease) increase  in cash and cash equivalents

 

 

(74,801)

 

 

74,491

Cash and cash equivalents:

 

 

  

 

 

  

Beginning

 

 

79,247

 

 

4,756

Ending

 

$

4,446

 

$

79,247

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental Disclosure of Non-Cash Information

 

 

  

 

 

  

Conversion of notes payable

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book value of note payable

 

$

(19,100,000)

 

$

 —

Common stock

 

 

927,680

 

 

 —

Additional paid in capital

 

 

18,172,320

 

 

 —

Conversion of preferred stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book value of preferred stock

 

 

(1,500,000)

 

 

 —

Common stock

 

 

72,855

 

 

 —

Additional paid in capital

 

 

1,427,145

 

 

 —

 

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31, 

(In thousands)

    

2021

    

2020

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

 

  

 

  

Net loss

$

(16,637)

$

(12,440)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash and cash equivalents used in operating activities:

 

  

 

  

Equity in net loss of consolidated subsidiaries

 

9,506

 

11,541

Depreciation

 

(295)

 

(8)

Stock options

4,982

164

Net transfers to noncontrolling interest

Other assets and liabilities

 

1,525

 

84

Net cash used by operating activities

 

(919)

 

(659)

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:

 

  

 

  

Purchase of preferred stock

 

 

Net (purchases) disposals of property and equipment

 

 

Net cash used by investing activities

 

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

 

  

 

  

Capital contribution

 

(14,102)

 

79,312

Repurchase of common stock

(70,300)

Treasury stock

(175)

Additional capital raise related expenses

(121)

Net transfers to noncontrolling interest

15,000

(500)

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

777

 

8,337

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

(142)

 

7,678

Cash and cash equivalents:

 

  

 

  

Beginning

 

7,682

 

4

Ending

$

7,540

$

7,682

Supplementary information

 

  

 

  

Cash paid for taxes

$

$

FS-5

Table of Contents

Schedule III

Midwest Holding Inc. and Subsidiaries

Supplementary Insurance Information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2019

 

For the Year Ended December 31, 2019

 

 

Future Policy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Death and

 

 

 

 

 

Benefits,

 

 

 

 

Deferred

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Benefits

 

 

 

 

 

Claims and

 

 

 

 

Gain on

 

 

 

 

Net

 

and Increase

 

Other

 

 

Deposit-type

 

Advance

 

Coinsurance

 

Premium

 

Investment

 

in Benefit

 

Operating

 

    

Contracts

    

Premiums

    

Transaction

    

Revenue

    

Income

    

Reserves

    

Expenses

Life Insurance

 

$

187,713,925

 

$

261

 

$

7,578,195

 

$

(152)

 

$

120,581

 

$

75,520

 

$

8,699,269

(In thousands)

As of December 31, 2021

For the Year Ended December 31, 2021

Future Policy

Death and

Benefits,

Deferred

Other Benefits

Claims and

Gain on

Net

and Increase

Other

Deposit-type

Advance

Coinsurance

Premium

Investment

in Benefit

Operating

    

Contracts

    

Premiums

    

Transaction

    

Revenue

    

Income

    

Reserves

    

Expenses

Life Insurance

$

1,088,617

$

1

$

28,589

$

$

15,737

$

9,904

$

32,030

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2018

 

For the Year Ended December 31, 2018

 

 

Future Policy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Death and

 

 

 

 

 

Benefits,

 

 

 

 

Deferred

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Benefits

 

 

 

 

 

Claims and

 

 

 

 

Gain on

 

 

 

 

Net

 

and Increase

 

Other

 

 

Deposit-type

 

Advance

 

Coinsurance

 

Premium

 

Investment

 

in Benefit

 

Operating

 

    

Contracts

    

Premiums

    

Transaction

    

Revenue

    

Income

    

Reserves

    

Expenses

Life Insurance

 

$

23,518,367

 

$

490

 

$

3,899,999

 

$

135,387

 

$

515,888

 

$

114,461

 

$

5,798,601

(In thousands)

As of December 31, 2020

For the Year Ended December 31, 2020

Future Policy

Death and

Benefits,

Deferred

Other Benefits

Claims and

Gain on

Net

and Increase

Other

Deposit-type

Advance

Coinsurance

Premium

Investment

in Benefit

Operating

    

Contracts

    

Premiums

    

Transaction

    

Revenue

    

Income

    

Reserves

    

Expenses

Life Insurance

$

610,806

$

3

$

18,199

$

$

2,362

$

4,890

$

16,547

FS-6

Midwest Holding Inc. and Subsidiaries

Reinsurance Information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percentage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

of Amount

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assumed

 

 

 

 

Assumed

 

 

 

 

 

Ceded to Other

 

from Other

 

 

 

 

to

 

    

Gross Amount

    

Companies

    

Companies

    

Net Amount

    

Net

 

Year ended December 31, 2019

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

Ceded to Other

(In thousands)

    

Gross Amount

    

Companies

    

Net Amount

Year ended December 31, 2021

 

  

 

  

 

  

Life insurance in force

 

$

103,575,000

 

$

101,737,000

 

$

 —

 

$

1,838,000

 

0.00

%

$

45,930

$

44,090

$

1,840

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Life insurance premiums

 

$

2,881,909

 

 

2,882,061

 

$

 —

 

$

(152)

 

0.00

%

$

1,055

$

1,055

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year ended December 31, 2018

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

Year ended December 31, 2020

 

  

 

  

 

  

Life insurance in force

 

$

207,684,000

 

$

205,846,000

 

$

 —

 

$

1,838,000

 

0.00

%

$

92,403

$

90,565

$

1,838

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Life insurance premiums

 

$

4,538,225

 

$

4,413,106

 

$

10,268

 

$

135,387

 

7.58

%

$

1,851

1,851

$

FS-7

Midwest Holding Inc. and Subsidiaries

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31, 

    

2019

    

2018

Year Ended December 31, 

(In thousands)

    

2021

    

2020

Accumulated Depreciation:

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

Beginning of the year

 

 

943,323

 

 

894,014

 

1,023

 

975

Depreciation expense

 

 

40,000

 

 

49,309

 

49

 

48

Disposals

 

 

(7,842)

 

 

 —

 

 

End of the year

 

$

975,481

 

$

943,323

$

1,072

$

1,023

FS-8

INDEX OF EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT
NUMBER

DESCRIPTION

3.1

Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, dated March 29, 2010. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Form 10 Registration Statement, filed December 12, 2011.)

3.2

Articles of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, dated May 6, 2010. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Form 10 Registration Statement, filed December 12, 2011.)

3.3

Amended and Restated Bylaws. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Company’s Form 10 Registration Statement, filed December 12, 2011.)

3.4

Articles of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Midwest Holding Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Form 8‑K, filed May 15, 2014.)

3.5

American Life & Security Corp. State of Nebraska Department of Insurance Amended Certificate of Authority, issued August 3, 2011. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to the Company’s Amendment No. 2 to Form 10 Registration Statement, filed March 20, 2012.)

3.6

Articles of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Midwest Holding Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.6 to the Company’s Form 8‑K, filed July 3, 2018.)

4.1*

Description of securities

10.1

Coinsurance Agreement – American Life & Security Corporation and US Alliance Life and Security Company dated September 30, 2017 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8‑K, filed October 6, 2017.

10.2

Consulting and Advisory Agreement, dated September 1, 2009, by and between Midwest Holding Inc. and Bison Capital Corp. (f/K Corporate Development Inc.). (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Form 10 Registration Statement, filed December 12, 2011.)

10.3

Automatic Reinsurance Agreement, dated August 1, 2009, by and between American Life & Security Corp. and Optimum Re Insurance Company. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company’s Form 10 Registration Statement, filed December 12, 2011.)

10.4

Amendment Number One to Automatic Reinsurance Agreement, dated August 1, 2009, by and between American Life & Security Corp. and Optimum Re Insurance Company. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Company’s Form 10 Registration Statement, filed December 12, 2011.)

10.5

Amendment Number Two to Automatic Reinsurance Agreement, dated August 1, 2009, by and between American Life & Security Corp. and Optimum Re Insurance Company. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Company’s Form 10 Registration Statement, filed December 12, 2011.)

10.6

Bulk Reinsurance Agreement, dated September 1, 2009, by and between American Life & Security Corp. and Optimum Re Insurance Company. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Company’s Form 10 Registration Statement, filed December 12, 2011.)

10.7

Amendment to all Reinsurance Agreements, dated August 4, 2011, by and between American Life & Security Corp. and Optimum Re Insurance Company. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Company’s Form 10 Registration Statement, filed December 12, 2011.)

10.8

Automatic Reinsurance Agreement, dated August 1, 2009, by and between American Life & Security Corp. and Investors Heritage Life Insurance Company. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the Company’s Form 10 Registration Statement, filed December 12, 2011.)

10.9

Reinsurance Agreement, dated January 1, 2010, by and between American Life & Security Corp. and Security National Life Insurance Company. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Company’s Form 10 Registration Statement, filed December 12, 2011.)

10.10

Master Reinsurance Agreement, dated December 20, 1999, by and between Old Reliance Insurance Company and American Founders Life Insurance Company. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the Company’s Amendment No. 1 to Form 10 Registration Statement, filed February 3, 2012.)

10.11

Amendment Number One to Master Reinsurance Agreement, dated December 20, 1999, by and between Old Reliance Insurance Company and American Founders Life Insurance Company. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to the Company’s Amendment No. 1 to Form 10 Registration Statement, filed February 3, 2012.)

10.12

Reinsurance Agreement Number One, dated December 31, 1999, by and between Old Reliance Insurance Company and American Founders Life Insurance Company. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to the Company’s Amendment No. 1 to Form 10 Registration Statement, filed February 3, 2012.)

EXHIBIT
NUMBER

DESCRIPTION

��

10.13

Amendment Number One to Reinsurance Agreement Number One dated December 31, 1999, by and between Old Reliance Insurance Company and American Founders Life Insurance Company. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to the Company’s Amendment No. 1 to Form 10 Registration Statement, filed February 3, 2012.)

10.14

Master Reinsurance Agreement, dated April 1, 2000, by and between Old Reliance Insurance Company and American Founders Life Insurance Company. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to the Company’s Amendment No. 1 to Form 10 Registration Statement, filed February 3, 2012.)

10.15

Loan, Convertible Preferred Stock and Convertible Senior Secured Note Purchase Agreement between Midwest Holding Inc. and Xenith Holdings LLC dated May 9, 2018. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8‑K, filed May 14, 2018.)

10.16

Amended and Restated Employment Agreement among Mark A. Oliver, Midwest Holding, Inc. and American Life and Security Corp. dated June 28, 2018. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8‑K, filed July 3, 2018.)

10.17

Employment Agreement dated June 28, 2018 by and between A. Michael Salem and American Life and Security Corp. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8‑K, filed July 3, 2018.)

10.18

Employment Agreement dated June 28, 2018 by and between Michael Minnich and American Life and Security Corp. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8‑K, filed July 3, 2018.)

10.19

Articles of Amendment to Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Midwest Holding Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8‑K, filed on November 16, 2018.)

10.20

Assumption and Indemnity Reinsurance Agreement - American Life & Security Corporation and Unified Life Insurance Company dated November 30, 2018 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8‑K, filed December 6, 2018.)

10.21

Midwest Holding Inc. 2019 Long-Term Incentive Plan dated June 11, 2019  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8‑K, filed June 17, 2019.)

10.22

Funds Withheld Coinsurance and Modified Coinsurance Agreement between Ironbound Reinsurance Company Limited and American Life & Security Corp dated July 31, 2019 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8‑K, filed on August 8, 2019.

14.1

Code of Ethics (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 14.1 to the Company’s Form 10‑K, filed April 2, 2012.)

21.1*

List of Subsidiaries.

31.1*

Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2*

Certification of Principal Accounting Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.1*

Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.2*

Certification of Principal Accounting Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

101.INS **

XBRL Instance Document.

101.SCH **

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.

101.CAL **

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.

101.LAB **

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.

101.PRE **

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.

101.DEF **

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.